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Standard disclaimer.

Penultimate chapter.

A life without chocolate...is no life at all.

Sam set Mercedes down in his bathroom, and she looked around in confusion.

"I'm not horizontal," she remarked.

Leaning passed her, he flipped on his shower and cranked the water to hot.

Then, he stripped.

'Good Lord!'

Mercedes' mouth watered.

Sam looked so damn good without his clothes, that it almost made her forget her problems...including, the fact that he was her biggest problem.

"What...?" she began, tearing her eyes from his sculptured chest.

"You're wet and frozen solid. Kick off your shoes," he gently ordered.

While she was obeying that command, he peeled the wet clothes from her and toss them to the floor.

And while she was distracted by his mouth-watering body, he checked the temperature of the shower, then pushed her in.

Mercedes sucked in a breath, as the hot water hit her, and then another, when Sam reached for the soap.

He was extremely efficient as he washed her, leaving her with nothing to do, but stare down at his erection brushing her stomach.

"Ignore it," he said.

She tried to, but as she stared at it some more, it got bigger.

'Good God!' she thought, and suddenly had the urge to grab it.

Sam shook his head at her and started washing her hair, his fingers working like magic on her scalp, making her moan.

Then, he set her aside and soaped himself up with equally efficiency...which shouldn't have turned her on, but it totally did.

Her arousal must have showed on her pretty face, because, his eyes went dark and hot.

Turning off the water, he wrapped her up in a towel and sat her on the counter. Then, with just a towel riding low on his hips, he crouched down, rooted in a drawer, and came up with a first-aid kit and a box of condoms.

Both unopened.

Saying nothing, Sam set the condoms on the counter at her hip.

And her entire body heated, just looking at them.

Grabbing the first-aid kit, Sam straightened to his full height and pushed the wet hair from Mercedes' face.

Next, he dipped his knees a little and eyed the cut over her cheek.

"A couple butterfly bandages will do you, I think."

He then disinfected the cut, and when she hissed out a pained breath, he leaned in and kissed her temple.

"Nice bedside manner," she murmured. "You patch up a lot of wet, naked women?"

"Almost never," he replied, then carefully peeled back the plastic packaging on the sterilized butterfly bandages and began to cover her wound.

"So, what exactly happened, that you're okay with handling this sort of thing again?" Mercedes asked.

"You happened."

"Come on."

Sam slid her a look.

"You think you're the only one making changes in your life?" he asked. "You work your ass off, no matter how much shit you see...and you see plenty. You just want to help people and heal them. I used to be like that. I just didn't realize I missed it, but I do."

"The job you're going back to," she said. "It's obviously very dangerous work."

"Not as dangerous as being a SEAL. That was about as bad as it can get."

"Like the plane crash," she said softly.

"Yeah, exactly like the plane crash."

"Do you have PTSD, Sam?"

"Maybe." He shrugged. "Probably, a little. But it's not debilitating though...at least, not anymore."

Sam was still damp from the shower and his hair was pushed back from his face and Mercedes could see a faint scar on one side of his jaw and another on his temple.

But he concentrated on his task, leaving her free to stare at him.

She noted his mouth, was somehow both stern and generous at the same time, and his jaw square and rough, with a day's worth of scruff, that she knew would feel deliciously sensual against her skin.

Her eyes traveled his broad, muscular chest, stopping on his ridged abs, wishing she could attach her lips to them and lick every single one.

'Such a beautiful man,' she silently mused.

With a sigh, she put her thoughts aside and softly said,

"You really miss it...the action I mean."

"Once an adrenaline junkie, always one, I guess."

He finished with the cut on her face and lifted her hand, turning it over, to gently probe her swollen and already bruised wrist.

She had no idea how he'd noticed it, but he did.

'It's not broken," she said.

He nodded in agreement, then lifted it to his mouth and brushed a kiss to her skin.

While she melted, he expertly wrapped it in an Ace bandage, then looked at her shin.

It was bleeding and she hadn't even realized. But once again, he did.

