Revised Chapter (5)

Sam gave an annoyed groan forcing himself off the couch to answer the door before the person banging against his front door unhinged it. He grabbed the remote off the coffee table in order to pause the old Superman movie that was part of the Superman movie marathon playing on TV. Sam was in no mood for any company today. He wondered who it could be as his glee friends all returned to their respective homes in their respective cities a few days ago; he also had dinner with some of his community college friends the previous night. Mercedes and her parents were visiting relatives for a few days a few town over therefore there was no reason for anyone to be knocking on his door to ruin his lazy Saturday.

He opened the door with a string of complaints burning on his tongue that quickly died down when he saw the smiling face of his beautiful girlfriend.

"Hey."

"Hey, I thought you weren't coming home until tomorrow?" He asked confused before a playful vain smirk stretched across his lips. "You couldn't stand to be away from me? Don't worry, I get it."

Mercedes rolled her eyes at his vanity hitting his chest before sliding past him into the apartment with a duffle bag tightly clutched in her hands. The warmth his body gifted her did not go unnoticed judging by her fluttering heart.

"Sure, babe, if that keeps the bad dreams away," she joked sarcastically. "Actually, my mom and grandma had a falling out so she decided that she would leave. She told my dad, and I quote, 'Deal with his damn family alone 'cause I am leaving'. So, my dad took us all home but the two of them are fighting now because my mom felt that dad didn't stick up for her" Mercedes explained as she shrugged off the bag and handed it to Sam. "I'm not in the mood for that mess so I decided to come spend the night with my favourite person. The two of them will probably have everything worked out by tomorrow and be disgustingly cute again. And honestly I need some space from them, it's been over a week and I already feel like I need some space."

Mercedes loved being home but her parents were suffocating; yes it came from a place of love but it did not make her any less annoyed. In the same breath, she felt terrible for the irritation she felt as her parents were only doing what any normal pair of parents would do- especially after what had happened to her a few years her hospitalization might have occurred years ago and her parents were quite fond of Samuel but they had their reservations and wished to protect and guard her heart.

Before Mercedes could lose herself in the kaleidoscope of memories from the past, Sam's skin brushing against hers brought her back to the present. He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to the soft skin stretched over her knuckles.

"I do like sleepovers." His warm breath danced over her skin before seeping through the thin layer of skin and moving down the sensory nerves buried beneath her skin leaving tingles behind.

"I know you do," she whispered back as he let go of her so he could place the duffle bag in his room leaving her alone to do some snooping in his fridge. What she found did not impress her; she might not be a model of perfect health but she did know how to cook wholesome dishes.

When Sam entered the living room that was attached to the kitchen he found Mercedes wearing her trademark 'I'm-Judging-You' face as she eyed his food.

"I was thinking of ordering a pizza later- What?" He asked self-consciously.

"This is not food," Mercedes said waving around a box of pop tarts in the air proving her point victoriously before her head disappeared into the fridge yet again. "Microwave meals, hamburger patties, fish fingers, frozen mac and cheese. These foods have no nutritional value at all. Where are the fish and chicken? Where are the fruits and vegetables? It' a shock you don't suffer from malnutrition. When last have you had a home cooked meal?"

"Uhm...a little over a month ago when I visited my parents," Sam said as Mercedes pulled a jar out of the fridge and examined it before unscrewing the lid and cautiously bringing it to her nose. She pulled a face and gagged before closing it again. She walked to the trashcan and threw it in there.

"I think something died in that jar three years ago." She said closing the fridge door. She straightened her spine and looked her boyfriend. "Come on, we're going to go buy you some real food."

"Are you going to cook it for me, Hollywood?" Sam asked as he made his way over to his girlfriend. He trapped her against the counter caging her in his arms as he leaned down and brushed his nose against hers.

"As a matter of fact I was in the top 4 of Celebrity Masterchef- thank you very much. I'm more than just a pretty face." She said wrapping her arms around his waist and pulling him closer. She closed her eyes relishing in her presence and enjoying how it felt just being close to him after so many years without him.

"That you are, babe," he said before gently pressing his lips to hers.

"Come on, let's go buy you some real food," Mercedes said lifting up his arm so that she could escape the cage he put her in. Sam groaned.

"Mercedes, I have my lazy pants on," Sam complained. He was in no mood for any human interaction today, well except for with Mercedes that is. "Can't we just stay in and make out? That sounds like a really good idea."

