Standard Disclaimer: None of this story originally written by Mia Madison or Glee situations and characters belong to me. I didn't change much from the original story in this chapter other than deleting a lot of stuff and having it fit my characterizations of Mercedes. Sam's point of view will be posted in another chapter later today. I have to make a lot of changes in that chapter, so it will take a lot longer to post. I wanted to share this with you since it was completed.

Thanks for continuing to read and support me. Words can't express the joy I get when I see that you all are enjoying this thrice told tale. This tale will end soon because I return to work on Monday. I am not going to rush it or give you an epilogue that sums up everything. I will just stop it at good place and decide whether or not I want to continue it when I am on my summer vacation.

Chapter Five

Princess…

Sam called me princess. My former father used to call me his princess all the time. I was his perfect daughter who looked just like his mother. I would grow up and take over the practice he built from blood, sweat, tears, overcoming racism as well as childhood poverty to become a very wealthy and successful dentist.

I would never understand how he could go from loving me so much to not even wanting to see my face again until I apologized and did what he wanted me to do.

I was going to prove to him that I didn't need his help or any man's help to make my dreams come true. I was going to live life on my own terms. I loved Tina, hell I still loved my parents, but I was tired of half-living my life and being bossed around. YOLO. And if I wanted to let go my inhibitions and be free and enjoy Sam catering to me for the rest of the week, I was going to do so.

By catering, I meant enjoy him being a Southern gentleman who appreciates and values women for them being themselves and not what they do for him. He was treating me like a princess, and I was going to enjoy it knowing that I probably wouldn't have time to allow myself any pampering when we returned to Chicago.

Sam had given me the courtesy to shower first, which I appreciated. Mexico's weather was warm and sticky; the breeze was nice, but I needed to wash off the day in order to sleep peacefully.

When I was done with the shower, I was surprised to find him on the balcony. He kept his back towards me until I had gotten in the bed. I wouldn't have mind him turning around. I was not looking sexy at all. I didn't own sexy lingerie, I had on a huge T-shirt and my pajama pants. My hair was tied up in my silk scarf and my face was scrubbed clean of all cosmetics.

"I cleaned and got all of my stuff out of your way, so you can go and take a shower now." I told him, so he could feel free to go take his own shower and get ready for bed. A bed that we would be sharing.

"Thank you." He told me as he went to his duffle bag and removed his pajama pants and the rest of the items from his toiletry bag that he needed for grooming.

As soon as I heard the shower come on, I couldn't fight sleep anymore, and I fell to sleep to the sound imaging it was raining.

It probably had been a mistake to fall asleep listening to water because it seemed to affect my dreams.

First, I dreamed I was drowning. I could barely get to the surface of the water, because the heavy, colorful princess ball gown I wore prevented me from seeing the direction I was floating toward. I could hear my daddy's voice saying, 'Princess, stop fighting the tide, come to me.'

My second dream involved being in a bathtub and not being able to turn the water off. I was paralyzed and just sitting there instead of making a move to stop the tub from overflowing. In my mind, I could feel the thought that Tina and our landlord were going to kill me for destroying the apartment, but I still was unable to turn the water off.

My third dream was sexual. I was outside and underneath a waterfall with a masked man in the moonlight here in Mexico. He wouldn't show me his face, but he kissed me, and it felt like my soul recognized him. As soon as he began to make love to me, he started to peel off his mask - and that's when I woke up.

"Hell to the no." I groaned when I opened my eyes. Nothing ruined your sleep more than weird dreams you couldn't explain. I felt even more exhausted than I did when I fell asleep hours ago.

The darkness of the room indicated that I'd woken up way too early. I started to adjust myself; I wanted to move into a new position that I felt would help me go back to sleep. That's when I noticed my position. I was spooned, and there was a heaviness around my waist. Sam had wrapped his arm around my body. The gesture wasn't intrusive or disrespectful. He had it laid across my midsection, and by the sound of his heavy breaths, he was facing in my direction.

I froze as I registered the warmth of his breath against my ear. I was normally a light sleeper. I hadn't woken when Sam got into the bed, and I didn't awake when he recreated our sleeping position from the flight. I could not believe that I never even stirred when he cuddled me.

My heart leapt through my chest. Spooning was something you did not do with people you barely knew. Sam and I were not strangers, but this was the first time we had slept together not counting the nap on the plane.

What did this mean? Did he know he was spooning me? If not, would I need to tell him?

So many questions ran in my mind. I replayed our interactions that culminated last night with me telling him everything about me. From what I could tell, he liked me enough to listen to my troubles. He was respectful enough to give me privacy to get ready for bed. He had not made any untoward moves toward me, and I could see us becoming great friends after this trip. We had too much in common to not be friends. Plus Mike and Tina would one day get married, and I am sure we would be their best man and maid of honor when they did. We would be around each a lot in the future. Should I worry about him spooning me when we slept, when he didn't do any inappropriate touching or anything that I hadn't allowed him to do on the flight earlier?

I knew the real reason why I was worried about Sam's muscular arms enclosing me in sleep. Unlike the flight, I was beginning to be more than just attracted to Sam. His spooning of me now was awakening me sexually. Something that had already started because of my last dream. My nipples tingled and sprang to life. A moist pool began to fill between my legs. My heartbeat sped up as the fragrance of his aftershave tingled my nostrils.

