The skyscrapers of Manhattan looked extra majestic as we crossed over the Williamsburg bridge into the city. I don’t know if it was the wine or the thrill of being out or being with Justin, but I felt like a kid again. Back when the whole city felt like it belonged to me, and me alone.

“So,” I said, sitting back in the seat of the luxury car that Justin had hired to take us into Manhattan from Brooklyn. “Where to?”

“Well,” he said. “I was thinking that after our mellow start, we could go for something a little more exciting. Someplace with a nice view.”

“That sounds perfect,” I said with a smile. “And what’s the name of this magical place?”

Another mischievous grin. I was starting to fall hard for this particular smile, I had to admit.

“Just relax and let me worry about all that. You strike me as a girl who needs some fun in her life, so I’m going to give it to you.”

A wicked grin formed on my lips as I thought about what I wouldn’t mind Justin “giving to me,” and I made a mental note to keep myself in check. What if Justin was some kind of playboy, one who loved to swoop up women at wine shops, woo them with exciting nights on the town, and then take them back for a night of…more fun, only to toss them aside the next morning?

I forced myself to calm down, telling myself that I was getting a little ahead of things. But another part of me, one entranced by the lights of the city as we drove over the bridge, wanted to get swept away with it all.

What if he did want to sleep with me and never talk to me again? Would a one-night stand be the worst thing in the world? I’d never done anything like that before, but something about Justin was bringing it out of me.

Didn’t hurt that we were so close in the back of the car that I could smell the attractive musk of his cologne and feel the heat from his body. I bit my lower lip, chewing on it gently as I stole glances of his gorgeous profile backlit by the lights of Midtown Manhattan through the window.

He was something else.

We made our way over to Hell’s Kitchen and came to a stop in front of a modern-looking building of steel and glass. It stretched up into the sky, the evening clouds swirling around it.

“This is it?” I asked.

“This is it,” he said. “Come on.”

I watched as he slipped the driver a bill, and my eyes went wide as I noticed it was a hundred—yet another hint at some secret side to him that Justin wasn’t letting me know about. When I wanted to go into the city, I paid for the train like everyone else. And here he was, generously tipping drivers of luxury cars to drive him in. I wanted so badly to blurt out “who are you and what do you do?” But I knew this would spoil the evening. No, better to get swept away.

We stepped up to the building, the lobby of which appeared dark. If it was an office or what, I couldn’t tell.

“What do we do?” I asked.

“Just keep your pants on,” he said with a smirk.

Justin approached a speaker and pressed the call button. Just like at the bar, he spoke something into it before turning back toward me.

“Come on,” he said.

He led me down a small path around the building which ended in what looked to be a maintenance elevator. The doors opened, a few people already inside. But they didn’t look like service employees—two girls and a couple all dressed in expensive evening wear.

“Justin!” shouted one of the girls, an insanely pretty brunette, running out and throwing her arms around him.

“Hey!” he said, returning her friendly hug.

Justin stepped out of her arms and gestured for me to follow him into the elevator. Right away, I noticed the girls’ jealous expressions. They both seemed to know Justin, and they were not happy that some other girl—me—had his attention for the night.

The elevator rose, going up and up and up. By the time it stopped, I could hear the thumping of a steady bass beat on the other side of the doors. And when they opened, I couldn’t believe what I saw.

The doors opened to a massive club, neon lights illumining the dancing crowds. The space was two-stories high, a huge, modern DJ booth on an elevated platform in the center. My heart raced as I took in the scene, Justin at my side.

“You ready?” he asked.

I wasn’t sure if anything could’ve had me ready for this. But I nodded anyway, eager to get in there and shake my butt. And the delicious wine certainly had helped.

As we moved closer to the dance floor, Justin grabbed us a pair of drinks, handing one to me as we moved into the crowd. I took a sip, the taste of vodka and lime fresh and lively in my mouth.

And then it was on. I didn’t waste any time getting in there moving my body to the music. Justin slid next to me, his gorgeous blue eyes brilliant even in the red and white light of the club. We danced, our bodies moving closer and closer together with each passing song. Soon, our drinks were gone, and our hands were free to explore each other’s bodies.

Justin placed his hands on my hips, applying just the right amount of pressure. My heart beat hard, and I found myself tossing my hair, my teeth biting down hard again on my lower lip. Song after song passed, and I lost track of the time.

One more song and now we were as close as we could get. Justin and I were face-to-face, his arms draped over my shoulders as we pressed our bodies together. If there was any doubt that he wanted me, it was gone now.

The beat thumped on, and our faces moved closer and closer. I ran my tongue over my lips, inviting him in for a kiss. But right when he was near enough to give me what I wanted, he spoke into my ear instead.

“How about some fresh air?”

That sounded nice, too. But I got the distinct impression he was toying with me, just a little. I nodded, a smirk on my face. Sure, I could play that game. Might even be a little fun.

Justin took me by the hand and led me through the crowd. As we made our way out, I noticed guys greeting him with friendly shakes and pats on the back, and more girls regarding him hungrily before flashing jealous glances in my direction. Whoever Justin was, he was certainly a man who commanded attention. And now that I’d begun to think about it, he did seem somewhat familiar…

Before I could consider the matter for much longer, Justin took me out onto the club’s back patio. The cool evening air was a relief to my sweat-sheened skin, and I had a chance to catch my breath from the intensity of the dancing.

And as soon as I recovered, I noticed the view.

The balcony looked east over Manhattan, the towers of Midtown stretching up into the night sky. To the left was Central Park, and beyond that, through the slats of light between the buildings, I could make out Brooklyn and Queens beyond.

It was breathtaking, to say the least. Maybe the second-most breathtaking view on that patio.

“How you holding up?” asked Justin, leaning against the balcony railing. He looked gorgeous, his ink-black hair attractively disheveled, a few strands dangling over his flawless forehead. Damn, he was good-looking—the type of stunning that it was almost hard to believe he was real.

“Holding up just fine,” I said, my breath caught, the buzz from the booze perfect.

“Good,” he said.

A moment passed as the two of us looked out over the city.

“Listen,” I said. “I don’t want to get too heavy on you or anything, but thanks for tonight.”

He turned to me, half-smile on his face.

“Happy to do it,” he said. Another pause. “But I have to ask; is there anything else you want to do? You know—something to make this night perfect.”

I had something in mind, all right. I turned my body to Justin and closed the inches between us.

“Well, there is something…” I said, looking up into his gorgeous blue eyes.

He smirked, knowing exactly what I meant.

Then he leaned in and kissed me hard.