Until We Meet Again

"France needs you, so get better soon," Catherine remarked smiling down at him. Letting go of his hand, she didn't take her eyes from him as she gracefully moved from the edge of his bed and then began walking towards the door of his chambers. Narcisse was reeling from what Catherine had just asked of him. Had she really just asked him to be her Lord Chancellor?

When she had entered his quarters, he had expected the worst. Following Charles advice, and against his better judgement, he and Charles had risked the Crown's most advantageous vineyards in an effort to earn the gold needed to pay the French army and generals for their war efforts in Scotland. They lost it all. In a moment of sheer panic of what the repercussions on this loss would mean to France, would mean to Catherine, he had chosen to risk his life in a pit battle to win back the earnings needed. Catherine was just beginning to trust him again and he wasn't about to lose that ground with her. For weeks he had been using his spies and influencing nobles around him with rich rewards just to help track down who it was that was threatening Catherine and her family. Initially she didn't believe him and had vehemently told him that she would never trust him again, but with each right move he made, slowly he was winning her back. Frightened by his own nonsensical choice to accompany Charles to the French Alps and place him in a dangerous situation, he had risked everything for Catherine.

Today, visiting him in his chambers, she believed it was all for France, and he allowed her to feel that way, but he knew himself. He knew this was all for her. The relief he felt when she had sat down at his side and, instead of being argumentative and instead of threatening him, she had expressed her warmth and gratitude for what he had done. As always, Catherine de Medici shocked him. He never truly knew what side of her he was going to see, and he loved that about her. The fierceness that drove her very being defined her; yet, he had seen her vulnerable and compassionate. The way in which she could quickly transform herself from formidable monarch to caring mother had always impressed him and awakened in him a desire for this woman. What used to frighten him about Catherine, when he first started a relationship with her and then eventually drove her away, was now what attracted him. He always had a sense of her motives, but now he finally understood them.

Today she was asking him to be by her side as Lord Chancellor, not because she needed his vote or was fighting for more power, but because she finally had regained trust in him. She genuinely wanted him at her side. He had said "yes" to her request with ample interest and gratitude, but did she really know what this meant to him? Was he letting her walk out of his chambers without understanding what SHE meant to him? She had sought him out, of her own accord, to thank him and offer him this position…what did that say about how she felt about him? He had so many questions that he wanted answers to and that he wanted her to understand, so before she could walk through his chamber door he called to her, "Catherine?"

"Yes, Stephan. Do you require something before I go?" she replied back with concern in her voice. Not knowing exactly what he was going to say he quickly responded, "Would you mind bringing me a glass of wine from my table? My wounds are extremely sore and the wine seems to help with the pain." Turning around, Catherine scanned the room, looking for the wine decanter and glasses. She slowly rolled her eyes, although Stephan could not see her, before stating, "Of course. Although I tend to believe a servant may be better suited for this task than the Regent of France." Hearing the annoyance in her voice, he chuckled a bit to himself. "If you would like, please pour yourself a glass as well. I wouldn't mind the company for a bit longer." At that she smiled to herself, understanding that his request was a means of keeping her here a bit longer.

Close to the large windows that framed the room was a small table with a full decanter of wine and several silver goblets. Catherine made her way to the table and poured two full glasses. Stephan watched her intently as she poured the wine and the setting sun came through the windows, framing her figure with an amber glow. She was wearing a new gown that he hadn't seen before and if flattered every aspect of her; secretly he wished he would be attending the dinner feast at her side. He didn't know if he had ever seen her this beautiful, besides the intimate nights they shared together when he had seen her in nothing at all, he thought as a small grin spread across his lips and he began to rub his jaw at the memories. Catherine had turned from the table and began to walk toward him with both goblets in hand. "What is that you are smiling at," she asked inquisitively with one eyebrow raised. "Nothing but some fond memories," he said before continuing, "I see that you have decided to stay." "Well I wasn't about to let a wounded hero sit here alone when he asked for company," she remarked. It had been a long time since he had seen Catherine with that gorgeous glint in her eyes. It reminded him of how much he missed spending time with her, how much he missed her flirtatious spirit and being able to play along with it.

