Rook & Rebel (The Mavericks, #1)

by Kate Crew

“Then congratulations, you’re about to be a rebel for what I can only imagine is the first time in your life.”

“Going to run away from me again?” I asked, smiling as she scowled. “Yes.” “My favorite. Run, run, Rebel. I can chase you all night.”

“Hey, Rebel?” I asked, right before starting the bike. “What?” “Run.”

And I still liked the way my heart raced when I heard another bike getting closer. For the first time in a long time, my dull life didn’t seem so dull. I started to wonder if Rook had this effect on me.

Stalking a girl who preferred to lie in bed watching movies, reading, and ordering endless takeout was boring. It had been four days, and she had only left the house twice.

is this fucking play about us?!

I had to keep her in my life. So I went after her.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Regan.” He was rough as he kissed me again, biting once at my lower lip, but I stayed rooted to the ground, his hand still wrapped in my hair. “I’ll see you later, baby.” “Don’t come back.”

As the adrenaline faded, anger surged through me. I had invited Rook into my life, and now it felt like I had crossed a line I could never uncross.

“Mess? That’s a goddamn work of art. My bike won’t be cleaned ever again.”

My mind raced with thoughts of him, each one only making me more interested in a world I never thought I wanted, but now couldn’t resist.

She couldn’t stay alone in that house any longer, and if her dad wasn’t going to keep her safe, I would.

And I wanted to see Regan. Or more like I wanted to sit back and do nothing with Regan next to me.

I had no ideations about love. There was never any dream of falling for it one day. But this felt like something it could be. Someone who wasn’t going to tell our secrets, the moments between us all our own. Someone who would always have my back and always face the world with me. Someone who would let me sit here in silence, posted up on my lap to warn me if there was a problem. Someone who would give me five fucking minutes of peace.

She was mine, and there was no chance I wouldn’t catch her. I would always catch her.

It should disgust me, but there was no denying how excited I got every time he wanted to catch me. He would always come after me.

“A guard dog?” I asked, looking over my shoulder at Rook. “Woof,” he whispered, his breath tickling my ear.

“Will you please stop calling me?” I said through gritted teeth. “What is your problem?” “You,” he said, the word drawn out. “You’re my problem. You keep being my problem.”

“I fucking missed you,” he mumbled against me. “I’ve thought about you every fucking second for the last two days.”

“You’re going to give up the control, just like that?” “To you? Yes. Only you. I would bow at your fucking feet, Regan. You always have the control.”

“Are you sure you want this, Rook?” “Like I’ve never wanted anything. It’s all yours. Whatever you want. I’m fucking yours, Rebel. I shouldn’t be, but I am.”

“You are a fucking queen. And just like a queen, you don’t have to fight battles on your own. You have a damn army behind you. Maybe not a big one, but I promise, we are enough to fix any issues you have with anyone.”

“No one will ever hurt you if I am with you.” He bit at my ear before kissing down my neck. “I will kill them. It doesn’t even take a second to think it over. That’s why people die when you’re with me,” he said with a grin, “because I won’t be giving them any chance to hurt you.” “Why?” “Because you are mine, and I will protect what is mine until I die.” “That’s gross and almost sweet.” “I’m a monster, Regan, but I can be your monster. And in these four walls, with you, I only want to be sweet. I only want you to feel safe because I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

I ran a hand down his face, surprised when he nuzzled into it. “Hey, baby,” he murmured.

BABY BOY ROOK

I was already falling in love with Regan Fletcher, and true to the Fletcher name, she was bound to ruin my life.

“If looking at this art makes you feel an ounce of what I feel when I look at you, then we can both understand why I wouldn’t be bored. I could never be bored with you, Regan. I don’t have to like anything else in the room. If you are there, I have my own personal form of art to look at.”

“None of it compares to you, Rebel. None of it, and it never will. I like your quiet life, and I am happy to be a part of it.

“I’m addicted to every part of you, Rebel. You are mine, and I will be spending every day reminding you of that.”

“I’m not fucking around with his daughter. I don’t care who she is to him. She’s mine, and he just threatened to take her away.”

“What a fucking shot,” Rook said, turning back to me. “Did you really just kill a guy for threatening to kill me?” “I did,” I said, dragging in hard, ragged breaths. “Aiden was right.” Rook’s eyebrows jumped up. “About?” “That is surprisingly easy to do when they are threatening something you care about.”

“Every fucking time you surprise me, Rebel. Every time I think I’ve seen all you have to give, you do something like that and show me over and over how strong you are. You show me how much of a rebel you want to be.”

Unfortunately for Regan, I was still convinced she loved me, and like it or not, she was still mine.

“Welcome to forever, then, Rebel, because I don’t think there is anything I wouldn’t do to keep you as mine.”

“Want to burn his entire place down, Rebel?” His eyes met mine when I turned, and I felt a rush of relief. “With you? Yes.”