"Well - why don't we ask - "
"The children?"
Maria couldn't quite control the fleeting, impulsive grin that curved her mouth, nor could she suppress the giggle that spilled forth from her throat at the Captain's equally silly-looking grin. All of this was just as promptly forgotten, however, as she found herself inexorably drawn toward him, eyes drowning in the depthful, bottomless pools of elegant darkness that always seemed to be exuded from his gaze, particularly when he directed it onto her.
He never could understand just how her clear, honest blue gaze could captivate him so. He had thought that during their performance of the Laendler, her eyes had been particularly stunning, and the memory of that still haunted him; it was still capable of rendering him breathless. Even now, though her form was caressed by the shadows, the glades of silvery moonlight from above still managed to accentuate her purity and beauty; it complimented the rich golden hues of her hair in an almost unreal manner, softened the virginal curves of her neck and arms, touched her eyes in such a way that their hue seemed to deepen, to intensify, to ...
Their lips had met, somewhere amidst the loss of sensation and fading of the world. They were the only two people in it; nothing and no one else really existed in that single, fluid moment. Her arms easily slipped about his neck, naturally, as though they were meant to be there, even as she felt his arms drawing her closer to him, encircling her back with a grace and gentility that she would scarcely have believed possible, several months ago.
It was difficult to restrain himself, difficult not to merely crush her lithe body against his and release all of his pent-up passion and emotion upon her. Control yourself, he reminded himself silently, even as he heedlessly deepened their embrace, pressed his mouth a little more firmly against her own, and gently drew her even closer, close enough for their bodies to brush against one another and add just another flare to their kiss, which to him, seemed to fire sparks that flew rapidly from his head to his toes, touching every part of his senses. It was almost getting dangerous to continue.
A low shudder eased over Maria's body as it briefly brushed against his, and while this was far from being an unpleasant sensation, the smoldering embers of passion that suddenly flared into a single spark almost overwhelmed her. Dazedly, as though caught behind a dense haze, she managed to lift her lips from his, and pressed against his hands in an attempt to take a step backward. Her voice was low, and only a trifle unsteady.
"Captain, maybe -- "
Georg wasn't at all surprised when she slowly moved her flushed face away from his, and took a tiny step backward. He had expected that she might be taken aback by the sudden increase in sensation, that spine-tingling spark that had flown between them as though their bodies had already been connected to one another. Inhaling deeply, in an attempt to calm himself and cool his incensed body, he allowed a small, tender smile to uplift the corners of his mouth as her voice faltered.
" -- we should stop?" he finished for her, softly. He lifted a brow lightly in amusement as she nodded, and sighed, releasing his breath in a prolonged exhalation. He would have to control himself with more restraint in the future, before they were joined in holy matrimony. He would have to wait; he would have to feel her melt completely in his arms only in his dreams, for the time being. But is she not worth the wait? he questioned himself mentally. Of course she was. He had waited for this moment, just this first and second encounter, for what seemed a lifetime. Somewhere betwixt the singing of Edelweiss and feeling her small, firm hands in his own as they encircled one another during that fateful dance, he had fallen hopelessly in love with this beautiful, pure, talented, and above all, faithful young woman.
Maria watched as his gaze slowly altered from intense to more wistful, and became full of an inherent longing. Despite herself, the hint of a smile played about her lips as his tender expression deepened, and eventually grew into a dreamy smile.
"Perhaps it'd be best if I went to bed, " she suggested quietly, still regarding him evenly as his arms loosened about her briefly, one arm falling back to his side while the other, remaining on her back, drew her close to his side.
He didn't respond, even as they strolled back toward the villa together, even as they meandered slowly up the stairs toward her room. Both paused near the doorway, giving the other an expectant look, feeling drawn toward the other involuntarily.
The spell was broken by Maria's whispered, "Good night, Captain, " as she turned toward the door, extending a hand toward the polished knob.
The Captain leaned forward to gently brush his lips against her cheek, even as he whispered into her ear, "Good night, my love, " in return. It took nothing short of a Herculean effort for him to walk away, to cross the house toward his own chambers.
Sleep would not speedily come to either that evening.