Ludwig growled and stood up, slamming his hand against the wall loudly. He turned to her quickly and sneered, watching the slightly stunned expression on her face.
Climbing on top of her, he settled between her legs, hiking the skirt of her dress up to her hips with his hands with one forceful shove.
"Shut up and get undressed already."
~
Ludwig kissed at her neck, hands sliding over the thin stockings Collette wore. He grit his teeth as he felt the feeling rising up in his chest again; heavy, suffocating, clawing at his chest.
He rut his hips against hers, trying, trying to ignore it as it rose up and squeezed at his throat, brought stinging tears to his eyes. He grunted, grinding and pressing but he came to a slow stop, breathing heavily against her neck.
"Ludwig..?" She called out breathlessly, feeling a dampness against her neck. "Ludwig, what's wrong?"
The German pushed himself up and paced around to the foot of the bed, gripping his hair with both hands. His chest heaved with shaky breaths and his shook his head, turning to get his wallet.
"Look, here, please.." He sat on the chair next to the bed, pulling out several bills and pressing them into her hands. "I-I'm sorry-"
"Ludwig-"
He looked up at her, fear shining in his eyes. "Take double!" He shelled out more money from his pockets. "Please just-"
"Ludwig, stop, stop." Collette placed all the money on the night table and took the German's shaking hands. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"I-I can't do this." He whispered, staring at her. "I can't do it anymore."
"Shh.." She kissed the back of his hand, she'd never had a customer like this. "What is it, what can't you do?"
Ludwig squeezed her hands and bit his lip. "Hanz, he's... They transferred me two months ago, all of a sudden, to work with him. I didn't know why, his work isn't my area of expertise." The German let himself cry. "He's a bleeder. He stamps out the impure. Sexual deviants." Ludwig looked down as he shook, sobbing softly.
Collette's expression softened and she immediately understood. She kissed his hands softly and stroked his hair. This is why Hanz always asked the women how the men were, how they "performed". To get information, facts.
"I won't tell him a thing. Your secret is safe with me." She whispered into Ludwig's ear.
He looked up at her and cupped her face in his hands, choking out a thank you. Ludwig sobbed freely now and fell to his knees in front of her, kissing her hands, resting his head in her lap.
Thank you.
~
Collette folded the money and placed it in her handbag, shrugging her sheer shawl back onto her shoulders. She turned around to see Ludwig with his hands in his pockets, leaning against the doorframe to the bedroom as dark circles under his eyes expressed his exhaustion.
She smiled a tiny smile and slowly approached him, stroking his cheek gently with her thumb as she cupped his neck.
He had calmed down by now and was relieved to have someone protecting him. He'd had enough of being forced, having to be with those women to hide from the prying eyes of The Bleeder. Enough betraying all that he was in order to make it out of here.
"I'm sorry." She whispered. "For everyone you had to go through before me. For every time you had to go against yourself. I'm sorry, Ludwig."
The German just looked at her, leaning into the warmth of her hand. His eyes fluttered closed as she kissed his cheek, gently pulling away and smiling before she left the room.
He stared at the door long after she had gone, wondering if she would come back and just sit for a while longer. Let him feel safe even if it wasn't forever.
Ludwig wished she would come back, wished he could take back what he'd done, wished he could rid himself of this guilt that had forced its way into his heart even though he was not at fault.
Ludwig wished that this wasn't the way it had to be.
~
Collette made her way down the stairs and back into the parlour, smiling softly at the bartender as he poured her a drink. She jumped slightly, startled when Hanz appeared beside her but put on a smile and looked him straight in the lying pits of his eyes.
"Ludwig. How was he for you?" Hanz asked with a smirk.
Collette raised her chin a little and tilted her head to the side, reaching up to her neck to twirl the necklace between her fingers.
"The man was a stallion."
~
To be continued...