She had been gone too long.
Sam glanced at his watch and rolled his eyes at ridiculous he was being when he realized that it had only been about 30 seconds since he had looked at it last. Mercedes had been gone for over an hour but it felt like she had been gone for days and he was becoming irrationally paranoid that something had happened.
Sam didn't know what was worse they idea of Richard turning out to be the asshole he thought he was or being some stand-up guy that just got a bad rap. If her dad was the asshole and he hurt Mercedes then the answer was simple, Sam would hunt him down and make his life a living hell. On the flip side, however, if he turned out to be a saint in disguise then more than likely he would worm his way back into Mercedes' life and if that happened then it meant that Sam would have to suck it up and play nice. Whatever the case may be he still didn't trust Richard as far as he could throw him. As far as he was concerned any man that would treat their child the way Richard treated Mercedes wasn't a man at all and he didn't deserve respect.
Sam sighed heavily as he paced across the floor of the living room again wishing he had something else to do. Lilliana had went to sleep shortly after Mercedes left and he almost wanted to go upstairs and wake her up just so that he would have something to keep him occupied. It never failed to amaze him how everything seemed to melt away when he was with his daughter. She was a perfect little of mix of him and Mercedes and he loved her with all of his heart. He couldn't imagine his life without her which is why he would never understand how Richard could go on and live his life without Mercedes in it.
The sound of pots and pans jangling in the kitchen was enough to break Sam's train of thought and bring him back to reality. He walked towards the noise and found his future mother-in-law furiously scooping huge chunks of chocolate chip cookie dough on to silicone lined baking sheets.
"Um, Marilyn…is everything alright?" He asked carefully.
She glanced up at him briefly before turning her attention back to her task, "everything's fine Sam," she answered as she grabbed the first finished pan and placed it in the oven, "I just want to get these done before Mercedes gets back."
Marilyn's voice cracked slightly and Sam looked at her in surprise and noticed that her hands were trembling slightly.
"Do you need help?"
"No," She answered as she continued plopping the dough on the baking sheets, "I need to keep busy because if I don't all I can think about is Mercedes there with that man."
Sam's eyebrows rose at the anger that came through Marilyn's voice as she indirectly mentioned Richard.
"I should have stopped her. I should have tied her to that damn chair if necessary. He is going to hurt her again and she's been through so much…"
Marilyn's voice trailed off as she threw the cookie scoop onto the counter next to the half finished cookie sheet and covered her face with her hands.
Sam came around the counter and pulled her into a hug.
"We did the right thing," he said firmly, "I know how she reacted before but I have faith in her. She's been through a lot, yes, but she's grown a lot as well. She's not that impressionable teenage girl anymore looking for her father's approval. She's a woman—a strong woman, a mother, and pardon my French but she's got her shit together."
Marilyn gave a little laugh at that before gently patting Sam on the back and turning her attention back to the cookies.
Sam watched as she quickly filled up the sheet and stuck it in the oven with the rest of the cookies that were already halfway done.
"I've been horrible to her this week. I should have been supportive but I just…I couldn't. Even though I knew she needed to hear that she was doing the right thing it felt like such a lie to tell her that so I didn't say anything at all." Marilyn shook her head side to side shamefully as she brushed a tear from her eye, "I failed her, yet again. When it comes to that man I always fail her."
"You know that's not true. Mercedes is the woman she is today because of you, not him. If you failed her she wouldn't be as strong and resilient as she is now. She got that from you, not from Richard."
Marilyn nodded her head at his words but she said nothing. However, her grip on the edge of the counter lessened and the tight lines around her mouth disappeared. She reached over and grabbed his hand and gave it a strong squeeze before letting it go.
They stood together for a few more moments in companionable silence before the timer went off on the oven signaling that the first batch of cookies were ready. Marilyn smoothly slid the finished batch on to the counter and reset the time for the second batch. Sam's mouth watered as he took in the delectable monster-sized chocolate chip cookies just inches away from his hands.
