Give Me the Remote!

Author's note: Setting is the cabin, where EJ, Sami, Johnny and Allie have gone into hiding from Stefano, pre-Sydney-Nicole. Hope you enjoy please let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I do not own Days of our Lives or any of the characters on the show. I only like to put them in different scenarios to see how things will turn out instead.

Prologue

It had been difficult living in such close quarters with Samantha, having her near while she kept him at arm's length. Knowing she was gone to visit her loser ex-husband in jail was bad enough, but he didn't say a word when she informed him she needed to go, only nodded his acquiesce as she walked out the door.

At least she trusted him with the twins, diaper duty, late night feedings, picking them up when they cried were all new experiences for him, and he was very proud of the fact he had been able to handle each and every challenge the babies had brought his way. He loved them more than he had ever thought possible and he knew they loved him too.

Now if he could only convince their mother that he was worthy of her love, then all would be right with the world…

Give Me the Remote!
Chapter 1

EJ had a new found respect for parents. Raising children was a difficult albeit rewarding job. For once, he had the twins both fed, diapers changed and they were sleeping like perfect little angels. Yes, he knew he was biased about his children, both of them, he refused to believe Allie was not his own, she looked like her mother, but she definitely had his personality, no doubt about it.

He didn't know when Samantha would return home, her bodyguard profusely vowing to EJ no harm would come to his wife while she left the safe house that Abe had set up for them two weeks earlier. He had to believe she would be back soon. How much longer could she hold onto the hope that Lucas would be set free?

Two weeks of such close proximity for them both that EJ was almost grateful when Samantha had requested to leave, even if it were only for a few short hours. Cabin fever had taken on an entirely different meaning for EJ since their sequestering from the world had begun. It was sheer torture to be so close to the woman he loved, yet she still held him at bay, refusing to get close to him.

He really did despise Lucas Roberts and his only comfort was that the weasel was looking at being locked away in prison for quite some time for his murder attempt. EJ scoffed, the imbecile couldn't even shoot a gun correctly, now if he had meant to shoot Roberts; the man would have been six feet under.

For once the cabin was quiet, the babies were asleep and EJ took the opportunity to sit down on the couch, making himself comfortable as he decided to lie down for a few minutes. He took the remote on the coffee table and flipped on the television. He surfed a few channels until he found the station he was looking for and settled in a bit more comfortably on the couch. He had the baby monitors turned on, new ones of course since Samantha had thrown the other ones out a while back, so when either one or both of the twins awoke, he would be sure to hear them.

At least he could watch his show in peace, god only knew if Samantha even had a clue that he was remotely interested in it, she would surely give him hell about it. That woman had the capability of driving a man insane.

Give Me the Remote!
Chapter 2

Samantha opened the door to the cabin with shaking hands, her trip to see Lucas had not gone well, in fact things had went from bad to worse with Lucas berating her almost non-stop from the time she had entered into the visitation room until the time she had finally made her exit. Her nerves were shot; Lucas couldn't understand why she hadn't brought Allie to the jail.

She was not going to take either one of her babies there, they didn't need to be subjected to that kind of atmosphere and she'd be damned if she would go back to see Lucas again either. She was sick and tired of hearing about how all of this mess her ex-husband had gotten into with the law was entirely her fault.

Taking a deep breath, she looked around the cabin and the peacefulness which emitted as soon as she stepped in the doorway was a stark contrast to the past few hours she had endured at the jail. The babies must be sleeping she surmised as she walked into the living room area thinking she'd find EJ reading or working on his laptop computer, but she found an entirely different scenario when she saw him sprawled out on the couch, asleep with the television turned on.

She eyed him fully up one side and down the other; thankful for once she could view him without having to worry about him catching her in the act. These past two weeks had been rough; she could feel the sexual tension in the air every time they were alone with one another in the cabin, which was why she tried to stay busy to keep him away whenever the babies were asleep.

