Page 146 of Bonding with the Beta

As I turn around, he slaps his hand down onto my ass, and the sound echoes off the walls loudly, causing some people to turn and look at us.

I gape back at him in horror, but he grins wildly at me, not giving a single shit if anyone else saw or heard.

“You’re playing with fire,” I rasp under my breath.

“Trust me. I want to get burnt.”

My stomach ties in knots at how happily he can show everyone I’m his.

And God, do I love it.

48

KAYDEN

“Having a good day?” I ask Jaxon as I raise my glass to my lips.

He nods and adjusts his cufflinks. “Yeah, a really good day for Aurora. A great turnout. That girl is so loved.”

“As she should be.” I tilt my glass towards him. “It’ll be one to remember.”

“Most definitely.”

Jaxon glances behind me and steps forward. “Cole, it’s good to see you again.”

I turn to face Cole and his wife, Priscilla, walking towards us. “Thank you for your generous invite to Aurora’s party. We greatly appreciate it and love to meet some friendly faces.”

Jaxon shakes Cole's hand. “It’s our pleasure. Glad you could be here.”

Cole turns to me and holds out his hand, and I take it. “Good to see you, Cole.” I nod once. “And you, Priscilla.”

“Likewise.” He smiles. “Thank you for all your help, Kayden. Our integration definitely could have been far worse, but you’ve really made this district feel like a home.”

My mouth curls at his words. “That’s what we’re here for.”

“We will return the favour,” Priscilla says sincerely.

I shake my head once. “It’s not a favour. We did it because we know exactly what it feels like to be in your position. We wanted to show you that we’re friends and allies.”

Cole raises his glass. “Well, I can cheers to that.”

Our glasses clink in the middle.

One second, I’m smiling; the next, I feel like I’m about to be knocked off the axis of the Earth. My lungs feel like they’ve been squeezed like a lemon, and I can’t catch my breath. Hell, I can barely see. My entire body tingles to the point I worry if I take a step, I’ll fall straight to the floor.

Their voices echo around me, but I can’t focus on them until Jaxon rests his hand against my shoulder, snapping me back into the room. “Kayden?”

I glance at him, suddenly taking a shallow breath.

Jaxon’s brows furrow. “Are you alright?”

“Yes.” I straighten myself out. “Sorry.”

I stand back, my eyes flicking across them and the groups of people in the room, but I can’t make out a single face as this tidal wave of intensity collapses into me sideways.

My hand presses to my chest, and I rub through the zapping inside me.

“U-uh,” I rasp. “I’m gonna go grab some air.”

---