Chapter 11
Abigail awoke with a start.
She was naked and in a strange bed.
She looked at the man beside her.
She smiled.
Oh yes. This wasn't a dream.
She'd fallen asleep in EJ's arms, in his bed, in the Dimera mansion.
He'd brought her to his home this afternoon. Stefano was travelling. They'd had the huge house to themselves all evening.
Abigail had not planned to immediately jump back into bed with EJ.
She'd wanted to wait...to take things slowly and see if there was more than just an insanely electric, sexual chemistry between them.
I love him.
But does he love me?
EJ squeezed her closer against his body.
"I did not intend to fall asleep, Abigail," he whispered, kissing the top of her head. "I am sorry."
She placed feather-light kisses along his chest.
His eyes were filled with emotion when he pulled her into his arms from a sweat, lingering kiss.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and slid up onto him.
EJ's lips travelled from her mouth to the base of her neck.
"EJ..." Abigail moaned when his hands sought her breasts.
He rolled her beneath him.
"Abigail, you are precious to me," he murmured, his eyes burning into hers.
She touched his cheek softly.
He lowered his head and claimed her mouth again.
She ran her hands along his strong shoulders and down his back. His body was so perfect.
His lips moved down to her breasts, his tongue circling her nipple.
"So lovely," he whispered against her puckering flesh.
She arched into him. He felt so good. His teeth nipped and she cried out.
His fingers trailed down her abdomen.
"I do not deserve you," he said as his lips followed his hands.
"Oh God," Abigail cried as his lips moved even lower.
His mouth on her sex drove her wild. She thrashed beneath him. His fingers filled her while his lips and tongue devoured her.
She started trembling, her body so close to spiraling out of control.
"Please, EJ..." she begged.
He chuckled wickedly against her.
He pulled her body up against his and turned her around, driving into her quivering body from behind.
"Ohhh..."
The pleasure was so intense, so deep, Abigail exploded around him.
EJ grabbed her hair and turned her face to his, kissing her as he continued to move inside her. He cupped her breast with his other hand, rolling her nipple between his fingers.
They climaxed together, her body pulsing around his.
Abigail held on and waited while the tremors subsided, safe in the arms of the man she knew she loved.
She couldn't believe they were actually together.
Like this.
It felt so right.
They collapsed, spent, against the pillows of his bed. EJ reached for her hand and threaded his fingers through hers.
"Wow," he said breathlessly.
She grinned. "I don't have a lot of experience, but I think 'wow' probably is a pretty mild word."
He pulled their joined hands to his lips and kissed her fingers.
"I have so many thoughts going through my mind right now, I don't know where to start, Abigail."
She laughed happily. "You don't have to say anything at all."
He shifted to his side so he could look into her eyes. He looked so happy, Abigail's smile widened.
"We need to talk about how we want to proceed with this, sweetheart," he said, his eyes never leaving her face.
Abigail nodded. "Do you want to proceed with this, EJ? Do you want to try to be with me?"
EJ released her hand and traced her full lips with his thumb.
"It will shock all of Salem, Abigail. It will turn your life upside down," he said gravely. "I'm accustomed to being scandalous, darling. You aren't. When we first made love, you were terrified of never being able to show your face in this town again."
Abigail licked the tip of his thumb mischievously.
"I know I was. You were with Sami and I didn't know you the way I do now," she said. "A lot of great loves in this town have started with scandal. I think if we can be sensitive to our families, it's doable. You're worth it, EJ. What we could have together is worth the fireworks."
His heart melted at the honest emotion in her beautiful eyes. She loved him. He knew it.
"Abigail, it's not just me you'd be taking on. I am the heir to the most notorious family in Salem. I can be pretty ruthless at times. I'm not a hero."
She raised a brow.
"You hired a hit man to kill Nick, EJ. As you've said, you're a bad man," she quipped. "It's not like I'm not aware of your reputation. My only request is that you don't intentionally hurt the people I love. I am not going to try to change you. I fell in love with you, EJ...not the man I hoped you would become."
EJ traced her collar bone with his finger tips.
"I will never intentionally hurt you, Abigail. But I promise you, there will be times I anger you. There will also be times that I cannot share everything with you. Protecting you is important to me. In my father's world, there are things you are safer not knowing. I love my father, Abigail. I love my work. Please do not ask me to give either up."
Abigail looked down to avoid his searching gaze. She was nervous about Stefano and she hated lies. She understood EJ's point of view. She would never want to be forced to choose between her family and anyone. Family loyalty meant everything.
"I get it, EJ. I don't need to know everything," she said. "I draw a line at deliberately lying to me, though. That's a deal breaker for me. If you can't tell me something, tell me that you can't tell me. I don't want to be surprised by something awful down the road. I think I can handle that. I have to trust you or this will never work."
EJ smiled. She was so brave. She knew nothing of his world, but was willing to trust him.
"Most importantly, I've got two children, Abigail. Johnny and Sidney adore you, but it may be difficult to get them to accept the two of us together. Are you okay with stepping into that role?"
Abigail's face lit up. She loved his children. No, she hadn't anticipated stepping into a family role quite yet in her life, but she liked the idea of being a part of their lives.
"I love your children, EJ. I'm honored you would include me in their lives."
EJ had never doubted Abigail's answer. He and the children would be lucky to have her. Samantha, however, might not feel that way.
"I wonder if we should wait a while before telling the kids that we are together? They are still adjusting to your break up and they've been through a lot," Abigail said softly.
"Samantha may not give us that luxury," he admitted. "I am afraid that if she takes this badly, it may be difficult for all of us. Especially you. Samantha has a bad history of vendettas."
Finally. They were addressing the white elephant in the room. Samantha Brady.
"Are you sure she's ready to give you up?" Abigail whispered.
EJ wanted to say yes. She'd called off the wedding. They'd agreed that they wanted to end their relationship.
But that didn't mean Samantha would be ok with EJ moving on...especially with Abigail Deveraux.
"We cannot let her find out that our relationship started this winter," he said. "If she feels betrayed, we will have a war. She will forget about her wedding day romp with Lucas. She enjoys revenge."
Abigail agreed. She did not want to take on Sami Brady.
"Maybe we should hide this a little longer. I don't want to risk her trying to come between you and your children. We betrayed her. Maybe we owe her some time to adjust?"
EJ agreed.
"I will tell her. It will be best for all of us. If she hears it from someone else, we will never have any peace. I will, however, wait until she returns to Salem."
Abigail nodded. Telling Sami would take their relationship to the next level. It would become real.
Would all of Salem see her as EJ Dimera's rebound girl? They would think she'd lost her mind.
Was she truly prepared for the backlash? Was she prepared for her mother's disappointment?
She looked at EJ. He was so beautiful, so strong. He was what she wanted. She wanted a chance to walk through the Horton Town Square on his arm. She wanted to be his...no matter what.
"Why me, EJ?" Abigail asked suddenly. "You've been with some pretty incredible women in the past. Why do you want to be with me? It would be so much easier to pretend this never happened and move on."
EJ hadn't expected that question. He had loved some amazing women. He'd always been drawn to beautiful, strong, powerful women who understood him and enjoyed his power and position. Every women he had ever loved had needed him...his money, his connections, his ability to make problems go away.
It was a fair question.
"Honestly, Abigail?"
Her eyes were wide and filled with worry, but she nodded.
"It's simple, Abigail," he said. "I need you."