Mercedes rolled her eyes as she swats away Sam's hands that wished to distract her with their gentleness and skill.

"Taking your pants off hardly takes any effort."

"You sure? You maybe wanna help me?" He said with a sinful smirk that immediately caused Mercedes to stutter before choking on the innuendo. Mercedes gently hit his chest as he laughed at her flustered face.

Seeing that Mercedes was not going to give him what he wanted causing him to sigh and do what she said. He was already powerless to her powers of manipulations; he was such a pushover when it came to her. A few minutes later he emerged in jeans and a pair of sneakers much to her delight.

She jumped off the island and grabbed Sam's hand. "Let's go, we have some serious cuddling to do after we're done shopping," she proposed knowing that would stop her big baby's pout from spreading.

"I do like me some cuddling."

"What is that?" Sam asked disgustedly.

"It's a fruit," Mercedes said confidently before second-guessing herself. "...I think."

"What kind of fruit?"

"It's some kind of fruit grown in New Zealand and in South Africa. I saw it online once."

"What is it and how did it end up in Lima?"

"Am I a New Zealander or South African? How should I know?"

"Then why are you putting it in the cart if you don't know what it is?"

"..."

"..."

"It looks interesting," she said.

Sam picked up the fruit attempting to examine its yellow stubby exterior. It looked like something that belonged in a Star Trek movie. Or like a yellow grenade.

"It's called a Kiwano melon!" Mercedes said once realization dawned on her bringing him out of his investigation. He looked up from the alien fruit and placed it back into the cart afraid that if he held it too long it would send some tropical disease through his bloodstream that would leave him yellow and stubbly too.

He shut up and decided to let Mercedes continue throwing random fruits and vegetables into his shopping cart. He didn't really mind though, as she walked in front of the cart examining the items on the shelves before throwing them into the cart; it gave him a great view of her ample backside in those tight black booty-hugging jeans. He smirked as he was taken back to the countless times he would 'accidentally' brush his hands against her backside when they were still dating in New York. The idea of her and her delicious body belonging (for the lack of a better word) to him and only him unleashed something primal in him. He had always wanted Mercedes physically, though when he was a teenager it was merely because of the fact that she was his girlfriend, whom he loved, and he wanted some sexual release like any normal heterosexual male. However, he was now a man who could see beyond the hormones to see the beauty in every curve and imperfection of her. She was truly sexy. She might not be what playboy definition of the word but Sam had always been the type of man who could appreciate the beauty and anatomy of any woman.

Sam, too lost in the appreciation of her body, did not notice her eyeing him with amusement and irritation over her shoulder when he did not respond to her question. Finally having enough of his impure gaze she threw a sealed pack of lettuce leafs at him, watching them slid down his chest before landing on top of the mountain of foods in the cart.

"Stop being a perv," she warned but her voice betrayed her amusement and appreciation.

Sam said nothing choosing rather to give her a lopsided smile that clearly said he was far from sorry. She rolled her eyes but chose to drop it, rather leading him to the line in the register. He watched her make polite conversation with a few people (fans and family friends) who recognized her. After a few pictures and 'How are you's' the couple was finally left to enjoy each other's company yet again.

I'm heading off to Kentucky to visit the family for Springbreak. Do you want to come with? Mom would love seeing you and I'm pretty sure Stevie won't object either."

He and Mercedes spoke and Skyped regularly- even when he was at home. It was not unusual to find his whole family huddled together around his small laptop as he and Mercedes spoke; they usually thought that time was perfect to embarrass Sam by telling humiliating and traumatic childhood stories, or in Stevie's case flirt with her. Stevie had developed somewhat of a crush on Mercedes, Sam knew it was not that serious, mostly there to irk him but still, it was annoying having your younger 16-year-old brother call the future mother of your children 'totally bangable' even if you are not dating at the time.

"I don't want to intrude on Evans Family Time, Sam," Mercedes said.

"You won't be intruding," Sam said. "And by the way, you'll be part of the Evans family someday soon."

Mercedes smiled shyly rolling her eyes at Sam.

"That isn't taking it slow, now is it?"

"Says the girl that just arrived on my front porch with her all her luggage."

"It was a duffle bag-"

"That duffle bag is the size of a car," he shot back playfully before turning serious. "It's all about your pace. Honestly, I'd marry you tomorrow but I know you won't go for that."

He wrapped his arm around her waist and rested his chin on her head as they stood to wait for the queue to move.

