Tightrope

Chapter 4

Can and Sanem's relationship continues to develop...

Previously:

He couldn't help it; he came inside of her, his body shuddering in her arms. He collapsed on top of her, his face in her neck. He lifted his head to look at her, and he was crying, too. Gentle hands wiped each other's tears away, and Can leaned down to kiss Sanem's eyes and her forehead, then her lips. "I love you so much, Sanem," he said.

"I love you, Can. Happy Birthday."

***

Istanbul, March 2007

"Goodnight, Sanem," Can said, holding both of her hands in his. It was just about midnight--time for her curfew--and they were standing in front of her door.

"Goodnight," she said, but she didn't make a move to let go of him. She laughed at herself. "I don't want to leave you, Can," she said, and she stepped in closer to rest her cheek against his chest and hug him.

He hugged her back and rubbed his face against her hair, closing his eyes and inhaling her. "I don't want to leave you, either, Sanem," he said, his hands coming up to hold her head as he kissed her forehead. He looked into her eyes and he smiled the kind of smile that made his eyes crinkle adorably. "I don't want you to get into trouble," he said. Then he leaned down to whisper in her ear, "If you get in trouble, it will be harder for us to do this again, and I don't want that to happen."

Her cheeks grew warm and she smiled shyly, avoiding eye contact. "Caaan!" she exclaimed, slapping at his chest. "Serseri!"

He laughed and pulled her back into his arms. He kissed her head and said, "You know you want to do it again, too."

She hid her face in his chest and nodded. "I do," she said, her voice muffled by his shirt. She looked up at him. "Again and again and again."

Can's heart was beating out of control. "Ah, Sanem. You're going to kill me." He kissed her lips quickly and turned her toward the door. "Get inside," he said, his hands still on her shoulders. "I'll see you in the morning. I love you."

She turned her head to look at him. "I love you, too, Can." She reached up and kissed his cheek and then turned to unlock the door. "Goodnight," she said, ducking into the house and waving at him.

Once she was inside, he walked to his house, smiling the whole way.

***

The house was dark when Sanem entered, and Leyla and her dad were both asleep. She tiptoed to her room and closed the door quietly, She flopped onto her bed with a giddy smile, gathering her albatross, Güneş, in her arms and hugging him tight to her chest.

"Güneş!" she squealed quietly. "Can you believe it?" she asked, holding her bird up to look into his face. She whispered dramatically, "We did it." Her eyes went to her door to make sure it was still securely closed, then she added, "And it was sooooo amazing!"

She rolled onto her stomach and bent her knees and kicked her feet up in the air behind her. "I mean, I was a little scared at first. I didn't know what to expect! But he was so adorable, and so gentle. I love him so much, Güneş," she sighed, a slow smile forming on her lips. "He makes me feel like my heart is so light that I will float up into the sky like a balloon," she sighed. "And I know he loves me too. When I'm with him, I feel like nothing bad can happen. Do you understand what I mean?" she asked, tilting her head to wait for Güneş to answer.

She nodded the albatross' head with her hands and she smiled at him.

"I knew you would," she said with a little laugh, and she rolled onto her side and hugged him again. She fell asleep in her dress with Can on her mind and in her heart.