Chapter 13: The last Night
Anna had gotten Basta so hot and bothered that he couldn't think straight. How did she expect him to be able to fall asleep- on the couch- after she'd let him finger her?
Basta lay awake that night, staring at the ceiling of Anna's apartment.
Why did we just... stop? Was she pleased with my skills? Oh my god... am I worse than Landa? That old bastard much have at least twenty solid years of sex under his belt. Damn it... damn it all!
"What would you like for breakfast?" Asked Anna, smiling at him from the kitchen.
"Whatever you're having" he said, a smile flitting briefly across his face. He was so full of angst, that he found himself craving a cigarette.
"Are you alright, Lieben?" she asked, frowning a bit.
"Not really" he said honestly. He was embarrassed by his poor sexual performance. He knew, though he didn't like to admit, that he was very poor at pleasing his partner. He was always out for himself, working to bring his own body to a climax, and he often neglected what his partner wanted. He realised, with a miserable sigh, that Landa was probably much better in bed than he. Basta was so angry at himself for fucking over his first opportunity to please Anna. He wanted to kick himself.
"What's wrong?" She asked, coming over to him. She looked genuinely concerned, which made Basta feel that much worse.
"Oh, nothing, really. Never mind me."
"Have I done something wrong?" she asked. That was the first sign of self doubt she had ever shown. This surprised Basta a bit. He felt taken aback, and felt his cheeks turning red.
"You haven't done anything" he said, avoiding her gaze.
"What's wrong" she sat beside him and put a gentle hand to his shoulder. Basta winced a bit, and she withdrew, apologizing.
"You... you make me very shy" he said, choosing his words very carefully. A brief silence settled between them. Suddenly, Anna put her fingers to Basta's chin, and tilted his head so he would look at her.
"I only stopped because I didn't want to sleep with you the first night." As she smiled, Basta felt joy bubble inside of him. She wants to sleep with me. She wants to sleep with me! OH MY GOD, ANNA EHRLICHMANN WANTS TO SLEEP WITH ME! Sure, she didn't want to do it right away, but she still wants to sleep with me! He smiled, but controlled himself to an extent.
"But you... you still want to sleep with me?" He asked, his cheeks turning pink. Anna smiled, blushing as well. She couldn't answer, though, because a swift knock on the door interrupted the silence between them. Basta jumped to his feet. He glanced at the window, but shuddered. He did not, did not want to jump from the window again. Surly a second fall would fix him with a broken clavicle or a wrecked ankle. Anna pointed to her bedroom, and mouthed the word closet. Basta crept as silently as a cat to the bedroom closet, and slipped in; hiding amongst Anna's nice smelling dresses. Through the closet, he heard muffled voices from the living room. Anna didn't seem distressed, but he heard her say the name he hated most in this world.
"Hans."
So Landa was in the house. Basta's mouth curled into an angry shape, and he felt his hands balling into fists. If I wasn't so sore, I swear I'd go out there and kill him thought Basta, struggling to hear the conversation. If only I had my knife! I'd fucking stab that bastard!
"The SS was here yesterday" he heard Anna say. "I swear I'm not hiding anyone!" Landa's voice came next, though he had lost his usual enthusiastic tone. He seemed angry, or maybe it was just because his voice was muffled. Basta tried to hold his breath, to better hear the conversation.
"What makes you think I'm searching for someone?" Asked Landa, dangerously pleasant. Basta's heart hammered in his chest. He was backing Anna into a corner. He was smart, too smart...
"I-I, I just figured" she began, her voice taking on a new tone. She sounded scared.
"Anna, are you hiding something?" Landa sounded too happy. Basta imagined him shaking a finger at a panicking Anna. He imagined that sickeningly charming smile playing over his masculine chin.
"Of course not, Hans" Anna's voice suddenly took on a new tone. "You know me better than that." Basta's stomach dropped when he realised she was trying to be suggestive. But then it all clicked. Her feminine wiles were the only means of defence she had against the other man. Basta remembered how Landa had held the apple crate full of books with ease. He could easily over power Anna. She was being manipulative in her own way, using her beautiful body to keep herself safe. Basta recalled asking Anna why she dated Landa. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. The enemy was close alright, right in the fucking living room! Probably a hand's breadth away from Anna's pretty little nose.
"You can never be too careful" said Landa. He wasn't buying it. Basta felt scared for Anna.
