by Joan Davis
Risa’s eyes filled with fresh tears. “No, it’s not. I think he killed my dad. Oh God, please, not again,” Risa cried out, near hysteria again. She was reliving the nightmare. Flashes of blood and lifeless eyes filled her mind. Only Samson’s voice and solid warm body kept her from spinning out of control.
Samson calmed her again and helped her to sit up until she could lean against him. “What happened, Risa? Who hurt you?” Samson felt Conner shift and knew where his thoughts were going.
Taking a shaky breath and shielding her eyes from the rain, Risa said, “I was walking on the marked path near the house and I heard something behind me. When I turned around I didn’t see anyone. I started walking again, but I heard it again and knew someone was following me. I tried to get away, but a man grabbed me and started pulling me backward. He called me a witch and said I belong to him. I fought him and somehow I finally got away. I ran as fast as I could.” She looked terrified again. “I need to go home. What if he did something to dad?” Risa cried in a panicked voice. She then spotted Conner through the pouring rain and screamed, trying to jerk away from Samson’s hold.
Samson quickly reassured her. “He’s okay, Risa. He’s my friend. His name is Conner. We heard your screams, and we were trying to get to you.” He rubbed her back trying to calm her. He looked over his shoulder at Conner and saw the unasked questions in his friend’s eyes.
But all Conner said was, “I’m on it,” and he took off running through the wind and rain towards the Landau property.
Samson turned back to Risa. “Conner is going to check on your dad and make sure he’s okay. I’m going to take you back to my place since its closer.” Samson stood and reached down to scoop Risa up in his arms and headed back towards his house.
Risa hid her face in the bend of Samson’s neck. “What if that man is still out there?” she whispered and shivered at the thought of Samson’s friend being hurt.
Samson shook his head grimly. “Conner can take care of himself. Don’t worry. He will call as soon as he reaches your house.” He kept walking trying to ignore the cold rain that continued to poor over them. Conner was going to have a rough time getting to the Landau property. The wind was violent, and the rain lashed against them painfully. Thunder was pounding in the distance. Samson quickened his steps and soon reached his home. He got Risa inside, and he didn’t stop until he reached his master bathroom. Risa hadn’t made a sound since her last comment. Her small body was shaking with the cold.
“Risa, do you think you can stand?” Samson asked. He felt her nod against his neck and gently lowered her legs until she was on her feet. Once he knew she was steady he released her. “We need to get you warm. Go ahead and undress and get into the shower. I will be right back with something for you to wear.” At her slow nod, Samson left the bathroom.
Her teeth chattering, Risa stared around the bathroom absently. It was huge. There was a large walk-in shower with a wide bench area, and next to that was an enormous whirlpool tub. There was a double sink vanity area with brushed nickel fixtures and dark cherry wood cabinets for storage. She could see a separate toilet room. The walls were a soft, sage green and the floors were a sea of large neutral tiles. Plush sage bath rugs were placed strategically throughout, and there were even small cushioned benches against two walls. Risa thought absently that it looked like a picture out of a magazine.
She then remembered her cell phone and reached back shakily to remove in from the back pocket of her jeans. All she wanted was to make sure her father was okay. Unfortunately, she knew right away the phone was broken. It came apart in her hands. Tears of frustration blinded her. Another shutter of cold went up her spine, just as Samson walked back into the bathroom and placed a small stack of clothing on the counter. He also had a phone in his hand. “Your dad is fine. He wants to talk to you,” he said, gently taking her broken phone as he handed her his.
“Daddy . . .?” Risa asked tearfully. Her hands shook so badly she could barely hold the phone.
“Risa, are you okay?” Bill asked, tearful himself. “Are you hurt?”
Risa shuddered in relief upon hearing her father’s voice. She wanted to fall apart at her dad’s question but knew she couldn’t. “I’m okay, daddy, just a couple of scrapes. Samson brought me to his house. Don’t worry, I’m safe now. I love you daddy,” Risa tried to reassure her dad. She didn’t want him to know how close to the edge she really was.
