The Soul Mate by Madeline Sheehan Read Free Book Online Page B

she was pointing
a long, red fingernail at me.
    “She’s just playing hard to get, aren’t you?”
Shandor released Magdolna’s face for a few seconds to grin at me.
Yep, I thought. Definitely a hyena.
    “Yeah, that’s it,” I muttered. “As I walk
home I am going to be wishing one of you had begged me to stay and
partake in… in whatever the hell this is? Gypsies gone wild?”
    Xan’s eyes narrowed.
    Fifi balled up her fist and struck a very
menacing pose for a 5’3”, 110 pound girl. Xan, smirking, grabbed
her by the waist and pulled her back.
    “Aw Trin, you’re selling yourself short. I
seem to remember just last night by the creek seeing a very
public-
    “XAN!” I shouted over him as realization
dawned. “Shut. Up.”
    His smile was lazy but his eyes were as sharp
as knives, ready to slice straight through any dignity I had.
    “Please…” He mocked, his lips curving into a
wicked smile.
    “Please…” He repeated. All eyes were on me
now.
    “So did he Trin?” Xan’s tone had gone from
mocking to downright acidic. “Did Gerik give you what you needed?
Cuz, from where I was standing, it sure as hell looked like
it.”
    Shandor and Magdolna exploded in laughter
behind me.
    “You are such a jerk,” I hissed.
    “Aww Xan…” Fifi slipped in front of him,
wrapping her arms around his neck, lifting her chin. “You made the
little Gaje slut upset.” Giggling seductively, she went up on her
toes, moving in for a kiss.
    Using her hair to angle her head the way he
wanted it, he kissed her back. Within seconds Fifi was mewling
softly, rocking her body against Xan’s.
    I was instantly jealous. Not of Fifi’s
rendezvous with Xan, but of the freedom she had to do as she
pleased. At any time she could pull away from him, he had no
supernatural power unwillingly tethering her to him. I didn’t have
that luxury.
    Xan glanced up and caught me staring. My face
heated. Whipping around, I stalked quickly in the direction of the
creek.
    “I should ask that Até lover to get me some
Xanax instead of Midol,” I sputtered.
    “If you didn’t call me a… whatever the hell
you just called me, I just might do it.”
    I closed my eyes and blew out a breath. He
must have literally thrown Fifi off of him to catch up to me this
quickly.
    “Why in all the Gods are you following me,
don’t you have females in need of your expert services?”
    He grinned. “You’re a female.”
    I nearly choked. “Not when it comes to
you.”
    “Fată, if I was after that sweet stash of
yours, I could have already had it.”
    I gaped at him. “You did not just say that to
me.”
    “It’s true though, isn’t it?” Xan began
individually cracking his knuckles as he looked up at the sky, his
face a portrait of arrogance. “I’ve seen the way you look at me,
like you’re soaking wet and need me to wring you out until you’re
good and dry.”
    I think I had a mini heart attack just then.
“You piece of-
    “Whoa! Trin! Back up the hate truck. I just
came over here to apologize. I was way out of line back there fată.
What happens between you and Gerik is none of anyone’s
business.”
    He continued to grin. “But don’t be
embarrassed about being caught in the middle of the big ‘O’. You
looked damn good all heated up.”
    My jaw went lax. I had no idea how to respond
to that.
    “Your idea of apologizing is very odd,” I
told him.
    He took a very deliberate step toward me.
“Want me to try again?” He asked in a low voice.
    Feeling like a cornered rabbit, I immediately
put my hand up and took a step backwards. “I thought you weren’t
after my… uh… whatever you said.”
    Xan froze and covered his face with his
hands. His shoulders began to shake with laughter.
    “What?” I asked him, confused.
    With a loud guffaw, he looked up at me and
burst into full hysterics. “You’re too goddamn innocent for your
own good, you know that?” He continued laughing at me.
    Feeling like a complete idiot, I did the