“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.”