“I love you too, sweetie. Do you feel okay there with Sam?” Bill choked out.
Risa closed her eyes at the pain and worry in her father’s voice. She looked at Samson and exhaled a little. “It’s really okay daddy. Samson is helping me, and I do feel safe,” she said, knowing her dad needed to hear those words, but she was also more than a little shocked to realize how true those words were.
Bill sighed with relief. “Good, sweetie, I’m so glad to hear that. Just relax, and I will be there as soon as I can. Let me talk to Sam again.”
Risa handed the phone to Samson and turned away, trying to stem her tears. She sent a silent prayer of thanks for her father’s safety. The thought of his death made her heart ache with fear. She didn’t know if she could stand another loss like that. She vaguely heard the one-sided conversation and jumped in awareness as Samson gently touched her shoulder.
“Your dad said that Conner found him in the woods searching for you after the storm broke and you hadn’t returned. They tried to get over here on foot but several large tree branches have fallen blocking the way. They decided it was just too dangerous to try to go through the woods right now. The road is blocked by debris and limbs as well, and with this lightening Conner thinks it’s just too risky to try and clear them at this point. Conner said he put in a call to the Sheriff’s office, but they are bogged down with emergency calls because of the storm. It will be a while before anyone gets out here. Conner is going to stay with your dad.” Samson said reassuringly. “Risa, you really are safe here. You know that, don’t you?” he asked, searching her face. He knew it would kill him if he thought Risa feared him in any way.
Risa nodded without a thought. “Did they see the man that attacked me?” she asked, terrified he was still out there in the woods waiting. A loud clap of thunder shook the house and the lights flickered. A violent shiver went through Risa’s body, as the cold and fright seemed to penetrate her bones.
Seeing this, Samson said, “Your dad and Conner didn’t see anyone, Risa. Whoever it was, is probably long gone by now. Don’t worry about him or the lights. We’re safe and I have backup generators. We just need to get you warm, baby.”
Risa nodded and shivered again. Looking down, she saw her soaked clothing was covered in clinging debris and dirt. She tried to unbutton her shirt, but her hands were shaking so badly that she couldn’t do it. She started silently crying in frustration. Samson’s hands gently moved her hands away and he started to work each button free. Risa dropped her arms and looked up sadly.
Samson caught her gaze. “Trust me?” he asked, while continuing to unbutton her shirt.
Risa stared into his eyes and nodded mutely, still not sure why but knowing it was true. As Samson pushed the shirt off her shoulders she exhaled and laid her forehead against his chest. She didn’t want to see the look of revulsion in his eyes that she knew would be there once he saw her body.
Samson finished removing her shirt and looked over her head at their reflections in the large bathroom mirror. Her back was a mass of crisscrossing scars. Many were still angry and red and others more faded and pale. Samson gritted his teeth as a white-hot rage towards the animals that did this to her burned throughout his body. Taking a calming breath, Samson brought one hand up and cupped Risa face. He tilted her head up until she met his gaze. “Don’t hide from me, Risa,” he whispered, as he bent down and leaned his forehead against hers.
“You were wrong. I’m not beautiful,” Risa said softly, as shame filled her soul.
Samson pulled his head just far enough back to look in
to her eyes and said, “Oh baby, you should know that I am never wrong,” with a crooked smile and a raised eyebrow, trying to be light about it. Risa dropped her eyes and tried to pull away, but Samson gripped her waist to stop her. He forced her to look in to his now intense gaze. “Never,” he said firmly. he stepped back and heard Risa’s breath catch, and he caught her looking down at the unmistakable bulge in his wet jeans. “I repeat. I am never wrong,” he said unashamed, his voice hoarse with passion.
Risa gasped at the visible proof of his arousal. A shiver went up her spine. She wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or her own excitement. Her face heated and Samson grinned wickedly. He went back to gently undressing her. Risa had trouble looking away and almost reluctantly returned her gaze to Samson’s face, causing him to laugh softly. Her face burned a little more. He soon had her standing in only her simple bra and panties, both of which were nearly transparent from the rain.
