Oblivion 1 parts index

Chapter Eleven

The Great Hall was once again filled to capacity with friends from Above and Below. The walls bedecked with flowers and decorations, amid hundred of candles brightly burning. Catherine stood with Mary, Marie and Devin sharing some delightful tale of Vincent's past with them as usual, for she found she could never hear enough, she wanted to know everything about the life of this man she had just married.

Vincent was being the dutiful host, refilling glasses, mingling with the guests, and enjoying the occasion to meet so many of his dear friends again so soon, while the music played gaily for those who wished to dance, when he heard the sound of Catherine's happy laughter and stopped to watch her.

His ocean blue eyes burned into her back and Catherine stumbled as the lightening force of Vincent's emotions sped through her, feeling his penetrating gaze upon her back. Turning she found his eyes fixed firmly on her, and at her sharp intake of breath, Devin stopped speaking in mid flow, and he, Mary and Marie fell silent as they watched the scene before them unfolding.

Quickly a hushed silence swept through the crowd as they stopped what they were doing to watch. Father stood up from teaching Geraldine how to play chess, to see what was happening as the crowd of friends that had stood between Catherine and Vincent stepped aside to make a clear pathway between the two.

This was a moment in time for the two of them, oblivious to anyone in the room save themselves. Vincent would never forget the enchanted day, as he had watched his Catherine float towards him on the arm of Peter to join him at the alter. How they had made their own vows of love before the whole assembly, and how Father had pronounced them husband and wife, giving his own surname for his adoptive son to use to bestow upon his wife.

Everything had been perfect. Now as Vincent stood looking at Catherine, the atmosphere in the Great Hall, became filled with a dynamic force that everyone in the room became aware of, to stand waiting in hushed anticipation. Catherine put down her glass, her stomach knotted with a creeping excitement that brought about a fresh wave of desire with such an intensity that it frightened her.

"Catherine you are melting again." whispered Devin.

Catherine smiled at him, moistening her dry lips with the tip of her tongue, "I cannot help myself Devin", she whispered back, "He is so gorgeous." Her knees felt weak, and her breath seemed to have been suspended long ago.

Vincent continued to just look at her, as an interchange of emotions ran high between them. He swallowed with difficulty as he looked at her beauty, and his legs felt weakened. Then the realisation slowly came to him that she was at last his, and a low groan issued from his throat, which Father instantly recognised, and became afraid for Vincent, for Catherine. He had seen Vincent lost to the passion before, but never in public, and he wondered what Vincent might do next. Savouring the moment, Vincent looked at his wife, while Catherine looked ready to collapse and held onto Mary's arm for support.

Mary whispered into her ear, "See how he looks at you my dear, why I can feel his love for you from over here. Go to him Catherine, he needs you."

"I...I cannot...my feet are made of lead."

Suddenly, knowingly, Vincent smiled at her, the moment passed and he was regaining himself once again. The smile encouraged Catherine and slowly they stepped towards one another. Catherine could hear people holding their breath, and she smiled weakly at them, her eyes never leaving

Vincent's face, advancing slowly until they stood facing one another inches apart. Looking into his eyes, Catherine saw the passion rekindle, like deep liquid pools of love. Catherine whimpered and trembled as his hand came out to caress her cheek, sliding a finger delicately down to her throat, to rest on the accelerated pulse of her heartbeat.

"I love you Catherine," Vincent told her, "With all that I am."

Catherine swallowed with difficulty, "And I, Vincent, I love you with all that I am." Catherine positively smouldered beneath his hands, and her own snaked their way around his neck to fasten into the thick mane of his hair, to pull his hungry lips down to her own. Then amid oohs and arhs from the delighted audience, Vincent swept Catherine up into his arms, swung her around, and took her out through the doorway. Their friends remained silent, not wishing to break the spell, grasping it to themselves, absorbing the scene before them, each going over and over it within their own hearts. They had never seen two people so in love and it brought them much happiness.

