Page 38 of Sealed By Fire (The Nature Hunters Academy 2)

“I’m going to call in the heads of each department,” Terrick said. “I’m hoping we can keep this from turning into too big of a mess.”

Iterra smiled. “It’s better to lower your expectations a bit. That way when it turns out good, you’re pleasantly surprised.”

“I’ll take that under advisement, my love.”

* * *

Elias felta burning need inside of him, and it was beginning to drive him a bit mad. He had no idea what was going on, just that he and Tara had been eating with Liam and Aston one minute and then the next he’d pulled her to her feet and began tugging her behind him out of the dining hall and toward his room.

“Is everything okay?” Tara said, her voice wavering a little.

Elias could tell his behavior was making her nervous, and he honestly couldn’t say it shouldn’t. Bloody hell, it was making him nervous as well.

“I’m not sure.”

“Elias?” Her voice was softer and full of concern.

He didn’t respond. Elias pushed open his dorm room door and pulled her inside. As soon as it closed, he turned and gently pushed her against it. Elias leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers. His breathing was rapid, and his heart was pounding painfully in his chest.

“Hey.” Tara reached up and placed a palm on his face.

Elias leaned into the touch, allowing the heat of her flesh to ground him to the here and now. “Just give me a moment, please.”

“Okay,” she said but didn’t move her hand, and he was thankful.

Elias searched his emotions, trying to determine why he was so desperate to keep her close and away from anyone else. It wasn’t rational. He didn’t want her near other elementalists. He just wanted her with him where he could keep her safe. Elias needed to feel her body against his. He needed the current that flowed through them to make a loop from her body to his, making them one. He wanted to strip her.

“Bloody hell!” Elias jumped away from her as if he’d been burned. He couldn’t believe where his mind had taken him. But he knew it was the magic inside of him that wanted to join with Tara. Her magic called to it, beckoning them to join in every way. There was something significant and unexplainable about the way the magic worked … not that the man didn’t crave to be joined with Tara as well. Elias was in love with Tara. He wanted her in every way that a man could have a woman.

“Your eyes are swirling,” Tara said as she watched him intently.

He blinked, trying to get control of his emotions, but they were not going to be pushed back into a box.

Tara closed the distance between them and once again reached up to cup his face in her small hands. She pulled gently, and he let her draw him to her face. Her eyes locked on his as she rose up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. At first, the touch was tentative and unsure. Elias wrapped an arm around Tara’s waist and pulled her against him. His other hand ran up her back until he held the nape of her neck in a possessive way. He tilted his head to deepen the kiss and, when she moaned and opened her mouth, Elias licked the inside of her lips in a slow, sensual circle.

“Elias,” Tara breathed out in a rush.

Her desire for him was as palpable as his was for her. He felt her desperate need in the way that she clutched him as her hands lowered from his face, down his shoulders, and under his arms so she could wrap them around him.

Elias backed her up once more and pillowed her head to keep it from knocking against the door. He felt her body rise, seeking the heat of his own. He obliged by pressing close to her.

Her scent swirled around him, making his head swim. She tasted of peaches and sugar as their tongues danced. Every now and then, Tara would nip at his bottom or top lip, and it drove him crazy. He growled when she did it again. He picked her up, encouraging her to wrap her legs around his waist.

He forced himself to slow down, and he began pressing light, soft, kisses to her cheeks, eyelids, jawline, and neck. Elias loved the way she tasted. He latched on to the skin just below her ear and sucked gently.

“Ahh.” Tara’s voice rushed out as her forehead dropped to his shoulder. Elias continued to bite and suck gently on the same spot as she undulated her body against his. It seemed to drive her crazy and it drove him just as wild knowing he had this effect on her.

“Elias, please,” she said in a breathy, sexy voice. “What’s going on?”

Elias chuckled. “If I have to explain it to you, then I don’t think I’m doing it right.”

His mouth went back to her neck, and he knew he was leaving a mark on her flesh. It should have bothered him, but some primitive part of his brain liked that she would wear his mark for a time.

“I mean,” she huffed, “why are you like this?” Her words came out in breathy pants as his hands ran up the outside of her thighs to her bottom and back down again.

“I’m in love. I’m attracted to you, and everything inside of me, down to the marrow of my bones, is telling me to lay you on that bed and strip you down, flesh to flesh, and join our bodies and our magic.”

“Holy fairy babies,” she choked. “You just say it like it is, don’t you?”

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