Page 94 of Bonding with the Beta

I swipe a hand over my mouth to stop myself from grinning at her adorable thoughts. I feel bad for intruding, but I physically cannot stop them.

My hand snakes across the bed, and I take her hand in mine, tugging her fingers as those blue eyes ping to mine.

“Come here,” I murmur softly, beckoning my head towards myself.

Her fingers lace through mine as I take her waist in my arm, lifting her over the laptop and against my body. Our legs tangle with the sheets, and she releases a long breath of alleviation when her head rests on my chest.

My arm secures around her back, the other still latched onto hers. I slow my breathing to feel the way her heart thrums against mine, and I smile, feeling content with her here in my arms.

After what she told me about her ex-boyfriend, I need to tell her who I really am. He lied to her and manipulated her, and I willneverdo the same. If I don’t tell her about my wolf and everything in my world, I fear I might push her away forever.

I kiss her forehead delicately. When the time is right, I’ll tell her.

Jaxon might have needed me tonight, but Kayleigh needed me more.

I’m starting to realise not many people have shown up for her.

And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

29

KAYLEIGH

Waking up next to somebody is an exceptional feeling, especially when they held you all night as if they were afraid you’d slip right through their fingers. I tried to sleep—I really tried—but I wanted to feel Kayden’s arms around me instead and the way he pressed kisses to my shoulder blades and stroked my arm with gentle patterns.

“Morning,” he says, his voice deep, sensing my awakeness.

I curse myself for not being discreet. I wriggle when I’m nervous.

His morning voice is the perfect combination of crisp and husky. It made my insides want to fall out onto the floor, even if that sounds rather dramatic.

“Hi,” I whisper.

Kayden wraps his large hands around my waist and twists me in his hold with ease. I exhale a huff when I drop into his side, our eyes colliding. My blood rushes at the smirk on his lips. I shouldn’t enjoy the way he can throw me around as if I’m some kind of doll, but it makes my thighs clench.

“What’s the time?” he asks as I roll over to my bedside table and check my phone.

The screen flashes at me, and I grimace at the brightness. “Ten past eight.”

His hand moves from my waist to my neck, his thumb brushing over my ear lobe in a gentle caress, making my breath hitch. His dark eyes focus on mine for a long moment as he releases a downhearted sigh.

“I really don’t want to leave you right now,” he murmurs. “But I’ve got things I need to do today.”

I nod. “It’s okay. I have class anyway. Thanks for staying with me.”

The corners of his lips spread wide. “Always.”

When he leaves a kiss on my forehead, I fall into an endless pit of bliss, and then his body slides from mine, and everything immediately feels colder. He’s still here, and I’m missing him already.

I shamelessly watch him as he moves from my bed and begins to put on his clothes from yesterday. I don’t even blink once; I admire him in all his beauty.

After tugging his T-shirt over his head and turning back to me, he smirks, already knowing I’ve had my eyes glued to him for the last minute.

“Take a picture, blondie. It’ll last forever,” he teases.

“And you won’t?” I blurt pathetically.

Oh, God. I sink back into the duvet as his brows furrow at my words.

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