TEMPEST IN A WATERBED
(OR A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT)

by RAYE DENE HORTON



"The court hereby sentences you, Morris Abernathy, to fifteen years in prison for the manslaughter of Willy Catz. Sentence is to begin immediately."

With a sharp rap of the gavel, Catherine's shoulders slumped like a puppet whose string had just been cut.

"Hey Radcliffe, good job," congratulated Joe as he hugged her briefly.

"Thanks Joe," she replied with a slight smile.

"Geez, such enthusiasm," Joe mocked. "We won, you know."

"I know, I know," Catherine muttered.

"Then why the long face?" asked Joe.

"Why the long face?" she retorted as she began shoving papers into her briefcase. "I've been in court half a day and I still have depositions for the Pitt case to do. My desk is groaning under a mountain of paperwork. I haven't even had time to breathe practically." Abruptly, she shoved her chair back and turned to glare him down. "I can't even believe you asked me that!"

He held his hands up defensively. "Okay, okay. I know things have been a little hectic at the office," he ignored her rude snort of disbelief at his understatement, "but today's just Tuesday. That means three more days till the weekend. Maybe you should go to the beach or something. The rest will do you good."

'The beach,' Catherine thought with a sigh. 'The sand, the ocean waves, she and Vincent. It's so unfair,' she thought for the thousandth time. 'Vincent would love the sound of the ocean and the surge of the sea.'

An idea began to take shape and wouldn't be dislodged. It would take a lot of planning and some big favors, but the look on Vincent's face would be worth it. She could see it now--a scrumptious picnic by the Mirror Pool followed by the sound of the surf and the feel of the waves. It would take some planning, but, she thought with a very feminine smile, it would definitely be worth it.

"Joe," she declared impulsively as she hugged him, "you're a genius."

Catherine turned and walked through the court room doors before Joe snapped his mouth shut and ran after her calling, "Hey Radcliffe, how about buying the genius some lunch. I'm starving!"

* * * * * *

Vincent became aware of a small hand tugging at his shirt sleeve.

"Vincent, is this the right answer?" demanded Samantha impatiently.

"Forgive me Samantha," he apologized, "I was lost in thought."

"You're telling me," she muttered. "I didn't think I was going to 'FIND' you for a minute."

Vincent chuckled and replied, "You have my full attention now, so let me see how you've done with this math problem."

After helping Samantha with her math, Vincent left the school chamber. Having finished his teaching duties for the day, he returned to his chamber for a time of solitude before joining the rest of the community for dinner. He sat down to write in his journal but could not concentrate. He finally gave up and got up to pace.

He knew his restlessness was intensified by Catherine's. Their bond fairly hummed with it brought on, he was sure, by the fact they had spent so little time together lately. She had several new cases she was working on while he was helping with the teaching duties as well as working with the others in the lower chambers to make them livable. Of course, the evenings were taken up in playing with the children and getting them to bed so the two of them had little time for more than a good night kiss before they fell into an exhausted sleep. They hadn't made love in several days and the strain was telling on them. Catherine was coming to him--he could feel her as clearly as his own heartbeat.

Seconds later, she followed the children into the chamber and quickly hugged Vincent tightly. His arms went around her in a protective, loving embrace. He heard the weariness in her soft sigh and felt it in the press of her body against his. Concentrating all of his energy, Vincent began to give her strength through their bond. He felt Catherine receive it and begin to reflect it back as well. The depth of their love never failed to amaze him.

Catherine lifted her face and they shared a tender kiss. She would have gladly stayed where she was but she felt two small bodies wiggle between them. They broke apart and stared down into the faces of Jacob and Katie who were clamoring to eat.

"Daddy, can we eat now, please?" pleaded Jacob. "I'm starving!"

"Can I sit beside you, Daddy? Please, pretty please," Katie pleaded charmingly.

Vincent bent down and said, "I would be honored if you would sit next to me."

"Oh--thank you Daddy," squealed Katie. She threw her arms around his neck and gave him a smacking kiss that landed somewhere between his cheek and nose.

He straightened to take Katie's hand in his and placed his arm around Catherine's shoulders. They moved out of the chamber and toward the main dining hall. Jacob raced ahead of them only to come back every few seconds to tell his father something about the day or tease his sister about something.

Listening to the children's voices mingle with Vincent's, Catherine thought about how much she loved her husband and how glad she was that they had carved out a life together despite the difficulties. A shiver of delight ran through her as Vincent took a moment to quickly nibble her neck and whisper, "What are the chances that you and I can have some time together after the children are in bed?"

"None, I'm afraid," she murmured with regret. "I really need to finish up the work on this case I've got going to trial Monday."

Vincent swallowed his disappointment saying, "Of course you must. There will be time for us later."

Catherine stopped suddenly causing him to come to an abrupt halt as well.

