Robert unlocked the door to their hotel suite and was surrounded by evidence that proved she had arrived unscathed. The black silk dress was in a puddle on the floor, her jacket was thrown over a chair, earrings were in the ashtray and nude stockings adorned the lamp shade. He took care not to trip over the shoes left in the middle of the walkway like caltrops. The door to her bedroom was closed and a Do Not Disturb sign printed in English, German and French hung from the door handle. "Subtle." He muttered under his breath before he began undressing for the night.
Robert was already rehearsing his apology. He decided to call the concierge and arrange for breakfast to be brought up in the morning. He figured his groveling might be more appealing with a side of bacon, eggs, and toast. Robert stripped down to his boxers and walked towards her door, pressing his ear to the wood but could hear nothing. She was probably already asleep. He turned and headed into his room. Once in bed, he closed his eyes and tried to put the events of the night out of his head. But he couldn't. He thought of the candlelight illuminating her skin, the feel of her in his arms, the sight of her tears, the anger in her voice. Tonight had been both a triumph and an unmitigated disaster. And he was the crux of it all. He hoped that his concern for Anna- no, his misplaced jealousy- hadn't ruined her chance to get the Intel they needed. She had every right to be angry with him. Robert rubbed his temples trying to ward off a headache that was starting to gather behind his eyes. He might have really mucked this all up. He drew down the covers crawled into bed. He closed his eyes and hoped that oblivion would take him so he could move on from today's events.
Robert sat up straight up in bed. He had been ripped from a dead sleep by the sound of a scream. Anna's scream. A second scream followed, and then a third, each more anguished than the last. It was a primal sound, like that of an animal caught in a trap. He reached to the bedside table and grabbed his gun. He ran to her room and tried the door, thankfully it wasn't locked and he threw it open, his weapon drawn. He found her alone thrashing against the covers. She was very clearly in the grip of a night terror. Her eyes were open but she was not awake. She clawed at the air with a look of terror on her face, tears were wet on her cheeks. Robert set his gun down and approached her carefully. He gently took her hands and spoke softly to her. Suddenly her eyes snapped open and he could tell that the nightmare still held her in its grasp.
"No! NO!" She sobbed, "There was an explosion!"
Robert immediately understood why she was in such a frantic state. "Oh, luv...you were dreaming about losing Duke again. I'm so sorry…"
"No, Robert! Not Duke. I was losing you. It was so dark and I didn't know where we were... but I think maybe we were on the deck of a ship. I could see you and you were trying to tell me something but I couldn't hear you. All I could hear is a loud rushing sound all around me and then we were separated by fire. Smoke was choking me. And then I was in the water and I could hear you calling my name but I couldn't find you. I tried for so long but then there was nothing but silence and I could feel that you were gone. I knew you were dead. It was so real Robert! It didn't feel like a dream..."
"Shhhh...I'm here in one piece and so are you. It was just a dream, luv. You are safe".
It happened in the blink of an eye. His firm arms wrapped around her slight frame and pulled her closer. She didn't fight it, there was no strength left in her to do so. Instinctively, she pressed her face into his neck, burying her cries in his warm skin. He focused on his embrace, letting her sobs come on their own. And she felt exactly how he remembered, tender and warm. Robert marveled at how she fit in this safe spot he created with his arms, a place that was especially for her. He had thought they had lost it forever.
She was out of breath. He expected her to pull away, but she didn't. So his arms enveloped her further and he held her tight as if he could shield her from everything, the past, the future, even herself. Her hand rested on his chest, fingers feeling his heartbeat as if she was reassuring herself that he was really there and not lost under the dark waves of an unknown sea. Feeling her hold onto him was a solace he didn't know he needed. Her cries became quieter and muffled until they vanished into nothingness.
She looked up and cradled his face in her hands and the haunted look on her face was almost more than he could bear. "I had nightmares after the explosion after you found out I was a double agent. It was always you walking away into a thick cloud of smoke and I could never find you. But the dreams after Robin was born were worse. I would dream of us altogether happy only to wake up alone."
