Page 33 of King of Rage

“But this time, I’m the one who has three rules.”

Chapter 6 It’s Just a Casual Fling

Lucius straightened in his chair.

The movement was subtle, but the shift in his attention was unmistakable. His arms unfolded, and he rested one forearm against the table, his broad shoulders angling slightly toward her.

His brows rose a fraction.

“I’m listening.”

There was a faint edge to his voice now, a quiet impatience beneath his otherwise controlled demeanor.

Stella drew a quiet breath before beginning.

“First, we keep our relationship private. Second, there’s no interference in each other’s lives.”

She paused, preparing to state her final condition.

Before she could continue, Lucius interrupted.

“I’ll decide what the third rule is.”

His gaze remained fixed on her, his expression giving nothing away.

Stella's lips pressed into a thin line.

She had been unhappy with the idea when it first occurred to her. It seemed contradictory to the arrangement she had proposed, but she had eventually decided that it was necessary.

“Sure. What is it?”

Lucius leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he waited for her to speak.

“There won’t be another person between you and me.”

Stella’s brows drew together.

Lucius’s gaze remained locked on hers as he continued, his voice low and measured.

“As long as we’re sleeping together, you won’t sleep with anyone else, and I’ll do the same.”

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle between them.

“Whatever exists between us, Ms. Gibson, it stays between us. I don't share what is mine.”

Stella nodded without a second thought.

“Works for me. It’s fine.”

She settled back in her chair, her fingers brushing over the edge of the table before she continued, her voice calm and matter-of-fact.

“If you ever want to date another girl seriously, you have to let me know. And if I want to end this relationship because I want to be with another man, I’ll let you know. If either of us wants to end this arrangement, we’ll end it immediately.”

Lucius stared at her.

His expression remained unreadable, but his gaze sharpened as he listened. At the mention of her finding another man, his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. The thought of Stella walking away from him again, this time because she had chosen someone else, stirred a possessiveness he had no intention of revealing.

He leaned back in his chair, his arms still folded across his chest, and regarded her in silence.