"Can I get you anything, Lieben?" She asked. Basta didn't hear Landa's reply. He couldn't hear much of anything, really. Basta's sore knees ached, and he found himself involuntarily sitting on the floor of the closet. He tried not to make a sound as he made himself comfortable amongst Anna's clothes. The closet smelled like perfume, and as he lowered to the floor, mothballs. Basta felt a sneeze threatening to come. He tried to ignore the tickling in his nose, but it persisted. Basta felt his eyes closing on their own, his lips parting... the sneeze wanted out! Basta clamped his fingers around the bridge of his nose sealed his mouth just as he sneezed. He made a strange HIMP! Sound, and suddenly his ears popped and felt painful. Basta wiped tears from his eyes and made a strange face. The scent of the mothballs tickled his nose once again. Basta rose to his feet, wiping his nose, and found that the sensation passed. He heard Landa speak.
"Why is your sofa dressed like a bed? Asked Landa. Basta froze. He began looking around the closet, for some sort of escape... directly above him was a trap door on the ceiling. It was so subtle, it was barely noticeable. "Accommodating a guest, Fräulein Anna?"
"It's the strangest thing" he heard Anna say, as he began climbing the closet shelf to get to the attic door. "My bed has been just terribly uncomfortable lately." Basta mentally encouraged Anna as he pushed the attic door out of the way. "I wake up with back pains!"
"Really now? May I take a look?" Landa was being testy. Coolness radiated from the darkness of the attic. Basta shuddered by the idea of crawling up there.
"Oh Hans, I really don't see the need!"
"Nonsense. I'll take a look for you."
Footsteps. Basta grimaced before hauling his sore, aching body up through the small entrance way. The bedroom door opened, and Landa and Anna were inside. As quietly as he could, Basta slid the door back into place, praying that Landa didn't hear.
The creak of bedsprings.
"This gives you back pains?" Asked Landa.
"Oh yes, a terrible crick in my neck." Anna's voice was off. She sounded both terrified and annoyed. Basta lay on his belly in the complete blackness, his nose tickling from the dust. Suddenly, Landa switched to German. Basta panicked. What were he and Anna talking about? He heard the creak of bedsprings once again, and Anna cry out. "NO!" She cried, her voice shrill. She continued in German, speaking rapidly.
Footsteps. Basta didn't dare breathe. He heard a creak as the closet doors were opened. His heart pounded against the dusty floor and a cold chill ran through his body.
Complete silence.
Someone rummaging below.
"T-told you" stuttered Anna shakily.
"I suppose you're right" said Landa. His voice was annoyed. He had wanted to find Basta in the closet.
"I told you, Colonel, I am not hiding anyone in my home." Anna's voice was stern.
"I never accused you of doing so" said Landa.
"Don't try to tell me that you weren't looking for someone. I know you were, Colonel!"
"One can never be too cautious" murmured Landa. The two left the bedroom, and their voices were fait murmurs. Basta didn't dare move until he heard the door shut and the dead bolt lock. Cautiously, he removed the door, letting light into the dusty attic.
"Basta?" Anna called, walking into the bedroom. "Are you still here? It's safe to come out now!" Basta dropped from the attic, and cried out in pain. His ankles seared in agony.
"Over here" he growled.
"Oh my god... where were you hiding? It's a miracle Landa didn't find you!" Anna had been looking out the window, at the street below.
"In the attic" he said with a cough. He brushed the dust off his fatigues.
"Wow... clever thinking."
"He thinks I'm here, doesn't he?" Basta asked, his voice low. Anna pursed her lips and made a tight nod.
"You can't stay here" she whispered, her expression saddening. Basta nodded, his heart sinking in his chest.
"Dr. Hertz told me to go to Switzerland."
"Not a bad idea..." Anna seemed stressed. She ran a hand through her hair. "I'm so sorry" she blurted, her voice broken and sad. To Basta's great surprise, a tear rolled down her cheek.
"Don't cry, Anna" he said, wiping the tear away before pulling her into a hug. He rested his chin on the top of her head, murmuring Shhh and rubbing her back soothingly. "It's going to be ok."
"You can stay tonight... you'll have to leave tomorrow."
Basta's stomach dropped. Tomorrow?
"Ok" he murmured. Anna pulled apart.
"I'm so sorry" she said.
"Don't worry about it."
Basta spent the rest of the day in a mope. Anna left for work at the embassy, and he chose to retreat back to the attic, in case Landa came back for a second search. To both his relief and his surprise, the Colonel didn't return.
When Anna got home from work, it was dark outside, and the street lights were glowing orange. Basta climbed down from the attic, and greeted Anna with a forced smile. She was carrying a baguette under an arm, and a purse in the other.
"How was work?" he asked.
"Just awful" she grumbled, dumping her purse on the floor. "The whole building has been up in arms. Your absence has caused a lot of disturbance." She cast him a look and raised an eyebrow. "Congratulations, you're quite popular amongst the Nazis."
