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Standard disclaimer.

SAM

I was literally at a loss for words, as Mercedes took my hand in her smaller one and led me up the steps.

It was like I was fifteen again and minutes away from losing my virginity.

No shit. That was how it felt. Nervousness. Anxiety. Anticipation. All of those feelings were rolled together.

Never in my life, did I think I'd feel that way again and I wasn't sure, if that was even a good thing.

But as we rounded the top of the stairs and Mercedes looked over her shoulder at me, smiling shyly, I realized that yep, it was a damn good thing.

She started to turn into her room, but I stopped her. I wanted her in my room, in my bed.

So I pushed open my door and then closed it behind me.

Mercedes stopped a few feet from the bed, as I walked over to my duffel bag and rooted around, until I found what I was looking for.

"You brought condoms with you?" she asked, as I tossed a few on the nightstand.

I grinned, somewhat sheepishly.

"I try to keep them on me. You never know when they'll come in handy."

She arched a brow.

"I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not."

"It's a good thing." I turned to her. "At least, it's turning out to be a good thing, but seriously, I didn't think I'd be using them this week."

"Really?" Doubt crossed her face, as she walked towards me, and started playing with the edge of my shirt. "I remember that bet you made with me."

"Actually, there was no bet. You wouldn't play along." I lifted my arms, letting her tug the shirt off.

Her gaze flicked up to my face and then down to my chest, and I saw the appreciation in her gaze.

"I do remember telling you, that was never going to happen." She slid her hands down my chest, to the button on my jeans. "And yet, here I am."

"Here we are," I said.

She leaned forward and kissed the center of my chest, and it was so sweet. Then, she reached down, cupping my erection through my jeans. And my body jerked at the bold, hot-as-fucking-hell touch.

"Does that make me easy?" she asked.

"Hell no. Do you really think that?"

If so, this shit was going to stop right now. I caught her wrist, pulling her hand away.

"Do you?" I prodded.

Mercedes lifted her chin, inclining her head.

"Not with you. No," she answered after a moment. Then, she pulled her hand away and pushed me down, so that I sat on the edge of the bed. "It's strange."

"What is?" I asked.

Her gaze traveled over me. It was hungry.

"I never thought that I'd be this comfortable around you."

I wanted to gather her in my arms and lose myself in her warmth, when she said that.

"I'm glad you do."

When we were downstairs, Mercedes had fixed her dress, and it had been a real visual disappointment, but now I was thrilled.

Because, as I sat on my ass, she stood in front of me, lifting her fingers to the tiny-ass straps of her dress.

I was going to get to see her undress, and shit, if that wasn't a beautiful thing.

She slipped the straps down her arms, letting them dangle, as she reached behind her.

And the tinny sound of a zipper going down, had me aching.

I spread my legs out, but it didn't help.

"You're killing me."

Her lips curved up.

"You killed me earlier."

"I did?"

The loose curls around her face bounced, as she nodded.

"What you did down there, on the couch?" The dress loosened around her and she caught the material before it slipped down her breasts. "I thought I had died for a moment."

I leaned forward, my eyes never leaving hers. Hell, a flesh-eating zombie could stroll into the room and I wouldn't look away.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It was," she said softly, and then let the dress slip down her body, pooling at her feet with a soft whoosh.

Holy damn! My heart rate doubled.

It was like seeing a goddess in the flesh, and I suddenly didn't feel worthy of laying my eyes on her.

The skin of her throat flushed, a dark crimson and that blush spread down to her full breasts.

My mouth watered at the sight of those hardened tips and my fingers tingled, just imagining sliding down her ribs, over the sweet curve of her waist and to those damn silky panties, that covered her rounded hips.

"Is that a bow on your panties?" I asked.

"Yes. Because I'm sweet and demure."

I chuckled hoarsely, but then straightened, as she stepped towards me.

My gaze was fastened on that purple bow, right up until the moment her fingers slipped under the sides of her panties.

Never in my life, had I been so fucking turned on.

Mercedes bent slightly, and I sucked in a sharp breath, as her breasts swayed and that scrap of purple lace slipped down her thighs, joining the dress.

And then, she was completely nude.

"Holy fuck!" I groaned, shaking my head slightly, as I looked my fill.

She curled one arm across her waist, over her navel.

"Is...is that a bad thing?" she asked.

"No. Hell no!" I stood on oddly weak legs. "Mercedes, you're beautiful...so damn beautiful."

The cheeks seemed to brighten, as her lashes lowered.

"I feel beautiful when you look at me this way," she admitted.

