A/N: When I first wrote this story (years ago) I had no idea what I was doing and where I was going with it. As I am now reading this, I realized just how much I had no clue as to what the hell I was doing or writing. While editing the story, I can't help but add more only to delete a lot of what was originally written.
Vincent made the mistake of thinking he could just forget about her when in fact she was all he could think about. The first night of making his decision to not see Catherine anymore he failed miserably. He snuck in at the rear entrance of the bar and stayed out of her view but he had a feeling that she sensed he was there. Her heartbeat was familiarly racing as she looked around. She still looked as beautiful as ever when she was disappointed that he wasn't there.
He nearly gave away his presence when another drunken asshole called her baby and went on about what they'd like to do with her. Thankfully one of the security guards kicked him and his friends out right away. Vincent remained at the corner and watched her for awhile before sneaking out and vowing to never see her again.
BATB
Once again, Vincent was chosen to remove all of the boxes from the shipment of pallets and move them inside the warehouse before the storm hit the city at nightfall. He rubbed his shoulders as he stared at the stacks of boxes that was twice his height and wondered how much more his body could take. Between his day job at the docks and his nighttime duty as the cloaked crusader or as the residents of New York city has dubbed him, the invisible vigilante since the victims he saved can't describe this mysterious hero when questioned by the police but not all were fans. Some called him a criminal and a murderer as he left behind the lifeless body of the would be criminal had he not saved the people they intended to kill or rape. The violent act set something off within him and as much as he tried not to let the beast loose and free, he found himself nearly uncontrollable as he heard the cries of the victim as they screamed for help. By the time he regained control it was too late for the suspect but one good came out of it, the victims survived and never said a word about the mysterious hero with a pair of unique golden eyes. But that wasn't what really troubled him. It was the decision he made a fortnight ago, the last time he went to the Salty Dawg Saloon, not to see Catherine again even though it was all he wanted to do.
The first few days were the toughest. The beast kept rearing it's ugly head and he tossed and turned most nights. Vincent usually found himself wide awake and staring up the ceiling as he thought of her and the short time they spent together. When he closed his eyes he would see her face and her beautiful smile that lit his eyes and set it on fire. Her jade eyes were engaging as always and her voice set something off within him as she talked to him. And their was her touch. He could still feel her hand on him. Her touch was warm and soft against his skin as she managed to calm him down after he let a few of her customers know not to ever bother again. It was the first female he had physical contact with since escaping Afghanistan and it was much more exhilarating than he remembered.
"Yo Vinnie, we're here to the rescue!"
Vincent shook his head and found himself back in reality. He turned around and found two of his coworkers with huge grins on their face . "You two better get out of here before Mr. Lowen sees you," Vincent warned them.
"First of, that punk kid is not Mr. Lowen. His father is Mr. Lowen and right now he's in the hospital recovering. And secondly we don't listen to some punk kid. Jax and I aren't his minions. And I sure as hell ain't no errand boy. Ain't that right, Jax?"
"Sure ain't no errand boy for some spoiled kid who thinks he owns this place. He hasn't lifted a finger but expects everyone to bend over backwards 'cause he says so. Chase and I do our own thing."
"Damn right!" Chase smirked. "Let's get these boxes inside so we can get the hell out of here. Been a long week and I'm ready to see my girl."
"Your girl?" Vincent looked mystified.
Jax laughed out loud. "Girls," he added his infamous smirk. Between the three of them, Jax was the tallest and some would say the most handsome. He had spiky blond hair that never seemed out of place no matter what time of day or year it was and bright blue eyes with a perfect smile and two dimples to complete his look. "We're going to Madame Aphrodite's after work. Why don't you go with us? Might do you some good."
"Yeah, man. You've been moping around for a few days. Madame Aphrodite will do you some good. I'll even share one of my girls!" Chase added with much enthusiasm.
"Candy is some fine lady and those moves! Her hips. Her legs!" Jax said in a daydream tone that made him look like a proud husband.
"Jax falls in love every Friday night and still goes home alone!" Chase followed the joke with a good hearty laugh that bellowed from his belly. "It'll be a lot of fun. And looks like you need a whole lot of it!
"I don't know," Vincent shrugged as he looked at the big stacks of boxes that was waiting for him.
"You still hoping your lady will take you back?" Chase teased. "Must be a hell of a girl, Vince!"
