Page 116 of Bonding with the Beta

His legs plough through the water, and I gulp as I stare down at his bare back and swimming shorts. “I swear, if you throw me in, I’ll be so angry.”

This time, his shoulders begin to shake as he laughs at my attempt to be threatening. The water is close enough to catch the hem of his shorts.

“When I said a nice study break, I didn't mean to be thrown into the water.”

“You want me to put you down?”

“Yes!”

“Okay.” He chuckles.

His hands move to my hips again, and when I think he’s about to put me down, he throws me up into the air. My life flashes before my eyes for a split second, and I don’t even have time to scream before he catches me in his arms.

I swallow back air as he grins at my expression. Sometimes I forget how damn strong he is, but then I remember he’s a wolf and has a completely different bone and muscle structure to us humans.

“You’re such an ass,” I breathe out.

“You love it.” He winks before lowering me down into the water gently.

My feet wobble slightly, but he keeps a hold of me until I’m firmly on the floor. I grit my teeth at the temperature of the water and clench my shoulder blades together. He knots his fingers through my windswept hair and admires me for a second with that pretty smile full of his dimples.

“This been good for you to clear your head?”

I nod. “More than good. I really needed this fresh air.”

“Only a few more days, then this term is over,” he says encouragingly. “Then you can spend some well-deserved time with me.”

I beam up at him. “You sure you’re not busy with things at home?”

“Yeah, I’ll be busy.” He nods as I wrap my arms around his neck. “But I can always make time for you. I’m very good at having my life organised, you see?”

“Well,” I peck his lips, “that makes one of us.”

Kayden wraps his arms around my waist, holding me to his chest. His stare holds mine, and I blink at the warmth of safety invading me. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else right now.

“I was—” I cut myself off to clear my throat. “I was going to ask you something.”

He cocks his head an inch. “What’s that?”

“Uhh,” I say before laughing and biting my lip. “You make me so happy, and you make me believe in myself, and I’ve never felt like this before. Kayden, I adore every second I’m with you.”

Kayden reaches out to touch my cheek delicately. His eyes glisten off the reflection of the lake, making them golden and beautiful.

“Do you want to be my…boyfriend? Because I really want to be your girlfriend.”

Blood rattles through my veins the second these words leave my mouth. Kayden’s face stays neutral for a few moments too long, and then he releases a sigh of satisfaction.

“Do I want to be your boyfriend?” His gaze sparkles as he quirks a brow in my direction.

The slightest smile plays on my lips as his eyes bore into mine. I sink further into the ground. “Yeah,” I whisper.

My heart beats quicker than before. I bite my tongue in an attempt to hold it together. He dips his head, lips so close to mine that I can feel his soft breath. My eyes flick between his quickly, the silence nearly killing me.

“Fuck yeah, I wanna be your boyfriend,” he says gruffly before reaching down to hoist me up around his waist.

My chest collapses with relief, and then I’m grinning from ear to ear.

“Did you doubt me?”

---