Damien and I finally make it back to my apartment after dinner with Veronica. As I unlock the door, I can feel the tension crackling between us, the air thick with unspoken desire.

I turn to face him, my heart racing in my chest. "Well, this is me," I say, my voice trembling slightly. "Guess you should probably go..."

Damien pouts at me, his lower lip jutting out in an exaggerated display of sadness. "Aww, do I have to?" he whines, his voice dripping with mock disappointment. "I was hoping we could... continue where we left off last time."

I roll my eyes, but I can't suppress the smile tugging at my lips. "In your dreams, buster," I scoff, turning to head inside. "I have work to do tomorrow, and I'm not in the mood for a late night."

But before I can take another step, Damien is behind me, his arms snaking around my waist and pulling me close. I gasp as he spins me around, his lips crashing against mine in a searing kiss that leaves me breathless.

I melt into his embrace, my arms winding around his neck as I deepen the kiss. His hands roam over my body, igniting fires wherever they touch, and I can feel the heat building between us, threatening to consume us both.

But just as things are getting serious, just as Damien is starting to push me towards the bedroom, I remember one crucial detail.

"Wait," I gasp, pulling back from the kiss with a sheepish grin. "I'm still on my period."

Damien blinks, his brow furrowing in confusion. "So?" he asks, his voice thick with lust. "What's that got to do with anything?"

I sigh, shaking my head in exasperation. "So, I don't think you want to deal with that right now," I explain, gesturing vaguely towards my crotch. "Trust me, it's not pretty."

Damien grimaces, his nose wrinkling in distaste. "Oh," he says, his voice deflating like a punctured balloon. "Right. Never mind then."

I laugh, patting his cheek affectionately. "Exactly," I say, my voice filled with amusement. "Rain check on it, okay? Maybe next week?"

Damien groans, burying his face in my shoulder. "Fine," he grumbles, his voice muffled by my skin. "But you owe me for this, Nova. Big time."

I grin, kissing the top of his head. "I'll make it up to you," I promise, my voice low and sultry. "Just you wait and see."

Despite my protestations, Damien insists on staying the night. "Come on, just for a little cuddle," he wheedles, his eyes pleading and puppy-like. "I miss you, Nova. I just want to hold you."

I sigh, my resolve crumbling under his adorable expression. "Fine," I relent, rolling my eyes. "But no funny business, got it? I'm not in the mood."

Damien grins, scooping me up in his arms and carrying me to the bedroom like a bride over the threshold. "Would I ever?" he teases, depositing me gently on the bed and climbing in beside me.

He wraps his arms around me, pulling me close to his warm, solid chest. I nestle into his embrace, breathing in his familiar scent of sandalwood and musk. It's comfortable, safe, and I can feel myself relaxing into his touch.

But then, suddenly, his hands are on my belly, rubbing slow, gentle circles over the fabric of my dress. "How are the cramps?" he asks, his voice soft and concerned. "Do you need anything? Some tea, maybe? Or I could run out and get you some Midol..."

I burst out laughing, pushing his hands away with a mock glare. "Dude, I'm fine," I insist, my voice laced with exasperation. "No cramps, no pain, nothing. I'm perfectly okay, period or no period."

Damien looks up at me, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Are you sure?" he asks doubtfully, his hands hovering uncertainly over my stomach. "I just want to make sure you're comfortable, babe."

I grab his hands, intertwining our fingers and bringing them to my lips for a kiss. "I'm sure," I assure him, my voice soft and warm. "But I appreciate the concern, okay? It's sweet of you to care so much."

Damien grins, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Of course I care," he murmurs, his lips brushing against my forehead in a gentle kiss. "I care about everything to do with you, Nova. Every single thing."

I melt into his embrace, my heart swelling with love and gratitude. Damien may be a bit of a worrier, but his heart is in the right place. And that's all that matters to me.

As we lay there, tangled together in the sheets, I can't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over me. Life may be crazy, work may be stressful, but in moments like these, everything feels right. Everything feels perfect.

