Olicity is love, passion..forever

“Iyi geceler, Eda Yıldız,” he murmured, regret and guilt for not stopping her have been eating him alive. Two years since she left, two years of wishing he had a time machine so he could go back, hold her hand and hold her in his arms. Missing her and wanting her every minute for two years.

Looking at the stars and wishing he would’ve done things differently. Done whatever he had to do to keep the most important star of all.

He knew she loved him. He was no fool to misread her brown eyes but a fool to surrender and let his logic win. She was a risk and his heart wanted it but he felt like a coward. Or maybe he didn't stop her because what if he stopped her and she'd still abandon him? Like everyone else?

Staring at the photo from their fake engagement, he didn’t think he would have survived a rejection after opening his heart.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“Melek?” Serkan had rushed over after Melo had ended a call with him abruptly. It hadn’t sat right with him. For obvious reasons.

“Enişte…” Melo said in surprise to see him outside the office at this time.

“What happened? You said something about Eda and hung up? I canceled all my meetings & came. What happened?” Serkan asked.

“Your Eda is coming back,” Melo told him, her smile wide.

“Shh-..e-..WHAT?” Serkan couldn’t believe it. He smiled. FINALLY. The day he has been waiting for. He will get his ‘the one that got away’ back.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Serkan Bolat has been in contact with Melek and Ceren for the last two years.

For what? For Eda. He calls them, they meet up for lunch every week to discuss when she's coming and the best friends fill him in on what she's been up to.

He had grown close to the both of them in that time, feeling connected to Eda through her friends.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

When he arrived at her garden, there she was looking even more beautiful than he remembered. Her hair was pulled back with a few tendrils of her hair, falling around her face.

Deli Kız, he thought, smiled, looking at her beautiful self, talking to her plants.

The first time he saw her after two years and she left him breathless. He couldn't even utter a hi. He just stood there looking at her for ten minutes, gathering the courage to talk to her.

Eda looked up, feeling a prickling sensation, something telling her she wasn’t alone and couldn’t believe her eyes. “S..-Serkan?”

“Meraba.” Serkan greeted, not moving, afraid if he did, he would stumble at her feet like a nervous schoolboy.

A long pause, she stared at him and couldn't believe he was right in front of her. “How did you find me?”

“I have my sources,” Serkan answered.

“Why are you here?” Eda asked, standing, dusting dirt from her clothes.

“You wished maybe one day we would meet in one of your gardens. Here I am.” Serkan smiled, his eyes intensely on her. He took a step toward her, finally feeling like he could move closer without embarrassing himself.

darn! he remembered, her heart flipped.

She took a step away from him as he drew closer.

“Where are you going?” Serkan questioned.

“Uh..-I have a meeting.” Eda turns to leave.

She was running away from him. Her heart was beating like a freaking manic and she feared he might hear it.

The more distance she put between them, the better.

“No, you're coming with me,” Serkan informed her, quickly catching up with her.

“Serkan! Don't you have meetings?” Eda said in protest.

“Cancelled them all. PLEASE?” he insisted, falling into step with her.

“WHAT?”

Eda couldn’t believe it, the shock of it had her surrendering, allowing Serkan to take her by the arm and lead her toward his car. A car she was very familiar with and brought back memories.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Eda soon found herself in the passenger seat of Serkan’s car, the top-down just how she had always liked it.

“So, my Eda, where do you want to go?” Serkan inquired.

She stared at him in disbelief.

My Eda? With that smile on his face? Was she dreaming?

“Eda?” Serkan said, not sure if she heard him.

“What did you say before?” Eda asked.

“My Eda, where do you want to go?” Serkan repeated his earlier question.

“Uh...anywhere,” Eda answered, her mind elsewhere.

MY EDA? TWICE? Would you look at his confidence? She thought.

Twenty minutes later, Eda sat across from Serkan in a high-class cafe.

“You remember the time we had lunch in a similar place?” Eda asked. “You were asking me to not talk all the time but I agree I talked too much.”

“And now I wish you'd never stop talking to me,” said Serkan.

“Serkan?” Eda looked at him in concern. He was so different, it was unusual.

“Yeah?” Serkan asked.

“Are you alright?” Eda questioned.

“Why?” Serkan asked, not understanding why she would be asking him that.

“You seem different,” Eda answered, speaking her thoughts.

“I have changed,” Serkan told her.

Eda was unsure how to respond and said nothing.

