I think the correct term to fill in the blank would be intimacy. According to Robert J. Sternberg's triarchic theory of love, intimacy relates to the emotional feelings of warmth, closeness, and sharing in a relationship. It is being described as the feeling of being close and attached to each other. It is the component of love that strengthens the bond that is being shared by the people in the relationship. It aids in creating the feeling of ease with each other given that the feeling is mutual between the parties involved. Other components of love, according to this theory are passion and commitment.