As we lay there, Damien's arms wrapped snugly around me, I find myself wondering about our future together. It's a topic we've never really discussed before, always too caught up in the day-to-day of our relationship to think too far ahead.

But now, in the quiet stillness of my bedroom, with Damien's steady heartbeat thumping against my back, it feels like the right time to bring it up.

"Hey," I say softly, tilting my head to look back at him. "Have you ever thought about... you know... us? Like, long-term?"

Damien blinks, his brow furrowing slightly as he processes my question. "Long-term?" he repeats, his voice a bit uncertain. "You mean like... marriage? Kids? White picket fence?"

I laugh, shaking my head at the ridiculousness of the image. "I mean, I wouldn't say no to a white picket fence," I tease, poking his chest playfully. "But yeah, I guess I'm talking about the whole shebang. The future. Us, together."

Damien is quiet for a moment, his expression thoughtful. Then, slowly, he smiles, his eyes soft and warm. "I've thought about it," he admits, his voice low and intimate. "More than I probably should have, considering we've only been together a few weeks."

I turn to face him fully, my heart fluttering in my chest. "And?" I prompt, my voice barely above a whisper. "What did you come up with?"

Damien grins, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "I came up with a lot of things," he says, his voice thick with emotion. "But mostly, I came up with you. You, and me, and a life together. A family, someday. A home."

I swallow hard, my throat suddenly tight with emotion. "That sounds... really nice," I manage, my voice trembling slightly. "More than nice. Perfect."

Damien leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "I know," he murmurs, his breath warm against my skin. "And I want it all with you, Nova. Every single part of it."

As we lay there, lost in our respective thoughts, a sudden, impulsive question pops into my head. I turn to face Damien, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.

"Hey," I say, poking his chest with my finger. "How many kids do you want?"

Damien blinks, taken aback by the sudden shift in topic. "Kids?" he repeats, his eyebrows raising in surprise. "Like, how many?"

I nod, my grin widening. "Yeah, how many?" I confirm, my voice teasing. "Two? Three? A whole basketball team?"

Damien laughs, shaking his head in amusement. "A basketball team?" he echoes, his voice incredulous. "Nova, that's a lot of kids."

I shrug, my expression turning serious. "Well, how many then?" I ask, my voice soft but insistent. "If you had to choose, how many would you want?"

Damien is quiet for a moment, his expression thoughtful. Then, slowly, he smiles, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Two," he says, his voice firm and sure. "I think two would be perfect. One boy, one girl. A little family."

I feel a warmth blooming in my chest, spreading through my veins like honey. "Two is good," I agree, my voice soft and dreamy. "Two is very good."

Damien reaches out, pulling me closer to him until our noses are touching. "Two is the magic number," he murmurs, his lips barely brushing against mine. "Two is you and me, Nova. And that's all I need."

As we lay there, lost in our little bubble of domestic bliss, I feel a sudden urge to express my affection for Damien. But instead of going for a kiss or a cuddle, I find myself leaning in and gently biting his arm.

Damien yelps in surprise, jerking away from me with a startled expression. "Ow!" he exclaims, rubbing at the spot where my teeth sank into his skin. "What was that for?"

I grin up at him, my eyes sparkling with mischief. "It's my way of showing affection," I explain, my voice matter-of-fact. "I bite when I'm happy. Or when I like someone. Or when I'm just feeling particularly bitey."

Damien stares at me for a moment, his expression somewhere between confused and amused. "That's... unusual," he says finally, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I've never met anyone who shows affection by biting before."

I shrug, leaning in to nip at his arm again, this time a little harder. "Well, you've met me now," I say, my voice smug. "And I'm full of surprises."

Damien laughs, catching my hand before I can bite him again. "Alright, alright," he says, his voice chuckling. "Message received. You like to bite. Got it."