She sat closer to him this time, on the edge of his bed, when she handed him his wine. He gratefully accepted the glass and both of them took a long sip of the ruby red liquid allowing it to coat their mouths and glide warmly down their throats, enjoying the heat that the wine produced and feeling the heat of this moment so closely seated next to one another. Narcisse quickly became aware that he was clothed in nothing but had the blankets of his bed draped over him. He needed to change his train of thought. Quickly he questioned, "So what will the Regent of France require of me?" Allowing a large grin to grace her mouth with the innuendo of his question prominently at the forethought of her mind, she proceeded with caution, "Let us first discuss the boundaries I expect you to keep with my son, as in no more holidays to the Alps, hmm," she said coyly. Both continued to discuss matters of state. Narcisse was able to ask imperative questions concerning his new station and what Catherine expected of him. While Catherine sincerely requested assistance from Stephan with different problematic issues she was still unsure of how to handle. It certainly became apparent of how well they worked together as their conversation moved into different strategies for securing the monarchy for the Valois family and keeping France in a peaceful state. As the conversation ensued, Catherine refilled their wine goblets often, until the wine decanter was almost empty.

"Perhaps I have consumed more than I should have," Catherine remarked as she emptied her last glass, before proceeding, "I still have a banquet to attend." "Catherine, before you leave, I need you to understand something about the position of Lord Chancellor," he began, before she interrupted him, "Narcisse, there's no need for further explanation. I've clearly made up my mind and," he then cut her off, "Please allow me to finish, Catherine. This title and position mean a great deal to me and I know that you understand that. But, more importantly, I want you to know that everything I have done this past month, trying to help find those that endanger you and your family, it has not all been for France." Looking into his eyes questioningly Catherine asked, "What do you mean? Stephan is there something you are hiding from me? Is there something more in this for you?" "No you are misunderstanding what I am trying to say," he replied, looking down at the bandages on his wounds, before continuing, "This is not about me gaining power. This is not so that you would appoint me as Lord Chancellor. I have done all of this for you, for you and your family Catherine. I wanted to regain your trust in the hopes of regaining you." He then slowly moved his eyes from himself to her lap and then slowly took his gaze up her body until he met her eyes, looking for a response to his words. Her eyes shined with liquid teardrops as she slowly shook her head as if she had not heard him correctly. She was trying to process what it was that he had just said and the implications. Her face was already flush with the wine they had consumed and now her uncertainty made her look so tender and exposed, looking at her stunning face in this moment made his heart break in want for her. He reached his hand up to cup the side of her face and to run his thumb first along her rosy cheek as he asked of her, "Catherine….Catherine will you say something?" His thumb then moved unconsciously to her lips, now stained red from the wine, and he gently slid his thumb from one side to the other, watching her as her lips slightly parted.

She still hadn't said anything, but she had yet to pull away. He moved his hand so that his fingers now rested on the back of her neck and slowly pulled her head closer to his. Stephan stopped with their lips just an inch apart and breathed in her breath, waiting to see if there would be any hesitation from her. He looked deeply into her eyes and saw the yearning that he had seen long before as energy pulsed between them. Just as he began to pull them together for their lips to meet, Catherine placed both of her hands on either side of his neck at the base of his head, lacing her fingers into his hair. Their lips met in a sudden clash of longing. Catherine let a slow moan enter his mouth as he parted her lips with his tongue in search of hers. Both of their hearts were racing in this unexpected moment of urgency as Stephan placed his other hand on her waist, attempting to pull her closer to him. She easily gave into him, sliding even closer to him, until she brushed her skirts against his bandaged wound and he winced in pain. Startled she pulled back from him, looking sadly at the bandages, "Stephan, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…maybe we should." "No," he stopped her, "just," and before he could say anything else, he had grabbed both sides of her waist and rolled her over his body, to the other side of his bed. She now lay on his good side, next to him and he wasn't letting her go anywhere. "Stephan," she said in protest, "I have to be ready for the banquet." But he quickly silenced her, again placing his mouth fully on hers and kissing her deeply. She closed her eyes and allowed her hands to roam up his bare chest, over his shoulders and to his back, as he pressed himself up against her. She had missed feeling him so close to her and was in an ethereal fog as his lips moved over hers and his tongue painted the inside of her mouth. His hands then moved over her bodice and he pressed his hand forcefully against her chest feeling for her breasts underneath the material of her corset. Her mouth opened with a gasp and she took this opportunity to move her mouth to his neck where she sucked and nipped, leaving small red marks in her wake. In this moment, Stephan wished for Catherine to be free of her clothing, just as he was. His manhood was now forcefully pressing against the blankets as his hands slid to Catherine's plentiful skirts. Narcisse was making quick work of moving her red skirts and petticoat up her frame, feverishly attempting to reach his destination, when he felt a hand grab his forearm.

