by Elle Casey
“Rejection,” I say softly. “Ouch.”
He takes my hand in his and kisses my fingers. “Never.”
My mind is racing with possibilities. We could talk about the weather, about the men who dirtied up his hallway with their blood, or about the girl the three of them buried after she got beat up. We have probably more than fifty halfway decent topics to discuss besides those, but none of them holds my interest like the topic of us does. I really, really want to know what my future holds and whether Rebel is going to be in it.
“So, what’s the plan, then?” I ask, holding my breath as I wait for his answer.
“What do you want the plan to be?” he says, staring into my eyes. There’s vulnerability in his expression, and it gives me hope. His stern look is gone and all that’s left is a young man waiting to find out what I’m thinking.
“I’m not saying anything. It’s all up to you. I’m at your mercy.” It’s his turn to speak up. I have a headache and I’m on the injured list, besides. For once, I want him to be the one to say what needs to be said without me blabbing my head off first.
“The plan, huh?” he asks.
“Yep. The plan.”
The sounds of Mick cleaning the hallway and bumping into the door come into the room. Rebel and I ignore all of it.
“I want you to stay here,” he finally says.
“Here at your business? As the queen of files?”
“Yes.”
My heart sinks.
“And here in my apartment,” he adds.
“As what … ? Your ….?” I can’t say the words. I don’t know what the right ones are.
“As my girl. Be my girl, living here with me in my apartment.”
I try to smile, but it comes out more like a grimace as tears battle to come out at the same time.
“Or I could get a house if you’d rather,” he shrugs. “I know this place isn’t much.”
I put my free hand over our entwined fingers. “No, it’s fine. It’s really nice, actually. I don’t need fancy.”
“So you’re good?” he asks. “With staying here? With me?”
He looks so hopeful, I can’t mess with him. The teasing tone and the sassy words that were about to jump out fade away, and the girl I almost never let the world see comes out to share this moment with Rebel. “Yeah, I’m good. I want to be with you and not just as your employee. I want to be your girl.”
He smiles, and it’s not one of those half-smiles either.
“Damn. You have a lot of teeth,” I say, giggling when he smiles even harder.
“You make me happy,” he says simply.
And I know exactly how big a deal that is. I reach up and run my fingers through the hair at the side of his head. “You make me happy too.”
“So we’re going to do this,” he says, breathing out a big sigh.
“Yeah. Is that terrible?” I’m worried about his reaction. My eyebrows come together as I try to read his mind and figure out why he suddenly looks so serious.
“Nah. It’s good. It’s real good.” His smile comes back, but this time it has a hint of the devil in it. He leans down to kiss me, and when I lift my hand to bring him closer, he doesn’t pull away.
“Come on,” he says, getting halfway up as he slips his hands under my back and legs. His lips press against mine as he walks.
“Where are we going?” I ask as I’m lifted up into the air. I giggle into his mouth as his tongue comes out and licks my lips.
“To bed.” He puts his face into my neck and sucks a spot on my skin hard, making me squeal.
“What are we going to do there?” I ask, still smiling like a fool and praying he won’t say sleep.
“We’re going to sexty-nine, of course,” he says, taking long strides through the room.
I laugh all the way to the bed, my heart as light as a feather and totally belonging to Rebel.
EPILOGUE NOTES
Want to know what happens with Teagan’s father’s business? The evil stepmother and her CFO brother? Wondering who Olga is? Curious about whether true love waits for Rebel’s brothers or Quin or maybe even Rat? I sure hope so!
Look for resolutions to all of these issues in the two remaining novels of the REBEL series.
Book 2, HELLION will be published November 30, 2013 and Book 3 TROUBLE will be published December 31, 2013.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elle Casey is a prolific, New York Times and USA Today bestselling American author who lives in Southern France with her husband (who sometimes wears a kilt), three kids (who never stop moving), Hercules the wonder poodle (who sleeps next to her side for every word typed), Monie the bouvier (who also never stops moving), and a few other furry creatures (don’t ask). Her favorite things are red wine, pretty much anything with sugar in it, and sexy books. If she has all three around her at the same time, please do not disturb … the writer is busy creating. In her spare time she writes new adult and young adult novels (you can find her Women’s Fiction work under the pen name Kat Lee.) She publishes about one novel per month and has been accused of being a cyborg for her ability to consistently turn out captivating stories with characters that stay in readers’ heads long after the book is closed. She neither confirms nor denies this accusation.
A personal note from Elle …
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving positive feedback on Amazon, Goodreads, or any book blogs you participate in. More positive feedback means I can spend more time writing! Oh, and I love interacting with my readers, so if you feel like shooting the breeze or talking about books or your pets, please visit me. You can find me at …
www.ElleCasey.com
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OTHER BOOKS BY ELLE CASEY
*= Coming Soon
NEW ADULT ROMANCE
Shine Not Burn
By Degrees
Don’t Make Me Beautiful
Rebel
Hellion*
Trouble*
Trainwreck*
Hold Me Down*
YA PARANORMAL ROMANCE
Duality, Volume I (Melancholia)
Duality, Volume II (Euphoria)
YA URBAN FANTASY
War of the Fae: Book 1, The Changelings - FREE!
War of the Fae: Book 2, Call to Arms
War of the Fae: Book 3, Darkness & Light
War of the Fae: Book 4, New World Order
Clash of the Otherworlds: Book 1, After the Fall
Clash of the Otherworlds: Book 2, Between the Realms
Clash of the Otherworlds: Book 3, Portal Guardians
My Vampire Summer
My Vampire Fall*
Aces High (co-written with Jason Brant)
YA DYSTOPIAN
Apocalypsis: Book 1, Kahayatle
Apocalypsis: Book 2, Warpaint
Apocalypsis: Book 3, Exodus
Apocalypsis: Book 4, Haven
YA ACTION ADVENTURE
Wrecked
Reckless
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Always, first and foremost, I like to acknowledge my readers. Without you I wouldn’t be writing for a living. Thank you for continuing to purchase and read my work. I work every single day of the year to make sure you’re happy with what I’m doing!
To my fans who take precious time out of their days to interact with me on Facebook, my website, Twitter, and through reader reviews posted online … thank you! I wish I could express how much all of that means to me. You inspire me to keep writing, especially on the days I’m not in the mood. Thankfully, because of your enthusiasm, those days are few and far between.
A super loud and slightly stinging high five to all you book bloggers who feature me and my work on you
r blogs!! I sincerely appreciate all you do to spread the Elle Casey word to your readers and the world.
Thanks to Julie Runov, the adorable girl responsible for the awesome Russian translation in the laundromat scene.
Again, like I do with pretty much every book, I have to thank my editing and beta-reading team. My books are better because of each of you, especially Theresa, Margaret, and Craig. I’m still amazed at how you each find different things, and together make my books more fun for my readers. Anyone looking for a great editor, look no further than www.editingbymargaret.com.
Thank you to Aigline, my horseback riding instructor. Maybe it seems silly to mention her in a book that has no horses in it, but I truly believe that when I’m happy, my work is better, and riding horses at Aigline’s stables makes me very, very happy! I couldn’t ask for a better instructor or a nicer person to show me the wonders that await on four legs. And a big hug also goes to Elena, my test-riding partner and almost-daughter thanks to my son. You are amazing, and I love you to pieces!
To my family, I love you and cannot even begin to express my thanks for all your support, but let me go ahead and try anyway. THANK YOU!!!