Our Way

by T L Swan

  Holy shit, Nathan Mercer is everything I never knew I needed, and then some.

  I’m marrying this man. What the hell? I can hardly believe it.

  The reality of us and our messed up, beautiful story blows my mind, and I laugh out loud as I hold up my hand. “Do you want to see my ring again?” I ask.

  “No, Eliza.” He smirks and picks up his drink. “I don’t.”

  We crash through the door at midnight, our lips are locked. We’ve reached a new level of desperation.

  Nathan has had me on the precipice of orgasm all night, and I’m quite sure that his new favorite toy is that remote control. He’s teased me, we’ve danced and laughed, and he got me talking a new level of dirty as I felt his rock-hard dick through his jeans. God almighty, I am good to go. I want something that only he can give me.

  “Now,” I beg against his lips. “Now, Nathan.” I’m so aroused that I’ve lost all control. “Fucking give it to me.”

  He inhales sharply and pulls me into the bedroom. He stands me at the foot of the bed, and he turns to me with seductive eyes.

  He reaches up under my dress, removes my panties, and he lifts my foot to rest on the bed. He then slowly takes out the egg, and my body contracts with disappointment. I like that little thing.

  Maybe I have a new favorite toy, too.

  His hand moves to the butt plug, and he twists it as his eyes hold mine.

  My chest rises and falls. “I need this, Nathe, I need this,” I whimper.

  I’m not joking, I really do. His aim was to get me ready. Not only am I ready, I’m fucking desperate. He’s right, my body has adjusted and it has woken something up inside of me. It’s dark and forbidden, and something I never thought I would crave.

  He slowly twists it as he takes the plug out, and my body contracts. “Ohh.” My body shudders from the loss.

  Nathan takes my face in his hands and kisses me hard, his lips tenderly taking mine in a tantric dance of seduction. My body contracts once more, close to orgasm. “Nathan, please,” I beg, he’s been teasing me all week, and I just can’t take it anymore.

  He smiles darkly, as if impressed…. and my heart swells.

  He takes off my dress and bra, and positions me exactly how he wants me on the bed. I’m lying on my side, my legs curled up.

  I hear him take off his clothes, as well as the top drawer open and close. I hear the click of a bottle. Lube… fuck, this is it.

  He nestles in close behind me, and I feel his lips at my ear. “I’m going to warm you up, baby.”

  “No more warming up. I’m fucking cooked.”

  He chuckles as his fingers massage the lube there.

  I close my eyes at the sensation. Feels good.

  Who knew I would ever like this?

  “Hurry up,” I demand.

  I feel his lips smile against my shoulder, and he pulls the blanket up over us, as if to protect me and keep me warm—to wrap us up from the outside world.

  Oh, I love this man.

  His lips fall to my ear. “Once we start, we don’t stop. There is no stopping midway, okay?”

  I nod.

  He lifts my top leg over his forearm, and I feel his tip at my opening, “Kiss me,” he breathes.

  I turn my head, and his lips take mine as he pushes forward. He goes in a little way, and I smile against his lips. Oh, yes, I like this.

  He meets resistance, and he pushes forward some more. My brow furrows. Ouch.

  “Kiss me, Eliza.” His tongue brings me back to the moment.

  “Nearly there, babe.” His voice is husky, and his breath quivers as he fights for control. I smile as his lips dust up and down my neck and then lifts my leg a little farther and pushes hard. My body resists, and I scrunch my eyes shut.

  Oh fuck, that smarts.

  “It’s okay, it’s okay,” he whispers. He repositions me so that I roll more onto my stomach, my leg still lifted in his hand. “Are you okay?” he breathes.

  I smile with a pant. Even during his thick arousal, he’s worried about me.

  “I’m just going to go, okay?”

  I nod, and he pushes forward hard and drives me into the mattress. My body has no choice other than to accept him.

  My eyes roll back in my head. Oh, good God, that’s deep.

  “Ssh,” he soothes as he falls down over me. “It’s okay, baby.” He kisses me, and it’s tender, beautiful, and everything just feels right. Like I’m meant to be here, learning this with him.

  I scrunch up my face as emotion overwhelms me.

  “Are… are you hurt?” he whispers in a panic.

  “No, Nathe.” I smile against his lips. “I’m perfect. You are perfect.”

  We kiss.

  “I love you,” I say against his mouth.

  This is a beautiful moment between us.

  His eyes flutter closed, and he puts his hand on my lower stomach and slowly brings my body back onto his. He stays still to let me accept him.

  His teeth go to my neck, and he softly bites me up and down. I get a flutter of arousal. “Yes,” I whisper.

  He moves me some more, and my body seems to accept his and loosen right up.

  “That’s it,” he whispers. “That’s it, babe.” His fingers drop to my clit and he slowly begins to circle over it as he pulls out and slowly pushes in again.

  My head drops back to his shoulder as a wave of pleasure shoots through me. “Yessss,” I hiss.

  I feel him smile behind me, as if realizing that he’s just unlocked the Holy Grail, and he pushes forward hard, more confidently this time.

