Page 89 of King of Rage

A disbelieving smile slowly touched his mouth.

He reached for her, cupping her face between his hands and drawing her toward him.

“Answer me, Stella,” he whispered, his voice rough with emotion.

Before she could even take another breath, he lowered his head and kissed her.

His mouth covered hers with a desperation that stole her breath. He kissed her as though he had been starving for her for the past year, pressing his lips against hers, then parting them to deepen the kiss. His tongue brushed against hers, warm and wet, tasting her as though he needed to make certain she was real.

Stella gasped softly against his mouth.

He caught the sound with another kiss.

His lips moved over hers again, slower for a moment, before he caught her lower lip between his teeth in a gentle bite and pulled it back. The small gesture sent a shiver through her. He released her only to drag his tongue over the place he'd bitten, soothing the tenderness before kissing her again.

One hand remained against her cheek while the other slipped around her waist, pulling her tightly against him. His body was warm against hers, his breathing uneven, his mouth moving over hers with all the emotion he had spent the past year trying to bury.

Stella made a startled sound against his lips, her hands instinctively pressing against his chest. But when Lucius tightened his arms around her and drew her closer, she stopped resisting.

Her fingers curled into his shirt.

And she kissed him back.

The moment she did, something in him seemed to break. His kiss grew deeper, more intimate, his lips lingering over hers before he kissed the corner of her mouth, then returned to her lips as though he couldn't bear to be even an inch away from her.

When he finally pulled back, their foreheads rested together.

Both of them were breathing hard.

Lucius looked into her eyes, his thumb brushing slowly across her cheek.

The anger that had consumed him moments ago was gone.

All that remained was relief, raw and overwhelming, and the fierce, aching love he had never managed to escape.

***

“You know what? My family also owns hotels and restaurants.” Amara grinned at Stella, her eyes bright with excitement. “We should definitely collaborate and do business together. I can’t wait.”

“That would be great.” Stella smiled just as brightly. “I’m already in the process of expanding, so definitely. With Hawk Industries, it could be on a much bigger scale.”

Her red curls fell across her face as she smiled, her excitement obvious in her expression.

Around the table at Magnolia’s, the atmosphere was warm and lively despite the dim lighting. The elegant restaurant was one of the most exclusive places in the city, the kind of establishment people saved for special occasions.

The large round table was covered with an impressive spread of expensive dishes, including lobster, fresh fish, and perfectly prepared steaks. Amara, Juliet, Cassian, Elias, Triston, Lucius, and Stella were all seated around it, their conversation flowing easily as they enjoyed the evening.

Stella sat beside Lucius, while Amara sat across from them, her attention fixed on Triston.

“I still can’t get over how handsome you are,” Amara said with a bright smile.

The moment the words left her mouth, she suddenly flinched.

Her head snapped toward Elias.

He was already looking at her.

His expression remained composed, but the warning in his eyes was sharp. He leaned slightly toward her and murmured something under his breath.