Page 212 of The Obedient Lie

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We stayed there.

Deep.

Inside.

Spent. Smeared in us.Ours.

It took me a minute to get my breathing back, and then I looked at her. She was quiet. I liked her fucked. But I didn’t like her that still. My heart started racing.

“Baby,” I placed palm resting flat over her chest, mainly needing to feel her heartbeat. To calm myself down. Luca must of felt her how still she was against him, his hand going to her wrist. “You still with us?”

She didn’t answer.

Didn’t blink.

Didn’t fuckingmove.

“Baby,” I said again, louder now. My palm was flat over her chest—right where her heart should be pounding.

But I couldn’t feel it.

Not yet.

Luca’s hand slid to her stomach, fingers spread wide.

He was trying to feel her breathe.

“She’s too still,” he muttered. “I can’t—” His voice broke.

I closed my eyes.

And I counted.

One.

There it was. Faint. Fluttering.

Two. Three.

Too fast.

Four.

Still no breath.

“I can feel her heart,” I said, voice thin. “But she’s not breathing.”

Luca didn’t answer.

He was frozen behind her, his hand pressed to her stomach like if he let go, she’d slip away completely.

I leaned in, pressing my forehead to hers, grounding the ache in my chest.

“Come on, baby,” I whispered. “Just one breath. That’s all I need. Just one.”

I counted again.

Five. Six. Seven.

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