Page 60 of Cleansed By Water (The Nature Hunters Academy 3)

His flavor filled her taste buds and completely new sensations took over. Why the hell weren’t people doing this all of the time? It was exciting and terrifying and wonderful all at the same time, not to mention, it just felt amazing.

Liam moaned as he leaned into her, and Gabby pressed forward in response. His hand slid into her hair, and he tilted her head to the side and kissedher deeper. She couldn’t have stopped the small noise that escaped her even if she’d wanted to, which she didn’t, because holy hell.

When she thought things couldn’t get any more intense, they did. Gabby could feel her magic welling up inside. The heat that always simmered deep in her chest rose and pushed forward. Then it flowed from her chest into Liam’s body.

“Damn,” he groaned, separating his lips just long enough before diving back in. Liam shifted her until she straddled his lap. Her heart pounded in her chest, and Gabby had to pull her face back just to get some air. Her lungs were on fire, burning right up with the rest of her body, though for different reasons.

Liam wasn’t deterred when she broke the kiss. His lips were instantly on her cheek, moving down her jaw line and then her neck until he ended at the hollow of her throat.

He paused, his lips pressing tenderly against her skin. Gabby closed her eyes, leaning her head back a bit to give him more room.

“I’ll never let you go,” Liam whispered against her throat. “Bloody hell, woman. All I’ve done is kiss you, and yet I’ve never felt more complete.”

“I feel it, too,” she admitted.

“Our magic is dancing,” he said. He pulled his head back and looked at her, a grin spread across his handsome face.

A brow rose on her face. “Dancing?”

He nodded and then seemed to consider something. “Actually, it might be doing a bit more than dancing.”

Gabby felt a sizzle down the bond connecting them, and her eyes widened. “Are you telling me our magic is…”

“Getting busy?” Liam asked with a laugh.

Gabby groaned and covered her face. She felt her skin heating. Okay, so she’d just thought she couldn’t be embarrassed in front of Liam. Apparently, her magic was a shameless hussy determined to get busy, as Liam put it, with his magic.

“Don’t be bashful,” he said, pulling her hand away from her face. “I’m not ashamed to admit I’m jealous. Close your eyes,” he commanded.

Gabby obeyed. It was easier not to look at him in that moment.

“Look inside your mind. See the strands? Fire and water,” he whispered in awe.

Gabby’s breath caught as she looked in her mind as Liam instructed. She saw the cord of flame wrapped, as in an embrace, around a cord made up of water. “What about the gold cord?”

“That’s the soul bond,” Liam explained. “This is our magic.”

“It’s like they missed each other or something,” she said as she watched the two cords shift and move, though never separating.

“It’s how I feel every time I see you. I just want to wrap you up tightly and never let you go.” Liam’s voice wasn’t playful in the least. He was dead serious.

“Stalker,” Gabby mumbled, unsure how to handle his open confessions like that. She wasn’t used to people saying nice things to her. Nothing more than a “good job” when she’d done well at the academy.

“Are you all right?”

Gabby’s eyes opened at the sound of his question. She was still sitting, straddled on his lap, his face only inches from hers. Her hands rested on his chest, and she could feel every shift in his muscles. He was warm and felt like home. Like she was where she was supposed to be. “I think so,” she answered.

He stared intently into her eyes, as if looking to see the truth in her words. After a moment, he nodded. “It won’t last.”

A huff of laughter whooshed out of her. “Thank you for the vote of confidence.”

He brushed a few strands of hair from her face. “I don’t mean it to be rude. I just mean, this is new. It’s going to be overwhelming at times. Especially since I know I’m going to drive you insane with never wanting to be away from you. You’ll probably try to hide from me again. I’m giving you permission to have the freak-out that is bound to come. I promise I won’t get mad and decide we’re through. Deal?”

Gabby knew she was looking at him like he’d lost his damn mind. “Give me permission?”

“After you have your freak-out and throw something at me or try to lock me out of your room, you’re going to worry that I’ll get tired of taking your abuse, which is just foreplay to me, by the way, and worry I’ll leave you. I’m giving you the heads-up that you don’t need to fear that. Ergo, permission to freak out with the security that I will love you through your tantrum.”

Gabby wasn’t sure if she should be offended that he was so certain that she was going to throw a tantrum, angry that he was implying she was like a child, or in awe that he knew she would need his reassurances when she did freak out. Jeez, relationships were hard. All the feels were going to make her head explode.

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