Page 61 of City of Sin (Men of Manhattan 1)

"I just wanted to make sure you were safe."

"Safe? Hmm. I assumed you didn't actually like me. You never texted me back." I breathed in his scent.

"I'm here, aren't I?"

I looked up at him. He had told me he wanted to be the reason why I stayed in New York. I was beginning to think his dirty words and cool demeanor were all just an act. He did like me. If he didn't, he wouldn't have come here to take care of me. Patrick had never really taken care of me. Even when I was sick, he just avoided me. Mason wasn't the same as him. Mason was so much better.

A taxi stopped in front of us. He opened up the door for me and held my hand as I stepped inside. I didn't want him to take me home. I wanted this to be the start of the night, not the end. I slid into the middle seat to ensure that he'd be right next to me.

He smiled as he climbed in next to me. "West 96th Street," he said to the taxi driver.

The car immediately pulled off the curb.

"Are you sure you don't want to go back to your place?" I put my hand on his knee.

"You have no idea how much I want that. I want all of you, Bee. But not like this. You've had too much to drink." He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear before wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "You're not even going to remember this tomorrow morning."

Is that why he's being so sweet? Because he doesn't think I'll remember? He really was a good guy. He just didn't want anyone to know.

"Maybe," I said and rested my head against his shoulder. "Can you text me back now?"

"From now on, I'll always text you back."

"You know, you don't always have to act all macho. I like this side of you too. I like everything about you." God he smelled good. Who smells this good? "Except for the fact that you go to tons of strip clubs. You shouldn't do that. It's gross."

"Oh, they're much better than strip clubs. But I haven't been to anything like that since we've met."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Why?"

"We're here." He unwound his arm from around my shoulder.

I instantly missed the warm feeling. He got out of the taxi and held his hand out for me. I grabbed it and he pulled me to my feet. His fingers stayed intertwined with mine as he leaned down and told the cabbie to wait.

He walked me to the front door of my apartment building. I looked up into his eyes. He hadn't frequented any underground clubs recently because he liked me. He didn't have to say it. I wasn't sure why he wouldn't say it, but he didn't need to. I could tell by the way he was looking at me. The same way he always did. Like he desired me. I desired him too.

I grabbed his collar, pulling his face toward mine. When our lips touched I felt that spark go through me again. My whole body seemed to tingle as his tongue collided against mine. He pushed my back against the brick wall and deepened the kiss. He pressed his whole body against mine, pinning me against the wall.

And then suddenly he stepped back, leaving me completely breathless. It felt like I had waited forever for him to kiss me again. I didn't want it to be over so soon. "Mason, I..."

"Your super has a package for you," he said, cutting me off. He looked down at me as he ran his hand through his hair.

"What?"

His Adam's apple rose and fell. "Goodnight, Bee."

He turned away before I could say goodbye.

Chapter 35

Bee

I woke up with a pounding headache. Last night came flooding back to me. My apartment was freezing. I missed Mason's warm arms wrapped around me. I pulled my comforter up to my chin, but I was still shivering. And it definitely didn't help my head at all. I climbed out of bed, pulled on another pair of pajama bottoms, and downed some aspirin.

My apartment was a mess. I had put away the clothes I had ripped out of my closet but my apartment still looked dirty and old. And sad. I had decided to stay. So it was time to transform my apartment into what I wanted it to be. Not just remnants of what it used to be with Patrick.

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