Thank you for your continued support, kind people.

Standard disclaimer.

This chapter is a little raunchy, but I hope the point is made clear and everyone sees it.

The next morning, I was still wrapped in Sam's arms, and it felt amazing, having him in my bed again.

I'd let him taken care of me last night.

Whether I'd admitted it or not, I'd given him a larger piece of myself last night.

And it hadn't destroyed me, or made me less of a person. In fact, it felt like a relief. It felt...right.

I could feel his breath against my ear and his pulse against my back.

When I turned to him, his eyes were opened and he was deep in thought.

I hoped he wasn't thinking, about, what a bad idea it had been, to sleep here last night.

Or, that he needed to get as far away from me as possible.

But...I'd have to accept his decision, if that was the case.

I'd opened my self up...made myself vulnerable to him, but I still had a long way to go. And I wasn't sure if waiting on someone like me, was the best idea.

Even though, I knew his attraction to me, was just as palpable as mine to him.

"What are you thinking about?" I whispered.

"Honestly?" His voice was low and raspy. It was beyond sexy. "I was thinking, I'd be scared to make love to you."

My heart thudded in my chest.

"Why?"

"Well, for obvious reasons. Being my first time and all," he said. "But, also because, I'd be feeling all of these things, and you'd be..."

His breaths were coming fast and shallow.

"I'd be what?" I rasped out. "Tell me."

"You told me at the clambake, that you didn't feel anything with those other guys." His breath tickled my ear, and I shivered against it.

"What if, you don't feel anything, when you're with me, either?"

"Not possible," I said, arching my head, to look him in the eye. "I'm incredibly turned on when I'm with you. I feel every kiss...every touch...everything."

His eyes squeezed closed, as his fingers brushed the back of my neck.

"I have my own fears, too, you know," I went on, feeling brave.

"Like what?" He opened his eyes, and I saw a flicker of yearning inside them.

"I'm afraid you'd think...after waiting all that time...that sex with me was nothing special, after all."

"Not a chance," he whispered against my ear.

"Or that I'd get so lost in feeling all of those things...that I'd let my guard down."

"And is that a bad thing?"

"It leaves me wide open...to be taken advantage of again," I confessed.

"But everyone has those fears, Mercedes," he said, kissing my forehead. "I understand why you have them and why you hold on to your independence so tightly. But I can't imagine ever wanting to stop caring for, or protecting you...I would never take advantage of you."

"That's the part I don't get," I started. "I mean, you're finally free from the burden of looking after your family. Why do you like the idea of caring for someone else?"

"You make it sound like it's a chore," he said, squeezing me tight. "It would be amazing to be needed and wanted, by someone that you care deeply about."

"I don't know, Sam. I'd say we're at a standstill."

"Or at a crossroads," he said. "Depending on how you look at it."

"Sex means different things to us," I said, playing with his bangs. "You're wound too tight and I'm wound too loose."

He kissed my shoulder.

"We're more alike than you think."

"How do you mean?"

"We both have trust issues. I'd be putting faith in the person I'm having sex with, too," he said.

"See, that's a lot of pressure. Sex for me...is just about feeling good. In and out and done," I said.

Sam threw back his head and laughed.

He turned over and pulled me flush against him.

"You know, we're not just talking about sex here. We're talking about feelings, Mercedes. How we make each other feel when we're together."

It was true. I wasn't sure I wanted to go back to just having quickie sex, after being this way with him.

Someone who took his time, who made every single touch count. It left me overwhelmed and breathless at the same time.

I decided to go for honesty.

"I love how you make me feel. How you kiss and touch me. It makes me feel...special. And, I feel like I want to maul you, all at once. And that terrifies the hell out of me."

"The feeling is mutual, especially, the mauling part," he said, and I smacked him.

"Maybe, we need time to build up our faith... in each other," he offered. "Can we at least agree to try?"

"I will try, Sam."

Whoa, what was I saying here?

Last night changed me more than I was willing to admit.

I wanted this boy. And I was willing to compromise to get him.

I was willing to put myself out there, as overwhelming as it may be.

"But, I can't guarantee that I won't get stuck, or run away sometimes," I confessed.

"Just agree, to always be honest with me, okay?" he said, and I nodded.

We stared into each other's eyes, and I saw my own emotions reflected back in his. Trust, hope, longing.

His lips hovered a breath away from mine and I flicked my tongue against his mouth, making him hum in response.

He closed his mouth over mine and our tongues lingered, in a slow, deliberate dance.

It felt honest, pure and brand-new to kiss him again.

He knotted his fingers in my hair and we stayed that way...kissing, licking, and teasing each other's lips, necks and ears.

"I'm not sure I can ever get enough of you," he murmured, as he captured the skin at the hollow of my throat.

"I know the feeling," I whispered.

He was lying on top of me, with his bulge rubbing against my hip.

And I wanted so badly to adjust myself, so that I could feel the length of him against my underwear, which was becoming increasingly wet.

But the last time we were in this same position in my bed, it had been too much for him. And I didn't want him to pull away from me again.

