"It was the most powerful experience of my life, that night", she said, very serious all of a sudden. "Not that all the nights that have followed so far were exceptional… and the days, too." Georg nodded. "I feel the exact same way." Maria looked at him skeptically, but her husband wouldn't let her protest. "Yes, I have been married for a long time. Yes, I have been with more than a handful of women before that. But never after Agathe died." He was quiet for a moment. "When I was married to her, something shifted in me. I couldn't make love to someone without being in love. It's at least as much a mental thing as it is physical." He told her that he never as much as looked at another woman while he was married to his late wife. "There was no need, no desire."

And Maria believed him. She knew all about the intense gazes he would give her, sometimes even across the room. She knew that she had his entire attention. "Perhaps this is why you understand me so well", she said. "I couldn't fathom making love to anyone else than you. You are my everything, even more so after we've been all alone these last few weeks. You've never judged me, but let me be myself. You never ask me to do anything that I am not comfortable with. By doing that, I had the chance to get comfortable with myself and try things that I would have never even thought about." Maria might still be shy and somewhat reserved in the company of the aristocrats that Georg was acquainted with, but that changed the moment she was alone with her husband.

"Maria, all I want is for you to be happy. I love how we love each other. I can't get enough of you, and I am delighted that you enjoy our lovemaking, too." She could feel him getting hotter and harder underneath her, and he started running his hands over her bottom. The negligee had long ridden up over her backside to reveal her buttocks. "I take pleasure in everything that we do together. I love it that we can just sit and talk, no matter if we wear anything or not. I adore you for always being so tender with me and having introduced me to so many things. I treasure our time together – I don't know how you do it, how you have the restraint to love and kiss me for hours without exploding." He had the grace to blush at her statement. "Well, it's not easy, I assure you." He wiggled his eyebrows at her. She giggled in response.

"You have taught me so many things in the last weeks, and you've let me experience many of them at my own pace. I'm not sure there are many men who would be that patient with a virginal ex-postulant who had no idea what she was doing at first." "My love, it's a simple equation: I want to make love to you, because it is such a joy to be one with you. But I want you to feel that joy as well, and initiate our lovemaking when you feel like it. So, I try to make it as good for you as I can so we can come back for more. To me, it doesn't matter where or when, or if it's fast and furious or slow and gentle – there is a time for everything."

His statement tickled something deep inside of her. She kissed him fiercely, battling with his tongue while she lifted her hips slightly and took him inside her body. She broke the kiss, sat up, throwing the blanket off and taking off her negligee in one swift move. Her milky white breasts with the rock hard nipples beckoned to him and he pinched them, while he was in a semi-reclined position on the lounge chair with his bathrobe wide open. Maria rode him just as fiercely as she had kissed him, stroked the hair on his chest and rolled his nipples between her fingers. He sat up swiftly and hugged her to him tightly, all the while pushing into her. This change of position was all it took for her to reach a climax unlike any she had ever had before. He slipped out of the arms of his robe and laid her on her back. He drove into her intensely, seeming to be even deeper than he usually was. Maria gave as good as she got, and soon they were reaching the heights of passion together.

Georg almost collapsed on top of her, feeling drained yet so very much alive. "Maria, I love you, I love you, I love you", he said. "Let's go to bed", she said, sleepily. "After having a quick shower." He grinned at her. "No!" she said. She needed a little time to recover. She would let him wash her, but nothing else.

She was in no danger, however. Georg was just as tired as his wife. They stood under the warm spray of the huge marble shower in their bathroom and soaped each other gently. After drying off, they went to their bed hand in hand and lay down in the middle of it, just like they had done from their first night together. However, she was in no condition of a repeat performance of their wedding night.

They had fallen asleep after making love for the first time, Maria lying comfortably on his chest. Her even breathing and peaceful expression had lulled him to sleep as well. When the sun had gone down, both stirred. Maria needed a moment to figure out where she was and what the furry thing was her cheek was resting on. But there was his smell, always his smell – and she remembered quite clearly where she was. She grinned at her husband of a little more than a day. "Hello, love", he said tenderly. "How are you feeling?" She stretched her body, rolling off him in the process and had to giggle at herself. He turned, taking her back in his loving arms. "I feel great", she said. "Sore?" he asked. She blushed. "Maybe a little", she admitted. They kissed each other slowly and deeply, taking pleasure in that simple act.

"Come on", he said, taking her left hand in his right. The got up from the bed and went to the bathroom. Georg started the water in their shower and pushed Maria gently under the spray. "Relax", he said, when he stood behind her, letting her back rest against his front. They let the warm water cascade over their skin while they simply stood together. After a while Georg lowered the water and started washing his new wife tenderly, massaging her back and shoulders. She sighed and enjoyed his ministrations. She turned in his arms, and when he was done, she returned the favor. She learned his body again, caressed the muscles she found everywhere.

