Page 17

seventeen

MOLLY

I stared at the mansion for a long minute before Cameron pulled me to his chest for a massive, crushing hug.

My arms wrapped around him, and I hugged him back just as tightly. “Is it actually over?”

“It is. No more cameras. No more lies,” he said into my hair.

“It doesn’t feel over.”

“It’ll take time to adjust to being out of the game, Lolli. Let’s go inside.”

I nodded against his chest.

Instead of releasing me so we could walk together, Cameron scooped me up off the ground.

A shocked laugh escaped me as my feet popped into the air, my legs hanging over his arm as he carried me princess-style.

“What are you doing?” I asked, unable to fight my smile.

“Carrying you to and over the threshold. Human movies say that’s a necessity right after marriage.”

“We’re not married, Cam.”

“No, but we’re about to be mated. And that’s much more permanent.” He winked at me.

I bit my lip in an attempt to stop myself from smiling back.

He carried me up a hill and through a massive set of double doors. I stared up at them—and out into the mansion—with awe as we continued onward.

The place was stunning.

Expensive stone floors.

Elegant tall ceilings.

Gigantic chandeliers

The biggest kitchen I’d ever seen.

A dining room that could probably hold three dozen people.

“Who else is coming here?” I asked him, as he carried me through the place without a glance at any of the things I was staring at.

“No one. There’ll be ready-to-cook meals in the fridge, and more than enough groceries to get us by. We’re on our own, finally.”

My stomach tightened just a little at the words.

I wasn’t nervous about the sex. Everything we’d done assured me that would be incredible.

But being permanently mated to anyone was a big change.

Becoming a fae was, too.

What if it hurt?

Or it didn’t work right?

Or—

“I can see you worrying, Lollipop,” Cam said, his voice playful. “You should know by now that I won’t let anything hurt you.”

“Except you,” I pointed out.

“Those times were by necessity, not choice. I’d never choose to hurt you. Not physically, emotionally, or any other way.”

I believed him.

“I’m just worried about the change,” I admitted. “And the fact that we’re sealing our bond permanently. That seems big. And permanent.”

I’d said permanent twice.

Oops.

But the permanence was a huge deal.

“It is,” he agreed.

A moment of silence passed.

My stomach tightened further as we walked past a second dining room that was even larger than the first.

How many dining rooms did one house need?!

“We should fuck on that table,” Cam said, as we passed the room.

My eyebrows lifted. “On the table ? That doesn’t sound comfortable.”

“No, but it sounds hot.”

My brain put together an image of Cam feasting between my thighs while my legs hung off the edges of the table, and I flushed.

Alright, it did sound hot.

“Now I want to know what you’re picturing,” he said, reaching a grand staircase at the end of the dining hall.

“What are you picturing?” I countered.

“You, on your stomach. Bare tits on the wood. Hands pinned behind your back while I fuck you.”

My entire body heated. “Shit, that’s intense.”

“Your turn.”

“I was just picturing you going down on me while I sat on the edge.”

Cam’s chest rumbled in satisfaction. “We’ll definitely make that happen.”

At the top of the staircase, he walked through an elegant set of double doors and into what looked like an old-fashioned sitting room. There was no TV, just couches and chairs that faced each other. I did notice a mini kitchen to the side of it, though with a fridge that definitely didn’t look old-fashioned.

My stomach rumbled at the sight.

“I’ll figure out food while you’re in the shower,” he said.

My eyebrows lifted. “I thought you wanted to seal the bond here and now.”

He flashed me a grin. “You’re covered in sand, Loll. It’s making you miserable. And tense. When I make you mine, you won’t be thinking about the sand on your scalp.”

I relaxed slightly.

Cam wasn’t in a hurry.

He wanted me fed, clean, and comfortable.

“Is the change going to hurt?” I asked him.

“No. It’ll be pure pleasure.” He set me down on my feet in the bedroom and squeezed my ass lightly. “There’s got to be clothes somewhere too. I can look for them after I find us something to eat.”

“Thanks.”

He wasn’t going to make me walk around naked, either.

Things were already much better than they could’ve been.

He brushed a kiss to my mouth before leaving me in the bathroom. His shorts hit the ground on the way out of the bedroom.

He was just as tired of them as I was of my green bikini.

And damn , that was a nice ass.

