A/N: Okay, readers. I'm really gonna need your feedback on this one. Yes, even those who often read and don't review. I don't mind it, usually. Enjoy the read. But for this one? I'm gonna need you to speak up.
This is smut. I don't write whole chapters of smut on the regular. The thought alone is making my eye twitch.
The only good thing is that I selfishly wrote all of it for my pleasure. I fangirled over Samcedes all over again, and that thought alone gave me the courage to publish. The thought of sexy times written by me still unnerves me, though….
So, could you tell me what you think, just this once? Positive, constructive criticism and all that lies in between are acceptable. I appreciate it. And I appreciate you more for reading!
Xoxo,
KurlyQ722
O-O
The lovers stood under the hooded canopy in front of the building, wrapped in each other's arms as they waited for their limo. The driver had informed Sam that he'd be running a bit late due to the predicted traffic of prom season. In the meantime, the blonde took advantage of every spare second he had alone with his girlfriend. Making out in the romantic ambiance of the dance hall had really put him in an affectionate mood. He couldn't stop feeling Mercedes up.
The mood of the night had switched his girl on as well. The slight rubbing of her back against his front grew more obvious as the minutes passed. There was no one around them at the moment but, even if there were, the prying eyes wouldn't stop her from grinding on him. And judging from their progression to groping hands and sloppy kisses, the couple didn't plan on restraining themselves anytime soon.
"Sam, why do you always kiss my neck?"
His lips were already nestled under her chin, worshipping her throat when he replied. "Besides the fact that I know what it does to you? Like that week before I left, when I was kissing on you and I could feel you clenching because my fingers were in your..."
"I remember, Sam!" she hurriedly replied, covering his mouth and laughing in embarrassment. "Oh my god, you're shameless."
Sam shrugged and brushed her fallen hair out of the way to resume his kisses. "It's because—" His lips lingered her under her chin, simply breathing against her, until she whimpered from the heat and reached up to run her fingers through his hair. "I remember that time you told me that you hated how short your neck was. I never understood why. It suits you. I want you to know how much I enjoy being here...being in the places you try to hide."
"Mmm, Sam," she moaned, biting her lip from the pleasure of his words and the gentle suction of his mouth over that spot that drove her mad. "Your lips are lethal."
"Why'd you say that?" he chuckled, gently tilting her neck further to the side to kiss behind her ear. She whimpered again, and rubbed herself more earnestly against him in a silent plea for more affection. He gladly complied, kissing the sensitive spot near her clavicle as he pulled her more tightly against his chest. "They killing you now, baby?"
"Please don't kiss my spot and call me baby and smell so good when we're outside and I can't have you." she pleaded. When his only reply was to suck her sensitive place even harder, Mercedes grabbed the sides of his gyrating hips and pushed them away from her. His hands quickly took their place, cupping and gently squeezing her ass cheeks. "Sam, please." She sighed and arched when his fingertips touched the small of her exposed back and snuck under her dress. "Baby..."
"The driver should be here any minute now," he whispered, twirling the elastic of her thong around her finger. The lacy material made him even hornier, and he toyed with the idea of tugging just a bit harder to rip it off her body. "Can I have you then, when he comes? Can I lay you down on the leather cushions and bury my fingers in that sweet pussy?"
"Sam, you're so not fair right now." A hand crept around her waist and rested over her stomach, drawing idle circles over her belly button. Her breaths grew shorter as it crept north, inching closer to her breast. "Sam! Uh, god!"
"I just want to touch you, Mercedes," he confessed, breathing just as fast. He cupped her left breast and squeezed, gently twisting her clothed nipple. The bud hardened between his fingers, and the couple groaned together. "I want to touch your naked body and lick every fucking square inch of it. Say you'll let me."
"Let...let you?" She panted. Mercedes turned her head and forcefully crushed her lips against his. Her tongue dominated their kiss and wrapped around his, pulling him inside her mouth, showing him just how much access he had to every wet, warm place she possessed. A webbing of their mixed saliva stretched across their bottom lips as they parted, and Sam groaned when the thick pink muscle that had rendered him stiff wriggled out to lap up their fluids. "Sam, I demand that you taste every part of me. I love your tongue."
"Yeah?" he flicked his tongue against her lips. She sighed and pressed her nose to his, drawing closer to him. "You like that?"
"I love it." She growled, licking him back. "I fucking love it."
"You like me licking you?" he whispered.
"I get so wet when you lick me, baby," she replied. The sexy, confident way she smiled made his cock twitch.
"My little freak wants to come out and play?" he muttered, rubbing his wet lips against hers and mingling their breaths.
"I wanna play." She nodded eagerly. "I wanna play with you, Sammy."
"Mmm, fuck." he murmured, palming her ass."Call me Sammy again, Mercedes. Call me Sammy with that sexy ass voice of yours and see if I don't pick you up and take you right here. I dare you." He grabbed the backs of her thighs and swiftly lifted her off the ground, proving his threat had merit.
Being lifted made her grin. Her seemingly innocent eyes stared into his smoldering ones as she bent her head to nip his lower lip. "Sammy," she whispered, squeezing the plump flesh between her teeth. "Sammy, Sammy, My Sam—"
Mercedes suddenly fell to her feet. Before she could reach for him to steady herself, Sam grabbed her face with both hands and passionately kissed her, throwing her further off kilter. Her body fell back and yanked his hips with her, digging her fingers into his sides as she returned his kiss with equal force. Sam swung an arm around her waist to steady them. Her light smack across his bottom made him grunt, and Mercedes discovered that she enjoyed the feeling of its vibration quivering down her throat. Her small hands spanked him harder the second time and squeezed without warning. Sam smiled at the twinge of pain it left behind.
"Hurt me, Mercy." He begged, eyes twinkling. "Hurt me bad, baby."
"Nasty boy," she whispered, smiling against his grin. Their lips smacked in a gentler, lingering kiss. "My nasty, nasty boy."
"Damn right, Ms. Jones," he replied, slowly drawing up the sides of her dress to touch her bare thighs. "It is Ms. Jones, right? 'Cause I'm nasty?"
"Great Janet reference, baby," she said, pulling his shirt out of his pants and running her fingers between the furrowed spaces of his abs. "But she's mostly 80s."
"Woman, ain't nobody payin' attention to decades right now. Not when I have a fine ass woman standing in front of me and spanking my behind." He told her.
"You can spank me back if you'd like. It's only fair." She jumped when his hand clapped twice against her right cheek, hard and quick. "Mmm, Sam..." He lifted her leg to his waist, sliding his hand along the smooth skin of her thigh peeking through the slit. "Yeah, go all the way, baby. All the way up my dress..." His fingers slid higher and higher, drawing loops over her skin as he neared her hips and the moisture than lay between them. "Touch me right there...Fuck..."
Sam leaned her against the wall for support and grabbed the sides of her underwear. The cool brick against her warm back made Mercedes shiver. She felt him roll the delicate fabric between his fingers and gently pull, easing her thong ever so slightly down her thighs. She lifted her leg higher to deter its fall, teasing him, and the sudden movement shifted Sam's nails across her skin, lightly scraping the sensitive place near her groin. His sex pressed against hers. The charge between them increased tenfold, quickening their blood, but before Mercedes could unbuckle his belt to cup him and Sam could raise his hand to give her left cheek the same stinging greeting as her right, the sound of a clearing throat interrupted them.
"I'm just going to file this under things that ex-boyfriends should never see their ex-girlfriends do with their new boyfriends," chuckled Shane, covering his eyes as he walked toward them. "Is it safe to look now? Are you guys decent?"
"Dude, honestly, I swear you're cock-blocking on purpose now." Sam groaned, reluctantly stepping back to pull down Mercedes' dress. "What, man?"
"Well, you did steal my girlfriend from me, so I think it's only fair," quipped Shane. Mercedes stood between them after she adjusted her underwear, blocking her boyfriend as he wriggled his burgeoning erection.
"What do you want, Shane?" Mercedes smirked, reading him like a book. "You know, besides the joy of bugging me."
"You know I've got nothing but love for you baby," he smoothly replied, chuckling deeply.
Sam eyed their interaction as he tucked his shirt in and frowned. Watching his woman's eyes light up for another man, especially after the hot and heavy moment they'd shared seconds ago, really made him cross.
"Is this important?" Sam asked annoyed, stepping in front of Mercedes. "We kind of have our own business to take care of."
"Sam, relax." Mercedes gently chided, kissing his cheek to calm him. "Shane's apologized. We're just friends now. He knows what we have."
Sam dismissed the notion of friends with a grunt, side-eyeing the larger jock as he stepped back behind her. He didn't trust Shane for a second, but he did have enough faith in Mercedes's word to stand down.
"You've upset my boyfriend now, Shane. This better be good enough to risk your life over." Mercedes giggled. Sam nodded behind her, more serious about the threat than she was.
"Hey, I don't mean any harm," Shane said humbly, backing away and throwing up his hands. "I just thought that I'd extend a friendly invitation to the meeting of a lifetime."
Mercedes curiously frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"One of my boys has the major hook up, Mercy! You remember James, the linebacker that came to my pool party last year?"
"The one with the woman hands?" She nodded, recalling his face from memory." Sure. Why?"
"Well, his cousin is Diggy Simmons."
"Diggy Simmons?! As in Run DMC's son, Russell Simmons's nephew Diggy Simmons?" She asked excitedly. He laughed and nodded.
"I know, right? It's crazy. At first I thought he was bull shitting me, but he called up Diggy himself and invited him over! He's in my ride right now! Look!"
Shane pointed to the purple party bus behind him. The windows rolled down, and Lil' Wayne's Six foot, Seven Foot polluted the air. Sure enough, the celebrity teen popped his head out, surrounded by a group of partying McKinley kids.
"Yo, we leaving or what? I gotta go back on a flight in three hours!" he yelled, waving Shane over.
"Hold on! I'm inviting my girl!" Shane yelled back. Sam charged forward, ready to correct his possessive ass, but Mercedes calmed him with a gentle, loving squeeze on his arm.
"His folks are in town for a conference and Big Russ is with them!" Shane explained. "They're heading to the airport soon, but Dig told me that his dad is thinking about starting another label for rising artists. Mercedes, this could be your break! This is your chance, baby!"
"Oh man, are you serious right now?" She screamed, jumping up and down. "Baby , did you hear that? They're looking for rising artists like me! This is my ticket!"
"Yeah, I heard." Sam answered despondently. Her excitement dampened when she saw his crestfallen expression. Damnit, girl. This was your big night with Sam.
"Sam..." She said quietly, touching his cheek. "I won't go. Baby, if you don't want me to go..."
"Are you kidding me? Mercedes, this is it! Nobody should hold you back!" Shane protested. Her hardened brown eyes quieted him.
"Baby?" She rubbed his cheek until he looked at her.
"Mercedes, Shane is right. This is your big break. You should take it." He told her, smiling sadly. "Besides, it's only an hour or two, right? You can go, come back, and then I'll have you the whole night all to myself. It'll be perfect." Unconvinced, Mercedes kissed his cheek and joined her forehead with his.
"I know what tonight means for us," she whispered, fiddling with his hands.
"Hey." He pulled a genuine smirk, hoping to reassure her. "I can share you for a little bit. Baby, this is your dream. We only get a few chances in life, and this might be the one that gets you where you need to be. I trust that you'll come back to me. I..." He gave a hesitating look toward Shane. "I trust that he'll take care of you while you're gone. Go. Go fulfill your dreams."
"I love you more than anything," she sighed as she kissed his lips. "Thank you for understanding."
"Hey, I know you woman." He told her, smiling. "You need a stage to shine on. Just remember that you're mine after you win that Grammy. That hand is promised to me."
She followed his gaze to her left ring finger and laughed. "After my Grammy, Sam. No exceptions."
"Well, maybe you'll get it sooner if you go. I can't wait to call you my missus." He quietly told her.
"I can't wait to be your missus, Mr. Evans." She replied, voice just as soft. Her cheeks warmed when he bowed and kissed her hand.
The bus horn blared behind them, and Shane started to grow antsy. "No offense, but the place is almost an hour from here. If you're coming, we've got to leave now."
Mercedes stole one last glance at her boyfriend before she let his hand go. "Are you sure? You're not mad."
"A little disappointed maybe, but hey, I'll manage." He shrugged. "Blow them away. I'll see you in two hours."
Mercedes nodded and walked toward Shane, smiling at the bouncing bus behind him. "Shane?"
"Yeah? You know what you're gonna sing?" he asked, rubbing his hands in anticipation. Her voice always rocked his world.
"Yeah, I do. But anything I sing is going to be for my boyfriend. I'm spending the night with him tonight. Our limo should be here shortly."
Both men stepped closer and surrounded her, shocked by her answer. "C-come again?" Sam sputtered.
She calmly smiled and nudged Shane's chin to close his gaping mouth. "I said I'm not going. Shane, I think I'm going to sit this one out."
"But Mercy, this is your chance! Russell Simmons and Run-DMC don't just show up in Ohio every day! What are you thinking?" Shane glanced at Sam. The blonde stared back and shook his head, just as thrown by her decision as he was. "Look, I know that you and Sam have a thing planned tonight. I respect it. I'm not trying to get in between you two anymore, I swear. But this might be one of the stupidest decisions you've ever made! Why would you give up a chance to get your album started?"
"Mercedes, if this is about me or feeling guilty, I swear I'm cool with it." Sam assured her.
"I'm not making this decision because I feel guilty." Mercedes told them, laughing at their expressions of disbelief. "I'm not going because I know that my voice is going to open doors for me, now and in the future. I know that I'm gonna be a star and make an album whether or not I go tonight. Sure, it might be more of a struggle later, but I'll make it. I don't need to run off to meet Run-DMC and make it happen now. God orchestrates my life, and he won't fail me. This isn't my time."
"God also creates opportunities so that you can take them. Don't miss your boat because of me." Sam warned.
Mercedes nodded. "You are absolutely right. God does create opportunities. And sometimes he gives us second chances. I'm not missing mine this time."
Sam's face scrunched, puzzled. She patted his shoulder and turned back to Shane. "Have fun. And please, tell Shanice I said good luck."
"How did you know I was with Shanice?" Shane asked, nodding back to the truck.
"She's an old Trouble Tones friend. Two nights ago, she called me to tell me that you guys were dating. I told her it was cool. You're good people." She grinned, playfully punching his shoulder.
Shane smiled and backed away, rubbing his chin. "You're the one who got her to go out with me? I've been trying for two weeks."
"Hey, trust me, she's no easy girl." Mercedes chuckled. "Treat her right, okay?"
"Of course. I'm just going to have to keep her away from those blonde country boys." The two shared an understanding smile.
Shane reached out a hand to a still confused Sam, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Hey man, can we call a truce? I already know the better man won. I don't want any bad blood between us."
Sam nodded and took his hand, pulling him in for a manly hug and pat. "The right man won, dude," he corrected. "It had nothing to do with better. We're cool."
The boys ended the hug with a fist bump, and Shane ran off to board his bus to drive off into the night. Sam and Mercedes' limo pulled up right behind it seconds later, parking in its previous place.
"A second chance?" he asked her, hoping that she'd fill in the blanks.
Mercedes linked their fingers and leisurely led him to the limo, joined hands swaying as they walked. "There was a time not long ago when this girl who stands before you didn't realize what she had." Mercedes began. "She let a little attention and fame get to her head and threatened the person she loved with an unfair ultimatum."
"Mercedes..."
"Please let me finish, Sam," she insisted, halting his protests. "It's not guilt that kept me here. It's not fear, either. I care about our relationship as much as I care about a once in a lifetime career making meeting with the Simmons family. You mean as much to me as any life changing decision. You are my life changing decision. I'm not putting you second any more. I've chosen. I choose you, Sam, because my future involves you too. I've invested tons of time and energy into my music. I don't want to let the chance to invest in our relationship pass me by again."
He merely watched her as she leaned in to kiss him. When their lips touched, he fell for her magic, closing his eyes and kissing her back until the kaleidoscope of colors bursted like fireworks in the darkness. With a soft hum, she pulled away, wiping the last of her lip gloss off of his lips.
"You know, my mango lip gloss tastes awesome mixed with your cherry chap stick," she mused aloud, fingers lingering along his bristled chin. "Maybe we should kiss other places and see if it tastes better anywhere else."
Her naughty smile triggered his, and he watched her slide into the back of the limo and lay herself down on the seats. Her words had filled him with an indescribable joy. I'm her first choice. She chose me.
"Alright, Alright." He grinned, rubbing his hands together. His silly impression brought out that laugh of hers that he loved, and he swiftly climbed in to crawl on top of her. The toe of his dress shoe closed the door behind him, and a steady stream of impersonated celebrity voices and smacking lips followed her joyous cackles as they sped off to their hotel room.
O-O
Thankfully, when they'd finally arrived at the hotel, the teenagers were dressed and put together enough to exit their ride.
"Do you guys want me to come back in the morning?" the driver asked them, calling from his window.
The couple had already begun to run off hand in hand to the hotel door, laughing to themselves, when Sam turned back and replied, "Maybe a little later than that, man. Is seven in the evening okay? That should give us enough time."
"Sam!" Mercedes cried, smacking his chest. "We really, really need to work on your filter."
Sam tilted his head to the side and bit his lip, frowning as if he didn't understand. "Filter?"
Mercedes playfully rolled her eyes at him and addressed the driver herself. "We'll call you in the morning when we're ready. Is that okay?"
"Sure, sure." The driver nodded, waving them away. "Go have fun, you crazy kids."
The older man watched the two teens walk into the run-down motel lobby and skeptically eyed the building. "Morning? I'll give them twenty minutes." He frowned. "This place looks shadier than a solar eclipse. Ah man...to be that young, broke, and in love again."
Thoughts of early romance reminded him of his loving wife, lying at home in their bed after a long day of caring for their two daughters. It would be five wonderful years of marriage for them this month. Five blissful years of blissful I love you's shared between them, starting from the very first day they met to their anniversary this Saturday.
"Crap! Today's Saturday!" He quickly searched his pockets and tore through every storage compartment in the car until he found his cell phone. Scarily enough, it began to ring as soon as it was in his hands, with the object of his thoughts showing up on the caller ID.
"Jenny! Baby!" he cheerily answered, starting the car engine. "Baby, of course I didn't forget about our anniversary! You don't think I've learned my lesson after the first four times? Honey, give me some credit!" The driver sped off to the highway, hoping he could make the thirty minute drive to his house in fifteen. His duties as prom chauffeur were long forgotten.
O-O
"Excuse me, Sir. My girlfriend and I have a room on reserve?"
"Yes, we already have the key. It's room 304, I think. It's under the name Jones-Evans."
Sam looked at Mercedes, pleasantly surprised. "Jones-Evans?" He grinned, pulling her into his arms.
"Shut up, I just told them that because the room was for both of us. Don't let it go to your head." She smiled back, a bit embarrassed at being caught.
"Mmhmm." He kissed her temple and released her, keeping the rest of his thoughts to himself. They both knew the name she'd chosen for the reservation meant more than she claimed it did, and that was all that mattered.
The concierge's fingers rapidly typed on the keyboard, searching for their room. "Ah yes, room 304. That's the economy suite." He glanced up at the eager, smiling teenagers. "Naturally."
Their smiles fell at his sass. "Let me see if I can find your reservation. One moment." He spent some time typing and searching, until a beep of error halted him.
"Ah, it seems that your reservation has been cancelled. It was refunded to Ms. Jones's card yesterday evening. The room has been booked."
"What? That's impossible! I never cancelled the reservation." Mercedes insisted. "That has to be wrong."
"Well, if you insist, I'll check again." The concierge typed in a few more characters, but the same error beep rang again. "I'm sorry, Ms. Jones. Our records don't lie. See here." He turned his computer screen around to show the couple their hotel account. "It was cancelled and refunded yesterday afternoon, around two-thirty. The hotel key was returned in person."
"But that's impossible, I have the key right here in my wallet." Sam pulled the brown leather pouch out of the inner pocket of his tux. Mercedes had to smirk at the horseshoe and cowboy hat emblem sewn on the front flap.