"Don't even thing about it, Sam," Marilyn said sternly even though she had a laughing glint in her eyes, "these cookies are for Mercedes. If she wants to share then you can have one."
Sam resisted the urge to pout as he stomach growled in response to the heavenly smell and it reminded him that he hadn't ate all day. He had been so worried about what was happening between Mercedes and her father he completely forgot to eat.
He shot one last longing glance at the cookies that had now been transferred to a cooling rack. He took a moment to calculate just how bad Marilyn would beat his ass if he snatched one of her cookies and he decided it wasn't worth the risk.
He made his way to kitchen and got out all the ingredients for a sandwich. He was almost halfway done assembling it when he heard the front door open. He tried to be somewhat cool but ended up failing miserably as he all but chunked the sandwich in the trash and made his way quickly to the living room with Marilyn hot on his heels.
When they made it to the living room Mercedes looked up from where she was hanging her keys and jacket and she gave them both a surprised look.
"Where did you two come from?" She asked with a slight laugh in her voice, "Did you run in here?"
"How was it?" Sam blurted out, "I mean…did everything go okay?"
"It was fine," Mercedes answered with a shrug, "it went pretty much how I imagined it would."
"Oooookay," Sam answered slowly, "and how was that exactly?"
"Well, he asked me for half a million dollars," She answered nonchalantly before sniffing the air and saying, "Mmmm…are those cookies I smell?" She asked as she breezed by the two of them and headed towards the kitchen.
Sam and Marilyn stared at each other in shock for a long minute before rushing after Mercedes.
"What do you mean he asked you for half a million dollars?" Marilyn practically screeched.
Mercedes stared back at her mother calmly and said, "I meant exactly that, Daddy Dearest has apparently racked up some gambling debt so he decided to come grovel to his Favorite Mistake."
"Mercedes…" her mother murmured sympathetically as she came forward to give her a hug. Mercedes took a step back out of her mother's reach and she shook her head slightly. Her eyes shone brightly with tears and Sam's heart clenched painfully as he watched the woman he love battle with the hurt inflicted on her by her father once again.
"I'm okay," she answered in a shaky voice, "I am okay."
Sam and Marilyn both watched as Mercedes stared at her trembling hands for a second before taking a deep breath and raising her eye back up to them.
"I am okay."
Marilyn moved forward cautiously and when Mercedes made no move to back away again she enveloped her daughter in a tight hug and gently rocked her back and forth.
Mercedes met Sam's eyes over her mother's shoulder and Sam watched as one lone tear tracked down Mercedes' cheek. As he watched the tear rolled down he felt himself getting angrier and angrier and by the time it slid off of Mercedes' face and fell to her mother's back he was seeing red.
"Where is he at now?" Sam snapped.
Mercedes pulled away from her mother and eyed her fiancé wearily, "Sam, it doesn't matter—"
"Where. Is. He?" He asked again through clenched teeth. "If you think I'm going to let that sorry son of a bitch come into our lives and try and extort money from you and not do anything about it then you don't know me very well."
"I handled it."
"How?"
"I gave him money."
"WHAT?"
Sam's loud shout was echoed by a horrified Marilyn as they both stared at Mercedes in shock and she stared back at them mutinously.
"Don't start."
"Don't start? DON'T START?" Sam yelled in frustration, "What were you thinking Mercedes? Giving that man a half a million dollars isn't—"
"Who said I gave him half a million? I said I gave him money and I did. I gave him exactly what I thought he deserved."
"And what was that baby?" Her mother asked worriedly.
"A thousand bucks, I told him he could put it on a down payment for a car or start a college fund. It seemed fitting." Mercedes voiced cracked slightly but her chin remained high and her composure wasn't broken.
Sam could see the effort it was taking her to keep it together and appear unaffected and he felt like the world's biggest jackass for blowing his lid about her giving Richard the money. The amount wasn't important, his money was her money and she could do with it what she wanted but it was the principle of the matter. She should have never been asked. That sorry piece of shit that pretended to be her father when it suited him should have never fixed his mouth to ask his daughter for 5 cents let alone 500,000 dollars. Once again Richard Green has swept into Mercedes life like a hurricane and just like a real life hurricane he left nothing but destruction and heartache in his wake.