Sam dropped to his knees and attended to Mercedes' shin, with the same concentration and professionalism, he'd given everything else.

His head was level with the counter she was sitting on, and his hands were on her bare leg.

And all she could think, was if he shifted her leg an inch more to the left, her towel would gape, and he'd be eye level with her bare crotch.

It was a suggestive, erotic thought that led to others, and she squirmed, wondering how she could get her towel to drop, without being obvious about it.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Why didn't you leave when you were cleared?" she asked, trying to toss the naughty thoughts from her head.

Sam looked up into her face.

"I think you know why."

"Me?"

"You," he agreed.

In that moment, Mercedes decided, there were some advantages to changing her life around...to living for herself...instead of for others' expectations.

For one thing, it had given her new confidence.

So she accessed some of that and unwrapped the towel, letting it fall to the counter at her hips.

Sam went still, and a sensual thrill rushed through her.

He released a breath and slid his hands up her legs, applying gentle pressure, until she opened them for him.

He groaned aloud at his new-found view and pressed a kiss, first to one inner thigh, and then the other.

And then in-between.

His big hands were on her, rough and strong, but tender at the same time, and her body quivered, rejoicing in the rightness of his touch.

He murmured something against her skin and though she couldn't hear him, she urged him on, clutching at his shoulders, until her toes curled.

Until she cried out his name.

Until there were no more thoughts.

When Mercedes opened her eyes, she found Sam rising to his feet, his eyes hot and his mouth wet.

Then, he helped her off the counter. And as she continued to stare at him, he turned and walked out of the bathroom.

"What are you...?" she started, completely bewildered.

But she followed him into his bedroom, watching, as he quickly dropped his towel. And instead of finishing the horizontal lessons, he pulled on black knit boxers, that barely fit over his massive erection.

"What are you doing?" she asked, still in confusion.

"Someone's at the door."

He slid his long legs into jeans and grimaced when he tried to button them up.

Still in her orgasmic glow, Mercedes was thinking, that she'd like to trace the cords of every one of his muscles, starting with his chest and working her way down.

It'd take a while, but it would be time well spent.

Then, what he'd said sank in.

"Someone's at your door? I didn't hear anything."

A cheeky smile blossomed on his lips.

"That's because you were making more noise than the doorbell," he replied.

"I was not..." She covered her hot cheeks. "Who is it?"

"Your mother."

"What?" she squeaked.

"I caught sight of her walking up to the door, from the bathroom window." He glanced down at his hard-on. "You're going to have to get it." He eyed her body from head to toe and groaned. "And you should probably get dressed."

"Why is my mother here?"

"Probably brought the meatloaf."

"Shit!" Mercedes swore.

She'd forgotten all about the meatloaf.

Panicked, she turned in a circle and said,

"My scrubs are wet and in a pile on your bathroom floor!"

"Hydrogen, helium, lithium..." Sam recited.

And Mercedes stared at him.

"What are you doing now?" she asked.

"Listing the chemical elements, so I can answer the door without a boner."

"And knowing my mother is on your porch, isn't taking care of that?"

"Good point," he said and threw her a pair of sweats, that had been lying on a chair.

Then, he inhaled sharply, exhaled slowly and left the room.

In the end, Mercedes tossed dignity aside, and wore Sam's sweats, instead of her wet scrubs. But by the time she got to the living room, it was empty.

A few seconds later, she found Sam in the big kitchen, setting down a large bag.

"She didn't stay," he said. "She said, she figured I had my hands full, making sure you were okay. She said, she'd water your flowers and feed the cat for you, that you were to just sit your tired patoot down and relax, and I was to make sure you did just that."

Mercedes sighed.

"My mother, the Master Manipulator."

"Is your patoot tired?" Sam asked, sounding amused, though his eyes were very serious.

"No. Are you hungry?"

His eyes roamed over her features.

"Yes, but not for food. You?"

"I'll have whatever you're having."

Sam had been wanting to get his hands on Mercedes, since he'd heard from Mark about the missing drugs.

