Delilah. Shelia M. Goss

had swagger like the rapper Jay-Z and good looks that mimicked Denzel Washington’s, except Samson’s skin was lighter. With his naturally wavy jet-black hair, fair skin, and thick mustache, Samson was an immediate turn on. Despite their situation, Delilah didn’t want to think the man she watched weekly had any flaws. She had met too many men who disappointed her time after time. In her mind, Samson was perfect.

      William, on the other hand, believed that every man had a skeleton in his closet. He offered Delilah financial security if she took on the task of finding out Samson’s Achilles’ heel. Once she agreed to do so, she started attending Samson’s church and had quickly become part of several of the ministries, most notably the singles’ group and Pastor’s Aide committee. She originally joined Peaceful Rest for the wrong reasons, but through her interactions with other church members and learning more about God and Christ because of Samson’s teachings, she renewed her relationship with God.

      God was the last thing on her mind right now, however, as Samson stirred beside her. She felt his leg brush against her. “Good morning,” Delilah said.

      Samson didn’t respond right away. “I’m sorry about last night,” he said with remorse.

      “Why are you apologizing? Nothing happened that we both didn’t want to happen,” she assured him.

      He sat up in bed, making sure the comforter covered his lower body. “I’m not a drinker, and I should have told you so when you insisted I drink the glass of wine.”

      “Like I told you, it had little alcohol in it,” Delilah lied. She knew the sweet taste of the wine masked its potent effect. She would have to thank her friend, Keisha, for the bottle later.

      He rubbed his temples. “I have a lot to repent for.”

      “The Good Book says it’s okay to drink in moderation,” Delilah said as she moved closer to him in the bed.

      “The Lord frowns on fornication. And what we did last night, well, it just wasn’t right.” Samson pushed her away.

      Delilah felt embarrassed. She slipped her naked body under the comforter. Samson reached to the side of the bed for his clothes. “I think I better get going.”

      “You can wash up in there.” Delilah pointed toward the master bathroom connected to her bedroom.

      He barely said thanks before she saw him walk in the bathroom and close the door.

      Delilah frowned because it seemed her plan had backfired. She hoped he could look past last night. They had become so close, and she didn’t want to think about going back to a life without him. She grabbed her pink satin robe from a nearby chair and put it on before sitting back on the bed. A few minutes later, Samson walked out of the bathroom fully dressed and looking refreshed.

      “In light of what happened, I think we should keep our distance,” Samson said.

      “But…it was bound to happen. We have chemistry. We’re meant to be together,” Delilah responded.

      Samson hung his head before looking back up. “Delilah, you’re a sweet woman, and any man would be blessed to have you in his life. But you must be forgetting—I’m already spoken for. I’m getting married in two weeks, and this shouldn’t have happened.”

      Just the thought of Samson’s fiancée, Julia Rivers, put Delilah in a foul mood. “Whatever, Samson. I thought you were different. Now I see you’re just like the rest of the men out there. You got what you want—now just leave.” Delilah turned her back to him.

      Samson walked up to where she sat. “Delilah, don’t be like that. What we did was wrong. You know it, and I know it. Let’s just end this as friends.” He reached out with both hands to hold her hand.

      Delilah became livid and pushed his hands away. “I have enough friends.”

      “I’m sorry. Let me know what I can do to make it better,” Samson said.

      Delilah gave him the silent treatment and wouldn’t look him in the face. Samson stood and waited, but a minute later he said, “Just tell me what I can do to make it up to you, and I will. I’m so sorry I let it get to this. Will you forgive me?”

      Delilah looked him directly in the eyes. “Ask God to forgive you, but as for me, I need you to leave now!”

      Samson didn’t delay leaving after she raised her voice. It wasn’t long before she heard the front door close. Delilah ran to the bedroom window and watched Samson get in the black SUV the church had leased for him two months prior.

      “Samson, you’re going to be mine one way or another. You having a fiancée don’t mean nothing to me,” Delilah said out loud.

      A smile swept across Delilah’s face as she thought of how Julia would respond once she learned of Samson’s indiscretion. Delilah removed the small camera she had hidden behind the clock. She hadn’t planned on using the video; she planned on telling William the camera had malfunctioned. But now, Samson’s actions left her with no choice.

      Chapter 2

      “Julia’s been trying to reach you all night,” Kelly Judges, Samson’s mom, said to her son over the phone.

      Samson could hardly get a word in. At times, he would hold the phone away from his ear. When he tried to say something, he was cut off again. He finally said to his mother, “I’ll call her.”

      “You do that. I hope you weren’t unavailable because of Delilah. I told you there’s something about that woman I just don’t like.”

      Samson wondered how his mom seemed to always know what was going on in his life. He assured her, “Mom, nothing is wrong. I’ll call Julia and all will be well. Trust me.”

      “In God I trust only,” she responded. “Just make sure you straighten it out. Your wedding is two weeks away. There’s still a lot to do.”

      He listened to his mom go on and on about his upcoming nuptials. One would think she was the one getting married instead of him. “I’ve waited all my life to see my only child get married. Now whatever is going on with you, deal with it before you say the words ‘I do,’” Kelly said.

      “Yes, ma’am,” he responded. At least she cut off her usually long lecture before she got to the part about how long she had prayed for a child and after twenty years of marriage, the Lord blessed her and his dad with a son. His mom informed him at an early age that she had given him to God the moment she found out she was pregnant.

      Because of the constant reminder of his obligations, Samson, at thirty years old, did his best to stay on the straight and narrow. Even in his teen years, when some pastors’ kids, or PKs as most people called them, were being rebellious, he did the opposite. He avoided trouble and didn’t mind spending most of his time in church right under his dad’s coattail as he learned more and more about God’s Word.

      As soon as Samson hung up the phone with his mom, he reminisced about the night before. It had been obvious to him from the moment he met Delilah that she was different. He was used to putting off women’s advances, but there was something about Delilah and her model height that caused him to throw caution to the wind and give in to the desires she stirred up in him.

      He knew he shouldn’t be having the carnal thoughts that crept in his mind every time she came into view. Delilah changed her hairstyle like most women changed clothes. He never knew what to expect. One thing that didn’t change was her curvaceous figure and sweet, alluring perfume. His father had warned him about what to expect as a pastor when it came to women. That was one reason why his father insisted he get married. He said a single man over a church would cause many to sin, and he was right about that. He had only been the pastor for a year, and although Peaceful Rest had seen an increase in membership, it was obvious many of the new female members were there only in hopes of snagging a husband, and not just any man—him as their golden prize.

      The phone rang again. Elaine Benjamin, his secretary, would answer