Samson's Lovely Mortal (9 page)

Amaury looked at his watch. He could spare another twenty minutes before he had to do some work.

***

When the final curtain at last fell and the clapping subsided, Samson looked at his gorgeous date.

“Are you trying to cause a disturbance in the audience?” he teased her.

“Now, how would I do that?” Delilah asked innocently, her big eyes looking up at him.

“Looking at me like that is a start.” If she continued like that he’d drag her behind a curtain and take her right there.

She shook her head. “No, let’s just keep the record straight. You started it.”

“You didn’t stop me.”

“I’m just a weak woman.”

He laughed heartily, drawing the attention of several theatergoers onto him. “Oh, a woman you are. Weak, you’re definitely not. I bet you can bring any man to his knees.”

“What makes you think that?”

“I’m a living example of the power you have over men.” He moved his head much closer to hers.

“Shall we get out of here before
you
cause some sort of disturbance?” Her giggles were refreshing.

He laughed and pulled her out of her seat. “Where do you want to go?”

“How about we’ll just go with your plans? You did have something else planned, didn’t you?”

Undressing her in the next dark corner was the plan.

“What if you don’t like what I’ve planned?” He was enjoying teasing her.

“Try me.”

As in taste? In a heartbeat.

Samson licked his lower lip. There was a hell of a lot of things he wanted to try, and tasting her was just the beginning. “I think I will. No. Scratch that. I
know
I will.”

With his arm around her waist, he led her to the stairway. The theater had almost emptied, and they were the last ones to walk down the broad staircase leading to one of the side exits. The sound her high heels made on the stairs echoed through the air.

They were alone. He could press her against the wall and take her right there in the stairwell. Her moans would echo through the empty space, bounce off the walls, the sound amplified. But it would be over too soon. No, he had to distract himself and get her to his house where he could keep her all night.

“Why do women torture themselves and wear high heels like that?” Samson was certain his voice was colored with pure lust.

“Because women don’t like to be short.”

He chuckled. “It’s called petite. And men like petite women. Brings out the protective instinct in them.”

She playfully punched him. His abs were rock hard. He laughed to cover up his true feelings; did she have any idea what her touch did to him, and how close his control was to snapping?

“If you want to wrestle, it can be arranged. But I have to caution you, I don’t give up easily.”

And with you, I’ll wrestle naked.

“Neither do I.”

“That should make for an interesting match.” The hot look he gave her was sure to tell her just how interesting a little naked wrestling match between them would be. And what the winner would get.

“Place your bets.”

“My money is on the girl.”

“How come?” She seemed utterly surprised at his choice.

“I know the guy’s weakness.” He winked at her.

They stepped out into the street. The stairs had led them out of a side exit into a small alley. Samson could see the main street a short distance ahead of them.

“Watch out for the puddles,” he cautioned and navigated her around a large pool of water left by the rain from the previous day.

“What? You mean you’re not going to throw down your coat and let me step over it?”

He loved the way she relaxed him with her lighthearted jokes.

“Saville Row, sweetness. I don’t think my tailor is going to appreciate it if he finds out.”

Samson turned her toward him and pulled her into his arms. “So, is that what you’re looking for, an old-fashioned Prince Charming?” Delilah had no idea how old-fashioned he truly was, or how old for that matter.

“I don’t know what I’m looking for.” Her voice trembled. Her face was still flushed, but he doubted it had anything to do with the heat in the theater. Her smile was gone from her face, and her gaze collided with his.

“Try me.” Slowly he lowered his head and approached her mouth. Her parted lips beckoned with the promise of pleasures his body was craving. He needed that kiss, and he needed it now.

“You two, against the wall!” a menacing male voice cut through the silence and destroyed the moment. Somebody would have to pay for this.

With lightning speed, Samson jerked his head in the direction the voice originated and stared at a big thug and the nozzle of a handgun. He felt Delilah shudder in his arms and protectively held her closer. The heat of her body seeped into his, and despite the dangerous situation, he allowed himself to enjoy her closeness.

