Fated

by LouBlue

EJami fic. A different deal is made that December night of 2006. A story encompassing EJami & Santeen and the Brady & DiMera families. EJami - fated to be together or fated to be apart...

2. Chapter 11 to 18

FATED

(Chapters 11 - 18)

Chapter ELEVEN - Things That Go Bump In The Night

EVENING 2...

They had just finished dinner and were sitting in the living room together. Sami was pretending to read a book, anything other than talk to EJ and trying not to freak out about the fact they were going to be sharing a bed tonight.

"You know," said EJ absently, scratching at the two day growth on his chin before resting his elbows on the desk in front of him and turning his head to look at her, "I might grow a beard - what do you think Samantha?"

"I think that would be absolutely perfect seeing as only criminals and madmen have beards," she smiled at him sweetly, "You'd fit right in."

"That seems a bit of a sweeping and might I add harsh generalisation sweetheart," said EJ mildly, his lips quirking in a smile and not taking any offence.

"I just call it like I see it EJ," she said defiantly, standing up and intending to sweep out of the room and have the last word finally.

"Abraham Lincoln had a beard," EJ mused, watching her walk out of the room, "Ernest Hemmingway had a beard…"

Sami ignored him, almost at the door now.

"Jesus had a beard," he called out to her just before she disappeared out of his line of vision.

Sami gave a horrified gasp and whirled around, looking at him in shock.

"Did you just compare yourself to Jesus?" she asked, completely mortified.

"No," he said easily, amused by her look of outrage, "What I said was he had a beard… which rather challenges your 'only criminals and madmen' theory somewhat eh darling? Although…"

EJ thoughtfully scratched at his cheek again, his beard making a rough sound as he did and Sami had a sudden and unwanted flash of what that roughness would feel like against her skin and she was shocked at the thought, wondering where it had come from.

"… the leaders of the day would probably have agreed with you that Jesus was actually a criminal and a madman," he pondered, "So you bring up a valid point after all sweetheart."

"Yeah well you look like some scruffy dog with fleas scratching away like that," she said with a smirk, "So like I said - it suits you."

"So you like a bit of rough eh Samantha?" he teased her.

"The opposite actually," she threw back at him, not wanting him to think that she found even on single thing about him attractive, "That's why Lucas always makes sure he is clean shaven for me!"

As soon as the words were out of her mouth Sami knew what she'd done and made a distressed gasping noise.

"Well bully for Lucas," said EJ calmly, a knowing look on his face, "I'm glad you've got him so well house broken Samantha. It must really thrill you to know that you're living with a man you've got so utterly whipped."

"Lucas is not whipped!" she defended him hotly and then clapped both hands over her mouth in dismay.

God damn it - what was wrong with her??

How hard was it not to say Lucas' name around him she wondered hopelessly? Very, apparently if the last couple of days were any indication.

"I do believe you'll be owing me another two little favours now after that particular outburst Samantha," said EJ with a little smirk, "Care to go for the trifecta?"

"You know EJ," she said bitterly, glaring at him, "Just because I can't say his name doesn't mean you can stop me from thinking about him every minute I'm away from him."

"Yes," said EJ simply, giving her a knowing look as he stood up and walked over to her, "But you're not are you darling? Thinking about Lucas, now are you?"

Sami frowned at him, suddenly realising that it was true. She'd barely given the other man a thought all day and the realisation rocked her.

"You've had an entirely different man in your head today haven't you Samantha?" asked EJ quietly, looking up at her with those warm chocolate eyes of his, "I'm all you can think about… just like you're all I can think about… every minute of every day, since the day I first met you."

"And what?" she asked him sarcastically, "Is that meant to make me feel special, to swoon at your feet EJ? That I've got some crazy man to obsess about me?"

"No," he said evenly, holding her gaze steadily, the barest of smiles on his face, "But you like the thought of it don't you Samantha? You like the thought of this obsessed, criminal, bearded, madman lying in his bed at night… thinking about you."

"No I don't," she said in horror, "I hate it!"

Sami cursed the slight waver in her voice at her adamant denial, taking away from its impact somewhat.

"I've told you before Samantha," said EJ, watching the changing emotions on her face intrigued, "You're drawn to the dangerous things of this world. Men like Austin and Lucas… they bore you to tears but you won't let yourself admit it. What you really want is a man you can't dominate and control - one who gives as good as he gets and one you don't have to apologise to all the time for being the magnificent, scheming witch that you really are."

"Am I supposed to be flattered that you just called me a witch?" asked Sami incredulously, her heart starting to beat unevenly in her chest at his words, refusing to believe them for a minute.

"Be all that you can be Samantha Brady," he told her with great certainty, "Don't settle and don't apologise for who you really are."

They held each other's gaze then, Sami looking flushed and upset, EJ typically calm and in control.

"I'm going to bed," she said flatly, not willing to go any further with this conversation seeing as it hadn't had the desired affect and had ended up somewhere she really didn't want to be.

"Good idea," he said mildly, "I'll be up soon darling, you can warm up the bed for me."

"If I had my way I'd set it on fire!" she snapped at him.

EJ's eyes ran up and down the length of her, lingering on very specific body parts and making her feel suddenly nervous.

"That's the spirit sweetheart," he said throatily, his eyes dancing merrily at her, "And I'm sure when the time comes that is exactly what we will do."

Sami shook her head and looked at him in disgust, just turning around and going to leave the room.

"Just for the record I prefer the right hand side of the bed sweetheart," he said casually, 'You can have the left."

"Just for the record sweetheart I'd prefer that I had the top of the bed and you can sleep under it!" she hurled back at him over her shoulder.

"So you like to be on top eh?" he asked her straight faced, "I'll file that away for future reference shall I Samantha?"

EJ grinned to himself when she didn't answer and kept walking but he could hear her little feet stomping their way up the stairs. Today's horse ride had been a revelation for EJ. He knew Sami would love it if she'd only allow herself to. EJ lived for those moments when she forgot who she was forcing herself to be and just let the real Samantha Brady emerge. All the pretext stripped away and only the woman herself left in its wake. EJ looked down, pressing his lips together and his eyes closing as he remembered what it felt like to have her in his arms for such a length of time.

Her softness pressed up against him, the smell of her perfume in his nostrils - delicate but unmistakable - somewhat like the woman herself really. When he'd felt her relax and start to enjoy herself EJ had felt his hope being renewed. She'd been hostile to him for so long now and EJ had expected nothing different once he had her here on the island. What he wasn't so sure of was how long she would be able to keep up her cold façade around him. Not that her façade was all that cool really. Most of the time she was spitting venom at him and that didn't bother EJ in the least because it meant that he stirred her deep inside whether she was willing to admit to it or not.

She was going to be his, EJ just knew it, couldn't accept any other possibility.

He thought of nothing else nowadays and his longing for her consumed him utterly but he didn't just want her body. He wanted that glorious devious mind of hers as well and most importantly her heart. Before everything had soured between them she'd turned to him and only him when she needed someone. He was the only one in her life that Sami had trusted and EJ vowed to himself that it would be that way again. All he had to do was get her to see that nothing had changed between them. So what if she was a Brady and he was a DiMera? What was more important was that she was Samantha and he was EJ - anything beyond that just couldn't compare.

EJ took a deep breath, wondering what tonight would bring. He knew what he hoped would happen but when it came to Samantha she normally managed to surprise him somehow. But it didn't matter what did or didn't happen really. The important thing that he was the man in her bed for the rest of the week. She couldn't ignore him, couldn't pretend he didn't exist. With him lying beside her of a night time he was going to drive the name Lucas Horton so far from her thoughts that she was going to be asking 'Lucas who?' in a couple of days - EJ would make certain of that.

oooOOOOooo

Okay, he'd won their last encounter but on her walk Sami had regrouped and come up with some plans of her own. The fact that she had accidentally enjoyed some of the time they'd spent together on horseback had upset her equilibrium somewhat because she hadn't thought that she would ever enjoy being around EJ again after what he'd done to her. But she was ready to get her head back in the game now and ignore the momentary lapse. He was just so… annoying… and frustrating and… sure of himself that she wanted to wipe that smug look off his face permanently. Sami looked at the bed she was to share with him that night and scowled, thinking hard.

Just over half an hour later a freshly showered EJ was standing in the bedroom, his lips pursed thoughtfully as he observed the goings on. He'd given Sami a little time to get herself organised before joining her in the bedroom only to find her hard at work. He shouldn't have been surprised that she'd take this route really. EJ tilted his head and watched her industriously building up the wall of pillows between them on the bed and folded his arms in front of his chest.

"You know one more row of those you're going to need to apply for a building permit sweetheart," he said straight faced and was rewarded for his humour with what he was coming to affectionately refer to as the Death Stare.

Not unlike the Death Star for which it was named after, it too could destroy small planets in its path but fortunately for EJ he was made of sterner stuff than a few measly planets.

"Is this a good time to mention I normally sleep in the nude?" asked EJ innocently, just waiting for the explosion from her.

He really couldn't help himself when it came to teasing her. She just reacted so magnificently, her blue eyes blazing, her skin flushing that enticing pink colour that it made his head swim a little. She was the most mercurial, passionate woman he'd ever met in his life and he loved it.

"Like hell EJ!" she yelled at him, her eyes wide as she fell completely for his bait, "There is no way I want to be anywhere near your… your… you know!"

EJ bit down on the inside of his cheek to stop himself from just simply bursting into laughter at her last statement but he struggled valiantly on.

"Well I hate to break it to you sweetheart," he said with his best attempt at a straight face in the circumstances, "But my 'you know' doesn't detach of a night time. With or without cloths on I still keep it pretty handy."

"Oh I'm sure you do EJ," she said bitingly to which he just had to laugh at her jab at him, "But trust me, the only hand going near it or you this week for that matter will be your own!"

EJ threw his head back and laughed loudly at that, annoying her further.

"I guess we're just going to have to see about that eh darling?" he said with a suggestive waggle of an eyebrow when he could speak again, still laughing slightly.

Sami gave him a disgusted look, not even bothering to answer, simply turning around and climbing into bed. EJ noticed with amusement her deliberately choosing the right hand side of the bed which he'd said he preferred. EJ wondered idly if he should absolutely forbid her to make love to him and see what her response would be as Sami seemed hell bent to do the opposite of everything he said. Depending on how the rest of the week panned out EJ decided to keep that as a backup plan. He watched Sami climbed into bed and fuss with the blankets, her features set in annoyance before he calmly walked around to his side of the bed. Sami felt the bed dip when he added his weight to it and that simple sensation made it suddenly very real to her.

She was sharing a bed with EJ DiMera.

How had this happened Sami wondered in anguish?!

She thought about what her family would think of such a thing, what Lucas would say and she vowed to herself that no one would ever find out. Sami felt EJ settle himself on the other side of the wall of pillows because now that they were both lying down she couldn't actually see him - which had been the point of course. She held herself tensely, willing herself to fall immediately asleep but of course, that wasn't going to happen. EJ lay on his side of the barrier and listened to Sami's slightly uneven breathing, knowing she was anything but relaxed about the situation and couldn't help himself.

"Samantha?" said EJ, an amused expression on his face as he looked up at the ceiling, fingers linked over his chest, "Are you still there?"

"Of course I am!" she snapped, "Where else would I be EJ?"

"Just checking that you were alright," he said and she could hear the amusement in his voice, "Because if you weren't I'd set about organising the llamas and team of Sherpa's I'd need just to get over the Himalayas you constructed between us."

"That's the idea EJ!" she growled, unamused by his humour.

"But what if there is an avalanche of some kind and I'm buried under the weight of all of these cushions?" protested EJ and she could hear the laughter in his voice.

"Well I'd go for help then of course and maybe Lucas would come along in a car and offer to dig you out in return for two favours!" she snapped sarcastically.

EJ burst out laughing at that and the bed actually shook as he chortled away to himself merrily.

"Ooh good one sweetheart!" he laughed when he could speak again, "I wonder what Lucas would ask for… well obviously a brain would be the first thing…"

"You don't get to be mean about Lucas!" she spat out, sitting up now and looking over the huge barrier of pillows down at EJ as he smiled happily up at her.

"Oh there you are darling," he grinned up at her, "Don't you look lovely. Clearly the mountain air up there agrees with you."

Sami ground her teeth at the way nothing seemed to be faze him. It was just so very infuriating! EJ watched her seething away, her face flushed an enticing pink colour and her bright blue eyes spitting death at him.

God but she was glorious.

"Oh and by the way," he smirked at her, "You mentioned Lucas then… twice… so I'll be requiring some further compensation for that."

"But you did too!" she spluttered in horror, wondering if this nightmare would ever end.

"Ah but the Golden Rule doesn't say that I can't mention Lucas' name," he pointed out to her sweetly, "Just you my darling. So now I'm going to lay her quietly and work out what your punishments will be for breaking the rules."

"You are unbelievable!" she hissed.

"Thank you," he smiled smugly, "I do try."

"Not in a good way!" she bit out furiously, "You are a bad man EJ DiMera! A bad man!"

"No I'm not," he pouted, "I'm just complicated. And to prove my good will to you Samantha I will reduce your sentence to only one repayment instead of four if you take down the wall of China you've got going on here. Now then, can't say fairer than that now can I sweetheart?"

Sami just glared at him as he smiled sweetly back up at her. Her eyes narrowed then and she gave him an insolent smirk before grabbing another couple of pillows from her side of the bed and throwing them defiantly on top of the already teetering monolith. EJ grinned at her rebellious act, loving her inability to back down from a fight.

It was yet another thing to adore about her he decided.

oooOOOOooo

Sami was awoken by a strange and very loud series of noises. Her eyes flickered open as she came awake, blinking in the night gloom. She wondered if she'd dreamt it but suddenly she heard it again - a weird series of clicking, grunting noises and it was so loud and obviously coming from inside the room. .

Oh god - what now?!

"EJ," she whispered nervously, her eyes darting around the room trying to see what could possibly be making that noise.

There was no answer from the other side of the pillow barricade she'd constructed so she tried again.

"EJ!" this time it was a little louder.

She suddenly had this horrible thought - what if what it was that was making that noise had bitten or stung him or something and she was currently lying next to a dead body?! The thought was a horrifying one and made Sami sit bolt upright, looking anxiously over all the pillows. Her eyes widen when she peered over the pillow wall and saw that EJ wasn't even in the bed beside her anymore. The noise sounded again and this time there was an answering call back and the sound of one of the paintings on the wall being knocked and banging against the wall noisily.

Sami squealed and jumped out of bed having no idea what could be making those kinds of noises but quite sure that it was venomous whatever it was and now there appeared that there was more than one! The noise came again and there was more banging of the painting and Sami looked around desperately for something to defend herself with if it came down to it. The first thing she spied was her hairdryer out on top of one of her suitcases and she made a grab for it, picking it up and holding it in both hands out in front of her like she was auditioning for a role in one of the Law and Order franchises!

"Typical!" she muttered under her breath in annoyance as she looked nervously around the room, "For the last six months EJ is everywhere I turn and now when I might actually have a use for him he's nowhere to be found!"

Sami, in between her abject terror, was royally pissed off at him right about now!

Her heart was hammering painfully in her chest as her 'fight or flight' instinct kicked in. Sami was backing up towards the bedroom door, hair dryer drawn and at the ready when suddenly there was the sound of the door being opened behind and her and she simply reacted, not thinking. Sami whirled around and threw the hair dryer with all her might before really checking to see what it was she was throwing it at. EJ gasped as the hair dryer hit his head and bounced to the floor with a clatter. He groaned and grabbed his forehead where the hair dryer had impacted while Sami made a distressed noise, putting her hand over her mouth.

"BLOODY HELL!" cried out EJ, reeling back a little at the unexpected attack, "What the hell was that for?!"

"Oh!" gasped Sami, realising too late what she'd done, "EJ - it's you!"

"Of course it's me you insane woman!" he said in annoyance, scrunching up his face in pain and rubbing the slight bump she'd given him on his forehead, "We're alone on an island together! Who did you think it was going to be - Jellybean?!"

Sami scowled at him, unhappy at his teasing of her but she was still too worried about the creatures in the room to focus too much on it.

"There's something in the room - some wild animals EJ - I was defending myself!" explained Sami hurriedly, looking around herself nervously.

"The only wild animal I see is the crazy woman who just assaulted me with a hair dryer," said EJ with a roll of his eyes and then she shook his head, picking up the offending item from the floor, "And what was the plan exactly eh sweetheart? Blow wave and style whatever this thing is into submission?"

The noise came again, this time more in the form of a chitting noise.

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"There!" exclaimed Sami, looking around wildly at the sound, "There it is again - what is that EJ?!"

EJ laughed and shook his head as he recognised the sound.

"It's a gecko Samantha," he told her, obviously amused now.

"A what?" she asked, still fearful and not overly sure what that was.

EJ put down the hair dryer and flicked on a nearby lamp, walking over to where he'd heard the noise. He carefully lifted one edge of the painting in an attempt to track down the critter.

"Don't EJ!" said Sami fearfully, edging away, not really sure what to expect.

"It's fine Samantha," said EJ calmly and stepped back, revealing the dastardly gecko to her.

It was a sandy coloured lizard looking thing about seven or so inches long, stuck to the wall, upside down in fact. It stared up at EJ unconcerned and Sami grimaced.

"Oh god," she said, screwing up her face, totally creeped out at the thought of lizards being able to walk up walls, "Is it venomous?"

"No," smiled EJ, "They're quite harmless and rather helpful actually. They eat all the bugs around the place - you know mosquitoes, flies, spiders and the like."

Sami eyed the lizard suspiciously. Even though it was pretty big for a lizard it didn't seem possible that all that noise could come from such a relatively small creature.

"They're the only lizard that actually makes a noise," said EJ informatively, as though he could read her mind all of a sudden.

"But it was so loud," said Sami hesitantly, "And it sounded like there was more than one of them."

"Oh most likely," nodded EJ looking around and then pointing at the ceiling directly above Sami, "Look - there's another one. Gecko's are extremely territorial creatures, especially around breeding season so they often have very loud barney's with one another."

"What?" asked Sami with a frown, eyeing the gecko above her nervously and edging away from it slowly.

"Barney's," explained EJ patiently, "You know - fights - like all the ones we have."

EJ gave her an impish look then.

"Hmm," he said, suddenly looking very thoughtful, "I wonder if that is why we fight so much - because it's breeding season?"

If he was looking for Sami to bite at that little dig EJ was to be disappointed because Sami was still too distracted by the close proximity of these geckos to even be listening to him properly.

"What if they come off the ceiling?" she worried, looking anxiously up at the gecko almost directly above again because it seemed to Sami that as she moved away it seemed to be following her.

"They won't," said EJ confidently and then as though to make a mockery of his words the gecko above Sami's head chose that exact moment to lose its grip and plummet towards the earth, stopping short though when it landed squarely on Sami's bare chest.

"Ooh," said EJ in surprise as the lizard made a little fleshy plop sound as it landed on Sami's chest, "That almost never happens."

Sami for her part was beside herself.

Whilst EJ was making his casual observations she was too panicked to even move for a split second, looking down at the animal that was currently on her chest. The gecko looked up at her, dark eyes unblinking and then he licked one eye with a long tongue which was completely horrifying to Sami but she was still frozen stock still. EJ was looking at Sami, quietly impressed at how well she was handling this. He'd rather expected screaming and hysterics but she was just standing there, albeit with an unhappy look on her face. EJ opened his mouth to suggest she just flick it off her but Sami finally collected herself enough to react - especially when the gecko decided to move.

"GET IT OFF ME, GET IT OFF ME!" she screeched.

She was brushing madly at her chest and dislodged the bemused gecko almost immediately but now it was on the floor Sami suddenly panicked again that it would scurry up her leg for some reason. With a scream that could have shattered glass Sami launched herself at EJ, catching him completely off guard. EJ staggered back in shock, completely taken aback by her over reaction and the fact that she had managed to somehow climb up him enough to have her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, all the while screaming to the high heavens. EJ instinctively put his arms under her backside to hold her in place.

"DON'T LET IT GET ME!" she shrieked as she attempted to clamber up him, completely mad with panic now.

"Oh my god!" he exclaimed in shock as he took another step backwards as she wiggled around on him, frantically trying to get further off the ground and put more distance between herself and the killer gecko.

EJ's legs connected with the back of the bed and with Sami thrashing around like a mad woman EJ couldn't regain his balance in time and he and Sami tumbled to the bed in a flurry of flailing limbs. His breath was knocked out of him as Sami landed on top of him and EJ blinked a couple of times, trying to get his bearings again. Sami was still squirming away on top of him but now her breasts were shoved in his face.

"I had a dream like this," he remarked almost casually, his voice muffled a little by her more than ample bosom in his face, "Well… several really."

Sami had begun to calm down now, enough to realise that EJ's face was currently wedged in her cleavage and he didn't seem to be in a great hurry to be moving.

"Get off me!" she ordered him fiercely, trying to clamber off him rather unsuccessfully.

"Technically you're on me darling," pointed out EJ, his voice still muted somewhat by her breasts, "Not that that is a complaint mind you."

"OH!" said Sami angrily, finally managing to roll off him and scrabbling to sit up on the bed.

"Oh," sighed EJ despondently, propping himself up on his elbows and looking over at Sami teasingly, "That was just getting good. Can I just say that you have the most amazing breasts Samantha."

"No you cannot!" she snapped at him, blushing and pulling her pyjama shirt around her more.

EJ grinned at that and her display of modesty.

"Too late," he said happily.

Sami gave him a disgusted look but she was still so frazzled about the gecko attack that she couldn't be bothered with his foolishness right now.

"Where were you?" she asked him, eyes narrowing, suddenly suspicious.

She wouldn't put it past him to orchestrate this whole thing somehow.

"I was in the loo sweetheart," he said with an arched eyebrow, "If that is alright with you?"

"How come there were none of these gecko things in my room last night and now suddenly when you're in here they're everywhere?" she demanded to know.

"I'm very sure they were in your room last night Samantha," said EJ mildly, "Seeing as they're throughout the entire house. You just didn't notice them last night."

Sami eyed him up and down, not looking overly convinced.

"So what?" he asked in amusement, "I've got a pocketful of gecko's that I carry around with me to unleash on you when you least expect it?"

Sami shrugged and looked at him defiantly.

"I wouldn't put it past you EJ," she sniffed disdainfully.