"A cowboy wallet, babe?" She grinned, playfully elbowing his side.
Sam's ears turned pink. "I'm from Tennessee." He lamely replied, chuckling in embarrassment. The conversation they'd had at prom about cowboys and all night rides had been an ironic coincidence.
"Mmhmm." she replied, looking away. The blush spread to his cheeks.
"Crap." Sam pulled out all of the cards from his wallet and set them on the counter. He opened every flap, but the hotel key was nowhere to be found. "I must have left it in my old wallet. Shit, I'm so sorry baby."
"Sam, really?" sighed Mercedes, shaking her head. Reluctantly, she pulled out her own sparkly purple wallet and searched for her credit card. "Look, can we just buy another room, sir?"
"I'm sorry, but all of our rooms are full. We don't have anything to give you."
"Nothing at all?" She asked forlornly. "Sir, this is a really special night for my boyfriend and me. Could you check again? There has to be something available."
It was the concierge's fifth working night in a row, and he was already frustrated from the rowdy set of prom couples he'd rented rooms to at the beginning of his shift, but this couple seemed a bit more mature than the rest and adorably in love. Exhausted as he was, he began the fruitless search for an empty room, hoping for their sake and his that something would open up. Sadly, luck wasn't on their side.
"This is insane." Sam groaned. "We didn't cancel our reservation! Is there a manager or someone we can talk to about this?"
The concierge sighed in relief at Sam's request. The one great thing about working under someone else was the privilege of passing on larger issues to please a disgruntled customer. Working out problems with reservations went beyond his pay grade and, if he were completely honest, his remaining sanity. "Surely, sir. I'll be right back."
Mercedes and Sam talked amongst themselves as he walked away. "Baby, how could you forget our hotel key at home? You knew how important this was! Now, we might have to call the limo and go back home, and you know that nothing's happening at my house," she whispered, irritated.
"I said I'm sorry, Mercedes! It was a mistake! Look, maybe we can just go to my house and get the card so we can get our room back," he offered. Mercedes gave him a look and pointed to the computer screen, underlining the word "OCCUPIED" with her finger. "Oh, right. There's that."
"Yeah." Instead of arguing, Mercedes decided to be proactive and contain her anger in favor of reasonable thought. "Maybe we can go to another hotel?" she wondered aloud. "Oh, but they're probably as booked up as this one. It is kind of busy on this side of Lima." She started to pace, wracking her brain for another solution. The concierge's earlier words rang in her ears, and suddenly, something struck her as odd. "Wait a minute, didn't he say that the hotel key was returned yesterday evening in person?"
"Yeah...you know what, he did!" Sam confirmed, pacing the opposite way. "But, who else would have the card to return it? It was always with me."
"The only other person I can think of is Sugar, but she said that she returned it to you on the bus. It couldn't be her," Mercedes surmised, shaking her head.
"Wait, Sugar? Sugar never had my hotel key." Sam said. The two paused and turned to face each other. "How would she get it?"
"She told me that the key fell out of your pocket and she returned it to you. Didn't she?" Mercedes asked in confusion, not knowing her friend to be a liar. "Why would she keep it?"
"I swear to you, Sugar didn't give me anything." Sam insisted. "I thought Joe was the one who told her about tonight and the hotel room. Why would she lie?"
"And why would she return the card and cancel our reservation? That's not like her at all." wondered Mercedes. "Is she jealous?"
"And how may I help you fine guests this evening?" All three pairs of eyes met at the exact same time, widened in shock. "Sam? Mercedes? Is that you?"
"Richard!" Mercedes exclaimed, unusually relieved to see the maitre'd turned funnel cake stand cashier greet her at the desk. "You work here now?"
"Hey, aren't you the guy from the carnival?" Sam asked, recognizing his face and laughing to himself. "How many jobs do you have, man?"
"What are you two lovebirds doing here? I thought for sure that you'd be out with friends, dancing the night away." Richard asked, taking Mercedes hand in his and kissing it in greeting. "How can I help you?"
"Well Richard, Sam and I reserved a room here, but your concierge checked the system and told us that our room had been given away. He said that someone came in, returned our key, and asked for a refund. Can you help us?" She pulled Sam close and rested her head on his shoulder, pouting to seal the deal. "We just wanted to spend a romantic evening together. You'd do anything for love, wouldn't you?"
Sam caught on quickly and leaned his head against hers, pouting with her. "Please, Richard? Can't you help two lovebirids out?" he pleaded.
"Well..." Richard wrung his hands, falling prey to their charms. "I only became manager last week! I can't just manipulate the system to help you. As much as I would love to give you a room, I can't just kick someone out and..."
"We're not asking you to do that! We just want you to check again and make sure that there aren't any empty rooms left. Please?" Her sad doe eyes broke Richard's delicate heart.
"We'll remember this night for the rest of our lives. This could be our forever memory," Sam added, hoping to persuade him. "Please sir, we have nowhere else to go."
"Alright, Alright!" his shrill English voice cried. "I can't stand to see true love tainted by circumstance. I'll check again for you."
Mercedes smiled in victory. "Thank you, Richard," she sang.
"I better be a guest of honor at your wedding if this works out, that's all I'm saying," he threatened. The concierge stepped aside and let his boss work his magic on their computer system. "Now, what room was your old room?"
"304, sir," Sam reiterated.
"304? Why does that number ring a bell to me?" Richard pulled up their account and grinned like mad. "Oh that's right!" The group grew concerned when the older man started clapping and dancing in circles. "Of course, of course, of course!"
"Is it something good?" Mercedes asked excitedly, finding his elation contagious. "Is our room open?"
"No better! It's been refunded completely!" His answer baffled them all. "No, no! You don't understand! It's grand!" Richard suddenly grew cross and swatted his employee's shoulder. "Do you see this note? Did you even read it?!" he asked, poking the screen. "Why do I bother typing notes if no one takes the time to read them, hmm?"
The concierge's furrowed brow relaxed as he read, confusion cloaked in shame. "Oh, I didn't notice that, sir."
"Oh, you didn't notice. Well, isn't that convenient and helpful!" Richard mocked, swatting him away. "Go on. I've got this covered." The other gentleman, who appeared to be around the same age as his boss, moped away like a sullen toddler.
"Well, it appears that you two have a fairy godmother granting your wishes tonight."
The couple glanced at each other. "What do you mean?"
"Well Mercedes, a petite brunette girl with the loveliest smile came to me yesterday and handed in your hotel key, along with a note. I didn't recognize your name right away, but I suspected that she wasn't the owner of the card. Nothing about her suggested she was a Jones or an Evans." Richard scoffed at her attempt to trick him. "She looked more like a Lebowitz or Steinberg with that nose..."
"Wait, was this girl really bubbly? About my height? Hair more of a lighter brown?"
"Did she look like she had a ton of dough?" Sam added. Mercedes sucked her teeth at him. "What? Sugar always looks loaded."
"Ah yes! That was her name!" Richard exclaimed. "Lovely thing. She asked me to hand you two a note when you arrived here. Wait, let me get it."
He moved to a small antique looking drawer behind him, fishing out a leaf of bright pink, scented stationary paper from the sea of yellow post it notes. Sam took it from him, and he and Mercedes curiously leaned in to get a proper sniff.
"That's Chanel." Mercedes declared, whiffing a second time to be sure. Her nod confirmed it. "That's definitely what that is."
"This has Sugar written all over it," Sam confirmed, smirking at the glittery film left on his hands. "Did she say why?"
"She told me to tell you that it's all in the note, complete with an address and telephone number," nodded Richard. "I left a note on our system, telling anyone who might be here to call me when you came. I was the only one that knew of the arrangement."
The address part really caught their attention. As Sam opened the note, Mercedes asked Richard, "Is it a good surprise?"
"Oh, the very best! Not that I read the note or anything," he replied, smiling cheekily. "Just go on and enjoy. The magic doesn't stay for long!"
Mercedes leaned her head on Sam's arm and read Sugar's elaborate cursive handwriting alongside him.
Hey guys,
Okay, so don't get mad at me, but I went to go see the room you guys wanted to have your special night in, and I wanted to vomit and burst into flames. Seriously, it was so one out of five stars, and that's being generous! I couldn't let two people I care about go out like that, especially after all you guys have been through. You guys deserve a space with more room that doesn't have crusted semen stains on the sheets and smell like cigarettes.
That's why I had the manager refund your money, so I could treat you guys on my terms! Mercedes, you are going to have the ambiance you deserve to replace the old memories. And Sam, you'll get everything you've ever dreamed of giving the true love of your life.
Tell your driver to go to the address on the card. It's on a remote part of the Motta estate. Don't worry, I told our gate keeper that you guys were coming, so you shouldn't have any problems. When you get inside, your present will be in the lake! I hope you brought water proof shoes!
Xoxoxoxo,
Sugar Motta
A.K.A The fairy godmother to your Cinderella and Prince charming
"Wow...Sugar..." Mercedes said in wonder, overwhelmed by her friend's kindness. "This is the sweetest thing that anyone has done for us."
"I know," Sam answered, reading it over in disbelief. "What do you think she meant by the waterproof shoes part?"
Mercedes smiled at him. "We can find out when we get there, right?"
Sam smiled back and took her hand. "Then let's go, princess," he said softly, kissing her knuckle. The couple sprinted to the door.
"Thanks again, Richard!" she called back as she ran. "Oh wait! Sam, what about the driver?"
Sam halted and pulled out his phone, hastily dialing his number. He frowned when his call went straight to voicemail. "No answer."
"Here." Richard ran up and dropped a car key in Sam's hand. "My Aston Martin has a navigation system built in. I parked it out front. Just type in the address."
"Are you sure? You've been more than helpful tonight. We don't want to put you out of your way." Sam hesitated, holding the car key out in his palm.
"Nonsense! I consider it an investment," answered Richard, closing Sam's fingers and pushing his hand back toward him. "Now hurry, before the night escapes you!" He pushed the two grinning teens through the door and sighed as they ran hand in hand to his blue car out front.
"Love is a many splendid thing indeed," he whispered to himself, longing for the twinkle he'd seen in their eyes.
O-O
"The navigation system says that we're only five minutes away."
"Wow, I didn't realize Sugar had so much land. Who knew the Motta estate was so big?"
Mercedes watched the scenery outside her window speed by as they drove, admiring the forest of mile-high oak littered ever so often with silver streetlights donning flags with the Motta name. The metal poles appeared at home in their surroundings, springing from the ground as naturally as any of the wooden trunks behind them. The old and new can exist together, she thought, the past and the present. The view felt strangely introspective.
"What are you thinking, sweetheart?"
Mercedes left her thoughts to look into her boyfriend's smiling green eyes. He reached over to lay his hand atop hers near the armrest and gently squeezed her fingers. The way his hand curled around hers, cloaking her small fist, gave her butterflies.
"I'm thinking that I love you." She smiled, turning her palm over to slide her fingers between his. "And that I'm very blessed."
"Mmm." Sam turned his attention back to the road, but his smile never left. "And what made you suddenly think that?" he asked, biting his lip. "It couldn't have anything to do with the amazing time you had a prom with a certain sexy blonde prom date, could it?"
Mercedes giggled at his silliness. "Maybe," she teased. "He did give the most amazing kisses." She sighed in want, biting her finger. "Mmm, those lips..."
It was Sam's turn to look out the window, more to hide his blush than admire the scenery.
"Are you blushing, Sam?" she teased, brushing his knuckle with her thumb. "It's not that dark. I can still tell."
He gave a quick chuckle, saying nothing. When he didn't answer, Mercedes leaned over and surprised him with a quick kiss to the corner of his mouth. The action nearly made him swerve off the road.
"Jesus, Mercedes!" he laughed, righting the wheel. "Can you give me some warning before you lay one on me?"
"Nope!" she grinned, wrinkling her nose. "Surprises are fun!"
"Until they kill us!" he laughed. "But as long as I'm with you..."
Mercedes expected him to finish, but when he looked at her and smiled again, she realized that his thought was complete.
"As long as I'm with you," she tenderly repeated, bringing his hand to her lap. He gently squeezed her hand again and brought their joined hands up to kiss her plump wrist. She sighed happily at the touch of his lips, then moaned and trembled when he gently suckled the flesh near her pulse.
"How far away are we?" she asked desperately, licking her lips. He hummed against her skin, licking a small trail up her wrist and slowly blowing his warm breath across the dampened flesh.
Destination on the right in point two miles. You have arrived.
"We're here," he whispered, kissing each of her fingers as he turned into the curved driveway. His voice and lips made her warm all over. Unconsciously, her thighs rubbed together and crossed, keeping the surge of pleasure near her center as contained as possible. Sam noticed and reached down to touch her calves, running his fingers up her legs to swirl around her knees. When he moved higher, Mercedes held her breath, then exhaled in a whimper when he crept between her dress split and kneaded the heated skin of her inner thighs. Her legs uncrossed, and his hand moved into the new space to palm her.
"No more hiding this when we get inside," he quietly commanded, tensing his jaw when her clit throbbed against his middle finger. One shift of her underwear, one slide of the very same finger, and he'd be inside her heat. Mercedes must have sensed his longing to touch her more deeply, because her hips thrust forward and circled at that very moment, rubbing her sex against his exploring fingers. The small nub hardened, and Sam couldn't resist sliding it between his fingers.
"No more hiding. Okay." She answered just as quietly, breathing harder than before. They both leaned in at the same time and met in a kiss, taking out all of their sexual frustrations on each other's mouths. The rough clashing and biting of their lips were the perfect contrast to the slow, sensual rub of his fingers and circling of her pelvis. When the fire between them became too great, they reluctantly released each other and pulled apart, settling in their seats to keep distance between them. One more kiss would have been their undoing, and they were steadily approaching the Motta estate gates, guarded by three security men. Voyeurism normally excited them, but this night was too special to begin in the presence of others.
Sam pulled up and wound his window down to talk to the guard.
"Can I help you, sir?" The grey-haired gentleman asked, flashing his pen light into the car. The teens greeted him with smiles.
"Hi, my name's Sam. This is my girlfriend, Mercedes." Sam took her hand and held it up between them. "We're friends with Sugar. She told us to come here and give you guys this." Sam sifted through the envelope she'd left them and pulled out a plastic tag, etched with the Motta crest.
The guard handed the tag off to his colleagues behind him. "Scan it in the system," he instructed. The older man tucked his light away and leaned in, smiling kindly at the teenagers.
"Ms. Motta told us you were coming. She said you two were her special friends."
"Well, that's nice," Mercedes said with a smile. "She's our special friend, too."
"Yeah, I figured. Mr. Motta doesn't let just anybody use his yacht. She must have pleaded to the high heavens on your behalf. Yep, wrapped him good and tight around that pinky, I reckon."
"We get to use a yacht?" Sam asked in surprise. "Really?"
"Wow, this is way better than anything we planned!" chuckled Mercedes. "How fancy! So impressive."
"Yeah..." Sam smiled, but the joy failed to reach his eyes. He knew he should have been grateful. Part of him was. But the idea of Sugar's yacht made him feel like he did when the patrons at Stallionz threw dollars his way. He had to perform lap dances and let them touch him for the higher bills, work a little harder to earn his worth. He'd always had to put in twice the effort to measure up to everyone else. It took Sam weeks of begging his friends and scraping money together to make this night special, and Sugar only had to snap her fingers to bring something ten times better to the table. Mercedes deserved yachts, but he was a dollar bill man, laboring for the fives and tens that would prove he was enough.
The older guard had left them in the midst of Sam's thoughts to go through some security protocol. Mercedes noticed Sam's far off look and kissed his hand, rubbing his hairy knuckles lovingly against her lips until he looked at her.
"I can't wait to be with you, Sam." She told him, hugging his shoulders and kissing his cheek. When he didn't answer, Mercedes rested her chin on his shoulder and stared at him. "Just you and me together. That's all I want."
"I wish I could've given this to you." blurted Sam. He looked down, avoiding her concerned eyes. "Sugar's so nice to give us this, but I wish that I...I wish that I had enough...that I was enough..."
"Stop it. Right now." Mercedes demanded, kissing him hard until the force pushed him back. When they parted, Mercedes hovered over him, and her dark wavy tendrils tumbled over her shoulder to tickle his cheek. "We can turn around right now, find some little dark corner, and park our car. We can bury ourselves in blankets, lean the seats back, and have each other however we want. I don't care where we are. I don't care about yachts. Screw yachts. I want you. Tonight's special because it's you and me. Right, baby?" She kissed him again, softer than the first time. "Don't leave me now because of this."
"I'd never leave." he replied, still reeling from the kiss. "I'm here."
She pressed her palm to his forehead and kissed the back of her hand. "Then, no more hiding this when we get inside," she demanded, tapping above his brow. He nodded as she pushed back his bangs, then closed his eyes when she kissed his bare skin.
His eyes softened as they opened, moved by her gesture. "Okay," he meekly replied, gazing into her eyes.
"Good." She smiled, moving back to her seat when she spotted the security guard returning to their car. "So, what should we tell them? Are we going?"
"Yeah." The crinkles around his eyes when he grinned warmed Mercedes in ways that caresses between her legs never could. "We deserve this, Princess."
Mercedes had almost forgotten about the prom queen crown on her head until he'd reached out to take it off. He twirled a stray strand of hair back in place, tucking it behind her ear.
"I can't wait to see what you look like without all the jewels," he told her. "Underneath the makeup and the curled hair...completely naked."
She looked down at her lap, suddenly bashful. "It won't be long. They're opening the gates now."
In truth, the gates creaked open at that very moment, but they couldn't enter until the grey haired guard had a chance to lay down some ground rules.
"Now, your pass is good for twenty-four hours. In that time frame, you are not allowed to leave the premises without informing security. Ms. Motta is hosting an after party on the other side of the estate. If you wish to attend, one of us will happily escort you over. If not, Ms. Motta and several of her friends will meet over by the lake in the morning, where the yacht is docked. You are welcome to meet up with them there without security consent. There are two phones on the boat, one red one for emergencies and another yellow one for all other calls. We can be reached directly by either phone. Any questions?" The couple glanced at each other and shook their heads. "Well my name's Bill, and on behalf of Mr. Motta and Ms. Sugar, welcome to the Motta estates. We do hope that you enjoy your stay."
A newly excited Sam rubbed his hands together in anticipation. He looked over to his girl, who grinned ear to ear at the newly opened path in front of them, and shifted out of park to drive on. She reached for his right hand and cupped it in hers, refusing to let go until the shimmering waters of the lake came into view.
O-O
The ornate boat looked like the perfect backdrop to any Fortune 500 magazine. Thirty feet of pristine architecture divided into three levels of gold and white polished metals, wrapped in smooth railing encrusted with tiny, shimmering stones. If elegance needed a picture, the Motta yacht would effortlessly fit the description, all bright light and large bodied in the small moonlit pool of water. Fittingly enough, the Motta name was emblazoned near the stern in elaborate gold cursive, right above their royal blue and burgundy coat of arms.
"Did they fly this thing out here or...?" Sam asked in wonder, awed at the size of it. He'd never seen an actual yacht up close. "How in the world?"
"I think they might've built the rest of the lake around it," Mercedes joked, taking his hand and guiding him up the ramp. "Let's go inside. I bet it's even more gorgeous."
And gorgeous it was, covered from end to end in chocolate Persian rugs and caramel fabrics. To their left was their fluffy oversized king bed, dressed in milk white sheets cross-stitched with golden thread. The mass of square and rectangular pillows decorating the headboard all bore tiny M initials, imprinted Coach brand style on the cases. Its rustic oak bed frame sat between two night tables of the same wood, and all of the lush carpeting around it was covered in red rose petals. In front of them stood double full length windows, displaying a perfect view of the sparkling lake and full moon. The tasseled paisley curtains were swooped to the side for presentation purposes, but the twisted ropes tied around them made it easy to provide privacy with just a quick pull of the knot. To their right stood the antique dresser. Its surface spanned the width of the bed in front of it, as did the mirror perched atop, providing a full scale view of all of the bedroom's activities. Sam quickly pointed out the fact that the ceiling held a mirror as well.
