(This story is written strictly for the free enjoyment of fans of the "Beauty and the Beast" television series. No copyright infringement is intended.)

Sharing

 by Angie

Let’s contend no more, Love,
Strive nor weep:
All be as before, Love
- Only sleep!

-Robert Browning

Vincent kneaded Catherine’s neck with this thumbs, rubbing in circles where he could feel the tension. Gradually, he felt her muscles relax and knew through their bond that she was mellowing.

They were sitting on their bed, naked, Catherine cross-legged, Vincent kneeling behind her.

Despite his hard, sharp nails, Vincent had discovered he could give Catherine a reasonable massage without endangering her. His fingers pads were large and he could tilt his fingers back to give him maximum coverage.

He had always regarded his hands as a bane. While people got used to his face, eventually, nothing seemed to lessen the shock of his large, long-fingered, hairy hands and pointed nails. He hid them inside his cloak and kept his sweater sleeves pulled down as far as he could – even among his tunnel family. It had therefore come as something of a shock when he first discovered that his hands did not distress babies any more than his face did, then that he could sooth a child with them, even as he told them stories. It was only adults, it seemed, who found his appearance shocking.

Except Catherine. She had held them, stroked them, kissed them even – an entirely new experience for him. She quite obviously found them sexually attractive as well – which he found hard to credit, even while he was feeling her reaction through their bond. Now he was massaging her and knew that she loved the feel of his hands on her. That feeling warmed him as nothing else could.

He felt her sag just a little more as she relaxed further and he make one more circle with his thumbs before sliding his hands down her arms and pulling her against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

Catherine sighed. "Why did you stop?"

"Because you are tired, Catherine. You have had a busy day, and you need your sleep."

"And?"

"And if I had continued, you would have begun feeling something else."

"Something else," she repeated.

"Yes."

He stretched out his legs and lay down on his side, bringing Catherine with him. He tweaked the bedding over them both and closed his eyes. She snuggled up against him and sighed again. He calmed himself and let that calm flow along their bond. He soon felt her begin the slide into sleep. Then she fought that slide and shifted into awareness again, she spoke softly.

"I know what you’re doing, Vincent. This time, I won’t argue. I AM tired. But here’s something for YOU to think on."

She tilted her hips just a little closer, separated her legs just a little and reached between them to capture his organ and trap it. She felt him shudder and knew she had made her point. She smiled and let herself fall asleep.

Vincent loved to feel himself in that warm place between her legs, but reflected that this time, she had left him in a conundrum. He dare not move lest he awaken her, but staying where he was would distract him from sleeping.

Or would it? He could hear Catherine’s soft breathing and her warmth against him made him feel as if they were one. He could feel her contentment along their bond.

Did she realize that her calm would affect him the same way his did her, he wondered? Of course she did, he admonished himself, but she wanted to remind him that their bond wasn’t to be used to influence, only to share.

He sighed and let himself share her peace. Soon he felt himself drift towards sleep.

END