Damian stepped out of the service elevator and into the bright morning light. His phone kept buzzing but he ignored it and walked fast toward the street where his driver waited two blocks away. The blurry photo on the tabloid alert stared back at him every time he glanced down. Someone had caught him leaving Obsidian Haven.
He got into the car and told the driver to head straight to the studio. Victor would be waiting, even Serena too would be waiting and everyone would have questions. But right now all he could think about was Raven's body still warm against his and the way she had whispered "again" like she never wanted the night to end.
His phone rang and it was his manager, Victor this time and he answered.
"Where the hell have you been?" Victor's voice came sharp through the speaker. "Serena showed up on set an hour ago asking for you and the director is losing his mind."
"There's traffic," Damian said and the lie felt heavier every time he used it. "I'm on my way now."
"Traffic doesn't explain why your location was off all night. Fix this, Damian. We have a deal with Serena's team and you can't keep disappearing."
"I know." Damian rubbed his eyes. "I'll be there in twenty minutes."
He hung up and stared out the window. The city blurred past and he typed a quick text to Raven: "I made it out. I will call you later. Stay safe."
He hit send and no reply came and by the time he reached the studio lot, his mind was already split in two. One half replayed every second of last night and the other half kept seeing that blurry photo and wondering how long he could keep this going before everything exploded.
Raven began arranging and putting in place every scattered thing in their place before she could allow Lena in. The sheets still smelled like Damian and she smiled for a second, then remembered the time. Lena was still at the door of her haven, banging harder this time and she knew Lena was here soon for the morning meeting.
She got up, wrapped herself in a black silk robe, and walked to the kitchen to make coffee to cool down before she let Lena in and start answering questions she wasn't ready for. That was when she saw it.
A single deep purple rose lay on the marble counter and a small white card rested beside it. Her hands started to shake as she picked up the card.
"You sing so beautifully when you think no one is listening. Sleep well, my star.
— Your Number One Fan"
Raven dropped the card like it burned her fingers. The rose looked perfect, too perfect and it was the same shade of purple she used on stage and the same shade that filled half her closet.
She backed away until her back hit the counter and her breath came fast. This wasn't the first gift but this one had been left inside her locked penthouse.
The knock on the door made her jump and she came back to her senses.
"Raven? It's Lena. Open up."
Raven forced her voice steady. "Coming."
She opened the door and Lena walked in carrying two iced coffees and her usual tablet. She took one look at Raven's face and stopped.
"What happened?"
Raven pointed at the rose and card on the counter and her hands wouldn't stop trembling. "It was here when I woke up, inside the apartment and I remembered the doors were locked."
Lena's eyes narrowed. She picked up the card and read it, then her mouth pressed into a thin line.
"This is the third one this month," Lena said. "We need to call security. Again."
Raven wrapped her arms around herself. "They said last time it was probably just an overzealous fan who got lucky. This feels different. It feels like someone walked right in."
Lena set the card down. "I'll handle it. You need to get ready for the interview at noon. Don't let this ruin your day."
Raven nodded, but her mind kept spinning. She went to take a shower again, trying to wash away the uneasy feeling. The hot water helped a little. When she came out, she found her phone lit up with a text from Damian.
"I made it out. I will call you later. Stay safe."
She typed back quickly: "Something weird happened this morning. Call when you can."
She hit send and no answer yet. The rest of the morning passed in a blur of hair and makeup and Lena hovered the whole time, double-checking every lock and every delivery. By the time Raven sat down for the interview, she had pushed the rose to the back of her mind, just almost.
Her phone buzzed during a break and it was a call from Damian. She stepped into the hallway and answered.
"Hey," she said, keeping her voice low.
"Hey. You okay? Your text sounded off."
Raven leaned against the wall. "I found another rose and it was inside the apartment. The card said 'Your Number One Fan.' It was on the counter when I walked into the kitchen."
There was silence on the other end, then Damian's voice came back, and tighter than before. "Inside? With the doors locked?"
"Yeah."
"Fuck." He sounded angry now. "I'm coming over tonight. I don't care what Victor says. We'll figure this out together."
