Chapter 5

Catherine awoke, felt Vincent spooned against her back, and sighed in deep happiness. Testing the bond, she realized he was awake and turned to look at him. Then she wished she hadn’t. Her back and shoulder muscles protested and she could feel hard knots in her legs and buttocks as well.

"Urgh," she grunted.

Vincent caught her discomfort and hugged her to him. Truth to tell, he was not unaffected either. Those laundry baskets had been heavier and more numerous than usual. His shoulders and back were stiff.

"It’s early, Catherine," he whispered." Why don’t we go to our hot room and enjoy a sauna? I know Kanin has started to widen the entrance. It should be a little easier to get into now."

"Wonderful idea," Catherine murmured. "I have something else that would help me – if you’re willing."

"Anything," Vincent whispered back, nuzzling an ear.

Catherine reluctantly moved from Vincent’s warm embrace and shuffled out of the bed. Rooting around in her overnight bag, she found a small bottle of rubbing oil. She used it to prevent chafing when she was doing hot exercise. She had not even thought of it yesterday. The loose tunnel clothing here did not bother her – but the oil would be great for her purposes. She waved it at Vincent, who had arisen and put on a long woollen robe. He brought another for her – and a couple of towels. Catherine grabbed the bristle brush and then slid her feet into the clogs she had worn the day before. Vincent went barefoot, carrying a lantern.

They walked quickly up the staircase to the new pool chamber. The entrance had indeed been improved. The awkward bend was gone. They bypassed the dim pool – it was not yet daylight Above - and went straight to the hot room.

The heat was wonderful and Catherine sighed, standing still to bask in it, already feeling better. "Vincent, I could lie here on a towel – the sand is soft - and you could give me a back massage. Maybe next time there’ll be benches."

She removed her robe, looked around for somewhere to put it and decided to roll it up and use it as a pillow. She lay outstretched and tried to relax. She heard Vincent position himself over her and felt his bottom rest on her upper legs. His manhood was softly touching her, but she did her best to remain calm. Soon, she felt Vincent’s hands rubbing oil into her shoulders in firm circular motions and thoughts of anything at all fled. He had wonderful hands! Catherine let herself doze under his ministrations, felt the knots leaving her muscles.

Vincent was well aware of the effect the touch of his organ had on Catherine, but was also determined to do what she needed most before anything else. He finished her shoulders, felt her muscles relax and moved down her back in slow circles, pressing firmly to rub in the oil. Her skin was so smooth and firm, he lost himself in the sensation of his hands moving over her. He felt the scar where Mitch Denton’s bullet had hit her and was suddenly very glad she would soon be Below where he could watch over her.

As he worked, he felt a brief regret that his body hair made an oil massage impractical. However, there were other ways to do a body rub – as Catherine had discovered. He would never have considered a bristle brush a lovemaking device before her introduction of it.

Thoughts of that made him shudder in remembered pleasure, but he resolutely continued his rubbing down over Catherine’s buttocks. Here too, he could feel the tense muscles and rubbed diligently until they too relaxed. Then he moved down her legs.

The room was quite hot, so when he finished, Vincent was very warm and lay back on his towel to bask a little. The heat was wonderful and he felt his shoulders muscles unknot. Unfortunately, his manhood was anything but relaxed and his arousal was becoming insistent.

He felt Catherine stir next to him and knew she could see his predicament. He refused to ask for assistance, though. They were here to soak up the heat, not make love. He closed his eyes and tried to will his errant organ to relax. It wouldn’t – and he finally realized that the arousal was not all his. Catherine’s own arousal was being transmitted along the bond. If he had not been so focused on her massage, he would have noticed it earlier.

He groaned and sat up, pulling the towel with him so he could slouch against the warm wall. It felt wonderful on his stiff shoulders.

Catherine looked up at him and decided he made a comfortable-looking chair. She rose and sat in his lap, her back against his chest, carefully positioning his organ between her thighs.

He nuzzled her neck and ears, reached around her to cup her breasts, while she stroked his sheath, bringing him to full stiffness. She brought up her legs and lifted herself until she could sit on his column. Then she put her hand under his thighs and urged him to lift his legs. Vincent liked the sensation of having her within the cradle of his legs and wrapped his arms about his legs to bring her closer yet. Catherine tightened her vaginal muscles around him. She felt him tense under her and knew his climax was as close as her own.

Suddenly, neither could restrain themselves any longer. Their love exploded in a shower of sparks and wet warmth.

They sat unmoving, soaking up the heat of the chamber, sated. Catherine was happy with him inside her and relaxed completely, her head under his chin. Vincent felt as if yet another gift had been given to him. His purr reverberated along his length and he hugged Catherine to him again. They remained there napping until Vincent’s stomach began to growl and his innate sense of time told him the breakfast hour was approaching.

He got up and carried Catherine to the pool. They bathed quickly in water that seemed cold in comparison with the hot room. They had not brought any soap, but there was still the brush. Catherine ran back into the hot room for it and returned. Vincent gave her a sideways glance and turned his back to her, his eagerness clearly transmitted through the bond.

Catherine laughed and began to scrub him down with water. She could feel him purring through the brush and leaned against him to feel it on as much of her skin as she could. He was delightful – there was no better word.

Vincent growled and reminded her that she wasn’t finished brushing him. She reluctantly shifted away and he turned to face her. She rubbed down his chest, arms and legs, admiring again the dense muscle groups couched under his lean form. He was perfection personified – and completely without conceit. She sighed.

Catherine got a grip on herself and moved to the very delicate operation between his legs. Her ministrations had an effect, but she ignored that. When she was done, she gave the brush to Vincent and turned her back to him. Obligingly, he massaged her with the brush. He turned her to face him and gently brushed her front, also taking care as he reached between her legs.

By now they were both aroused. Catherine hugged Vincent to her and looked into his eyes.

"Vincent, we can’t. Really. We simply must can get back and get ready for breakfast. I wonder if there is a cooler pond here? We both need a cold bath."

"There is something that might suffice, Catherine," Vincent revealed. He paddled over to the rocky wall near the entry way and beckoned to her. Around a bend she had not even noticed, there was another small waterfall – this one very chilly. They both gasped as they stood under it, but felt refreshed – and cooled.

They left it after a minute or two and quickly toweled down in the hot room before putting on their robes.

Vincent gathered up the towels and Catherine’s hand and they padded quietly down to their chamber to start another day of work.