But for the moment, she could enjoy the view without censure and what a view it was that her eyes beheld. EJ was wearing black sweat pants that clung to his body in just the right places; there was no denying the man was endowed, even in his slumber he looked huge. She bit her bottom lip and started to turn away when he shifted slightly causing his burgundy sweatshirt to ride tantalizing up his stomach a few inches, revealing part of those rock hard abs he possessed.

Damn, now she noticed the very thin line of hair that trailed downward leading to places she dared not venture. It really was unfair EJ was so sexy; it made her resolve to stay away from him all the more harder. She shut her eyes; she didn't need to be thinking of any terms that contained the word hard and EJ in the same sentence.

She needed to escape the room, why didn't one of the babies wake up? Then she would push aside these visions of a man she had tried to shove out of her life for so long. She turned to leave the room when she was distracted by familiar sounding voices emitting from the television.

She chuckled quietly and decided to sit down when she saw what EJ had been watching before he had fallen asleep on the couch. Oh boy she was going to have a field day with him on this one!

Give Me the Remote!

Chapter 3

She nudged his legs a bit, sliding underneath while allowing them to settle back on top her legs as she settled herself on the couch, propping her feet up on the coffee table. EJ mumbled something in his sleep and then stretched his arms, making his sweatshirt ride even further up his body.

He yawned and then realized someone else was sitting on the couch with him, his movements a bit startled thinking the worse since he had crossed his father and started to right himself when he heard Samantha softly laughing.

"What are you doing Samantha? I thought you'd be gone for hours on end."

"I knew you'd be missing me too much," Sami gave him a knowing look.

"Please you overestimate your allure," EJ rolled his eyes, enjoying this teasing with her because it had been such a long time since they had genuinely engaged in banter with one another.

"Or maybe you'd hoped I'd be gone so you could watch your favorite show." Sami reached to grab the remote from EJ, but he was too quick for her and kept it tight within his grip.

"I don't know what you are talking about," he replied hoping that the show was long over, but he had not been asleep as long as he thought because the show was right at a pretty good scene.

"I thought I had caught you watching Bedingfield Bluffs before, now I know for sure," Sami smiled triumphantly.

"I don't even know what the name of this show is," EJ lied, hoping that would be enough to put her off from dogging him about his television viewing habits. This show was one of his guilty pleasures, once you started watching it somehow you got sucked into watching more and more of the shows just to see what would happen with the characters.

"Yes, you do," Sami leaned up a bit causing EJ to sit up on the couch and try to change the channel.

"Don't even bother trying to hide the fact you watch this soap opera," she pointed a finger at the screen.

"Darling you must be mistaken, I fell asleep…"

"Watching one of the most talked about soaps on the air," Sami stopped him from changing the channel, her hand closing over his own.

"You must watch it if you know the name of it," EJ tried to get her attention away from this subject, although it seemed Sami was determined to rib him over watching a soap.

"Shhh," she put a finger up to her mouth, trying to get him to be quiet. "I just love Desmond Howarth."

"You've have got to be joking," EJ eyed her with a look of pure disbelief. "Why that little weasel is the absolute worst character on the show."

"I knew you watched it!" Sami laughed out loud as she now pointed a finger in EJ's direction.

"Believe whatever you choose to believe," EJ shrugged his shoulders, there was no denying he watched the show, but he'd be damned if he let her go on about what had to be the wimpiest character in the cast.

"I will," she smiled and turned her full attention back to Bedingfield Bluffs with a dreamy sigh.

"You really like this character?"

"Of course, he is a good guy, trying to keep the love of his life with him despite all the things that jerk Jared Davidson does to pull to win her away from Desmond."

"Jared is a multi dimensional character, Desmond only knows how to scream at Alyssa and scrunch his face up like he is severely constipated all the time."

Sami took one of the pillows from the couch and slung it in EJ's direction, "Jared is awful, the things he has done…"

"All in the name of love darling," EJ defended after taking another pillow from the couch and throwing it in Samantha's direction.

"I don't know what show you're watching, but apparently we aren't watching the same one. Jared is tied way too deep within his mafia family to ever come clean."

