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back, holding her there.  Keeping her. 
    She wanted to taste him, but would not be so bold.  It was for him to give his blood to her if he chose, and he did not, so she must be satisfied with the embrace.  An embrace she would dream about ever after.  If she never saw him again, this kiss would carry her through the days, a bright glint to the dark webbing about her soul.
    “Do you know how difficult it’ll be to walk away from this?” Johnny asked, bracketing her face to peer into her eyes.  “Your kiss tastes so dark.”
    Kam bowed her head to his.  How right he was, and it embarrassed her.
    “Like dark chocolates.  The kind I used to sneak from my mother’s stash when I was little.  Sweet with a kick of bitter.  Made to be savored slowly.”
    She liked the sound of that.  And she did not.  She wanted him to devour her. 
    “But your blood…”  He tapped her lower lip and pushed his finger into her mouth, touching the tip of her tongue where she had cut it on his fang.  Healed now, but so sensitive to his touch.  “Some kind of drug,” he whispered, with an eyebrow quirking in wonder.  She’d bet he slayed a thousand hearts when on stage with that teasing brow.  “That little taste…  Kambriel.  I knew this would be wrong.”
    Suddenly he stood.  Kam wasn’t even aware of him pushing her off his lap, until she had to catch a hand on the back of the bench to keep from sprawling to the side.
    “What did I do?” Kam asked.
    Johnny whispered, but she heard it, “You just touched my soul, Kam.”  Turning from her, he clutched a hank of his hair in a hand.  “Fuck.”
    She bent her knees, bringing her legs up to her chest again, a protective position she assumed without second thought.  Shouldn’t he be holding her close?
    “Guess that means there’s going to be a fight,” he said, lightening the mood.  He shoved his hands in his pants pockets and stared off at the carousel.
    “A fight?”
    He tilted a smile at her, and it was so charming Kam was lured to her feet to stand before him.  She wanted to climb inside his smile and find shelter there.
    “Only one man can have you.  I want to be that man.”
    He slid his hand behind her neck and bent to kiss her again.  This time, he dove deeply, painting her tongue with his, dashing across her teeth, breathing her air and exhaling his want.  And it was all Kam could do to wish away the past months—or years—and start anew.
    “Save me,” she whispered. 
    Then, realizing what she’d said, she pulled from his embrace and turned to dash down the pebbled walk.  She’d spoken her most desperate desire.  Too soon.  She didn’t know if she could trust him yet.  What mistake had she made?
    “Kam!”
    “I didn’t mean it,” she called, but she didn’t shout it.  Didn’t want to commit to that lie.  “Don’t follow me.  He’ll know.”              By the time she reached the tree-lined alley that opened onto the rue de Rivoli, only then dare she turn around.  Johnny Santiago stood at the end of the long garden walk, backlit by the carnival lights.  A rock star who had just crooned a love song to her heart.  The mirrored pond glimmered at his feet, further lighting his midnight stage. 
    A man who would fight for her?  After only one kiss?
    “One kiss is all that matters,” she whispered, touching her lips, and feeling his warmth there.  “It will bring my death.”
    ***
    Upon returning from the Tuileries, Kam wandered into her flat, absently commanding the music on with but a spoken word.  Music always filled her head.  It kept her thoughts from committing hari-kari.  Because once she started to mentally wander backward in time, memories were abruptly shut out by an invisible wall that she wanted to beat her fists against.
    Now, as she stretched her arms above her head and languished in the remembered feel of Johnny’s arms about her body and his mouth taking hers, she allowed a smile.  She