“Oh my God.”
I grinned. “My own recipe.”
“You need to make these for me all the time.”
“I can do that.”
“You know what else you need to do?”
“What?”
He crossed his legs and studied me. “Tell me why you’re all jumpy. Something happened today, and you’re not sharing.”
I blinked. I thought I was acting normally. At my surprise, Damien smirked.
“I notice things. And your tells are screaming. Something upset you.”
“My tells?”
He leaned forward and touched my cheek. “Your left eye twitches a little when you’re upset. You keep darting your gaze to the windows. You jump at every sound.” He took my hand in his. “Tell me what happened today.”
“Probably just my imagination working overtime.”
“Tell me anyway.”
I told him about the thump and the daisy. What Andy had said to me once. The man disappearing around the corner. I shrugged self-consciously. “Probably nothing, right?”
For a moment, he said nothing, then he huffed out a long breath of air. “I think your first instincts were right, Raven. It was something.” He held up his hand before I could speak. “We are going to err on the side of caution and assume it was Andy smashing a daisy against your window as a passive-aggressive warning. Perhaps he was at the store and disappeared before you could be sure.” He bent forward, resting his elbows on his knees, staring into my eyes. His gaze was intense, determined, and furious. There was no doubt he was angry, yet his voice remained calm and steady. “And you should have called me. Immediately.”
“I didn’t want to bother—”
Again, he held up his hand. “You are not a bother. I would rather react to a hundred coincidences, than not be there the one instance you needed me. Do you understand?”
He cupped my cheek, stroking the skin softly. “I hate thinking of you worried when I could have sent someone to watch over you until I could get there myself.”
“Someone to watch over me?”
He nodded.
“I don’t need a bodyguard, Damien.”
“I disagree. Until I find this asshole and get him away from you, you need someone around so he can’t get to you.”
“You make him sound crazed.”
He sat back with a frown. “From what I saw and what you’ve described, he very well could be. He’s a stalker, Raven. He has you in his sights.”
“Today could have been nothing.”
He dipped his chin in acknowledgment. “Maybe. But it could have been something significant. Promise me next time you will call.”
I shut my eyes, drawing in some deep breaths. Damien moved, shifting his chair closer. “You came to me, Raven. You needed my protection that day. You need it now. I want to give it. Listen to me, please.”
I relented and nodded.
“Okay, good,” he said and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I’ll come up with a plan and fill you in.”
“Do I get any say in this plan?”
“Sure.” He grinned. “You can choose to sleep in my guest room or my bed. Your choice.”
“I am not staying with you.”
“If I decide it’s necessary, you will.”
I stood. “Anyone ever tell you that you’re bossy and high-handed?” I asked and turned to go to my room. I felt cold suddenly and wanted my shawl. But Damien caught up to me by the sofa, snagging my hand. He pulled me close, engulfing me in his embrace. I wanted to push him away, but he felt so damn good. Warm, solid, safe. He rocked us gently side to side.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, Raven. It’s become paramount to me.”
“Why?” I whispered against the hard muscles of his chest.
He slipped his hand under my chin, meeting my gaze.
“I can’t explain it. It’s as if you settled into a space in my heart I didn’t know was vacant. I think about you every spare moment.” He chuckled. “Even every moment I don’t have to spare. I worry about you. Wonder what you’re doing. Hearing you felt scared earlier—I fucking hate it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, just agree with me.”
“Agree with you?”
“Let me make sure you’re safe. If we find out I’m overreacting, I’ll admit it.”
“And in the meantime, you will have gotten your way.”
A smile tugged on his lips. “Well, there is that.”
He bent low and brushed his mouth on mine. Once, twice, and again. Pressed a little harder each time. Held our lips together longer. Until I couldn’t take it and flung my arms around his neck, letting him kiss me the way he had the other night. Hard. Deep. Passionate and demanding. I had never been kissed the way Damien kissed me. Each press of his mouth, every sweep of his tongue, I felt claimed. Possessed. Desired. Every taste of him left me wanting another. More. I wanted all of him.
With a groan, he gathered me up, turning and lifting me to the back of the sofa again. Moments passed as our mouths moved, tongues stroked, and whispered words passed between us.
Until the window behind me shattered, the glass screeching with the intensity of the blow it took. The blinds made a deep metallic sound as if it were being torn apart. One moment, I was in Damien’s arms. The next, we were on the floor, his body covering mine defensively.
My frightened gaze met his furious one. He pulled me to my feet, and we looked at the rock lying on my rug, slivers of glass all around it.
“I don’t think we can put this down to coincidence,” he scowled. “You’re coming home with me. Tonight.”
I didn’t argue.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Damien
“Stay here,” I instructed Raven. “Call the police and lock the door behind me, and don’t open it for anyone but me. You understand?”
She nodded mutely, her face ashen.
“Don’t touch the rock, don’t go near the window. Turn on the hall light and pack some things if you can. You are coming home with me.”
I rushed out the door, pleased to hear the snap of the locks behind me. Downstairs, I stood on the sidewalk, staring up at Raven’s window. There was no doubt Andy was behind this. The super of the building came out, looking confused and upset.
“What the hell?” he muttered, glancing up. “I heard glass break. How the hell did that window get smashed?”
“With a rock and good aim.”
“Why? And who are you? How do I know you didn’t throw it?”
“I was having dinner with Raven.” I introduced myself. “She can vouch for me,” I added, handing him one of my business cards.
He looked at my name, his eyebrows lifting.
“Okay, now the question is why? And how did they throw it up that high?”
I glanced behind me at the van parked on the street. “I have a feeling he stood on top of that.”
He followed my gaze and grunted.
“As for the why, this goes back to the man Raven told you about.”
“He’s still bothering her?”