Page 19 of Glamour & Gumballs

But thinking about gumballs brought back good memories. Memories of putting a coin in a machine at a rundown mall as a child, and inevitably getting my least-favorite color every time.

My lips curved upward slightly.

Maybe the gumballs weren’t a waste of space after all.

“I’m stuck wherever Rhett is, since no one else is willing to keep me warm without turning it into a sharing situation,” I told Kyle and his gang.

All of the men looked at Rhett.

Refusing to move would probably help his case against staying on the island. But instead, he dipped his head. “It’s about time to call it a night anyway.”

When Rhett stood, I went with him, still leaning against his side. He left his arm over my shoulders, relaxingly heavy and blissfully warm.

The other guys chatted all the way back to the unfinished shelters, and through the plasticky, packaged brownie desserts we shared.

Everyone chewed gumballs while the conversation continued, and we’d barely made a dent in them when everyone turned in for the night.

Rhett and I took the far end of one of the shelters. Rain was still pouring down on us, and the leaves over our heads didn’t do nearly as good a job of blocking the water as I would’ve hoped.

He settled on his back, with his side against Ev’s. Like all the other men, he’d put his wings and horns away for the sake of sleeping, which meant I couldn’t use them as an umbrella anymore.

But I’d survive.

He gestured me toward him when he was comfortable—or as comfortable as he could be on a lumpy bamboo platform while it rained.

After a moment of hesitation, the cold made up my mind for me.

I got cozy on my side, my front to Rhett’s hip while I tried to press as much of my body to his as I could. I was so close to the edge of the shelter that it was a balancing act, but the fae were massive, so I’d expected that.

Luckily, one of them would be going home the next day. That would mean more space, I hoped.

“I usually sleep like a starfish,” I whispered. “I’m sorry in advance if I end up sprawling over you during the night.”

He grunted.

I felt bad, but not bad enough to try my luck with the harem.

So, I just closed my eyes and tried to sleep. I expected it to take a while, but I was out almost immediately.

four

RHETT

I stared up at the dripping leaves, my heart beating steadily against Erin’s. The woman had draped her entire body over mine within minutes of falling asleep. My cock was pinned beneath her thigh, her soft breasts were against my chest, and her head was tucked against my neck.

I shouldn’t have wanted her, but I did. My erection made that impossible to deny. I could’ve called it nature, but I knew better.

It was her.

I hadn’t been attracted to Molly or any of the other compatible females I’d guarded as they played in Bachelorette. But the moment I’d met Erin, she had my complete attention.

That didn’t change anything, of course.

I had no intention of taking a mate.

It was just a distraction.

A pleasant one.

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