Stepping back, Samson removed his soaked black T-shirt and jeans until he stood in a pair of sexy black boxers that were wetly molded to his aroused body. “Come on baby, we need to get you warm,” Samson said again, as he led her shivering body towards the shower. What am I doing? Samson thought to himself. I’m going straight to hell, but he didn’t stop until he had them both in the shower. He turned on the faucet controls and adjusted the temperature until he was satisfied, and then he brought Risa forward to stand under the warm spray of the water.
Risa groaned in ecstasy as she felt the water’s heat seep into her bones. She lifted her face to the spray and turned in a circle so that the spray reached all of her. All of a sudden several jets of warm water were hitting her from every direction. Surprised, she spun around quickly and met Samson’s amused gaze.
“Like that?” Samson asked with a raised brow. At her enthusiastic nod he grinned again and leaned against the wall, watching her warm herself in the water. After a few minutes, he caught her hand and drew her towards him a bit, to stand just outside the spray. He produced a bottle of shampoo and poured some in his palm, then reached for her and began to gently wash her hair. He also felt for any bumps she may have gotten when she was attacked. To his relief he didn’t find any.
As Risa stepped back to rinse her hair Samson grabbed a wash cloth and lathered it with body wash. She stared at him for just a moment and then shyly reached up to unhook her bra and let it drop to the shower floor. Heat staining her face, Risa did the same with her panties and then stood mutely in front of Samson. What is wrong with me? I am standing in a shower with an Adonis of a man that I barely know and stripping down like it’s no big deal, she chastised herself. I have no idea what I’m doing. That didn’t seem to matter, since she didn’t move to cover herself.
Samson’s jaw clenched, and he fought his desire. Her body was amazing. Her breasts were firm and bountiful, with nipples the color of a dark pink rose. His gaze roamed down and noted her curvy hips before he reached the apex between her thighs. Shuddering, he forced himself to put his carnal lust to the side. Instead, he began to wash her body. He tried to be gentle with her injured arm and hand, but he knew it was painful for her. She flinched and whimpered each time he washed a particularly nasty cut. “I’m sorry Risa. I know it must hurt, but we have to make sure it’s clean to avoid infection,” he said softly. He circled her and used the same gentleness to wash her back.
“It’s okay. I’m used to it,” she said tightly. Enduring pain was nothing new to her.
Samson clenched his jaw again, but this time it was in anger. He wanted to find those bastards and kill them for what they had done to her. He turned her around to face him again. “It’s not okay, Risa. What they did to you will never be okay,” he said, his voice deep and rough.
Risa stiffened a bit at the anger in Samson’s voice, but she relaxed as he continued to use the greatest care as he washed her. As he reached her breasts, her stomach tightened and her nipples hardened into enticing pebbles as he ran the washcloth over them. She bit her lip, trying to stop an unexpected moan of pleasure from escaping her mouth.
Lust slammed into Samson. His control finally broke, and he couldn’t resist bringing his free hand up and cupping one of her breasts and running his thumb over her nipple. Even in his large hand, her luscious breast was more than ample.
Ah ...,” Risa gasped as pleasure rushed through her body as she watched Samson’s callused fingers roll and pinch her nipple. Her back arched involuntarily, pushing her breast more firmly into his hand. “Yes…,” she cried out when he repeated the action on her other breast.
“Don’t stop, don’t stop.” Oh God what am I thinking? That’s right, don’t stop! Risa cried inside, wanting this new sensation to continue. It was as if someone flipped a switch in her body, or turned on a faucet of incredible pleasure she never knew she was capable of feeling. All other thoughts scattered and pleasure became her only focus. His touch was immediately addictive.
Samson’s dick hardened almost painfully as he watched Risa’s passionate response to his touch. He was so tempted to continue. He wanted to bend down and close he lips around her nipples and taste her sweetness. Instead, he reluctantly drew back, breathing hard, and dropped his hands to his sides.
Risa’s dark eyes were hooded and glossed with arousal. “Samson,” She whispered, wanting only to continue feeling the incredible pleasure he had caused.
