Sam pulled out Marley's seat and smiled. "So tell me, if you had to choose between burgers and pizza for the rest of your life, what would you choose?"

Marley sat down and smiled. "Pizza."

"Oh...I guess you aren't perfect after all, but I still like you." He teased.

The waiter came over, and they ordered drinks. Marley smiled. "So I was thinking, maybe you wanted to come over tonight; I just got a bottle of wine I think you would enjoy." She said, remembering their conversation of wine.

Sam nodded. "Maybe, let's see how the night goes; we did just get here." He liked Marley, but he wasn't ready to take it to another level, though it was obvious that Marley was. He grabbed his beer, turning his attention to the man singing on stage.

Marley sighed. "Sam...what are we?"

Sam looked at her. "Huh?"

"I like you, really really like you, and I know you like me, but we still haven't defined the relationship. I don't know if we are together or just hanging; I mean, you introduced me to your daughter."

"I did… I just want to take things slow. I like you too, and this is going well; I don't want to mess up by rushing." Sam replied honestly.

"I understand that I guess; I just want to know your intentions, is all." Marley replied.

"Well, I can assure you that I'm very much invested in what we're building, and I am enjoying getting to spend time with you."

She sighed. "Okay, well, we told Mercedes to take our names off the match site; we have gone out at least two times a week, sometimes more when we have time, so shouldn't that at least mean we are exclusively dating. So I get to call you my boyfriend?"

"I can-"

"This is for all the people who lost love but only want the best for them. I recently told the man I loved that I loved him, but I was too late. And now, he… he is happy and falling in love. So this is for him…." Mercedes said, standing on the stage. She sat on the stool and closed her eyes.

"Is that Mercedes?" Marley asked, and Sam just nodded, waiting to hear what she was going to sing.

"Stone cold, stone-cold, you see me standing, but I'm dying on the floor. Stone cold, stone cold, maybe if I don't cry, I won't feel anymore Stone cold, stone cold." She started trying to push through her own hurt to sing clearly.

"Stone cold, baby. God knows I try to feel happy for you. Know that I am; even if I can't understand, I'll take the pain. Give me the truth, me and my heart. We'll make it through. If happy is her, I'm happy for you."

"Oh wow, her voice is absolutely beautiful… you can hear all the pain in her voice. I can't imagine whoever the guy is, but he's an idiot for breaking her heart." Marley said, completely enraptured in Mercedes' performance while Sam sat silently, feeling every word she was singing. She looked so beautiful but also so very broken; she looked how he felt when he was at home alone in his room.

"Stone cold, stone cold. You're dancing with her while I'm staring at my phone. Stone cold, stone cold. I was your amber, but now she's your shade of gold. Stone cold, baby. God knows I try to feel happy for you…." Mercedes sang before stopping and letting out a sob, then running off stage. Sam started to go after her but figured he shouldn't because he didn't want to seem suspicious to Marley.

"Oh goodness… I hope she's okay." Marley said.

"Yeah… me too," Sam said, looking after her.

Marley leaned into Sam. "I am so glad I don't have to feel like that anymore. Glad I have you."

Sam looked at Marley, confused and slightly turned off by her saying that. "She's hurting," Sam said, furrowing his eyebrows at her.

"Sam, I understand that, but I can be sad for her and still be happy for me. I am not trying to be insensitive; I am just grateful that we are together. That I can call you my boyfriend and look to a future with you."

"I need to cut this short." He said as his phone started to ring, he looked and saw that it was an unknown number, but he chose to ignore it.

"Sam, wait, what just happened?" Marley looked at Sam, concerned.

"I just need to go; I promise to make it up to you, I promise," Sam said, leaning over and kissing her on the cheek.

She grabbed his arm. "Sam, are you sure that everything is okay?"

"Yes, I promise everything is fine." He answered, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Sam, we will get to talk about us, though, right? Making us official and everything?"

"We will tomorrow; I have to go," Sam said.

She nodded. "Okay." She leaned in and kissed him on his lips. "Tomorrow."

Sam walked Marley out and made sure to pay for her cab before walking back inside to find Mercedes. The bar picked up and was starting to get crowded, but he knew for a fact that Mercedes hadn't left because he saw her car parked outside.

Mercedes couldn't stop the tears by herself, so she decided to get help from her good friend Jack. If whiskey couldn't get her to feel better, nothing could. So she downed the glass and signaled for another one.