The heated anger that had been flowing through Sam's nerves slowly dissipated into nothing as he looked at Mercedes and saw the sadness lurking in her deep brown eyes. She would be alright eventually he knew that but she was hurting right now and it made him hurt as well.
He took a step forward to bring her in his arms but it was clear that her mother had the same idea that he had. Marilyn tugged Mercedes back into her arms and Mercedes laid her head gratefully on her mother's shoulder. Sam watched the two of them hold each other tightly before deciding to let them have their time. He murmured to Mercedes that he was going upstairs to check on the baby and the slight nodding of her head was the only response she gave.
Sam left the kitchen and went up the stairs and made a beeline for Lilliana's room. He wanted to pick her up and hold her tiny little body close to his heart but he had just put her down a little while ago and he didn't want to interrupt her slumber because of his selfish needs.
He settled for rubbing his finger lightly down her cheek and touching the small curls at the base of her neck. He didn't know how long he stood there but it was long enough for him to zone out because the soft touch of a hand on the middle of his back shocked him to reality.
He whirled around to find Mercedes watching him with an unreadable expression on her face. She looked past him briefly and her entire expression softened as she looked at their baby.
"Are you mad at me?" She asked as she watched Lilliana sleep, "because I don't regret what I did. I needed to do it…for me."
"I'm not mad," He answered and her eyes snap back to meet his, "I was upset that your fathe— that man did something again that upset you. I swear that's all that motherfu—" Sam glanced at Lilliana's crib again before grabbing Mercedes by the hand and taking her to their room. He shoved the door close behind them and then turned to her and picked up where he left off.
"That motherfucker is only good for upsetting you. When has he every done anything besides screw with your head?"
"Nothing," Mercedes gave a short laugh but it was devoid of humor, "at least I can say that my Dad never changed, he was an asshole from beginning to end."
"I'm sorry," Sam said quietly, "If I could have protected you from this you know I would have."
"I know but it's not your job to protect me—not from my father at least. I knew what I was getting into when I decided to meet him so believe it or not I was prepared. It just stings a little, that's all."
Sam stared down at her sympathetically before grabbing her arms gently and bringing her to his chest. She wound her arms around his waist and held him tightly.
"He didn't even ask about the baby." She murmured after a long stretch of silence, "all of that talk about being so worried about me and the baby and he never so much asked if she was okay after her ordeal or even wanted to see a picture. He has a grandchild in the world and he has no idea what she looks like, he didn't even want to know."
Sam tightened his arms around her and dropped a kiss on her head.
"It's his loss, it's always been his loss. He had an amazing daughter that he missed out on knowing and now he's going to miss out on his granddaughter. His loss, not ours."
"Make that two."
"Two what?"
"Two daughters that he's missing out on knowing. Turns out my step-mother got tired of his bullshit, divorced him, remarried and took my little sister out of the country. He claims he has no idea where they are but I don't know if it's because Mia's mom won't tell him or because he simply doesn't care enough to find out."
"Mia?"
Mercedes smiled softly, "Yeah, that's my little sister's name. She's 11 now."
"Wow…" Sam responded quietly as a wave of sympathy came over him at the brief flash of sadness on Mercedes face at the mention of her sister.
"I wish I could have gotten to know or her or at the very least gotten to meet her properly but I guess this is for the best."
"Are you positive? I'm sure I could find them, I mean it make take some time—"
"No." Mercedes answered firmly, "Thank you, but no. My father never deemed it necessary to tell Mia or his wife about me so I'm nothing more than a stranger to them. Maybe if she were older it would be different but she's just a kid and she's already had so much of her life in upheaval because of him. I don't want to be that extra thing in her life that reminds her of what an asshole her father truly is."
"Mercedes…"
"No, its fine…really, it's fine. I would love to know her, I would love for Lilliana to know her but what I want and what's best for that little girl may not be the same thing. Maybe one day when she's older, way older, but not right now. Okay?"
