Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
Katrina
Wrapping my arms around Dagger, I hold on for dear life. The way his tongue swirls with mine, his lips hold mine as he kisses me deeply. It’s not like the last ones we shared, and I remember. There’s no way I could forget just how talented his mouth was.
Mouth. Hands. Fingers. Tongue. And that cock of his. God, he’d known just how to push me over the edge with every part of him.
Just as quick as he kisses me, Dagger pulls back, both of us breathing heavily. His eyes meet mine there’s no missing the lust in them, the need for more.
“We’re gonna work this shit out between us,” he says, one hand coming up to tangle his fingers in my hair.
“I’m not going to be a sideline parent. You’re not going to go through all of this by yourself.
We’re gonna do this together. Meaning you and me, we’re gonna talk,” he dips his head close again, our lips brushing, “we’re gonna do a hell of a lot more than talk.
We’re also gonna do what’s best for this baby.
” His other hand goes flat against my stomach. “You aren’t alone, baby.”
It’s hard to swallow. Hard to think. His words hit me in a way I didn’t expect.
I wasn’t ready for them. I didn’t know how to handle what’s going on with just the baby, but also my life, and add in the addition of Dagger, and I don’t know what to think anymore.
I mean, this is not what I expect of him.
For him to tell me that we were going to do this together, that I wasn’t alone in this, it felt good, but also scared the daylights out of me.
Maybe it has to do with how I grew up. Or that I refuse to let anyone close. I know I’ve got issues against letting others close. Who wouldn’t when you grow up in the household that I did?
All I wanted to do was give Dagger the courtesy of telling him the truth in a way my mom never did with my dad. Give him the name on the birth certificate as the father. Something my mom still refuses to give me.
“What’s your name?” I ask, feeling heat bloom across my face.
“My name?” Dagger cocks a brow in question.
“Yes.” I nod. “Your name, not the one everyone calls you, but the one that’s on your license.”
“I know what you’re talking about, and I did tell you that night.”
“Blame it on the tequila, brain wasn’t fully functioning on all cylinders,” I blurt, unsure of how to handle it all.
Dagger shakes his head and chuckles. “Blame the tequila all you need to, baby,” he says, pulling me close once again.
He dips his head down and leans his forehead against mine.
“Van Delgado is the name I was born with and the name you scream when I’ve got my cock inside you or mouth between your legs. ”
My face heats up immediately at his words and the memories they bring flooding back. So many vivid images flash through my mind. His large hands on my thighs, his mouth exploring places that make me shiver just thinking about them.
“Van Delgado,” I whisper, testing it on my tongue. It feels intimate in a way that “Dagger” doesn’t. This is the name that will be on our baby’s birth certificate—the name our child will carry.
He runs his thumb across my bottom lip, his eyes darkening. “Like the sound of it on your lips.”
I swallow hard, trying to regain some composure. “I just needed to know. For the baby’s sake.”
“For the baby,” he repeats, but there’s something in his tone that suggests he doesn’t believe me. I honestly don’t believe myself either. Saying his name, him liking the sound of it on my lips, goes straight between my legs.
“Van,” I say again, softer this time. My body betrays me, leaning into his touch as his hands slide up to cup either side of my face.
“You like saying it, don’t you?” His thumb traces small circles on my cheeks, and I feel myself melting under his touch. Just as I melted to him that night we’d met.
“Maybe,” I admit, licking my lips nervously, trying to hold onto some semblance of control but failing miserably. The way he looks at me makes my knees weak.
“Gotta say, I didn’t want you to leave my bed, Kat,” he says, his voice dropping to that deep rumble that vibrates through my entire body. “Thought about finding you more often than not over the past months. I couldn’t get the taste of you out of my memory.”
I try to look away, but his hands keep me from doing so. “I didn’t think you’d remember me. Figured I was just another one night—”
“Don’t,” he cuts me off, his eyes flashing with something that looks like hurt. “Don’t think that. I didn’t want you to be a one-nighter. I still don’t. That’s why we’re gonna start here and now, as we should have two months ago.”
“Start?” I blink up at him, unsure of exactly what he’s talking about.
“You and me. We’re in this together—”
“I don’t want you to be with me because of the baby,” I blurt, staring at him with wide eyes.
“You think I just want you for the baby? Think again.” The words are quick to come from his lips. “I don’t give the first fuck you’re carrying my kid. Not that I don’t want the baby, they’re just a bonus to having you as mine.”
“I don’t understand you,” I whisper, confused.
“You don’t need to understand me, Kat. You just need to know that I want you,” he says, dipping his head down to brush his lips against mine.
“You don’t even know me.”
