Page 32 of Touch In The Dark

~20~

Harper

After getting into a heated discussion about my position at Black, Worth, and Shell, I found myself torn between telling him to go to hell and doing as he said. As I stared blankly at the mirror in his bathroom, I couldn’t help but wonder what my life would be, knowing I would never have the chance to get the credit I deserved by having my name alongside three of the top attorneys in Chicago.

Even though River hadn’t gone into sordid details about his association with Jed Turner and why he tried to blackmail him, it wasn’t my place to ask. What he did share with me was that Jed Turner finally got what he deserved. It made me think that maybe Turner International and Turner Investments weren’t the same company, and it was only a coincidence that they shared the same name. Maybe Scott Turner and Jed Turner weren’t even related and River was worrying about nothing.

After splashing my face with water, if only to clear my head, I stepped out of the bathroom, engulfed by the delicious smell of something amazing. When I reached the large kitchen, I found River standing in front of the stove stirring something inside a copper pan. I stepped up behind him and hugged him from behind.

“Smells delicious. Can I help you with anything?” I asked as I tried to see what smelled so good.

“Why don’t you pour us a glass of wine?” he suggested, his gaze drifting toward the counter where a bottle and two glasses sat waiting. “And perhaps some music. There are records in the cabinet by the fireplace.”

I gladly obliged, pouring each of us a generous glass of deep crimson liquid before taking mine to explore his music collection. As I opened the cabinet, I was surprised to see rows upon rows of vinyl records—a sight that felt both nostalgic and foreign. Most of my music collection consisted of digital tracks on my phone or smart TV. As I thumbed through his collection, I couldn’t help but wonder how much these records were worth—they seemed like rare treasures from a bygone era. Each album cover was in impeccable condition, as if they had never been touched.

“Are you sure you want me to choose something to play? What if they get scratched?” I called out to him across the room.

“What’s the point of having a record collection if you can’t enjoy it?” he responded with a hearty laugh.

After searching for a bit, I carefully selected an album of Billy Joel’s greatest hits and gently placed it on the turntable next to the cabinet. After turning on the player and placing the needle on the record’s edge, the smooth melodies of a piano filled the space, soon joined by Billy Joel’s distinctive soulful tenor voice. The warm sound washed over me, enveloping me in its rich tones. It was like stepping back in time and experiencing music in its purest form.

I took a seat on the couch and sipped my wine while I enjoyed the music. Every so often I sang along with some of the words to Innocent Man, while humming the rest. How I would love to see him in concert! I bet it would be amazing.

Downing the rest of my wine and feeling a slight buzz, I pushed from the couch to pour myself another glass. River was in the process of plating our food, which let me know dinner was ready. His glass of wine was empty, so I poured him another glass.

“Dinner is almost ready,” he said as he turned his body toward the refrigerator. “Go ahead and have a seat at the table and I’ll bring the food.”

Grabbing both glasses of wine, I headed toward the long dining table. The silverware had already been set, so I placed his glass of wine at the head and took a seat next to where he would be sitting. When he brought the food and placed a plate in front of me, my mouth watered at the sight. If I hadn’t known better, I would have thought I was at some gourmet restaurant. The presentation on the plate was spectacular—almost making me want to not mess it up.

“This looks amazing,” I admitted as I placed my napkin on my lap and picked up my fork.

River didn’t take a seat right away. Instead, he walked back to the kitchen to retrieve a large glass bowl of salad already mixed with a vinaigrette dressing. Once he placed it on the table, I wasted no time helping myself to a healthy portion. This was a meal I was never going to forget.

My stomach ached with the satisfied weight of the delicious dinner River had meticulously prepared for us. I never would have guessed that lamb cutlets could taste so heavenly. As we settled onto the plush couch, he selected another record to play, one that I didn’t recognize but was intrigued by. The music filled the room, gently caressing our ears with its soothing melody.

With my third glass of wine finished, I leaned into River’s embrace, reveling in his warmth and the scent of his cologne. The moment felt utterly perfect, yet there was an underlying tension between us that I couldn’t ignore. I knew we needed to address it eventually—his unwavering insistence on me resigning from Black, Worth, and Shell. But for now, I simply wanted to enjoy this moment with him.

Closing my eyes, I let the music wash over me, losing myself in its ethereal beauty. Tomorrow would be a different story, as I planned to tell him that I couldn’t give up my job because of Drake or his deceased father. After all, Drake had been working at Sidney’s company for two years now without any threat toward me. Except for the one unsettling incident at my apartment, Drake had only acted as a thorn in my side. I had to believe that his behavior from the other night was just a product of alcohol and that he wouldn’t have crossed any boundaries while sober. I also had to believe there was no connection between him and Turner Investments.

Nestled against River’s warm shoulder, I focused on the soft strains of music and nothing else. The warmth from his body seeped into mine, creating a sense of safety and comfort. As the notes lulled me into a relaxed state, I drifted off into a deep sleep.

~

I woke up the next morning wearing only my panties and a large gray t-shirt. I faintly remembered River carrying me to bed and undressing me. River’s arm was draped over my waist and I felt his firm body pressed against me, but something even harder pushed against my ass.

I turned to face him, only to see he was already awake. “Good morning,” I whispered roughly, feeling like I ate a bowl of cotton.

“How do you feel?” he asked as he rubbed my shoulder before placing a gentle kiss on it.

“Like I need to get up and brush my teeth and then take a shower,” I replied, raising my hand to my mouth.

“Later,” River stated as he lowered my hand and placed a kiss on it.

I felt uncomfortable as I watched his lips move toward mine. I caved in my embarrassment and allowed him to kiss me. The kiss was slow and erotic as his teeth dragged across my lower lip. Before we went any further, he grabbed the hem of my t-shirt and lifted it up over my head.

He scrambled on top of me, his strong hands quickly pinning mine above my head. The weight of his body pressed down on me, making it difficult to move or resist. “Do you want me to go with you to work today for support when you tell Sidney you are resigning?” he asked, his voice low and urgent.

“No!” I gasped, trying to push him off of me. But he was insistent, keeping me firmly pinned down as he trailed kisses along my neck, down to my exposed breasts.

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