Stay With Me

Daniel was caught off guard by her outburst. He held her tightly as her legs weaken and he slowly enveloped her in his arms. "Let it out… let it all out."

Samantha couldn't take it anymore, her loneliness ate her up and her pride betrayed and laughed at her not giving her any face. She clutched Daniel's shirt and she was blubbering on his chest; it was the most unattractive cry but she didn't give a fúck.

"Don't hold back, release it all. You don't have to be scared anymore, I'm here for you. I'm right here.", he said as his own eyes had tears threatening to fall.

Daniel continued to reassure Samantha whilst stroking her back to give comfort. His heart bled as she suffered but he was very patient with her.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...", she repeatedly said in between sobs.

Daniel slowly brought her down to sit on the sand. He positioned Samantha between his legs and continued to embrace her as he listened to her speak.

"I didn't forget you... I never did. I'm sorry."

Samantha revealed her thoughts to Daniel, how she was scared and hurt, how she felt guilty for everything that happened, how she couldn't bear if she would one day cause his tragedy and how she sought temporary relief through extreme activities.

Daniel listened to everything that she wanted to say. Oh, how fragile her heart is, he thought. He understood why she did what she did although he wasn't happy about it. And now that Samantha had let her guard down, it was his turn to make her feel secure enough and more so that she doesn't have to put a wall around her fragile heart. His shirt was soaked with her tears but he was not the least bit bothered.

Her breathing slowed down, and she had stopped crying. After voicing out her confession, she bit her lip so hard that it almost bled.

Daniel held her face in his hand, "Baby, look at me...", Samantha slowly lifted her sad eyes to look at him.

He looked into her eyes tenderly,

"You don't have to be scared anymore. And you don't have to feel guilty. It's not your fault. Things happen because they're bound to happen with or without your interference. People do terrible things because that's who they are, not because of what you did. And you won't cause me harm, that won't happen."

"I want you to listen to me carefully..."

"I'll be your shield."

"I'll be your wall."

"And I'll be with you, always."

"You don't have to protect me, I'll protect both of us. All I need is for you to stay with me."

Samantha listened intently, her heart throbbed upon hearing those words. Her lips trembled and a few tears fell. This man, this Daniel... her Daniel thawed her cold heart.

He wiped her tears away with his long fingers, and he kissed her eyes.

"You already cried enough, you shouldn't cry for the same reasons."

Samantha finally spoke after sometime, "How could you still like me after everything that I've done?"

Daniel smiled gently and tucked a loose hair behind her ear. "Silly, you're human and because you're you. No conditions."

Samantha gave in to her wishes and just wrapped her arms around Daniel's body, burying her face into the crook of his neck; it was so comfortable smelling him.

They stayed in the same position for a long time until Samantha's arms slowly dropped to the side; she fell asleep. Daniel noticed it and carefully, he lifted her up in his arms. He carried her towards the car and drove her home.

...

"Han, come out. I'm outside your cafe.", Seo Joon spoke on the phone.

Several seconds later, Hannah walked out of the cafe and smiled, "What are you doing here?"

"Let's go, I'm taking you out for lunch.", Seo Joon started to walk towards his car but Hannah didn't follow.

"Um... I can't. I-", Hannah's words were cut short when a Caucasian man appeared next to her,

"Hannah, are you leaving? I thought we're spending the day together?", said the man in his baritone voice.

Seo Joon turned around and had a puzzled face, "Oh... looks like you have a date. My bad... I'll see you later then.", he formed a smile before walking away.

It took Hannah several seconds before she realized what was happening, "No, wait... Joon! He's not my-",

Too late, Seo Joon has already gotten inside his car and has driven away.

'How the heck did he leave so fast? He was just in front of me one second ago!', Hannah turned to the blonde beside her and sneered.

"You-- stupid! Why do you have to be so handsome and gay? You scare people! Now he thinks I'm dating you.", Hannah angrily walked back inside the cafe.

"Is it my fault that I was born good looking? Who was that cutie by the way?"

