AUTHOR'S NOTE: And here goes, the second instalment of my Noir trilogy, the prequel to "Helpless". So, if you find yourself here without having read "Helpless", I'd recommend going back and checking it out, just to help with flow.

The third instalment, "Desperate", isn't too far away once this is finished, just as a heads up.

Comments and thoughts are always welcome.

Enjoy...

TEMPTATION

Chapter ONE

Sami's breath hitched in her throat as the man walked out from the club, his eyes on her immediately and it felt as though that dark gaze burned her skin wherever they looked. He walked up to her counter at the cloak room of the Club Marlowe and she had to tilt her head right back to keep looking him in the eye because he was so tall. He wordlessly handed her his ticket stub to redeem his coat and Sami silently took it, disappearing briefly to return with his coat. She went to hand it to him.

"That isn't my coat," he informed her, his rich British accent coming out smooth and velvety and never failing to make her toes curl in her shoes.

It didn't matter what he said it always felt like a caress somehow and Sami trembled lightly under its warm touch.

"Yes it is sir," she said, her voice catching ever so slightly.

"No it isn't," he returned calmly, "Perhaps I should come back there and look for myself."

It was their game, their ritual.

Every night Sami would work at the club for the last two weeks the man would come, spend some time in the club and then return and request his coat. Sami would fetch it he would say it wasn't his and then he would ask to come into the cloak room to look for it. Sami turned around and walked back into the cloak room, away from prying eyes. She was unbearably conscious of the man trailing behind her, her pulse racing now. She opened her mouth to continue their game, about to tell him that he wasn't allowed back here and he had to leave but before she could there was the feel of his hand on her arm. His hand tightened on her arm and spun Sami around, pulling her into his arms and kissing her hungrily.

Sami gasped at this new found desperation in him. Usually he kissed her tenderly in the beginning, nipping and tasting her gently before asking for more but this time there was no gentle question, just fervent demand and she had no choice but to yield to it. One of his hands came up and encircled her long neck, a thumb moving to the erratically beating pulse at the dip in her collar bone, stroking it. She liked how he touched her when they kissed, large hands cupping her face, long fingers stroking her cheek, her neck, anywhere he could feel her skin beneath his hand.

"EJ," she breathed his name when he allowed her to speak at last, releasing her lips but only so he could press heated kisses down her neck and along her exposed collar bone.

"Say it again," he encouraged her with a groan which caused a small vibration to pass from his mouth to her and made her shudder, "Say my name Samantha."

"EJ," she sighed, melting into his embrace, one of her hands going to his dark head of hair and losing itself in the mane of hair she found there.

It was madness, sheer lunacy and yet Sami couldn't stop herself from giving over to it utterly every single time. Every single time she promised herself it would be the last time but even before he had left she knew she'd be breaking that promise at the first look from him. His hand left her face and snaked around her waist, pulling her tightly against him and not giving her the option to refuse him but the way Sami melted against his hard body told him that she was not inclined to anyway. EJ raised his head, dragging his lips reluctantly from her body to look down at her.

"This isn't enough," he told her hoarsely, his dark eyes almost fierce in their intensity, "I need more."

Sami shuddered at his needy words, never having had a man be so forward with her before. A little voice in the back of her head wondered how many other women he'd said those exact same words to. After their first encounter she'd asked around about him and knew his reputation. The kindest description she'd heard was that he was a ladies man but she'd heard a lot of others use words like cad, skirt chaser, Lothario and from there it only got worse. A man who had married a rich woman and had done little else since other than spend his wife's money. It wasn't exactly something to be proud of and a world away from her Lucas who worked so hard for every dime that came his way and had so very little to show for it.

Even if they weren't both married to other people EJ DiMera would be a terrible man to become involved with. He seemed to have no direction, no moral fibre and would think nothing of breaking her heart and moving on to the next poor unfortunate woman who caught his eye. All her life Sami had done the right thing, the thing that was expected of her and she had no regrets about that and right now she needed that intestinal fortitude to send this n'er do well on his way so she could get back to her nice, normal and safe life. She just wasn't the kind of woman who was up for this carry on and it was time she told him that in no uncertain terms.

