Our Way Read online

She smiles and waves at me, and I wave back. I’ve seen this woman at a lot of the charity events we go to. She’s a doctor and seems nice.

  Nathan kisses my cheek. “I’ll bring you another one back. Won’t be a minute.” He nods to our tablemates. “Excuse me.” He gets up and goes and talks to her, and they walk over to the bar and fall into conversation.

  Mario frowns at me. “That’s not the Dr. Mercer, is it?”

  “Umm.” I raise my eyebrows. I get asked this a lot.

  “The heart surgeon?”

  “That’s him.” I smile.

  He watches Nathan across the room at the bar. “Wow, he’s so young in the flesh.”

  My heart beams with pride. “He is, and his reputation is well deserved.”

  Another couple sit down at our table. “Hello.” They both smile, and we do the introductions and shake hands.

  I glance over to see Nathan is looking my way. He doesn’t leave me alone for long. He’s now talking to three other men, and he holds up a finger as if to say he’ll be a moment.

  “I’m fine,” I mouth over at him.

  “Eliza?” I hear someone call.

  I turn to see a familiar face, and I laugh. “Gretel.” I turn to the people at my table. “Excuse me.” I stand and kiss my dear friend on the cheek.

  Gretel is my ex-boss. The best damn boss I ever had, actually. If she hadn’t retired, I probably never would have even contemplated leaving. She’s beautiful with her silver bob haircut and glamorous designer clothes. Her husband is the mayor of San Francisco, and Gretel knows everyone in town.

  “Oh, it’s good to see you.” She smiles as she holds my hands in hers. “Are you here with Nathan?”

  “Yes.” I gesture over to the bar. “He’s talking to some friends.”

  “Oh my God, what is this I hear about you leaving?”

  “Wow.” I shake my head. “News travels fast. I only resigned today.”

  “Where are you going to be working?”

  “For Doctor Morgan.”

  She frowns. “The plastic surgeon?”

  “Yes, that’s him.”

  “Boy, he’s a dish.” She smiles and plays with a piece of my hair. “You sure are a magnet for good-looking doctors.”

  “Too bad I can’t snag any of them.” I laugh. “And Nathan doesn’t count.”

  “Speak of the devil.” Gretel smiles. “Hello, darling.”

  Nathan kisses her cheek. “Hello, Gretel, lovely to see you.”

  Gretel looks him up and down. “Good grief, do you get better looking every time I see you, Nathan?”

  I smile as I watch the two of them exchange.

  He chuckles and shakes his head. “You’re as shameless as ever.”

  “Gretel!” someone calls.

  She looks over. “I’m being summoned.” We glance over to see her husband at the bar, obviously needing help. “I’ll see you both later.”

  “Okay, bye.”

  Nathan hands me a glass of champagne. “Thanks.”

  “Eliza,” a deep voice says from behind me. We both turn to see Henry Morgan.

  “Oh.” Fuck, what’s he doing here? “Hello, Dr. Morgan.”

  “Henry,” he corrects me. His attention turns to Nathan, and he puts out his hand to shake his. “Henry Morgan.”

  Nathan smiles and dips his head. “Nathan Mercer.”

  “Ah.” Henry’s eyes hold Nathan’s for a moment, and I can see he’s just worked out who Nathan is. “I’m the new boss.”

  Nathan’s eyes meet mine and he subtly raises an eyebrow. “Really?”

  “And you must be the boyfriend?”

  “Yes,” I cut him off before Nathan can answer him. “This is my boyfriend, Nathan.”

  Nathan’s eyes flicker to me in question. “That’s right.” He puts his arm around me, and pulls me close, smiling sexily. “Well, you hired the best possible person for the job. I trust you will look after her.”

  Henry smiles broadly at me. “I intend to; don’t worry.”

  His eyes go back to Nathan, and they stare at each other for a moment. Something is exchanged between them, although I’m not sure what it is.

  Nathan’s eyes come back to me.

  Fuck.

