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

Limits

-by Angie

For stony limits cannot hold love out

- William Shakespeare

 

"There is no life without limits."

The words rang in Vincent’s mind as he returned below. When he had hugged her to him on her balcony, it was with the recognition that something had changed between them. He was still a little uncertain as to what that was – or what it meant for their future.

His life most definitely had limits, but Catherine was correct - so did that of everyone who lived below. Even her life had limits – bound as it was by her job, her responsibilities, the laws of above. He had been referring to his own particular limits, of course, and she knew that. He had always believed that his limits were far more severe than anyone else’s – and not just his forced exile below, but his own physical limitations.

However, even those limits now seemed tenuous. He began to question his reasoning.

He had asked her to leave when she visited him in his chamber earlier, after Michael had kissed her. He had been in turmoil, but it wasn’t just his inner guilt and, yes, envy, tearing him apart. He had been afraid of what he would reveal to her, what would happen if he let his … passion … become obvious. He had also been afraid of what her reaction would be.

He knew he couldn’t, wouldn’t, forcibly remove her from his chamber, if she didn’t want to leave. Truthfully, he saw her so seldom, he couldn’t bring himself to be really adamant.

So she had stayed, refusing to leave and using all the considerable power of her words to rationalize with him. She had watched him wrestle with his demons, his jealousy. Yes, jealousy! That he should feel such, he of all people, was frightening, disgusting. What right had he to feel jealous of anyone?

Catherine had correctly analyzed him and berated him for that disgust.

"Don’t be afraid to want it," she’d said, meaning that kiss, and … love.

He had been so upset that his words had welled from some deep place inside himself, just as he had feared they would. She could now have no doubts about his feelings for her. He had effectively said that he loved her, when he admitted he knew what it meant for Michael to do so.

Vincent leaned against the tunnel wall and tried to regain some of that calm he had felt from Catherine on the balcony. How could she be so serene, while he was a roiling mass of conflicting emotions? He didn’t know why he had gone to her balcony, exactly, except that he had needed to see her in her world, to get away from the tunnels that now seemed to define him, confine him. Somehow, he’d had to try to reconcile their two worlds.

How could she so calmly accept those revelations in his chamber?

He felt along the bond, and realized she was awake and still projecting that calm love – love he knew was for himself. That gave him strength to continue the journey to his chamber. He took off his cloak and then sat on the bed and removed his boots and all of his clothes except his long underwear and thermal shirt, before laying back among the bolsters. He was suddenly hot, and knew it was not the temperature in his chamber, which was as cold as usual. He had not lit the brazier.

Catherine had said she would happily accept a life of limits with him. What limits was she referring to, he wondered now. Did she want to spend more time below? That would put him in the position of having her close and needing her in those ways he feared most. Would she accept a limited love, one without real intimacy? Even if she was willing to, he could not impose that on her – or himself.

He realized, with a shock, that their relationship was now on the brink. If he tried to retreat now, he would have to cause both her and himself considerable grief. He might lose her if he did so. He couldn’t take the risk. Certainly, he could not live without her now

No, there was not going back now. Matters could not stay where they were, either. He had to move forward. It was all up to him.

He had no doubt that Catherine would be an equal partner in whatever intimacy he allowed. That he allowed. That sounded so pompous he was momentarily taken aback. How had it happened that he made decisions of this magnitude, ones that affected both of them, on his own, without consulting Catherine?

Limits. He set no limits on himself when it came to decisions about his relationship with her. Every time their love moved up a notch, he raised his barriers a little higher, made them a little thicker. What must she think of him, always trying to find new ways of preventing what other couples enjoyed? Even a kiss was dangerous, but they had enjoyed those, carefully. The limits on himself, he realized with a shock, were self-imposed, dictatorial even. No wonder she got frustrated with him.

Oh, he had sensed that frustration, seen it in her face, as she reluctantly accepted that he was holding back. He had wanted her close, very close, so many times. Their hugs were magical to him. He relived every one of them at night. Why was he refusing to give her more of them – or other things?

