Page 85 of The Commander

“There’s no way—”

I sit up, towering over her. “We’re talking this through and finding a way, but I’m not letting you go, Quinn.”

“I do love you; I meant that.” Her eyes fill, and I silently curse.

“I’ve known you love me for years. The only person surprised last night was you.”

She blinks at my brashness, and I shrug.

“I would give anything for this to be easy, for the—”

“Give me all the reasons. List them. One by fucking one, and I will obliterate them, Quinn.” I cup her face. “Because, baby, I am marrying you and putting a baby in that belly. One way or another, you need to be okay with that.”

She softly gasps. “You can’t just say that.”

“I just did.”

“You know—”

“List them.” I hold up my forefinger. “Number one. Go.”

Quinn frowns. “Every promotion you’ve recommended me for will be forfeited.”

“Fine, we will get an audit done by an independent commander and ask that you’re retested.”

She flinches. “Do they do that?”

I don’t know and probably not, but if they say no, it will prove that it’s completely unnecessary, and word will spread we asked for it, proving the entire point moot.

At least in my head, that’s how it works.

I’m grasping at straws here.

“Secondly, on that point, you do realize you are questioning my integrity. I would never have put other GIs in danger by promoting you to roles you weren’t capable of.”

“No, I never—” she starts to argue.

“Yeah, you did. By believing what you do,” I say pointedly.

Her lips press together, and her eyelids lower a little, ashamed. I’ve never brought this up before, but today I’m playing dirty.

Because I love her.

“Next?” I lift two fingers.

“Fine, I agree that does sound unfair to you, but people—”

“People will say and think shit, Quinn. You cannot control them. Have faith in yourself and respect the position I held at the time. That’s all I ask. We are moving on. Next,” I press.

She wriggles under me, and I lower my brows.

“Are you...?” Getting aroused.

“No. I am not,” she stammers.

Oh, so she likes me being dominant with her. Noted. My eyes lower to her naked breasts, and she takes my chin between her fingers.

“Noah Jenkins, if you want me to answer the next question, you need to empty your head of all sexual thoughts.”