Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
“I haven’t pricked her at all,” I respond. “Not once. So there’s no chance I’ve injected her with anything that would be affecting her ability to wake up.”
“How much are you holding her?” Chadka asks.
“Most of the day. I can’t stand to put her down. Sometimes I let her sleep for a while in her crib, but it makes me antsy. I need to feel her heartbeat.”
Chadka nods. “I wonder if we should make her uncomfortable. Cold for example. We could try turning the temperature way down in this exam room and take away her blanket and your body heat.”
I wince, hating the idea. I don’t want her in distress and confused. But I’ll try anything at this point.
Thabo steps closer and lifts her limp arm. It falls back against her chest when he releases it. “I think you should prick her with an aphrodisiac.”
Chadka takes her wrist to feel her pulse. “It’s not a bad idea. Even a female who’s in a deep sleep from exhaustion rouses when she’s sexually stimulated.”
My chest is tight. These are great plans. On the flip side, if they don’t work, I’ll be devastated and extremely concerned.
“I’ll bring a crib into the room. We don’t want to risk her falling off the table.” Chadka turns to leave.
I keep bouncing Bailey in my arms. “Please, Little one. Wake up for me.” I kiss her forehead. I’ve kissed her a hundred times in the last few days. I need my lips against her temple. I need to inhale her scent. Remind myself she’s fine. Just sleeping.
When Chadka returns, I lower her into the crib and take away the blanket. I hate doing this to her. I don’t want her to jolt awake because she’s freezing. I don’t want her to spend even one second scared. But I will do anything to see her eyes for longer than a fleeting moment and all the way, wide open.
“I’ve lowered the temperature significantly,” Chadka says. “Why don’t you take off her diaper. We’ll slide a pad under her just in case she pees.”
Thabo removes her pacifier. “Prick her skin,” he says.
The temperature is already coming down. Even I’m chilly, and I’m significantly larger than my Little girl. She won’t like being this cold. So far she hasn’t moved or acknowledged the fact that she should be uncomfortably cold. Her arms are bent and limp beside her head. Her legs are bent and splayed open.
The sides of the crib are still lowered. Thabo and Chadka won’t let anything happen to her on their side. I would never move away from the opposite side.
I watch her face as I stroke a finger down the center of her chest and then circle one of her nipples. She doesn’t react, so I bend down and suckle her small bud, teasing it until it stiffens. I know that doesn’t mean anything. It’s a physical reaction to stimulus, not an indication that she’s awake.
Finally I pierce her breast and let a decent amount of my serum enter her bloodstream—the aphrodisiac.
I don’t breathe for the next several seconds while I stare at her. None of us do. The room is so silent. All we hear is the air circulating.
Finally, my girl squirms. Not only does she extend her arms and legs, but she arches her chest slightly. Her eyes blink several times before she opens them fully.
The best part is that I can smell her arousal. It’s a good sign.
I lean over my Little girl and smile. “Hey there, Baby girl. Welcome back.”
She licks her lips. “Papi?”
I smile broader. “I’m right here, Little one.” I reach for her fingers and grip them not wanting to touch her too much. I don’t want to warm her. I need her awake as long as possible. “Do you feel okay?”
Her gaze darts toward the doctors.
“I’m Chadka, and this is Thabo. You’re in the clinic, Little one,” Chadka informs her. “How do you feel?” he repeats.
“Cold.”
Thabo chuckles. “That’s good. It’s cold in here.”
I love that she’s talking. For most Little girls, speech returns on about the third day. She’s not too far off that mark. But how long will she stay awake, and will she slide back into the catatonic state when she goes back to sleep?
“So tired,” she whispers. Her eyes flutter closed again.
My heart seizes. I squeeze her fingers. “Stay awake, Baby girl. Papi needs to see your eyes.”
She shakes her head. Also a good sign. She has mobility. Her arms and legs are wiggling, too. So her speech and movements are on par for day four. Why can’t she stay awake?
“Prick her again,” Thabo suggests gently.
I kiss my Little girl on the lips to get her attention and then lower my head to her other breast.
“Papi…” she whines.
Music to my ears, but it doesn’t stop me from piercing her areola. Another rather hefty dose of my aphrodisiac.