Under the Cover of Darkness Chapter 7
Georg switched on the lamp on the bedside table, certain that what he thought he was seeing was a trick of his imagination. But in the dim light, he found that Maria was indeed real, and here, asleep in his bed.
He simply watched her for a few minutes, wondering how and why she wound up here, wearing his jacket. It didn't seem a peaceful slumber, her brow furrowed and her hands clenched. Georg reached out his hand to gently smooth her hair back from her face, then ran a finger down her jaw.
She began to stir, soft sighs escaping from her throat as she opened her eyes slowly, guarding against the lamplight. Georg watched as recognition changed her expression, and she smiled the sweetest smile he thought he'd ever seen. At that moment, he couldn't imagine a more beautiful sight.
"Georg, are you really here?" The slight tremble in her voice gave away her fear that this was another dream, and he gladly reassured her.
"Yes, my love, I'm really here. I am so sorry I left without telling you, I hoped my note would be sufficient," he whispered. He took one of her hands in both of his, gently unfolding her fist and stroking her palm; then repeating with the other hand, before lifting them both and kissing each one.
"It was, except I didn't find it until after I'd gone to sleep, and woke because of a horrible dream," she told him.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked. Maria nodded, and removed her hands from his to push herself a bit more upright. As he watched, her eyes grew wide and she bit her lip, before meeting his gaze again. He realized he was sitting next to her in nothing but his shorts, and a microsecond later that it probably wasn't the best idea to stay that way.
"Hold on, let me get my robe," he said as he stood to go toward the wardrobe.
"No, don't go away," she murmured. She was so completely alluring, he knew he should, but instead he found himself moving up onto the bed beside her. Lifting his arm around her shoulders, he sighed contentedly as Maria nestled close to his side. He also was very glad she was wearing his smoking jacket as at least a slight barrier between them.
"So, about your dream?" The softness of her hair on his cheek, and the feminine scent of her was already distracting him.
"It was awful. There we were at the party, here, and I could see you but couldn't get to you. Too many people were in the way, and then I lost sight of you. When I found you, you had the Baroness in your arms, waltzing and kissing, and she saw me and laughed as you both continue to dance," she recounted, as she nuzzled closer to Georg, and moved her arm to embrace him.
"Is that why you came to my room?" he asked, stroking her back through the brown velvet.
"Sort of. The dream woke me, and then I found the note. That eased my mind, but I couldn't help wondering if you'd arrived home yet, so I came looking for you."
He leant down to kiss her forehead. "I'm glad you did. I wasn't sure I'd be able to wait until morning to see you."
"How was your trip?" Maria was almost afraid to ask, but equally afraid not to.
"Long, and frustrating, and ugly." He paused. "But there can be no doubt for anyone that my relationship with her is over." He lifted Maria's chin, so his eyes could meet hers. "And now, we can be together, Maria. There will be no more staying out of sight, under the cover of darkness. I want to have you on my arm, by my side." He punctuated the statement with a soft kiss, before speaking again.
"I love you, Maria."
He touched his lips to hers again, feather-light at first, then more strongly. Georg felt Maria gently probe his mouth with her tongue, which drove him mad with desire for her. After a few more delicious moments spent that way, they parted, the question swirling in Maria's mind finding its way out of her mouth.
"Oh, can this be happening to me?"
This time Georg held her with both arms before answering. "Yes, darling. I love you, and I wish to marry you. Will you please consent to be my wife?"
His question took her breath away. For a moment Maria wasn't sure that she'd heard him correctly, but the earnest, sincere expression on Georg's face, matched with a look of total and utter adoration in his eyes told her that every word he spoke was the truth. If it seemed like she hesitated for a moment before responding, it was only because she was so overwhelmed by emotion, her answer forming on her lips an instant later.
"Yes… oh yes!" Maria gasped as Georg drew her into his arms and kissed her again. The soft tenderness of their previous kisses was gone, now replaced by kisses of a much more urgent nature. Their breathing became ragged, with small moans of pleasure escaping their lips as they hungrily devoured each other with passionate kisses.
Finally, breathless they pulled apart and Maria smiled and looked into his eyes with love. She cupped his cheek with her hand. "Georg, I love you too," she whispered.
Georg smiled at her, before giving her a final gentle kiss. He felt relieved and also an overwhelming sense of happiness because she loved him in return and also she'd consented to marry him. He let out a deep, contented sigh as he grabbed one of the nearby pillows to be more comfortable as he half sat, half lay back on the bed while Maria snuggled in close to him once more.
They lay there in each other's arms in contented silence for the next few minutes, Maria slowly stroking his bare chest, tracing lazy circles with her fingertips. Finally Maria spoke. "So when did you want to tell the children, about us, our engagement?"
"Hmm? We can tell them as soon as you like, in the morning if that's your wish. I was only hoping that perhaps… well the party is in just a couple of days. Perhaps we can tell them then as a surprise."