I felt woozy in such a good way. It had been so long since I was in the arms of a male, and much less felt comfortable with his arms around me. Towards the end of our relationship, Shane was trying to pressure me into having sex, saying we were the only virgins in our graduating class. However, I was able to convince him to wait. But towards the end of our relationship, Shane's arm around me began feeling possessive and not loving, and I hadn't missed his touch when we broke up.

This was Sam's second time spooning me. And maybe he was just a cuddle monster. I could see that in him. He was warm, giving, and eager to please. But I don't know if it is wise for him to be so close to me in bed because my heart was now beating in triple time. I was excited. Utterly excited. But I didn't want to think too deeply about this. We were here on vacation playing a role, but my body was eager to experience a sexual awakening that I hadn't been prepared for.

I stirred lightly, releasing a low groan as I pushed myself back into him, allowing myself to revel in the delicious feeling of his body molding itself against mine.

He snored and moved closer, his hand finding one of mine and grabbing it. My body felt a gush of warmth. He was knocked out and unaware of what he was doing to me. He was not ready for a relationship. I didn't have time for a relationship. We were only going to pretend to be a couple for four more days. I couldn't lose my mind and overanalyze his behavior or even my own body's natural reaction to being held by a gorgeous man. Who was truly beautiful inside and out.

I needed to enjoy this while it lasted.

Four more days and it's back to reality. Classes and Work. In Chicago, I can go back to being boring, single, and not having any sexy men playing Richard Gere to my Julia Roberts.

Geez, Mercedes, I thought to myself. Just close your eyes, melt into his body and go back to sleep. You are not a prostitute and Sam is not a rich business man. Get a grip.

I eventually fell asleep and had another vivid dream.

Sam and I were walking on the beach, barefoot, holding hands. The sun was beginning to set. He kissed me, and it wasn't a safe practiced kiss. It was a genuine, passionate, open-mouthed kiss. As his tongue entered mine, my heart nearly leapt into my throat.

"Mercedes, you're so beautiful," he breathed. "I'm not going back to the States. I'm staying here in Mexico and be an astronomer. And I want you to stay here with me. You can sing at the resort or teach kids here."

In my dreams, I say, "But my education, Tina, the rent…" He interrupts me with a knowing smile and points. Tina walks from the opposite direction, with Mike.

"We're all here," she said. "We're all staying here. There's no need to go back. Plus, I know you want have to sex with Sam, and now you can because he is going to marry you and not break your heart because he is not ready or willing to commit. He loves you as much as you love him."

Sam looks at me after rolling his eyes at Tina, and kisses my cheek in adoration. He gets down on one knee as the waves spill onto the shore around us, and pulls out the most beautiful engagement ring.

"Would you mind spending forever in paradise with me?"

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

I jerked out of my sleep. "What the hell?"

Sam cleared his throat. The bass of his morning voice sent a sensual tingle down my spine as he growled. "Room service. I forgot Katherine was an early bird. I never changed our breakfast preferences."

The knocks continued. He growled, "I'm coming."

My gratifying state of relaxation shifted a few notches down when he removed his arm from around me, and lumbered to the door. I looked at the clock; it was 9:50 AM. Sheesh. I was usually up at 6:00 AM most days, 7:00 AM on the weekends. I'd never slept this long.

Room service pushed in the cart, loaded with fresh fruit, pastries, eggs, and meat. There was a carafe of orange juice, and another of guava juice.

Sam tipped the attendant appropriately and closed the door behind her.

"There's breakfast, if you want it." He gestured. "I didn't realize it was almost 10 AM. I'm not a morning person…"

"It's okay," I said. "We're on vacation. I didn't expect any room service. I was having a great dream as well…"

"The way you were moaning, it sure seemed like it, love." The sparkle in his green eyes was undeniable.

"Moaning?" I croaked.

He nodded, scratching his head. For the first time, my eyes focused and I saw he was indeed shirtless, and that was indeed an eight pack sculpted on his torso. Damn, he was hot. I had that spooning me all night?

"Yes, whatever you dreamt about, it certainly made me jealous." He smirked as he ate a fresh muffin from the breakfast tray.

"Oh, Lord. I'm so sorry." I nearly died of embarrassment to hear this about me. I could only imagine how I sounded.

"You moan, I snore. We're even." He waved it off so casually. "Have you determined whether or not you want to attend our couples massage today?"

"That is today. Sure I can't wait." I stretched my limbs in every direction, fluttering my legs lightly as I prepared to sit up and eat.

"Very well." He nodded. "Let's eat, and then we will get ready to be pampered."

Our couples massage followed after brunch. It was entirely wonderful. We were separated at first. But when we were brought together in the massage parlor, there was a little shyness about undressing in front of him, and remaining that way, simply covered by a larger towel for the women, but I was emboldened by the idea of total relaxation. Looking at him with a towel on his waist was too tempting, so I focused by closing my eyes and not wishing it was his hands on me and my hands on him.

When the therapist touched my skin, I melted, breathing sighs, moans, and grunts of relief as she discovered and dismantled tension knots all over my body.

"You may feel really tired after this," she said. "Drink a lot of water, and be sure to take a nice afternoon nap to recover and flush the toxins out."

I barely heard a word she said. I had been given a facial, a manicure and pedicure (something I hadn't had since the pandemic), and now the couple's massage was making me moan like Sam said I did all night long now that massage therapist had me loose. I was almost in heaven. I totally ignored Sam and the experience he was having at the spa.

This vacation was indeed just what the doctor had ordered for me in more ways than one. I felt all my stress disappear, and I had an optimistic outlook. I was feeling free of the weight that I was carrying and I didn't care if it was a temporary respite.