"We could have fun with that," he whispered in her ear, gently squeezing her hips. She wrinkled her nose in a grin and swatted his touches away to inspect the bathroom.
"Sam! You've got to see this!" Sam went in behind her and found Mercedes sitting in an empty oval Jacuzzi. "Isn't it huge?" She grinned, wriggling around in delight against the porcelain. "It's perfect for two people."
"Is that an invitation?" Sam tutted her. "Don't tempt me. I've got plans for you first."
"But, baby..." Mercedes pouted adorably, whining in that little voice that he couldn't resist. "I want you inside with me."
"Mercedes..." She kicked off her shoes and ran her soles against the textured bottom of the tub, playing up her moan of ecstasy. "You're not fair."
"Who said anything about fair? I get what I want, Sammy." She smiled seductively, eyeing his body up and down through hooded lids. "Say you don't want to forget about your plans and hop in with me."
"Nice try, woman. But you're gonna have the romantic evening of your life whether you like it or not!" he dramatically exclaimed. "There's gonna be love! So much love, you're gonna drown in it!"
Mercedes cackled at his dramatic turn as he stomped away. "Sammy! Come back!" she cried out, in her best desperate damsel voice. "Don't leave me!"
"DROWN IN IT!" he cried from the other room, pointing a stern finger from the doorway across from her. Mercedes rolled her eyes at his silliness.
"Silly boy," she muttered, laughing to herself. Her eyes drifted to the double marble sink, catching the sparkling pink envelope perched against the faucet with her name on the front. "Sugar, what are you up to now?"
Mercedes hopped out of the tub to pick up her envelope. She smiled when she found purple paper inside, scented with vanilla and lavender. Sugar knew that they were two of her favorite scents.
Hey Diva!
I didn't want Sam seeing this little note, so I left it just for you! I told Santana about the whole boat idea (which I hope you're loving) and she told me that you had all of your sexy clothes in the back of the limo. I put them in the closet beside the bed. And don't worry, I didn't peek. But if it did happen to fall out of the bag on accident, I just wanna say that I would totally lay the white one on him first. Not that I'm butting in or anything.
Love ya!
Xoxoxoxo,
Sugar
P.S. Erin told me to tell you not to worry and that everything is going to be just fine. I think so, too. Not that I told her about the yacht or anything...
"Sugar and Erin." Mercedes sighed at the kind, albeit nosy, gesture. "Thank you. I wish I felt the same."
All of her shameless flirting with Sam had done little to calm her nerves. Her stomach had been quivering since they'd left the limo. What if it didn't go well? It had been months since they'd gone this far. When she performed a song for glee that she felt unsure about, she usually went with the general rule of 'louder, stronger, better'. Sound could cover-up her insecurities.
But making love wasn't meant to cover anything. It was all about openness and intimacy. What if she opened up so much that all of her demons were exposed? What if they haunted her night like they'd haunted her dreams?
"No what-ifs tonight, Mercedes. Think about what could be." She faced her reflection in the mirror, teased her hair, and smiled encouragingly. "He loves you so much and you love him back. It's gonna be just fine. Don't over think this."
"Don't over think what?" Sam waltzed in and stood behind her, hugging her waist and smiling at their reflection. Mercedes touched the sparkling green envelope in his hand and knowingly held up hers.
"I see Sugar left you a kind note, too, huh?" he smiled, tossing his letter on the counter.
"Yep." Mercedes answered, tossing hers behind his. She leaned back against him and caressed his hands on her stomach. "Sam, can I tell you something?"
"Anything." She closed her eyes when he kissed her cheek. "Tell me."
"I'm nervous." When he didn't respond, her eyes opened, and she turned around to face him.
"Me too," he confessed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Really?" His confession relieved her.
"Yeah! I mean, Mercedes, this is a big deal for you. I want this night to be perfect. I planned things, but it doesn't feel like it's enough," he told her. "It's just a lot of..."
"Pressure?" Mercedes supplied, understanding completely. "Exactly. Only we're the ones putting it on ourselves. What's wrong with us, Sam?"
"We care too much, I guess." He chuckled, pulling her closer. "Look, I'll tell you what. Why don't I prepare a bath in that tub you love so much, with big bubbles and sparkling cider and candles..."
"Oh, that sounds nice." Mercedes grinned, pressing herself against him.
"And I'll go in the other room to take my shower. There's another bathroom down the hall. We'll relax and take some time for ourselves, and when we're done, we can meet up in the bedroom. Sugar brought all my stuff over, so I can give you that massage I've been thinking about." Sam told her, wrapping his arms around her shorter frame.
"And I'll get to put on that little lace number in that tiny bag I wouldn't let you look in last weekend." Mercedes whispered. Sam bent his head to kiss her lips.
"And then, if something happens, we let it happen. If not, we can just fool around like we always do and talk until the sun comes up. We can even sing all night if you want. I honestly don't care. I just want time with you, by ourselves," he told her.
Mercedes hummed and kissed him again, squeezing down his biceps. "That sounds perfect. I just want you, too." She said adoringly. "Has anyone ever told you that you are hella sexy when you're honest?"
"Well, there was this one fine ass woman..." They smiled at each other, leaning in until their foreheads pressed together. "I love you. Go outside and wait for me to get everything ready."
"I love you, too. I'll go take off my clothes." He pulled her back before she could step away. "What?"
"Turn for me?" He held her arm up and whistled when she slowly spun for him. "Mmph. Just wanted something to remember while I'm in the shower."
"Sam!" Her cheeks burned. "I don't need you to turn for me. I couldn't forget that body if I tried."
His reddened face betrayed his suave smile. "Is that right?" Mercedes answered by sauntering out of the bathroom, wiggling her assets with every swing of her hips. "Damn."
When she left, Sam turned on the faucet and regulated the water, checking the temperature to make sure it was perfect. When it was bearably hot, he plugged the drain and sat on the side of the tub to watch the water run. The rushing sound soothed him, and the small wait gave him time to think.
He didn't deserve her. He'd never felt like he deserved her. Dr. Taylor had been working on his perception of perfection in therapy since day one, from his body insecurities to his stripper days in Kentucky and the impact of Donovan's attack. Mercedes's name came up all the time, and his therapist would always ask him the same questions about her.
What if you can't be what you want to be for her? What do you think would happen if you failed? And why do believe that her reactions to your perceived failures define you as a person? Did she call you a monster, or did you already believe that about yourself?
Was it true? Was he just a self-fulfilling prophecy?
"Man." All this thinking was giving him a headache. "God bless philosophers. I couldn't do this every day."
All that mattered now was Mercedes and her special night. Screw Dr. Taylor and his psychology. He would make this night a night to remember for her, no matter what it took. He would pamper her and love on her until she was convinced that he was Mr. Right, despite all his shortcomings. And when Sam remembered the little surprises waiting in the closet for his woman, he knew that it wouldn't take much. Knowing what she loved had its advantages.
O-O
Mercedes changed out of her gown and into her robe, sitting patiently on the bed as Sam finished preparing her bath. She watched him flitter between the closet and the bathroom on his toes like a thief, carrying bag after bag of things with him. She could identify the bottle of cider tied up in a plastic bag and a small zippered purse with bottles of scented bubble bath and lotion, but the small blue and white cooler and large brown paper bag left her wondering.
Sam sensed her curiosity and paused in front of her with the items in hand, winking. "You'll find out soon enough." He smiled, continuing on to the bathroom. She bounced anxiously in her seat.
After a small while of noises and clanging sounds, Sam finally opened the door and beckoned her over. He met her halfway and took her hand, covering her eyes with the other.
"Don't peek," he whispered behind her, letting go of her hand to gently press against the small of her back and guide her forward. Sam pretended not to notice her small tremble. If he paid it too much attention, he'd end up leading her back to their bed.
"Can I open my eyes now?" she asked softly, as soon as she'd realized that they had stopped walking. Sam carefully pulled her robe away from her shoulder, and Mercedes had to hold her breath to contain herself when he kissed the sensitive skin there.
"Open up," He whispered, kissing her neck as well. Sam removed his hand from her eyes on her sigh, then sighed himself as he watched her face transform. Mercedes marveled at the sight of his handiwork.
"It's like a novel." She said in awe, surveying the details of the room. Soft flame-less candles surrounded every surface of the bathroom, flickering like real dancing embers in the dark. The tub was filled to the brim with foam and bubbles, and an inviting trail of steam rose from the surface and gathered in the air above like a halo. Sam had snuck in a metal bucket filled with ice for the cider bottle, and he quickly sauntered over to pop the cork and pour her a glass in a plastic flute.
"Sorry I couldn't get the real ones for you." He apologized, offering her the humble drinking glass. "It's all I could afford."
"It's perfect, baby." Overwhelmed with joy, she sprung up and kissed his cheek. "You're perfect. Thank you for this."
"Enjoy it. That will be thanks enough." he humbly answered. She grabbed his arm as he moved to walk away.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay?" she asked quietly, eyes pleading. "I'd really like it if you stayed with me."
He rubbed her shoulders and pulled her to him, kissing her forehead. "I think you'd love it better if we waited after your bath." He smiled, tapping her nose. "Although the offer is mighty tempting."
"Then I guess I shouldn't change your mind by taking off my robe, huh?" she laughed lightly. Sam groaned at her offer.
"Please keep your robe on," he begged. She laughed harder at his pleading.
"Okay, I'll play nice." She relented, pecking his lips. "Just do me a favor?"
"Yeah?" He swallowed hard when she unbuttoned his collar and caressed his bare chest.
"When I come out for that massage, you'd better be naked and in your robe, too." Her pointer finger ran up his neck to lift his chin, and she leaned in to kiss the bulge of his Adam's apple.
"Alright!" he squeaked, stepping away and clearing his throat. "I'm gonna just...go take a cold shower now."
Mercedes sweetly waved him off as he walked to the door.
"Bye, Sam," she sang, blowing him a kiss. Sam chuckled and shook her head.
"Temptress," he muttered under his breath, sipping from his glass as he closed the door behind him. She giggled unapologetically in his wake.
"Now, where do we start, Mercedes?" she asked herself aloud, downing her glass and setting it down on the counter as she figured out her next move. "Well, I guess I should take advantage of the water before it gets cold. Naked it is!"
"That's a great choice!"
"Go shower, Sam!" Mercedes yelled back, laughing at how close his voice sounded to the door. "And stop eavesdropping!"
"You started it!" he argued back, knocking the door twice. "It's your fault!"
Mercedes just rolled her eyes and disrobed. She took a moment to inspect her body in the mirror, tracing her fingers over her scars. A sigh of regret left her as she touched the largest one over her stomach. It hadn't faded much. The edges were still dark and its surface was still uneven.
"You look beautiful." Mercedes smiled at her reflection, then turned to smile at the door and the kind voice that stood behind it.
"Thank you, Sam. But you can't see me."
"Yeah, I can. You let me," he replied. And though she couldn't see him, she knew that his hand was pressed against the door, longing to touch her the way his words attempted to touch her heart. "You're beautiful."
He sounded so sincere, so pure in his compliment, that Mercedes had to squint and take a second look at herself through his eyes. And when she did, remembering every place he'd kissed and touched on her body, a small tear escaped her. She was beautiful, wasn't she?
"Yeah." She nodded, turning to admire her curves in full view. Her prom dress shopping and therapy sessions had really helped to rebuild her self-confidence, but Sam's words served to solidify all of the hard work in her heart. A sudden giggle erupted from her, so loudly that she had to catch it with her hands. Her muffled giggles continued, and try as they might Mercedes's short fingers couldn't contain them. So she allowed herself to laugh out loud for no reason, then gave herself permission to cry at the same time, and never dared to ponder the reason why. It felt good to feel without overthinking, to find safety in a compliment again.
"Yeah." She smiled, giggles dying down with her tears. "I am gorgeous."
"Yeah," Sam confirmed, leaning his head against the door with a smile of his own. They were separate, but he'd felt closer to her somehow in that moment. He wasn't sure what had happened, but he knew that it was good and that it mattered. They were a step closer to something healing. He'd said the right thing at the right time. "Hop in the tub after you're done admiring yourself. I've got a surprise for you after my shower, okay? I'll be quick."
Mercedes dipped her right leg in the water, hissing in pleasure from the heat around her weary muscles. Prom had been deliciously exhausting on her calves. "Okay! I'm getting in now."
O-O
After twenty minutes of soaking and soft jazz (courtesy of Sam's iPod and speaker dock), Mercedes heard his tell-tale knock at the door. She closed her eyes and spelled out each letter of his morse code knock in her mind. I-L-U-V-U.
" Come in, Sam," she said contentedly, sinking deeper into her bubbles. "I'm nice and relaxed now."
He nudged the door open with a hand over his eyes, holding out a covered silver tray. "I'm only coming in if you promise to still be naked!" He declared.
"I'm naked! I'm naked! Come in!" she laughed, tossing a hand towel and hitting his arm. Sam barely caught his balance and kept the tray steady.
"Whoa, okay! No need for violence!" He laughed, strolling in wearing a white bathrobe. His hair and exposed chest were still damp from his shower.
Mercedes eyed the tray with wonder, anxious to see what was underneath the cover. "What's this? Is this for me?"
"Yep! Ta-da!" Sam lifted the cover with flourish and waved the small delicacies under her nose. "A dozen freshly dipped white chocolate strawberries from your freshly showered white chocolate boyfriend." His fake French accent made her giggle.
"Yay!" she clapped, reaching for the largest berry in the center. "These look so delicious!" Mercedes took a large bite and moaned, licking away the drizzle of sweet juice that dribbled down the corner of her lip. "They're so sweet! Thank you!"
Sam's eyebrows rose as he watched her devour the rest of fruit and lick her fingers clean of the melted chocolate remains. She caught his gaze mid-lick and sheepishly smiled.
"That wasn't my sexiest moment at all, was it?" she chuckled, covering her mouth.
"That's not why I'm staring. Trust me," he told her, smiling at her embarrassment. "I was supposed to feed them to you. You stole my thunder."
"Oh." She quietly watched him dip a strawberry into a small bowl of dark chocolate. "I always thought that was such a weird thing. Why is it romantic for a man to feed a woman? Isn't it a bit patronizing?"
"Small words, babe." Sam chuckled, tapping the berry on the corner of the tray to get rid of any excess drippings.
"It makes you feel like a child. I'm grown!" she explained. "I've been feeding myself for over seventeen years."
"You old hen! Has it been that long?" Sam teased. "Maybe I should mash this up for you before you eat it. I always did have a thing for older women."
"We are less than a year apart. Don't get fresh." Mercedes playfully sassed back, poking his nose. Despite all her arguing, Mercedes opened up and bit the fruit from Sam's hand without protest. "I mean, why do couples do this?"
"It's not about the feeding, Mercedes. It's the fact that someone else wants to feed you. It's that you allow them to feed you." Sam laughed when she side-eyed him. "Let me take this opportunity to school you, my little relationship virgin. Pop your intimacy cherry, if you will."
"Might as well. You did a great job popping the other one," she replied with a coy smile. His answering blush was her silent victory. "I'm listening."
"It's like making love, Mercy. Feeding you is my way of saying that you can trust my hands. I'll give you a little at a time, as slowly as you want it. We only move at your pace. I won't push you to take more than you're ready for." His hand crept closer and fed her another bite. Her eyes didn't leave his as she chewed, hanging on to his every word. "What I'm offering is safe. It's sweet. It's pleasurable."
Mercedes took his hand and fed herself another bite, catching a bit of the chocolate on his finger before he drew away.
"When I feed you, baby..." Sam took a second strawberry and dipped it again, letting the excess chocolate drip in his mouth before he shared the treat with her. "It means that I'll fill you. I won't stop until you tell me to. Just say you're hungry, tell me you want more, and I'll give you everything you need."
Mercedes whined into her next bite, devouring the fruit to its stem. Sam dropped the trash on his tray and quickly licked his fingers, hoping to taste a bit of her in the juices.
"Feed me again, Sam?" she pleaded. He already had another berry dipped and ready in his hands. He tenderly rubbed the fruit against her lips, smearing the chocolate until it melted from the warmth of her breath, and held her gaze as she drew the tip of the fruit in her mouth and swirled her tongue around it. The sight aroused him, and silently he wished that she would suckle chocolate from parts of him that were just as stiff and red and desperate for her licks.
God, she wanted to kiss him. The way he looked at her made skin tingle. Carefully, she bit the fruit as she tucked her finger under his chin, drawing his mouth closer. The remainder of the berry dropped from his hands, and they both groaned into their chocolate covered, open mouthed kiss. Mercedes nestled the morsel of sweet between their wrapped tongues, and Sam accepted her offering and allowed her to feed him, fully understanding the heart behind the gesture. He twirled the stray strands of wet hair near her nape, curling it around his ring finger as she tilted her head and pressed back against him. Her needy whimpers made his cock stiffen.
"I'm hungry, Sam," she whispered, licking the swirl of white and dark chocolates from his bottom lip. His hands blindly reached behind him for his silver tray. "Not for strawberries."
He stilled his search. Their breaths quickened at the same time, and Sam became acutely aware of how close—and how naked—Mercedes was.
"Bedroom?" he asked her in a breath. His tongue snuck out to lick the remaining chocolate stuck to her top lip before she could respond, and she lost her answer in a shudder. The water had grown colder, but the heat between them scorched her flesh.
"Bedroom." She nodded, following her impulse to touch his bare chest as she pecked his lips. His heartbeat pounded against her palm. "I'm going to get dressed. Get the massage oil ready, okay?"
She didn't have to ask him twice. Sam was up and out the door as soon as she'd finished uttering the words.
O-O
Sam realized he'd left his iPod and dock inside the bathroom only after he'd given Mercedes the privacy to dry and change.
"Baby?!"
"Yes?!" On his way to the bathroom, a white CD case wrapped in a bright red bow caught his attention, leaning against what appeared to be a stereo perched against the far wall.
"Never mind! Keep getting more gorgeous!" He cried, picking up and carefully unwrapping the delicate package.
"Okay!" she giggled. "I'm almost done."
It took a bit of experimentation with the buttons, but Sam soon got the stereo on and functioning. The small black plate for the disk ejected, and he put in the mysterious CD and turned down the volume to listen. Sam was pleasantly surprised by a saxophone-led jazz version of Robin Thicke's Lost Without You playing softly through the speakers in the room. When he turned the plastic CD case over, he realized there was another note taped to the back, written on telling sparkling stationary.
"Sugar," smiled Sam. But the handwriting didn't match any of the other notes he or Mercedes had gotten tonight.
Dude,
Since this your big night to finally get some, Artie and I thought that we would share some of our sexy time music to keep you and your lil' woman in the mood. But then again, staying in the mood may not be too much of an issue for you, pickle man. Hope that Mercedes sucks on more than vegetables tonight to keep you satisfied. Blue balls ain't healthy!
Get it in for the old Puckmeister! And make sure you spank dat ass!
Puck & Artie
Sam crumpled the note and stuffed it in his bathrobe pocket, shaking his head at his friends' bluntness. As crude as they could be, they had great hearts. Underneath it all, they meant well.
He took a quick survey of the room before his woman came out of the bathroom, just to triple check its perfection. The massage table was set up, the lights were dimmed, and the opened bottle of cider sat on a side table in a bucket of ice to keep cold, right next to his array of edible massage oils and lotions. The romantic music sealed the ambiance. All he needed now was his sexy client.
"Everything's ready, babe! What are you doing in there?" Sam walked over and snatched up a bottle of chocolate flavored massage oil, smiling at the fact that it doubled as a personal lubricant. He sampled a bit on his finger and savored the taste. They'd definitely be trying this one first. "I told you that you don't have to dress up for me. Birthday suit's always perfect."
"You sure?" Sam turned at the sound of the door closing behind him. He caught sight of her in her attire, and the chocolate lubricant squirted out of the bottle from the force of his hand.
