Page 28 of A Midnight Romance

Lux

T he feelings I have for River are growing the more time we spend together. I’m not going to deny the sheer euphoria I felt when he referred to me as his .

His ability to be two completely different people should alarm me, but it doesn’t. And the coldness that emerges from him when he’s carrying out a kill is unsettling, although when it’s just the two of us, he’s kind and gentle. Both sides are utterly intoxicating.

With all that, I still can’t let him off the hook too easily because I’m still angry he installed cameras in my townhouse and my room here at the manor.

But then why am I trying to convince myself I don’t find it thrilling?

To be protected so fiercely by a man who could kill another without a second thought sends every feminine bone in my body plummeting to the floor.

What is wrong with me?

As I sit at the desk in my room at River’s house, I can’t help my eyes darting around the room every few minutes, in search of his cameras. But who am I kidding? River’s billion-dollar tech company creates devices for the government. Why would he create cameras that could be detectable?

I gave in to him this afternoon in his office, by letting him dominate. I tried to fight back, but he knows me better than I know myself, which is something I’d never experienced before .

After what happened in his office—both with the cameras and his blatant honesty about his feelings toward me—everything has changed.

Because River represents something dark and steady, a power unlike anything I’ve encountered, and his obsession with me does nothing to steer me away. If anything it’s pulling me closer.

I hear a quick vibration on the desk.

Stevie: Just finishing up at work. Do you want me to come back to River and Sebastian’s house?

Stevie has knowledge of almost everything now, and if she’s willing to come back maybe she’s reconsidering staying here. When she said she was going to work this morning, I asked River to assign one of his men to her to make sure she’s safe. He chuckled and said he was already on it.

I pick up my phone and decide to call her instead. I’d rather continue to convince her over the phone than through text.

“Hey,” she says as soon as she answers. “How are you feeling today?”

Tucking my legs underneath me, I stare at the fully typed chapter in front of me that I spent the first part of the evening working on.

The last thing I want to do is ask for an extension from my editor, but it’s impossible to devote the time needed to finish this story with everything that’s going on.

“I’m okay. Have you made a decision on whether to stay or not?” I ask, hoping she’s changed her mind.

“In fact, I have.”

“And?”

“I’ll stay, Lux. But as long as I can come and go as I please.”

I let out a sigh of relief. “I’m glad. It will make me feel much better.”

“Me too.” She lets out a quiet sigh matching mine .

“River already assigned one of his guys to tail you wherever you go, so you’ll be safe.”

“Wait, what?”

A flush of heat moves through me as I regret blurting out my comment. I may be slowly accepting River’s protectiveness, but Stevie might not be as willing as I am.

“I know it sounds weird, but trust me—it’s for your protection.”

She’s silent for a beat, probably talking herself through whether she wants to protest or not. “Fine,” she groans. “I’ll see you soon.”

I smile to myself. “I’ll see you soon.”

But before I can end the call, Stevie quickly says my name. “Oh, and Lux?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m not bringing my own clothes because I will be wearing all your new ones,” she says. The confidence laced through her voice is in true Stevie fashion.

I laugh. “This is nothing new.”

“Love ya!”

When Stevie and I end our call I contemplate writing some more, but my stomach growls with hunger. With a quick check of the time, I close my laptop and decide to head to the kitchen, knowing Ben usually has dinner ready by now.

The long dark hallway that makes up the East Wing is becoming more familiar. I hear voices as I approach the main part of the house, anticipating River already being there. And with a lightness in my chest and a heart fluttering out of control of thinking I’ll see him, I round the corner.

Sebastian, sitting at the counter eating, turns to nod his head in my direction .

Then my eyes land on the man as tall as a tree, donned in all black, leaning against the counter. I’d really like to revisit our conversation about the cameras, because I can’t let him off the hook that easily.

“Lux,” he drawls, flipping his hat backward, causing me to forget about everything I’m thinking about.

Fuck, he’s hot.

Letting my fingertips glide across the large island, I sway over to him, stopping with only inches between us. My eyelids flutter up to his as I try to maintain the confidence I had earlier this morning. “River.”

Staring down at me, he pops a blueberry into his mouth. “Hungry?”

“Very.” I grin.

He brings a blueberry up and glides it across my bottom lip before sliding it in.

My stomach does that flipping thing it does every time I’m around River as I suck the fruit into my mouth. “That tastes good.”

River’s thumb and index finger pinch my chin, tilting my face up to his. “I have something else that’s good for—”

“God, you two,” Sebastian interrupts and picks up his plate. He walks it over to the sink and drops it. “Get a fucking room.”

River and I ignore him. “Ben made you dinner.” He wraps his arms tight around the front of my shoulders. “It’s in the fridge. Do you want me to heat it up for you?”

Slipping my hands into his back pockets, I give his ass a light squeeze. “I would love that. You have a lot of making up to do for the cameras.”

“I know.” He walks over to the refrigerator to grab the pre-made food.

“We’re getting on a call with Hayden to go over logistics for Duncan,” Sebastian tells us, sliding back into the chair at the island. “Is she…” He glances at me then over to River .