"I'm always going to look at you this way, so you better get used to it."

My gaze drifted over her body, lingering on some areas more than others, but I found myself staring at her feet.

One foot was turned towards the other and her toes were curled. It was such a shy and sweet position, it tugged at my chest.

I wanted to do right by her.

Slowing this down, was one of the hardest things I'd ever had to do, because, I was so hard, so ready to be inside her, that it was almost painful.

But I didn't want this to be fast. I wanted her to remember this always and I wanted this to erase every fucker, that'd come before me.

As I approached Mercedes, she lifted her gaze and her lips parted.

Gently, I touched the sides of her face with the tips of my fingers and tilted her head back.

Lowering my mouth to hers, I kissed her softly, taking my time to explore the depths of her warm mouth and her sweet taste.

I moved closer, welcoming the feel of her body brushing mine, as the kiss went deeper and became more erotic.

Our tongues tangled, and then her hands dropped to my pants, finishing with the zipper. And I moaned, as she barely touched me.

Stepping back, I finished with the jeans and the boxer briefs, shedding them quickly.

Then, I straightened, grinning, when I saw what she was staring at.

"You like?"

Her tongue darted over her plump lower lip and she nodded.

"Yeah. Yeah, I do."

Another husky laugh radiated from me and then, I took her hand, drawing her to the bed.

As she lay down, I grabbed the condom off the nightstand and tossed it beside her.

She arched a brow, and I grinned, as I reached down, wrapping my hand around the base of my manhood.

"Keep an eye on that condom. Make sure it doesn't run off."

Her gaze dropped and she giggled. I really like that sound. I could listen to it for the rest of my life.

"I don't think it's going anywhere," she said.

"You never know."

I put a knee on the bed beside her, as I slowly moved my hand along myself.

She seemed to like that, by the way her chest rose sharply.

"You like that, don't you?"

"Like what?" Her voice turned richer, thicker.

I moved my hand faster.

"This. You like watching me do this."

Dammit! I loved the way she could flush, at a drop of a hat. I expected her to lie, but after a moment, she nodded.

"I do."

My jaw was beginning to ache, from how hard I was grinding my teeth.

"I'm going to have to file that little piece of knowledge away for later."

"Later?" she asked.

I smiled.

"Oh, there's going to be a later. Lots of laters."

Mercedes seemed to relax in that moment, and I hadn't noticed how much tension filled her until then.

"I like the sound of that."

Staring at her, I felt my heart do something funny in my chest. Like it had jumped. Damn! She was going to break me in the best possible way. I just know it.

I forced myself to lie down, stretching out on my side beside Mercedes.

Drawing my hand down the length of her body, I idly brushed my thumb over the taut peak of her breast. Shut! I really liked the way she felt.

I really liked the tiny feminine sound she made, when I caught her nipple between my fingers.

I really liked the way she tilted her head back, lifting her chest in a silent invitation for more.

Man, I just really liked her.

My heart was pounding in my chest like a steel drum, as I leaned over, placing a kiss on the little dip at the base of her throat.

"I like that," she said, running her hand up my arm. "I like everything you do."

I smiled against her skin, more than pleased to hear that, as I kissed my way down her lovely breasts.

She shuddered, and there was nothing sweeter than that.

I could eat her up, one lick and nibble at a time, but there was no way I'd last, if I went for round two of that.

Trailing a path along the underside of her breast, my hand drifted down her soft belly.

I lifted my head, watching my own progress, as my hand disappeared between those sweet thighs.

I slipped one finger, through the wetness pooling there. She was tight and hot and wet.

She was ready.

The foil package was already in Mercedes' hand, and I had to smile, as I grabbed it from her, carefully ripping it open.

My damn hands shook, as I rolled it on and then I rose above her, forcing myself to breathe slowly, as I shifted my weight onto one arm and kneed her thighs apart.

Her warm brown eyes held mine, as she spread her fingers across my cheek.

"I want you," she said.

I closed my eyes briefly, shaken by the need I felt.

"I will never grow tired of hearing that."

I reached between us, guiding myself to her entrance, and then I grasped her hip, tilting her up.

"I've wanted this, since the first time I laid eyes on you," I said.

A strange look crossed her face, then, it was gone so quickly, I wasn't even sure if I had seen it.

Then she smiled.

"Let's not wait any longer," she said.

Magic words spoken right there.

I eased into her, groaning, as her tightness enveloped me, inch by fucking torturous inch.

She was so tight and hot, a tremor rolled down me and I stilled, gasping.

"You okay?"

Mercedes' hands slid down my sides to my hips.

