Page 55 of Dagger

“Stay,” he says, his voice almost a plea. “Please.”

I hesitate, but the vulnerability in his eyes breaks down my resistance. With a sigh, I climb into bed beside him. I try to keep some space between us, but Dagger shifts, pulling me closer. His arm wraps around me, and as he draws me in, my baby bump presses between us.

His hand rests gently on my belly, his fingers splayed protectively over the growing life between us. The gesture sends a jolt through me, my heart stumbling over itself. Then his nose brushes mine, and my breath hitches at the closeness.

“I’ll keep you safe,” he murmurs, his voice rough but steady. “Both of you. No matter what.”

Hours later, I blink awake to the soft light filtering through the curtains, my body tangled with Dagger’s. His legs are wrapped around mine, his arm draped over my waist, anchoring me to him. The steady rise and fall of his chest presses against my side, and for a fleeting moment, everything feels... right. Safe.

I tilt my head back and find him already awake, his intense gaze fixed on me. But his face isn’t calm—his brow is furrowed, and his jaw is tight, like he’s carrying the weight of the world.

“Hey,” I murmur, lifting my hand to his forehead. Gently, I smooth out the crease between his brows with my thumb. “That’s better.”

He closes his eyes at my touch, and when they open again, they’re softer, darker. He grabs my hand and brings it to his lips, pressing a kiss to the inside of my palm. The warmth of his breath sends a shiver down my spine.

“This is how that morning should have gone,” he says, his voice low and rough, filled with a longing that pierces straight through me. “You wrapped in my arms. Every beautiful inch of you right here with me.”

My breath catches as his words sink in. I search his face, seeing the raw emotion in his eyes—the regret, the vulnerability.

“It was the biggest fucking mistake I’ve ever made, Chloe,” he continues, his voice thick with remorse. “God, I’m so damn sorry for leaving. I’ve regretted it every single second since. From the moment I got out of bed, while I was pulling on my clothes, to the second I hopped on my bike and drove away.”

I swallow hard, my heart twisting. “Then why did you leave?” My voice is quiet, almost a whisper, but the question is heavy, filled with the weight of everything he put me through.

He sighs, his fingers brushing against my cheek. “I’d crossed a line. You know my history, Chloe—my mess with women. And you... you weren’t just another woman. You were different. Youaredifferent. Someone special. Someone worth treasuring, protecting. And I didn’t think I deserved to have that. Well, all that and Mason had already told me he’d kill me if I ever made a move on you.”

My chest tightens, emotions swirling—a mix of anger, sadness, and something softer. Something that feels dangerously like hope. “So you ran?” I ask, my voice trembling slightly.

“I thought I was doing the right thing,” he admits, his thumb tracing small circles on the back of my hand. “Thought I was saving you from the inevitable heartbreak. From me screwing it all up. But all I did was break my own damn heart and hurt you in the process.”

I blink back the sting of tears, my voice steadier now. “You didn’t give me a choice, Dagger. You decided for me.”

“I know,” he says, his voice cracking. “And I’ll never forgive myself for that. But I’m here now, Chloe. I’m not running anymore. If you’ll let me, I’ll spend every day proving that I’m not that guy anymore. That I can be the man you need.”

His words hang in the air, raw and unguarded. My heart feels like it’s caught between two beats, unsure whether to leap forward or retreat.

“Dagger...” I start, my voice trailing off as I meet his gaze. He’s looking at me like I’m his whole world, like he’s terrified I’ll slip through his fingers.

I don’t think. I just act. Leaning up, I press my lips to his, soft at first, testing the waters, but when I feel him respond, something inside me ignites. The kiss deepens, heat rushing through me as I tangle my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer.

Dagger groans softly, a sound that sends a shiver down my spine. His hands grip my waist, strong and sure, as he pulls me flush against him, erasing every inch of space between us. His lips move against mine with an intensity that leaves me breathless, and I can feel the raw emotion behind every touch, every sweep of his mouth against mine.

He takes over, guiding me, leading me into a rhythm that’s both desperate and deliberate. One hand slides up my back, his fingers splaying across my skin as if he’s trying to memorize the feel of me. The other cradles the side of my face, his thumb brushing my cheek in stark contrast to the fire in the kiss.

I lose myself in him, in the way his lips claim mine, in the way his presence surrounds me. My heart pounds in my chest, matching the rhythm of his, and I can’t think, can’t breathe, can’t do anything but give myself over to the moment.

He pulls back just enough to look at me, his forehead resting against mine, his breath ragged. His eyes search mine, and I can see everything he’s feeling—desire, regret, and something deeper, something I’m afraid to name.

“Chloe,” he whispers, his voice hoarse, his hands still holding me close. “Tell me this isn’t just in my head. Tell me I didn’t lose you for good.”

I shake my head, my fingers still tangled in his hair, my own breath unsteady. “You didn’t lose me,” I whisper, the words barely audible, but they carry the weight of everything I’ve been holding back. “You just have to prove you deserve me.”

His lips curve into the faintest smile, his thumb brushing my bottom lip. “I will,” he promises, his voice low and certain. “I swear to you, I will.”

And when he kisses me again, it feels like a vow.

The air between us thickens, every inch of me attuned to his touch, his presence. As Dagger kisses me deeply, his hand trails down my side, his rough fingertips leaving a path of fire in their wake. When his hand finds its way to my core, pressing gently but deliberately, a moan escapes my lips before I can stop it.

“Oh God,” I whisper, my head falling back slightly. It’s been so long—too long—and the sudden rush of sensation leaves me breathless.

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