Page 53 of King of Rage

He was already standing close.

Before she could say anything, Lucius stepped toward her, closing the remaining distance between them. His hand settled around her waist, and with a sudden movement, he backed her against the wall.

“Lucius—”

He lowered his head and captured her mouth in a kiss.

Stella's hands instinctively rose between them, but he caught both her wrists and pressed them gently against the wall on either side of her head.

Then his mouth was on hers again.

He kissed her repeatedly, each kiss lingering longer than the last, as though he had been holding himself back all night and had finally run out of patience. His body remained pressed close to hers, his hand still secured around her wrist while his other arm held her against him.

Stella turned her face away for a breath, but Lucius followed, brushing his lips against the corner of her mouth before capturing it again.

After he pulled away for the third time, she finally managed to whisper, “Stop. Don’t make any noise; my aunt and Shane are asleep in the house.”

Lucius held her hands tightly, his grip both possessive and desperate. He towered over her, his height casting a shadow that felt both intimidating and thrilling. His eyes were dark and hungry, glistening with an intensity she had never seen before.

Traces of her lipstick smeared across his mouth. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin, and she could sense the weight of his longing.

“You promised me we’d sleep together on the weekends,” he murmured, his voice low and thick with emotion. “It’s Friday night.”

She felt the heat radiating from him, intoxicating yet overwhelming, making it hard to think straight. The way he kissed her, so selfishly, left her weak and breathless, as if he was siphoning away her resolve.

As she struggled to pull away from him, it became increasingly clear that he wasn’t about to relent. The more she tried to pull away, the tighter his hold became, wrapping around her like a cocoon. Panic fluttered in her chest.

“If you don’t agree to keep quiet, I’ll make you leave right now,” she warned, attempting to sound firm despite the tremor in her voice.

His expression shifted, softening into something almost pitiable.

“Darling, I’m so drunk. How can you throw me out like this on a cold, freezing night?” His eyes searched hers, as if he were a lost soul seeking refuge, and she felt a rush of conflicting emotions.

Taking a deep breath, she fought to steady her racing heart, trying to suppress the feelings he stirred within her. With a sudden burst of determination, she pulled her wrists from his grasp and pushed against his chest, urging him back. “You can sleep on the couch and leave early in the morning before anyone wakes up.”

He stepped closer again, capturing her wrists once more, his face lowering near hers. He pressed his palms against the wall beside her head, effectively trapping her in place.

“I don’t want to sleep on the couch. Can I sleep with you in your bed?” he whispered, his voice laced with seduction, his breath mingling with hers.

She could see the desire etched across his features, and it made her pulse quicken. It was as if he believed that kissing her was the only way to breathe, and the tension was so palpable it left her gasping for air. Yet she pushed against him again, desperate to escape the intoxicating pull he had on her.

“It’s the couch or nothing,” she insisted, her voice shaky as she turned and fled toward the kitchen, needing distance.

Lucius’s expression darkened, frustration and desire flickering across his face as he struggled to contain himself. He didn't follow Stella into the kitchen. Instead, he turned away, swaying slightly as he made his way toward the living room.

He dropped onto the massive cream-colored sofa and let his head fall back against the cushions, closing his eyes for a moment as he tried to steady himself.

The apartment was anything but ordinary. Spacious and impeccably designed, it had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, dark wood floors, a sleek marble coffee table, warm recessed lighting, and artwork arranged carefully along the walls.

When Lucius finally lifted his head, his gaze wandered around the room.

That was when he noticed the photographs.

A collection of large, beautifully framed photographs occupied one section of the living room, but the more he looked, the more he realized they weren't limited to one wall. There were photographs scattered throughout the apartment, displayed on shelves, side tables, and other carefully chosen spaces.

All of them featured Shane.

Lucius's eyes narrowed.