She was surprised to see him react to her caress, although she hadn't even touched him – yet. "May I?" she asked, when she was done soaping his legs and stroked over his thighs. "Yes", Georg hissed. She was curious how he would feel in her hands, and she wanted to make him feel as good as she felt when he had touched her so intimately. She stroked him tentatively and felt him rise in her hand. "Maria, I won't last long if you keep doing this", he said. He turned off the shower, grabbed two fluffy towels and proceeded to dry his wife. Then he quickly ran the towel over himself and took her back to the bedroom.

He kissed her enthusiastically and pulled her body tightly against his. "Are you ready for more?" he asked. "Yes", she said, feeling heat and moisture pool below her belly. He laid her back on the sheets and took hold of her thighs. Pushing her legs over his shoulders, his lips dropped tiny kisses to her shins, her thighs and finally his tongue found the juncture of her legs. Maria let out a low moan. He took his time pleasuring her before he joined them once more. Maria gasped at the feeling, but this time there was no pain, just pleasure. They reached another peak together and lay in contented silence. "If this is what it's going to be like, how can we ever stop doing it?" Maria asked. But before Georg could answer her question, there was a low rumble underneath his ear. Georg grinned from where he had placed his head on her stomach and snuggled into her warmth. Maria blushed a deep crimson. "I guess we haven't eaten in a while", she said. Her husband laughed out loud, saying "well, I guess we have to feed that monster then".

Maria looked at him, disappointed that they'd had to get up, get dressed and go out of their little cocoon of happiness. Georg felt the same way. "What do you think about room service?" he asked his wife. She grinned and nodded. He picked up the telephone on the bedside table and ordered their dinner while Maria studied his naked form. Georg caught her eyes roaming over his body. "You are so beautiful", she said, amazed at his striking physique and his free behavior. Who would have thought that her starched Captain would lie in bed with her, both of them stark naked and order them something to eat casually after they had made love twice.

"Georg?" Her husband was on the verge to falling asleep after snuggling into his wife. Maria was just as tired – but she was also hungry. They had been to a ball that night, one of Georg's friends from his Navy days had invited them. There was dancing and laughing and talking, and they did have a marvelous time. But neither of them had really been to the buffet that held quite a few delicacies. And now, after a lot of dancing and two rounds of vigorous lovemaking, her stomach let her know that it needed sustenance.

"Georg?" Still no reaction, other than a low "hmm". "Georg, aren't you hungry?" He wasn't surprised by her question and became more awake by the second. "No", he said, grinning sleepily at her. He knew that she had a healthy appetite. And they did quite a lot to burn calories during their honeymoon, he thought. And he also knew that she couldn't sleep when she was hungry. She nudged his arm playfully. "You know my French isn't good enough to order something", she said. "Baguette, cheese, greenery?" he asked. "Yes, please." He rolled around, picked up the phone and made short work of their order.

As he was lying on his stomach, Maria admired his form once again. She got a little closer and caressed his back, from his shoulders to that little dent just above his buttocks. The hair that she found there was soft, and whenever she would stroke him there, the most amazing little sounds came from his throat. Now was not an exception.

He pulled a pillow under his head and just enjoyed her ministrations. "Thank you, my darling", she said, starting to place little kisses along his spine. When she reached his neck, she playfully bit into the earlobe closest to her mouth. Her husband moaned lowly.

"What you do to me, my love", he groaned, turning around and lying on his back. Maria continued with her ministrations, kissing down his chest, taking her time. All too soon, a loud knock was heard from their door. Georg was in no condition to get up, so Maria looked for her robe and tied it on the way to the door. "Bonsoir", she said to the young man in front of her, accepting the little cart that held their midnight snack. "Bonsoir", he replied and turned around right away, leaving the room immediately.

Maria took the silver tray with an assortment of tasty French cheeses, fresh bread, butter and a bottle of the fine Pinot Noir that they had enjoyed on many occasions. She placed it in the middle of their bed, sitting opposite her husband who had lazily sat up and pulled the sheet across his lap. Maria's powder blue silk robe had opened slightly when she reached for the tray, and Georg enjoyed the view. He poured them both a glass of the exquisite wine while his wife was preparing little pieces of bread with cheese. She started feeding some of the bites to her husband who realized that he actually was quite hungry as well.

Having enjoyed their late snack they snuggled back together, and Maria ran her hand along his cheek, intending to kiss him good night. But instead of a little peck, Maria kissed him with abandon, putting all her love and gratefulness into this kiss. "Thank you Georg, for giving me such an unforgettable honeymoon." And then she succumbed to her exhaustion, turning around and finding that spot on his chest that was hers, and hers alone. With his steady heartbeat in her ear, she fell asleep, totally at peace and looking forward to the next few weeks in Paris.

Georg once again marveled at this young wife of his. She had such zest for life, diving head first into every new situation. She was still shy in the role of his Baroness, but in their relationship she had most certainly found her footing. He loved that she was so fearless and passionate. He had been prepared to handle her much more delicately, but apparently he didn't have to. It seems like she had some more surprises up her sleeve. And maybe he would come up with one or two of his own. He grinned, sated and happy. Kissing her head lightly, he turned off the bedside lamp and joined his wife in slumber.

Ende.

A/N: So, this is it. My first story. Thanks for reading everyone. Comments? Always welcome :)