"No wonder he's been all mopey. There's a dozen more of them! Candy has a few friends that will get you going again! Chase and I aren't taking no for an answer either," Jax added.
"That settles it. Madame Aphrodite's after work. Now let's get the boxes inside so we can get the hell out of this place."
"The sooner the better," Jax stated as he ran to the boxes with a grin on his face."
BATB
"You three aren't done with your jobs yet!"
"You told us no over time and well it's five o'clock. Wouldn't want to break your rules. Guess you do have to lift up a finger or two!" Chase replied. "Come on guys. Let's go before his head explodes."
Vincent, Chase and Jax walked out of the Lowen Worldwide Shipping building with an amused look on their faces. They left the young Lowen with stacks of boxes to be moved into the warehouse after clocking out at five o'clock on the dot and gathered their belongings out of their lockers.
"What if he fires us?" Jax asked in a whisper. He had a worried look on his face.
"He can't. We're in a union and we haven't done anything wrong," Chase answered with confidence. "Madame Aphrodite here we come!"
Jax grinned. "Can't wait to see my Candy!"
"Says every guy in this city," Chase joked. "Live a little, will ya! Mix it up like I do! There's Ruby, Diamond, Sparkle and my favorite, Cat. She is perfection. An angel. A really beauty. Cat eyes with a perfect smile and that ass! And the way she moves her body on me. Those damn green eyes gets me every time."
"Chase is in love as well. Gives her more than he should for a lap dance," Jax teased and laughed.
Vincent started to feel uncomfortable as he listened to Cat's descriptions. He shoved his fists in his jacket. It couldn't be his Catherine. He had to shake off the thoughts but he couldn't help but feel jealous and angry. If it was Catherine, he had no right to his feelings as they were nothing more than patron and bartender but he knew that was a lie.
"You alright, Vince?" Chase asked. "Your lady ain't no dancer is she?"
Vincent shook his head. "I have no lady, girl or dame." Just a foolish dream, he thought to himself.
"Alright, that settles it. We're all going to Madame Aphrodite's!"
BATB
Chase's black pickup truck skidded up the curb as he made a fast right turn into the parking lot. The three men got out of the truck and was greeted by bright neon signs advertising Madame Aphrodite's strip club. It was a building not to be missed by anyone but it wasn't something that suited everyone's taste particularly not Vincent's. He grimaced at the thought of stepping in and finding Catherine. What if she danced alongside with her bartender job? He hated the thought of it and wasn't sure how he would react to seeing her there.
"Come on Vince! The night is ticking away!" Chase yelled as he hurried along with Jax out of the parking lot.
"Yeah, I'm coming," Vincent answered but it was the last thing he really wanted to do. He followed the two as he thought of excuses not to go in to the strip club with them. It would break his heart to see Catherine as one of the dancers.
The three stopped in front of the entrance. They were greeted by a beautiful redhead woman dressed in a short black cocktail dress that left little to the imaginations but that wasn't what caught Vincent's attention. He heard a very faint sound of a heartbeat and he knew exactly whose it was. He searched around the streets and smelled a scent he knew too well. The beast inside him lurched in satisfaction. He felt the rush through his veins.
"Vince, what's wrong?" Chase asked.
"Go inside. I'll be there shortly," Vincent quickly answered.
"We can wait for you."
"I'll be fine. I see a friend across the street. I just want to say hi."
"Probably his lady," Jax smirked. "Come on, Chase. The night isn't getting any younger."
"See ya, Vince!"
"Later, bud! You know where we'll be if you change your mind," Jax added before running up to the entrance.
"Yeah. Yeah," Vincent answered absentmindedly as he started to walk across the street. He suddenly found himself in the middle of a crowd with pulse racing enthusiastically. The presence of his beast was becoming harder control and he felt the heat of his eyes searching quickly from face to face. Catherine was close. He could sense her presence strongly as if they were connected. He felt a pull tugging him to her and it ignited something he thought he lost long ago. The helplessness that dragged him from one lonely night to the next was slowly fading and he could see the small bright light of hope.
Vincent maneuvered himself out of the crowd and headed east as he followed the faint sound of her beating heart. It felt like music to his ears as each step took him closer to ecstasy. He grinned at the thought of seeing her again and a low growl penetrated his lips. His strides quickened and he looked like a cat on the prowl awaiting his mate. He paused in front of a flower shop where a scent stopped him in his tracks. And that's when he finally caught a glimpse of her. She was as perfect as ever. Her long brunette hair was down and her cheeks rosy from the cold fall weather. His heart stopped as their eyes met from afar.
