Page 35

thirteen

RHETT

Erin started distancing herself from me more than usual after the care package challenge. I wasn’t sure why, but it seemed likely that someone else had said something to make her think they’d be a better mate.

Which made me see fucking red.

I couldn’t admit that, though.

So when the other guys went for a walk and Erin went with them, I leaned over to Kyle and said, “I need to talk to her.”

He and I were sitting in front of our dead firepit while the rain poured down.

He raised his eyebrows. “That’s too risky, Rhetti.”

“She’s uncertain. I need to calm her fears. One of the other bastards might’ve said something to make her want them.”

“I was there the whole time. She didn’t seem interested in any of them.”

“I can’t take that risk.”

“You can and will,” he said bluntly. “Our only goal is to get you to the end.”

“She has to choose me when we get there,” I growled.

“She will.”

My flat look told him how much I believed him.

Kyle smacked me on the thigh. “Listen, my man. You can get to the end safely, or you can risk everything to make sure you and Erin are on the same page. Cameron went with the first option, and it worked for him. You can try to talk to her if you want, but there’s no guarantee it’ll work out. And a little uncertainty seems better to me than risking your entire game—and life—for a conversation.

I clenched my jaw.

Kyle changed his approach. “Her conversations went the smoothest with Kaden and Colt. She seemed to like Kade the most. Why don’t we just target one of them tonight? I can get Travis and Chris to vote with us if I approach it right.”

We’d been planning to vote with Chris, Ian, and Colt to get rid of Travis that night. He didn’t particularly trust Kyle despite getting to the end with him in the first season, so Kyle wanted him out.

But, if Erin was even slightly interested in Kaden, we needed to get rid of him.

Followed by Colt.

As soon as possible.

So, I jerked my head in a nod. “Kaden goes home.”

“I’ll make it happen,” Kyle agreed. “For the love of fae, don’t do anything stupid. I can’t drag your ass to the end if you make yourself a target.”

As frustrating as it was, he was right.

I’d have to figure out another way to make Erin more confident in me. One that didn’t risk my place in the game.

Gritting my teeth, I remained where I was and put together a plan while Kyle headed into the jungle to talk to some of the guys.

The vote went down exactly as we planned—me, Kyle, Travis, and Chris against the other three—and Kaden went home.

Kyle chatted with Erin on his way back to the shelters, his hands in his pockets while hers were tucked in her raincoat. We were still getting poured on, and there was an assload of wind.

She stayed quiet during the walk, and called it a night as soon as we were there. Everyone else did too.

Her coat squealed every time she moved on top of me, so both of us stayed extremely still as everyone started going to sleep. Her position was a little stiffer than usual, and I itched to have her bare skin touching me instead of the rubber jacket. But, I was just glad she was there.

As soon as she was settled, I closed my eyes and started the illusion I’d been planning. Like usual, she tensed against me before she relaxed again.

Instead of sitting on the Survival island like usual, we stared up at my house.

It wasn’t as fancy as many of the fae’s homes—I didn’t want a mansion—but I kept up with everything and updated it when I needed to.

I didn’t know how she’d really react to seeing my house, so I didn’t impose much on her in the illusion. It would feel more realistic for her to be along for the ride than to be reacting incorrectly.

The scent of saltwater was heavy in the air, and we could hear the waves rolling to the shore. I slipped my hand in hers and led her up to the doorstep. I wanted to scoop her off her feet and carry her myself, but once again, didn’t want to put her off.

Not just because of the illusion, but because I was worried she’d find me overbearing.

So, we walked up to the door. She opened it, and my hands found her hips as she stepped inside.

“Welcome home,” I murmured to her, as she took everything in. Her steps were long and her eyes bright while I led her through the house, showing her everything.

The tour landed in my room.

Our room.

I couldn’t risk turning her on too much while there were other men around us, so I only allowed myself to kiss her neck lightly. “I’ll make you happy here, if you let me,” I said simply.

I wanted to tell her that I’d fuck her on every surface in the house.

That I’d make love to her pressed against a window, so she could watch the waves while she came undone on my cock.

That we’d talk while we cooked together, decide which of the Society’s jobs to work and reject together, and just overall enjoy life together.

But without a conversation, I didn’t know where her mind was at.

So, I had to be careful about the overbearing thing. Being too much was a good way to chase her into someone else’s arms.

We sat down on a porch swing that had never been used and watched the waves together until her eyelids grew heavy and she fell asleep in my arms, both in the illusion and in real life.

It wasn’t the conversation I wanted to have, but it would have to do.