Thanks for continuing to read and support. Have a great weekend!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Most of this is borrowed from Glee, the author, Twyla Turner, role plays, and other sources. I am just the juggler keeping all these perspectives in the air as this story is told for our fandom.
Chapter Ten
August 4, 2023
Mercedes relaxed back on her recliner with a glass of wine watching the season finale of The Boys. It was Friday night and she was going to enjoy some down time alone.
When her phone's text notification went off, she wanted to ignore it. But just in case it was work related, she decided to look at it. It was a text from Chelsea.
Chelsea:
Hey, Mercedes! I need to cancel tomorrow. My friend wants to hangout. I swear it's just us girls.
Mercedes:
No worries. Be safe and have fun. I'll see you next week?
Chelsea:
Absolutely!
Mercedes:
Perfect. See you then.
Chelsea:
C u!
"That was a good news text. I need a day, all to myself." Mercedes said to herself.
A few minutes later, Mercedes's cell started ringing.
"Why can't people leave me alone and allow me to enjoy this season finale in peace!"
She grabbed her phone and when she saw who it was her heart skipped a beat.
"Sam." She whispered. She swiped the green accept button. "Hello."
"Hey, Mercedes." He breathed into the phone.
Just the sound of her name in his deep Southern accent made her wet. She was pathetic.
"What's going on? I just got a text from Chelsea not that long ago."
"I know. And that's exactly why I'm calling you."
"Okay?"
"I was wondering since CeCe won't be here that maybe we could hang out."
Mercedes sat up straight while her legs pushed in the reclining chair.
"What exactly do you have in mind?"
"It's supposed to be a beautiful day tomorrow. So, how about you come over before noon, and I will cook for you, if you'll be my helper. Then, we can go for a swim in my pool. And after that…a nap."
"Excuse me? I was following you, until you said 'nap.'"
"Well, a cuddle and a nap."
"Still not following."
"First of all, when you were a child, what did you do after a day of swimming?"
"Ate and passed out." Mercedes nodded.
"Exactly. You can tell a lot about a person by how they cuddle and sleep. Besides, I want to be close to you. Intimate. But without the sex."
"I really don't know about this whole seduction thing. Honestly, it seems like you're trying to slowly kill me. Death by lack of orgasm."
Mercedes heard his chuckle over the phone.
"Please?" He asked softly.
"Fine. Tomorrow around eleven." Mercedes was finding it unusually hard to say no to him.
"Can't wait until then."
"Oh, by the way."
"Yeah?"
"I got my STD results back. I am all clear. I'll send you the email." Mercedes informed him.
"I got mine back as well. All negative as well. I will also email you mine."
"Good."
"That still doesn't mean we're having sex yet, though."
"Ugh! Whatever Stingy Dick Sam. See you tomorrow." She couldn't help but smile when she heard him laugh at her nickname for him.
"Until then Ms. Pretty."
The line went dead.
"So much for a night of relaxation." She gave up trying to watch the show and put down her glass of wine.
Mercedes got up and walked into her room to pick an outfit and a swimsuit for the next day that would tempt old Stingy Dick.
"Lord have mercy, Mercedes!" Sam said after opening the door for his guest.
She was in the shortest denim shorts imaginable. Her ass cheeks hung out the back. Her luscious thick thighs were on full display. On top, she wore a white button-up shirt. But the buttons weren't buttoned at all. And she'd gathered each side and tied them beneath her breasts. Breasts that he was sure were unbound. Not a bra to be seen, if the hint of her brown nipples underneath were any indication.
"I think you're going to be the death of me." Sam pressed a hand to his chest.
"Hey, this was your choice. I'm just showing you what you could have if you give up this celibate seduction." Mercedes shrugged.
"It's all about willpower. You just took me off guard. I have no problem walking around with a hard on." Sam winked at her.
"I see that." Mercedes said, looking down at the evidence.
"Come in. I have everything out ready to be prepped and cooked."
"What are we having?"
"A nice cool salad. Mushroom, onions and cheese stuffed chicken burgers with a nice garlic aioli on top and whatever toppings you want on it. I have homemade potato chips in the air fryer as we speak. And for dessert a three-layer cheesecake cup."
