The Space Between!

The scent of fresh earth wafted through the air, as we reached his farmhouse. The farmhouse's creaky wooden floorboards groaned beneath our feet.

Everyone was exhausted from the long drive. So after dinner, everyone retreated to their rooms to rest. 

I was making my bed to go to sleep when Mustafa entered the room with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He stood there, looking at me. 

"What is it, Mustafa?" I asked annoyingly.

 "That's the question you need to be asked?" he replied, his voice low and husky.

"I'm going to bed," I said, getting into bed. 

He nodded teasingly.

"Are there any other rooms, Mustafa?" I asked with frustration. 

"I swear no," he said. 

"The bed is big; it's not a problem for me. But if you can't control yourself, then I'm all for it," he said with a mysterious smirk. 

I picked up the cushion from the bed and threw it at him. He chuckled and got into bed. 

"You'll only see this in your dreams," I said while lying down. 

"It's cold; you can lay close to me to keep warm," he continued. 

"Mustafa, sleep peacefully!" I said, closing my eyes.

In the morning, as I woke up, I slightly opened my eyes to find him sitting in front of me on the divan lying beside the bed, watching me as I slept. The morning light streaming through the window highlighted the sharp angles of his face.

"What are you doing?" I asked. 

"Nothing," he replied, his voice soft.

"Are you watching me like a pervert?" I said, getting up. 

He smiled and looked down. 

"Can't I watch my wife while she's sleeping?" he said, looking at me, his voice low and gentle. 

I rolled my eyes, "Ahh, not again..." I said, getting out of bed, the wooden floorboards creaked beneath my feet.

 As I walked past him, he held my hand, and I looked back at him. He gestured for me to sit beside him, and I sat. 

"Look at me," he said. 

I looked up at him. 

"I know you're hiding something from me," he continued, his eyes searching mine. 

I looked away, trying to hide it. 

"It's been days... I can see there's something in your eyes; I can read it, but I don't know what... but there's something," he added, his voice filled with concern.

"There's nothing," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper, and got up, and went straight to the bathroom, leaving him there on the divan.

At night, I was searching for him, eager to escape the farmhouse with him. When I spotted him, he was sitting in the terrace with his aunt, a soft shawl draped over his broad shoulders, the dim lights casting a warm glow on his features. 

The scent of blooming jasmine wafted through the air. I stood close to the entrance, my eyes locked on him. 

"Mustafa... You got some time?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, while slightly gesturing outside. 

"Yeah, sure! Come here," he said, his deep voice resonating through the air as he removed the shawl's edges beside him, inviting me to sit beside him in his arms.

"I don't want to..." I said while starting to sob silently, overwhelmed by hormonal fluctuations as he couldn't understand.

The sound of my own ragged breathing was the only sound I could hear, until he got up and walked toward me.

He strode through the other entrance, his footsteps quiet on the wooden floor, and then suddenly scooped me up in his arms effortlessly. 

I was stunned by his sudden grasp and then melted into his warm embrace. The warmth of his body enveloped me, and I felt my tension melt away as he pulled me close and started walking towards outside.

"Can you see the waterfall? Isn't it beautiful?" he whispered in my ear, as he stopped near the window.

"Yeah! I want to go there," I said, my voice filled with excitement. 

"Okay, sure," he said, his chest vibrating against mine as he spoke.

As he carried me outside, the cool night air enveloped us, carrying the scent of damp earth and leaves. 

I became conscious that everyone was looking at us, their faces a blur as they admired the intimate moment we shared. 

I dug my face into his neck, inhaling the familiar scent of his skin, and forgot everything around us. The world narrowed down to the two of us, suspended in this moment.

After a while, a mischievous glint sparked in my eyes, and I held the neckline of his shirt with my teeth, looking up at him with a playful smile. 

He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and asked while winking at me, "Are you hitting on your husband?" 

"Shouldn't I?" I said, raising an eyebrow, my voice barely above a whisper. 

"Oh! I'm all for it...," he said, his lips brushing against my cheek and down to my neck, sending shivers down my spine. 

I giggled and playfully jabbed at his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath his shirt. 

He smiled and kissed my forehead, the touch sending a flutter through my heart.

Meanwhile, we reached the embankment of the waterfall and sat down on the grass. He enveloped me between his arms, my head naturally finding its place on his shoulder, my upper back resting against his chest, as we looked at the waterfall, taking in the serene, peaceful environment. 

The sky above was a canvas of twinkling stars, and the sweet scent of blooming flowers wafted through the air, mingling with the earthy smell of damp soil.

