Love Me Tender

Love Me Tender. (Part 3)

"Above all else - I was his.
And he was mine."

-Jessica Shirvington

Yaman got up from the bench, still holding Seher in his arms and started walking towards the car. Once he had gently settled her on the front seat and put on the safety belt for her, he came around to sit on the driver's seat next to her.

Once settled, he opened the glove compartment of the car's dashboard and took out a bottle of water and offered it to Seher.

Seher timidly took the bottle and opened it to drink but she spilled more than half the contents on herself and her hands were shaking. It seemed she was still in shock.

Yaman looked at her in anguish and gently taking the bottle from her hands, he said, "Here, darling. I will hold it for you. Drink now."

When Seher had finished, Yaman took out his pocket handkerchief and wiped her face very tenderly and whispered, "Don't think of anything, Seher. Just close your eyes and rest. Everything is behind us now. You are safe and protected. No one will dare to touch you, ever again. Till I am alive, I wouldn't let anyone come near you or hurt you. I promise, my darling!!"

Seher leaned her forehead against the window pane and closed her eyes, but sleep seemed to be miles away. She had been traumatized. She was still feeling shaken, despite being rescued. Oh,she felt so weak and feeble.

If Yaman had not made it on time, what would have happened to her?? She was about to be....raped! She felt a bone chilling fear,every time she thought of the nightmare she had just endured!! It was all her fault. It had been witless and unwise of her to take lift from a complete stranger and leave her home like this.

If anything had befallen her, Yusuf would have lost another parent figure in his life. Her dear baby would have been all alone.How could she have done this?? Leaving him to fend for himself!! It had been unforgivable. And Yaman....Oh Yaman! She wanted to weep ceaselessly, just thinking of him. She loved him so much!! The last few moments before he had showed up to save her, she had prayed and wished to see him one last time and hug him with all the love in her heart!! He was her life. She had loved none but him. He and Yusuf were her raison d'etre !!!

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Yaman pulled up the car near a small, homely looking cottage.Seher turned to look at him questioningly.

Noticing the unsaid queries in her eyes, he gently replied, "This is a friend's cottage, Seher. He was a business partner of mine. Since he is settled in London now, this cottage is unoccupied presently and he sometimes rents it out to paying guests. I brought you here because you needed rest.We shall spend the night here and leave for Istanbul tomorrow. Tamam? Now, let's get you inside."

Saying this, he got out of the car, came around to open her side of the door and very cautiously, lifted her up in his arms and closed the car door behind him. He murmured soothingly in her ears, "You will be alright darling! You are safe and have nothing to fear. Not even from me."

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The inside of the cottage was congenial and cosy, as if refurbished keeping a family in mind. There were low hanging lamps, ethnic wall hangings and paintings and furniture with pastel hues.

Yaman entered the cottage with Seher in his arms and once in, he locked the door from the inside. He knew she was scared and skittish and physical security meant everything to her at the moment.

He then took Seher to the master bedroom.

Yaman gently made her lie down on the bed. The moment she lay down, she flinched as if in extreme pain. Yaman looked at her in concern and instantly asked, "Are you hurt somewhere? Tell me, sweetheart! Where does it hurt??"