Chapter TEN

Absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it.
Thomas Fuller

"I'm so sorry miss," said the man that had crashed into Sami as he helped her regain her balance, his arms still around her waist as they stood close together, "Are you alright?"

Sami was recovering from the shock of their little collision and looked up at the man. He was in his early twenties probably, light brown hair and incredibly blue eyes, so blue in fact she couldn't help but stare at them for a second in surprise and then realised she must look a bit silly.

"I'm fine," she said hastily, flushing a little, "I'm sorry."

"What are you apologising for?" he asked with a little laugh, smiling down at her, "It was all my fault, rounding the corner like that. Did I hurt you at all?"

EJ watched Sami and the newcomer from their table, he couldn't hear what they were saying but their body languages spoke volumes. Whilst the man had removed his hands from Sami's waist he was still touching her, hands on her upper arms. Even though it had been an instinctive gesture on the man's behalf no doubt to grab at Sami and stop her from falling after their collision it drove EJ practically insane to think of this man's hands, however inadvertently, anywhere near Sami. There was something about the knowledge that Sami was standing there without underwear talking to another man that just pushed EJ's button's unbelievably. And when it became clear that the interloper had no inclination to step away from Sami any time soon EJ could feel his blood pressure raising.

The man dropped his hands away from Sami at last but he was still standing far too closely to the young woman for EJ's liking. Sami hadn't seemed to notice and he could tell by her hand gestures that she was a little flustered by the turn of events. EJ stood up, walking over to where the two were standing, his long legs covering the distance quickly and not taking his eyes off them for a moment. Sami saw him coming over the other man's shoulder and smiled at him and the man turned around to see who she was looking at.

"Are you alright darling?" asked EJ solicitously as he reached them, immediately moving up to Sami and putting his arm around her waist and drawing her towards him and away from the other man.

"Yes," said Sami, looking very embarrassed now, "I'm such a klutz…"

"Nonsense," said the younger man quickly, "It was my fault entirely. I've got to stop racing around like that but it's a bit of an occupational hazard when you're a test pilot I suppose."

EJ just managed to stop himself from rolling his eyes at the other man's gratuitous attempt to impress Sami with his occupation because it was unlikely that little nugget of information was for EJ's benefit.

"Wow," said Sami, suitably impressed, "I've never met a test pilot before - that must be some job huh?"

"It's a living," smiled the man, pleased with her reaction, "Actually I'm flying in an air show on Saturday - you should come. I'll get you tickets - by way of apology for nearly knocking you off your feet - for the both of you of course."

"Well that's very generous of you…" EJ began, doubting that he was included in that invitation by choice.

"Skip," supplied the young man easily.

"Skip," repeated EJ coolly, "But my wife and I…"

EJ drew Sami tighter to him as he said that, making it very clear to the other man to whom Sami belonged. Sami gave a bit of a start and looked up at him wide eyed at his lie. They both wore wedding rings so Skip would be none the wiser seeing as they were married… just to other people.

"… are only in town for another day," said EJ smoothly, "So unfortunately we will have to decline your generous offer."

"Well that's a shame," said the cocky young man, his eyes lingering on Sami as he said that and it was all EJ could do not reach over and punch him out for taking such liberties, "Some other time perhaps?"

"Yes," said EJ with a cold smile, "Perhaps. Dessert has just arrived sweetheart."

EJ could see the waiter delivering the sweets to their table across the room.

"We should be getting back," he continued on.

"Okay," said Sami, oblivious to the male posturing that was going on around her, "Good luck with the air show Skip."

"Why thank you," said the young man with a confident and charming smile, "I'll be thinking of you when I do my loop da loops."

He winked at her then and EJ ground his teeth together wondering who the hell this little upstart thought he was. Sami smiled sweetly at the other man, not wanting to seem rude but EJ was already ushering her back to their table, leaving the other man standing there. They were almost finished with their desserts and it was becoming increasingly obvious to Sami that something was wrong. EJ suddenly seemed on edge and a bit distracted and she'd worried that she'd done something wrong.

