You asked, and of course I answered! Here is another chapter just for you. And yes, Kesh and I are working on our 25 Days of Christmas thing, where we share stories about the Holidays for the entire month of December, ones we did together and apart! I hope you will check them out. Just search Kesh and Tora.
Also, as a gift and because I spent the last week seeing Wicked three times, I wrote a new story called I'm Not That Girl. Yes, I still have the other new stories I will post in the New Year, but until then, look for the latest story today! Love you! Remember to Review!
Mercedes sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, her black sweater dress hugging her curves. It was perfectly paired with black thigh-high socks, adding playful sophistication. She glanced at the time on her phone, smiling softly as she thought about Sam. A notification buzzed across her screen, and when she unlocked it, a group text from Quinn, Santana, Jane, Stacey, and Stefanie greeted her.
Stefanie: How was your first day? Did my brother treat you right?
Mercedes smirked, her fingers flying across the screen to reply.
Mercedes: He was great. The day was great. My father was actually proud of how I handled the meeting.
Quinn: Of course, he was proud! You're amazing.
Mercedes: Please, you know my father withholds praise when it comes to me.
Santana: Yeah, yeah. But what's this about Kitty? Spill.
Jane: Sources tell me she needed to be taken out back and laid hands on.
Mercedes couldn't help but laugh softly.
Mercedes: Kitty crossed a line, but don't worry. I handled her.
Santana: …we finna ride at dawn?
Mercedes: LOL. No need. It's handled.
Stacey: That's my girl. So what's my brother up to? Still at work as usual?
Mercedes hesitated for a second, debating whether to share Sam's plans, but the girls were relentless when it came to prying for details.
Mercedes: No, actually, we left work together
Stefanie: He left work?
Stacey: Early? Seriously?
Mercedes: Yeah. He's planning a date for us tonight.
Instantly, the group exploded.
Jane: A date?!
Stacey: OMG. MY BROTHER PLANNING AN ACTUAL DATE?!
Stefanie: My brother asked you out?! Like for an actual date?
Santana: Wasn't all this just for show? Are you actually dating him now?
Mercedes laughed and typed quickly.
Mercedes: Yes, he asked, and I said yes. It's just dinner.
Quinn: So… where's he taking you?
Mercedes: To the roof. He planned something just for the two of us.
Jane: That's so thoughtful.
Stefanie: Sweet? Please. Sam doesn't plan things like that. He must like you.
Santana: Ha, or he likes what you got between those luscious thighs
Mercedes rolled her eyes, her cheeks warming.
Mercedes: It's not like that. He's just making the best out of our situation.
Santana: Uh-huh. Sure. That man got between them thighs, didn't he?
Quinn: That's what it sounds like to me!
Jane: Whatever you say, girl.
Stacey: Enjoy it anyway.
Before Mercedes could reply, there was a knock at her bedroom door. She smiled softly, typing out a quick response.
Mercedes: Gotta go. Text you later!
Santana: Have fun and behave! Or don't
Stacey: Make sure my brother behaves!
Mercedes shook her head, pocketing her phone as she approached the door. When she opened it, her breath hitched slightly.
Sam stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe. He was dressed in a pair of tailored black slacks and a crisp white dress shirt, the top two buttons undone. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing muscular forearms that somehow made her heart race.
"You ready?" he asked, his green eyes warm as they roamed her outfit, lingering for a moment on her legs before meeting her gaze.
She tilted her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I guess I am. What's the occasion? You look... fancy."
His lips quirked into a smirk. "Just wanted to make sure I looked good for my fiancée."
Mercedes rolled her eyes playfully, stepping out of the room and closing the door behind her. "I should grab some shoes..."
"We are just going upstairs; it's okay."
Mercedes nodded. "Let's see if you can keep this 'perfect fiancé' act going through dinner."
Sam offered his arm, and with a grin, she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow.
"Challenge accepted," he teased as he led her toward the stairs.
Sam led Mercedes up the last few steps, his hand resting lightly on her back as they emerged onto the rooftop.
Mercedes gasped, her lips parting as she took in the beautiful sight before her.
Twinkle lights were strung across the rooftop, casting a warm, golden glow against the soft hues of the setting sun. A plush fur blanket was spread out on the ground with two covered plates and matching glasses. An ice bucket sat nearby with a bottle of wine chilling inside, and an outdoor fireplace crackled gently, its flames dancing against the growing evening chill.
Beyond the setup, the city's skyline stretched out in all its glory, the fading sunlight painting the horizon in shades of pink, orange, and purple.