"Stephan," Catherine said breathily tossing her head back onto a pillow, "I don't think I am ready for this." Both breathed heavily attempting to catch their breath. Gathering her thoughts Catherine continued, "I do not know if we should continue down this path. With you as my Lord Chancellor, as a confidant, I don't want this to be too complicated." Narcisse felt as though he had just been punched in his open wounds. "But Catherine, doesn't this feel right to you?" he asked. She turned to face him, propping herself up on her side and looking at him, "It has always felt right," she confessed, "but we have done such horrible things to one another when we were intimate. I don't think I can risk that again. We need to think about what is best for France and I need to think about Charles' reign, and I can't have a relationship with you ruin that. I need to be able to think clearly when it comes to you Stephan," she said finally with a distressed sadness in her voice. She then moved away from him, to the edge of the bed and pushed herself into a seated position with her back away from him. As she straightened out her skirts and stood, Narcisse fell back onto his pillows with a sigh escaping his lips. He wasn't sure how to refute what she had just said and at this moment he couldn't think of what to say. He had wanted her so badly and now she was escaping his grasp. As she worked her hands over her hair and then the bodice of her dress and down her skirts, she began to walk towards the entrance to his chambers. He knew he would not be able to stop her in this moment and she may not admit it, but he knew this was just as hard for her as she reached a hand up to wipe a fallen tear that slid down her cheek. As she left his view, he heard the doors to his chambers open and then gently close. Were the doors on their relationship closed as well?

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Catherine stood behind her changing screen as her ladies worked to undress her. She needed to be released from the constraints of the clothing she felt were so tightly clinging to her. "Hurry," she remarked as they unfastened her long overcoat and worked on her skirts, "and draw a nice hot bath. I will be soaking for a long time." So many terrible things had happened this day. She had voiced it once and everything just continued to crumble around her. Her breath was coming in short bursts, as she tried to calm herself. She had just returned from the throne room and her children had made it clear to her that they wanted nothing to do with her and her recent choices. They were so young and didn't understand the responsibility and hard choices one needed to make as a ruler, but she had no one left to even help explain that to them. Her closest allies, Mary and Narcisse, were readying themselves to leave France. She had urged Mary, practically forced her to go back to her nation. It was the right choice she needed to help make for Mary and as hard as it was for her, it was time for Mary to return to her nation, before it was too late.

Stephan had also made the choice to leave France, with Mary, to return to Lola. She couldn't say that she was surprised; she had recently been the one to push him away. But, now, when she felt she needed him most, he was leaving. She had gone to him to let him know now was the time that she needed a man that she could trust and it was him; perhaps she had even wanted more. But he had seemed certain and made up his mind that he was leaving to salvage what was left of his marriage. Was it really that difficult for the two of them to work closely together without being intimate, that she could really be the cause for the division in his union?

As the stress of the day continued to weigh heavily on her, she heard the door to her chambers open and an attendant call out, "Lord Chancellor Narcisse to see you Queen Regent." Before she could either approve of disprove of his arrival, she heard the familiar boots stride into her room. "Leave me," she told her ladies as she quickly grabbed for her robe so that she could cover herself as all that she remained clothed in were her corset and petticoat skirts. Her ladies quickly walked from behind the screen and exited her room. "Stephan," she called, "I wasn't expecting anyone. I thought you would already have left and be at the boat with Mary by now." He quickly approached the other side of the screen, "Are you indecent? Shall I come back?" "Nonsense," she replied walking from behind the screen as she finished tying her robe around her waist. "What are you doing here," she asked looking at him. "I wasn't ready to leave yet Catherine. I had made up my mind, had told myself I should leave because I knew there wasn't a future for us and I didn't want to ruin the one chance I had at a future. I was so certain, but then you came to me…" he said trailing off, before he continued, "and now I am confused and I just need to ensure that there isn't a hope for us. And more than anything I need to know that you are safe and taken care of. I heard of what has happened to you this terrible day and I cannot leave now that I know you may truly need me." Catherine's eyes began to fill with tears at his words and concern for her. She was in an endless pit barely able to breath and unsure of what her next step would be. She had been strong up until this moment and wanted to be strong in front of Narcisse as well and her resolve was holding, until he spotted the red marks on her neck. His gaze had shifted to her neck and his hand reached up to gently rub his thumb over the mark that was only slightly exposed, as the rest lay beneath the cover of her robe. "Catherine," he whispered, "who did this to you?" He then gently pushed her robe away from her neck so that it just covered her shoulder, where he saw not only the remnants of older markings, but also the fresh red marks that had been incurred upon her neck. She could no longer look him in the eyes and her gaze shifted as she pulled her robe back up and around her neck. "I'll be all right, Stephan," she replied but her resolve was slowly crumbling as she knew that he was the only man that may truly care that this had happened to her. "It wasn't just that servant," Narcisse spat, "Someone else has hurt you and I demand that you tell me who it is. Those marks are new." She walked over to her desk to lean up against it as a few tears fell from her eyes and her head landed in her hands. Her muffled reply was barely audible, "Anyone that has recently hurt me is now out of my life forever." She then lifted her head and caught his gaze, "Along with those that truly care about me and that I care for in return. Stephan, I don't remember a darker hour."

