Somewhat darker and a little more sinister than most of my other stories this one has elements of many genres; erotic couplings, interracial, nonconsent/reluctance to name a few, however overall, I think it is more of a romance than anything else.
But given the length of it, the story consists of 6 parts (all written), I decided the best place to put it was in Novels & Novellas.
As always constructive comments and criticism are welcome but please remember it is just a story, like the Marvel films it isn't actually real.
I hope you enjoy.
_________________________________________________
Chapter 05 - Reconciliation
Sitting in the back of the taxi, heading to the hotel, the journey turned into another wrestling match for Samantha. Her drunken client, Andy Reynolds, spent most of the way there trying to grope her until, with just ten minutes remaining, he fell asleep again.
By the time the cab turned into the road leading towards the modern multi story building she had decided she had had enough. If she did nothing else she was going to get away from Vincent D'Souza somehow.
"Stop the cab please."
Ordering the driver to pull over by the entrance to the hotel grounds she took Andy's wallet out of his pocket and, extracting a few notes, paid the man making sure to add a hefty tip, before getting out.
"Take him to the door and hand him over to the porter or whoever. They can get him up to his room."
Her instructions to the cabbie were given with more than a hint of determination in her voice before she turned away, leaving Andy Reynolds asleep behind her.
Smiling to herself with the early evening sunshine on her face she strolled along feeling happier than she could remember in weeks. The only downside that lurked at the back of her mind was the fact that she had walked out on the rest of her appointment and how her pimp would react.
Taking her phone from her bag she stared at it for a moment, a look of resolve in her eyes, and then took a deep breath before selecting the number she wanted.
After the third ring she heard a tinny voice telling her that no one was available to take her call and to leave a message after the tone.
"Hi, it's Samantha." Her heart was thumping wildly in her chest as she announced herself.
"I.... I'm not going to stay with the client tonight. In fact, I don't want to do this anymore so... so I... I quit."
She paused, suddenly feeling a little frightened at what Valentine D'Souza might do when he received her message.
"Please just leave me alone."
Closing the call, she stared at her mobile for a few seconds, barely able to believe what had just transpired, before switching it off so he wouldn't be able to call her back.
'What had she done?'
That was when the thought struck home and she began to panic.
'How would her pimp react to her message?'
'She had to warn Rob that he was in danger.'
'What would he say when she just turned up?'
'Would he just tell her to go?'
Starting to hurry back towards the marina she tried to ignore all the doubts and worries that filled her head. All she knew was that she had to get to Rob and tell him, whether he wanted anything more to do with her or not, he needed to know that Valentine might come for him.
Flagging down the same cab that had just dropped her client off she slid into the back and closed her eyes, hoping desperately that he would at least talk to her. Even if he didn't she still had to warn him about D'Souza and his threat to harm him if she didn't do as he told her.
As the cab approached the quayside she suddenly wondered what she would do if Rob wasn't there and everything was locked. It was a possibility that she hadn't considered.
Drawing up almost alongside the Pegasus she sighed with relief when she saw that, although he wasn't on deck, the hatchway was open and the light was on.
Paying off her ride she nervously climbed down onto the boat and peered anxiously through the doorway.
"Rob?" Her voice was barely more than a frightened whisper.
He had just put the coffee on to brew and turned to look up when he heard her, an expression of total shock on his face.
"Sam! What.... what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to talk to you. To explain and to... to warn you...."
She had hardly begun when the tears started to flow unchecked down her cheeks.
"Sam.... What is it?"
"Oh Rob!"
Unable to stop herself she flung herself at him, crashing into his chest, her arms encircling his neck as she buried her face against him, tears soaking into his shirt.
Taking a step back with the force of her embrace he wrapped her in his arms, holding her tight to him as he tried to get control of the feelings that threatened to overwhelm him.
The pair just clung to each other for a while, neither of them wanting to let go and start the conversation that they knew they were going to have to have.
"Do... do you have to go back to your.... to your friend?" Rob finally released his hold on her, assuming she had left her client to sleep things off and would be going back to him eventually, "Or can you.... can you stay for a while?"
Sam wiped her eyes on the back of her hand and looked searchingly into his eyes.
"I... I'm not going back, ever. I... I could stay.... but only if you want me to."
Her stomach tightened as she waited for his response and she felt the fear of rejection start to consume her as she said it.
"We could cook here tonight and eat under the stars." He tentatively suggested after a lengthy pause.
