Page 87 of The Commander

“I will NOT.”

“We never used a condom,” I remind her.

Her mouth falls open, and her eyes drop to my cock. Then up to me.

I take a step closer.

“I want that, but I also respect your role. It’s different. Your father is from a different generation. You could have decided to be an actress, and he wouldn’t like it.”

Quinn bites her lip. “Maybe.”

“Or a mechanic.”

“Probably. He would have hated that,” she agrees.

I take her hips and tug her closer. “Would you change careers to make him happy?”

“Never.”

The smallest smile teases my lips. “Do you want to be a mother?”

Her eyes soften and they meet mine in the most honest and vulnerable way I’ve ever seen.

“It’s okay to say yes,” I reply softly, roughly. “You can stay enlisted.”

Tears fall, one by one, over her silky cheeks.

“I do.” She nods, and her lips wobble.

Fuck, she’s breaking me apart. I tug her into my arms, and she sobs against my chest. I make soothing noises and run my hand over her hair.

That asshole.

The colonel has always been a sexist bully with a big mouth. How I never put two and two together is beyond me.

When I release her and brush her hair behind her ear, my questioning eyes land on hers.

“We belong together, Quinn. I’m not letting you walk away this time. I love you. Your father will need to accept that, and if he questions any of your skills and abilities, he can face me.”

Her eyes glisten as a naughty smile hits her lips.

She’s so goddamn beautiful.

“Oh, you like the idea of me standing up to your father, do you?”

“I mean, it wouldn’t be horrible,” she replies coyly.

I laugh.

Her eyes drop to my chest, to my tattoo as she runs a finger over it.

“Marry me.” I clasp her fingers. “Marry me, Quinn. However you want. We can run away to Vegas, have a huge wedding, fly to Hawaii, whatever.”

“Hawaii, you say?”

“Say yes, first.” I smirk.

“This is fast.” She tips her head.