Page 40 of Bonding with the Beta

Her eyes are glued to my phone and the back screen picture of me with my parents when I was seven years old. I’m sitting on the edge of their shoulders, my hands raised in the air.

“Yeah.” I smile. I haven’t seen them in a long time.

“You look so much like your mum,” she says and smiles. “You have her dimples.”

I lock my phone and lower it back down. “Yeah, unfortunately.”

Kayleigh gasps, dropping the peas to her side. “Unfortunately? They’re adorable.”

I grimace at the use of that word. “Never say that again.”

She flashes me a subtle grin. My eyes float down to the peas on the bed and I grab her wrist, pushing them back against her head. “You need to keep it there,” I state. “It’ll help with the swelling.”

Even though she’s keeping them up herself, I continue holding her hand because I don’t want to pull away. Her skin is soft as my fingers wrap around her dainty wrist.

“Sorry, I forgot we were playing doctors and nurses,” she huffs.

My head tilts at her. “This is very different from my version of doctors and nurses. Usually, there would be a lot less clothes.”

“You’re gross.” She laughs.

I press my fingers to the pulse on her neck. “Just making sure my patient is alive and well.”

She swats my hand away, fighting a smile on her lips. “Stop.”

“Can’t.” I lean in as her blue eyes dilate, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t want you dying on me before I even have the chance to get to know you. What can I do to make this all better, hmm?”

Kayleigh’s throat bobs as she stares up at me, as I continue to smile.

Another orgasm from you might make it all better.

“Nothing,” she says breathlessly. “There isn’t anything you can do.”

“Really?”

She attempts a nod, but it’s unconvincing at best. “Really.”

“Alright.” I pull my hand away, and I’m sure I see a look of disappointment on her face. I’m not going to be an asshole and use her thoughts against her. Not when she’s not comfortable to voice them to me first.

My body twists, and I spot a picture frame on her bedside table. I reach for it and smile. “Guess these are your parents?” I ask as I stare back at the picture.

Kayleigh scoots closer to me and smiles. “Yeah. They’re my absolute world.”

“Yeah?” I grin at her. “How long have they been together?”

“Oh–” Her throat clenches. “They’re not together anymore.”

I flick my eyes over her face. “Oh, shit. Sorry. I didn’t mean to assume.”

“No, it’s okay.” She waves it off. “It was kind of recently. I didn’t know anything was wrong until my mother had an affair.”

My eyes close. “Ah, ouch. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. I was going through a lot at the time, which really didn’t help. She really hurt my dad, and he is the cuddliest, friendliest man in the world. I hated that she hurt him. He didn’t deserve it. No one deserves it.”

“Is she with the person she cheated with now?”

Kayleigh nods. “Yeah. I guess she found her sexual awakening. She’s now with the woman she had an affair with. My father has been very understanding of it because he only wants her to be happy, and that’s what broke my heart the most. He still cares about her. He only wants what’s best for her.”

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