Page 41 of Sealed By Fire (The Nature Hunters Academy 2)

He took a breath and let it out slowly as he gathered his courage. Rejection was a bitch, and no one wanted to face it. But for a man, rejection was akin to having his balls cut off and hung out for all to see. “What just happened between us felt like it was inevitable. It felt right, like we’re supposed to be joined, and I don’t just mean in the Biblical sense.” She blushed, and he couldn’t keep from leaning down and pressing his lips gently to hers. “Everything inside of me wants to be connected to you like that always. I don’t really know what that means.”

Tara nodded. “I think I understand because I feel the same way, but I can’t fully explain it. It’s almost violent.”

“That’s getting close to describing it.” Elias breathed out.

She nodded. “I wish we had someone we could ask. Though I’m not going to lie, it would be mortifying to ask anyone about something so personal and intimate.”

Elias’s lips turned up. “I love it when you blush. I’d endure us speaking to someone just so I could watch your beautiful skin turn ten shades of red.”

She smacked his shoulder. “Not cool, dude. Not cool.”

He shrugged. “Maybe not for you.”

Tara laughed, and he loved the sound of it. He wanted her to laugh often, and he wanted to be the cause of that laughter.

“Can I be honest with you?” she asked him, suddenly looking nervous.

“Always.”

“As right as this”—she motioned between them—“felt, I’m not ready.”

“For what?” he asked, knowing full well what she was talking about. He couldn’t help but tease her a bit.

“You know,” she said as her eyes darted away from his.

“But do I? Because I don’t want there to be any kind of miscommunication. I mean, I’ve heard that the best relationships have very open communication policies.”

“Communication policies?” She quirked an eyebrow at him. “That sounds like we’re a business, not a relationship.”

“You’re avoiding the issue.”

“And you’re astute.”

“What is it you aren’t ready for, Tara?”

“Ugh.” She huffed. “Fine, if you’re going to make me say it, then I’m going to kick you out after I say it.”

“We’re in my room,” he pointed out.

“Too bad for you.” She grinned unrepentantly.

“All right, you can kick me out after you tell me what you aren’t ready for.”

She chewed on her bottom lip while she thought and then finally said, “I’m not ready for sex.” Her face brightened to a shade of red he hadn’t previously seen on her.

“Can you define what sex means to you?” he asked, then dodged the hand reaching out to hit him.

“Out,” she yelled and pointed toward the door. “You’ve lost your room privileges.”

Elias didn’t miss the grin she tried to hide from him.

“I’ll just come back when you fall asleep,” he said. “I can tell how tired you are.”

She shook her head. “If I take a nap now, I’ll never be able to sleep tonight.”

“Then what are you going to do without me here?”

A smirk appeared on her beautiful face. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

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