ROXANNE POV
Three days. It had been three long days since I let Angelina and her father into my cramped apartment, three days of trying to hold everything together, to pretend like life hadn’t just flipped itself upside down. I stood at the stove, flipping a pancake, the scent of warm batter filling the small kitchen. My gaze flicked over my shoulder, catching Angelina watching me with quiet curiosity. Her little fingers tapped against the counter in a rhythm only she seemed to understand, her bright eyes tracking my every move. Despite everything, she’d adjusted surprisingly well. Too well. There were moments when I caught her humming to herself, swinging her legs as if we weren’t holed up in a tiny apartment. And Raphaël…he still hadn’t woken up fully. He’d stirred a few times, muttering words I couldn’t quite make out before slipping under again. The fever had broken last night and that was the only reason I’d let myself breathe. The private doctor I managed to find reassured me that he’d be fine—bruised ribs, some blood loss, but nothing life-threatening. What he didn’t see, what I had to deal with before he even got here, was the bullet wound in Raphaël’s arm. I had pulled it out myself, a process I never wanted to repeat. I hadn’t processed how bad it really was until after the adrenaline wore off. And worse—what I found on him left me unsettled. Two pistols. Hidden in the folds of his jacket. I’d tucked them away before the doctor arrived, but the questions haunted me. Who was he, really? Searching the web was a dead end—no missing person photos, no profiles. He was a ghost. Like me. Angelina spoke about him with nothing but love and admiration and that was the part I couldn’t reconcile. No child looked at a criminal the way she looked at her father. I flipped the pancake onto a plate, setting it in front of Angelina with a small smile. "Here you go." I murmured, drizzling a little honey over the top. She giggled, her laughter cutting through the weight in my chest. "I’m going to check on your dad." I told her, setting the honey aside. She nodded, already focused on cutting into her pancake. I lingered for a second longer, before stepping toward the fridge. Grabbing a bottle of water, I took a deep breath and headed for the bedroom. My hand hesitated on the doorknob. He should still be unconscious. I swallowed, pushing the door open carefully before stepping inside and shutting it softly behind me. The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn just enough to let a faint glow filter in. Raphaël lay still on the bed, his broad chest rising and falling in slow, steady breaths. At least, that’s what I thought. Before I could take another step, something tightened around my neck—an arm, strong and unrelenting, yanking me backward into a chokehold. My pulse spiked. My breath hitched as a cold steel pressed against my temple. A gun. I froze. For a brief, sickening moment, I wasn’t in my bedroom anymore—I was back at the diner, hands trembling, staring down the barrel of another gun. Déjà vu. "You’re reckless." A deep, gravelly voice growled close to my ear, thick with menace. "Bringing a stranger into your home without knowing who they are." Raphaël. He was awake. "Please don’t hurt me," I managed to whisper, my voice tight with fear. I lifted the bottle of water I’d brought him, a shaky gesture of peace. His piercing gaze didn’t waver and neither did the gun in his hand. "Where’s my little girl?" He demanded, his tone slightly softer but still edged with suspicion. I swallowed hard, my throat dry as my eyes darted down to the fresh bandages on his chest, a reminder of the state he was in. His arm loosened just enough for me to suck in a breath and I seized the moment. I lunged for the door, hoping to slip away, but he moved faster. His hand slammed against the door, pinning it shut.ROXANNE POV I followed Angel's finger to one of the suited men near the end of the dock, who was balancing a polished silver tray. On it sat a small box juice, a tall glass, and a clear jug filled with what looked like iced berry juice or maybe something citrusy. "Angelina…" I began, walking briskly toward her, but not raising my voice as she stood before the man. The man gave a polite smile and bent slightly to her level. She tilted her head sassily. "Daddy said I’m not supposed to take stuff from strangers...or losers." She informed him, matter-of-factly, causing me to stifle a chuckle. I came to a stop beside her, resting my hand lightly on her head as the man chuckled awkwardly. "We all work for the Raphaël family, little princess. He’s no stranger to us." His tone was calm, but I caught a subtle tension behind his words. Just then, he gave a small nod to me and Adam suddenly appeared, silent but heavy with presence. He stepped to my other side, his sharp eyes glued to t
