Haunted
Chapter 16
EJ finally came into the house finding it all quiet, too quiet for his liking as he made his way through the downstairs rooms to the staircase. He wondered where and what Samantha was up to when he saw the closed door to the bedroom he had deposited her into upon their arrival.
He stood outside the door, no noise was coming from inside and he gently opened the door, finding her fast asleep. She was angelic in her slumber, her face not creased with the constant frowns she usually bestowed upon him now. Knowing he should just back up and leave the room, but not wanting to go, he carefully sat down upon the bed. He lightly ran his fingers through her hair, loving the feel of it between his fingertips. She truly was a beauty, it was no wonder she had captured his heart so completely.
Sami turned and mumbled something in her sleep causing EJ to freeze, god knew she would pitch a fit if she found him in her bedroom, but he was spellbound and couldn't force himself to get up and leave. She turned again, and smiled in her sleep, saying something that didn't make any sense, something in her dreams that had her far away from him.
Sami sensed his presence as soon as he opened the door, but allowed EJ to think she was sleeping. She could have been an actress she thought as she turned mumbling in her supposed state of sleep. She almost stopped pretending when EJ sat down on the bed and began to run his fingers through her hair. She would give anything to see the expression on his face, but she was pretending to sleep so it wasn't possible for her to open up her eyes.
Then a devious thought came to her, why didn't she pull him into a kiss? She had done it before on the day of her non wedding to Austin. That would get EJ's goat better than anything she decided as she moaned in her sleep and suddenly pulled him down to her lips.
She is kissing me. EJ thought to himself as Sami opened up her mouth, teasing him to open his as her tongue slid into the recesses of his mouth. Tasting the sweetness of her was surprising; it had been so long since they had kissed one another.
Just for a few more moments, Sami told herself, relishing the feelings that EJ was invoking in her. Then she felt him run his hands up and down her arms as he leaned down to press his body close to hers, cupping her backside into his hands to get even closer.
He rocked up against her, whispering her name as he broke the kiss, to place another upon her neck, causing her to shiver in anticipation as she felt his hardness pressing against her. The feeling making her want to open up for him, but that wasn't part of the plan.
She suddenly stopped; this game was quickly spinning out of control. She opened her eyes and angrily pushed EJ away. "What do you think you are doing?"
"Next time you try to play Sleeping Beauty, maybe you should actually be asleep," EJ said wiping his mouth as he got off the bed.
"You are such a pig," Sami snarled as she pulled the sheet up against her body.
"And you my dear, are no lady," EJ commented as he leaned against the doorway.
"I hate you," Sami said hoping he'd get the hint and leave her room.
"Not as bad as you'll hate me if you try to play me again," EJ warned, his eyes narrowing as he spoke.
"I was not playing you," Sami scoffed as if she were offended. "I was asleep and you come in here trying to cop a feel."
"Please, you need to brush up on your acting skills if you want to make that act believable. Now let me say once more, if you try anything else like that you'll find out that I can be the worst vacation companion you have ever had the misfortune to meet."
"You're not my vacation companion! You're my kidnapper!" Sami raised her voice to emphasize the difference in perceptions they had over this experience.
"Dinner is at seven sharp, don't be late, dress presentably and if you even try to throw anything whether it be food, glassware or utensils in my vicinity, I will personally take you over my knee and give your bottom a spanking the likes that you soon won't be forgetting," EJ said as he left the room to go downstairs to begin preparing dinner, laughing softly under his breath as he heard Sami throw something against the wall and curse obscenities as he continued walking down the stairs.
Haunted
Chapter 17
EJ wondered if Sami would show up at seven, he had set the dining room table with fine china, a vase of flowers he'd picked earlier that grew on the island in the middle of the table, the fragrance coming from them spicy sweet and aromatic. He lit the candles upon the table, blowing on the matches to put out their tiny flame. He turned down the lights and opened the veranda doors so that the ocean breeze could filter into the room.
He was filling the wine glasses on the table, hers with sparkling cider, and his with vintage Bordeaux when she entered the room wearing a pale blue sheath, one shade lighter than the color of her eyes. Her hair was piled upon her head in a messy array of an up do almost looking as if it would fall if you tugged the slightest bit upon it.
She was a vision; there was no doubt about it as he took in her visage in the glow of the candlelight. She looked downward almost as if she didn't know what to expect, her eyes taking in the scene before her. Nice candlelit dinner, music softly playing in the background, it would almost be the perfect setting for a romantic evening, that is if she was interested in EJ, which she was not.