It was not like Mercedes was not ready for commitment- she was especially with Sam. But Sam, her beautiful Sam, loved like a puppy; his love was deep and devoted but also impulsive. She and Sam had only been together for a little over a week now, thus they were very far from choosing a colour scheme for their wedding. They were no longer children, but adults that have changed and would have to learn and grow together before taking such a step.

She threw her head back resting against his shoulder as she looked up at him with a gentle smile.

"Just give it some time, Sammy."

"I feel like we've already wasted so much time, Mercedes. I just want to be with you."

She gently ran her fingers over his cheek.

"You are with me. Samuel, you have me in a way no other person on this earth will ever have."

That was the truth. Samuel Evans held her heart and trust in a way no man ever could: but that did not make it any was less terrifying. She had gone through a few things these past few years and as much as she wanted to ignore what had happened to her. Sam made her forget but he also made her remember: his gentle caresses would try to erase the invisible marks of rough hands yet at the same time the contrast of his gentle hands forced for comparison thus forcing her back to those terrible months of mental anguish and that night in which she had been the lowest she had ever been in her life.

He gave her a gentle smile before kissing her temple.

"Next," the dry nasally voice of the cashier rang through the air.

Mercedes walked to the front of the cart to unload the groceries as the bored woman manning the register looked up from her nails. Her gaze fell on Sam before moving to Mercedes then back at Sam. Mercedes followed the woman's gaze and looked at her boyfriend who was standing there with a mortified expression painted on his face.

"Hi, Kelly. You look nice." Sam said awkwardly clearing his throat. Sam had dated many women so he knew there would be a chance that he and Mercedes would walk into them. But knowing that still did not prepare him for the awkwardness of the situation. He looked at a confused Mercedes with pleading eyes as he took her hand in his.

"Why don't we go to another check-out counter-"

"So, this is why you dumped me?" The beautiful redhead woman asked jerking her neck to where Mercedes was standing.

Sam awkwardly laughed as two pairs of eyes studied him; one pair burning with fiery rage and the other with a mix of confusion and embarrassment.

"So that you could be free to date some other girl...oh wait, not any girl- Queen Latifah over here, right?" The girl glared at him with as much hate as she could muster.

"I thought you were still working at Jamba Juice," Sam said awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. So lost in his own mortification, he was oblivious to his girlfriend who was staring at the woman taken aback and thoroughly upset at being called Queen Latifah as if all black people looked the same.

"Does it look like I still work at Jamba Juice?" She hissed.

"Oh, hell to the no," Mercedes said finally able to form coherent words.

"You insolent, fake Jersey Shore reject did not just say that to me. Where's your manager? I need to inform him or her of how retarded, racist and just generally messed up your ass is, you damn bi-"

Sam knew that Mercedes was about to use a few colourful words so he stepped in before she could finish tearing into Kelly. Mercedes was rarely angry enough to curse but today would be one of those exceptions. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her away from Kelly as he said:

"No need to be so mean. Mercedes and I are going to another check-out counter to leave you and your bitterness as company."

"You dated...that?" Mercedes said glaring over her shoulder as Sam put distance between her and the woman.

"It was a long time ago," Sam said wrapping his arm around her waist in an attempt to calm her down.

Okay, it wasn't such a long time ago; more like three weeks ago. But in all fairness Kelly was a nice girl, well when they started she was nice- a bit clingy but nice nonetheless. After four weeks of dating, however, she wanted to know where he was all time. She dropped by, uninvited, to Glee practices. She even asked him to meet her parents (which he declined of course) and then she told him she loved him and when he didn't say it back she started crying and ranting even broke a few of his dishes and mugs- even the collector's edition Avenger's mug. The next day she wrote an apology letter and left it on the mat by his front door...with a dead rose. That was beyond creepy. He went over to her place and broke up with her the very next day. The girl went crazy and threatened to make his life a living hell.

Mercedes gave her one more lingering glare before deciding to let it go. The fact that the ignorant girl took a low-key dig at her race was not the only reason Mercedes disliked her; there was also the part of Mercedes that was jealous, as dumb as that sounded. The girl was attractive- thin, pretty; the girl all the guys wanted. Mercedes could not help but feel insecure about the fact that Sam dated her as she and the woman had nothing in common whatsoever. Don't get her wrong, Mercedes knew she wasn't ugly. She had big expressive eyes and a beautiful smile but she wasn't a contender for Ms USA either. Being surrounded by celebrities who were 'perfect' sure drilled that fact into her head, and not to mention haters on social media. As much as she hated to admit it; there were times in which she looked at herself in the mirror and sobbed as the opinions of people pierced her armour. She was far from a self-deprecating person but sometimes her confidence was not enough to keep herself from breaking down.