Then he asked, ''Can I ask you something?'', his warm breath whispering against my ear. 

I nodded, feeling the gentle vibration of his chest as he spoke.

''What happened back there? You started sobbing out of nowhere,'' he continued, his deep voice filled with concern.

I sat straight, between his arms and turned to him. ''I've been feeling overwhelmed since evening because there's a lot of people back there,'' I replied.

''Why didn't you tell me about this?'' he asked while taking my hands in his, concern filling his voice. 

''I've been looking for a way out to spend some time with you alone, despite the fact that I've been pushing you away for days," I said and looked down.

''I'll always be there for you... even if you throw me out the door, I'll come to you through the window,'' he replied. 

''You're the only thing I want in this life. I don't want anything except us,'' he added, his lips brushing against my hair.

Midnight Cravings!

   At night, I was lying on my bed on one side, my one arm on my pillow across my face while the other arm was above my stomach; my legs were slightly angled. He came to bed and placed his head on my thighs; my knees were near his shoulder as he lay down.

 "Aren't you sleepy?" I asked. 

"Not really," he replied, his voice low and relaxed. He looked up at me, his eyes soft in the dim light. 

"What were you thinking about before I came over?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity. 

"Brownie with chocolate ice cream," I said.

 He chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "That sounds like a perfect midnight snack. Should I get it for you? Or maybe you should come with me too."

I was like, "No, I don't want to change," but he insisted, "Okay, but on one condition: I'm going in this nightgown, and I'm not getting out of the car", I said. 

He grinned mischievously. "Deal. But just so you know, I'm going to make sure everyone sees you in all your nightgown glory." 

I playfully rolled my eyes, but a small smile played on my lips. 

"Just get the car ready," I said, throwing a pillow at him. 

He laughed and quickly got out of bed, pulling me up with him.

As we both headed out into the night, the cool air hit me. The city lights felt like stars on earth, and the peace was undeniable. When we arrived at the ice cream shop, he got out and went inside, leaving me in the car. I watched as he chatted with the clerk, laughing and smiling. 

A few minutes later, he emerged with two servings, each with a giant brownie chunk and a scoop of chocolate ice cream on top. He got back in the car, handing me my serving. 

"Here it is," he said, grinning.

I took a bite, and the combination of warm brownie and cold ice cream was heavenly. I closed my eyes, savoring the taste. 

He watched me, smiling. 

"Good?" he asked, already knowing the answer. 

I nodded. "Mmm-hmm".

A Sanctuary!

He came to my workplace to meet me, carrying burgers for me in a paper bag. As he approached, I stepped forward to hug him over the shoulder. Sensing the distress on my face, he wrapped me in his arms, tightening his grip. 

Concern was evident on his face as he whispered, "What happened? Are you okay?" in a worried tone. 

I closed my eyes, feeling his tight embrace. My mind relaxed, my anxiety dissipated, and I found calm and peace. Time seemed to stand still as I held onto him for nearly 6 - 7 minutes. He kept his grip firm, allowing me to relax at my own pace. 

As I finally pulled back, he held me by the arms, looked at me with concerned eyes, and said, "Better now?" 

I blinked and nodded. 

He handed me the burgers and said, "Let's grab a spot and talk about it?" His voice was soft, his eyes still filled with concern. 

I nodded silently, feeling a sense of numbness wash over me. 

He kissed my forehead, took my hand in his, and guided me to the car. And the car stopped near the lake's winding track.

        We sat in comfortable silence for a moment on the weathered wooden bench near the serene lake, the gentle lapping of the water against the shore creating a soothing melody. 

"Want to talk about it?" he asked, his eyes showing concern as he turned to me, his voice low and gentle.

I took a deep breath, feeling the cool lake air fill my lungs, and said, "I don't want to work!" 

His eyes locked onto mine, filled with understanding and empathy. "What happened?" he asked, his voice soft and concerned, as he reached out and wrapped his fingers around mine.

I felt a surge of comfort from his touch, and the tension in my body began to ease. 

"I'm not happy here! This job is giving me stress. It's increasing my anxiety," I said, my  words laced with frustration.

 The sound of birds chirping in the distance seemed to fade into the background as I spoke.

He squeezed my hand reassuringly. 

"Tell me the reason, who's causing you problems, so I can make it better for you?" he asked, knowing well that I had joined this profession because I had dreamed of it since college.

I shook my head, feeling the softness of my hair brush against my shoulders. "No, not at all. Don't get involved in this. I just... I just want to quit this job. I'm fed up with it," I said, my voice cracking slightly.

