His hands were all over her, his tongue teasing every part of her skin he could reach. Sweat dripped from their bodies as he kissed up the center of her chest, his lips brushing against her breasts as he made his way to her mouth. He kissed her hard as she wrapped her legs around his waist and took him in, sheathing him completely inside of her as a groan of delight escaped his mouth against her. He thrust deeply as his tongue penetrated her lips, enveloping her in sheer heat.
"What…" She jolted awake to a knock upon her door, her heart pounding from the surprise. She could hardly breathe, her dream having left an impression that shook her to the core as she hurried to find her robe in her stupor. Who on earth would be visiting at such an hour, she wondered as she rushed to open her front door.
"Good, you're awake."
"Georg?" He stepped to the side, and the children rushed past him into her apartment, each carrying a bag of groceries. She frowned, puzzled by the gesture. "What's all this about?"
"We're coming to take you to Mass, silly." Marta's sweet voice met her ears, and she frowned in puzzlement.
"And the groceries?" Georg decided to speak up, stepping close to her. He was much too close after the dream she had just awakened from, the feeling of his lips still hot against her skin.
"We ate all of your food last weekend. It's only fair we buy you groceries if we plan to do it again." She smiled, unsure why they had surprised her so, but she didn't mind in the slightest. The smiles on the children's faces as they each gave her a hug were of pure joy, as they put away her groceries in the kitchen.
"And Mass? You're going to Mass?" He shrugged, adjusting the buttons on his suit.
"Not if you don't get ready." She looked about the room, the children all dressed in their Sunday best. She wasn't sure she could compare as she made her way to her bedroom to change.
It was hard to think straight as she began to dress, quickly making her bed if she was going to have company. She had stopped going to Mass years ago, she had stopped everything that involved leaving her bed, honestly. And by the time she was ready to put her feet in front of one another, she had stopped talking to God as well. She was embarrassed to admit such things in her life, especially for someone who had wanted nothing more than to be a nun at one point. It simply had become too hard to face God, to face herself.
She hurried to the bathroom, washing her face and putting on a bit of makeup. She felt nervous to go to Mass, nervous for who she would see there, and the shame she would feel for such an extended absence. Even though Sister Margaretta visited her often, they didn't speak about her distance from the church. Her friend merely kept her company, never pushing or forcing things, which was another reason Maria loved her so.
She rushed into the living room to grab her purse as the children began making their way to the door. She noticed that one of them had even fed her cat, and she smiled at the thoughtfulness. Georg placed a hand upon the small of her back as he led her through the door, taking her key from her so he could lock it behind them. She bit her lip as she viewed him in astonishment. If he wasn't trying hard enough to regain her trust, the children were certainly doing their part to win her heart, as if they didn't already have it, she mused.
They arrived to the church, all filing into, and subsequently filling up, an entire pew on their own. She wasn't sure how he'd managed it, but somehow Georg ended up sitting beside her, Gretl happily on her other side. She saw Sister Berthe and Mother Abbess talking across the room, smiling when they made eye contact. They gave her a surprised wave, which she returned, and Georg leaned to whisper in her ear.
"Are you alright?" His breath felt hot against her ear, and she could've melted had she not in fact been so anxious. She turned to meet his eyes.
"I'm a bit nervous, I suppose. It's been quite a while." He nodded, still incredibly curious to know exactly what had happened to her during their time apart. He had never imagined she would stop attending Mass, her faith was unshakable.
Against all propriety, he took her hand in his own, resting it upon her lap for anyone's eyes to plainly see. She looked at him, eyebrows raised in question, but he merely gave her a smile, shrugging a bit nervously. He was attempting comfort, she could tell, but she also knew that their skin touching in such a way was enough to leave her flustered. Yet, she did nothing to stop it. Ignoring the questioning gazes of the children, she merely rested her free hand atop their connection and focused forward. He couldn't stop an accomplished smile from gracing his lips.
xxxxx
After Mass they returned to Maria's apartment, and she was back in the kitchen making a mess of things. Georg had bought her more food than she would have ever been able to afford on her own, which made her feel uneasy, but thankful all at the same time. And there she was, pretending she knew how to do anything with it all.
