I want to thank you guys for enjoying my stories, it means a lot that you take these journey's with me.
Mercedes woke up in contentment and happiness. She couldn't help the smile that graced her lips, even the soreness in her body didn't stop the happiness she felt. She and Sam were lovers...lovers. And she was so happy.
She reached out to touch Sam but frowned feeling the cool bed sheet. Sam was gone, she didn't even have to strain her ears to try and listen out for him, she knew Sam left. Looking at the clock she smiled again. It was 7:15 in the morning. Sam left to protect her, he didn't want her to be gossiped against.
She laid back on the bed, wishing Sam was there, she was lonely without him, she had always imagined we what it would be like to make love to him and now she knew. It was the most exhilarating thing that has ever happened to her. She sat thinking about how she would have woken him up with breakfast in bed or he would have woken her up with a kiss. But instead he just left her.
Then she was hit with a horrible thought. What if she hadn't pleased him? And he left to avoid hurting her feelings. She closed her eyes with her hand in her head. What was sacred and beautiful to her might have been misery for him. Her eyes watered as the phone rang.
"Hello?" she asked, part of her wishing it was Sam.
"Hi Ms. Jones, Mr. Fontana wanted me to confirm your meeting was at 7?"
Mercedes rolled her eyes, she forgot all about her meeting 15 minutes ago. Ugh she was never late and now not only did Sam leave her alone she was late for her meetings. "Yes I am so sorry something came up but can you let him know that I will be there in 20 minutes."
"Sure thing."
Mercedes got out of the bed, soreness consuming her, she stood running a hot shower and standing under it for a few minutes to try and loosen her joints. She would worry about Sam later, right now she needed to worry about work and make sure everything was still running smoothly.
Sam couldn't go back to sleep even if he wanted too. The moment he reached his apartment visions of Mercedes plagued him. She was all over his apartment, with every fixture, every piece of furniture. He took a quick shower and dressed heading down to his office. The problem was Mercedes was still on his mind, she still filled his soul when he thought of her. The way she felt wrapped around him, her softness, her tightness. The way he felt after every single round with her.
He fisted his desk as images of Mercedes filled his mind and teased him as no other woman had before. And he just left her to wake up alone. Even though he did that to protect her reputation, he knew that to a woman like Mercedes that wouldn't matter. She trusted him, gave him all of her and he left her.
Every ten minutes his eyes would gaze to the phone, and then to clock. It was after Seven and he was sure she was already up and searching for him, just like she did multiple times last night. Only this time he wouldn't be there to comfort her.
Sam rolled his eyes picking up the phone, only to place it back down. What exactly could he say to her? "Hey thanks for the sex?" "How are you?" "Can we go again?". He grunted in displeasure. He couldn't say that he wished he was there with her, no matter how true it was. Or how he wished she wasn't the baby sister of his best friend. Wished that he didn't feel like he had been given a precious gift that was snatched from him.
Sam stood, pacing around the room. If he was having a hard time dealing with the fact that she and he became lovers, how was she taking it? How was he supposed to fix this? Flowers didn't cut it, he had to think of something else, something more.
Grabbing his keys he was out the door and five minutes later he was looking at Sunshine asking for Mercedes. He was told she was in a meeting but should be finishing up shortly. After convincing Sam he wouldn't be disturbing Mercedes if he went to find her, she had a waiter take Sam to where Mercedes and Henri were talking.
The moment he stepped onto the patio his eyes zeroed in on Mercedes and his body responded in kind. His mind was on nothing else but getting to her. Then she looked up and his eyes caught hers, her soul bore into his as her lips parted and he realized how bad he wanted her now. His mind raced as thoughts of having her on that tabe danced around his mind. He noticed Mercedes blush and realized that she was thinking the same thing he was.
Henri followed Mercedes eyes and fell upon Sam, that man knew what that look meant and he had noticed a difference in Mercedes this morning, its obvious Sam was the reason. Sam moved closer waving to the two.