"Okay, then quit. If it costs your peace, then quit," he said, his words a gentle breeze on a summer day. I looked up at him, meeting his gaze.

"Like I mean... certainly, you don't need to earn. I've got us. I've got you. There's no need for you to be unhappy," he added, his voice filled with conviction.

I felt a pang of uncertainty. "But then what? What do I do?" I asked, my eyes searching his face.

"Whatever you want. My cards are already with you. You already have my support. Enjoy your life," he replied, his smile warm and encouraging. 

I nodded slowly.

"Okay, but I need something to keep me busy. I can't stay at home," I said, my mind already racing with possibilities. 

"I'll find something, maybe another job or something of my own," I added.

"Okay, that's fine too. If it makes you happy, go for it," he said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. 

"Decide and tell me. Whatever you like, I'll arrange everything for you." As he spoke, he gently stroked my hand.

I felt a sense of gratitude and love for this man, who had always been my rock. I knew that with him by my side, I could face anything.

A Warm Embrace!

I was standing near the entrance door, with one foot on the leather-upholstered stool, buckling up my heels, when the entrance door unlocked. I looked up, and it was him. 

As I caught his glimpse, I moved my arms forward, and he slid his hands around my waist, the warmth of his palms seeping through my clothes, wrapping his arms around me and enveloping me in his warm embrace, familiar scent – a mix of fresh air and his cologne. 

As soon as I felt myself against his chest, the soft fabric of his shirt a gentle caress against my skin, I closed my eyes. His hands moved up and down on my waist, the gentle pressure soothing, relaxing me. 

I tightened my grip as I hugged him over his shoulders, as if trying to hide myself in his arms. His grip tightened more around my waist, and I could hear his heartbeat, strong and steady, – certainly, he could feel mine too.

And then, he picked me up in his arms, and my feet swung in the air. The soft fabric of his shirt brushed against my skin. A soft smile spread on my face as he twirled around with me in his arms. And then he stopped and I stepped down, still enveloped in his arms, placed my hands on his chest, looked up at him.

"I've missed you so much", he said. 

I looked down and then he held my hand in his hand, leading to the lounge, as i was walking behind him while holding his hand. He sat on the couch, opened his arms, I sat in his lap. He enveloped me in his warm embrace, my head rested on his shoulder, my forehead rested against his jawline. 

The One That Got Away!

 

         I was lying on the couch, with my legs in his lap as he sat beside me. His fingers were tracing patterns on my calf as we watched Netflix. 

"Want some fruit?" he asked.

I nodded, and he got up, went to the kitchen, and grabbed some fruit from the fridge. 

Instead of watching the show, my eyes fixed on him as he sliced the fruit facing me. My fingers, curved, covered my lips as my nails touched my lips; my cheeks blushed. Then, his eyes met mine, and a gentle smile played on his lips. I felt a flutter in my chest, and my cheeks grew warmer, the blush deepening. My fingers remained curved, covering my lips, as if trying to hold in the emotions swirling inside me. 

The sound of the knife slicing through the fruit was soothing, but my attention was fixed on him. He finished slicing the fruit and walked back to the couch, a plate in hand. 

Meanwhile, I placed my legs on the center table near the glass of water. 

"Here you go," he said. 

Instead of taking the plate, I moved my hand forward so he could hold mine. He looked confused, took my hand in his, and then I pulled him onto the couch to sit beside me. 

As he sat, I grabbed his collar and pulled him close. As I was bending my legs on the couch from the center table, the glass beside my legs slipped and fell, shattering on the floor but i didn't care. His gaze shifted instantly as he heard the noise of the glass cracking into pieces, but I placed my index finger under his chin, moved his face towards me.

He looked me in the eyes and placed the fruit plate beside him. His hands reached my waist, and then I stood on my knees on the couch and moved to his lap, still on my knees in his lap. His hands held my thighs, my wrist on his shoulder, and my hands around his neck. My gaze fixed on his lips, our lips inches apart, and then I burst into laughter and placed my forehead on his shoulder. 

He realized I was just messing around and said, "Ah, you got me." He placed his hand behind my back and hugged me tight, and we both started laughing.

A Peaceful Moment!

        

It was almost 3 in the morning when we reached home. I entered the house barefoot, shrugged off my coat, and placed it on the couch before heading straight to my room.

 He entered the house after parking the car, holding my heels in his hand, and placed them near the entrance door. 

I casually threw my phone onto the mattress and positioned the pillow near the footboard on his side of the bed. I lay on my stomach, parallel to the footboard.

