Thank you, guys, for being so patient. I had fallen sick, and with CF, it took me out, and my wrist it took me to a bad headspace, but you guys can thank Keshbeast, she reached out, and it brought me back. I have a lot of new things ahead for you guys as well as finishing those that you love so look for it. And yes that includes Royal Secret.

Stay safe and Blessed.

Sam placed his hand on the small of Mercedes's back as he led her to the awaiting limo. "Despite how it started, I am so happy we did this."

Mercedes nodded. "I am too, and it's been too long since I was wine and dined. Though now that I have been literally wine and dined, I don't see the appeal."

Sam scooted closer to her. "You know I love your everyday, sexy mom look."

"Sexy mom look?" she questioned, cutting him off.

Sam laughed. "Yes, but…this look…this sexy lioness Goddess thing you got going is breathtaking."

She blushed, and he let his fingers dance against hers. "I have a confession to make."

She smiled, looking at him. "Oh? And what is that?"

"I really want to kiss you; I want to pull you to me and show you just how much I want you…still after all these years."

Mercedes swallowed, looking at him. "Sam… I want to kiss you too. But I don't want to confuse things."

Sam shook his head, placing his finger on her lips. "Tonight, just forget about the past and let us be in the moment."

She nodded. "I think I can do that."

Sam linked his fingers with hers. "Don't think; just do."

Leaning into Sam, Mercedes kissed him softly. A kiss that was uncertain and tamed. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her closer, using his finger under her chin to direct her lips back to his as he kissed her deeply, a kiss full of want and promise.

Sam's hand gripped her waist, pushing his tongue through her big bow lips. It took him years to get a chance to kiss her again, and he was not about to waste it, being timid and scared.

"Sam…" She moaned, running her fingers through his hair.

"There are so many things I wanna do to you, things I can't wait for…" Sam growled.

Mercedes licked her lips, looking at the divider and hitting the button to roll it up. She smirked as Sam stopped her for a moment. "Mev, take the long way home, please."

"Right away, sir." He said as Sam pressed the divider again and turned towards Mercedes.

"It's not soundproof. Do you think you can hold in your screams?" He smirked.

"You over here being cocky, and you don't even know if you can make me scream." She teased.

"Is that a challenge? Cause you know I don't back down." Sam said, spreading her thighs.

"Yes." She said, fighting back a moan as he teased her clit.

"When was the last time you came, Mercedes? Really came hard."

She laughed. "Ask me a real question, Sam. I haven't had time to have an orgasm."

"Tsk tsk tsk…well, I am here now, and it's time to rectify that."

Mercedes snorted. "Sam, I do still remember the times we had sex…you weren't that good with your hands or that mouth of yours."

Sam's eyes widened. "Those are fighting words, woman. Now I really have to defend my honor." Sam said, using the thong she was wearing to toy with her clit. "I am not that same little boy who fumbled the ball when it came to sex, and I know how to appreciate your body in every way.

"I-" She started but halted when Sam ripped her thong clear off her body.

"Now, let's see if I can make you cum before we get home." He said, leaning in and kissing her deeply as his finger danced around her clit. Sliding his finger down to her slit, he pushed a finger inside of her swallowing her screams as he did.

Mercedes arched into him as he added a finger, torturing Mercedes in the best way, pushing his finger deeper.

Her head fell back as she gripped the seat. "Oh! OH!"

"Uh-huh, I know what you need; let me give it to you; let me be your rock, baby." His free hand moved to her breast, kneading and tugging her nipple, feeling her walls squeeze his fingers.

"So close! I need more! Please." She begged.

Using his thumb to rub her clit, Sam laid her back, kissing her moans away as she came hard against him, screaming out against his lips and practically digging a hole into the seat.

Sam chuckled, removing his finger and licking them before loosening his tie. "Mmm, you taste so good."

"Sam…what are you doing?"

"I said I had ideas…this right here is a fantasy I am so glad I waited to fulfill."

Sam moved to the floor of the limo, throwing one of her thighs over his shoulder as his tongue circled her clit, then lay flat as it moved down to her slit.

Mercedes's hands went to his scalp as Sam showed her all the ways he had improved over the years. Mercedes ran her free hand through her hair as her hips moved with his lips.

"Sam! Oh, I think…I am…Oh!" She clamped her lips shut as a powerful orgasm ran through her body. Everything went black for a few seconds as she experienced her orgasm.

Sam sat up, licking his lips as he pulled her to him. "Beautiful." He whispered in her ear. "Laya is gone for the night. Would it be okay if I came up to your room?"

She smiled. "I suppose I can let you up."

As the limo came to a stop, Sam gave her one last kiss and guided her out of the vehicle and towards her door.

He smiled, taking her hand in his as they reached up to kiss her lips. "Tonight was amazing."

She nodded. "I had fun, it may have started out rough, but the end was perfect."

Sam leaned down, kissing her deeply as he pushed her against the door. Wrapping her arms around his neck Mercedes moaned into the kiss.

"Unlock the door so that I can get you inside," Sam said.

