Page 9 of The Rebel

So, I knew how this worked. I wasn’t naive.

It only took one glance at Cooper Spade—the way his stare devoured me, the way his smile was so charismatic, the way he emphasized his movements with his hands and mouth to ensure I was paying attention—to know he wasn’t any different from my siblings.

He certainly had the handsome factor going on.

He had dark blue eyes that didn’t just look at you, but saw right through you. A shadow across his cheeks that was several days’ worth of scruff. Golden-brown hair that was the right kind of messy. Thick lips and a square jaw, a neck that would take both hands to wrap around. Broad shoulders that led to the most muscular frame, where I could only imagine the depth of the muscles hiding beneath his clothes. And then there was his scent, a cologne that was a mix of earthy sage and burnt orange, a combination that was incredibly seductive.

To add to the attraction, Cooper had the sexiest hands I’d ever seen. Long, thin fingers and short, trimmed nails that stirred every sensation within me. Along with a tongue that expertly swiped the outside of his mouth in a pattern that was designed to trigger every naughty thought.

Any woman with a pulse would have her curiosity piqued.

Including mine.

I just couldn’t help myself, especially since the circumstances surrounding us weren’t typical. We were in the middle of a snowstorm, stranded at this hotel. Something told me, if the accumulation continued—and it was supposed to—that tomorrow’s flight would be canceled as well.

So, maybe, just maybe, it was time to explore a side that I’d never unleashed. The side that hooked up with men I’d just metversus waiting the usual time frame of a couple of dates when I was pretty sure things were progressing.

But with this man, I had a feeling he would do things to my body that I’d never experienced before.

Was I stupid to consider this?

Was I playing with fire?

Would I regret this decision?

Does it matter right now?

Before I let my brain fantasize even a second more, I had questions.

Like, “Cooper, I’ve been sitting next to you for less than ten minutes. How do you know I’m what you want?”

“I like that question.”

My brows rose while I tried to ignore the aroma that wouldn’t stop wafting from him. “Why?”

“Because I get to be straightforward and cut out all the bullshit.”

I laughed. “You’re telling me you haven’t been that way from the start?”

“No, I haven’t.”

The fact that he could be even more direct caused me to take a long drink of my bourbon. “All right. I’m ready to hear it.”

“The truth is, Rowan, before you even sat down, I got a whiff of you in the air. You know what that did to me?”

I shook my head, trying to remember which perfume I’d packed in my suitcase.

“It turned me the fuck on.” He stroked the pad of his thumb across his lips. “But that was nothing compared to what happened when I actually laid my eyes on you.”

I squeezed my legs together, my clit already tingling. “Yeah?” I took a deep breath. “What did you feel then?”

“Feel?” He chuckled. “I’m not sure you’re ready for that kind of description. But what I will say is that I was blown away by how gorgeous you are.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t believe him.

I could just see right through him.

The game, the flattery—guys like Cooper came at you from every angle.

---