"Hey, you still in there?" Sam asked bringing her back to the present.

"Hmm."Mercedes said giving him a small smile showing him that she was okay.

Sam kissed her forehead.

"It wasn't serious, 'Cedes. Plus it's in the past," He rubbed her arm as they waited in a new line. "You're the only girl I wanna impress with this eight-pack these days."

Mercedes threw him a look but couldn't stop the smile breaking across her face.

"You're so vain."

A soft moan filled the air as lips danced together and fingers explored the familiar yet uncharted territory of bodies.

Mercedes' fingers were weaved in Sam's blonde locks, pulling him as close as humanly possible. Her free arm was securely wrapped around his waist. Tingles of ecstasy ran through her veins. Her body moved in perfect sync with his wanting...no needing to be closer. Every part of her yearned for his kiss and his touch. Her skin felt ablaze as Sam's hand caressed her with his gentle touch. She moaned into his mouth in bliss- heart pounding. A soft warning echoed through her mind but her body was too lost in Sam's presence to heed the warning. His kiss though drenched in desire held a promise of love. She tried banishing comparison thoughts trying to taint the moment of bliss between them.

Sam leaned over her on the couch kissing her with everything he had. He groaned in delight as she gently tugged on his hair strands. The free hand that was not supporting his weight found Mercedes' waist. He pulled her closer. His body wanted more than just the heat that seeped through their clothes- he needed to feel her soft skin caressing his as their bodies danced. He wanted her. He wanted her so badly and in ways, he would never want another woman. He unwrapped his arm from her waist and ran his fingers down her side feeling the rumple material of her nightgown ridding up beneath his hand. His fingers waltzed over the soft warm chocolate skin on her thigh. His body grazed against hers in slow motion.

"Sam," she moaned into his mouth. It was supposed to be a warning but she uttered his name in pure bliss; almost like a cry for more.

The tingles running through her veins turned to flashes of lighting charged with passion and want. The sirens were going off in her head telling her to stop this before it went too far. She untangled her fingers from his hair and caressed his jaw before moving down his neck and placing her hand on his chest- still lost in the kiss. She wanted to push him away and tell him they needed to stop but her body felt weak under his. Her body didn't want him to separate from his; it needed his warmth, it needed his touch. The warning rings in her head dulled as ecstasy bliss her in its mind-numbing hold. She felt his hand slip in under the material of her dress and move up her thigh before resting his thumb on where her boy shorts met her flesh. The warning bells were going crazy inside her head. If she didn't stop this now she'd do something she would regret tomorrow.

With the little strength she had left in her body she gently pushed Sam away.

"Redskull." Mercedes whispered catching her breath as she looked into Sam's foggy eyes. He leaned over her- his lips mere millimetres from hers and their breaths mingling. He looked at her confused and breathlessly whispered:

"What?"

"Redskull," Mercedes took a deep breath filling her deflated lungs with much-needed air. "That's my safe word. When things start going too far one of us says 'Redskull'."

"As in the arch nemesis of Captain America? The leader of Hydra?" Sam asked. His chest touched the soft curves of her breast as he let out a breathless chuckle.

Mercedes nodded take deep breaths as she tried regaining control of her body. "Yeah, imagining his face is a mood killer. We need something that will kill the mood." Mercedes said.

In all honesty, Sam thought it was hot- her using a super villain's name as a safe word. The havoc she had left behind was making itself known in regions that her virgin eyes had never seen before. He gently got off careful to shield her from what was happening in his pelvic region.

"Excuse me for a bit," Sam said, his voice sounding strained, before walking out the room so that he could get control of his body.

Mercedes stared at the ceiling for a minute catching her breath as every nerve of her body still twitched while impure thoughts entered her mind. She put her hands on her drumming heart before sitting up on the couch. She needed a drink for her parched throat. She walked to the dim lit kitchen for a glass of water. After a few minutes of walking around in the kitchen and clearing the haziness in her head, Mercedes decided to raid the fridge for the 'Star Trek' fruit as Sam dubbed it. Just as she sliced the horned thing Sam came into the room after collecting himself in a fresh pair of pyjama pants.