"You don't have to—"
"I want to," he cut in. "I need to see you and make sure you're alright."
Raven closed her eyes and just hearing his voice made the tight knot in her chest loosen a little. "Okay. Come after ten. Lena usually leaves by then."
"I'll be there."
The call ended and Raven went back to the interview with a fake smile plastered on her face. The rest of the day dragged on with photoshoots, meetings, and endless questions about her new single. All she could think about was the rose and the handwriting that looked too familiar.
By the time she got back to Obsidian Haven, the sun had gone down and she changed into a simple black slip dress and waited.
Damian arrived a little after ten. He looked tired but his eyes softened the second he saw her. He pulled her into his arms without saying anything at first and just held her.
"You scared me," he said quietly against her hair.
"I scared myself." She pulled back enough to look at him. "The card was signed 'Your Number One Fan.' It felt personal. Like they know me."
Damian's jaw tightened. "We're changing the locks tomorrow. And I'm staying longer tonight."
Raven nodded and she didn't want to argue but she just wanted to feel safe again.
They moved to the bedroom and the black silk sheets were still rumpled from the night before. Damian sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her between his legs.
"Come here," he said softly.
She stepped closer. He rested his hands on her hips and looked up at her.
"You're safe with me," he told her. "I won't let anyone hurt you."
Raven believed him. At least in that moment.
He kissed her slowly and gently and not rushed like last night. His lips moved from her mouth to her jaw, then down to her collarbone. She shivered when he tugged the thin straps of her slip down her shoulders and the fabric slid to the floor.
He looked at her naked body like he was seeing her for the first time. His hands traced her small waist, then moved up to cup her breasts. They were full and pretty, and her nipples had already gotten tight.
"You're beautiful," he whispered.
He leaned in and took one nipple into his mouth then sucked gently. Raven's head fell back and a soft moan slipped out.
He took his time. Kissed down her stomach and dropped to his knees in front of her while his hands spread her thighs gently.
Raven's breath hitched when his mouth found her and he kissed her pussy slowly and sweetly. His tongue slid between her folds, tasting her and she was already wet.
"Damian…" she breathed.
He licked her clit in lazy circles, then sucked it softly. One finger slid inside her, then two. He curled them just right while his tongue kept working.
Raven's legs started to shake and she grabbed his hair to steady herself. "Uhrggg… that feels so good…"
He kept going slowly and patient, building her up until her thighs trembled and her moans got louder. When she came, it rolled through her in long, warm waves and she cried out his name and held onto his shoulders so she wouldn't fall.
Damian stood up and kissed her. She could taste herself on his lips. He laid her down on the black silk sheets and climbed over her.
He entered her slowly this time, inch by inch and they both moaned when he bottomed out. He stayed there for a moment, buried deep, and just feeling her around him.
Then he started moving, deep, and rolling thrusts. He was not fast but just steady and perfect. Raven wrapped her legs around him and met every movement.
"Talk to me," he said against her ear. "Tell me how it feels."
"So full," she whispered. "You feel so good inside me."
He kissed her neck. "I love being inside you. Love how wet you get for me."
Raven's hands ran down his back. She pulled him closer and their bodies moved together like they had done this a hundred times already and every thrust pushed her closer again.
"I'm close," she said, voice breaking.
"Come for me again." He reached between them and rubbed her clit with his thumb. "Let me feel it."
She came hard and her pussy clenched around his cock. "Uhrggg… Damian!"
He followed right after, groaning low as he spilled inside her. They stayed locked together, breathing hard, and foreheads pressed together.
After a minute, Damian rolled to the side and pulled her against his chest, then stroked her hair.
"I meant what I said earlier," he told her. "I'm not going anywhere. Not while this fan thing is happening."
Raven nodded against his skin. "Thank you."
They lay there in comfortable silence for a while. Then Raven reached for the card she had left on the nightstand and she read it again.
Her body went still.
Damian noticed. "What is it?"
She handed him the card. "The handwriting. It looks familiar. Like someone I know."
Damian read it and his face changed.
Raven froze as she read the card again. The handwriting looked terrifyingly familiar, like someone close was watching and Damian was the only person she had let inside.