Page 96 of Seducing Hope (The Hope Legacy)

I cut straight to the point. “First, an explanation of last night.”

“No.”

“No?”

She sighs. “I get it. You thought you would be taking advantage of me—but you wouldn’t have been. I’m stronger than that. But it’s fine. You underestimated me, I overestimated you. Let’s just train.”

I suppose I should be thankful she understands what happened. But she’s still pushing me away. I crook a finger at her. “Let’s see what you’ve got physically.”

She frowns. “I thought we were training my magic, not my body.” I grin as she waggles her finger. “Don’t, just don’t.” A blush creeps up her neck.

“Too easy,” I mutter.

Her mouth drops open. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

I stalk toward her, and unlike most, she holds her ground. Grabbing her hand, I flatten it on my bare chest. The spark of attraction bounces between us as I tap her hand against my thudding heart until she picks up the beat. Her eyes flash with amusement as her lips tug up.

“If you start singing ‘Hungry Eyes,’ I’m going to ask Zac for help instead.” I frown. “Dirty Dancing? The legend that is Patrick Swayze?” I tilt my head, and she rolls her eyes. “Ugh, never mind.”

“With each heartbeat, try to pull the power from inside then manipulate it into what you want. Concentrate on air. Your magic comes from the outside world, but it is intricately woven within your body; it’s an extension of who you are. You already know how to use your body as weapon—the trick is to weave the magic with your existing skills so it becomes natural.”

“Not sure it will ever feel natural… One minute I can’t find it at all, and the next I’m throwing around an entire pool.”

I sigh and push a loose tendril of her caramel hair behind her ear. Goosebumps break out along her neck as her pulse flutters. “Have you always had strong mental shields?”

She thins her lips. “Not as strong as this, no.”

“Was it easy learning how to strengthen them to this extent?”

She shakes her head. “No.”

“Was it easy keeping them up relentlessly?”

She bites her lip, and I struggle to focus. “No.”

“But now they’re as easy as breathing?”

She nods once. “Yes.”

“Your will is strong, Natia. I have no doubt that, with practice, using and controlling these new powers will become equally as easy. They will become another tool in your arsenal that, given the amount of danger you run headlong into, will be vital in keeping you alive.”

“So, why am I fighting physically at the same time as learning my powers?”

“When are you most likely to need them?”

She sighs. “In a fight.”

I nod. “Exactly, and we don’t have the luxury to teach you baby steps. Tell me, in the times your power has shown itself, what were you feeling?” A look of pure frustration contorts her features. “What’s wrong?”

“I already tried this tactic with Duncan. He wanted me to pull the power to me and conjure up the pissed off feeling I had when I threw Zee across the room. It didn’t work.”

I grin. “Why did you throw Zee across the room?”

She blushes, igniting my curiosity. “He said some rude things.”

“About?”

Her eyes flash. It’s about me. Did she defend me, or was she annoyed at her own reaction to me?

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