Thank you for your continued support, even as this story is about to come to an end. I sincerely appreciate it.

Standard disclaimer.

Just one more chapter left.

SAM

Once those words left my mouth, I knew it was the right thing to say. There was no doubt in my mind. It was what I should've said years ago, from the first moment I realized, how deep my feelings for Mercedes ran.

And there was a good chance it was too late now, but a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

I had spilled the truth. I didn't expect my apologies to be enough right now, but telling her how I felt, could open a door for later. At least, that's what I hoped.

But the longer Mercy was quiet, the more worried I become.

She looked a little dumbstruck. And she didn't move.

Her hands were limp in her lap, palms up, and her pretty, lush lips were parted, as she stared at me.

It felt like I'd been punched in the gonads.

Had I messed up so badly, that my declaration of love, had blown her mind in all the wrong ways?

Aww man, I didn't like this feeling.

Most likely, I deserved it, but that didn't make it easier to swallow, especially, when her eyes turned glassy, as if she were fighting tears.

I hadn't planned on that...not at all.

"Mercy, baby, say something, please." I dropped my hands on my thighs, to stop myself from grabbing her. "Please."

She gave a little shake of her head, causing a few shorter strands of hair, to slip free from her bun.

Dark tendrils brushed her temples and the nape of her neck. Then, she leaned forward, and before I knew what she was doing, she cupped my cheeks with trembling hands.

Okay. This was good. This was heading somewhere I'd...

"I want to strangle you," she said, her voice hoarse.

All right, that wasn't good. Not at all.

"You have no idea, how badly I want to kick you right now," she added.

And that was worse. This wasn't...

"I love you," she said, and she swallowed. "I've loved you since you pushed me down on the playground. I swear...I've loved you since then."

"I...what?" I stared at her. "What did you just say?"

She kissed me.

Her lips were soft against mine, the touch was hesitant and breathtakingly her and so damn sweet.

I inhaled her through the kiss, pulling her deep into me.

My brain shut down, as I reveled in her kiss, like a dog rolling onto his back for a belly rub.

I rose without thinking, my hands falling to her hips, and she grabbed my upper arms, her fingers digging into my sweater, in a way, that had my entire body throbbing.

"Say it again," I pleaded.

Her lips curved up at the corners.

"I love you, Sam."

A shudder rolled through me.

Immediately, I lifted her up and set her down further on the bed, then came over her, kissing her deeply.

In seconds, our bodies were flush with one another, as my tongue swept passed her lips, causing her to moan and sending a thrill through me.

Her hands ran down my back and mine found their way under her heavy sweater, against her camisole.

She arched, as if willing my hand to travel further north. And I rose slightly, my gaze drifting over her pretty face, and her darkened brown orbs.

The hard tips of her breasts, strained against the thin material and my body shook with the effort, to not strip her bare.

My hand looked incredibly large, splayed across her stomach, directly under her breasts. Whoa! I needed to slow it down, but I was aching to be inside her, to have nothing between us.

Mercy reached up, running the tips of her fingers along my jaw. And I pressed into the gesture, closing my eyes, as I willed my heart to slow down.

"You love me?" she asked.

"Always have," I said, pressing my lips to the center of her palm. "I know I've had a shitty way of showing it, but I've loved you since you made me eat mud pie."

She trailed her hand to my chest, stopping above my heart.

"Yeah, I'd say it's a pretty weird way."

I opened my eyes, ready to apologize more, then I saw the soft smile on her face, and my heart actually jumped in my chest.

I opened my mouth, but I was beyond words, as my gaze traveled over her face.

"Honest?" I asked.

"Honest," she whispered.

"I really didn't think you saw me, as anything other than a friend." I lowered my head, kissing her lips, because they looked like they were lonely. "And I didn't realize I wanted more, until you got with Nathan, and I figured by then, it was too late. Even after you guys broke up, it seemed like I'd missed my chance."

Her brows pulled down.

"Why didn't you ever say anything?"

"Why didn't you?"

She pursed her lips.

"The same as you. I didn't think you saw me, as anything other than a friend and the..."

"I know. The girls..." I pressed my forehead against hers. "...I thought I couldn't have you, so I wanted to forget about how I felt. It was a terrible idea."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Yeah, it was."

My past really took the horn out of horny.

"I wish I could go back and change those things. I wish..."

She placed a finger on my lips, a finger that smelled of cocoa.

"It's in the past. There's nothing we can do about that. And hey, I could've said something...or developed some lady balls."

"Lady balls?" I raised my brows.

"Uh-huh."

I made a face, as I eased onto my side, beside her.

"I really don't want to think of you with balls, Mercy."

