Eliza
The car crawls to a stop, and I stare out the window. My eyes flicker to Nathan. “This is where we’re staying?”
He kisses me quickly as he opens the car door. “Only the best for my girl.”
Holy crap. This isn’t just the best; it’s incredible.
It’s an old traditional mansion, built with huge sandstone brickwork. It looks like it may have been a castle at one point back in time. It’s on a huge patch of land, with beautiful, manicured gardens at street level. There’s a grand, circular driveway, as well as a large, black and white striped awning hanging over the entry. The back of the building looks like it’s a few stories high, hanging on the top of the cliff, overlooking the ocean. Nathan takes my hand to help me out of the car. I’m hit with the heat of the air and the smell of the ocean. I smile broadly as the breeze whips over my face.
“Nathe.” I sigh.
He gives me a playful wink, clearly happy with his choice.
“Good morning, sir.” The bellman smiles and nods. “Checking in today?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Are you Mr. and Mrs. Mercer?”
“We are.”
“I am Pablo,” he introduces himself with a nod. “Welcome to Refugio.” He gestures to the grand front doors. “Please, come this way.”
Nathan takes my hand, and when Pablo turns his back, I do a little happy dance jig on the spot. “I’m so excited,” I whisper.
“Really?” Nathan smirks, delighted in my reaction. “Couldn’t tell.”
We walk in through the foyer, and my mouth falls open, “Oh, Nathe.” I gasp as I look at the detailed ornate ceilings. My eyes float around the luxurious space. This is next level beautiful. Everything is over the top luxury.
Nathan’s eyes drift to the magic above us. “Wow.”
I giggle and just want to jump around. I’m so excited. I kiss his shoulder. “Thank you, I love this place.”
“Hello,” Nathan says to the receptionist. “We are checking in today for fourteen nights, booking in the name of Mercer.”
Fourteen nights.
God, this is the world’s best birthday present.
“Yes, sir.” She smiles as she types our details in the computer. “Ah, yes, you are in the penthouse.”
My eyes widen.
“That’s right,” Nathan replies calmly.
The penthouse.
She smiles, and Nathan hands over his credit card. She processes our details in the computer.
How much did this place cost?
She walks out from behind her desk. “This way,” she says.
I hunch my shoulders in excitement, you can always tell which hotels are top notch because they take you to your room and show you how everything works. Attention to detail is everything, and there are so many beautiful details here.
Nathan takes my hand, and we follow the nice receptionist into the elevator.
I just want to be over the top excited, I hate having to be cool as a cucumber while people are around. She puts our key into the slot inside the elevator and a picture comes up on the little screen.
Penthouse
I bite my lip to hide my smile, and Nathan squeezes my hand. I squeeze it back.
Moments later, the doors open into a private foyer, and the receptionist takes our key and opens the large double doors, holding them open for us.
Holy crap.
The place is huge, with white décor and light timber furnishings. The furnishings are in aqua. The entire back wall is glass, overlooking a huge deck with a private pool and deckchairs. There’s a big outdoor day bed that has a white net hanging off a four-poster frame, as well as a bar and two hammocks. The timber woodwork is pale and weathered, as if it’s been washed up onto the beach.
“Oh, wow,” I whisper.
She opens the sliding door. “You have a private pool, and a server who is on call twenty-four hours a day. He will make your drinks. Whatever you want is at your fingertips.”
Unable to help it, I walk out onto the deck. The one hundred and eighty degree view over the Mediterranean Sea is breathtaking. I smile goofily as I stare out at the ocean.
I’ve died and gone to Heaven… with a god. How ironic.
The receptionist goes through the details of the Penthouse with Nathan, but I can’t make myself leave the deck. I already know that this is my happy place. I’m in love.
Nathan eventually walks out and smiles as he takes me in his arms.
“This is beautiful. You spoil me too much.”
His lips take mine. “No such thing.”
I feel so warm and relaxed after finally arriving. I put my head onto his chest, and he holds me. Now that we’re here, I’m suddenly dead tired.
“Come on, we need to sleep,” Nathan says. “It’s four in the morning at home.”
“No wonder I’m tired.” I smile sleepily. “What time is it here?”
“9:00 a. m.”
“We’ll have a few hours’ sleep and then get up and have a swim. Tonight, we’ll go out for dinner.”