“So, do you have a boyfriend?” Serkan asked, after a beat of silence.

“How is Selin?” Eda asked in return..

“Selin?” Serkan repeated. “I don't know.”

“Last time I left you were with her.” Eda reminded.

“I was not and I am not with her,” Serkan said, wanting to make that clear.

“Why?” Eda asked, frowning. Hadn’t that been the whole point of their arrangement in the past?

“Is there anyone in your life?” Serkan asked instead of answering, not wanting to talk about Selin. She was unimportant.

“You have no right to ask me that.” Eda declared, looking out at the ocean from the window view.

“I want to know who's against me, I mean who is my replacement.” Serkan insisted.

Eda looked back at him, away from the water. “Replacement? Serkan, we were never real.”

“But do you wish we were?” Serkan wondered. Did she think about how things could be different if they had been real?

“I was never your perfect woman,” Eda answered, forcing down the sadness of the truth she believed.

Her words hurt him like a slap to the face. “Are you trying to hurt me?”

It wasn’t humanly possible for any woman to be more perfect than her, let alone perfect for him.

“I am answering your question, Serkan. We're sitting here like nothing ever happened and being so friendly. Why?” Eda questioned. “The two months ended two years ago!...” Eda’s voice grew stronger with the anger coursing through her body. “We shouldn't be sitting here. You said, after two months we won't ever see each other again. Stand with your words, Serkan!”

“I know you're angry with me. I know I shouldn't have sto-”

“Stop.” Eda cut him off, the emotion in her voice closing off. “Please. Go home. Forget we ever met.”

She stood not giving Serkan a chance to say anything else and left, leaving Serkan behind.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Later Serkan got together with Engin, needing someone to talk to.

“What are your plans?” Engin asked as they played a round of pool.

“There are no plans. There is only one plan. Making her forgive me and then making her happy with me.” Serkan answered, taking a shot and sinking the ball in the pocket.

“It's gonna be hard. She's still mad at you.” Engin reminded him unnecessarily.

“Exactly. Mad at me because she still cares, and that was what I wanted to see. That's what Ceren said.” Serkan said. After seeing her anger he is more determined than ever.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Eda was out with her girls, needing something to take her mind off Serkan.

“What are your plans now?” Ceren asked her friend.

“Only one plan. Stay away from him at any cost. I won't fall for that pretty face again.” said Eda determined. She would not let him break her heart for a second time.

“Pretty face?” Ceren grinned. “Admit that you're happy to see him.”

“Yani sure. It was good. He's more handsome now. I almost lost myself.” Eda admitted. “So, fresh, young, and sweet.”

It would be hard to resist him but she was strong-willed she believed she could do it.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The next morning, it did not surprise Eda to see Serkan. She was sitting outside in a hotel garden she was working the landscaping on when she spotted him.

“Are you following me?” She accused.

“Coincidence,” Serkan answered, coming toward her.

“Who is feeding you my information? Melo?” Eda questioned, eyes narrowing suspiciously.

“Oh yeah, how's Melek?” Serkan asked, pretending not to have spoken to her recently.. “It's been a while since we talked.”

“Liar,” Eda said, sending him a flat glare.

“You know I love how we keep meeting. Must be fate,” said Serkan with a grin.

“Must be stalking,” Eda corrected.

“Allah Allah. Now you're hurting me.” Said Serkan.

“What do you want?” Eda asked, forcing a tired sigh.

“Work with me,” Serkan responded.

“Hell no,” Eda’s answer was immediate.

“Eda, please. I need you.” Serkan pleaded.

“I knew you were gonna do this. You always do this to make me stay closer,” said Eda in exasperation.

“I don't have a landscape architect. I need one immediately and you're my best option.” Serkan told her, hoping to persuade her.

“Nope. I can't,” said Eda, turning him down.

“So you're not willing to work with someone who always supported your work, appreciated it, and taught you?” Serkan questioned.

“What? Are you trying to emotionally blackmail me?” Eda asked in disbelief.

“Are you rejecting me?” Serkan asked in return.

“Serkan. Don't do this.” Eda protested. “We're not in contract anymore. We shouldn't do this.”

Serkan felt a wave of irritation. “Stop bringing up the contract.”

“Fine,” Eda replies.

“Let's try again,” said Serkan, surprising her.

“T-..ry what?” Eda stammered.

“Our relationship.” Serkan clarified.