Finally Father cleared his throat, "Friends, let us toast the happy couple in their absence. I fear we will not see them both for quite some time." And amid peals of laughter, everyone re-filled their glasses.

Vincent carried Catherine through the tunnels, his footsteps quickened, and they were both silent. Catherine snuggled against him listening to his racing heartbeat and clasped her arms tightly around his neck. She felt a ripple of apprehension run through her which surprised her.

"Don't be afraid Catherine", Vincent said, sensing her feelings.

Catherine let her fingers wind their way tantalisingly slow through his hair, touching his cheek, sliding her fingertips just briefly to his lips, Vincent shuddered and strode purposefully onwards. Hearing a latch slide up, Catherine knew that they had arrived at their own chamber, and she kept her eyes tightly shut as she felt him push open the door with his shoulder and step inside to kick it closed again with his foot. Her breath was coming faster, anticipating....that melting feeling washed over her like the waves of the sea, again and again, as she heard him open the bedroom door.

His breath was ragged now, as he gently put her down to stand with her hands still wound around his neck, her eyes open and burning into his. Vincent brought his lips down to capture her own, pressing his taut body against her softness. His hardness thrilled her, even that first time, it had not been like this. Moaning beneath the devouring fire of his kisses, Catherine felt his hands unzip her dress and let it slide to the floor in a mountain of silk and lace at her feet, as her own hands travelled to his chest to ease away his clothing from off his shoulders, while their kisses of fire demanded more and more. Lifting her, he carried her across to the bed and laid her gently down upon it.

The satin drape covering the bed felt cool against her hot naked body, and she watched in fascination as Vincent shed the last of his clothing to stand naked before her, gazing down at her own beauty. Catherine found she could not look into his eyes. He had never seen her naked before as she had never seen him. Unashamedly she reached for him, holding her arms open to him whispering, "Vincent... you are so beautiful" Lowering himself onto the bed beside her, he wanted her with every fibre of his being, he wanted to make love to her so desperately, yet he forced himself to slow it down, his will power was tremendous, for despite what Devin had said, Vincent wanted to make this first time since their marriage the one to remember, if only he could.

Caressing her skin, allowing his gliding hands the pleasure of her silkiness, the sight of her inflamed him, and as her own hands caressed his body, unusually smooth and hairless in places, Vincent groaned with longing. With her hands teasing his body, his breath quickened as she rolled over to trail burning kisses behind the path her cool fingers had trod. Her lips moved tantalisingly over his stomach down towards his groin and then back up again, and Vincent moaned softly, and then more deeply as her hands gently stroked the insides of his legs, up and ever closer to the throbbing of his desire, until her fingertips brushed against his burning flesh and Vincent groaned from deep within and knew he could take no more.

He pulled her back up against the length of his body, which in itself thrilled him, and they looked into one another's eyes. "Catherine...." her name caught in his throat, "I can bear it no longer."

Catherine smiled, bending her head to claim his lips once more and gently manoeuvred herself so that he could lie above her. Winding her legs around his hips, she pinned him against her body, and with her hands caressing his back, she whispered, "Vincent....love me."

Their hips moved in harmony as he penetrated into her moistness and she gasped. And as he silenced her cries with his kisses, their bodies moved and exploded together. Vincent thought he would never stop. Each time he began to feel the peace wash over him, he felt the familiar stirrings of desire mounting all over again.

He did not know whether it was after the third or the fourth time when the mists finally cleared from his mind and he was able to think clearly once again. His voice was tight with emotion when he finally spoke to her. "Catherine... forgive me. I just could not stop."

Opening her eyes, he was stunned at the depth of love he saw within them, "You don't need to apologise Vincent, my need was just as great as your own."

"It was so beautiful Catherine, yet I do feel ashamed at using you so."

"Vincent you could never use me, what you wanted, I wanted. I craved your love making Vincent and you have satisfied that craving. How do you feel my love?"

