I had discarded my wedding finery, combed out my hair, and prepared myself for bed when there came a knock at the door to my back courtyard. This was the door where men, for whom discretion was important, entered my home. I heard the voice of the local physician, who was one of the richest and most influential men in the village. I dared not ignore his summons.

Opening the gate, I was surprised to find the physician, the banker, and the local purple dye merchant awaiting entrance. I had never participated in orgies, though more than one man had suggested it in the past. I could tell these men were not drunk and all three were frequent customers, so I knew they were not there for my sexual favors. They knew I would not perform with more than one man present. 

Looking over their shoulders, the three slipped through the gate, stopping just inside the wall where the light from the small lamp in my window would not illuminate them. In a whisper, Helez, the physician spoke.

"We saw your brief encounter with the Israelite. I am sure you have heard the stories of how he has humiliated the Philistines over and over again. One man cannot match his unrivaled strength. The legends of his feats are not exaggerated. If anything they are too tame. Perhaps you have also heard that he has a weakness for pretty women. Once we almost surprised him in the house of a Philistine courtesan, but he outsmarted us. Tonight he was enthralled with your beauty. We are sending him here for lodging. We will tell him you are a widow who takes in borders for a living. Keep your head covered and act like a lady until you are sure he is besotted with your beauty. Once he is under your power, we want you to lure him into revealing the source of his great strength and deliver him into our hands. If you accomplish this, each of us, plus each of the five Lords of the Philistines, will give you 1100 shekels of silver. With this amount of money, you could retire and start life afresh elsewhere as a rich widow."

With visions of wealth dancing in my head, I agreed to their scheme. But remembering Samson's eyes and the shock of his touch, I hedged, "It might take time to ensnare such a cunning man. Do not rush me. I will contact you when I am ready. As long as he is lodging in my home, I cannot entertain other men. I will need you to pay something for my loss of wages. I will need enough money to buy food so I can offer him delectable tidbits until I am ready to offer my own sweet nectar."

Each of the men took out 100 shekels of silver and turned them over to me. The banker added 100 for each of the five Lords who were not present. Closing the gate, I entered my home and waited for Samson to knock.

Not long after the city rulers left, a knock came on my front gate followed by the traditional request of, "Open."

Donning a headpiece and veil, I picked up my oil lamp and proceeded to the front of the courtyard and called out, "Who?"

"You do not know me, Mistress Delilah," the familiar deep voice rumbled. "My name is Samson. I am an Israelite traveler seeking lodging. The physician Helez sent me. He said you are a widow who offers hospitality for a fee so that you can be fed and clothed. I am prepared to pay handsomely for a night's lodging. I journeyed for days to get here. I am tired and would rather not sleep another night devoid of comfort."

"Very well," I replied. "If Helez sent you, you can be trusted."

I unlocked the gate and opened it, holding up my light. I heard a sharp intake of breath, followed by, "You!"

The startled Samson simply stood outside my gate for a moment while a smile slowly spread across his face, beginning on the right side as the corner of his mouth turned up followed languidly by the other corner. As a dimple creased his left cheek, the smile reached his eyes and they glowed like banked coals igniting under a puff of air. It was as though I had just watched the equivalent of a sunrise transform his craggy face, as a beam of sunlight from an overhead crack can turn a cavernous, frightening cave into an awesome light-filled chamber.

Our eyes locked and for a moment we were frozen in time, lost in the depths of one another's souls. We stood transfixed until a deep growl from the dark behind Samson caused us to start.

"You had best come in, sir," I said, "before the wild dogs decide to venture into the circle of light in search of nourishment. Perhaps they might mistake your sandal for food."

As Samson tilted his head back and laughed, I realized how foolish I sounded and tried to rectify the situation, only to find myself sounding even more senseless.

"Not that your feet smell and might attract a scavenger," I stammered as I backed into the courtyard, followed by the still chuckling man. "I only meant that the dogs in these parts are bold," I concluded as I felt the heat rise in my face.

With a wide grin, he replied, "Do I look like a weakling that could be bested by a wild dog? Even a mad one would be no match for me," he concluded, flexing his muscle as he shook his fist into the now silent street. Then turning to me he said, "I would protect you from any wild beast, mistress. Not even an enraged lion could feast on your exquisite form with me here to safeguard you."

Without the least hint of embarrassment, he continued, "I hope you do not consider me forward, but I was captivated by your beauty when you brought me the goblet of wine. I searched for you all evening and had despaired of finding you. Now I have not only found you, but also discovered you are a widow without masculine attachment. Obviously Yahweh was with me."

"No god directed you here," I answered dryly. "At least the last time I saw him, Helez had not been elevated to the status of deity. And as for my beauty, how can you claim to be captivated by something hidden behind veil and cloak?"

