The Island Of Bears: A BBW Paranormal Romance by Amira Rain Page B

behind us in the jungle, the parrot called out what sounded like “Hello” a few more times, each one quieter than the last, as if the bird was getting tired.
    Eventually, I became so relaxed that I might have soon drifted off to sleep if Holden hadn’t turned to me with a very serious expression, saying that he needed to tell me something.
    Praying that something wasn’t that he’d decided to try to take me back through the portal to New York City early, I pulled myself up on my elbows, studying his face. “What is it?”
    Frowning, he rolled onto his side and hesitated for a long moment before responding. “This is very, very crucially important to our relationship. So, please...hear me out, even though you might not like what I have to say.”
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
    I sat up fully in the wet sand, my gaze on Holden’s face. “What is it you have to tell me? And why do you think I won’t like it?”
    “Here. Let’s get dressed first. Just on the off-chance that we get any more company other than that parrot back there. My men who patrol this side of the village should be coming back around here within the next hour or so, I expect.”
    We brushed the sand off ourselves and got dressed, with Holden helping me back into my bikini since I couldn’t do it on my own because of being hobbled by my ankle.
    After tying the spaghetti straps of my top behind my neck, Holden gently turned me toward him, frowning. “Actually, before we talk, I think we should get you back to the village, and the doctor. I think your ankle should be tended to as soon as possible. And actually, I feel like a complete jerk for not suggesting this first.”
    I scoffed, though at the same time thinking that his concern was sweet. “There’s no need for urgency with me seeing the doctor. He’s probably just going to wrap it in a bandage and tell me to put some ice on it, which I think can wait. It’s really not even that severe of an injury. I’ve had a sprained ankle once before, and it actually hurt much worse than this, so I think this one is mild. So, please. Let’s sit again, and tell me whatever it was that you wanted to tell me before we got dressed.”
    Holden agreed, seemingly a bit reluctantly, and we sat in the sand again.
    With his arm around me, he looked into my eyes with his expression one of unmistakable sincerity. “Basically, all I wanted to tell you is that I want you to trust me. I want you to trust me to do what’s best to keep you safe, even if that includes sending you back to the city, which it definitely does. I also want you to trust me that this will all work out. We can still stay together and continue on with our relationship, but it just may take some time before you can come back to the island. Believe me when I say I’m going to try my absolute damnedest to try to make that period of time a short one, though. And in the meantime...well, I’m sure I’m going to be a bit busy trying to take out the remaining Forms as quickly as possible so that it will be safe for you to return, but I’ll still be able to come through the portal and visit you in New York every so often.”
    “‘Every so often.’ I just don’t like the sound of that, Holden. That sounds like we’d only be seeing each other every month, or every several months or something, which isn’t nearly as often as I’d like, and I don’t think it’s nearly as often as our new relationship needs. And there’s something else about what you’ve just said that I don’t like. Although...I guess I’m not sure how to say it.”
    “What is it? You can be completely open and honest with me about anything that you’re feeling or thinking right now. Anything at all.”
    I knew that I could, but I really couldn’t think of exactly how to explain specifically what I was thinking right then.
    Trying to sort my thoughts, I looked out at the very last rays of the sunset and the sparkling waters of the ocean briefly before turning my face back to