"First carrots and now geckos," said EJ and then gave her a cheeky wink, "You seem inordinately interested in the contents of my pants all of a sudden sweetheart. Perhaps it would make you happier if I simply took them off?"

"Over… my… dead… body!" said Sami flatly.

"Well that would defeat the purpose," EJ sighed, lying back on the bed.

Sami looked around at the floor from her vantage point on the bed and looked suddenly nervous again at not being able to see the gecko anymore. She looked up and saw there was already another one on the roof and she bit her lip worriedly.

"What if one of those things falls on me from the ceiling again while I'm asleep?" she fretted, unconsciously giving a shudder at the thought.

"Then I'd recommend against sleeping with your mouth open," said EJ straight faced.

Sami glared at him for his lack of empathy for her concern.

"Alright, alright," he relented, "How about seeing as I'm such a gentleman you sleep under me all night and I'll protect you with my body?"

"I'd rather take my chances with the rodents!" Sami bit out unhappily.

"They're reptiles actually - little lizards," he corrected her casually.

"Well either is better than a snake!" she huffed at him.

"You know I'm beginning to think you mean to hurt my feelings ever so slightly Samantha with the things you say," observed EJ straight faced.

"Get back on your side of the bed!" she ordered him, pointing an imperious finger at his side of the bed.

"But don't you want me to protect me from the geckos sweetheart?" pouted EJ, looking disappointed.

"I'm not frightened of some little lizard!" she huffed, a slight waver in her voice suggesting that wasn't completely true.

"Oh please," snorted EJ, "You scaled me like a demented chipmunk up the last pine tree in the forest just then!"

"I did not!" she retorted, blushing at his description.

"You most certainly did," he smirked and then gave her a knowing look, "Although if it's nuts you're after darling…"

"Just shut up!" she snapped, "Shut up EJ and leave me alone!"

"Fine," sighed EJ, feigning being offended, "Just don't say I never offer to do anything nice for you."

"You sleeping on top of me would not be nice for me!" snapped Sami.

"If it would make you happier I could always stay awake on top of you," offered EJ helpfully but ruining it with a lecherous smile.

"EJ…" Sami began, her lips thinning in an angry line.

"I know, I know," sighed EJ, hauling himself off the bed and heading back to his side of the pillow barricade, "Drop dead."

Chapter TWELVE - The Sun Will Come Out… Tomorrow

DAY 3...

Sami leant back in the car seat and smiled up at him, her face glowing in the moonlight.

"Okay… so let's change the subject then," she said with a little laugh, "Talk about you."

"Ah," EJ grimaced, looking suddenly uncomfortable.

"You said you were single," smiled Sami, "But obviously there must be a woman out there somewhere for you right?"

"Oh," smiled EJ, "There is… I'm with her right now."

"Um EJ… I'm with Lucas," said Sami, suddenly looking nervous, "And I love him very much."

EJ arched an eyebrow at her and then began to laugh.

"Oh," he laughed.

"What?" she frowned up at him.

"I'm sorry," he grinned, "I just realise how that must have sounded… I was actually meaning my car Samantha."

"Oh," said Sami and flushed, looking down at her lap, "Well now I'm super embarrassed! Umm… well I'm glad we got that sorted out. "

"Yup," laughed EJ, "I'm glad we got that covered."

"Well I wouldn't exactly say that EJ," said Sami with a shake of her head, "You didn't answer the question… is there a woman and I don't mean an inanimate object?!"

"No," said EJ calmly, "There's not… there's no woman."

"How come?" she frowned, "I mean look at you - you're gorgeous and charming and successful and British… so why don't you have a girlfriend unless…"

Sami trailed off and looked uncomfortable then.

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"Unless what…?" he prompted her, looking at her expectantly.

"Are you gay?" she asked him quizzically.

EJ looked back at her steadily for a few seconds before giving the barest of smiles.

"Samantha," he said calmly, "I'm not gay."

"Good," she said with a little smile.

"Why is that good?" he asked her, tilting his head at her.

"Because… because I don't want you to be gay," she finally managed, biting her lip.

"And why would you care one way or another I wonder Samantha?" he asked her softly, "After all you've got your beloved Lucas… isn't he enough for you?"

Sami didn't answer that, just looked down at her lap for a long moment.

"Samantha?" he prompted her, studying her profile with interest now, "I asked you if…"

"How do I know you're telling me the truth?" she interrupted him, looking up and holding his gaze steadily.

"About what?" asked EJ in confusion.

"About being not being gay," she said, looking at him intently.

EJ raised his eyebrows, not quite having an answer for that one.

"I think you should prove it to me," she said determinedly and EJ's eyes widened at that.

"And how might I be able to do that sweetheart?" he asked her, his voice suddenly husky.

"If I have to tell you then we're not off to a great start then are we EJ?" she asked him throatily, looking up at him through her eyelashes, "Hows about we start somewhere around…"

Sami unclipped her seat belt then and before EJ knew what she was doing she'd moved from her side of the car to his, straddling him as he sat in the driver's seat.

"… here?" she suggested and gave him a challenging look, "Any objections EJ?"

"None are coming to mind," he rasped, staring up at her in disbelief, hardly able to believe she was taking the initiative like this.

Sami leant down and kissed him then and EJ's hands immediately went to her head, fearful she was going to pull away at any moment but Sami lingered over the kiss, her tongue pushing for entry into his mouth which he happily allowed. She tasted every bit as sweet as he remembered.

"I've wanted you for so long EJ," Sami confessed to him breathlessly, in between their heated kisses, "I thought I'd go mad from wanting you so much."

"Is that true?" he asked her, pulling back and searching her face intently.

"Yes," she nodded, suddenly serious, "Do you still want me EJ? After everything I've put you through do you still want me?"

"More than ever," he told her honestly, his voice a little shaky now.

Sami held his gaze and slipped her hand between their bodies, deftly undoing his pants and freeing his already straining member from their confines. She wrapped her small hand around his thickness and squeezed.

"So I see," she purred.

EJ groaned and bucked up at her first touch of his swollen manhood.

"God!" he grunted, "Samantha!"

He looked up at her, suddenly desperate.

"Is this real?" he asked her urgently, "Or is this just some new game Samantha?"

Sami didn't answer, just took one of his hands in hers and guided it up under her evening dress. She held his gaze unblinkingly as she moved his hand upwards until he was at her mound. EJ's eyes widened when instead of the silk of her panties he encountered the soft crinkly hairs covering her mound.

"I didn't bother," she said softly, a small smile curving her lips at the look of wonder on his face, "I hope that isn't a problem for you EJ?"

EJ mutely shook his head and Sami removed her hand from his, confident he could find his own way now. She braced herself with that hand now on the head rest behind EJ's head even as she still maintained the grip she had on his increasingly turgid manhood. She rubbed her thumb over the velvet tip, making him whimper and was instantly rewarded with some pre-cum dribbling from his tip and she used it to lubricate his distended length, moving up and down his shaft in a slow pumping motion.

"You're so ready for me aren't you EJ?" she asked him huskily, keeping her strokes determinedly slow.

"Yes," he told her through gritted teeth, looking up at her in awe.

"Maybe you should check if I'm ready for you?" she suggested to him throatily, her eyes full of promise.

EJ immediately moved his hand to directly between her legs and found her to be simply dripping with her own juices and he shuddered at the feeling of them coating his hand and fingers. He couldn't help himself, instantly pushing two fingers up into her wet heat and making her gasp.

"So eager," she murmured happily, Sami threw back her head then, beginning to move up and down on his fingers now, "More, give me more EJ."

EJ obliged her, inserting another finger into her core and she bit her lip, obviously enjoying the sensation. She leant forward and whispered in his ear.

"More."

EJ growled and pushed a fourth finger into her and Sami made a guttural noise but it didn't stop her from beginning to ride his hand more forcefully. EJ couldn't take his eyes off her even as she began stimulating him harder and faster now in time with her own writhing. She worked them both into an almost frenzy when she suddenly took her hand off his now throbbing and hopelessly distended member and EJ couldn't help but cry out his horror.

"NO!"

"I want you inside of me EJ," she ordered him, her breathing as uneven as his, "Now! No more waiting."

EJ instantly withdrew his fingers from her desperate for that exact same thing and as soon as he did Sami sank down on his aching manhood. The sensation of her taking him inside her body like this was excruciating but she was taking too long. EJ's hips bucked up of their own accord, penetrating her completely and making her cry out.

"EJ!" she groaned.

"Oh god sweetheart!" he grunted, closing his eyes and concentrating on not just coming right then and there, "You feel so perfect - I knew it would be like this!"

Sami began to move on top of him then, her hips moving up and down and EJ's hands went to their soft roundness, helping her as she wrung mindless groans from deep inside of him.

"I love you and only you EJ," she confessed to him breathlessly, looking deeply into his eyes as she continued to ride him fiercely, "I only want you, no one else. It's your hands I want on me, your body inside mine - I can't bear the thought of anyone else touching me but you EJ."

"Oh Samantha," he groaned up at her, "I feel exactly the same way - you're the only woman for me."

"And you're the only man for me EJ," she said, holding his gaze determinedly.

Sami began to rock back and forward on his hardness now, making EJ sweat, his breathing now ragged and laboured. She leant towards him, pressing her breasts up tightly against his chest, rubbing them back and forward slowly even though they were still hidden from his view. Sami pressed her lips to his ear then, her whisper full of throaty promise.

"I want your baby growing inside of me EJ."

"Really?" he asked her unevenly, pulling back so he could look up into her eyes adoringly.

"Oh yes," she sighed, clenching her walls around his girth tightly and making him swallow hard, "I want you to come deep inside of me… I want us to make a baby EJ."

"I want that to," he confessed to her achingly, "Samantha, so much. I want you to bear my child, my children."

"Then come," she breathed in his ear, beginning to move up and down on him faster now, making him groan, "Right now EJ, I can't wait any longer."

EJ began to thrust up into her now, eager to do just that.

"EJ!" she moaned, closing her eyes and meeting him thrust for thrust, "Don't stop… more… more!"

He closed his eyes too, concentrating on pleasing her, his body beginning to head towards its own release.

"Samantha," he grunted, feeling himself starting to go.

"Samantha!"

EJ yelled out her name, waking himself up as he did. EJ propped himself up on his elbows, his breathing laboured and his body covered in sweat, trying to come to terms with that having all just been a dream. He looked over at the façade of pillows beside him and wondered how he was going to explain this to his sleeping companion. He rather thought Sami wouldn't want to hear the truth somehow.

"EJ."

EJ needn't have worried because the sound of Sami calling his name came from outside the bedroom door, telling him she was already up and about.

"EJ did you want me?!"

EJ grimaced at her unintentionally leading question.

"Endlessly," he muttered under his breath before replying more loudly, "Just wondering where you were sweetheart."

"I'm going for a shower," she replied sharply, "If that's alright with you?!"

"Need someone to scrub your back," he offered again so low that she couldn't hear him before speaking loudly again, "That's fine; I'll see you at breakfast."

EJ looked down at the tent situation he had currently going on down south of the border and grimaced.

"Come on old boy," he chastised himself, "You can do this."

His dreams were becoming more intense the more he was around her and EJ worried that he might not have the self control this delicate operation called for. One wrong move and he knew he could drive Samantha away from him, perhaps forever and he couldn't allow that to happen.

"Right," he sighed, lying back on the bed and looking up at the ceiling, now gecko free in the daylight, "Let the games begin."

A slow smile spread across EJ's face at the thought.

oooOOOOooo

Sami wandered into the living room later on that morning and looked around herself. EJ looked up as she entered the room and smiled at her.

"It's raining," observed Sami unhappily, peering out of window at the rain painting the trees and surrounds with a glistening coat.

"And with us smack bang in the middle of the wet tropics," mused EJ idly with a shake of his head, feigning surprise, "This seems almost an unprecedented turn of events really. Do you think we should phone someone sweetheart and tell them that the end of the world is nigh?"

"You're so funny EJ," said Sami flatly, "I guess I just forget to laugh sometimes."

"I have a subtle wit to be sure," he nodded sagely.

"So what do you do when it rains in the tropics?" asked Sami in vague annoyance at this turn of events.

She'd secretly been hoping for another ride on Jellybean but she supposed that was out of the question at the moment.

"Well the local tradition is to stay in bed and make passionate and energetic love to the person you're with until the rain stops," EJ informed her straight faced, "And I've always been a great believer in the 'when in Rome…" axiom."

Sami just stared back at him, clearly unimpressed by his suggestion.

"Okay then," sighed EJ dramatically, "I'm not hearing a great deal of support for option A so how about we go move on to option B… we can play cards."

"I'm not playing cards with you," frowned Sami, "You've probably marked the entire deck."

"I'm beginning to think we have trust issues Samantha," noted EJ, feigning concern, "Or am I just being overly sensitive do you think?"

"Chess," she said and EJ arched an eyebrow at her.

"Chess," he repeated, "You'd like to play chess Samantha?"

"Yes," she shrugged, "Is that a problem EJ?"

"Not at all," he shook his head, "It's one of my favourite games actually… I just didn't know you played that's all."

"Well I do," she said simply, "So are you in?"

"I am most definitely in," he smiled up at her before standing up and pulling out the chess board that was already set up on a nearby table, "My father and I used to play all the time."

"Fascinating," said Sami flatly, not wanting to hear anything about Stefano.

EJ might think that he was a good and loving father who was simply misunderstood but Sami knew better. He was pure evil and she reminded herself yet again that EJ was his son.

"Chose your colour Samantha," EJ offered her as he watched her settle in across from him.

"You pick," she said with a shake of her head, "I don't like to pick the colour."

EJ arched an inquisitive eyebrow at that and Sami shook her head at him.

"It's a thing," she said shortly, not wanting to elaborate beyond that.

EJ moved the board so he had the black pieces facing him.

"Of course you'd choose black," she scoffed, "Black like your heart!"

"Well there's progress for you," said EJ happily, "At least you acknowledge I have a heart now."

"Don't get too excited," said Sami dourly.

EJ just smiled at her.

"You're move sweetheart," he informed her calmly.

Forty minutes later they were still at it and neither one was giving any ground. Sami took one of his pawns with a triumphant flourish.

"Feel free to give resign anytime you want EJ," she told him sweetly.

"Only you could turn chess into a death sport Samantha," he said with great affection.

EJ observed her latest move and thoughtfully scratched at the tip of his nose, trying to work out what to do next.

"You didn't think I'd be this good did you?" she gloated at him, leaning back in her chair and folding her arms in front of her chest.

"Sweetheart," said EJ absently, eyes on the chess board as he picked up a chess piece and then thinking better of it and putting it down again, "I would never underestimate your ability at playing games…"

He lifted his eyes and fixed her with a warm chocolate stare then.

"… ever," he finished off and then made his move.

EJ looked at her with interest then, waiting for her next move.

"So who taught you to play so well Samantha?" he asked curiously.

"John and I used to play all the time when I was younger," she said quietly, studying the chess board, "When I thought he was my real dad."

"Well that's somewhat ironic," noted EJ wryly, "Stefano's pawn being a good chess player."

Sami's head snapped up then and she glared at EJ, suddenly reminded of John lying in a hospital bed in a coma - all because of the man sitting across from her with a smirk on his face.

"Why did you do it EJ?" she asked him bitterly, "Why did you shoot John?"

"Are we back to that sweetheart?" asked EJ mildly, "I told you - I didn't shoot John Black."

"Just stop lying EJ," Sami said with an angry shake of her head, "Tell me the truth!"

"Well according to you I'm incapable of telling the truth," said EJ flatly, leaning back and giving her a considered look, "I mean if I deny it then you don't believe me and if I admit to it just to please you what does that achieve eh? You're hell bent on painting me as the villain of this piece and whatever I say or don't say, confess to or don't confess to changes nothing."

"You are the villain of the piece!" hissed Sami, "You're Stefano's son! You shot John and who knows what else!"

"How does me being Stefano's son make me the bad guy here Samantha?" he asked her calmly, "After all you're the daughter of the esteemed Dr Marlena Evans and the venerable Commissioner Roman Brady and I think we can all agree that apple fell a fair way from the genetic tree so to speak… thank god."

"Don't you dare speak about my parents like that!" she said hotly, "And say that about me!"

"And yet you're allowed to liken my father to Satan?" pointed out EJ flatly, "Hardly fair now is it Samantha? And as for you being like your parents I cannot imagine why you would even want to be when you could be Samantha Brady instead. A woman with more fire and passion then they could ever hope to know."

"My parents love me!" she raged at him.

"Of that I have no doubt," nodded EJ, "But they don't understand you Samantha - not even a little bit. So their solution is to try and make you into a clone of your vapid sister. It's akin to child abuse if you ask me."

"No one is asking you EJ!" she spat out at him, unable to believe that he was saying these things about her family.

She stood up suddenly, the game all but forgotten now.

"I don't have to sit here and listen to the ramblings of a mad man!" she declared, her eyes spitting fire at him.

Sami stormed out of the room then, leaving EJ to his own company.

"I guess that means you're resigning then sweetheart," he mused quietly to himself, laying down her king piece, "I win."

EJ closed his eyes and blew out a frustrated breath.

Clearly he still had a long way to go in gaining her trust but the more she opened up to him about how she was feeling the more they could deal with these things. EJ knew the biggest problem with Sami was going to be getting her to face things squarely. Her ability to reject reality and insert her own was nothing short of staggering. EJ got up and poured himself a scotch, taking a drink from his glass thoughtfully.

They may have a long way to go but they were definitely on the road. EJ smiled to himself, after all - it wasn't just about the destination but the journey as well he told himself.

oooOOOOooo

Sami was at the beach before she calmed down enough to take stock of where she'd ended up. Fortunately for her the rain had stopped for a while, not that she would have cared about getting wet as long as she was away from EJ. Just who the hell did EJ think he was passing judgement on her family like that?! Like he knew anything about what a real family was like in the first place! Sami raged at him in her head, marching up the beach and trying to let off some steam. She knew he was just trying to confuse her with all his clever twisting and turning of the facts. The EJ she'd met when he first came to town didn't exist, Sami knew that. The man who'd been her friend, listened so patiently to her worries and wined and dined her like no other man was just an illusion. The real EJ shot John and probably a lot worse again. He was a liar and a manipulator and Sami couldn't let her distract him from that fact.

She knew that was what this was all about - trying to make her believe that he was the same man that she'd had an instant connection with but Sami couldn't let that happen. After all, what did it say about her that she was attracted to a DiMera - it was just too horrible to contemplate? Not that she was attracted to him of course - not even a little bit. Sami had a sudden flash of the two of them on the bed last night, the feeling of his hands on her body and stubbornly pushed it away.

He was an evil DiMera and she was a Brady - nothing could ever happen between any Brady or DiMera - it was inconceivable. Sami looked up at the house through the trees that ran between it and the beach and squared her shoulders. She could do this - it was already three days in - all she had to do was get through another four and then this whole farce would be behind her and she could get back to Lucas. Sami had a sudden jolt, realising that was the first time she'd thought of him all day. She shook her head, mad at herself for the oversight.

What was EJ doing to her?!

oooOOOOooo

Sami wandered around for another hour or so, going and visiting with Jellybean for a while when the rain started again. He patiently listened to her rant about how awful his owner was, happy to listen as long as Sami kept feeding him his oats. Eventually Sami got hungry and seeing as Jellybean's oats didn't look that appetising she reluctantly headed back inside the house. She walked in to find EJ sitting at the lap top.

"Oh hello sweetheart," he said calmly, "Enjoy your walk?"

Sami just shrugged at him but he seemed unconcerned with her lack of communication.

"I made you a little snack," he said and nodded at the plate with a sandwich and a tub of yoghurt set out on it, "I thought you might be a little hungry after your constitutional."

Sami looked over at the food and then back at EJ, refraining from thanking him for his thoughtfulness but again EJ seemed unfazed.

"So time for you to send a little email home to let Lucas know how much you're enjoying your business trip," said EJ, opening up the lap top and turning it on, "How about it eh sweetheart - ready to drop a line and let your dearly beloved know everything is tickety boo?"

"Bite me!" said Sami flatly, folding her arms in front of her chest, "I'm not doing anything to help with this farce you've organised. I'm here - that's enough!"

"But darling," pouted EJ, "He'll worry about you and we can't have that now can we?"

Sami just looked back at him, her expression telling him there was a snow ball's chance in hell that she was going to do as he asked.

"Well fine then," said EJ cheerfully, "If you're going to be like that I'll do it then shall I?"

"I don't care what you do EJ," she said in annoyance, "As long as you're over there and I'm over here… I'm happy. Every minute you spend wasting your time is another minute I'm closer to going home so knock yourself out!"

"Fine," said EJ, not seeming to be put out at all by her tone or manner, "Let's see where should I start…? I guess the usual standard is - 'The weather is beautiful… wish you were here'."

EJ pursed his lips, seeming to be thinking about that then as he took a sip of water from his glass.

"Although something possibly more apt would be 'The weather is here… wish you were beautiful'," he continued on blithely, putting down his glass and looking at Sami, "What do you think Samantha… which should I go with?"

The Death Stare came out then and attempted to remove his head but it just bounced harmlessly off EJ as he started to type. Sami shook her head and walked over to the couch behind EJ and sat down before picking up the sandwich and taking a bite out of it. She really was hungry.

"How about this then…?" he said to her as his fingers clicked on the keyboard, "Dear Lucas, I've arrived safely and have already settled in. My room is nice enough although it could do with more pillows I think…"

Sami shook her head at his teasing of her and returned to her food, almost violently chewing each mouthful as he continued on blithely.

"I've been running around like a mad thing to get to all the meetings which are going well by the way," read EJ as he typed the email for her, "And I'm looking forward to being on my back soon…"

Sami's head snapped up at that last bit and looked at him in horror.

"Oh sorry," said EJ, not looking up from the key board as he tapped away, backspacing merrily, "Typo there - meant to say 'getting on back to my room soon so I can relax and have a long hot shower.'"

"I hate you so much," said Sami in disgust at his never ending toying with her.

"What's that darling?" he called out, still typing away, "Do you have something to add after all?"

EJ stopped then and looked expectantly over at Sami. Sami smiled sweetly and picked up a nearby fork and then viciously and repeatedly stabbed at the yoghurt container in front of her that still had its plastic cover on. There was a flurry of fork and yoghurt going everywhere for awhile then until she finally stopped. She looked over at EJ then and gave him a challenging look.