"Hey baby, you sounded amazing up there; how about I take you in the back and make you forget whoever was dumb enough to break your heart." A man said, sliding into the chair next to her.

"Go away." She said as the bartender gave her another glass.

"Aww, don't be like that, baby." He said, sliding his hand up her arm and to her back.

"Hey! I told you to back the hell off." She slurred, downing another glass.

"I think you mean let's go to the storage room and have fun." He said, pulling her off the stool and against him.

"Stop…" She said, trying to pull away from him. "Let me go."

"I believe she asked nicely for you to fuck off!" Sam said, gripping the man's shoulder and yanking him away from Mercedes.

"And who the fuck do you think you are?" The man asked, and Sam shot him a look that caused shivers to run down Mercedes' spine.

"I'm giving three seconds to walk the hell away," Sam replied, placing himself in front of Mercedes.

"She's not your bitch so why do you care?" The man retorted with a chuckle before Sam brought his fist up and punched him square in the jaw.

"Don't ever call her out of her name like that," Sam said, hovering over the man before turning and grabbing Mercedes' arm, basically dragging her out of the bar.

He didn't say a word as he guided her to his car and helped her inside before getting in himself. He leaned over and buckled her seat belt for her; he took a brief moment to take her in, seeing that even in a drunken state, she looked beautiful.

Mercedes hated that she was blushing because whether he knew it or not, pissed-off hero Sam was sexy as hell. She shifted in her seat, trying not to look at him, but watching his jaw clench made her want to bite him.

"Stop," Sam said finally, and she looked away before letting out a soft giggle.

"Stop what?" She asked, looking back at him.

"That look on your face." He answered.

"I don't have a look on my face." She denied, and Sam rolled his eyes.

"You should know better than dress like that and then get drunk, alone," Sam replied, annoyed that she was so damn cute at this moment.

She shrugged. "Well, you should know better than to be so damn hot when you punch someone out! I call us even-steven...and were leavin'" she giggled.

"You're getting ginger ale when you get home, then going to bed."

"But what if...and hear me out on this…." She slurred, leaning into him. "I wanted you, then the ginger ale?"

Sam looked at her, letting out a groan before turning his attention back to the road. "Not happening, even if you were sober." He said, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

She sat back pouting. "Why, because you love Marley now? It's fine; she's perfect, I get it." She laid her head on the window.

"Acting like a child isn't attractive," Sam said, pulling up her driveway and parking.

"I'm always attractive." She said, mocking him.

"Mhm, keep telling yourself that," Sam said, unbuckling both of their seat belts.

Mercedes looked at him. "You don't think I am attractive?"

"No, you look drunk." He lied.

She raised an eyebrow and shook her head, "Liar."

Sam didn't say anything; he just smiled to himself as he helped her out of the car and walked with her to the front door, letting her lean against him.

"Where is your key?" Sam asked.

Mercedes reached into her purse and grabbed her keys after a few minutes of searching.

Sam grabbed her keys and unlocked her door, helping her into the house and walking her towards her room. "Let's get you to bed."

"Noooooo, I'm not ready for bed." She said, sighing against him. "Can you stay?"

She asked slowly, pulling away from him.

Sam checked his watch and sighed. "Izzy is with my parents, so I guess I can stay for a little bit, so let's get you in bed."

No...I just need…." She held her hand up, then held his shoulders and kicked off her heels. "To get out of this dress." Once out of her shoes, she turned. "Can you unzip me, please?"

Sam hesitated for a moment and then went to unzip her dress. "I am gonna wait for you to change in the living room."

Mercedes nodded, walking into her bedroom, and Sam walked to the living room sitting on the couch.

Mercedes walked into her bathroom, staring at herself in the mirror. She stepped out of her dress and hopped into the shower wanting to wash off the gross guy and the feeling of being drunk. 15 minutes later, she was washed, teeth brushed, and sitting on her bed putting lotion on. Once she felt like herself, she slipped into a blush-colored teddy and a pair of boy shorts.

Brushing out her curls and adding some lip gloss, she made her way out to the living room and smiled, looking at Sam. "You're still here?"

"Shit." He said, looking her over before realizing he probably should leave.

Mercedes walked over to him slowly. "I guess I should thank you for taking care of me and stopping that guy from hurting me."