  I let out a deep moan as my body begins to ride him. “Oh God, Nathe… that’s good.”

  He smiles and pulls out, and then he slides back in with more force. Each pump becomes more measured, deeper, more fucking amazing.

  “Give it to me… harder,” I pant.

  He repositions me onto my knees and spreads my legs. With my hipbones in his hands, he pulls out and pushes back in. I smile because I’m doing it.

  I’m actually doing it, and it’s good. What have I been doing all this time?

  I begin to push back against him, and he moans. He likes that.

  I like it, too, and I begin to ride him, circling my hips while he hisses in appreciation.

  “Come on.” I push back against him.

  “Oh… fuck,” he growls, as if the last of his control has broken and he pulls back and slams in hard. The air is knocked from my lungs, and I smile into the mattress.

  Here we go.

  Then we are hard at it, our skin slapping together as we connect. I feel like I’m in a porno or something.

  This is so surreal.

  He reaches around and runs the tips of his fingers over my clit, and I contract hard around him. Oh God, yes.

  “Come for me,” he moans. He’s close. I can hear the edge in his voice.

  He circles his fingers again, and I shudder deep within as I come hard around him.

  He lets out a guttural groan and holds himself deep. I feel the telling jerk of his cock deep within me, and we fall to the mattress.

  We pant for a moment, and then Nathan turns my head and kisses me over my shoulder. His body is still deep inside of mine when he smiles against my lips.

  “Look at you, Miss Give It To Me Harder.”

  I giggle, feeling very pleased with myself. “I know, I’m like a porn queen or something.”

  He chuckles and kisses me again. “You really are.”

  We kiss for a long time, and then he slowly pulls out and my body contracts, grieving his loss. He rolls me toward him and brushes the hair back from my forehead.

  “Do you know how much I love you, Eliza Bennet?” He stares at me.

  I smile, because I do. “Yes.” I kiss him again. “You know that, now that we’ve done that, you have to marry me.”

  He laughs out loud. “I guess I can manage that. Eliza Mercer has a certain ring to it.”

  Three Months later

  Majorca


  April pulls my veil down over my face with a huge smile.

  “You look amazing, Lize.”

  “Thanks.” I stare in the mirror at my reflection. I’m wearing a fitted, strapless white dress that’s embedded with crystals. My hair is down with big, soft Hollywood curls, and I feel like a princess.

  It’s my wedding day, and we are at the Sea View Rustic in Majorca. It’s a beautiful resort perched on the clifftop overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

  Our closest friends and family have flown in and, oh, I’m nervous.

  “It’s time,” my dad says.

  I turn to him.

  “You look so beautiful, darling.”

  Butterflies dance in my stomach. “Thanks, Dad.”

  April hands me my bouquet. “Are you ready to get married?” She smiles.

  “I am.” I take it from her. “Let’s do this.”

  We walk out of the bridal suite and make our way outside where I can hear the violin music playing. There’s a large area along the clifftop lined with white chairs. All of our friends are lined up, creating an aisle. At the end of the ledge is the Des Galliner, an open, stone, circular arbour that is over six hundred years old. I can see the priest, Nathan, and Alex waiting for us there.

  “This is it.” Dad smiles.

  I nod.

  The violinist begins to play the wedding waltz, and everyone turns toward us. Nerves dance in my stomach, and I exhale heavily as we begin to walk toward the end.

  Nathan turns to me, and he smiles softly. My eyes fill with tears.

  There’s nothing to be nervous about.

  He’s wearing a black dinner suit, and his honey hair is messed up to perfection. But it’s his heart that is calling me to run down this aisle.

  He inhales deeply as I walk toward him, and I know he’s feeling emotional, too.

  We are so in love.

  We arrive at the end of the aisle, and dad takes my hand and passes it to Nathan. He gives me a slow, sexy smile before he softly kisses my cheek. “Hi.”

  “Hi.”

  “You look beautiful.”

  I beam with happiness, and we turn toward the priest.

  “We are gathered here today…,” the priest begins.

  Nathan’s eyes never leave mine, and he has this mischievous grin on his face.

  He can’t believe this is happening. Me neither, actually.

  I hunch my shoulders together in excitement, and Nathan chuckles.

  It’s like we are in our own little world, oblivious to what is being said around us.

  We are interrupted from our little daydream with the words, “Do you, Eliza, take Nathan Mercer to be your lawful wedded husband, from this day forward, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”

  I smile at my beautiful man as his eyes fill with tears. “I do.” I slide the wedding ring on his finger.

  “And do you, Nathan, take Eliza Bennet to be your lawful wedded wife, from this day forward, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do.” He smiles as he slides the wedding ring on my finger.

  I giggle in excitement and he bites his bottom lip to stop himself from laughing.

  “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

  Nathan lifts my veil back, and to the cheers of our family and friends, his lips slowly take mine as we smile against each other.

  We made it…

  Our way.

  Five years later

  I stir the gravy on the hotplate, and a text comes through on my phone:

  I smile and text back.

  Please!

  I put my phone down and continue with dinner. Twenty minutes later, I hear the key in the door.

