Vincent's soft landing on the balcony did not distract Catherine from lighting the last few candles before turning to gaze lovingly with a tender smile. Two years ago tonight. They both marveled at how much had changed in those past two years. 'And how much has NOT changed' echoed in Catherine's mind. He still kept just enough distance from her so as not to push her away, yet never allowing steps forward in their relationship. Catherine had been patient. After all there was healing to be done after the brutal attack that that led to Catherine being left in the park to die, and after getting to know Father more it had been clear that Vincent had lived with a lifetime of misguided sermons on the limitations of love that such a man beast may hope for.

​

The incident with Lisa had demonstrated to Catherine the depth of self-incrimination and self-imposed limits Vincent had achieved since his early teens. Catherine took a deep breath and prepared herself to gently push against those limits tonight.

​

"I thought we could go inside... It's warm." She offered with a silent prayer that her reassuring tone and encouragement would be enough to help him cross this barrier. He wavered momentarily swaying back and forth in indecision before another glance her way gave him the strength of will to pass through the French doors to stand a bit stiffly inside her apartment. Catherine stepped inside as well latching the door and pulling closed the drapes.

​

Across the way a disgruntled man pushed aside the telescope to grab up the phone. The ringing continued on for several minutes before he slammed down the receiver and stormed out across the busy street not noticing the traffic. Car brakes slammed on as a loud THUD announced the impact made when a city bus collided with the preoccupied man from the window across from Catherine's building. The driver quickly exited the bus and called out to the on lookers. "Somebody call an ambulance! " Under his breath he muttered curses at the crumpled man lying on the pavement. "Damn pedestrians ... can't they stay out of the middle of the street!"

​

Meanwhile back in Catherine's apartment she mentally whispered a silent thank you to the call from Jenny that had reminded Catherine to unplug the phone so there would be no further interruptions tonight. Jenny had been uneasy about a dream or rather a nightmare that had abruptly ended without knowing the outcome. After pacing the floor for the third time, Jenny had made the call to Catherine and allowed Catherine’s level headedness to prevail. Worries tucked away behind common sense logic, Jenny allowed herself to fall back asleep as Catherine determinedly unplugged the phone cord.

​

Catherine slipped her hand in Vincent's and gently led him over to sit on the couch. His tension began to ease as she snuggled under his arm laying her head against his broad chest. Softly he pressed his chin then his lips upon her silky hair at the top of her head in a silent expression of his pleasure of having her safely in his arms.

​

“I can’t imagine what my life would be like now if you had not found me that night.” She pressed closer pulling her arm over his abdomen to curl around to his back.

​

‘You would have died.’ The thought crept through his mind. “Both our lives changed that night, Catherine. My world has sheltered me, gave me a place to know the kindness of others, but knowing you has opened doors I never imagined.” Gently almost unconscious with the effort he began stroking her back. The simple touch ignited longing in Catherine to feel his touch on her bare flesh. The sensation was not new, but tonight rather than push it aside Catherine allowed the desire to build until she felt the slight stiffening of his hand that alerted her that he too had sensed her emotions.

​

She pulled away enough to look up into his eyes without releasing her hold on him with her arm across his middle. Slowly she leaned in bringing her lips closer to his holding her hand firmly to his chest Vincent’s eyes grew wide at the obvious implication of her movement, but he did not pull away from her kiss. When her lips met his a mental dam broke inside and all the passion he had been holding back flooded forward into the bond. Catherine gasped slightly both from the electricity of that first kiss and a sudden unexpected flood of emotion that she knew in an instant was coming from him.

​

“Vincent?” breathless, she whispered his name questions plain on her face. It was only a split second until he averted his eyes, but she had seen the passion flare there. He couldn’t stand and flee without dumping her on the floor and thus she had the advantage as he closed tight his eyelids and hung his head pushing back his own emotions. “Don’t! Please, don’t hide from me.” As soon as she realized what he was doing she started grasping for a way to keep Vincent from shutting down inside himself.

​

“Catherine... please!” his voice was more hoarse than usual with the emotion he was fighting back. “We can't...”