"The party? You mean it's still going ahead?" Maria sat up so she could look at him better. "I thought that now with the Baroness gone…"
"You thought I'd cancel the party?" Maria nodded. "Believe me Maria, that was the intention. I wanted to and had planned to put an end to all these shenanigans. But Max put up a very good argument to still go ahead with it during the car trip to Vienna. The party has all been organised and paid for, the invitations sent out and not to mention how excited the children all are about it, it really would be a shame to cancel it now."
Georg paused. "But there was another reason I wanted to still go ahead with it." Maria looked at him inquisitively. "You. Nothing would make me prouder than to announce our engagement at the party and introduce you to all my friends and associates as my fiancée."
Maria gave a little cry of joy as she melted back into his arms, searching for his lips with hers. Their lips moved together in a sensuous rhythm, slowly parting allowing their tongues to touch as their kisses deepened in intensity and passion. Georg moved his hands from her face, through her hair and down her back as they kissed. He desired to feel her soft body underneath his hands but became increasingly frustrated because he couldn't, as Maria was still wearing his thick smoking jacket. He let out a groan as they pulled out of their kiss.
"Is there anything the matter?" Maria asked.
"No, nothing's the matter except that damn jacket of mine you're wearing, it keeps preventing me from holding you properly," he chuckled. "Actually why are you wearing my jacket?" he asked as an afterthought.
"I was cold. I'd gone out onto your balcony and I'd left my robe in my room. Wearing it somehow made me feel closer to you while you were gone. Silly really," she shrugged. "I'm not cold now. I can take it off if you like."
Before Georg could protest, Maria had taken off the jacket and discarded it down the other end of the bed. He now was able to take in her appearance fully – her thin, sleeveless cotton nightgown, the plunging scooped neckline, the way the nightgown stopped just above her knee. He couldn't help but cast his eyes down from the hemline to her shapely legs stretched out on the bed in front of her, all the way down to her bare feet. She almost seemed oblivious to the effect she was having on him. Every kiss they'd shared that night tested Georg's willpower not to push her back on the bed and ravish her immediately. As her soft skin brushed against his, as he felt her warm breath on his cheek, he could feel every inch of his body starting to become aroused by her presence.
Oh God, Georg thought. He had to come up with some way of distracting himself from how alluring she was and how much he wanted her before he lost control. He suddenly remembered Maria's visit to the Abbey that day.
She snuggled back down into his arms before casually draping her smooth leg over his, causing him to feel even more aroused than before. "Maria?" he asked trying to divert his thoughts from what she was doing to him. "You went to the Abbey this morning?"
"Yes, I did," she replied. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was going. I wanted to, but I ran into Herr… I mean Max, before I had the chance."
"Yes, he told me." Maria nodded. Georg continued, slightly hesitantly. "So, did you have a good visit?"
"I did." She sat up and perched up on her knees so she could look directly at him. She bit down on her lip as she started to speak. "Last night when I left you, I felt so confused about things between us, how quickly things were moving in our relationship and how I felt about you. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have run away from you like that." Georg picked up her hand and gave it a kiss in understanding as she continued. "But at the Abbey, I spoke to one of the Sisters. She gave me some advice about love…"
Georg laughed. "Advice about love from a nun?"
Maria let out a giggle too. "I know, it's hard to believe. But the things she told me, the things she showed me made me realise that God made the love between a man and a woman holy. What was happening between us is not wrong, and I realised how much I love you, how much I want you…" her voice dropped, her tone now slightly husky. Maria's heart began to thump wildly in her chest and she felt a deep throbbing between her legs as she tried to muster up the courage to tell Georg exactly how she felt, exactly what she wanted. She dropped her eyes down, unable to keep looking at him as she continued, her voice barely a whisper. "… and how much I want to be with you, in every way." She then looked up to meet his gaze. He was looking back at her intensely, giving her a smouldering look, full of the passion and desire he felt for her.
Without breaking eye contact with her, Georg sat up and knelt next to her. He reached out his hand and slowly ran one finger down her bare arm. His touch was like electricity sending shivers down her spine. She inhaled sharply and closed her eyes as his hand wandered from her arm to lightly brush over her breasts before moving up to her face. Georg gently lifted her chin with one finger and gazed into her eyes when she opened them. He almost couldn't believe what she was telling him, that she wanted him to make love to her now. He wanted to ask whether she was certain, whether she was sure… for he knew once he kissed her again this time, there would be no going back, there would be no stopping. She was so completely irresistible. He wanted her, to be with her more than words could describe.
Maria could tell what he was about to ask, but she was sure. They were to be married, she loved him, she trusted him. Just as Georg opened his mouth to speak, Maria surprised him by answering his unspoken question by throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him so intensely that he almost fell backwards onto the bed. He caught her in his arms and kissed her back with equal fervor.
They clung tightly to each other in their embrace as they kissed passionately. Georg moved his kisses down her neck, licking and sucking gently on her skin. He caressed her breasts through her thin nightgown, but soon found that it wasn't enough - he wanted to feel her, have her skin next to his. He took hold of her arms and raised them up over her head. After waiting for a second for Maria to nod in confirmation, he grasped the hem of her nightgown and pulled it up over her head in one smooth movement before casting it aside.