"Come on Daddy, we're nearly there," Jacob and Katie chimed together.

Catherine bent down and said firmly, "Go sit with your grandfather a moment. We'll be there in a minute."

"Okay, but hurry up!" they said and turned to run down the tunnel.

She had sensed his disappointment and current surprise through their bond. She turned back to him and caught him in a fierce embrace. Leaning back in his arms, she smiled reassuringly into his eyes. "I know you're as disappointed as I am about tonight, but I'm working hard to get finished by the weekend."

Lifting her hand, she ran her finger down his nose and probed the cleft of his upper lip before sensuously tracing the full lower one. This caused Vincent's breath to catch and his body to tighten in response.

Catherine smiled more mysteriously than Mona Lisa and whispered, "I have some special plans for this weekend."

"I can hardly wait," he replied in a dazed voice.

The kiss they shared threatened to get out of hand but they broke apart and continued on to the dining hall before the children came looking for them.

All through the meal, Vincent kept giving her speculative glances especially after she excused herself and went to talk to William about preparing a picnic dish for Friday night.

William thought that it was a fine idea and, after getting his promise of absolute secrecy, Catherine returned to the dining hall to help Vincent get the children back to their chamber and into bed.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The next few days were a study of frustration for Catherine and Vincent as well. Catherine's continued absence and the fact that Mouse, Pascal, Mary, everyone except him in fact, knew what was going on had him snapping in frustration in no time.

Catherine found her own patience frazzling as missed depositions, lost case files, and supervising the preparations Below made her as likely to snarl as smile at her friends and co-workers. Finally though, it all came together and she was eager to get her special weekend started when she looked up to see Joe coming toward her desk with something in his hand. "If that is another case file...I'm going to beat you to death with it!" she declared with a fierce scowl. "And death by file folder is not a pretty sight."

"Calm down, Tiger!" replied Joe defensively. "I was just on my way to pick up Jenny at the gallery when this came for you," he said then handed her a small package.

"Oh good! It did come!" she said as she took the package with a smile. "Thanks Joe!" She hugged him. "You and Jenny have a good weekend." She then picked up her package and briefcase and left the office.

Joe watched her leave and just shook his head, smiled, then muttered, "Women! I'll never understand them!" He shrugged then got his coat to go pick up Jenny.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Catherine checked everything one more time. William had packed a wonderful picnic of warm loaves of bread, several cheeses, grapes for sharing, and chilled, sparkling water.

The stars were brilliant in the Mirror Pool and Catherine was nearly bursting with excitement. Their bond, strong as ever, hummed with love and desire. She didn't have to wait long until she heard Vincent's soft whisper of her name and that drew her gaze to the chamber's entrance.

Her breath caught in her throat when she looked at him. Her eyes traveled from his beautiful blonde hair to the blue eyes that smoldered with love and desire for only her. That thought caused her heart to accelerate and warmth flooded her feminine core. Her perusal continued as she took in the broad shoulders and the broad expanse of his chest exposed by the partial opening of his white shirt. It then continued on to his strong legs and thigh covered with tight britches. The fit was getting more snug by the minute by his increasing arousal.

Her gaze traveled back up and locked with his. 'Mine,' she thought as desire burned in her eyes. She held out her hand. "Vincent, come sit with me." Like one enchanted, Vincent moved slowly and sank down beside her on the quilt. He took her hand and brought it to his lips placing a soft kiss on her palm without ever lowering his eyes from her face.

"Beautiful," he whispered in a voice rough with desire. "I have longed for this evening."

"So have I," whispered Catherine as if speaking in a louder voice would cause the rest of the world to intrude. "But tonight there is only us, the reflection of the stars, and this delicious food so let's just enjoy the night." With that, she poured the sparkling water into two sniffers. "I propose a toast; to us, the night, and the ocean!" she said as she and Vincent touched glasses.

Other than a raised brow at the odd toast, Vincent made no comment. Instead, they passed the next hour or so feeding each other, assuaging their appetite for food even as stolen kisses and bold touches fueled their hunger for each other. Finally, Vincent rose to his feet and pulled her into his embrace.

"Enough of this play," he growled impatiently. "I need you!"

"And you shall have me," Catherine replied sensuously. "But I have a special surprise."

"No more wasted time," he warned.

"No more wasted time," she promised then lightly kissed him on his chin. "Just follow me!"

Vincent became more intrigued when he realized she was leading him back to the cave where he had nearly died and Jacob was conceived. He pulled her to a halt outside the entrance. "Why have you brought me here?"

"It has always bothered me that you don't remember making love to me here. I wanted to replace that terrible blank with a special memory," she pleaded lovingly.

Vincent smiled into Catherine's anxious eyes. "How can I refuse such a wonderful request?" he responded.

