Chapter 8

"Oh that is a good idea! I would love a good long soak before bed. Would you care to join me?" she offered with a sultry smile.

"Ummm Catherine I haven't bathed with anyone since I was four or five years old!"

Grinning, she held out her hand to him, "Vincent you do remember that I have seen you without your clothes on…do you really think there is something drastically different about wet and naked as opposed to dry and naked that will somehow send me running into the night?!"

Giving her a shy and somewhat sheepish smile, Vincent replied, "I am sorry Catherine. I guess that at times it is still hard to believe how much my life has changed since you came into it."

"Hopefully only in good ways," she said with a tender grin.

"Only the best," he told her, this time with a toothy smile.

She took off her shoes and then turned her back to him. "Vincent I might need help with the long zipper in the back," she said.

He approached her with confidence that he had gained only since Catherine had come into his life and he gave thanks for the blessing of her love.

Once they were both undressed Vincent stepped into the water first. He could guide her in much more safely from that position.

Catherine gave a sigh of pleasure as the hot water caressed her body. She sank onto one of the deeper ledges built into the pool wall and invited Vincent to join her. Although he took his place next to her on the same ledge, the level of the water came to Catherine's chin, while his shoulders were still out of the water.

They took turns running the soft soapy sponge over each other, becoming more aroused as the minutes passed. Vincent could wait no longer to make love to his new bride, so suggested that they dry off and move to their new bed chamber. Catherine, on the other hand, had other ideas. She also didn't want to wait any longer so instead suggested that they make love right there.

Vincent was shocked! Since meeting Catherine he had come to this bathing chamber to dream of her and relieve the sexual tension those dreams caused. Never in those dreams were they making love together in the bathing chamber! "Ummm Catherine, we can't!"

"Why ever not?!" she wanted to know.

"Well…ummm…for one thing, Father's chamber is just through there!"

"And you put a lantern out signaling him not to come in…was there another reason?"

"Yes," he confirmed.

"What?" she asked.

"I…ummm…have never done anything like that before."

"Well, since you have known me, haven't you done many things you have never done before?"

"Yes."

"And have any of them turned out badly?" she asked with a gentle smile.

"They have all been wonderful Catherine," he admitted.

"Then…" she encouraged him to the next level of what she had suggested.

"Then I guess there is no reason not to make love here."

"Good," she responded with a grin and moved into his arms.

Luckily they had just finished making love and were resting in each others arms when they heard Father's voice say, "Vincent, what is the meaning of this lantern in my hallway?" By the time he got to the end of his question he was standing in the doorway of the bathing chamber.

Maybe it was because they had just made love, and his confidence was at an all time high, or maybe it was concern for his wife, but nonetheless, Vincent suggested to Father in a rather firm voice, "I really think you should go Father."

"Now why in the world would you say that Vincent!?" Father gasped.

"Because I am not sure how much longer Catherine can hold her breath," Vincent answered.

"Catherine can hold her…oh good lord!" Father blustered and with a blush staining his cheeks, he turned and hobbled away as quickly as he could.

But not so quickly that he didn't hear a large splash of water and a feminine voice exclaim, "Whew!"

Vincent softly told his wife, "I will put a tapestry up on that doorway tomorrow."

Almost the instant he finished speaking, they heard Father call out, "Vincent, maybe you should put a tapestry up on that doorway tomorrow!"

Suppressing the urge to laugh, Vincent called back, "That is a very good idea Father! I am glad you suggested it. I will see to it first thing in the morning."

Catherine ran her hand up her husband's furry chest and whispered, "I hope not the very first thing in the morning!"

To be continued…..