"Okay, please don't be angry with me if you end up with food poisoning." They all looked at her as she handed out plates, a bit horrified.
"There's the Fraulein Maria we know." Georg's comment was enough to illicit laugher from the children, but Maria scoffed as she handed him his plate.
"Yours is the most undercooked." He laughed aloud in surprise, and she couldn't stop a smile from creeping upon her face.
She was terrified to enjoy herself too much, for fear that the magic of having everyone in her life again would be broken. It didn't matter what they said to reassure her, she was afraid to let go and allow herself to be happy with them, as if once she did they would suddenly disappear. She had loved too fast and too deeply with them before, and she had paid the price.
As the children huddled upon the floor after lunch, playing with the cat or going through her small collection of books, she met Georg's eyes and nodded toward the kitchen for him to follow her. He did so gladly, appearing as though he had been waiting to get her alone all day. She walked over to the stove to boil some water for tea as he followed, smiling at how domestic she pretended to be.
"I had forgotten how noisy they can be." He laughed as he sat upon one of the stools at her island counter, and she began setting out the cups for tea.
"I had too, honestly. They tend to be much quieter when you're not with them."
"I can't tell if that's a compliment or an insult." They laughed, though she knew he meant it as a compliment. She sighed, wishing she could feel more confident in herself when they were alone. "I, um…I want to thank you for the groceries. You really didn't have to do all that."
"I wanted to. The children have stopped by many times this week, and I knew we were going to make you feed us today. It really was the least I could do." She smiled, returning to her task of bringing out milk and sugar for their tea. She sorted through her tea leaves, wishing she had his favorite, but settling on something gentle after their large meal. "We still haven't talked."
"I know. I'm not sure what there is to say, honestly. I've been avoiding things." She couldn't be anything besides honest with him. He knew her too well, anyway.
"Avoiding things or avoiding me?" She shrugged, her back still to him as she pretended to be tidying her tea canisters.
"Avoiding anything I can, I suppose."
"You don't have to."
"It seems that's what I do best." She turned to face him, giving him a small smile. "What is it you want me to say?"
"Say you'll give me a chance to court you." She felt herself blush, and she looked to her feet in frustration at her reaction.
"I don't think that's a good idea." He stood from his seat, risking close proximity as he walked around the island toward her.
"Let me at least take you on a date."
"What would people think…"
"I don't give a damn what people will think. Why would they think anything?"
"Because you're Captain Von Trapp, and I'm…well, I'm a plain, simple dressmaker, I suppose. I could never belong with someone like you anyway." He placed his hands upon her arms, leaning his face toward her until she gave in and met his eyes. He knew why she felt the way she did.
"All of those things she said to you, the things I allowed her to say to you, were vicious lies with no other intention but to hurt you." She had no idea how he knew that Elsa's words still replayed themselves in her head quite often, even after all the years had passed. "The truth is, I don't belong with someone as wonderful as you. I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I want so desperately for you to give me the chance to try earning it."
"I'm afraid."
"I know you are, and it kills me to be the reason you're so afraid to trust. But, Maria, I promise I will never again hurt you like I did." She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the passion behind his words.
"I really believe you mean that."
"Then let me take you to dinner one night this week? I'll be the perfect gentleman." She smiled, weighing her options. There was no real harm in having dinner with him, she supposed, even though she was so incredibly hesitant to accept.
"Who on earth is going to teach you to be a perfect gentleman?" He chuckled, and she returned his smile.
"Unless you prefer when I don't act like a gentleman, but I thought you'd at least want dinner first." She laughed, slapping at his chest a bit. Nobody could make her laugh like he could. "So that's a yes?"
"I'm free Wednesday evening." She was free all of the days, but she didn't want him to think she was too eager. In reality, she felt giddy from the moment she said yes. She sighed in relief, she was taking her chance.
