Anna's eyes slowly opened, peering around her room for a brief moment before she became wholly aware of something.

There was a naked man in her bed.

Mathias lay on his back, one arm tucked behind his head and the other on his stomach. The sheet was tangled over his legs, just teasing her view of his hips. And something else.

Letting out a long breath, Anna simply couldn't take her eyes off him. He'd never looked more like a marble Adonis than he did right now. His muscles were defined without being too much, his light dusting of chest hair fair, trailing all the way to his navel and lower, where it began to darken. She wanted to reach out and touch him, but she'd wake him if she did. And then she would be at his mercy.

Last night was spectacular.

After the third climax, Anna hadn't been able to move for a good long while. Mathias had only just been able to get her to stand up and take her to the bathroom to get cleaned up. And that in itself had nearly turned into another game of pleasure. Too exhausted, she'd managed to keep him at bay, but she couldn't send him home. She didn't want to. They had just shared a moment so intimate she was starting to wonder how anyone could have sex liberally and without feeling. It wasn't the orgasms, though they were wonderful and had her fully addicted to chasing that euphoria.

It was the fact he had held back.

She had offered him the one thing she was so certain he wanted on a silver platter. It hadn't been a test. She really had wanted it to, so drunk on ecstasy that she forgot all about boundaries. But he hadn't. He'd remembered. And what's more, he'd denied himself just to do as she'd asked him. Mathias and everyone around him had continually made it plain to her that he always got what he wanted. And yet he didn't take it from her. Because he cared.

'Do you think I don't feel your eyes on me, little cuckoo bird,' he murmured, Anna nearly jumping out of her skin. One eye open, he let it peruse her slowly before he opened the other. 'Good morning.'

'Good morning,' she whispered, unable to keep the smile from her face. 'How did you sleep?'

'Soundly,' he returned, his mouth crooking to a small grin. 'You snore though.'

Blushing, Anna's brow furrowed. 'No I don't.'

'You do, but it's very light. Quite sweet actually.'

Rolling her eyes, Anna made to get up, but he tugged her back with one arm around her waist. 'I was only going to open the curtains.'

Chuckling, Mathias smoothed his hand down her thigh, pulling her body tight against his as he nuzzled into her neck. 'That can wait.'

Anna wanted to make a smart come back, but he'd stolen her breath as his tongue massaged into her skin. Her exhaustion from last night had abated and left only lust in its wake.

'You were such a good girl last night,' he murmured against her skin. 'I think that deserves a reward.'

'That sounds so much better than that punishment you keep threatening,' Anna whispered.

Mathias smiled, drawing her face to look at his. 'In time, you won't think that at all.'

She made to counter him when there was a knock at the door.

Fuck.

'Don't come...' Anna called.

But it was too late. Elli had barged through the door just as Anna had got up to make sure it remained closed.

Elli's eyes were wide, her mouth genuinely opened in shock.

'It's not what it looks like,' Anna managed, casting a look at Mathias, who had done nothing to hide his smirk, but had at least hidden his body with the sheet.

Still, Elli said nothing, her eyes only lighting up with mischief.

Oh god, this would cost Anna dearly. 'What will it take for you to not say anything?'

'A lot,' Elli returned, glancing past Anna. 'Morning Captain Nemo.'

'Morning,' Mathias returned.

'Elli,' snapped Anna. 'Focus. What will it take for you to say nothing?'

Elli pondered it, letting out an annoying hum as she did so. 'Three cinema trips with you and Karl.'

'Done.'

'The late night ones.'

'Elli I can't...'

'You'll have to convince mama and papa,' said Elli with a slight shrug. 'That's not my problem.'

Such a little toerag.

Elli looked at Mathias again. 'What about you?'

'Me?' said Mathias, pointing to his chest with a huffy laugh.

'Yeah, I need something from you too, you know.'

'Elli!' spluttered Anna. 'For god's sake!'

'What do you want?' asked Mathias, wrapping the sheet around him carefully as he sat on the side of the bed.

'Well, you own Keller ammunition. So, a gun would be...'

'He's not getting you a bloody gun!' hissed Anna, her face red with fury.

'Elli? Anna? Are you coming down?' called their mother from downstairs.

'Just coming Mama!' called Elli, her gaze zeroed in on Mathias. 'Tick tock.' She was absolutely delighted to have the upper hand.

'How about I just pay you?' said Mathias.

'How much?' asked Elli.

'Grab my jacket and I'll see how much I've got,' he said, pointing to the crumpled mess on the floor.

