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This is chapter 16, you guys. I hope you enjoy reading it. :)

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Was this the right time to tell him though? Should she? Really?

Catherine was still contemplating what to do. She was almost done with patching him up and he was still watching her. He knew that she wanted to say something; it seemed to be very important.

"Vincent, I…" she began, at the same moment he said.

"So, I think… "

They both began to laugh. Vincent was in awe at the moment. In awe of her beauty, of her smile and laughter.

"What did you want to say, Vincent?" she asked.

"You first." He said.

"No, you go first." She retorted.

He chuckled and said."Those men, they're going to come back. We should stay somewhere else. Don't you think?"

She nodded in agreement and got up from her chair."Let's go, you are as good as new. Even though I say so myself."

Cat was very satisfied with her own work. He also got up and locked eyes with her. She placed her hand on his upper arm, near his wound and studied her own work.

"See, it's all good." She said.

Vincent felt a shiver go through his spine. The feel of her hands on his skin, was setting it on fire! Now she was teasing. She scraped her fingernails on his bare skin, driving him completely mad! She felt him shiver, making her almost laugh out loud.

"Okay, let's go." He managed to say, his voice even deeper than usual.

Cat grabbed her stuff and walked behind Vincent out the door with her hand bag in her hand. She was still thinking about the tension between them not so long ago. If he had made a move, she wasn't sure if she would've had the strength to behave. Oh, she would've surely caved. Where did her self control disappear to?

()

They had driven for 45 minutes, when Cat couldn't keep her eyes open anymore.

"Hey, this seems like a good place. Let's just take this one. You must be exhausted." He said softly.

They checked in and paid for 2 rooms next to each other. Vincent decided to take a shower and after that, he promised to cook her a warm home cooked meal. There was a grocery store nearby, so while Cat was still in her room, Vincent bought the stuff he needed to cook.

He was in the kitchen, when Cat knocked on the door.

"Come in." he called.

The second she stepped inside his room, her mouth watered. The meal he was preparing for her smelled so good.

"Hey." She greeted him.

"Hey." He replied, then went back to preparing the vegetables.

Vincent had poured her a glass of wine, so Cat grabbed the glass and asked.

"Is the wine mine?"

He turned around and nodded."Yes, all yours."

"I can help." she said.

"Nope, you have been driving all day long. Now it's time for you to sit back and relax." He replied.

Cat smiled and took a seat on the couch, trying to watch some T.V. But her mind drifted off to him. God, he looked so hot, cutting vegetables...

()

Cat really enjoyed the meal. It was delicious! Vincent was glad that he was able to do this one thing for her. After dinner, they ate some ice cream and talked about JT and Z and his men. They were watching a movie, when suddenly Vincent felt that she was slowly leaning on him and at some point her head fully rested on his upper arm. He looked at her and saw that her eyes were closed. She had fallen asleep during the movie. He smiled and thought.

'She must be exhausted.'

He moved carefully and got up. He then decided to carry her to her bed. Vincent took her in his arms and carried her to the bedroom. Holding her warm body so close to him, made him so happy. The feel of her skin on his, was accelerating. Even in slumber, she was able to take his breath away. God! He loved her so much! She snored lightly, making him chuckle softly. To him, even that was endearing. Her heart was beating at a steady pace. He then laid her on the bed and covered her with a blanket. While she was sleeping, he watched how her hair fell around her gorgeous face, like a halo. So beautiful…

It was cold in the room, so he adjusted the air-conditioning in her room. He didn't want her to be cold. Vincent was watching her silently and was glad that she was sleeping peacefully. One night he was outside on her fire escape and heard her cry in her sleep. She was having a nightmare and just as he was about to come in her bedroom, he heard Heather wake her up. Cat was sobbing in her arms, talking incoherently about her mom.

That night, he stayed outside her apartment till the morning. It pained him so much, not being able to protect her from the past. He tried to talk to her about it, but she avoided that topic. Maybe one day, she will trust him enough to confide in him. Vincent was patient, so it didn't matter when she was going to decide to tell him.

He let out a deep breath and walked out her room. When he stepped into his room, he went to the bathroom first to freshen up. Vincent just got into bed, thinking about her. He desperately wanted to tell Cat, but he knew that there was no turning back if he confessed his love to her. They still had a long road ahead together; what if she wasn't ready to hear his confession? He didn't want to make it awkward for her. No, he must wait a bit longer. He too was exhausted from the trip, so within minutes he fell into slumber…

Suddenly Vincent was awoken by someone repeating a word. It took him a couple of moments to realize where he was. Oh yes, he was sleeping in a motel room and Cat's room was next to his. It was Catherine! Even though she was in the next room, he was able to hear her cause of his super senses. She was repeating a word while her voice trembled of fear. Without hesitation, he practically ran towards her. Oh God! Was she in danger?! Vincent felt that he was about to turn; the Beast wanted out! Cat was in danger! But when he barged into her room, he saw her tossing and turning in her sleep with her hand stretched out and saying.