“I think I know you well enough. I know what sounds you make when I make you wild beneath me. I know what you taste like when I have my mouth between your legs. How your pussy feels when you come for me.”
“That’s not knowing me.” I huff and step out of his grasp. “That’s sex, not me.”
“I know enough that it tells me I want more of you. The way you made me laugh that night.” He glances around.
“That’s what I want, the woman who can make me laugh with no more than a corny as fuck joke or fact that she wants to share.
We’ll get to know more about each other as time goes.
You’ll find things out about me, and I’ll be doing the same with you. ”
Dagger steps into my space again, bringing me flush against him.
“I wanted you before I knew you were pregnant. I’ve said this, and I’ll keep saying it until you get it, but finding out you’re pregnant sealed the deal.
More so when you told me you wanted me to know, not because you were trying to trap a man, but because you felt he should know he was going to be a dad.
You gave me a choice, and I’m taking the one I want. ”
I open my mouth to say something, anything, but before the first words come out, the door opens.
“Sorry, doll, didn’t know you had company,” Tucker says with his guys following right behind him. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“Hey, Tucker,” I greet, turning to them the best I can, though Dagger doesn’t let me go. He simply tucks me into his side. I check the time and blush as I realize they’re on time for the studio time, and I’d forgotten about it with all that’s been going on in my head.
“Who’s this?” Mike asks, jerking his chin toward Dagger.
“This is Dagger,” I introduce, not sure what else to add.
“Didn’t know you had a man, doll.” Tucker grins. “Good for you, he’s hot.”
I inwardly groan at Tucker’s assessment.
I knew he had a type, always went for the bad boys.
He also didn’t care what others thought of him.
It’s one of the things I’ve loved about working with him and his friends.
They all were the same, though Tucker was the only one who was gay. His friends didn’t judge him for it.
“Dude, he’s taken, can’t be callin’ the boss lady’s man hot.” Jessy snorts, shaking his head.
“Call them as I see them.” Tucker chuckles and stretches a hand out. “I’m Tucker, the other buffoons behind me are Jessy, Mike, and the silent one is Chase. Don’t feel bad that he doesn’t say anything, he’s mute.”
Chase flips his friend off and shakes his head before signing, “Just cause I don’t have a voice doesn’t mean I’m silent, asshole.”
I snort, shake my head, and sign while speaking, “He’s an asshole that you can’t live without.”
Chase grins and rolls his eyes. “Best friend or not, he’s got to learn.”
“You two do know that I’m right here, don’t you?” Tucker sighs heavily and turns to Chase, signing while speaking, “For the record, I’m not an asshole, and you know it.”
Dagger lets me go and surprises me as he signs while talking, “Good to meet y’all. I’m Kat’s man and just stopping by to visit. Didn’t know she had people in the studio today.”
“Man, we’re here as much as she can let us be,” Mike says, moving to shake his hand. “Good to meet you.”
“You too,” Dagger grunts and repeats this with each of the guys.
“Room’s ready for y’all. You guys get situated, and I’ll let y’all know when I’m ready on my end,” I tell the guys, getting nods and head jerks from them in return.
“So, you not only record your own stuff, but you help others as well,” Dagger points out the obvious.
“Yeah, though, Tucker and the guys are here the most. I’m helping them get everything set for their first album.
They’ve been playing for years in bars together, but none of them is, as Tucker puts it, computer savvy.
They prefer the music and don’t care to learn the rest, so we have a deal.
I help them out with recording, getting their music out to the world, and they only have to pay a thousand after our royalties hit over ten a month. ”
“Only a thousand?” I smile at the amusement in his voice.
“Yes, I’m doing the easy work, it’s not my music, besides, I’m not worried about it.
I like helping people who want to do something so amazing and not act like dicks.
” I’ve had a few come in here thinking their shit didn’t smell.
Now those people had to pay up and do it anytime they wanted to record here.
“You got one hell of a heart on you, baby,” Dagger utters the words softly and gently before brushing his lips across my lips tenderly. “Mind if I hang and watch you work?”
Did I mind? I typically didn’t have anyone in here when I was working. It’s on the tip of my tongue to see no but find myself nodding instead. “Fine, but you have to be quiet and not butt in.”
Dagger grins and nods. “No butting in, I swear.”
I roll my eyes and lead him to where all the magic happens. Well, not all of it, just part of it. I look through the glass window between the guys and me and wait for them to give me the thumbs up they’re ready. I flip the switch, letting them know we’re recording, and sit back and listen.
This is what I love most about what I do. It’s even better than recording my own songs. Plus, now I was sharing it with the man next to me. The one who’s changing things in my life faster than I can blink.