"Yes," she whispered.

Her gaze was dark and warm, and my restraint evaporated like smoke.

I thrust my hips forward, filling her completely and her head kicked back, as she gasped, my name falling like a musical note between us.

I moved over her and in her, slow and steady at first.

Then she drew her legs up, her feet sliding along my calves, until her thighs pressed against my hips, holding me there, while she rose to meet each thrust.

I had never felt such intensity...such rightness. I hadn't even known it was possible to feel that way.

My back bowed, as I drove into Mercedes, fisting one of my hands in her hair, and yanking her head back.

Our lips met and the kiss was fierce, my tongue plunging into her mouth, just like my hips were.

Sweat dotted my brow and my back. And the bed shook under the force.

I devoured her with a hunger, I didn't even know I was capable of.

I was losing control, I could feel it.

Maybe I'd never had control, I thought, as my hips pistoned in and my hand dug into the flesh at her hip.

I tried to pull back, mentally and emotionally, but I couldn't.

In the back of my mind, I was afraid of hurting her somehow, but she tightened around me, clamping down.

"Oh God," she gasped, her eyes going wide and smoky with pleasure.

"Sam! I'm..."

"Let go," I grunted out. "God, just let go, because, I'm gonna..."

She let go.

Throwing her head back, she cried out, as her body spasmed around me and her fingers dug into my skin.

There was no rhythm or grace in how I moved now. I just drove into her, the pounding motion moving both of us across the bed.

Her lashes swept up and our gazes collided for an instant.

And what I saw in her stare, proved that she hadn't broken me before, because, I broke right then, splitting wide open.

An intense, all-consuming release, powered down my spine, obliterating all of my senses. It was all too much.

My hips jerked wildly, and all I could do, was bury my head against her neck.

The sounds of her pleasure were lost in my pounding heart and my own harsh groans, as I came for what felt like forever, the spasms never ending.

My hand tightened around the back of Mercedes' head, as I shook and trembled.

I had no idea how much time passed, before my body slowed its roll, but I slowly became aware of her hand, gliding up and down my back.

Dragging in a ragged breath, I lifted my head and her half-hooded gaze met mine.

"Hey," she whispered.

My lips twitched.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Perfect."

Another rough breath parted my lips.

"I'm probably crushing you."

She shook her head slowly.

"I don't mind."

Neither did I, but seriously, I wasn't a small guy. I shifted onto my arm and carefully eased out of her. My legs felt strangely weak, as my gaze dropped to hers.

Again, I was at a loss for words, as I leaned down and kissed her softly.

When we parted, I was unwilling to leave the bed, but I had to.

"I'll be right back."

She nodded as I rose.

Padding across the floor, I got rid of the condom and then made good on what I'd said, getting right back to where I was.

But Mercedes was sitting up, drawing her knees up to her chest.

"I can leave now if you..."

"What?" I shot her a look as I dragged the covers back on one side. "Leave?"

She glanced at me and then her gaze darted away.

"I mean, I can hang out with you in here if you want, or I can go back to my room."

I stared at her for a moment, then said,

"Get your ass under this blanket."

Her brows shot up.

"Excuse me?"

"You're not going anywhere," I told her. "I want you in here, with me. So get that pretty ass under these blankets. I want to snuggle."

"Snuggle?"

She didn't move for a moment and then she did, shaking her head and scrambling under the blanket, on the far side of the bed.

Immediately, I climbed in, before I fell in, and as soon as my ass hit those cool sheets, I reached out and circled an arm around her waist, drawing her back against my front.

"Snuggling," I explained, "Requires two people to be close together."

"Understood," she said, and then wiggled her bottom a little, as if she was getting comfortable. "Sam?"

"Yeah?"

I felt her draw in a deep breath.

"Thank you."

I frowned.

"For what?" I asked.

"For...for all of that."

Lifting my head, I looked down at her, and I froze for a moment. Her thick lashes fanned her cheeks, and her slightly swollen lips were parted.

Her face looked flushed and shiny...so pretty, and even though we'd just mated like two wild animals, there was still an odd air of peace around her.

It didn't make sense, but that's what I saw and felt. It had to be one of the rarest moments, to see her like that.

I settled back down.

There were a lot of words I wanted to say, as I kissed Mercedes' shoulder.

There were a lot of things I was feeling as I closed my eyes, resting my forehead against her shoulder, but at that moment, words didn't seem adequate, compared to what I was feeling.

So I held her tighter to my chest and did something I couldn't recall doing before, with anyone...I fell asleep with her in my arms.

Stay safe!