Delta's Baby Surprise (Special Forces Elite 1)

Why the fuck was I suddenly nervous? I could hear the blood pump between my ears.

“Are these fresh raspberries and kiwi?”

I nodded. “They are.”

“Yum. And I love these croissants.”

The sun washed over her, highlighting the blue in her eyes. She’d never looked more beautiful. More like the queen I wanted to make her.

“I fell asleep before you got in last night. Sorry.” She looked up. “But I do have some crazy news. I talked to Brooklyn for an hour.”

I eyed her. “Is this about Roux?”

She nodded. “He’s going to leave Carina.”

“What? I haven’t seen his petition.”

“They just decided last night. I’m sure you’ll have it sometime this week. I can’t believe it. I’m so excited for Brooklyn.”

I watched as Molly heaped the ripe berries on her plate. I couldn’t let Sebastian’s idiocy destroy this morning. For two weeks, I had tried to find the perfect place. The perfect time. But the world kept colliding with my plans. I had to make sure Dominic was settled. The irrigation grants had to be finalized. The Bostique Islands were impatient to start the new trade arrangements.

If I waited for everything in the country and my family to have complete peace, I’d never have my queen.

“Damon? Aren’t you going to say something? Brooklyn and Sebastian are going to be together.” She sipped the coffee. “You are going to grant his request, aren’t you?”

“To abdicate his position as duke and leave his wife?”

“Yes. He’s miserable. He loves Brooklyn. It’s obvious the way he looks at her. You can see that, right?”

I didn’t want to argue. I wasn’t going to fight with her this morning about someone else’s love story.

Today was the beginning of ours.

“Damon?”

I walked to the other side of the table. The ring was pressed between my thumb and fingers.

“Yes, I’ll grant it,” I replied. “I don’t want to talk about Roux. I want to talk about you, Molly.”

Her eyes lifted. I could get lost in those shades of blue for the rest of my life.

“Me?” she squeaked.

“Mmmhmm.” I ran my fingers through her hair, sweeping it from her shoulder. I lowered to one knee and she gasped.

“Oh my God.”

I grinned. “I want to talk about you. About me. About us, my love.”

She started to shake. “Damon,” she whispered.

“I’ve given a lot of speeches as king. So many lectures and talks, but I’m almost at a loss for words right now.” I gazed into her eyes. “I look at you and I see light, kindness, strength. I see a woman who loves me despite my crown. I see home. I see a future. Molly, I see the woman I want to love and to protect.” I revealed the ring from behind my back and held it toward her. “I don’t know what’s ahead for me as king. I can’t promise you normal. This life is far from it. But I can promise to fight for you. To fight for us. To love you. To give you as many mornings like this as I can. And I promise to do my best to consider your counsel.” I winked. I was still working on that one. “I’ve never knelt before anyone. But I’d do far more than this to show you how much I want to spend forever with you. Will you marry me, Molly Washington?”

The ring sparkled between us. I held my breath. It felt like the longest second of my life.

I didn’t exhale until she collapsed into my arms. “Yes. Yes. I’ll marry you.”

She crawled into my lap, kissing me. I tasted the salt of her tears on my lips.