Page 6 of A Midnight Romance

River

I will be the first to admit my own flaws and hold myself accountable, but one thing I will never apologize for is my protective instincts.

And right now, they are focused on Lux Levinson.

It’s been a week since I dropped her off at her townhouse and have spent each night parked across the street under an overgrown tree that gives me an unobstructed view of her home.

But unfortunately for me, watching Lux through the cameras on my phone is no longer enough to satiate my infatuation.

I need to be near her, touch her, taste her.

The desire to protect her has intensified to a level where I now find myself outside of a self-defense studio on a late afternoon, watching as she walks up the busy sidewalk toward the entrance doors.

Her matching workout clothes hug every curve of her delicious body while her luscious ponytail bounces between her shoulder blades, making my fingers itch with the urge to wrap my hand around it.

She whips her head around a few times, checking her surroundings as if she’s afraid someone might be following her.

I’d much rather her stay locked in her house until Sebastian and I can eliminate the threats, but it’s not like I can walk up to her and demand something like that—or worse, take her for myself.

She reaches for the gym’s front door, and with one more glance over her shoulder, her eyes land directly on my car parked a few feet away.

Although my windows are tinted to the darkest shade legally acceptable, I instinctively duck deeper into my seat and secure my aviator sunglasses to hide my face.

Our gazes meet, and for a moment makes me believe she can see me, but that would be almost impossible.

Lux slips in through the glass doors and disappears for her hour-long class.

Feeling bold and slightly desperate, I take that time to head back to her townhouse only a short distance away.

I pull into the same spot under the tree and after a quick scan of the neighborhood to make sure no one’s around, I step out of my car and head toward the green belt at the back of the homes.

Once I reach her back gate, I flip up the latch and walk onto a small patio.

Potted white roses line one side of the area while others climb a wooden trellis standing next to the sliding glass door.

She would love the gardens at Thompson Manor.

Pushing the fleeting thought away, I slide my laptop from my bag and open my company’s software to jam the signal of the security sensor on the door.

After successfully turning off her security system, I put my laptop back in my bag and quickly glance at the back door lock, which is a typical Mortice lever.

Being familiar with its type, I squat in front of the door and after a few quick movements, a subtle click breaks the quiet afternoon.

Carefully stepping inside, I’m met with the overpowering smell of her. I bathe in it, welcoming the electric shot it sends through my veins.

My boots barely hit the tiled kitchen floor when suddenly the front pocket of my pants vibrates.

“Aunt Mae?” I answer as my eyes scan the small feminine space decorated with monochromatic colors.

“Hi, River. Sensei Clark is here waiting for your martial arts training.”

“I’m on a stakeout right now,” I tell her, heading out of the small eat-in and up the carpeted staircase that leads up to the second floor where Lux’s room is. “Can you coordinate with him another time to come?”

“Sebastian said you two didn’t have anything planned for today and were still waiting for Christian to get back to you with more information,” Aunt Mae huffs out. “And you know if I reschedule with Clark, he’s going to be annoyed.”

There’s no way I can get all the way back there quickly.

I rub the back of my neck, not wanting to explain the object of my recent obsession. She won’t understand, or like Sebastian would—try to talk some sense into me. “It’s something I’m working on alone.”

“You never work on anything alone,” she comments, but there’s a lightness to her voice telling me she is holding back a chuckle.

I briefly poke my head into the bathroom and Lux’s office before something on the wall catches my eye. Walking toward her desk, I see a framed quote and to my surprise, it’s one from my favorite poet, Edgar Allen Poe, “I am a writer. Therefore, I am not sane. ”

My new obsession, a Poe fan? I smile to myself, appreciating a small thing we have in common. And it only makes me even more intrigued by her. I stay in her office for only another second before heading to her bedroom.

“I do on occasion,” I defend, but I’m barely paying attention to what Aunt Mae says when my eyes hone in on Lux’s bed. The comforter is a cream color, fluffy and inviting. I envision her lying softly between the sheets like I’ve watched on the cameras.

“River,” she scolds. “You have enough things on your schedule. You do not need another thing added to it. ”

I close the small distance to where Lux laid last night and I glide my fingers across the soft fabric, imagining what it would be like if she were laying in it now.