"Hell yeah!" Mercedes looked at the spread on the massive island. "I think you're really trying to make me gain weight. I eat far too well when I'm around you."
"I certainly wouldn't mind." He looked her up and down. "But for your sake, I'll ease up on all the fattening foods from here on."
"Hey, let's not be too hasty. I don't see you that often. I can handle the calories once every week or two." Mercedes grinned. "By the way, your house really is beautiful. Modest but well done. Even if it's a little too masculine for a single father of a teenage girl."
"I know. I desperately need your help to change things up." Sam said and pressed his hands together in a praying gesture.
"I'll create a virtual mockup of some ideas for you. And then we'll see."
"Thank you!"
"Now, what do you need me to do?"
"I mainly need you to put together the salad." He pointed to the items on one side of the counter. "Cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Dice up the red onions, Kalamata olives, bacon, avocado, and cucumbers. Cut the cheese into cubes. And chop the romaine lettuce and homemade dressing is already prepared to be placed on the salad."
"Got it."
Mercedes walked over to the sink to wash her hands before getting started.
Sam couldn't stop smiling as they worked side by side. The banter. The laughter. The subtle touches as they moved around each other. The intimacy of it all was exactly what he'd been craving.
He'd never had this before. He'd started yearning for more than sex by his mid-thirties. But the women that surrounded his life weren't looking for a relationship or weren't what he was looking for.
Mercedes had been a complete surprise. Sexy and beautiful. Yet so much more than that. Her outward appearance and what she was willing to show on the surface was just the beginning. She had so many layers to her. Sam felt honored that she let him in enough to see even a fraction of her depth.
"Okay, we can nibble on the salad and then swim for a bit, since it's not too heavy to eat before swimming. I have beer and hard lemonade. Or there is wine if you'd prefer."
"Wine would probably make me too hot today. This is definitely lemonade drinking weather."
"Perfect." Sam said and handed her a bottle after popping the top. "Then after swimming, I'll put the burgers on the grill."
"Sounds like a plan. I just need to change into my bathing suit."
"Alright. I'll be waiting for you in the pool." Sam said. "The bathroom is just down that hall, first door on the right."
He then bent down and kissed her forehead. She gave him a withering look, but didn't say anything.
Progress.
Mercedes strutted through the sliding doors and out into his backyard. It was a decent size. A really nice deck with elegant outdoor furniture with a coffee table with a firepit in the center. To her right was an outdoor kitchen, where the expensive grill was the centerpiece.
The pool was large and welcoming and a few feet from the deck. On one end the pool had three steps up to a sun shelf with permanent white chaise lounge chairs that sat in the water. A place to tan, half in and half out of the water, in order to keep cool. He'd placed the salad, lemonade, and beers on the little table between the lounge chairs.
Sam glided through the water as he did a few laps. His skin glistened with the sun reflecting off the water that clung to it. Mercedes wondered if it was normal to be envious of water.
He wore really short olive green swim briefs that showed off all of his thigh meat. Definitely Hoochie Daddy swim shorts. Mercedes thought as she watched him.
Sam must have felt her presence. He reached the ledge and stopped. The way he broke through the water. Head back. Eyes closed. He looked like a model.
He opened his eyes and his mouth dropped open.
"Okay, I thought your outfit was gonna kill me. But this…" Sam looked her up and down. "I am speechless."
Mercedes's bathing suit was a string bikini in a hot pink and zebra print. The strings of the bikini top she'd wrapped around and crisscrossed the front of her waist and tied in the back. The top barely covered her breasts and the bottom barely covered her mound. She'd tied the tiny matching sarong low on her hips. It was sheer and didn't hide much.
"Don't you like it?" She asked slyly.
"Like it?! Hell. I love it. You're definitely testing my self-control."
Mercedes made a show of slowly untying the sarong and tossing it to the side. She turned and walked towards the sun shelf, showing off her barely covered ass. She felt his eyes watching her. When she turned to step into the shallowly filled sun shelf, she saw that she was right. He'd watched her the whole way. She walked down the steps into the deeper water. They both went under water and swam towards each other, meeting in the middle.
The moment they reached each other, Sam pulled her into his arms. Mercedes wrapped her legs around him. He slid his hand around the back of her neck, under her wet curls and pulled her in for a searing kiss.