Stephan left his spot quickly and approached her, gently taking her by the shoulders, "This is so unlike you. I've only ever seen you like this once before, when Francis was sick. Catherine you have overcome so much, you will overcome all that has happened to you this day. You are not only the strongest woman I have ever had the chance of spending time with, but you are the strongest person." She continued to look into his eyes, not wanting to speak, afraid that her voice would break under the pressure of everything horrible that had happened. Narcisse continued, "No one rivals you in the choices you make for your family, to secure your families reign. Never let anyone take that from you Catherine. People may try to harm you, but never let them break you. Trust me, it may take time, but your children will understand, they will return to you. And you will take down any threat that rears it's head. You always have and you always will." With each word Stephan said a weight seemed to lift from Catherine's shoulders. Before Stephan had arrived, she had barely been able to catch a breath and had wanted nothing more than to drown her thoughts in a bath for hours. As he spoke to her though, she realized her strength. He was correct; she didn't need to shrink back, she needed to push forward to defeat all those that threatened her, that threatened her family.

"I want to be at your side Catherine. I was wrong in what I said earlier about the imminent danger having passed. I see now that you need me, that perhaps you even want me to stay," Stephan said placing his thumb and forefinger under her chin and slightly lifting her head as he searched her eyes for an answer to his question. She wasn't ready to turn him away and her fortitude had already been tested too many times this day. "Stay with me," she softly replied in response to him, "heal me."

Both of their eyes now burned with fire. Catherine knew what she was asking when she asked him to stay and he knew too. Without another word, Stephan placed both of his hands on either side of her face, before she said, "Gently this time." His lips came down to brush against hers as both of them closed their eyes in soft anticipation. He allowed their lips to meld together slowly as she reached her arms around his large frame to embrace him. Her lips then parted allowing him entrance into her mouth and he did not hesitate as his tongue darted into her mouth, playing in small circles with her tongue. He loved her taste and deepened the kiss as he pushed up against her. The desk behind her moved slightly, causing her to catch herself, so Stephan quickly hoisted her onto the desk top giving her balance. Sitting there, he pulled away from the kiss to look at her. She was beautiful in every way possible. Her hair had been undone by her ladies and cascaded down her back while the robe she wore had begun to fall open and he could see her graceful figure underneath. Her corset was still tightly laced and now that she was breathing heavy, her breasts barely stayed within the confines of the fabric as they heaved up and down. A deep desire spread over him as he looked at her every inch; he would have ravaged her here on the desk, but he knew she needed him to be patient this day in his lovemaking. But the desire was entirely evident within her as well as a deep flush began to spread from her chest, up her neck and to her cheeks. Not wanting to waste another moment, Catherine finally undid her robe and let it fall from her shoulders. She then reached for him, drawing him in close and wrapping her legs around his waist to pull him tight against her. Still sitting on her desk, she reached both hands around his neck and pulled him down to her to fully kiss his mouth. Their dance started again as both worked to undo the others clothing. Stephan reached behind her and untied her corset, feverishly working the strings through each loop so that he could free her from the confines. All the while, Catherine had pushed the doublet from Stephan's shoulders allowing it to fall to the ground as she then reached to pull the shirt from his pants.

