Hey guys, so I am working on New Year and Damaged; I am also going to post two new stories, one called Temptation and one called See You Again, so look out for those!

Sam sighed as he tossed and turned in his sleep. His mind kept going back to Mercedes and that kiss they shared. She was beautiful, intelligent, adorably cute, and stubborn as hell, a deadly combination if he had ever seen one.

The truth of the matter was that before his accident, he constantly hit on her, waiting for her to give in, expecting to make her one of the many he had had in his life, but she never gave in, and he was more intrigued by that. And it made him want to come at her harder.

But after his accident, when Mike asked him to stay away from her, he realized that he wanted to respect his friend, but more so, he wanted to respect her. And it's all because of what happened when he woke up in the hospital.

Nineteen Months Ago

Sam's eyes fluttered open as his eyes adjusted to the dark room. He heard a humming noise but wasn't sure where it was coming from. As he cleared his throat, the humming stopped, and he heard the voice of an angel.

"Well, look who is finally awake," Mercedes said softly.

Sam looked over at her. "I…" He started to speak but lost his voice.

Mercedes shook her head, sitting up and giving him his water. "You are okay; I just woke up from surgery, which from the way your mom was crying means you are going to be okay. She and your dad are checking on your siblings, and I made Mike go get some sleep. It's the only reason I am here; they didn't want you to be alone."

Sam reached out and took her hand, squeezing it. "Th-thank you."

"Don't thank me, no one should wake up alone from surgery. I am going to go get the doctors and call everyone."

"No," Sam said, holding her hand tighter. "Just sit with me a little longer."

Mercedes hesitated for a moment and nodded. "Okay."

Sam moved slightly over. "Lay with me?"

"I really don't think I should." She said.

Sam cleared his throat. "I am still feeling a bit…groggy, and I think having you lay with me will keep me grounded."

Mercedes shook her head. "Still at it, not even ten minutes out of surgery, and you are sitting here, flirting."

Sam swallowed. "Not flirting, just needing comfort. I'm sorry for asking."

Mercedes sighed. "I can lay with you for a few moments. But then I will get the doctor."

"Thank you." He breathed as she climbed into his bed. He used his free hand and pulled her close. "You do like me."

"I like you when you aren't trying to get into my pants, and I like the scruff." She smiled.

"The scruff?"

She looked up at him and scratched his beard. Sam smiled and swallowed, clearing his throat. "Ah, so you like the caveman look? Good to know."

Mercedes sighed contently in his arms. "Everyone was worried about you."

"Were you?" He asked, looking down at her in his arms.

"I didn't want anything bad to happen to you, and I mean, I am here, aren't I? So I think we are friends."

"Friends. I dunno. I think you love me."

Mercedes sighed. "And it's time to go. I will let everyone know you are okay."

She sat up from the bed, and Sam held her hand. "Wait…thank you, Mercedes. You didn't have to be here."

She nodded. "I'm glad that you are okay, Sam." She said softly as she walked out of his room.

Within a few minutes, his mom ran into the room and rushed over to him.

"Sam, baby, how are you feeling?" She said softly, running her hands over his head.

He looked past her at Mercedes, who was standing by the door. "I'm okay; how did I do?"

"They removed all of it; you are gonna be fine, Sammy." She said, and he could hear her relief.

"Mike is on his way up here with Tina; I am going to give you and your parents some time alone," Mercedes said, offering him a smile.

"Okay."' Sam said, looking after her.

"I like her." Mary said, smiling at her son. "But she is way out of your league."

"I know, mom." Sam sighed. "I know."

Sam sat up, running his hands through his hair; usually, when he couldn't sleep, he would call up one of his "flavor of the weeks," as his teammates called them, but after his surgery, he just couldn't do it. It wasn't that there hadn't been offers, because there had been, but he wanted more than anything to find someone he could share the rest of his life with.

He wanted someone he could have a future with. And that moment in the hospital, he realized that the person was Mercedes Jones. He respected her. Because now, all he thought about was how he could be better for her. In some crazy way, he felt like if he could prove to her that he had changed, maybe she would want to be with him; he had never wanted a relationship as much as he wanted to be with Mercedes. And if the fact that he hadn't been with anyone since his surgery didn't prove it to her that he had changed, nothing would.

It was like fate was smiling on him three months ago when he went to borrow some milk from Mike, and Mercedes opened the door. She would show up every few months, stay for a few days and then go back where she came from.

Learning that she was staying, he knew that all he had been waiting for was close at hand. And when he kissed her last week, he couldn't bear to touch her; if he did, he would pick her up and take her to bed, not letting her up for days. He never thought he would be as thankful as he was when Mike walked in with Tina. It took everything he had to just pretend like nothing had happened. Because kissing Mercedes Jones was everything to him.

He said up in frustration and grabbed his joggers and a t-shirt, slipping into his sneakers; he made his way up to the roof; on nights where he was restless, it's where he found peace.

As he made his way to the edge, he stopped, the silhouette before him was one that was familiar, and he smiled. "So you've found my spot?"

Sam stared at her as she jumped from the ledge. She pulled her robe over her, but Sam could still make out her curves.

