“I wish I could do that.Everythingworries me.”
“Hmm, I think I can help you with that,” I say. “Did I ever tell you I have a superpower?”
“Other than that thing you do with your tongue?” she says, her smile returning.
“I’m pleased you enjoy that so much. Very gratifying. And yes, I have one other superpower. You tell me what you’re worried about and I’ll make you forget all about whatever it is.”
“You’re just going to do that thing with your tongue, aren’t you?”
“Maybe. But you have to admit, it’ll work for a few minutes anyway.” I brush my lips against hers. “But in all seriousness, tell me what’s on your mind.”
Her eyebrows knit together, and I know whatever it is must be big. “I’m scared the show might come between us.”
She means because I used to host a one-man show with me as the star, and now I’m sharing the limelight. In fact, they’ve renamed itPrincess in the Wildfrom its former titleThe Wild Worldwhich frankly did sting at first, but now that I’m a man in love, Iwantto put her out front and centre so everyone will know how incredible she really is. I’m about to reassure her I’m fine, but she continues talking so, like the good boyfriend I am, I zip it.
“I know you’re fine with the new title and all, but I can’t help worrying about how they’ll spin things we said and take them out of context to make us sound bad,” she says. “I mean, two people getting along nicely isn’t exactly compelling television.”
“Well, I’m sure there’ll be a bit of that. Especially the first couple of days out in the jungle.”
“And that giant fight near the end…”
“That too,” I say. “But none of it really matters, does it? You and I know what we’ve got together, and we know exactly how we got here. Nothing they do or say can get in between us. Not if we stick together.”
“Which we will,” she says firmly.
“Of course we will.” I cup her cheek with one hand. “This isus, Belle. You and me. Think of everything we’ve been through together in such a short time. When things went horribly wrong out there in the jungle, we took care of each other. And that was life and death. This is just…” I shrug. “… a 2D-rendering of what we’ve already lived through.”
She nods. “You’re right. We know the truth of what happened, even if they try to make it out to be something it wasn’t.”
“Exactly. It’s five one-hour episodes—a tiny fraction of our actual time together. I’m actually looking forward to reliving it all with you.”
She smiles. “I’m a bit excited to see me being a total badass.”
“Me too. Tell you what, let’s watch every episode together, just you and me. In bed.”
Wincing, she says, “I already told my family we’d watch the premiere together. You’re invited too, of course.”
My gut flips at the thought. “Oh, well, brilliant. Just as good. Give them a chance to observe me in my element.”
“That’s what I was thinking. You can impress them straight out of the gate.” Arabella smiles, then, after a second, bites her lip. “It’ll be all right, won’t it?”
“Yes, it will. We’ve alreadymore thanproved our love to each other. And now we can prove it to the world.”
Nodding, she says, “Yes. Five episodes, then onto bigger and better things.”
“Speaking of which…” I say, leaning in and letting my lips brush along the nape of her neck.
Arabella makes a little moaning sound, indicating that round three is about to begin. She murmurs, “We should be sleeping but we also need to make the most of the time we have left.”
“You say that as if these are our final moments together forever.”
“Well, notforever, obviously. But things are about to get considerably more difficult.” Kiss. “I’m going to miss having you in my bed every night.” Kiss. “Although I imagine I’ll get a lot more sleep.” She nips at my bottom lip.
I freeze in place. “What do you mean you won’t have me in your bed every night?”
“Well, we’re not married, so it’s not like you can stay over at the palace or I can stay with you. Not without causing a scandal.”
It’s not?“Would it really be such a scandal? I mean, you’re almost thirty, for God’s sake.”