"Yay me." He briefly raised his eyebrows.
"What should we cook for supper, hmm?" Anna washed her hands at the kitchen sink.
"Bread?" He tried, looking at the loaf sitting on the counter.
"You can't have just bread" she said with a laugh, drying her hands on a red kitchen towel. "I have some veggies in the icebox" she murmured, opening her refrigerator and peering inside. Basta almost laughed, she looked rather funny, with half her body sticking out of the strange white cupboard. "Could you be a darling and fetch some potatoes for me?"
"Sure" Basta wandered over to the square wicker basket at the counter. He gathered four potatoes, and brought them over to where Anna had spread out some carrots on the counter. She handed him a knife, and instructed him to peel. Basta obeyed. As Anna sliced the carrots, he peeled potatoes. The young lady boiled two pots of water over the stove, and dumped the sliced carrots in one. When Basta had peeled the potatoes, he helped Anna both wash and cut them into chunks. They put the potato pieces into the second pot of boiling water, and set to work setting the table.
Anna poured them each a glass of wine.
"Cheers!" She said, raising her glass towards Basta.
"Why cheers?" He asked, frowning a bit.
"Cheers to our first date." Basta blushed as he clinked glasses with Anna. They each took a sip, before straining the carrots and the potatoes. "Let's mash these" she said with a grin, straining the water from the potato pot. She placed the potato pieces on a plate, and handed Basta a potato masher. They set to work together, laughing and squishing potatoes into a mash. Basta seasoned them with salt as Anna prepared the carrot slices. As he set the table with mashed potatoes, steamed carrots, and cheese, Anna sliced the baguette. "I'm sorry, it's not much, but it's the best I could do." Anna smiled sheepishly before taking a seat across from Basta at her little table.
"It's plenty" he said, taking a slice of bread.
The two dined in silence, each wrapped up in their own thoughts and concerns. As Basta sipped red wine and chewed his meal, he wondered what Switzerland was like. How will I get there? He thought, finishing his meal. Anna's eyes flicked up at him every so often, making him blush and look away. He remembered the first day he saw her, and realised she was wearing the same plum coloured dress.
They cleared the table, nudging each other playfully with their elbows. She washed the dishes, and he dried. Basta found that he didn't have much to say. He didn't want to speak. He just wanted to sit across from Anna and look at her all night long.
"I'm sorry it has to end this way" she murmured, sipping wine. She sat on the chair opposite the sofa. Basta took a seat, taking a longer sip of his drink.
"What do you mean?" he managed to say. He knew that whatever it was Anna has to say wouldn't be very good.
"War is a terrible thing, Basta. I'm sorry that you've been sucked into this mess, and I'm sorry that you've had so much unwanted attention drawn to you." Anna's eyelids lowered and she gazed into her glass. She seemed to be lost in the dark red liquid for quite some time.
"It's better than what I've come from" he mumbled, making a face at his wine. He took a drink.
"Was it that terrible?" She asked. She seemed to be grieving.
"It wasn't good." He thought bitterly of all the times he had been Capricorn's pet. What awful memories, lurking in the dark corners of his mind. When Anna just looked at him, rather blankly (she couldn't imagine anything worse than a world where people put other people in deadly gas chambers) Basta sighed. "I'm not exactly treated very well where I come from." He cocked his head as he spoke, and his voice took on a slight edge.
"The scars?" She began, slightly lifting one of her own arms. Basta flinched. He wasn't ready to tell Anna the truth about his scars.
"It's nothing" he muttered. He drained the glass.
"Let's try to make this a happy night" she said, forcing a smile. Basta tried to nod. She was right. Why should he spend his last night in Anna's apartment moping about the life he'd left behind? He thought back to the night when he'd first met Anna, and how happy he was to be in her presence at that moment. The most beautiful woman in the world rose a toast to our first date he thought, trying to cheer himself up.
"You're right" he said, making himself smile. Though fake at first, it suddenly turned real when she returned a genuine toothy grin.