I pout up at him, my lower lip sticking out in an exaggerated display of disappointment. "You're no fun," I grumble, my voice petulant. "I was just getting started."

Damien grins, pulling me close and dropping a kiss on the tip of my nose. "Save it for later, babe," he says, his voice warm and teasing. "I've got plans for that mouth of yours, and none of them involve biting."

I blink up at him, my expression suddenly wide-eyed and curious. "Oh?" I ask, my voice breathy. "What sort of plans?"

Damien waggles his eyebrows at me, his grin turning wicked. "The kind that require a lot of tongue action," he murmurs, his voice low and suggestive. "And not the kind you use for biting."

I laugh, swatting at his chest with my free hand. "You're terrible," I accuse, my voice filled with fond exasperation. "Absolutely terrible."

Damien just grins, pulling me in for a deep, passionate kiss that leaves me breathless and weak in the knees.

-------------------------------------------------

The next day at work, I'm feeling a bit distracted, my mind still reeling from the intense conversation with Damien the night before. But when Nina pops by my desk with an invitation to lunch, I jump at the chance to clear my head and catch up with the girls.

"You're never going to believe what Damien and I talked about last night," I gush as we walk to the restaurant, Nina, Lila, Sasha, and Mila trailing behind us. "We were discussing our future together. Kids, marriage, the whole nine yards."

Nina raises an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Isn't it a bit soon for that?" she asks, her voice dry. "I mean, you've only been dating for like, what, a month?"

I flush, feeling suddenly defensive. "I know, I know," I say, my voice hurried. "But it just felt right, you know? Like we were on the same page."

Lila links her arm with mine, giving me a sympathetic squeeze. "That's wonderful, Nova," she coos, her voice warm and encouraging. "It's great that you and Damien are so in sync."

Sasha rolls her eyes, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Yeah, because talking about marriage after a month is totally normal and not at all desperate."

I shoot her a glare, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. "Shut up, Sasha," I snap, my voice sharp. "Not everyone has to follow your 'love 'em and leave 'em' playbook."

Mila giggles, stepping between us before the argument can escalate further. "Alright, alright, enough about Nova's love life," she says, her voice light and teasing. "Let's talk about something more interesting. Like, what's the latest gossip from the office?"

As we settle into our seats at the restaurant, the conversation flows easily, shifting from work drama to weekend plans to the latest celebrity breakup. But even as I laugh and joke with my friends, my mind keeps drifting back to Damien and the future we've envisioned together.

It's scary, sure, to be thinking about such big, permanent things so soon. But it's also exciting, thrilling even, to imagine a life with someone who loves me as much as I love them. Someone who wants to build a family with me, to grow old with me.

As we're midway through our lunch, lost in lively conversation, our waiter suddenly appears at our table, his face pale and anxious. "Excuse me, ladies," he says, his voice shaky. "I hate to interrupt, but there's been an incident in the kitchen. We're going to need everyone to evacuate the building immediately."

We all stare at him in shock for a moment, our forks frozen midair. Then, as if on cue, we all leap up from our seats, grabbing our purses and phones and rushing towards the exit.

Outside, a small crowd has already gathered, whispering and pointing towards the back of the restaurant. I crane my neck, trying to get a better view, and that's when I see it - a plume of black smoke billowing from the kitchen vent, accompanied by the wail of fire truck sirens in the distance.

"Oh my god," Nina gasps, her hand flying to her mouth. "Is that... is that a fire?"

I nod, my heart pounding in my chest. "It looks like it," I say, my voice trembling slightly. "We should probably move back, just in case."

As we watch the fire trucks arrive and the firefighters spring into action, a wave of adrenaline washes over me. It's surreal, seeing something like this happening right in front of me, in the middle of a normal, everyday lunch.

Lila links her arm with mine, her grip tight and reassuring. "I can't believe this is happening," she says, her voice shaky. "I mean, what are the odds?"

Mila, ever the pragmatist, rolls her eyes. "Pretty high, actually," she says, her voice dry. "Restaurant fires happen all the time. It's just bad luck that it happened here today."

