Sam knocked hard on the apartment door and was surprised when it was opened almost immediately by a short Asian girl with hazel eyes. She looked up at him in slightly apprehensive and confused expectation so he shot her his most charming smile and offered his hand. "Hi! I'm Sam! Is Mercedes here?"

She frowned and looked even more confused. "Er- no she's out actually… on… a date."

Choosing to ignore the final word, Sam shrugged and smiled brightly. "That's okay. I'll just leave my stuff in her room." He stood, staring at the girl, waiting for her to let him in. When she remained frozen to the spot in confusion he decided to keep trying, "So you must be Mai, Mercedes' roommate. Am I right? I've heard a lot about you!"

She cocked her head at his knowledge. "Really? Because Mercedes hasn't said a thing about you!"

Sam's smile faltered a little and he started to wonder if maybe this girl wasn't going to let him in after all. "Um… so are you actually going to let me in? I know I'm a day early but…"

Mai stared at him hard for a moment, before deciding that maybe he didn't look like he was going to murder her while she slept and stepped aside so that he could enter the small apartment. She closed the door with a frown. "You know up until I opened the door I'd assumed that Sam was a girl."

"A girl?"

"Yeah. Cedes said she had an old friend from Ohio coming to stay the weekend and I thought nothing of it. We've had Quinn here and Tina so I just assumed you were another one of her gang."

Sam frowned. All the months that Mercedes had lived in this apartment here in LA she had never spoken about him to her roommate? Well things were about to be shaken up a little!

He dropped his bag to the floor and held out his hand for her to take. "Well then I guess I'd better introduce myself properly. Hi, I'm Sam Evans, originally from Tennessee, currently living in Lima, Ohio and Mercedes' ex-boyfriend."

It amused him to see the change in Mai's reaction when she heard that he was Mercedes' ex. She looked at him again but this time she really looked, taking in his height, hair and toned body. Clearly he was not what she had been expecting. And somehow that unnerved him. What kind of guy was Mercedes currently on a date with? And how come he didn't know about it? He'd come a day early because he had wanted to see her, needed to see her, not to end up finding out that she was already involved with dating some random shithead. She'd kept that one very quiet!

Mai was still standing looking at him, clearly at a loss for what to do next and he decided to put her out of her misery. "Look, its Friday night. Don't you guys all go and hang out at that bar. 'Jacksons' or something I think it's called?"

Without meaning to, Mai nodded her head, giving Sam the information that he needed. He was quick to put the smile back on. "So how about I join you? It'll be really nice to meet more of her new LA friends. I know you and your boyfriend Tony usually go and meet her there. Maybe I can hang out with you guys!"

The petite girl's eyes widened with fear. "I'm not sure that's such a good idea-"

"It'll be fine, I promise."

"No- I mean-"

Sam sighed, pretending to be exasperated when really he was calculating how he could make this situation work for him. "Look, why don't you just call her, tell her I'm here and tell her I'm coming. I promise you she won't mind."

"But she'll be half way through dinner right now-"

"Again, I promise you she won't mind! Look, I'm hot and sticky from my flight so I'm going to have to use your shower and freshen up. Then I'm going to sleep for an hour. I figure by the time I'm done you should have spoken to Cedes, got dressed and ready to go!"

With a quick wink to the stunned girl he carried his bag into what was clearly Mercedes' bedroom due to the purple and gold 'M' hanging on the door, while whistling the theme to Spiderman.

By the time he was rested and freshened up he could tell that Mai was nearly ready to go. Sam cast a final glance into her vanity mirror. He knew he looked good, having slicked his hair slightly and teaming it up with the lethal combo of his snugly fitting jeans and a green smedium shirt. He sat down on the couch, leaning back with his legs wide apart like he owned the place watching Mai as she moved around collecting her last few bits in preparation to go out. "So I take it you spoke to Cedes?"

"Yeah. She says its fine for you to come but you should have texted to say that you were coming early so that she would have given me the heads up."

"Ah well, we've had our introductions now."

"Yeah, I guess we did. But there's just one thing" She continued to eye him with suspicion, "I'll probably be sleeping over at Tony's tonight…"

"…Like you do most weekends…"

She glared at him for being so knowledgeable. "… Like I do most weekends. It's just that I noticed you put your bags in Cede's room. But you're on the couch tonight, right?"

Sam grinned and stroked the leather couch with the palm of his hand while staring straight into Mai's eyes. "Me, the couch, tonight, most definitely!"

She knew it was the correct answer but something about it just didn't feel right. It would be several hours before Mai realized that all his speak of the couch did not once mention the word sleep…

Sam liked Tony. The tall Asian guy was funny and reminded him of a less bright version of Mike Chang. Within minutes the guy had asked why he and Mercedes had broken up and Sam had quickly shot back in a deadpan voice that it was because he realized that he was gay. Even though it was a joke there was every chance that Tony had actually believed him. And Sam hadn't quite bothered to take the time out to put him straight.

Mercedes' friends had a booth which they sat in every week. When the three of them arrived there were already two people there. Mai made the introduction, "Sam this is Evan and Claire. They're twins and they're signed to the same record label as Mercedes." Sam shook their hands warmly. "I'm really pleased to meet you." Claire and Evan looked similar even though they weren't identical. Both had the whole blond hair blue eyed All-American look, and Claire was tall just like her brother, at least 5 foot 8 while her brother stood at least 6 foot. Claire kept smiling at him and he was more than happy to return the smiles.

"So what kind of music do you guys do Claire?"

She shot him a huge smile. "Country."