"Okay," Sam answered even though he was still unconvinced it was the best thing, "whatever you want, baby."
"Thank you." She gave him a grateful smile before getting up on her tiptoes and giving him a warm kiss. Sam immediately pulled her tighter and deepened the kiss but just as the tip of their tongues touched he pulled away quickly.
"Where is your mom?"
"My mom? Why are you thinking about my mother while kissing me?"
"Because I'd like to do a little more than just kiss you but I'm not about to do that with your mother in the house."
"Awww, Sam, I can keep quiet if you can." She teased.
"No!" Sam practically yelled as he looked down at her in horror, "we can't do that with your mom across the hallway."
"Oh my God, you're serious," Mercedes said as she laughed loudly. "We've been living together for months and we have a kid—my mom knows we have sex."
"There is a difference between knowing something and actually being present while it occurs. How are you going to feel one day way, way, way, way, way, way in the future when Lily is an adult and we go to her home and visit and she decides she wants to have sex with her husband?"
"Duly noted," Mercedes answered as both she and Sam made faces and cringed at the thought of that happening one day.
"If it makes you feel any better," she continued on, "my mother isn't here. It appears that she's been having a secret relationshop around with some doctor she met while Lily was in the hospital and from the sounds of things it's getting pretty serious."
"Really? She hasn't said a word or even hinted at having a thing with someone."
"Believe me it was news to me too, she just told me downstairs. I guess I've been so wrapped up in everything that I didn't even notice that my mom was acting strange."
"Is everything okay between the two of you now? She was pretty upset about the whole Richard thing."
"Yeah, we talked. I'll admit I was hurt by her not supporting me more but at the same time I know where she's coming from. If it were Lily I would be the same way. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in how I felt personally about what my Dad did to me that I forget what he did to her as well. I'm just glad it's over and now we can all move on, I'm just done with being sad or mad or hurt by my father. I'm free of him once and for all—we all are."
Sam looked down at her and all he saw was honesty and happiness shining in her eyes. Mercedes had been through a lot but most importantly she had come through a lot and it showed. Years ago her father doing what he did to her tonight would have broken her but instead it was nothing more than just a passing hurt that she quickly brushed off.
"I'm proud of you. You're a strong, kick ass woman and I couldn't be happier to make you my wife."
"Is that right?"
"Mmm-hmmm" He murmured as he lowered his head to capture her lips in hers. He felt her smile against his lips before she returned his kiss. He tried to deepen again but she pulled away and gave him a look.
"We can't," she said apologetically.
"What do you mean? You said your mom is gone and Lily is sleeping so what's the problem?"
"It's only been 5 weeks since I had the baby."
"If this is about the extra baby weight you know I don't care about that at all. You're beautiful and I love you and I want you."
"I want you too but…"
"But what?"
"But the doctor said it would be best if we waited until our six weeks check-up to start having a sex again."
"Did she say that? I don't remember that."
"I figured you wouldn't" Mercedes answered dryly as she gave him a withering look. "It's not that I don't want you I just want to be careful."
"We're never going to have sex again, are we?" Sam asked as he sighed dramatically.
"Well…" Mercedes said seductively as she trailed her fingers down towards the zipper on his jeans, "the doctor said we shouldn't have sex, she never said we couldn't do other things."
"Other things?" Sam asked huskily as Mercedes slowly slid the zipper down.
"Mmmmm…other things."
Mercedes reached inside his jeans and slowly trailed the tip of her index finger over the growing bulge and Sam hissed out a breath in reaction. She was going to drive him crazy, he just knew it.
"Don't tease Mercedes," Sam begged through clenched teeth.
She took mercy on him and tugged the elastic down until he sprang free, thick and hard. Sam leaned his forehead against hers and breathed out a deep breath as he looked down between them and watched as Mercedes carefully grabbed his throbbing cock in her hand and slowly started to glide her hand up and down. He grabbed her head gently and brought her mouth up to his, when their lips were touching he brought his tongue out and ran it over her lower lip. She let out a breathy gasped and tightened her hand around his cock causing him to grunt in surprise. She murmured a quick apology against his lips before resuming her gentle yet firm ministrations.