"Desmond is a mama's boy through and through. Why it wouldn't surprise me if he moved back in with his mother so that they could spend more time together."

Sami rolled her eyes, "Now you've made me miss Desmond and Alyssa's scene." She tried to grab the remote again from EJ so that she could go back to watch it again.

EJ shook his head, "No, once is enough. I fast forward all Desmond's scenes unless Alyssa is looking very good that particular day."

"Pig," Sami rolled her eyes and tried to reach for the remote again.

"Honesty does not make a man a pig," EJ held the remote up higher away from her reach. There was no way he was going to be subjected to watching that whiny man screech upon the screen today, he just couldn't take it. "I mean I can't help it if I find Alyssa attractive."

"You would think she was pretty," Sami rolled her eyes at him.

"You think Desmond is nice looking, but you have to admit that goatee he is trying to sport is quite pitiful."

"Give me the remote EJ! I want to see what happened!" Sami leaned over coming close to falling in his lap, but EJ kept it away from her.

"No, I can't endure the torture." EJ was determined she wouldn't get the remote from him.

"Give it to me," Sami warned giving him the evil eye.

EJ smiled wickedly, opened the drawstring to his sweatpants and dropped the remote inside, "Come and get it sweetheart."

Give Me the Remote!

Chapter 4

"I can't believe you just did that!" Sami narrowed her eyes and began to glare at EJ.

"If you want it bad enough you will come get it," EJ shrugged his shoulders and scooted to the far edge of the couch.

"You don't think I'll do it, do you?" She asked wondering how in the world she could get the remote without intimately touching another part of EJ's anatomy in the process.

"No, I don't think you have it in you," EJ tried to get settled, but it was a bit discomforting to have the remote located in his boxers, although he'd deal with it just to see what Samantha would do.

Sami leaned over so close she was almost touching EJ, "You'd be surprised over what fortitude I possess."

"Well if you want something badly enough you should do whatever is necessary to get exactly what you want," EJ hoped she wanted more than the remote, but he had been wrong about many things concerning Samantha so he would just play this by ear and see where things went.

She moved in closer so that she could whisper in his ear, her hot breath tickling it as she spoke, "So you think I should just go for it?"

EJ moved back to look her straight in the eyes, "Only if you really and truly think that you can handle it."

She smiled and licked her lips, "Oh I definitely think I can handle it."

"Then go ahead and do it," EJ dared her hoping she would accept the challenge he had just laid out for her.

Sami winked at EJ and started to run her hand down his sweatshirt, going lower and lower until she reached the drawstring on his sweatpants.

Give Me the Remote!

Chapter 5

Sami loved a challenge and it had been such a very long time since she had enjoyed sparring with EJ. She wanted that remote and by god she was going to get it, even if it meant that things could get a bit tricky. She paused for a second trying to mentally strategize the best way to get what she wanted.

Then she realized she shouldn't have stalled her progression on retrieving the remote because when she looked into EJ's eyes, those beautiful intriguing eyes that looked at her so intently it made her completely lose her train of thought. He was so close to her she could lean forward and slide her tongue across his lower lip if she so chose.

She couldn't do that, she instantly chastised herself and her hand tentatively crept below the top of his sweatpants and she almost had the remote when he suddenly pushed her back to the other side of the couch and had somehow managed to position himself over her. This movement caused her hand to collide with something hard, but it wasn't the remote. She quickly jerked her hand back out of his sweatpants and her blue eyes widened in alarm when he didn't move away from her.

He could kiss her, god knew he wanted to kiss her senseless, but s soon as he saw her eyes change with something akin to fear, EJ pulled back and righted himself to a sitting position on the couch. Somehow the challenge he had issued to her lost its charm and he reluctantly withdrew from her.

"Forgive me Samantha, it was not my intent to scare you," EJ removed the remote from its hiding place and pressed the button to turn off the television. What had started out as fun and teasing with Samantha had turned into something else so fast it scared him too. He was trying so hard to become the man Samantha could love, but the fear was still there in her eyes and sadly he knew it was also in her heart.