  “We need to get back to our table. Let’s go, baby.” I smile as I pull Nathan by the arm. “Nice to see you, Dr. Morgan,” I say in a rush. Go away, now.

  “Henry,” he corrects me. “And do come quickly. The sooner you are under me, the better.”

  Nathan stares at him.

  “Working under me, I mean.” He chuckles. “That sounded wrong, didn’t it?”

  “Not to mention deluded,” Nathan replies dryly.

  “Goodbye.” I fake a giggle. “Lovely to see you again.” I drag Nathan back to the table.

  Oh, crap.

  Nathan sits down with a thud. He tips his head back and takes a huge gulp of his scotch.

  I smile around my champagne glass. Oh, great.

  Nathan’s eyes meet mine. “I thought you said your boss was old.”

  “He is old.” I lie as I try to act casual.

  He raises an eyebrow. “Why did you tell him I was your boyfriend?”

  I put my hand on his thigh under the table. “I tell a lot of people you’re my boyfriend,” I whisper.

  “You do?”

  “I do.” I smile up at him. “Why, am I ruining your reputation?”

  His eyes soften. “You are, actually.” He picks up my hand from his thigh and takes it in his. His eyes go over to the bar to watch Henry. “Something feels off about him.”

  “He seems okay. He’s a bit full of himself but that doesn’t bother me.”

  “So, if I’m your boyfriend now does that mean I get to molest you on the dancefloor later?” He asks as he raises his eyebrow.

  I giggle. “Go for it.”

  Over the next four hours, I watch as people try to get Nathan’s attention.

  He’s polite and frank, and he doesn’t linger with anyone. His attention always comes back to me. He walks back from the bar and holds his hand out.

  “Would you like to dance, Eliza?”

  I smile as I take it. “I would.”

  Nathan is a wonderful dancer. We dance at every event we go to. He leads me out onto the dancefloor and takes me into his arms where we begin to sway to the music. The quartet band is playing Unchained Melody.

  “Thank you for coming with me to all these things.”

  I smile up at my beautiful friend who is so much taller than me. “I enjoy them. They’re fun, and it gives me a chance to get dressed up.”

  He holds me close as his hand lingers on my hip, his breath dusting my neck.

  He stares down at me, and something feels different tonight. I don’t know what it is. It’s as if I’m the only other person in the room. His attention is two hundred percent on me. He’s always attentive, but I’m really feeling it tonight.

  Perhaps it’s the fact that I told Henry that he’s my boyfriend and I know that he’s playing the part.

  Yes, that must be it.

  I look up at him and run my fingers through his stubble. “I had a great night. Thanks for my ten thousand dollar ticket.”

  He chuckles and then spins me. We sway to the music once more.

  He leans and gently kisses my lips with a little suction and a whole lot of nice.

  I frown as my breath catches.

  “Your boss is watching,” he whispers.

  “Oh.” My eyes dart over to see Henry standing at the side of the dancefloor. “Right.”

  Nathan’s lips drift to my temple and he kisses me again. I feel myself melting into him.

  He’s strong, virile, and he’s holding me so close. I must be the envy of every woman in the room. God, I love this man, and here he is playing the part of my boyfriend to protect my lie.

  We dance and we dance, and Nathan makes me miss having someone for real.

  He holds me tight, makes me laugh, and he kisses me softly on the cheek
whenever Henry is watching.

  If only I could have the closeness that I have with Nathan with a boyfriend—someone who could love me in every way. Someone who could be really mine.

  “You ready to go? The car is here,” he whispers.

  “I am.” I return to the table and to the people we were sitting with. “Lovely to meet you all.”

  “You, too.”

  Nathan goes around and shakes their hands. “Goodbye. Nice to meet you.” He takes my hand and we walk out the front to get into the back of the black Audi waiting for us.

  He holds my hand on his lap, and I smile out of the window at the glamorous ball as it disappears into the distance.

  “That was a great night. I enjoyed myself.”

  “Me, too.” He squeezes my hand in his lap. “Thanks for coming with me.”