'You can't pay her,' Anna implored as Elli scurried excitedly to retrieve it.

'You're the one that doesn't want us to get caught,' he pointed out as Elli handed it to him. 'Personally, I'd just go downstairs and quash this.'

'Fine, pay her then,' rumbled Anna as she smoothed her hand over her temples.

Rifling through his wallet, Mathias counted the notes. 'How does 500 marks sound?'

Elli gasped. 'Deal!'

'Mathias, she's thirteen! You can't give her the entire contents of your wallet!'

'It's not the entire contents,' said Mathias with a scrunched brow as Elli snatched the notes from him. 'Is 500 not reasonable? It is a bribe after all.'

'I'd have done it for 50,' grinned Elli. 'But it's been a pleasure doing business with you.' She made to dart off but Anna grabbed her.

'That means you have to distract them so he can sneak out.'

'Well of course. I'm a master criminal, remember?'

'You're a pain in my backside. Now go!'

Elli winked at her sister, then darted downstairs shouting 'Anna's just coming!'

Groaning, Anna flopped down beside Mathias who was laughing. 'Can't believe I got swindled by a teenager.'

'Don't beat yourself up about it,' sighed Anna. 'That girl is way too smart for her own good.' She glanced up at him as he watched her.

'Would it really be so terrible if your parents knew I was here?'

Anna spluttered out a laugh. 'Clearly, you don't spend a lot of time with upstanding young women. I'll be hung drawn and quartered if they know.'

'But we didn't even have sex,' he pointed out.

'You think they'll be happy with the things we did?' she asked.

Mathias shrugged. 'This sort of relationship is the precursor to a life together. Surely that has to count for something?'

Sitting up, Anna stared at him. 'A life together?'

Leaning forward, Mathias brushed his nose along Anna's before he kissed along her jaw. 'You claimed me last night, little cuckoo bird. And I claimed you.' His kisses trailed down her neck to her shoulder, her strap slipping away so he had all of her skin at his disposal. It drew a gasp from her, and she could feel him grin against her. 'God I love it when you make that noise.'

'Are you honestly telling me that you've never done that with another woman? Or several for that matter.'

Pausing, he looked up at her. 'You mean ignored them begging to have me inside them because I was determined to follow through on a promise of respect? No, little cuckoo bird. I haven't.' He cupped her cheek, finally kissing her gently on the lips. 'It was a night of firsts for both of us.'

Smiling, Anna kissed him back, her arms wound around his neck as she lay back on the bed.

'I thought I was supposed to be sneaking out,' he murmured against her mouth.

'I'm sure Elli's bought us a little time,' Anna assured him.

Letting the sheet finally fall away, Mathias tucked himself between Anna's legs, his weight settling over her as their kiss deepened.

'Anna,' a stern voice came from outside the door. It was Rachel.

The pair became completely still, as if that would somehow help.

'Would you and your guest please come down to breakfast,' said Rachel. 'Your father would like to get this over and done with.'

Oh god.

Oh god.

Oh god.

OH GOD!

'Certainly, Professor Cohen,' returned Mathias, his voice even despite his amusement.

Rachel audibly sighed, then made her way back down the stairs.

Shoving Mathias off her, Anna ran around trying to gather his clothes, chucking them at him as he sat completely bare on her bed.

'Anna,' he said calmly, watching her from beneath the pile as she tried to pick out an outfit to throw on. 'You're twenty six years old...'

'It's not about my age. It's about the lack of respect. This is their house!'

'And this is your first time doing any such thing, isn't it?'

Anna didn't answer him, tugging out a simple dress to throw on before she found underwear.

'Your father told you to have some fun...'

'He meant drink a little too much and stay out late. Not this.'

'He didn't suspect it might lead to this?'

Anna shook her head, not looking at him as she rooted through her drawers. 'I don't do things like this. Why would he?' She was so frustrated. This was going to be so embarrassing! Why hadn't she just gone back to his place. Or better yet, just sent him home. Stupid, weak minded fool that she was, so ready to give in to her baser animal needs that...

'Anna,' said Mathias, Anna jolting as his arms wound around her. 'Calm down. You're muttering to yourself.'

Slumping against his hard chest, Anna let out a long sigh. 'I don't want to disappoint them.'

'I thought we'd discussed that parent's opinions don't wholly matter.'

'This is different.'

Spinning her to face him, Mathias placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed. 'It's going to be all right. I'm with you. And once they see how serious I am, I'm sure they'll care less.'