She giggled then, and the sound brought a smile to my face.

I caught the light, happy sound with my lips, kissing her, just because I could.

"If you had, I would've..." I shook my head. "It doesn't matter. It's about what I'll do now. That's all that matters. I'll spend the rest of my life making up for it. I promise."

At first, I thought I had said the wrong thing, because, tears welled up in her eyes so quickly and she rolled onto her side, burying her face against my chest.

Oh shit! I had most definitely said something wrong. And that quickly. Wow! That had to be a record.

"Hey." I slid my fingers under her chin. "What's going on?"

Mercedes fought me, but gradually let me lift her head.

"I'm sorry. It's nothing you did. I'm just...really emotional right now."

That wasn't a good enough answer for me. Sitting up, I pulled her into my lap and she settled against me.

"Mercy..."

Wiping at her cheeks, she laughed softly.

"They're happy tears. I swear, Sam. It's just...I never thought this would happen. Not really, and I thought...I thought you regretted being with me, and that's why you wanted to talk. That you thought I was frigid, like Nathan..."

"Whoa! Wait." I tipped her face towards mine. "You're the exact opposite of that, and I've never once, thought that could be true. Man, I want to break his jaw all over again. I can't believe you still worry about that."

She sniffled.

"I know it's stupid."

"It's not stupid." I brushed a lone tear off her cheek.

She leaned into me, wrapping her arms around my waist.

"It is stupid. I let that get to me, for how many years? And I guess, that's why I was so ready to believe, you were with Sofia. And I overreacted."

"You didn't overreact," I said.

I held her tight, resting my chin on top her head. God. I didn't realize how good holding her would feel, until I was doing it.

"I deserved everything you said," I ended.

"Sam..." She sighed.

"I know." I laughed. "It's in the past, right?" When she nodded, I resisted the urge to squeeze her. "You know what else is in the past?"

"What?"

"These damn teddy bears on your bed. I think you've had the brown one, since you were a kid. It's probably covered in your germs."

Mercy pulled back, smacking me on my chest.

"No it's not, you ass!"

Laughing, I leaned back among the bears, knocking most of them on the floor, as I brought her down with me.

Then I turned, so we were face to face, lying side by side.

"Hey," I reached around and picked up a ragged red one. "Is this the one I got you for your birthday years ago? You kept it?"

"Yeah." She snatched it away from me, holding it between our chests. "Of course I kept it."

A good dose of pressure filled my chest. I didn't say anything as I watched her.

"What?" she asked, her eyes on mine.

Sometimes, words weren't enough...they couldn't cover the feeling. This was one of those times. So I closed the distance between us and kissed her, putting everything I felt for her, every promise I made her, into that one kiss.

When I pulled back, her eyes were glazed over and I wanted to throw that bear across the room and get all over her.

But her parents were downstairs and bedroom door was unlocked, so it was not going to happen. And besides, I was just really thrilled, to be here with her.

"This is the best early Christmas gift I've ever gotten," I told Mercedes.

Her bright smile sucker-punched me.

"I think that's the smartest thing you've ever said, and I'd have to agree," she replied.

I caught a piece of her hair and twisted it around my finger.

"I'm so lucky, I know that. So damn lucky to have your love."

She wiggled closer and the bear was smushed between us. Then, she kissed me in a way no other person ever could...the way only she could.

I cupped the back of her neck, holding her there, as I took control of the kiss. And it wasn't long, before the bear ended up on the floor and our arms and legs were tangled.

We were making out, like two teenagers sneaking a few seconds.

She was under me, her hips rocking against mine, urging me on. And with how thin her bottoms were, it was like having almost nothing there.

Need was driving me insane, pounding through my veins, and I didn't want to stop, even though I knew it couldn't go any further than this. But it was too good to stop, and the way Mercedes' body moved against mine, was too perfect. And her soft, barely audible moans, were too sweet to pass up.

I don't know how long we stayed like that, kissing and touching, whispering to one another and laughing. But it was late, when I looked at the clock.

"Can you stay a little longer?" she asked.

I doubted her dad would appreciate finding me in her bed in the morning, but I couldn't refuse her.

"How about I stay until you fall asleep?"

"Perfect," she murmured, resting her cheek on my chest. "Just use the front door when you leave."

Smiling, I smoothed my hand down her back, loving the way she moved closer to me, fitting her body to mine, like we were made for each other.

Hell, I think we really were and it had just taken me a long-ass time to realize it. But I finally did, and that's what mattered.

I loved her. God, I loved her so much.

I couldn't believe I'd made it this long, without telling her.

I was an idiot, but I was one hell of a lucky idiot.

Stay safe!