Raven's phone buzzed beside the microphone. The attached picture showed Damien's license plate—clear as day. The stalker wasn't just watching her. He was watching them both.
She stared at the screen until her eyes burned. The photo was taken from outside the building, zoomed in on Damien's car parked in the shadows last night. The timestamp was right after he had left her.
Damian leaned over her shoulder and his body went stiff. "Send it to me."
Raven forwarded the message without a word. Her hands were shaking. She set the phone down on the piano and wrapped her arms around herself.
"This is getting worse," she said quietly. "They know your car. They know when you come and go."
Damian pulled her against his chest. "We'll figure it out. I'm not leaving you alone tonight."
She nodded against him, but her mind kept spinning. "What if they have more pictures? What if they send them to Victor or Serena?"
"Then we deal with it." His voice was steady, but she could feel his heart beating fast. "Right now, I need you to breathe. Okay?"
Raven took a shaky breath. "Okay."
They moved to the couch. Damian kept one arm around her the whole time. They didn't talk much at first. Just sat together while the city lights twinkled outside the big windows.
After a while, Raven spoke. "I hate feeling scared in my own home."
"You're not alone anymore," Damian said and he kissed the top of her head. "I'm here. And I'm staying."
She looked up at him. "You have work tomorrow."
"I'll call in sick if I have to." He gave her a small smile. "Victor can yell at me later."
Raven managed a weak laugh. "He's going to kill you."
"Let him try."
They stayed like that for almost an hour. Talking about small things. What they wanted for dinner and how tired they both were. Anything to push the fear away.
Then Raven's phone buzzed again. She picked it up slowly and it was another message from the unknown number.
This time it wasn't a photo of the car. It was a bouquet of deep purple roses sitting on her kitchen counter. Fresh and perfect. And right in the middle was a printed photo of Damien and Raven kissing through the penthouse window last night. Taken from a building across the street. The zoom was close enough to see her hands in his hair.
Below the photo, one line: "Beautiful couple. I'm always watching. Sleep tight."
Raven's hands started shaking so badly she almost dropped the phone. "Damian…"
He took the phone from her. His face went hard when he saw the picture. "They were right outside. Watching us through the glass."
Raven stood up fast. She walked to the window and looked across at the other buildings. Lights were on in dozens of windows. Any one of them could have been the stalker.
"I feel sick," she said. Her voice cracked. "They were that close."
Damian came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "We're closing the curtains from now on. And I'm calling building security in the morning. They can add extra cameras."
She turned in his arms and buried her face in his chest. "I don't want to be scared in my own house."
"You're not going to be." He held her tighter. "I'm right here."
They stood like that for a long time. Raven's breathing slowly evened out. She looked up at him, eyes still worried but softer now.
"Make me forget for a little while," she whispered.
Damian searched her face. "You sure?"
She nodded. "Please."
He kissed her gently at first. Then deeper. His hands moved down her back and pulled her closer. Raven melted into him. She needed this and she needed to feel something other than fear.
They moved to the big rug in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. Damian laid her down carefully. The city lights glittered behind them like a million watching eyes.
He kissed her neck, then lower. Raven's robe fell open. He took his time with her breasts, sucking and licking until her nipples were tight and sensitive. She arched up into his mouth.
"Damian…"
He moved further down. Kissed her stomach. Spread her thighs. When his mouth found her pussy, she moaned loudly. He licked her slow and deep, tasting every inch of her. His tongue circled her clit, then dipped inside her.
Raven's hands fisted in his hair. "Uhrggg… yes… right there…"
He kept going until her legs were shaking. Then he climbed back up and slid inside her in one smooth thrust. They both groaned at the same time.
He fucked her on the rug. Raw and urgent. Like they could pretend the danger outside didn't exist if they just held each other tight enough.
Raven wrapped her legs around him. "Harder. Please."
Damian gave it to her. Deep, and powerful thrusts. The rug slid under them with every move and Raven's moans filled the room. She dug her nails into his back and held on.
"I'm close," she gasped.
"Come for me," he said against her ear. "Let go."
She came hard. Her whole body tensed and then shook. "Uhrggg… Damian!"
He followed right after, groaning low as he spilled inside her. They stayed locked together, breathing fast, hearts pounding against each other.
For a few minutes, the world felt quiet again.
Damian brushed her hair back from her face. "I've got you."
Raven nodded. She wanted to believe him.
But as they lay there on the rug, the city lights glittering below, and her phone buzzed once more on the piano.
Damian held her tighter as the city lights glittered below. "We're being watched." Raven's voice trembled. "Then let them watch. I'm not giving you up."