"Stop…" He said, holding a hand out to keep her away from him.

She raised an eyebrow. "I was just going to sit down."

"Oh… well, I should get going anyway since you seem soberer now." He said, trying like hell not to look lower than her face.

"So soon? I thought we could talk…." She said, moving to the couch and then straddling him. "Thank you, Sam; you were my hero today."

"Mercedes…" He said, feeling his pants tighten around his dick.

"Yes, Sam?" She said seductively, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"We can't…." He groaned, feeling her soft body against his.

"Okay." She said, moving her hips around feeling him beneath her.

"Shit…" Sam said, grabbing her hips and stopping her movements.

As Sam held her hips, she moved to kiss his neck, nipping on the spot below his ear then running her tongue over the spot.

Sam's head fell back as Mercedes teased him with her tongue, making him lose his grip on her hips. "What are you doing to me, woman?"

Mercedes smiled, moving back and looking at him, her hair falling over her eyes. "What do you want me to do to you?"

Sam was trying his best not to give in to his desires, and seeing her like this drove him crazy. "Mercedes…" He said, moving her hair out of her eyes and staring at her. His hand touched her cheek as he stared at her. "So beautiful…"

Mercedes leaned in and kissed him softly, closing her eyes, giving in to the need to have more of him.

Sam groaned as he kissed her back, letting her tongue push through his lips, she was dominating the kiss, and he loved it. His hands moved from her face and down her sides to her hips as she moved against him.

Mercedes ran her hands up his chest, pulling back to remove his shirt. "So sexy." She moaned, nipping at his lips.

Sam let her remove his shirt and ran his hands under her Teddy. "God, you drive me crazy."

Mercedes laughed. "Says the man I can't stop dreaming about."

Sam moved to her neck, nipping at it as he tugged her Teddy. "This needs to come off now."

She nodded, pulling it off and tossing it to wherever the hell his shirt went.

Sam's lips found her breast, and she whimpered as his tongue circled her nipple while his other hand toyed with the other.

"Oh, God." She moaned as she swirled her hips against him, grinding harder, needing more friction. "I need you, Sam."

"I need you too...you have no idea how bad I wanna pick you up, take you to your room, and make love to you."

Mercedes looked at him breathlessly. "I want that too. God, I want you, Sam, all of you...I love you." She moved her lips back to his, kissing him deeply while running her hands through his hair.

"Mmm, Mercedes?" Sam said, slowly coming back to his senses.

She pulled away, looking down at him. "Yes…"

"We need to stop…." He replied, picking her up and placing her beside him.

She stared at him and frowned. "Oh...yeah...Oh God, I am so sorry…I shouldn't have..." She turned away, searching for her Teddy.

Sam stopped her from what she was doing, forcing her to look at him. "I'm not stopping because I don't want this or you; I'm stopping because your first time won't be on an impulse, and it damn sure won't be on your couch after a drunken night out."

Mercedes stared at him and shook her head, leaning in to kiss him. "And you wonder why I love you, why I can't help but want to be with you. You are the sweetest man I have ever met."

"Come on, let's get you in bed." He said, wanting to tell her he loved her too but not wanting to do it while she was half-naked. He needed her to believe that he loved her no matter what, so he picked up his shirt and handed it to her for her to put on.

She frowned; a part of her had hoped he would say it back, but when he didn't, she realized that he wasn't going to be with her; he wasn't hers. She sighed, putting his shirt on. "Thanks."

Sam noticed her tone change and sighed. "Mercedes, I need you to understand that our first time together won't be until I ask you to marry me… you want this right now, at this moment because you think it'll never happen, but it will." He grabbed her hand and led her to her bedroom. She stopped turning to him. "Sam... Can you stay with me?" She asked, looking up at him.

"I wasn't going to leave you, to begin with." He replied with a reassuring smile.

She smiled, stepping closer to him and kissing him on his lips. "Just wanted to get it out the way one more time before we got to bed."

Sam smiled, kissing her back before taking off his shoes and jeans and sliding into her bed first. "Come here." He said, nodding her over to where he was lying.

She moved and laid next to him, snuggling close to him. "Goodnight, Sam."

"Goodnight, baby." He said, kissing her on the forehead and wrapping an arm around her. Sam laid there just watching her while she slept before finally feeling tired himself.

"I love you so much." He said before closing his eyes and drifting off.

