Page 13 of Bonding with the Beta

My mouth curls. “It’s fine. I promise. You guys should get as much time together before the baby comes.”

“Are you sure?” Her brows pinch together.

“Yes.” I nod in agreement. “Date nights are important. I’ve got some work I can catch up on. It’s only for the evening. I can keep myself entertained.”

She continues to chew on her lip. “Kayleigh, I feel–”

“Go,” I encourage her. “I promise. You guys deserve some alone time.”

“Then we’ll do something soon to make up for it.”

“Sure.” I smile.

Ava steps towards me and wraps me up in a hug, her bump pressing into my belly. “You’re the best. Thank you.”

I laugh softly. “It’s all good.”

“I need to start getting ready.” She pulls away and presses a hand to her head. “There is some wine in the fridge if you want something to drink. Help yourself to anything you want. Kayden and Lucy will be around anyway, so they can help with whatever.”

My stomach bottoms out at the thought of alcohol after last night. “Depends on how bad my essay is coming along,” I joke.

Ava tilts her head. “What did we talk about earlier?”

“I know.” I purse my lips.

“Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

When Jaxonand Ava leave for their date a few hours later, I head up to my bedroom and get changed into some comfy clothes. My hands snake around my back as I remove my bra, which has been constricting me all day. A sigh of satisfaction escapes my lips as it falls to the floor, the wire no longer digging into my ribs.

I throw on a white T-shirt and black silk pyjama shorts before grabbing my laptop and heading downstairs to Jaxon’s private living room—which I pray is actually private as I need the space to focus.

As I make my way down the stairs, I poke my head into the living room to find it empty. I exhale in relief and set myself up on the sofa, searching for the TV remote to put on something that will drown out the silence around me.

I crack my neck and open my laptop, allowing my fingers to fly across the keyboard to get this research paper done. An hour ticks by, and I’m up to a thousand words. I want it to be perfect. It has to be after my grades started slipping a few months ago. Icannotafford to let this year go to waste.

My lungs inhale a breath, and I push my laptop to the side. I glance up at the TV to find a raunchy scene playing out on the screen. My eyes widen as they kiss fiercely against the door, desperate to get each other's clothes off.

For some reason, I don’t look away. I’m enthralled.

It’s full of lust, desire, and want.

“What are you watching?”

If my laptop had been on my lap, it would have flown six feet across the room. I press a hand to my chest at my rapid heartbeat and glance over my shoulder as Kayden leisurely strolls in.

“Can you stop doing that?” I rasp.

“Stop living in my house?”

My eyes narrow at him as he flicks his playful gaze to mine. I shouldn’t look, but I do. He’s wearing a dark T-shirt that makes his biceps look carved out of marble. I saw him shirtless the very first time I met him last year, and I really wish I hadn’t. I hate to admit the image is forever tattooed into my brain, especially after seeing it again last night.

The sound of a high-pitched moan echoes on the TV, and my cheeks heat as he quirks a brow at me. “What are you watching? Don’t tell me you’ve hooked up porn to the big screen. That deserves jail time.”

I gawk at him. “It’s not porn. It’s a show I put on. I don’t even know what it is.”

Kayden hums, sounding unconvinced. I exhale a quiet huff and grab my laptop once more, turning my back to him. I expect him to leave, but instead, he walks around the sofa and plops himself down beside me.

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