"Hmm," pondered EJ straight faced, "I'm not entirely sure how to spell that sweetheart so I'll just go with… enjoying the local cuisine eh, how does that sound?"

His answer was a stony silence and EJ nodded.

"I'll take that as a yes then," he said to himself, resuming with the email.

oooOOOOooo

EJ walked into the living room to find Sami still sulking in a chair. He pursed his lips thoughtfully before going and sitting down on the coffee table in front of her, the drink he was holding still in one hand. Sami looked at him and as he looked down at the glass in his hand.

"It's stopped raining," he informed her.

"I'll alert the media," she said flatly and EJ lifted his head and smiled at her humour.

"You know I've been tallying up your points from breaking the Golden Rule," he commented, "And can you believe we're up to four favours that you owe me now?"

Sami stood up then and walked over to the middle of the room, suddenly nervous where this might be going.

"So I was thinking," continued on EJ smoothly, standing up and walking over to where she was standing, "Time is ticking away…"

"Thank god!" snapped Sami, her nerves tightening as to what he was going to ask of her next.

EJ looked away briefly and seemed to be deliberately keeping himself calm.

"… and it might be a good idea to get onto whittling that number down," he said mildly as though she hadn't spoken.

"What do you want EJ?" said Sami, gritting her teeth and bracing herself.

"I don't know if you know if you've had a chance to notice this yet but the sunsets around here are really quite spectacular," said EJ, "The clouds have cleared after the rain so I'd like it if we could go for a walk on the beach together and watch the sunset before dinner. I think you'll find the view worth even having to endure the torture of my company."

Sami looked at him suspiciously, his words making her feel suddenly like a petulant child for the way she'd been treating him and she hated that he made her feel like that.

"And that's all?" she asked him warily.

"Well that would account for one point," nodded EJ and then gave her a little crooked smile, "Interested?"

It sounded simple enough and really it could have been a lot worse.

"You look relieved," he noted, watching her face with interest.

"I was worried you were going to make me go skinny dipping or something," admitted Sami, the words out of her mouth before she'd thought them through properly.

She gasped and looked suddenly stricken as EJ's eyes light up.

"Well, well," he noted with an impish smile, "That certainly gives me food for thought for the remaining three points now doesn't it sweetheart?"

EJ grinned at her and then just promptly walked out of the room and Sami turned and watched him leave, horrified at herself.

What was wrong with her lately… was she made of stupid??!

Chapter THIRTEEN - Yodellay Eh Hoo!

EVENING 3 ...

EJ tilted his head as Sami industriously set about rebuilding her wall of pillows for their second night of sleeping in the same bed. He leant back against the wall, folding his arms in front of his chest and crossing one leg in front of the other as he watched her beaver away, adding another layer of pillows and making sure that it was all secure.

"It's like you used to work in the Mob…" he noted idly, scratching one cheek as he watched her secure the pillows tightly in a line, ". this aptitude you have for construction Samantha. It's a side of you I had no idea about."

"Yeah well just be grateful I didn't used to work for the Mob," she said flatly, not rising to the bait, "Otherwise you'd be wearing a concrete over coat right about now and be at the bottom of that ocean outside!"

"You…" said EJ, perfectly straight faced, "… have the sweetest pillow talk ever Samantha."

"Get into bed EJ," she said flatly.

"And I especially love it when you order me to bed," he said, a twinkle in his eye.

Sami huffed and climbed onto her side of the bed, the pillows again completely hiding him from her sight when she lay down. EJ lay on his side of the barricade and looked thoughtfully up at the sheer face of pillows to his left.

"You know," he commented conversationally, "I've got this almost uncontrollable urge to start yodelling."

"Oh shut up!" she snapped from her side of the great divide.

"Heidi?" said EJ earnestly, "Heidi is that you? Your mother said to bring down the goats from the mountains right away otherwise you'll be late for dinner."

Sami gritted her teeth at his relentless teasing of her.

"Well get used to it Elvis," she snarked at him, "Because these Alps aren't going anywhere! At least not while I have to suffer through having you in the same bed with me!"

"But I'm only looking for a little warmth and companionship," he wheedled with a forlorn sigh, "Surely you wouldn't deny me that Heidi?"

"If that's the case I suggest finding yourself one of those goats and snuggling up to it because that's the only warmth and companionship you're going to be getting from anything in this bed!" said Sami in annoyance.

"Hm," said EJ and then Sami blinked rapidly as he suddenly turned the light on.

"What are you doing?" she asked with a frown.

"I'm checking out the goat situation," he told her and she could actually hear the smirk on his face, "After all I want to make sure I get a pretty one don't I?"

"Ohh!" Sami propped herself up on her elbows in frustration at how far he was willing to take this but she was going to get the last word if it killed her one way or the other.

Sami impulsively grabbed at the glass of water she had on the night stand beside her and without allowing herself to think about it she threw the entire contents up and over the barricade of pillows to where she figured his face or at the very least some part of his body would be.

"Ahh!" said EJ in shock when the streak of water suddenly hit him full in the face and part of his chest, "What the…!"

"What's the matter EJ?" she mocked him, a big smile on her face, "It's the tropics - I thought you expected the occasional drop of rain."

Now it was EJ's turn to prop himself up on his elbows and he shook his head, dislodging water droplets everywhere from his face and hair. Despite himself EJ had to smile, she was just so very feisty - god how he loved that about her!

"I'm wet," he noted ruefully, looking down at himself.

EJ gave a dramatic sigh and then sent a wicked sideways look to the wall of pillows towards Sami even though she couldn't see it.

"I'd always rather hoped that it would be you saying those words in this bed Samantha," he said impishly.

Sami's mouth dropped at his cheekiness and she couldn't help herself. She sat bolt upright in bed and moved so she could glare down at him from over the great divide.

"You are the most disgusting, repulsive…!" she began angrily and then seemed to find difficulty in picking the next word so changed tact, "You would have to evolve up to even become a dung beetle EJ DiMera!"

EJ arched an eyebrow at her as he peered up at her, still propped up on his elbows, the last of the water trailing off his body and into the decidedly damp bed sheets now.

"I think dung beetles are given a bad rap in this life," he mused thoughtfully, "They perform an important function in this world, sorting through all the bull shit of this world. I must say I can relate knowing you as I do now Samantha…"

His ponderings were interrupted when one of the few pillows that weren't already playing a part in separating them caught him square in the face as Sami belted him with all of her might with her weapon of choice. EJ blinked rapidly in surprise after her sudden attack but made no other movement.

"So remind me how this goes," he said calmly, looking up at her as she smirked down at him, "After the pillow fight do we braid each other's hair and talk about boys?"

"Shut up EJ," she bit out, "One more word from you and the next thing I'm going to hit you with is…!"

Sami looked around wildly then for something suitably frightening and all she could find was the large book she'd bought into the room from the library earlier that day thinking she might read in bed - anything other than having to talk to him. It had some significant weight to it and while Sami would have preferred a frying pan this would have to do in the heat of the moment. She clambered off the bed and grabbed it, having to use two hands because of its size. She stood by the bed and held it up for him to see.

"One more word EJ and I swear…" she threatened him, "This book is going to become a permanent part of your anatomy!"

EJ looked between the large tome and the deadly serious expression on Sami's face. He opened his mouth and Sami gave him a warning look raising the book higher and he dutifully closed it again. With a triumphant nod at his acquiescence she climbed back into the bed, taking the book with her just in case. EJ lay back down on his side of the bed as well, deciding not to worry about the water - it was a warm night and he'd dry soon enough. A huge smile split his face. He was having so much fun it should have been illegal. Of course it wasn't the fun he'd hoped for in this bed but it was early days and they had time. He closed his eyes, the image of Samantha's outraged face dancing before his eyes and he loved seeing all that fire and passion directed at him.

"Goodnight Heidi," he said softly, his eyes still closed and still smiling like a loon as he imagined the ways her cheeks would be flushing now and her eyes flashing in anger as he got the last word in.

His enjoyment was short lived though as Sami made good on her promise wordlessly launched the book she was still clutching over the wall of pillows and caught him squarely in the stomach. EJ hadn't had a chance to brace himself for the impact because his eyes had been closed and the impact of the weighty book on his unsuspecting stomach wrung a pained grunt from his lips which bought a pleased smile to Sami's.

"Oww!" he complained when he could suck in his next breath and looked down unhappily at the offending item.

"Goodnight EJ," said Sami sweetly, turning on her side and pulling the bed sheets up and smiling happily away to herself.

EJ scowled and then pouted and then lifted the book of his stomach and then rubbed the put upon flesh ruefully before dropping the book down beside the bed with a heavy thud. Well she was going to pay for that little act of defiance he decided with a thoughtful purse of his lips but revenge was a dessert best served cold and tomorrow was a new day after all. EJ reached over and turned off the light beside him that he'd turned on previously and then lay back down on his side of the bed, linking his fingers in front of his still damp chest, the devious machinations of his mind hard at work.

ooooOOOOooo

Sami rolled over yet again in bed and blew out a frustrated breath. She just couldn't seem to fall asleep; her mind was racing with too many unwanted thoughts. The steady breathing on the other side of the wall of pillows told her EJ wasn't suffering the same problem - he sounded fast asleep to her in fact. Sami threw back her covers, giving up on trying to find any sleep now. A stray gecko clicked and chitted on the wall to her left and she looked at it warily, uncertain if they also had a tendency to leap off walls and gave a little shudder at the thought.

Sami picked up her pink wrap and walked to the bedroom door. She looked back over her shoulder to see EJ sprawled out on the bed, one arm thrown up over his face as he lay on his back. Sami pressed her lips together, studying him as he lay sleeping. She bit her lip and quickly escaped downstairs to the sitting room, thoughts of their beach walk plaguing her.

oooOOOOooo

Sami looked at the vista in front of her and despite herself she had to admit it was beautiful. Reds, oranges, blues and indigoes lit up the sky as the sun made it's slow decent towards the horizon the ball of fire already looking like it was almost touching the water.

They stood there silently for a long moment, Sami unbearably conscious of the man standing beside her. She could feel the heat rolling off his body as he stood there. She didn't know if it was because they were in the tropics or the fact that he wasn't wearing his usual suits, rather long shorts and a singlet but he just seemed to very hot to her all of a sudden. Sami blushed then at her own thoughts, grateful for the fading light to hide her sudden colour and the fact that EJ couldn't read her mind although she was arguing with herself internally that she simply meant hot as in temperature wise and in no other capacity.

But seeing as EJ couldn't actually read her thoughts it was hard to know who she was really trying to convince.

oooOOOOooo

Sami made a little unhappy groan - why hadn't she stopped it there - suggested a run on the beach instead? Something, anything that would have meant that they couldn't have talked and then he wouldn't have been able to say what he did to her…

oooOOOOooo

EJ woke up suddenly from a disjointed dream, his father, Samantha all mixed up together and it left him with an unsettled feeling. EJ sat up in bed and looked over the pillows only to find Sami not there. He frowned, tilting his head and listening for sounds of her but could hear none. He got up and walked out of the bedroom, looking up and down the hallway but still not seeing Sami. A noise downstairs alerted him to her whereabouts and he paused thoughtfully, wondering what it was that was keeping her awake. EJ stood at there in the hall and remembered their beach walk together. He rubbed the back of his head distractedly recalling every detail of their time together.

He felt like he and Samantha were dancing somehow. A dance with intricate steps and a wrong move one way or the other could destroy all that he'd been so carefully working towards. No woman had ever intrigued him so utterly as Samantha. In fact he couldn't even remember his life clearly before he met her. It was like a dream somehow and the first time he'd laid eyes on her it was like he'd woken from a deep slumber. The concept that Sami didn't feel the same way, hadn't felt that same instantaneous and deep connection the moment their eyes met for the first time was unfathomable to him.

She'd felt it too - he was more certain of that fact than any other in his life.

It was so strange that though he'd seen pictures of Samantha Brady before he even stepped foot in Salem - that first meeting, seeing her in the flesh so to speak, it felt like he'd come home somehow. He knew her instantly, understood her utterly before she even spoke a single word to him. EJ had never experienced anything like it before in his life. People would probably say what he was describing was love at first sight but EJ knew it was more than that. It was like this had all happened before and he and Sami were just replaying it somehow. Their connection had been powerful and immediate and almost… otherworldly in its intensity.

EJ shook his head at his fanciful thinking, blaming the lateness of the hour for his wayward thoughts. He looked down the stairs, chewing on his inner lip and deciding what he should do next. Leaving her alone with her thoughts was an option, let her mull over what had already passed between them but then EJ was finding it increasingly difficult to pass up any opportunity nowadays to be near her. Their bed… EJ paused at the realisation of how easily that phrase came to mind… their bed… his and Samantha's. Without her in their bed beside him it suddenly seemed very lonely now, even with the construction job she'd managed to construct separating them.

EJ started down the stairs, unable to stop himself from going to her. He recalled their walk together as he went. He'd given her a lot to think about… and himself. That was probably why he'd reverted back to teasing her earlier that night. They were both comfortable with that kind of interaction, it was familiar and less confronting than what they'd shared on the beach…

oooOOOOooo

EJ walked up and stood beside Sami, looking down at her face to see the enchantment at the scene that she wasn't bothering to hide from him. A little smile touched his lips at seeing her let her guard down again. EJ thought of their future together - a future with many beach walks in it, horse rides, romantic dinners… the possibilities were endless if Sami would only relent in her stubbornness in denying there was anything between them.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" he asked her softly, "I think this view alone is reason enough for to justify this being my favourite place on earth."

Sami turned her head and looked up at him and he wondered what she was thinking in that moment, the way she was looking at him so pensively. The need to be near her, touching her overwhelmed him.

"You have three more penalties to pay off," he informed her, seeing her frown a little at that and continuing on quickly, "How about I give you a chance to lose one of those?"

"I'm already going for a walk on the beach with you," said Sami, suddenly tense again, "What else do you want EJ?"

EJ didn't answer, simply held out his hand to her. Sami looked down at his outstretched hand and then back at him wide eyed. EJ gave a soft little smile, waggling his long fingers at her. Sami bit her lip, knowing what he was asking for. She shrugged then, seeming to have decided that there was no harm in it. Sami hesitantly reached out and took his offered hand. EJ immediately curled his fingers around her hand. He looked down at their joined hands, feeling how small and delicate she felt to his touch. EJ began to walk, pulling gently on her hand and Sami fell easily into step with him as they walked along, the wet sand crunching beneath their feet as they did. They walked along the water line in silence for a while as the sun dipped ever lower, the colours in the sky changing almost by the second. It suddenly began to feel all too comfortable to Sami… worse than that… too intimate and she hurried to try and break the moment.

"So exactly how many women have you bought here EJ?" she asked him.

She'd meant for the question to be sarcastic and off hand but there was a breathless quality to her question that ruined the effect she was going for.

"Only you," he answered her casually.

"Yeah right," she snorted under her breath.

"I've never bought anyone to Ara Caman," said EJ quietly, "… ever Samantha. You're the first… the only."

Sami looked at him uncertainly.

"Because it was a convenient place for you to isolate me from everyone else," she informed him unhappily.

"No," said EJ simply, looking down at her as they walked along, still hand in hand, "There are literally hundreds of places in this world I could have taken you to and we would have been just as alone."

EJ stopped walking then and tightened his grip on her hand, making Sami stop as well. He went and stood in front of her, looking at her seriously.

"I wanted you to see the place that means so much to me Samantha," he told her softly.

"Why?" she frowned up at him, suddenly nervous at how he was looking at her so intently.

EJ gave the barest of smiles, reaching down and picking up her other hand before bringing it to his lips and pressing a soft kiss to the back of her hand. He repeated the action with her other hand but kept his lips against the sensitive skin as he spoke his next words, the softness of his lips at odds with the slight roughness of his five o'clock shadow.

"I love this island," he told her sincerely, his eyes never leaving hers, "… and I love you Samantha… it seemed fitting to me somehow that we should be here together."

Sami gasped… he'd said it again.

In the hospital foyer before they'd left for Ara Caman EJ had told her he loved her. She'd scoffed at him then and she wanted to again but something was holding her back and she just didn't know what. EJ just watched the various emotions flickering across her face, intent on working out her reaction to his statement.

"You're the one for me Samantha," he told her throatily, his eyes warm in the fading light, "The first moment I saw you I knew. You want me to believe that this is all in my head but I look into your eyes and I know it's not. You feel this as much as I do… you want this as much as I do… you're just afraid to admit to it."

"That's not true," she whispered back to him, her eyes suddenly stricken.

"Yes it is," he told her with great certainty, his jaw hardening ever so slightly, "And I'm going to prove it to you Samantha… you just watch me."

"You need to stop this EJ," she pleaded with him unevenly, her heart beating erratically at the way he was talking, "Nothing can ever happen between us for so many reasons…"

"It's already happened," he told her with a shake of his head, undeterred, "And neither one of us can undo it now… you're mine Samantha… just as completely as I am yours…"

Chapter FOURTEEN - Strangers In The Night

EVENING 3 (cont)…

EJ blew out a breath as he now stood in the foyer, desperately wanting to know what Sami was thinking right then. He decided there was only one way to find out because sleep certainly wasn't on his mind any longer. EJ walked into the sitting room to find Sami standing there, looking intently out the window at the surrounding rain forest that was full of shadows and darkness on and off as the bright moon must have been going behind clouds and then reappearing. EJ coughed, not wanting to startle her but she jumped anyway, turning around and staring at him wide eyed.

"Sorry," he apologised quietly.

"You scare me," she said breathlessly.

"Excuse me?" asked EJ with a slight frown.

"I mean you scared me," she corrected herself hastily, looking away from him.

EJ's arched an eyebrow, wondering about her slip of the tongue. He walked into the room more, studying her profile carefully.

"Couldn't sleep hmm?" he asked her softly.

"How can I when you're there in the bed with me?" she snapped, upset and EJ was always a good target for her bad moods.

"It didn't seem to bother you last night," said EJ mildly.

"Yeah well I was still in shock from being attacked!" she huffed, not wanting him to be here suddenly, finding it too confronting.

"Attacked?" EJ questioned her mildly with a quirk of his lips, "A tiny lizard fell on you from the ceiling… it's hardly a Freddy Kruger movie now is it darling?"

EJ held up a hand as she opened her mouth and silenced her next words.

"And please don't say you'd rather be here with Freddy Kruger sweetheart," he told her, knowing exactly what she was about to say.

Sami folded her arms in front of her chest and looked at him defiantly. EJ gave a heavy sigh and sat down on the end of one of the arms of the sofa and looked at her thoughtfully.

"I have an idea," he announced suddenly.

"Oh good," said Sami sarcastically, "Because I've loved all your ideas so far."

EJ gave her a pointed look then and she had the grace to look a bit ashamed because there had been parts of their time on the island that Sami had truly enjoyed and she couldn't deny it as much as she'd might want to. Riding on Jellybean, the beauty of the sunset on the beach. EJ saw the truth in her eyes and she looked away quickly.

"So that being said how about we wipe the slate clean?" he offered, "You're remaining two points can be gone if you like."

"What do I have to do?" she asked him suspiciously.

"Well you seem particularly gifted in coming up with things that you detest about me Samantha," he observed calmly, "How about we turn that frown upside down and you have to tell me ten things that you actually like about me. Have we got a deal?"

"No!" said Sami in horror, "Like I could even think of one thing I like about you EJ DiMera!"

"Hmm," he said, pretending to think over her answer, "I suppose we could always go with your suggestion of skinny dipping. It's a lovely, warm night out - a midnight dip sounds like just what the doctor ordered."

"NO!" squeaked Sami, even more horrified by that prospect.

"No?" repeated EJ, feigning surprise this time, "My original idea suddenly sounding more appealing eh darling? I tell you sweetheart, I could go either way at the moment."

"Fine!" she said unhappily, "We'll do the stupid ten things then!"

"Excellent," said EJ brightly.

"I like it when you leave a room," said Sami with a sickly sweet smile.

"Ah ah," said EJ with a shake of his head, "Play properly missy… I've got all night to wait in case you're wondering - I'm not tired at all."

Sami blew out a frustrated breath, realising she was going to have to do this now but anything was better than option B at this point!

"I'll help you out and play along too," he offered with a small smile, "I'll even start…"

EJ paused then, studying her carefully before speaking and Sami felt herself become self conscious under such close scrutiny.

"I love how you never back down from a fight," he told her softly, his eyes warm, "No matter if you have no chance of winning you still give it your all."

Sami scowled at that, unsure if that could be classified as a compliment or not.

"Your turn," he encouraged her, looking at her with great interest as she stood just in front of him.

"I like umm…" Sami struggled with what to say next.

She spent so much time rehearsing the things she hated about EJ that it was a very odd experience to think of things that she liked about him just because she'd been so determinedly suppressing them for so long now. EJ arched his eye brows at her, waiting expectantly.

"Umm…" Sami hesitated, trying to find something suitably neutral, "You're a good dancer… I like how you dance."

EJ smiled and seemed happy enough with that.

"Dancing with you on the pier is one of the happiest memories I have Samantha," he told her warmly.

"Moving on," she said determinedly, "I want to go back to bed - so no more discussion, let's just do this already!"

"I love how you'll lie through your teeth to get your own way," he told her with a grin, "Shamelessly so."

"That's not a good thing EJ!" exclaimed Sami, her cheeks going pink.

"Says who?" he asked her with a careless shrug.

"Everyone!" she said hotly and then shook her head, annoyed at herself for being sucked into prolonging this again, "My turn…"

"Fire at will sweetheart," he told her in amusement.

"I like… I like…" Sami bit her lip and tried to think, "… you're accent."

EJ made a thoughtful face at that.

"I've got others," he offered her with a grin, "Do you want to take another one out for a spin and see if you like it better…"

"No!" she huffed at his teasing as EJ looked like he was about to launch into a whole litany of them.

"Alright then," he conceded looking at her carefully, "I love your skin. It's so pale and delicate… it tells me everything I ever wanted to know about how you are feeling."

Sami looked worried at that, self consciously pulling her robe a little more tightly around her. She cleared her throat nervously, not wanting to give him a chance to dwell on that, quickly finding something else to say about him.

"I like…" Sami took a deep breath then, "… I like that you had faith in me… with Mythic… or at least I thought you did."

"I did and I do Samantha," said EJ earnestly, "To my way of thinking there is nothing you can't do once you put your mind to it."