Mercedes awoke in Sam's arms for a moment forgetting why he was there. Then the night came back to her; she didn't know where they stood; he still didn't say he loved her, but he brought up marriage to her, and that just blew her mind.

She looked over to Sam, he was sleeping so peacefully, and her mind immediately went to the last time she woke up to Sam in her bed. She chewed her bottom lip as her hand moved down his chest and to his semi-hard cock.

Smirking, she moved under the covers and slowly pulled his boxers down before taking him between her lips.

Sam smiled at dream Mercedes. "God, I love you."

She moved closer to him. Let me show you how much I love you." she falls to her knees and begins to lick the tip of his cock.

Sam moaned out, running his hands through her hair. "Oh baby, you are so good to me; suck my cock; it belongs to you." He hadn't ever had a dream feel this real, moaning; he woke up and was shocked the sensation was still going. "Oh God, Mercedes!" He said as he felt her take him deep.

Mercedes stopped as Sam lifted the covers. "Don't be quiet on my account; no one is around to catch us." She teased, pushing his cock deeper down her throat and then humming as she did. She read up on what to do, and Sam's reactions made her happy.

Sam ran his fingers through her hair. "So close...if you don't wanna...oh God."

She swirled her tongue around the tip of his cock, then gently sucked it before taking him deeply once more. Giving him permission to cum.

Sam shuttered, letting go and feeling himself cum down her throat; it was the sexiest thing he had ever felt or seen.

Mercedes licked her lips as she kissed her way back up Sam's body.

Sam growled, flipping her over. "See, you've had your breakfast, but I didn't have mine." He pulled his shirt off of her and ran his tongue down her body and back up, circling her nipple.

"Sam!" She whimpered, running her hands through his neck.

"Mmm, I can't wait till you are screaming that," Sam smirked.

"You are so cocky." She laughed softly.

Sam bit the side of her hip gently. "You just had it in your mouth, so you know that's true."

Mercedes was about to say something but stopped as she felt Sam's tongue run up her thigh. "Mmm."

Sam moved up her thigh, blowing in her clit, then moved to the other thigh.

"Sam! Stop teasing me!" She whined.

"Oh, but it's fun." He laughed, holding her hips down as she tried to thrust up.

"Please, Sam, I need you."

Sam smiled. "Well, when you beg like that…." He ran his tongue over her clit, and she gripped the sheets.

"Oh!" She moaned.

Sam smiled as he spread her legs, moving his finger over her clit and down to her slit, slipping it inside of her.

"Oh my God!" She hissed breathlessly.

Moving his finger inside of her, he increases his speed as his lips find her clit. Sucking on it hungrily, using his free hand to reach up and pinch her nipple, sending her over the edge.

Mercedes screamed out Sam's name as she came hard. "Sam! Oh God, Sam! Yes!"

Sam didn't let up; he stroked her through her orgasm and continued his actions, removing his fingers, moving his tongue down to her slit, and thrusting in and out at a fast pace.

"Wh-wh-what are you doing to me!" She screamed, arching up and grabbing his hair.

Sam continued moving his tongue in and out as he tugged her nipple and flicked her clit, causing her to cum once again, arching into his mouth riding out her second orgasm, with Sam's name on her lips.

Ring! Ring!

Mercedes moaned out as Sam placed another kiss on her clit. "Hold on, it's your phone...it could be Izzy…."

"Ignore it," Sam muttered, kissing her again.

She reached for the phone. "I won't tell her you- Oh God!- Um, you said that." She giggled, looked at the caller ID, and froze.

"Mmm… that good? Huh?" Sam said, sitting up before noticing the look on Mercedes' face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just, Marley is calling you…at 6:15am so…" The phone stopped ringing and then started to ring again.

"Oh, let me see if everything is okay?" Sam said, grabbing the phone and walking out of her room.

Mercedes put his shirt back on and got up, walking behind him.

Marley chewed her nails as she waited for Sam to answer.

"Hello?" Sam answered, trying to sound normal.

"Sam! Hey, I hope I didn't wake you…." Marley said softly.

"No. no, you're good… I was already awake."

"Oh, good! Well, I was hoping we could get breakfast. I know you are gonna be busy with Izzy and the pageant, and I don't want to wait until tonight to see you."

"Oh, yeah, we can meet up around eight…."

