His place is not his place. At least, not the one I’m thinking of. My jaw drops as Rebel holds the door open to a space that is easily four times larger than his apartment downtown. Polished wood floors create a seamless transition throughout the open concept living room, dining room, and kitchen and carry beyond the two-story windows onto a balcony that’s large enough to host a party.
“Rebel, is this...yours?” I ask, astonished as I step further into the space. It smells like lemons—clean, fresh, and new.
Closing the door, Rebel studies me as he stands back and allows me time to absorb my surroundings. “That apartment I told you about? This is it.”
“This is not an apartment,” I argue, my gaze darting around to all the expensive fixtures, detailed moldings, high-end appliances, and granite countertops. “This is a penthouse that rich people buy. Movie stars live in places like this.”
Rebel’s smile is indulgent. “I could have been a movie star if I’d wanted to.”
I slant him a wry look. “Well, you certainly have the face for it. So when are you moving in?” I ask as I skirt the perimeter of the room, checking out each space and imagining what the furniture set-up will be like.
“The movers will have everything in place by Friday.”
“So soon?” That only leaves him a few days. It’s a good thing everything he owns is already nearly packed.
“It’s for the best.”
I assume he’s talking about Florence. At least, that’s who I would be concerned about if I were in his shoes. He’s made a powerful enemy with that woman. Not only has he stolen her dream out from under her, but he’s also taken himself off the table. Being under the same roof as a woman who’s just as likely to boil your rabbit as she is to suck you off is certainly cause for alarm. Even though she’s off somewhere licking her wounds, Rebel’s insistence on keeping a close watch on her has left me unsettled enough to not disregard the potential threat she poses. I wonder if we’ll always be looking over our shoulder when it comes to her.
“I agree.” Standing in front of the wall of windows, I look down at the unobstructed view of the city. It’s dizzyingbut equally stunning. The streets are clogged with motorists and pedestrians, but there’s an energy about it all that’s thrilling. I love city life. I don’t know that I’ll ever be the woman who longs for white picket fences to go with her two-point-five children.
I feel Rebel’s presence at my back long before he reaches me, reminding me of the connection we share. It’s not every day you come across the person you can imagine spending your days and nights with, especially when that connection began as lust cloaked in secrecy.
When his arms circle my waist, my eyes drift closed, and I allow myself a rare moment to just be present, to feel the warmth and love surrounding me.
Sometimes in life, a person has to remind themselves to take stock of what’s in front of them and appreciate it for what it is.
Rebel’s lips trace the shell of my ear, his breath light and smelling of mint and nothing else. “Do you like it here?”
“What’s not to like? It’s huge, open, and it has a great view.”
“Thank you, but I was talking about the apartment.”
“So was I,” I chuckle, elbowing him lightly in the side. A plane soaring over the skyscrapers in the distance distracts me and I sober. “It’s great. I’m sure you’ll be happy here once you’re all moved in.”
“We’ll be happy you mean.”
Turning my head, I tilt my face up so I can see his. “What do you mean?”
Running his hand up from my stomach, between my breasts, to my face, he cradles me in the palm of his hand while giving me the most heart-clenchingly tender look I’ve ever witnessed on a man before. “When there was still a possibility that you were pregnant, I considered all the options, and this is the one I kept coming back to. It’s the only one that made any kind of sense. My woman and my baby under the same roof.”
“But there’s no baby.”
Warmth reflects in his eyes as his thumb traces the edge of my jaw. “Not yet, but someday. Just because it’s not happening now...that doesn’t change anything for me. It just made me open my eyes wider to what’s happening right in front of me.”
“And what’s that?” I ask breathlessly.
“You, pussycat. You’ve changed everything. You’ve changed me, and no matter how hard I’ve tried to fight it, I’ve finally accepted that there’s no going back to how things used to be. I love you and I want to be with you.”
“Forever?”
“That’s the plan. I want to take care of you, provide for you, and protect you like you deserve. If you’ll have me. But before you say yes, you should know that I’m a difficult man to live with.” His smile is slow and self-deprecating, and it only makes me love him more than I already do.
Turning in his arms, I tie my hands behind his neck and stare into his dark, midnight eyes. “I know who you are, Rebel Scott, and I’m not afraid. You were right when you said I’ve belonged to you since Day One, but what you didn’t know was that you belonged to me, too. It’s just taken me a while to accept it.”
“So what are you saying here?” he inquires, a hopeful glint in his eyes.
“Yes, I’ll have you.” It’s not a marriage proposal. It’s not a promise of forever. It’s a promise of right now. Right now, we are vowing to give this twisted, dysfunctional, frustratingly perfect thing of ours the best go of it that we can and see how far it takes us. We don’t need a piece of paper for that. All we need is the willingness to try and the love that we share for one another.
Grasping the back of my neck, Rebel hauls my face up to his, forcing me onto my tiptoes to meet him halfway and crushes his lips down on mine. His kiss is brutal, just like the man behind it. His tongue doesn’t so much coax my mouth open as it shoves its way inside, demanding entry and total obedience as he licks the roof of my mouth and delivers stinging nips from his teeth to both of my lips.
We’re both breathing heavily when he ends the kiss. “Come on. Let me show you the first piece of furniture I’ve selected.” Taking my hand, Rebel leads me down a short side wing located just off the living area. Excitement and anticipation thrums in my veins as we approach a closed door, and Rebel shoots me a sly look as he pushes it open.
The moment I see it, a wave of fire shoots through my veins and laughter erupts from my chest. “You didn’t.”
Standing back, Rebel waves me inside. “You might not perform on a stage anymore, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop dancing.”
The room is large by anyone’s standards. Painted a rich shade of blue that’s bordering on the right side of being black, it’s the only room in the place that houses any kind of furniture. And that one piece is all that’s really needed here.
In the center of the room is a chair—a low-back cigar chair upholstered in ebony leather with brushed bronze tacks all along the outer edges of the arms and back. It’s positioned directly in front of a brand new, gleaming silver pole that’s been mounted to the ceiling and floor.
Approaching it, a familiar thrill settles low in my belly. I reach out, running a finger over the cool, hard metal. “You have a real eye for decorating, Mr. Scott,” I purr. “What do you call it...Feng Shui?”
Crossing the room in slow, unhurried strides, Rebel seats himself in the single leather chair, draping his arms over the sides. His large frame dwarfs the piece, making him look like a giant. He’s even more imposing now than he ever was at the club, nothing but a dark figure waiting in the shadows for me to come out and play.
“I call it seduction,” he drawls, his voice dark and husky. He makes a twirling motion with his finger. “Dance for me, pussycat.”
Grinning widely at the very idea of performing for him, I strip off my clothes until I’m standing in only my bra and panties. My stomach clenches and my chest tightens as I reach up and wrap my hand around the poll. Rebel’s pupils dilate as he watches me take an experimental spin. I haven’t danced in weeks, but already it feels like I’m revisiting a different world.
A mix of emotions fills me as I pull myself up and lock my feet at the ankles. I remind myself that it’s just like riding a bike. The fear will pass. As I let go of the pole and arch back, leaving only my legs to hold me, I release all the pent-up stress and anxiety I’ve faced recently and focus all of my energy into this single moment in time. Rebel is all that matters right now. He’s my audience. My mystery man. My admirer. My lover. Once upon a time, I fell for him because of the danger he represented. Now I fall for him in spite of it.
I don’t know where this life will lead us, but I know one thing for certain: where ever we end up, it’s going to be one hell of a journey getting there.