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

He chuckled. “Of that, I’ve no doubt. But, there is only so much I will tolerate when it comes to you.”

Shelly looked up at him and smiled. “My hero.”

His lips twitched as if holding back a smile. “Always.”

They took a seat at the table across from Liam. He smiled at them, and Shelly knew the dude wasn’t going to be able to hold his tongue, no matter the consequences.

“You two look surprisingly well-rested.”

“Apparently, exercise is a great precursor for a good night's sleep,” Shelly said without shame. Oh, she might blush and act demure with Ra because he was hers and knew her intimately. But with guys like Liam, she had no qualms about dishing back whatever was thrown at her.

Liam’s brow rose. “Care to elaborate on the type of exercises you two took part in? I’m thinking of maybe taking up a new workout regimen myself.”

Shelly’s eyes lit up with what she knew was a wicked glint. “The delicious, carnal kind that I’m pretty sure you aren’t old enough to hear about. Wouldn’t want to corrupt your young, innocent mind.” Ra’s hand rested on her thigh, and he gave it a gentle squeeze. Shelly didn’t know what it meant, but she didn’t feel anything through their bond except amusement.

Liam chuckled as he shook his head. “You got you a keeper, Ra. She’s feisty and gorgeous.”

“And I’ve got wicked good aim with my foot. It’s like a heat-seeking missile when I send it on a mission to kick the crap out of a dude’s junk.”

Liam’s eyes widened. “Noted.”

Ra spoke up. “Shelly, I don’t know if you were formally introduced to Liam. He’s a student at Hydro Academy, a water elementalist in training. He’s one of my brothers, by choice, not blood. Despite his lack of filter or couth, he would protect you with his life because you are mine.”

Shelly held out her hand to Liam. “Very nice to meet you. Anyone Ra cares about is someone I care about.”

Liam shook her hand. “Thank you, Shelly. It’s very nice to meet you as well. I’ll probably give you crap. But I mean no harm.”

“I’m not easily offended.”

He winked at her. “Good to know.”

Ra pulled her hand out of Liam’s and entwined their fingers, resting their hands on his side of the table with his arm settled over hers.

“I just got a text from Elias,” Liam said. “They’re on their way down.”

Shelly straightened up at the news. It would take everything inside of her not to snatch Tara’s hand and drag her off somewhere private so they could go into a major sharing session. She would force herself to be still and not act like a crazy stalker BFFF.Yeah, just keep telling yourself that, Shell.

* * *

“Do I look different?”Tara asked Elias as she stared at herself in the dresser mirror. She was already outfitted in her black training uniform and ready for the day. Now, she waited impatiently for Elias to get dressed. Waking up in Elias’s arms had been heaven. What had followed had been even better.

“What do you mean?” Elias asked as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He tugged her back against his bare chest and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Tara kept herself from purring …barely.

“I mean, like … can you tell I’m no longer … you know…” She motioned with her hand up and down her body.

Elias smirked. “You mean will other people be able to tell that the gate to your garden has been opened?”

Tara elbowed him in the stomach. “Seriously?”

He shrugged. “It sort of fits. You have a lovely garden—”

Tara reached up and covered his mouth with her hand. “The garden is going to be locked up tight for maintenance if you keep talking.”

She could feel him smirking and saw the mischief in his eyes. If she didn’t know any better, she’d say he didn’t actually believe her. When Tara removed her hand, Elias grabbed her wrist and nipped her palm with his teeth. “I’m pretty sure I could convince you to let me have a special pass.”

Tara rolled her eyes and pulled out of his arms. “Shouldn’t you get dressed? We’re meeting our peeps for breakfast. I want to see Shelly before we have this meeting. I assume there won’t be any time for girly talk afterward.”

“As you wish,” he replied and yanked his pajama pants off and kicked them across the room, leaving himself completely nude.

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