Page 69 of Dagger

My eyes opened and I found the man who occupied my thoughts staring at me from across the room. I hoped he was mine, but maybe once he learned what I was keeping from him, he might not want me anymore. I’d already brought enough trouble into his life.

Sarah smiled gently and took a step back. “I think you need a hot shower and big glass of… water. And then maybe have that talk with your sexy biker.”

As if summoned, Dagger came over to where we were standing. “You can shower in my room, and I’ll see if Ellie can find you something to wear.”

He steered me through the bar area to the same room I stayed in briefly and closed the door behind us.

“I’ll be back.”

I nodded absently and made my way to the bathroom, where I stood in the shower for what felt like weeks, letting the hot water wash over me. Dirt and blood pooled at my feet, and Icouldn’t look away even though I barely saw it. My mind was a blur and a tornado all at once.

A big jumble of emotions and uncertainty that I didn’t know what to do with. No, that wasn’t entirely true. There was one thing I could do, one thing Ihadto do that might help me find a semblance of peace.

Do it now.

I stepped from the bathroom wrapped in nothing but a towel, expecting to find clothes laid out on the bed. Instead, I found a biker staring at me like I was a puzzle to figure out.

“Dagger.”

“Hey.” He looked up and heat flashed in his eyes as they tracked me from head to toe. “Feeling better?”

I shrugged. “Clean anyway.”

He nodded.

I took a deep breath and came right out with it. The words tumbling out one after the other. No breaths, no pauses, just words. “Dagger, I’m pregnant. I only found out the other day but I didn’t know how to tell you because I know this isn’t what you want. I’m telling you because it’s the right thing to do. I don’t expect anything from you, and if you don’t want to be a part of the child’s life, I understand.”

Chapter 36

Dagger

Istared at Sinclair for so long that it was almost impossible to tear my gaze from her, and it had almost nothing to do with her curves wrapped in a small black towel. Her words ricocheted around inside my head.

She was pregnant with my baby, and she thought I might not want anything to do with the child.

I fucked up.

I’d fucked up so bad. How could she even think that I wouldn’t want to be involved in my child’s life?My child. “You’re wrong. I never said I didn’t want more children. I know I told you I didn’t do commitment, that I didn’t get involved. But that was before…” I paused, trying to find the words. Instead I settled with the truth. “That was before you.”

Her fingers stopped playing with the corner of the towel and she looked up at me.

“I love you, Sinclair.” The words shocked me, but only in their timing. I let the words hang between us, waiting for the fear to take over, but it never did. “I love you,” I said again, my words firmer this time. “The last thing I wanted, hell, the last goddamn thing I expected, was to fall in love, but dammit, I am in love. With you.”

“You aren’t upset about the baby? You’re just starting to get closer to Dani. I don’t want this to mess everything up,” her voice was small, and I could see her eyes glistening.

I got to my feet and bridged the gap between us. “I love you. Dani loves you. I think she’ll be so happy when we tell her.”

“It all just seems like everything’s happening so fast.”

“Do you love me,” I asked.

Her eyes fluttered closed then she opened them and gazed up at me, “Yes. I love you, Dagger.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “We’ll figure it out. We’ll take it as fast or as slow as we need to. When I saw that asshole with you, I was so scared. Love does make you vulnerable, and I know what I said when we first met, and I was wrong. I’d rip out my fucking heart and give it to you, if that’s what it takes for you to believe that I want this. I can’t think about living my life without you, Sinclair. Me and Dani need you in our lives.”

“I love you, Dagger.”

I pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. “You love me, and I love you, what the fuck else matters?”

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