He looked her up and down, taking in the beauty of her body, now exposed to him. His eyes made their way back up to hers, her expression seeking his reaction. Bringing both his hands up, he threaded his fingers through her hair; the soft, golden strands flowing easily as he tilted her to the proper angle and placed his lips on hers.
Continuing to taste the sweetness of her mouth, Georg used one hand to slowly stroke Maria's silken skin from her neck to her hip, his fingers toying with the edge of the panties she still wore. Sliding his hand beneath the tissue-thin fabric, he cupped her bottom, balancing her as he carefully lay her on her back on the cool, crisp sheet. Removing the small piece of cloth hiding the entrance to her womanhood, he let his fingers play across the moist, warm door. Slow down, man, don't rush her.
Maria held him tighter, and began moving her own mouth down across his unshaven cheek, the roughness against her sensitive lips causing her to lick them; the feel of her tongue on Georg's jaw eliciting a low growl from deep within his chest. She began running her hands through his thick, dark hair, as he moved to bring his mouth to the soft mound of her breast. As he licked and sucked the soft, pink tip grew hard and pointed; Maria arched against him, pulling his head even closer.
Now, he thought, as his fingers stroked their way to the softness between her legs. Georg took his time, gently preparing her for what was to come. He knew Maria's first time wouldn't be without discomfort, and yet he wished it to be as pleasant as possible for her. Feeling her growing warmer and wetter with each movement, he kept touching and teasing until she grabbed his hand, pressing him deeper.
Knowing that the time was now right, he removed his hand, and took Maria's, placing her palm on the bulge barely contained by the shorts he was still wearing. She took the hint, and pulled the silk down as far as she could reach, Georg removing them the rest of the way himself. Feeling his rock-hard arousal against her hip, she took it in her hand again, and for the second time that night her fiancé growled his approval.
Maria instinctively brought her legs apart, bending her knees to make their union as easy as possible. If she'd been aware, the way her body knew what to do would have amazed her. But all she knew was that she wanted Georg, needed him, now. He knelt between her legs, kissed her deeply, as he guided himself slowly into her. His heart clenched when he felt her flinch, and he whispered loving words to her until he felt her relax.
She had closed her eyes when he'd entered her but opened them again once she heard him urgently whisper her name. She locked her gaze with his as he began to move slowly and gently inside her. His eyes were the deepest blue, his stare intense, full of passion and desire. She found herself completely mesmerized, lost in his eyes as the world around them disappeared. Unable to tear her eyes away from his, it was a moment of complete intimacy: a connection between them of mind, body and spirit. Georg continued moving slowly inside her and her body instinctively matched his rhythm; the sensation more pleasurable with every thrust. So entranced in what he was doing to her, Maria was only mildly aware of the sounds of their rapid and ragged breathing filling the room as they made love. Gradually Georg increased the pace of their lovemaking until he could hold back no more, spilling into her as he cried out her name.
Georg rolled onto his back, taking her with him and pulled her into a loving embrace. Heart racing and still breathing deeply, he kissed her temple before lifting her chin and gazing into her eyes. He kissed her deeply: it was a kiss that was tender, sensual and told of all the love that they'd just expressed for each other.
"I love you Maria," he whispered as they parted.
Not taking her eyes off him, "I love you too," she replied.
They lay contentedly holding each other for the longest time, enjoying the afterglow of their lovemaking. Georg pulled the covers up over them as they cuddled closely together. He gently ran his hand up and down her arm while Maria ran her fingers through the hair on his chest. Finally Maria spoke. "I never thought it would feel like this," she murmured.
"Oh?" Georg replied craning his neck to look at her, suddenly concerned that perhaps he'd hurt her or perhaps she was having regrets.
"Oh nothing bad," she gave a low laugh and reached up to direct his face towards hers so she could give him a reassuring kiss. "No, I mean I never knew it would feel so passionate, so intense, but yet so intimate, so loving, so wonderful…" She paused, "is it always like this?"
Georg reached down to kiss her again. "Between two people who love each other so completely? … Yes, it is always like this."
Maria smiled and contentedly snuggled back into his arms enjoying the sensation of Georg nuzzling and kissing her neck gently. Far away in the distance they heard grandfather clock from the hallway chime three times.
"3 am," Maria remarked softy. She sighed as she shifted in his embrace so she could look down into his eyes. "Perhaps I should return to my room."
Georg nodded. "Yes, perhaps you should. But I don't want to let you go just yet. Stay with me Maria, stay all night."
Maria laughed. "And what about in the morning when my room is empty and the children find me in here with you?"
Georg wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him and giving her another kiss. "I'll make sure you get back to your room before the children wake, don't worry about that. But for now…" His voice dropped and she could feel his fingertips starting to run gently down her body. She felt her body starting to react to his touch, becoming aroused again as he caressed her breasts and kissed her neck.
"I need you…" he whispered in her ear.
Maria's heart began to race and she trembled in anticipation. "I'm yours," she cried breathlessly as he captured her lips in a passionate kiss and they began to make love for the second time that night.