As Sami leaned down to give him a kiss, his lips remained impassive.

She drew back, eying him warily, "Are you alright?"

"Should I be?" EJ's eyes met hers, he was trying to control it but he was furious.

"Yes. Lexi said… "

"I'm not talking about my health, I am talking about yours, Samantha."

"What? I'm not hurt."

"What if you had been by yourself? What if you had killed?"

Her face settled into a look of incredulity as she answered, "I know you were knocked out most of the time EJ, but I'm the one who saved your ass in there along with some other random guy."

"This isn't about what you can and can't do, Samantha. You need to be guarded with that sociopath out there."

"I think if tonight has proven anything, it's that I can take care of myself." She repeated her stance and EJ had the sudden urge to throw his hands up to the heavens.

While she saw tonight as a victory, he couldn't help thinking about the many ways it could've gone wrong, how easily he would have lost her.

"You don't get it do you?" He shouted and he could see her getting pissed.

"Get what?" She screamed, fists clenched as though she was seriously contemplating hitting him. "That you're a freaking Neanderthal? Or that clearly you think I should stay like a good little woman in the kitchen!"

"Would you shut up? As if I could ever think that about you! You have no idea how much I love you. I would not survive if I lost you. You think that I don't want you saving me that I for your silly reason I think you're incapable? You aren't and that's what scares me half to death. If I had awoken to you hurt or dead I would have been inconsolable, Samantha!"

His rant stopped her own. Staring at him, eyes wide, she repeated as though in awe, "You… you said you loved me.

"I… "

"EJ, I love you too."

The sound he made he would later describe as something far more manly, but it was as close to a whimper as he could get, his eyes widening as she almost ran to him, his joy complete.

It was a race to get Lexi to give the all clear so he could go home. They wouldn't have the toxicology results for a few days, but judging by the fact that he no longer had any symptoms and his blood parameters were all normal, she allowed him to go home once he promised to rest and with an admonition to return if he suffered from any dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, blurred vision and more. It was quite the laundry list. If he was quite honest, rest was the last thing on his mind.

She loves me! His mind had that on constant repeat. An indescribable happiness had flooded in.

Getting back to the mansion, not even his suspicions about his father could wreck his elations. He was happy beyond compare especially when his woman let out a girlish giggle as he pulled her upstairs and to his bed. She would perform her duties as Ombra later, would be the dutiful enforcer after he had his way with her and he intended to have his way.

This time was different as he undressed her knowing that she was the woman he loved and that he was loved in return changed everything. He took his time. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he motioned to her.

"Undress for me," he commanded, as he pulled off his own shirt.

EJ could see the hint of vulnerability, but their love pushed through. Her eyes shining with trust, she discarded her shoes before slowly pulling her black sweater over her head. He let out a breath at the sight of her topless. He was sure that Venus had nothing on her beauty. Hair smooth spun as gold silk, the smooth grace of her neck and shoulders, the bounty of her breasts, almost spilling forth from her bra. That would be his starting place.

EJ watched as she undid her pants, sliding them over her hips in a move so sensuous he had to bite his lip from groaning out loud. When she turned giving him a full view of her ass, he wanted to keep her there, but that would be for later.

She turned back around, the licentious smile on her lips, let him know she knew how much the sight of her turned him on. She held his gaze as she reached back unclasping her bra, teasingly holding it against her breasts before finally letting it fall to the floor.

EJ deliberately kept his gaze locked on hers, before dipping his eyes, loving that her body responded to his. He looked up again, watching as her breaths came in harsher pants. As fingers reached for the waistband of her panties he stood, placing a hand out to stop her with a whispered, "Let me."

"You smell so amazing, darling," he whispered, from his perch on the floor.

He stood, viewing Samantha's swollen lips, a product he was sure of her biting hem, pulling her towards the bed. The carnal haze they were in making her follow him unquestioningly. He was grateful in turn for the trust that let her be completely naked, while he had barely lost his shirt, but EJ needed the extra barrier his pants provided. It would keep him from loosing it before he got to do all the wicked things he had planned for her. Kicking off his shoes he scooted up the bed, dragging her with him to straddle his hard body. She seemed content to let him run this encounter, a fact he was more than thankful for. He lifted his knees, settling her on his lower thighs so that her entire body was bared for his perusal and EJ drank his fill.

"Sweetheart, I think your breasts are growing more magnificent by the day." He teased, burying his face in their soft warmth for a long moment.

"Um, EJ… "

"Yes love," he answered, voice muffled as his head was sandwiched between them.

"EJ," she giggled, a sound that never failed to bring joy to him.

He finally lifted his head to kiss her, a smile on both their lips. Soon all humor was gone as they spent time tasting each other.

"Wait, wait," She grabbed his wrist, stopping him, and with a loud, almost plaintive groan dragged his mouth away from her body.

"You… I was about to… "

"That was the idea, darling."

"No," she pushed on his shoulders until he was lying back on the bed.

"You're always distracting me!" She moved down his body, "This time I'm going to make you lose your mind."

As she lowered his zipper, he answered, "Far be it from me to deny the lady."