Sam kissed my forehead, and then my nose.

He looked deeply into my eyes, and my entire body tingled in response.

I felt him thumbing the end of my T-shirt, and my breathing became shallow.

"Take this off?" he softly commanded.

I sat up and lifted the shirt over my head.

I wasn't wearing a bra, and I could feel my nipples harden at his gaze.

"Jesus, Mercedes, I'm not sure I've ever seen more perfect breasts." My face heated at his sincere compliment.

His hand brushed against my collarbone and along the top of my breasts.

"Is this okay?" he asked and I whimpered in response.

My stomach coiled with eagerness, as he stroked his thumbs over my hard buds and then cupped my breasts.

He drew one into his mouth and swirled his tongue around the nipple.

I arched my back, leaning more towards him, urging him on. He took his time worshiping one, before giving my other breast the same attention.

After a while, he nudged me onto my back and then hovered above me.

"I've been dreaming about how you'd taste," he honestly said, and my breath lodged in the back of my throat.

He traced his fingers between the valley of my breasts, all the way down to my belly.

"But if you need me to stop, just say the word," he went on. He met my eyes. "I will always stop, Mercedes...always. Do you believe me?"

I nodded.

My breath became ragged with need, all of a sudden.

"Do you want me to stop right now?" he asked.

"No." I exhaled a shaky breath. "Please, don't stop."

He kissed along my collarbone and then trailed his tongue down the center of my chest, stopping to flick it against my navel.

"God, you smell good," he mumbled.

He feathered kisses against my belly and along the edges of my underwear and I squirmed and panted, almost bursting from anticipation.

I'd never had a man revere my body like this. It was overwhelming...and so good.

When he planted a scorching kiss over my mound and I felt his hot breath through the thin cotton material of my underwear, I gripped the bed sheets and moaned.

"Damn it! Sam," I panted. "How in the hell do you know exactly how to drive me insane?"

He trailed his tongue along my inner thigh.

"I said I was a virgin, Mercedes. Not a saint."

"Or even a monk, apparently," I mumbled.

I felt him smile against my skin.

He thumbed the top of my underwear and dragged the material below my hip.

And I felt a cool breeze glide over my skin, but it did nothing to squelch the heat between my legs.

Sam laved and suckled the skin around my hipbone, leaving me squirming.

"A tattoo would look sexy right here. And I'd be the only one to see it, when I did this," he said, and yanked my panties down my thighs.

I gasped.

He dropped my underwear on the floor, and then his gaze caressed the area between my legs.

I suddenly felt modest at his inspection of me. But also special and extremely aroused.

"You're so beautiful, Mercedes."

My pulse skyrocketed, when his palms slid up my calves to push my knees apart.

Silky strands of his hair skimmed my thighs, as he settled between my legs.

His eyes fastened on mine, as his mouth lingered above me.

He was watching me, wanting to see how I would respond to him.

And it was the sexiest damn thing, I've ever seen.

His hot breath prickled my skin right before I felt the broad stroke of his wet tongue.

"Oh fuck..." I panted, as his fingers curled around my hips.

Eyes glued to mine, he licked me again, slow and gentle, and my legs trembled beneath him.

Then, he closed his lips around me and sucked hard.

My eyes rolled back in my head, as I breathed out his name.

"Sam..."

"Jesus, Mercedes, you taste good."

I felt his deep groan vibrate against my skin, and the familiar tension of an orgasm, pulsed low in my belly.

He slipped a finger inside me, as he expertly used his tongue and mouth to drive me crazy.

My fingers were fisted in his hair, and I was close to losing myself, but something held me back.

It was so difficult for me to completely relinquish control.

Letting go for Sam, would mean something different now.

Because, after last night, we'd become something different...something real.

"I want you to trust me," he said, as his finger slid from inside of me and his other hand released the hold of my thigh.

With his mouth still on me, he reached for my hands, which were now tangled in the sheets and laced his fingers with mine, holding on tight.

"Come for me, baby," he breathed.

Then, his tongue and mouth became relentless, lapping between my slick folds and sucking with the right amount of pressure.

Pleasure and heat built to an overwhelming intensity in my body.

"Oh God...Sam...don't stop," I groaned.

I squeezed my eyes shut, as color and light danced behind my eyelids and my whole world exploded into a million pieces.

Sam gripped my hands and his mouth held steady, as I shivered and shook, calling out his name.

He maintained his position, dropping soft kisses all over my legs, as I came down from my high, a few minutes later.

Then, he came up beside me and pulled me into his arms, stroking my hair.

"Thank you," he said. My skin felt slick and my voice was raspy.

"For what?" I asked.

"For being vulnerable in front of me."

And there it was. And you know what? I didn't mind one bit.

I don't know how I'll feel later, or maybe a week from now, I just know, that right now, I was feeling pretty special...with this special man beside me.

Things got a little hot there, but I think one more of Mercedes' walls have crumbled and they have crossed a barrier. What do you think?

Stay safe, stay home and stay blessed. Much love to you.