She woke the next morning to the sun cracking through the window drapes and a warm body holding her close. She rolled over into the chest of her Sergeant and kissed his neck gently to wake him. He grumbled a little then she saw his eyes blink open as he took her into focus
"Mmm... Good morning beautiful."
"Good morning Esa," She stretched up and kissed his lips as his hands rubbed up and down her naked sides.
"I love you." His voice was still rough from sleep and she could tell he was only still half awake.
"I love you too"
She smiled at him and he rubbed at his eyes yawning and waking fully.
"I knew I'd get you into bed before we got married." His face was plastered with a wide smirk
She pulled the sheet up to cover herself as she swatted him in the chest "You'll never change, now I regret last night." She wasn't serious at all, but she knew he wasn't either.
"I don't, you were a fantastic fuck sweetheart. Being married to you is going to be a freakin' ball."
"So you still want to marry me?" She asked smartly toying with the hair on his chest.
"Of course, I couldn't just have you like that once, or twice, or how many was it baby three or four?" He was incourigable, but he was right. They'd made love at least 3 times the night before.
"Three" She rolled her eyes.
"Nah, I gotta have you like that every night for the rest of my life, and some mornings too." He shifted his eyes and she could see the smirk forming "That's why I gave you this" He picked up the large silver ring he'd given her then let it drop back down to her chest "Speaking of mornings though... How about we make it four?" He grinned and pulled her up so her body was on top of him as his hands began to roam her form.
"Don't you have to go join your men?" She was trying to sound casual but his hands were already teasing her under the sheets.
"No, I'm keeping you here for as long as I can, if they need me they can come pull me off of you." He sat up a little and pulled her up a little further before positioning her over his cock.
"Oh Esa" She moaned out as she sunk herself on to him and they began to rock back and forth.
After they had finished they had laid together for a few moments before getting up and dressing eachother.
"You're beautiful. I love you" His voice was steady and certain as he tied the side of her wrap dress for her. "This war better end soon, I don't think I could stand sleeping away from you now that I know what it's like to sleep with you."
He planted a kiss on her nose before he took her hand and lead her down the stairs to meet up with the other men.
"Well, there's lover boy now. Took you long enough it's nearly 10." Aldo was lazing in the kitchen chair he had been in the night before and the other men were strewn about. Nili was surprised to see Wicki up and sitting in a chair next to Aldo at the table.
"Sorry, Leuitenant." Donny said shrugging, Aldo knew he wasn't going to get anything besides that.
Donny pulled out a chair for Nili and leaned himself on the counter behind her keeping watch over the other men making sure none of them made any move to mention the night before. He knew that even in a whorehouse the walls were thin and he was not a quiet lover.
"Thank you Nurse Cohen, for last night." Wicki said patting her hand on the table, he was a good enough guy and Donny didn't mind him showing her gratitude.
"Yeah, me too Nurse Cohen, thank you for last night." Hirschberg. Donny glared at the boy and he tried hard to fight his urge to get him in a headlock and pummel him.
"You're welcome Wicki." Nili knew what Hirschberg meant and she ignored him although she felt her cheeks flame.
Aldo rolled his eyes and planted his elbows on the table getting into business "Alright boys now our Brit's going to be coming in tonight and we need to go meet him at the drop site. Nurse, we're gonna need you for tonight, Hicox is getting dropped in and Lord knows getting tossed outta a fuckin' plane can leave you with a few bumps and bruises."
Nili nodded and sipped on the coffee Donny had handed her. "Alright Leuitenant, you'll need to wire the head of the hospital first, my leave only lasted until tonight."
"Notta problem at all." He said waving it off "Now boys there's going to be a few kraut patrols out tonight and we need to be on our toes. They're gonna notice a Brit plane and they'll be lookin' for what it dropped."
The men nodded at their Leuitenant.
"When's he supposed to be gettin' dropped?" Donny asked from behind Nili at the counter.
" 'Round 9. We're gunna be movin' out this afternoon and securing the dropsite a lil' earlier though. We need to make a stop into town though and wrestle up some supplies 'fore we do anything, so plan to be ready to roll out in an hour."
