Chapter 3

Catherine whimpered as she came halfway awake, still too weak to open her eyes. Tenderly, someone lifted her head and she felt a wetness touch her lips. Thirstily she drank as cool, sweet water slid down her parched throat. She soon slipped back into a deep sleep as someone soothingly stroked her hair quite gently.

When she finally fully awoke, she cried out suddenly as she flailed around, totally disoriented. Instantly, Vincent was there, freeing her from the blankets that entangled her and gently cradling her in his powerful arms. Catherine blinked as her eyes adjusted to the half darkness around her. Though awake, her mind was still foggy and it took her a moment to get her bearings. As her eyes began to focus, Catherine discovered she was in a cavern she'd never seen before. She found herself lying on a thick pallet covered up in several warm blankets. Nearby, a small fire blazed in a shallow pit giving the room light and warmth. Oddly, the reassuring tapping Catherine had come to associate with the tunnels was distinctly absent. The only sounds to be heard were the hiss of the fire and the occasional ripple of a nearby water source. Wherever they were, she deduced it to be quite far from the main hub of tunnels. Carefully, Vincent helped her to sit up.

"Vincent," she asked hesitantly. "Where are we? What happened?"

But Vincent didn't respond verbally. He only moved his hand to stroke her cheek before turning toward the fire and retrieving two large cups. He easily maneuvered himself to sit behind Catherine, his back against the stone wall. Gently, he drew Catherine back until she was resting firmly against his broad chest, his muscular legs stretched out on either side of her own. He tucked the blankets around her firmly and then reached around her to carefully raise one of the mugs to her lips.

Catherine tried to take the cup from him but her hand shook so badly that she let him continue to hold it. The mug proved to hold a strong tea and Catherine eagerly drank in the much needed jolt of caffeine. Soon, he lifted the other cup which held a thick, savory broth. She drank it down as well, sighing contentedly as it warmed her inside and helped quell her nausea from the drug she'd been given.

Feeling a bit better, Catherine sank back against Vincent's comforting warmth, savoring the delicious sensation. To her surprise, he had discarded the many layers he usually wore. Clad only in his thermal shirt and pants, part of his arms and his chest were tantilizingly bare and Catherine relished the silky feel of his soft hair against her own skin. She couldn't even begin to fathom what had brought about this radical shift in Vincent's behavior and frankly she wasn't sure she wanted to. His strong arms felt wonderful and her mind was far too cloudy to make sense of it all. She decided to simply enjoy it while it lasted.

Vincent resumed stroking Catherine's hair and she turned her face from where it rested on his shoulder to look at him.

"Umm, that feels so good." she sighed wearily.

Tenderly, he turned his head to press a soft kiss onto the top of her head before lowering his mouth to hers for a gentle kiss. Catherine murmured pleasurably as the kiss went on for a moment.

At last Vincent lifted his head and she gazed up at him lovingly. Reassured, she settled back against him in his arms and closed her eyes. Soon, his comforting presence and gentle stroking lulled her to sleep once again.

Vincent held Catherine for some time, greedily relishing the feel of her soft form nestled against him at last. The Other within him was still very much in control. While the Other knew that his rational side described Catherine with eloquent, lengthy prose, he needed no such superfluous terms. To him, there was only one word to describe Catherine: his mate.

Now with his mate warm, reasonably fed and safely asleep in his arms; Vincent felt relaxed enough to rest as well. He had thrown aside the bulky upper garments. It felt amazing to be free of the binding layers that usually swathed him. Far more comfortable, he lowered himself and Catherine down onto the pallet and wrapped himself securely around her. With a low growl of satisfied contentment, he drifted off as well.