Samson knew he had to act fast, and he couldn’t use his vampire speed or fangs to defeat the assailant. He wouldn’t allow anything to destroy the evening he’d planned with the woman in his arms. He couldn’t risk for her being frightened or suspect that anything about him wasn’t quite what it seemed to be. His secret had to be guarded.

“Didn’t you hear what I said? You, against the wall!” the thug repeated. “I want the girl, now!”

Samson instantly realized that their attacker was human and therefore easily controlled. Delilah gasped, and his hand went to her head to pull her face into his chest.

You will not pull the trigger.

He used the only weapon available to him, his mind control.

You will not shoot.

 “Delilah, please do as I say. Get behind me.”

He pushed her behind his broad back. He could feel her shaking.

“Oh, God, no,” she whimpered. “He’ll kill you.”

Not likely. It wasn’t exactly easy to kill a vampire, especially not with a gun. Even if the thug shot at him and hit him, his body would expel the bullet, and the wound would close up quickly.

Only a few things could kill a vampire: a wooden stake through the chest, exposure to sunlight, and some major injuries to his body resulting in severe blood loss. If a vampire got caught in an explosion, it would most likely kill him, as would a fire. But the man only had a gun which represented no danger to Samson.

Nevertheless, he had to be careful. Delilah was with him, and he couldn’t risk her getting hurt.

“Hey, idiot. I want the girl. Give her to me, and I’ll let you live. No need to play the hero.”

Samson reached one arm behind him to calm her. “Close your eyes, sweetness, and everything will be fine.” He kept his voice calm and soothing. No need to worry her any more than she already was.

You will not shoot. You will not attack us.

He knew he could defeat him in an instant, but how would he explain this to her? How could he explain his superhuman abilities without causing any suspicion? He was in a bind. He could control the thug not to shoot for quite a while, but even that would cause suspicion eventually.

The man watched him intently and suddenly took a couple of steps forward. Samson could see his face clearly now, including the scar on his cheek and the small tattoo on his neck. Very unusual, very distinctive. Knowing that he would recognize him if he saw him again, Samson formed his plan. There was no need to kill him now. It was sufficient to chase him away and have his men deal with him later.

“What do you want?” Samson asked him calmly.

“Are you deaf? The girl.” The man’s voice was a snarl.

“Not an option.”

“Then I’ll kill you.” He looked as if he wanted to pull the trigger, but didn’t. Samson used his confused state to lunge at him. With a high kick of his right leg he hit the weapon out of the thug’s hand. The man looked at him, stunned and shocked.

Run! Run now and don’t come back!

And like a frightened rabbit he ran out of the alley. It was over.

Samson turned and crossed the distance to Delilah with three large strides.

“Everything is fine,” he assured her as he pulled her into his arms. “He’s gone.”

She shook like a leaf. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

“No. He didn’t get a chance.”

“How did you learn to kick like that?”

He held her at arm’s length from him and looked at her face. “Didn’t I ask you to close your eyes?”

“I peeked.” She buried her head in his chest. “You shouldn’t have taken such a risk. He had a gun.”

“The alternative wasn’t an option. Nothing happened. He was just some no good thug.”

Delilah shook her head.

“What?”

“I recognized him. He was the same guy who attacked me last night.”

The realization hit him like a freight train. “Are you sure?” Samson put his hand under her chin and urged her to look at him.

“Absolutely sure.”

Damn it, he shouldn’t have let him get away. It couldn’t be a coincidence that it was the same guy. Something was wrong. Seriously wrong.

Effortlessly, he lifted Delilah into his arms to carry her out of the alley.

“I can walk.”

“Indulge me.” Feeling her body so close to his calmed him.

He saw the limousine immediately as they exited the alley. Carl was leaning against the car, waiting for them. When Carl saw them approach, his look became concerned, and he immediately opened the car door.

“Something the matter, sir?”

Samson lifted her into the car. “We were attacked. Get us home, Carl, quickly, please.”

He slipped into the seat next to her and took her hand into his, before he pulled out his cell phone with the other. The car was already in motion when the call connected.

