Chapter 63

Once his vest was off, Catherine quickly went to work on the white shirt with ruffles down the front that Mary had made him for special occasions. Vincent couldn't think of any more special occasion that asking the woman he loved to be his wife!

The shirt opened to reveal an undershirt beneath it. She looked up at him and asked, "Do you always wear this many layers Vincent?"

"I usually also have a sweater or two on Catherine. Remember the tunnels are cooler than Above."

"I'm glad that our first time together will be up here then! Below it would have taken half the night to get you undressed!" she teased with a giggle.

Vincent blushed just a bit at the comment, but it was hidden as he lifted the undershirt over his head.

"Oh Vincent!" she sighed and before he could even guess what was coming, Catherine ran her small hands through the dense mat of hair on his chest.

Her eyes were closed in sensual delight and he could feel her pleasure radiating through the Bond as well. When she had completed several strokes up and down his chest, she opened her eyes and took a step back.

"Vincent wouldn't you like to touch me too?" She knew that she was proportioned according to her frame, but since she was small that also meant she wasn't very amply endowed. Would he think she was too small? She certainly didn't have enough to fill his large hands!

"Yes Catherine, I would, but I am so afraid of hurting you."

"I trust you Vincent! I know you could never hurt me. Let our Bond guide you if you doubt my words."

He nodded slowly and took just a half step forward. With the greatest of caution, he reached out to place both hands on her shoulders.

"Go ahead Vincent," she encouraged, "I have dreamed of you touching my breasts."

"I would ask you to pinch me Catherine, but I am sure that if this is a dream I do not want to wake up."

"While I am sure that we share some of the same dreams, I can assure you, this is not a dream."

"It is a dream come true, Catherine," he informed her softly as one hand finally left her shoulder and moved towards her breast. Curling his fingers inward so his claws would not even come close to her skin, he trailed the back of his hand slowly downward. The fur tickled just a bit, but the sensation it created when it whispered over her breast was far from funny. The shudder of desire caused her whole body to shake.

"Catherine are you cold?" he asked in concern.

"Not at all Vincent. That is what only your touch does. Imagine if your lips were there instead…"

"My lips! There?" he gasped.

"Yes Vincent. Before the night is over I hope they will be," she insisted.

Vincent simply accepted her words as fact. He was beginning to understand that this was a night for miracles. Why shouldn't something he'd never even dreamed of not become a part of the magical night?

"Vincent, I am going to get the beautiful candles you brought tonight and put them on the bedside tables. Why don't you undress the rest of the way and get into bed?" Catherine hoped that he would be more comfortable with that idea rather than actually taking off his clothes in front of her.

She gave him much more time that she needed to pick up two candles and cross the room, but she wanted to be sure he had enough time to get under the covers.

He undressed quickly from many years of practice, but was still worried about one thing. Instead of getting into the bed he simply sat down on it until Catherine reentered the room.

His innate modesty had him wanting to stand with his hands clasped in front of himself, but that would have defeated his purpose in not being under the covers.

"Vincent?" she asked in confusion when she saw him sitting on the bed.

"Catherine, as an adolescent Devin told me that I was…on the large size. As an adult, I have had no one to compare myself to. I didn't want to frighten or hurt you…so thought it would be best if you were to…ummm…"

"Judge for myself?" she questioned.

To be continued….