Read Clockwork Heart: Clockwork Love, Book 1 for Free Online Page B

where he could feel how round and firm and yet still soft Cornelius’s derrière was. It wasn’t entirely sure what to do with the men-women, but it didn’t mind them half as much as Johann’s terrified mind did.
    Johann’s cock loved Cornelius’s kisses. The tender ones, the flirty ones along his jaw—but more than anything, it treasured the one time Cornelius had sucked, ever so gently, on the pulse in his neck. The crowd applauded and made lewd sounds—but then, as after every kiss, Cornelius gave Johann that pained expression and another apology when no one else was watching.
    No one tried to get Johann to speak further, not even Valentin, who had become distracted by a charming Moor and a bottle of wine. People spoke at Johann, mostly encouraging more kisses, and if Johann waggled his eyebrow and nipped at Cornelius’s shoulder, they cheered and left him alone.
    Pretend to be Cornelius’s lover. It seemed he could do this far too easily for comfort.
    When the café closed, the men spilled into the streets, heading across the way to a raucous tavern with women and men both leaning out of upstairs windows, catcalling to the herd. Johann girded himself for the transfer, but to his surprise, Cornelius led him away. When their companions complained, Cornelius shook his finger at them. “No, I’m going home.”
    Everyone leered and applauded, making it clear they knew exactly what was going to happen when Cornelius and Johann got back to the apartment.
    They drifted toward a side street, Cornelius still wrapped around Johann, but the instant they were out of view, Cornelius broke away. Now he chattered in French. Panicked, almost tearful pleadings, too fast and incoherent for Johann to catch more than the occasional fleeting word which out of context meant nothing. Except sorry . Over and over again, Cornelius apologized. And before long, he began to cry.
    Johann clomped over on his peg leg and gripped Cornelius firmly by the shoulders. “ Nicht weinen. ” He wished he knew how to say don’t cry in French. He trailed a fingertip beside a descending tear. “What is this? How do you say this? Water from eyes?”
    “Tears,” Cornelius croaked in a jagged whisper. His gaze, still full of sorrow and fear, still streaked with his weeping, never left Johann’s.
    Johann didn’t look away either. “No tears.” He grazed Cornelius’s cheek with the knuckles of his flesh hand. “We pretend. No tears.”
    Cornelius’s eyes spilled over once more, but some of his uneasiness melted away. “You are a fine man, Johann.”
    Johann kissed Cornelius’s hand, then let it fall to his side. “Home?”
    They walked in silence through the alleys back to the tinker shop. They didn’t hold hands, but Cornelius kept close as Johann navigated his false leg and his cane. As they ascended the stairs and Cornelius fussed with the complicated lock to his rooms, Johann had a quick consultation with himself.
    If Cornelius kissed him again, alone in the room…well, it wasn’t as if there weren’t a ledger full of other sins he could get arrested for in Calais. Clearly taking a male lover wasn’t as scandalous as being an Austrian soldier. Anyway, he enjoyed Cornelius’s gentle touches. He kissed well too, far better than Johann. Certainly it was unconventional, but that was the whole of his life now. He would do this. If Cornelius gave even the smallest sign he wanted more amorous play, Johann would find a way to indicate he was, in fact, willing to do more than pretend.
    Except Cornelius made no further efforts to kiss him. In the room, he locked the door, sat Johann on the bed and undid his pirate disguise. No kisses, no flirts, only meticulously checked Johann’s artificial joints and attached his usual calf and foot on his right leg. He smiled an awkward, uncertain smile, then busied himself with remaking his pallet bed before the hearth.
    Johann watched him for a moment, then went to the water closet and relieved himself.