"Oh...wow." The sheerest of white lace clung to her dark frame like a second skin, molding against her breasts and down the sides of her waist. Tiny ruffles on the edges of her cups blossomed from her cleavage as flowers did from rolling hills, accenting her abundant bust just as beautifully. The soft satin body of her negligée cinched her curves in all the right places, narrowing as it traveled between her thighs and covered her crotch. The high cut lengthened her legs, and the rest of her pelvis lay exposed and hairless, eager for his searching fingers. Her arms and back were hidden under the sheer sleeves of her matching robe, and Sam couldn't wait to slowly peel every inch of fabric off of her and have her trembling beneath him.
"You've said that so many times tonight. I hope that's a good thing." She laughed, bashfully ducking her head. Her shyness only made him harder. "You like it?"
Sam silently walked over to cup her cheeks and tenderly kiss her, grateful for the privilege to love such a gorgeous creature.
"Oh, it's definitely a good thing, princess." he told her in the warmest of voices. His hands snuck inside her robe and slowly slid it off her shoulders, exposing the arms he'd longed to touch. She trembled when he kissed her chin, then closed her eyes and gasped when he turned her around and pressed his body against her back. She felt Sam slide off his robe as well, letting his fall carelessly next to hers. When her eyes opened, their reflections stared back at them in the dresser mirror, and Sam's hard chest and chiseled arms came into full view from behind her.
He was naked, she knew. Mercedes caught sight of that telling dip o his pelvis that led to the hardness concealed by her body. His skin was pink tinged and peppered with dark gold hair, and she watched Sam's large hands grip her waist and knead her hip bone in the mirror. And if she'd had any doubts about what he thought of her sexy attire, Sam gently nudged the back of her thighs apart with his knee and slid his penis between them, rubbing his assuring hardness against her satin clad pussy.
"Remember our first time? When you wore those little shorts with the hearts on them and told me that you wished you had something sexier to put on?" he asked her in the mirror, softly thrusting against her. She reached back to grab his ass and rock with him, standing on her toes to match her ass to his hips. Their motions made her wet and slick.
"Y-yeah?" she panted, overwhelmed by his closeness. Sam swept her hair away and groaned into his kisses up her jaw.
"After that, I couldn't even look at another woman. Mercedes, you looked absolutely fuckable," he confessed in her ear. "And you weren't even wearing anything half as delicious as what you're wearing right now. If I couldn't resist you then, how the hell do you expect me to do anything but touch you now?" Sam pressed his nose into her neck and inhaled. "God, I can't wait to love on you."
She sunk into his embrace and allowed him to love her, growing limp in his arms as he kissed every sensitive place on her neck. "So, I guess you like it then." Their stares met in the mirror, and she smiled when he rolled his eyes.
"I'm dry humping you like a twelve year old. Hell yes, I love it," he deadpanned, continuing to move against her. "You are exactly what a woman should look like."
Mercedes bit her lip and pushed back against him. Sam buried his moan of pleasure in her wavy hair, and she pressed her thighs together more tightly to close the space between his sex and hers. As they watched the bulbous head of his cock repeatedly poke out from between her thighs in the mirror, Sam and Mercedes knew that they had to stop if they wanted to follow through with their night. But neither of them could find the willpower to say the words nor initiate the actions.
"Sam...baby, we had plans, remember? We should slow down," she breathlessly insisted. She cupped her hands around his when he squeezed her breasts, and guided his thumbs across her nipples. "We have to...mmph..."
"You sure?" Sam kissed her nape and nipped the flesh, sliding a hand back to unfasten her. With a snap of his fingers, her lingerie came loose and undone, and the loss of support made the weight of her breast fall into his awaiting palm. Mercedes caught her cups just as he was sliding the straps off of her shoulders.
"You owe me a massage, remember?" she reminded him, running her fingers through his hair. The dawning of realization on his face made her laugh.
"Shit, that's right!" he cried, smacking his forehead. "Okay, go over and lay down. I need some time to... get myself together."
Sam covered himself with his bundled robe and quickly walked away. The sight of his pale ass waddling to the bathroom only amused her more.
While he was gone, Mercedes undressed and wrapped herself in a small towel she'd found on the bed, smoothing over the fabric of the massage table to prepare to lie down. But before she could raise a knee to climb up, her cell phone rang from her bag in the closet.
"I thought that we couldn't get any signal here. Who in the world would call at this hour?" A telling sense of dread loomed about her as she narrowed down the potential list of callers in her mind. There was only one person who'd be bold enough to call at this hour, and she knew exactly why.
"What's the matter, daddy? Did your little tracking device give out on you?" she answered, voice full of sarcastic venom. "Honestly, I thought we were more mature than that."
"Don't you sass me, Mercedes Patrice Jones. You don't think I know what you're up to? Samuel told me everything. I found the bank statement in the mail." he bit back.
"Oh, so he's Samuel now that you know we're sharing a hotel room?" They were technically in a bedroom on a yacht, but Mercedes didn't feel the need to update him.
"Hell to the yes! And don't change the subject." Mr. Jones warned. "What exactly do you think you're doing, young lady? Is this some attempt to show me you're grown? Only children sneak off with their boyfriends behind their father's backs."
"Daddy, I didn't sneak off and do anything. I didn't tell you because I knew exactly how you'd react."
"Oh, really? And how's that?"
"Like you do with anything I do that you don't readily approve of. You overreact!"
"O-overreact?" Mr. Jones sputtered. "Tell me how I overreact, Mercedes."
"Putting a professional grade GPS and sensory tracking device on my boyfriend maybe?" sassed Mercedes.
"That's nothing! Any dad with the proper equipment and hardware would have done the same," He justified, dismissing her.
"Instead of ask their daughter? Daddy, you never talk to me and ask me anything! You take one piece of information, assume, and get carried away! You're just so..." Mercedes paused and took a calming breath before she dared to finish that sentence. "No. Daddy, I'm tired of arguing. We're adults. I want us to talk."
"We're adults? I only hear one adult in this conversation," answered Mr. Jones.
"And maybe that's the problem, daddy. This is about us, not what I do with Sam or what I choose as a major in college. This is about the woman I'm becoming. I need you to respect that."
"I'll respect it when you stop sneaking around!" yelled Mr. Jones.
Mercedes took another breath, refusing to raise her voice and stoop to anger. "Fair enough. I should have told you about my plans. I'm sorry. But trust is mutual, daddy. I didn't think that I could trust you with something so intimate in my life."
"You couldn't trust me?" She winced at the hurt in his voice. "Mercedes, I always tell you that you can come to me with anything at all."
"Even sex with my boyfriend?" The line grew quiet.
"Yes, even that," he replied. Mercedes smiled at his efforts and sat on the bed. She knew it took a lot of effort for her father to say that.
"Did you react this way when Jett started having sex?" she asked him, referring to her brother.
"No. But he's not my baby girl. Everyone knows you're my favorite." Father and daughter shared a laugh.
"But daddy, that's a double standard, isn't it? I mean, I'm being super careful. This was a thought out, informed decision invested in love. You know that. I wouldn't give myself to anything that I didn't feel was one hundred percent right for me. Music included. I got that from you." She told him. "I need you to give me room to grow like you did with Jett. I'm eighteen now, daddy. I'll always be your daughter, but I can't stay two years old forever."
"Why can't you just slow down and wait, Mercedes? Why do you have to rush into these things?"
"Wait for what, daddy? Wait for life to happen for me instead of creating it? What you call rushing is what I call seizing the moment. I've been singing all my life, daddy. I'm really good! I know it's far away, but UCLA is a natural choice for me. And Sam and I were friends for almost a year before we started dating, and together for a few months before we decided to move forward. He respects me and loves me. He's never forced me to do anything I wasn't ready for. And I really think that..." Mercedes smiled at the bathroom door, thinking of her love. "I really believe that he's my future. He cares about me almost as much as you do, daddy."
"Almost being the operative word, bug." Mr. Jones sighed and grew quiet. "And I know that Sam is the real deal. I can tell. The boy's genuine."
"So, will you trust me, daddy? Trust me to make the right decisions? Trust me to mess up sometimes? I can pull myself together, I promise. I can bandage my own wounds. I'm stronger now. You don't have to kiss the boo-boos anymore."
"I guess Sam's doing the kissing now, right?" She grew quiet, feeling her cheeks heat up. "But you're wrong about one thing Mercedes and always will be."
"What's that?"
"I'll always be there to kiss the boo-boos, no matter how old you are. I may not be the only man in your life anymore, but I will always be your father."
Mercedes pressed a kiss to her receiver. "I know, daddy. I love you for it."
Mr. Jones chuckled, pressing a kiss back on his end. "And I promise not to track Sam anymore. As long as you're honest with me, I'll...I'll learn to trust you more, baby gi-I mean, my young lady."
"I'll tell you everything, daddy." Mercedes promised.
"Please, not everything. Let's leave a little mystery," Mr. Jones pleaded. Mercedes laughed.
"Okay, okay. I'll give you the family friendly version." She relented.
"Just be safe, bug, in everything. That's all I care about. Protect your heart, love your body more than anyone else, and guard your mind. Do that, and I'll be happy."
"I love you more than words, daddy." Mercedes said softly.
"I love you more than words, bug. Have fun." Mr. Jones quickly caught himself. "But not too much fun. Just...maybe some over the clothes fun. No wait, but that could lead to other things...lord knows that's how your mother and I got your brother..."
"TMI, daddy! Bye!" Mercedes laughed, hanging up her phone and tossing it back in her bag. Sam's small whimper in the bathroom caught her attention.
"Sam? Are you alright in there?" Mercedes cried out, smiling at the length of time it took for him to "get himself together". "I didn't finish you already, did I?"
"Not at all!" he shouted back, clearly in the middle of his "handling." "I'm just gonna—shit!—" he squeaked, "Just give me three more minutes!"
Mercedes threw herself on the bed and heartily laughed. It felt good to overwhelm him. It felt even better to know that she could still inspire that kind of reaction from him after they'd gone through so much sexually.
Her conversation with her father had inspired a reflection of sorts on her growth these past couple of months. In every mental image of her past self and present self, Mercedes could only find improvements that had changed her for the better. She felt at home in her body again, though the struggle to accept herself was a daily effort. She had rediscovered her voice again, musically and otherwise, and felt heard. She and Sam were stronger than ever, naked in a luxurious yacht and ready to indulge in one another. The conversation she'd had with her father had been long overdue, but Mercedes had finally found the words and the courage to tell him what was on her heart. Mercedes couldn't remember a time when she was as sure of herself as she was at that very moment. With everything she'd overcome and all she'd conquered, Mercedes could stand taller and speak with more authority. Circumstance had forced her to choose between maturing and relenting, and the more difficult choice proved to be her greatest success story. If this were one of her sessions and Bee were here at this very moment, how could she explain this realization? What would she tell her?
I'm free, Bee.
There it was. That hope she'd voiced on her first day of therapy had come to pass today. No guilt remained, or doubt about her future. Donovan didn't frighten her anymore. The words sexual assault survivor didn't make her cringe. She could say it aloud.
"I survived." Her eyes met her towel-clad reflection in the ceiling mirror in full scale, from her wavy black hair that fanned across the pillows to her polished toenails crossed together. "Hey, you. Nice to see you again. Isn't that smile of yours gorgeous?"
And her reflection smiled back at her, happy and full of life. The sight was a reunion of sorts, and part of her wished that she could jump up and hug the woman that stared back at her. Instead, she took off her towel and threw it aside to admire her body.
"Mmmm...isn't all of you gorgeous?" she told herself, winking as she held her full breasts in her hands and massaged her nipples.
Sam's reaction to her made her feel irresistible. It had been far too long since she'd pleasured herself and enjoyed the view.
"Oh, baby..." She closed her eyes and allowed her hands to wander across her body, wherever they wanted to touch for however long it pleased her. The fingers of her right hand traced the small rising bumps of her areola, while her left hand's fingers followed the folds and ridges of her stomach. Both hands met along the width of her hips, tickling her goose-bumped skin until her body rose and shook on its own. She moaned and spread her legs to pet the small tuft of pubic hair right above her vaginal lips, rubbing the wet curls between her fingers until the moisture made them slick. Though she had taken care to shave for the negligee she'd worn tonight, mostly for comfort and Sam's viewing pleasure, the small rebellious patch she'd left there had been all for her. Mercedes enjoyed the friction when they were making love. The scratching thrilled her.
"Shit..." Just thinking about Sam inside her made her feverish. She bent her knees up and let them fall on either side of her. One hand spread her vaginal lips apart as the other massaged her throbbing clit, rubbing it between her thumb and forefinger.
"Oh, Sam." She could feel him touching her like this, urging her to come with that deep, sensual growl of his. His breath would tickle her ear, and one finger would slide inside her to help her along. He knew the small penetration was always just enough to bring her over the edge. "Fuck, yes."
Mercedes took the liberty of introducing her own digit, and though it wasn't nearly as long or skilled at finding her g-spot as she would've liked, it was enough to get her flowing. She touched her opening, collecting her essence on her fingers as it flowed and experimenting with its sticky texture on her fingers. She could smell herself coming, and the thought of Sam's tongue tasting her as she masturbated brought her to the very edge of a gushing orgasm.
When that very tongue left her imagination and became reality, licking up her slit, Mercedes jumped and withdrew her hands. She caught Sam's hair in her grasp before she could look down and recognized him.
"Sam! When did you—?"
"Doesn't matter. Keep going. It's been so long since I've watched you cum," he told her, dipping his tongue inside her. "Cum for me, Mercedes. You are so fucking gorgeous."
Mercedes threw her head back against the pillows and played along, resting her heels against his shoulders to give him a full view of her orgasming sex.
"Uh-huh. Uh-huh." He encouraged, open mouthed as his tongue pumped against the force of her spasming walls. "Just like that, princess." Sam dragged a small trail of his saliva across her pussy lips, using the gentle rub of his fingers to mix his fluids with hers. "C'mon, cum for me."
"I'm...trying." The strain on her face pained him. "Talk to me?"
"You wanna cum in my mouth, darling?" She nodded and scooted down, rubbing her pussy against his mouth. "Mmm, someone's eager. You like the thought of that, huh? Cumming in my face? Soaking me?" He slowly licked her between her vaginal lips and flicked her clit with his tongue. "Nasty girl. I love it when you're nasty with me."
"Mmhmm..." She pushed his head deeper and reached down to massage the side of his throat, coaxing more of the tongue action that she desperately craved. Mercedes whimpered when his large tongue filled her and flattened out, pushing against the pressure of her clenches. "Keep talking, Sam. Your voice turns me on so much."
"What else turns you on, sweetheart?" he whispered when he pulled out, kissing her labia. "Tell me what else you need." Sam slowly eased two fingers inside her, and her body rose from the bed like a woman possessed. Their mouths hung open when he started thrusting, and her eager hips followed his every move. "You like when I finger fuck you, Mercedes? I know you do. I can feel you gushing for me." Sam moaned in delight and sucked her hardened nub as he pumped inside her. "So brown and pink and pretty. Gorgeous little pussy."
Her breasts jiggled enticingly as she bounced, round and glistening from her sweat, with two swollen, darker peaks standing atop them that begged to be tasted. Sam reached up and teased a nipple with his free hand, loving the pebbled feel of her rolling between his fingers.
"Oh god! Yes! Play with me." She toyed with her free breast, twisting and pulling her nipple high until its heaviness rose from her chest. Sam watched her and followed her actions, letting her nipple slip from his fingers when she released hers. The twins slapped against her chest and quivered from the impact.
"God, I love your breasts, baby." Sam moaned, sucking her clit harder. He moved his hand from her breast to spread her pussy lips apart as he ate, giving him a clear view of her pink folds. Sam sampled her, top to bottom, until she cried out and grabbed his hair. "Mmm, did I lick that spot? Let me lick it again." Sam's tongue fulfilled its promise, licking even more slowly than before, dipping inside her wetness until her body gave in to the pleasures of his mouth. Sam lapped up a bit of her essence, praising her sweet taste with a grunt. "You taste delicious, sweetheart. I want more. Cum for me."
Mercedes hummed as the first wave of orgasm wracked her body. Sam slid two fingers back inside her and pumped faster. "That's right. There it is. I want it. Let go for me, baby." He knew the penetration would drive her crazy. A second wave hit her, harder than the first, and Sam could feel her clenching harder and more irregularly around his fingers.
"Tell me when."
The full force of her orgasm stole her breath. All she could do was eagerly point to her sex and press Sam's face harder against it. Sam lapped up every bit of her cum as it flowed, catching all of it it in his mouth directly from the source. Her legs fell weak and collapsed in the midst of her convulsions, but Sam pushed her thighs higher and farther apart to continue licking her clenching hole until she came again, harder and wetter than the first time.
"AHH!" she screamed, scratching his scalp and thrusting against his lips as he ate her through the stronger second climax. His mouth was relentless. He wouldn't let her relax. As soon as her body recouped from the last orgasm, he forced her legs even higher and farther apart to coax yet another one out of her from the force of his tongue fucking. Her feet dangled over her head by her fifth orgasm.
"Sam...Sam, I can't..." Her thighs squeezed his head to still him, but he refused to ease his tortures. "Oh god...it hurts..."
Sam's head rose in alarm. "Safe word? You want me to stop?"
"Hell no! It's a good pain! Keep going!" She shoved his mouth back down to continue his work. He chuckled and resumed his noisy slurping. Sam only came up for air when she tugged his strands and pulled him up, fully satisfied.
"Oh yes, Sam..." Mercedes kissed his sticky lips over and over again in gratitude, licking her own as they parted to taste herself. "God, your mouth."
"Yeah?" He pecked her lips again, kneading her thighs and wrapping them around his waist. "You like my tongue in that puss, darlin'?" She nodded and kissed him again, digging her nails into his shoulders. "You want some dick now? Hmm? Nice and wet for some cock, baby?"
"Yes!" she cried eagerly, stealing a longer, needier kiss. "Make love to me, Sam."
"Tell me you want it, princess."
"I want it. I want you." Sam growled and kissed her, shoving his tongue possessively down her throat. "I want you to fuck me. Please?"
"Horny, sweetheart?" Sam teased, reaching between their bodies to stroke her as he kissed down her throat. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, hugging him close as he loved her.
"Ugh, you don't even know, Sam." Mercedes moaned, lifting her chin to give him room to kiss across her collar bone. "You don't even know how long I've wanted you...how much...how many times I've fantasized about this...wishing that you'd touch me like this again."
"Really now?" Sam laved the tip of her left nipple and pulled it into his mouth, releasing her with an audible pop. "Well then, why don't I just give you what you want, princess. I'm ready for your massage if you are."
O-O
Mercedes wasn't even ten minutes into her rub-down before Sam's caresses had her panting again. He wore only a towel around his waist, and had the nerve to bend over her head and across her body to knead her thighs. The back of her thighs. Apparently, Sam enjoyed having her knees pressed to her chest. And his sly swipes across her erect clit as he massaged her also told Mercedes that he enjoyed having the uninhibited access to her center of pleasure.
"You are such a cruel tease." She groaned, parting her lips when his stiff cock poked out from between his towel. Every time he'd put his back into his kneading, she'd tilt her head back and give the head of his penis a quick, enticing lick.
"Me? You're the one finishing me before we start." Sam told her, looking down with a playfully judging eye. "I see you, Ms. Jones. You ain't slick."
"You either. I don't remember any massages where the client gets touched there." By then, Sam had coated his hands in the slippery lubricant oil to palm her, and two of his fingers had already slipped inside her pussy. "Except maybe in porn."
"You watch pornography, Mercy? You?" Sam laughed. "I can't see it."
"Hey!" Mercedes pouted, swatting his lower stomach. Her fingers lingered to touch the hard muscle she'd discovered there. "I've done a lot of things that may surprise you."
"I can see that." Sam answered, pushing his fingers deeper inside her to make her moan. "You are just full of surprises tonight."
"S-Sam?" Mercedes moaned and arched into his moving hand.
"Yes, my love?" he smiled, kissing one of her bent knees. His fingers never ceased their steady, slow caresses.