"Meet me at The Drake Hotel tomorrow, midday," his voice sounded almost raw and aching now.

Sami drew in a breath, knowing this was her moment to end this insanity between them. She opened her mouth to send him on his way as he held her gaze intently, not letting her look away from him. All she had to do was say no to this and Sami was sure that he would give up on her and move on to easier marks and that was what she wanted right - him out of her life before things went any further. Sami drew herself up, telling herself she had to do this, had to tell him no and then no one would ever have to know about her little indiscretion. After all, they'd only really shared a few kisses, as if she was going to risk her whole future with Lucas on a few stolen kisses.

"Yes."

EJ's eyes flared triumphantly at hearing the single word and pulled her into a kiss that made Sami's head spin even as she despaired at what she'd just done.

oooOOOOooo

EJ sat at the bar of The Drake Hotel and blew out a stream of smoke from his nostrils after having inhaled deeply on his cigarette. He noticed his right leg was jiggling ever so slightly, an old habit from his younger days when he was nervous that he'd worked hard to rid himself of. EJ didn't like people knowing where he was at - that was what made him such a good poker player - he was hard to read and he liked it like that. Most times it kept him ahead of the game and that was a handy thing for some of his extracurricular pursuits, particularly the ones he didn't want his wife to find out about. EJ moved in his seat so that his wayward leg was under control.

It annoyed him that he'd regressed all of a sudden and blamed the woman he was waiting for. She'd knocked him for a six and that had never happened before with him. Normally he would have a couple of women on the go at the same time, keeping his options open as it were because he did have a rather unfortunate habit of becoming bored quite quickly and that was the thing that had thrown him off with Samantha. After that first explosive meeting between them he had rather expected to bed her soon after but instead he'd found himself in this delicate little dance with her. The anticipation of their next meeting, coaxing a little more from her each time when they were together and then only to find it was over painfully quickly and he was left to yearn for their next furtive rendezvous.

This was not his usual style. Normally if a woman didn't come to the party quick smartish then there were plenty of other women who were lining up for even a smile from him. So why hadn't he just moved on when it became abundantly clear that this woman wasn't going to be some easy roll in the hay that they'd both have a little fun with and then move on? EJ had been trying to convince himself it was the thrill of the chase seeing as he normally had women throwing themselves at him and to have to work for it a little more was a novel and stimulating change of pace. But there was this little fission of fear that it wasn't that at all but EJ didn't want to think beyond that.

Yesterday when he'd gone into the cloak room with her he couldn't contain his frustration any longer and when he'd told her he needed more they hadn't just been some carefully calculated words designed to turn her head. The demand had been out of his mouth before he'd even known he was going to say it, wrung from the depths of his growing frustration at wanting more from her. He kept asking himself why some other woman couldn't slake the sudden thirst he had but found no answer. Samantha was the only one that could end this torment, none other would do, no other woman held his interest. EJ pressed a hand to his chest and felt the nervous tattoo it had started beating out at just the thought of their last encounter. In his more fanciful moments he imagined it was beating out her name.

Samantha. Samantha. Samantha.

EJ shook his head and wondered when he'd gotten this sappy. His common sense told him now would be a good time to get out. This woman was a wild card and he was having trouble controlling himself around her and that was not a good thing for sure. EJ was proud of the fact that he always used his head in any given situation, that he could keep his wits about him no matter what. It was a necessary tool to have if you were going to be a good liar and EJ was certainly that, his choices in life giving him a lot of practice in that area, not least of which a very jealous and suspicious wife.

He glanced down at his watch, a watch Nicole had given to him for a birthday present. It was expensive and for once not too obvious which was unusual for his wife who worked under the basic mantra of if you've got it, flaunt it. Sometimes he found her tastes a bit gaudy but mostly kept his opinions to himself - it did no one any good to annoy the goose that laid the golden egg after all. That was why he'd been pleasantly surprised at her choice of watch with its understated elegance. What he hadn't been pleased about though was her inscription on the back - To My Darling Junior With Love Your Nicole. EJ hated it with a passion when she called him Junior - it made him feel small and second rate somehow - as though he was coming behind in the shadow of a greater man. Nicole said she found it endearing and insisted on using it but EJ rather thought it was more about reminding him who was boss in their relationship and it made him hate it even more.