Mercedes could feel his desire against her thinly covered sex. She used her legs to pull him closer. She ground against him. Sam released her with a gasp.
"No. Not happening." Sam said through clenched teeth.
"Fine." Mercedes said before dipping back down into the water.
She swam back over to the sun shelf. She crested the water and walked up the steps to the chairs like a mermaid. She turned, sat on a chair, and rested back. She took a few bites of the food and then sipped her hard lemonade.
Sam watched all of this from a distance. Once she assumed he'd cooled down enough, he swam over to her. The way he stepped out of the water, all glistening muscles and slicked back hair.
"You could tempt a saint," Sam said.
"As sir could you."
His little swim shorts could barely contain all the meat up front. If he wore them in public, Mercedes was certain no one would be able to ignore all that. Even straight guys.
He sat on the other chair and helped himself to the food. She watched him eat some salad. Maybe it was the lack of sex, but she couldn't stop looking at him. Every single thing he did was sexy as hell. But it was more than that. It was him as a person she was starting to feel enamored with.
Being enamored comes with falling for someone. Something she hadn't felt since high school. Something that struck fear and she reluctantly admitted excitement in her heart.
I should cut ties with him now, before I get any deeper. But what about Chelsea? She thought and the only reason she didn't run away was because in order to cut all ties with him, Mercedes knew she'd have to end her mentorship with his daughter. Because there was no way she could continue spending time with Chelsea and not see him.
Mercedes knew that she couldn't do that to Chelsea. Her mother had already left her in the most tragic way possible. Mercedes didn't think the girl could handle another important adult leaving her life. No, Mercedes had to stay. She just needed to put up more barriers around her heart to keep this man out. No matter how he tried to take a piece of her heart.
After finishing their salad and going back into the pool again, Sam walked over and opened up the little storage box against the house. He pulled out two super soaker water guns. He jumped back in the pool and handed her one. They pulled floaties and other toys into the pool to act as things to hide behind. Mercedes hid behind a giant unicorn floatie. She jumped out to shoot Sam. But instead, she got shot right in the eye. She bent over and held her eye.
"Ah! You shot me in the eye, you jerk! The salt water is stinging me really badly."
Sam rushed over to her.
"I'm so sorry! Let me see." He cupped her chin gently to raise her face.
Mercedes swiftly brought up the gun between them and shot him from under his chin. The water went straight up his nose. Mercedes screeched with laughter and swam away.
"Ooh!" Sam shouted as he held his nose. "That was cold."
When they'd had enough of the water guns, they splashed each other. Did handstands together. He pretended to be a shark trying to grab her legs underwater. Mercedes screamed and giggled as she tried to escape him. But he was too fast for her. He grabbed her leg and pulled her under, where he'd reward her with an underwater kiss.
Mercedes felt like she was seventeen again. Playing in the cool water on a hot afternoon with the boy she had a crush on. Even them hiding it from Chelsea, gave her the feeling of sneaking behind their parents' backs to be together. It was an element of excitement she hadn't expected.
"Are you ready for lunch?" Sam asked after they splashed up from underwater.
"Yes! I'm starving again." Mercedes groaned.
"Coming right up."
Sam swam over to the ledge and pulled himself out the pool. He walked over to a large fluffy beach towel and dried off. Mercedes folded her arms on the ledge, rested her chin on top, and enjoyed the view.
Sam started up the grill, and then walked inside the house. A few minutes later, he came out with the gourmet burgers covered in aluminum foil.
"Need any help?" Mercedes offered.
"No, my dear. You stay right there and enjoy the water. Would you like another drink?"
"Yes, please."
He walked over to the cooler and pulled out another ice-cold bottle. He popped the cap and brought it over to her. He knelt down and Mercedes pushed up to meet him. She stole a soft kiss from him. Then she snatched the bottle and pushed off the wall, back to the middle of the pool.
"Thanks." She smirked, raised a brow, and took a swig.
As he grilled the burgers, they talked about Chelsea and the improvements she'd made since meeting Mercedes. And they talked about his restaurant and his plans for eventually expanding to other major cities.
"Food's ready. Let's eat." Sam called to her.