"Yeah well," she said uncomfortably, not wanting to be pleased by his faith in her but she was anyway, "Not many people think that way… so… whatever."

Sami wasn't liking how this conversation was making her feel. She felt unsettled and nervous about what he was going to say next and even more so about what was going to come out of her mouth next.

"I love how good a mother you are," he told her truthfully, "How much you love Will and want what's best for him."

"I wasn't always a good mother," protested Sami unhappily, "I made a lot of mistakes with him that I regret so much."

"A good mother… a good person is not someone who has never made a mistake," EJ told her wisely, "But rather someone who has learnt from the mistakes they have made and seeks not to repeat them."

Sami looked away and hoped more than anything EJ was right. She felt liked she'd failed Will so many times but all she wanted to do now was make up for that with him.

"I like how you are with Jellybean," she croaked, changing the subject as she felt herself becoming emotional, "You're… umm… you obviously love that horse… and you're good with him."

EJ smiled at that, touched that she'd been taking notice of such a little detail.

"I love your spirit Samantha," he told her warmly, "You just fill any room you walk into with it. It takes my breath each and every time I'm near you."

"Yeah well," she shrugged, trying her hardest not to be swayed by his charming words, "All I know is that spirit has gotten me into a lot of trouble in the past."

This was all a game to him she had to keep reminding herself of that fact. He was just trying to trick her like he had been all along. His sweet words meant nothing to him and she couldn't let them mean anything to her. There was too much at stake. She had a shot at a normal, happy life with Lucas and she was going to take it. No amount of sweet talk from EJ was going to make her forget that. EJ leant forward a little then, his eyes lighting up.

"I adore trouble," he told her huskily and Sami shuddered a little to hear how velvety his words suddenly sounded.

His eyes dropped to her lips, a smile on his face as he watched her nervously whet them.

"… in fact you might even say I live for… trouble," he said, his voice low and smooth now as his eyes moved slowly from her lips to hold her gaze steadily then.

Sami's heart gave a nervous start at what she saw in his eyes, suddenly afraid.

"I like your hair!" she blurted out, not caring how that sounded as long as they got this over and done with quickly and she could escape him and his damn sexy smile.

"My hair?" he repeated with a little laugh.

"Yes it's very…" Sami looked up at his dark locks and then back at him, "… full."

"Yours is like spun gold," he told her huskily, picking up a strand between his fingers and admiring it, "And so soft…"

He let it fall through his fingers then and Sami quivered, as though she suddenly had the sensation of touch in her hair and feeling his light caress.

"I love your mouth," he said, his eyes dropping to her still glistening lips, his eyelids becoming heavy, "It's so luscious and tastes like the sweetest honey with just a touch of spice…"

"I like your nose!" she said hastily, trying to move things onto less sexy ground, "… it's… ahh… straight and… proportional and… and…in the middle of your face…"

"It's my favourite place to keep it," he teased her with a deep chuckle and she blushed furiously.

Sami knew she was babbling but suddenly this whole thing seemed like a very bad idea.

"So you like my nose eh?" he asked, the barest of smiles on his lips as he moved closer to her still.

Sami had thought she was safe choosing to talk about noses but she should have known better with this man. EJ moved so that the tip of his nose brushed teasingly across hers. Sami's breath hitched in her throat as he playfully nuzzled her nose with his.

"Your nose is very cute sweetheart," he told her, almost whispering now as Sami's began to feel herself falling, her head spinning at his close proximity and the web he was weaving around her, "Like a little upturned button…"

Sami put her hands to his shoulder and she'd swear later it was to push him away from her but somewhere the messages her brain was sending became derailed because instead of pushing on his shoulders Sami's hands caught the material of his shirt and closed that last little distance between them.

The kiss when it came at last seared through Sami's entire body, the taste of him exploding in her mouth as EJ confidently sort and gained entrance into her mouth. His tongue found hers lapping at it and making her taste him as deeply as he was tasting her.

Oh god how this man could kiss!

It was something that should definitely go on the list but she'd never tell him that. He was confident but not overly so, just the right amount of pressure and seemed to know what she wanted him to do next. As much as she tried to tell herself it wasn't true but no one had ever kissed her the way EJ did and every single time it felt like she would die from the pleasure of this simple act.

EJ felt her respond to him, could feel how she was holding nothing back from him. He moved a little on the arm of the sofa, settling himself more comfortably and delighted in the way she followed him so eagerly, as though she couldn't bear to break their kiss. EJ knew how she felt. He adored kissing this woman and a little shudder of excitement passed through him imagining what it would be like when he was finally making love to her. Her kisses almost destroyed him… what would it be like the first time he claimed her properly he wondered. That first precious moment when his body would at last be at home inside hers. The way her walls would feel around him, the noises she'd make at that first coupling. EJ groaned loudly at the image, one hand snaking around her waist and dragging her closer to him.

Her softness fitted up against his muscular planes perfectly, melting into them, blurring the lines where he began and she finished. EJ's other hand went to her neck, stroking it tenderly as he continued to plunder the delights of her mouth, becoming ever more famished for her. His hand drifted down and along her shoulder before gliding back across her chest, a finger resting in the notch of her collar bone, feeling her pulse flutter against his finger like a trapped butterfly. His body began to throb, urging him on and his hand could no longer be still. It dipped lower, down between the valley of her breasts, pushing the material of her tank top down as he went, and intent on one goal.

Sami felt her nipples pebble, impatient for his touch, shameless in their eagerness for the attention of those skilled fingers. She whimpered when he found one hardened bud, teasing it into ever growing erectness, pleasing them both as he pulled and pinched the sensitive skin gently. EJ had barely begun to discover yet what she enjoyed, what pleased her and made her breathing become as ragged as his was. Their too few attempts at love making had all been interrupted so there was still so much he had to learn about her body, so many ways to find to pleasure her until she could only bare to have one man's hands on her body ever again… his.

Sami felt the moisture pool between her legs, the entrance to her core tighten painfully and then beginning to ache for more. His hand cupped her fully now, his large hand just managing to contain her fullness and his excited groan told her he enjoyed the way she filled his hand so completely. He began to knead her softness, his tongue picking up the same rhythm and before Sami could help herself her hips began to mark the same time with little thrusts as she stood between his legs.

EJ growled at the contact and the hand that was at her waist moved lower suddenly, going to her lower back and pulling her even more tightly against him, letting her feel exactly what it was that she was doing to him. Sami gasped at the feel of that unmistakeable hardness against her stomach, a sudden vivid image came to her of him moving over her, impaling her wordlessly on that same swollen length and making her cry out at having to take so much of him all at once. Her body reacted instantly to the mental image, excitedly pushing out fresh wetness to help her do just that.

Sami gasped, startled by how clearly she could see him taking her in her mind's eye and how wantonly her body had responded to even the thought of it. A new fear washed over Sami and she struggled in EJ's arms all of a sudden, desperate for him to stop touching her, desperate to regain her senses that he'd stolen from her with a few simple touches. EJ let her go but he wasn't happy, a small frown marring his handsome features as he looked at her in confusion, his breathing ragged and loud… much like her own.

"NO!" she said loudly, taking a couple of unsteady steps backwards and shaking her head at him, "No! We can't do this - I can't do this!"

"Why not?" he asked her tensely, more worried by the way he could see her mentally retreating back into herself protective cocoon even as she stood there, looking at him with horror then the actual loss of physical intimacy.

EJ knew that he wouldn't have her body without her mind and he didn't want to anyway. It was all or nothing for him.

"Because I'm in love with another man!" she said and then more to drive the point home to herself then him at that moment, "I'm in love with another man EJ - and I want only him!"

EJ shook his head, closing his eyes briefly and attempting to reign in the raging need in his body and focus on their conversation. He didn't speak for a long moment and Sami could see he was struggling to get himself back under control and she knew how he felt, her own body still throbbing and aching from what he'd already done to it.

"Samantha…" said EJ, finally opening his eyes and looking at her, taking in her flushed cheeks and her lips still swollen from his kisses.

Sami tensed, uncertain of what his next words were going to be, preparing to fight him… and herself.

"Everything you do Samantha you do with your whole heart," said EJ softly, catching her off guard with his sudden change of tact, "It's magnificent, awe inspiring in fact. The way you fight, the way you love, the way you delude yourself…"

"You're one to talk about delusions!" said Sami sharply, finding herself taken aback by his words.

"When you and I first met you spoke endlessly of how Austin was your one true love," EJ reminded her calmly, "He was the only man for you apparently and you would hear nothing to the contrary. And if I remember correctly sweetheart it was actually me who pointed out that you might have feelings for Lucas which of course you vehemently denied… much as you do any feelings for me I might add. And now here we are… Lucas is now your one true love and you cannot allow yourself to see past that in any way, shape or form."

"There is nothing to see!" said Sami vehemently, trying to block out the memory of their heated tryst they'd just shared moments before.

"There's me Samantha," said EJ leaning forward and, his voice low and urgent now as he held her gaze determinedly, "See me."

"I do see you," she said shakily, "You're EJ DiMera, Stefano's son and…"

"No!" said EJ sharply with a shake of his head, "I'm the man who just kissed you, the man you just kissed back. Nothing else matters beyond that Samantha."

"Do you just expect me to close my eyes and forget everything that has happened EJ?" she asked him bitterly.

"No Samantha," he said fiercely, his hand going out to cup the back of her head now and draw her face closer to his even as he dropped his head lower, "I expect you to open your eyes and be honest with yourself and with me about how I make you feel."

EJ reached out a hand and cupped the back of her head, dragging Sami to him in an intense kiss that brooked no resistance and to her horror Sami offered none again for a long moment until some part of her brain managed to convince her that this was a mistake. Sami shoved almost violently against EJ's chest and he released her immediately. They looked at each other, both breathing unevenly, the air fairly crackling with the tension between them and Sami did what she should have done when he'd first walked into the room.

She ran.

Chapter FIFTEEN - What's In A Name?

DAY 4...

Sami ran out of the sitting room, into the foyer and out of the front door. She just ran and didn't look back. It had started to lightly rain again but she didn't even notice, intent on escaping what had just happened between her and EJ. Sami ran into the rainforest, pushing past the vines and stumbling a little over the uneven ground. She could hear the ocean ahead of her but she ran out of breath before she got there, coming to a relatively clear area amongst the trees and leaning up against one, gasping for her next breath. Sami leant her head back against the tree and closed her eyes, trying to get herself back under control.

"Samantha?"

The sudden sound of EJ's voice so close to her shattered what little calm she'd managed to find so far. Her eyes flew open and her head snapped round to see him standing there off to one side, looking at her calmly with those dark eyes of his. Sami gasped and straightened up, going to run again but her foot connected with an exposed tree root and she stumbled, falling to the ground in a heap.

"Samantha!"

He was beside her in an instant and then there was the feeling of his hands on her, checking to see if she was hurt.

"Are you alright?" he asked her, his face full of concern and right there in front of her now as she tried to scramble to her feet and put some distance between them.

"Yes!" she said breathlessly, on her feet now and going to move away, albeit unsteadily.

"Don't."

Sami froze at the simple request, doing as he asked and not moving. She looked up at him wide eyed as EJ drew closer to her, standing over her so she was forced to tilt her head right back to still look him in the eye.

"You're always running from me Samantha," he told her softly, his deep voice sounding so anguished at the thought, "Don't… please."

Sami shook her head at him, unable to tear her eyes away from his.

"I can't," she whispered, "EJ I can't."

"Can't what Samantha?" he asked her, looking at her so intently.

The drizzling rain had all but drenched them both by now and the warmth of his body heated the small amount of wet air between them and Sami could feel that wet heat envelop her somehow. It was a strange sensation - foreign and yet enticing. The rain had wet EJ's hair and darkened it even more as she knew it must have done hers as well. Little droplets of water streaked down the planes of his face and down onto his chest and into the black tank top he was wearing. Sami had this sudden urge to taste one wet drop, the combination of rain water and his skin a suddenly intoxicating thought.

"What can't you do sweetheart?" he pushed her, seeing the uncertain look on her face, "Can't want me… can't… love me?"

"Yes!" she gasped in anguish, "I can never love you EJ!"

"Don't say that!" he growled, moving so suddenly that Sami was caught off guard.

Sami took a couple of hasty steps backwards but had to stop when her back came up against the trunk of a large tree but EJ didn't. He advanced on her until he was standing so close to her that their bodies were so close to touching but not quite. He put his hands on either side of her head, palms resting against the tree trunk and bent his head even as Sami craned her neck right back to look him in the eye, feeling every inch of their height difference at such close proximity and feeling suddenly very vulnerable.

"Don't say that," he repeated, this time little more than a whispered plea.

There was such anguish in his eyes that Sami couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't even look away. EJ closed that last little distance between them and he was kissing her again and this time she didn't have the strength to stop him, returning the kiss just as passionately. It was almost too hard but Sami didn't want him to stop, the little noises she was making in the back of her throat encouraging him on. She gasped when he suddenly stopped; tearing his lips off hers and making her feel suddenly bereft. Sami looked up at him in confusion, her eyes begging him for an explanation but EJ didn't speak, simply held her gaze as he took a step backwards. Still not letting her look away EJ pulled his now soaking tank top off over his head, throwing it in a wet heap to one side.

Sami's eyes ran over his naked chest, muscled and tanned with a smattering of chest hair that seemed just right to her somehow. She dragged her eyes from his chest, trying to work out what he was thinking, what he was going to do next and she didn't have long to wait. EJ's hands went to her tank top now and without a single word just pulled it off over her head, exposing her naked breasts to him. His eyes flared at seeing her for the first time and her nipples hardened of their own accord in reaction to that look. Wordlessly EJ bent his head and ran his tongue up between the valley of her breasts, collecting all the rain water that had beaded there already and doing as she'd already fantasised about with him - tasting her skin mixed in with the little droplets.

EJ began to lick his way along her collar bone and then suddenly moved lower. Sami cried out as he found her nipple, drawing the hardened bud into his mouth and suckling eagerly. She groaned at the feeling of his velvety tongue running back and forth over the peak, encouraging it to ever greater stiffness and Sami leant back against the tree, arching her back and closing her eyes at the delicious sensation. He stopped again and Sami moaned her complaint, opening her eyes and blinking rapidly as some rain water dripped into them. EJ had only moved away though to remove his sweat pants, riding himself of them quickly. Sami's eyes widened to see him naked and fully erect - magnificently so. Her mouth went suddenly dry but other parts of her body had no such problem, her core instantly responding to the sight of his swollen manhood. The wetness pooled between her legs, adding to what was already there from his ministrations to her breast.

EJ moved back to her immediately, claiming her other breast now with a feral sounding growl, repeating his cleverness with it and making her whimper her pleasure for him. Sami felt his hands go to her pyjama bottoms, sliding under the waistband and down her backside, pushing the material down as he went. EJ got the pants to her knees and Sami took over, unable to bear having anything between them now and she simply stepped out of them, even while EJ continued to have his way with her breast, his hand going to the other one now and finding her nipple, pulling and teasing it between his thumb and fingers. Sami groaned loudly, leaning her head back against the tree trunk and tilting her face towards the heavens. The rain fell softly on her face, a stark contrast to the roughness EJ was treating her body with but she welcomed it… craved it and only wanted more. Both of their bodies were slick with rain water and Sami put a hand to EJ's soaked head, fingers curling in his short hair, intent on keeping him at her breast for a little while longer. Sami opened her eyes again then, looking down now and seeing EJ bent over her, mouth to her breast and her body tightened in excitement, pumping out more of its juices in approval of the sight. A slight movement in the corner of her eye distracted Sami from the sight of EJ worshipping her breasts and she turned her head her eyes widening at what she saw and a pained gasp passed her lips.

Lucas.

Standing there, a few feet away, silently watching her and EJ together.

Sami was horrified but before she could do anything at all EJ released her breast, both hands going to her bare bottom cheeks and he lifted her off the ground, entering her in one hard thrust. He didn't speak, didn't ask for permission and it was so sudden that her head was spinning as Sami found herself impaled on his manhood. She cried out having to take so much of him at once but EJ offered no apology, instead beginning to thrust himself hard and deep inside of her. Sami groaned, wrapping her legs around EJ's waist and it only increased his penetration of her and wrung another groan from deep inside of her, Sami having to squeeze her eyes tightly closed against the rawness of the sensation.

Her hands gripped his broad, rain slick shoulders as EJ held her in place against the tree with his hands and the force of his penetrations. Sami's eyes met Lucas' over EJ's shoulder, her eyes wide but unable to stop what was happening. Lucas just stood there expressionlessly, watching as EJ took her fiercely up against the tree, listening to their increasingly desperate groans and grunt. EJ had his head buried in her shoulder and Sami's lips were parted, drawing in ragged breaths of air and letting out little cries every time EJ rammed all his thick, hard length into her completely with a force that should have been painful but only excited Sami more. Lucas did nothing, continuing to watch them their frantic coupling, EJ rutting away inside of her with ever increasing force. Sami continued to hold Lucas' gaze for as long as she could, her eyes full of anguish that he should be witnessing this but then EJ moved her hips, penetrating her at a slightly different angle and suddenly he was all she could think of.

"GOD!" she cried out, the new angle making it feel like he was practically tearing her in two with every remorseless thrust and nothing else in the world existed now except for EJ.

He lifted his head from her shoulder then, trapping her with his dark gaze and Sami stared helplessly back, her body utterly his to do with what he wanted and they both knew it.

"You're mine!" EJ rasped the words to her and Sami whimpered, unable to deny it as his penetrations became ever more urgent, pushing them both on to their first climax, "MINE!"

EJ came then, his body bursting forth with all that he had for her, flooding Sami's deepest regions with his own seed and howling loudly as he did. With each of his frantic final thrusts EJ seemed to find more to give her and Sami groaned at the sensation of feeling him inundate her with all of his maleness. Her core tightened, desperate for her own release, so close but not quite there yet. All thoughts of Lucas was gone from her head, EJ consuming her utterly and yet still that last perfect crescendo alluded her.

"EJ!" she cried out her frustration to him, needing to come so badly she was almost crying from frustration, "EJ!"

Sami groaned loudly, waking herself up and she sat up suddenly, her breathing uneven and her entire body aching. She nervously turned her head and almost cried with relief to see that EJ wasn't in the bed beside her to witness her shameful display. She sat there, trying to regain her wits and work out what the hell that was all about. She was bombarded with feelings of guilt and shame but more than that, desire and lust. Sami felt as though she was going to burst in to flames any minute and needed to put a stop to this. Sami climbed out of bed shakily and quickly dressed, fearful that at any moment EJ would return and trying to dismiss her all too vivid dream from her mind with limited success. Sami hadn't even heard him come to bed last night after she'd run out on him. It was still pretty dark outside, not even dawn quite yet and Sami couldn't help but wonder where he was.

A search of the downstairs area didn't reveal EJ and Sami frowned, wondering where he was but then, he couldn't be that far away – this was an island after all. She wandered outside and headed down the short track to Jellybean's stable. She'd grown very fond of the horse in her short stay and would often find herself down talking with him when EJ just got too annoying, too smug… too confronting. She'd vent to the horse about his master's many faults and Jellybean would listen patiently, even offering up a sympathetic noise or two. It could have been for Sami to give him more grain of course but she liked to think that it was because he understood and was commiserating with her.

Sami opened the door of the stable and her heart gave a jump when she found that Jellybean wasn't there, fearing the worse that he'd somehow run off during the night but then she noticed that his saddle was gone and it was much more likely that EJ had simply taken him out. She'd noticed that EJ would slip away a couple of times a day and take Jellybean for a run along the beach. Sami supposed the little walk the three of them had been on didn't really cut it for the horse. It was slowly starting to get lighter as the sun began to creep back in the sky.

Was it only last night that she and EJ had watched it set?

His words of last night kept coming back to her… see me. Sami felt like he was all she could ever see nowadays, he was everywhere she turned all of a sudden and even her dreams weren't safe from him now it seemed.

You're mine…

She shuddered at the memory of his possessive words.

It felt like a lot had happened between then and now even though it had only been a few short hours. Sami started to head towards the beach. She told herself that she was only looking to find EJ so she'd know where he was to keep out of his way. Sami determinedly didn't examine the logic of that particular line of thinking as she walked along. Coming to where the rainforest met the beach she stopped and looked up and down the beach. To her right she immediately saw EJ and Jellybean off in the distance. She watched as they galloped along, Jellybeans hooves thundering along as they went at full speed along the water line until they finally slowed down and simply strolled along, taking in the beauty of the breaking of dawn, man and beast oblivious to their audience of one.

Sami didn't know much about riding a horse but she didn't need to see that EJ really knew how to ride. He and Jellybean were in perfect sync as they had raced down the beach together. He made it look so effortless but then again EJ DiMera made just about everything look easy thought Sami bitterly. Everything seemed to come to him so easily whilst Sami felt like she'd had to fight and claw for everything she'd ever gotten in her life. He was always so calm and self assured in everything he did. Very few things seemed to pierce that charming, roguish exterior. Sami knew a weak spot was his father and he'd spent the last four days trying to convince her she was another for some reason.

Sami just couldn't work out his angle. She absolutely didn't believe that he loved her so he must have another reason for trying this hard with her. The truth, if Sami was brutally honest with herself, was that she didn't believe that anyone other than Eric had ever really loved her and certainly no man that she wasn't related to. She knew her parents loved her but there was always this kind of divide between them somehow. EJ's words about them not understanding her came back to haunt her. She'd never let herself examine her relationship with her parent's too closely for fear of what she might discover.

Sami felt like she'd spent her whole life working for their approval and failing abjectly. She knew she was the problem – the anti-Brady. Impulsive, manipulative and emotional – she was everything a Brady wasn't meant to be and Sami hated it. Hated being the odd one out, the outcast of the family and couldn't stand to be on the outside looking in anymore. Her relationship with Lucas represented a fresh start for her. There was no other woman to try and manoeuvre out of the picture and she loved Lucas and had a child with him. It was neat and perfect and how life should be. The last thing Sami wanted right now was complications. Her life had been full of them and she was sick to death of them. All she wanted now was a normal life and the man on horseback trotting up towards her was anything but the way to that.

"Good morning," smiled EJ.

He looked well rested and relaxed and Sami hated him for it. She felt like she hadn't closed her eyes all night but she knew she must have because of that dream that had woken her. Sami blushed at the memory and was grateful that the light was still low and it wouldn't be as noticeable.