EJ for his part was having a hard time concentrating on anything other than the fact that Skip who was sitting a few tables over with some friends kept on looking over and checking out Sami who had her back to him. It was filling EJ with a murderous rage and the feelings spilt over so much so that he was now resenting sharing Sami with absolutely everyone in the room at that moment. He always had to share her with that husband of hers and he just suddenly had this voracious need to have her all to himself at last.

"Are you done sweetheart?" he asked her abruptly, having barely spoken to her since they'd sat down again, all of his energies concentrated on glaring at Skip and holding himself in check.

EJ could feel his control weakening and the need to get Sami away from all these people and especially that cocky fly boy was becoming a driving force in him.

"Ah yes," said Sami hesitantly, unsure why he was being so abrupt all of a sudden, "EJ…?"

But EJ was already signalling the waiter and paying for the meal, the sum of which would have made Sami pass out if she hadn't already been sitting down and before she knew it the valet was handing EJ his keys and helping her into his car. It had been a whirlwind of activity and Sami's head was spinning as she sat in the car on the way back to the hotel. She snuck a look at EJ's profile in the dark, his eyes fixed determinedly on the road in front of him, his face inscrutable.

"EJ?" she said softly, her voice clearly worried, "Is something wrong? Did I do something wrong… did I embarrass you at the restaurant…?"

EJ turned his head and looked at her sharply, surprised that she should ask such a thing. He'd been too caught up with his dark thoughts about what he'd like to do to Skip if he ever saw that little upstart again to notice what he was doing to Sami. He saw even in the low light the anxiousness on Sami's face and cursed himself for being so self involved. There was an alley way up ahead and without warning EJ suddenly turned into it, parking the car off the street and away from prying eyes. Sami gasped in surprise at his abrupt action and she looked over at EJ in confusion, racking her brains to try and figure out what she'd done to upset him so because he was clearly upset. EJ didn't let her speak though, leaning over and dragging her into a hungry kiss, his mouth plundering hers deeply until they were both breathless.

"I wanted to kill him," EJ groaned against her mouth before returning to kissing her again.

"Wh… who?" asked Sami breathlessly when he finally broke the kiss, completely at a loss to know what EJ was talking about.

"That man in the restaurant," growled EJ, his hand at the back of Sami's neck.

"It was an accident," said Sami in surprise, still struggling to catch her breath again, "Skip was just…"

"Don't!" he said sharply, kissing her savagely at that, hating hearing her say that man's name.

Sami whimpered under the onslaught and EJ immediately softened his kisses but they were still demanding.

"He wanted you," grunted EJ, a hand going to her breast as he buried his other hand in her hair, gently tugging on it to make Sami tilt her head to one side and give him free reign to the pale expanse of her neck which she did happily.

Sami's eyes widened at that this information but finding it hard to concentrate with EJ's hand on her breast and mouth on her body.

"That's crazy EJ," she managed to protest and felt his hand tighten on her breast as she did.

"He wanted you Samantha," he corrected her determinedly, looking at her fiercely, "And I wanted to kill him because of it."

"I think you're imagining it EJ," she told him with a bemused shake of her head, "He was just bein' friendly is all."

"Do you think I don't know what the face of a man who desires you looks like Samantha?" asked EJ tightly, his fingers tightening a little in her hair inadvertently, "When I look in the mirror everyday and see it on my own face?"

His admission Sami shocked Sami but she still couldn't see what the problem was.

"But EJ I don't want him," she said with a frown, "So even if it's true what you're saying what does it matter?"

"It matters because I don't like him looking at you, thinking about what you would look naked and in his bed," growled EJ, pulling her towards him possessively.

"I don't think he was thinking that at all EJ," said Sami blushing at even the thought of such a thing but feeling like EJ was over reacting, "Why would you even think such a thing?"

"Because it was what I was thinking the moment I laid eyes on you," EJ told her grimly, still obviously upset about the other man's interest.

Sami sat back then, pulling away from his touch and regard him steadily for a long moment.

"I don't want him," she said finally, "He can think whatever he wants but nothing changes that fact EJ."

EJ moved restlessly in his seat, knowing what she was saying was true but as he'd never had to deal with feelings of jealousy and possessiveness before and was quite surprised to find that logic did nothing to assuage those feelings.

"What's going to make you stop stewin' about it EJ?" she asked him softly, putting a hand over his as it rested on his knee.

