From the back of the taxi, Catherine glared at the traffic light. Wouldn't the damn thing ever turn to green? She tried to calm herself, knowing she needed to let out the trial stress. It had been a near thing. The man knew how to cover his tracks and his defense attorney was a sly old fox, skilled at dismissing evidence as well as manipulating witnesses and jury. But they had won! They had succeeded in removing yet another child molester from the streets! When the sentence had been announced, she had re-opened the bond fully, to let Vincent share her joy and pride, and felt his answering wave of love and praise wash over her, leaving her with an urgent need to be in his arms, at last. How she had missed him during those five days…and nights!
Eager to run to Vincent, she'd gently declined Joe's proposal to celebrate their victory over a drink, but hadn't found any excuse to refuse Jerry's offer to share a taxi. The kid had been tremendously helpful during the last few days.
He was the latest addition to the DA's office, fresh out of law school, and they'd taken him on the case in the hope he'd at least help with the research, but he'd done much more than that. He had a fast, sharply analytical mind and a keen eye to detect a useful detail in a dense page of legal jargon. His input had probably helped them make a difference. She thought that he would be the perfect person to replace her at investigation, for as soon as she came back, she would inform Joe that she would do no more of that. Take it or leave it
She realized Jerry was talking to her. "Sorry, what did you say?"
"I was saying my sister and I inherited that brownstone from an aunt, and that's where I live for the moment. It's well situated, and comfortable, but much too big for me, so I think I'll put it on sale. My sister lives in Illinois, four kids and a mortgaged house, she sure can use the money. And my share will buy me a nice apartment. I like that house, though. It's old-fashioned, but beautiful, with wooden floors and woodwork everywhere. Plenty of space, too, four storeys, and cellars that seem to go down to the center of the earth."
At those words, Catherine's ears perked up, just as the taxi came to a halt in a quiet residential street, in front of an imposing, handsome brownstone. She opened her window to take a better look at it, an idea taking shape at the bottom of her mind. On an impulse, she turned to Jerry. "I'll be away for a week or so, but when I come back I'd very much like to visit this house. I think I know someone who might be interested."
He grinned. "Of course, no problem! Better to sell it directly than through real estate vultures, anyway!"
She stopped his gesture toward his pocket. "No, please, the ride's on
me. And I haven't thanked you yet, but you've done a great job! I don't think
we could have made it without you!"
He blushed crimson, and got out of the taxi. "Thanks a lot! Bye Miss Chandler."
"Cathy. Goodbye Jerry!"
She tried to relax for the rest of the ride, sharing Vincent's joyful impatience. Soon, my love, soon!
An amazingly short amount of time later, having showered, changed and packed with a speed worthy of a Guinness record, she was descending the iron ladder to the world Below. She didn't need to look down to know that Vincent was there, waiting for her. Before she could reach the ground her bag was taken from her shoulder. She was seized by strong arms and turned around to be crushed against a wide, hard chest.
"Catherine! Oh, Catherine!" The husky words, carried on a warm, halting breath, told everything there was to say.
"Vincent, it's been so long!" she whispered against his throat.
One of his hands came to cup the back of her head, turning her face up, and a hard, demanding mouth descended on hers. She welcomed his hunger, meeting it with a greed of her own. Their tongues met and danced together as their mouths devoured each other in desperate craving.
Her body tightly held against Vincent's, Catherine's feet hadn't had a chance to touch the ground, and her legs went up to lock around his waist, bringing her core closer to the growing hardness she felt. He whimpered in response, and one of his hands came down to her lower back to pull her tighter, the instinctive answering thrust of his hips making her moan too. They began moving together, the close, rhythmic contact between them a source of tantalizing pleasure that only led to further, stronger longing.
They had forgotten where they were, lost in a whirl of shared erotic sensations. All they knew was that there were still too many obstacles between them. Vincent's eager hand insinuated into the waistline of Catherine's jeans to cup her warm bottom, as her own greedy fingers traveled down to work on the fastening of his trousers. So close, now!
A noise over their heads startled them, bringing them back to earth. Reluctantly, they pulled their mouths apart to look at each other, realizing what had nearly happened. Vincent released Catherine to pick up her bag on the ground, and quickly pulled her away through the threshold, to the safety of the tunnel world, where he stopped to face her. She felt the words in his mind before he could utter them, and put her hand on his mouth.
"Don't!" she said firmly. "Don't you dare apologize, Vincent! I'm just as responsible as you are for getting carried away. I want you so much!"
"And I you, Catherine! I was unable to stop…"
"Ssh, darling! We did stop, didn't we?"
"Yes," he reluctantly admitted, "but if there hadn't been that noise…"
"…we would have made love on the threshold between our worlds." she completed with a smile. "Highly symbolic, and not such a bad idea! On a later occasion, maybe…."
He shook his head in wonder. She spoke so easily of making love! He had to admit that in spite of all that had already occurred between them, the prospect of that ultimate physical joining still awed him some, even more as it was getting close…and at the same time he couldn't wait for it to happen!
Thinking too much again! Shouldn't you know better by now? Smiling, Vincent took Catherine's hand. "Come, Beloved!"
On the way they talked of the last five days. Catherine told Vincent about the trial, and he gave her the latest news of the Tunnel community. While listening to him, Catherine couldn't help a sigh. Much as she loved her Tunnel family she had not come down to see them, tonight. She only wanted to be alone with Vincent, and knew that it wouldn't be possible until much later that night, at best. Though privacy was just as important to the people Below as it was to topsiders, they didn't seem to extend the concept to Vincent, and walked in and out of his chamber without so much as announcing themselves. Of course they would grant Vincent and her privacy, if required, yet that would mean making a public statement about their new relationship. Most people there would be happy for them, she knew, but right now other people's attention, however benevolent, was not what they needed.
Suddenly she realized the tunnels around them were not familiar, this was not the usual way to the inhabited tunnels.
"Vincent, have the ways been changed again?" she asked, slowing her pace.
He stopped to face her.
"Catherine, would you mind not going to the main chambers?" He asked with his best innocent look. "Maybe it is selfish of me, but I don't want to share you with my family, tonight."
The bond, and a sparkle in his eyes, told that he'd been very aware of her thoughts, and she came against him to hug him hard. "I don't want to share you either, I want you all to myself! I'm afraid I'm awfully selfish too, where you're concerned, but I don't care! We have earned the right to a little selfishness, haven't we?"
His free arm came around her in a possessive hold. "We have indeed, my Catherine!" he murmured in her hair. Too many times they had allowed the demands of their respective worlds to keep them apart, impede their relationship, intrude on their time together! No more! Tonight they would allow nothing, nobody to come between them.
On that silent promise, Vincent set them in motion again. "Come!"
"Where are we going?"
"Please allow me to make it a surprise." he answered with a somewhat mysterious smile.
She felt his playful anticipation through the bond and grinned. "Mm, I love surprises, Vincent!"