"Mom, mom, mom! Please don't leave me!"

When the Beast realized that she wasn't in any danger, he changed back into Vincent. It took him a couple of seconds, before he reached her. It broke Vincent's heart to see her like this. He stood next to the bed and lightly grabbed her upper arm, trying to wake her up. Apparently he wasn't gentle enough, because she woke up startled and began to scream.

"No! Don't hurt my mom! Please, don't hurt her!"

Cat was terrified; her eyes wide open, her heart beating abnormally fast and she moved to the corner of the bed, far away from him as she was able to. The sight of her was heartbreaking; he was afraid that she'd never get over that horrible night when her mom was murdered. It even hurt him physically, thinking about that night 9 years ago. He too had sleepless nights, these past years, wishing that he was able to save Cat's mother also.

Cat wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes. After a couple moments, Vincent went closer to her.

"Hey, it's just me. I am not going to hurt you. You know that right." he said softly.

At one point, she opened her eyes and realized that she had a nightmare. It was then, when she let go…

Catherine began to sob loudly and uncontrollably; her whole body shook from her sobs. Vincent sat as close to her as possible and wrapped his arms around her. The feel of his arms wrapped around her body, made her feel so safe. Even without using any words, she felt like the heavy burden that she had been carrying for 9 long years, wasn't that heavy anymore. Vincent was here, helping to carry it with her. Meg, the woman from the Bed and Breakfast, was right when she said that she should share her feelings with her loved ones. And Vincent was undoubtedly one of her loved ones.

It felt so good and she felt so relieved; she didn't have to keep her feelings to herself anymore. Vincent ran his hand softly through her hair and had his eyes closed.

"Shhhh… it's alright. I am here." he whispered.

After her sobs came to an end, he reluctantly let go of her and tried to catch her gaze.

"I'm sorry." She said softly, avoiding his gaze.

Vincent tried to look her in the eyes."Hey, it's okay. You don't have to apologize, okay."He said softly.

Cat still didn't look him in the eyes, so he asked.

"Catherine, will you please look at me?"

But she was so afraid to lock eyes with him. It felt amazing, when she was in his arms. But to let him see her so vulnerable, was terrifying too. And it felt so good to be in his arms; now she wanted more. More than that. Only with one embrace, he was able to make her feel better. They didn't need words to understand each other. She didn't have to tell him what the nightmare was about; he knew it. And she didn't have to talk to him about it in order to feel better. Words were not necessary.

Catherine wanted more from him. She wanted to be more than friends. He waited patiently for her, but she still refused to look at him. Vincent gently cupped her face and tilted her head, so she would look at him. But her eyes were closed, so he asked once more.

"Will you look at ME, please?"

She then sighed deeply and finally looked into his eyes. What he saw in her eyes, made his heart soar. The love that he saw in her eyes was overwhelming. Vincent inhaled her scent and closed his eyes. He wanted to say.

'Please don't look at me like that!'

In her eyes, he read a confession. One that he had been waiting for so long. He wanted to answer her by kissing her lips, to convince her that he felt the same way. They didn't need words, not at all. He looked down to her lips, but shook his head. Without warning, Catherine got closer to him and made her move.

She cupped his face and softly brushed her lips against his, pouring all her love in that one kiss. Her lips against his, made his head spin. Vincent had his eyes closed, his fingers gripping the sheets. He wanted to tear his lips from her and say those 3 little words… but he didn't have the strength to.

She moved her lips slowly, savoring every feeling, like she wanted this moment to last forever.

Suddenly she had her hands in his hair, tugging on it real hard as they deepened the kiss. He then ran his fingers through her hair, while kissing her with so much passion it left them both aching for more. Their lips began to move faster, leaving them both breathless.

Vincent felt that she was locking her fingers around his neck. She moaned softly.

"Vincent." Catherine needed him so.

He knew that they should stop. RIGHT NOW. He shouldn't let it go out of hand. She was too vulnerable right now. She needed his comfort, but not this. Not now. He knew that he should, but he was too weak to pull away from her sweet kisses and caresses.

At one point, Vincent felt her hands wonder under his shirt. Her hand was touching his already heated skin. God! He was about to lose his mind. At one point, she tried to help him out of his shirt. And that was it. Vincent didn't know where he got the strength from, but he pulled away, making her whimper softly at the loss of his hot lips on hers. He was looking at her with pleading eyes.

"Oh God! Please stop. Please stop, Catherine." He whispered, his chest heaving and his breathing ragged.

She opened her eyes, her chest also heaving. She looked him in the eyes and asked."Why?"

He shook his head and said."I don't want to take advantage of you. Do you wanna talk about your nightmare?"

She swallowed hard and said."Yes, I do."

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