Sam closed his eyes at the feel of her soft hand around him again in what felt like forever and he struggled to keep it together. He was so wrapped in the sensation of her warm hand that he didn't even notice that she had gotten down on her knees until the second the warm hand was gone and replaced with her cool, wet mouth. He jerked in surprise and looked down and the sight of her plump lips around him almost brought him to his knees. He slammed his eyes shut again and braced one hand on the door behind her and put the other on through the silky strands of her hair.
"Fuuuuuuucccckkkk," He groaned out as she licked the underside of his cock before sucking on the tip. She brought her hand up to gently tease his balls and he finally reached his breaking point. He released in her mouth and she took it all in before giving him one last lick on the head and releasing him with a soft pop. She rose with all he grace of a sleek feline and she gave him a look of self-satisfaction as she wiped the corners of her mouth.
"Holy shit that was amazing." He croaked out, "I think my legs are shaking right now."
Mercedes laughed huskily as she leaned forward to run her lips down the strong column of his neck. She sucked lightly on the skin underneath his jawline and he hissed out another breath. He could feel her smiling against his skin as she trailed soft kisses down his neck.
Once Sam finally got his bearings about him he backed away a bit until Mercedes stopped kissing his neck and looked up at him in confusion.
"My turn," he whispered softly as he brought her face back to his for a searing kiss. He grabbed her hands and walked backwards until he felt the bed hit the back of his knees and then he sat down on the bed abruptly. The quick change of pace had Mercedes swaying unsteadily but Sam quickly righted her by putting his hands on her hips. He slid his hands along her waist until he got to the buttons on the front of her jeans. He popped open the first button before leaning forward and placing a kiss on the little open 'v' that was created. He then undid the second button and gave the exposed skin a tiny bite before quickly lapping at the skin to soothe the tiny nip. Mercedes groaned loudly at the feel and it was now Sam's turn to smile against her skin as he drop tiny kisses of the expanse of smooth skin that he had uncovered.
He stood up and as he did so he dragged Mercedes' shirt off and seconds later he had whipped her bra off as well. She stared at him with an arched eyebrow and he gave her a tiny unapologetic shrug before spinning them around and all but dumping her in the bed.
She gave a little squeal as she bounced on the bed but it was short-lived because Sam was on her almost immediately. He licked her lips before plunging his tongue inside and she moaned loudly before kissing him back. For a few minutes the only sounds in the bedroom were the wet sucking noises coming from the mouth and tongues interspersed with moans and pants. Sam reached his hand between them and palmed one of her heavy breasts. He felt the nipple pebble in his hand and he moved down her body so that he could take it his mouth. He rolled his tongue around the nipple as he grabbed the other breast with his hand and he squeezed it gently. He looked up to see Mercedes' eyes clenched shut as she pulled and tugged at the pillow on either side of her head.
Once Sam had gotten his fill he then moved down her stomach and started placing kisses on it as he scooted down the bed until he was eye level with waistline of her jeans again. He yanked down the zipper before grabbing the sides of the jeans and the panties underneath and tugging them down. He stood up so that he could tug the bunched jeans and panties off of her legs and while he was up he discarded who own pants and underwear.
With no warning whatsoever Sam crawled back on the bed and dived immediately between Mercedes thighs. She let out a surprise squeak when he gave a pussy one long lick before sucking hard on her clit.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Sam could hear Mercedes shouting over and over again but the sound was muffled because her thighs had clamped around his head. He licked and sucked until he was nearly mindless with desire. He felt like he was hard as rock and he ground himself into the bed to feel some relief. He brought his left hand up to grab Mercedes breast again but he was shocked when she grabbed his hand and brought it to her mouth and stuck his index finger inside and started sucking. He damn near came off the bed and without thinking he climbed back up her body and was forcing his finger out of her mouth so he could replace it with his tongue. The two feverishly battled tongues as their hands frantically moved over each others bodies. Sam fit in the vee of Mercedes' thighs perfectly and before he knew it the head of his cock was lying precariously close to her entrance. Without thinking Sam started to slide up and down and up and down and up and down until finally Mercedes tore her mouth from his.
