CHAPTER TEN

Samantha was leaning against the sink looking at her reflection in the mirror when Martin walked in. She was dressed in jeans and a tank top. A pink cast covered her left arm. Her cheek sported five stitches carefully covered with small, white, rectangular bandages. Her face was slightly swollen from her healing wounds. Her eyes were heavy as she got no sleep the night before: She didn't like hospitals. The screaming pain had subsided to a whimper, but her badly broken arm screamed refusing to give Samantha the peace she craved. Her hair was no longer scruffy, but she hadn't had a shower in a few days; it was something she desperately sought.

Martin watched Samantha as she analyzed herself in the mirror. He smiled to himself thinking about how wonderful it was to have Samantha with him again. He didn't know what he would have done if he had lost her. He wanted to watch her some more, but the nagging he felt to touch her was overwhelming. He snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms scrupulously around her waist pulling her close. It was the first time that he was able to hold her since she disappeared.

At first, Samantha jumped. Her mind's eye flashed back to being with David for an instant. Then she realized where she was and who was holding her. At first, she rested her head against his chest. She thanked God that Martin was there. He had sat up with her the whole night ensuring that she was okay. She was grateful, and she loved him immensely.

Without leaving Martin's embrace, Samantha turned around and looped her arms around Martin's neck. She smiled at him. "Hey!" she greeted.

Martin's lips hovered above Samantha's. "You're beautiful no matter what," he said.

Samantha rolled her eyes. She could feel his hot breath on her lips. Her lips craved the taste of Martin's. She smiled at him before leaning in. The couple shared a deep and passionate kiss that could withstand anything.

After several minutes of kissing, they pulled apart for the sole purpose of breathing. They gazed into each other's eyes.

"I've been waiting a long time to do that," Samantha said.

Martin's response was kissing her again letting her know that the feeling was mutual. "Are you ready to get out of the hospital?" he asked with a smile.

Samantha pulled away from Martin's grip. She walked out of the tiny bathroom and over to her hospital bed. She grabbed her small bag of limited things before returning to Martin's side. "More than you know." She reached over and intertwined her fingers with Martin's loving the feeling. She smiled at him.

The couple strode down the cold hospital hallway, walking to reception. After signing the papers, they walked out of the hospital.

Samantha gave a sigh of contentment. She had been through so much in the past few days, and she will never forget it. She just hoped that the memories didn't haunt her dreams.

Martin gently squeezed her hand before he released it so that they could part. He helped Samantha into the car vowing to always protect her.

That night, Samantha stood in the bathroom, staring at herself. She was trying to decipher how to undress with a cast on. It was hard; she couldn't move her arms with frustrated her to no end.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door. Samantha turned her attention to the door as Martin entered.

"Would you like breakfast for din-?" He stopped when his head jolted to her. He gave a chuckle. "Sam, you've been in here forever, and you're not even undressed."

Samantha pursed her lips together trying to bit away the comment that so desperately wanted to slip through. Instead, she hung her head and sighed. "It's hard," she whined.

Martin couldn't help but laugh. She was so cute when she was frustrated and angry. A slight look snuck over Martin's features. He stepped closer to her and gently began to tug at her clothes. The cloth gave away immediately as Martin ran his eyes over Samantha's naked body. He was finally able to see the full extent of her injuries. He couldn't believe. If David wasn't dead already, he would have no reservation about murdering him on the spot.

Samantha sensed the tension that Martin radiated, and she immediately knew what he was thinking. She ran her hand over his cheek and stared him in the eyes, ensuring her eyes remained soft. "It doesn't hurt that bad," she shrugged.

Martin tore his eyes away from Samantha's wounds and focuses his eyes on her. "I know," his voice cracked. A smile suddenly appeared on his face. "So what will it be: pancakes or waffles?"

Samantha smiled. "French toast."

Martin tenderly kissed Samantha on the lips before escaping the bathroom.

Taking a shower was far more difficult than Samantha could have fathomed. She couldn't get her cast wet or her stitches wet. All of her wounds screamed when she placed her body underneath the hot water, so she settled with washing around her cut. She ended up washing her hair with one hand.

After a lot of agony, Samantha was finally clean. Her hair was its silky, gorgeous self again. Her blonde locks cascaded over her shoulders. Her skin was smooth and soft to the touch. She threw on sweat pants and a T-shirt. She looked herself in the mirror and mentally thought of a before and after picture. She smiled to herself before she exited the room.

She made her way to the kitchen and sat on her circular dining table. Just as she sat down, Martin placed a plate of hot french toast in front of her.

The smell made her mouth water. Her stomach began growling; she couldn't remember the last time she had actually had a decent meal or any food for that matter.

Martin laughed at the pace that Samantha was eating. "Are they good?" he asked. He sat down beside her with his own plate.

Samantha shook her head before swallowing. "Yeah, thank you." She reached over and gave him a peck on the lips.

After dinner, the couple made their way to the couch. Martin sat straight up while Samantha rested her head on his shoulder. He legs were draped over his lap. Martin had his arm wrapped around her. A movie exploded to life on the TV; however, neither of them was watching it.

Martin could smell Samantha's shampoo. It was so sweet and pleasurable. He wrapped his arms tighter around her afraid to let her go again. "Sam, are you awake?" His voice was gentle.

Samantha shook her head. "Yeah."

"Can I ask you a question?"

Samantha tore herself away from Martin so that she could stare at him. "Go for it." She reached up and brushed her hair from her eyes.

Martin opened his mouth to ask her the question that he had been wondering since they found her. "What happened to you? I mean what did David do?" He was almost afraid to know, but he was too curious.

Samantha smiled. She shifted so that she sat cross legged. She stared at him. She sighed. "Where do I begin?"

"How did you figure it out so quickly, and why didn't you call me?"

Samantha lowered her eyes. "I don't know how I figured it out, but I did. I was just so in tuned to finding Kyra that I really didn't think about the consequences. I thought about calling you but I figured that you were sleeping, and I didn't want to disturb you." She paused to see Martin's expression. It was unreadable. "I went to Ethan's house and then David's. I told him about my theory. Before I knew it, he attacked me. He grabbed my gun from me. I got it away from him, but I couldn't find it so I ran, but he caught up to me. He slapped me and that's how I got the cut on my face. He just picked me up and stuffed me in the trunk. He took me to a house and locked me in the basement." She paused again.

Martin shifted so that he could face her better. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," he said. He took her hands in his and gave them a squeeze.

"I started to think about you. Then I got angry. I found a hammer, so I went to the door, and I told him that I needed to use the restroom. He answered it, and I hit him." She began to smile. "He was bleeding too. I ran for the door, but it was locked. He just grabbed me and threw me against the wall." She paused and looked down. "I can still feel how it felt when I hit the wall. Then he chocked me. I swear that I was dead, but he let go."

Martin looked down. "I'm so sorry that I wasn't there to help you." He didn't want to see her expression.

"Hey," Samantha said. She cupped his face in her hands and forced him to look at her. "It wasn't your fault. It was my fault. I shouldn't have gone there alone."

Martin smiled. "You're just too damn smart with you figuring everything out that fast. I was kind of proud of you for it."

Samantha smiled. "Yeah?"

Martin smiled. "Yeah."

They each leaned in and meeting each other's lips with passion and fire.

XxX

This is the last chapter, but I think that I'm going to do an epilogue.