Chapter 4: "Then I Will Kiss Your Lips"

Maria looked one last time at the theater as the Captain steered the car away from the curb. Nothing had happened inside that structure, really, and yet Maria felt as if everything had changed. She hardly felt like the same woman who had entered the theater. It was as though her eyes had been half closed all this time, and she had not even realized it.

But she and the Captain had said nothing to each other since they had left the theater. Maria didn't know what to say. She did not yet have words for what she was feeling; it was too new. She only knew that she had never felt this way before, that she cared deeply for this man whom she had come to admire, and that she was drawn to him in a way that both electrified and unnerved her.

Maria thought back to those moments in the theater, when he had leaned in close and whispered in her ear, his lips inches away. If he had leaned in a little closer, or if she had turned her head slightly toward him…

Sitting so close to him still, she was more aware of him than ever before. With every breath she took, she could smell the scent of his soap, of his aftershave, and of something else, something unmistakably masculine that made her pulse race. She closed her eyes and listened for his movements, imagining his hands on the wheel, remembering how they felt when they had touched hers. Maria felt the heat rising to her cheeks and was grateful for the darkness that masked her face. She seemed unable to control her imagination when the Captain was so near.

"So you enjoyed the play?" the Captain asked, startling Maria out of her thoughts. If he knew what she had been thinking…Maria felt her face blazing again.

"Yes, Captain," Maria replied, her voice weak. That wouldn't do; she cleared her throat and tried again. "Yes, I enjoyed it very much indeed." That was better, stronger.

"You were not…disappointed or distressed by anything this evening?" The Captain sounded worried. She realized that he had not looked at her since he'd entered the car. Was he trying to apologize to her? Was he regretting their evening together? Maria suddenly felt uncertain of what she thought had passed between them. Her imagination had been running wild lately; had she imagined everything after all?

"No, Captain. I don't feel disappointed or distressed by the evening." She might not be ready to define what she felt but, even doubting herself, she knew it certainly wasn't disappointment. Far from it. She looked at him, hoping she would not see disappointment in his face.

The Captain exhaled; it seemed he had been holding his breath. She saw his shoulders relax and only then realized how tightly wound he'd been. He looked at her then for the first time since getting in the car.

"Good. Neither do I." She saw only a hint of a smile on his lips, but the warmth in his eyes more than made up for it. Maria's heart was singing. She had not imagined it; it was all real. She wasn't sure yet what it was, but there was no denying the way it made her feel. She did not want that feeling to go away.

"I was…I was thinking," the Captain stammered. "That is, I was wondering if you might perhaps consider…I would understand completely if you wouldn't want to, of course…" the Captain's voice trailed off. He took one hand off the wheel and raked it through his hair, then tried unsuccessfully to loosen his tie.

"I'm sorry, Captain, I don't understand. Consider what, exactly?" Maria was having trouble following what he was saying, which left her a bit confused. At the same time, she was amused to see the Captain not fully in control of himself for once.

The Captain gave her a quick sideways glance before continuing. She remembered him doing the same thing just before telling her that he and the Baroness would not be marrying, and she prepared herself for whatever revelation might be coming this time.

"Fraulein, would you consider spending another evening with me? Perhaps joining me for a meal?" The Captain sounded so hesitant and unsure of himself that Maria's first instinct was to ease his discomfort. She almost felt sorry for him. Then his words sank in and she realized what he was asking. He wanted to court her. And if he wanted to court her, that meant he had intentions.

Yes or no? Did she want this? Did she want him to court her? Did she want what courting would lead to? Maria felt her stomach clench. She had to admit to feeling a bit fearful and insecure. But after everything she had felt this evening, after all that had been awakened in her, she knew she wanted more. She prayed that she was making the right decision.

"Yes, Captain, I would be happy to spend another evening with you." Happy. She was happy.

The Captain pulled up in front of the house. Maria was surprised at how quickly they had arrived. She had lost all track of time. She regretted that this most amazing of evenings was coming to an end. She waited for the Captain to help her out of the car, as she knew by now that he would. This time when she took his hand, it was without hesitation.

They entered the house together, hand in hand. The house was mostly dark, except for a few table lamps that had been left on for them. Once inside, the Captain turned to Maria, his eyes on hers. There it was again, the look that awakened every nerve in her body.