As the firefighters work to contain the blaze, we stand there in stunned silence, watching the drama unfold. It's a stark reminder of just how quickly things can change, how fragile our daily routines really are.

As we're standing outside the restaurant, watching the firefighters work, a familiar figure suddenly appears at my elbow. I turn, blinking in surprise, and find myself face to face with... what's his name again? Mike? Matt?. The guy I met on my business trip to Paris with Damien.

"Nova, right?" he says, his voice smooth and confident. "It's Marcus. From Paris?"

I nod, searching my memory for a clearer picture of him. He's tall, with dark hair and a charming smile, but something about him makes me a little uneasy. Maybe it's the way his eyes linger on me a bit too long, or the fact that he seems to be ignoring the drama unfolding behind us.

"Hi, Marcus," I say, my voice polite but a little strained. "It's good to see you again."

Marcus grins, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "The pleasure is all mine," he says, his voice low and intimate. "I was hoping I'd run into you again. It was such a shame we didn't get a chance to... reconnect in Paris."

I flush, feeling suddenly flustered. "Yeah, well, things were a bit hectic, you know?" I say, my voice awkward. "Damien and I were so busy with work and sightseeing and..."

I trail off, realizing too late that I've mentioned Damien. Marcus' smile falters for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Damien, right," he says, his voice tight. "Your boyfriend."

I nod, feeling a sudden surge of protectiveness towards Damien. "Yes, my boyfriend," I confirm, my voice firm. "We're very happy together."

Marcus' expression shifts, something dark and unreadable flickering in his eyes. "I'm sure you are," he says, his voice carefully neutral. "Well, as much as I'd love to catch up, I should probably let you get back to your... lunch date."

He steps back, his hand brushing mine as he does so. "Maybe we can grab a coffee sometime, though?" he suggests, his voice hopeful. "Just the two of us?"

I hesitate, torn between politeness and a growing sense of unease. "I don't know," I say finally, my voice uncertain. "I'm pretty busy with work and Damien and..."

Marcus' smile returns, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Think about it," he says, his voice smooth and persuasive. "Give me a call if you change your mind."

With that, he turns and walks away, leaving me standing there with a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something about him unsettles me, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is.

Shaking my head, I turn back to my friends, trying to push the encounter out of my mind. They're looking at me with worried expressions, their eyes filled with questions.

"Everything okay?" Nina asks, her voice concerned. "You look a little... weirded out."

I shrug, forcing a smile onto my face. "Yeah, everything's fine," I say, my voice bright and breezy.

After my unsettling encounter with Marcus, I find myself drawn to Damien's office, a desperate need to see him, to feel his arms around me, consuming my thoughts. I know he's in the middle of an important project, that he's probably stressed and busy, but I can't help it. I need him.

I slip into his office quietly, closing the door behind me with a soft click. Damien looks up from his desk, his expression a mix of surprise and concern. "Nova?" he asks, his voice questioning. "Is everything okay?"

I nod, moving towards him with purpose. "Everything's fine," I assure him, my voice soft but determined. "I just need a minute with you."

Before he can protest, I reach out and take his hand, tugging him gently but insistently towards the couch in the corner of his office. Damien allows himself to be pulled, sitting down beside me with a bewildered expression.

"Nova, what's going on?" he asks, his voice worried. "You're acting... different."

I lean into him, wrapping my arms around his neck and looking deep into his eyes. "Damien, I need you to promise me something," I say, my voice urgent. "No matter what happens, no matter who tries to come between us... we have to stay true to each other. To our relationship."

Damien's expression softens, his hands coming up to cup my face tenderly. "Nova, of course," he murmurs, his voice low and sincere. "Nothing and nobody could ever come between us. You're my world."

I breathe a sigh of relief, feeling the tension drain out of me. "Good," I say, my voice firm. "Because I don't know what I'd do without you. Without us."