"Please Sam, please," she practically sobbed, "I need you inside me."
Whatever thin thread of control Sam had snapped like a rubber band and he slid inside Mercedes within an instant. They both groaned loudly and Sam had to bury his face in the pillow beside her head to regain his composure. He didn't realize how much he missed being with her until that moment. Being with her, being surrounded by her was unlike anything else he had ever experienced.
"Are you okay?" He finally murmured when he had regained some control. "I know we were supposed to wait…"
"Please move." Was all Mercedes said as she tightened her hands on his biceps.
Sam took that to mean she was okay so he slowly started to slide in and out of her. She was so wet that he was surprised he didn't slide right out of her but as he felt her muscles contract and pull around him he realized he wasn't going anywhere.
They kept up the languid movement for a few minutes until finally Mercedes squeezed his biceps again and begged him to go faster and harder. Sam was more than happy to oblige and he sat back on his knees and grabbed her hips and began a punishing, hard pace. Mercedes eyes fluttered close and she brought her hands up to grip her breasts. Sam had to close his own eyes because the sight of Mercedes' soft hand holding on to her bountiful tits as they bounced up and down was bringing Sam closer to his release faster than he wanted to get there.
The sound of the headboard pounding the wall was coupled with Sam's heavy pants and Mercedes' ongoing chorus of "Oh God". Sam's balls tightened and he knew he was close so he lay back on top of Mercedes and ground his pelvis into hers hard. Her eyes all but rolled back in her head and she let out a loud gasp when he reached between them and pinched her clit. Her back bowed as her climax hit and she screamed his name as wave after wave crashed over her. Sam could feel it as shuddered all the way through her to where they were joined and he pumped into her a few more times before the feeling of her contracting around him was too much for him to bear and with a hoarse shout he released into her.
Minutes or hours or days later Sam finally came to and he slid out of Mercedes and collapsed next to her on the bed. He almost felt like weeping at the feeling of not being wrapped up in her any longer but he comforted himself by gathering her in his arms and pulling her as close as humanely possible.
"I'm sorry," he murmured into the top of her head and he breathed in the scent of her.
"No, you're not," came her husky reply.
Mercedes looked up at him and her brown eyes were alight with laughter, "You are such a liar Sam Evans, I can't believe you just said that with a straight face."
"I am sorry," he defended himself stubbornly but he was laughing as well, "I really had the best intentions Mercedes."
"Mmmm-hmmm."
"Besides if I remember correctly you were the one begging me—OW!"
Sam grabbed his chest where he was sure a big red handprint would be showing up any second now from where Mercedes slapped the hell out of him.
"I do not beg, Sam" Mercedes said in a haughty tone, "if anything I was putting you out of your misery."
"Mmmm-hmmm…" It was his turn to say.
The two looked at each other and began laughing but after a few moments Sam sobered up and ran his hand up and down Mercedes arm.
"Are you sure you're okay? I know it's a little too late to worry about it now but if the doctor said to wait…I just want you to be okay."
"Baby, I'm fine." She reassured him, "Yes, the doctor told me to wait for 6 weeks but she also told met that I know my body and if I'm ready to do something and I feel up to it then I should go for it. I wanted you and I wanted this. Hell, I needed this and I don't regret it."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
They lay back on the pillows and they stared up the ceiling in companionable silence as they ran their hands languidly over each other's torsos. Sam couldn't remember the last time he was this relaxed and happy but he knew there was only one thing in the world that would make his life complete in that moment.
"Hey, babe…how about some chocolate chip cookies?"
A/N: So I know I was said the wedding and honeymoon were next but this is what came out instead. I was just going to add the wedding to it but I decided that deserved it's own chapter and it is definitely coming up next.