“W-.hat.” Eda looked at him, taken aback. He couldn’t be serious.

“I mean, let's work together. Let's be civil to each other and mend this cold relationship between us? Be friends?” Serkan suggested.

“You're definitely not okay,” said Eda, certain of this. No one person could change so much.

Serkan gently picked the flower from her hair, surprising her further.

There was a fluttering in her stomach like butterflies that could not be trusted. .

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Later that night, Eda spent the night at home with her friends, telling them about her recent encounters with the ever frustrating Serkan Bolat.

“He is driving me crazy. He calls me MY EDA TWICE, says all the sweetest things, he's being so gentle, he has this beautiful, I mean, weird smile on his face all the time and he gently picks a FLOWER from MY hair. WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM? WHY ISN'T HE BEING SERKAN BOLAT?” Eda demanded. He was nothing like the man she remembered him to be and it was frustrating.

Melo listened as she ranted, letting her friend get it off her chest.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Later, Eda was in the kitchen with her friend Ceren.

“If I stay in a room with him for more than an hour, my heart will be screaming his name again and I don't want that,” said Eda, sitting on the counter as Ceren made tea.

“Serkan has been through a lot since you left. I know it's hard but help him this time, please. He has started to smile for the first time in two years. Please.” said Ceren, pleading with her friend. In the years that had passed, Serkan had become a good friend to her and Melo. He was a good man and she wanted her friend to give him a chance.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“I heard she's back.” Aydan Bolat said to her son when she saw him at home.

“She is,” Serkan confirmed. He didn’t need his mother to use Eda’s name to know who she meant. Her eyes said it all and he knew from her pinched expression that she wasn’t happy about it.

“You should stay aw-..”

“No, I won't.” Serkan cut her off abruptly. His mother had never liked Eda and preferred Selin but he no longer cared for her opinion where Eda was concerned. “I will not stay away from Eda. You have always disliked her, tried to keep me away from her. I listened to you the last time but I won't anymore. I don't care about your opinions about her, I care about mine now.”

Aydan stared at her son in disbelief but it was clear by the stony look in his eyes and the stubborn set of his jaw that he meant every word he said.

Aydan wasn’t sure what more she could say or do to convince him Eda wasn’t right for him. She hoped he didn’t come to regret his choices.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Eda and Serkan meet again in the park. Completely coincidental.

She tries to hide, but he still catches her like old times. With Sirius’s help, of course.

“I am surprised to see you here,” Eda said in greeting.

“We come here every week,” said Serkan, rubbing the top of Sirius’s head affectionately.

“Every week for two years?” Eda asked.

“Yes? Sirius misses you a lot and loves this place. I think it reminds him of you.” Serkan told her, a smile playing on his lips.

“Wow.” Eda knelt down to show Sirius some affection, much to the dog’s happiness.

“Sometimes we sit here for hours. I have actually fallen asleep on this bench many times,” said Serkan, sitting down on the bench, Sirius settling at his feet.

“You slept here?” Eda asked in surprise, taking the seat next to him on the bench. She tried to imagine it but couldn’t picture him, sleeping in a park even by accident. “Serkan...”

“Why are you surprised?” Serkan asked.

“Because it's not like you,” answered Eda. “And I thought you'd forget everything, me and my things,”

“I remember everything. I can't forget you ever.” Serkan swore, his voice quiet in his honesty.

Eda admitted to herself that this new Serkan she was getting to know had a way with words and knew just what to say. “Good night, Serkan. I'll see you tomorrow,”

“Tomorrow?” he couldn’t hide his surprise and Eda smiled. “See you,” he said and watched her go. He wanted to sit and talk to her, never stop talking to her like in Antalya where they talked into the night, but she was being distant and it was bothering him.

The next morning she arrived at Art Life as promised.

“You're here,” Serkan said, standing to greet her.

“I am.” she smiled.

“Thank you,” Serkan ducked his head, feeling his cheeks heat.

“Are you blushing?” Eda smiled wider.

“Maybe,” Serkan admitted.

“I came to work with you but I have four rules,” Eda informed him, she needed him to know she had conditions. It was the only way this would work.

“Should I make a contract?” Serkan asked, with a glint in his eyes.

“Serkan, I am serious.” Eda insisted. “#1 We will behave as professionally as we can.”

“Agreed,” said Serkan.

“#2 you will stop looking at me like that,” said Eda.

“Like what?” Asked Serkan.