Damien leans in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to my forehead. "You'll never have to find out," he whispers, his breath warm against my skin. "I'm not going anywhere. We're in this together, always."

I nod, snuggling into his embrace and letting his words wash over me like a soothing balm. "Together," I echo, my voice soft and content. "Always."

As Damien starts to head back to work, I feel a sudden wave of reluctance wash over me. I don't want him to go, not yet. I want to stay here, wrapped up in his arms, safe and secure from the outside world.

"Wait," I say, my voice soft but insistent. "Don't go yet."

Damien pauses, turning to look at me with a smile. "I really should get back to work," he says, his voice gentle. "I've got a lot of work to catch up on."

I shake my head, pouting up at him. "Just a little longer," I plead, reaching out to take his hand. "Please? I just want to cuddle with you for a bit."

Damien's expression softens, his resolve crumbling under my puppy dog eyes. "Nova, you know I can't say no to you," he sighs, his voice fond. "Even when you're being a brat."

I grin, snuggling up against his side as he sits back down on the couch. "I'm not a brat," I protest, my voice muffled against his chest. "I'm just your personal assistant, making sure you're taking care of yourself."

Damien chuckles, his arms tightening around me. "Is that so?" he teases, his voice playful. "Because lately, it feels like I'm your personal assistant. Always at your beck and call, ready to drop everything and come running whenever you need me."

I lift my head, looking up at him with an impish grin. "Hey, that's not fair," I say, my voice indignant. "I'm always there for you too, you know. I'm just a little more demanding of your time and attention than you are of mine."

Damien shakes his head, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Demanding is one word for it," he says, his voice dry. "I think 'bossy' might be a more accurate description."

I stick my tongue out at him, then dissolve into giggles as he tugs me closer, nuzzling my hair with his nose. "I love you, bossy pants," he murmurs, his voice warm and affectionate. "Even if you do try to monopolize all my time."

I smile, feeling content and loved and utterly at peace. "I love you too, Mr. Boss," I murmur back, snuggling deeper into his embrace. "Forever and always."

As we lie there, tangled up in each other's arms, I feel a sudden surge of boldness wash over me. It's like I can't hold it in anymore, like the words are just spilling out of my mouth before I can stop them.

"Damien," I say, my voice breathy and excited. "When are we getting married?"

I can feel his body tense against mine, his heart rate picking up beneath my cheek. For a moment, I think I've gone too far, that I've pushed him too fast. But then he relaxes, his arms tightening around me as he lets out a soft, breathy chuckle.

"Nova," he murmurs, his voice equal parts amused and fond. "You're not playing around, are you?"

I lift my head, looking up at him with wide, earnest eyes. "No," I say, my voice simple and certain. "I'm dead serious. I want to marry you, Damien. As soon as possible."

Damien's expression softens, his eyes shining with love and affection. "I want that too," he says, his voice low and sincere. "More than anything. But we've got to do this right, Nova. We can't just rush into it without any planning or preparation."

I pout, my lower lip jutting out in a way that I know drives him crazy. "But why not?" I whine, my voice petulant. "I love you, you love me. That's all we need, right?"

Damien laughs, shaking his head at my antics. "Not quite," he says, his voice indulgent. "We need a venue, invitations, catering, a dress... all that stuff. And we need to make sure we're both really ready for this step."

I huff, flopping back down against his chest with a dramatic sigh. "Fine," I grumble, my voice muffled against his skin. "I guess I can wait a little longer. But not too long, okay? I don't want to spend the rest of my life just dating you."

Damien chuckles, dropping a kiss on the top of my head. "Don't worry, baby," he murmurs, his voice warm and reassuring. "We'll get there. And when we do, it'll be perfect. Just like you deserve."

I smile, feeling my heart swell with love and happiness. "Okay," I say, my voice soft and content. "As long as I end up as Mrs. Damien Blackwood, I'm good with whatever timeline you set."

