Page 21 of Bonding with the Beta

I suck in a tight breath and turn to leave, but Kayden’s hand reaches out to grip my wrist before I can. “Hey,” he says slowly, stepping closer to me.

Our chests are inches from each other, but I choose to ignore it.

“Despite you thinking last night was uneventful,” he murmurs, “I had fun.”

My eyelashes flutter at his statement. I shiver when he brushes his thumb over the curve of my wrist in a gentle caress.

Me, too.

“I guess it was average,” I brush off.

Kayden’s lips stretch. He drops my wrist and walks towards the door of the kitchen. I watch him carefully, counting my breaths before I pass out.

“Oh,” he pauses and turns back to me. “By the way, your moans are fucking sexy.”

The force of my eyeballs wanting to protrude out my head is painful. My cheeks are so damn hot you could roast marshmallows on them.

He exhales a little laugh as he studies my reaction. I stare back because I have no idea what to say. The little butterflies inside my stomach do somersaults and completely ignore my decision to stop thinking about him—and last night.

“Especially when you’re screaming my name,” he carries on with a wink. “That’s a personal favourite.”

I slowly shake my head at him in disbelief.He did not just say that—cockybastard.

“I was practising for when I eventually murder you,” I shoot back.

Kayden grins wildly. “Don’t threaten me with a good time.”

When he finally leaves, I stare at the spot he was occupying.

I have no idea what his game is, but I don’t think I want to be a part of it.

8

KAYLEIGH

The drive back to campus takes longer than expected.

I needed to get the hell out of their house before I made any more awful mistakes. The last thing I wanted was for Ava to find out what went down between Kayden and me. It would be best if we buried it and never thought of it again.

My chest has been tight most of the weekend, but now I’m back on familiar ground, I instantly feel better. That is until I pull up to park and peek at my phone.

Unknown Number:

Hey, it’s Josh. Can we talk?

I narrow my eyes at the screen and shake my head in disbelief. It’s been seven months since we broke up. ‘Talk’ for him probably means wanting to get his dick wet, and I couldn’t think of anything worse.

The audacity to text me from a new number after I’ve already blocked him once.

He doesn’t get to do this to me after what he put me through.

I refuse to cry tears for someone who didn’t give a single shit about me.

I’m tired of him thinking he still has me wrapped around his little finger. That I’ll come running at his beck and call. I know all of his silly mind games. I know all of his tricks. I’m not going to fall for it again.Never.

I bite down on my jaw and resist the urge to type and respond like a keyboard warrior. But that’s what he wants me to do. Then he has me in the palm of his hand. I shake my head once and block his number.

After gathering myself together, I open my car door and head up to my dorm room in my university halls. When I open the door, I instantly groan at the mess I made before I left. Clothes, shoes, and make-up everywhere. Why am I always like this?

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