The reasons were those limits. He knew, without a doubt, that if he allowed himself to get as close to her has she wished, as he wished, even with the layers of clothes between them, he would not be able to prevent matters from advancing to a kiss, a touch … and more. The thought aroused him and he realized suddenly that he would not have the willpower to resist her, if she chose to press her case.

What should he do? He felt along the bond. She was still awake – and she was near!

Before he could react to that knowledge, he found himself suddenly pressed into the bed by a sudden weight landing on top of him.

Catherine! He reflexively put his arms around her, realized she was wearing almost nothing under her coat, just a pair of sleek pajamas, and marveled at the feel of her body. Of course, his hands had felt it before, many times, on her balcony, but never without a lot of his own layers preventing body contact. Now, with just his thermal underwear and her silky nightclothes. He could feel her heat matching his own.

She said nothing, simply shifted upward until she could touch her lips on his. He closed his eyes. It was a kiss he had ached for since Michael had kissed her. But this was not the kiss the younger man had given her. Even Vincent could tell the difference. Her lips felt wonderful on his, but what he felt along the bond was almost beyond words. He had felt her surprise and shock at Michael’s kiss, but here and now, her emotions were vastly different. He could feel her delight, she was obviously enjoying the sensation of his unique mouth. She was tasting him, licking him, exploring every curve and plane.

And then she let her tongue slither into his cleft and all thought fled. Fire shot down to his groin and her scent made him dizzy and he hugged her closer, reflexively, as if she were a lifeline.

He began to kiss her back, moving to some inner music, a waltz almost, across her lips.

After what seemed like an eon, they both needed to take a full breath, and parted. Catherine moved away and came into focus as he opened his eyes, amazed that he could see. She was looking down at him with a dreamy expression. His hunger was unabated, though, and after a deep breath, he pulled her down to him again.

This time, she parted his lips and slid her tongue inside his mouth, exploring, sliding over his canines. He groaned. The sound shocked him, but Catherine paid no attention, she simply caught his tongue with her own and drew him closer yet.

Once again, he had to take a breath, and she sensed it and lifted her face from his. Now she was smiling. She put her hands along his jaw and began an exploration of his face. He closed his eyes and let sensation take over. He had never been kissed and the feel of her lips on his face was heaven. She lingered on every inch, licking, kissing, nuzzling.

Although he could breathe now, he found himself short of breath. So far he had lain passive under her ministrations. It occurred to him, belatedly, that he should be taking a more active role, but couldn’t make himself move. The feel of her lips on his face was a completely new sensation, and one he had never thought he would experience, and he was afraid of breaking the spell. His skin tingled under her lips. Where she touched, he felt delight, when she moved on, it was almost painful in its poignancy. Bliss, yes, that was the word for it.

She paused after completing her exploration of his face and moved away as he opened his eyes, feeling suddenly bereft. He sighed and she took her hands away from his face too and rolled off him to sit beside him. His tongue, which she had played with, seemed to belong to someone else. He found himself wordless.

Catherine seemed to sense his quandary. She captured his hand in both of hers, brought it to her lips and kissed his palm, then held it against her heart. She spoke quietly.

"Vincent … I had to come, to show you what a kiss really is – what it can be, between two people … between us. Now, you know. There is no one but you who can give me such joy.

"You see, all we did is kiss – and where were the limits? There may be no limits to … what we can do, together. But that will be for another time. We can set our own limits, Vincent. I wanted you to know that.

"Good-night – and thank-you."

She slid off the bed, pulled her coat around herself and left as she had come, quietly.

Vincent was so relaxed he closed his eyes again and felt his sigh of contentment reach his toes. He should have escorted her to the threshold at least, but couldn’t get his muscles to obey him. He felt along the bond and realized that Catherine was very happy, hopeful now too - and excited. All because of the kisses she had given him!

Her last words were intriguing, but he wanted no internal debates, nothing that would intrude upon this calm he felt. He did sense that the limits he had imposed on himself were crumbling. He couldn’t bring himself to care about that either.

Vincent rolled onto his side, pulled the blanket over himself and was asleep in moments.

END