Zaanse Schans, Netherlands 2022

"Are you finished with your tea, darling?"

The words were followed by an attentive hand that rested on her shoulder and squeezed affectionately.

"Yes, thank you. " Anna extended her own, offering the cup without taking her gaze off her reading. " It was wonderful," She no longer hid the fact that her tea tasted better when he prepared it. And it was a source of great pride for him.

It was a balmy winter day, and the snow that had dusted the ground the day before was almost gone. She was seated at their makeshift table with her tablet before her, ever researching, but with the window open slightly and the morning light illuminating her, A breeze lifted her dark hair before settling it back down again. She looked content, which was at odds with their circumstances, but then danger never really bothered her anyway. Anna seemed to enjoy their on-the-run carousals very much and bloomed out into ready and fast wit and beautiful laughter or glowing-eyed silence.

The hand that took the empty cup from hers was back almost immediately, gently enveloping Anna's. The fingers slowly interlaced with hers, thumb stroking the inside of her palm. Soon, Valentin brought her hand to his lips and kissed it ardently while sitting next to her.

Anna smiled in appreciation, savoring the tingles of warmth sprouting under her skin, but avoided looking at him. She started withdrawing her hand, but Valentin kept it close as more kisses followed.

"Yes?" she finally looked up from her schematic and met his adoring stare fixed on her.

"Nevermind," he said while his lips caressed her fingers. Anna smiled, his boyish enthusiasm never failing to delight her as did his constant devotion.

"Can I do something for you?" she questioned, enjoying teasing him.

"Well, now that you mention it…" he responded and sealed his words with another press of his lips against her skin.

"Mmm," her smile widened, and her hand moved from his. Her fingers brushed against his lips and cheek, slowly tracing its lines. The feel of his lips on her skin had become a permanent addition to her daily routine, and she could not imagine it any other way.

"I spent too many years in opposition to you, unable to do what I wanted most," he cradles her hand against his cheek, "I will not deny myself any moment to savor it now."

"I believe we have already discussed what you wanted and have savored that extensively," she commented with a playful spark in her eyes, setting her tablet aside, "But perhaps practice makes perfect." Her hand shifted to the back of his neck, fingertips grazing its nape, stroking his hair.

"Always," he moves closer to her, arm slipping around her knit-clad waist, "But that is not what I wanted most."

"Oh really?" she raises a skeptical eyebrow, fingers now brushing the collar of his shirt, curious about what he meant.

"Yes," he inclined his head to plant a kiss on her collarbone, right at the spot that always made her shiver.

"What is it then?" she sighed, genuinely unsure of his intentions.

Valentin's eyes met hers, and he watched her closely and attentively. He stood up and pulled her to her feet. His fingertips tilted her chin, and he leaned down to kiss her. A brief brush of his lips to start, a quick tease of a kiss soon turning into a proper one, deep and fervent, as his mouth lingers on hers. Anna placed her hands on either side of his face, pulling him closer as everything around them faded away; she knew nothing but the feel of their mouths together, and their bodies pressed tight against each other. She sank forward in his arms, welcoming fire igniting within her, making her pliant and languid. Her body quivered as the warmth expanded outwards, radiating pleasure. She remembered their first kiss and how she shied away from this intense sensation of being swept away by waves of attraction. But not anymore.

When Valentin finally pulled away, she inhaled sharply, suddenly remembering what it was to breathe. She felt her skin glowing with heat, no doubt visible through a blush on her cheeks; her lips still parted as she strived to quiet her thumping heart. The air around them turned sultry as the sun streamed through the window and the fire's heat added warmth to their bodies.

"This," Valentin said, drinking the image of her.

"To kiss me?" she managed to utter, still breathless.

"No," Valentin's thumb caressed the pink of her flushed cheek, relishing his effect on her. "To be seen by you," he said tenderly.

She pulled back, and her mood suddenly grew pensive. Her dark eyes took on a glossy sheen. This wouldn't do...

"Hey…perhaps I can make you a fresh cup of tea," he wanted to keep the mood light, "And I can get you something to accompany it this time."

With dramatic flair, he presented her with a white box tied neatly with a bow. How he had managed to hide it, she couldn't tell.

"Where did this come from?"

Smiling, she pulled the satin ribbon and opened the box, finding a selection of delicious-looking dutch pastries, the fragrance of freshly baked bread filling her nostrils.

"I have my methods. I won't reveal them, though. So that we can keep a thread of mystery between us," he explained with his signature smirk.

