McKenzie, Cooper - Saving Chloe (Siren Publishing Classic) Read Online Free PDF Page A

away so we can talk.”
    Her attitude was so demanding and condescending that Declan had to take a deep breath to calm himself. Though he wanted to show her attitude, vampire-style, he didn’t want to frighten Chloe. Not yet. It was too soon. If he let loose with fangs and claws and a little bloodletting, he would lose any chance of winning his mate.
    “Declan.” Chloe patted his chest to pull his attention away from the blonde. “Let me talk to Jasmine,” she whispered too softly for the other woman to hear.
    “Are ye sure, darlin’?”
    Chloe nodded as she lifted the hand that had patted his chest to his cheek. She stroked it and smiled. “I’m sure. Just don’t go too far, okay?”
    “Never again,” he said with a smile.
    He looked at the woman and frowned. “Turn yer back, wench,” he said in the voice that he used to manipulate humans without their realizing what was being done. He’d been using it at a reduced wattage, but Jasmine seemed unaffected to this point. So he upped the power, something he never did with humans, but apparently had to with this woman.
    Blinking, Jasmine frowned at him then whirled around and stared out at the street. He lifted Chloe off his lap and yanked his shorts and boxers up as his mate quickly hooked her bra and buttoned her blouse. With one last lingering kiss, he sat back down on the top step.
    “Ye can turn back now,” he said with a smirk.
    When Jasmine turned and glared at him, he lifted one eyebrow, just waiting for her to object to his continued presence in Chloe’s yard. Then he allowed his fangs to drop just enough that when he gave her a false smile, she saw them.

    * * * *

    As she slowly left Declan’s arms, she realized he was right. These so-called friends were human vampires. They sucked time, energy, and life right out of a person. Turning, she looked at Jasmine in a new light. As she approached the other woman on legs that felt like cooked noodles, she watched as Jasmine shot Declan a dirty look. Then the other woman blinked and looked almost frightened. When Chloe reached her side, Jasmine turned her back to the house, forcing Chloe to walk around her in order to talk face-to-face.
    “What do you want, Jasmine?” Chloe asked.
    Even if the other woman couldn’t make it out, she heard the tone that combined sated sleepiness with annoyed resignation. The editing had taken its toll, and fantastic sex with Declan had drained all her tension away. All at once, she really did feel completely drained—emotionally, spiritually, physically. Would it matter to her friend that sheer willpower was all that was keeping her on her feet?
    Probably not. She answered her own question as she looked into Jasmine’s face. The woman had on her “I need a favor” expression. Chloe had learned during their first few meetings that what Jasmine wanted, Jasmine got. It did not matter to her how much whining or wheedling she had to use. In the end, she always won. Normally, Chloe found it easier to give the woman what she wanted the first time she asked instead of listening to her carry on.
    “I wonder if I can bum a soda for the morning. We’re out, and I don’t get paid until next week.” Jasmine grabbed her arm again and pulled her all the way to the street.
    “Yeah, sure, why not,” Chloe said with a sigh.
    Turning back, she decided to make Jasmine wait outside while she fetched the requested soda. This was not the first soda her friend had “bummed” and no doubt would not be the last. Tonight, at least she could refuse Jasmine entry to her house. Otherwise, Jasmine would settle on the couch, and it would be another two hours before she left again, and it would not bother her that Declan was sitting on the porch steps waiting for her to leave.
    “Who is that guy? And what were you doing kissing him? I thought you’d broken up with Bill and were giving up on men?” Jasmine just about drooled as she questioned Chloe.
    “I did break up with Bill. That’s