"Would you like some more wine?" she asked, getting up from her seat. Basta looked up at her, and while his eyes drooped sadly, he shook his head no. He rose to his feet, approaching Anna with a sullen expression. Her eyebrows were knit in such a way that suggested she was sad as well. They came together in the dim, candle lit living room, embracing in a passionate hug. Basta held Anna close to his body before bowing his head and gently kissing her lips. Anna returned the kiss, and then nudged his nose with hers, from side to side. She backed up slowly, her arms still around his body, leading him to her bedroom. Basta's heart thudded, but he remained calm as Anna started unzipping her dress. He watched with a parted mouth as her body became unveiled for him. She wore black undergarments with a soft lace trim. She was so beautiful, it hurt for him to look. While frowning, Basta took off his own shirt. His abs were swollen from the rush of adrenaline through his body. Anna observed his body with gorgeous green eyes, and came against him, kissing his mouth and running her hands over the ridges of his abs. When her fingers found the light trail of hair disappearing into the waist of his fatigues, she followed it with her fingers until she came to her glinting silver belt buckle. She tugged the leather until it came loose, then allowed Basta to unhook her bra with nervous fingers. She angled her shoulders so that the garment would slide off easily. Basta took in a deep breath when he finally laid eyes on the beautiful set of B's that he had dreamed about for so many nights. Anna pressed her warm body up against Basta's and teased his mouth with warm, soft kisses. She backed up onto the bed, and lay on the sheets for him. Basta nervously worked the button on his fatigues loose, and stepped out of the fabric. He came onto Anna gently, and ran his hand over the soft curve of her body. She turned onto her back, and looked up at Basta from a fan of chocolate brown hair. He sighed deeply, and leaned in for a kiss. As he kissed her lips, he ran his hand up the length of her thigh, then onto her protruding hipbone. His thumb worked gentle circles around the protrusion, before it drifted up the bumps of her faintly noticeable ribs. When he finally came to her breast, he gently grazed the perimeter before dropping his mouth to Anna's neck. His mouth left a trail of kisses before it reached its destination. Very gently, almost teasingly, he took the apex of Anna's breast into his mouth, flicking his tongue over her nipple before very, very gently, making pressure with his teeth. Anna let out a moan and sigh, and she ran her fingers through Basta's soft, short hair. Basta bestowed the same treatment on her other breast before returning his mouth to hers. As they kissed, Anna taking the lead that time, Basta used his hands to slide the lady's undergarments off her hips. He rose from her face, and after he pulled the garment from her body, kissed down her belly's soft midline, all the way down to her nether regions. Anna gasped loudly as Basta went down on her. She wrapped her fingers in his short strands of hair, and resisted the urge to let out a little cry of pleasure. When Basta returned to her face, she kissed him long and hard before helping him ease out of his undershorts. Basta was so immersed in the moment of passion, that the thought of Landa didn't even enter his mind. He wasn't pestered once by the thought that maybe the older man possessed a piece that was superior to his own. Instead, he let out a small sigh of surprise when Anna rolled him over onto his back. Swollen lips parted and eyelids drooped, Basta took in the sight of beautiful Anna, perched over his body like a gorgeous, brunette angel. She slowly leaned in towards his face, kissing his lips lightly. Basta let out a very shaky sigh, and found it hard to control his breathing. The cross necklace on Anna's neck fell onto his own chest, cooling the skin momentarily. He managed to steal a kiss from her before she came onto him. Basta gasped aloud and placed his quivering hands on her soft hips. She moved slowly over him, each movement rousing a short, loud gasp, moan or sigh from his throat. Anna moved slowly, building the tension in Basta's body. He closed his eyes momentarily, struggled to contain his breathing. As she gained momentum, his breaths came louder and faster, easily slipping from his lips.
"Anna" he moaned, tightening his hands around her hips. She didn't reply, but her breathing grew quicker and sharper.
"Basta" she eventually breathed, tilting her head back slightly. The woman's body was covered in a slight sheen of sweat, much like Basta's. His hair glued to his forehead in some places, and his chest was slick with sweat. He finally let out a little cry, as the pleasure built deep inside of him. He knew he was close to coming, very close.
Basta came first, releasing the agonizing tension with a loud shout and a gasped: "Oh God!". Anna came shortly after, gasping his name repeatedly. Basta's eyes nearly rolled to the back of his head from the over whelming sensations of euphoria rushing through his veins.
Though he was tired and Anna was panting, he still didn't want to stop. Before she could fully collapse on his body, Basta rolled her over, keeping the connection between them, moved his body over hers. Taken by surprise, Anna gasped and gripped his sweaty shoulder. She moaned his name as he gained momentum over her body. He made extra sure to go slowly enough to consider her needs as well as his own. He wanted to prove to Anna (and also himself) that he could be a better lover than Landa.
Panting loudly, Basta gripped Anna's right thigh, and hiked her leg up his body, making his thrusting into her much easier. Anna let out a squeak, and Basta found himself gritting his teeth before Anna cried out at her climax. It hadn't taken longer than 8 minutes, he figured. Smiling, Basta worked harder to bring himself to that level. Anna was unbelievably tight, and it didn't take long for Basta to cry out with his own orgasm.
He was too tired and exerted to even think about making love to her a third time.