Closing the bathroom door behind me, I turned the lock and leaned my back against the wood.

The room was silent.

Silence during the day felt alien after being surrounded by noisy strangers for so long. Granted, they weren’t strangers by the time the game was over. But still.

I wasn’t sure whether to enjoy the quiet or feel weird about it, but the privacy was nice.

The bathroom didn’t have any windows, which was even better.

After a moment, I finally stripped my shorts off and untied my swimsuit’s double-knots. It took some time, but I got them undone and left the worn, sandy, green fabric on the floor.

It felt bizarre to know no one was watching.

Good bizarre, though.

I slipped into the shower and spent a few minutes scrubbing everything beneath the hot water. I washed my hair three times with the fancy shampoo on the shelf, and let the conditioner sit in it for ages while I exfoliated every part of my body.

I felt lighter when I got out and dried off.

I was done .

I survived the game show.

I survived the hunger, the heat, and the island.

I picked a mate I could trust—even if I didn’t know everything about him yet—and it was over.

I was never going back.

Relief and gratitude brought tears to my eyes as I leaned against a wall, staring at myself in the large mirror over the vanity.

I wasn’t the same person I’d been when I went in. I was different.

Stronger.

Weaker, too.

But different.

And my reflection showed that.

My face was thinner, after surviving on little more than fish for so long. My curves were smaller. My eyes were harder.

The woman in the mirror didn’t feel like me, but I had to imagine it would take time to get back to that. Especially if I was about to watch my body change with the bond.

“You okay in there?” Cameron called out, knocking lightly on the bathroom door.

“I’m good.” It didn’t feel like a lie.

I was fine.

Just… different.

“I found the clothes the Society left and heated up a mountain of chicken fettucine alfredo. I’ll leave the clothes outside the door. Alfredo’s in the dining room downstairs. I’m going to start eating, so take all the time you need. I’ll save plenty for you,” he said from behind the door.

The words eased whatever worry I’d had.

Cam was going to give me as much space as I wanted. He wasn’t in a rush. He wasn’t going to force me to do anything.

He was still Cameron. The Cameron who had guarded me, and the one I knew on the island.

I didn’t know how he would change when we became mates, but I didn’t think the change would be for the worse. If anything, it should just make him calmer and more confident, because he no longer had to deal with shitty possessiveness and the fact that he was fading.

Right?

I couldn’t say for sure, but that was my assumption.

I heard him leave the room, then waited a few more minutes before I finally let out a long breath and opened the bathroom door.

Sure enough, one of my suitcases was on the floor.

I had packed it with all the others when I was boxing everything up, so someone must’ve moved some of my clothes.

There was a luggage tag on the top with my name on it, and it didn’t look like it had been opened, so I didn’t think Cam had snooped.

He could’ve been the one who packed it, though.

I closed the large bedroom’s doors and locked them, then lifted my suitcase onto the bed and opened it up.

Everything inside was folded neatly and separated in fabric packing cubes. On top of them, there was an envelope with my name on it in pretty cursive handwriting.

My forehead creased as I opened the envelope and pulled out the card. Two printed photos fell out with it, but I read the card before bothering to pick up the pictures.

Dear Molly,

Thank you for fighting for my son. I’ve waited centuries to see him happy, and started believing I’d never get the chance. I haven’t seen him smile the way he does with you since he was a wild little boy.

Welcome to the family!

Love,

Christina Cassette

P.S. It’s tradition for the compatible mate’s mother to fill this bag. I saw that your grandmother packed nothing but racy lingerie, and figured you’d prefer something more comfortable after spending so much time on the island. I put the things she provided in a duffel and had them shipped to Cam’s home.

P.P.S. Couples usually only get a week in the house provided by the Society, but I convinced my husband to change it to two for Survival. It’ll be a much more difficult transition from the island to mating to reality.

P.P.P.S I had nothing to do with you getting thrown out of an airplane. I was furious for your sake when I found out. Cameron’s told me about your fear of heights! And yes, I should’ve written this letter a few days later so I didn’t have to add so many post-scripts. My husband says I’m forgetful, and unfortunately, he isn’t wrong.

My lips curved upward at the note.

Cam was right.

His mother already liked me.

And he had told her about my fear of heights, which meant he’d talked to her about me before.

That alone made me warm.