Sami just wanted to make things right between them again. This was their last night together before the reality of their situation returned and they had to deal with returning to Salem and all the complications that would entail. Sami just wanted one more night where she could pretend there was just the two of them and no one else existed and lose herself in that. That wasn't going to happened while EJ was still so upset, her words of reassurance not being helpful so far obviously.

"I go back and kill him with my bare hands," returned EJ quickly, not needing to think about it at all.

Sami pulled a face at that.

"I don't think that's such a great idea EJ," she said ruefully, "I don't think prison is how either of us wants this night to end. Is there somethin' else that will make you feel better EJ?"

EJ quietly considered her question, trying to organise his jumbled thoughts. He'd reacted to the other man's interest in Sami on such an instinctual, primitive level that his brain really hadn't been involved which made it hard to find a rational answer to her question. It should have been enough that Sami told him she wasn't interested in the other man but for some reason it wasn't. If EJ had been in a better frame of mind to analyse things a little more clearly he would have no doubt come to the conclusion that this had as much to do with the husband she went home to every day after seeing him as it did with Skip.

"Talk to me EJ," she whispered, moving closer and cupping his face in her hands and beginning to press soft kisses to his forehead, cheeks… all over his face.

"He touched you, he looked at you, wanted you," said EJ thickly, listing both Skip's and Lucas' heinous crimes, closing his eyes as she began to rain gentle kisses down on him.

EJ's hands went to her hips, grabbing onto them tightly and opening his eyes to pin her down with his heated gaze.

"I need to know that I'm the only man you want Samantha," he told her urgently, holding on so tightly to her hips that Sami was sure she'd show bruises for it tomorrow.

Sami found it difficult to comprehend how EJ could even have a moment's doubt about that considering what had already passed between them but there was a naked vulnerability to his face that she'd never seen before so she let it pass, deciding actions would speak louder than words in this instance. She disentangled herself from EJ and silently moved, climbing between their seats and onto the quite spacious back seat. EJ turned around in his seat and looked at her in surprise. Sami crooked a finger at him and gave a little smile, silently encouraging him to join her.

EJ knew Sami was very self conscious in public places about them being in anyway demonstrative and seeing as people were still milling around on the streets at the end of the alley he was a bit taken aback by her actions. He quickly got over it though when Sami held his gaze when he didn't move immediately to join her and undid the zip at the back of her dress and pushed down her bodice, revealing her slip covered breasts to him. EJ practically scrambled to join her on the back seat on seeing that. As soon as he was on the back seat Sami straddled him, kneeling over him and sitting back on her haunches so that she wasn't actually sitting in his lap but rather above it.

"This is how much I want you EJ," she breathed, pushing down straps of her slip and revealing her naked breasts to him, fearlessly unconcerned that someone might see her.

That wasn't quite true actually. Sami's heart was beating wildly in her chest at the thought that someone might suddenly appear beside the car and tap on the glass but she wanted EJ to be sure of her feelings for him more than she feared being caught in such a compromising position. Besides, there was something particularly erotic to Sami to be so brazen in a public place, adding to the thrill of the moment. Sami continued to take charge, taking EJ's head in her hands and guiding it to one breast, thrusting a nipple into his mouth. EJ worked on it eagerly, doing all the things that delighted her and soon Sami's core was aching painfully and dripping wet. She pulled him off one now swollen teat and directed him towards the other impatiently waiting bud. EJ happily obliged, the soft groaning noises he was making against her breast making Sami even wetter.

Whilst EJ worked hard at pleasuring them both Sami knew that he must be getting painfully confined by this stage. One hand moved between their bodies and undid his zipper, easing his already engorged length from his trousers for him. EJ moaned his gratitude, throwing his head back against the car seat and trying not to come from the first touch of her hand to his aching member.

"I don't want a boy EJ," she whispered in his ear, moving herself over him so that her swollen, wet folds brushed along his sensitive tip causing little guttural sounds of delight to be wrung from deep inside of him, "I want a man."

"Samantha please," he said achingly, pulling on her hips and trying to make that tight heat of hers finally encase him, "I need you sweetheart."

Sami resisted him though, her hands going to his and pulling them off her body.

"Not yet," she purred in his ear and EJ gave a helpless grown.