One step forward, two steps back, EJ sighed inwardly as he looked at her knowing that the connection between them was twisted into a rough and rocky road. One that he had forged in a misguided attempt to follow his father's wishes.

Sami was stunned and scared, the heat that flared so brightly between them moments before was extinguished and part of her felt disappointed. Knowing EJ had picked up on her anxiety instantly was disconcerting to say the least. He understood her better than she did herself sometimes and that was what worried her because before long he would start to realize other things about her, the feelings she was trying to deny she had for him and that was downright dangerous.

She wanted to reach out to him, to tell him that it was okay. She had started this playful game with him, but before she could utter the words, he had left the room and walked out the door, slamming it shut and preventing her from saying the words she needed to tell him.

He'd left the remote on the coffee table, but now watching television was the farthest thing on her mind. She took a pillow and hugged it close to her, wishing for things to be different between them and then she heard one of the babies cry.

With a sigh, she placed the pillow back on the couch and started up the stairs. At least for a while she would be occupied with the babies who would help her forget about EJ; however she doubted he would be far from her thoughts for very long.

Give Me the Remote!
Chapter 6

He needed the cold and crisp fresh air that hit him as soon as he had walked out of the door. Maybe the cold air would cool his ardor for her, the ever growing need he felt for Samantha which was getting harder to ignore with each passing day they spent alone in the cabin.

Even with puffs of breath looking like frosty clouds when he exhaled, the icy temperature wasn't helping him achieve a state of disinterest for Samantha. Damn his libido, it had been far too long since he had been with a woman and now all he wanted to do was bury himself deep inside Samantha, for her to know that the passion he felt for her had never disappeared.

This living like a monk sucked. He had never gone this long without having sex since he was a teenager. What in the world had gotten into him? Then he stopped himself, there was only one reason why he had kept celibate this past year and that was if he couldn't have Samantha, he didn't want anyone else.

Samantha was the only one who could help him slake this thirst. He just wanted to see what would happen if they both gave into the desires that kept building between them.

He shook his head, thinking it would be a miracle if she ever let him touch her. He was going to go crazy if they didn't get out of here soon. Maybe it wouldn't be much longer until they could go home.

Sami soothed Johnny, picking him up from his crib and placing a sweet kiss upon his cheek, speaking soft words of love to her son. She was surprised Allie hadn't woken up when Johnny had cried out; usually she did although apparently she had gotten to Johnny quickly enough that Allie's slumber had not been disturbed.

Johnny snuggled next to his mother's chest, calming down instantly. Sami held him close, breathing in his sweet baby smell. She walked him around the room, going over to the window. She looked out admiring the beautiful mountain scenery the view afforded her, things were so breathtakingly beautiful, she enjoyed getting to see the nature that surrounded the cabin.

Living in Salem, you didn't get to see things like the snow covering the tops of the mountains in the distance, to hear the birds singing outside your window, there weren't cars honking their horns on the street below your apartment. For all her complaints to EJ of having to stay here, it really wasn't as bad as she claimed it was other than having to deal with seeing EJ at each and every turn.

Then she saw him below walking outside, god he was a handsome man. She quickly turned away from the window; it wouldn't do for him to catch her watching him. She didn't want him to claim she couldn't take her eyes off of him. His ego was huge enough already without her adding to it. Speaking of huge there was also that rock hard slab of…No, she had already told herself she wasn't going to go there, but she surely was tempted.

Give Me the Remote!
Chapter 7

Author's Note: In this fic, Stefano is still in jail, not in a comatose state. I just wanted to clarify that issue, as it will be important as the story progresses along.

He had sensed her staring out the window long before he glanced upwards in the direction of the twin's room in the cabin. He barely caught a glimpse of her turning away from the window, that beautiful mane of long blonde hair shining as he gazed at her retreating reflection in the window pane.

He ached for her, wanted her more with each passing day and now with them being together in this secluded mountain retreat to protect them from the ever reaching clutches of his father Stefano DiMera, it was growing more difficult to ignore the urges of his body as they reacted to being around Samantha.

