Page 51 of The Commander

Around me drinks were lifted, a round of to Noah and to the Captain sounded, while I wondered about the look I’d just seen cross his face. Shaking myself out of it, I lifted my glass, and we all drank.

When my gaze drifted over to Quinn, she was watching me intently, a shadow of her own in her eyes.

“Speech, speech, speech,” the crowd had chanted.

I could see her eyes darting around, panic setting in.

Shit.

I gave a short, boring speech, and as my pulse sped up, I watched her slip away. I couldn’t do a thing without making a scene.

Tyrell Brooks and a handful of her fellow GIs were at a nearby table and had wished me well earlier in the night. I spotted Brooks out of the corner of my eye when I went to the bar and ordered a glass of water. I was hoping Quinn had only snuck to the restroom.

“Looking for Quinn?” Tyrell asked, ripping some napkins out of the holder beside me.

“Nope.”

“Sure about that?”

“You after something, Tyrell?” Like a black eye, because now I can give you one for free.

He smirked. “She slipped out back.”

Fuck.

Whether she was trying to slip away from me or the spotlight of others, the back alleyway was not safe. Every protective instinct fired up.

I tossed back the water and headed directly to the back of the bar and strode along the hallway past the restrooms...where I almost slammed into her.

“Jesus, brick wall.” Quinn’s hands were on my pecs, and I wanted them to stay there.

Placing mine over hers, I felt the weight fall from my shoulders.

“I’ve been called worse,” I rasped. “You want to get out of here?”

“Not with...” Quinn dropped her eyes.

Not with me.

Her words had sliced through my heart and stung. I was no stranger to rejection, even by my own mother, and in some ways, my father. He’d emotionally checked out years ago.

“With me?” I glanced away.

“Noah.” Her hand slid up to my face, and my eyes snapped to hers, seeking her next words with the same need and intensity I did my next breath. “Noah...we would both regret it.”

“Don’t put words in my mouth.” I cupped her face. “Come home with me. Nothing needs to happen. We can talk.”

“We won’t talk.”

She was right.

“You’ll meet someone else.”

“I don’t fucking want anyone else.”

Emotion filled her eyes, and I watched her fight a battle on her own. If only she’d let me in so I could tear down those walls and destroy the demons.

“Quinn, we both damn well want this. Let’s work out how—”