Page 29 of Bonding with the Beta (Fated Souls #2)

29

KAYLEIGH

W aking 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.

I gulp.

We haven’t discussed anything further than dating, let alone being together together. I gulp at my brash comment.

Kayden’s expression is unreadable, and I want the ground to swallow me whole.

He takes a step towards the bed before dipping down and tilting my head, dragging my eyes to his. “I’ll be here for as long as you want me,” he whispers against my lips.

I shudder and close my eyes when he pecks my mouth.

“Okay.”

“I’ll call you, alright?”

I purse my lips. “Yeah.”

“Bye,” he says and kisses me once more as I sit up when he moves away.

“Bye.”

I watch him leave as his eyes linger on me for a second before he closes the door behind him. I collapse onto the bed and stare up at the ceiling. After what happened last night, I never would have expected this outcome.

Kayden isn’t Josh.

Kayden will never be Josh.

Despite knowing I could get hurt, I want to jump, and that’s the closest I’ve come to feeling like my old self.

The old Kayleigh would take risks, be spontaneous, and not worry about tomorrow. I miss her. I miss being that carefree because it felt like I was actually living my life, rather than having this reservation on my soul.

But that might be why I had my heart broken in the first place.

I grab my phone and punch out a text to Evie.

Kayleigh:

Okay, so I might have had a visitor last night

Evie:

I swear to God, if it was Josh, I am going to punch him so hard in the dick he’ll never be able to use it again!!!

Kayleigh:

Not Josh, Kayden

Evie:

SPILL IT

Kayleigh:

I told him about Josh

Evie:

OMG

What happened? Are you okay?

Kayleigh:

Yeah, I’m okay

I was a mess, though, and I hate to admit it felt good to get it off my chest

Evie:

And what did he say?

Kayleigh:

He didn’t run, so that’s a good sign

Evie:

Because not every guy is like Josh

Kayleigh:

I’m still terrified of getting hurt, but I can’t help but feel that this is different. He kissed me

Evie:

…what do you mean?

Kayleigh:

Every time we had been together before, we never kissed. This was the first time

Evie:

Oh my God. I can’t believe it!

Kayleigh:

He makes me happy, Ev, so happy

Evie:

Good.

The second he makes you cry, he’ll join the punched-dick society.

Kayleigh:

You’re the best

Evie:

You ready for class?

Kayleigh:

Didn’t do the reading

Evie:

You can copy my notes before

Kayleigh:

You’re a lifesaver. I love you!

Evie:

Yeah, I’m pretty great