You're Not The Only One.

Chapter 24

(Hande's POV)

I woke to the fantastic smell of freshly baked cookies and coffee with my stomach grumbling. As I pushed my hair back from my face and sat up against the pillows, I noted the sky outside the windows was black.The lights were on in the room, but dim enough that I had to carefully scan the large bedroom for Kerem. His eyes were on me from where he stood in the sitting area, obviously having just laid out food for both of us on the coffee table. He looked at me as if he was framing the scene with me on the bed with the intention of pulling out his Leica to shoot it. I began to move off the sheets to go to him, but my name on his lips held me captive where I was. A flush of heat spread slowly, and then faster, across my skin as he drank me in from across the room, until I was the one saying his name in a voice made slightly hoarse both by sleep and by the way I'd been calling out his name earlier.

"I love seeing you in my bed."

"I love being in it."

Moments later, Kerem stood in front of me and pulled me up to my knees, and the covers completely slid away from my naked body as I wound my arms around his neck to press my mouth against his with a passion that never seemed to abate, but only grew hotter, bigger, deeper, with every kiss.

In the back of my mind, I noted how easy it was - and how easy it had always been - to allow myself to be innately sensual with Kerem. For so long I'd worked to suppress that side of myself, to make sure no man ever "took advantage" of my need to be touched, kissed, held and made me dependant on him. But I'd always felt safe with Kerem, despite the dangerous hunger that was so often in his eyes when he looked at me. Was it because I felt the hunger, too, that the danger seemed not only okay...but was, in fact, a shockingly lovely bonus? With the problems that came along with the secrecy of our relationship, out of our way, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest. But the nagging feeling of every other problem that would rise as a consequence of my impulsive act, brought me out of the haze.
Kerem brought over the shirt he'd been wearing the night before. I slipped my arms through the long sleeves, but I didn't button it, simply rolled up the sleeves and wrapped the fabric around myself,taking in his scent, as we went to sit on the couch together.

I didn't reach for food and neither did Kerem. Instead, he took my hands in his just as I was reaching for him.

"Hungry?" he asked me, his deep voice at once soothing and arousing.

I was but I also knew that I wouldn't be able to eat a thing until we talked.It was normal that every couple in the world would need food and sleep after the night we have had. But when it came to us or the love we shared, and to the potential damage fame could do to our relationship, "normal" came to a crashing halt.

And yet, Kerem made me want to believe. Not just in love - I already knew that was real, knew that what I felt for him couldn't possibly be merely the result of close proximity and great sex - but that our love could withstand not only the pressures of life, but of our fame, too.

"How bad is it?"

" 15 missed calls from Gunfer last night but I had a word with her today...while you were sleeping.We will get things back in control. Merak etme Handemiyy." Worry lines framed his beautiful face as he tried to figure out our next step.

For so long, I'd thought being strong meant not letting myself be vulnerable. But all this time had I been wrong ? Instead of being a weakness, was risking everything to love actually the strongest, bravest thing I'd ever do?
I looked down at our hands entwined together, and knew that Kerem already held so much more of me than I thought I'd ever be able to give him. He'd become the center of my world.

And I wanted to give him even more.

" Do you regret last night?That I told-I told them about us?"