'How can you be so sure about us?' she blurted out, wishing she could take it back. She liked hearing it, an inordinate amount, but it hardly seemed realistic.

'How are you not?' he countered.

With a deep breath, Anna pushed him back. 'Let's go and face the music, shall we?'

For once, Mathias didn't push her, consenting only to get his clothes on. Though he did seem to take exception to her changing away from him in the bathroom.

Together, they walked down the stairs and into the kitchen.

Rachel and Josef were sat at the breakfast table, both opposing the door so Anna could see their faces the moment they walked in. Rachel looked disappointed. Josef was seething. He was utterly furious. This wasn't good. Her father never got angry. Elli was sat opposite them, watching them with a grimace. Her eyes darted to Anna as they walked in, and she mouthed 'it wasn't me.'

'For a young woman as smart as you, Anna, I'm wholly surprised at you,' sighed Rachel, her hand covering Josef's on the table.

'In what sense?' Anna asked, trying to keep the challenging tone at bay.

'His car is still outside,' Rachel replied.

Oh for fuck sake. That's what got them caught?

'Did you know that when you came up?' Anna asked Elli.

'Nope. Happy coincidence,' said Elli.

'You saw them together?' Rachel asked Elli, who now realised she was also in trouble. 'Is that why you took so long to come back down?'

'Oh for goodness sake,' said Anna, recapturing her mother's attention so she laid off Elli. 'She didn't see anything untoward. Mathias simply stayed over after the gala because we were enjoying talking and it was late. Just like Karl has done many times and you never had a problem with that even though he only lived next door!'

'You've had another man in your bed?' Mathias asked, his hand rested on her back as venom seeped into his tone.

'No, she has not,' assured Rachel. 'Karl always slept in the spare room, as well you know young lady.'

'Young lady! I'm twenty-six.'

'Whilst you live under our roof, you are to obey our rules,' continued Rachel. 'Saving up for an apartment is an admirable thing to do, but you made the choice to stay here until you could move out. So we demand respect.'

Anna's eyes darted to her father's. He was still too annoyed to say anything.

'Doctor and Professor Cohen,' said Mathias, stepping forward with his arm still around Anna. 'I'm aware what this looks like. But your daughter is a fully grown woman who, lets face it, isn't inclined to behave this way. Does that not perhaps hint that this is something special? Surely an allowance can be made.'

Ah. There was the business man in action; the smooth talking aficionado.

'You want allowances to be made?' said Josef, his chair scraping back as he stood to his feet. Where was this energy on the night of her first date? 'You expect that when you do not have the common decency to come down and apologise?'

Anna felt Mathias' hand clench behind her back. She glanced up at him, his jaw ticking as he pondered a response.

'We're sorry, Papa,' Anna cut in.

'I want to hear it, from him,' said Josef, pointing at Mathias.

'I apologise for not telling you I was here,' said Mathias.

Josef and Rachel seemed to relax a little.

'But I'm not going to apologise for spending time with your daughter, in her own room, which she invited me to.' Rachel went to speak but Mathias continued. 'Last night was a pinnacle moment for Anna and I am proud to say I shared it with her. Is it so terrible that neither of us wanted it to end? Anna simply wanted to live in that moment in a place where she felt most comfortable, and I would do anything to ensure her happiness.'

There was a stunned silence.

Mathias was brash, as always. He had defied her parents wishes. Slightly ridiculed them in their own home. But yet again, he had made it about her.

'Well said Captain Nemo,' piped Elli.

'Elli, go to the sitting room,' snapped Rachel with a sigh.

Grumbling, Elli did as she was told, Anna squeezing her hand as she passed.

'So, are you two officially courting now?' asked Rachel once she was certain Elli was out of the room.

'Yes,' said Anna quickly. That was the answer they were hoping for, and she was inclined to give it to them. Even if it wasn't necessarily true. Though, in response, Mathias pulled her closer.

'All right, look,' sighed Josef, that long huff seemingly returning him to the calm, jovial man he usually was. 'I understand what it's like when you first begin a relationship. How easy it is to give into infatuations, with all else be damned.' He looked at Anna, then Mathias, then back to Anna. 'But it will not happen under my roof again.'

'Agreed,' said Anna. When Mathias said nothing, she elbowed his ribs.

'Agreed,' said Mathias.

'Right,' said Josef, sitting back in his chair. 'Would you like to join us for breakfast, Mathias?'

'Certainly,' he said, guiding Anna to a chair before he took his own.