“Like the way, you're looking at me now,” said Eda, her pulse thumping from the heat of his gaze.

“What way?” asked Serkan, the look only intensifying.

“The look that confuses me,” Eda answered.

“Are you scared to be confused?” asked Serkan, stepping closer to her, invading her space. “Don't be.”

“#3 When I ask you something, you will answer me honestly. Promise?” Said Eda, trying not to let his close proximity affect her.

“Promise.” Serkan agreed.

“#4 This is temporary. I will only stay until you find someone or I find someone for you. You will not stop me.” Eda told him firmly.

“When we find someone, where will you go?” Serkan questioned with a frown.

“I am only here for two months,” Eda told him.

His face fell and his heart sank. Time was ticking and she could clearly read his sadness.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

As they started to work she was shocked as he constantly tried to touch her softly.

Well, who could blame him? It's been two years.

Constantly making jokes, making her laugh, and flirting with her. Serkan Bolat? And? Flirting? Shivers were running down her spine.

“Come on. Let's have dinner.” Serkan suggested, after a long day of working side by side.

“I am not hungry,” Eda said, declining the offer.

“I ordered fries.” he insisted.

She stared at him with a beautiful smile on her. “You what?”

“I ordered fries for you?” Serkan replied.

“But you always stopped me from eating them?” Said Eda.

“Maybe I love them now?” replied Serkan with a charming smile.

More shock, more surprises. He plays his finest game.

Serkan led her up to his office and it had been completely transformed with a long table with lit candles and beautifully arranged flowers.

“Serkan?” Eda looked up at him.

“Efendim,” said Serkan.

“What is this?” Eda asked.

“Dinner?” Serkan answered uncertainly.

“Dim lighting, flowers, and candles?” Eda questioned. “Looks like a date.”

A beautifully romantic one.

“Do you want a date?” Serkan asked without missing a beat.

“N..-o I mean this is beautiful,” said Eda.

“This is nowhere near how we will go on a date. This is nothing. Consider it a welcome dinner.” said Serkan, pulling her chair out for her.

If this was nothing Eda didn’t think her resolve could survive against him.

The dinner goes amazing and Eda feels her heart pull her closer to Serkan despite all her reservations.

Over the next few days, they begin the search for a landscape architect and he rejected every candidate but he noticed how she possessively sat closer to him and was jealous of every girl. And well, his heart did flips. Logic, mind, and whatever was buried somewhere and his heart was living its best.

“You're jealous,” said Serkan when they were alone again. An amused smile pulled at his lips.

“What? No.” Eda denied. “Okay, first of all, stop being so direct and straightforward. What happened to never speaking up about your emotions? You're being weird.”

“And you're avoiding my statement.” Serkan pointed out.

“I AM NOT JEALOUS.” Eda denied vehemently.

“Bet? If I prove you're jealous. You will go to dinner with me “bet” Serkan challenged and moved behind her, his body almost pressing against hers. “You don't need to be jealous, Eda Yildiz. Nobody ever took your place and nobody ever can. Your hold is stronger than you think and the only hold I'd like to tightly hold me.” he whispered these words in her ear and walked away.

The shivers? Oh yeah.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“I need your password, Serkan,” said Eda, needing to log into his laptop.

They were at Art Life working on a project for a new client.

“Give it to me,” Serkan said, gesturing for her to pass his laptop to him.

“You don't trust me?” asked Eda.

“I do but it's..-personal?” said Serkan.

“Tell. Me. Now.” Eda said, looking him dead in the eye. Now needing to know what it was.

“July nine is the password,” Serkan answered, never able to deny her.

“July nine?” Eda repeated. “What happened on July nine?”

Why was it so significant?

Then she remembered. It's the date of when they met for the first time in the university.

She smiled. Oh Serkan Bolat, what are you up to? She thought. That date is his password? She felt confused but so special. He knows how to make a woman feel on top of the world. The little details were capturing her heart again, and he knew it.

And by the look in his eyes, the smile pulling at his lips, he loved it.

He was good. Too good.

“Where is Selin?” Eda asked, needing to remind herself there were reasons she was protecting her heart.

“Selin?” Serkan repeated. “I don't know.”

“Why aren't you guys together? Leyla said, she left as soon as I left.” Eda inquired.

“Yeah,” Serkan answered.

“Didn’t you go after her the day I left?” Eda prodded.