His watch informed him that Sami was now eight minutes late and his leg began to jiggle again without EJ even noticing it this time. When was the last time he'd been this anxious about seeing a woman - had he ever been? He'd held his breath when he'd asked her to meet him here yesterday and it had seemed to take her forever to answer him. He'd felt as though she'd had his life in her hands in those moments and it was exhilarating and daunting and confusing all rolled up into one. He didn't know where he was with her. Normally EJ set the rules in these little trysts and made it clear it was his way or the highway so that the woman knew exactly what she was getting into and there could be no messy complications at the inevitable conclusion. But with Samantha it felt completely the opposite, as though she had some otherworldly power over him all of a sudden. Of course it was ridiculous to even think that the little cloak room mouse with those impossibly blue eyes and the softest skin he'd ever had under his hands could hold any such sway over him. He was a sophisticated man of the world and she was no match for that sophistication.

But if that was the case then why was he sitting there, beginning to sweat like a nervous school boy at his first formal dance as he waited on her arrival?

EJ didn't want to answer that, instead berating himself for leaving this meeting up to so much chance. He should have collected her himself and bought her here directly and then he wouldn't be suffering through this painful uncertainty of whether Sami was actually going to show up or not. It was stupid of him to leave such a thing to chance but it had been part of his ongoing campaign to try and convince himself that this was like any other of his dalliances and that he didn't really care but all it had revealed was how deeply that care really did run. He threw back the last bit of his whiskey and didn't even notice the sharpness of the liquor in his sudden need to find out what had happened to Sami. He stood up abruptly, not overly sure what his next move was going to be but needing to do something. As he stood that was when he saw her, standing in the doorway, looking like a lamb to the slaughter as she stood there uncertainly.

oooOOOOooo

"I thought you might have changed your mind," said EJ, opening the door to the suite he'd booked for them and indicating she should walk through.

"About a thousand times," said Sami softly but then couldn't think of anything else to say as she took in the opulence of the room around her.

She'd never been anywhere near this kind of luxury before and felt hopelessly underdressed to be in such a fancy hotel. Sami had stood outside the hotel for fifteen minutes trying to work up the courage to go in and telling herself over and over again that she should just leave but somehow her feet just wouldn't move - either way. When she'd finally managed to get herself moving she'd become even more uncertain as she'd been treated to an inside look of The Drake Hotel. If EJ hadn't seen her when she had and hurried over to her with a giant smile on his face Sami was pretty sure that she would have just turned on her heel and run without a backward glance.

"This is just like that apartment in 'Laura'," said Sami, looking around herself wide eyed, "Did ya see that film. That Gene Tierney was somethin' else in it - she's so beautiful."

"I prefer blondes myself," said EJ with a little wink at her and Sami flushed, wondering if that was true, "But yes, I saw that film and quite enjoyed it. All those people obsessed with the one woman… interesting."

"Yeah but she was some woman," said Sami, thinking back to the film and remembering how she'd envied the woman's calm and cool sophistication and couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have everyone so intrigued.

She watched as EJ poured them both a drink of some brown liquor in some very expensive crystal glasses.

"Lucas and I don't get out much," said Sami, feeling the need to make conversation now, nerves making her chatty, "We can't really afford to go the movies all that often but I've got this friend Veronica who works as an usher at The Renown - you know, that big theatre on Main Street? Well, anyways, she sneaks me in sometimes to see the latest shows… I don't tell Lucas, he wouldn't approve."

Sami stopped then, wondering why she'd volunteered such information especially as it was unlikely that he'd be the least bit interested.

"I'll have to take you the proper theatre on day soon," he told her, walking over and taking her purse from her that she was still clutching to her like some kind of shield and throwing it carelessly over onto a chair and handing her the glass of alcohol he'd poured for her, "There is a rather excellent adaptation of "Pygmalion" that I've been meaning to catch."

Sami's eyes widened at that and he gave a little laugh to see her expression.

"What is it sweetheart?" he asked her with a smile.

"Nothin'," she shrugged, suddenly feeling embarrassed, "I just never met anyone who'd been to the theatre before - you know, with people talking on stage and everything."