“Okay.” I kiss his big, perfect lips. “I’m going to take a shower.” I look around. “Oh, our bags aren’t here yet.”
“That’s okay, I’ll get them.” He pulls me in for another kiss, and his lips linger over mine with a promise of what’s to come.
I squeeze him tightly, and he grabs my behind playfully, “Go.”
I make my way inside and find our bedroom.
“Holy shit,” I whisper to myself.
The room is navy blue with white linen furnishings. It’s the most beautiful room I have ever been in. The headboard is high-backed and velvet-the same beautiful color as the walls. I open the double doors and gasp.
The bathroom is decorated in navy with the suite made from white marble. It looks like something out of a magazine. There is even a bench seat in the double-headed shower. The circular bath is sunk into the floor, and the entire upper walls are mirrored. A huge chandelier hangs over the center over the bath. I smile as I look down into the bathtub. I’m going to have sex in there. I look at the shower…and in there, too.
In fact, I’m going to have sex on every damn surface in this place.
I turn the shower on and smile to myself. “Can things get any better?”
* * *
I wake to the soft sound of Nathan breathing, and I frown in confusion.
What happened?
I remember showering and sitting on the bed, and then I must have fallen asleep. I glance at the clock and see that it’s 7:00 p. m. local time.
I’m going to get up and get ready for our date, I quietly slide out of bed and tip toe out of the room. My suitcase is still out here from when the porters dropped it off. I’ll shower in the other bathroom and get ready out here so Nathe can sleep a little more. He must be exhausted. He didn’t sleep on the plane at all.
I glance out to the balcony, and my breath catches. The sun is just going down and a beautiful red glow hangs over the water. White candles are lit and scattered everywhere, and they flicker with the breeze. The staff must do this in their turn down service. I smile with a shake of my head. This place is next level.
I slowly unzip my suitcase. Now, what am I going to wear? It’s my first official date with Nathan, and I need to be utterly irresistible.
I turn and look at my behind in the mirror. I love this dress. It’s a smoky gray and fitted with a plunging V that dips between my breasts. It fits my figure perfectly and is super sexy without looking like I try too hard. My long, dark hair is down and styled, and my makeup is minimal. I rearrange my breasts into my dress. I’m wearing some new lacy underwear. This bra feels off. I twist it to try and get my boobs into place. Damn it, why is pretty underwear always uncomfortable?
There’s a very valid reason why married women don’t wear this stuff every day.
I turn to the side and look at myself. My boobs do look good, though; even I have to admit that. I smile and take out my lip gloss. I begin to apply it when I feel two hands come around me from behind, followed by a kiss on my temple.
“Hi.” I smile.
“Hey,” he whispers. His voice is groggy and still half asleep. He shifts my hair around to one side and gently kisses my neck. “I slept in.”
“You did. Get ready. We have a very important night ahead.” I kiss his lips, and they linger over his. “Our first official date.”
His eyes glow with tenderness. “So it is.” He takes my hand and holds it up as he steps back to look me up and down. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“Give me a minute, I won’t be long.” He goes out to the kitchen, and I hear him fuss around and a cork pop. Moments later, he comes back in with a glass of champagne. “Have some bubbles while I get ready.” He kisses me softly.
“Thank you.” I watch him disappear into the other room, and I walk out onto the balcony and stand at the rail. It’s dark now, and the candles flicker around me. The ocean is loud, and in the distance, I hear music playing-maybe a saxophone or something. I sip my champagne and shake my head in disbelief. This is all so surreal. I feel like I’m on the precipice of something teetering between my old and my new life. I smile as Nathan’s words come back to me… the beginning of something wonderful. I already know that it’s going to be wonderful.
Nathan is special, our relationship is special, and last night eased all my nerves.
I can’t wait to take this next step with him.
I feel soft lips on my shoulder. “There you are.”
I turn toward him and my breath catches. He’s the epitome of masculinity. He’s wearing a black linen shirt and tight black jeans. His hair is messed to perfection, and his only accessory is his chunky silver Rolex watch. He clinks his glass with mine, and his dark eyes hold mine.
“Are you ready?” He lifts his glass to his lips. The double meaning and the weight of his words doesn’t go unnoticed.
I smile softly as butterflies dance in my stomach. “Am I ever.”