“No, I didn't. She was waiting in the restaurant. I was somewhere else,” he told her.

“Where?” Eda inquired.

“Outside the airport,” Serkan answered.

“You came after me?” Eda asked in complete surprise.

“I sat in the parking for hours until your plane landed in Italy,” Serkan confessed..

“Why?” asked Eda.

“Didn't have the courage to stop you, so I waited. Maybe you didn't leave. Maybe you'll come out of the airport.” Serkan continued.

“But I didn't. Why did you want me to stop?” asked Eda.

“How long will you pretend like you don't know?” Serkan asked her. He had done everything to make his feelings clear. She had to know and was now only choosing not to acknowledge it.

Eda didn’t answer. She couldn’t. It was better to pretend as if she hadn’t heard him.

The next day Serkan met with Melo and Ceren at Art Life.

“What's the progress?” Serkan asked.

Ceren and Melo wanted their friends to be happy and were more than willing to help Serkan win Eda’s heart.

“She's impressed but confused.” Answered Ceren. “So it's time to take a big step.”

“What should I do?” Serkan questioned.

“Kiss her,” Melo answered with a wide smile.

“Ask her out,” answered Ceren.

“KISS HER ON A HOT BALLOON,” Melo answered, her excitement growing.

“Melo? Calm down,” said Serkan, though her excitement was infectious.. “We have wasted enough years. This time, jump straight to marriage.”

“WHAT!” Ceren exclaimed.

“YES!” Melo exclaimed, jumping up and down in her excitement.

”Serkan, NO.” Ceren protested.

“Ceren, why?” Serkan asked, not understanding why she wasn’t on board. “I think it's a good idea. My intentions are pure, so why waste time on dating?” Serkan rationalized.

“Serkan, please, first confess your feelings, explain why you didn't stop her, ask her out on a date, take it slow and easy?” Ceren suggested, believing moving too fast would be a mistake on Serkan's behalf. “Alright. You'll scare her this way.”

“Fine. Thank you!” said Serkan. He appreciated input even if he didn’t agree with it but the last thing he wanted to do was scare Eda away.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Serkan had managed to convince Eda to come over to his home and was making her a meal. It was a little hard to focus, she was dressed in a little black dress that left him speechless when she first arrived.

“Eda, would you taste this?” Serkan asked. He was cooking a sauce, he held a spoon with the sauce on it out toward her.

Eda leaned over, taking a bite from the spoon he held. “It's delicious,”

And he eats the rest of the sauce from the spoon she ate with.

“Wh..-what are you doing?” Eda asked.

“Eating?” Serkan answered uncertainly.

“From the same spoon?” asked Eda. “You hate doing that.”

“I still do, but not with you.” answered Serkan. She was the exception. She would always be the exception.

Goosebumps? Yeah, she needed a doctor at this point.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Eda was with her friend, confiding in Melo. She was finding it harder and harder to keep up her walls of protection.

“There are days when he's always smiling for absolutely no reason. He even smiles at Erdem sometimes. Can you believe it? But then sometimes I would find him looking at me with sad, broken eyes like he has lost something. Like it's hurting him but he covers it up.” Said Eda, her heart pulling just thinking about Serkan.

“He did lose,” said Melo, the two friends at home, having a heart to heart.

“What did he lose?” Eda asked, sitting across from her.

“So much.” Melo answered but not saying more, she didn’t want to betray Serkan’s confidence.

“Melo, tell me,” Eda insisted. It was clear to her that Melo and Serkan had a close bond of friendship.

“It's not my story to tell but be easy on him, will you?” Melo requested of her oldest friend.

“Tell me something, has he been talking to you in these two years?” Eda wondered, wanting confirmation of her suspicion of their closeness.

“Every day. You know, I have been really alone. Ceren was here, but she was really busy with her cases,...” Melo began. “You were gone, but he was here for me. You know, Enişte went with me for my interview. He sat outside for more than two hours without complaining. When I didn't get the job, he actually shouted ‘you lost a gem’. He was there for aunt, for Ceren and we were there for him.”

Serkan had become one of Melo’s closest friends.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Serkan went to a business dinner. He was not expecting to see Eda out with another man. His stomach twisted with something dark and ugly.

Meeting Eda’s eyes across the room, and seeing the way her own eyes had narrowed when they landed on his business associate.

Serkan approached her when she was alone, excusing himself from his own companion.