Mercedes nipped his lips as she turned in his arms; she grabbed her keys, unlocking the door as Sam moved her hair over the side of her neck and sucked below her ear.

Mercedes swallowed hard as his hands traced down her curves in the dress. She pushed through the door and pulled Sam in with her, slamming the door and pushing him against it. Tugging at his suit jacket, she pulled it off, attacking his lips. "Bedroom." She hissed.

Sam nodded, pulling her hand in his as he pulled her to the bedroom. Once there, he picked her up, let her wrap her thighs around him, and lay her on the bed as he devoured her lips.

Clothes were immediately tossed off each other as Sam kissed a trail down her body, then back up to her lips. Teasing her with his cock, she froze, stopping him for a moment.

"Condom." She breathed.

Sam looked at her. "You aren't on birth control."

"I am. But I didn't think this would happen, and you didn't get tested, so…."

Sam sighed. "I don't understand."

Mercedes licked her lips, looking at him. "Sam, I like you so much I am falling for you again, but you have spent the last eight years being you, and I haven't. And I know you weren't celibate the whole time. If you ever earn sex without a condom, it will be after you and I both get tested. Not that I need it, but I would never make you do something I wasn't willing to do."

Sam stared at her as she continued. "If that is a deal breaker…."

Sam kissed her. "It's not. I promise I will earn everything." He reached down to grab his jeans and pulled out a condom. "If we need another, I can go to my room." he teased.

"Shut up and put it on." She smiled.

Sam quickly put the condom on, pulling her closer to him. "I have been dying to know if you feel the same."

"Then you should probably stop talking." She smiled.

Sam ran his hand over her thigh, kissed his way up her body, and lined himself up with her. She gripped his shoulders as he pushed inside of her in one smooth motion.

"Merce." Sam hummed in appreciation. "Fuck I was a damn fool."

Mercedes gripped him tighter. "Sam, don't..Ah! Don't stop."

"I wasn't planning on it." He mused, kissing a trail from her breast up to her lips. The moment Sam reached her lips, she linked her fingers with his staring into his eyes.

She had been with her ex and one guy when she was at her lowest, but nothing, none of them compared to Sam. His sheer size and girth reached places in her she had long forgotten existed.

Hours later, they were both finally sated, snuggled close; Sam held her kissing her forehead. Mercedes drifted off to sleep but not before hearing Sam whisper, "I love you."

Mercedes stretched out, feeling a hard body next to her; she jumped up, looking down at her naked body. "Oh, my God." She said quietly, trying not to freak out as Sam pulled her closer to him, snuggling close.

"Good morning, beautiful," Sam whispered, kissing her neck as his hands traveled down her body. Her senses came alive as her body remembered what exactly happened after dinner.

"Morning." She said back as she remembered him stating he loved her.

Sam kissed her shoulder. "What are your plans for today?"

"Gotta get the stuff together for Laya's party this weekend."

Sam smiled, linking his fingers with hers. "Oh, you don't have to worry about that."

"Worry about what?"

"Laya's party. I took care of it."

Mercedes sat up. "What do you mean you took care of it?"

"I know you were having something small here. But Laya said she really wanted a big party, so I hired someone to put it together." Sam said, reaching over to pull her closer.

Mercedes hopped out of bed, grabbing her robe. "Let me get this straight; you took it upon yourself to plan my daughter's party without me."

Sam grabbed his boxers, looking at her. "Our daughter and I didn't plan it; I just hired someone to plan it for you. Merce, you have had to do this by yourself for years. I just wanted to help out."

"Sam, you had no right!"

Sam frowned. "Merce, I don't know what you want from me. I thought I was doing the right thing here."

"Why would I want some stranger planning a party I have planned on my own for the last eight years?"

"I...I just…" Sam ran his hand through his hair. "Merce, I really thought I was helping you. This planner can handle everything. Invitations have gone out; everything is set."

Mercedes shook her head. "I can't believe you did this! Why didn't you tell me, include me!"

Sam frowned. "I wanted to surprise you both...I booked the Hiton's ballroom and hired the best party planner. It's the party a daughter of an NFL player should have and the party she should have always had."

Mercedes felt tears come to her eyes at his words. "Get out of my house."

"Mercedes…"

She shook her head. "This was a massive mistake. Just when I think that you are that same guy I fell in love with, you show me you are not."

"What are you talking about?"

"I am talking about how you look down at me! How you think you are better than me because you can afford things that I can't! You yourself had home parties, and if I recall, you loved them! It's not about what you can afford. It's about showing your child you love them! I love throwing her parties at home and making the cake. I could have thrown a big massive party if I wanted to, saving up so that she can have what you want to give her."

Mercedes wiped a stray tear away. "If I wanted all that, I could have given it to her, but it's not about who throws the biggest parties, and the fact that you throw it in my face that you can afford to give her the best, that I can't…" she shook her head. "Get out of my house now, Sam."

"I did not mean to imply…."

"Get the hell out of my house!" turning, she rushed into the bathroom, slamming the door. Sam looked after her angrily.

"What the fuck just happened?!"

