I couldn't have failed, not now, not after all this, not after all the risk, all the danger, all the planning...Not now that I knew I loved him. And t...en he shivered. it was the weakest of movements but I was sure I saw it. As if to confirm it, he shivered again. Then his lips parted and he drew in a tiny, weak breath. I placed a small tank of air in the coffin and put the mask over his mouth. Then I replaced the lid and slid the coffin back into the hearse. I drove all the way to the clinic. “My name’s Alex. Nice to meet you, Julia.”“Later,” was all she said, as she packed up her own laptop and put it in her bag, walking off past me, obviously rushing to another class.But this was my only class, and I was in no rush. I was finished for the day and I took my time, watching Julia walk to the front of the classroom and out the door with all of the other students. All of the other young students. I was an old man, probably a decade or so older than the professor too. My hair was still. ? If a girl is selected, a deposit is made fromher prospective buyer which covers the expenses of ?collecting? the girl andtransporting her back to Beatrice?s home deep in the mountains. Beatrice picked up the professional web camera and slippedon her headset, dialing the overseas number.??I have her,? she told the man on the other end of the line.? ?And she is as gorgeous and fit as thepictures indicated.? ?Excellent.? May I seeher please?? ?Of course, hold on.??Beatrice walked over to the. It wanted nothing more than to mount this woman, jump inside her and scream its primal need to pound, to pump, to devour her with its so-called power. David always thought of the power that happened between two people who gave themselves up to this. To the rub of skin, the smell of the body, the feel of arms and legs and crotches and chests and heat from the mouth, all of it. Stroking himself slightly, he then reached up to hold her steady once again. He opened her with his tongue. .