Sami continued to tantalise him, rubbing her sex against his, telling him all her secrets - like how it felt when he'd come inside of her, describing the sensation in minute detail and making EJ whimper in frustration that he wasn't doing that right now. She told him about how she loved it so much when he had his fingers inside of her, his tongue on her nub, pleasuring her until she was hoarse from screaming out her joy for him. On and on she went, titillating him with her words and her body, full breasts rubbing up against his chest as she teased him mercilessly.

EJ was completely under her spell, thrilling to every word that dropped from her lips, every touch of her body to his. The whole time EJ could feel himself getting bigger and harder as she drove him to the point of madness. Sami had stopped talking now, starting to kiss him then, languid, deep kisses that belied the growing urgency in EJ's body. EJ's plight was worsened when he felt one of her hands go down between their bodies and encircle his pulsating manhood, beginning to stroke it into ever greater stiffness.

"Samantha," he protested thickly, finally managing to drag his mouth from hers, "I'm getting too big sweetheart, you have… have to stop, you won't be able to take me."

Sami just gave him a knowing little smile and increased her pace and pressure on his impressively swelling member, encouraging him to an ever greater girth and EJ groaned loudly, realizing what her intent was.

"I want a man that makes me scream when I have to take him EJ," she told him breathlessly, their foreplay having had its effect on her as well.

She leant down and whispered in EJ's ear again, arms tightly around his neck.

"Take me EJ," she implored him, "Make me scream."

That snapped what precious little control EJ had had up until that point and he couldn't endure waiting any longer. In one fluid motion he swung Sami down so that she was on lying on her back on the car seat and pushed her skirt up to her waist, the material of her dress crumpled around her waist now as her breasts still lay bare to his hot gaze as well. He pushed her legs apart, moving over the top of her but with the last of his strength he hesitated.

"Are you sure?" he asked her raggedly, looking down at her pleadingly, "This is going to hurt and I don't know if I can take it slowly sweetheart - don't let me hurt you Samantha!"

"I want it hard EJ!" she told him breathlessly, her excitement matching his, "I want you, take what you need EJ - make me scream!"

The last of EJ's restraint was gone now and he just had to have what was being so freely offered. He mounted her in a single thrust and Sami did scream then, the sudden white hot pain of having to take him so suddenly when he was that big ripping through her. For a second she thought she might black out from it, her hands grabbing desperately at his shoulders to brace herself against the pain but as quickly as it had come it was gone again as her body worked frantically to accommodate his vast size. Sami groaned weakly then as her muscles relaxed, starting to enjoy the feeling of him inside of her but EJ was already beginning to thrust roughly in and out of her, beyond any kind of ability to stop himself now.

"Samantha!" he gasped, concern mixed in with his lust but his strokes were becoming more fierce as his arousal all but took over completely.

"Don't stop!" she begged him, closing her eyes against the intense pleasure/pain of it all, "Don't stop EJ - give me more!"

EJ was beyond excited that Sami had taken it upon herself to do this for him. The fact that she wanted him so big before claiming her did things to EJ that he just couldn't fathom. He loved that she was being so wild for him, so unfettered and it made him drive himself harder and deeper into her with each thrust knowing she'd done it all for him, only for him. EJ wasn't even sure if he'd be able to bring Sami to climax before he was done, having no way to slow himself down at this point. His last thought before he lost himself totally in this woman was that he'd spend a lot of time making it up to her later but then it was too late. EJ buried himself deeply in her one last time and then there was the glorious sensation of him emptying himself into her, his hips pumping frantically as he howled his pleasure out for Sami and anyone in a two mile radius to hear.

[center]oooOOOOooo[/center]

Sami began to give uncontrolled gasping groans of intense pleasure as EJ drove her relentlessly towards her next orgasm. They'd barely made it in the door of their hotel room before he was stripping the clothes from her body and taking her almost like a wild animal which Sami found deeply thrilling. Despite the release she'd given him in the car EJ still seemed intent on claiming her utterly and Sami couldn't be happier to oblige. He wrung such incredible depths of pleasure from her body each and every time they were together like this that even now Sami had trouble comprehending it.

"EJ!" she moaned, throwing her head back but that was about all she could do with the position he had her in.