If it weren't for the children, their children, he might have tried to leave Salem. God knows he should have left a long time ago, but somehow the power Samantha held over him kept him there, hoping for the one day she would come to see she cared for him as much as he cared for her. That possibility seemed doubtful, the fear in her eyes would flare up when they were too close to one another and he wished for what seemed like the thousandth time that he could wipe the slate clean, for them to start over with one another.

He turned away from looking up at the window, it was apparent she was busying herself in the cabin. He needed to quit acting like a lovesick fool over her; she wasn't going to change her mind about him, at least not anytime soon.

He began to walk a bit further from the cabin, enjoying the terrain of their new surroundings even if they were here because of the threat of retaliation from his father. He still couldn't believe how wrong he had been about his father, the man he had looked up to for as long as he could remember was a man who had destroyed lives at a mere whim if he so chose to do so.

He had been blind to the fact his very powerful father was a man who had used his children whenever possible to achieve his goals of getting exactly what he wanted. Stefano being sick had played upon EJ's sympathies more than anyone else, for EJ was the golden child in his father's eyes. The one child who could do no wrong, that was until he had turned his father into the authorities for kidnapping John.

The horror EJ had felt upon discovering that Stefano and Rolf had recovered John's body to transform him into a person with no memory of his past, one who would serve Stefano's every wish was something he couldn't explain away. He still felt sick to his stomach when he began to realize the depths of his father's psychosis.

He kept walking away from the cabin, unaware he was being watched, his every movement being carefully tracked and documented. He just wanted to find some peace here yet peace was not to be found when his thoughts were interrupted by one of the agents assigned to their case.

"Mr. DiMera, you shouldn't go so far away from the perimeter security of the cabin," Reagan Michaels warned him after making his presence known to EJ when he seemed to be approaching an unacceptable distance away from the cabin for the agent's liking.

EJ turned back to face the man, one who seemed nice enough, although it rankled his nerves to no end that even though it felt as if he, Samantha and the twins were here in this mountain paradise alone, they sadly were not. The group of agents posted outside their cabin was for the most part sight unseen, at least it was until one of them needed to leave the cabin, and then their presence became all too clear.

EJ tried not to frown, he didn't like being confined, to be told where and how far he could venture out, although his visage couldn't hide the fact he felt stifled by the agents. "Sorry, I just needed some fresh air for a few moments. I won't go much further."

"Be sure that you don't," Reagan reminded EJ with a stern look. "It is only for your protection I am warning you. Your father is a very dangerous man and you don't need to be taking any unnecessary risks by being out here alone."

"I understand," EJ nodded even if he wanted to go, he needed to be careful. There was no way Stefano was going to harm his family, not while he had breath in his body. "I'll head back towards the cabin. Thanks for the reminder."

"No problem and if you need anything just let one of us know."

"I will," EJ turned to go back to cabin, knowing what he needed the agents couldn't help with and that was for him to find a way into Samantha's heart.

Give Me the Remote!
Chapter 8

Johnny was safely tucked back into his crib, instantly seeking out the comforting presence of his twin sister Allie. Sami looked at her babies with a surge of pride overflowing, they were so angelic. Perfect babies and it was amazing to see their distinctive personalities coming out more with each and every passing day. She loved them both and felt her maternal fierceness grow exponentially now that they were living in protective custody in trying to stay away from Stefano DiMera, the man who had plagued her family almost nonstop for years.

Shaking her head, she left the room wishing Stefano could just leave them all alone, the vendetta that sprung up years before she was even born seemed just as threatening now as it had when she was a child herself. She wished she had never heard of the word DiMera, a name managing to strike fear in her heart no matter how much she matured. Then she stopped herself, if she had never met EJ, she wouldn't have Johnny, her sweet innocent baby boy.