Stephan broke their kiss so that he could move his head to her ear. With his face nuzzled in her hair, he sucked on her ear lobe before whispering to her, "I will heal you in every way possible." She gasped as he continued to nip on her ear and then started hot feverish kisses down her neck. When he reached the areas that were still red, he gently kissed those spots wanting to heal them with his love. She shifted slightly with the light kisses as they tickled the sensitive skin of her neck. Having loosed his shirt, her hands moved again to Stephan's head to gently guide him to her collarbone and her chest. "You know my most sensitive areas," she remarked coyly, as she worked to bury his head further into her chest. Just then he was able to extract the remaining string from her corset, where it then fell from her to the desk. Her breasts lay exposed and ready for his attention. He moved his lips over the tops of her mounds, as she arched her body towards him. He then found the tips that were fully perked and his tongue played games with them as Catherine moaned, throwing her head back, under the slight touches, craving more. He took one into his mouth and then the other, knowing that this was her weak spot, as she pushed his head against her more, entwining her fingers in his hair. He finally broke the seal and looked at her seeing the severe lust in her eyes.

She was unsure how much longer she could go without him touching her womanhood as it throbbed and pulsed and she felt the severe strain of him against her thigh as her legs were still wrapped about his waist. Having had sufficient play with her chest, Stephan had pulled away from her and this gave her long enough to pull his shirt up and over his head. She never tired of looking at his muscular form and she appreciatively ran her hands over his chest. Leaning forward she began to kiss his muscular chest and then down his abdomen as he ran his hands through her hair. She had reached the spot where he still had bandages covering his wounds from the pit fight and she looked up at him with sincerity, "You have wounds too that need healing." "I want you so much Catherine," Stephan said looking deeply into her hazel eyes as his large hands encircled her face. "Then take me," she replied, hoisting herself from her desk and into his arms. Stephan held onto her tightly and switched her position so that he could carry her to the bed, with one arm underneath her legs and the other cradling her back as she threw her arms around his neck.

Laying her down on the bed, he undid the buckle of his belt and removed all of the remaining layers of his clothing. His member was throbbing in anticipation for her. He moved onto the bed next to her and bent down to her waist to begin loosening the strings of her petticoat skirts with his mouth and at the same time kissed her lower abdomen. She writhed under the contact of his mouth on her, as gentle gasps escaped her lips. Finally, with all strings undone, he pulled the petticoat from her form and threw it to the ground. With her fully exposed, he began to kiss her inner thighs and ran his thumb lightly along the top of her burning womanhood which caused her to groan aloud, "You must take me now Steph…" and she was unable to finish as he ached for her in return and quickly turned his back onto the bed and grabbing her by the waist pulled her on top of him to straddle him. Holding onto her hips, he pulled her up to glide himself into her and she threw her head back with the initial entry, as her hair fell from her shoulders to cascade down her back. His view would forever be emblazoned in his memory as he started slowly and then moved faster to bring them both to their brink. As they both reached their end, skin glistening as they became one, Catherine collapsed on top of him, bringing her mouth to meet his. She lay on top of him and he encircled his arms around her until their eyes fluttered shut in much needed sleep.

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Catherine had awoken from her deep sleep with strong arms encircled around her waist. Her back was firmly pressed against the chest of the man behind her; this was the first time in a while that she had felt safe within the arms of the man she was laying with. A smile had spread across her face with the realization that it was Stephan holding her so tightly against him. When they were initially lovers she would have given anything to feel this close to him, to feel this comfortable in his embrace. Instead a majority of their relationship they had spent in hiding due to Narcisse's past dealings with Francis and Mary. But now, Stephan was different. There was something about him that had changed. He wanted to protect her and to protect her family and she genuinely felt that it had nothing to do with him gaining power, that he truly cared for her. He had come to her today, in her darkest hour, when she had needed him most and he had saved her. He had proved to her that she wasn't alone and that above all else, she would overcome all of those in opposition to her and would regain those she needed close to her: her children. Hours ago, she never would have thought she could have been this optimistic about her situation but Stephan had drug her from her darkest low and back into the light.

