Metal Deep 4: Soul on Fire Read Online Free PDF

“the talk” – once told me, “Son, we’re men, not animals. The one thing that separates us from them is the ability to say ‘No,’ no matter how impossible it may seem to deny that instinctive drive. Should we find ourselves in situations that aren’t appropriate, remember an animal wouldn’t deny himself. So ask yourself, will you be a man, or an animal?” Then he shook his head, “But God help the man who has to try that one. Most don’t succeed. Once those instincts kick in, they’re not designed to stop, so your best bet is to stay out of iffy situations until you mean to be in one.” I thought it funny how Dad and Largo even gave the same advice.
     
    Well, too late for that. I didn’t even see this coming. Sway and I had different rooms in the suite, and we never really got along. Well, not like this. I hadn’t even seen her until she showed up wearing practically nothing. I was completely Bumfuzzled. How did this happen?
     
    Sway moved to press her lips to mine. I knew if that happened I’d be done. I didn’t want to hate myself later, so instead I would hate myself now. I gently wrapped my fingers around the silver loops that encircled her arms and stepped away. “Sway, I can’t.”
     
    Undaunted, her wicked smile spread as she looked me over, “Scion, I know that you can, and I know that you want to.”
     
    “More than you know,” I said while letting go of her. “But wouldn’t you rather wait for this to be special? I’m pretty sure you’re mostly drunk right now.” Seriously, when wasn’t she?
     
    She let out a calloused bolt of self-edifying laughter, “The Special train left my station a long time ago. Take it where you can get it, Metal Boy.”
     
    My head turned to the side, and my fist clinched as her words stung more than the pink skin that continued to bake underneath the bright sun. I knew Sway wasn’t exactly particular, which was fine, but I wasn’t ready to walk down the same road of indiscretion. I shouldn’t have expected her to understand. I knew how she was. Still, I felt a flare of anger. I wasn’t sure why. Was it at me because I wouldn’t take her up on her offer? Was it at her because she had put me in this situation? Was it because it was Sway here and not Maeve? Or, was it just time for me to get mad because I hadn’t been pissed in over twenty-four hours?
     
    I had learned that somehow I unwittingly got this look whenever I got angry. Kata said my head lowers, my eyes narrow, and she swore the Dragonstone energy glows brighter.  It seems my brow cocks in a certain way so that it warns someone if they’ve gone too far. Apparently, I had that look, because Sway widened the space between us.
     
    Sway still held on to an amused grin, “Are you sure?” She asked, “You’ve got a ticket to ride. I’m not saying that ticket won’t be good later, but I pride myself in making it that much more difficult the next time around.”
     
    She was incorrigible. My anger slipped away through a laugh and I turned and cannonballed into a refreshingly cold swimming pool. I emerged just before she disappeared through the door.
     
    Later that afternoon the ALOHA JORDAN sailed into some storm clouds. It was nothing major, just a few low rumbling blankets of overcast cover, but it did bring Sway back from the main pool, and judging by the commotion I heard in the hall upon her return, she had been followed. Who besides me wouldn’t follow her around like a drooling idiot? Nobody .
     
    She promised her fans she would see them later as the valets escorted everyone away. Technically we were the only ones who were supposed to be on that floor. Since Sway did not invite anyone in, the crew had her followers scattered immediately. I guess if she had brought them in for an Elven-Kegger there was nothing the crew could have done about it. No doubt she had teased the possibility. Sway did enjoy messing with the mind. I wondered if maybe I hadn’t been one of her