Page 19 of King of Rage

Catherine had watched the entire exchange.

The moment she saw Lucius’s reaction to Stella, her expression changed. Stella had left Manhattan a year ago, and now she was back. Judging by the anger twisting Lucius’s features, it was clear that her return had affected him far more than Catherine had ever imagined.

When Stella and Lucius disappeared from view, Catherine turned toward Shane.

“Would you like to have dinner with me?” Catherine asked sweetly, her voice taking on a deliberately girlish tone as she stepped closer to Shane.

Shane immediately took a step back. He shook his head, his expression revealing clear disgust, then turned and walked out of the restaurant without another word.

Catherine’s face tightened with embarrassment and frustration. She clenched her hands at her sides, stamped her foot, and stormed out after him.

Lucius dragged Stella into a private dining room. He pushed open the door, pulled her inside, and slammed it shut behind them. The lock clicked into place.

The room was warmly lit, with a large dining table at its center. White linen covered the tabletop, which had been set with polished cutlery and fine dinnerware. Candlelight cast a soft glow across the intimate, romantic space.

Lucius barely noticed any of it.

The moment they were inside, he turned toward Stella, caught her by the waist, and backed her against the edge of the table. He planted one hand beside her and leaned closer, his face hardening as jealousy burned in his eyes.

“You slept with me last night, and now you’re having dinner with another man?” he demanded, his voice edged with anger.

Stella shoved against his chest, her eyes flashing.

“You need to mind your own business. What does it matter who I have dinner with? It’s not as though you’re here alone. You’re on a date with another woman, too, so stop acting as if I’ve betrayed you.”

She pushed harder against him.

“We’re not in a relationship, and I need you to remember that. You were the one who made the rule that we would become strangers once we broke up. So why do you keep forcing your way back into my life when you can’t even follow your own rules?”

Lucius’s expression grew darker.

Stella shoved him away and tried to move past him, but he caught her before she could get far. His hand closed around her waist, and he pulled her back against the table.

The next second, his hand came up to cradle her face, and he kissed her. His hungry mouth moved over hers with rough urgency, capturing her lower lip between his teeth before sucking on it. Then he coaxed her into doing the same to him, the kiss consuming them both, just as it had every other time he kissed her like he couldn’t bear to give her a choice, surrender control, or let anything remain beyond his reach.

But even after he finally lifted his mouth from hers, he wasn’t satisfied.

“You told me I could sleep with you once in return,” he murmured, his soft, erotic voice sending a shiver through her entire body.

He lowered his face again, as though starving for more, and brushed his lips over hers, coaxing her into another kiss. The moment their lips touched, however, Stella turned her head away.

“Not today. I have to go back home,” she whispered, her voice breaking as she struggled to catch her breath.

Lucius looked as though her words were the last thing he had wanted to hear. Still, he forced his anger down. His hand softened against her face as he leaned in again, this time pressing his lips to her cheek with careful tenderness.

Before he could kiss her again, Stella pushed against his shoulders. Then she slipped past him and walked out of the room.

Lucius remained where he was, watching her back until she disappeared from view. His hands clenched against the table as he fought the urge to follow her, forcing himself to stay exactly where he was.

It was nearly midnight when Stella, dressed in her nightclothes, prepared for bed. After filling a bottle with water, she set it on the table and poured herself a glass. She had just taken a sip when Darla entered the living room.

Darla was her mother’s younger sister. Because Stella’s mother was ill and had insisted that Darla check on her regularly, Darla had been visiting every few days to make sure Stella was comfortable and had everything she needed.

As Stella set the glass down, Darla said, “Don’t worry. I already checked on Shane. He is asleep now.”

Darla glanced toward the room where Shane was sleeping. “He told me he has a surgery tomorrow and doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

She still looked troubled. She stepped closer to Stella, then leaned toward her and glanced once more at the room where Shane was sleeping. Lowering her voice so he wouldn’t hear, she whispered, “Stella, why don’t you get back together with Lucius?”