But she was hungry and the smells emitting from the kitchen were heavenly. Thinking better of tempting fate and EJ's threat of giving her a spanking which somehow she had no doubt that he'd do just to aggravate her, she stood quietly waiting for him to say something to her.
"You look beautiful," EJ said coming to her side of the table to pull back the chair for her to sit down.
"Thank you," she replied, as he took a seat directly across the table from her.
"You're welcome," EJ looked as if he wanted to say more to her, but didn't.
EJ looked pretty nice himself; he was wearing a dark navy blue Armani suit, light blue button up shirt and an even darker blue tie.
"You look nice too," Sami grudgingly admitted, EJ did make wearing a suit look sexy on him, "but…"
"But what?" EJ asked thinking he must have spilled something on his suit while he was providing the finishing touches on the meal.
"Well isn't this a bit much for the beach?" Sami said pointing to his outfit of choice.
"First you tell me I'm not wearing enough clothes and now you tell me I'm wearing too many," EJ rolled his eyes at Sami, a light teasing tone in his voice. He took off his jacket, placing it on the back of his chair, and then loosened his tie, letting it fall around the collar of his shirt. "That better?"
"Whatever suits you," Sami said shrugging her shoulder as if she didn't care one way or the other what EJ chose to wear, hating the reminder of finding EJ on the beach earlier today with absolutely no clothes on at all. She could feel another blush coming on her face and was glad the candlelight would not reveal it so obviously to EJ. "What did you fix?"
"Sure you want to try my cooking again?" EJ asked with his eyebrow raised in question.
"Do I have any other choice?" Sami asked trying not to look too impressed over their dinner fare.
"Guess not," EJ replied as raised his fork and took a taste.
"Oh my god, this is delicious!" Sami exclaimed taking a bite of the chicken dish that EJ had concocted, totally forgetting her stance to keep her distance from him.
"I'm glad you like it," EJ said with a smile, enjoying watching Sami eat her meal. Why did things have to be so crazy between them, they could be having the time of their lives if she would only give into her desires. He knew she wanted him, but she put up such a wall that he feared it would almost be impossible to tear it down.
They actually got through the meal with no outbursts or throwing of things, which EJ kind of wished Sami had thrown something just to put her over his knee and spank her like he had threatened to do earlier.
"That was so good," Sami said after eating the last bite from her plate.
"Thanks, I don't get the opportunity to cook as often as I like," EJ commented as he took their plates from the table and placed them in the sink to wash later, right now he wanted to talk to Sami, to try and make her see how good they could be together. She was having his children, not Lucas' so that should account for something.
He came up behind her chair, pulling it back out for her to get up from the table. Sami wasn't used to all the niceties that EJ provided for her. Why if Lucas had been there he would have been ordering her around to get his dinner cooked and he never pulled out the chair for her.
She shook her head, she shouldn't be comparing EJ and Lucas, and it was like comparing apples and oranges, they were both very different men. Lucas of course was not the gentlemanly type, but then again he also wasn't a kidnapper. The thought anew in her mind made her brow crease in a frown until EJ took her hand and led her out to the veranda.
"EJ, what are you doing?"
"Dance with me," he urged, pulling her close to him, so close that she could feel the beating of his heart when she placed her palm upon her chest.
"EJ, I don't think that this is a good idea," Sami began as her mind traveled back into time when they shared another dance with one another.
"No tango," EJ promised, "just a slow dance. Come on Samantha, there is no one around to see us; it's just you and me."
"EJ," Sami started to protest, but he already was waltzing her around the veranda under while the sun was setting upon the ocean, the colors streaking the sky in a vivid array of bright oranges and pinks.
"Shhh, just one dance," he coaxed her while she started to sway in his arms, instinctively laying her head upon his shoulder.
If you're not the one then why does my soul feel glad today?
If you're not the one then why does my hand fit yours this way?
If you are not mine then why does your heart return my call?
If you are not mine would I have the strength to stand at all?
I never know what the future brings
But I know you are here with me now
We'll make it through
And I hope you are the one I share my life with
I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand
If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?
Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?
If I don't need you then why am I crying on my bed?
If I don't need you then why does your name resound in my head?
If you're not for me then why does this distance maim my life?
If you're not for me then why do I dream of you as my wife?
Sami kept her eyes closed, knowing her heart was beating erratically in her chest while she danced with EJ. It felt so good to be here with him, but she couldn't allow herself to be caught up in this romantic scenario that EJ had set up. She wanted to pull away, but she wanted to stay in his arms too. She was so conflicted over her feelings for this man.