"Oh my," her lips moved but words failed her. Catherine smiled at him and her heart gave her away as it started to race.
Vincent made the first moved and walked towards her. He took quick and long strides and reached her in a matter of seconds. "Hi Catherine," he greeted her.
"Hi Vincent," she said in a whisper. Her eyes glanced from his face down to his body then back up again. Catherine reached for him and touched his face. She softly stroked the stubbles on his cheek that barely hid his scar. "Just had to make sure that you're really here."
"I'm here," he moaned in a deep and coarse voice.
Catherine nodded and lowered her hand to his chest which was rising quickly. He stared at her with those golden orbs that beckoned her closer and pulled her swiftly into his arms and embraced her. A humming sound started at the pit of his stomach and a low purr reached her ear as he held her in his arms.
"I missed you," she whispered as her heartbeat raced drastically against his body that kept her safe.
His fangs shown as he smiled and held her close but noticed an irregularity in the beating of her racing heart. "Is everything okay?"
Catherine raised her head and looked around nervously. Since leaving the library she had a suspicious feeling that someone had been following her. After getting lost in her studies and losing track of time, Catherine quickly packed her books and hoped to reach her roommate in time for a ride back to their apartment but Megan had already left for work.
"Miss."
Catherine jumped when someone tapped her shoulders. Her heart raced faster and it only worried Vincent more. He stepped closer to her and hovered over her protectively as she turned around and faced the young man who had been following for a couple of blocks.
"I didn't mean to scare you but you left this at the library," he said nervously as he stared at Vincent, who was much bigger than he was. He handed her a book on criminology.
"Thanks," Catherine replied as she took the book from his shaky hand. "You could have just left it with the librarian."
"Ah, didn't know you had a boyfriend. Well then, I better get going," he said before leaving the two alone again.
Catherine felt relieved and was quick to calm her nervous heart. She turned around and was immediately greeted by Vincent's huge stature. He stood over her smaller frame and his proximity caused her body shivered against his. She bit her bottom lip and lulled a moan that was threatening to give her away.
"Are you okay?" Vincent asked.
Catherine nodded. "Thanks."
"For what?"
"For being here. Not sure what I would have done if you weren't here. Thought I was over reacting but I had a feeling that someone was following me."
"Glad that I was here to help," he smiled and for a second his eyes shown its true colors as it flashed gold.
Catherine studied his face but he was just as mysterious as the first time they met. Whenever she was in trouble he showed up and tonight was no different. "You seem to do that a lot," she placed her hands on his chest and pressed her palms to try and put some distance between them but he remained still.
He watched her carefully and listened to her heartbeat. His senses didn't pick up on anything and he was more confused by her. "I don't understand," he shook his head. "I'm sorry if I upset you, Catherine. I'll let you go," he stepped back and gave her space.
"No!" she reacted quickly and grabbed his arm, stopping him from walking any further. "Sorry. It's just you caught me off guard. And that guy following me," Catherine shook her head. She couldn't believe the turn of events. Her hand loosened around his arm and she slipped her smaller hand in his. It felt warm and comforting especially with what happened just minutes ago. "He spooked me a bit but I'm glad I have my book. I need it to study. I was headed to my apartment but good thing I didn't get that far. I'm lucky I ran into you or who knows how far he would have followed me," she squeezed his hand and stared up to meet his eyes.
"Well, you don't have anything to worry about it anymore. I doubt he'll be following you again."
"Thanks to my boyfriend," she giggled nervously as she remembered what the young man had said.
"Well, I would be a lousy boyfriend if I let you walk home alone," Vincent joked but it took a lot of effort to restrain the beast that all but let out a victorious roar. "I don't have any plans tonight if you would like some company."
"I'd really like that," Catherine couldn't stop the smile forming on her lips. "My apartment is about ten...twelve blocks from here."
His golden eyes stared at her as if she was the only woman in the world. Vincent knew he was close to the point of no return and he didn't know how much control he had left over the beast. He felt the rein to be much shorter than usual but he didn't want to stay away from her any longer. "It would be my pleasure, Catherine. Lead the way."