**Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or any of the characters of the show.***

Chapter 11

The kiss was soft and tender, with a strong undercurrent of wanting that both Sam and Mercedes felt. By the time Mercedes was able to pull her lips away from Sam's amazingly magnetic ones, she felt like melted butter in his hands. The song, his speech, his eyes, his lips….She felt herself slipping deeper and deeper into his embrace and suddenly she became petrified. When she opened her eyes to see Sam's eyes were still closed, she couldn't help but smile. When he finally opened his eyes and looked at her, he mouthed "Wow". His eyes seemed to sparkle when he gazed at her in total admiration. But his face quickly darkened as Mercedes pulled away from him. He could see a mix of excitement and panic in her face. Through their afternoon talks, Sam had gotten to know a lot about Mercedes' defense mechanisms. She was dynamic and headstrong, but she was also very cautious. That's why he knew exactly what she was doing now. She was over thinking and second guessing. This was her pattern with relationships, friendships, and even jobs. Mercedes would take a leap of faith and then question it to pieces after she did it.

"Mercy," he said in a low voice, reaching out to hold her hands, "don't be scared." Mercedes pulled away from him, shook her head and closed her eyes.

"Sam, this is too fast. We need to slow down." She rattled off quickly with her eyes still shut. Sam closed the gap between them and cupped her cheeks.

"Mercy, we have been taking this slow. Very, very slow. I don't think we can go any slower."

"But Sam..."

"Mercy, trust your heart. You know how you feel about me as sure as I know how I feel about you. You're just scared to say it out loud". He took her hands and held them against his chest. Mercedes could feel his heart beating rapidly.

"You feel that?" Sam asked her as he searched her eyes. "I can't fake that. I can't fake how you make me feel, so you don't have to question it." He took her hands and gently pressed them against her own chest. He could feel her heart beating rapidly too.

"You can't fake how you feel either, Mercy." He said quietly. Mercy looked at him, her mouth opened, but remaining silent. Sam leaned in to kiss her, but she pulled away from him and sprinted behind the sofa.

"Sam, I think you should go." She answered, looking down, pointing at her door. Sam sighed heavily, shaking his head.

"Why?" He asked, crossing his arms and standing his ground.

"Why? What do you mean why?" She replied confused. Sam started walking toward her and she circled the sofa to avoid him.

"Why do you need me to leave? Why can't we talk about it together right now like adults?" He asked still walking toward her as she continued to circle the sofa.

"Because…because I need to think. And I need to.."

"Bake! You need to bake, because baking helps you think." He interjeced with a smile. Sam turned to the corner of the couch and grabbed the messenger bag he brought with him.

"I got you. I brought semi-sweet chocolate chips, peanut butter, and a dozen eggs. I'm hoping you have flour and butter." Mercedes looked at the items and then at Sam. She was biting her bottom lip when she looked up at Sam's gleaming face.

"I figured you would need to think about what I just said and I brought you stuff to help with that. But Mercedes, I'm not leaving. I told you that I was going to fight for you…us. I am not going to let you talk yourself out of us. So..." He turned to his bag and pulled out a pink silk apron and started wrapping it around his wait. Mercedes looked at him like he had lost his mind.

"Let's make cookies, talk, and help you realize that you are just as crazy about me as I am about you." Mercedes tried to keep a straight face, but the sight of Sam in the frilly apron, made her laugh uncontrollably.

"Hey," Sam mockingly scorned, "This is my mama's apron. I think I pull it off." Mercedes collapsed on the floor of her living room, holding her stomach, gasping during her laughing attack. Sam sat next to her on the floor, grinning from ear to ear.

"You really think you're cute, don't you?" She finally gasped. Sam lifted his hands and shrugged.

"Hmm, yeah, maybe a little." Mercedes pushed his shoulder playfully.

"I can't believe you know me that well." She said softly.

"I am majoring in Mercedes Yvonne Jones 101. It's my favorite subject." He answered as he brushed his hand against her cheek, smiling at her. She took a deep breath and pulled his hand down, holding it.