Hell, he'd been wanting to put his hands on her since...always.

He always wanted to put his hands on her.

His hands, his mouth. Everything.

He stood her by the bed, making short work of the sweats she'd pulled on.

When he dropped to his knees before her, he found her still warm and wet, and already making those noises he loved.

And when he slid a finger inside her, she gasped and opened her legs even wider for him.

She was a woman who knew what she wanted.

And he loved that about her.

Her fingers were in his hair, holding him to her, as if she was afraid he'd stop too soon.

But he picked up on it, and started to draw out his actions.

He wanted to hear her cry out his name again.

He wanted to feel her fly apart for him, so he worked her slow and easy, driving her right to the edge, before easing off.

Her hands tightened in his hair, as if she was trying to make him bald. So he smiled against her and finally took her over the edge.

Mercedes was still shuddering, when Sam surged to his feet and tossed her to the bed.

Sweetly sated, she laid back, arms stretched out at her sides and gave him a sweet smile.

"Why are you still dressed?" she wanted to know.

Wordlessly, he stripped, grabbed a condom and rolled it on. Then, like a lion stalking its prey, he prowled up over her, positioned himself at her entrance and pushed inside her...one long, slick slide, that had them both sucking in a harsh breath, of sheer, unadulterated pleasure.

Nothing had ever felt so good, as being buried deep inside her.

Nothing.

"Sam?"

His eyes found hers and he felt himself drowning in her eyes.

"Yes?"

"This is far more than I thought it would be," she said.

He knew that.

He knew it to the depths of his soul.

With one hand in her hair, holding her for a hard, deep kiss, and the other cupping her sweet ass, Sam began to move, thrusting into her slow and steady, and for the first time all day...hell, all damn week...his world started to make sense.

He'd been a military kid, who'd never landed in one place for long. Then, became a soldier himself.

And there'd been next to no softness in his life.

He'd taken the time for the occasional relationship, although none of them were serious, because, none stuck long enough to affect him deeply.

And of course, no previous relationship, had managed to fit what his idea of love was.

But Mercedes...she was different.

In his heart of hearts, he knew that much.

He knew it from that first stormy night.

He knew his tie to her had been undeniable.

It'd happened in an instant and only strengthened with time, and he wanted to be with her...talking, touching, kissing, making love...whatever he could get, because, she beat back the darkness inside him.

But being with her was a double-edged sword, because, every minute he spent with her, absolutely changed his definitions of everything.

She made him yearn for things he'd never yearned for before...like a home, family...and love.

And hell if that didn't stump him.

What did he know about any of those things?

All he knew, was that this...her mouth open on his, her body warm and soft and welcoming, her hands sliding up his chest and around his neck...felt right. And real.

"Careful," he murmured, kissing her swollen cheek, then her wrapped wrist. "Don't let me hurt you."

"You've healed me," Mercedes murmured. "Now let me heal you."

At that, her hands slid down his back and then up again, and it felt so good, Sam nearly purred.

She melted into him and he reminded himself, that she'd had a rough time of it, that he needed to go slowly.

But then, she wrapped her legs around his waist and he sank into her even further.

With a moan, she arched beneath him, her head back, eyes closed, and hunger and desire etched on her face.

"Oh, Sam..."

In response, he nuzzled her exposed throat, then sucked a patch of skin into his mouth, making her gasp and tighten her grip on him.

Everywhere.

And it set him on fire.

Then, she did it again, and he let it roll over him...the feel of her heat, gripping him like a vise, her scent, the scent of them together, the sound of her ragged breathing, combined with wordless entreaties.

This was what he'd needed, her body hot and trembling against his and everything connecting.

She rocked into each thrust, her cries echoing in his mouth, as he drove deeper, then deeper still.

She was saying his name over and over now, straining against him, and then she was shuddering in his arms, as she went straight over the edge, taking him right along with her.

'So good...'

That was his only thought, as he let himself go.

'So good, so damn good...'

Mercedes' hair was in Sam's face, but he didn't dare move it, because, he didn't want to disturb her.