"Really? Well I just so happen to come from Nashville…" The next half hour was spent in pleasant conversation with them while Mai and Tony ignored everyone and made out at the table. Next to arrive was Jayda. She was a very pretty, light skinned black girl with long braids down to her waist. She seemed pleasant enough but spent the whole time texting on her phone. She wasn't a singer herself but worked behind the scenes with the sound equipment at the studio.

Finally, after about an age he saw her making her way over to the booth. She looked stunning. Her hair was full and in big soft curls, her curves were hugged by a red wraparound dress, similar to the one she's worn in the disco inferno video and the patent red heels she was wearing were positively sinful.

"Sam! Wow it's been ages! How have you been?"

Mai and Tony reluctantly pried themselves apart and slid out of the booth so that Sam could come out and hug her properly. She smelled amazing and just touching her soft body made him instantly hard. The sound of her voice made his heart pump faster as did the smile she cast as she looked up at him. "I've been good thanks."

"So are you going to introduce me?"

"Of course!" She stepped back with a smile, "Sam this is Cole. Cole, Sam is an old friend of mine from high school."

"Pleased to meet you!" Sam held out his hand and the other man took it.

"Likewise." Sam looked back at Mercedes. Of all the guys that he had imagined Mercedes being with, Cole was not one of them. For a start he was much older, at least in his mid-thirties with slightly graying hair. His skin was olive, making him look possibly middle-eastern and there were definite laughter lines around his eyes. The guy was even wearing a suit. And the suit looked expensive.

Plus Sam resented the hell out of him for having his arm draped lazily over Mercedes' shoulder the whole time.

"So how is everyone in Lima?"

"They're good. Emma Schuester just had another baby, a girl this time. They called her Rachel."

Mercedes chuckled ironically. "That figures! And how's Lucy?"

Sam looked down at his hands. "Lucy and I broke up a while back. I'm with Nina now." He ignored the but I thought you were gay? Look that Tony shot him before he resumed sucking Tai's earlobe.

"Nina?" Mercedes frowned, "You mean Nina from the record store?"

"The one and only!"

"Well I guess you've managed to surprise me Sam. I hope it's going well."

"It is."

Sam's phone began to buzz. "Sorry guys, I have to take this call so I'll just head outside where it's quieter."

They all watched him head out of the front door with the cell attached to his ear. But only Mercedes saw him sneak back in moments later and head towards the bathrooms. Five minutes later she excused herself to go to the bathroom. Before she could make it through the door a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her into a side room. It was dark and she was instantly roughly pressed hard up against a wall but she didn't need to know who it was who was attacking her with a full force kiss. His lips on hers were like crack and she moaned as he worked on her bottom lip until she let his tongue in.

"Shit!" The kiss had been brief but full of passion. He couldn't kiss her again because their swollen lips would be a complete giveaway, but he could still touch her.

"Oh Sam…" He wrapped her legs around his waist as he pressed her into the wall, letting her feel every inch of what she was doing to him as his fingers trailed over her breasts, her thighs and finally under her dress.

"Missed me?" He began to grind himself up against her already wet core.

"Not much!" She grinned because she knew that answer would piss him off. She wasn't wrong.

"Yeah I guess you forgot to tell me you've found yourself a boyfriend. So the old guy knows how to dick you down does he? Does he know what makes you feel good?" Sam replaced the grinding of his hips with his hand to roughly rub at her pantie clad pussy. She groaned and tilted her head back in pleasure. "Does he?"

She brought her head back forward and looked him straight in the eye. "Yes!"

Sam growled, pushing the tiny thong to the side and immediately shoving his middle finger inside of her, grinning as she purred with pleasure. "Are you sure?"

She may have been unable to speak but she was still able to nod.

"And that's why the second I arrive on the scene you follow me outside and tease me for what you know only I can give." He worked the finger inside her, never ceasing to be amazed how wet and sticky she always seemed to be for him. "Still sure he can make you feel like this?" He added a second finger and worked them and out of her more rapidly, just the way that he knew she liked it and relished at the sound of her gasp in pleasure.

"What's that? I can't hear you?" He could feel her body beginning to tremble as he continued to pump his fingers and her hips moved in him to his rhythm as she desperately tried to fuck his hand and get her release. "Oh I see what you're playing at today Cedes. I see you!"

He slid down her body, his hands sliding over her hips and peeling her thong down with them. She moved her hips away from the wall to allow him to remove the offending item, stepping out of it when he reached the bottom of her legs. Feeling him kiss the inside of her leg she spread them further to allow him to work his way back up and finish what he started. But he didn't. He fucking straightened up and smiled! "You'd better get back before your super-hot old man boyfriend starts missing you, maybe it's not such a good idea for us to cheat like this! Maybe I'm growing a conscience or something."

Mercedes glared at him, realizing that she had been played. "Fuck you!"

He grinned slyly. "All in good time... Remember, patience is a virtue!"

He loved making her all hot and bothered before walking away. Today was no exception. Except today had the added bonus of him feeling her eyes on his back while he shoved her damp panties into his back pocket as he walked away. If she was going to mess with him by seeing someone without warning him then he could mess with her back. Just because they had broken up in high school didn't mean that the hold they had on each other was any less strong. His visits were for one reason and one reason alone.

By the time she'd calmed herself and returned to their booth, Sam was involved in a deep yet animated 'so what do you do' conversation with Cole.

She sat back down with feeling self-conscious without her panties and pressing her thighs together to fight the arousal which was refusing to go away. Sam did this every time and she wasn't going to fall again. She waited patiently for a brief gap in Sam's conversation before mouthing the two words that she knew he was dying to hear.

Game on!