  I rest my head on his shoulder. I feel so safe, and I’m feeling especially close to him tonight. I don’t know why, he just seems different. Or maybe it’s me. Maybe all this talk about not dating with the girls has me missing having someone special in my life and I appreciate our friendship even more.

  “Are you tired, baby?” he whispers softly.

  “Hmm.” I smile sleepily.

  He kisses my forehead, puts his arm around me and pulls me close. I snuggle into his chest. It’s warm and feels so good beneath my head. His aftershave wafts around me. Being inside Nathan Mercer’s arms is my favorite place to be.

  Twenty minutes later, we pull up outside my apartment. Nathan leads me out by the hand, and we walk inside and into the elevator.

  “Did anyone show you footage of themselves having sex tonight?” he asks.

  I giggle. “Disappointingly, no.”

  He smiles down at me.

  “What?”

  “Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?”

  “Tell me again.”

  He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “You really did look beautiful tonight.”

  I smile up at him. “Do we have chocolate?”

  He smirks. “So, I tell you that you look beautiful, and you ask me if we have chocolate?”

  “And?” I smile. “Your point is?”

  “My point is that I’m being judged on my shopping abilities.”

  I giggle and turn my back to him. His big arms wrap around me from behind.

  “That better mean there’s chocolate in the fridge, Mercer,” I mutter as I put my head against his chest.

  He chuckles and rests his chin on the top of my head. The elevator doors open and we make our way down the corridor. Nathan opens the door to my apartment and we walk in. I go straight to the kitchen, flick the kettle on, while he goes to the fridge to grab something, which he quickly puts behind his back.

  “What have you got there?” I ask.

  “Ah,” he teases. “What do I get for it?”

  “If it’s chocolate… anything you want.”

  “You really should play harder to get.” He raises an eyebrow and produces a box of my favorite chocolates.

  I clap my hands together. “Where did these come from?”

  “I bought them today when I got the champagne.” He opens the box and pops one into his mouth. “You want?” He holds one up for me. I open my mouth and he puts it in.

  “Hmm.” I close my eyes at the rich creamy taste. “Delicious.”

  His eyes darken as he watches me suck on it.

  He takes his jacket off, undoes his bowtie and top few buttons. I make us a cup of tea and take another chocolate.

  I watch him take off his shoes and then undo his belt and slowly slide it off.

  My breath catches. Why am I noticing how masculine he suddenly is?

  “So, what did you want?” I ask as I hand him his cup of tea. “For the chocolates.”

  His eyes hold mine. “I want to get you out of that dress.”

  I smile. “Well, you’re going to have to because I can’t reach the zipper.”

  He chuckles and sits me up onto the counter in front of him. We both sip our tea, our eyes locked on each other.

  Something is different but I can’t put my finger on it.

  “Two years.” He smirks.

  “Are you still thinking about that? Why? When was the last time you had sex?”

  He steps forward, in between my legs, and his hands rest on my upper thighs. “A long time, too.”

  I frown, surprised. “Why?”

  His eyes hold mine. “I guess I’m waiting for Mrs. Right.”

  I smile up at him. “Are you going to teach her bad things?” I tease.

  “Fuck.” He pauses, his eyes drop to my lips. “I want to.”

  My face falls.

  Our eyes are locked, and you could cut the tension between us with a knife.

  Wait, what? I was just teasing.

  He pulls me closer on the counter toward him in a decidedly sexual manner.

  I sip my tea, unsure what’s going on right now. “Don’t you mean… Mr. Right?” I whisper.

  “Umm…yeah.” He takes my tea off me and puts it down on the counter. “Let’s get you out of that dress,” he whispers.

  He lifts me off the counter and leads me into the bedroom. I feel close to him tonight; so close that it almost feels like…

  He positions me before the full-length mirror in my bedroom. He stands behind me and then slowly slides the zipper down.

  I watch him concentrate on his task, his eyes following the zipper. He slides one spaghetti strap off my shoulder, and then the other.

  He bites his bottom lip as he slowly slides my dress down. It catches over my hips, and he uses his hands to work it loose.

  This is nothing new. Nathan has seen me undress a million times before.

