Read Online Fragile Crystal: Rubies and Rivalries (The Crystal Fragments Trilogy) by M. J. Lawless - Free Book Online Page A

good at her job. I’ve known Maria Gosselin for nearly ten years, and she’s never let me down yet.”
    “Oh,” Kris began to push herself up the bed—and also slightly away from Daniel, the better to look at him.
    “Yes, oh.” There was a finality in his voice, an indication that he would brook no further discussion on this subject. Then he looked around him and his expression changed, showing a genuine distaste that surprised her.
    “We should get you out of here, back to Cascais.”
    “It’s okay. I can get back to Alfama after I’ve rested here for a day or two.”
    He shook his head. “I’d prefer it if you didn’t. Let Anna look after you for a while. I’ll set Jorge to drive you around—I know you like him.”
    “That’s true. But why not let them look after me here?”
    His mouth smiled grimly but his eyes still looked around him with extreme displeasure. At last they came to rest on her and he lifted his hand, waving it in front of his face. “Because of this,” he told her. “I spent too long in a hospital after the crash, and I’ve always resolved to waste as little of my time as possible in one ever since. I want to be with you tonight, if I’m going to be away for a week again.”
    The reminder about his crash made Kris more subdued, and she regretted her earlier tartness about the lawyer. “I’m sorry, I forgot.”
    This time his smile was genuine. “My, Miss Avelar,” he teased her. “You are in an apologetic mood today. Quite amusing, really. You’ve been somewhat feisty recently.”
    “Yes, well. I made a complete fool of myself today—no, don’t interrupt. I did. This,” she gestured towards her leg, “will be a reminder for a little while yet.”
    “Oh, I don’t know,” he replied, looking at her bare leg in its clear, inflated cocoon, bruising clearly evident around her ankle. “I think it’s rather fetching. Having you in my power, utterly unable to resist all my darkest and most wicked desires...” Rubbing his hands together, he bowed forward and gave a melodramatic cackle before kissing her again.
    She was smiling when he drew back once more. “Like I could resist anything from you.”
    “Yes, indeed,” he responded, waving a finger at her. “I’ve been finding out more about the Braganza family than I care to know in recent weeks.”
    She burst out laughing at this. Braganza. Her safe word. A protection from Daniel when he had pushed her, made her submit to desires that she could not fulfil. “I’d almost forgotten that. I don’t think you’ve stretched my limits anywhere near enough recently. I don’t think you love me anymore.”
    He placed a hand on her forehead and stroked her gently. “Don’t say that,” he told her quietly. Then, with a wry glance at her head, he observed: “Not that I think I’ll be pushing you anywhere soon, not unless it’s in a wheelchair.”
    She reached behind her for a pillow and used it to smack him across the chest, a loud soft thump echoing from her blow. Both of them were laughing but, as she shifted around, a sudden stabbing twinge made her cry out in pain.
    “See,” he said, replacing the pillow behind her head. “That’s what comes of not submitting. You should know better by now, Miss Avelar.”
    “Indeed I should, Mister Stone,” she replied in mock seriousness. After she had spoken, he looked around the room again, his eyes fretful. She watched him for a moment then asked:
    “Does it remind you of her?”
    He nodded, not needing to ask who she referred to. “I didn’t see her when they took her to the hospital.” His voice was very quiet. “I didn’t even get to the funeral. I was out cold. Apparently they tried to save the baby but...” He stopped.
    She placed one of her hands on his. His fingers were warm beneath her palm, the ridges of his knuckles solid and sure. So strong, and yet so fragile, she thought.
    “Come on,” she said at last. “Get me that wheelchair you promised. Tell Filipe