"They look incredible, thank you," she closed the box and set it aside before leaning forward to kiss him. Her hands rested on his torso for support as she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his. When their lips parted, her hands remained on his chest, idly tracing the non-existing creases of the shirt.

"What is it?" he asked, delighted by her attention.

"It's nothing," she said, but her fingers continued to stroke his chest and arms. Valentin raised a dubious eyebrow but said nothing, enjoying her touch. He loved when she was flirtatious. She traced a finger up the line of onyx buttons that lined the front of his dress shirt.

"You look good," She admitted at last, looking almost bashful, almost like a girl confessing to her first crush. Eyes shining with delight, Valentin beamed, pushing his chest forward, not unlike a proud peacock.

"You like this shirt?" his hands rested on the small of her back as he pulled her closer.

"I like it on you," she continued to assess his appearance, pressing her body against his.

"Is that so?" his gaze continued to flicker with delight at her continued attentiveness, "Why?" His tone turned playful as he couldn't resist this opportunity to enquire further.

"It's elegant," her fingers leisurely trailed the line of the collar, "and understated."

She brushed away invisible dust off his shoulder, "And it doesn't take away from what is the most important."

Her hand shifted to his face, and she punctuated her words by caressing his cheek. Valentin's proud smugness gave way to a wry smile as he leaned into her touch.

"And what is that?" he asked, pulling her even closer, one hand venturing to rest on her waist, the other reaching under the hem of her sweater, his fingers finding the smooth skin of her back.

"Everything underneath," she said coquettishly, pushing her hips against his.

"I think we should explore this further," his voice dropped lower, heavy with lust, like slowly dripping honey, sweet and tempting. His eager fingers were ready to pull her sweater over her head with one swift move. The corner of her mouth turned up in appreciation for the idea. The flame of his desire never stopped; it would have surprised her if she weren't right there alongside him, feeding the fire herself. But for the moment, another hunger needs to be satisfied beforehand. She placed her hand on his chest and looked at him coyly.

"But pastry and a fresh cup of tea first."

She disentangled herself slightly from his hold and handed him her empty cup, a sudden obstacle between their eager bodies. Despite his evident desire, Valentin released her and took it at once.

"One cup of Earl Grey coming up," he stated, smiling into her eyes, and set off to prepare it with a respectful nod of his head.

Anna smiled at the prospect of tea just the way she liked it. She watched him walk away, appraising his handsome figure and the perfect fit of his jeans, pleasant thoughts of all that could happen later now kindling in the back of her mind.

When he came back, she had already returned her attention to work. A pastry on her plate lay half-enjoyed as she peered through her glasses at her tablet. He set the tea cup before her to arrest her attention. The sound of clinking china echoed in the room, and Anna jumped ever so slightly. It was almost imperceptible. But he had taken her by surprise and was pleased with himself for it.

"For you, darling."

He took the seat next to her with a smirk, one leg over the other so his foot was suspended, and tapped the underside of the table in near-constant motion, a by-product of his near-constant state of arousal she inspired in him. She took the cup and sipped it daintily, and smiled. He wasn't upset that she was engrossed in work. He understood the urge all too well, the fear that you won't start again if you stop searching for answers and get comfortable. He knew the way inactivity drove her mad. Curiosity was her natural state of being, and she had a mystery to solve. And there was no rush. They could take it slow, let the tension build and ebb as they chose.

He took her hand in his and began to run his finger back and forth on the inside of her wrist. She only smiled knowingly, a look which made him shift in his seat and the corner of his mouth turn upwards; as she raised her brow and her cup to take another mouthful of tea. He wanted her, and she was in the mood to make him work for it. Amused at the thought, she made a contented sound, lightly shaking her head.

"Mmm, thank you," she said, "I found a café near the building Andre pointed out," she began, keen to discuss her findings now, while her head was still slightly clear, or at least less clouded by lust than it had been.

Valentin snorted instantly, fidgeting with his cuffs as he leaned back into his seat, "Anna – it's Paris. Cafes are comm-"

"…and I found something of interest," she proclaimed before he could get in another snarky comment. She took another sip of her tea and drew out the moment so that she knew she had his attention, "It looks like it might share a sort of understory with Victor's building. Sounds like a good place to start, I think – don't you?"

He tilted his head in thorough consideration, "What's the name?" He took the opportunity to move his chair closer to hers.

"Café Nana," she elaborated.

"Hmm, what a literary name," he noted dryly.

Anna hummed in agreement and moved her chair a little closer, her knee almost touching his.

"Emil Zola fan, are you?" she said in a low voice.

