AN: So sorry it has been so long since I updated this story! I hit a major writer's block, wanting to make the next chapter more… towards an M rating than previous chapters, and I wasn't sure how to approach it, so I lost my mojo there for a while. Here it is at last though!

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Chapter Fourteen

She was running. Heels clicking and scuffing on the stone floor in her panic as she fled. She gasped breathlessly and fought to stay in control of her fears. She had to get away!

The hallways were empty. Where had everybody gone?! Catherine flung a hasty glance over her shoulder as she sped towards the end of the hallway. An ominous rumbling came from the far end of the hallway, and panic clutched at her throat as the walls of the castle fell away at frightening speed in her direction. Her home cascading to the ground before her very eyes, chasing her, terrorizing her, determined to catch her up and devour her.

In a panic, Catherine hopped and stumbled as she freed herself of her shoes, wanting to be able to run more freely. Everything was hindering her escape! Turning into another hallway, again empty of people, she frantically discarded her long robe, slinging it to the ground haphazardly without a care. Breaking into a sprint, she ran for her life. The walls behind her caved in and crumbled away, and she was almost out of time. She had to reach her chambers, she just HAD to! Maybe if she could just shut it all out….

Another corner turned, and there were the doors to her chambers, dead ahead. Stepping quickly out of her skirts and clawing at the restrictive corset that suffocated her, she thought nothing of her nakedness as she tore the corset from her body and flung it to the wall without looking back, tearing down the corridor towards her sanctuary in just her shift, free of her constricting layers at last. Her heart thundering in her ears, and her breath coming harsh and ragged, she raced the advancing destruction, only seconds ahead of it now as it closed in behind her. The last few yards lay between Catherine and her chambers, and she squeezed her eyes shut with her effort as she sprinted, the roaring sound of the castle's collapse almost too loud for her to bear. Terror forced her panicked gasps into a frightened wail, until she hit the centre of her doors with her full weight, crashing through them and into –

Quiet.

Darkness.

Softness.

Where was she? It was too dark to see anything, but she knew she was safe. She was sitting in softness, and she let her shoulders sag, propping herself forwards on her arms to try to catch her breath and calm her body down.

All of a sudden, a large pair of warm hands grasped her from behind at her hips. Knowing the familiar touch well, Catherine sighed with relief at the realization that her husband was with her, waiting for her, ready to protect her. His hands kneaded and caressed her gently, and then using her hips as leverage to pull himself flush with her back, Henry pulled her back into his bare chest to let her recline against him. His arms wrapped fully around her torso, enveloping her in a cocoon of protective warmth, as he leaned them back against the softness surrounding them. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply, her breathing steady at last, and her heartrate calm.

"Take comfort in me, Catherine," he growled lustfully, sending shivers through her, as he spoke close enough for his lips to touch the edge of her ear. "I want you to…" he added in a hungry whisper. His hands smoothed her shift over her skin firmly, up and over her hips, and down again to squeeze the softness of her inner thighs through the thin fabric. Catherine tossed her head back against his shoulder, losing all sense of who she was and what she believed. She wanted nothing, ever again, but her husband. His touch was maddening – torturous and glorious, and she couldn't get enough of it.

Henry gathered the hem of her shift in his hands at her knees, and swept the garment up her body and over her head in one swift motion from behind her. Catherine couldn't see him, but she could feel him. There were no layers of clothing between them. All her senses were heightened. It was as though time stood still, and nothing else existed. Her body burned with desire, and her pulse and breathing ran rapid again. She waited, hardly able to bear the pause, for what her husband would do next.

Pulling her back into his body once again, Henry caressed his wife, holding her to his chest tenderly, like a treasure he had sworn to protect. He ran his fingers softly over her body, soothing her arms and shoulders, and tracing the curve of her sides. Picking up a small hand, Henry stroked the smooth skin and pearly nails, before raising it to his mouth behind Catherine's head, and kissing each of her fingers.

"I love how you feel in the dark…" came his hoarse whisper in her ear. His low hum of pleasure as his hands sought her out sent shivers down her spine. Catherine longed to turn in his embrace, to bury her face in his chest and enjoy him in a more intimate position, but she stilled as his hands came to rest on her breasts. Moaning as he expertly set her body on fire with his ministrations, she wondered how she could ever have wanted anything on earth as much as this moment. His talented hands moved down her body, his left holding her hip steady while his right teased her with excruciating slowness, inching sensually further down her belly. She breathed his name, surprised that she felt more breathless now than when she had been running from danger only moments earlier.

When his fingers found her, Catherine let out a husky groan. She hadn't meant to, but every fibre of her being was inflamed with wanton desire. She didn't feel like herself any more – everything that had ever mattered to her simply fell away, and this moment, this feeling, the pleasure building from what seemed to be the core of her very being – it was everything. Writhing under his gentle touch, she could not control herself, and for the first time that she could remember, she was not afraid of losing control. It felt so good, and she felt so wild and free.

She did not know anything of the passing of time there in the dark. Nothing existed but exquisite sensation and the pleasure-filled sounds they made. Without sight, everything felt intensely magnified, and their shared passion nearly overwhelmed her senses entirely. Her appetite for him was suddenly voracious; a craving that she had always had, but which she had largely managed to suppress.

Their heated bodies joined now, Catherine sat atop her husband as she had been before, her back to him, caring nothing for the reckless abandon with which she moved and moaned freely. There was something delicious about the way Henry tugged gently on her hair as she rode him, pulling her head back so that his lips could reach her neck. She felt desperate for him, arching her back trying to make contact with his chest behind her. "Henry…" she groaned, "Oh Henry…" How she had missed him, and how good and how right it felt to be one with him again.