"I...I...shit..." It was so hard to think straight when Sam was around her. Mercedes held her knees farther back to give him more room to pleasure her. Sam took full advantage, leaning down to lick her opening and the puckering of her sphincter. The new stimulation to her ass made her cry out, and when the tip of his tongue pressed against the tightness there, she nearly lost the last shreds of her control.
"Oh yes...YES!" she cried. "Baby, I like that so much!"
"Really now?" Sam's smile grew wicked. He spread her ass cheeks with both hands and pressed against the sphincter again, giving the tiny sensitive hole the attention it deserved. Her answering quiver made his efforts worth it.
"Mhmm. Lick my ass, baby," she demanded. "Kiss it."
Sam obeyed her command, kissing her twice and nuzzling her sex. "I did promise you a kiss, didn't I?"
Mercedes chuckled at the memory. "It's your fault. You were the one writing checks your novice street fighter moves couldn't cash."
"I resent that, Jones," he said in mock offense. "But it doesn't matter now. If this is my punishment, then may I never win any game against you ever." Sam released a relishing moan into his second lick. "That's fine with me."
At the mention of dirty kisses, Mercedes remembered the request she had wanted to make earlier. "Sam, can I have the massage oil?"
"Sure," he answered, wetting his pinky in his mouth to push it inside her tightness. His free hand blindly handed her the bottle. "Why?"
Mercedes poured a generous amount of the scented lubricant in her hands and ripped off his towel, grabbing his erection with her slick hand. "No reason," she casually answered, licking up his shaft and greeting the tip with a soft kiss. "No reason at all."
"Oh fuck, Mercedes." Sam nearly collapsed on top of her. Her mouth was so sudden, so hot and swift and thorough in its pleasing, that he nearly lost his footing. "Just like that, sweetheart. Suck me just like that."
"Yeah? You like that? You wanna cum in my mouth?" she teased, repeating his earlier words. "My mouth makes you want to cum?" She drew his cock head just between her lips, running her tongue up and down the small slit of his penis. "Tell me when, baby."
Sam groaned and stood up, shifting over to stand at her side. She changed the angle of her head and opened her mouth wider, allowing him to slide back inside. Sam reached down to play with her clit as she sucked him, and her groan of pleasure vibrated wonderfully around him.
"Mmm..." Mercedes slurped eagerly and audibly, giving him the pleasure of a show. Ever the performer, she even had the presence of mind to show off her vocals with a series of scales. When she hit her third octave change, Sam grew cross-eyed.
"Okay, that's it. I've got to be inside you, baby." Sam panted. Mercedes eagerly nodded and sprung from the massage table to climb into bed. Sam climbed on top of her and nestled himself between her thighs, covering their joined bodies from the chill of the air. Now that they were in bed and in position, the weight of the moment loomed over them and cooled their haste.
"So, this is it, huh?" Sam said lamely, running his thumb over her cheek. "You ready?"
Mercedes glanced over his shoulder to her reflection above them and nodded. "Yeah. I'm ready."
Sam reached over to the night table drawer for the box of condoms. He fumbled to get it open, and when he finally did, the foil wrappers clumsily slipped from his fingers and plopped to the floor.
"Shit!" Sam blushed when he met his girlfriend's eyes. "I'm gonna just...get that."
She smiled at his nerves and watched him retrieve the discarded condoms. He ripped one away from the bunch, settled the rest in the drawer, and rose up on his elbows to slip it on himself. Watching Sam put on the condom made everything frighteningly real, and the sight of his sex so close to hers gave Mercedes an anxiety she couldn't quite name.
"Sam?"
"Yeah, honey?" The familiar endearment made her smile.
"Just...go slowly, okay?" The apprehension in her eyes worried him.
"Are you sure? We don't have to if you don't want to. I told you, we could just fool around like before. It's alright." He told her, kissing her forehead. Mercedes closed her eyes and drew his chin down to kiss his lips. The tenderness of the touch brought tears to both of their eyes.
"I'm not scared of you. I'm just...scared." she timidly explained. "I just want this to be good."
"This will be good, whatever happens. Don't perform. This is just us. Just you and me, okay?" They nodded together in agreement. "Good. What's the safe word?"
"Home. I say home and we stop." Having some control over the pace of their lovemaking gave her comfort. "Okay, I'm ready." She smiled assuredly, though it hadn't quite eradicated the nervousness in her gaze. "Can you hold my hands? Like you did our first time?"
Sam kissed both of her knuckles and laced her fingers with his, lying their joined hands on either side of her head.
"Don't let go," they said in unison, making the other laugh.
"I won't," they answered together. The couple silenced their jinxes in a kiss, and with a slight raise of her knees and push of his hips, they found a new sense of completion in the physical. The two moaned the power of their union in each other's mouths.
"Sam," whispered Mercedes, too overcome by the sudden welcomed fullness to utter anything else. Only his name meant anything now. "Sam..."
"Mercedes," Sam whispered over her parted lips, just as reverently. He withdrew and pushed in again, and the second time proved to be more fulfilling than the first. "Are you okay?"
She could only nod. The stretch of him after so many months of emptiness was overpoweringly pleasurable. "Sam...mmm..." She moaned, drawing out his name in a cry of longing. "Deeper."
Sam nestled his face in her hair, smelling the vanilla from her shower and chocolate from the massage oil in her strands. It's us, he thought. Sam filed the smell away to memory as he pushed into her a third time, tucking her crossed ankles between his thighs. His pelvic bone hit hers, and Mercedes released his grip to run her small hands down his back.
"I love you so much," she murmured, tenderly kissing his shoulder. Her kisses to his neck made his stomach flip, and he turned his face to meet her halfway and join their lips.
"I love you, too," he murmured against her chin as they parted. "I think I always have."
"Me too." She quietly laughed, staring into his eyes. They were a peaceful spring green, the green of sage and peppermint and grassy summers near the lake. They were as green as the first teddy bear he'd won for her at the carnival, the one with the purple polka dotted bow that he'd insisted was placed there by fate. His eyes were life, all budding new and burgeoning joy. She could easily give herself to someone with eyes so welcoming. "You are so beautiful, Sam."
"I was thinking the same thing," he told her. They'd both caught his error at the same time, and Mercedes's nose wrinkled adorably in her grin. "About you, not about me." He chuckled, imitating her scrunched face. "Not about me. You're beautiful."
"No, you," she argued in a soft voice, running her finger down the bridge of his nose.
"No, you," he quietly retorted, nuzzling her cheek. She sighed at his affections.
"Why don't we just agree that we're both right, hmm?" Their lips joined again, and Mercedes welcomed the next push of his hips with a squeeze to his bottom.
"Handsy." Sam smirked above her. "But you feel good."
"You feel better." She smirked back, patting his thigh. He moved faster, quickening his thrusts.
"God, I missed being inside you," sighed Sam, licking the side of her throat.
"I missed you being inside of me." Mercedes sighed back, cradling his head. "My Sam."
He lifted her knees higher and tucked an arm under her behind, thrusting harder. "My...my Mercedes." He leaned his face against hers, foreheads rocking together as they moved. "All mine."
"All mmm...mine." She whimpered, caught in a tremor. Their bodies neared their precipices. Sam could feel the telling draw of his balls that signaled he was close. Mercedes's clenches grew stronger and more erratic, working to draw him in as deeply as possible. Sam joined their hands again and held them over her head, senselessly pounding into her as his orgasm approached.
"Mercy, please tell me you're coming now, because...I can't..." He groaned in time with each spurting pulse of his cock, shooting stream after stream of his seed against the latex barrier between them. Mercedes reached between them to stroke her clit and came soon after, grabbing a corner of the pillow behind her to muffle the sounds of her screams. Sam continued jerking his hips to help her along, giving her the remainder of his erection while it lasted. He stilled when she grew slack and collapsed against the mattress, and the two shared one last desperate kiss as one flesh before Sam pulled out and rolled off to her side. They laid in each other's embrace as they calmed, panting chests and sweaty limbs entwined together until the last of their surges subsided and their bodies could no longer give.
"That was definitely better than good," Mercedes said aloud, gulping her next breath. Their eyes met in silent agreement.
"That was a ten." Sam nodded, still panting. "That was a definite ten."
O-O
The amorous mood lingered past their climaxes. Now that they had tackled their biggest relationship hurdle, Sam and Mercedes found themselves completely content dwelling in their nakedness. Their lips hardly left an inch of the other's body for a moment, and their lovemaking had opened the door to a purer, almost childlike sense of honesty between them.
"I love the way you taste," Sam confessed, lifting her foot to kiss the curve of her sole. "Every part of you." Her largest toe slipped between his lips, and she moaned when his tongue swirled across her skin.
"I like the way you feel," Mercedes told him, smiling. "Especially your chest. It just feels hard and manly." Her fingers idly twirled his blonde strands as he kissed up her calf. "I like when you press up behind me and hug me close."
Sam crawled up and settled against the pillows, pulling her over between his legs. "You mean like this?" he asked with a smirk, hugging her waist and kissing her temple.
"Yeah." She smiled, turning her face in his neck. He smelled like sweat and Irish spring. It was the sexiest smell in the entire world. "And you're naked."
"Hell yes!" His confidence made her giggle. "If I had my way, we'd always be naked."
"We? Don't drag me into that. I actually like clothes." She laughed. "If you want to be Tarzan, be my guest."
"You don't want to be my Jane, Mercedes?" Sam asked with a pout. "Swinging on vines? Yelling and beating our chests? You don't want to learn how to speak Gorilla? It would look awfully great on a resume!"
"Shut up, Sam. Your dork is showing." She snorted, poking his chest. He crossed his arms and pulled away, clearly unsatisfied with her answer. Mercedes rolled her eyes at his antics and decided to indulge him.
"Okay, one yell, but that's it," she conceded. "This will never leave the bedroom, right?"
"Scout's honor," Sam swore, smiling and rubbing his hands together in anticipation. He looked far too eager for Mercedes's liking.
"Only for you, I swear." She chuckled, shaking her head at the thought of what she was about to do. "On three, okay? One..."
"Two..." Sam counted, readying his fists.
"THREE!" The two dorks threw their heads back and let out the most primal, guttural yell they could muster, wildly beating their chests like they'd seen in the movies. When they'd finished, Mercedes collapsed against him in laughter.
"That was really cathartic!" Mercedes nodded, eyes alight. "We should do that more often!"
"Cathartic?" Sam's brow knit in confusion. "Small words, babe. I told you, I'm not brilliant like you."
"Cathartic means emotionally relieving, and I wish that you'd stop saying that," Mercedes said with a sigh. "You're smarter than you think. If you set your mind to it and applied yourself, you could master words and really increase your vocabulary."
Her mouth entranced him as she spoke. Sam could watch her talk all day. "Why do you like words so much, Mercedes?" he asked, leaning his head against hers.
"Well, mama used to always tell me that words have power. There's life and death in them, you know? At least, that's what the bible says," she explained. "So, I thought, if words have so much power, then I could collect them all. Maybe I'd transform into some literal superhero or something. I would even study the dictionary in those old telephone booths, just in case I'd have to transform." She looked up into his judging eyes. "I was five when she told me this. My dreams were fantastic."
Sam held in his laugh and urged her to continue.
"Then, when I got older, I fell into song writing. That's when I realized what mama really meant. Words make people feel some powerful things. They express the greatest of life's emotions. When I wrote or sang, it made me feel like...nothing was out of my reach, you know? I could feel everything and express it. I could find the perfect words to tell the world my story."
"That's beautiful." Sam smiled, kissing her cheek. "I wish I were as passionate about words as you are."
Mercedes turned to face him and cupped his face, staring deeply into his eyes. "I wrote something about a year ago that I'd like for you to read. Do you want to see it?"
"Of course. I'd never say no to one of your poems." The couple shared a smile. Mercedes wrapped one of their sheets around her body and shuffled to the closet, pulling out her small journal of written word. She hopped back into bed and in his arms, snuggling against him as she flipped through its pages.
"Now I know it's in here somewhere...Aha!" Mercedes pointed out the aged page, written in bright purple ink. "This one. Read it to me."
"You want me to read it? It's your poem," argued Sam. "I don't know if I'll do it justice."
"I'm sure you will." Mercedes smiled, laying her head against his chest. "Please?"
Sam could never refuse her when she spoke so gently. "Okay. But if I suck, this doesn't leave the bedroom."
Mercedes held her hand to her heart. "Scout's honor, Evans."
Clearing his throat and adjusting his imaginary glasses like an English professor, Sam prepared himself to read. Reading aloud was a constant challenge for him, but Sam knew that Mercedes wouldn't make fun of him if he messed up.
Since the womb
We hold our breaths
And keep the practice still
So when we leave
And gasp with life
Our mouths can close at will
But we keep holding
Never knowing
What we miss or why
Until one day
True love comes in
Compelling us to try
And try we must!
Though scared and shy
Of what the unknowns hold
For we, encased and lonely beings
Are calmed within control
But if you do,
On careless whim,
Open wide
And let love in?
Ah! The joy!
You'll think it strange
you dwindled on regret
for life cannot exist in fear
So live
let go
take breath
"That's how I felt the first time you kissed me," Mercedes quietly explained, filling up the awkward silence that loomed after his reading. "I had always felt secure in myself, but thought that I would end up alone. When you came along...I wasn't really prepared for you."
"I didn't know you felt that way," Sam said, shaking his head at the page. He glanced at her, searching her eyes. "This is how I made you feel?"
"Yeah." She ducked her head and hid her face in his chest. "When everyone tells you that someone like me doesn't deserve the attention of someone like you, you start to believe it."
"Someone like me? I'm nothing special," Sam shrugged, answering honestly. "I was afraid to approach you because I thought that you were too good for me."
His serious gaze met her surprised one. "Really? Why?"
"Because you light up a room, Mercedes. You have a presence that makes the most secure people feel inferior around you, and then...then you make those same people love you with your kind heart. I was just some hick that could play guitar and couldn't spell that got five dollar haircuts from his uncle bob. What did I have?"
"You're funny and smart, Sam. Your impressions make me smile every time. And I love the way you smirk." Mercedes immediately answered. "Your heart is so open and big, maybe too big to handle how harsh life can be sometimes, but I pray that you never lose that. And that light you see in me? I see it in you, too. It's bright, colorful, and the most beautiful thing I've ever experienced. Words may not be your thing, but you sure know how to make me swoon when you tell me how much you care about me. That's enough." She touched his cheek. "You're enough. I wish you could see yourself the way I see you."
"I'm trying," he admitted, touching the hand over his cheek. "Honestly, I am."
Mercedes leaned in and slowly kissed him, savoring the tiny smack their lips made as they parted. "I'll help you," she quietly told him. "One day, you'll see it."
Sam only nodded, unsure of how to respond. "Well...I started writing our story, like I promised you. I even got started on some of the illustration."
Mercedes gasped and excitedly clapped. "Really?! Do you have it here? Can I see it?" Sam hesitantly nodded, reaching for his small portfolio book hidden in his duffel bag of goods.
"It's not really finished yet. The story's still a rough draft. But, once I develop it, I'd like to make it an animated series or a comic. I think that it could be really successful." Mercedes snatched the book from his hands and opened it up to the marked pages. Sam carefully watched her eyes as she read and studied the sketch he'd drawn. "I plan to do some coloring and shading soon, but that's the look I want for our characters."
"Can I read it?" Her eyes looked hopeful, and perhaps, a bit teary as she asked.
"Sure." Sam replied, nibbling his bottom lip. Her thumb swiped against his mouth, easing the tension in his jaw.
"Stop worrying. I love it already." Mercedes leaned back against his chest and held the book open on her lap, reading the words aloud like it was a bedtime story.
There was a time when heaven and earth were one. The days blended into nights, and the stars were indistinguishable from the moons of the universe. In this place, the rulers of the whole, Luz and Oscuro, existed only to love and be loved by one another. The sovereign one above them looked down in joy, smiling at the purity of their hearts. He watched them for centuries, observing their interactions, and planned in his mind to give them a special gift on their one hundredth anniversary. On the day, the sovereign one broke a piece of his perfection, rounded it in his hands, blew the breath of life into it, and created a realm he called earth for them to live in. "This is for you. A newly birthed place," he told the lovers. "Nurture it as you nurture the love you share."
Oscuro and Luz agreed and left to spend the rest of their days in their new home. In this same time, Diablo, the evil one, had watched all that the sovereign one had done for them and grew jealous. He had existed long before they had, but his power could never match the strength they shared when they were together. Furious, he demanded that his creator give him a piece of heaven as well. But the sovereign one had been watching his heart for some time and knew all of the corruption and danger it held. "Your blood burns in you like lava," he told him. "You cannot master the realm within, so why should you be granted anything bigger and greater? You will never have any of my property."
So Diablo devised a scheme in secret to steal the precious earth for himself and kill the two lovers in the process. What he didn't know was that leaving without the sovereign one's permission caused massive chaos. He took his small band of followers, his mighty spear, and the weight of his vengeance on his quest, leaping from the whole to dive into earth. As he and his followers left their place, the universe was severed and scattered, divided unnaturally amongst the skies. The earth no longer touched its mother land, and the lovers were separated from their creator forever. Diablo waged a mighty war against them, but even with the strength of numbers, he could not kill them. Cowardly in nature, he ran into the new dark haven called night, dwelling there in secret. In his rage, he snatched Luz and took her with him, tearing her away from the other part of her heart. The earth flourished and grew, but it was never the same. Oscuro searched for his love when the night came, but Diablo would always hide her in a new place. The only thing connecting them was her song. It pulled him to her like a tether every time. It was his guiding light in the unfamiliar, and he vowed that it would someday bring them back together. Until then, love would never be perfect and beings would always be incomplete, searching for their home of wholeness.
Sam knew she was done reading when her eyes flickered away from the book. "I have some revising to do, of course. But, I was thinking that his search for her could be the premise of the series, you know? And every so often, Oscuro would encounter Diablo and his minions and have a huge battle. Maybe the lovers would even catch glimpses of each other from time to time, to keep the hope up," he explained to her. "What do you think?"
"I love it just the way it is, Sam," Mercedes told him, kissing his lips. "And I hear our story in it. But why didn't you keep the lovers together? We're together."
"Because love is a journey. People don't read to get the happy ending right away. They need the journey. The chase is what makes it all worth it. Right?" He smiled down at her. "It worked for us."
"See? I told you that you were smart!" Mercedes smiled, tapping his forehead. "You're gonna be such an amazing storyteller, Sam. I know you are." She pointed to his illustration. "And I love your drawing. How come we're wolves and not people?"
"Because wolves imprint on their mate. Once they've found the one, that's it. They can't see anyone else." He explained, hugging her shoulders. "I thought it fit."
Mercedes closed the book and rested it on her night table, freeing her arms to pull his more tightly around her. "And you picked Spanish names for..." Her yawn interrupted her sentence. "...our characters."
"It's our language. The language of love." Sam watched her mouth and caught her yawn. Their long night had finally caught up with them. "I thought it would be a nice touch."
"You know what else would be a nice touch?" Mercedes asked him, voice growing decidedly more weary. "Falling asleep with you after such a great night."
Sam eased his hold to let her snuggle under the covers. He followed her lead, settling beside her and wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Sam?" she asked from his chest. His eyes had already started to droop.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you." Sam opened one eye and smiled, leaning in to kiss her forehead.
"Don't thank me yet. We've still got a couple of hours to go." He yawned. "Thank me when the sun comes up."
"Maybe we can watch the sunrise together. You think?" He grew quiet, drifting asleep. "Sam? Are you sleeping already?"
"Is this gonna be a thing, woman? You waking me up to talk when I'm falling asleep? Because if it is, then we might have to get a divorce." he joked, holding her tighter.
Mercedes laughed, smacking his chest. "Don't joke like that," she whispered, fighting against the weight of her eyelids. "S'not funny."
"Then stop talking," he sleepily ordered. "We'll stay together."
Mercedes watched him close his eyes and felt his breaths even against her cheek. "Sam?"
"Hmm?" he yawned again, stretching as much as he could with her body against his. "I didn't tire you out enough? Why aren't you sleepy?"
