Free Timeless (Pandora Book 1) by Kali Argent Page A

before, she didn’t get a chance to question what the word meant. Her apartment door opened, and Xavian entered the kitchen brandishing a beignet.
    “Have you tried these things? They’re better than sex.”
    Charli snorted. “If that’s the case, you’re doing it wrong.”
    Xavian gaped at her, but Vane laughed as he slid off his seat and headed toward the bathroom. “I’m going to shower. You two play nice.”
    While she liked Xavian, Charli only wanted to play with one man, and she wouldn’t exactly describe what she wanted to do to Vane as “nice.” Watching him walk away, she bit down on her bottom lip and hummed under her breath. He really did have a fabulous ass, and she couldn’t wait to get her hands on it.
    Once he’d disappeared into the bathroom, some of the hunger clawing at her melted away, leaving a rush of embarrassment in its wake. “Oh, my God,” she mumbled into her hands as she covered her face. “What just happened? I mean, I know what happened, but seriously, what the hell just happened?”
    She’d practically climbed the guy like a jungle gym and shoved her tongue down his throat. That was exactly what had happened.
    Rounding the low bar, Xavian shoved the last of the beignet into his mouth and slid onto the stool beside her. “You talk to yourself a lot.”
    Charli dropped her hands to her lap but continued to look down at her knees. “I live alone, and I don’t go out much. Plus, it’s easier to work through problems when I talk about them out loud.” The more they discussed something other than Vane and how she’d thrown herself at him, the better she felt. “What about you? Any weird habits?”
    “A few, like sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong. Do you want to tell me what you’re going on about?”
    “Not really.” She didn’t fully understand it herself. “You know about this ability I have? How I can feel other people’s emotions?”
    Xavian swiveled his seat so that he could lean back against the counter and nodded. “Yeah, I know. What about it?”
    “How do I control it? Where did it even come from? Why haven’t I ever noticed it before?” Charli stopped herself there before she could get too worked up and start babbling.
    “I think you probably have felt it before. You just didn’t realize it.” Crossing his arms over his chest, Xavian stared at her with a creased brow. “You’re special, Charli. I don’t know exactly how it works, but that’s the short answer. As for how you control it, I can’t say. I think that’s something that will come with time and practice.”
    Charli deflated. “That was incredibly…unhelpful.”
    “I know, and I’m sorry.” He didn’t look the least apologetic as he laughed at her. “I wish I had better answers.” Reaching across the counter, he took her phone and placed it in her hands. “I believe you were supposed to be calling someone?”
    “Sage, yeah, to tell her I can’t make brunch. How did you know?” Realizing he’d heard them through the door, Charli dropped her head and groaned. “How much did you hear?”
    “Not much.” The smirk on his face said differently. “Make your call.”
    “One more question.”
    Xavian nodded. “Okay.”
    “What does ‘ prya’ mean?”
    His smile slipped a notch, and the light in his eyes dimmed. Though he recovered quickly, a sense of despair washed over Charli, and this time she knew the emotion wasn’t her own.
    “On our planet, it’s an endearment that means something close to dear one or beloved.” His eyes strayed to the closed bathroom door. “Why do you ask?”
    Without being told, Charli understood she’d crossed a line she shouldn’t have. “Oh, uh, I thought Vane said something like that when he was talking about Sage. I guess I misheard.” Holding her cell phone up, she waved it at Xavian and offered a tight-lipped smile. “I should probably make that call now.”
    She slid off her seat and shuffled the five steps into the living room