Page 34 of King of Rage

‘I want you back in my life. Every moment. Every night. Every second, I want you around me.’

His fingers pressed against his biceps, the only outward sign of the tension building inside him.

‘I want to keep you close until my last breath. I want to marry you, live with you, wake up beside you, and have you with me until I can no longer draw breath.’

His gaze moved over her face, lingering on her eyes before drifting briefly to her lips.

‘But I can't have that.’

The realization settled heavily in his chest.

He had already lost her once. He wasn't going to make the mistake of pushing her away again by demanding more than she was willing to give.

‘So I'll settle for three nights a week for now.’

It was a compromise he had never imagined making.

Lucius was accustomed to getting exactly what he wanted. In business, men twice his age waited for his decisions, and entire companies shifted direction at his command. He had built his life around control, around making certain that nothing slipped beyond his reach.

Yet Stella sat across from him, calmly dictating the terms of their arrangement, and he was forced to accept whatever she was willing to offer.

The thoughts running through his head were wild and completely unrestrained. He had no intention of giving in to them, but every passing second seemed to erode another fragment of his patience.

Lucius lowered his gaze briefly, drawing a measured breath through his nose. Then he looked at her again, his expression settling into its usual composed, impenetrable mask.

“I agree.”

Before Stella could respond, Lucius pushed his chair back and rose to his feet.

He adjusted the cuff of his shirt as he walked around the table, his eyes never leaving her. When he stopped beside her chair, Stella tilted her head back to look up at him.

He placed one hand against the back of her chair and leaned forward, bracing his other palm against the table beside her.

His face was close to hers now. His eyes dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her gaze.

Then he bent down and kissed her.

His mouth covered hers with quiet certainty, his kiss carrying the same decisive authority as his words. He didn't give her time to question the agreement or reconsider her terms. He simply sealed the deal in the way he wanted.

***

Licius café was crowded with people.

Customers moved between the tables and the counter, their conversations blending with the hiss of the coffee machine and the occasional clatter of porcelain. The small café was decorated with simple wooden furnishings, warm lighting, and understated details that gave it a cozy, inviting atmosphere.

There was nothing particularly extravagant about the place, but the quality of its food and coffee had earned it a reputation among the city's wealthier crowd.

More than that, the café was famous for the celebrity-like men who frequented it.

Models, actors, and other well-known faces often walked through its doors, making it common knowledge among the women in the city that the café was a good place to catch a glimpse of someone handsome.

That was probably why it was always so crowded.

Women occupied nearly every table, some chatting over coffee while others seemed far more interested in watching the entrance. A few had even positioned themselves where they could easily see anyone coming inside.

Finding an empty seat was nearly impossible during the café's busiest hours, and the place often remained packed until closing time.

Stella stood behind the counter, preparing a coffee for a customer. She moved through the familiar routine with practiced ease, scooping the coffee grounds into the machine before securing the portafilter in place.