“Who's that man?” Serkan asked

“Who's that girl?” Eda asked, the sight of the woman made her want to pull Serkan out of the woman’s reach.

“She is a journalist. We're doing an interview.” Serkan answered.

“With cocktails?” Eda questioned, doubtfully.

“Who's that man?” Serkan asked again, needing an answer.

“A client. I am designing his garden.” Eda answered.

“So, it's not a date?” Serkan asked.

“Are you jealous, Serkan?” Eda's eyes narrowed. “I thought the bet was about me? Maybe dinner will turn into a date who knows,”

There was a challenge in her eyes. One Serkan was ready to answer.

“You're playing a dangerous game, Eda Yıldız,” Serkan warned, seeing her smirk.

“I am not scared of burning,” Eda said, her eyes shining with a challenge for him to say something, do something, anything.

“But you will be after I put ice on the burns,” said Serkan, his voice filled with intent. Low and seductive and dark.

“Uh-...you will w-..what?” Eda replies, his words throwing her.

And he walked away, leaving her heart to beat against her ribs like a drum.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

As she started to dance with the client, he saw red. Gone was the sweet smiley understanding boy. He couldn’t stand to see the man touching her, even if it was just to dance. It was too much. Serkan Bolat got up, punched the man, and stormed out because he feared he would do worse.

Eda stared after him, shocked. Serkan had never been a violent man. She didn’t know it was possible to push him so far.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The next day Serkan came to see Eda. “I need to talk to you.”

“Talk? You have any idea what you did last night?” Eda demanded. “What was that behavior?”

“I apologize. I shouldn't have done that but-”

“BUT WHAT?” Eda cut him off, not wanting excuses. “I come back here after two years, you pull me into working with you, you're all sweet and good with me and now you're jealous?”

“With what right are you doing this? Pretending like nothing ever happened?” Eda continued. “Let me go, I can't stay in one place with a man who can't make someone stay because of his big ego,”

“If I didn't let you go, you wouldn't have lived your dream in Italy.” Serkan argued.

“So you did me a favor?” Eda asked, bristling.

“I admit that letting you go was the biggest mistake and yes I am jealous. I was jealous because he was looking at you the way…” Serkan trailed off.

“Complete your sentence.” Eda told him.

“The way I look at you.” Serkan finished.

Ceren's words ‘take it slow’ were ringing in his head, he uttered fuck it and kissed her, pulling her in close.

It was better than he remembered. Her lips were soft and the feel of her against him was like coming home.

A five-second pause as they broke the kiss, Serkan waited holding his breath for her reaction. Eda touch a hand to her lips, they were tingling.

Screw it, she thought and grabbed and kissed him just as passionately.

Serkan’s arm bounded around her waist as their lips moved in a dance only they knew, her soft curves pressing into his hard ones.

Eda’s arms came around his neck as he tangled his hand in her hair, surrendering to the passion inside of them.

Goosebumps? Fireworks!

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

And here came the disappearing part. Eda Yıldız completely disappeared for days which really scared him thinking what if he was wrong and she didn't have feelings for him but why did she kiss back? Confusion, sadness, and whatnot!

Eda was quiet when she was out with friends, Serkan let the loneliness take hold of him, seeping deep in his soul.

Neither could stop thinking about the other, about the way that kiss had felt right. Felt like their souls had finally come home.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

-

“Eda?” Serkan said into his phone, the distance between them becoming too much for him to bear. He had to do something.

“Serkan, meraba,” Eda greeted over the line, her voice contained, even though her heart ached just to hear him.

“Can you come over?” Serkan requested.

“Serkan I can't,” Eda told him. She couldn’t trust herself to be alone with him. Just hearing his voice was too much, feeling her chest tightened at just the sound of it.

“Please.” Serkan pleaded, his green eyes shining, a ball of emotion threatening to clog his throat. “I have to show you something.”

“I am only coming over because your voice sounds bad,” Eda told him. He sounded so broken. So lost. It worried her.

“I am waiting.” replied Serkan, ending the call.

Eda looked at her phone, feeling a sense of urgency in her heart.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Eda arrived at Serkan's home and he led her into his home.

“Serkan, What is this?” Eda asked, walking into a room. She was stunned to see it is filled with things related to her and their previous relationship.

“I call this ‘the Yıldız room’ . I kept everything about you in this room. The things you left in my house, your gifts, the cards of the restaurant we went to etc etc. In the last two years, I couldn't find peace anywhere but here. I slept here some nights…” Serkan stood in the doorway.