"Morning," she mumbled and then smiled as Jellybean drew near, looking for a pat.

Sami reached up a hand and stroked the horse's long velvety nose and smiled at him as he snorted out some air from each nostril.

"Jelly was a bit anxious for a hit out this morning," EJ informed her, swinging down easily from the saddle in one lithe move, "Lot of pent up energy, he charmed me into an extra long ride."

"I don't think you'd need that much convincing," said Sami, shooting him a quick sideways glance.

EJ's face was relaxed and open, looking decidedly boyish all of a sudden. His breathing was ever so slightly heavier from all the galloping and Jellybean's even more so, his hot breath continuing to blow up the bangs of Sami's hair.

"That's true," EJ grinned and then leant towards her in a conspiratorial fashion, "But don't tell him that – I don't want Jelly to think he's got me wrapped around his little finger."

"You're secret is safe with me," said Sami and smiled despite herself.

When things were like this between them it was hard for Sami to remember that she'd sworn to herself that EJ was her mortal enemy. The instant rapport that she'd always felt with him bubbled to the surface again. She'd told herself that it had died the day she'd found out about his lies but she was beginning to realise that she'd only buried it. Sami despised herself for enjoying EJ's company, even for a minute and would berate herself severely for it but it didn't seem to stop her from continuing to do it.

"You're up early," commented EJ, walking up alongside Jellybean so that he was closer to Sami and put his arm up under the horse's neck and patted the other side of his neck as he did.

"Yeah well," she shrugged, not really wanting to say more than that.

"You had a bit of a restless night," EJ said mildly.

"Did you hear…?" Sami caught herself from incriminating herself further just in time, "Did… did I keep you awake?"

"You've always kept me awake sweetheart," he teased her with a gentle laugh, his eyes twinkling at her.

"Be serious," she admonished him, not sure she was up to his flirting this morning after the events of last night.

"You're being serious enough for the both of us," he grinned at her, "What's the matter Samantha?"

"You cannot be serious asking me that question!" she exclaimed, looking at him wide eyed.

"Oh right," sighed EJ, "Big old mean EJ has whisked you away from all your family and friends and is holding you hostage on this… now what was it… how did you put it… oh yes, hell hole. Did I miss anything out sweetheart?"

"The part about you being a smug bastard perhaps?" asked Sami sweetly, annoyed that he'd taken the wind out of her sails by listing his own misdeeds before she had a chance to.

"You like that about me," he told her and gave her a knowing wink.

EJ relented with his teasing though when he saw the expression on her face and smiled down at her.

"Tell you what Samantha," he said indulgently, "Why don't we go for a nice walk together – you can tell me what a cad I am and I can tell you the rest of the things that I adore about you? How's that for a plan eh?"

Sami's eyes widened. The last thing she wanted was more intimate talks with him – the other two had not ended well from her point of view and she really didn't know if she had the strength for another in such a short period of time.

"I want you to teach me to ride!" she blurted out, desperate for something to distract him from his suggestion.

EJ's eyes brows shot up at her sudden and loud announcement. It had been something Sami had been thinking about ever since they'd gone horseback riding that first day but it seemed like a particularly good idea because at least it was a distraction.

"I'm game if you are," said EJ with a little smile that suggested he knew where her sudden urgent need to learn to ride was coming from.

"Of course I'm game," sniffed Sami, "I suggested it EJ!"

"Actually darling," said EJ, wrinkling his nose and giving her a rueful look, "I was talking to Jellybean."

"Cute," said Sami, rolling her eyes at him, "So what comes first?"

"Breakfast," said EJ simply.

"I'm not hungry," said Sami easily, "I want to start now."

"Well I'm famished and seeing as there is no show without Punch you're going to have to wait my love," said EJ, starting to walk with Jellybean back to the stable.

"What was that about punching?" asked Sami, suddenly worried, having to hurry to keep up with EJ's and Jellybean's long steps.

"It's a saying Samantha," laughed EJ, seeing her concerned face, "No show without Punch – you know, the Punch and Judy puppet show? They would always be fighting and seeing as there were only the two of them in the show there really wasn't any show with the other."

"Couldn't you have just said that I have to wait for you?" asked Sami flatly.

"I believe I just did," said EJ smoothly and then shot her a glance, "Now then, a quick brush down of Jelly and I'll get him his breakfast and then we can have ours – how does that sound Samantha?"

"Time consuming," grumbled Sami.

"Got somewhere to be darling?" asked EJ in mild amusement.

"Well if you'd drop dead like I keep asking I could be dancing on your grave," suggested Sami sweetly.

"That reminds me," said EJ unfazed by her dig but planning on getting her back for it, "Speaking of dancing – wasn't that one of the things you said you loved about me – my dancing ability?"

"I never said I loved you!" exclaimed Sami heatedly, "Um..."about you I mean. I said I liked how you dance. Don't read too much into it EJ – I also like how Fred Astaire dances!"

"Yes but I have two great advantages of Fred Astaire," said EJ seriously, "One – I'm here on the island with you and two – I'm not dead."

"Remind me again how either of those things is a good thing?" snarked Sami.

Once she started with the insults when it came to EJ she just couldn't seem to stop herself for some reason and even though she'd never admit it, Sami was kind of enjoying their banter. They were back at the stable now and EJ had led Jellybean inside.

"Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the Himalayas this morning didn't they?" teased EJ, enjoying her quick rejoinders, "Perhaps if you made the trek over to my side of the valley you might find something there to put a smile on your face eh darling?"

"You mean like the fact that you've come to your senses and gone back to your own room?" suggested Sami with a roll of her eyes.

"You don't want me to leave you Samantha," said EJ with great certainty as he pulled the saddle off Jellybeans back and hung it back up on the wall.

"Really?" asked Sami, pretending to be considering this as she stood to one side, "Because I'm pretty sure that is the only thing I want right now!"

"Pretty sure…" grinned EJ, moving right up close to her, making Sami stiffen, worried that he was going to suddenly start kissing her again.

At the last moment EJ reached round her and picked up the brush for Jellybean and gave her a cheeky wink.

"… but not absolutely sure eh darling?" he sassed her.

oooOOOOooo

"Back straight, lean forward a little more, heels down!"

EJ called out his instructions to Sami as she sat on the back of Jellybean and trotted around. She'd been a remarkably quick student and was picking it up well. EJ watched Sami as she trotted around, her face set in concentration as she remembered everything he had told her to do. Sami looked up then and smiled at him, her smile lighting up her entire face, clearly pleased with herself. It was a continual source of amazement to EJ that Sami had so little faith in herself. She could orchestrate these schemes of Machiavellian proportion without batting an eye but when it came to much simpler things she seemed to hesitate.

EJ's annoyance with her family grew, wondering why it was that they would want to stifle the spirit of this amazing young woman. If only he'd met her earlier, before they and the other men had done all this damage to her EJ just knew they would already be together. But it didn't matter now, they were in each other's life now for a reason. The more time he spent with Sami the more he felt like they were only a part of a bigger story somehow. At first EJ had figured it was to do with his father's plan for the DiMera dynasty but now EJ was so sure.

What he was sure of though that Samantha was to be his.

The when part though was proving to be a bit more elusive. They were on their fourth day already and even though they were in the same bed together there was still this wall between them… figuratively and literally. To say that they still had some baggage in their relationship was like saying Sami had packed light to come away for the week. A smile curved EJ's lips as he remembered her suitcase of shoes and how she'd dressed that first night for him, giving herself heat stroke in the process. Everything she did made him fall just that little bit harder for her which made his next moves so critical in their little game of cat and mouse.

One thing EJ knew about Samantha for absolute certain was that she was stubborn and pushing her too hard would result in the opposite effect he was going for. He'd learnt that early on when he was trying to counsel her on the lies she'd told in her relationship with Austin Peck. The more he'd reasoned with her, pushed her to be open to Austin the more she'd found reasons not to. It had been quite maddening really. EJ would talk some sense into her and leave her agreeing to talk to Austin and come clean with the whole Lexie/Carrie/fake medical advice fiasco but then he'd return a couple of hours later to find that she'd talked herself back out of it again. Of course it had all blown up in her face in the end and EJ couldn't say he was overly sorry because he'd wanted Austin out of the picture anyway and he got to be the shoulder to cry on.

But here was the rub, something that had worked for his advantage back then was actually working against him now. The challenge EJ had in front of him was that he needed to convince Sami that he was the man for her and let herself acknowledge the feelings she was clearly holding for him. Even if EJ managed this the real test would come when they left the island and she was surrounded by all the nay sayers again. None of them would be overjoyed to hear of her involvement with a DiMera and EJ worried that their opinion would sway Sami if he hadn't laid the ground work properly. There was this magical line in the sand EJ decided – once Sami crossed over to it and became convinced of something there was nothing she wouldn't do to hold on to it – case in point every relationship she'd ever had with a man. Sami had gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure that she would keep those men and EJ just knew that if he could get her to accept the fact that she loved him as much as he loved her then no amount of disapproving censure from those around her would move her one bit – in fact it would probably only make her cling to him more.

But it was a big if.

EJ knew he had to get this just right otherwise they were going to be going back to Salem and all of her barriers that had been slowly crumbling since being on Ara Caman would be back up in force. He thought back to their kisses of last night, the way she'd just melted into him and given herself whole heartedly over to him and EJ closed his eyes briefly at the memory. When she'd run out of the room it had taken all of his strength not to go after her but he was so wary of pushing her too much at this point. Their time was coming, he could feel it and EJ knew Sami could as well, hence the impromptu horse riding lesson. But her choice of distraction had been a telling one to EJ.

Sami could have opted to go for a walk alone or go up to the bedroom and read but she'd chosen an activity that included him and whether she meant to or not that spoke volumes to EJ. As did the fact that she was placing so much trust in him to teach her how to ride. In his dreams Sami embraced her love for him utterly and never looked back but EJ had a sneaking suspicion that it wasn't going to play out like that. Most of Sami's choices in life had been forced upon her rather than being able to choose and more than anything EJ wanted to grant her the freedom to choose the way forward in her life that wasn't mapped out for her by her family. He wanted her to choose him.

"Can I canter now?" she asked EJ eagerly, looking over at him with a big grin on her face, obviously enjoying herself.

"Do you feel up to it?" he asked her, "You've been doing this for a little while now - your legs must be getting tired."

"They're fine," she dismissed his concerns easily, "So cantering?"

EJ smiled, amused by how keen she was and as always finding it hard to say no to her, especially when Sami was beaming at him like she was now. Continuing to stand to one side he gave Sami instructions as she and Jellybean began to canter in ever enlarging circles but she was finding it not quite as easy to master as the trotting.

"You're sending him mixed messages," corrected EJ with a wave of his hand, "Pulling on the reins for him to stop and digging your heels into his side to go."

"No I'm not," frowned Sami, trying to get herself co-ordinated even as she bounced up and down on Jellybeans back.

"Trust me sweetheart you are," said EJ dryly, "I know of which I speak."

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Sami with a scowl, losing her concentration for the task at hand as she reacted to his words.

"I think you know Samantha," said EJ calmly, putting out a hand to Jellybean and getting him to stop cantering and walk over to him, seeing that Sami was getting agitated and distracted from what she was meant to be doing and that being the case the chances of her falling off and hurting herself.

"Well clearly I don't EJ!" snapped Sami, "Perhaps you'd better explain it to me?!"

"Get down off Jelly if you're going to get cranky," EJ said calmly, "Before you fall off."

"I'm not going to fall off!" she huffed but none the less got down, batting his hand away when EJ went to help her, "Don't!"

Sami looked up at him, ever defiant, her jaw tight as she prepared to fight with him over this.

"Well?" she pushed him, hands going to her hips, "How am I sending you mixed messages EJ?! I think I've been pretty clear in telling you that I don't want to be here and that I certainly don't want to have anything to do with you - I hate everything about you EJ!"

"Is that so?" asked EJ, folding his arms in front of his chest and not backing down, "It's funny but I seem to recall a certain young woman listing quite a few things about me that she didn't hate last night."

"That's because you made me!" exclaimed Sami, stamping her foot in frustration that he would actually use that against her now when he'd been the one to force her into that situation in the first place.

"But I didn't make you kiss me," he returned quickly, dropping his arms to his side and taking a step closer to her, "You kissed me because you wanted to and don't stand there and try and tell me anything differently Samantha - you and I both know the truth!"

Sami was hard put to argue with that one so she didn't say anything, just glared up at him.

"You have been having fun here sweetheart," he told her firmly, "Admit it - you like being with me - I'm fun to be with when you're not trying to ruin everything. Stop trying to make out that this is a nightmare for you when we both know it's not."

"You don't know anything about what I enjoy EJ!" raged Sami, "But I'll tell you this - that's one of the reasons I love Lucas so much, he's fun to be around - not you!"

Sami clapped her hands over her mouth in horror as she'd said the forbidden word again. She looked at him wide eyed as she tried to back track quickly. She'd just managed to clear the slate from her last indiscretion and was really frightened now of what he was going to ask of her after last night's little interlude. She had to get out of this!

"I didn't say the word," she said hastily, "I said… I said… carcass!"

"Really?" said EJ with a sceptical arch of his eyebrow, "Carcass? That's why you love carcass… because he's just so fun to be around?"

"Um… yes," she said weakly, realising that she was in no way carrying this off.

EJ looked her up and down thoughtfully, shaking his head at how impossible she was being but suddenly finding the funny side to it all, especially as Sami was looking at him like a guilty child being caught with the hand in the cookie jar - too adorable.

"Would you care to have another shot at it?" he asked her helpfully and then gave her a cheeky wink, "We'll just call that first attempt a practice go shall we eh Samantha?"

"Ah…" Sami desperately tried to think of something else that rhymed with Lucas although she didn't really know why she was trying because it was obvious that the jig was well and truly up but she couldn't bear to have him have the last laugh, "Puke fest!"

"Ooh," said EJ, appearing to be seriously considering her latest attempt and then gave a sympathetic grimace, "Don't actually think that's an improvement do you sweetheart?"

Sami groaned and gave up.

"Although," continued on EJ cheerfully, "It would seem that our boys Lucas' name manages to rhyme with some pretty unsavoury things eh Samantha - carcass, puke fest, lard ass…"

"Oh like you can talk Elvis!" she spat out.

EJ folded his arms and looked at her expectantly then and she realised that she was actually going to have to back that up with finding unpleasant things that rhymed with his name now.

"Pelvis!" she said triumphantly.

"Strangely enough I'm quite alright with that one," and he gave her a decidedly cheeky wink as he said that, making her grit her teeth.

"Um… umm…" Sami scrambled to come up with another word, "Sh… shellfish!"

"Well I'm not Jewish," pondered EJ, wondering how he was managing to keep a straight face when she was being so unbearably cute, "So I'm pretty much okay with that one too darling."

"I hate you," said Sami flatly, knowing the jig was well and truly up now.

"So you keep saying," said EJ mildly and then pursed his lips, taping a finger to them as he seemed to be suddenly deep in thought, "Now let's see what your punishment is going to be this time…"

EJ trailed off, enjoying tormenting her for a bit, taking some revenge for the book assault of the previous night. Sami gritted her teeth as he made umming and ahhing noises, knowing it was just to be annoying.

"Okay," said EJ after thinking about if for a little bit longer, "Here's your penance for saying the 'L' word…"

Sami held her breath, frightened of what he'd thought up now.

"The Berlin Wall comes down tonight," said EJ firmly, "We're liberating the East Germans."

"What?" said Sami in horror, "No, EJ, NO!"

"Ah, ah," said EJ, wagging his finger at her, "We had an agreement remember?"

"But…but…," Sami floundered, trying to find a way to get out of this but she hadn't found anyway yet and nothing was coming to her again.

"You know," EJ mused with a bit of a smirk at her less than convincing argument, "I never thought I'd say this but I'm actually starting to enjoy the sound of Lucas' name."

Sami glowered at him for enjoying her unhappiness so much.

"This is such a stupid rule!" she pouted, mad at him but more mad at herself that she had let it come to this.

"You only agreed to it because you had no idea how much you twitter on about that idiot didn't you?" asked EJ smugly, pleased with himself, "It's like a you've got a needle stuck in the groove when it comes to Lucas."

"That's because I love him!" she said heatedly, "Of course you talk about the person you love a lot - it's only natural!"

"Or…" said EJ slowly, putting up a different spin on it, "Maybe you're trying ever so hard to convince yourself that you love Lucas by going on about him so relentlessly when you know deep down that your heart belongs to another."

Sami glowered at him for that and he just smiled back calmly before giving her an impish wink.

"… I know which one of those two scenarios I've got my money on!" he said cheekily.

"That's all I am to you isn't it EJ?!" she spat out, taking her fear of what the night might bring now without the protection of the pillows, "Some prize to win and if you were ever to get me you'd be instantly bored and moving on to the next poor woman! This is just a sick game to you and meanwhile this is my life you're toying with!"

"You are not a game to me Samantha!" said EJ urgently, all trace of teasing gone from his voice now, "I love you, and I want to be with you…!"

"NO!" yelled Sami, not wanting to hear those words from him again, not liking the way they made her feel so full of turmoil.

She whirled around and as she had done last night ran to escape him, his presence, his self assurance and most of all, his declarations of love. In her blind need to put some space between them Sami had turned around and just rushed into the rainforest behind her, not caring where she ended up as long as EJ wasn't there.

"Samantha!"

She heard him call out behind her but Sami ignored him, pushing deeper into the rainforest and just praying he wasn't going to follow her.

"Samantha - wait a while!"

His voice was closer this time which meant that he had chosen to follow her this time, unlike last night and her heart began to beat double time, a sudden flash of her dream coming to her as she realised EJ was pursuing her and it only increased her panic.

"NO!" she yelled back to him, looking over her shoulder frantically to see where he was, "I'm not waiting… AAAGGGHH!"

The rest of her sentence was lost as Sami screamed loudly, the sharp pain tearing through her body, her cries galvanising EJ into action...

Chapter SIXTEEN - Rose Amongst The Thorns

DAY 4 (cont)…

"Don't move Samantha!" EJ ordered her as he closed the small distance between them.

"Ow ow owww!" she yelled, not listening to him and starting to struggle but that only made the situation worse.

The thorny vine she was caught in dug into her unprotected skin and she cried out, jerking back from the small stabs of pain but only causing herself more grief.

"Samantha!" said EJ and this time his voice was far more demanding, "Do… not… move!"

The authority in EJ's voice finally penetrated Sami's consciousness and she stopped struggling, wincing against little painful jabs that were going on all over her body. EJ was beside her now and grabbed her arm, steadying her as Sami had ended up in a weird, half hunched over position, frozen in place. EJ began to slowly untangle Sami from the vines with their wicked barbs.

"Hold still sweetheart," he admonished her gently when Sami jerked a little as he managed to remove one of the vines but it gave her a vicious little jab on the way out, "I'm trying to be as careful as I can but you can't move Samantha."

"Ohh!" groaned Sami unhappily as EJ continued to free her from her thorny predicament, "What the hell is this stuff anyway?!"

"I told you," said EJ, his brow furrowed in concentration as he worked away, careful not to catch Sami with anymore of the spiky protrusions or himself, "Wait-A-While."

"What?" scowled Sami, not in the mood for his riddles, "Wait for what?!"

"It's the name of the vine," clarified EJ with a quirk of his lips, "Wait-A-While vine - that's what I called out to you, trying to warn you."

"Wait-A-While?" repeated Sami flatly, "That's it name?"

She looked at a piece of the vine that was just in front of her and grimaced at how nasty looking it was. How could she not have noticed it before now? Because you were more worried about getting away from a certain someone then where you were going a little voice inside her head answered her glumly.

"It's also called Lawyer vine," EJ informed her conversationally.

"Oww," complained Sami as EJ pulled on a piece that had her hair caught up with it, "That figures!"

"Sorry," he said yet again, "Here, you're almost done, you can stand up straight now."

Sami gingerly did as EJ suggested and he let go of her arm.

"Just one more piece," he told her, crouching down in front of her and cautiously taking hold of the last vine that had caught on the material of Sami's pants and down a pants leg.

EJ stood with one booted foot on this last section of vine, pinning it under foot.

"Okay," he said, "Step out over it sweetheart and you're done."

Sami moved awkwardly, finding that she had to put a steadying hand to EJ's shoulder as she stepped over the vine. The feeling of one of his broad shoulders under her hand bought a sudden mental image of her dream back to her again, her legs wrapped around his waist, hands gripping EJ's rain slicked naked shoulders as he held her against that tree. Her body responded instantly to the picture in her mind's eye, her heart rate accelerating wildly. Sami gasped and snatched her hand from EJ's shoulder, needing not to be touching him to banish the unwanted vision from her head. Unfortunately she didn't think it through and was at a crucial point of unbalance when she did that and before Sami could save herself she was so overextended that she couldn't save herself, toppling in an undignified heap on the ground beside EJ.

"Samantha!" he exclaimed in surprise, trying to put a hand out to save her but she was too far gone.

"Are you alright?" asked EJ, straightening up before turning around and crouching back down beside her.

"Samantha!"

He was beside her in an instant and then there was the feeling of his hands on her, checking to see if she was hurt.

"Are you alright?" he asked her, his face full of concern and right there in front of her now as she tried to scramble to her feet and put some distance between them.

"Yes!" she said breathlessly, on her feet now and going to move away, albeit unsteadily.

"Don't," he pleaded with her.

Sami looked up at EJ with wide eyes stricken, the line between dream and reality blurring for an instance as her dream seemed to be playing out before her. She broke out in a sweat at the thought of how that dream had ended.

"Samantha?" repeated EJ, frowning deeply in concern as she didn't answer him, "Are you alright?"

"Y… yes," she said hastily, trying to pull it together.

The way EJ was looking at her was half worry, half bemusement and Sami groaned internally at how incoherent she was being.

"I'm fine EJ," she managed, with a shake of her head and went to stand up.

"Here," said EJ, taking her arm again, careful to stay away from the fresh scratches on there.

"I can do it," she said in annoyance but at the same time found herself leaning heavily on EJ, finding that she was still surprisingly unsteady on her feet.

"Of course you can darling," said EJ smoothly, not letting go of her arm and helping her out through the dense undergrowth.

"Don't you dare laugh at me EJ!" she said in annoyance, hearing the slightest tone of amusement in his calm words.

"Wouldn't dream of it," said EJ very seriously, looking down at her but there was a definite twinkle in his eyes.