With a brilliant smile, she led him into the cave. A sudden flashback of the fear and rage he suffered here froze him in place for a moment. Catherine's reassuring squeeze of his hand and the touch, through their bond, of the love that flowed between them calmed the fear and quieted the rage.

He became aware of a strange sound--water of some kind! "What is that sound?" he asked.

"Our own private ocean," replied Catherine.

"But how? I see no water. Perhaps you should explain," suggested Vincent.

"It's a tape of ocean sounds; the surf, sea gulls, and things like that being played on my cassette player," she replied. "It's the perfect background music for this." She finished with a grand gesture to the center of the room.

There, with just a few candles around it, sat what appeared to Vincent, to be an ordinary bed.

Catherine sensed his confusion and pulled him over to it. "It's a waterbed!" she explained. "We can make waves on it!"

"Waves?" Vincent asked in confusion.

Gently, Catherine pushed on the mattress and made it undulate then looked at Vincent with a sexy smile. Vincent looked from the bed to Catherine as understanding apparently dawned on him.

"Oh--waves!" he replied with a gleam in his eyes. "Have I told you that you look beautiful in that green caftan?" he quickly added as the passion smoldered in his eyes belied the conversational tone of his voice.

Trembling at what she saw in his eyes, Catherine strove for the same light tone. "No, I don't believe you have."

"You look more beautiful OUT of it!" he replied in a voice once more rough with need. With a sudden movement, Vincent had the caftan on the floor in a pile at her feet.

He paused a moment just to gaze at the woman he loved more than his own life. He appreciated the changes that childbearing had brought. Her breasts were fuller now and the nipples darker and larger. The anticipation of their taste sent an almost painful shaft of longing through him. The faint silver stretch marks bore further evidence of what she'd endured to give their children life. It was all just part of the miracle of her love for him.

He looked into her eyes as she held out her arms in invitation. With a hungry growl, he pulled her into his embrace and ran his hands feverishly from her shoulders to her hips trying to touch her everywhere at once.

Catherine fought the waves of longing his touch sent through her. She grabbed his hands and brought them up to her face. She rubbed her cheek against his hand and whispered, "Slowly, Vincent, slowly. We want to enjoy our waves."

The shuddering breath he drew was echoed in her. She released his hands and slowly finished removing his shirt. She found his small male nipples hidden in the whorls of chest hair and teased them to hardness with her tongue.

"Catherine," he warned through clenched teeth. Abruptly, he sat down on the edge of the bed.

With a gentle push, she sent him back onto the mattress and quickly completed the task of undressing him. The nearly hypnotic movement of the waterbed was soothing to him until Catherine joined him and the undulations became highly erotic.

They made love as only true lovers can--seeking to give more satisfaction than they got. Soon the movement of the waterbed was faster as tenderness gave way to urgency. "Touch me more, take me now, faster!" they told each other with caresses, moans, and sighs. They were racing toward the pinnacle of satisfaction when...

"What the...?" roared Vincent in surprise.

"What's happening?" gasped Catherine as they were doused with streams of water.

They looked at each other in dismay as they realized that Vincent, in his great passion, had ripped holes in the waterbed mattress and it was soaking them. Catherine's chin began to quiver and she turned away from him. Anger and remorse filled him as he saw her shoulders begin to shake and heard muffled sobs.

"Catherine--I'm so sorr..." The apology he was making stopped in mid-sentence as she turned back to him and he saw that she was laughing.

"Oh, Vincent," she gasped as she tried to control the giggles. "If you could see yourself..." and once more she dissolved into laughter.

Vincent took in the wet hair hanging limply in her face and her smudged make-up and said, "You look a lot like a drowned rat yourself." That set her off again and Vincent's deep laughter joined her own as they just held one another until they could catch their breath.

Finally, they leaned against each other and Vincent remarked, teasingly, "Your ocean became a touch too realistic I think."

Catherine smiled up at him and replied, "Perhaps, but at least it removes the darker memory of this place."

Vincent caressed her breast, wringing a gasp from her. "We have a brighter memory to make yet," he whispered.

Returning his bold caresses with one of her one, she replied, "And you make them so well!"

And they did make a memory to their great, mutual satisfaction.




HER TOUCH

By Carla McRorie

You touched the blackness
surrounding my frightened heart
and I learned to live.

You touched my soul
and I learned to love.

You touched, you loved
and no longer do I fear.



BETTER HAVEN

By Raye Dene Horton

There is no better haven
than your loving, soft embrace.
And the whisper light kisses
that you press against my face.

I find myself believing,
because I see it in your eyes,
That I at last am beautiful
and not feared or despised.

Even when the madness and rage
tried to claim my mind,
I heard your love call out to me
in your heartbeat upon mine.

There is no place here on the earth,
or in heaven up above
That's better than your warm embrace,
encompassed by your love.
And no love song is sweeter,
nor music so sublime
As that music that comes from your heart
beating with mine.


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