"Sam, you scared the hell out of me!" She screamed, and he laughed, shaking his head.

"I didn't think anyone else knew how to get up here," Sam said.

"Kinda figured it out on my own." She shrugged. "What are you doing up here?"

Sam smiled. "I couldn't sleep. Can I guess it's the same for you?"

Mercedes nodded, wrapping her arms around herself.

Sam moved closer to her and reached over to the storage bin, opening it and pulling out a blanket. "Here, I keep this up here… it's clean."

Mercedes eyed him. "You keep these up here for your many girlfriends?"

Sam frowned, stepping away from her. "I'll just leave you be."

He turned away from her but felt her arm on his. "It was just a joke."

"I didn't find it funny." People tended to joke about his past, and he wasn't particularly happy about it.

"I know; I am sorry." She said softly.

Sam sighed, turning back to her. "You never answered my question; what are you doing here?"

Mercedes frowned, and Sam caught a look he had seen many times from her. Times that he wished he could read minds, she seemed so lost.

"I just…I couldn't sleep. So I tried to come here so I could try to…I don't really know." She said, looking out into the night sky.

Sam moved to stand beside her, wrapping the blanket around her. "Yeah, being up here, it does have some kind of magic. After my surgery, my parents stayed here with my siblings and they, they were suffocating. I love them, but they were overbearing in a way that I felt like I needed space, so I came up here to get some air. It became my go-to spot on nights like this."

They stayed silent for a while, looking out into the night sky, each hoping and wondering about different things. However, when Mercedes looked over at Sam for a moment, he believed they both wanted the same something.

Maybe it was hope that made him lean into her; perhaps it was want and need that made his hand raise up to her cheek, brushing it softly as he searched her eyes for permission to kiss her, permission to want her.

"Sam…" she breathed softly, so softly one could have mistaken it with the night air.

He moved towards her pressing his lips against hers but not pushing too hard. He would give her more if she asked for it, but that is only if she made a move.

Sam didn't have to wait for long because she moved closer to him only moments after he kissed her, gripping his shirt with her hands. Sam pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her hungrily as if he was stealing the very last breath from within her.

"I want you." Sam hissed against her lips.

"I want you to, Sam…but…."

Sam's heart felt heavy at her words…but…that word was never a good thing. He pulled away, staring into her eyes. Those beautiful brown eyes, eyes that, if used against him, he knew he would do just about anything she asked of him.

"But?"

As he stared at her, there was a softness in her eyes that made him wonder what she was thinking.

"What's going on in that beautiful mind of yours?" He finally asked.

Mercedes licked her lips, staring up at him. "Sam I…I want you, I do, but if we do this. It can only be for one night; one night is all I can offer you."

"One night?" He asked, confused.

She nodded. "I won't lie, I want you, Sam, I have wanted you from the beginning, but I am not in…Sam; I am not in a good…."

Sam shushed her with a kiss. "Okay. If that's all, you can give me one night, then okay."

"Okay?" She questioned.

Sam leaned down and kissed her. "I want you, I want you any way I can have you." He said, crushing his lips to hers.

Mercedes reached for his shirt pushing him against the wall as her arms wrapped around his neck.

Sam's hands moved to untie her robe, letting his hands roam over her curves in a way he had desired since he first saw her. Lips roamed down her neck, sucking and teasing her flesh with his teeth.

"Gotta know how you taste." He murmured, turning them so she was against the wall.

"Here?" Mercedes questioned.

"Right here, right now. If this is a dream, I don't wanna wake up. And I will hate myself for not having you when you look so beautiful in the moonlight." Sam nodded, falling to his knees and letting his hands roam up her thighs.

"Sam…" She hissed, running her hands through his hair, she was trying her best not to give in too soon, but Sam was currently teasing her.

Sam smirked, he had barely started, and she was already making the sexiest sounds. He traced his tongue up her leg, feeling her tremble with need. "How long has it been since anyone has made you feel like the beautiful queen you are?"

"I um don't…." She stammered.

Sam smiled, caressing her thighs. "I need to know, beautiful."

She shook her head. "I'm not that- I don't think anyone has…."

"Tsk tsk tsk", Sam said, tugging down her panties. "Well, I'm glad to be the first."

"Do this often, do you?" She asked, looking down at him.

"Not in a very long time." He spread her thighs, blowing against her slit. "So wet already."

She had a comment, or at least she thought she did. Whatever she was going to say was lost upon her lips the moment his tongue stroked her clit. Her head fell back as one hand gripped his head, the other the wall she was against.

Sam hummed against her, pushing his tongue inside her as deep as it could go before removing it and repeating the process. He could feel Mercedes tense, knew he was moving her closer to the edge, closer to the sweet release he knew she desired, but he didn't want to push her over too soon.

Mercedes whimpered as he removed his tongue. "Don't worry; I won't make you wait too long." He whispered, adding a finger, then another as his lips found her clit sucking as he thrust his fingers.

Mercedes gripped his hair and screamed out, not caring if anyone heard her.

Sam took pleasure in knowing that her falling apart was all because of him. He kissed his way up her body as she flipped them around, taking him by surprise.

