Gertrude comes out of the kitchen and smiles when she sees Wilhelm interacting with Corporal Lebeau. Lebeau leaves and Gertrude comes and sits next to him again. "What did Lebeau say?"
"He told me not to do anything he wouldn't do. That does leave us pretty wide open for the rest of the evening." Wilhelm says with a smile. "Come with me to the bedroom."
Gertrude holds Wilhelm's hand and they walk into the bedroom. Wilhelm leaves his uniform jacket in the sitting room. Gertrude slips her shoes off when she enters the bedroom. For the first time Wilhelm notices the natural height of Gertrude as she steps out of her shoes. She looks more vulnerable somehow in her stocking feet. Gertrude walks over to Wilhelm. He can feel himself breathing quickly. Gertrude slips her hands beneath his suspenders and slides them off his shoulders. He sits on the side of the bed and pulls his boots off.
"Can we talk?" Wilhelm asks quietly.
"Of course we can talk. What is it Wilhelm?" Gertrude asks putting her hand on his knee.
"Where do you see this going? Are you sure you want to do this? Is this really what you want?" Wilhelm asks slowly.
"Where do you see this going? What happens next is entirely up to you. I love you, Wilhelm." Gertrude says gently. She doesn't want to make him uncomfortable.
Wilhelm sighs heavily. "No one has ever said that to me. I want this to be forever, but I'm nervous. I love you, Gertrude."
Gertrude smiles softly. The smile lights up her face. "Have you ever told a woman you love her?" Gertrude asks as she reaches over and loosens his tie and unbuttons the top button of his dress shirt.
"No, with the exception of my mama, you're the first person I've ever told that to. Are you ready for forever with me? The death of your husband is still a fresh event." Wilhelm says with sympathy.
"If this had been 18 months ago I wouldn't have been ready for a long term relationship, but I've gotten to know you and everything seems so perfect between us now. We didn't always get along, but we're the perfect match for each other. I feel safe and happy with you and I haven't felt that way for a long time." Gertrude admits.
"Funny how love works, isn't it?" Wilhelm says as he slips his hand under Gertrude's and lifts it to his lips and kisses it gently. Gertrude blushes demurely under the scrutiny from Wilhelm's cerulean blue eyes. "Don't look away. Believe that you're beautiful or that at the very least I believe you're beautiful." Wilhelm carefully cups Gertrude's chin and tilts her head up to look at him. He strokes her cheek gently and then slowly lowers his lips to hers. The kiss is passionate and Gertrude clings to his shirt. Wilhelm sets his hands over Gertrude's which are clenched tightly in Wilhelm's shirt. "Are you alright? You don't need to be nervous."
"How is it possible for someone I've known such a short time to make me weak at the knees? I'm just fine. It's just been a long time since I've felt this way physically and emotionally." Gertrude whispers as she lays her head on Wilhelm's chest.
Wilhelm smiles even though Gertrude can't see him. "Kindred spirits, I suppose. We have a connection that developed very quickly."
Gertrude looks up at Wilhelm and pulls his head down to hers for another kiss. She reaches up and slips his tie off. He unbuttons the second button on his dress shirt. He looks relaxed and yet vulnerable. Gertrude runs her nails down Wilhelm's arms. Wilhelm pushes his tongue gently into Gertrude's mouth. He wraps his arms around her waist tightly. He fumbles his way up her back to the top of her dress and slowly slides the zipper down. Gertrude shimmies out of her dress slowly as she takes a step back from Wilhelm. She watches him gulp as her body is revealed to him. She steps back towards Wilhelm and unbuttons the rest of his dress shirt. He runs his hands over the silky fabric of Gertrude's slip and camisole. Gertrude unbuttons the cuffs of Wilhelm's shirt before she pushes it down off his shoulders to reveal his v-neck undershirt. "You do layer, don't you?" Gertrude teases.
It's cold at Stalag 13. There isn't sufficient heat in any of the buildings. I have to dress this way to be warm." Wilhelm defends his wardrobe choices.
"I'll be right back. Why don't you slip that shirt off and I'll be right with you." Gertrude says flirtatiously. She picks up her pink chemise in the spare bedroom and slips into the bathroom. She lets her hair down. She strips out of all her clothes and shimmies into her chemise. She surveys her appearance carefully and smoothes the silk before she heads back to Wilhelm's room.