Page 91 of King of Rage

Then Lucius nuzzled his face deeper into the curve of her neck.

Stella turned toward him, her expression immediately softening. She reached up and rested her palm against his cheek, studying his face.

“Are you okay? Do you need something?”

She slipped an arm around him, trying to help him straighten, but then she felt his hand slide up her leg.

Her breath caught.

Her dress was short, and his hand easily slipped beneath the hem, moving higher along her thigh.

Stella’s eyes widened as she realized what he was doing. She immediately caught his wrist.

“Lucius…”

Instead of stopping, he smoothly slipped his hand free of her grasp and continued, his touch making her breath hitch. His hand moved higher, and a soft, involuntary whimper escaped her before she could stop it.

She went completely still, her cheeks burning.

Her heart began pounding as she glanced around the table. Everyone was absorbed in their own conversations, laughing and talking, completely unaware of what Lucius was doing beneath the table.

His rough palm moved over her skin, leaving her struggling to keep her composure.

She looked down at him again, almost disbelievingly.

Yet Lucius looked perfectly innocent.

His eyes were half-closed, his head resting against her, as though he were too drunk to know what he was doing. But the faint curve at the corner of his mouth betrayed him.

When his hand began moving higher again, Stella abruptly shot to her feet.

“I think Lucius is drunk,” she said quickly, smoothing down her dress with one hand. “I should take him home.”

Lucius finally lifted his head and looked up at her.

Then, as though he had suddenly run out of strength, he lowered his head again and rested it against her stomach, his eyes closing as he breathed slowly.

Seeing them, Cassian pushed his chair back and stood.

“I’ll help you to the car,” he offered.

He came around the table and helped Lucius get to his feet, pulling one of Lucius’s arms over his own shoulders. He slipped an arm around Lucius’s waist to steady him.

Lucius lifted his head and looked at him.

Their eyes met.

A silent understanding passed between them.

Then Cassian abruptly handed Lucius back to Stella, adjusting him until he was leaning against her instead.

“You can manage it on your own, right?”

Lucius closed his eyes again, a faint frown settling across his face as he concealed the smile threatening to appear.

Stella looked between the two men, clearly surprised by the sudden change. After a moment, she nodded.

“Y-yes. I’ll manage.”