There were several long, silent moments when I couldn't respond to Anna. Her words cut right through to my very soul, an awakening from the sexual afterglow I had been enjoying. She looked at me thoughtfully, as her words were digesting inside me.
"Sean," she whispered. The warmth in her eyes was unmistakable, and it took my breath away. I realized with that singular utterance that I never wanted to leave her. In just a short time I had found the one person who truly understood not only my writing, but my spirit, the source of that writing. I thought and thought for the right words to say, but finally I leaned towards her and kissed her softly, squeezing her tired body with as much caring and loving as I could. When finally she lifted her body away, she kissed my forehead.
"I know that this has happened very fast Sean," she said quietly, "but I can't deny what I feel, I can't deny the connection that we have." She took my hand, her fingers intertwining with mine. "For the time being we have to be discreet, at least until you graduate. I don't want to cause any problems in your life. On the contrary," she murmured as she caressed my cheek," I was to make your life wonderful, every single moment."
"Anna," I managed, pressing my hand on top of hers," You have given me more in this short time than I could have thought possible, or even written about. I will do everything you ask to keep things quiet until we are both free to be together openly. I wish that I could stay here, with you, from now on. I know that I will have to wait patiently for that." I kissed her softy, touching my head to hers.
'My dear Sean, let's worry about this in the morning."
Her body fell limp with exhaustion, fitting against mine so perfectly, that I didn't need to adjust myself. Before I could utter another word, she was breathing as if in slumber, and with my eyes slowly closing, I wasn't far behind.
Hours later, I awoke, needing to relieve myself, and I noticed that Anna's warm body wasn't there. I looked around the darkness of the room, and she was nowhere to be found. My first thoughts were of panic, but they were replaced by the feeling of my bursting bladder. I went to the first door I found and it was the master bath, which I felt relieved to find. I did my business, and went out of the bedroom to seek Anna. The floor creaked under my feet, and despite knowing we were the only two there, I tried to keep quiet. Even the stairs seemed to warn the cool air of my coming. My eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, and as I hit the floor downstairs, I felt aware that Anna was close.
Perhaps I was already developing a new sense for her, perhaps it was a lingering scent of her perfume. Which ever was true, I felt her before I saw her silhouette in the window, looking outside, toward the back of the house. The living room window was large, with a bench in the opening. She was sitting, with her legs pulled up, her chin resting on her knee. I couldn't see her eyes, but I knew somehow that she was awake, looking at the starts. I moved slowly towards her, not trying to keep quiet any longer, but not making the noise I was on the upstairs floor.
She didn't turn towards me as I came very close to her. As I approached the window, the moon light allowed me to see her face, delicately soft, her eyes open and staring into the distance. The rest of her body, some parts obscured, was still nude. When my hand came to rest on her shoulder, she didn't jump, instead she sighed; at least I didn't scare her on my approach.
"Anna, are you alright?" I asked quietly. I caressed her skin gently, trying to offer more than just emotional comfort.
"I'm just a little overwhelmed, Sean. I woke up a little while ago, and couldn't get back to sleep, even in your arms. I didn't want to disturb you by tossing and turning." I knelt next to her, kissing her shoulder.