EJ being a DiMera was the one hurdle she couldn't quite accomplish getting over. While she knew in her heart that EJ wasn't like his father, somehow she could always erect an instant barrier up against him ever since she had found out his connection to the one family all the Brady's distrusted and despised.

Now she was in fact a DiMera herself, even if in name only. She had made sure she wouldn't cross the line of becoming a true wife to EJ. She couldn't go down that road, for if she did she would surely lose her soul to the one man who had managed to see her for what she truly was and it amazed her even when she was downright nasty, he still couldn't be repulsed by her actions.

No, she wasn't accustomed to finding acceptance and unconditional love. Her family had trained her many years ago, she had to work very hard at being good, to try to become a woman the Brady's could love and appreciate, not the one they tried to ignore she was related to them if she didn't act accordingly to their very specific outlines of expectations.

Now gaining their acceptance had come with a very steep price, one that was difficult to pay, especially when she had to deny her heart of what it truly wanted. She leaned outside the doorway of the twin's bedroom; she had to stop thinking this way. Even though she was married to EJ, she couldn't act upon her desires for them to become man and wife in every sense of the word, for if she did, it would only lead to heartbreak and destruction for them both.

Taking a deep breath, and reminding herself to keep her thoughts away from EJ, she took the stairs, deciding that she would lose herself in a good book while the twins slept. She would curl up in the chaise lounge and try to forget the ever maddening presence of EJ DiMera.

Perusing the myriad selection of books housed in the bookcase, she scanned the titles, searching for the perfect book to help her escape her quandary. It was an eclectic collection to be sure, from non-fiction titles to ones more suited to her liking. Then something caught her eye and she did a double take, surely there weren't those kinds of books here in the cabin.

She shook her head, there must be some mistake, and no way could those books on the shelves be there, her overactive imagination must be running wild with her again. She looked back and sure enough between East of Eden and War and Peace there were some books with titles to make her instantly start to blush without even taking them out of the bookcase to review.

Knowing she shouldn't even take them from their resting place in the book shelves, somehow she couldn't help herself, the temptation was too great. She picked out 101 Nights of Great Sex, How to Drive Your Man Wild in Bed, and Being Bad Never Felt So Good, a guide to letting your man know exactly what you want from him. She held the books in her hand, leaning back against the bookshelf, never hearing EJ approach her until it was too late.

"What are you reading?" EJ peered over her shoulder, curious as to what had Sami so deep in thought she didn't even hear him come back into the cabin after his walk.

Sami quickly snapped the book shut, causing all three of the ones she had chosen to fall into the floor at her feet. EJ went to pick them up for her despite her instantaneous protest not to bother as she crouched to retrieve them before he could catch a glance as to what she was looking at when they bumped heads with one another.

EJ rubbed his head and grabbed one of the books giving her an upraised brow as he saw the cover of the book, "Interesting reading material."

Sami blushed three shades of crimson; embarrassed to the core and suddenly she was at a lost as of what she would even say to him.

"I…just...uh," Sami stuttered trying to find some plausible excuse as to why she had the books in her hand.

"Just what Samantha?" EJ asked, lounging against the bookshelf while Sami fidgeted, trying to look anywhere except in his direction.

"Never mind," she wanted to flee, her embarrassment growing with each passing second. He would never let her live this down, at least not anytime soon. She started to push past him when she felt his touch upon her arm and suddenly she was unable to go anywhere as their eyes connected with one another.

Give Me the Remote!
Chapter 9

Sami bit her bottom lip, her face still a faint hue of pink even after getting over the initial shock of EJ catching her unaware during her perusal of the books contained in the cabin's library. She wasn't a prude by any means, but somehow EJ could make her feel as inexperienced as a school girl yearning for her first kiss with the cutest boy in school. It was quite unnerving to say the least.

His eyes keep her rooted to the spot, she wanted to run and hide, to forget how quickly EJ could embarrass her, and then when she looked into those dark all too knowing eyes, she was entranced. Those eyes which saw beyond the façade she tried so desperately the keep intact, the one where she claimed he had no place in her life, that he was only a roadblock in her way.