Eda continued to stare around in disbelief and awe. She couldn’t believe he had kept everything.

“Staying close to you, your things was good to me,” Serkan confessed..

“Why?” asked Eda, turning around to face him.

“Ceren said to take it slow and I already messed that up by kissing you. I don't want to scare you. I never showed this room to anyone but showed this to you to tell you that’s how important you're to me. Don't run from me please.” Serkan pleaded. Needing her to see how much he cared for her, how much he needed and loved her.

“Thank you, Serkan, for being open with me.” Eda wrapped her arms around him and Serkan welcomed the embrace.

And they sat down and talked about an hour or two about his work, her work, Italy, and all about the last two years. With his flirty comments and shy smiles, they communicated and Eda felt her heart opening up to Serkan and she welcomed it.

She no longer felt like she needed to protect her heart from him.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Art Life threw a party and Serkan Bolat threw a big surprise for Eda Yıldız. He might have taken a step back a while ago but he was ready to take two steps ahead now.

He shocked everyone when he got on stage with the live band and took control.

If the sun's upset and the sky goes cold then if the clouds get heavy and start to fall I really need somebody to call my own. I wanna be somebody to someone someone to you.

Eda stared on in wonder as he controlled the stage, pointing towards her as he played and sang the someone to you part on stage in front of everyone for her. His voice sang to her soul.

Never in a million years did she ever think he would play his music on stage for everyone to hear.

When he came off the stage he walked right for her. She was all he could see.

“I am surprised. Didn't you hate playing guitar and singing in front of people?” Eda wondered.

“It was for you.” Serkan answered. Everything he did was for her.

“You're surprising me more and more everyday,” said Eda. She was falling for him with every new moment.

“I can do anything for a smile on your face, Eda,” Serkan replies.

“Am I that important for you?” Eda questioned.

“The most.” he answered, he gripped her waist lightly. “Come with me. I have to tell you something.”

Serkan took her somewhere private so they could be alone.

“I didn't want to tell you like this. I had planned a big gesture but I can't take it anymore. I will definitely buy you millions of flowers after this. But remember this, you're not forced to answer me now. Take your time alright?” said Serkan.

“Okay,” said Eda, unsure what he was going to do next. This Serkan had become unpredictable. She never knew what he was planning.

“I..-..I AM MADLY IN LOVE WITH YOU.” Serkan confessed with all the love in his heart. “I have always been in love with you since the day I first saw you. I didn't stop you, I know. I was scared of rejection. I didn't have the courage. I considered myself not worthy of you. My childhood fears, traumas, and insecurities stopped me but they don't anymore.” said Serkan, pouring his heart out.

“You're the crown to my heart. I want to love you, I want you to love me, I want to kiss you, hold you, protect you, be a companion in your happiness and sorrows. Until death I want you to be the first person I see when I open my eyes every morning. You understand?” Serkan spoke, every word pulled from his chest.

Tears filled Eda’s eyes, her heart soaring with every word he spoke.

“I will walk away now because I want to give you the space to think but first please allow me to kiss you because otherwise, I will go fucking crazy. Please.” Serkan pleaded like he would die if he didn’t kiss her.

“Kiss me you idiot,” she said, wanting nothing more and so he did.

Eda cupped his face in her hands, her lips moving in sync with hers, pouring every emotion she was feeling into that one soulful kiss that she felt would consume her and she would gladly welcome it.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The next day Aptekin had come to Art Life to see his son and discuss things he heard. Serkan couldn’t say he was happy to see his father. He wasn’t.

“She's back.” said Aptekin.

“She has a name. It's Eda.” Serkan defended, his jaw clenching.

“You shouldn't be pulling her into your life again. You did two years ago, lost yourself, got distracted from work when work should be your life.” Aptekin lectured, making his disapproval clear.

“Work is my passion, not my life. You ignored your family and loved one's for work but I won't.” Serkan declared, jaw clenching in anger.

“I love her, baba.” Serkan told his father. “I will build a home, a family with her. I will keep her and my children on my top priorities unlike you.”

“You have changed.” Aptekin accused.

“Maybe this was my real self. My inner self which I have been suppressing for years. This is the real me.” Said Serkan.

Serkan refused to be the man that his father was.

And Eda heard everything, standing behind the conference door. The words Serkan spoke, blowing the door to her heart wide open.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Eda found a gift waiting for her with a note attached sitting in on her garden table.