Her heart was in her throat by the time he finally spoke.
"That... that would be nice." Unable to stop herself Sam started to cry again.
"Hey, hey what's up?"
Rob went to pull her against him to comfort her but she twisted away and fled into the same bedroom that Andy had fucked her in that afternoon, pulling the door shut behind her.
"Sam...." Calling after her he followed, standing outside the room and listened for a moment as she sobbed.
"What's up Sam. What's wrong?" Taking a chance, he opened the door and sat down next to her, perplexed as to what had upset her, "Is it me? Is it something I said or did?"
She sat up, still weeping quietly, and shook her head staring down at the floor.
"No... It's... it's me... I'm in love with you Rob. I know it's only been a few weeks but I fell for you the moment I saw you in the bar the other night."
Speechless he sat down heavily and struggled to comprehend what she had just told him before putting his arm around her and pulling her towards him. He knew that Francine had told him the same thing only recently but hearing it from her own lips was totally different.
"I love you to Sam."
"No. No you can't... you mustn't... I can't be what you...."
Samantha was almost hysterical as she pushed him away and stood up moving towards the door.
"Sam!" Totally bemused he grabbed her arm and stopped her, "What is it?"
"You don't understand." She fell against him, burying her face in his chest again, sobbing uncontrollably, "If you knew about me you wouldn't want me. You just wouldn't."
Wrapping his arms around her he held on to her tightly and after a brief struggle to get free she surrendered and let him embrace her as she cried.
"So, tell me about you?" Rob finally spoke again, releasing her and holding her by her shoulders so he could look into her eyes, "Tell me why I can't love you?"
"I'm sorry Rob, I really am." She began hesitantly, "But I'm not who you think I am. I'm a fraud and a.... and a whore."
Rob's expression changed to one of confusion, "Yeah I kind of saw that this afternoon."
"I was working as a stripper back in England and ran away here to escape my life and an abusive boyfriend." Samantha ignored his comment and continued, unable to tear her eyes away from his as she looked for his understanding.
"So, nothing bad there." He grinned cheekily.
She shook her head, her long dark brown hair swaying around her shoulders.
"It... it gets worse. Soon after I got here I met a guy... Valentine..."
"D'Souza?" He interjected coldly.
Sam nodded and looked away staring down at the floor her voice dropping to little more than a whisper.
"I... I slept with him and... and since then he's been forcing me to... to work as...as a prostitute for him."
"Forcing you?" Rob stood up an expression of anger on his face.
She nodded, keeping her eyes firmly focused on the floor, "At first he said he'd put a sex video of him and me on the internet if I didn't do what he told me and now..."
Pausing Sam looked up at him before continuing, "Now he... he's threatened to hurt you if I don't do what he says."
Rob just sat back down on the bed and regarded the girl before him, "We definitely need to talk to Henry."
"See, I knew it, you hate me now." Sam sat next to him, her heart breaking at the way he looked at her, tears coursing down her cheeks again.
He didn't answer and just sat, quietly considering everything she had told him.
"I'm sorry Rob, I'm so sorry. I... I'll go."
Unable to bear the silence any longer she got up and started for the door. But she had barely managed three steps before he stopped her, pulling her into his arms again.
"I could never hate you and I don't care. You are what you are and as long as you love me...."
"But don't you understand, I'm a prostitute... a whore. I let other men fuck me for money and... and I enjoy what they do to me."
She was virtually shouting at him as she struggled to free herself from his grip.
"I... don't... care. I... love... you." Speaking slowly, he made sure to clearly enunciate each word.
"He'll never let me go Rob. I've told him I want to quit but I know he'll come after me, after you."
"He's willing to try but he might be biting off more than he can chew. I'm not scared of him. I can look after myself."
Samantha's eyes went wide and she shook her head sending her dark hair swaying around her tear-stained face, "No you don't understand. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you."
"Sam, I was a Royal Marine. I've faced up to guys a lot tougher than Valentine D'Souza and his thugs."
She stopped and stared at him disbelievingly, "I can't take a chance.... I have to go back. If you got hurt because of me...."
"You're not going back Samantha, never. Get that into your head. I love you."
The tension drained out of her and she buried her face in his shoulder, desperately clinging onto him.
"I... I want to believe you but...."
"Trust me, Valentine isn't going to hurt you not if I have anything to do with it."
Instead of answering she hung on to him, turning her face up to smile at him.
