When the waves of rapture finally subsided, Vincent pulled away to look at Catherine.
"Weren't we supposed to bathe?" he chuckled.
"Yes, but something better came up!" she answered with a leer, contracting her inner muscles around him.
He feigned shock "Catherine!" but his eyes were shining.
She giggled and poked playfully at his chest. "Vincent, it's possible that one day you and I can be together in a warm pool and think only of bathing, but I can't see that day coming anytime soon! Maybe when we're very old…"
The casual way she evoked their future made Vincent's mind reel, but she was right of course. Their love was forever. They would grow old together and love each other, want each other, always.
He smiled. "Extremely old, then!" He thrust gently against her. "Oh, Catherine, you feel so good! I never want to let you go!"
She sighed. "I know, I'd like to stay like this forever, too, but I'm afraid it wouldn't be very practical. Imagine walking back to the main chambers!"
He chuckled. "The look on Father's face would certainly be priceless!"
"And think what an entrance we'd make in the DA's office!" At the thought of Joe's expression, she couldn't help laughing. To her delight Vincent's deep rumbling laughter echoed hers. This was a sound she'd never heard before, and she decided she wanted to hear it every day of her life from then on.
Finally they slipped apart and Vincent put her back gently on her feet.
"Let's bathe, Catherine, then I'll see to our dinner."
The thought of food brought Catherine back to more mundane matters. She was
indeed starving and grabbed the shampoo. "May I wash your hair? I've wanted
to do it for so long!"
\
"Catherine!"
"Strictly business, honest! I'm too hungry to think of anything else."
Vincent chuckled and ducked under the water to wet his hair. They washed each other quickly, with tender, loving gestures, enjoying the intimacy without letting themselves get carried away. When they were finished, Vincent climbed out of the pool. "Stay a little longer, Catherine, while I tend to our meal."
She relaxed in the water to enjoy the sight of Vincent toweling himself dry, his body shining like dark gold in the flickering light, his taut, clearly delineated muscles moving smoothly under his skin as he rubbed his fur with energy. The thought of dinner began to recede from Catherine's mind…
Shaking his head with an indulgent smile, Vincent draped the towel around his waist with a flourish. "Food!" he said firmly, and exited the bathing chamber, followed by Catherine's laughter.
After a few minutes she got out of the pool and dried herself thoroughly. She tied her wet hair in a towel, wrapped another one around her body and carefully put out the candles before joining Vincent in the other chamber, now alight with dozens of candles, where delicious smells welcomed her, making her mouth water.
Vincent, wearing only his trousers, was busying himself over a small stove in a corner. Feeling her approach he turned to her and smiled. "Dinner will be ready in a minute, Catherine."
She headed for her bag, intending to take the gown she'd brought, but thought better and picked up Vincent's shirt instead. It went down to the middle of her thighs, and she had to roll the sleeves four times, but it was soft and it smelled so good! She quickly combed her still damp hair and, drawn by the aroma of food, crossed the chamber to circle Vincent's waist from behind.
"Mmm! I know that heavenly smell! It's William's stew, isn't it?"
Vincent stirred the steaming pot and carried it to a small table. "I asked him for practical, easy-to-carry food, which he gave me, but he insisted that tonight at least, we should have a "real" dinner."
Catherine smiled. She knew William was one of her most solid allies in the tunnels. Before the previous winter, wanting to be sure her family Below would never lack the basic necessities, she'd made quiet financial arrangements with a few helpers to provide the community with sufficient food and other useful supplies. Though Vincent had probably guessed, he'd never alluded to it, and she was quite sure Father didn't suspect anything, but William knew better! He treated her with warm affection, and never missed an opportunity to stuff her with food.
"How thoughtful of him! I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!"
Vincent gestured her to one of the two cushions on either side of the low table. "To my knowledge, there is none in this stew. Unless, of course, this is William's famous secret ingredient…"
She giggled. The stew was the tunnel cook's pride, and it's recipe his most jealously guarded secret. Remembering something, she rose to go and fumble in her bag, coming back with a bottle of wine and a corkscrew. "I thought this might be nice."
"It is indeed. Very thoughtful of you, Catherine."
Carefully, he opened the bottle and poured the fragrant liquid. Taking her glass, she raised it, looking tenderly at him. "To a dream fulfilled!"
"To Love!" he answered in a deep, throaty voice. They drank, lost in each other, the bond shimmering with the blissful certainty of their love.
Finally Vincent broke the spell, remembering Catherine was hungry. "William would never forgive us for letting his stew get cold!"
"A capital sin, indeed!" she agreed, feeling her mouth water as he filled her plate. She dug into it heartily. Two weeks of scant, irregular meals plus a few hours of intensive lovemaking had made her ravenous, and it was not until her plate was empty that she lifted her gaze to meet Vincent's amused eyes. He was not even halfway through his own portion.
"Would you like some more, Catherine?" he asked with just a hint of a chuckle.
She found herself blushing. "Not very ladylike, is it?" and he hastened to reassure her.
"Catherine, I felt how hungry you were. You must take better care of yourself, even when you are working, and I intend to see to that, from now on." he said, serving her a generous second portion.
Under the loving concern, she felt a current of imperious determination that both amused and intrigued her. Vincent's newly found virile assurance didn't show only in bed, and that might lead to a few interesting adjustments in their relationship…She put that thought aside for the moment and went through her second helping more leisurely, enjoying wine and quiet conversation.
Vincent told Catherine about his discussion with Father, and she was relieved to learn that her arguments had finally reached her lover's over-protective parent. She laughed when she heard of the "silence" punishment the children had inflicted on the community leader until he'd made amends to his son in their presence. It always warmed her heart to see how much the tunnel dwellers loved Vincent, and to know that love and care were extended to her, too. Vincent said he'd had to tell a few of his friends about the planned escapade, and they had happily contributed, Rebecca for the candles, William for the food, Mary for the bedding…without any further inquiry or other comment than a warm smile.
He reached behind him and put a cloth-wrapped dish on the table. "William even baked a special dessert for us."
It was William's famous apple and raisin pie which he knew was Catherine's favorite, and they smiled when they saw the pastry crust was decorated with a heart.
"How nice of William, and so romantic! I'll have to go and thank him." Catherine said, deeply moved by the tunnel cook's attention.
By the time they finished their dessert her hunger had left place to a warm feeling of well-being and a slight, wine-induced euphoria. She looked at Vincent, bare-chested and golden in front of her, a sight she'd so long been denied, and let out a blissful sigh. He was magnificent, and he was hers!
He sensed the change in her mood and softly enquired: "Are you still hungry,
Catherine?"
She caught the innuendo and let her eyes travel up and down his torso before
looking at him with an impish grin. "Not for food!"
He nodded, a sparkle in his blue eyes. "I thought as much. I'm no longer hungry either…for food, I mean."
She rose. "Then let's put all this away."
He smiled at her eagerness. This woman was apparently insatiable! Insatiable…for him, and he felt his own body stir in inevitable response. He was insatiable, too, for her.