As much as she enjoyed taking charge like she did in the car there was also something deeply thrilling to Sami when she was utterly at EJ's mercy and she was left in no doubt that EJ found it to be an equally stimulating experience. He'd lain her back on the bed, kneeling in front of Sami and rested her legs up against his shoulders before entering her slowly, making Sami clutch at the bed sheets as he did, her body still aching from his last assault but hungry for more. As soon as EJ had embedded his entire straining length into Sami's tightness EJ moved over her, keeping her legs against his shoulders and pressing them back towards Sami's chest as he held himself just over her. Her muscles protested, finding him difficult to accommodate in this new position but their complaints soon gave way to something far more pleasurable. EJ moved her yet again, lying them both on their sides but keeping her in that position. He gripped her hips tightly then and began to move inside of her.

Sami was always tight but in this position EJ felt like every time he pulled out it became harder to reclaim her, especially as he continued to swell and thicken with each passing moment. EJ had total control of their lovemaking at that moment so why did he still feel like Sami was the one possessing him? She'd blown his mind in the car, staggered him with what she'd done for him and the memory of it only served to inflame his senses even more.

"You're my woman!" he grunted, still intent on marking his territory despite what she'd done for him in the car, "Mine!"

"OohHHH!"

Sami couldn't answer that because he'd moved just the smallest amount and now that rigid length of his had found a home so deep inside of her that Sami had no words. Her toes curled and her face screwed up as her orgasm swept everything before it, ripping through her. She bounced around helplessly on the bed, EJ still holding her firmly in position as he continued to drill her relentlessly throughout the whole thing. She came and then she came again, just as hard because of his assault on her and wondered if you could die from this much pleasure. EJ listened to her moans of ecstasy, felt the way she was convulsing frantically around his painfully engorged staff and then he was joining her, crying out loudly as he spurt great wads of his seed into her quivering heat. It was a sensation beyond compare, climaxing inside this woman and EJ feared he'd never be able to get enough of it. Even as he delivered the last of his hot, sticky goodness into her he was already craving their next encounter.

[center]oooOOOOooo[/center]

"Lean forward darling," murmured EJ softly and Sami happily complied.

They were in the bathroom, Sami emerged up to her chest in hot, fragrant water as she took a bath. EJ sat beside the bath on a stool, dressed only in his dark trouser pants. Sami did as EJ asked and leant forward, pulling up her knees and wrapping her arms around them.

"Nice," she sighed contentedly as she turned her head and rested one cheek on her bent knees.

Steam filled the room as EJ methodically began to wash her back with the wash cloth he had in his hand, dipping it in the hot bath water before moving it in circular motions all over Sami's back. It always surprised Sami, the contrasts of this man. One moment he could be taking her roughly in the back seat of a car and the next he could be so very tender with her and Sami loved it all. He finished with her back after a long few minutes and he indicated she should lie back again.

Sami sat back as he instructed, her skin pink from being in such hot water as she settled back against the end of the bath tub again. Stray tendrils of hair had escaped the loose bun on top of her head and hung down around her face, curling slightly with the all the moisture and tiny drops of condensation beaded her nose and forehead and EJ wondered if he'd ever seen anything sexier in his entire life.

"Join me EJ," she said with a little smile, seeing the predatory way he was looking at her.

"The bath tub is uncomfortably short for me," he said with a shake of his head and then quirked his lips, "Besides, I'm rather enjoying the view from right here thank you darling."

EJ's eyes strayed down to her breasts then, the water not quite reaching her breasts unless Sami sunk down deeper in the bath. EJ dipped the wash cloth he was still holding in the water before holding it above Sami and squeezing, letting the water drop onto her body from a great height. It hit her chest and coursed down between the valley of her chest and EJ watched the waters progress with great interest and Sami gave a little sigh of pleasure. He repeated the process but this time the stream of water's target was one pert nipple which beaded nicely for EJ when the flow of water hit it. Her other breast received the same treatment.

God but her breasts drove him to distraction.

It was strange but he'd always been attracted to long legs on women over anything else before this, so like everything else that was to do with Sami, this was a first for him. EJ dropped the wash cloth he'd been holding back into the water with a plop and dragged a knuckle down one of her breasts, teasing the stiffened nub he'd just created. Sami gave a little smile and settled back against the back of the bath tub, watching him through half closed eyes. EJ's hand drifted lower, under the water and between her legs.

