Justin Long on 'Protecting' His 'Sacred' Love With Kate Bosworth: 'I've Never Had Anything Like This'

etonline.com:

Justin Long is cherishing the new love he has found with his girlfriend, Kate Bosworth, saying, «I've never had anything like this before.»The actor and fellow podcast host opened up about his relationship, and navigating the waters of public dating, on Chelsea Handler's podcast, .

While first tip-toeing around the subject, Handler asked, «Am I allowed to say her name?» To which Long assured with a smile, «Yeah, yeah, yes!» A post shared by Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler)Discussing the nature of public, celebrity relationships, Long referenced Handler's relationship with stand-up comic Jo Koy and how the couple has shared their romance with the world. «I love how open you are with your happiness and your joy,» Long said. «But there's something about it, for me, that I feel like I need to protect and keep sacred because it feels sacred.» Long continued, «I've never had anything like this before… I've never experienced this.

So I want to protect and keep it, you know?» The  podcast host was first rumored to be dating Bosworth after the actors worked together on the film This after Bosworth publicly ended her eight-year marriage with film director Michael Polish.

Though initially keeping their relationship behind closed doors, Bosworth and Long have been spotted several times. First, the couple was spotted in Santa Monica, California, on a dinner date, then the pair's romance was solidified when photographed mid-liplock as they lounged in the sand during a trip to Hawaii.Earlier this month, a source close to the couple gave an update to ET about how close the pair had gotten.