"Well in that case we'll have to make it a definite plan," said EJ indulgently, marvelling at how little she'd experienced of the world and suddenly finding himself wanting to be the one to show it to her.

Sami made another face at that, thinking it was highly unlikely that they would ever be going anywhere in public and just assumed he was just saying that to be nice. She absently took a sip of her drink and then pulled an even funnier face at the sharp bite of the scotch, beginning to cough. EJ quickly took the glass from her hand and put a concerned hand on her back, even as he gave her an amused look.

"Sorry," she managed eventually, feeling like a complete fool now, "I'm not much of a drinker."

"So I see," he said gently, his eyes warm and teasing, "I'm sorry too, my wife throws these back like it's iced tea - I forget that not everyone has a tendency to drink like a fish."

"She's pretty classy your wife huh?" asked Sami, suddenly feeling hopelessly out of her depth, "I heard she was real rich."

EJ had taken her drink back to the little bar and returned with a glass of water instead for her and handed it to her and Sami took a grateful sip, her throat still feeling like it was on fire from the first drink he'd given her.

"Money doesn't buy class," said EJ quietly, looking down at his glass and swirling the scotch in their thoughtfully, "Trust me."

He downed his drink in a quick swig then, his tongue running over his teeth as he pondered his own words. EJ looked up at her then and gave her a charming smile.

"Let's make a pact," he told her.

Sami frowned a little, not completely certain as to what that word meant and needing to make sure.

"You mean like a deal?" she asked him hesitantly.

"Exactly," nodded EJ, his smile widening, "When we're together we don't talk about your husband or my wife."

EJ reached down and picked up her free hand then and stepped closer, putting her fingers to his lips and running them back and forth lightly.

"There is only the two of us now," he told her, his voice low and his warm breath tickling the tips of her fingers as he spoke, "No one else exists… nothing else matters… alright?"

Sami knew he must be able to feel how she was shaking under his hand at his light caress and couldn't get her voice to work so she just nodded mutely. EJ smiled warmly, the corners of his eyes crinkling when he did, giving him a decidedly boyish look.

"I'm all smoky from the bar," he told her huskily, still holding her fingers to his lips as he held her gaze intently, "I'm just going to clean up a little. Sit down, make yourself comfortable, I won't be long sweetheart."

With a final kiss to the back of her hand EJ smiled down at her and turned around, heading off to what Sami assumed was the adjoining bathroom. She looked around herself at the large room, suddenly feeling very tiny and insignificant in the room without EJ there. Sami tried to do as he said and sat down on a nearby chair, the kind of chair she'd only ever seen in antique shops and knew it was probably worth more than her years wages. She perched herself awkwardly on the end of the seat, not daring to lean back in it properly. Sitting there Sami felt so completely out of her depths that she began to shake. This was not her world, she had no right to be here and she certainly didn't have any right to be here with EJ. Even if they weren't married to other people EJ was not someone that she would ever have had the chance to even meet in normal circumstances. Everything felt so surreal and unsettling and Sami suddenly was wondering what the hell she'd been thinking to imagine she could ever do something like this.

EJ meanwhile was in the bathroom, oblivious to his companions inner turmoil. He shrugged out of his double breasted coat and hung it carefully on the rack provided - he hated creases in his suits, it was a little foible of his. Next he got rid of his tie, followed by his shoes and socks and undid the top couple of buttons of his shirt before quickly splashing some water in his face. The whole time his stomach was doing nervous flip flops at the thought of the woman waiting for him outside that door. It was like he'd been drowning for so long now without even realising it and suddenly Samantha had come along and breathed fresh life into him. EJ had never felt more alive and suddenly he couldn't bear to be even this far away from her any longer.

He quickly dried his face and headed out of the bathroom, eager to be with her only to find the room empty. EJ looked around in consternation and took a split second to realise the door was slightly ajar and that Sami's purse was gone. She'd left and EJ was rocked at how gutted he was by that realisation. Without letting himself think about it EJ bolted for the door, intent on chasing down his flighty little bird before she got away from him totally. He got to the door just in time to see a flash of her skirt disappear around the corner and not caring who saw him, gave chase.