Page 95 of Rulebreaker

“Then we can start making a baby right away, instead of waiting for the tour to end.”

I blink.

Did he just say he wanted to start baby-making?

“Are you…” I squint, staring into those dreamy brown eyes I love so much, trying to figure out if he’s fucking with me. “...being serious?”

But he’s not playing games.

He wouldn’t.

Not about something so important.

Certainly not on a day like today.

“The image of you pregnant with my child gets me hard,” he whispers against my ear, his breath warm against my skin. “I’m dead serious and ready whenever you are.”

I can’t help but chuckle, despite the heat warming my insides. “I can’t tell if you’re trying to be romantic, distract me by being absurd, or some combination of both.”

“All of the above,” he says solemnly.

“God, I love you.” I bury the side of my face against his chest, oblivious to whether or not my makeup is staining his pristine black suit.

“Just let me know when you’re ready.” He strokes a hand down my back. “Both for babies and to leave for the service.”

“As much as I love you, and despite not being overly concerned with societal norms, there’s going to be a ring on this finger before we start baby-making, mister.”

“I can have one delivered today,” he responds.

“And you know damn well you’re going to have to put more effort into it than that,” I say primly.

“Noted.”

“Besides, you don’t even know what kind of ring I want,” I tease.

“Oh, I think I do.” His eyes tell me he absolutely does.

Not that I’ve given wedding and engagement rings much thought–I can buy myself almost anything I want so there’s never been a diamond ring bucket list. Though there might need to be now that I have Atlas.

And his eyes are twinkling with a combination of mirth and worry.

I know what he’s doing–distracting me in the only appropriate way since throwing me up against the nearest wall and fucking me senseless isn’t a possibility given our time constraints.

And it’s working.

We’ve done a lot of talking the last couple of days, and we’re in a good place as a couple. It’s just everything else that feels like it’s going to shit. The difference now is that Atlas is by my side, so while it’s not pleasant, it’s at least bearable.

“Texas.” He steps back and looks down at me, gently lifting my chin with his fingers. “I told you I’d take care of everything, and I will. Yousaid you trusted me.”

“I do. But I’m not used to letting someone else be in control. Especially when it comes to my career.”

“I’m not in control of anything but your heart,” he responds solemnly. “All I’m doing is taking a few hard tasks off of your to-do list so you can get through today. You have my word–as soon as this blows over, you can go right back to being in charge.”

“Except in the bedroom.”

His eyes darken, and one side of his lips quirks up. “I’ll even let you take charge in there once in a while.”

I nod and pull in another deep breath.