Her casual, friendly letter only added to that. She obviously wasn’t too concerned with seeming silly, considering how many additions she’d made to the note. The lettering on each of them got smaller, which amused me more.

And replacing the racy lingerie with something more comfortable?

I could kiss her for it.

Or maybe I could kiss her son for it.

I picked up the pictures, and paused as I looked at them.

Both were of Cameron. The left one was him on the island, sitting next to me on the beach and wearing that familiar grin that lit up his whole face.

The right one must’ve been before I knew him. His hair and clothes were still the same style, and he was smiling, but that smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Christina had wanted me to see the visual difference.

I bit my lip and tucked the photos back into the envelope with the letter. Then, I went through the clothes as I unpacked them into a nearby dresser.

There were two sets of my favorite brand of leggings, as well as two sweaters.

And a variety of bras and underwear in different styles, all of which looked designed for comfort, not sex appeal.

Two sets of sleep clothes, both with tank tops and shorts. One was silk, and one was cotton.

A new black bikini that looked far more supportive and comfortable than the one I’d been stuck in on the island.

A soft night dress with spaghetti straps and lace that was tastefully sexy.

And a silky white robe.

Damn, I liked Cam’s mom.

I pulled on a pair of comfortable underwear without touching the bras, then tied the silky robe around my waist.

Padding down the stairs, I managed to find the dining room pretty easily, but stopped when I reached the doorway.

Cam was sitting at the end of the table closest to me, so I was facing his side. His wings and horns were tucked away, his hair was wet from the shower, and all he had on was a pair of soft-looking black joggers.

He looked just like he had before Survival , but with a little more sun.

The man was gorgeous.

And he was going to be mine .

Despite my original lack of enthusiasm about taking a mate, that knowledge made me feel powerful.

When Cam spoke, people listened.

When he walked, they moved.

When he told them to leave, they did.

Being a fae—and being his mate—would change my life.

And not for the worse.

He was so lost in the pasta that he didn’t notice me watching him, which made my lips curve upward.

My gaze moved over the chiseled muscles on his arms, shoulders, and abdomen.

Those were mine, too.

I warmed slightly, and his head immediately jerked to the side. His nostrils flared, and his eyes moved down my body almost predatorily.

The way he looked at me made me shiver in the very best way.

“Hey, Cam.” My voice was soft.

“Eat with me, Lollipop.”

I padded across the room and slipped into the chair beside his.

He thought it was too far, so he hooked his foot in the leg and pulled it over until the side of it was pressed against his.

Then, he set his hand on my thigh.

The white robe only fell a few inches down my legs, so it didn’t conceal much skin. I was pretty sure he’d see my gray cotton panties if I moved. I just didn’t care.

The top of it hung open widely, revealing plenty of cleavage but keeping my pointed nipples out of sight.

It made me feel sexy, honestly.

Cam’s hooded stare ramped that feeling up.

He loaded his fork for me with the tiniest of glances at the massive casserole dish, then held it out to me.

“You’ve got to be hungry still,” I said, accepting the fork and taking a bite.

“Never said I wasn’t.”

I tried to hand the fork back, but he only accepted it long enough to reload it and give it to me again.

“Cam,” I protested.

“I don’t want pasta, Lolli.”

My cheeks flushed.

Oh.

“Take the bite,” he said.

It wasn’t a command, but it felt like one.

And the order felt loaded in a way that made me do it without hesitation.

His chest rumbled. “Keep eating.”

My forehead creased when he slid his chair back and stood.

The crease disappeared a moment later, when he lifted me onto the dining table, slid my ass to the edge, and opened my thighs.

My panties were on the floor in a heartbeat.

His mouth found my clit in the next.

My hips arched my body closer to his mouth.

He nipped at my clit.

I gasped.

“Eat, Loll,” he growled against my core.

I ignored him, arching harder when he sucked my clit.

“That wasn’t a request.” He stopped tasting me, his eyes locked with mine from between my thighs.

“I’m not hungry for that either,” I breathed.

“I need you fed before I can take this further. Eat.”

Though it was the last thing I wanted to do, I finally put a bite of pasta in my mouth.

Cam teased my clit with his tongue, licking and tasting until he gave the command again.

“Eat, Loll.”

I groaned, but did.

He gave me what I wanted while I followed his orders—without letting me climax—and when I finally put down the fork, too full and horny to eat anything else, he stood.