Chapter 25
After a knock at the door Narcisse briefly disappeared from her field of view. He came back with a steaming mug of tea with a generous lacing of rum in it. Gently he handed his wife the cup.
It was only when he was convinced that she was well taken care of for the moment when he slipped out of his own soaked clothes. Catherine watched her husband in silence while the deliciously warm burning of the alcohol run down her throat.
She had never before seen Stephane Narcisse behave like the way he did in the woods today. So worried. Worried about her and her well-being. Maybe even worried about her life. She did not know what to think of this new development.
And she simply lacked the energy of seriously thinking about the meaning of it after her more than exhausting day. Groggily Catherine closed her eyes and listened to the soothing noise of the cracking fire.
"Catherine, ma Belle? Your bath has been prepared. Come on, that'll do you some good," he whispered softly into her ear and she realized that she must have dozed off. It took her a moment to regain her senses. Then she accepted the hand Stephane patiently held out for her.
A pleasant warmth awaited her in the adjoining room, accompanied by the soothing scent of her favorite bath essence they have already poured into the water.
She stilled without resistance when her husband stepped behind her to remove her bathrobe.
"Oh dear, what happened to your back?" She sensed Stephane's light touch more than she felt it. Actually she should feel uncomfortable under his intense inspection. She knew that she no longer had the slim and willowy body of a young woman, rather that of a mother of several children already effected by force of gravity. Yet she felt no shame.
"A branch got in our way," she explained succinctly, realizing at the same moment that his lips were gently kissing the affected area.
"I'm afraid you've lost out this encounter. We'll take care of it after the bath."
She nodded affirmatively, searching for the step stool to get into the tub. Catherine cried out in surprise as Stephane pulled her off her legs and lifted her over the edge of the tub.
"Stephane!" She chided him but couldn't bring herself to be angry at him because of the loving look he gave her.
"Trust me, I'll hold you," he assured her with faithful eyes. He let her slide into the water very carefully. The soothing warmth that enveloped her body made her sigh languorously.
"Good?", teased her husband but he kept her from leaning back.
"Stephane, I'd really like to...", she started to protest when he unexpectedly stripped off his own robe and swung his long legs over the edge to sit in the tub behind her.
"Don't you worry, now you can," he said, his masculine warm body completely surrounding her. When he realized that she still hesitated, he simply pulled her against his chest with gentle force. "Relax," he whispered adjuratory and she wondered how in the name of god she should be able to do so when nearly every fiber of her body was touched by his.
Tentatively she leaned her head against his neck.
"Perfect," he whispered behind her. "You fit into my arms perfectly."
"It seems to me that you've poured too much rum into your own tea."
"Not one drop, ma Belle. But I've had a very dramatic experience today. You could even call it an enlightenment. Please just listen to me, will you?" He demanded quietly and drew circles on her stomach with his fingers what caused an intimate tingling in her nether regions. "This time where I did not know where you were, whether you're alive or badly injured, was the most terrible time of my life. And when I've lost my head for a minute or two and allowed myself to imagine how my life might be without you, the idea of losing you was hardly to bear.
Catherine, my relationship with you is the most beautiful, horrible, agitating and frustrating one I've ever had. You anger me as fast as you excite me. Sometimes I do not even know if I should put you over my knee for a good spanking or kiss you.
Ma Belle, I can not tell you what the future holds for us but as of today I know for sure how our future should never look like under any circumstances. I need you, Catherine."
All these words he had spoken against her neck and the sheer power of this statement caused goose bumps to rise on her arms which lay motionless on Stephane's knees. She did not know if she should feel glad or frustrated about the fact that she could not see his eyes in the moment of his revelation.
"What does that mean, Stephane?" She whispered arduously, feeling overwhelmed by this confession, his closeness and almost unbearable care.
"It means that I love you, Catherine. I chose the most difficult woman on god's earth and fell head over heels in love with this beautiful creature."
His words caused Catherine to turn around. He willingly released her only to grab her by the hips to pull her closer once she had turned so that she was sitting on his lap.
"I don't know what to say?!" she replied in confusion, desperately searching his eyes for any indication that her husband was telling the truth.
"You do not have to say anything, ma Belle. Just promise me to think about it."
"You love me?" She still asked, unable to process this information. "I would like to believe you, but ..." Catherine stopped but she didn't need to say anything more as Stephane already nodded knowingly.
"I do not want to put any pressure on you. And if you need time, then you should get all the time in this world. I'm not running away."
His hands went around her face and he pulled her slowly towards him. However to her surprise, his lips did not find hers but her forehead, where he placed a loving kiss.
But could she trust his words? Trust the words of a man who was anything but selfless and who had already betrayed her so many times? Oh, but the look in his eye - eyes that pleadingly stared at her - softened her pain-stricken heart.
