In the City of Love

LAUREN

“Where are we going?” I asked Mason, who was sitting across from me, a small table between us.

Mason lifted his newspaper, blocking my view of his face—or rather, blocking his view of mine.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Some things never change.

“Remember what happened when you took me to Scotland without telling me?”

He dropped the newspaper, a flash of anger—and something else—flickering in his eyes. But it was gone before I could figure out what it was.

He slammed the paper onto the table and clenched his fist, rubbing his knuckles. He was sitting rigidly, as if every muscle in his body was tense.

“Where do you want to go, Lauren?”

“What do you mean? Don’t you know where we’re going?” I couldn’t help but laugh at his poker face.

“So, we’re on a plane with no destination?”

“Choose,” he commanded.

I ran a hand through my hair, keeping my eyes on him.

“I can’t believe I’m being asked this, but I can’t think of a place. Normally, I’d have an answer ready, but my mind is blank. I can’t—”

“Lauren,” he interrupted. “Do you want me to choose?”

I smiled. “I trust you.”

That seemed to surprise him. “You do?”

“I think I really do.”

He didn’t say anything else, just stared at me as he picked up a phone I hadn’t noticed and held it to his ear.

“Take us to Paris,” he said into the phone before putting it back.

“You know.”

A smug smile spread across his face.

“Did I know you were trying to trick me into choosing? Yes. Did you think I didn’t know where you’ve always wanted to go?”

I couldn’t help but smile.

“You passed the test. You’ve been paying attention, Mr. Campbell.” I hadn’t thought he’d catch on to my game, but he’d proven me wrong. I was sure he wouldn’t guess the right answer.

“More than I should have,” he admitted softly.

I kept smiling, my heart pounding in my chest, a warmth spreading through me as I looked at his mouth.

“Come here, Lauren.”

I looked up, my heart fluttering at the way he said my name.

When I didn’t move, he repeated, “Come here.”

“You’re sexy when you’re bossy,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

I teased him so he wouldn’t notice me crossing my legs. “Maybe you know that. Maybe that’s why you like it.”

He looked angry, like he wanted to jump out of his seat and tear me apart. And the thought was so enticing that I might just let him.

“If you don’t come here in five seconds, you’re going to regret it,” he warned, and I grinned.

“Sounds fun.”

“One—”

“Did you bring the handcuffs?” I asked, holding up my wrists. “They’re just begging to be tied.”

His gaze was intense.

“Two—”

“Or maybe a tie would do. I’m sure the pilot wouldn’t mind lending his if he knew it was for a good cause.”

“Four—”

I was on my feet and in his arms before he could finish.

He pressed a button and the chair reclined until I was lying on top of him, looking down into his eyes, my breath shaky.

His hand moved, his thumb gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear. His voice was husky as he spoke.

“Hi,” he murmured, sending a shiver down my spine as he traced a finger along my jawline.

“Hi,” I replied, my voice barely a whisper. I studied his face, taking in the strong jawline, the lips that begged to be kissed, the dark hair, and the gray eyes that sparkled with a mix of intensity and mischief.

I loved that he was mine. Every bit of him. Even if he didn’t realize it yet.

***

I pulled back the curtains and gasped. The view was perfect.

The cityscape and the Eiffel Tower were right there, staring back at me. The weather was a bit chilly, with a slight wind. It was almost too perfect.

It was so breathtakingly beautiful that I could stand here all day and never tire of it.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I was so happy, happier than I ever thought I could be.

I couldn’t thank Mason enough for bringing me here. This was exactly what I needed: a break from everything. And he knew that.

The soft sound of the door closing made me turn around. I leaned against the window, watching the man I loved walk into the bedroom. He moved with such confidence, like he owned the place, like everything in the room would bow down to him.

I still couldn’t believe he was mine.

This man, so strong and perfect, so dangerous and powerful, so cold and beautiful, was all mine.

My eyes drank in every inch of him, every detail that other women would drool over. His expression was intense, like he wanted to tear you apart and put you back together, only to tear you apart again.

He had danger and trouble written all over him. The only person who could ever defeat him was himself.

The butterflies in my stomach fluttered to life when his eyes met mine. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, a smirk that could melt anyone’s heart.

That smirk now set my heart on fire, a flame that only he could ignite.

I loved him so much.

He didn’t know it yet, but he would soon. Until I had completely imprinted myself onto him, I wouldn’t be able to breathe.

When we were in the hotel lobby, I saw women checking him out, assessing him with flirtatious smiles, hoping he would notice them. They completely ignored the fact that I was there with him.

I wanted to scream at them, but I didn’t have to.

He only had eyes for me. It was me he was holding hands with, me he was giving his heated gaze to, me who was walking beside him. Only me—

~WHAM!~

I didn’t see it coming. If I had, I would have dodged the pillow that smacked right into my face, leaving me groaning.

I bent down to pick it up, throwing it back at him. But my aim was off, and it sailed past him, causing him to chuckle at my poor aim.

“Was that necessary?” I glared at him.

“What were you thinking about?” His warmth enveloped me as he came up behind me and pulled me into his body. I felt safe. Protected.

I grinned at the wall, placing my hand on his arm and rubbing my thumb over the soft fabric of his shirt. “Nothing.”

He poked me in the side. “Try that again.”

“I was just thinking about how beautiful the suite is. I thought we were going to have two separate rooms, but we are married and that would have been weird.”