I don't know why you're so far away
But I know that this much is true
We'll make it through
And I hope you are the one I share my life with
And I wish that you could be the one I die with
And I pray in you're the one I build my home with
I hope I love you all my life
I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand
If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?
Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?
EJ thought he could stay here all night, dancing with Samantha, holding her in his arms as they moved together in perfect harmony. Why couldn't she see that she belonged with him instead of Lucas?
I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand
If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?
Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?
'Cause I miss you, body and soul so strong that it takes my breath away
And I breathe you into my heart and pray for the strength to stand today
'Cause I love you, whether it's wrong or right
And though I can't be with you tonight
You know my heart is by your side
He felt her pull away, tears in her eyes as they stopped moving.
"I can't do this EJ."
She put her hand to her mouth and ran off the veranda onto the beach, she didn't want him to see her cry, but if she stayed one moment longer she would have been sobbing.
He watched her run away as the last strains of the song played and hung his head downward, praying there was some way he could reach her heart before it was too late for them both.
I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand
If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?
Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?
If You're Not the One by Daniel Bedingfield
Haunted
Chapter 18
Sami ran until she couldn't see the beach house anymore. Now the tears came unbidden, flooding her senses to quickly that she found it hard to breath. Why did EJ do this to her? Making her feel as if she could toss away everything she had in her life to be with him. Couldn't he see that it would never work out for them? Between her family, his family, Lucas…
Why she hadn't even given Lucas more than a few passing thoughts today other than comparing him to EJ. She wondered what Lucas was doing, was he searching for her or was he off drinking again oblivious to all his surrounding besides the alcohol demon that had reared its ugly head again.
She needed to clear her head, being that close to EJ brought up dangerous feelings that she had tried unsuccessfully to shut off months ago. Unconsciously she dropped her hand to her abdomen, feeling the evident proof that no matter what EJ was going to be in her life no matter how hard she tried to push him out.
She stared into the sky wondering how in the world she was going to be able to make it here for two weeks alone with EJ. In one day he'd managed to make her start to rethink about the choices she had made and so far she had to admit that she was scared of what would happen if she kept considering the options that EJ was trying to make her see about the future.
EJ turned and went back into the house, afraid that if he pursued Samantha at the moment that he'd turn her even further against him. He wanted her as much as he needed air to breathe, so bad he could taste it, but was he hoping in vain for her to return the feelings that he knew without a doubt that he had for her in his heart.
When they danced, he could feel it, the almost involuntary softening of her heart towards him, and then before he knew it she'd turned and ran away from him, away from what he was so plainly offering up to her. Why wouldn't Samantha give him a chance to show her that they were meant to be together?
Meanwhile Lucas was still in lock up awaiting a bond hearing. So far the accommodations had been a bit rough for him. As soon as he'd been charged, he'd be escorted to the county jail for booking to be fingerprinted, to have his mug shot made and to the jail cell. All the while he ranted on; claiming that whoever had filed these charges had made a huge mistake.
Lucas had made such a ruckus that Bo was finally summoned to the jail cell to try and calm him down. Lucas raved about injustice in the system because he was certain EJ Wells was the one guilty of embezzlement, not him.
"Look man, you've got to calm down," Bo cautioned Lucas which just started Lucas' onslaught of unfair police policies once again.
"This is crap Bo and you know it!" Lucas bellowed at the top of his voice, causing some of the other cellmates in the block to scream back for him to shut up and quit whining.
"The SEC seems to think that they have a pretty tight case against you," Bo informed Lucas, "so as I've said before you need to quiet down and lay low until you go before the judge in the morning. These guys in here don't take too kindly to someone throwing hissy fits, so if you want to make it through the night without one of them trying to beat the hell out of you, I suggest you chill out."
Lucas gulped nervously as he looked around the cell block, all eyes upon him glaring with their annoyance. "Bo, can't you get me situated somewhere else?"
"Sorry, the DA is on our department like white on rice and we have to follow protocol to the letter. No special treatment for anyone that especially includes family. Speaking of which, where is Sami? I thought she'd be down here raising hell to get you out of here by now?"
"I don't know," Lucas looked down at the floor wondering where in the world Sami could be, although he knew they had fought like cats and dogs the past few days, he couldn't believe that she'd let him stay in jail.
"Well I'll try to get in touch with her and let her know what is going on," Bo said as he turned to leave Lucas.
"Bo, please tell them to hurry, I don't want to be here," Lucas said as Bo retreated from the room.
"We don't want you to be here either," came the reply from one of the cellmates who cracked his knuckles and started walking towards Lucas with a vicious smile upon his face.