He didn't nod in agreement, but there was a smile growing in the corner of his mouth; then he looked at her, obviously pleased with whatever he was going to say next; "And then we can enjoy the City of Light. Together."

"That's an added bonus," she chuckled, with that coy twinkle in her eyes, and he sighed dramatically. His eyes looked into hers, and their ravenous gleam was noticeable even in the imperfect reflection.

"So." He recapped, "You're going to stuff yourself with pastries and drink far too much tea while pouring over schematics for the rest of the day, then?"

"Er," she raised her eyebrow archly, "I have absolutely no intention of pouring over just schematics today, thank you very much."

Shifting in her seat, Anna crossed and uncrossed her legs; her clothes suddenly felt too restricted. With fingers tapping against her thigh, she glanced at Valentin, who seemed to be focusing all his attention and gaze on her lips. Absentmindedly, she licked her own, then slid gracefully into his lap and kissed him deeply.

"I apologize if I've kept you waiting," Valentin's breath was hot against her temple, and Anna swallowed a sigh as his hand slipped around her waist to pull her hard against him. Her body was so tense a mere brush of his fingers set off fiery sparks beneath her skin, rushing down her spine, straight to her core, as she freed him from his shirt.

"You did. How do you plan to fix that?" she chastised him, but her voice trembled, betraying her obvious need.

Valentin's answer was not in words. He growled and dipped his head, lips pressing firmly against her skin, lapping at pulse fluttering in her neck. She whimpered in response while his mouth moved to her clavicle. He pulled her sweater over her head and discarded it, teeth grazing her exposed shoulder. Anna's fingers tangled in his hair, and she pulled hard just as he sank his teeth into her flesh. They both groaned in pleasure, and Anna tugged at his hair again, a silent plea for more. Obedient fingers moved from her waist to her breasts, pulling impatiently at the fabric of her bra and dipping beneath the silk to fondle her. Her body quivered, and she pushed her hips down in her desperate yearning, repeatedly pressing against the outline of his erection. Swallowing a moan, he responded at once, hands releasing her breasts to caress the line of her inner thighs with his thumbs.

A predatory grin passed over Valentin's lips as he removed his hands and pulled her to her feet; there was no danger in the expression, only desire. In seconds he has her naked. She turned away from him and braced her hands against the table, biting her lower lip in maddening expectancy, hearing him unzip his pants. His hands gripped her hips without preamble, pulling them back abruptly. Valentin pushed deeply into her, eliciting a gasp reverberating across all corners of the room above the churning sound of the windmill's gears. He stilled for a moment as she accommodated herself to him and adjusted the grip of his hands on her hips. No other physical sensation could rival the feeling of being enveloped by her heat. She was a dream made flesh.

Then he began to move, thrusting into her with abandon, the day's prolonged wait finding its crescendo at long last. Anna's head fell back, her dark hair falling to one side, losing herself in the sensation of having him inside her, one she had waited for all day. He filled her up to the hilt, relentless in his momentum, yet it was still not enough. She opened her mouth to urge him not to be gentle, but she was too far gone for words; she settled for pushing back eagerly, meeting him thrust for thrust. Valentin instantly recognized her body's demands; his hands dug deeper into her soft skin and quickened the pace.

One of his hands loosened its grip and snuck between her legs, fervently pressing the over-sensitive bundle of nerves he sought. His hard grip was the only thing that kept her standing as her legs began to shake. Anna's hands began to lose their grip on the table, and the teacups rattled as her eyes glazed over.

"Valentin!"

Her body shuddered as she came with a loud cry, his name resounding loudly in his ears as she contracted around him. He felt as though she were coursing through his bloodstream, a deep pleasure; it left his mind blank and his heart racing. She sighed in ecstasy while Valentin continued to thrust, wringing every last speck of pleasure from her before finally finding his release and joining her with a deep moan of his own and calling out her name.

She nearly fell forward as he slipped out of her, but his arm encircled her waist, keeping her upright. He turned her and held her tightly against his chest. The euphoric haze slowly melted, both panting and utterly undone, eyes wide and glistening with elation. Her locks were in disarray, and her skin was flushed and sleek. He loved seeing her this way, unpolished and breathtaking. She was a treasured sight and one reserved for him alone. He gave a smile, which only widened at the sight of her wondrous, satisfied expression as her hands drifted up to caress his face.

He thanked her wordlessly with a tender kiss, his heartstrings playing a chord in his chest that felt almost too otherworldly. As if this were a dream – as if she were permitting him to love her…

God, if only she were.

If only he could only be so lucky.