Chapter 52

"Catherine…" Vincent started to say.

"Vincent before you…I mean I should explain…"

"Tell me Catherine," he encouraged her gently.

With a sigh, she nodded and said, "We will probably be more comfortable on the couch. Would you like some tea?"

"Maybe later," he replied as he followed her into the living room. Once they were both seated on the couch Vincent waited patiently for her to begin.

"Vincent I am sorry that you discovered what I was doing the way that you did, but a woman has needs just like a man does. Other than what happened during the attack, which thankfully I don't remember, it has been quite some time since I was with a man. I know it isn't the same for you because…well…you haven't…I'm sorry, that isn't at all important right now. I just want you to know that I am sorry if what I did shocked you in any way and if I knew how to keep it from happening again, I would do it!"

He waited a moment to be sure she wasn't just taking a breath before adding more and then said, "Catherine, I am aware of the needs that you speak of, and do not fault you in any way for having them. I know that we have spoken about marriage and that would lead one to believe there would be intimate relations involved, even though Father has assured me I cannot, as you know. I am humbled by the desire you have shown for me. The only part of the episode that has me truly puzzled though is why when you realized that I had shared your pleasure were you embarrassed by it?"

"You shared…Oh wow! I had no idea! I thought you just became aware of what I was feeling! Did…ummm…were you…was anyone…"

He stopped her stumbling questions by saying, "When I first became aware of what was happening, I was with Father. I took my leave from him as quickly as possible and went to my chamber."

"Then at least you were alone when…I mean I don't know how it happened! I thought you could only feel what I was feel…"

"Yes Catherine, and what you were feeling was very intense. Because I love you and although I might not look like it I do seem to have all the same reactions of a normal healthy male. What you were feeling had a profound effect on me and I responded as any normal healthy male would.

"Of course you are a normal healthy male! Who would think anything different? Except maybe Father, and the only reason for that is that he is hoping that you aren't! Vincent I want you to know that I do want you in that way! I know that you are inexperienced and I will try and be patient until you are ready to take our relationship to the next level. But I'm afraid that I can't promise that what happened tonight won't happen again!"

Blushing a bit at the very thought of a repeat performance of tonight, he asked, "Do you think you might be able to give me a little advanced warning the next time? That way I can make sure that I am alone and have the privacy to enjoy it with you."

Stunned at his reply, she questioned, "Vincent if you feel that way about it and want to experience it with me, then why not the 'real thing' instead of through the Bond?"

"Because even though I know not every one does, I was taught that kind of intimacy was to be reserved for the bonds of matrimony."

"So you're saying that you don't want to make love to me until we are married?"

"No Catherine. I want to any time I even think of you, and even more so after this evening. But my upbringing was strongly focused on how wrong that is."

With a sigh, she answered, "Okay, I guess I can understand that. Heaven knows I don't want Father to think any worse of me than he already does. No matter how soon we get married, our first child will still be an 'early baby'. I know that you didn't get me pregnant, but I do consider you this baby's father and I want everyone else to see it that way as well. I suppose Father and Devin's mother were married a good year or more before he came along huh?"

"As far as I am aware, Father has never been married. He took Devin in as his son when Grace, Devin's mother, died in childbirth, just as he took me in several years later. The three of us are not related by blood in anyway, but became a family nonetheless."

"Then Mary acted as your mother. I wonder why the two of them never got married. While Father is harder to read, it makes it more difficult to know his feelings, but it is as clear as day how much Mary loves him."

To be continued….