“Günaydın Peri Kız. I know how much you love roses so I am sending a rose for my rose. Hey, light of my world, we are on borrowed time from the creator so allow me to make this little time magical for you. P.S: i know it's unbelievable but I wrote this note by my hand ;) love you!”

Serkan had written in the note.

The smile it brought to her face was soft, affectionate.

Oh, how she loved this man and could no longer deny it.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Eda sat on her couch with Melo, leaning into her friend a smile pulling at her lips.

“He sent me a rose with a handwritten note. He called me his rose. His rose. Serkan Bolat's rose. I can't believe all my dreams are coming true.” said Eda happily to Melo.

“What are you gonna do now?” Melo wondered, enjoying seeing her friend so happy.

“He loves me I love him, it's time for me to take a step this time,” said Eda, ready to accept love into her heart.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“Meraba,” Eda greeted, walking into Serkan’s office the next day with a smile that radiated warmth.

“Selam.” Serkan returned, standing to greet her.

“i loved the rose....-” Eda told him.

“And I love mine,” he replies gazing adoringly at her.

“Uh..-and the note as well. Thank you,” said Eda with a soft smile, pulling at her lips.

“Anything for you,” Serkan responded.

“Don't you owe me a meal?” Eda asked.

“I do?” Serkan questioned, his brow furrowing in confusion.

“We were both jealous, right?” asked Eda. “So...”

“You're admitting you were jealous?” Serkan asked a grin threatening to break forth.

“Why would I kiss you back if I wasn't?” asked Eda, a smile pulling at her lips.

“My house.” Serkan told her with a charming grin. “7pm.”

Eda smiled so full of happiness it took Serkan’s breath away. Breathtaking.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“You're so beautiful,” Serkan complimented when Eda arrived at his home. He led her inside where there was a table spread of food.

“I can't believe you made all of this for me with your own hands. Are you sure Seyfi didn't help?” Eda questioned, impressed.

“Seyfi is on vacation and I can do anything for you,” Serkan responded, taking a seat next to her on the couch.

“For example?” Eda inquired, turning her body toward him.

“I can make you breakfast for the rest of my life, I can buy you flowers…” Serkan told her, leaning in close, his warm breath fanning out against her neck.

“Even if I have no money. I can do things that you have never imagined for you...with you.” Serkan whispered, seductively.

“Serkan!” Eda exclaimed, desire coursing through her.

“Efendim?” replied Serkan.

“Now I am getting shy,” said Eda, her cheeks flushing with color.

“Allah Allah. Am I giving you butterflies, Eda Yıldız?” Serkan kisses her cheek, continues to her neck, and nuzzles softly. “Should I continue?”

“Ye..-n..-o.” Eda was flustered and couldn’t think straight.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“Why did you take down my hair?” Asked Eda, as she and Serkan held Eda beneath the stars in his arms.

“Because I love it when it’s free when I run my fingers through those silky shiny hairs when they fall on your shoulders when they fall on your face giving me the opportunity to tuck them behind your ear.” Said Serkan.

“I never imagined you a romantic,” Eda commented, breathing him in, his nose brushing hers.

“I am only romantic for one woman in this whole world and that's you,” replied Serkan, his lips skimming her cheek.

“Serkan, I am not the perfect woman, why do you love me so much?” Eda questioned.

“Perfect?” Serkan repeated. “You're magnificent. You're a wonder and my heart has decided to beat for you. I can't explain it.”

“I turned back on the airport....” Eda confessed, gazing into his eyes, the love there encouraging her to spill all the secrets she held back from him.

“I almost reached the door but then,... I madly loved you but I thought even if you loved me, I wasn't the one for you but now I am here.” she smiled up at him as the back of his knuckles trailed across the soft skin of her cheek. “I am never leaving you because being in your arms is my place only, sevgilim. I love you, always have, and always will.” Eda confessed as he stared back at her lovingly.

“S...-Serkan...-uh be-d...-ro..om.” Eda breathed, the look in his eyes had her wanting for more. For everything from him and wanting to give him every piece of her.

“Don't worry baby, we'll go there too. Let's move to the couch for now.” Serkan told her.

And Serkan Bolat got to live his fantasies and dreams as Eda Yildız got on top of him as he lay on the couch, their mouths fusing together in a heated kiss, hands worshipping, expressing their love.

The End.