ROXANNE POVThe engine quieted as Damien pulled into the private hangar. Everything felt still outside the tinted windows except for the soft hum of the jet’s turbine blades in the distance. He came around to my door without a word, that signature quiet intensity etched across his face. I barely had time to undo my seatbelt before the door opened."Come on, kitten." He said lowly, reaching for my hand.I stepped out, but the moment my heels hit the pavement, my knees buckled slightly and I stumbled forward, right into his chest.Damien caught me with one arm around my waist, his body bracing mine against the car. His smirk was instant."Damien." I hissed under my breath, shooting him a glare.He knew exactly why I was wobbling."Oh, now you're quiet?" I added bitterly.The bastard had no mercy last night. I had whispered “be gentle” and he had grunted “I’ll try” before proceeding to do the opposite of that. My thighs still remembered.He leaned down, brushing a small kiss against m
DAMIEN RAPHAËL POV I started to thrust deeper and slower, making sure every inch of my cock was felt inside her as she ran her hands up my arms with a soft gasp. I leaned down to whisper in her ear, "You feel so fucking good...so tight and wet for me.""Hmm..."I began to move my hips in a deliberate, grinding motion, ensuring that every thrust hits her most sensitive spot. I kept one hand on her breast, teasing her nipple, while the other slides down to grip her thigh tightly, holding her leg back as I fucked her deeper. "Goddamn..." She gasped softly, her nails gripping my arms.The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the room along with her loud moans. I leaned back to watch where our bodies join, fascinated by the sight of my cock disappearing inside her over and over."D...Damien..." My name escaped her lips in that soft, needy tone that sends a jolt of pleasure straight to my cock. I groaned deeply, my thrusts becoming more urgent and deeper when I saw her gripping th
DAMIEN RAPHAËL POV My hand returned to her throat gently as the other gripped her hip tightly. I kissed along her jawline and neck aggressively yet passionately. "Mmm...Damien..."I was being careful not to hurt her.I leaned in to capture her lips in a gentle, but dominating kiss, my tongue exploring her mouth as I continued to thrust into her with increasing urgency. My hand around her throat applied gentle pressure as I pulled her closer while I fucked her harder and faster."Damien...shit...oh..."I slowly pulled out of her before carefully flipping her onto her stomach and I took a moment to fix her hair softly behind her ear before positioning myself. I slid my cock back inside her slowly from behind, one hand gripping her hip while the other caressed her lower back tenderly.I started to move slowly, thrusting deeply into her from behind as she groaned softly. My hips rolled in a steady rhythm, each thrust pushing me deeper inside her. I leaned over her body slightly, kiss
DAMIEN RAPHAËL POV I noticed Roxanne shifting in her sleep before she pressed her back against my side. When I glanced at the small clock on the nightstand, I realized it was nearly midnight. I've been watching TV quietly with my arms relaxing beneath my head, not wanting to disturb her slumber. As I continued to watch TV, I felt that growing stiffness in my sweatpants and I exhaled a breath, knowing I had a constant semi-erection since yesterday, my desire for her was quite unquenched. But seeing her sleep so peacefully beside me, I ignored the urge and decided she needed the rest more than I needed the release right now.After several minutes of struggling with my self-control and a few quiet curses, I finally gave in to the overwhelming urge. I gently shifted my position behind her, trying not to wake her as I pressed my hardened cock against her backside through my sweatpants. "Fuck it..." I muttered to myself. Slowly, I reached down and pulled the hem of her sleep shirt up,
ROXANNE POVThe afternoon sunlight poured gently over the balcony, warming my skin as I sat across from Damien, a plate of grilled salmon and roasted vegetables half-forgotten in front of me. The air smelled like rosemary and wine, but I was too distracted to appreciate it fully. My gaze drifted to the large canvas propped against the easel, the one I’d painted last night.It wasn’t anything spectacular. Just a mess of swirling colors and frantic brushstrokes. “Free-minded.” That’s what Damien called it. At the time, I thought it was sweet, but now it just reminded me of how tangled my thoughts actually were.We were leaving tomorrow. France.Damien’s world. Damien's family.And just like that, my stomach knotted. I picked at my food, barely tasting a thing now, and before I could stop myself, the words started spilling out of my mouth."I don’t know if this marriage contract is even a good idea." I blurted, barely looking up from my plate.Damien paused, his fork mid-air. "What?"