They were like flowers unfurling their blossoms in a perfumed garden. There was no need to touch; the invisible bond that united them was closer than any physical contact could ever be.
When at last they stood across from each other, entirely naked, Ruth took the pins from her hair. It fell down over her shoulders and settled there like a silken scarf. Then she shook her head proudly so that it hung behind her.
As they went to one another, Ruth drank in every detail of Steven’s body. She stared at his manhood as though mesmerized, and a tremor of desire ran through her whole body. He was as beautiful as the Greek statues in the art book that Peter had given Marie. Back then, in another life.
“I’ve never seen a man naked,” she whispered.
Steven laughed. “How can that be?” Slowly he reached his hand out toward her, and ran his fingertips down the valley between her breasts.
Ruth smiled in embarrassment. “It was always dark.” And it always happened very fast, she thought. She waved a hand as though to drive off a troublesome insect. She didn’t want to speak of that anymore. She didn’t want to think of it.
Steven’s eyes warmed her like two glowing fires as he led her to the bed.
When their naked flesh touched, desire flared in them both. His lips were strong, his kisses commanding, and Ruth thought she could taste a hint of cocoa on his tongue. She opened her mouth hungrily. More. More of this.
The feather pillow plumped up on each side of her head, getting in the way. She grabbed it and threw it off the bed. She wanted to cling closer to Steven, but he held her back.
He ran his fingers reverently over her breasts, then lowered his head. Ruth heard herself moan as his tongue playfully circled her right nipple. He raised his head and looked at her questioningly, but she just sank her fingers deeper into his arm.
While his lips caressed her left breast, his hands roamed up and down her body. Ruth felt her skin beginning to glow red hot under his touch. She thrust herself toward him once more.
But again Steven held her down, gently but forcefully.
“Easy does it,” he whispered in English. “Easy and slowly.”
He kissed her. Kisses light as feathers on her mouth, her eyes. In the middle of her forehead and on her hairline; his touch was so tender, his kisses were everywhere . . .
Suddenly his hand was on her mound of Venus. He did not stop stroking her, but his fingers moved down to the soft skin of her inner thigh. Ruth opened her legs gladly, impatiently. It felt wonderful to be stroked like that. His finger trailed across her labia as though quite by chance, and Ruth twitched like a kicking pony. She heard herself moan. It was a strange, full-throated sound.
Then Steven’s hand began circling, circling. Hot waves seized hold of her, each stronger than the last. She screamed quietly. His fingers became bolder, burrowing into her flesh, and his lips insistently claimed her mouth.
Ruth clung to him. She didn’t want to miss a moment of this bliss, the happiness that until that moment she had only ever dreamed of. What was happening here bore no resemblance to what Thomas had done to her, often against her will.
She was nevertheless unprepared for how readily her body responded when Steven finally entered her. He did not stop stroking her but instead kept time, his fingers like music on her skin, as he thrust deeply into her. Tears sprang to her eyes, hot tears of joy that she was glad to shed.
“I love you,” Steven whispered hoarsely into her ear. Ruth didn’t need to know any English to understand him.
“I love you too,” she replied in German, her legs wrapped around his.
For the first time in her life, Ruth crossed the threshold to true love. Her body and her soul were as one with Steven.
Ruth stayed with him all night. She knew that Johanna and Marie would be worried. And that Wanda would be missing her. But she couldn’t make herself care.
They had only this one night.
When they were not making love, they drifted off to sleep, her head on his chest, his arm around her protectively. It was only a light doze, however, for each was too aware of the other’s presence to sleep soundly.
Clinging to one another, they watched the dawn light appear in the window. Ruth listened to Steven’s heartbeat and wished she could stay forever in this hour between night and day.
“I love you.” His voice was hoarse.
A hot wave of happiness washed over her.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
“Could you see yourself coming to New York with me?”
His question was like a bolt from the blue. Her stomach twisted and cramped.
“I can’t bear the thought of having to leave you in just a few hours. I’ve never had these feelings for anyone else! I was lost the moment I first saw you in Frank’s room.”