Sam pulled into the driveway staring at the house, he and Mercedes hadn't spoken in two days, and tomorrow was Malaya's party. She went along with the party he had Blaine and Tina plan, and she had Sebastian tell them that while she was still pissed, invitations had gone out, and she would not embarrass her daughter.

"Son? Are we going inside or what?" Dwight asked, looking at Sam.

Sam had set both families up at the Hilton, but his parents wanted to see Malaya and Mercedes before getting settled. "Yeah, just…"

"Oh hell, what did you do now?" Dwight asked, shaking his head.

"Why does it have to be something I did?"

"Are you saying it's not?" Mary said from the backseat.

Sam sighed. "I don't think what I did was bad at all, but it hurt Mercedes."

"What did you do?" They said at the same time. However, his mom's tone was more accusatory than his dad's.

"I threw Malaya's party without telling Mercedes, and I hired a planner and bought out the hotel ballroom for it. I did it, so she didn't have to worry about anything, and she bit my head off."

Mary laughed. "And."

"And what?"

"Sam, what did you say that upset her."

"All I said was as her father, as an NFL player, I am giving her the party she deserves. The party she should have always had."

Mary shook her head. "I love you, Sam, but you are a jackass."

"Mom!"

"No! You basically told her that everything she has done for your daughter is nothing because you can do better."

"That's not…I didn't mean…"

"You might not have meant it, Sam, but that woman in there has been raising your daughter on her own. Doing the best she could, and a part of her probably always felt like she couldn't do better. And here you are, rubbing it in her face so that you can give her everything and more. You made her feel like a failure, Sam."

Mary shook her head, walking out of the car. Dwight looked at Sam.

"Well, this is a fine mess."

"Dad, I just wanted to do something to show them both I am here now."

"Then why didn't you include her son? All she wanted was to feel like she was a part of it. Sam, being a father and a husband or, in your case, wanna be a husband, it's a delicate dance between doing what we think is right and doing what our wives think, aka know is right. Mercedes doesn't need a hero; she needs a partner."

"I just wanted to surprise them."

"Sam, surprise her on anything but her child."

Sam nodded. "How do I fix this? She isn't talking to me."

"Look, just be honest, and stop defending your actions. She doesn't need to hear that; she needs to hear that you are sorry."

"Sorry? It's really that simple?"

"If you mean it. Which I hope you do. I really hope you do. Because I haven't seen you this happy, even if you are miserable right now. Son, you belong with Mercedes and Malaya." Dwight patted him on the back and turned to exit the car.

Sam sighed as he walked into the house; Mercedes's mom and his were talking excitedly as Malaya was next to Mercedes's dad, looking like she was the happiest person in the world.

Sam noticed Mercedes leaning against the wall, watching them interact. As he walked over to Mercedes, there was a knock on the door. He watched as she opened it, and Blaine and Tina walked in smiling.

"Oh great, everyone is here; we have the final selections for the party tomorrow ready to be picked out." Tina said happily.

Mercedes frowned. "It's for you, Sam." She said, walking into the kitchen and leaving them at the door.

Sebastian stood. "You need to go talk to her; I will get those two set up."

"Thank you." Sam said as he patted him on the back, heading towards the kitchen. "Merce?"

"Not interested in talking to you at the moment. Don't you have a party to plan?" She spat, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking Merce. All I wanted was to do something amazing for Laya, and I wanted to give you a break."

"A break? Sam, I plan her party every year! It's my daughter's birthday!"

"Our daughter, Mercedes. You don't have to do this alone anymore." Sam countered.

"No, I don't because you up and replaced me with Tina." She volleyed.

"Is that what this is about? You think you are being replaced?"

"Sam, it's important to me to be a part of my daughter's life in all aspects, and I told you that. How I set up the party, I cook the cake. How when she gets older, she will look back and see that we may not have had a lot of money, but we had love. And then you come in here and take that from me."

Sam frowned. "Mercedes, I wasn't…" He moved closer to her and pulled her to him in a hug. "I am so sorry. I just thought I was helping you out, and if I knew that the planning part was this important…."

She hesitated for a moment but soon gave in, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Sam, it felt like you were pushing me out."

"No. Merce, I would never." He kissed her head. "I am so sorry that I made you feel that way. All I wanted to do was show that I am here now." He sighed. "How do we fix this? How do I fix this?"

"Tina and Blaine are here; the party is tomorrow; there really isn't any fixing this."

"What if I helped you make the cake? I can tell Tina that we need cupcakes because I do hear you…."

"Malaya told all her friends that the famous PSY's Bakery is making her cake. It's fine."

"Anything that makes you feel bad, that hurts you this deeply, is not fine."

She sighed. "It's not just that, Sam. I guess I am just emotional. Malaya is turning nine; you are back in her life, in my life. We had…Sam, a lot is changing, and you taking over the party and not including me hurt."

"There is still time to include you. Let's meet with Tina and Blaine, and then tonight, after one of our parents takes Laya, I can grovel at your feet and show you just how sorry I am." Sam said, hoping she knew he didn't mean to step on her toes. "This is new for both of us; we both need to speak up if something bothers us."

She nodded, pulling away from him. "Let's go plan our girl's party."