  “Daddy!” I hear Ashton cry.

  “Dada.” Gracie struggles to get down from my arms, but she toddles in a run toward the front door. I smile as I turn back to my stirring.

  Daddy is the favorite person in the house. His homecoming is a huge deal every night. Ashton is four, and Gracie is eighteen months old. We live in our apartment through the week, so that we are close to the hospital for Nathan. For the weekends, we bought a farm an hour outside the city. Life, for us, is hectic… and so happy.

  I hear Nathan laugh out loud, and then I hear Ash scream in excitement.

  He’s getting tipped upside down by his feet out there like he does every night.

  I hear Gracie squeal in excitement. She’s getting tipped back and kissed on her neck right now. Ha, no wonder him getting home is so exciting.

  He’s the fun one.

  “Snoopy, no.” I hear Nathan gasp.

  I smile as I stir, every single night without fail, Snoopy, our cat, likes to brush up against Nathan’s dark suit pants, leaving the evidence of fur for his affection, much to Nathan’s horror.

  “Snoopy, no.” Ashton says as he steps in to be dad’s bouncer.

  Nathan walks around the corner with his children in his arms. He smiles softly when he sees me.

  “Hey, babe.”

  “Hi.” I beam. I still get a physical reaction to my husband. Nothing is hotter than Nathan Mercer in his suit.

  He kisses me, his lips lingering over mine, and the kids struggle to get out of his arms. He puts them down, and they run off.

  “How’s my girl?” His hands run down over my heavily pregnant stomach.

  “Good.” I smile against his lips. “Huge.”

  He chuckles. “And fucking hot.” He pulls my hips toward him. Nathan Mercer has a new fetish. He’s officially obsessed with my pregnant body.

  I’m all hormonal and horny, so we are a good match. Although, I’m quite sure that married pregnant people are not supposed to act like we do. We’re bad.

  His tongue tenderly explores my mouth as he kisses me, and I feel my feet rise up from the floor.

  “I got you something today.” I smile.

  “I’m fucking starving,” he says, distracted. He turns and looks into the oven and then realizes what I said. “You did?”

  I hand it over proudly. I did good with this present. I wrapped it and everything

  “What is it?” He holds it to his ear and gives it a shake.

  “Just open it.”

  He tears the wrapping off, and his eyes widen. “Eliza,” he whispers.

  I giggle. It’s the latest book from his favorite author, Giraldi. I ordered it in, especially. It doesn’t hit bookstores until next week.

  “I haven’t read a book in so long.” He stares at it in awe. “I can’t wait to read this this weekend.”

  “I know. You deserve this book, honey.” I love that he’s so excited. He doesn’t get time to read anymore. With work and the kids and me, he falls into bed in an exhausted heap every night.

  He opens the front page and sees the message I wrote.

  Truer, Madder, Deeper.

  Forever.

  He holds the book over his heart and smiles. “Thank you.” He kisses me softly. “I love it—so thoughtful.”

  Gracie comes running into the kitchen and holds her arms up for Nathe. He picks her up, and she reaches for his book.

  “Careful,” he says as he passes it over. “Very special,” he whispers.

  She hurls it, and it goes flying across the room and lands straight into the sink full of the dishwater I have a pot soaking in.

  “Ahh.” His hand dives in after it and pulls it out. It’s soaking wet, and water flies everywhere. It slops onto the counter, completely ruined.

  He looks at me, deadpan, and puts Gracie down. She runs off into the living room, totally unfazed.

  I put my hand over my mouth and burst out laughing. “She’s one,” I remind him.

  “She’s good at it.” He puts his hands on his hips and stares at his beloved book. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “Do you want some wine, Daddy?” I smile to soften the blow.

  He closes his eyes as he holds in his
tantrum that he desperately wants to have. “Yes. Yes, I fucking do.”

  The End.

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  Acknowledgments

  There are no words meaningful enough to

  thank my wonderful team.

  I don’t write my books alone. I have an army.

  The best army in the world.

  Kellie, the most wonderful PA on Earth.

  You are amazing. Thank you for all that you do for me.

  Keeley, not only are you an amazing daughter, but you’re now a wonderful employee. Thank you for wanting to work alongside me. It means a lot.

  To my wonderful beta readers: Vicki, Am, Rachel, Nicole, Lisa K, Lisa D, Nadia, and Charlotte. Thank you. You put up with a lot and never whine, even when I make you wait for the next chapter. How I got so lucky to have you come into my life, and to be able to call you my friends, I will never know.

  To Rena, you came into my life like a breath of fresh air and somehow adopted me.

  Thank you for believing in me. You’re the Ying to my Yang, or the Ting to my Tang.

  Vic, you make me better, and your friendship is so valued.

  Lindsey & Linda, thank you for everything you do for me.

  It is so appreciated.

  To my motivated mofos. I love you to bits.

  You know who you are.

  To Linda and my PR Team at Forward.

  You have been with me since the beginning and

  you will be with me until the end.

  Thank you for everything.

  To my home girls in the Swan Squad.

  I feel like I can do anything with you girls in my corner. Thanks for making me laugh every single day.