The tears came without a warning this time, flowing hot from her eyes in a never-ending stream until his skin was slick with her tears. The sobs made him tremble as if each droplet embodied a different loss, all the fragments of the happiness that were denied them. He held her against him and rocked her back and forth in an effort to calm her. He could feel the wet of her tears on his chest and hear her ragged breathing, her heart fluttered wildly like a caged bird. Eventually, her breathing returned to normal and he felt her relax. Her catharsis was complete.
"I'm supposed to be mad at you. I am still mad at you." Her words were muffled, her face was still pressed against his chest. She sniffed back her tears and sat back to look at him.
"That's fine. I deserve it. I let my feelings get in the way of our objective.I was a bad agent tonight. I'm am sorry."
"Well, it's a good thing I'm better at being an agent than you then."
Robert chuckled and soon Anna joined in as well. Robert was grateful that some sort of truce had been made between them. Robert pulled the covers of the bed to the side, invited her in and she settled herself next to him, her back to his chest, their bodies cuddled together in a perfect fit, like two halves of a whole. His arm wrapped securely around her waist and pulled her closer and she sighed. Anna placed her hand on top of his forearm and pushing her feet against his. He gently kissed Anna's hairline and nuzzled the nape of her neck. His hand moved down her stomach then over and up to her hip. Before he could stop himself his hand was trailing down her thigh. He felt her shiver slightly.
"Don't stop," her voice was low, but her tone was commanding, in a way that made Robert weak.
He swept her hair aside to reveal her neck and kissed her there with ardor. He couldn't resist her neck. He told himself that this was for her. That he was comforting her. But he was a terrible liar. He was reaching for her. This was for him to reassure himself that she was here that she was safe. That a part of her was still his and would always be. Robert didn't fear death but he did fear a world without her. In the Venn diagram of his life as a WSB agent, a police commissioner, a father, and a friend Anna was always at the center. She was the common denominator in all facets of his life.
Anna's breath hitched and turned into a deep moan, her hand reached back to tangle in his hair. He kept his mouth on the sensitive spot on her neck. He turned her towards him, his body pressed against hers. His eyes locked on hers, still looking, still waiting, still giving her one last chance to say no before they crossed the Rubicon and burned the goddamned bridge down behind them. He could almost feel the moment when her barriers shattered like crystal in his arms. Then he kissed her with all the passion that had been building in him since their train ride to Vienna. And she kissed him back with an abandon he could never have anticipated. She threw her arms around his neck and clung to him as if she were drowning and he was her only hope of rescue. He was a buoy keeping her head above water. When they broke apart her eyes were dark with want and desire.
"Stay with me" she whispered into his ear. He was trembling. They were both trembling. Robert reached to lift the thin satin of her nightgown and gather it at her waist. He let her set the pace with their caresses until he was resting between her legs. Robert moved his mouth over hers slowly, enjoying the feel of every kiss, savoring how they felt so close together, until Anna's teeth impatiently grazed his lower lip, demanding more. Obediently, he deepened their kiss, inviting her to taste more as he eagerly did the same. His body rubbed over hers and hers responded in kind, arching readily, flowing like a wave to meet a welcoming shore of him.
Pleased with the reaction he was able to provoke in her, he moved his hand to her breast. Her back arched and she wrapped her legs around his hips. He didn't leave her wanting for long. With one quick movement, he brought their bodies together. Her fingers dug into his shoulder as she searched for leverage. as the molten heat within her core was finally set alight, waves of pleasure turning into flames and blazing under her skin. The shared intensity of their bodies felt exquisite. He felt her come apart with bliss in his arms, letting go completely. Her cries flowed through the bedroom. He followed right after her.
He pulled her to him while Anna continued to feel the glow of her release before she slowly returned to her senses. The embers were spent and she felt reduced to ashes. Robert rested his forehead against hers. They lingered together limbs entwined, eyes closed, their heartbeats becoming steady once more. Roberts' hand followed the line of her arm until he reached her hand and gently entwined his fingers with hers, his palm enveloping hers protectively. Anna interlaced their fingers to keep his hand in place. Robert felt it was her way of telling him she was happy that he has stayed with her. Soon exhaustion overtook them and they drifted off to sleep in each other's arms. Tomorrow would have to sort out itself.