I won’t lie, the thought did cross my mind.

We weren’t really official, and we hadn’t talked about us or put a label on whatever this was. We just went with our feelings.

Hopefully, on this trip, we could sit down and discuss the future. I had already decided I was going to confess my feelings for him.

“Are you sure it wasn’t because of what happened in the lobby? The women who were thoroughly checking me out?” he asked teasingly, and I turned around.

My heart pounded, my mind spun. I told myself I wouldn’t take the bait. But my stomach was in knots and my nerves were buzzing. He knew it bothered me.

No point in denying it now. And it was kind of ridiculous now that I thought about it. Mason would always have people wanting him. It wasn’t his fault that he was attractive.

Our eyes met, and a shiver of awareness ran through me as I stared into his face. “What women? I didn’t see anyone.” I waited and his eyes twinkled.

“Is that so?” he asked cockily, one eyebrow raised. “You wouldn’t mind escorting me back to the lobby? I could show them to you.”

“Sure, why not? It’s not like I’m doing anything.”

“Lovely. Let’s go.” The sparkle of mischief in his eyes made me grit my teeth, so I snuck out of his grip.

I delighted in hearing him exhale in annoyance as he shot me a dark glare that I responded with a smile.

When he recovered, he went straight for me and pinned me to the wall, setting his forehead on mine, his gaze completely territorial.

“You’re cute when you’re jealous. Do you think I’m yours? Do you feel possessive of me?” He lifted a hand and cupped my face so gently. His eyes were a darker shade of gray with emotion.

My heart pounded in my chest. I cupped his jaw and kissed his cheek, running my hands through his hair.

He pulled me off the wall and we started to walk backward until I felt his hands on my shoulders, guiding me to the bed as he lowered me onto it.

I watched him, expecting him to sit next to me. Instead, he knelt before me, pulling off my shoes and tossing them aside. My heart fluttered. He took my hands in his, resting his head on my thighs. I could feel his heartbeat, slow and steady, against my skin. I was so taken aback, I couldn’t move.

So, I waited.

Five seconds. Ten seconds.

He didn’t move either.

I gently pulled my hands from his and lifted his head, needing to see his face. The emotion in his eyes took my breath away.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I asked.

Mason leaned his elbow on my thigh, running a hand over his face before taking my hand and guiding it to his head. His voice was rough, his gaze intense.

“I came here with you because it’s loud in here”—he tapped his head with my hand—“and you help me calm down. I needed this. You. Here. Alone.”

My heart seemed to stop.

This man, so powerful and feared, was kneeling before me, showing me a side of him that made me shudder.

I felt like a bomb was about to explode in my stomach. And he was looking at me with such clear, observant eyes.

What was I supposed to do with that? What could I say? Every time I tried to get closer, he pushed me away.

And when he said things like this, things that made my heart ache and my stomach churn, he shut me out. I didn’t understand. I wasn’t allowed to ask why. That’s how he wanted it.

He made my head spin and then refused to help me make sense of it all. He was so complex, so unpredictable.

“What do you want me to do, Mason?” I asked.

“To sleep next to me,” he admitted, his voice ragged. “I’m tired.”

I couldn’t look away from his eyes, so tender and weary.

This man was so different from the one who used to torment me.

“How come?” I asked.

He shot me a glare, and I couldn’t help but laugh a little. I took his hand and pulled him up onto the bed with me, moving back to make room for him.

Mason didn’t hesitate, sliding next to me on the comforter.

I thought he was going to turn away, but instead he rested his head on my chest and snuggled into me, breathing in the scent of my neck.

I was stunned, but I shouldn’t have been.

Mason never hid his feelings for me. He didn’t fight them.

He didn’t worry about touching me too much or showing me this side of him. And that’s what made my heart ache.

“What’s happening?” I asked, kissing the top of his head and running my fingers through his hair.

If anyone else could see Mason Campbell like this, they wouldn’t believe it.

His arm wrapped around me, pulling me closer, and he tangled his legs with mine. “You’re seeing another side of me,” he whispered into my neck.

His words moved me.

“It’s scary,” I admitted. I wasn’t used to this.

It scared me to think that I had such a strong effect on him. He was so good at hiding it.

I guess that’s why it was so hard to believe that it was him in bed with me, his arm around me, his head on my chest.

All my feelings were going straight to my heart.

“You’ll get used to it,” he said.

“What if I don’t?” I asked.

He rolled onto his back, pulling me with him.

“It’s because of you, Lauren,” he murmured, his eyes closed. He tightened his hold on me. “With you, I can’t hold anything back. I’m showing you me.”

I smiled at the side of his face. He was so beautiful.

“I like this version of you. I like all of you,” I said.

He was lying on his back, one arm behind his head, the other tracing my arm. “Sometimes, I don’t,” he admitted.

I looked at him, trying to understand the sadness in his eyes.

His face was a whirlwind of emotions.

Something was stirring deep within him, and I could feel it.

So when his breathing evened out and I realized he had fallen asleep, his arms around me, in the middle of the day, in the biggest hotel room I’d ever seen, I couldn’t hold back the emotions welling up inside me.

I’d never imagined I’d have someone like him.

The moments we’d shared, the connection we’d felt even when we hated each other. I’d never thought he’d feel the same way about me. I wasn’t ready to hear him say he loved me.

He might never say those words, but I knew he felt the same way I did. We had time.

We had all the time in the world.