Damien grins, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, Mrs. Blackwood" he says, his voice playful. "I guess you better get used to calling me 'husband' then."

As we lie there, a thought suddenly occurs to me. It's something I've been wondering about for a while, but I've been too afraid to bring it up. Until now.

"Damien," I say, my voice hesitant. "Once we get married... will you still keep me as your assistant?"

There's a moment of silence, broken only by the sound of Damien's steady breathing. Then, slowly, he sits up, turning to face me with a serious expression.

"Nova," he says, his voice gentle but firm. "Of course I'm going to keep you as my assistant. Why would you even ask that?"

I shrug, feeling suddenly self-conscious. "I don't know," I say, my voice small. "I just thought... maybe you'd want to keep things professional, you know? Keep your personal life separate from your work life."

Damien reaches out, cupping my cheek with his hand and tilting my face up to meet his gaze. "Nova, listen to me," he says, his voice low and intense. "You are so much more than just my assistant. You're my partner, my best friend, the love of my life. I don't ever want to separate those parts of myself."

I blink up at him, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "Really?" I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion. "You really want me to stay?"

Damien smiles, his eyes softening with affection. "Always," he says, his voice certain. "You're my favorite office distraction, you know that? The one person who can make even the most stressful workday bearable."

I laugh, wiping away the tears that have escaped down my cheeks. "I'm a distraction, huh?" I tease, my voice light and playful. "I thought I was more of a productivity booster, keeping you on your toes and all that."

Damien grins, pulling me close and nuzzling my neck with his nose. "You're both," he murmurs, his breath warm against my skin. "The best kind of distraction and the most motivating productivity booster. I don't know what I'd do without you, Nova."

I smile, feeling my heart swell with love and gratitude. "I don't know what I'd do without you either," I murmur back, snuggling into his embrace. "Guess we're stuck with each other, huh?"

Damien chuckles, dropping a kiss on the top of my head. "Guess we are," he agrees, his voice warm and content.

After our heartfelt conversation, Damien and I slowly untangle ourselves from each other's embrace. I sit up, stretching my arms above my head and yawning widely. "Whew," I say, my voice muffled by my hand. "That was nice, but I guess we should probably get back to work, huh?"

Damien nods, running a hand through his tousled hair. "Yeah," he agrees, his voice gruff with sleep. "I've got a ton of emails to catch up on, and I'm sure you've got your own tasks to do."

I nod, standing up and smoothing out my skirt. "You're right," I say, my voice brisk and professional. "I'll get started on that report you needed, and I'll have it on your desk by end of day."

Damien grins, his eyes twinkling with appreciation. "Thanks, Nova," he says, his voice warm. "You're a lifesaver, you know that?"

I smile, feeling a surge of pride and accomplishment. "That's what I'm here for," I say, my voice light and teasing. "To make your life easier, one task at a time."

Damien laughs, shaking his head in mock exasperation. "You're something else," he says, his voice fond. "I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm glad I did."

I blow him a kiss, turning to head back to my desk. "You're welcome," I call over my shoulder, my voice playful. "Now get to work, Mr. Blackwood. Your favorite office distraction is off the clock for now."

As I settle in at my desk, booting up my computer and organizing my tasks for the day, I can't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over me. Damien and I may have our moments of drama and uncertainty, but at the end of the day, we always find our way back to each other.

And as his assistant, I know that I play a crucial role in his life, both personally and professionally. It's a role I take seriously, and one that I'm proud to fulfill.

With a determined nod, I open up my email and get to work, ready to face whatever challenges the day may bring. Because that's what I do best - I support Damien, in every way possible, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

________________________________________

Guys this a long ass chapter, i know. When I wrote something, it didn't get saved, but I didn't notice that this wasn't saved, so I started writing shit again to increase the word count, then i noticed something is missing, so I wrote it again, hence why this chapter is long ass.

Plus I love making my followers a character of my story. Everyone's on my list *smirks* I won't spare anyone.