But, as she lay there a small uncertainty nagged at her conscience; not quite able to pinpoint it she turned in his embrace to face him. A warmth spread through her as she gazed upon him, content in his slumber. Continuing to watch him as he slept with his chest rising and falling, again a small thought of guilt began to bite at her. What was it that was bothering her so? She slowly reached a hand up to caress his face as she lightly kissed each side of his face to gently wake him. Stephan smiled in his sleep with the touch of her lips on him and his eyes slowly began to flutter open. When his gaze caught hers and he realized where he was at, he pulled her closer to him so that she nestled her head within the crook of his neck, as he kissed the top of her head. "I love waking to this view," he whispered to her as he ran his hands up and down her bare back. "But why are you waking me," Stephan asked, somewhat confused, "We have the rest of this evening to rest and after the day you have had, I'm sure you will require the sleep." Catherine wasn't really sure what had made her wake so early from their slumber. When she first awoke she was supremely content, more sure of herself and of what she needed to do than she had been in a long time. But as she thought about it, she realized that she was thinking of her future, not their future. He had saved her but at the same time convinced her of how powerful she was on her own and that she could succeed.

Stephan had insisted that he was not only willing to stay with her but wanted to remain at her side during all of this and into the future. But he would in essence be throwing away his marriage in the process. Before it hadn't mattered to her; both of them had used each other for their own gain, but now, she felt different. She wasn't willing to start an honest and open relationship with him now if he was still married. What was nagging at her she realized was the thought of Diane; of what Diane had done to her and Henry's marriage. As much as Stephan cared and loved her and she reciprocated those feelings, she needed to let him go. If he had saved her, it was now time for her to save him; to let him go and try to regain that which he had already lost. Her eyes welled with tears as all of this came flooding into her…tears of joy of having had Stephan in her life and tears of sadness knowing what she was about to do.

Tears spilled onto Stephan's chest as she lay there. Feeling them trail down his bare chest, Stephan took her gently by the shoulders and pulled her away from his chest so that he could see her. "Catherine, is everything okay? Is it the pressure of the day that is finally overwhelming you," he questioned with concern in his voice as he looked at her red swollen eyes. Unable to speak just yet, she shook her head no. Taking the back of his hand, he ran his fingers down her cheek catching the falling tears. "Catherine, please tell me what is wrong; I want to help you, to care for you," he soothingly said to her. She blinked her eyes and took a deep breath then took both of his hands into hers and kissed them. Looking at their hands intertwined she started, "Stephan, you have gone above and beyond anything I could have imagined these past several weeks. In all honesty, I feel as though you saved me today when you came into my chambers. What you have told me and how you have been towards me makes me realize that even in my darkest hours there is always a hope that things will get better. I needed that and the love that you have shown me intimately has helped to heal my wounds. But I have realized that if I let you stay here that I am not doing the same for you. As much as I want you by my side and I know you wouldn't leave, I have to let you go. Stephan you said earlier that you need to go to your wife and try to repair that relationship. You made a vow and now you are the man that will honor it."

"But Catherine," Stephan began, "I've told you that I have made up my mind to stay in France. I was leaving because I did not believe there was a future for us." At this Catherine looked up into his eyes. He was looking at her imploringly and she was sure that her gaze mirrored his but she pressed on, "I've been her Stephan; I've been Lola when another woman came into my marriage, and I will not allow myself to be the other woman. I want you only if you are mine completely and that will never be true as long as you are married." "Catherine please, I've made the choice to be with you, no matter what that takes…" Stephan interjected, but Catherine quickly replied, "You made a choice when you made a vow to your wife, we both must honor that choice now." She then silenced him by placing two fingers to his lips. "Please don't make this any harder than it is already going to be Stephan. I have made up my mind and even though you may not see it now, this is really best for both of us. You saved me, let me save something for you."

Stephan shook his head acknowledging what she had just said. "You will need to go soon if you are still going to be able to make the boat with Mary," Catherine whispered. "Allow me to kiss you the way I want to remember you Catherine," Stephan asked with a smoldering desire that he would soon need to extinguish. Without another word, he slid her underneath him and brought his head down to kiss the tops of her breasts. He then gradually moved up her chest to her collarbone, lightly feathering kisses as he went and remembering each taste of her. Her eyes shut as she was becoming intoxicated with the feel of his lips on her; she too wanted to remember each moment. He brushed his nose along her neck, taking in her aroma and stashing it in his memory. When he reached her jawbone he slowly kissed a trail to right below her dimples feeling a smile spread over her face at his each and every touch. Then he hungrily kissed her lips, finding her tongue for one final dance. He broke the kiss with both of them breathing heavily. "Remember me this way Catherine and I will remember you," he said breathily as he slowly removed himself from the blankets and her bed. He dressed quickly then and made his exit. Gazing upon her one final time he opened the doors to her chamber as she casually remarked, "Until we meet again." A knowing smile spread across both of their faces as he gently shut the door behind him.