"Ok, you can stay. And bake. But that's it, Sam. I need to figure this entire thing out and I don't need you confusing me." She pointed at Sam accusingly, as he crossed his heart and held up Scout fingers.

"We will bake. But I can't promise I won't make inappropriate comments and try to touch your booty. I'm sorry, but now that I have confessed my feelings, all kinds of dirty thoughts are racing through my head."

Mercedes whooped and tried to push Sam's shoulder again, but this time he grabbed her hand. He pulled her to the ground, straddled her and started tickling her sides. Mercedes cried out giggling and begged him to stop. Sam relented eventually and looked down at her, wiping the tears from her face. He could feel the electricity between them and felt the energy of the room change quickly from playfulness to a strong sexual intensity. Mercedes felt the change too, looking intensely into Sam's eyes.

"Sam, we should probably start." She stated softly.

"Start what?" Sam answered quietly, as his eyes remained trained on her lips and he watched them curve and pucker.

"The cookies?" She answered now staring longingly at his lips. Sam licked his lips, shook his head and let out a moan.

"You have no idea how tempting you are, do you?" Sam answered mournfully. Mercedes' arched up her eyebrows.

"I am?" Sam lifted one of his eyebrows and nodded.

"Oh yes. Deathly so." He quickly got up from the floor and ran his hands through his hair. He then turned to Mercedes and extended his hand to her. She said a quiet thank you and used it to get up. Mercedes gathered the ingredients in the bag and brought it to the kitchen. Sam followed her into the kitchen, watching her turn on the oven and grabbed a bowl. He looked around the kitchen and walked toward the radio in the corner.

"We definitely need some tunes while we work." He declared. He turned to a smooth jazz station and then walked next to Mercedes, who was measuring out flour. Sam began to crack eggs into the bowl.

"Mercy, can I ask you something?"

"Of course." Mercedes answered quickly as she spooned peanut butter into the bowl.

"What is your biggest fear about us?" He answered whisking the eggs, keeping his eyes on the bowl. Mercedes kept her head down and sighed.

"That this is a flash in the pan and that we're not really what the other person wants." Sam shook his head slowly.

"You think I don't really want you?"

"No. Yes. Uh, Sam," Mercedes turned her head to Sam. "Please don't make me say this. It's embarrassing." Sam tilted his head.

"I'm wearing a pink apron. That's embarrassing. Now you, talk." He demanded. Mercedes turned to the bowl and started stirring quickly.

"Ok, Sam. You want the truth. Fine. It's happened before. It keeps happening. I meet someone and think it's real and it's not. I think I am a novelty to you. I mean, really? Look at yourself. You're blond and gorgeous and sexy and amazing. And I am black, short, big, and brassy. How long do you think you would be interested in me? I can't afford to get my heart broken by hoping and wanting more than you want." Mercedes was rambling, spooning cookie dough onto cookie sheets. Sam watched Mercedes avoid his eyes as she filled cookie sheet after cookie sheet.

"Are you done?" Sam asked gently as he leaned on the kitchen counter. Mercedes nodded her head silently and sat on the chair next to the table defeated.

" Good," Sam began as he move toward the table, grabbing cooking sheets and put them in the oven. "First, thank you for the compliments." Mercedes snickered as a smile crept on her face.

"Second, you must have lousy mirrors, because you are no way near describing the woman that is in front of me right now." He closed the oven door and sat next to her at the table. His finger lifted her head to look up at his eyes. He looked intensely at her.

"Mercy, you are beautiful and incredible. I want to be with you, Woman. Not just because you are fine, even though, damn girl, you are. But I want to be with YOU. And not for just a moment. For hundreds and hundreds of moments. Does that scare you?" Mercedes shook her head. Sam caressed Mercy's face.

"Do you care about me, Mercy?" He asked softly. Pausing for a moment, Mercedes nodded her head.