The mention of dreams made Sami frown again but he wasn't to know that was the reason.

"Come on little Tar Baby," he teased her, "Let's get you up to the house and get you cleaned up eh?"

oooOOOOooo

Sami sat on the sofa waiting for EJ to return with the first aid kit, feeling very sorry for herself. EJ walked back into the room and put the little first aid kit on the coffee table in front of them and proceeded to pull out some gauze and antiseptic.

"This is going to sting a little," he warned her and despite herself Sami hissed at the first touch of the antiseptic to her wounds as he dabbed at them, making sure to clean them out thoroughly for her.

"Sorry," he murmured and Sami made some vague noise in response, gritting her teeth as he went about his self appointed task.

She watched him surreptitiously through her eyelashes, noting the look of concentration on his face as he tended to her wounds.

"Ow," she complained as he started on a slightly deeper scratch on the tender skin of her inner arm.

"Sorry," he said again, looking at her with a small quirk of his lips and shaking his head as he continued on, "You, Samantha Brady, are a full time job."

"Gee thanks," pouted Sami, still feeling very sorry for herself.

"It's alright," he teased her gently, "The pay might be lousy but you can't beat the job satisfaction and working conditions."

"I can't believe you're laughing at me," she said, scowling at him.

"I'm not laughing at you I'm laughing with you sweetheart," he corrected her with a grin.

He looked up to see Sami just staring at him with an entirely humourless look on her face and he grimaced.

"Alright," he conceded ruefully, "I can see you haven't managed to see the funny side of this yet."

"Oh I'm sorry," said Sami sounding anything but, "I just don't see the enjoyment in being scratched half to death in the bushes! Lucas wouldn't be…"

Sami bit her tongue but it was too late and she blew out an exasperated breath, closing her eyes at yet another slip up.

"Do go on Samantha," EJ urged her with a little smirk on his lips, "I don't know about you but I could wax lyrical about that man all day."

"You're taking advantage of me!" she huffed, annoyed at herself and taking it out on him, "I'm hurt!"

"These aren't too bad," said EJ, surveying his handiwork, "Just little surface scratches and I'm not taking advantage of you Samantha."

"They drew blood!" she protested, sounding put out that he wasn't making more of her ordeal and now she had to work off another request from him because of it all.

"Well yes," agreed EJ with a little smile, "Just. Now is there anywhere else that you can feel that is scratched?"

"I'm not sure," said Sami unhappily, in a real mood now.

"We need to be sure Samantha," he said gently, "Those kinds of scratches in the tropics can get infected really quickly. Maybe you should have a shower and check yourself out properly?"

Sami arched her eyebrow at his suggestion and EJ looked back at her and shrugged.

"What?" he asked her, seeing the way she was looking at him so suspiciously.

"No offer to join me and check out the parts I can't see for myself?" she asked him sarcastically.

"Well no," said EJ slowly and then gave her an impish wink, "But I do like the way you think Samantha and if it would make you happy…"

"It wouldn't!" she snapped.

"Let me just clean out that last scratch on your shoulder there," said EJ evenly, unfazed by her annoyance with him, "It looks like one of the deeper ones."

EJ leant over and picked up fresh gauze, soaking it in antiseptic before returning to Sami and applying it gently to the scratch. Sami jerked away a little at the first sting but then stayed dutifully still as EJ wiped away at her little wound.

"You're so very lucky that none of the vine ended up around your face," he commented huskily, his eyes flicking briefly to hers as he stroked the gauze along the line of her collar bone, "This could have been much worse Samantha."

Sami bit her inner lip and didn't say anything as she felt his warm breath on the sensitive skin of her shoulder and neck as he leant so closely into her. He was so close she could see the tiny flecks of green in his brown eyes which she'd never noticed before, always thinking his eyes had been a solid brown colour. EJ lifted those green flecked eyes to hold her gaze steadily.

"You're so very beautiful Samantha," he told her softly, one finger from the hand that was pressing the gauze to her neck reaching up and gently stroking her jaw line, "I can't breathe when I'm this close to you."

EJ was looking at her so seriously, an intense look in his eye and Sami felt her heart rate speed up. She had this sudden feeling that he was going to kiss her at any moment and was scared by how much she found herself wanting him to do just that.

"I should go for that shower," said Sami hastily, she went to stand up then and get away from that dark, all knowing gaze but a sudden pain in her rear stopped her and she cried out.

"What is it?" asked EJ solicitously, putting a hand up to her as Sami froze half standing, half sitting above the couch, "Did you hurt your back Samantha?"

"No," she squeaked, one hand going behind her, "My butt…"

EJ looked down at her backside which was just about level with his face because he hadn't gotten up and quickly grabbed her hand, seeing the problem instantly.

"Don't," he told her, "You've still got some prickles there."

"What?!" squawked Sami, flushing at this latest development.

"I can see some more of the spines from the Wait-A-While stuck in your bum sweetheart," said EJ, trying not to laugh out loud, "I told you that you should have worn jeans to the riding lesson."

"Oh like you knew this was going to happen!" growled Sami unhappily.

"It would have covered all eventualities darling," EJ smirked and then shook his head, "You're going to have to get them out Samantha."

"Gee ya think?" asked Sami sarcastically, straightening up slowly and making a pained expression.

She must not have noticed them when she sat down because of all her other aches and pains but she was sure noticing them now!

"Am I right in assuming you're going to be requiring some help in said endeavour?" asked EJ innocently.

Sami groaned loudly and realised that he was right - there was no way she was going to be able to reach behind her and pull out all those little prickles.

"I'm going to go ahead and take that as a - 'oh yes please EJ I would so appreciate that' - if that's alright with you darling?" asked EJ brightly.

"I wish I was dead," muttered Sami unhappily, shaking her head despondently.

"What's that sweetheart?" asked EJ teasingly, "You'd like me to take you to bed? Well I think that is a simply sterling idea myself!"

oooOOOOooo

Sami hobbled into the bedroom, wincing with each step as the barbs seemed intent on working their way ever deeper into her helpless bottom. EJ had just rejoined her after hunting down a pair of tweezers to aid in the prickle removal operation.

"Well this is just a perfect end to my morning!" Sami grumped, extremely unhappy at this turn of events as she crawled gingerly onto the bed and lay on her stomach.

"Maybe next time you'll listen to me when I tell you something," said EJ with a grin which Sami couldn't see but she could hear in his voice.

"Just shut up and do this EJ," she said tightly.

EJ bit his tongue and watched as Sami lifted herself up a bit, her hands going to her pants button and zipper, undoing both and then pushing her pants down to half way down her hips, grimacing against the pain of the little spikes in her backside being disturbed.

"Well look at that," commented EJ, perfectly straight faced as he was allowed his first look at Sami's naked backside, "It's as though you knew this was going to happen Samantha and wore that black thong especially to give me easy access."

Sami gritted her teeth even as she blushed so red that she knew she must suddenly look like a boiled lobster.

"Just do it!" she bit out, wishing to the high heavens that this wasn't happening but knowing it had to be done.

"One moment," said EJ and Sami lifted her head from the bed and frowned.

"What are you doing?" she asked him in annoyance as he walked around to his side of the bed they shared, going to the night stand.

"Glasses," he said, holding them up for her to see, "Don't want to miss any."

Sami rolled her eyes and wondering if this could get anymore humiliating then it already was. She felt the bed dip as EJ took a seat beside her as she lay stretched out, face down on the bed. There was a click and she realised that he'd turned the bedside lamp on to give a little more light and wondered how much worse this could get. EJ looked down at Sami's perfect backside, pale and firm and had this almost uncontrollable urge to lean down and sink his teeth into one tight globe. He somehow doubted that Sami would be appreciative of such a move but it would almost be worth it he decided.

"Speaking of perfect ends," he murmured appreciatively, slipping his glasses on.

"I swear to God EJ…" Sami began to threaten him but he cut her off.

"I'm getting on with it," he told her and then gave a cheeky grin, "Keep your pants on… oh… on second thought maybe not."

Sami made an annoyed grunting sound at his relentless teasing of her, burying her head in the pillow and praying that if he wasn't going to die then she would.

"You know I was thinking," he began conversationally as EJ leant down and put his face close to Sami's right buttock, squinting a little as he began to pluck at the fine little spiny prickles from the Wait-A-While vine with the tweezers.

"I bet," Sami muttered unhappily, "OW!"

"Sorry," he said calmly, continuing to pluck merrily away, "About your latest penance…"

"What now?" asked Sami with a despondent sigh, closing her eyes and burying her head more fully in the pillow.

"Now don't be like that," EJ admonished her lightly at her fatalistic attitude, "This is a simple request and you'll love it."

"Unlikely," snorted Sami.

EJ just smiled back at her smugly which in no way made Sami feel better about what he had planned for her next…

Chapter SEVENTEEN - Star Light, Star Bright…

EVENING 4...

"Do you mind getting out of my way?" snapped Sami, tilting her head back and glaring up at EJ who was standing there in his black robe.

"Of course sweetheart," he said sarcastically, "How can I say no when you ask so politely."

"Whatever," muttered Sami, sweeping past him as he stepped to one side, intentionally banging against him with one shoulder as she headed towards the bathroom to get changed for bed.

Ten minutes later she emerged to find EJ more or less standing where she'd left him. Sami glared at him and walked around to her side of the bed.

"I'm assuming you remember our deal," said EJ, folding his arms in front of him and arching an eyebrow at her, "We're going sans pillows tonight remember sweetheart?"

"How can I forget!" she snapped at him and then promptly picked up a pillow and threw it at him with all of her might.

EJ caught it easily and gave her a tight smile, walking up to her.

"You know," he said flatly, "I seem to recall telling you that I prefer the right hand side of the bed Samantha."

"Yeah well," she shrugged, unconcerned, "Guess you should have used your stupid penance point up on wishing for that instead of what you did!"

"My request didn't cause the delightful events of this evening," said EJ sharply, "I think that was pretty much down to you my love."

"Me!" squawked Sami in disbelief, "Are you kidding me EJ?! You started this - you started this whole thing in fact!"

"You're ability to twist the facts of any given event to suit your own purposes is quite staggering sweetheart," said EJ tartly, "You really must tell me how you manage to do it so well."

"Oh right!" she sneered, "Like you need any lessons on how to twist things for your own benefit EJ! I wouldn't even be here if you weren't such a devious, conniving low life!"

"Actually you wouldn't be here if you weren't such a convincing liar," said EJ with a saccharine sweet smile, "If you hadn't made such a good case for my innocence I'd quite possibly be in jail cell right now so really, if anyone is to blame it's yourself."

"Are you kidding me?!" asked Sami in incredulity, "You're doing it right now - twisting things to suit your own warped ideas!"

"You just don't like the sound of the truth when you hear it young lady," huffed EJ, "You've turned self deception into a way of life."

"The truth according to you EJ," she dismissed his analysis of her, "And the only one deceiving themselves here is you!"

Sami looked down at the pillow EJ was holding and grabbed it off him.

"And that…!" she snapped, "… is my pillow!"

oooOOOOooo

THREE HOURS PREVIOUSLY…

Sami took a deep breath and nervously smoothed down the material of her dress, looking at her reflection in the full length mirror one last time. EJ had caught her off guard yet again with his latest request of her. After the completely humiliating and extremely undignified events of the morning where Sami had been forced to allow EJ to pull out prickles from her backside she'd kept a somewhat of a low profile. Anymore riding lessons that day were certainly out of the question that was for sure. Sami pressed her lips together and took one final look in the mirror before turning around and heading out of the bedroom.

Like most things he'd asked of her so far it had seemed relatively harmless but then there always seemed to be a sting in the tail somewhere along the line. EJ had told her he wanted to have dinner with her tonight which wasn't exactly a stretch seeing as they were alone on an island together and pretty much had every meal together! He'd then gone on to tell her that he'd bought her a dress and his request was that she was to wear it to their dinner. Sami had been immediately concerned that it was going to be some tarty low cut number that displayed all her wares for him, thinking he'd get off on making her model such a thing for him.

After she'd had her shower that morning and managed to clean out the last of her little scratches Sami had walked back into the bedroom to find a large white box sitting on the bed but no EJ. It was tied up with a black bow and the whole thing looked incredibly classy. Sami had walked up to the bed and looked down, seeing a French label that she didn't recognise but was almost certainly haute couture. Sami bit her lip and couldn't help herself, pulling on the bow and undoing it before taking the lid off the box and seeing what was inside.

The dress was simple, black and with an understated elegance to it. Sami's eyes widened as she looked more closely at it. The scalloped bodice had tiny black beads all through it and the stitching was intricate and clearly done by hand. It was in an A-line style and sleeveless with thin straps and was simply the most gorgeous thing Sami had ever seen in her life. She shuddered to think how much this might have cost and being almost certain that it would be a one off, knowing EJ. When she'd put it on for their dinner tonight it had fitted her perfectly, as though it had been made only for her and Sami had no idea how EJ had managed to get her measurements so perfectly right. Sami knew she'd never wear anything as beautiful as this again and even though she didn't want to she fell instantly in love with it, just as EJ had predicted. She'd used some cover up on all her various scratches and as EJ had said they weren't very deep and in a couple of days they would most likely be gone.

Sami walked out of the bedroom and headed down the stairs, fully expecting EJ to be waiting for her there with everything set up on the patio which had been his usual habit but he was nowhere to be seen. She frowned and walked back into the kitchen, sticking her head in and looking around.

"EJ!" she called out and her frowned deepened.

What was he up to now?!

Sami walked back out in to the living room and tried again.

"EJ!" she called out and this time she received a response.

"Out the side sweetheart," his voice coming to her from outside.

Sami followed the sound of his voice, heading out the side entrance and into the night. EJ turned his head and watched Sami walk towards him, his eyes running all over her admiringly.

"I knew you'd look beautiful in that dress," he said huskily as she came to stand in front of him, "And I was right - you're as sexy as hell in black."

Sami flushed a little under his scrutiny and looked embarrassed.

"I can't keep it!" she blurted out.

"Don't you like it?" asked EJ mildly, arching an eyebrow at her.

"Of course," she frowned, "It's gorgeous but I couldn't possibly accept something like this from you EJ - it's far too extravagant."

"I can afford it," he said simply with a little shrug and then gave her an impish grin, "Besides, what am I going to do with it - it's a little tight around the chest for me."

"I'm sure you've got any number of women in your life that would kill for a dress like this," said Sami dourly, suddenly depressed by that thought and then annoyed with herself for feeling that way.

"But there is only one woman I want to see in it Samantha," he told her huskily, looking down at her warmly, "And she's right here - being difficult as usual."

"I'm not being difficult," she protested in frustration, "I'm being practical EJ! How am I ever going to explain having a dress like this to… to anyone - it's obvious that it's not an off the rack number."

Sami had saved herself just in time from saying Lucas' name but it had been close.

"Well if… anyone… asks," said EJ smoothly, making special emphasis on the word so that Sami knew that EJ exactly who she was referring to, "Then you can tell anyone that there is someone in your life that can afford to buy you the beautiful things in this world."

"I'm not impressed by material things!" sniffed Sami and this made EJ actually laugh out loud.

"Oh sweetheart," he chuckled, "I think we both know that is a complete and utter lie!"

"You make me sound like some money grabbing bimbo," said Sami in horror, not liking his take on her at all.

"Darling there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying the finer things of this life," said EJ with an indulgent smile, "And you have far too many other intriguing qualities Samantha for a little indulgence to be your defining attribute trust me - you have nothing to be worried about."

"I'm not worried," she huffed, "Like your opinion matters to me anyway."

"Quite," he nodded agreeably and then smiled down at her, "Shall we go?"

"Go?" asked Sami in consternation, "Go where - we're on an island!"

"I thought we could have our dinner al fresco tonight," he said, his smile widening at her confusion.

He made a sweeping gesture at the jeep he'd picked her up in from the air strip.

"You're carriage awaits milady," he told her.

Sami looked at the jeep and the picnic basket that was in the back and frowned.

"I'll need to get a wrap," she told him, not bothering with protesting.

"No need," he said simply, shrugging out of the suit coat he'd worn for their dinner.

EJ saw the look on her face and tilted his head.

"Problem?" he queried calmly.

The real problem was that it was a strangely intimate thing to wear a man's coat, especially one he'd just been wearing. Sami knew it would be still warm from his body and smell of him and didn't want that kind of contact with him, however second hand it might be.

"It doesn't go with my shoes," she said flatly.

"I won't tell if you don't," EJ laughed, suspecting that wasn't the real reason.

He moved behind her and started to help her on with the grey coat and Sami reluctantly gave in, shoving one hand into the coat arm.

"So where is it exactly that we're going?" she asked him, trying to distract herself from the distinct smell of him that was in her nostrils all of a sudden as his coat covered her shoulders.

"I promised to tell you about the name of this island, Ara Caman, on the first day you arrived," said EJ, "Or rather show you."

"It doesn't mean like volcano or something does it?" asked Sami, suddenly worried now.

"No," he laughed at her concern.

"Quick sand?" Sami tried again, "Some kind of man eating wild animal only found on this island?"

"You're a nervous Nellie tonight aren't you darling?" asked EJ indulgently.

"I just have this thing… fear really," admitted Sami distractedly, "Of being eaten alive."

"I'm sure that you're not alone in that fear," smiled EJ, "Most people would put it on their top five list of ways they don't want to die."

"And what would be on top of your list for how you don't want to die EJ?" asked Sami, suddenly curious.

EJ smiled at her then and moved around beside her, putting his hands on her arms and starting to walk Sami towards the car.

EJ leant over and whispered in her ear as they walked, answering her question.

"With regrets," he said softly and Sami felt a little tremor go through her at the feel of his hot breath in her ear and his words that she knew were meant for her.

Their jeep drive was incident free and only about fifteen minutes long with EJ driving too fast yet again Sami noted disapprovingly. He pulled up at the base of a relatively gentle slope and Sami craned her head and looked up and then looked back at EJ in disbelief.

"You had better not expect me to be climbing that thing!" she informed him tartly.

"There's a little path," said EJ calmly, "You'll be fine Samantha, and it isn't far."

Sami watched EJ wide eyed as he climbed out the jeep and grabbed the picnic basket and then walked around to her side of the car, opening the door for her.

"You're serious?" she said flatly, "You want me to climb up some dirt track in the dark… in these shoes?!"

Sami stuck one foot out the open door and EJ looked down, taking in the high heeled, strappy number she was wearing.

"Perhaps you should take them off?" suggested EJ, unfazed.

"I'm wearing stockings EJ," she huffed.

"Perhaps you should take them off?" he repeated, grinning at her, "I won't look, I promise."

"In your dreams mister!" said Sami disparagingly, climbing reluctantly out of the car.

"Quite frequently yes," said EJ agreeably.

Sami grumbled the whole way up the hill and EJ just patiently matched his steps to hers and walked with her. After she nearly fell over for the sixth time because she was more invested in complaining and telling him how much this idea of his sucked rather than watching the ground EJ had had enough. Without saying one word he took Sami's arm, spun her around and bending down, threw her over his shoulder in one effortless move. Sami gasped in surprise, taking a moment to realise what he'd done and then becoming decidedly unhappy when she did.

"Put me down EJ!" she ordered him fiercely, beginning to struggle.

"Stop that!" he ordered her, briefly letting go of her legs and smacking her backside before quickly going back to her legs and holding her in place, "You'll make us both fall down this hill if you're not careful Samantha!"

"OWW!" Sami cried out as his hand contacted with her backside that was already a little tender from the events of earlier that day.

The smack hadn't so much hurt but it was more the indignity of it all that had Sami really outraged.

"I'm going to get you for this EJ DiMera!" she threatened him, her voice muffled and coming from behind him.

"Of that I have no doubt sweetheart," he said easily, walking along and not sounding overly concerned by it though.

It didn't take EJ's long leg to cover the necessary ground despite his reluctant cargo and a short time later he deposited said cargo on the ground, only ever so slightly out of breath from carrying both Sami and the large picnic basket up a hill. Sami, her feet back on the ground now glared at him menacingly.

"Don't ever do that again EJ!" she hissed at him, pulling down her dress that had hitched up a little at such undignified man handling, "I'm not a sack of potatoes to be lumped around at your whim."

"Of course not sweetheart," said EJ smoothly, "For one thing a sack of potatoes is a lot quieter."

"You are the most annoying, smart ass in the world!" she told him in annoyance.

"I think you've just got low blood sugar darling," said EJ cheerfully, not taking any offence of her summation of him, "Why don't we eat something and you'll feel a lot better eh?"

"I'll only feel better if you choke on something!" she said bitterly, still not over being treated in such a way.

"Are we back to wishing me dead sweetheart?" EJ sighed regretfully, setting down the picnic hamper and then opening it, taking out a rug for them to sit on.

"Back to?" repeated Sami sarcastically, "I never stopped EJ!"

"All this sweet talk is going to turn my head utterly Samantha," he warned her teasingly.

Sami just rolled her eyes at him and didn't dignify that with an answer.

Forty minutes later they had finished eating and Sami had calmed down - good food and good wine having lulled her somewhat and she had to begrudgingly admit EJ was good company when he put his mind to it. After the initial rocky start to the evening EJ had kept the small talk up until Sami had finally relaxed and joined in with his easy banter.

"So," said Sami, leaning back against the large flat rock that EJ had set the picnic rug up in front of, "You were going to tell me about Ara Caman EJ?"

"Indeed I was," said EJ with a nod, settling in beside her and leaning back up against the rock as well, "And what's more it's the perfect time of year to show you as well."

Sami gave EJ a little confused look but let him continue on.

"There is a legend that goes with Ara Caman," said EJ easily, "First of all the name. Ara refers to a faint constellation of the southern hemisphere lying in the Milky Way. You can see it quite clearly this time of year in the sky."

"Oh," said Sami with interest, "So what do Caman mean?"

"It's a bit of a nod to your heritage actually Samantha," said EJ with a smile, "It's actually an Irish word for bent."

"How does that make sense then?" asked Sami in confusion, "Constellation bent?"

"Look," said EJ, leaning in towards Sami a bit and pointing directly a head of them, "See those two trees there? See how they are bent over and twisted and make like a rough looking circle between the two of them?"

"Oh yeah," said Sami in surprise, tilting her head and noticing the oddly shaped trees for the first time.