"What are you doing?"

She cleared her throat.

"I thought we could try this weird thingy." Mercedes said awkwardly and handed him half of the thing. She was still slightly embarrassed over the fact that she nearly lost control of her own body in front of him. Of course, the sexual tension in the air was suffocating.

Sam eyed the fruit suspiciously looking at before looking into her encouraging eyes as she waited for him to eat it.

"You eat it first," Mercedes said.

"So that I can die first?"

"Someone needs to tell your story if something happens. Someone needs to make the posters, lead the marches and enforce new laws. I'll fight for you, Sam." She joked. "If something happens to you I will ensure they never sow this fruit again. I will make sure they ban it in every single country. Your story will save millions of lives.

Sam rolled his eyes before eyeing it like it was poisonous.

"If I die waketh my soul with true love's kiss."

Mercedes rolled her eyes.

"You're not Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, Sam."

Sam stuck out his tongue before taking a lick of the fruit's centre. He pulled a face- it wasn't one of disgust or utter enjoyment.

"It's not terrible. It tastes like if a cucumber, a banana and a lemon had a baby."

Mercedes took a lick. He was right.

"Yeah, that tastes weird. The last time I eat foreign fruit." She walked over to the trash bin and threw her half away.

"What am I supposed to do with the other 11 you made me buy?" Sam asked following her lead by getting rid of the fruit.

Mercedes shrugged.

"That's your problem." She said walking back to the couch. She picked up the remote on the coffee table sitting cross-legged on the couch. She unpaused the Superman movie Sam recorded before going to live TV

"I was watching that before you interrupted me with your seduction," Sam said accusingly when Mercedes started looking for something new to watch.

"You weren't complaining, now were you?" Mercedes said as Sam sat down next to her. "We've been watching Superman movies for the past 5 hours, Sam. I'm tired of Clark Kent."

Mercedes snuggled into his warm side as she continued flipping through the channels for something interesting to watch. Sam wrapped his arm around her shoulder and ran his fingers over her bare arm. He rested his cheek on the top of her head. He loved how right it felt holding her. He loved how his body reacted to her proximity.

"Oh, Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No"

"Yeah, Oh hell no we're not watching that."

"Why not?"

Sam looked at his girlfriend as if she was rocking another head.

"This movie is a disgrace to all movies ever made. The storyline is tragic and don't get me started on the acting."

"You're just a hater."

"This is so unrealistic."

"Yes, because aliens would totally send their baby to Earth and said 'very human-like' alien baby would totally protect the world with his indestructibility and lasers and stuff."

"Whatever, Sharknado is still stupid as hell. Why would you punish your eyes like that?" Sam asked. "Why do you hate your eyes, Mercedes?"

"Sharknado is a comedy, not an action movie, Sam. It's so absurd all it can be is a comedy. Don't be hatin' on Sharknado there have been three so there are people out there who seems to enjoy it-"

"You and those people have deep rooted psychological problems if you would willingly put your eyes and minds through such pain."

Mercedes rolled her eyes and changed the channel with a yawn. Sam buried his face in Mercedes' neck kissing her and soliciting giggles from her. Sam bit the skin making her jump slightly in surprise before kissing it.

"Are you giving me a love bite?" Mercedes asked sighing as he licked the skin.

"Hmm," he whispered against her neck before moving his lips to her jaw and then her lips. Their mouths together in harmony- passion overtaking their souls as their tongues danced together. On its own accord, her body moved to his lap. She sat on him straddling him as she kissed him. Sam's hands found her waist pulling her closer as she grinding her hips against his they kissed. She cupped his cheek while the other hand got lost in his hair. She moaned in his mouth when one of his hands slipped up her dress caressing her outer thigh.

"Redskull." Sam groaned into her mouth before pulling away. He closed his eyes taking a deep breath. Mercedes was about to get off his lap when he tightened his grip on her waist. "I just need a few seconds," Sam said not wanting to lose the warmth and security of her body.

Mercedes nodded taking a deep breath to calm her body. Sam opened his eyes and smiled a lopsided smile as he cupped her cheeks. He pressed his forehead against hers keeping his gaze on her. She placed her hands on his chest drawing hearts.

"I love you." He whispered against her swollen lips tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

"I love you more." She said before giving him a soft kiss.

"Impossible."

I did not really change much in this chapter but chapter 6 will have a dentist visit in which a little bit of the reason behind more of Mercedes' apprehension