He'd already brought out the homemade potato chips. She settled onto one side of the loveseat. Sam brought her a plate with her burger. Laid out on the table were all the fixings. Lettuce, sliced tomato, pickle chips, and some condiments. Mercedes dipped her finger in the aioli mayo on her bun and tasted it. She sagged a little. She only added the usual staples of a burger, sans condiments since the homemade mayo was so good.
Sam came over with his plate and sat next to her. His leg from knee to almost hip pressed into hers. Normally she'd snap at a man for manspreading, but she enjoyed being skin to skin with him. Even if she barely wanted to admit it to herself.
Mercedes bit into the hamburger. The melted cheese and mushrooms inside with the seasoned beef and garlic aioli blended together on her tongue perfectly. She closed her eyes and moaned deeply.
Next, she popped a homemade chip in her mouth. It was crispy and perfectly salted. On the second bite of her burger, she did a little happy dance in her seat.
I don't know. I might have to rethink my 'No Relationships' rule.
Mercedes didn't think she'd be able to give up all the good food so easily.
Instead of 'Friends with Benefits' maybe we could be 'Friends Who Fulfill Every Appetite.'
She snorted at the thought.
"What?" Sam asked curiously.
"Nothing."
"Come on. Tell me." He coaxed.
"Fine. I was thinking instead of 'friends with benefits' we could be 'friends who fulfill every appetite.'"
Sam snorted. "That's a new one."
His laughter died down. And his face became pensive.
"What's wrong?" Mercedes asked.
"Nothing."
Mercedes gave him a long-suffering look.
"Are you really going to say 'nothing' after you pushed me to answer you?"
"I know." Sam gave a small twisted chuckle. "It's just something I think you don't want to hear."
"Ah. Well, I'll leave you alone."
Mercedes had a feeling it had something to do with him wanting more than a sexual relationship with her, and she really didn't want or need to hear that.
"It looks like you get the honor of seeing what my hair looks like completely in its natural state." Mercedes said. "I can literally feel it changing."
They'd finished lunch. Now, they relaxed back. Drank some more. And let their food digest.
Sam looked over at her. Sure enough, her hair when wet was curt but flat against her head but not that it was dry it was a curly afro.
"I actually like it. It matches your personality. Wild and free." Sam smiled at her.
Sam often wondered what she thought of him. Of their time together. But he figured it was best not to ask. Mercedes could be brutally honest.
"I'm ready for that nap." Sam said and scooted forward on the loveseat. "If you'd like to take a shower first, there's an outdoor one right there."
"Yeah, I think that's a good idea. I can feel the my skin needing cleaning and moisturizing." Mercedes stood up. "I can shower and put on some lotion I brought with me."
"Be my guest." Sam gestured towards it. "There's bodywash in there. As well as shampoo and conditioner. Stuff that works for Chelsea's hair."
"Oh, perfect." Mercedes said and disappeared behind the wall.
The shower had three full walls, one being the side of the house. And there was one partial wall. It gave privacy as well as enough room to walk into the shower.
Sam heard the shower come to life. Just the thought of her bathing made him hard again. Everything about her made him aroused.
She thinks it's frustrating for her. He'd never gone this long without screwing the brains out of someone he was interested in. And he'd never been more interested in someone as he was in her. Hell, she got him wanting to sing a Carpenter's song. 'Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near just like me; they long to be close to you.' Just thinking of how close he wanted to be with her and her alone, Sam felt like his balls were going to explode. He'd told her not to masturbate or screw anyone else. Well, he'd done the same.
He knew it was a bad idea, but he couldn't ignore the pull to wanting to be near here. With her. Inside of her. Sam stood and walked towards the shower. Mercedes was in the middle of washing her hair as he came around the half wall. Luckily, her bathing suit was still on. He wasn't sure he had enough restraint if she was naked. Her insanely round, plump ass was tempting enough in the tiny bottoms.
Her back was to him, so she didn't see him step behind her. He reached up and placed his hands in her hair and started to massage. To Mercedes's credit, she didn't even jump. She must have sensed him or anticipated that he'd come. The only reaction she gave was when her body tensed slightly. Then she relaxed back into him.
Sam massaged her scalp and Mercedes moaned lightly. He shut his eyes and clenched his teeth. He felt his swim shorts shrink a size as he grew in them. He shook his head and focused on washing her hair.
