Clockwork Heart: Clockwork Love, Book 1 by Heidi Cullinan Page B

fade away, because all that mattered was this man, this kiss.
    The bell tower chimed in the distance, not quite breaking the spell, but reminding them there was more to the world than not-pretend kisses. Cornelius broke away gently, resting his forehead against Johann’s, nuzzling his nose.
    “So,” he said at last, his heart beating like a butterfly at his throat. “That…was acceptable?”
    Johann brushed a chaste kiss across Cornelius’s mouth. “Yes.”
    “I don’t think I can stay in Calais. Even if I don’t go on this ship.” He caught the fingers of Johann’s false hand, threading his through. “Would…would you come with me?”
    Johann squeezed back. “Of course.”
    Cornelius let out a shaky breath and shut his eyes. “Good. Because…I’m terrified.”
    “I will keep you safe.”
    After kissing Johann’s nose, Cornelius sat up. “I need to pack some things. And I must meet Valentin. Even if only for a few moments.”
    “Take all the time you need. Unless you think he can’t be trusted?”
    Cornelius didn’t know if it was because he was a fool, or because Valentin was, but he couldn’t imagine any scenario where his friend became his enemy. “I don’t think he’s dangerous.”
    “I don’t, either. He warned me not to hurt you, and I think he meant it.” He nodded, a decision made. “You should see him, at least to say goodbye. But don’t hurry. We should go at night. Harder to notice us then, and I can erase our tracks. I can inspect the ships while you visit.” He touched his peg leg. “I think I should wear the other one. I move better.”
    “Of course.” Cornelius rose to get it. “I need to pack supplies so I can repair you as well. And maybe a few other gadgets to make things easier.” He handed the leg to Johann. “Should—should I tell Félix?”
    Johann frowned as he unscrewed the peg leg. “Less is better, sometimes. If he doesn’t know where you are, he can’t tell anyone. If he doesn’t even know you’re leaving, he seems more genuine. They will hurt him less, if they interrogate him.”
    Cornelius clapped a hand over his mouth and sat down hard on a chair.
    Partly legless, Johann hobbled over and kissed his hair, squeezing his shoulder. “We will go tonight. Perhaps they won’t ask him any questions.”
    “But where will we go? I don’t know how to live on the run.”
    “I do. I promise to take care of you.” He kissed Johann’s cheek and sat back down to put his proper leg in place. “Pack your bag. Tell me how to help.”
    Cornelius rose unsteadily, staring blearily around the room. It was full, floor to ceiling, with his most precious collections: his books, his inventions, his gadgets, his tools. He would need three great carts to carry it all away. The idea of selecting down to a knapsack made him ill.
    Reminding himself the thought of dying or watching Johann die as they tore him open to steal his heart would make him far sicker, he steeled his resolve, picked up a leather satchel and began making difficult choices.
    * * * * *
    Johann thought about Cornelius all the way to the docks. Specifically, he thought about kissing Cornelius.
    It had been good, he thought. Johann wasn’t the most skilled at lovemaking, but kisses, it turned out, were kisses. And either Cornelius was being very polite, or he’d found Johann adequate enough. The handy thing about kissing a man was his mouth didn’t have to tell you he thought you were worth kissing. His trousers would do it for you.
    Johann still found it a bit odd, to think he’d just kissed a man not for a pretense, but because he’d wanted to. It felt good. Right, even. He’d planned to die on that barge of corpses. He hadn’t intended to be reborn in the arms of a man, but there were definitely worse ways to live. He wasn’t certain others would agree with the acceptability of this kind of thinking, but Johann was highly disillusioned with what others expected him to do, especially since most of