Her body, still overheated and damp, was plastered to his...one leg thrown over him, her cheek stuck to his chest, and her hand on his favorite body part, as if she owned it.

And she did own it.

She owned his heart and soul as well.

'Jesus!'

This thing between them, had started out so innocuously.

Innocent, even.

Well, maybe, not that innocent, because, they'd had sex that first night in an attic. Some pretty fan-fucking-tastic sex.

He'd not been in a good place then. He hadn't felt good enough for his own life, much less anyone else's.

Certainly not good enough for a woman like her...a woman who would give a perfect stranger the very shirt off her back.

But watching her, being with her...made him feel good.

Worthy even.

It was unbelievable to him, that one little woman could do that, but she had.

And where did that leave him?

He'd never intended to be anything to her, other than a good time, or according to her, a walk on the wild side.

But best laid plans...

Maybe he should have run hard and fast that very first night, but there'd been something about her...something that had drawn him in, and kept him there.

Even when he'd stirred things up for her...like with her job or with her relationship with her mother, she'd never hesitated. She'd given him everything she had.

And in return, she'd only asked one thing of him.

Just one.

Don't say good-bye. Just go.

His arms involuntarily tightened on her, and although she gave a soft sigh and cuddled deeper into him, she didn't wake.

Nor did she stir, when he finally forced himself to let go of her and slip out of the bed, his heart feeling like a ton of bricks in his chest.

Mercedes came awake slowly, thinking about all that had happened the day before...the HSC being shut down, her quitting, the diner's destruction...and Sam making it all okay.

It was subtle, he was subtle...but last night, he'd given her exactly what she'd needed. He was responsive, but not smothering...encouraging her to talk, when she'd needed to, and letting her be quiet, when it had counted.

Then, he'd worshiped her body, until nearly dawn.

And now, as she stretched, her muscles ached in a very delicious way.

But last night...early this morning...wasn't just sex.

In truth, it hadn't been just sex for her, since their first time. And she hadn't been sure how Sam felt...until last night.

Last night, the way he'd touched her, how he'd looked while deep in the throes, shuddering against her, claiming her body and giving her his...that had been lovemaking at its finest.

Smiling at the memory, she rolled over and reached for him, but he wasn't in the bed...his pillow was cold.

And something inside her went cold as well.

Mercedes grabbed her buzzing phone off the nightstand.

She had put it there before falling asleep. She thought it might be Sam, but when she checked, it was a text from Shelby.

Biff refused your resignation. Also, due to a new donation, earmarked specifically for the HSC, the place has been granted a stay of execution for the next six months. On top of that, you are no longer un-salaried for your hours there. Your next shift is tomorrow at eight. Be there, Mercedes.

'A new donation...oh Sam, what have you done now?'

Wrapping herself in Sam's sheet, Mercedes walked through his house, her glow quickly fading.

There'd never been much of him anywhere, in the place to begin with, but the few traces of his existence were gone.

His clothes, his duffel-bag on the chair, his iPhone...all gone.

Running now, she got to the garage and flipped on the light. The Shelby was still there, pretty and shiny...and finished.

Confused, she went back through the house and into the bedroom.

There, she found the note that must have been on his pillow, but had probably slipped to the floor. A single key...a car key, was beside it.

The note read...

Mercedes,

It was far more than I thought it would be, too.

I left you the Shelby. Sell it, it's worth enough, that you can take your time deciding on the job thing. Mark will get what it's worth for you. If you keep it, don't park it on the street.

No regrets...

Love, Sam.

Mercedes stared at the note for a good ten minutes.

He'd left her his baby. And given her permission to sell it, so she wouldn't have to worry about money.

And then, he'd signed the note, Love, Sam.

She let out a half laugh, half sob, then clapped her hand over her mouth, when it was followed by another sob.

He loved her.

'The fool.'

Or maybe that was her.

She was the fool, because, she loved him, too. Oh, how she loved him.

"No regrets," she whispered, and wrapped her fingers around the key.

Stay tuned for the last chapter and stay safe!