“Ricky, we were attacked.” He made his voice sound as calm as possible in order not to worry Delilah even more.

“Who was attacked?”

“Delilah and I, outside the theater.”

Ricky interrupted him. “You were on a date with the human woman?”

“Would you listen?” He started to get annoyed. “Delilah recognized him as the same guy who attacked her last night. I’ll have Carl fax over a sketch of him later. He shouldn’t be too hard to find. He’s got a tattoo on his neck and a scar on his cheek. He’s probably a member of a gang. Have the boys comb the city for him as soon as you get my description.”

Absentmindedly, he led Delilah’s hand to his lips and kissed her fingers tenderly. He needed to feel her to make sure she was alright.

“Was he a vampire?” Ricky wanted to know, his voice quieter now.

“No, definitely not.”

“Demon?”

“None of that, just a regular lowlife.” Hopefully Ricky understood that this meant the guy was human. He couldn’t exactly say it while Delilah was sitting right next to him, listening to his side of the conversation.

“And you let him get away?” Ricky’s accusation rang in his ear.

“What do you think? I couldn’t risk Delilah being hurt.” Was Ricky high on something? He knew full well that he couldn’t just have killed the guy in front of her without exposing himself.

“You could have wiped her memory clean. Ever thought of that?” Ricky kept his voice low so Delilah couldn’t hear him. He was right, but somehow Samson didn’t have the heart to use his powers on her. Something stopped him. He didn’t want anything to taint his relationship with her.

Relationship?

How had that strange thought entered his mind?

“I’m not listening to any more of this. Do what I told you to do. And another thing: he dropped his gun in the alley next to the theater. Retrieve it and trace it. Carl will show you where we were.” He was pissed and ended the call.

“What’s wrong?” Delilah sounded worried.

He immediately realized that he shouldn’t have been so harsh on the phone, but instead should have reined in his temper. He didn’t want her to be concerned. Gently he pulled her closer, putting one arm around her shoulders and taking her hand in his.

“Nothing. It’s just Ricky. He’s a little stubborn sometimes. You won’t have to worry about anything anymore. That man can’t hurt you.”

Samson kissed her hand. Delilah loved feeling his lips on her skin. It soothed her. She snuggled closer to him and hoped he wouldn’t think she was too needy, but his strong body made her feel safe, and that’s what she needed right now.

“Shouldn’t we go to the police?”

“The police never do anything about these things. Let Ricky handle it: he works in security. He knows what to do.” His voice was determined as if he was certain what the right course of action was. A man who took charge.

She looked up at him. The whole incident hadn’t fazed him at all. While she had shaken like a tree in a hurricane, he was calm and collected, almost as if occurrences like these were common for him.

“You probably think I’m crazy, but until this thug has been apprehended, I want you to stay at my house.”

She gave him a startled look. “Your house?”

“I know what this suggestion must sound like, especially after … you know … but I don’t want you to be alone. Somebody is obviously after you, and until we know who and why, I’d feel much better, if you were under my protection.”

Delilah wondered whether he was suddenly embarrassed to mention the little erotic games they had played. Could this damn incident have killed his mood? She assumed as much. It seemed that now he felt obligated to protect her. She would have wanted to stay with him tonight, but not to be under his protection. No, she wanted to be pinned under his sexy body, his naked body.

“You want to protect me?”

“Of course I do.” Samson gave her a strange look.

“Is that all?” She was certain that her disappointment showed. She’d never been good at hiding her feelings. As she looked into his eyes, she could detect a flicker in them, and then he suddenly smiled.

He shook his head. “No, that’s not all. If I only wanted to protect you, you’d be staying in the guest room.”

Something in her stomach made a somersault. A smile formed on her lips. “And I’m not staying in the guest room?”  She was eager for his answer and held her breath.

“You can, if you insist.” His thumb stroked along her jaw and his stare was fixated on her lips. “I certainly would not want to force you to do anything you don’t want to do, but I was hoping I could convince you to choose my bed instead.” His voice was sultry and full of desire. No man had ever spoken to her like this. His eyes suddenly looked much darker as he lowered his head toward hers.