"Good Morning Mercedes, Henri, I hope I am not interrupting anything."
Henri smirked. "Well, it seems as if you have found something else of interest at this fine hotel Mr. Sam."
Mercedes blushed looking at Sam. Sam's eyes widened as his face hardened. "You like living dangerously don't you?"
The older Chef smiled. "When it suits me." He turned to Mercedes. "I have everything I need. I will have the preview ready tonight to see what you think." he turned to Sam. "You are invited too. 7pm Sharp do not be late."
With that he stood and left, leaving Mercedes and Sam alone. She looked at Sam. "Pay him no mind, he just doesn't want me eating alone, but I know you will be busy tonight."
Sam moved closer to her. "Do you want me there tonight."
"I would love it, if you came."
Sam smiled Saturday nights were busy for Sam, but he would never refuse an evening with her. "I will see you tonight Mercedes."
He turned to leave and she sighed. "You aren't staying for breakfast?"
Sam turned to her and shook his head no, before gazing down to his predicament, he could see the moment she looked down a mixture of pleasure and laughter filled her eyes. Even in his discomfortable state seeing her smiled caused him to smile.
"I am so glad you find this funny when it's all your fault."
"If I could, I would fix it." She said in a seductive tone, that just made him want her more.
Sam blew out air between his lips, as his mind wandered to the ways she could take care of his problem.
"I swear Merce you are going to be the death of me."
She licked her lips as she stood slowly, the red top was buttoned just low enough to tease a man, and the black pencil skirt she wore hugged those thighs so perfectly, she almost stood toe to toe with him as the sexy heels gave her height.
"Maybe, but what a way to go." She smirked. "I will see you tonight."
She started to walk away as his eyes were glued to her ass, the way she swayed just to tease him. He could see tit in her eyes and hear it in his tone, he had every intention of joining her tonight but resisting her in other ways. There would be no more hot, sweaty incredible sex for them, none. No matter what she did, he would resist. As he turned to leave his mind laughed at him as his heart pounded in need to be closer to her. Even though he had every intention of resisting her, he knew it was going to be a challenge.
Mercedes could have kissed Henri, he had always been like a second father to her, and she had no doubt he knew what was going on with her and Sam, but nevertheless she knew he wouldn't say anything about what happened. Walking into her place she went to her closet. She found the perfect little black dress to wear to dinner tonight. Thanks to Stacey, Merce was prepared for her date with Sam. Was it a date? It felt like it was. As she left her place and made her way to the main lobby she watched as a Delivery man delivered her a beautiful arrangement of birds of paradise, roses, hydrangea and amaryllis that were arranged beautifully in a crystal vase.
"Delivery for Mercedes Jones."
Mercedes stood frozen, no one has ever sent her flowers before. She walked over and signed her name then gave the delivery man a tip as she took the flowers. "I don't think i have ever had a personal delivery, let alone something this large."
She looked at the note and smiled softly, hiding her disappointment.
"If you change your mind, call. Always, Harper."
Sunshine smiled. "A gift from a love?"
"No just a friend, these won't fit in my office so I am going to leave these your here for everyone to enjoy, I am going to my office if anyone needs me they can find me there."
Sam triple checked that everything at the restaurant was on point. They were indeed very busy and normally he wouldn't even consider leaving for 2 minutes let alone the hour or so it would take for them to finish Henri's dinner. But he knew he had to be there.
Every table was filled and the line was out the door, but the good thing was he was smart enough to hire extra help. He was finally satisfied that things were running they way they should and after being reassured by his manager that they had everything under control. Looking at his watch it was quarter till 7. His hands were sweaty and his heart raced. He had never been nervous about a date before, not that this was a date, or maybe it was. His thoughts were caught off guard when Jane came in.
"Sam you should get going, Stacey just came in and she has big news."
Sam sighed walking out to the tables, his sister and her news, who knew what it could be. He walked over to her and she scooted so he could sit, she remained standing shaking his head.
"I actually can't stay I have plans but I heard you have news?"