With a sigh, River closes the refrigerator, and places the glass dishes on the counter. “Joining the call?”

“Yeah,” Sebastian says.

River looks over at me. “Would you like to be included on this call?”

Shocked, but mildly excited, I agree before either of them can change their minds. “Yes, if that’s okay with both of you.”

River flashes me a wide smile before turning to Sebastian. “Sebastian?”

Sebastian looks over at me, annoyed but not mad which is an improvement from the past. “Yeah, she can be here.”

“Cool, let’s get him on the phone.”

Sebastian opens his laptop and pulls up an app I don’t recognize. A camera opens on the screen similar to the programs that are used by companies for virtual calls.

“Hayden,” River says as Hayden’s face appears on the screen.

“Hello,” he greets in an upbeat tone. “Is that Lux I see?”

I move my head into view. “Hi, Hayden.”

Hayden is around our age and loves to joke around. We’ve been able to get to know each other since we’ve spent a lot of time together waiting outside while the boys got things ready.

“Look at you,” he says. “You’re really becoming part of our operation, aren’t you?”

“She is,” River chimes in.

“I knew I’d eventually wear River down.” My eyes bounce between the guys and they exchange a quick glance humoring me.

“Finally, someone to keep you two in line on the job,” he replies, chuckling.

River rests his hands on the counter, leaning in. “Sebastian sent the game plan to you earlier this morning,” he says with authority, and I inappropriately find it sexy as hell. “Do you have questions?”

“Nope. It looks pretty standard.” His expression shows unease. “The only thing I’m concerned about is they’ll know who you are.”

“Duncan knows who I am and will be expecting me,” he says. “Unfortunately, it’s the only way. Which means, you’ll take all directions from Sebastian to ensure I’m not compromised.”

Sebastian steps in. “Lux will remain in the surveillance van with you, until we get the clear from River for her to come out.”

“Yeah, River won’t let me go near anyone until they’re completely secured.”

“Exactly.” River shoots me a firm glance. “I’m meeting Duncan at the target house at eleven p.m. From there, we’ll have to take it one step at a time since Andrew wasn’t too forthcoming about the details.”

River removes his hat, smooths out his hair, then slides it on backward again.

My eyes trace the features of his face before sliding down his arms. Unapologetically, I let my gaze linger for a moment, appreciating how tightly his T-shirt hugs his biceps.

I swallow hard, forcing myself to refocus on what they’re saying.

“Hughes won’t be there?” Hayden asks.

River rests a steadying hand on my lower back and shakes his head. “No. I didn’t get the feeling he’d show up, but we need to be prepared just in case.”

“We’ll be ready.”

“I will let you and Sebastian work through the remaining details while I take Lux to get her things ready.”

River grabs my dinner, loops his arm around my back, and guides me out of the kitchen.

“Let’s eat in the garden tonight,” he says.

I go along, letting him lead me down the hall. I have a feeling he let me sit in on the call not only because he wants me to be more a part of the team, but he’s also trying to make up for me finding out about the cameras in my townhouse and room.

“How are you feeling about tonight?” River asks once we’re seated at the small white table next to the white roses bushes.

“We need to talk about the cameras, River.” I brush off his question.

He leans back, bending his leg over the other. “I thought we discussed it already.”

“No,” I say. “We fucked.”

River’s eyes lower. “What else would you like to talk about?”

“You put cameras in my house without my knowledge.” I pick my thumbnail, avoiding eye contact with him. “That’s an invasion of my privacy.”

“I needed to keep you safe. And I told you I was sorry for not telling you sooner.”

“It’s a bit controlling, don’t you think?”

“You think I wanted this?” He bends forward. “I never expected to fall for you, Lux. But I did. And if you think I was obsessive about your safety before, you have no idea how much more I am now.”

I draw in a sharp breath at his confession. My heart sinks. It falls from my chest with force. River just admitted to having feelings for me, and I’m speechless. “I don’t know what to say.”

His thumb runs across my lip. “Say you don’t mind my flaws.”

My pulse thrums for him. And even though every moral bone in my body tells me not to accept what he did, I can’t bring myself not to. “I don’t mind your flaws, River. I have feelings for you, too.”

“You do?”

Tears prick the back of my eyelids. “Yes. You are the reason my heart continues to beat and the reason I’m healing. ”

River’s eyebrows knit like he can’t believe what I’m telling him. “I’m healing you?”

I nod through a smile, while a tear rolls down my cheek.

River’s lungs fall as a breath escapes as he leans in to bring his mouth to hover over mine. Chills span my body every time his breath dusts my skin. “Can I kiss you?”

“Yes.”

His warm lips are on mine, peppering my mouth with light kisses, I savor every moment of our contact.

Then he slowly pulls back “You should eat before your food gets cold.”

River watches me with a slight smile as I finish my dinner. Every time our eyes lock, the corner of his upper lip slightly curves like he’s appreciating this sweet moment we had.

I never thought the man in the mask who helped me escape that dreadful night would be on this journey with me, or that we’d develop deep feelings for one another, but I’m so grateful we have.

River is the light in the endless darkness I’ve lived in.