​

“I love you, Vincent. I love you.” she insisted he hear her. His eyes stayed pressed closed with tears starting to form at the edges. She leaned in close to his ear and whispered, “I love you” in an urgent plea. He opened his eyes and allowed the tears to flow. His hands still rested on her sides steadying her to not let her fall from where she had leaned precariously across him; trusting him to keep her safe. When she felt his grasp gather her up she feared he would again push her away and be gone into the night. Instead he in one fluid motion with all the strength within him rose from the couch and pulled her up to carry her as one might carry a small child with her arms falling naturally around his head. His muscles barely strained under her weight as he strode purposefully towards her bedroom. Long strides took only moments to arrive at her bedside where he paused to look down into her eyes.

​

They both knew there was a line that they were nearing where there would be no turning back. No pushing her away towards another life. She stared back unflinching to blue eyes rolling with emotions... hope, fear, passion, pain, ... desire.

 

“Are you certain? Catherine ... I...” She stopped his words by pulling herself closer and kissing him again. Feeling his knees begin to go weak he laid her down on the bed and stumbled a step back trying to control his breathing.

​

Catherine rose to stand between him and the bed and slowly reached out her hand to caress his chest while keeping his eyes fixed on hers. She knew the bond was relaying her feelings but she wanted him to see there were no doubts in her eyes or heart. Slowly she worked out the tied white fabric just below his chin and proceeded to undue fastenings until she could slip her hand beneath the multiple layers and touch his chest. Her hand rested over his heart – skin against skin – then she traced a line down his torso to where fabric tucked in prevented further exploration.

​

Reigning in control of the power raging within him, Vincent pulled free the tight fabric allowing her access to further exploring but not rushing or removing any layers on his own allowing her to take her time. A part of him could not believe that she was touching him as a lover would and not recoiling. Watching in fascination he allowed her to increasingly loosen the bulky fabric until his chest was laid bare and the top layers draped on his frame waiting their release.

​

She paused in her caressing of him both with her gaze and fingers to reach back and unfasten and unzip her dress inviting his hands on her bare back to wander without the barrier of cloth beneath them. As her hands returned to explore further the top half of his frame both front and back, he bent down to nuzzle her neck. A gasp escaped her lips that in the first instant of sound he mistook for pain but soon came to understand from the bond and her body's response to be pleasure. A subtle smile teased at his lips hidden from her sight.

​

Catherine pressed close against him and could feel the pulsing bulge through his pants. The bond flared hot with both their desires rising. She planted kisses on his exposed chest and grinned devilishly to herself when she heard echoing gasps of pleasure from his lips that interrupted his exploration of her neck.

It was only a whisper, but he plainly heard her... “I want you... all of you.”

With those words the last of his own doubts were pushed aside. He slid her dress down her body to fall at the floor and she in turn bared his body by removing the layers of shirt vest and cloak. He unbuckled his belt and allowed her to push away the restraining layers. Soon they both stood naked before each other and when the feather light touches of exploration became a more gripping need, Vincent pulled back the sheets on Catherine's bed.

​

~~~

The ambulance pulled up the hospital but the lights and sirens were no longer on. The man was DOA and a John Doe with no ID on his person. The corpse was sent down to the morgue until someone could provide more information.

~~~

​

The next morning dawned to find the couple still wrapped in each others arms. For the first time he could remember, there was a sense of hope for the future with the spreading light creeping into the room instead of the constant battle within. He gazed at Catherine starting to stir. Slowly coming awake she didn't want to rush into morning and have the memories of last night be just a dream. Her eyes adjusted to the early morning light and a smile spread across her face when she saw he was indeed there. Not a dream.

​

“Good morning.” Vincent whispered. He seemed more relaxed than she could ever recall.

​

'Morning' – suddenly logic and common sense sprang up in her mind. It was daylight and Vincent was Above. He calmed her with a gentle kiss. “Easy Catherine... we have all day. Together.”

​

“No regrets?” she offered shyly indicating both being trapped Above and alluding to their impromptu lovemaking.

​

“No regrets.” he assured her. The confident manner in which he reached out to caress her skin now cooled from the previous night relieved the last of the tension. Cuddling towards him to press up against him with body heat rising they silently fell back into becoming one.

​

Both knew from then on nothing would ever keep them apart again.

 

~ Finale

 

by Debbie Bluerose

02/08/19