Each man nodded and they started to disperse to gather their things and prepare for the mission. Hirschberg and Omar got up to leave, followed by Aldo Utivich Kagan and Wicki; Stiglitz went into the parlor and took out his knife and he began slowly working it over the leather strop he had hooked under his boot.
"So, you'll be staying here today are you okay with that?" Donny asked sitting down next to Nili and pulling his chair close to her. They were the only two left in the kitchen.
"I suppose I don't have any choice" She said shrugging "I obviously can't go out with you."
He shook his head quickly "Of course not, and don't breathe another word of that around Aldo or he'll get another idea. You already know how I feel about this whole situation."
She sighed and shook her head "You act like you don't even want to be around me."
He shot his head up and looked at her deadly serious "You know that's horse shit Nili Cohen. I want to be around you plenty, I just don't want it to put you in danger. I know I can't stop you though."
"That's right, you can't. Now don't you think you should be getting ready for your little outing?" She cocked an eyebrow at him and went to put her coffee cup in the sink.
He shook his head and lead her back up the stairs to the room he'd claimed as his. Nili walked in ahead of him and sat down on the bed as she watched him go into his rucksack and pull out his pistol and his ammunition.
Nili watched him transfixed as he sat down in the plush chair and began cleaning out the barrel and loading the gun. His shoulders were haunched and his eyes were focused as he worked. She wondered at how his large fingers could still be so nimble and she shivered a little thinking of how they'd worked over her last night. She felt her body warm and her cheeks flush as she replayed the night's events in her head.
She hadn't thought she'd make love to him before they were married, saving herself was something she'd believed in quite firmly. But seeing that man with a bullet in his stomach and knowing it could have been him... That was enough to make her see that it was foolish to hold back when he could be gone in a moment. At least if something were to happen now she would know what it was like to have loved him fully, every part of him.
"You thinkin' about me sweetheart?" His voice was cocky as she noticed that he was looking up from his gun and across to her laying on the bed.
She smiled and turned on her side to face him "Maybe..." She liked when he called her sweetheart it always sounded so gruff in his thick accent, the "R" in heart disappearing into the sound of the "A"... "Sweethaaaht"
"I think you musta been seeing that smile on your face..." He set down his gun and made his way over to the bed climbing on top of her slowly.
She giggled a little as he tickled his way up her thighs and her ribs.
"Esa, you have a mission to get ready for."
He sighed and kissed her nose before he climbed off of her. "You're right baby. A man's gotta work, but if I didn't... You better thank your lucky stars little girl." He winked at her as he finished loading his gun. He placed it in the holster he'd strapped to his waist and the he dug into his rucksack again, this time pulling out the worn Louisville Slugger.
Nili's breath hitched a little as she watched him run his hand over the wood.
"So that's it?" She asked in a quiet voice.
"Yup." He said just as quiet, he couldn't read the look on her face, but he hoped she wasn't frightened.
She rose from the bed and walked over to him. She watched as he ran his hands over the worn wood. The bat was different from the last time she had seen it. The wood was darker and it appeared to be stained with something.
Blood. Her mind immediately flashed and saw the bat in his strong hands stained with fresh blood. The blood of those who threw bombs into Jewish shule's, the blood of those who rounded up women and children and shot them in the street. The blood of those who starved and murdered and tortured countless innocents. She felt her body become hot and she felt a streak of adrenaline hit her as she reached out and ran a finger across the bat.
He watched her closely and saw as she traced her own name, the only one he'd carved deep into the wood, the one he wanted to remember most.
"You're going to use this tonight?" Her voice was waivering with some emotion Donny couldn't place his finger on. She looked up and met his eyes and he could see the fire burning there. The same fire he knew smoldered in his own eyes everytime he took a swing at a Nazi skull.
"Yes." He said, his voice was husky with lust at seeing her so incited. He never thought she'd react this way to seeing his bat.
"You make them suffer, Esa Donowitz, you make them pay." Her voice was strong now and he could hear the thrist for revenge behind it. Her face was stern and her eyes were so bright. It was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. He dropped his bat and grabbed her up and kissed her hard holding her firmly to him. She ran her hands up to his neck and she gripped hard into his hair and she moaned a little as he pushed his tongue into her mouth and dominated her there. He was the epitome of a man for her now, strong and ruthless, holding her tight and kissing her roughly.