Mercedes chewed her bottom lip, turning to look at Sam. "You… you did all this for me?"
Sam smiled, his hands slipping into his pockets as he nodded. "Yeah, well… my mom and Stevie helped with the setup, but yeah. This is for you."
She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity. "Why, Sam? What's the catch?"
He stepped closer, his expression softening. "There's no catch. I know we're kind of stuck in this situation, but I genuinely like you, Mercedes. And… I'm starting to care about you."
His hand reached up, brushing a loose curl away from her face. The gentle touch made her stomach flutter, and she found herself smiling despite the heat rushing to her cheeks.
She glanced away, trying to compose herself, but the moment felt too perfect to deny.
"Thank you," she said softly, looking back at him.
Sam's smile widened. "Come on. Let's eat before the food gets cold."
He guided her to the blanket, holding her hand as she lowered herself onto the soft surface. Once she was seated, he settled down across from her and removed the lids from the plates. The aroma of perfectly cooked filet mignon with baked potatoes topped with sour cream, butter, and cheese wafted into the air. Mercedes blinked, her surprise evident.
"You really went all out," she said, a laugh escaping her. "You're sweet for doing this."
Sam shrugged, though the smile tugging at his lips showed her how much her reaction meant. "You deserve it."
As they began eating, the conversation naturally turned.
"I have never tasted steak so buttery it's literally melting in my mouth." Mercedes moaned.
Sam laughed, "Well, I am gonna have to have my chef make more for you."
"You have a chef?" Mercedes asked in disbelief.
"No. We do," Sam assured her. "For the days we work late and stuff like that."
She nodded. "That's a good idea."
Smiling at her, he tilted his head. "Speaking of work." Sam took a sip from his wine glass and looked at her, a soft curiosity in his gaze.
Mercedes blushed, thinking about what they did in her office; she would have to repay that favor. "Yes? What about work?"
"So," he began, tilting his head. "How do you think your first day went?"
Mercedes exhaled, crossing her arms loosely as she reflected. "Honestly? Other than Kitty, it was great. I felt confident in the meeting, and my dad was actually proud of me." She paused, her tone shifting to one of frustration. "But I'm not looking forward to working with her again...I know you can't fire her, but something has to change."
Sam gave her a reassuring smile. "You don't have to worry about that."
She raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
"I had her moved to a different office; you are right. I promised not to fire her, but that doesn't mean she has to keep working in our office," he explained casually, setting his glass down. "And I've already hired a new assistant to replace her."
Mercedes leaned forward, interest piqued. "Who?"
"Blaine Anderson," Sam revealed, grinning slightly.
Her eyes lit up. "Blaine was my second choice! I liked him."
"Me too," Sam agreed. "He's sharp, capable, and a lot more professional than Kitty. I'll be training him and Sebastian tomorrow to make sure they're ready to hit the ground running."
Mercedes smiled, relaxing further. "I think Blaine will be great. Thanks for handling that, Sam. You're making this transition a lot easier for me."
He shrugged, his grin widening. "What can I say? I'm just making the best of our… situation."
She chuckled softly, shaking her head at his teasing tone as he refilled her wine glass.
Sam leaned back slightly against the pillows behind them, his gaze warm as he asked, "What was it like for you growing up?"
Mercedes paused, considering her words. "It was… complicated."
"How so?"
She chewed her bottom lip. "Losing my mom when I was young was hard; she was everything I wanted to be, and my dad was different when she was alive... but Rebecca was a great stepmom; she has always been amazing. She did her best to step in and make me feel loved." Her voice softened as she continued, "Kids at school, though? They were horrible sometimes. I think every kid gets bullied, but when you're different, it can feel like it's nonstop."
Sam frowned slightly, his fork pausing mid-air. "That sucks. I'm sorry you had to deal with that."
Mercedes shrugged, offering a small smile. "It's okay. It made me tougher." She sipped her wine before adding, "What about you? What were you like back in school?"
Sam chuckled, leaning forward. "Oh, I was the stereotypical jock. Quarterback of the football team, Captain of the baseball team… all that cliché stuff." He hesitated before adding, "But I was also valedictorian."
Mercedes raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Valedictorian? Me too! That's amazing."
"Yeah, well, you are brilliant, so it's a no-brainer, but considering I'm dyslexic, it was a big deal," he said, the pride evident in his voice.
"A very big deal. Sam, I am glad it made you see how smart you are."