  But this feels… sexual.

  I stand before him in a white strapless bra and a G-string, with thigh-high nude stockings.

  I watch him in the mirror as his eyes roam up and down my body, drinking me in.

  I want to blurt out What the hell are you doing? but I don’t want to ruin the moment.

  Whatever this moment is.

  He stands closer and puts his hand on my stomach. We stare at each other in the mirror, and there’s an honesty between us.

  Maybe it’s intimacy or maybe it’s just the champagne. At this point, anything is a possibility because none of this is making sense.

  With his eyes locked on mine, he kisses my cheek with an open mouth.

  My heart skips a beat.

  He runs his fingers up my arms, and goosebumps scatter. “Nathan,” I whisper.

  “Ssh,” he whispers, as if not wanting words to get in the way.

  He lets me go and slowly unbuttons his shirt. I can see the ripples of his stomach muscles in the dimly lit room.

  I feel arousal slam into my body like a freight train, slow, strong and measured.

  Our eyes are locked in the mirror.

  I turn toward him, and he picks up my hand and puts it onto his bare chest. It’s hot and hard under my touch. He rests his lips on my temple, and I close my eyes.

  God, this is wrong.

  Unable to stop myself, I slowly slide my hand over his torso, over the ripples, down lower to the small trail of dark hair that disappears into the waistband of his pants.

  His dark eyes hold mine.

  Tell me to stop.

  5

  Eliza

  We stare at each other. My heart is pumping so hard that I can feel my pulse throughout my body. I dust the backs of my fingers through the hair on his lower stomach, and his eyes flicker shut as if he likes it.

  I open my mouth to say something.

  “Don’t,” he cuts me off.

  Whatever’s happening right now, he doesn’t want to talk about it.

  He trails his finger down my clavicle, between my breasts, and then lower to my stomach. My entire body begins to thrum, as if waking from a two-year long hibernation.

  He turns me away from him in a quick movement, and our gaze goes back to our refl
ection in the mirror. Him, in his white shirt and black dinner suit pants, and me in my white lacy underwear. His hand goes to my stomach, and he pulls me closer.

  His open lips dust my neck, and I watch him and the ecstasy on his face. This is too much. I tip my head back to rest on his shoulder. My eyes close in pleasure.

  Oh hell, what’s happening right now?

  With his every kiss on my neck, our breathing becomes heavier, the feeling between us stronger. A river of deep emotion is flowing between us, and it feels sacred and strong.

  This doesn’t feel sexual. It feels honest. Like we care about each other so much that the worship we have for one another is running over into the physical.

  It’s magical.

  Nathan

  My entire body is aroused as my hands trail up and down her body.

  The taste of her neck on my tongue is inciting bad thoughts, and I want more.

  So much fucking more.

  My cock thumps as it becomes painfully hard. I ease my hips back from hers. She can’t feel how aroused I am. She can’t know how badly I need to fuck her.

  “Nathan,” she whispers, breaking the spell.

  My eyes snap up to hers in the mirror. What the hell am I doing?

  I step back. “You should take a shower.” I run my hand through my hair as I try to calm myself down. “You need to get that make-up off.”

  Her face falls—is that disappointment?

  “Yes.” She gives her head a subtle shake. “Okay.”

  She practically runs to the bathroom, and I begin to pace. What the fuck was I doing?

  She can’t know what’s going on with me.

  She can never know how I feel.

  Do you want to lose her, you fucking idiot?

  I sit on the edge of the bed and put my head into my hands.

  Shit, that was close.

  I sit back to rearrange my cock in my pants. It’s painful and restricted.

  I need to come or I’m going to… Hell, I can’t even think what I’m going to do.

  I get a vision of Eliza beneath me, naked, and my entire body tingles.

  Fuck.

  I unzip my pants with urgency, and I take my cock into my hand. I get a vision of Eliza on her knees in front of me and I begin to pull myself.

  Fuck, yeah.

  Take it all… take it fucking all.

  The grip on my cock is nearly painful. I need it harder, I need her tighter.