Samson took a deep breath, trying to regain control. “Baby, we can’t do this right now. You’ve had one hell of a day, and quite frankly, so have I. When I take you I want to make sure it’s what you really want and not something else that’s driving your emotions,” he said, his voice gruff with lust. Samson then reached out to finish washing her. He saw a stormy frown forming on Risa’s face, right before she grabbed the washcloth from his hand and started briskly washing herself.
“You just assume you will take me,” Risa muttered in sarcastic anger and finished washing herself. Throwing the washcloth so that it slapped hard against Samson’s wide chest, Risa stepped into the spray and rinsed herself off as fast as she could.
“Risa . . .,” Samson began, knowing he made a mistake but not really sure why.
Risa ignored him and darted around him and out of the shower. She found a stack of plush sage towels and wrapped one around herself defensively. She used another to dry the rest of her body and then her hair. She looked up warily and found Samson leaning against the shower entrance, just watching her. “You don’t decide for me. I know I have got a lot of problems, but I’m not some pathetic soul. No one makes my decisions except for me. I decide,” Risa said with anger and frustrated determination. She crossed her arms defensively over her chest and set her chin firmly. She stared at him with a spark of militant anger in her eyes. It was ruined, of course, by her wobbly chin and tearful eyes.
Samson stared at her for a moment not moving. “You’re right, Risa. No one can decide for you and your decisions are you own,” He acknowledged her words quietly. Then he slowly straightened up, seeming to grow even larger. He pinned Risa in place with those beautiful turquoise eyes. “Just be sure you remember what I told you earlier,” he said. “I am never wrong,” he said arrogantly and then turned and walked back into the shower, leaving her alone in shocked confusion.
*****
Risa sat curled up tightly in one of the big leather chairs with a throw she found on the couch wrapped around her shivering body. Through the large French doors in Samson’s living room she watched the wind and rain whip through the trees and over the lake. The turbulence of the storm mirrored her own feelings.
Those people weren’t done with her. Over and over again, Risa remembered voices telling her she would never be free. They would always find her, even if she escaped. They were still out there, waiting and watching. She had thought for a short while that she could have a normal life again, but they weren’t going to allow it. Risa shivered as deep-seated fear tried to grab her and take her down into its dark grip. Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she tried to keep the
screams in her head from turning into real screams. How long would she last when they took her this time? Risa couldn’t remember what it felt like to feel absolutely free of fear and terror. It was second nature to her now.
She fought the fear with thoughts about Samson. Terror from today was still tearing at her, and the two emotions warred inside her for dominance. She was so confused by her immediate and overwhelming attraction to Samson. They barely knew each other. Since being rescued from captivity, she normally found it very difficult to be around most people. She had a hard time trusting anyone enough to let them near her, much less to touch her. Yet, she had just stood naked in front of this incredibly handsome and powerful man and allowed him the intimacy of washing her body. A shiver of arousal ran over Risa at the memory. Was her attraction to Samson driven only by what happened today? Was her attraction to Samson normal? How could she possibly know what normal was in this situation? It was about more than today’s scare. It was like she couldn’t help moving towards him. Over these last few weeks he had become a magnet for her. Being close to him made her feel incredibly safe and aroused at the same time. Aroused, it was a word that she hadn’t admitted to herself until today. She was fast losing perspective where Samson was concerned.
Once Samson had disappeared into the shower, Risa had grabbed the stack of clothing he had brought in earlier and hurried into the master bedroom to dress. She had blushed as she stood by the large king-sized bed. She imagined Samson sprawled across it with just a sheet to cover him. Shaking herself mentally, she dressed quickly, tired of feeling vulnerable. At least the clothing gave her a small feeling of control over this disconcerting and frightening situation. The sleeveless T-shirt and Capri pants were more fitted than she liked, but she dressed quickly and then moved to the living room. She tried not to think about Samson’s naked body standing underneath the spray of all those shower heads. A fiery blush caught her unaware. It was as if she was living in two different worlds, one of terror and fear and the other of discovery and pleasure.