Moving faster, his name came increasingly to her lips, and he answered her back, breathing her name so passionately that it made her gasp to hear it. It was as though she was racing for her life again, only this time not racing something dangerous that she had to outrun to survive – this time she was racing to keep up with herself, and there was something so erotic and alluring about trying to keep up with the speed of their bodies surging towards unparalleled bliss.

Faster, harder, deeper, his hands caressing her breasts as she gasped and moaned, her mouth wide and her head back as she neared the brink. Henry sucked and kissed up her neck, and moaned his appreciation and admiration breathlessly into her ear, "Catherine, oh my love, you are so gorgeous! I want you… I want you…" He gave a deep groan of pleasure, "There's no-one like you, Catherine..." Squeezing her more firmly with his hands as he neared his release, he praised her again, "You're perfect… so beautiful… oh… downright delicious!" and he gave a short chuckle before giving her a playful bite on her shoulder.

Oh those words! Those sounds! The delightful shock of his teeth against her skin! She wanted him too, even more than she had him now. She loved his body, the solid heat of his muscles as she slid against them, the rapturous way her body felt with him inside her, his incomparable touch – she was blinded by her lust. She could barely hear her own voice in the far distance over the rushing of her pulse in her ears, carnal sounds that she didn't know she could make, increasing in intensity as pleasure began to devour her from the inside out. She threw back her head and cried out, "HEN-RY!"

Ears still ringing in the silence from her cry, Catherine clutched at her damp sheets as she gasped for breath and looked about her, completely disorientated, trying to steady herself and get her bearings. The room was light, the sun having risen recently, and the door opened and closed quickly, her lady Charlotte hastening to her bedside with concern.

"Another nightmare, your Grace?" She sat on the edge of the bed and raised a cloth to wipe the sweat from the Queen's face, but Catherine brushed it away.

"I'm quite alright Charlotte. There's no need for concern."

Charlotte looked unconvinced, surveying her Queen's flushed face bathed in perspiration, unwilling to meet the young lady's questioning gaze. She wasn't herself, fidgeting and restless, almost irritably so. Perhaps she had not slept well and was tired.

"Would you like some refreshments, your Majesty? I could arrange to bring your breakfast now if you are ready to prepare for the day?"

"I – I think – would you draw me a bath, Charlotte?" Catherine squirmed and pushed her covers away from her, longing to fan herself to cool off a bit, but not wanting to draw attention to herself by doing so. Her lady stood and nodded respectfully. "Yes, your Majesty."

Grateful for the solitude as Charlotte left her bedchamber to prepare the bath she was very much in need of, Catherine sank back into the pillows and fanned her face with her hand. What on earth was all that about?! Where had that dream come from? Smirking with satisfaction as she remembered the details, she pulled herself away from her thoughts to keep her breathing in check. She had been flustered enough with Charlotte – she mustn't seem ruffled when the girl came back.

It must have been the way she had felt as she had drifted off to sleep last night, after Henry had left her chambers. Well, that was a FAR preferable dream to the usual nightmares she'd been having, that much was certain! Shaking out a shudder that ran across her shoulders, Catherine climbed out of bed and pulled on her robe, carefully smoothing the velvety fabric with her hands to help settle her ragged nerves. A knock sounded at the door to her chambers, and Catherine was dismayed to see Henry entering the room. She had quite forgotten that he had planned to come to her chambers before they went to see the boys together! She stood straight and lifted her chin with practiced elegance.

"Good morning, Henry."

"Good morning!" her husband approached her with confident strides and a genuine smile that made her slightly weak at the knees, her recovery from her amorous night not quite complete. "Did you sleep well?"

Catherine nodded with feigned indifference. "Yes, thank you Henry. I – I'm afraid I'm not quite ready for the day yet. Charlotte is drawing me a bath."

Henry regarded his wife with sudden curiosity. "Are you feeling alright, Catherine?" His wife stepped back falteringly, her eyes flitting from his gaze. Now he really was curious.

"Fine, fine. It was a… warm night, and I… got too warm." She cleared her throat nervously and straightened the coverlet on her bed a little.

"You do look flushed." Henry stepped closer to Catherine and reached up, brushing her face with his fingers tenderly. He saw her tighten her composure, stifling a sharp breath in, as she kept her eyes trained on the bed. She looked to Henry to be feeling most uncomfortable about something. "Catherine, you're sweating! Are you unwell?!"

"I'm fine, Henry!" She stepped back, swatting lightly at his hand rather irritably. Henry didn't for one moment believe her.

"What are you keeping from me?"

To Catherine's great relief, the door opened and Charlotte entered, announcing to the Queen that her bath was ready.

"Will there be anything else, your Majesty? If you need any further relief - "

Henry interrupted, concern lacing his tone, "Did the Queen wake from another dream?"

"Yes, your - "

"NO!"

The simultaneous replies from his Queen and her lady stunned the King. He watched Catherine hold her lady's gaze for a moment with the raised eyebrows that conveyed to the girl the two possible paths for her future, and then dropping a quick curtsey, she left the room with silent haste. He turned to Catherine, who met his gaze and then looked away. He was both confused and very much intrigued.

"Catherine, what is going on? You know I'm insatiable when it comes to a mystery!" he added cheekily.

Catherine cleared her throat again. Why did he have to use a word like insatiable at this moment in time?!

"Nothing at all." She breezed past him with what she hoped was an air of innocence.

"Then why - "

"NO, Henry. I – I am simply too hot, er, warm, although perfectly well, and – I'm going to take my bath now." She took a steadying breath and then glanced back at her perplexed husband over her shoulder as she headed for the door, "I am having breakfast brought up shortly, if you haven't eaten…?

The King smiled, and sat himself comfortably on her bed. "Delicious!" he called out to her retreating form.

Closing her eyes for a second at his comment, Catherine mentally shook herself, before continuing on her way to bathe.