She was so adorable when she blushed, EJ thought as he wanted nothing more than to reach out and pull her into his arms, to shower her with all the love he felt for her, to lavish her with his complete attention, showing her she was the only woman in this world for him. What he wouldn't give to break down all these walls she had erected between them? He would gladly climb the steepest fortress wall of her heart if she would only meet him halfway.

He had to get over his fears of rejection, god knew she'd rejected him time and time again, but maybe this time things could be different. He tentatively reached out to her with one hand, his fingers barely brushing the side of her face and Sami instinctively leaned into his gentle caress before she thought better of it.

She closed her eyes, even though in closing her eyes, she still could see the image of him looking at her with a longing that took her breath away. Had she ever had anyone of her other lovers give her a look like that? One that could convey a thousand words without him ever uttering a single syllable? It would be so easy to give into his charm, to lose herself in his touch, but if she did would she ever find her way back?

"Samantha, open your eyes and look at me," his words while commanding were soft spoken; his voice had always been such a persuasive guide to her even if she would never admit this to him. She couldn't tell him how she loved the sound of her name when it fell from his lips.

She slowly opened up her eyes, fearing she would found him amused at her once again and was surprised to see no amusement in his expression; only intense longing presided there for her just as it had before she had closed her eyes.

She could not find her voice, somehow he'd managed to rob her of her speech with just a look that made her want to fling herself into his arms and forget she had ever learned he was a DiMera, her family enemy. When he looked at her like that it could almost make her forget anything around her. Almost being the operative word.

He could see her indecision, she was weighing her options and before she got too far into over thinking things between them he reached out to her and pulled her into a kiss.

Give Me the Remote!
Chapter 10

He kissed her with a kiss not meant to push her to extremes, as he was wont to do most times with her, rather one full of heartfelt longing instead. EJ then pulled back as he felt a wave of tenderness wash over his being. The majority of their time spent together Samantha's personality was so overbearing and larger than life that he had a difficult time remembering that she was tiny in comparison to him. Why his hand seemed very big as it started to caress down her back enjoying the feel of her even with the sweater she was wearing which unfortunately for him put too much of a barrier between them since his fingers craved to touch her creamy skin.

He paused in his chaste exploration when he felt her stiffen slightly. He was perceptive of even the smallest change in her, he was so afraid he would frighten her away again like he had done earlier. He had to remember to be patient, an attribute that had been a completely foreign concept to him before he had met her.

She was still wary of him, a fact he knew all too well. So he relinquished the kiss along with retracting his ever wandering hand that was splayed against her back. The instant he took away the contact he felt bereft. How could he want her so badly when it seemed she would never reciprocate his feelings? Was he forever to be in this state of unrequited love with her?

She felt him pull back and part of her being screamed inside her head to just let go, to see where this would lead between them, but she hastily tamped down the portion of her consciousness that tried to reason with her. He was getting too close. It was like his eyes could see into her soul and the very thought of him being able to do so unnerved her to no end.

He carefully tipped her chin up with his hand and slowly brushed his fingers against her cheek, as he struggled within himself to say the right words to her, ones that would convey his innermost thoughts. The seconds hung between them as he thought of how tired he was of hiding his true feelings for her.

EJ bit his lip with his teeth, trying to keep the words inside, but he realized he wanted her to know she was the only one he wanted to share everything with, for her to be the keeper of all of his secrets. He'd never had someone in his life he'd felt the need to reveal things to before the storm that was named Samantha had hit his life with a resounding force.

She was still, something inside her kept her rooted to the spot when he looked at her with those amazing brown eyes, he had a way about him like no other she had ever known before. She knew he wanted to say something to her, but then the sound of Allie crying broke them from whatever spell the moment had held for them.

Instantly they both started to head upstairs Sami saying, "I'll get her EJ."

"No, I'll go," he offered, quickening his steps as he moved past her and off he went leaving Sami to wonder exactly what he was going to say to her and then she silently questioned herself was she more afraid of the questions he may ask her or what her answers might be to him instead?