"At this time of year if you look at the skies through that circle it frames perfectly the Ara," EJ informed her, "See that pale swirl out there, that is the Milky Way and the Ara is just towards the left hand side of its tail."

"Wow," said Sami, quietly impressed, "That's really beautiful, it looks like a picture hanging in the heavens."

"I always thought so," smiled EJ, pleased that Sami was as taken by it as he always had been, "And there is a legend that goes with it."

"Oh yes?" said Sami wryly, seeing that he was dying to tell her, "And what might that be EJ?"

"Well," said EJ, turning his head and looking at Sami with a smile on his face, "Legend has it that this is how you'll find you're true love."

"Of course it does," said Sami with a roll of her eyes.

"The story goes that if two people want to know if they are destined to be together forever they are to sit exactly where we are sitting and look through the bent window at the Ara," EJ informed her knowingly, "They then count to ten together, both looking through the 'window' and if before they reach ten they see a shooting star then it's fate telling them they are meant to be together."

"But that must be like a one in a million chance of something like that ever happening under those conditions!" exclaimed Sami.

"At the very least," agreed EJ very reasonably.

"I mean it would almost never happen!" said Sami, unable to believe that anyone would take such a tale seriously.

"In my experience either does true love," said EJ sagely.

EJ looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

"What?" asked Sami and then screwed up her face as she realised what that expectant look was about, "You can't be serious EJ?"

"Why not?" he shrugged, "You said it yourself, it has to be one a million chance at least for us to see a shooting star together when we look at the Ara and count to ten."

"So why bother?" she asked him with a roll of her eyes.

"What are you afraid of Samantha?" he asked her teasingly, "Worried that destiny has your number?"

"Oh yeah," said Sami with amused sarcasm, "That is exactly what I'm worried about EJ!"

"Well if you're so unconcerned Ms Brady then why don't we do this then?" EJ posed the question to her.

Sami regarded him silently for a moment.

"And if I agree to this will you shut up about fate and destiny and come back to the real world?" she posed the question to him now.

"I will certainly attempt it," agreed EJ reasonably.

"Fine," she shrugged, "Let's do this then - prove once and for all you're insane and move on."

"You're such a gracious loser Samantha," commented EJ with a grin.

"There is only one loser here EJ," she said smugly, "So let's count to ten and just prove who that is shall we?"

"Happily," said EJ and then pointed at the trees again, "Shall we?"

"Ready when you are EJ," she said sweetly.

Sami and EJ settled in, both having to lean towards each other a little to get a proper view of the Ara threw the caman shaped trees.

"We have to count to ten together," EJ reminded her, "Ready?"

"Just hurry up," she said flatly, "The suspense is killing me."

EJ smiled and then started to count, Sami joining in.

"Ten… nine… eight… seven… six… five… four…"

Despite herself Sami's heart had begun to beat a little unsteadily and she didn't know why. There was no way in hell that she and EJ were going to see a shooting star in the next three counts - it was just impossible but not the less there was this kind of nervous excitement in the pit of her stomach that she just couldn't wish away.

"Three… two.. on…"

The last part of the word one hadn't quite passed either one of their lips when there was a sudden flare of light and a streak cutting a swath through the night sky directly in front of the Ara and perfectly framed by the window of twisted tree branches EJ and Sami were looking through. The shooting stare burned brightly before winking out just as quickly as it had appeared. Both of their eyes widen and Sami's mouth dropped open, hardly able to believe that had just happened. How was that even possible she wondered dumbly.

"Oh my god," she whispered unevenly.

"Oh my god indeed," agreed EJ, sounding just as in awe as Sami was.

"That did not just happen!" exclaimed Sami.

"Actually," said EJ, a slow smile spreading across his face, "I think it did Samantha. You're one in a million, impossibility just happened."

EJ turned his head and looked at her, the biggest grin on his face ever.

"You do know what this means don't you?" he asked her happily, "It means that we're destined, fated to be together Samantha and…"

"NO!" cried out Sami, overwhelmed by what had just happened, unable to process it all, "No more, no more!"

She jumped up then and obviously having learnt nothing from this morning exploits started to run away from EJ and his crazy legend. She'd barely made a couple of steps though when her foot connected with a rock and she yet again fell over but rather surprisingly she didn't hit the ground this time. EJ had leapt up with her just as quickly and was only a step away when she tripped and as quick as lightening he'd grabbed Sami's wrist and gripped it hard, preventing her from falling as he held her there, half a foot from the ground. Sami made a strangled, startled noise and EJ pulled her back upright. She made a pained face, shaking her injured foot.

"OW!" she complained, her foot really hurting now.

"Come and sit back down Samantha," EJ sighed at yet another impetuous flight on her behalf ending in tears.

Sami hobbled back to the blanket and sat down, grabbing her injured toe and rubbing it when she had. She didn't say anything but her face was very unhappy and EJ shook his head, wondering when she was going to learn that running away from things she didn't want to hear or know about wasn't the way to go about things. EJ leant towards her, reaching out a finger and lifting her chin so that Sami was looking him in the eye.

"Stop running from me Samantha," he begged her softly, holding her gaze very seriously, "All that ends up happening when you do is that you get hurt."

Sami didn't answer, just gave him a distressed look, wanting to tell him this wasn't what she wanted but the words wouldn't come.

"I'm never going to stop pursuing you," he told her earnestly, "We were meant to walk this world together Samantha, I just know it, with every fibre of my being I know it. My god, even the stars know it Samantha! I'm helpless to do anything else but seek you out. The truth is you've bewitched me utterly and I am completely in your thrall."

"I… I don't want you to be," she stammered, finding her voice at last even though it was a shaky one, "I don't want you EJ."

EJ looked ahead for a moment, absorbing not only her words but the way she'd said them.

"If that were true then you wouldn't have felt the need to run from me… last night, just now," he told her quietly, "You may want to be indifferent to me sweetheart but you're anything but and I think it's time you started to admit that little fact to yourself."

"I don't have to admit anything to you EJ!" said Sami, her voice starting to become raised as she became more agitated.

EJ rubbed his face tiredly with his hand, wondering if he could ever meet anyone more pig headed and stubborn than the woman sitting beside him.

"Headache?" Sami asked him sweetly.

"Yes," said EJ dropping his hand away from his face and fixing Sami with an unimpressed look, "A five foot five inch one."

"Well if I'm such a pain you know you can always call for that private jet of yours and send me back to a man who I really am destined to be with?" she suggested mockingly, "I'm sure you'll be able to find some other desperate woman to spin this garbage to. Not your last girlfriend of course - Kate never was one for star gazing but at her age she probably tries to avoid the elements as much as she can, she's barely holding that face of hers together as it is. I guess you must like that Mount Rushmore look in your women!"

"Hmm," mused EJ taking in her barb and returning the favour, "But meanwhile you're tastes seem to run more to men for whom you're a consolation prize and who leave you to rot on death row for a crime they committed without batting an eyelid!"

"He came forward!" Sami defended Lucas hotly.

"After they administered the lethal injection to you!" said EJ angrily, the thought of how close Sami had come to dying at the hands of Lucas' spinelessness causing a deep rage to flood through him, "I'm not sure if they're giving out awards for cowardice yet but when they do I'm sure your 'true love' will be at the front of that line!"

"Well at least I'm not sleeping with grannies!" spat out Sami with real vitriol in her voice.

"Kate is a fine figure of a woman," said EJ with a smirk, "And there is a lot to be said for a woman who has a little experience to bring to the table."

"Table, floor, trash cans!" said Sami bitingly, "I'm pretty sure that meddling old tramp has done it everywhere there was a flat surface and some brainless, horny guy not too worried about what they might catch from her!"

"What's the matter Samantha?" EJ provoked her, "Jealous?"

"Oh please!" she scoffed, folding her arms in front of herself and screwing up her face, "Disgusted is more like it!"

"I meant of Lucas and Kate," EJ corrected her sweetly and gave her a hard look, "I mean, if you want to talk about men having unnatural relationships with their mother's…"

"You shut up!" shouted Sami in horror, her eyes wide, "Don't say another word EJ!"

"Oh come on Samantha," said EJ acidly, enjoying the look of revulsion on her face and ignoring her order, "You have to admit there is something decidedly unsavoury going on there don't you think sweetheart? I mean a fully grown man being led around by his mother like that. You can't tell me that there isn't a little something twisted about that relationship!"

"Oh you're one to talk about twisted relationships when your father is Stefano DiMera!" hissed Sami, hating him for touching on what was still such a sore point between herself and Lucas - his mother.

"Well at least my father doesn't get jealous of the women I date and try and break them up because he wants me all to himself!" he baited her, "Let's face facts here Samantha, the way Kate comes after you it's more like a jealous lover protecting what's hers!"

"OH!" Sami gasped her revulsion at his words but the extreme lengths that she'd gone to keep both of her sons away from Sami made it almost seem like EJ might have a point but it was too disgusting to even think about.

Sami had no words to refute such a vile accusation so in the heat of the moment she decided actions speak louder than words and without letting herself think about it she pulled back her hand and slapped him as hard as she could across his smug, sanctimonious face. Sami tried not to grimace at the sharp stinging pain in her hand and could only hope it was twice as bad for EJ. He calmly put a hand up to his assaulted cheek and moved his jaw back and forth.

"Not the most convincing of defence arguments now was it eh sweetheart?" he challenged her smoothly, "Looks like I may have hit a bit of a nerve there - what do you say darling?"

His only answer from Sami was the mother of all Death Stares but EJ didn't care - he'd made his point.

oooOOOOooo

"Well by all means take your pillow Samantha," he told her back as she stomped towards the bed and climbed, "After all I know how important clinging to some useless item is to you once you've broken it in, telling yourself that you can't live without it when the truth is that you never have and never will actually have a real use for it."

"Oh and I suppose that is meant to be clever?!" sniffed Sami, pulling the sheets up around herself as EJ walked around to his side of the bed and climbed in, "Like I'm not going to be able to figure out exactly who it is you're talking about EJ! You're pathetic!"

"Unlike you who finds great dignity in clinging to a man that is so far below you in every measurable way that it is laughable," sniped EJ back at her.

"Look who's talking about clinging!" she bit back, "Every time I turn around you're there EJ - you're like a rash that I just can't get rid of!"

"Because you've tried so hard haven't you my darling?" he said sarcastically.

"Shut up EJ!" growled Sami, fed up with this conversation that was going nowhere and with him who was definitely going nowhere it would seem.

The two of them lay in bed then, silently fuming away, looking up at the ceiling.

"See," said EJ sarcastically after a couple of minutes, "This is much better without the pillows wouldn't you agree sweetheart?"

Sami shook her head, in no mood for his smart ass comments right then and rolled on her side, pulling on the sheets as she did.

"Stop hogging all the sheets EJ!" she complained loudly.

"I'm not," he told her flatly, "You're the one with all the sheets - how can one small person take up so much room I have to wonder?"

"Just shut up and give me some of the sheets!" she hissed, her back still to him as she gave them a violent tug.

Unfortunately just as Sami did that EJ, lifted his arms that had been holding the sheet across his chest in place and Sami got way more sheet then she'd bargained for. The force with which she'd pulled on the sheet proved to be too much and when it met no resistance from EJ's end the inevitable happened and Sami toppled out of bed, a tangle of bed sheets, arms and legs. EJ heard her squawk and turned his head just in time to see Sami disappear from his view off the other side of the bed. EJ rolled his eyes, moving over to her side of the bed and peered down at her. The cranky look on her face told EJ that she was alright, even more annoyed now but alright.

"Like I said sweetheart," sighed EJ heavily in resignation, looking down at her and shaking his head, "You, Samantha Brady, are a full time job."

Chapter EIGHTEEN - Still Waters Run Deep

DAY 5...

Sami peaked around the corridor upstairs, already in her bikini and wrap, checking to see if EJ was around. She'd gotten up earlier than he had with the express purpose of avoiding him for the rest of the day and preferably the rest of the week after last night's little disaster. Truth be told Sami didn't know what had unsettled her more - their fight or that freak incident with the shooting star. Sami had tried not to dwell on it and just dismiss it but despite herself it was beginning to weigh heavily on her mind. As much as she'd have liked to blame EJ for it there was no way even he could have orchestrated such a thing and the coincidence of them sitting there together at that exact moment after talking about the stupid legend… well, it was beyond freaky really. What Sami did know for certain that maintaining her distance from EJ was going to be the way to go if she had any chance of getting out of this week with her sanity intact.

"I'm just going down to the beach to have a swim EJ - I'll be awhile!" she called out, hoping to make good her escape before he could respond but luck hadn't exactly been her friend this week so far.

EJ heard Sami call out to him just as he was about to step into the shower and his head snapped around.

"Oh no you don't young lady," he muttered to himself under his breath, quickly grabbing a white towel and wrapping it around his hips to cover his current state of nakedness and hurried to get to Sami before she got away from him.

EJ pulled open the bathroom door just as Sami was quite obviously trying to creep past and stopped her.

"You're up early," he commented to her, stopping Sami in her tracks and watching as she reluctantly turned to face him.

"Yes," said Sami shortly, not knowing what else to say and his naked chest on full display right in front of her face wasn't exactly helping.

"You know rather than going for a swim in the ocean I thought you and that delicate skin of yours might appreciate another option," EJ commented, tilting his head to one side as he calmly tucking in the end of his towel to secure it while Sami did her darndest not to watch.

"And that would be?" asked Sami, not knowing why she was even asking when she knew she should be running screaming in the other direction but despite her brains best attempts her feet didn't seem inclined to agree.

"There is a beautiful lagoon in the middle of the island," EJ told her with a little smile, "We can take Jelly and pack a lunch. It's a far more protected part of the island and I'll think you'll find it rather lovely."

Sami frowned, not sure if this was a good idea somehow.

"Look Samantha," said EJ, taking a deep breath, "Last night was a…"

"Disaster?" supplied Sami sweetly.

"It had its moments," he smiled at her, "Good and bad but here's what I propose…"

Sami arched an eyebrow, looking at him warily.

"Today is a new day," said EJ simply, "And I say let's bury the hatchet…"

EJ smiled then, his eyes taking on a mischievous twinkle.

"… and not in each other eh Samantha?" he said teasingly, "It's a beautiful day outside, we can go for a ride on Jelly, have a swim and a little picnic - it will be an agreeable way to pass the time… I promise."

Sami knew she should say no, that this was a bad idea but the way he was looking at her so hopefully, eagerly almost was her undoing for some reason and in spite of all her better judgement she gave in.

oooOOOOooo

Sami looked around at the little lagoon EJ had bought her to in the heart of the island. She and EJ had ridden on Jellybean for about twenty minutes to get there but it had been a leisurely trip. Jellybean was currently wandering around the water's edge, contenting himself with a long drink and then ambling off to find a patch of greenery to nibble on. Meanwhile Sami was still trying to take in the beauty of her surrounds. The lagoon's waters were crystal clear and there was a little waterfall that fed into it, the white water tumbling down the rocks and giving it an almost too perfect look to the scene somehow. It was exactly like every movie scene Sami had ever seen for this kind of thing. This could have been on the set of "The Blue Lagoon" for the way it just looked with it's clear waters, lush rainforest surrounds and dragonflies darted low over the water in a happy little dance while the surrounding large trees provided dappled protection from the sun overhead. EJ smiled to see the delight on Sami's face that she'd forgotten to hide from him again. He looked at the cool, inviting waters of the fresh water spring and smiled at her.

"Coming in for a dip?" he asked her with a tilt of his head, indicating the pristine waters.

The sound of EJ's voice reminded her that she wasn't alone and she had to work at keeping him at arm's length.

"I don't feel like it," she said with a shrug and turned her back on him and looking at the water longingly.

Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.

She was hot and sweaty and a swim sounded like a great idea right about then but she was determined to say black to his white even if it killed her and maintain some kind of distance between them if she couldn't manage to actually have physical distance!

"Suit yourself," shrugged EJ, "But I'm going in. You can keep Jellybean company."

Sami turned back round to look over EJ's shoulder at the horse who was chewing contentedly on some nearby grass. They hadn't bothered with saddling him because EJ had told her they didn't have far to go which had turned out to be true.

"Well at least I'll have some intelligent conversation at last," she sassed him.

"You mean a conversation where you get the last word?" he asked her with a quirk of his lips as he pulled his shirt over his head and carelessly threw it on the ground beside him, "Where's the fun in that Samantha?"

EJ's hands went to his jeans next and he unbuttoned them and began to push them down his hips.

"EJ!" said Sami in horror, whirling around so her back was to him.

He paused in what he was doing and smiled at her back, amused by her reaction.

"What are you doing?" she squeaked at him, her cheeks going pink now.

"Why so coy darling?" he teased her and she could hear the sound of his jeans hitting the ground, "It's nothing you haven't seen before or have you forgotten our first meeting?"

Sami rolled her eyes and folded her arms in front of her chest, trying her hardest not to remember that fateful day and certainly trying not to remember when his towel had dropped away and revealing EJ in all his glory. It had been quite the ice breaker as introductions went.

"As I recall there wasn't much to remember," she taunted him with a smirk, still keeping her back to him.

"Really?" he asked her, sounding like he didn't believe her, "Then maybe it's high time that I refresh your memory I'd say sweetheart."

Sami gasped as she felt his hand on her arm and him turning her around. Immediately Sami's hands went to cover her eyes.

"I don't want anything refreshed about you EJ DiMera!" she said fiercely, determinedly keeping her hands over her eyes despite a little voice in the back of her head telling her to sneak a peek at what was on offer.

EJ looked at the adorable picture she made, standing there, hands over her eyes and raging at him, all the while blushing like a virgin bride and promptly burst out laughing.

"You are the strangest creature Samantha Jean Brady," he told her around his laughter, "At once both siren and school ma'am - I don't know how you do it, I really don't."

Sami scowled behind her hands, unhappy at him laughing at her.

"You can put down your hands Mother Superior," he informed her with a chuckle, "I'm wearing my swimming trunks under my jeans."

Sami spread her fingers and very cautiously peeked through them, almost sure it was a trick and then dropped them when she saw that he was indeed wearing black bathing trunks. She stood there, trying not to look as foolish as she suddenly felt. She scowled at the way EJ was grinning at her, obviously finding her carry on very amusing. Sami tried to give an unconcerned shrug but it was doubtful she pulled it off.

"Well I'm going in," he said easily, "Any time you want to give yourself permission to have a little fun, that's where I'll be sweetheart."

Sami didn't answer him, just watched as EJ walked up to the water's edge and then kept going until he was up to waist deep in the tantalisingly cool looking water and then simply dived in and started to swim. Sami tried not to notice how nice a line he cut through the water with each of his long strokes and of course, making it look easy yet again. He swam out to the middle of the lagoon, his strokes languidly unhurried and Sami watched longingly as he headed for the little waterfall and wondered how much face exactly she would lose if she joined him. Sami decided that the best thing to do was occupy her mind and her increasingly wayward thoughts with something else and set about unpacking the picnic lunch EJ had prepared for them. She lay out the picnic blanket and then set out the cheese, biscuits, bread and various fruits that he'd packed and couldn't help but wonder how he'd gotten this domesticated.

When it became obvious that EJ wasn't going to be coming out of the water any time soon Sami decided that she was going to start without him. He was clearly trying to test her to see how strong her resolve was to avoid him and Sami was going to show him that it was plenty strong! She nibbled away on the cheese and biscuits and then had a couple of slices of cantaloupe for good measure. EJ at last seemed to decide he'd had enough play time in the water and came to join her.

He emerged from the water, his muscles even more pronounced now after the bouts of swimming he'd just engaged in and the water slewed down him as he walked, running down every hard dip and plane of his body. As he walked he shook his head vigorously and water droplets flew everywhere before he ran a careless hand through the dark strands of his hair. He was like some water god, beautiful without knowing it, careless of his own gorgeousness and Sami had to force herself to look away, suddenly finding a rocky outcrop to her right absolutely fascinating. EJ came to a stop in front of her, just off the edge of the picnic rug she was sitting on.

"Started without me I see," he commented mildly and Sami was forced to take her eyes of rocks or look completely ridiculous to address him back.

Sami had to lean right back to look at his face because of her position on the ground, craning her neck right back.

"I was hungry," she said simply.

"I am too now," said EJ, just as simply, crouching down, kneeling on one knee whilst pulling the other one up under his chin.

"Well I've laid it all out," said Sami, standing up now that he'd sat down, "So I'm going for a swim now."

"Don't you think you should wait a little longer seeing as you've just eaten?" asked EJ calmly, "The water's not going anywhere, sit with me while I have something to eat and then we can go back in together."

"No thanks," said Sami hastily, "And I'll be fine, that whole thing about waiting after eating to go back into the water is an old wives and besides, I barely had anything."

Sami didn't give him a chance to argue with her anymore, just quickly moving past him and heading to the water's edge. EJ turned around and leant back on one hand, watching her go. Sami got to the water and went to remove her little light throw over she'd been wearing, not having to turn around to know he was watching her.

"Don't look at me!" she ordered him, over her shoulder with a frown.

EJ casually reached for a carrot stick and then turned back to Sami.

"Okay," he called back and then did the exact opposite, enjoying watching her pull of her top and then dive into the water.

He shook his head at her as Sami began to swim now, enjoying the benefits of the watering hole. She was quite easily the most obstinate, contrary woman… no scratch that… person that had ever walked the face of the earth… ever… EJ decided. But the fact that she couldn't bear to be in his company it seemed but then she'd agreed to his idea of coming to the lagoon spoke volumes to EJ. Sami was clearly thrown after witnessing the shooting star last night and was in a lot of turmoil because of it. For EJ it had simply been an unbelievable confirmation, affirmation even that what he'd known in his heart all along about himself and Samantha was true.

When that shooting star had appeared at the very last moment, the legend of Ara Caman coming to life in front of their eyes EJ had a deep sense of validation about not only his feelings but about Sami's as well. He saw the conflict in her eyes now when she looked at him and even though he didn't wish to be the cause of any pain to her EJ just really needed her to open her eyes and see what was right in front of her face… him and his love for her. He could sense she was getting close to breaking point and EJ's nerves tightened in anticipation of what that might mean for the two of them.