"I was so rough with you tonight," he said huskily, his fingers stroking at her core gently.

"I loved it EJ," she said dreamily, "It makes me want to come again just thinking about it."

EJ couldn't help himself when she said things like that to him, inserting a finger into her depths. Sami gasped and sat up a little straighter which only succeeded in helping his digit penetrate her more deeply.

"EJ," she said breathlessly as he began to move his finger in and out of her steadily, watching the growing excitement on her face.

"I can't get enough of making you come Samantha," EJ told her a little unsteadily as his own body started to respond in kind.

"Oh god yes!" she moaned, closing her eyes as the excitement built in her body as much from his words as to what he was doing to her body.

EJ inserted another finger into her core and Sami gripped the edges of the bath tightly and threw her head back, soft panting moans beginning to escape her lips. EJ watched her in fascination as she began to head towards a climax already, his thumb moving to her highly sensitised nub and beginning to rub on it for her. Sami cried out, her breathing becoming forced and irregular as her hips took over, beginning to ride his fingers more fully now. The water lapped at her breasts which were moving rapidly with every straining breath of hers and EJ's free hand moved to one of them, pinching one nipple between his thumb and fingers and making her beg for more. EJ began to tug on the tightened bud in time with his penetrations and it took barely any time to bring Sami to climax that way. She bucked up in that last second, water sploshing over the sides of the tub as she spasmed helplessly around his fingers, trying not to scream as loudly as she wanted to.

When EJ was satisfied that she was done he reluctantly removed his fingers from her heat, reaching up with that hand to cup her face and begin to slowly kiss her, drinking from the sweetness of her mouth deeply. EJ finally stopped kissing her only to continue further down her body, leaning further over the tub so he could kiss his way down her long neck and down her chest until he was finally at the nipple that he'd been so energetic with. It was more pink and swollen then it's twin from EJ's forceful treatment of it. He took the distended nub into his mouth, suckling on it gently and lavishing it with gentle attention with his tongue, a silent apology for his former roughness with it. Sami purred and settled back more comfortably in the tub again, her body still pulsating pleasingly from her release and his tender ministrations to her aching teat feeling utterly sublime. EJ finally lifted his head from her breast and fixed her with an almost desperate stare that made Sami's stomach drop almost painfully, suddenly feeling very anxious.

"We can't go back to how it was between us in Salem Samantha," he told her achingly, "I can't go back to how it was."

Sami pulled back, looking at him with a suddenly distraught expression on her face.

"You… you want to end it?" she asked him, her heart breaking at the thought as she fought back tears.

Sami always felt like the end was near in their relationship based on EJ's past history and she tried to always be prepared for it but he'd lulled her into a false sense of security these last couple of days and in particular seeing as she'd just climaxed by his own hand.

"No!" said EJ sharply, his hand cupping her face as he looked at her intently, "I don't want this to end Samantha - the exact opposite in fact. I can't go back to seeing you every few days, not now, not after this time away. I have to see you everyday Samantha."

"But we can't EJ," she protested, taken aback, "It would be impossible."

"I'm not going to be without you for days on end anymore Samantha," said EJ determinedly, holding her gaze steadily, "I can't and I won't."

"But how would that work EJ?" she asked hopelessly, "We both have spouses and I work and…"

"We'll find a way sweetheart," interrupted EJ earnestly, "But I have to see you every day from now on, even if it's for a moment or I will lose my mind completely."

EJ knew he should have been more worried than he was about making such a revealing statement to her but all he cared about right then was that it was the truth. Sami stared back at him wide eyed, her heart beating erratically in her chest at his impassioned statement. Why did hearing those kinds of words from his lips make her just melt inside she wondered hopelessly? She felt the same way but had no idea how that could possibly work.

"Samantha?" said EJ hoarsely, watching the many expressions pass over her face intently.

Impossible, impractical, illogical and dangerous.

Those were all the words she should have said but it wasn't the word that escaped her lips on a sigh.

"Yes."

EJ's eyes flared triumphantly as he leaned in for a hungry kiss, obliterating every other concern Sami had with his passion.

And so the lover's sank ever deeper into one another…