He helped her rinse the shampoo. She applied the conditioner. As she did, he grabbed the bottle of bodywash, squirted some in his palm, rubbed it between his hands and then began to soap her at her neck and shoulders. He kneaded the muscles there.
Mercedes twisted her curls up into a messy knot on top of her head to let the conditioner sit. He turned her to face the wall. His hands slipped under her bikini top. As he lathered her breasts, her nipples puckered up into little pebbles. Her head fell back onto his shoulder. He stayed a little longer than necessary. Mercedes rubbed her ass against his aching cock. He immediately pulled back.
"Mercy, please don't." Sam hissed.
"Why not? You want it and so do I. Let's just get it over with."
"Oh, yes. 'Let's just get it over with' is so sexy." He said against her ear.
Mercedes shuddered.
"Aren't you tired of just being screwed? Wham bam, thank you ma'am. Where is the lasting pleasure in that?"
"Ugh! I know you're right, but still. I don't have to like it. Oh my God!" Mercedes shouted as he dragged his soapy hands to her mound. "Don't be such a cruel tease."
"I'm sorry. I'll stop."
His breath fanned her ear. He dragged his lips lightly down her neck and then kissed a trail down her shoulder.
Sam finally stopped torturing her. He turned her around and knelt in front of her. He washed each leg. Her hands clutched his shoulders as he continued down her body. When he was finished, as he stood back up in front of her, he slid his arms around her. His hands dipped into her bikini bottoms. He kneaded the round globes of her ass cheeks with his soapy hands.
"My turn." Mercedes held out her hand after he finished her back.
He passed her the bottle of bottle wash. It slipped out of her hands.
"Oops." She said innocently.
Mercedes slowly turned and bent over to retrieve it. Her ass was perfect level to his cock. Her level of petty was currently unmatched.
"You little minx," Sam said.
He slapped her wet ass. It made the most satisfying sound.
Mercedes shot up and rubbed the spot. She gave him the side eye. He winked at her.
"There's more where that came from. Don't tempt me. Instead of getting screwing you, I'll spank your ass until it's red." Sam warned, letting his dominant side shine through.
"Whatever."
Mercedes didn't protest any more. Instead, she began to lather up her hands. Like him, she started at his neck to his shoulders. She massaged and caressed down his chest. Her fingertips lingered at his nipples. He tried to stifle a giggle when she moved under his arms.
"Ticklish?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Uh huh."
She walked around him and continued down his back. When she was finished there, she came back to his front. Her hands stroked down his abs. Once she dropped down to wash his legs, she stopped. It was a few moments before he realized she wasn't bathing him anymore.
Sam looked down and saw Mercedes just staring at his crotch. He was hard as a rock. His cock had slithered down his shorts and about an inch or two of shaft and the pierced tip hung out of his shorts. Mercedes glanced up at him and the fire in her eyes scorched him and damn near the earth around them.
The way he wanted her it took every ounce of strength he had not to shove down his shorts and let her do what she so desperately wanted to do. His whole body trembled with the need.
Come on, body. Just a little bit longer.
"Don't touch it. Just ignore it. I am."
"You sure."
Sam took in a deep breath. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but yes. I'm sure."
Mercedes nodded and finished washing his legs. Afterwards, she shampooed his hair. She massaged his scalp and gently scraped her nails across it.
Once they were done and they'd dried each other off, Sam took her hand and led her into the house. He guided her up the stairs to his large master bedroom. It was all dark wood and masculine furniture. The star of his room was the massive custom-made platform bed. He'd gotten it made during his partying days, when it was nothing to have group sex on a Wednesday night. The cozy charcoal gray comforter he'd chosen made the big bed even more welcoming.
"That bed is insane!" Mercedes exclaimed. It looked like it could fit like half dozen of people on it. And now it was just going to have her and him in it cuddling and napping...
Mercedes shivered next to him.
"Are you cold?"
"Yeah. I think from being in the sun for so many hours. I probably got a little too much sun and now I'm feeling chilly with the AC."
"Hold on just a sec."
Sam strode into his walk-in closet. He found an oversized white sweatshirt and green joggers. He walked back out with them and handed them to her.
"The bathroom is right through there."
"Thanks."
While she changed, Sam went back into the closet and changed into a pair of navy joggers and a white t-shirt. He came back out and asked Alexa to turn on some relaxing music.