"Exhausted", he replied and she laughed out loud. She loved him so much. "I love you", he said softly, and rolled from off her, to lay with his head propped on one hand to gaze down at her beauty. She closed her eyes as his fingers traced a path along her creamy softness, coming to rest upon her breast, and she murmured with delight as his lips followed the path his hands had taken with kisses of fire, burning, burning....

His desire soon rose again, like a tidal wave that flooded his senses, her presence filled him to capacity, and he was shocked to find that he wanted to love her again so soon, and dismayed at allowing the craving to rule him, but Catherine understood, "Its all right Vincent, don't be ashamed. This is new to us, me and you together like this, and besides... I want you again too."

Their connection heightened the intensity of their love, enabling each to know the other's needs and desires, and as they came together once again, this time it became one for the memory. They spent time caressing, touching, exploring, kissing, fuelled by their emphatic connection, to know what each required of the other, enjoying one another's bodies, delighting in the sensations and talking about how it made them feel.

They learned about one another, knowing which places to touch that thrilled each of them the most. They talked about their wedding, about her dress, the beautiful folds of white satin and lace studded with tiny pink pearls and rosebuds. The ribbons in her hair, the pink roses of her bouquet, how it had been Mary who had caught it when Catherine had thrown it behind her, and saw the adoring look that Mary cast in Father's direction which unfortunately he had missed.

They talked about the moment when in full view of their friends Vincent had lifted her up and carried her off to consummate their marriage. "One moment I was standing there talking to Peter," said Vincent trailing his fingertip up and down her arm, giving her goose-bumps, "and the next I felt this magnetic pull and I could not take my eyes from off you."

"And I felt your eyes burning into my back, and do you know Vincent, I felt nervous."

He nodded, "I know, yet your passion swamped your nervousness, when you returned my gaze."

"I felt that we were the only two in the room." "As did I, until I heard everyone start to shuffle backwards to make a pathway between us. I feel embarrassed now to think of it, whatever must they have thought?"

"They were loving every moment of it Vincent. Weddings are a time for memories, each and every one of them that know the joy of that first night, re-lived it over again at that moment."

"What was it that Devin whispered to you. It seemed to be some secret that the two of you share?"

Catherine laughed, "Devin tells me that I melt every time I think of you, and he told me I was melting again."

Vincent tightened his arms around her, "How about we melt together now?"

"What again!" she teased him.

"Again Catherine..." he replied his were eyes smouldering pools of hunger, "again, and again and again and again and......"

Devin was leaving. Holding Gerry in his arms she clung to him, "You will be back won't you?" she wailed.

"Of course, don't fret so honey, and when I do, we shall be married. I will not be gone long."

"I wish that I could come with you."

"It is too dangerous Gerry. Besides, Reidel and Kogler may be in New York by now, they will be looking for you and your mother."

"But suppose they see you?"

"I am a master of disguises Gerry, don't worry about me, they won't find me."

"Will you bring Charles back with you?"

"Perhaps, but really there is something I want to work on that doesn't include Charles on this occasion."

"What is it?" "Its something I have to do for Vincent...and Catherine...and you and me." he added, "Believe me Gerry, I have to do this thing, and it will be wonderful for all of us."

Gerry nodded. She sensed the need in him, knew her brother meant the world to Devin, yet she loved him so much, she could hardly bear to be without him, if only for a short time, even with the arrangements to make for their own wedding. "When are you leaving Devin?"

"I had hoped to be gone by now, but I want to first say farewell to Vincent and Catherine, that is if they ever leave their chamber, its been two days already, if nothing else, they must be getting hungry."

"They will be feasting on each other Devin." she laughed at the thought of it. "Yes but two whole days!".

"What's two whole days?"

Devin turned at the sound of Vincent's voice, and saw him pick his way carefully down the steps into the guest chamber, smiling in the knowledge of the answer. "Vincent at last! How was it...I mean...oh forget it?" he looked clearly embarrassed, he always seemed to say the wrong thing.

Vincent came to put his arm around Devin's shoulders, and they shared an expression that told Devin all he needed to know. Vincent seemed different, relaxed, more mature somehow. "Where's Cathy?" Devin asked him.