"You must forgive me, Fraulein. I have neglected to tell you how stunning you look tonight. This dress," he continued, touching the end of a sleeve that fell just above her elbow, "never looked so lovely on Liesl. I'm most fortunate and grateful that she gave it to you to wear this evening." The Captain brushed his fingers lightly along Maria's elbow. She shivered at the touch. She could not look away from him. His eyes were pulling her in; she was drowning in them.

"Do you remember when Katherine agreed to marry Henry and he wanted to kiss her hand?" The Captain brought Maria's hand to his lips and gently kissed her fingers, one at a time, still keeping his eyes locked on hers. Maria heart was pounding. The feel of those soft lips on her hand, lingering on each finger, was driving her mad. His other hand was still on her arm; he began rubbing circles into the inside of her elbow with his thumb. The sensations running through her intensified; she felt her entire body responding.

"But Katherine would not let him kiss her hand. She called herself unworthy. Do you remember what Henry said to her?" He kept rubbing circles with his thumb; he must have seen the effect it was having on her.

Maria had to make an effort to answer the Captain's question; she was having trouble thinking straight. His eyes were devouring hers.

"He said, 'Then I will kiss your lips, Kate.'" She shuddered as she spoke the words.

"Then I will kiss your lips, Maria." The Captain finally stopped tracing circles with his thumb, only to bring his hand to her lips, tracing them instead.

"Have you ever kissed a man, Maria?" the Captain asked in a whisper, his light touch tickling not only her lips but something deep inside her as well. She shifted her weight, trying to ease the craving growing inside her.

Maria tried to respond but, finding herself unable to speak, shook her head instead. His touches were generating a heat inside her that she had never felt before. Her mind and body were swirling in the tempest he was creating.

"May I kiss you, Maria? Do you want me to kiss you?" The Captain stepped into her even as he asked her permission, his voice deepening, his eyes darkening.

Maria knew he could feel how her body was trembling, how fast and hard her heart was beating. She knew he could feel the way he was affecting her. And now that he had brought the length of his body against hers, she could feel that she was having the same effect on him. And still he held back and asked her permission. If she had needed a final sign that this was what she wanted, she had just received it.

"Yes…" she groaned, and his lips came crashing down on hers. Maria felt the Captain's hands on her waist, pulling her closer. Before she was even aware of it, she found her own arms wrapped around his neck, clutching at the top of his jacket.

The Captain withdrew his lips and licked the corner of her mouth, then her lower lip. Maria felt her knees go weak and she arched into him, instinctively needing to be closer to his heat. He kissed her again, moaning her name, slipping his tongue into her mouth. She gasped. His tongue felt hot and wet and wonderful. It was doing things to her that she couldn't name. His hands gripped her hips, then rubbed them slowly, in an undulating motion. Maria felt her craving grow to a fever pitch.

When she was desperate for air, the Captain finally pulled back. He was breathing just as heavily as she was; she could feel his heart racing, matching her own. He planted soft kisses on her cheeks and eyes and again on her lips before finally releasing her. He brought her hand to his lips once more and kissed it gently.

"Much as I would like to keep you here with me, perhaps it might be best if we said good night now," the Captain said, his voice rough with passion, reluctance evident in his tone.

Maria was just as reluctant to leave him, but she knew she was overwhelmed with her feelings and the sensations in her body. She needed time to herself, to think, to pray. So much had changed in one evening. There would be time enough to let their new relationship grow slowly, naturally.

"Yes, I think that might be best, Captain." Maria was grateful that he had anticipated her needs.

"Please, call me Georg." When he spoke to her in that coaxing tone, she thought she could deny him nothing. She smiled at him. Georg. Yes, she could call this wonderful man by his name.

"Good night, Georg."

"Good night, Maria. Pleasant dreams." Maria turned and walked up the stairs. She could feel Georg's eyes on her all the way up.

* * * * *

'Then I will kiss your lips…' That night Maria lay in bed, touching her mouth, remembering the feel of Georg's lips on hers. It was a long time before she was able to fall asleep.

The End

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Author's Notes

The title of chapter 3, "The Play's the Thing", is a quote from Hamlet. The title of chapter 4, "Then I Will Kiss Your Lips", is a quote from Henry V.

Thank you to everyone who read this story. I know it's a simple story, but I hope you enjoyed it just the same. Special thanks to those who reviewed, put the story on alert, or added it to their favorites. It's almost embarrassing how happy all of that makes me!