Quinn's Undying Rose (Scanguards Vampires #6) Read Online Free Page A

in my face.”
    “You spoke to Papa? About me?”
    He nodded. “I asked for your hand. He refused, saying I have nothing to offer you, no title, no wealth of significance. My brother will inherit the title; all I have is a small estate from my mother’s side. Your father doesn’t deem it sufficient.”
    And why should he? Rose deserved so much more. She was the daughter of an Earl, a beauty at that, and suitors lined up wherever she appeared. Her father would be a fool to allow her to marry a second son, a man without a title.
    “But he must understand.” Her eyes reddened, a sign that tears were imminent.
    Quinn laid his finger across her lips. “Shh, my love. Hear me out. I have a plan. It will work.”
    Rose raised her lids in hope. Ah, how he could see the love shining in her eyes, a love that burned for him. It was all worth it, just to see this.
    “I have spoken to several officers in Wellington’s army. I can rise in the ranks very quickly. I’ll be fighting by Wellington’s side soon and come back a decorated war hero. Many doors will open for me; I will be wealthy, and despite the lack of title, your father won’t refuse me then.”
    He could see the little wheels in her pretty head turn, the way frown lines showed on her forehead told him as much.
    “But you can get killed.”
    Of course, she would be worried about him. He hadn’t expected anything less. “You know me. I can look after myself. I promise you, I’ll come back in one piece.”
    She gave him a doubtful look. “They all say that. And then they come back, limbs missing, or worse, they don’t come back at all. I have heard of the accounts, of the terrible things that happen on the battlefield.” She turned away from him.
    Quinn sighed and put his arms around her from behind, pulling her against him, her soft buttocks fitting perfectly against his groin. “My love, I will come back to you. I promise you that. I won’t allow anybody to kill me. And you know why?”
    “Why?” she asked, her voice quiet and resigned.
    He dipped his head to her neck. “Because I love you, and I plan on spending my life making you happy.”
    “You promise?”
    “Yes, if you promise me one thing too.”
    “Yes?” She turned her head to meet his gaze.
    “You won’t entertain any other offers of marriage. You are mine, no other man will ever touch you.”
    She closed her eyes. “Papa will force me.”
    Quinn shook his head. “No, he won’t be able to.” Tonight he would make sure that Rose could never accept another man.
    He turned her to face him. “Because tonight, you’ll become mine.”
    He witnessed the exact moment when Rose realized what he was saying. First, shock spread over her lovely features, then a furious blush, her bosom heaving in concert with her excited breaths.
    “You are planning on ruining me?” she whispered.
    “Not ruin. I’m going to make you mine; I’m going to make you my wife and love you like a husband.”
    “A husband,” she murmured in disbelief. “Without the blessings of the church and society?”
    He chuckled. His sweet Rose! How could she believe he would even contemplate such a thing? He patted his breast pocket. “Of course not, my sweet, I have procured a special license, and have a minister and a witness waiting for us this minute.”
    “But I don’t understand. If we were to get married tonight, why do you need to go to war at all?”
    With a heavy heart, Quinn looked at her. “Because I want your father’s consent. For you. I don’t want you to be shunned by your family and by society. This will remain our secret, and only should your father force you to marry somebody else during my absence, will you reveal to him that you’re already married to me. Only then. And once I return a war hero, I will ask for your father’s permission. And we shall marry a second time. And nobody except you and I will be the wiser.”
    She contemplated his words, her intelligent eyes studying him. “So you are