“Did Sebastian say something to you?” I ask absentmindedly.

“He told me you’ve been going over to that girl’s house every night for the last week.”

I sit on the edge of Lux’s bed and let my eyes roam over the space.

It’s simply decorated with a long dresser on the adjacent wall and a matching tall one in the corner, but then I notice the closet door ajar and it catches my attention.

I need to get her off the phone so I can enjoy this time in Lux’s house.

“Can you reschedule my session with Sensei Clark for Friday?”

“River, don’t change the subject.”

I lift off the bed and walk toward the closet, pushing the door open to expose rows of shoes and racks of clothing. “Aunt Mae.”

“Fine. I’ll reschedule.”

“Tell him I’ll pay him double for him coming all the way out to the Manor.”

I’m about to end the call when I hear Mae’s distant voice calling my name.

“River?”

“Yes?

“Remember not to get caught up in your impulsivity,” she kindly reminds me.

I sigh and take two fingers, rubbing my temples. “I know, Aunt Mae.”

“See you when you get home,” she says before ending the call.

Morphing into River Thompson, the kindhearted and eccentric billionaire is something I’m good at, even with my aunt. Although she’s aware of our nightly operations, no one truly knows how dark my blood runs.

Not even Sebastian.

And besides, isn’t that the key to lying? Believing it enough yourself first?

Eagerly turning my attention back to the clothes hanging in front of me, I run my fingers along the fabric.

This entire closet is dripping with her scent and despite my best efforts, I cannot help myself but bring one of her sweaters up to my nose.

With a full breath, I take in her scent, enjoying how fucking divine it is.

Before I lose myself here for hours, I pull back and check the time on my watch. I should head out before her class is over, but I stop in my tracks when I notice black lace peeking out of one of her dresser’s drawers. I turn to walk away but stop in my tracks.

Fuck it.

I grab the pair of panties and shove them into my pocket.

Then take the steps two at a time, walk through her kitchen, but stop at her refrigerator. After a quick look around, I sense my time growing short, so I leave through the back door, then quickly lock it behind me. With a quick reset of the alarm, I head back to my car.

Within no time, I park in my usual spot and wait for her to come out.

I watch her walk down the street alone, but as she passes my car, I catch a worried look on her face. That’s when a man, looking no older than her, comes out of the studio and jogs up to her.

Who the fuck is that?

He rests a hand on Lux’s arm and she doesn’t back away. There’s a familiarity between them and although their conversation seems innocent, it doesn’t tamp the rising jealousy boiling inside of me.

Calm down, River. It’s probably only a friend from class .

I almost convince myself this is nothing, until I catch him grinning as he nervously shoves his hands into the front pockets of his unnecessarily tight joggers. He gestures to the coffee shop and against my better judgment, I move to step out of my car when I see her gently shake her head.

Good girl.

I watch Lux head into her car, but instead of following her home like I usually would, I make a U-turn and trail him into the parking garage a few streets down.

Maybe I can have a simple talk with him. Tell him Lux is off-limits.

I park on the lower level and keep a safe distance between us as I tail him to the upper floor where he’s parked. Slipping my mask over my face, I wait for him to reach his car.

Once he does, I rush toward him and with one swift motion, throw my body into his from behind, slamming him into the driver’s side of his BMW.

“What the f—”

His words are cut off when I wrap my arm around his neck, crushing his windpipe.

“It’ll be easier if you stop resisting,” I warn him as he flails under my grip, his hands coming up to my forearms.

He reluctantly eases, and I take the opportunity to shift him so he’s facing me.

“Who are you?”

“Your worst nightmare if you ever speak to Lux again.”

“Lux?” he grits out, his face turning new shades of scarlet as I tighten my grip.

“The woman you asked out.”

When he doesn’t respond, I press my forearm deeper against his throat as he vehemently nods his head in understanding. I keep my arm tightly against his windpipe a few seconds longer, his face turning a deep shade of red, before I finally let him go.

Gasping, he crumbles to his knees, attempting to catch his breath.

I slightly bend down until I’m sure he can hear me. “And I’d suggest you find a new class to attend.”

I don’t have to wait for his answer to know my message was received loud and clear.