He pulled away sharply after a moment and laid his head against her shoulder. "I've got to go now."
She nodded and picked up his bat for him, handing it to him and nodding solemnly. He nodded back at her and took it placing it in the long holster he kept around his leg. He kissed her again and took her chin in his hand.
"I love you." He said in a voice that made her know it was the absolute truth.
"I love you too, stay safe." She leaned in and kissed him back and then he let her go and walked out of the room.
She knew not to follow and she listened through the floor as she heard the thunk of the heavy boots as they filed outside.
She took in a shaky breath then she decided to take a shower and clear her mind in the thick steam.
She walked out of the room and meandered down the hallway wondering which door was the bathroom. As she walked by one of the doors it opened revealing one of Marie's girls Nili had seen earlier sitting with Wicki.
"Oh, hello Cherie, can I help you find something?"
Nili was nervous and tried not to look at her scandelous lingerie outfit. "Uhm... Yes I was looking for the bathroom to shower."
The girl laughed and patted Nili on the shoulder "You must not be nervous of us cherie, we are all women here just like you."
Nili's cheeks flamed at having been caught on prejudice "I'm sorry."
"It is all okay, you are the Bear Jew's woman, no? He is very faithful to you, he refused the advance of even our loveliest girls. He is a good man and you must be a good woman to have him. I think we could become friends, you and I..."
She laughed a pretty little laugh and Nili finally looked into her face, she was a very pretty girl with copper red hair that fell in a stylish waved bob. Her eyes were dark blue and her lips were almost too large for her small face. The part Nili liked most about her was how large and sweet her smile was, and how kind her eyes were. She took Nili's hand in hers and began to tug her down the hall.
"I am so silly, I talk far too much. Wilhelm tells me this all the time, but I am just excitable, that is the correct word, no? Ah pish posh! I am most rude, I did not even tell you my name yet hear I am tugging you down the hall like we are little girls, I am Adele. That is my real name, at least, and since we are both women I feel as though that is what you should call me, the men know me as Evangeline. Silly those men are, they are so attracted to the exotic, no?"
Nili couldn't help but giggle at the fast talking working girl and she thought of how much she reminded her of her childhood girlfriend Samantha. Truth be told Nili was a little starved for female companionship. The nurses here in France were all older and most were sad little widows who were not apt to conversation.
"Your name is Nili, correct, that is a pretty name. I eavesdropped on your man a little, I hope you will forgive me." She stopped short in front of the last door on the left and let go of Nili's hand gesturing towards the door. "Here is the bathroom, there are soaps and towels inside that you are most welcome to. Once you are done come and see me, I have a dress that you may borrow" She picked up the hem of Nili's dress and tutted at her "This one will not do, it is covered in my poor Wilhelm's blood. It is the least I can do to give my new friend something proper to wear."
Nili was winded just from listening to her, but Adele's eyes were so kind and in them Nili could see the same hints of lonliness she felt.
"Thank you so much Adele, you are so kind. I will come to see you as soon as I'm done."
The other girl's face lit up and she laughed again smiling wider than Nili thought possible
"Oh lovely! I will put on a pot of tea as well and we can sit and become girlfriends!"
Nili entered the bathroom and found the small space very clean and bright with soft yellow walls and a large window covered with gauzy white drapes. She smiled to herself and began undressing as she turned on the facuet and let the water run to hot.
Donny stood watching leaned up against the side of the small market as Hirschberg and Wicki and were inside making their purchases. He smoked a ciggarette and made sure not to make eye contact with the rest of the men as they mingled about in the crowds of the small town.
He saw Wicki and Hirschberg step out with large grain sacks that Donny knew held more than just grain. The market owner worked closely with the Basterds to smuggle them in ammunition. Donny stayed up against the wall as they loaded it into the truck and drove off towards the outskirts of town. He watched as Aldo and Utivich walked away from the fruit cart they'd been browsing and he saw the slight almost indescernable nod of Aldo's head.
He stubbed out his ciggarette and shoved his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket as he slowly followed behind them. Under his jacket he felt the familiar lump of his pistol and he smiled a little under the thick wool cap he wore.