Page 87 of Glamour & Gumballs

I stepped out of his arms and grabbed his elbow, leading him to the bathroom’s large sliding doors. They were similar to the barn doors that had been trendy long ago, but were a more modern version.

“I’ll come find you when I’m done.” Leaving him outside the door, I closed it.

Or closed it as much as was possible, given that it didn’t have a lock or anything. Really, it was more like a privacy divider than a door.

Standing just on the other side of it, I closed my eyes and let out a slow breath.

I’d never really managed to think my way through something. My brain didn’t work like that. If it did, I hadn’t figured out how. I usually just had to ignore my feelings until they went away. If I could avoid them long enough, I could seal the bond with Rhett and be forced to figure everything else out as it came up.

That was probably ideal.

I heard footsteps on the other side of the door, and tilted my head closer so I could hear Rhett walk away.

But, as soon as the footsteps moved away, they returned.

My forehead creased as I listened.

Close, then far.

Close, then far.

Close, then far.

Ohhh.

He was pacing.

He wasn’t as skilled at ignoring my emotions as I was. And didn’t realize why I needed space.

I didn’t want to tell him, though.

When he really learned how to embrace his dominant side, he would just step back into the bathroom and demand to talk to me. Maybe we’d even learn how to work through things that way.

But at the moment, he didn’t seem ready to push me.

And I wasn’t going to offer to help with that when it came to feelings I didn’t really understand myself.

I wasn’t the kind of girl who would ever survive being married or mated to a timid guy. If Rhett and I were going to make things work, he had to be honest with both me and himself, and speak up when he wanted to speak up.

He wasn’t there yet, but I was pretty damn sure he’d get there.

So, I finally stepped into the shower. After the water washed most of my sand away, I sniffed all the different products, enjoying the yummy, masculine scents. I’d never smelled any of them on Rhett, considering where we’d been living, but I kind of looked forward to it.

I scrubbed my scalp with shampoo viciously, then loaded conditioner onto the strands before rubbing my entire body down with shower gel.

I was almost finished rinsing the conditioner out when the sliding door finally moved.

Surprise lifted my eyebrows as Rhett stepped inside, his gaze intense. Instead of speaking, he stepped out of his shorts and boxers, then joined me in the shower.

I stepped back to give him space.

He didn’t like that, and reached for my hips.

I took another step back, holding out my hands. “You’re sandy. I finally got clean.”

“I’ll wash you again.” He captured my hips and tugged me closer, until my bare chest was pressed against his.

“I told you, I need time to think.”

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