He entered the room behind me, and a warm smile spread across his face as he caught sight of me. He kissed my head and sat on the bed across from me. 

We started talking, and I shared gossip I'd heard at the family gathering, while he filled me in on what was happening there. Our laughter and giggles filled the room, and we lost track of time.

"Can you guess how long we've been talking?" he asked. "Without looking at the time," he added. 

"I don't know. How long has it been?" I asked. 

"Two hours. It's been two hours," he said with a smile. 

"Seriously!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening in wonder, and my lips curling into a sweet smile as I blushed. 

He nodded and said, "These two hours could turn into three, four, or five. I can listen to you all day long."

"Sometimes I talk a lot, and then I realize I'm talking too much, so I try to refrain myself," I said. 

"Never do that in front of me. You can talk to me about anything, anywhere, anytime",he said.

"Even if I'm not around, I'm just a call away. I'll listen to you," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. 

"Okay," I replied, looking out the window.

The sky was starting to dawn, and the light was peeking through the windows. The cool breeze was blowing, the leaves were rustling in the wind, and the chirping of the birds filled the atmosphere. 

"It's so peaceful, isn't it?" I said. "You know, I love this peace," I added. 

"I know," he said, his voice calm and gentle.

"Okay, do one thing. Lie back and close your eyes," he said, kneeling on the ground near the bed. 

"While your eyes are closed, listen to the rustling of the wind through the leaves and the chirping of the birds, and then tell me how you feel", he added.

"Okay," I said with excitement, and he brought his cheek close to my temple.

"Breathe in," he whispered, his voice calm and gentle. 

"Breathe out." 

"Breathe in", his voice barely above the whisper.

"Breathe out." 

"Breathe in." 

"Breathe out." 

"I could fall asleep in this peace," I said, bursting into giggles and turning my face to the opposite direction.

"Despite the fact that I've been sleeping for hours on our way home," I added.

        A warm smile spread across his face, and he kissed my hair, and then placed his pillow parallel to mine and lay beside me, sliding his arm around my waist and pulling me close. My forehead rested against his cheek, and my hand was on his chest.

A Spark that Lasts!

As I came out of my room in the morning, the bell rang, and our house help, Atiya, opened the main gate. After a while, she entered the lounge with a large bouquet of red velvet roses. 

The air filled with the sweet fragrance of the roses, and a warm smile spread across my face. I knew it was from him. 

She handed me the bouquet, and I found a note inside that read, "A sweet reminder that I'll be at your door to pick you up at 7:30." 

I handed the bouquet back to her and asked her to arrange them in a vase.

In the evening, a notification popped up on my phone—a text from him announcing his arrival while I was standing infront of the mirror in my room.

I came out of the house, wearing a sleeveless, coffee-brown leather midi dress with a scoop neck and medium straps, paired with a flounce at the bottom. 

My chocolate-brown balayage hair was tied in a voluminous, textured updo, and I wore a brown coat over my shoulders, holding my phone in one hand.

As I came out of the house, a warm smile spread across his face, and he approached me quickly, extending his hand. I placed my hand in his. 

"You're looking breathtakingly gorgeous," he said and kissed my hand. 

I blushed instantly, and he opened the car door for me. We sat down, and the journey began.

As we reached our destination, he opened the car door for me again, offered his hand, and I placed mine in his. 

We entered the building, took the elevator, and stopped at the top floor. His energy was so masculine that I found myself drawn to him, and I let him take the lead throughout the evening.

As we reached our table, which was situated close to the railing on the rooftop under the stars, he pulled out the chair for me. We settled in. 

The atmosphere was filled with the aroma of food, and soft music played smoothly in the background as the table was set up with our meal. I was captivated by the city lights, taking in the peaceful view as the cool breeze blew gently. 

I noticed him looking at me from the corner of my eye, and when I turned to him, he was waiting for me to notice him, holding an open box that showcased a sparkling ring. 

I looked up at him with a question in my eyes, and he asked, "Will you marry me?"

"It's just our second meetup, Mustafa," I said, my eyes filled with wonder.

"I know," he replied. 

"And I know that I want the rest of my life to be with you, to be around you. I love you, and I want to marry you. Will you marry me?"

I nodded, my eyes filling with tears, and moved forward my hand  to him. He pulled out the ring from the box and put it on my ring finger, then kissed my hand. 

I brought my hand close to me, glanced at it for a moment, and a little smile spread across my face. 

And then, I gazed out at the city lights, my mind was still excited about the ring on my finger.