'You don't have to...' Anna began.

Mathias cut her off. 'This is what couples do, is it not?'

Anna couldn't deny that her heart beat much faster in response to his words.

'Elli, you can come back now,' called Rachel.

Padding back in, Elli grumbled as she slumped in her seat beside Anna. 'That was hardly worth making me leave.'

'You're too young to hear about such things,' said Rachel, now pouring the new commers a coffee each.

'Old enough to con a millionaire,' muttered Elli under her breath before she swigged her orange juice.

Anna chuckled at that, certain she was the only one that heard it.

'So, Anna,' began Rachel as she passed the basket of bread rolls around, 'how was the gala last night?'

'Incredible,' said Anna with a smile. 'I think we have lots of new sponsors for the museum and the expedition.'

'She was brilliant,' said Mathias. 'Her speech on Nefertiti had everyone enraptured.'

'Yes, we saw,' said Joseph, handing Anna the paper that sat beside him.

It was the Berlin Morgen Post, and the front page had photographs of Anna making her speech and Mathias making his, with his arm around her waist.

'Mathias!' Anna spluttered. 'The front page?'

'It was an important historical event,' shrugged Mathias before he sipped his coffee. 'I told you I'd have it properly documented.'

'You should frame it,' said Rachel. 'When else will you be front page news?'

'I thought it was common for famous weddings to turn up on the front page,' said Elli, Anna shooting her a look over the top of the newspaper. 'Nemo, would you consider yourself famous?'

'Elli!' hissed Anna.

'I'm well known. I wouldn't say famous,' answered Mathias. 'But a front page wedding is certainly an interesting idea.'

The telephone rang.

'I'll get it,' said Josef wearily, clearly regretful of the invitation they'd extended. He dragged himself out of the chair and made his way out to the hall.

Elli and Rachel fell into conversation about her homework, so Mathias took the opportunity to lean towards Anna. 'I think this is all going rather well,' he murmured.

'Glad you do,' mumbled Anna.

He grinned, his hand spread over the middle of her back. 'This will become a regular occurrence though, will it not? Seeing as we're now courting...'

'Don't worry about that. I said it to placate them.'

Raising an eyebrow, his hand smoothed up to squeeze the back of her neck. 'You're mine, little cuckoo bird. No escaping me now.'

Anna made to counter when her father poked his head around the door. 'Anna darling, it's Alby for you.'

Ducking out of Mathias' embrace, Anna dashed to the hallway.

She felt stupid. All week she had worried that he wouldn't want something long term with her. Now that he made it plain he did, she was avoiding it. And why? She truly had no idea. Romance was complicated. No wonder she had avoided it for so long.

Picking up the dangling receiver, Anna let out a long breath. 'Hello?'

'We're front page news Anna! Front page news!'

Giggling, Anna leant against the stairs. 'I thought that would make you happy.'

'Your boyfriend is a bloody marvel! This is the most attention the museum has had for years!'

'Yes,' managed Anna. Boyfriend. That was weird. Was he that?

'Did you see my interview?' He was so cute. Like an excited little puppy.

'I glanced over it. I'll read it properly after breakfast.'

'I wanted to extend my thanks to Herr Keller personally, but his number is restricted.'

'Would you like me to pass it along?' Anna asked.

'Are you seeing him soon?'

Blushing, Anna fiddled with the telephone wire. 'He's actually joined us for breakfast.'

'Marvellous! Oh please do.'

'I will.'

Alby cleared his throat. 'I thought it prudent to phone you as I didn't get a chance to talk to you before you left yesterday, but I'm not certain Gerhart is going to be happy about the article.'

'Oh? But it says so much about the dig...'

'When the reporters came to interview me, they pretty much neglected him,' said Alby. 'The article is very focused on you. Which personally, I think is splendid. But I doubt he does. Has quite the ego, does Gerhart.'

'Well, I'm having dinner with him on Tuesday, perhaps I can talk to him about it then?'

'Anna, it might be more serious than that. He mentioned reconsidering your invitation to the expedition.'

'What?' spluttered Anna. 'Alby, he can't do that, can he?'

Alby let out another long sigh. 'You know he can, Anna. It might be prudent to get that suitor of yours to apologise to him. For your own sake.'

For a moment Anna was too stunned to speak. This couldn't be happening, could it? 'Thanks for the head up Alby.'

'Take care Anna. I'll see you tomorrow.'

'See you.'

She put the phone down, her fingers digging into her temples.

Fuck.