A huge smile spread across Sam's face when Mercedes reemerged from his bathroom. The joggers were too long and tight on her amazing ass. The sweatshirt was too big. She had to push up the sleeves and it went to her knees.
"Ready?" Sam asked as he placed a knee on the bed and held out his hand to her.
"As I'll ever be. This is still weird."
"Come on. It won't be that bad. You act as if I'm asking you to eat your beets."
"It certainly feels like it."
Sam couldn't help but chuckle at her face as she frowned at the bed. But she finally walked over and took his hand. She crawled onto the bed and he followed. Sam grabbed two pillows. He handed one to her and took the other and laid his head down. They faced each other.
"Now what?"
"Well, people have been known to talk while in bed."
"I prefer dirty talk."
"That's not happening. So, how about you turn on your other side. I think that'll make it easier for you."
Mercedes followed his suggestion and turned over. As soon as she was settled, Sam big spooned her.
After they laid quiet for a few minutes, Sam decided to broach a subject he'd been hesitant to bring up for fear she'd shut down. But being in such an intimate position and her facing away from him, giving her the comfort of not looking him in the eye, now was as good a time as any.
"Mercedes?"
"Hmm?"
"Why are you so against relationships? Like, why do you keep men at arm's length? What happened and who do I have to beat up?" Sam added a joke when she stiffened slightly.
She didn't answer for a few long moments. Then she took a deep fortifying breath.
"I was married before."
Sam's eyes widened. He would've never guessed.
"We were high school sweethearts and best friends. Or so I thought." She paused.
"Go on." He coaxed.
"Well, we got married after I graduated from college and he got drafted into the NFL. Everything was fine until he injured himself and joined this church called New Directions Ministry. He got really into it and barely had time for me. He wanted children, but I wasn't ready or didn't want any at all. Then, we stopped having sex altogether. I've always been a sensual person. So, I was not cool with no sex from my own husband. He almost seemed repulsed by me. He said that he was either too tired, too busy, or felt that sex without trying to procreate was wrong. I was so angry and confused." Mercedes sighed heavily.
"What happened to push you to divorce? Or did he… Did he…"
"Die? Ha! I almost wish he had. It would've been better." Mercedes almost growled. "No, I found out when I found his second cell phone that he and the pastor had a freaking child sex trafficking ring going on in the basement of the church."
"You've got to be kidding me?" Sam actually shot up on his elbow.
Mercedes rolled over to face him. Her face was sad. Sam wished he could take it back for her.
"Nope." She shook her head against the pillow. "It's all true. I immediately ran to the police station. Literally drove there in my nightgown and slippers. They were arrested on the spot. Charged with kidnapping, the sex trafficking of children, and molestation."
Sam's eyes widened with an unspoken question.
"Yeah, my ex had a thing for younger girls, which was the real reason why he no longer wanted to have sex with me."
"OMG, Mercedes! I am so sorry."
"It's okay. It was years ago."
"Doesn't make it better. And you're obviously still affected by it."
"Yeah, well. There ain't shit I can do about it. So, I just live my life. But I will admit, what happened is part of the reason I got involved with Second Chances. I felt if I would've investigated sooner. Followed him to see what he was up to. If only I had done something, I could've saved more kids. So, I'm giving back now." Mercedes shrugged.
"It was not your fault or your responsibility to avenge his wrongs."
"But it does make me feel better. Helps me sleep better."
Sam laid back down against his pillow. He scooted a little closer to her and wrapped his arm around her. His hand stroked her back soothingly. Her eyes closed heavily. The events of the day exhausting her.
"You are an extraordinary woman, Mercedes Jones."
"You're not so bad yourself even though you are a stingy dick." She said sleepily.
He stretched his neck forward and kissed her forehead.
"Alexa, set an alarm for two hours."
"Why two?" She asked half in and half out of consciousness.
"To make sure you're gone before CeCe catches you here with me."
"Mmm…"
Sam leaned forward and softly kissed her lips.
"I think I'm falling in love with you." He whispered.
"Ditto." She said in her sleep.
Sam didn't know if in sleep, she was being more forthcoming or if she was just delirious. Either way, he still couldn't stop the spread of hope that just filled his heart just being close to her and hearing this made his afternoon.