Page 80 of King of Rage

Lucius’s brows drew together. A bitter scoff escaped him as he stepped back and leaned against the car, folding his arms across his chest.

“Nothing more than sex?” His gaze sharpened on her. “You are saying that I was the one who wanted nothing more than sex?!”

Stella turned toward him, confusion crossing her face. Before she could ask what he meant, Lucius reached into his jacket and pulled out a stack of papers.

The instant she saw them, her expression changed.

She recognized the documents immediately. They were the papers she had filed to settle in London.

“Where did you get those?” she demanded, her eyes widening.

Lucius held the documents between his fingers, watching her closely.

“So this time, you’re not leaving Manhattan for just a year?” His voice hardened. “You’re leaving me for good?”

Stella didn’t answer. Her lips parted, but no words came. Instead, she turned away, refusing to meet his eyes.

The silence only stoked his anger.

Lucius’s jaw clenched. Then, with a sudden, furious movement, he tore the documents apart. The sharp sound of ripping paper broke through the quiet as he shredded the pages and let the pieces fall from his hands.

Stella stared at him, stunned.

“Lucius—”

He didn’t give her a chance to say anything more. He stepped forward, caught her by the waist, and pulled her against him, his eyes burning with anger and desperation.

“Stella, I’m not letting you leave me again. I might not mean anything to you, but you are my everything.”

Stella shoved both hands against Lucius’s chest, her anger surging as she glared up at him.

“What are you talking about?” Her fingers curled into his shirt as she pushed against him again. “Don’t turn our relationship into something it wasn’t. Ending this now is better than letting either of us get more involved. We agreed to this arrangement, and now you have no right to stop me from walking away.”

Lucius’s expression darkened. A muscle jumped in his jaw as his grip on her tightened.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” he demanded, lowering his face toward hers. “That I mean nothing to you? You used me, and now you think you can just walk out of my life?”

Stella shoved against his chest again, forcing herself to look away from the intensity in his eyes.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she glared at him.

Lucius’s nostrils flared. He caught both her wrists before she could push him again, his gaze fixed on her with a mixture of frustration and desperation.

“Stella, do you really have to keep pushing me away like this?” he asked, his voice turning dangerously low. “Do you have any idea what the fuck you’re making me feel? You treat me like I’m some goddamn dog begging for a scrap of your attention.”

“Yes!” she shouted, her voice cracking beneath the force of her anger. “That’s exactly what you are to me!”

She yanked against his hold, her eyes flashing with tears she refused to let fall.

“I’m a monster, Lucius. Now let go of me!”

She twisted in his arms and shoved against his chest, fighting to break free, but Lucius refused to release her. His expression hardened as he pulled her against him, wrapping both arms around her and holding her tightly, as though he could keep her from leaving simply by refusing to let her go.

“Stella—”

She continued fighting him, her palms pressed against his chest as she tried to break free. Lucius placed one hand against the back of her head, cradling it as he lowered his voice.

“Calm down, darling. Please.” He held her firmly, his cheek brushing against her hair. “That’s not what I meant. Why can’t you understand? I just want to be with you.”