"Can't let you have all the fun." She teased, falling to her knees and pulling his sweatpants down with her.

"Mercedes." He warned, but it fell on deaf ears as she gripped his shaft, teasing the tip with her thumb.

Sam stared down at her, biting his bottom lip as she practically swallowed him whole. "Shit!"

She hummed, and his eyes rolled into the back of his eyes as her tongue swirled around him. As she released him with a pop. Her plump lips sucked the tip of his shaft as his hand went to her hair, tugging as he pushed more of himself inside of her, groaning.

After a few moments, he pulled her up to him, crushing his lips with hers as he turned her once again and pushed her back against the wall, lifting her so her legs could wrap around his waist.

"I need you now…" Sam moaned, rubbing the tip against her slit.

"Take me. Oh God, take me, Sam, now." She moaned, squeezing him with her thighs.

Sam didn't need to be told twice; he pushed inside of her, burying his head in her neck, as one arm held her close and the other gripped her back.

She screamed out his name as her hands ran through his hair. Sam pushed faster, harder, as they both got lost in the feeling, in the moment of each other.

"So close, beautiful," Sam murmured as the sun started to rise, feeling her squeeze around him, letting him know she was coming undone.

After a few moments of Sam holding her in his arms, he smiled down at her. "I have heard of amazing morning sex, but coming as the sun rises is an incredible feeling."

She blushed. "Yeah… I guess I should go…."

Sam shook his head, kissing her softly, before putting the blanket away and grabbing their things. "I still have time for round two and maybe three." He said, taking her hand in his, but stopped at the door.

"Shit! I didn't wear-"

"It's okay, I am on the pill, and I am clean, I am assuming…."

"Yes, clean, very clean…" Sam said, pulling her close. "Though what we just did make me dirty, let's go take a shower."

She laughed as he pulled her down to his place.

Sam woke up with Mercedes in his arms; she snuggled against him, hair wild, a ghost of a smile on his lips. He moved her hair out of her eyes and kissed her forehead. Even though he agreed for it to be just one night, he knew he needed more of her, more with her, and he wanted to be with her.

She stirred, and Sam smiled as a thought came over him. If this was all she would get, he was going to make the most of it. Gently laying her back, he slid under the covers and between her thighs. He traced his finger through her slit, feeling her body jerk forward, then stilled.

He leaned forward as he spread her legs wider and slipped his tongue against her slit, licking all the way up to her clit. She moaned out, trying to close her thighs, but Sam wouldn't let her. He had a taste, and now he needed more.

Throwing her thighs over his shoulders, he pushed his tongue into her slit as his nose teased her clit, hands gripping her thighs tighter as he hungrily sucked and licked, letting her screams fuel him.

"Sam! I I …" She steamed louder, arching up, and Sam lapped up her essence, moaning before kissing his way up to her lips.

It was like her body knew his, her thighs wrapped around him as he pushed inside of her, taking what he needed, what she needed.

"Perfect…so perfect," Sam said softly against her lips. "I want all of you."

"You got me, Sam. Right here, right now." She must have known that wasn't enough for him because before he could say more, she kissed him deeply, pushing him gently, so he could get on his back.

Sam smiled up as she got on top of him, placing her hands on his chest as she started to bounce. She moved slowly at first, teasing him, working him up into a frenzy before she started moving faster.

Sam sat up, lips going to her nipple as his hand went to her clit. Screams and moans filled the air as they both came undone, completely wrapped in each other.

Sam pulled her with him, falling back onto the bed, kissing her forehead. "How are you this perfect?"

"Trust me, I am not perfect." Mercedes said, laying against him. "I really should go." She said, not bothering to move.

Sam held her tighter. "I know, but I am not ready to say goodbye yet."

"One night Sam, and it's already way past day."

Sam sighed. "Yeah, but we started later… we basically started into the morning, so it's still my time."

Mercedes let Sam use that excuse three more times before she pushed him away, really needing to get up and get some things done. He walked her to the door, kissed her, and tried to pull her back in, but she left before she stayed in his bed for the rest of the day and night.

As she walked over to Mike's place, her phone beeped. She rolled her eyes as Sam sent her a photo of him in bed naked with a caption saying, "The bed is freezing, come warm me up". As she took a shower and dressed for the day of looking for a place to stay and a job, she had money, but she needed something to occupy her mind.

Hearing her phone beep again, she laughed, wondering what Sam would tempt her this time, but she froze as she saw a message from her mother. Opening it, she saw a photo of her and Sam kissing this morning.

Psycho-Mom: Saw you and the baseball player; good job, keep up the excellent work.

Mercy: Sorry, you have the wrong number

Mercedes replied with a frown, shaking her head as she blocked her mom once again; she had spent a lot of time running from her family, but they always seemed to find her, so instead, she chose to ignore them. But the watching her and constantly wanting to bring her back into the fold is why she didn't date. She stayed away from relationships. Her parents had eyes everywhere. She looked at the photo and saw how Sam was looking at her; she knew that look, she knew the feeling too, she could fall for Sam, and that was something she just could not do to him.