"I'm thinking," she answered, twirling the light sprinkling of his chest hair around her finger. "It's your fault, with your stories. I'm not really sleepy, just sore."
Sam smiled big with his eyes closed. "It's 'cause you got that good dick."
She weakly poked his shoulder. "Not that kind of sore, Sam. My cheeks are sore from smiling so hard. I feel like I'm going to burst from feeling so much. I'm happy sore. You make me happy."
"Happy like yellow roses?" he asked her, head already drooping. She nodded once, squeezing his waist.
"Happy like tons and tons of yellow roses." Sleepy conversations at three in the morning hardly made the most sense, but they were always honest and heartfelt.
"Someday, I'm gonna buy you a garden of 'em, princess. Yellow roses from end to end. And everyday, I'll pick one and put it on our kitchen table...and you'll smile..." His voice fell away in another yawn. "You'll smile everyday with me."
A few minutes of silence passed between them, enough to suggest they'd both fallen asleep.
"Sam?"
Her gentle voice barely made it past his subconscious. "Mm?"
Her head drew closer to his, and he felt her small chin and full lips press against his neck. If he were more aware, he'd have sensed her soft pucker as a kiss.
"Marry me, okay?" she told him in a whisper, settling in the small space between his chin and shoulder.
Sam nodded without a second thought. "Okay."
"Good." smiled Mercedes, relaxing at his answer. In that drowsy covenant, the two finally found the peace to quiet themselves and let their dreams overtake them.
O-O
Sam's first day of therapy
Dr. Taylor's office
Saturday morning, 9am
"So, are you one of those people that became a doctor because your parents forced you to, or did you always want to pick people's brains?" Sam's fingers carelessly flittered over his counselor's shelf of books as he walked. "I bet you were one of those nosy kids they'd call 'Inquisitive' or 'bright for their age'."
"Something like that." The counselor chuckled, observing his new client's movements from his brown recliner. "I actually used to hate school until I had my first psychology course in college. My parents were afraid that I'd never amount to anything. I think that they were just grateful that I'd picked a career."
Sam nodded. "Oh, so you're one of those experimental, indecisive types." "You just stumbled into this, huh? Really responsible."
"You seem pretty hung up on boxes and labels, Sam. Why is that?" the counselor asked. "And can we sit down and talk about it? All of your walking around is making me dizzy."
"If I sit, then you'll start to work on me and make me say things. I hate doctors." He grumbled, continuing to pace. The tiny office already felt stifling. "They swear they know everything when they're usually the ones that know the least."
"Ouch. Well, there goes my Yale degree, huh?" Dr. Taylor laughed. "I'm hurt that you'd just generalize all doctors instead of getting to know me. You know, if you let down your guard for a bit, I might surprise you."
Sam eyed him skeptically. "You're wearing brown and white socks with a brown vest and white collared shirt. Something tells me that you're not the kind of guy that does surprises."
The counselor looked down at his attire in surprise. "I like structure and order. It's terrible in other professions, but a great trait in mine. Kind of like how your attention to detail is what makes you a great artist."
Sam stopped in place. "How do you know I'm great?"
"How do I know that you're not?" the counselor smiled, patting the chair across from him. "I can only assume until you show me, right? Isn't that what you did with me?"
Sam had to laugh at his clever turn of words. "Okay, I'll give you that. That was good. Maybe you're not a quack."
"And maybe you're an extraordinary young gentleman. Or a thug. I'm not quite sure yet. Your outfit is confusing me."
Sam glanced down at his spider-man hoodie and distressed jeans and shrugged. "I don't follow fashion. I've never been good at following any kind of rules." He laughed.
"You think so." The counselor stood and walked over to his second bookshelf, standing behind his desk. "But I assure you that there were people before you that broke the rules of fashion. And you know what? They got their different from someone else's different. Unique is really all about perspective and time. Inherently, we are all made up of the same foundational things. We just express these things in different ways. I do it with my color coordinated socks and tie as you do with your hoodie and torn jeans. In essence, we're both declaring that we follow what we like, not what others deem popular or cool. It's the same message, just communicated two different ways by two very similar men."
Sam finally sat down, awed by his wisdom. "That's a cool way to look at things, doctor."
"Ah! He calls me doctor! My first break through!" The doctor exclaimed, making Sam laugh. "Now that I've got you speaking to me instead of at me, I'll ask you why you've come to see me."
Sam sighed and propped his elbow on the arm of the chair, resting his chin against his raised knuckle. The counselor sat in front of him, ready to listen. "Well you see, my girlfriend-her name is Mercedes-we used to date last year, but I had to move with my family to Kentucky when my dad lost his job, so we broke up. Then, when I came back, she was already with someone else. But, I knew she still loved me, so I kept pursuing her. Eventually, she left the guy, we started dating again, and everything went back to the way it should be."
Dr. Taylor's eyebrows rose. "And?"
"And?" Sam repeated, confused.
"Well, I assume that you didn't come to me for advice on your love life. It seems like you have a pretty good handle on it."
"Well..." Sam closed his eyes, dreading his next words. "There was this other guy that came into the picture. His name is Donovan."
"Oh, some competition, huh?" The counselor's smile dropped when Sam's eyes popped open, glaring at him.
"He sexually assaulted her. He wasn't trying to date her." He spat.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Sam. That's terrible." The doctor answered sincerely. "How is she?"
"She's dealing." He sighed, plopping back in his chair. "But, I'm not doing so great with it."
"What exactly bothers you about it?"
"I feel like...I feel like I should be doing more," he answered. "But every time I try to do better, I always find a way to mess it up. I don't think before I speak."
"And when you say more, you mean?"
"I feel like I should be better than I am. I'm not living up to my potential." He told him sadly.
"Who told you that?"
"I'm dyslexic, Dr. Taylor. I'm broke. I pull C's with my hardest effort. I couldn't even keep my goldfish alive for longer than two weeks." He shrugged. "Life told me that."
The counselor hummed in thought, knitting his fingers together. "What if I were to tell you that I was and still am just like you?"
Sam frowned. "I doubt it. You're a freaking doctor."
"I'm a freaking dyslexic impoverished boy turned doctor, Sam." Dr. Taylor smiled at his surprise. "I told you. Same man, different clothes. We've both been told that our best wasn't good enough. But you know what I realized? My best was all I had to give. And you know what that got me? A PhD, three houses to my name, and my pick of the finest leather chairs to invite my clients to sit on."
Sam felt the material under his hands for the first time. "This IS nice," he admitted.
"This is my best. And I found it at 22." He chuckled. "Imagine what your best can produce, Sam. You're an artist, so I know you can see above and beyond. Just take a moment and imagine that your best could get you everything that's worth having in life. When you see it, then you'll live it. And when you live it, well..." Dr. Taylor leaned back, laughing. "then people will start taking one look at you and assuming that you've always had the world at your feet.
O-O
Mercedes woke less than an hour later to a colder and emptier bed.
"Sam?" Her voice was still hoarse from sleep when she called for him. "Sam?"
Hearing no reply, she got up to put on her robe and investigate.
"Samuel Evans..." The breeze from the curtains chilled her bare legs. When she pushed them back, she realized that the window had actually been a sliding door all along, leading to an open deck. "Sam?" she cried louder, stepping outside.
Mercedes finally spotted him sitting in a corner amongst a pile of life preservers, bobbing to the beat of whatever blasted through his headphones. He seemed preoccupied with his phone, scrolling and jotting down notes every few moments in the small black journal on his lap.
She snuck up and surprised him, removing an earpiece and kissing his cheek.
"Oh, hey." He smiled, kissing her back. His voice still seemed a bit rough and broken as well. "I was just writing down some things for therapy. I promised Dr. Taylor that I wouldn't miss a day."
"Is it about me?" Mercedes said with a smile, leaning over his shoulder to sneak a peek. Sam slammed the book closed and locked the screen on his phone before she could see anything. "No fair!"
"It's private, Mercedes! But, if you must know, a lot of it is about you. Good things, of course." He mischievously grinned.
"Of course," she repeated, a bit more warily. "All those notes better be G rated, Evans. That's all I'm saying."
"Me? Bragging about sex with my hot girlfriend? I'd never dream of it." The wiggle of his eyebrows told him otherwise.
"Shameless. You are just shameless, boy." She chuckled, shaking her head at his boldness. "But I like it—when we're in private."
"So are you saying you'd like to have me privately or you like my privates?" he joked, deliberately misunderstanding her. "That darn dyslexia always makes me misunderstand things."
"If you come back inside, I can show you," she offered, parting his robe to kiss his bare chest. "It's too cold out here to share privates privately, don't you agree?"
He watched the sway of her behind as he walked away, then glanced at his lap and wondered why he was still sitting there with cold gadgets and books when there was a warm body and hot pussy waiting for him inside. Sam shoved his things in his robe pocket and followed her inside.
Mercedes lingered near the glass door, pretending to take her time fiddling with the curtains as she waited for him. She smiled when he slid the door closed and cornered her, then laughed aloud when he yanked the curtains closed and gave her the privacy she'd demanded. With one swipe of his thumb across her tender lips, he leaned in to kiss her, gently pressing against the small of her back until her body yielded to his.
"Sam?" she murmured, between soft pecks of lips and softer breathy gasps.
"Yeah?" he replied, pulling away to listen. Their chests heaved together, one sinking as the other rose.
"Do you think that...that we could do it here?" Mercedes's face burned as she asked, but the idea of wall sex with Sam next to a perfect view of the lake made her thighs sticky and her core tingle.
Sam's smile grew and grew as he watched her worry her lip, waiting for his answer. "My little woman has requests now?" he teased, kissing her lips hungrily. "You want me to take you against the wall?"
The pounding of her heart grew louder in her ears, both in anticipation and desperate arousal. "Yes. Very much." She nodded, wrapping her arms tighter around his neck to kiss him again. "That's what I want."
He pulled her body flush against his and guided her toward the corner, right in between two metal handles braced against the wall. "Tell me again," he growled, rubbing himself against her. It was then that Mercedes realized her request excited him just as much as it did her. "Tell me what you want."
"I want you to take me against the wall. Right now." she whispered in heaving breaths, gulping audibly.
Sam kneaded the backs of her thighs, surprising her with a light slap to each. "Jump."
Her feet sprang immediately, and Sam seated her ass on his wrapped forearms to keep her steady. She giggled excitedly from above him, looking down with the sexiest smirk he'd ever seen.
"I love the view from up here," she told him seductively, wrapping her legs around his waist and locking her ankles. "I love the way you feel."
"I love the way you feel." Her head fell back when he licked the tight space between her breasts. Sam nipped the hot skin, thrusting his hips slightly when she grabbed and pulled his hair.
"Say it. Again," he demanded, eyes three shades darker when he looked up at her.
"I want you to take me against the wall, Sam," she growled, bouncing against his terrycloth-covered erection. "Fuck me hard against the wall, Sam. Push my legs apart. Spread my pussy. Make me cum against the—."
Sam grabbed her neck and kissed her sinful lips before she could finish. Only the press of his hips between her thighs held her up, and Mercedes lifted her feet to set them against the metal bars. Her hips sank as she parted her legs, but her thigh muscles clenched around him to hoist her back up to his lips. She kissed him deeply, and as their tongues dueled, Sam eased his hands between them to un-knot their robes. Opening hers first, he took the opportunity to touch each curve of her naked body, from the round of her right breast to the hard point of her nipple and fleshy ripple of waistline. Mercedes, growing impatient, took the free hand resting on her back and shoved it between her legs, eagerly moving his wrist up and down to rub his fingers against her clit. Sam was always impressed and turned on by her strength, but this time, her rough handling and the rock solid bulge of her flexed thigh muscles clamped around his made cock leak pre-cum. If he didn't act fast, he'd be inside her before he could reach for protection.
"I know." Mercedes pulled away and sighed against his mouth. The heat of her breath made his lips quiver. His eyes met hers in question, and she answered by fishing in the pocket of her robe and holding the golden wrapped condom between them. "I know what you were thinking. I told you...I want to do this right. I'm not trying to trap you."
"I am not worried about that." he hurriedly replied. He bent his head to snatch up the corner of the condom wrapper between his teeth. Before she could ask, he took her hand and rubbed her palm over the tip of his cock. The stimulation made them both sharply inhale, and Mercedes muttered an excited "Oh!" when she felt a sudden, strong spurt of fluid hit her fingers and drip down her wrist. She looked down in surprise, and he merely raised his eyebrows in an 'I told you so' manner.
"Let me put on the condom." Sam frowned at her request, gaze registering his uncertainty. "I promise I'll be careful and I won't...I won't jerk you around too much."
His aroused groan made her smile. "Thank you," she sang, pulling the square wrapper from between his teeth. Sam watched her nimble fingers make efforts to rip the wrapper open. When it wouldn't tear, she caught the edge between her teeth to use the force of her bite. Sam's lips fell apart, dampened and pink, as he stared at her entrancing lips.
Mercedes pulled the lubricated rubber out when she'd broken through the wrapping and tossed the foiled package to the wayside. They each took a steadying breath when her right hand slowly descended between them.
"I'm gonna...just..." She settled the condom on the tip of his cock, rolling it down a centimeter to hold it in place. When she pinched the tip, her thumb unconsciously swiped across the furrow of his glans. His penis jumped, and a second spurt of pre-cum filled the deflated tip soon after.
"Sorry," she said awkwardly. She bit the corner of her lip and carefully slid the condom the rest of the way down his shaft. When she reached the end, Mercedes gave Sam's cock a light squeeze near the base, hoping to stave off some of the pressure her touches had created. Sam nodded in silent thanks.
"I've gotta let you do that more often," he joked, hoping to break some of the sexual tension. Judging from her smile, it worked.
"Only if we get to do this more often." She tenderly replied.
"Oh Mercy, we can do this whenever you want." Sam promised her. The lovers pressed their foreheads together, allowing the moment to wash over them before they moved forward. They were going to be one again. "Ready?"
She nodded, wiggling a bit to ease the tingling in her legs. Even with Sam's support, the strain of holding her own weight up in the position she was in had started to affect her ankles and calves.
"Wrap your legs around me again. I've got you," Sam whispered in her ear, smiling against her cheek. One arm scooped under her ass again, and Mercedes gently eased her feet down one at a time and tucked them behind his back.
Once she was settled, Sam carefully positioned himself against her entrance. "What's the safe word, baby?"
"Home. I...I say home," she said quietly, nodding her consent. With a careful push, he eased inside her, gliding in from the pull of her walls and slip of the condom. He nestled his nose in her neck, breathing in her smell and reveling in the throbbing of her quickened pulse as he entered her. She clawed his back, gasping quietly as his fullness stretched her to her capacity.
"Oh, god. Oh, Sam." The feeling overwhelmed her senses. All she could inhale and feel, the only thing she could taste on her tongue, was him. "Baby, that's so good."
"Yeah." He grunted when he'd reached the hilt of her and his balls swung and slapped against her cushiony behind. "So fucking good."
He closed his eyes and leaned up to kiss her lips, swallowing her tiny squeak when he moved his hips back and pushed in a second time. "Ah, yeah..."
"Is this what you wanted? You like this?"
"I love it, Sam." She rubbed her face in his hair, loving the soft tickle of his downy strands against her face. "More?"
He gave her more, all he could give her. Sam gave her whispers of affection and soft squeezes of her body. He pushed all of himself inside of her until her knees rose in anticipation of him and her hips moved with his as he pulled away. He kissed her like her lungs were his, and every living breath in his body depended on her exhale. Mercedes felt her tears, but didn't care to hide them or wonder why they came. All that mattered was their push and pull, their contracting and releasing, his firm muscles pressing into her soft body until she molded to his shape like a second skin. Their temperatures rose a degree with every thrust, and after thirty minutes, the chase for climax demanded that they move faster.
"Mercy..." Sweat drenched his body until every lock of hair on him lay straight and clung to his skin. Mercedes's curled ends swirled against her wet back, tightening in pattern and bouncing with their thrusts.
"Sam...I'm coming." He wrapped an arm around her waist and powered into her, energized by her words. "Are you-Oh fuck!-" The speed of their fucking made her eyes roll back. Her chest heaved from the coiling in her belly. "Are you coming, baby?"
Sam could only nod into her cleavage and grunt, overwhelmed by her tightness. "S'good." His cock found a spongy spot inside her that made her scream in pleasure, and Sam spent the last of his energies hitting that spot with his cock over and over again until her pretty nails ran down his back. Mercedes tucked herself against him, sensing her how close she was, and seconds later her body wracked with convulsions from her orgasm, jerking against him until her essence dripped from her and trickled down the crook of her ass. "Ahh!"
"Ohhhhh fuuuuccckk Mercy...tight little fucking pussy..." Sam pressed his lips hard into her shoulder as he came, pushing in deep and imagining that every drop of his seed contained in the condom flooded her womb. Mercedes stroked his hair and rolled her hips, whispering how good he felt inside her as he came to help him along.
"Just like that, baby. You feel so good cumming inside me. C'mon, give me everything. Fill me up, baby."
Her cheek against his muffled his whimpers, and when their bodies calmed, he kissed her slowly and let her down to her feet.
"I love you, Sam." He kissed her lips once more pulled her into a hug, nuzzling her temple.
"I love you too, Mercedes." Her small hands rubbed his shoulder blades, and the small laugh that rumbled against his chest filled him with a satisfaction that rivaled their love-making.
O-O
The couple removed their robes and lounged on the bed, laying their naked bodies close together to fulfill their need to be closer. The comforters and decorative pillows had become too cumbersome, so they gathered all the heavy linens and threw them over the small window seat on the deck. Their sheets kept them covered and cool enough to be comfortable.
"Question." Sam began, laying on his front with Mercedes beside him on her back. His fingers drew idle patterns on the inside of her thigh, enjoying her warmth as he watched her finish the last of the cider.
"If you're gonna ask what I think you're gonna ask, then the answer is I need at least fifteen minutes and some Gatorade to recover." She answered, unsuccessfully suppressing a less than lady like burp from the bubbly drink.
Sam chuckled at her forwardness and snatched the bottle, taking a swig and burping behind her. "Not that. But I did come prepared, just in case. The cooler is stocked. I think I snuck some red bull in there, too." The two shared an easy laugh.
"So what was your real question?" Sam pulled part of her sheet away, uncovering her chest to lay his head on her bare breast.
"The first time we made love." He began. "What was it really like for you? Was it special or scary or...?"
"Well, I was really nervous about how I looked the whole time. I didn't want to make any dopey faces or anything. The thought of the pain scared me a little. And I swore that I'd never get over you afterward. It was living big for me. Making love was a mental and physical adventure." She answered. Mercedes rubbed his forearm and ran her fingers through his hair, tugging lightly until he looked up to see her smile. "It was the most special think I've ever shared with a person. I didn't regret it. Why?"
"Nothing, just..." Sam shrugged away the uncomfortable feeling in his chest and lay back down. "My first time wasn't anything like that. It was chaos and rushed and full of regrets. I wasn't in love at all. I wasn't even in deep like." His fingers walked up her stomach and over her free breast, pinching the pert nipple. "It was nothing like what we had. I made sure to be careful and delicate with you." He outlined the curve of her breast with his thumb and circled her areola, like a sculptor shaping her form. "I knew that I'd always remember it. The last thing I wanted was to make the same mistake twice, especially with someone I loved so much." Her free hand joined his on her chest, and Sam tilted his head up to look into her eyes. "I wish that our time was the first time for me. I wish that we could've shared that, just you and me. When you know what the real thing feels like-what it feels like to open up—you kick yourself for cheating with cheap imitations."
"You didn't cheat on me." She told him gently.
"But I did. I didn't wait to find you." He answered. "I should have been strong enough to wait for you like you waited for me. There shouldn't have been other women. All that talk about getting as many girls as you possibly can is bullshit. Guys can feel just as used as girls can."
Mercedes studied his eyes and recognized a familiar pain in them. "You understand, don't you? That feeling." She asked him quietly. "It's how Donovan made me feel. Like I wasn't worth the respect."
"Like you were just a body. A toy." Sam laughed humorlessly and nodded. "Trust me, I know the feeling. You feel less than a person."