"It definitely surprised us all."
She laughed, shaking her head. "Wow. You and I would not have hung out in high school."
Sam's grin widened. "Oh, really? Why's that?"
"Because I wasn't into the 'jock crowd.' I was on the debate and book clubs, played volleyball and sang in the glee club. Totally different worlds."
He leaned closer, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Guess it's a good thing we met now, then."
Mercedes couldn't help but smile, the warmth in his tone making her feel like maybe, just maybe, this unexpected situation wasn't so bad after all.
Sam took another bite of his steak, then looked up at her, a curious smile on his face. "So, volleyball and glee club? Those are pretty different. I mean, okay, the debate club, I get—your dad probably made you practice arguing before you could even talk, book club, you're a genius, I get it, but why volleyball?"
Mercedes set her fork down, brushing her fingers lightly against the edge of her plate as she considered her answer. "My mom played volleyball. She was amazing at it, too. And on those rare summer afternoons when she would force my dad out of the house for our semi-annual fun day, we would play, my dad and I against her."
Sam smiled as she continued.
"So when I reached 9th grade, I wanted to do it to feel closer to her after she passed." Her voice softened as she added, "But it also helped me deal with my anger. Smashing that ball over the net was therapeutic. It saved many lives." She teased.
Sam tilted his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Makes sense. And what about the glee club? How'd you get into that?"
Mercedes laughed, the memory bringing a sparkle to her eyes. "That was kind of an accident. I was humming one day in study hall, not even thinking about it, and one of the teachers overheard me. He asked me to try out for the glee club; the rest was history. I ended up leading our team to the finals three out of four years."
Sam leaned back, clearly impressed. "That's incredible. You've got to have a crazy good voice to lead a team like that."
She shrugged, smiling shyly. "I did okay."
"So, why didn't you major in music?" he asked, genuinely curious.
Mercedes burst out laughing. "Are you kidding? Julian Jones would've disowned me if I majored in music. He wanted me to follow in his footsteps. But after I graduated, I wasn't ready to step into his shoes, and he wasn't ready to retire, so I did some traveling, which gave me the chance to keep singing. I got the best of both worlds."
"Traveling?" Sam prompted.
"With Habitat for Humanity," she explained. "I got to help build houses and teach kids from all over. It was eye-opening, Sam. Seeing how people lived in different parts of the world… it gave me a whole new perspective on life."
Sam watched her, admiration shining in his eyes. "You're… seriously the most impressive woman I've ever met."
Her smile softened, and she glanced away for a moment, overwhelmed by the sincerity in his voice. When she looked back at him, their gazes locked, and the air between them grew heavier. They stayed like that for a long moment, the city lights twinkling around them as the connection grew undeniable.
Finally, Sam broke the silence, his tone playful. "Sing for me."
Mercedes blinked, startled. "What? Are you crazy?"
"Nope," Sam said, grinning. "I made you this amazing dinner, and I think a song is a fair payment."
She laughed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
"And you're stalling," he teased, leaning back on his elbows.
Mercedes rolled her eyes, but the warmth of his smile made her relent. "Fine, but the only song I can think of right now is one I listened to earlier."
Sam nodded, gesturing for her to go ahead.
She took a breath, closed her eyes for a moment, and began to sing How Did You Get Here by Deborah Cox. Her voice was rich and soulful, filling the rooftop with emotion. Each note seemed to pull Sam further under her spell, leaving him in awe.
By the time she finished, Sam couldn't hold back. He leaned forward, gently cupping her face, and kissed her. The kiss was soft and full of emotion, his lips conveying everything he couldn't put into words.
Mercedes was shocked at first, but that didn't last long as she moved closer to him, tongue dancing with his as he laid her down on the pillows.
Sam's hand went to her thighs, gripping her as he moved against her, tugging at her clothes.
"Sam... Sam, wait." She said softly as she pulled away from him.
"I'm sorry..."
"No..." She said. "I just want you, but I've waited a long time..."
"You want to wait until our wedding night?"
"Is that... is that okay?"
Sam leaned in, nipping at her lips. "Yes. Merce, that's totally fine, but...we can still enjoy each other, right?"
Mercedes laughed with a nod. "Of course, perks of this situation, right?"
Sam laughed, pulling her close, his lips crushing against hers as his hands moved through her hair; after a long moment, he pulled away, nipping gently at her lips.
Mercedes blinked up at him, her cheeks flushed. "What was that for?"
Sam smiled, his voice low and steady. "For being you."