The Last Mercy

Occupied France, 1942.

In Lyon, a city strangled by shadows and betrayal, German soldier Johann Keller is bound to a cause he no longer believes in. Claire Moreau, a fearless young courier for the resistance, risks her life with every message she carries.

When their paths collide one night, Johann makes a choice that changes everything, he spares her life. What begins as an act of mercy sparks a forbidden love, whispered in alleys and hidden from watchful eyes.

But as the Gestapo closes in and suspicion grows on both sides, trust becomes more dangerous than treason. In a world where every heartbeat could be their last, Johann and Claire must decide whether love is worth the ultimate price.

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Claire pressed herself against Johann, breath uneven, fingers digging into his coat. She tilted her head slightly, feeling his warm breath against her neck, sending a shiver down her spine. "They could be anywhere," she whispered, voice trembling.

Johann's hands cupped her face, thumbs tracing her jaw, lingering there like he couldn't let go. "Then we stay... just for now. Here. Together."

A nervous smile tugged at her lips. "And you call this a good idea?"

"I don't care," he murmured, voice low, rough with need. "I need this. You... I can't wait. Not a second longer."

Her pulse throbbed against his chest. "Johann..."

He leaned closer, lips brushing hers, teeth grazing her bottom lip, holding her like he feared she might vanish. "Stay with me. Feel this. Every heartbeat, every breath-remember it. Remember us-before the world drags us apart."

Her fingers clung to him, nails pressing into his coat. His hands tightened around her waist, holding her impossibly close. For a moment, the war, the fear, the shadows outside-they all vanished, leaving only the heat between them, fragile and burning.