Marley squealed quietly. "Okay, great! Well, I will meet you at your place around 8."

"Sounds great." He said before hanging up. "Shit!"

"So I guess you're choosing her again," Mercedes said from behind him.

"What do you expect me to do Merce, I am dating her," Sam said, running his hands through his hair.

"Funny, 'cause it was my name; you were moaning, and you were just between my legs not even five minutes ago." She replied, throwing his things at him.

"Mercedes! You know you initiated that! And yes, I wanted it too, but I told you I was going to try and make things work with Marley!"

"Are you sleeping with her?" Mercedes asked, folding her arms.

"I am not answering that."

"Oh, the hell you aren't! You talk all that sweet shit and then leave after what we did like it means nothing!" She shouted, shoving him

"Of course it means something, Mercedes! God, you mean something to me, you know that!" He said, moving closer to her.

"Bullshit! You can't make those types of declarations then leave to be with another woman!"

"Says the woman who waited until I was finally dating someone to make her own declaration!" He shouted back.

"FUCK YOU! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" She shouted, trying to hold back tears.

"Oh yeah, kick me out when things get hard; that's what you do! You put yourself in these situations then get pissed when they don't play out the way you want them to." He said, refusing to move.

"I hate you... " She said, shaking her head and wiping away her tears.

"And that is exactly why I can't stop seeing her… she shows me she's interested, and she actually wants me to define what we are, and she wants to be with me. I don't know what the fuck you want from me!"

"I want you, Sam! Dammit, me telling you I love you, and then you tell me that you are staying with her, how was I supposed to define anything!" She said, tears falling.

"You say you want me, but every time we get close, you run away; I can't have that, not when there is Izzy to consider! God Mercedes, Marley is no competition for you! You know that, but you are still just too scared to do anything unless you are drunk like last night!"

"Why are you trying to hurt me? Why are you acting like I didn't confess before last night?"

Sam moved closer to her. "Mercedes, you told me you loved me after you saw me on a date with Marley; you had so many chances. And after you said it, you just walked away."

"Because you chose her!" She hissed angrily.

"I am not going around and around with you. I came to you time and time again before Marley, you aren't ready, Mercedes, and I am. I am ready for it all. I am ready to settle down. Tell me right now that if I asked you to marry me, you would say yes, and I am yours." Sam said, staring at her.

"Sam, you can't just say that to me; we would have to take time to."

To what!" He cut her off. "To realize we love each other? To make sure it can work?!" He pulled her to him, kissing her deeply, backing her up against the wall letting his hands roam all over her body.

Mercedes moaned out as Sam pushed her against the wall. He lifted her thighs, and she wrapped them around his waist.

"I love you, Mercedes." He said against her lips.

"Oh Sam, I love you too." She moaned, kissing him back.

He carried her to the bed and laid her down; he linked his hand with hers, kissing her again. "So, Marry me. Marry me and be mine forever, be a mother to Izzy."

What?" She asked, trying to make sure she heard him correctly.

"Marry me." He said, staring at her.

Mercedes looked at Sam, seeing that he was serious, and felt a series of emotions crash throughout her all at once. "I…" She started before stopping needing a moment to think about her response.

Sam stared at her and frowned, moving away from her. "Wow." he rolled off the bed and shook his head, grabbing his jeans. "I should go."

"Wait… Sam… I… don't go." She pleaded.

"No, I'm done waiting, Mercedes. I love you. I love you more than I ever thought possible, but I won't be in love alone. If you loved me truly, you wouldn't have hesitated. So I am gonna go and be with someone who actually would say yes if I asked."

"Sam." She sobbed softly.

"After the pageant, I won't stop you from seeing Izzy; I just ask that you respect my relationship with Marley and be mindful that she will eventually… take that role of mom," Sam said, finally accepting that there was nothing left here for him.

"Please...just you have to listen to me." She said, trying to take his hand.

Sam snatched his hands away, shaking his head. "I'll see you later, and before you ask, yes, Marley will be by my side." He said before walking out of her room then out of her house, slamming the door behind him.

Mercedes screamed in frustration as her phone rang; without even looking at who was calling, she threw the phone against the wall, hard screaming out again and falling to the floor. "It's over...it's all over.."

Well, now the shit has hit the fan. How will they overcome this and someone tell me why Marley is so damn clingy. lol Anyways until we post again hahaha