Saint Laurent's Most Eligible Vampires

Twice Kissed But Not Bitten

     Johnny is picking me up today to visit the Cathedral. I’m not sure how I feel after learning the real reason I’m here.

From what Shawna said, I don’t even have a choice but to do the Dating show. I don’t know how I can look at Johnny the same. How can he just go along with this plan?

The knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts. I sat my cup of tea down on the table and walked to the door. Reaching up on my tiptoes, I peek through the peephole to see who it is.

My heart races as Johnny stands outside my door. I take a deep breath and let it out before opening the door.

“Hey, you’re early,” I said.

“Sorry, I guess I couldn’t wait to see you,” he smiled, and it melted my heart.

“Just let me grab my purse,” I said.

“Did you get your key card yet?” He asked me.

I grabbed my purse and walked towards the door, “Yes, but it doesn’t work for the Library,” I said.

“I suspected that. I’ll see what I can do,” he grabbed my hand in his as we walked down the hall.

“What do you mean? That Heather girl also seemed upset I was in the library the other day,” I said.

“Don’t mind Heather, she means well. The library will take a little longer to get approved,” he said.

We stepped out into the blazing New Orleans sun and headed towards the Cathedral.

Seeing the Cathedral in person took my breath away. It’s gorgeous. We are sitting in front of the Jackson Statue eating ice cream.

“So, tell me why you’ve always liked the Cathedral,” Johnny said.

“My grandmother painted a picture of it when I was a little girl. She used to tell me that one day, she would bring me here,” I wish my Grandma could be here.

“She’s a painter? Did she visit here before?” he reached over and wiped ice cream from the corner of my mouth. I blushed as his hands touched my face.

“She used to be. She hasn’t painted since her Stroke a few years ago,” My eyes brimmed with tears that threatened to spill, and I looked away.

“We should take a picture for her. We could send it to her, to inspire her,” He pulled me to him and snapped several pictures of us together, “Give me your phone number,”

I pulled out my phone and read my number to him. A few moments later, the pictures came in my message box. We look like the perfect couple. Grandma would love to see the pictures.

I pulled up Aunt Lonnie’s phone number and copied the pictures and hit send. I then typed up a message to show Grandma.

“Thank you,” I reached over and kissed him on the cheek.

“Just promise if she paints again, you’ll show me her work sometime,” his arm feels nice wrapped around me.

“I think Grandma would like that,” I told him.

“My family helped rebuild the Church after the fire in 1788,” he said.

“Really? That’s amazing. Are there people buried under the Church?” I threw my napkin in the trash can and sat back down next to him.

“Yes. Do you believe in ghosts?” He asked.

I thought about it a few moments before replying, “Yes, I do,”

“The ghost of Antonio de Sedella runs around the church now and then, according to the locals,” he said.

“Do you believe it?” I asked him.

“I believe in ghosts and many other things. How about you?” he peered at me from over his ice cream cone.

“Like what?” I’m not sure what he means by other things.

“Witches, Vampires, werewolves,” he said.

I waited for him to laugh and show me he’s joking, but he didn’t.

“I believe in magic. I suppose that means I believe people can learn witchcraft. Vampires and Werewolves are just myths,” I laughed.

“Only because you believe you’ve never seen one,” he stood up and threw away the rest of his melting cone. That’s what he gets for getting a triple-dip on such a hot day.

“Have you seen one before?” I asked him.

“I live in New Orleans, I’ve seen everything,” his lips turned up in a devilish grin, and he winked at me.

As we walk down the street, I spot a few kids throwing water balloons. An idea pops into my head. I walk over to the little blonde boy and whisper in his ear, “Can a buy some balloons off of you?”

“Lady, I got a whole cart full how much you want?” he whispered back.

Johnny is standing by the curb, watching me. For a moment, he watches me but, he quickly figures out my plan. He runs up to the other kid.

“Here’s ten bucks,” I tell the kid.

“Let’s get em,” The boy hands me a water balloon.

I quickly launch the red balloon at Johnny and nail him right on his face.

“Oh, you’re in trouble now, Lina,” Johnny launches a balloon at me. I try to dodge but it hit me right on my hip.

“You’ll have to do better than that,” I laughed. This time, I picked up three balloons in my hand and launched them, one by one, at Johnny.

He followed my lead and picked up several at a time and launched them my way. Each one landed in a splat on me.

“Move closer,” The kid pulled the cart forward, and I followed, “I’ll hand them to you,”

I stand a few feet away and throw balloon after balloon, but he’s good at dodging.

“If you wanted to get wet, Lina, we could have gone swimming,” He grabbed me and squeezed the water balloon in his hands, making it burst over my head.

“No fair,” I laughed.

“Are you guys going to kiss?” the blonde boy asked.

“Should I kiss her?” Johnny asked him.

“She threw water balloons on you,” His partner protested.

My heart raced as I waited for him to decide if he would kiss me. His lips lingered close to mine. He wrapped his fingers gently into my wet hair and pulled me forward. His lips crash into mine, and my knees weaken at the feel of his soft lips on mine.

I pull away, aware of the kids watching. Johnny hesitates but allows me to pull away.

“Thanks for the balloons, guys,” I said.

“I think she just wanted a kiss,” The darker-haired boy from Johnny’s side said.

They walked off as they argued over who won the balloon fight. It reminded me of being that age, so carefree.

Johnny took my hand in his as we walked down the streets of the French Quarter. I like him. But Shawna’s words kept playing in the back of my mind. Is this all just a game to him?

“Johnny,” I stopped walking and pulled my hand away.

“Is something wrong?” he looked at me, waiting for an answer.

I promised them I wouldn’t say anything, but I liked him. I didn’t want to compete for anyone.

“We can’t do this,” I said before I lost my nerve.

“Is this about yesterday,” he pushed me against the tree and pinned my hands above me. “Because I’m pretty sure you kissed me back just a little bit ago,” His gaze raked over my body and his lips parted. I licked my lips in anticipation, “You want me too,” his lips met mine, and warmth spread through my core.

I moaned as my fingers laced through his hair. Why did he have to be so damn sexy? “Johnny,” I tried to speak, but my body had a mind of its own.

“Tell me you don’t want this,” his voice was rough and sexy. He once again pinned my hands above my head. He deepened the kiss. I was thankful we are in a wooded area because if not, we’d be giving everyone a show.

“Not here, Johnny,” I said.

He pulled away and backed away from the tree.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what got into me, Lina,” Johnny said. He ran his fingers over his eyelids. “Let’s get you back home,”

We ascended the stairs to the Dorm in silence. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. As we reach the top of the steps, Johnny kissed me gently on the forehead, “I had a great time, Lina,”

“I won’t do the dating show,” I told him. I sighed, thankful I finally said it.

He stared at me for a moment before asking, “who told you?”

“I overheard some gossip,” I lied.

“You have to, your parents signed a contract,” he whispered.

I could feel tears welling in my eyes, threatening to fall. The first time I let my heart lead and not my brain, I end up on a dating show. It’s just not me. My Grandpa always told me never to cry in front of a man. I took a deep breath and pushed back the tears, “then eliminate me on day one,”

“Lina, my attraction to you is real,” he stepped forward, and I held my hands out to keep him away.

“If it’s real, cancel the show,” I said.

“I can’t,” his eyes raked over me, begging me to change my mind.

“I don’t compete for love. I can compete for grades, scholarships, jobs but not love,” I took one last look at Johnny, hoping he changed his mind. When he said nothing, I went inside before the tears fell down my face.

“