"Yeah, I do, Sam. I care about you a lot. More than I want to, actually." She answered honestly. Yes! Sam thought, as he air pumped his fist in his head. Sam jumped out of his chair to turn the radio up higher. He walked back to Mercedes and extended his hand.

"Dance with me?" She hesitated for a minute, but took his hand and stood beside him. They swayed as the music played behind them. Sam wrapped his arms around Mercedes' waist as he held her tightly against him.

You feel so good
You smell so good
you feel so warm
Just like I knew you would
I can't let you go
I can't let you go
I can't let you go

[Sam looked down into Mercy's eyes. "I'm not going anywhere Mercy. I don't want. I don't even think I can. I want to be with only you. Please tell me you want that too."]

You were late to school
I'm gonna have to see you after class
you've been a bad girl
Someone's gonna have to teach u a lesson

[Mercy nodded her head. "I want that Sam. I'm not going to lie and say I'm not scared right now. But I do want to be with you. Only you." Sam lowers his head and holds Mercedes close. He begins kissing her neck, nibbling on her ear lobe. ]

You've been a bad girl
Someone's gonna have to straighten u right out
You've been a bad girl
Someones gonna have to teach u
Teach u teach u teach u

[Mercedes lifts her lips to meet Sam and kisses him hungrily. Their kissing intensifies in desire and ache as Mercedes sucks Sam's lower lip, letting her hands roam his chest and clawing on his back. Sam lets out a guttural moan as continues to his kiss every inch of Mercedes' uncovered skin. Sam stops and tenderly pulls Mercedes back. "Mercy, tonight I just want you to let yourself be open and free with me. I don't want us to make love tonight. I just want to show you how beautiful you are to me. Can I do that?" He looked at Mercedes to continue. She nodded her head. Sam pulled Mercedes roughly to his mouth as Mercedes unzipped her dress and let it fall on the floor.]

You can call me professor
But baby you broke the rules
You won't get the grade you want
Unless you stay after school
You can work it off
Baby I can give you extra credit
But there's something else
You were late to school
Teach you teach you teach you

[Sam slowly removed Mercedes' bra and panty. He sucked on her nipple as his hands caressed her breasts firmly. He licked each breast, making Mercedes claw his back in approval. Sam made a trail of love bites on her breasts and chest, as he licked down her stomach.]

Girl can I frisk you
Search your body for
You look so guilty to me
If I make you nervous
Its cause you're hiding WMDs
And I'm gonna sentence you
Baby you can do your time on me
I cant let you go
I cant let you go

[Sam looked up at Mercedes whose face shone with ecstasy. He licked her sexual core, letting his tongue dance and explore inside of her, gripping her hips. He allowed her juices to drip on his mouth as he greedily drank every drop that escaped her. He relished the feel of her soft thighs against his face. Soon her thighs began to stiffen, and her voice gasped "I'm coming, Sam". "Baby, please come for me." He begged as he plunged two fingers inside of her, pushing deeper and deeper inside of her.]

You were late 2 school
I'm gonna have 2 see u after class
You've been a bad girl
Someone's gonna have 2 teach u a lesson
You've been a bad girl
Someone's gonna have 2 straighten u right out
You've been a bad girl

Mercedes cried out Sam's name as she climaxed forcefully. Sam reached under her, picked her up and held her tight against his body as carried her to her bedroom. He laid her across her comforter and peppered kisses all over her face. Suddenly he got up, and walked toward the door.

"Where are you going?" She asked nervously, as she propped herself up on her elbows. Sam smiled at her as he leaned against the doorway.

"Just getting the cookies out of the oven. I don't want them to burn. I told you Mercy I'm not going anywhere." He turned and walked to the kitchen as Mercy grinned at him, laying her head on her pillow.

** I hope you guys liked the song choice (Robin Thicke, "Teach U a lesson"). The song is so sexy to me. Hoped you enjoyed the chapter. We have hit over 100 reviews! So amazing! Thank you everyone for your support and please keep reviewing! Tootles!***