"Dehumanizing." Sam frowned at her. "That the word for the feeling. It...it has a name. Dehumanizing."
"Dehumanizing." Sam scraped his tongue with his teeth after he said it, like the word had left a nasty film behind. "It even feels wrong to say it."
"Baby, do you believe that bad things happen to us sometimes because we need to share those moments with someone else?"
"Like, it helps bond people together?" Mercedes nodded in agreement. "Maybe. It sure would explain a helluva lot about my life." He joked. "That's a nice thought. Shaking my ass at Stallionz was all a part of my grand design."
"That's not exactly what I meant." Mercedes giggled.
"You sure?" Sam sat up and sprung to his feet, bouncing lightly on the mattress.
"Sam! What are you doing?" The sight of him standing right in front of her face without a stich of clothing on made her heart skip. "Come down!" she laughed, swatting his thigh.
"Can't! Gotta fulfill my purpose!" he hopped off the bed and ran his dimpled butt to the stereo, putting on an old school slow jam. Gyrating his hips as he sauntered back over to his girl, Sam sang along with the track and gave her a show. "My body all over your body, babe...your body all over my body babe..."
Mercedes excitedly rose to her knees and reached for him, running her hands over his abs. She laughed when he started to body roll against her touch, then licked her lips when she looked down and realized that every other part of him rolled as well. Catching sight of the chocolate massage oil on the night table, Mercedes snatched up the bottle and let the shiny fluid run down his moving chest. Her small hands made quick work of rubbing it into his skin, and their eyes met when she leaned forward and circled her tongue around his nipple.
"I feel like I should pay you." She whispered to him, humming as she pressed the pebbled pink skin between her lips. "But I don't have any money on me."
"I accept favors." Sam groaned when she licked down his chest, pressing gentle kisses to his stomach and around his belly button. "Just like that, Mercy. Love me just like that."
"Sam?" She inquired, nipping the tight skin over his ribs. "I'm curious about something."
"What?" he answered lowly, smiling as she left little love bites across his chest.
"There's something I want to try, but..." Mercedes licked his untouched nipple, suckling it in her mouth. "If I ask you, you have to be honest with me, okay? Don't get embarrassed."
"I'll try my best." He chuckled, sliding his fingers through her hair to rub her scalp. Mercedes inhaled deeply and leaned her head back into his touch. She loved a good scalp massage during their sexy times.
"Now you've got me curious." he told her, pressing her lips harder against his skin with a small push of his hand. "What is it?"
"That...time...in your bedroom." She answered between kisses up his sternum, ending on his chin. "When you were massaging your cock?"
"Oh god..." groaned Sam, pressing the small of her back to pull her body closer to his. She sounded so innocent saying the most erotic things.
"You called my name." Mercedes moaned into her kiss to his lips. "What was that woman doing in the video?" Sam sucked in his lips and inhaled sharply when she pulled her sheet away and tossed it behind her. Her skin felt so hot against his. "What was I doing, baby?"
"Mercy, you...mmph." He couldn't think straight when Mercedes cupped and rolled his balls in her soft hands. "It was a moment of weakness."
"I want to do it for you, Sam." She kissed up his jaw, tickling the underside of his dick with her nails. He pushed his hips slightly towards her touch. "I want to know what she did...so I could do it for you. Don't you want me to?"
"That...is a complicated question." He groaned through her kisses over his neck. "It might be too much."
"Let me judge that." She told him. "Tell me, Sam." Sam pressed his forehead to hers and groaned when she slowly began stroking him. "Tell me every fucking desire you have, baby." She whispered against his lips. Her hooded stare met his in longing. "I'll be better than any video vixen."
His cock firmed and lengthened. "Sit on my face." He panted. The suddenness of his answer threw Mercedes off guard.
"What?" she asked him, blinking in surprise.
"She sat on his face and told him what to do." Sam explained, swallowing hard. "She rode his tongue. That's what I want."
Lust coursed through her from his request, too quickly to suppress the violent shudder that followed.
"I'll suffocate you." She breathed, even as she pushed him down on the bed and climbed atop his body.
"Maybe I like that." Sam smiled, pulling her thighs closer to his head. "Maybe I want to die happy."
Mercedes rose to her knees and aligned herself with his jutted tongue, sinking onto his mouth. Sam started to move immediately. "Oh yes, Sam. Go to work." She panted, rubbing her labia against his full lips. "I love that shit. I love it."
"Tell me what to do, Mercy." He growled, looking up at her as he spread her pussy lips apart and wiggled his tongue across her clit. "Tell me how to make you cum."
"Suck my clit and stop talking." She smiled wickedly, rising slightly on her knees and dropping on his face. He followed her command and greedily ate. "You might choke if you talk with your mouth full." His chuckle between her legs turned her on even more.
Mercedes grabbed the headboard and rode his face, surprising herself with how quickly and recklessly her body reacted to such an unusual position. Maybe it was its difference that excited her. Perhaps Sam had helped her tap into parts of herself she'd never thought to explore before.
"You want my pussy dripping all over you. I know you do." She growled to him, gyrating her hips. Mercedes fell into her dominatrix role with ease. "You like the way I taste, Sammy? It's good, right? Tell me how good."
He praised her with a full mouth, moaning his appreciation.
"That's right. Don't half ass that tongue, daddy. Hard and strong. Shove it in and fuck me like you're hungry for it." His tongue pistoned inside her, curling up and twisting around, performing all kinds of acrobatics to please her. Mercedes glanced up at the mirror in the ceiling, and grinned when she caught him jerking his cock behind her.
"Aww, you need to cum, too? My poor baby." she cruelly teased, squeezing his cheeks with her thighs. "You want me to help?" he nodded, slurping her essence. "Your fist isn't enough, is it?" He violently shook his head, jerking himself faster as he ran his tongue between her lips. "You want inside my tight pussy, don't you?" he nodded again, panting a quick "Yes!" before he coated his lips with her essence. "I want you, too. Make me cum first. I promise I'll make you happy after."
Sam reached up to knead her breasts as she rode his face. Mercedes cupped her hands over his, crying out with each suctioned pull of his mouth over her clit. Within moments, she came, surprising herself and Sam when the force of her orgasm flooded his mouth and made him cough. She slid down his body to allow him to sit up and catch his breath. His lips glistened with her essence, and the syrupy sweet dripped down his chin and over his Adam's apple.
"Lay down." He commanded, breathing heavily. The feathering of his hair across his brow and passion in his eyes made him look like a wild man, untamed and ruthless in his pursuit. "I want you on your back."
Mercedes quickly followed instruction, flipping over and laying herself flat on the mattress. Sam gently lifted her calves and dragged her closer, until her sex was perfectly aligned with his.
"Look up." He ordered. "Watch in the mirror, sweetheart. Watch me fuck you."
Mercedes watched his back straighten in the mirror as he rose above her. From their angle, she got a complete view of her body, glistening and dark from sweat and the glow of the soft lighting in the room. She watched him slip on a condom and lay his hard penis against her parted lips, and the complimenting of their skins pressed together excited her. Sam eased her knees back, opening her fully, and looked up to smile at her reflection.
"I told you we would have fun with this." With one swift thrust of his hips, he was fully inside her, pressing against her thighs to keep her open for their viewing pleasure. Mercedes reached back to grab the edge of the mattress, bracing herself for each push of his hips. Sam closed his eyes and pouted his lips as he moved. It was the first time that Mercedes got to fully enjoy the sight of their union and admire how sexy their bodies looked moving in tandem. Her breasts parted on her chest and jiggled wildly from the reverberation of his hips met hers, and the image of Sam's thickness forcing her lips apart with each push made her feel fuller somehow, amplifying the sensations.
Experimenting, she reached down to touch herself, and found that the sight of her masturbating while Sam was inside her pleased her just as much as the feeling.
Sam smiled at the image of her rubbing her clit. "You see how sexy you look when I'm fucking you, don't you? You need to touch yourself, sweetheart?" Mercedes nodded eagerly, meeting his eyes in the mirror. "That's alright. Go right ahead and tease that clit. Go right ahead."
She watched him lean down and capture her nipple between his teeth, nibbling slightly as he continued his thrusts. He laid his cheek flat against her chest to give her full view of his mouth as he nipped and suckled her skin, then moved up to litter the side of her neck with kisses. Mercedes ran her hands across his flexing back and pulled him closer, sighing when their chests finally met and pressed together. His ass clenched against the soles of her feet with every ease inside her.
"Sam." Sam picked her up and sat her on his lap, spreading her ass apart as he continued his thrusts. Mercedes leaned in to bite his bottom lip, and their movements became so needy and frenzied that she accidently drew a bit of blood. The pain only seemed to set Sam off even more. He threw her body back down on the bed and quickly flipped her over to enter her from behind.
But the moment her chin hit the mattress, Mercedes felt everything change. Her heart raced in panic. Her eyes closed and tightened in fear of the body behind her. The smell of truck exhaust and cheap cologne overwhelmed her senses, but she was suddenly too terrified to look back and check. Her limbs grew stiff. She couldn't fight back. The body had her trapped. The body nudged her thighs apart and pushed his member inside of her, eager to get themselves off without concern for her well-being. She knew there was a way to stop this without fighting, a fail-safe, but her sane thoughts were clouded by her alternate reality.
"Mmmph!" her moans weren't of pleasure, but the two sounds were indistinguishable. Sam kissed the back of her neck and quickened his thrusts, leaning over to lick the shell of her ear. She shivered from the touch of his wet tongue. Sam believed that her silence was, like all other times before, an indication of her impending orgasm.
"You like me tapping it from behind? Owning that ass?" he whispered roughly, nipping her earlobe. "I always knew that...
"...you liked it dirty." Sam's voice blended with the memory of Donovan's, and for a moment, Mercedes couldn't separate the reality from the memory. There's a word, screamed her brain. Say the word and it's all over.
"Sam..." she cried out, calling for his help, tears buried in the mattress as she held on for dear life. Her anguished plea blended into her impending orgasm, and she silently cursed her body for betraying her yet again. Sam sped up even more, laying his cheek against the top of her head as his own orgasm came.
"Oh, baby. Baby, I'm about..."
"To come. I'm about to come inside you, Mercedes. You want that?"
"NO! GET OFF!" she screamed to Donovan's voice. The body stopped moving behind her. When he finally slipped out of her, she got up and sprinted to the corner of the room.
"Mercedes?" Her cries confused and frightened him. "What's wrong? What happened?"
She trembled violently, like she had been submerged in icy water. Instinctively, he walked over to touch her shoulder. The stinging clap across her cheek nearly threw him off his feet.
"NO, DONOV...Oh!" Mercedes looked up and gasped in her hands, realizing that she had hit her love instead of the man that hurt her. "Oh, god. Sam...Sam, I'm so sorry!"
Sam eased himself to the ground and leaned back against the bed, clutching his cheek in shock. "Mercy?"
"I couldn't remember! The word, I...I tried to remember and I couldn't!" Fresh tears welled in her eyes when she saw the hurt in his. "I didn't mean to call you that. I know that it's you. I just panicked and I freaked out! Oh god!" She pulled her knees in and rocked herself, reeling from her mind's relapse. "Damn it! It was going so well! I'm so sorry, Sam! It was all going so well!"
"What...happened?" he asked quietly, wiggling his jaw to ease some of the pain. "Did I do something?"
"Just go away. Please. I don't want you here right now. I don't want you around me like this." She sniffled, burying her face against her thighs. Her heart was still pounding. "Please leave."
"But, Mercedes, I love you. What's wrong?" She ignored him, keeping silent. "Talk to me, damn it! Tell me what's wr—"
"I SAID LEAVE!" She screamed, hoarse from sobbing. He tried to touch her knee, but she hid herself beside the night table and slapped his hand away. Sam recoiled, more hurt by her rejection than his stinging cheek.
"I'll just...I'll be upstairs alright?" She continued to rock and sob, harder than before. "Okay."
Sam picked up his strewn bathrobe from the floor and threw it on, tying it closed as he walked up the stairs. When the cool outside air hit his face, the haze cleared, and it hit him that everything he'd just experienced had actually happened. It wasn't a nightmare. It wasn't a worst case scenario he'd created in his mind. Mercedes was actually huddled in a corner, afraid of him like he'd feared she might be.
Could he have done something differently? Was he too rough?
Sam knew that he could sit and rack his brain for hours, but never get an answer that satisfied his guilt. She would have to tell him why.
She'd almost called him Donovan. In her mind, something he'd done reminded her of Donovan. It sickened him to think about it.
"What do I do now? Should I go back? What do I say to her?" he asked the stars. They were as silent as he'd expected them to be. Perhaps heaven had frowned at his conduct, too.
What had Dr. Taylor told him in therapy? They had discussed this very moment, in case their night together ended disastrously. What resolution had they come to?"
O-O
Sam's 15th appointment
Dr. Taylor's office
Saturday, 9:35am
"I'm just afraid that one day she'll look at me and only see him. That I'll do something that makes her lose her trust in me. I don't know what I'd do then." Dr. Taylor handed Sam the tissue box to dry his tears. Sam pulled a few sheets and cocked his head to discreetly wipe his eyes. "I mean, how do you know if you're...like Donovan? I'd heard about him before...seen him around. He seemed like a normal person. I would never guess that he was the type of person that he was. What if I have a part of me like that and I don't know it?"
"You do." Dr. Taylor answered. "All men do. You have everything it takes to be a rapist."
Sam seemed visibly unsettled by his answer. "That's not what you're supposed to say."
"Really?" asked the doctor. "Why do you say that? You don't think it's true?"
"It doesn't matter what I think is true. You're the expert. You're supposed to tell me that I'm different. You're supposed to tell me how to fix my fears. You're not supposed to label me." Sam told him, growing angry. "What kind of counselor tells his client that they're a rapist?"
"The kind of counselor that's honest with his client. Look, the word is unsettling to hear, but we live in a culture that allows men to think that way and behave that way without giving their actions a negative connotation. When we act forcefully, when we ignore a woman's protest in the chase to win her affections, we call all of those things 'being men.' You've learned it and so have I. We're all potential rapists, Sam."
"So, there's no hope for me? For us?" Sam frowned. The lack of a resolution broke his heart.
"Now, I didn't say that, Sam. You're jumping the gun." chided the doctor. "I told you that we're all potential rapists. That's just going off of human nature and behavior alone. We're all born with the potential to do good or evil. It's called a sin nature. We all have the propensity or the tendency to do wrong things. We have to actively choose to be different. If you want to see a change, be the change, Sam."
"I don't understand at all. You lost me at the big words." Sam told him, eyes red rimmed and puffy. "How can I be the change?"
"If you don't want to hurt her like Donovan did, then actively work not to, Sam. You're off to a great start. You've sought therapy to get a handle on your problems. But know that loving a sexual assault survivor means that you will do things unintentionally that might trigger memories. Talk it out. Tell her that you'll give her space. Remind her that you will never be like the ones that hurt her before because you're going to work on how you interact as a couple. You care too much to resort to force. It might sound silly, but—"
"It doesn't sound silly at all." Sam whispered, shaking his head. "But, how can I make sure that I don't go too far? How do I prevent my sin nature from taking over? Am I strong enough?"
"No." Dr. Taylor answered. "But we serve a God that is. It's gonna take God and an active fighting will to assure her, Sam. It's gonna take both of those things to change the way you view yourself. You are only a monster if you allow yourself to be. Like Mercedes, you aren't destined to be a victim. You can win. Remember the anchor in your relationship. Remember that God is and always will be the life preserver in your darkest, deepest waters. You will never drown. Fight for her. Fight with her. He will always carry you both ashore."
"I don't deserve her love, Dr. Taylor." Sam quietly confessed.
"Perhaps not, Sam. That's a decision you have to make. But you have it anyway, right? Why not cherish it?" Dr. Taylor smiled, patting his shoulder. "Besides, I've gotten to know you pretty well these past couple of sessions. You may think that you don't deserve her, but I can guarantee that she deserves you. No questions asked."
O-O
Deciding to be the change, Sam got up off his butt, rubbed his face, and went back downstairs to mend what had been broken. He found her in the very same corner he'd left her in a few minutes ago, curled up into herself.
Instead of trying to touch her, Sam sat across from her and mirrored her position. He knew she had sensed his presence from the way her feet drew away from his, but they both chose not to acknowledge it.
"Father God?" Sam began aloud. "It's Sam. I'm sitting here with my girlfriend Mercedes...your daughter, Mercedes...and she's hurting and scared because of something that happened tonight. I'm not sure what I did to frighten her, but I do know that what I think and feel doesn't matter to me right now. What matters is her."
Since Sam's eyes were closed, he didn't catch Mercedes peek above her folded arms to look at him.
"God, this was our biggest fear...well, my biggest fear, really. I was afraid that this might happen tonight. But now that it has, I realized that you're the only one that can fix it. Please assure Mercedes that she is safe with me. Help her to know that I wouldn't do anything to intentionally hurt her. And if and when I do hurt her, because I'm human and imperfect, help her to understand that I will fight until my last breath to make it right. Heal whatever hurts inside of her, God. Touch the places I can't touch. Bandage her wounds. As much as I want to, I know that it's not in my power. You loved me enough to give her to me, and I love her enough to give her back so you can help her." Sam paused a moment, feeling a strange touch over his own heart. He felt a sense of peace he couldn't explain, even though nothing had been fixed.
"And God, help me to realize that I deserve to be loved by Mercedes. I deserve someone as special as her in my life. She is a gift, and I will treat her like the blessing she is for the rest of my life. We weren't brought together because of anything we'd done, but because you loved us enough to bless us with true happiness. Thank you. I thank you now for fixing everything. I thank you now for being in control when we can't be. And I thank you most for being our anchor in the deepest, darkest waters. Please lead us ashore. In Jesus's name, amen."
Sam opened his eyes to meet hers. "Hi, sweetheart."
"Hi, Sam." She said quietly, remaining in her corner. "That was a nice prayer."
"I meant it." Her toes crept out to touch his own, and Sam took the small gesture for the connection that it was. "Look, you don't have to explain anything. I know that this must be hellish for you. But, I'm not leaving. I'll give you space, I'll walk away for a little while, but I promise that I'll always come back, okay?"
Mercedes said nothing, only watched his mouth move. Her hair fell over her right eye and most of her left, concealing her vision, but Sam knew that she was listening and watching him carefully.
"I'm gonna go lay down in bed. That's where I'll be. When you're ready, you can join me. We can talk if you want." Sam nodded at her silence, taking it as her answer. He stood and climbed into bed, covering himself with their sheets. Surprisingly, sleep overtook him in minutes.
When he was awoken by her small hand on his chest, it felt like he'd been out for less than a minute. One glance at their clock told him that an hour had passed.
He sat up to greet her, and realized that her eyes were newly swollen from fresh tears. Mercedes opened her mouth to speak, but quickly decided against it. Instead, she slowly pulled his sheet away and exposed his body.
Wordlessly, she reached over to the night table drawer. When she pulled out a condom, Sam gently took her hand in his.
"We don't have to. You don't owe me." He softly told her, kissing her knuckle. She nodded.
"I love you. And I'm so sorry." She whispered, slowly leaning in to kiss his lips. Sam barely returned her kiss, unsure of how to respond. "You're not him. You're my Sam. I love you."
When she climbed on his lap and covered them, he didn't protest. She pressed his chest to lie him down, then opened the condom and slid it on him. His erection from earlier hadn't completely disappeared.
"Mercedes, what is this?" Sam asked, trying to understand her actions.
"I deserve...someone like you...loving me." The words seemed to take great effort for her to say. "And you deserve my love, too."
Sam's eyes watered at her words. She couldn't even begin to understand how much he needed to hear that. "Yes." He nodded, biting his lip. "Yes, I do."
Mercedes rose on her knees and slid him inside her, sinking her hips inch by inch until he was fully sheathed in her body. She didn't move for a long while. It seemed as if she was allowing herself to grow accustomed to him again, letting herself trust enough to move. Instead, in the silence, she studied his face with her hands, tracing the curve of his closed eyelids and the structure of his chin.