"Prove it to me. You have to prove it," she whispered and Narcisse nodded.
"I will, Catherine. And I would like to start by making love to you. Now. Here. May I love you, ma Belle?"
The intimacy of these words and the deep timbre of his voice brought strings in her to their voices that had been silent for too long and that only Stephane could play.
Her body was already quivering at the thought of making love in the bathtub so she nodded. A split second later his lips covered hers. It was a kiss of lovers, knowing, stormy and yet full of expectations and affection.
Narcisse did need no further invitation but rather let his hands roam her naked body. Surprisingly he lifted his legs so that Catherine tipped forward until she felt his erection press between her thighs.
"Someone seems to be in a hurry," she whispered against his lips.
"Now you see what you're doing to me." Stephane's hands made their way to what she believed was his favorite part of her body, her bottom. With gentle pressure his fingers massaged her flesh, finding the perfect mixure of strength and finesse.
At some point she could no longer suppress a groan whereupon his penis pressed urgently against her entrance.
"I promise to love and take care of your needs the whole night, Chérie. I'll cover every inch of your body with kisses but if I can not have you now - this very moment - I'll die of ardent longing. Ready, ma Belle?"
She was ready, she was more than ready and afraid of shattering with desire. Only he could end this sweet torment. So instead of answering, she placed herself above him and with closed eyes sank down on his member in one swift motion. He gasped and gripped her hips, guiding her. They both groaned in unison.
"I'm glad you agree."
"Kiss me," she demanded determinedly and her husband oboyed without hesitation. With a vehemence that send her into rapture.
Stephane rose under her so that their bathwater sloshed over the edge of the tub. With one hand he slid between them and teased her sensitive clit. The other was now caressing her ass and directed her up and down motions. In order not to lose her balance and for better leverage she braced her hands against the edge of the wooden tub. This way she could better control her movements.
"Oh my God!" She exclaimed when Stephane put pressure on her clitoris and her whole body began to twitch with pleasure. After several more violent jolts her arms could no longer hold her weight so she collapsed on her husband who was still stimulationg her clit.
"Come for me, Catherine," Stephane whispered and searched again for her lips. As if on command she flinched violently and pressed her crotch firmly against his hand, which still exerted pressure on her center, causing a surge of pleasure that swept over her and pulled Catherine away. "Look at me. Look at me, ma Belle! You are so beautiful when you come."
Befogged by her lust she needed a moment before she realized that Narcisse was raising and turning her mindless body that still trembled with ecstasy, so that her torso now leaned slightly over the edge of the tub. Before she could ask him what the hell he was doing, he had already penerated her from behind and pressed her body against the edge of the tub with the force of his thrust. The water spilled wildly and washed around her body as her fingers clawed tightly around the edge to better hold off the violence of his thrusts. She felt his pulsing manhood deep inside her with each thrust. His labored breathing and the increasing speed of his movements told her that he was about to reach his climax.
So she contracted her vaginal muscles as waves of pleasure washed over him.
After a few last convulsions his heavy upper body sagged against her. Stephane needed a moment before he bonelessly dropped back into the tub and swept his wife along. Catherine found herself puzzled and still panting on his lap.
Neither of them was able to speak at that moment so he gently turned her head in his direction and kissed her in such a loving way that she could barely control her exuberant emotions. How was it possible that at one second he was able to wrap her around his little finger with his love affirmations and in the next he mad wild and passionate love with her, only to tenderly kiss her afterwards? Did he ever look at her with such an intensity, that unleashed thousands of butterflies in her stomach?
"The water is getting cold. Plus, our bed is much better suited for what I plan to do next with you," Narcisse broke the silence, but Catherine's willingness to leave the bath and his arms was limited. When he realized she was not responding, he regretfully loosened his grip and rose to a standing position. He acknowledged her quiet protest with a kiss. "Do not worry, you'll get your money's worth," he assured her, but Catherine pouted.
"I was pretty pleased right now, Stephane." Her husband got out of the tub and she leaned back groaning. Then she plunged herself into the lukewarm water.
After a few seconds his hands wrapped around her neck and Stephane gently pulled her back to the surface of the water.
"Pleased you'll be, I assure you. You'll actually be screaming with pleasure, ma Belle."
He pledged his promise with a kiss before he helped Catherine getting out of the tub. Wrapped into a fluffy towel, he carried his wife to their bed, where he turned rhetorics into action.
I'm sorry you had to wait a bit longer than usually. It's been a busy week. Thanks so much for your reviews and your support, demedicigirl, D, Callmecordelia1, LaurenBelgium, Leryn, G and A!
You rock!