Page 80 of Glamour & Gumballs

“I don’t know.”

He ran his hands over my abdomen, slowly washing my belly. “It wasn’t like this with Kellie, if that’s what you mean,” he said. “I never felt like I could trust her. I never felt like we were friends. We were together, but there was no intimacy. Not emotionally.”

I nodded. “I’ve never been in a relationship, but yeah. I feel like that too. I’ve never really… trusted anyone before. But I trust you. I think. Mostly.”

He kissed my neck, and I tilted my head to the side to give him better access. “Considering we’ve been on an island for weeks, playing a game that prevented us from doing and saying what we wanted, I’d be concerned if you trusted me implicitly right now.”

My lips curved upward. “You think I’ll get there, though?”

I really didn’t want to hurt him. And I didn’t want to end up in a marriage where my husband resented me for being myself. I would never trust as easily as some people could. I would never be entirely free from my past.

“I do, but there’s no rush. I’ll be here whether you expect me to be or not.” He kissed my neck again. “I want you, Chaos. I need you. I’m not leaving you, no matter what.”

My eyes stung with tears.

He may as well have proclaimed his love, because to me?

That was love.

He accepted my limits, he didn’t expect me to change, and he wasn’t walking away.

What more could anyone need?

“Thank you,” I whispered, dashing at my eye with the side of my hand. I didn’t feel any tears falling, but I wasn’t risking it. I did not cry.

“Don’t thank me for caring.” He ran his slick hands over my hips. “Kiss me instead.”

I turned around in his arms and grabbed his face, rising onto my tiptoes to kiss him.

He kissed me back until I pulled away and turned around again, biting my swollen bottom lip lightly to hide my smile.

I was happy.

Stupidly, ridiculously happy.

When we were done washing up, we dried off and made our way to the bed. There were no spare clothes, so we climbed in naked.

I was exhausted enough from the events and emotions of the day that I just sprawled across Rhett, not bothering with the TV. One of his arms draped over my waist, and the other hand found my ass.

For the first time in ages, I didn’t need an illusion to fall asleep feeling safe and content.

Loud pounding on the door woke us.

I jerked upward, peeling my body off Rhett’s.

His grip on my ass tightened, his eyes bleary as he looked around the room.

Jordan knocked again before pushing it open. “The tropical storm looks like it’s on its way to becoming a hurricane near the Survival island. We’ve got a group of air and water fae heading out to try to prevent it, but the last few days of the game are getting cut. We’re meeting the remaining contestants on a stretch of beach near here. It’s time to choose a mate, Erin.”

My stomach clenched.

As much as I wanted the game to end, and knew who I was going to choose, making the choice was still a big deal.

And sealing the bond?

That was more than a little terrifying.

I wasn’t even sure how it would happen, or what I would have to do.

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