She took a deep breath as she began to stir awake, the dark room chilling her skin just a bit. The sheet had slid down around her hips, leaving her naked back exposed as she slept upon her stomach. It wasn't often that she fell asleep in his bed, just in case the children came to her in the night, but she simply couldn't leave him after the passion they shared. He had made soft, sweet love to her for hours under the light of the moon, their bodies dancing in the soft glow. It had been so beautiful.

His warm hand caressed her lower back, moving gently along the edge of the sheet. She smiled and turned her head to find him awake as well, observing her in the quiet of the early morning. His fingertips gently caressed her spine, making their way over the bare skin of her back, goosebumps prickling. He moved a bit closer and placed a soft kiss upon her shoulder.

"Good morning, darling." His lips trailed over her skin before kissing her cheek. She smiled, taking in the feeling of his fingertips upon her spine as she wrapped her arms around the pillow beneath her head.

"I like when you call me that." She sighed as he added a bit of pressure to her back, slowly pressing against muscles that felt tight. He vaguely wondered if she had ever been called a pet name that wasn't condescending before...or even had her back rubbed, come to think of it.

"I like when you make that sound." She chuckled a bit, knowing for a fact that he did.

"I like when you make me make that sound." He laughed at her counter, placing gentle kisses along her shoulder once more. He moved his kiss to her neck, his hand sliding down her back beneath the sheet to roam over her bare backside.

"I like when you spend the night with me." He moved over her, his warm chest pressing against her back as he spread her legs and settled between them. He placed kisses along her back as he trailed downward, caressing and kneading the flesh of her thighs and backside in his hands. He grazed her hip with his teeth before making his way upward again, one of his hands pressing between her legs and moving between her body and the mattress, immediately finding the place his touch was needed most.

"I like when you touch me there." She sighed breathlessly, her hips moving against his hand as he drew slow circles, his palm pressing against her opening as his kiss trailed up her back and returned to her neck.

"I like when I find you soaked." He slid a finger over her wet opening, teasing her a bit. She bit her lip, her body shivering at his touch. "What else do you like?"

"I like when you're inside of me." He removed his hand and gently thrust into her center from behind, feeling her arch her hips toward him and take him in fully. His lips pressed gently against her ear, taking her earlobe between them and suckling.

"Like that?" His whisper made her shiver, his breath hot against her ear.

"Exactly like that." He thrust deeply, softly as he ran his fingers through her hair. He pulled a bit to bring her lips to his, her tongue dipping into his mouth to meet his. He groaned at the feeling of her muscles squeezing around him as she met his thrusts. "I like when you make that sound."

"I like how tight you are around me." He sped up his pace, reaching a hand around to caress the front of her neck, brushing over her chest to cup and caress the breast that was exposed to him as she raised to capture his lips in another kiss. The feeling of their bodies moving together, the sensuality they were speaking with was too much, pushing them both toward the edge quickly. He reached around her body and touched between her legs once again, not wanting to finish before her, but rushing toward his climax like a flash. She gasped at the pressure, her fingers gripping the sheets beneath her. "I like the way your body shakes when you come."

She sighed, unable to think or speak any longer as her body reacted beneath his thrusts, her heart pounding in her ears. It was difficult to put into words how he made her feel, how his body could make hers feel like it was exploding. She began to shiver beneath him, a quiet moan escaping her lips as he continued to thrust, his fingers adding more pressure as they moved in circles against her. He began to shake as well, his body jolting against her back.

"I like when you say my name when you come." Her words were strained, breathless, escaping her lips against the pleasure coursing through her veins, her body quivering.

"Maria..." He whispered her name, jolting and gasping as he let go, filling her and continuing to thrust deeply. It felt quite possible that time had suspended for a moment. He kissed her lips as the waves of pleasure subsided for them both, biting her lower lip for just a moment as he pulled away. "I like the look in your eyes when you're high from me."

"Isn't that all the time?" They shared breathless laughs. She sighed heavily and laid her head back upon the pillow as he pulled out, collapsing next to her upon his back. She rolled over, resting her arm above her head and basking in the afterglow of their love making, completely bare to the room as he was. He took her hand in his, and she looked at him, his eyes closed as he breathed deeply. "Are you alright, Georg?"

