Page 2 of Cleansed By Water (The Nature Hunters Academy 3)

Shelly tried notto blush as she stood in Ra’s dorm room, waiting on the clothes he’d gone to retrieve for her. She didn’t know if she’d ever be able to look at him again and not feel her skin heat with embarrassment. She knew that he knew … well … everything. At least about her body anyway. And as awkward as that was, she didn’t regret it at all.

Last night had been the most amazing night of her life, and she’d felt his emotions for her. She knew his love and adoration were real. She knew he found her to be incredibly attractive, and he desired her. Shelly knew it because she could feel it through the strange bond they now shared. It was beautiful, wondrous, and incredibly overwhelming. The intimacy in the bond was almost more than the intimacy they’d shared in his bed.

The door opened, and Ra stepped in holding a stack of red material. “This is the training uniform for our academy,” he said. “They also were able to get you some necessities.” He held out a bag. She had trouble tearing her eyes away from his face to look at it. He was beyond beautiful in a masculine way that few guys were.

“Thank you,” she said as she took the items. “I’m going to shower.” She motioned toward the shower as if he didn’t know where it was.Gah! I amsoout of my element right now.

Ra stepped closer to her and took her face in his hands. “This will become more natural over time,” he assured her. “It was our first night together. Waking up next to someone shouldn’t feel normal. Especially after what we shared. It’s all right,Mery,” he said gently.

She nodded and then held still as he pressed his lips to hers. He didn’t deepen the kiss, which was probably a good thing considering she might have jumped him, and then they’d be late to breakfast and the meeting that Terrick had informed them all the night before that they’d need to attend. Shelly knew it was important because he’d said they would be planning how to deal with the missing Royals and the sudden changes in climate that were a huge threat to, well, basically all life on earth.

“I’ll shower after you,” Ra said as he stepped back.

Shelly forced herself to walk to the bathroom so that she wouldn’t beg him to kiss her again. She was trying to limit her shameless hussy acts to only a couple a day. It was a lot like counting carbs. She couldn’t get started too early or she wouldn’t have any left for the evening.

The hot water cascading over her body felt fantastic. She was sore in a delicious way but sore nonetheless. She didn’t dally, mostly because she wanted to be with Ra. Being separated, even by a wall, annoyed something inside her. She assumed it was the soul she shared with him. It was as if it didn’t like having any space between him and her. Shelly wondered if he felt the same way. At some point, she would have to pull up her big girl panties and ask him. Communication and all that crap. “Ugh.” She sighed. Relationships were so exhausting, even when all you were doing was thinking about how to navigate one.

By the time she was clothed, hair dried and French braided, she was practically ripping the door off of the bathroom just to get back into the same room with Ra so she could physically see him.

As soon as his eyes met hers, she felt his burning need and his relief. He stood from where he sat on the bed and picked up his own clothes. As Ra walked past her, he lifted his hand and ran a finger down her cheek and neck. He leaned in close and took a deep breath.

“You smell delicious,” he murmured.

“Thank you,” Shelly said breathlessly. She forced herself not to gaze after him longingly as he entered the bathroom. She waited to hear the door close. The sound never came. She heard the water of the shower come on, and she whipped around. Her mouth dropped open as she realized Ra had no intention of closing the door.

“Aaaalll right,” she breathed out. Dude was not self-conscious in any way, which she’d learned the night before. But in the light of day, she was still surprised.

Apparently, the shameless hussy inside of her refused to be stifled. Suddenly, Shelly’s feet were moving. She didn’t stop until she was two steps past the threshold of the bathroom door. She turned her head to gaze through the glass door of the shower. Ra’s arms were above his head as he leaned back into the spray of the water. It cascaded down his very impressive frame.

Shelly sighed and leaned her shoulder and head against the wall.

The glass was quickly fogging, allowing her only glimpses of him, but oh how titillating those glimpses were.

“You can join me if you’d like,” Ra said, not bothering to glance at her. He just went about his business, washing his hair and then his body.

She swallowed thickly. “No, thanks. I’m good.”

“Perhaps you weren’t able to entirely wash your back earlier. I can offer some assistance.”

“I appreciate your generous offer. But I think I got it all. Besides, the view from here is not one I’m willing to give up.” Looks like my filter isn’t working today. I guess I’m going to shamelessly word vomit all over him while stalking him.Super healthy,Shell, super healthy.

When the water turned off, she nearly squeaked as the door slid open. She backed out of the room before he could step out. His laugh caused her to grin.I am so ridiculous.

A few minutes later, Ra was dressed in the same uniform and looked delicious, like a red apple she wanted to take a bite out of.Good grief, someone slap me now.

“Ready?” Ra asked and took her hand.

Shelly nodded. She loved the way he touched her without hesitation. He obviously felt like he had every right to touch her whenever he wanted. And she couldn’t lie: it was hot.

He opened a portal and they stepped through. A minute later, they stood in what looked like an upscale school cafeteria.

“This is the dining hall at Terra Academy,” he explained.

“It’s nice.”

“Yeah. Each academy is amazing in its own way.” Ra looked around and then pointed. “There’s Liam. I’ll warn you now,Mery, he’s going to want to get a rise out of you. Just ignore him. Or kick him in the balls. I don’t care. If he embarrasses you, I will deal with him.” His voice was dark and full of promise.

Shelly patted his arm. “I’m a big girl, Ra. I can handle a pervert.”

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