"Home." She whispered, feeling safety with him. "Sam." Sam was her heart's safe word.
He watched her to pull his hands to her hips, and when his thumbs smoothed over the sensitive skin there, she began to rock against him.
"Sam." She moaned, lifting his hands to her breasts and running them down her body. His rougher hands against her softer skin made her tingle.
Sam sat up and leaned forward to kiss her cheek, then her neck as she continued to move on his lap. She tucked her head underneath his and hugged him close. Feeling their orgasm grow nearer, Sam rocked with her, gripping her thighs and thrusting every so often to hear her whimper.
"Baby." She whispered against his skin, clawing his back with desperate need. She clenched around him, and the moment he felt her come triggered his own release. There were no yells or cries of pleasure. All that sounded in the room was their soft pants of breath as they calmed.
When her trembling ceased, Mercedes lifted her head and smiled at him. Sam smiled back and kissed her, lingering against her lips with a sigh.
He laid them down, with her on top of him, and moved to turn her to her side. She halted him with a hand to her chest and shook her head.
"Don't pull out." She begged him. "Not yet."
Sam understood. He didn't want to end their union either.
"Okay." He replied, lifting her leg over his thigh. Soon, she grew limp and snored against his chest.
Sam felt his own drowsiness return. They hadn't gotten much sleep at all tonight, and the emotional upheaval of the past hour had drained the last of his energy.
But, before he fell asleep, Sam reached down beside him to reach for the small velvet box in his pants pocket. He flicked it open with his thumb to admire the ring inside, then looked down to admire the slumbering beauty laying against him, and made a decision.
Only put that ring on one finger, son. His father's words softly rang in his ears. And never take it off, no matter what happens. You hear?
"No matter what happens." Sam repeated aloud, taking the ring out of its placeholder. Mercedes stirred slightly when he shifted to place the box on the night table beside them, but never woke. Her left hand endearingly moved along his chest until it rested over his heart. Its steady beats lulled her back into a steady, snoring slumber.
Sam kissed the diamond, then kissed her wrinkled brow just as gently, and slid the ring on her wedding finger where it belonged. The sun had just begun to rise over the clouds, and the soft filtering of its early beams peeked through the curtains to light his love's face.
Yes, he was sure of it. His heart and mind had decided. This woman, with her complex history and changing moods, would someday be his wife.
"No matter what happens." With a yawn, Sam closed his eyes and finally fell asleep, hugging her protectively.
O-O
With new mornings came fresh truths. Sam had been an early riser all of his life; since the womb according to his mother. Something about the sight of a glorious ball of light rising from the darkness gave him hope. He would wake a little after five on his most impoverished mornings in Kentucky to watch and say a silent prayer to God, hoping that He could orchestrate such a miraculous rise from nothingness for him and his family.
But when Sam woke up on this particular morning, he had already missed the grand artist at work. The sun had already found its place and shone brightly through the small spaces between the blinds. The room was overpowered by its light and warmth, overtaking Sam's senses and startling him awake a little after seven.
His arms squeezed instinctively around the soft fullness next to him. It took mere seconds for his mind to register the difference between soft breasts and a foam pillow.
"Mercedes?" Sam sat up and wiped his eyes clear of a few hours' slumber to look around. She wasn't on the window seat or in the bathroom. The pillows were in the exact same organized chaos they had left it in last night, and the bathroom mirrors were free of the telling precipitation from a fresh shower. The lights were off and the towels near the door appeared undisturbed.
"Mercedes? Baby?" He stood up, slid on his tuxedo pants, and walked toward the spiral steps leading to the top deck to call her again. "Mercy?"
Sam had the presence of mind to grab a small black book from the side table and run upstairs. More alert from concern, all of the memories from last night came back to him in flashes of images, reminding him of all that happened. Mercedes in the tub and covered in bubbles, eating strawberries from his hand...him behind her, disrobing their bodies in front of the mirror...the massage that led to fondling and generous kisses between her legs...her moans of pleasure underneath him as he eased himself inside of her for the first time in months...
It was all so vivid.
His feet moved double time at his most haunting memory...her cowering in the corner, hiding her face behind her knees in complete fear of him. The name Donovan had slipped from her lips loudly enough to break his heart.
"Mercy?!" the onslaught of unfiltered sunlight made him wince, but he pressed on, searching all corners of the deck. His girlfriend was nowhere to be found.
"Mercedes, where the hell are...?" A soft, bright strumming of music caught his ears, faint but clearly live. He followed the plucking sounds of a guitar, a sound he knew all too well, rounding the corner until it grew louder and stronger near the captain's quarters.
He opened the small white door, and there she was on the plush guest couch behind the captain's chair, bare-faced and wrapped in the white cotton sheets that smelled like their colognes mingled together.
"Hi!" she said hoarsely, sounding like weary joy. "Were you looking for me? Did I wake you? I didn't mean to, baby. I woke up this morning and had this sudden urge to play. It was only gonna be a couple of minutes, but I got carried away. I found it leaning against the railing. Listen, I'm getting so much better!"
Her soft smile as she played reminded him that they hadn't ended their night with unhappiness. She had smiled over him in that same way, riding him slowly as she whispered his name over and over in repentance for comparing his touches to her attacker's. The way he remembered her after, the trust in her eyes, relieved his bleary mind. The stress he'd woken up with melted away and a tiny smile of his own crept its way through.
"It sounds beautiful, baby," he said softly, ducking in the small space to sit behind her and wrap his arms around her waist. She wriggled back to lean more intimately against him and tilted her head, inviting him closer. Sam took the hint and happily perched his chin on her shoulder. His smacking kiss to her cheek made Mercedes smile, and she paused her playing to look at him.
"What was that for?" she asked, eyes dancing.
"For last night," his gravelly voice answered, hugging her tighter.
"Oh." She bit her lip to suppress a grin, refocusing her attention to her fingers' positions on the guitar strings.
"Lauryn Hill." Sam guessed aloud, identifying the familiar melody after she'd played awhile.
"Mhmm. Which song?" she asked him, continuing to play. "Guess. You inspired it."
"I'm gonna kick myself later, but I can't remember for the life of me. I'm sure you played it before." If his focus was more on the song, Sam probably would have been able to name it. But, he just couldn't get over how peaceful she'd looked. Her whole demeanor had relaxed; softer in face and calmer in spirit. Sam struggled to pinpoint what had changed since last night, but he'd hoped that their bonding time had something to do with the way she glowed today. Mercedes looked sure of things, mended together on the inside and wholly aware of it. "Just tell me the name of the song. I'm a terrible guesser."
Instead of telling him, Mercedes played the song from its beginning and started to sing. "The sweetest thing I've ever known..."
"Of course," Sam chuckled. How could he forget that one? She'd played it for him on the beach in California.
"...Is like a kiss on the collar bone." Sam swept her hair away and pressed a gentle kiss to her clavicle. "Sam!" she giggled.
"What? I thought it was interactive!" he insisted, smiling unapologetically.
She playfully rolled her eyes and continued. "Soft caress of happiness…" Mercedes closed her eyes when he rubbed his cheek against hers and began to sway. The soft prickling of his beard brushing against her skin as they moved made her stomach flip. His fingers idly drew circles around her covered bellybutton, and a sigh escaped her from the memory of last night's touches. "The way you walk...your style of dress..."
"I inspired this?" Sam asked, impressed. She hummed her answer. "Wow."
"I wish I didn't get so weak..." Mercedes turned her face, looking into his eyes on the last line. "Ooh baby, just to hear you speak..."
"Is that right?" Sam asked slyly, kissing her neck.
Mercedes moaned and nodded. "Makes me argue just to see how much you're in love with me."
"Now you know that's not necessary." Sam bent his head to kiss up her bare arm, murmuring his affections between each kiss up to her shoulder. "I wuv you, I wuv you, I wuv you."
She giggled at his silliness and the tickle of his lips. Sam followed each kiss with a gentle stroking of his fingers, enjoying the silkiness of her skin. "You're so beautiful, Mercedes."
"See, like a queen, a queen on her throne...you are the sweet, sweetest thing I've known," she sang in reply, leaning her head against his as he touched her.
"I get mad when you walk away..." Sam began, surprising the hell out of her. Her shock amused him, and he gestured for her to join him. "So I tell you leave..."
"When I mean stay," they sung in harmony. Mercedes didn't bother suppressing her wide smile this time. They hadn't sung a duet in a while, and she'd forgotten how well their voices blended together. Music had always been her personal way of expressing her emotions, but it felt so fitting to share a song with the one man who knew her so intimately.
"Warm as the sun dipped in black..." Sam continued, nuzzling the sensitive spot behind her ear as he sang.
Mercedes jumped a bit in his arms, and then laughed when he slowly pulled away a corner of the sheet wrapped around her, exposing more of her lower back and part of her left breast. The cool touch of his fingers gliding across her shoulder blades made her shiver.
"Fingertips on the small of my back..." Mercedes arched her back and nodded for him to move lower. Sam traced each letter of his full name down her spine, writing his L over and over in the dip of her back.
"More valuable than all I own..." he sung as she moaned, reaching up to trace the curve of her jaw. Playing while Sam touched her was becoming increasingly difficult.
"Like your precious..." he sang, kissing her temple. "Precious..." He kissed her forehead. "Precious, precious, precious, precious..." He kissed her closed eyelids and the bridge of her nose, saving her lips for last. "Dark skin tone..."
Sam took Mercedes's hands away from the guitar and set the instrument aside, kissing her right wrist down to the tip of her middle finger.
"Like a queen..." she sang.
"You're my queen..."
"A queen on her throne..."
Acapella, their words held more power. As Sam moved to kiss down her left wrist, a sizable rock on her ring finger scratched his cheek and brought yet another memory back to him. In his drowsy search for her, he had forgotten about his acceptance of her proposal. Sam pulled back to stare at the sparkling diamond on her finger, glowing purple from the small amethyst nestled in its center, and the urgency he'd felt this morning had returned with a vengeance.
I put this on her finger. Sam's heart thundered in his chest when her eyes flickered to the ring. She knows I put it there.
Would she want to take it back, now that they were both fully awake and the haze of last night's wonder had faded away?
Mercedes smiled slowly fell away, and boldly, she clasped his hand and continued to sing, hoping her words would allay his fears.
"It was the sweet, sweetest thing I've known..."
And Sam internally sighed in relief for the second time that morning. She remembers. He could see it register in her eyes.
"So, did...did the ring inspire this song?" he asked shyly, clearing his throat and looking down at his lap as he addressed her.
"Kind of," she answered, her voice just as gentle and careful. "Is it like…a promise ring or..?"
Sam's head shot up, and his sage green eyes darted between her warm, hopeful sable ones in confusion. "Don't you remember what you asked me? Last night?"
She nodded, chuckling away her timidity. "I do. I just didn't want to assume and embarrass myself."
"Oh, there's no assuming sweetheart. I want you to be my wife. The ring is my way of saying yes." The shock and question in her eyes confused him even more. "Do you still say yes?"
When she started to worry her lip, he interrupted her. "Look, before you tell me no and come up with all these reasons why we shouldn't be engaged, I just want you to know that I respect the fact that you want to wait until you win your first Grammy to get married. But, being engaged doesn't technically count as marriage, right? I mean, it's like intent to marry, not actually saying the vows and everything. And we can still finish school and go after our dreams together like we said we would. There's no pressure or rush or anything!" Sam panicked when her eyes started to water, but kept going, hoping to convince her.
"Look, I know that I'm not as good with words as you are. Telling you I love you is the best way I knew how to say what I felt. I couldn't find anything else that matched up. But, you taught me that words have power, that there's life in them. I want my words to give you life. I want to tell you something new every day and always make you feel like you're hearing it for the first time. So, I looked up a thesaurus and found all of the words that mean something close to love. I have a whole book of them with me, one for each day of the year and then some. Before you answer, I'd like to read some of them to you."
"Oh, Sam..." Her eyes flooded with tears when he fished out a small black book from his back pocket. As he flipped through the lined pages, Mercedes could see endless scribbles of his scraggly handwriting. Sam took to one knee and clasped her hand in his, holding his book with the other.
"I'm enamored with you," he began, glancing at her as he read. "I'm fond of you. I fancy you. I adore you. I cherish you..."
"Sam, please." His words wrung her heart. Her arm trembled in his, and she felt ready to collapse from the cavalcade of emotions.
"Oh, this one's my favorite." He skimmed through his book until he spotted his word near the back. "I have a hankerin' for you. Doesn't that sound like such a country way to say it? Hankerin'..." He chuckled at his own joke. "I'm enraptured with you. I hold fond affection for you. I desire you with all of my heart. You pierce my soul. I exist for your happiness. I...well, maybe I should save some for later. That is, if you still want me to." Sam paused when rivers of water streamed down his love's cheeks and dampened her neck. Her face crumpled, and she let go of him to cloak her face in her hands. Sam caught her as she fell to her knees in front of him, and then coaxed her out of hiding with a gentle nudge to her chin. When she finally looked up, her eyes were a bruised pink and still endlessly streaming. He smoothed her wrinkled brow and smiled at her, hoping to get her to speak.
"You don't understand...what this means to me...right now," she said between gasping sobs. "You were there when I...when he...and you still want..." She couldn't finish a thought without growing overwhelmed again. "You've seen everything, Sam. Every scar, every panic attack, every bruise...and you just…you kissed the broken places over and over again. You could have been killed because of me, but you didn't run away. You never left once. Anyone would have...I would have...left me." Mercedes sniffled and dabbed her nose, breathing deeply so her words would make sense. "You were with me through all of it. And now, after everything I put us through..." She held up her newly adorned finger between them, arching her knuckles to display her ring. "You want forever?"
"There is no one else for me. Don't you see that? You're number one," he told her, wiping her eyes with his thumbs as he cupped her face. "There is absolutely no one else as right for me as you. I've looked. Mercedes, when you told me that we should just be friends, I was lifeless. I moved away for a year, got into so much trouble, dabbled in things I shouldn't have looking for something to fill the void you'd left in me. All I wanted was someone who could fill in that blank after 'I want to spend the rest of my life with.' It's Mercedes Jones and it always will be. I want to spend the rest of my life on this earth with Mercedes Jones, my best friend in every sense of the word. You're the one who never left me, whether you realize it or not. I was running away from the memories of us, and you were building a tree house for me, hoping that I would come back to see it. You found someone else who wanted to be with you, someone who wanted to love you and marry you, and you still save your heart for me. You offered your life when someone else threatened to take mine. And after all he put you through, after Donovan tried to destroy you, you still found the courage to trust me enough to love you. I'll never find someone so special anywhere else." She hugged him when sobs began again, and they locked their holds in each other's embrace, gripping like vices to the life their love had brought them. "Oh, sweetheart." He whispered lovingly, throat constricting from emotion. "My father told me to put that ring on one finger, only when I'm absolutely sure. And I'm sure of you and me, no question. I just know, like..." Sam started to tear up as well and nestled his nose in her hair, inhaling her scent. "I know like you're encoded in my DNA."
She chuckled and kissed his cheek, squeezing his waist even tighter. "And I know like you're written underneath my skin," she replied, nuzzling his neck.
"So, is that a yes?" he asked hopefully, leaning back to meet her eyes. "And before you answer, I have to say that I've never cried for any other woman except my mother. That has to give me bonus points or something. And I don't think that they re-issue the man card after you end up on your knees sobbing over a woman, so please be merciful."
She laughed again, heartier and fuller, until she toppled her over into his chest. "Before I answer, I just want to go on record and say that I asked you to marry me first."
"Oh! Another blow to my ego!" he exclaimed, groaning as he clutched his heart. "Now you've gotta say yes or I'll never recover. Don't do me like that, Jones!"
"Evans." she said quietly, so quietly that he'd almost missed it in the midst of his antics.
"What?" Sam stilled and watched as she slid off the string he'd tied around her engagement finger and tossed it to the side, wriggling down the diamond and metal to cover the small indentation it had left behind.
"I said Evans. You can't call me Jones if we're engaged." She smiled at the brightening of his eyes. "I'm gonna be an Evans now."
He took a moment to let her words wash over him. Evans. It sounded so wonderful coming from her. "Yes, you are," he said rapturously, rubbing her cheek. "My missus Evans."
"Yours period," she replied, leaning into his touch. "But I've always been yours, haven't I?"
"You always will be," he told her certainly. "Because I know for a fact that I am not letting you go ever again. You'd have to be the one to leave me darlin', and that's after I lasso you down and tie you to your bed."
"I don't think that's going to happen." she murmured, leaning into his lips. "See, this ring means that I'll never be gone too long. It's like our home base. If we ever separate, this promise we've made will always pull us back."
"I like that. Our home base." Sam smiled, stealing a kiss. "Makes it sound like a cool space mission or something."
"To infinity and beyond, Sammy." Mercedes smiled back, thieving a much slower, passionate kiss.
Sam grunted a laugh while they were still joined. "To infinity and beyond..." he replied. He carefully studied her features, etching her joy in his memory like one of his illustrations. "...my Mercy."
"Sam?"
"Hmm?"
"My knees are starting to hurt," she chuckled, wrapping the sheet more tightly around her body. "And I'm still naked."
"But I like you naked." He laughed, standing up. "I like you naked and in my bed. I like you naked in my head. I like you naked on this boat. I like you naked in a coat."
"Really, Sam?" She laughed, taking his hand and lifting to her feet. "Sam I am?"
"And I do not like green eggs and ham." Sam winced at his own terrible humor. "Man, my jokes are corny."
"The first step is acceptance, babe." Mercedes told him, patting his cheek. "I'll still humor you."
They walked back downstairs to their room and settled on their bed. Sam took off his pants and opened the sheets around Mercedes, laying his naked body on top of hers. Their limbs tangled in their self-made cocoon, ankles wrapped around ankles and fingers entwined together.
"So, when did you suddenly become Carlos Santana?" Sam joked, groaning when she shifted under him. "I thought you were still at that beginner's stage. Been practicing without me, huh?"
"I do a lot of things by myself when you're not around, Sam." She teased, smiling seductively. "Told you I was gonna learn it quickly. Now, you have to learn how to play the piano." Sam pouted his bottom lip and hid his face in her neck, shaking his head. Mercedes sucked her teeth at his childishness, nudging his heavy head off of her with a shrug . "It's not even that hard! I can teach you. You've already gotten most of the basics down since you already play an instrument. Plus, you have long fingers that are perfect for—"
"Fucking?" She moaned and bit her lip when two of his fingers suddenly slipped inside her.
"Mhmm!." She happily hummed, moving her hips in time to his slow and even strokes. Her body responded quickly, shuddering as she came, and fought to keep him close with soft clenches that pulled him deeper. She slowly drew his fingers out of her when she'd had her fill, and Sam licked his lips as he watched her rub them against her tongue and suckle them clean of her essence. "Mmm." She smacked her lips and hummed in delight. "I taste better on your fingers than on mine."
"See, you're gonna kill me if you keep talking like that." Sam smiled at her giggle.
"Guitar was a harder transition for me, though," she said, returning to their conversation. "My fingers are so short! Besides, I'm still only doing the easy stuff. That song was nothing but a bunch of chords. I can do a chord. Chords are easy."
"Chords are easy?" he scoffed, amused by her pompousness.
"Super easy. Easy like you." She parted her thighs and nudged him closer, wrapping her legs around his waist. She licked her lips when he grew firmer and lengthened against her pussy. "You're my sexual chord."
Sam snorted a laugh. "Your sexual chord? Really?" Mercedes suggestively wiggled her eyebrows, making him laugh again. "This is going to be the weirdest, freakiest engagement ever, isn't it?"
Mercedes rested a hand over her heart. "I solemnly promise to turn you out, Mr. Evans," she vowed with a wink. "All day, every day. Scout's honor."
Sam shook his head and kissed her for her adorableness. "I believe it, Evans. I believe it."
O-O
Forgive any errors, please. This chapter is gargantuan! I will re-read it and revise as needed later on. Until then…..
What did you think? And please know that I'm far from done with this story and its many angsty layers, so I will continue writing. Hope it satisfied!