"Sensational." He looked at her and smiled, squeezing her hand in reassurance. She rolled over and pressed her body close to his, her bare breasts against his chest as she looked into his eyes.

"You're lying." She placed a kiss upon his lips, running a hand over his hair to brush it away from his forehead. "Last night was...I can't describe it, actually."

"Incredible? Blissful?"

"Emotional. You made love to me." He scoffed, running a hand down her back.

"I always make love to you."

"It was different. And just now, it was different."

"Perhaps I'm just trying to make sure you choose me over my sister." She laughed at his excuse, eliciting a smile from him as well. The night before had been the strangest night of her life, and she was absolutely not looking forward to facing Hede again, or even the Baroness for that matter.

"Hint taken, you don't want to talk about it." She placed a kiss upon his lips as she moved to use the bathroom, leaving him to his own devices for a moment.

She liked being in his bathroom, being alone in his personal space. It somehow made her feel even closer to him. The room was pristine, perfectly tidy and lacking decoration aside from a painting on the wall. As she washed her hands she took a deep breath of his soap, loving the smell of his scent upon her skin, she felt incredibly alive. She would have to wash his scent from her body before anyone else would notice, of course.

"What are you going to say to her?" His question met her as she returned to the bedroom, finding her discarded clothes from the night before and redressing. He stepped into his pajama pants from the night before as well before tossing the comforter back upon the bed.

"Nothing, I suppose. She was very drunk, I'm hopeful she'll simply forget." He moved across the room and wrapped his arms around her, placing a gentle kiss upon her lips.

"Your lips are not something to forget." She smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck for another deep kiss, his lips gently massaging her own.

She wasn't sure what had gotten into him, but it was clear that he didn't feel much like talking about it. And as much as she wanted to spend the entire day in bed, talking and carrying on, she knew that she needed to get out of there quickly and shower for the day. The children would be awake soon enough, and there was no way she needed to be caught in their father's bedroom.

"I'll see you at breakfast then." He kissed her one last time, lingering just a bit, before he walked toward his door to check the hallway for her. Suddenly, there was a knock upon the door, causing them both to jump in surprise. Maria quickly rushed to his bathroom, leaving the door cracked so she could hear. He put on his robe and took a deep breath, opening the door.

"Hede, what's going on?" His sister stood before him, looking incredibly embarrassed and dressed as if she were on her way out the door. "Are you sneaking out before breakfast?"

"Well, yes. I believe I've made a fool of myself here." She laughed nervously, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Actually, I'm looking for Maria."

"Fraulein Maria? I suppose she's awake, her room is..." he began to give her directions, but Hede rolled her eyes.

"You mean she wasn't in here all night proving that she doesn't want to sleep with women?" He raised his eyebrows in question, ready to lie all he needed to.

"I don't know what you mean? Did something happen?"

"Please, Georg, I'm not an idiot. Elsa's an idiot if she doesn't see it, but I'm certainly not." He sighed, waving her into the room and closing the door. Maria timidly stepped out of the bathroom, feeling ashamed more than anything.

"Good morning." She mumbled a bit as she approached Hede, unsure where the conversation would go.

"Maria, I am terribly sorry for my behavior last night. When I drink, I become...lethal. I'm so embarrassed; I hope you can forgive me." She smiled, glad she was finally talking to the real Hede again.

"Of course you're forgiven. Think nothing more of it."

"Oh, that's easier said than done. My behavior was deplorable. I hope this won't ruin things between us." She shook her head, not sure they would even ever see one another again, honestly.

"Not at all. Please don't worry." Hede smiled, moving to hug her, but stopping immediately to avoid giving the wrong impression. Instead, she held out her hand for them to shake. Maria smiled in return, leaning forward and pulling her into a hug, albeit a quick one just in case. Hede turned her attention to her brother, eyebrow raised.

"Now don't you start in on this, it's between Maria and I." His words were firm; he did not want to discuss any further. She smiled and nodded, and they exchanged their goodbyes before she walked to the door and stepped into the hallway.

"It's clear out here." She whispered back into the room before taking her leave, somehow giving her blessing in the oddest of ways.