"Wait you aren't staying? What or should I say who is making you leave your precious restaurant on your busiest day?"
"If you must know I am helping Mercedes with a menu tasting and before you say anything we are just friends."
"Yeah she seems to have a lot of them."
Sam raised an eyebrow. "And just what is that supposed to mean?"
Stacey sighed. "Okay I will tell you but you can't turn into some macho nacho ass and treat her like an idiot like guys do me."
"Stace!"
"Okay well you know I don't like gossip and remember this is like third party information here. But I heard from a client, who is staying at her hotel, who heard from another guest that Harper has not given up on Mercedes. He sent a huge floral arrangement, I am talking so big three men had to carry it in and get this the note attached, was asking her to reconsider and be his wife."
Mercedes was livid, she was 99 percent certain it wasn't her staff who betrayed her but one could never be too sure. But she had just found out that a guest had found Harper's card, she assumed she dropped and in the midst of reading it concocted some ludacris rumor that they were to be married.
She rolled her eyes feeling ehr privacy invaded as she sat at the table, sipping wine and waiting for Sam. She didn't care that people were talking about her, she cared they were talking about Harper, he didn't deserve that. Dating was one thing to consider but Marriage, that was another. If the news leaked to the media or worse she wasn't sure how any of them were going to react. She knew he would think of her first but she couldn't put him in a bad situation, not because of her. Plus there were new circumstances to think about.
She looked up as Sam entered the closed dining area, she could see from his eyes that he was upset. She folded her arms as he sat down.
"I thought you were better than that Sam, listening to rumors and letting them get to you before verifying."
"I didn't listen I am just saying you did go out with him."
"I did and he and I are just friends."
"Yeah well you and I are just friends too."
She sat back raising an eyebrow. "We are a lot more than friends after last night, or have you forgotten?"
"I haven't forgotten anything. Believe me on that."
Mercedes nodded. "Neither have I, but the thing is considering all things that are going on right now, you might be viewed as the other man by the gossiping tribe."
Sam nodded. "So that's why we are in a secluded dining room, verses outside on the patio."
"I didn't think you'd enjoy the meal Henri is preparing if you were the main attraction of gossip, and that being said I would understand if you wanted to leave. Us being here secluded might create even more speculation."
"I don't plan on going anywhere." Sam said as Henri walked out of the back placing the appetizer of tuna tartar in front of them. "Well Mr. Sam I see you finally made it."
"Yes I was only a few minutes late."
"Uh huh, I have prepared some non alcoholic beverages for you to go along with the meal. I do hope you enjoy it and maybe next time you won't keep such a exquisite meal or beautiful woman waiting."
With that Henri left and Sam shook his head, "You know the more i talk to him, the more I realize it is better for everyone if he stays here with you."
"He is just overprotective of me, he's harmless."
"Yeah but still."
Mercedes knew Sam was just being overprotective as usual, but a part of he wished he was jealous, jealous of Harper, jealous of another man wanting to marry her. Sam looked up and smiled softly.
"You should know that Henri had it wrong though."
"About the meal?"
"No, about you." He said eyeing the form fitting black dress that left her shoulders bare, giving him full view of her breast and smooth skin. "You are the exquisite one."
Mercedes blushed as Henri brought out the five course meal. They were in the midst of waiting for dessert when an Orchid arrived in a clear box, considering what Sam knew about the other arrangement she was sent, he should have stopped it from being delivered.
"I had ordered it this morning for you, I am sorry its not bigger." He looked at her and noticed the tears welling up in her eyes. Her fingers traced the delicate petals and she stared at Sam.
"Its perfect Sam, and so beautiful."
Sam smiled. "You don't even realize you just described yourself do you?" Sam stared at her, he was a goner, there was no way he could ever walk away from her.
"Voila" Herni said as he placed the desserts on the table, promising they would never taste anything better. Their eyes met the dessert then each other and smiled. They hadn't even tried the dessert and already knew he was wrong. They had tasted each other and nothing beat that.