"Ah, but mistress, beauty cannot be so easily masked. Your eyes are dark pools that entice a man to submerge himself. Long lashes curl around them, giving them an alluring, yet mysterious appearance. The dark skin surrounding your eyes has a luster, like that of lovingly polished mahogany. You hold your head high as would a princess, telling every man present of your worth. You glide across a room, your feet seeming never to touch the soil beneath them. The silk cloak you wore did not hide your rounded curves, but rather promised a feminine form any man would admire. No, my beauty, veil and cloak cannot protect you from the discriminating eye of a man."

As he spoke, my lips parted and my breath became shallow. His voice grew muffled as though he were speaking from a great distance. I could hear the blood rushing in my ears and my heart pounding in my chest. I shook my head to try and clear my senses. As I did, my loosely fastened veil fell from in front of my face. As I reached to retrieve the corner of the cloth, Samson's large hand covered mine, and I found myself slave to my now riotous desire.

"Please, Mistress Delilah, do not replace the veil. No one is here to look askance. It will do no harm for me to glimpse your beautiful face. Even if you replace the veil, I will view your countenance in my mind. I fear even sleep will be unable to banish the vision."

Murmuring, "As you wish," I tore my eyes from his mesmerizing gaze and began to walk across the courtyard. "Come, let me show you to your room."

I stopped in front of a doorway and gestured inside. "There is a sleeping bench and mat inside. The basin is empty, but I will bring water for cleansing. In the morning, I can offer you fruit and bread if you would like to eat before beginning your journey."

"And where will you sleep?" he asked, his lazy smile once again transforming his face. 

As I stared into his hypnotic eyes, I battled with myself. If I told him and gave him an inviting look, I was certain I could accomplish his seduction quickly and earn the money I had been promised. If I refused to tell, I could continue the charade of respectability for a short time longer, and perhaps win his love. Should I satisfy lust and greed, or should I wait a little longer and perhaps find the love I had so long desired? The cynic inside wanted me to grab him by the balls and conquer him through his masculine weakness. The abused child wanted to bask longer in his admiration. She held out a small, innocent ray of hope that could easily be overpowered by the glaring lantern of experience held high by the hardened skeptic.

For once the child won. Why I did not simply take Samson to my bed that night, I do not really know. I knew the deception would have to end soon. I could not bed the man without revealing my short locks. Once he saw my hair, the ruse would be over. It did not even occur to me that I could withhold my favors and demand marriage. Women with my past did not wed. They had to be content with the crumbs from others' tables. Still, something deep inside yearned for more than a passing affair. Somehow this brute of a man had captured my soul. I needed him to love me, even though I knew I would eventually betray that love.

So, I tore my eyes from his and said, "That is not something you need to know. I have put myself at your mercy by letting you into my home on your word and the reputation of Helez. Surely my judgment is not so poor that I misread your intentions."

With evident chagrin, he offered reassurance, "I am sorry, Mistress Delilah. I did not mean to give the wrong impression. I simply wanted to make certain you were close enough that I could protect you if an intruder came. While I am captivated by your beauty, I would do nothing to besmirch your good name. Please forgive me if I have offended you."

As he spoke, Samson reached his hand toward me, palm downward as though beseeching understanding.

"No offense taken," I said softly. I sat the small lamp on the bench by his chamber door, saying, "For you." Then reaching out my hand, I let my fingers trail slowly over his exposed knuckles before turning and disappearing into the dark courtyard.

Shortly I returned with a pitcher of water, a towel, and a small cake of soap. I knocked on the door and when Samson called enter, I stepped into the room. I lifted the basin from the shelf and set it on the floor in front of the bench where Samson now sat. I poured some water into the basin and then knelt and began to untie Samson's sandals. As I unwound the leather straps caressing his taut calves, I murmured, "I do not have a slave, and it is only hospitable that I wash your feet."

When the shoe was removed, he lifted his foot and set it in the basin of water. Taking the soap, I lathered his foot, massaging it softly with my small hands. Then I slowly wiped it with a dry towel. As I repeated the ritual with his other foot, a pregnant silence descended on the room. Only the rapid beating of my heart and my measured breathing pushed back the stillness. As I dried the second foot, Samson shattered the quiet with a rasping voice, "Hospitality is satisfied. Now take your towels and leave before I do something we will both regret."

Startled I jumped up, knocking the basin over. As the water sloshed over his discarded sandals, my wide eyes came level with his, which were dark with desire. Reaching out both hands, he caught my face between his palms. Leaning forward, his sensuous lips covered mine as he kissed me with evident ardor, but an unexpected tenderness. When he released me, I whirled and fled from the room, slamming the door in my haste to remove my traitorous body before I allowed lust to consume me and wreck havoc with my plan to woo this man into love.