A/N: This is a borderline M rating. Enter if you dare.

The word hung in the air between them.

"This can't be it," Georg desperately tried to reason, "I've already lost you once, I can't lose you again."

"I'm sorry," Maria whispered.

Georg furiously tried to shake the image of Maria this time tomorrow, lying in her wedding bed wearing nothing but a lacy white negligee, gasping and moaning like she had just been under his touch, but this time as Captain Leitner touched her and claimed her as his wife. He rubbed his eyes roughly, hoping it would drive the image away permanently.

Everything would change tomorrow morning, but he still had tonight.

"If you're going to be his tomorrow," Georg said slowly, "Then be mine tonight."

"What?" Maria asked, stunned. He couldn't mean- could he?

"Stay with me?" Georg said, but it wasn't a command. It was a question, and Georg realized uneasily that either answer she gave would end up completely breaking him.

"I- I couldn't!" Maria said desperately, pushing herself away from him. She tried to ignore her body's protest at the loss of his touch. "It wouldn't feel right!"

"Oh ho ho," Georg laughed, getting to his feet, "It would feel much more than right, I can promise you that at least."

It seemed that the Captain had regained some of his composure and was back to his usual arrogant teasing.

"You know what I mean!" Maria said, trying not to look too affected by his words. "Think of how Alexander would feel."

"Captain Leitner doesn't need to know," Georg said, his tone husky, "Nobody needs to know. It'll be our little secret. My wedding gift to you."

"I can't!" Maria frantically said and turned around quickly to make a dash for the door before she could change her mind.

But the Captain was faster than her and had grabbed her around the waist before her hand had even touched the doorknob. He spun her in his arms so quickly that the air was knocked out of her lungs.

"Do you love me?" he asked again, holding her chin between his fingers so that she had to look into his eyes.

Yes, her mind screamed, but all she could see was Alexander's expression of betrayal if he ever found out.

"I don't know!" she said desperately, "I don't know!"

But Georg could see her real answer in her eyes. She could never lie to him when he could see those big blue eyes. And that was all the confirmation he needed. He bent down and captured her lips with his own in a deep, slow-burning kiss that made Maria's body ache with need.

She could feel him run his tongue along her lips, and she parted hers eagerly, clasping her arms roughly around his neck. Eventually Georg came up for air and Maria moved to place wet kisses on his neck and lightly nip at his earlobe.

Georg shivered at her intimate touch and gripped under her legs as he lifted her and carried her over to his bed. He laid her down gently, taking a moment to commit to memory the image of her sprawled out on his bed, her lips swollen and her hair tousled, her bright blue eyes heavily lidded with desire. He quickly undid the buttons of his shirt and slid it off his body before throwing it carelessly over his shoulder. She sat up and ran her hands across his exposed chest before pulling him roughly back down to her for another searing kiss.

He continued to worship every inch of her body with his hands and mouth, and slowly lifted her silky cream dress so that it pooled around her waist.

His hands held her squirming hips firmly to the bed as he kissed the insides of her thighs above her garter belts. Her skin was so smooth, every inch he exposed of her more flawless than the last.

His desire was so palpable now that it almost hurt, but he was in no rush. If this was the only time that he would be able to have her like this then he was going to take his time.

Maria gasped as she felt his hot breath right at the place she needed him most and let out a strangled whimper as she felt him kiss her there, the thin fabric the only thing coming between her and his lips.

This snapped Maria back to reality and she bolted upright in the bed, frantically trying to cover herself with the sheets.

"We have to stop," Maria said guiltily, "This is wrong."

"It's not wrong, Maria," Georg tried to reason, growing desperate, "This is what two people do when they love each other."

"Yes," Maria conceded, "But not until after they have pledged their love for each other before God as man and wife, and certainly not when one of them plans to get married to someone else in the morning."

She adjusted her dress and made to get up from the bed, but Georg pleaded with her once again to stay.

"Please, Maria," he begged, "I'm sorry. I behaved badly. But this may be the last chance I ever get to see you, and I just need a little more time. Stay here tonight, just lie with me. I won't try anything, I promise."

Maria saw the uncertainty and desperation in his usually confident eyes and realized there was no way she could say no to him. So she silently turned onto her side, pulling him up onto the bed behind her. He pulled her against his chest, wrapping his strong arms around her and deeply breathing in her scent.

It didn't take long for the feel of her safely in his arms to allow him to pass into a deep and restful sleep that had evaded him for months.

Maria felt his breathing even out and become heavy and knew he had fallen asleep.

"I love you," she whispered, knowing he couldn't hear, "I think I've loved you ever since you blew that silly whistle."

A/N: Happy Holidays to you all!