He watched her swimming about in the water, like some little blonde mermaid, obviously enjoying herself and smiled, deciding he would never grow tired of looking at her. She was good in the water, confident and had a good swimming style which EJ wouldn't have naturally put her as a swimmer so that was interesting. After having eaten as well EJ was in the process of packing away the food into the picnic hamper when he heard a strange sound from behind him. He straightened up and turned around, looking at the lagoon from where the noise had come from and frowning when he didn't see Sami right away. He waited a few seconds, figuring she may have just dived under the water but when she didn't reappear in that time EJ began to get nervous. He stood up, eyes darting around the water trying to see where Sami might be. Suddenly over to his right Sami's blonde head popped up out of the water and she made a strangled cry before disappearing back under it.

EJ's heart leapt into his mouth seeing that she was in trouble and was galvanised into action, racing to the water and diving in, swimming to where he'd last seen her as fast as possible. He reached her quickly and by this time Sami was back at the surface, crying out in pain, her arms flailing about wildly. EJ moved in, grabbing her around the waist and moving her to her back and swimming with her to the shore line even as Sami still kicked around wildly.

"OWWW… .OWWW!" she screeched, clearly in a great deal of pain.

"Hold on Samantha!" said EJ urgently but it was doubtful she could hear him over her own cries.

As soon as the water was shallow enough EJ stopped swimming and began walking, scooping Sami up in his arms and striding with her out of the water. Sami still wiggled about in his arms, her hands trying to reach her legs and her face still twisted in pain.

"CRAMP… CRAMP… OOWWW!" she chanted, real sentences out of her means right then.

"I know sweetheart," said EJ grimly, having quickly worked out that had been her problem as he carefully laid her down on the picnic rug, "Nearly there, hold on."

"OWW… OW… OW!" chanted Sami, writhing about on the picnic rug in agony from the cramp in her leg.

EJ batted her hands away and knelt down between her legs, his hands going to where he could clearly see the knotted muscles in both her calf and upper thigh. His large hands went to both spots and began to massage them for her as Sami covered her face with her hands, groaning from the pain and not protesting what he was doing at all. EJ didn't say anything, just continued to rub her leg for her. She'd scared the hell out of him just then and his own heart beat was struggling to return to normal after the surge of adrenalin seeing Sami disappearing below the water like that had caused. EJ just didn't know what he'd do if he lost her now.

"Ow…" whimpered Sami, as he worked on her, "Oww…"

Her cries were growing less piercing as EJ worked out the knots in her leg until finally EJ could see her and feel Sami's body beginning to relax. Her eyes were still closed and she lay there on the rug, making the occasional little gasp or cry of pain. EJ's touch became gentler, just as sure but slowly becoming more of a caress as he sought to sooth the last of her pain away. He found he couldn't stop touching her now that he'd started, his hands on the soft, smooth skin of her legs and thighs running all over them. EJ watched Sami's face, the way it was slowly relaxing and the pain disappearing from her face, knowing he'd done his job properly from that. He couldn't help himself now, all the sexual tension that had been between them from that first meeting bubbling to the surface and he was no longer able to make himself back away from it. Sami felt his hands creeping ever higher and she had to say something at last.

"What are you doing?" she asked unevenly, wondering why she simply wasn't yelling at him to get his hands off her but he was making her feel too good for her to do that.

EJ continued to caress her inner thigh as he answered her, looking up at her from where he was sitting between her legs now.

"I'm making you all better Samantha," he said to her softly.

"You have to stop," she said weakly and then sucked in a strangled breath as his fingers had finally moved high enough that the tips of them brushed ever so slightly against the material of her bikini bottoms at the apex of her thighs.

"You're wet," he informed her huskily, his dark gaze never leaving her face, "From the swim or from me I wonder?"

"The swim!" lied Sami hastily, looking a little distressed now.

"I don't believe you," said EJ throatily, moving his hand a little higher again, his fingers stroking the material separating her core from him a little harder now.

Sami's body responded immediately, pushing fresh moisture out of her body and soaking through her bikini bottoms, letting him know she was indeed lying to him. EJ's eyes flared at the feeling of her increased wetness, knowing it was for him and she quivered to see the rampant desire in his face. He cupped her mound then, long fingers rubbing back and forth over the gentle swell while his thumb began to rhythmically press against her opening, thwarted in going too deep by the scrap of material that still separated him from touching her properly. She gave a broken little sigh at how amazing what he was doing to her felt.

Sami watched wide eyed as EJ bent his head, rubbing his one of his roughened cheeks along the sensitised skin of her inner thigh, repeating the process on the other one. Sami tensed and gave a little groan at the strangely ticklish but also erotic sensation. Whilst he was still massaging her mound with one hand he began to nuzzle his way up towards her centre and Sami panicked. She reached out a hand and grabbed a handful of his short dark hair, pulling on it and making him lift his head to look her in the eye.

"Don't EJ," she said with an anxious shake of her head, "I don't enjoy this… this kind of thing."

Sami wasn't actually lying this time. Her other lovers had not paid much attention to this particular aspect of lovemaking and when they had Sami had always found herself faking it just so they could move on. She just figured she was one of those women who didn't get aroused by oral sex - it was no big deal and she doubted that she was missing out on too much anyway. EJ didn't respond only continued to stare at her, he held her gaze then, not letting Sami look away as she felt him hook a finger in her bikini bottoms and slowly begin to pull them down. She knew she should have been screaming at him to stop but she could barely breath all of a sudden. It was like he'd put a spell on her and she was completely under his thrall now, helpless to stop him… or herself.

EJ peeled the offending scrap of material from her body, tossing it carelessly to one side, still not letting her look away from him. He moved slowly, as though they had all the time in the world, building the tension between them. Sami watched helplessly as EJ moved again, so that he was lying on his stomach, pushing her legs further apart so he could settle between them more comfortably. She held her breath as his hands slipped under her, cupping her bottom cheeks and bringing her sex closer to his face. Her legs seemed to naturally find a place on his broad shoulders.

Sami couldn't stop shaking now, laid out utterly exposed to him like this. She held herself tensely, nervous for that first touch but he made her wait, returning to rubbing her thighs with his face, the little bristles of his beard making goose bumps appear all over her body. He took his time much to her surprise, every other man had just dived in as though they wanted to get in and out as quickly as possible but not EJ, he lingered determinedly, drawing out that first intimate touch and for the first time in her life Sami began to crave it. Her core was beginning to ache painfully, the throbbing sensation catching Sami off guard.

"Please."

The word was out of her mouth before she could stop it but she needed for him to do more otherwise Sami thought she might seriously explode from the need he was creating in her body. She felt the smile on his face against her thigh at hearing her say that but she simply didn't care. EJ moved now so that she could feel his warm breath against her core. He breathed in deeply and Sami blushed to think of him doing that but found it very exciting somehow, her body responding yet again and she felt the wetness dribble out of her. She bit her lip, worried what he might think of her wanton display but she didn't have long to worry. Sami jerked a little as she felt the tip of his tongue carefully catch the line of wetness and his hands tightened on her backside, keeping her determinedly still.

"So sweet," he groaned, the noise reverberating against her thighs, "Oh god you taste so sweet Samantha!"

Sami gasped as she felt him suddenly push his tongue into her opening, seemingly unable to contain himself any long and Sami moaned loudly as she felt him begin to lap hungrily at her juices, as though he was a starving man and she was his last meal. She'd never had a man this eager to taste her between her legs before and it shocked her how much it thrilled her, how much it was exciting her. She wasn't the kind of girl who enjoyed this sort of thing… it was wrong… wasn't it? Her body didn't agree with her as she suddenly orgasmed, catching them both off guard as she spasmed and shook against him. EJ just let her go, his tongue deep inside of her as she jerked wildly around him. Her orgasm was quick and intense and left her panting helplessly and groaning against the last little spasms of pleasure rippling out from her core.

"That was so beautiful sweetheart," he groaned and Sami forced her eyes to open and look down to find him looking back up at her, his head still between her legs, "You come so beautifully Samantha."

Sami shuddered at his erotic words, no one having ever said anything like that to her before. She figured that he would move away now, demand some release of his own but he surprised her.

"Do it again for me sweetheart," he said throatily, his dark eyes intent on her face as her eyes widened with surprise at his request, "More."

Sami felt his hands go to the back of her thighs and then he was pushing on them, forcing her knees back towards her chest and opening her up for him even more. Sami sucked in a strangled breath, finding her arousal quickly returning in this new position. Her body gave him fresh proof of this and he purred his satisfaction at finding her so eager for more. Sami's eyes slid shut and she arched her neck as she felt that wonderful tongue of his delve into her folds, moving first up one side and down the other, lavishing the area with attention. His skilful tongue stayed away from her most sensitive areas which only seemed to make them more sensitive somehow as he took his sweet time getting to know every nook, every cranny of her body. It was the most single erotic experience of Sami's life - it was like he was worshipping her body and in that moment she'd never felt more adored. And even though that thought was impossibly fraught with complications for her life she determinedly didn't let herself think past that, losing herself in the moment and in him.

EJ cleverly rebuilt her arousal until she was starting to move underneath him, anxious for more now. Somewhere in the back of her mind Sami wondered how many other women had enjoyed his skills in this area and felt an unwanted flash of jealousy at that thought. Why should she care how he got so good at this? This meant nothing… he meant nothing to her. She would just close her eyes and pretend it was Lucas working this magic on her body and then everything would be right in the world again. For the first time his tongue flicked at her nub and she couldn't maintain the lie.

"EJ!" she cried out, bucking wildly at the almost painful pleasure and she shook her head from side to side as he took the swollen bud into his mouth and began to suckle.

"EJ… EJ… mmm god… EJ… oh…!"

She couldn't stop herself from chanting his name in between her increasingly loud moans. There was no way she could imagine it to be anyone other man other than EJ doing this wonderfulness to her. His presence rolled out of him and over her, consuming her utterly, causing her to drown in the force that was EJ DiMera. Her core was beginning to pulsate and she could feel her body preparing to climax again but she fought against it valiantly, not wanting him to stop what he was doing to her yet but it was no use. Her body's demand for release over took her and she cried out loudly as her second orgasm claimed her, bouncing around helplessly underneath him as he refused to relinquish his prize. EJ nipped and licked at her bud throughout her whole climax, prolonging it for her and making her sob her gratitude out to him, never having experienced anything like this before in her life.

It took her forever to finish and when Sami was finally done she fell back on the picnic rug, feeling like a limp rag doll. EJ loosened his grip on her legs and let them fall back to his shoulders again, feeling how her muscles were trembling from being held in that position for so long and from the after math of her release. Sami reached out a shaky hand, stroking the top of EJ's dark head as he still lay nestled between her thighs, having no words to thank him for what he'd just done for her. She expected him to move away now but again he surprised her. EJ pressed kisses all over her inner thighs, continuing to rub and drag his bearded cheeks and chin over the now extremely sensitised skin. Sami sighed happily at the sensation, at once soothing and yet stirring as well and she encouraged him by continuing to stroke his head, silently letting him know that he was making her happy if the purring noises weren't enough. After a few minutes of this EJ lifted his head and she blinked down at him, disappointed that it was over and trying to work out why she wasn't more horrified at herself for thinking like that… she put it down to an overload of endorphins that she was currently drowning in and tried not to think past that.

"More."

Sami's eyes widened at his single word, more of a demand than a question but either way Sami didn't even have to think about her answer.

"Yes," she breathed, nodding her head eagerly, hardly able to believe how ready she was for this, "Please, more."

He growled then, a guttural sound low in his chest and there was a flare of lust in his eyes, clearly pleased by her eagerness.

"Say it again," he grunted at her, "Say my name Samantha."

"EJ please," she gasped, willing to do anything to get more of the same from him, "Please… more!"

"That's my girl," he growled, appreciative of her obvious enthusiasm.

She should have protested that she wasn't his girl but the point seemed a moot one somehow given their current situation.

"Watch me sweetheart," he commanded her, "Watch me do this for you."

Sami closed her eyes tightly for a brief moment unable to believe how easily he could arouse her with a few simple words. Sami's eyes flew open as felt him suddenly move, sitting up. She looked up at him in horror, terrified that he was not going to do as he promised and knew she should be more ashamed of herself for not wanting him to stop yet but she simply wasn't. Her fear that he might be leaving her was unfounded as EJ just sat up and crossed his legs and simply grabbed her hips, dragging her into his lap. He moved his arms so that her legs were hooked over his elbows and once again she was splayed out in front of him, exposed to his avid gaze. Sami looked up at him uncertainly as she still had her back on the picnic rug with her lower half resting in his lap.

Sami could feel his erection against her back side and quivered, wondering how he was able to maintain this kind of control of himself. Holding her gaze steadily one large hand cupped her mound again, fingers running back and forth over the soft little curls there. Sami's eyes fluttered shut at the gentle caress but he was having none of that. EJ squeezed what was under his hand and her eyes flew open.

"Watch me Samantha," he ordered her but his voice was decidedly uneven and ragged and she knew he wasn't as in control as he was making out.

Sami obediently propped herself up on her elbows so she could better see what he was doing to her seeing as her hips were now actually above her head somewhat in this new position he had her in. EJ nodded approvingly and returned to massaging her mound, making Sami sigh in pleasure at the gentle sensations it caused in her as he milked fresh moisture from her body. Just when Sami didn't think she could get any more relaxed she suddenly felt him push one long finger into her and she gave a gasp of surprise which quickly turned to approving groans as he moved his finger repeatedly in and out of her once again drenched core. A second finger increased the pleasure for her and a third made her start to cry out loudly each time he pushed them into her as far as he could go, her hips lifting off his lap and increasing his penetration of her.

Sami couldn't take her eyes off the sight of his beautiful fingers claiming her again and again, seeing them become slick with her own copious juices. She'd never done anything like this before, suddenly realising she'd not been overly adventurous in her sexual endeavours up until this point but she was starting to want to make up for that. Sami pulled herself up so that she was straddling his lap now, her arms around his neck. She didn't let herself think about what she was doing, just reached down between their bodies and pulled his fingers out of her, bringing them to her lips and sucking on them hungrily.

"God yes Samantha!" said EJ fiercely, watching her and completely enraptured with the way she was so intent on tasting herself.

EJ couldn't stop himself, grabbing the back of her head and crushing her to mouth to him for a searing kiss. He plundered her depths like a man possessed, needing the taste of her sex in his mouth again. He moaned loudly into her mouth, his tongue battling with hers before sucking it into his mouth, his fingers returning to her core, thrusting into her at the exact same moment. EJ sucked on her tongue in time to his penetrations of her body and felt her respond, clinging tightly to his neck, her hips thrusting against his digits, encouraging him to go as deeply as he could. Her breathing was becoming uneven and his new found experience with her told him she was getting close again. EJ crooked his fingers, hitting her G-spot perfectly with each of his penetrations now and Sami screamed, breaking the kiss and arching her back. EJ had to quickly put a hand out to grab her back and she bent back right over it, impressing her with her flexibility, her breasts that were still disappointingly for EJ in her bikini top thrust to the heavens.

Sami's eyes rolled back in her head never having experienced anything like this before in her life. Each time he hit that magical spot inside of her she couldn't stop herself from screaming out ever louder. It was just as well they were on a deserted island really because if anyone had heard he they would have thought for sure that she was being murdered and Sami almost did feel like he was killing her now from the intense pleasure of it all.

"Please!" she sobbed between her cries of pleasure, "EJ… of god, no more I can't stand it!"

EJ took pity on them both then, not sure how much longer he could last himself with her being so gloriously vocal like this. It was beyond exciting to EJ to hear her crying out so loudly, screaming his name and he was starting to shake at the amount of control it was taking him not simply plunge his straining, swollen shaft into the wet heat his fingers were currently probing and give them both what they wanted but he held on valiantly, trying to focus only on Sami's pleasure and not his own raging need. EJ gently laid her back on the ground, not giving up his place inside of her but instead with his now free other hand placing his thumb over her bud and beginning to rub it hard for her.

Sami's body bowed up in an arch at this new assault and she held herself rigid like that even as he continued to work on her body, his fingers plumbing her depths despite how tightly she had clenched around them. She could no longer keep her eyes open, they were squeezed shut as she couldn't even find a scream to help relieve some of the intensity of this new delight. Sami's muscles shook and then she finally dropped herself back down, panting wildly only to tense again, her body unable to stop itself. She repeated this over and over again, surging up to meet him, her backside lifting off EJ's lap, only her shoulders left on the ground, holding it for a long painful second before relaxing again. She continued to bear down on his fingers like that for a little while before the time between her contractions became ever shorter and then it was too late and she had the most earth shattering orgasm of her entire life.

Sami howled, she actually howled throughout her entire release her arms and legs thrashing wildly around as her body convulsed uncontrollably. EJ moved then, eager to taste the fruits of his labours, putting her off his lap as her climax started and pushed open her legs before burying his head and lapping up all the nectar her latest orgasm was creating. He drank deeply from her and Sami sobbed her appreciation, both hands going to the back of his head and holding him in place even as she fought to get her body back under control. It took forever but finally her body began to calm down a little, even as she struggled to fill her lungs with life giving oxygen, sucking in great mouthfuls of the stuff, her face bright red and sweaty from all of her exertions.

Sami felt a great wave of exhaustion sweep over her and every muscle in her body was utterly fatigued, even stroking EJ's head which was still planted firmly between her legs was a display of Herculean strength for Sami at the moment. Satisfied at last that he'd supped from every last drop that Sami's body had for him EJ slowly moved up her body, nuzzling her mound and pressing kisses to her flat stomach. Unable to help himself his tongue flicked out and briefly lapped in turn at a tight nipple bud through her bikini top before finally holding himself above her, arms on either side of Sami's face as he looked down at her, as sweaty and red faced as she was.

"Just for future reference sweetheart…" he said unevenly, his breathing easily as ragged as hers from his own arousal, "That was you not enjoying something was it?"

Sami wished she could give him a smart answer to shut him up but it was completely beyond her at the moment. She was utterly shattered by what he'd just wrung from her body and all she could do was just lie there and stare up at him wide eyed, wondering if she'd ever be able to use her legs again.

"I need to cool off," he rasped, moving off her now and getting unsteadily to his feet.

Sami couldn't help but watch him, the effects of their little tryst extremely evident on his body. She would have blushed to see the way the material of EJ's swimmers were straining around a certain area of his body but she simply didn't have the strength. EJ walked down to the water's edge and stood there for a brief moment before diving into the waters in one swift, powerful move. He grimaced when the cold water hit his rampant erection, finding it a somewhat painful experience. But there was no other choice at the moment. He knew if he'd pushed the matter even a little bit he could have had Samantha right then but he didn't want that. He wanted her to come to him of her own accord and if that meant playing the waiting game a little longer he could do that… he hoped. He'd waited this long and his goal was so close at hand that he could afford to be patient for a little while longer.

EJ dived under the water, powerful strokes taking him further into the lagoon centre and away from the temptation still lying on the water's edge, more than ready for him if he wanted to and god how much did he want to. He knew he was a skilful lover, certainly having never received any complaints from any of the women he'd been with before but no one had ever responded to him the way Sami had. She'd been so ready, so responsive to his every touch that it had actually caught him off guard. He already made her orgasm three times in quick succession and he could have easily given her another one but his self control was all but shot by that stage and he needed to put some distance between them. She made the other women he'd been like seem like lifeless dolls now and he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she'd ruined him for any other woman for the rest of his life. EJ knew that if he was ever to be with another woman that he would always be comparing them to Samantha and they would always come up wanting. All this and they actually hadn't even had sex yet!

EJ had always known they'd be physically well suited to one another from their other aborted love making sessions but even he hadn't realised the depths of how compatible they really were. It was like she was made only for him, that it was only his touch that could wake the sleeping beauty. The gasps of surprise and wonder she'd made during their last little bout of intimacy told him that this was a first for her as well and EJ loved the thought of that. He wanted to be her first and her last lover and in many ways he felt like he was going to be just that. It was clear to him that no man had taken the time to show her how beautiful and desirable a woman she really was and while that made EJ angry to realise that he was also euphoric to think that he was going to be the first man to properly make love to Samantha Brady. That was why he'd stopped when he had when every instinct in his body was screaming at him to continue, to claim her utterly but something told EJ that she wasn't quite ready yet. He could seduce her body easily, they were made for each other after all but he wanted everything from Sami - her mind, body and soul and he couldn't settle for anything less now.

It was all or nothing and life without Samantha now truly would be nothing and EJ could not let that happen.

oooOOOooo

The horse ride home was done in complete silence but the whole time Sami was unbearably conscious of the man sitting behind her. She just couldn't believe that she had let that happen between them, Sami was beyond shocked with herself. The thing with the shooting star must have thrown her more off balance than she'd first given it credit for she tried to rationalise it. Otherwise how could she have ever let EJ do something like that to her. A deep red blush crept over her face as she had to face the fact that it had been a little more on her behalf than just letting EJ do anything. She'd been an active and very vocal participant in the whole thing much to her great shame. Sami didn't know how she was going to look EJ in the eye ever again and she certainly didn't know what she was going to do when she saw Lucas again for the first time. She'd never been unfaithful in any of her relationships. Of all her many and let's face it, varied crimes, infidelity had never been one of them and Sami hated the fact that it was now.

They moved from the rainforest and onto the beach now and as was Jellybean's habit he broke into a little bit of a canter. Sami's eyes widened at the sudden increase in pressure between her legs, the unevenness of Jelly's gait causing her hips to roll forward and back harder and faster and to her horror she felt her overly sensitised core respond. Sami bit her lip as a little orgasm shot through her and she swallowed the moan determinedly, desperate that EJ should not know what was happening to her. Jellybean slowed back into walk now as they moseyed along the water's edge back towards the house but the damage had already been done. The slow rhythmic rolling of Sami's hips against Jelly's back was causing little shock waves of pleasure to radiate out throughout her whole body as they walked along.

Oh god what had he done to her Sami wondered desperately as she struggled valiantly to give no outward signs of what was happening to her.

Despite what he'd done for her at the lagoon her body was hungry for more and she fought against the urge to simply lean forward on Jellybean and demand he take her from behind right now. She didn't even think that was possible but in her mind's eyes she could see him doing just that and more moisture leaked from her body. Where was it all coming from and when had she suddenly turned into this insatiable mad woman? When he'd first touched her a little unwanted voice reminded her. Sami swallowed another little moan as EJ made a clicking noise, increasing Jellybeans gait now that they were on a flat part of the track. She hands gripped her legs tightly and she hoped EJ would think it was for better balance rather than the truth.

Sami closed her eyes then, unable to fight it anymore and gave herself over to the indescribable pleasure of what was happening to her body…