"No! Don't you ever go after him, Shawn! Don't even think about it!"

Shawn made a face, "So stingy. Tch."

"So... did you guys fúck yet?", he curiously asked with a huge grin on his face.

Hannah's face became so red, she looked like she was about to explode. "OH MY GOD! You're so nasty! You can't just ask people like that in here. You're not in your country, for Pete's sake; whoever he is."

"Oh come on. Don't tell me you weren't thinking about it?", Shawn raised an eyebrow, "With his built, I'd say he's gonna rock you... in bed."

"Shawn! Please stop. Who even says that?"

Shawn chuckled as he sipped his coffee. Hannah can be really forward with him whenever they talk about boys but it's the first time that she's acting so shy like a schoolgirl.

..

The Chiron just parked at Samantha's beach villa. Daniel carefully carried Samantha in his arms as he walked towards the front door; the movement woke her up.

"I can walk, you can put me down now."

"Not a chance."

Daniel brought her to the bedroom and set her on the armchair.

"Wait here."

Walking towards the bathroom, Daniel ran warm water into the tub and prepared a bath for Samantha.

"You've got sand all over you, take a bath.. you'll feel better.", he said when he returned in front of her.

"Okay."

"Are you gonna be okay for a while?"

She raised her head, "You're leaving?"

"I'm just going to take a shower and change.", Daniel cocked his head to the side and smiled, "Do you need help with bathing?"

Samantha abruptly crossed her arms to cover her front, "No. Get out."

"I'll be back.", he patted her head gently before he turned to leave.

When Samantha finished her bath, she quickly changed into a comfy loungewear. Daniel was already on her bed when she came out of the bathroom. He wore a plain white shirt and black jersey shorts. Are her eyes playing tricks on her because she cried so much earlier? Why else would she find Daniel's calves sexy? Are calves normally sexy? She swallowed.

"Come, lay down beside me.", he said as he patted the space next to him.

Feeling nervous, Samantha did what he said.

"Your eyes are puffy. I don't like it when you cry.", with one elbow propped up, Daniel caressed her face. "You should apply a cold compress to reduce the swelling."

"Were you... are you... mad?"

"About what?"

Averting her eyes, she said, "I left."

"Yes. I won't deny that. But I was more disappointed and sad than I was mad."

Samantha looked up to him, "Disappointed?"

Daniel nodded, "I thought you... we were strong enough to withstand it."

Her eyes became melancholic.

"But I don't blame you. Just promise me you will never run away again. Or if you do, take me with you."

Samantha was moved. This man next to her has such a big heart. "I don't deserve you.", she said.

Daniel shook his head and pulled her closer, "Don't think that way, you deserve me and much more."

Cupping her face, Daniel leaned in and kissed her lips ever so tenderly. Samantha didn't resist and gave in to the one thing she had been yearning for months. His touch, his breathing, his smell, and his warmth, 'I want it all.'

Slowly, their lips touched... Daniel parted her lips and his tongue searched for hers. Samantha clutched his shirt and pulled him closer wanting to feel more of his warmth; her insides melting and her abdomen ached.

Daniel flipped himself on top of her, his hand stroking her thigh. A groan escaped when Samantha felt his arousal. He pressed himself against her soft body, caressing, feeling, missing her.

*buzz* *buzz* *buzz*

*buzz* *buzz* *buzz*

The two ignored Daniel's phone buzzing when he received a message. It stopped.

Next, an assigned ringtone sounded from the bedside table and Daniel pulled himself away. "I'm sorry, babe... I need to take this. It's my dad.", he kissed her on the lips once more before he got out of bed.

"Father..", he spoke as he stepped out of the room.

Samantha was left on the bed, feeling hot and bothered. 'OMG. If the call hadn't come...', her thoughts ran wild. She heard her front door open and close; Daniel probably had to go to his villa next door.

He had received an emergency call from his father, the Cho Corporation was facing a crisis and he was discussing some plans with him. He was on the phone for almost an hour and when he came back, Samantha had already fallen asleep.