"Sleeping." Vincent replied softly.

"Oh poor Catherine, Vincent! Have you worn her out so?"

Vincent smiled, "Don't feel sorry for her Devin, Catherine gives as good as she gets," and Devin saw proof of that as Vincent lowered himself stiffly into a chair wincing with the pain, " I don't know which part of my body aches the most." he said.

Gerry blushed at the interchange between the two brothers, and slipped away quietly, leaving them to talk alone.

"Seriously Vincent, did everything go well?" Devin asked him.

"Yes it was perfect. Though I am ashamed to say, that I thought the passion would never subside. I was driven by a desire so strong that it frightened me by its intensity, and though I am here with you now, still my body yearns for Catherine. I feel almost ashamed to be this way."

"Why? I think from what you have said that those feelings are normal. You don't want to let them spoil what you have shared, what you will continue to share. I only hope that my wedding night is just as...memorable."

Vincent looked up at him as he spoke, it was good to speak like this with Devin, "Have you decided yet when that will be Devin?"

"Yes I am leaving today to go to see Charles in the Appalachian Mountains and I will return as soon as I have put my other plan into shape. That is what I want to talk to you about Vincent, when I return I plan to marry Gerry and take her along with yourself and Cathy to fulfil your dream. Believe me Vincent, you are going to love this, and we, all four of us are going to have a wonderful time."

"Your excitement makes it sound almost believable, so enchanting that I can hardly wait to see it accomplished...yet I find it hard to believe that it will be so. It is all I have ever dreamed of."

"This is for Catherine too Vincent, she needs to share this time with you. Catherine is very special to me too."

Devin hesitated, and Vincent looked up at him, could see he was having trouble saying what else was on his mind, he wondered about it as Devin went on, "Don't take this the wrong way Vincent, but as much as I love Gerry, given another life, I could love Catherine too."

"Yes I know." Vincent's quietly spoken words startled Devin, "I have felt that in you, and when the two of you were away together it tormented me dreadfully, but I hoped that I could trust you, even when I felt you kiss her."

"You knew about that!" Devin shook his head in disbelief.

"Yes."

Vincent's piercing blue eyes seemed to delve right into his soul, and Devin could not look away, "I'm sorry Vincent," he told him sincerely.

"For what? If not for you Catherine may never have come home. I owe you my life. My happiness now."

"Catherine loves you Vincent, she never responded to me."

"I know." "It still hurt though, admit it?"

"Yes it hurt, it cut through me like a two edged sword, but I got over it, and its in the past now, it doesn't matter anymore. I forgive you."

"Forgive him for what, what has Devin done this time?"

Catherine's lilting voice came from behind the two of them, neither had heard her approach. She crossed the room to stand behind Vincent's chair to drape her arms around his shoulders.

Devin shook his head, "Its nothing to worry about Cathy, just light-hearted banter between brothers."

Vincent reached for Catherine, pulling her around to sit on his lap, "I thought you were sleeping my love." he said.

"I was, then I awoke and found you gone. The bed seemed too big and lonely, so I came looking for you."

He kissed her forehead, letting his hand stroke her hair. Devin watched them happily at this quiet interchange of affection between the two of them. Gone now was the desperate drive of passion, only a relaxed mood surrounded the pair of lovers.

"Well I had best get on my way," Devin told them, "I'd better go and find the old man, will the two of you still be here when I come back with him, to say goodbye?"

Catherine looked into Vincent's eyes. She loved the feel of him, holding him against her was such a joy, being able to have the right to touch him, for him to touch her. Devin watched mesmerised as they kissed passionately, forgetting he was there.

"Vincent?" Devin prompted again.

"Mmm?"

"Will you still be here then?" he asked, walking towards the entrance way to the tunnels.

"Maybe", Vincent replied, between kisses, then to himself he added, ' Though more probably not,' as he again felt the desire for his wife grow rapidly and sweep through him once more.

Continued in Chapter Twelve.