Opal (Rare Gems Series Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

that’s more than likely due to the fact that you’re still wolf, too. But I cannot keep you safe if you’re constantly starving. I need to protect you. You have to help me or we’ll both die. And I don’t want anything at all to happen to you.”
    “ I can take care of myself.” This time when she tried to stand, he let her. She was under no delusions that he’d let her, either. He was a vampire, an old one if she thought about what he could do in comparison to any of the others that she knew. When she reached for her clothing, in shreds now, he laughed. The thought of ramming the pen into his head made her breath catch.
    “ In my haste, I destroyed your pretty things. I’m profoundly sorry for that. I’ll buy you more things. Just place an order with Alex, and he can make sure it’s there when you next rise. If you need something sooner, just tell him so.” She didn’t answer him, knowing that she’d not be doing any such thing. And she was pretty sure he knew it.
    As he left the room, naked as the day he was born , she let the tears finally fall. It wasn’t until Sapphire touched her mind that she had any idea why she was crying. She just sobbed harder when her sister asked her if she wanted to go shopping.
    ~~~
    The mall wasn’t busy this time of the evening. The usual bunch of high school kids were running around, but nothing like it was on the weekend. But little of that mattered when she looked at Opal. Her sister was hurting. Any fool could tell that, and Sapphire was not a fool.
    “ Thanks for going with me.” Opal nodded but still said nothing. “I have to get me a few more blouses to wear until the baby comes, and I’m sick to death of the ones I have now. Just a few more weeks to go. Then I can pop this thing out and get on with my life while he stays with Blair all day in the hot, stuffy office.”
    “ I think you look great.” Her compliment felt halfhearted, but Sapphire didn’t say anything as Opal continued. “Wait, did you just…? I was paying attention, Sapphire. I’m just a little distracted, that’s all. Can I…? I was wondering if I could borrow some money. I tried the bank, but they said without credit I can’t get any. Stupid, I know, but I can’t think of any other way of getting this thing going. I’m tired of just doing this half assed.”
    “ I’m glad to know you don’t think I’d leave the baby like that. And I’d say you’re more than a little distracted. As for the loan? You know I can’t do that.” Opal nodded and moved away from her to another stack of maternity tops…not far, but enough that Sapphire felt the gap. Things were on sale, of course, but the season was all wrong. She watched Opal as she picked up another shirt, this one in a puce color. “Will you tell me why you won’t ask Sloan for the money? I know for a fact that he has it.”
    “ I don’t want him, much less his money.” Her voice was hard and curt, but her actions told Sapphire that she was afraid of something, and she wondered for a moment if Sloan had hurt her. “He and I are mated now. As if you couldn’t tell. But I still don’t want him in my life. I was doing just fine without him.”
    “ I can tell that you’re mated, and congratulations on that. But…how do you feel about that? Because for as much as you say you don’t want him, it’s obvious that the two of you are making love.” She could also tell that her sister had fed, and fed well. She wondered briefly if she’d killed anyone to do it, but remembered what Quentin had told them. They could only feed from each other for the first few months of their bonding, then they could feed from anyone. It was a bonding thing only vampires could understand, he said, something about the safety of mankind. Sapphire thought it was safer; this was just her opinion, but knowing how difficult it was for a mated couple to keep their hands off each other, it was definitely safer for the public that way. Not that her and Blair