Chapter 8 Take Me With You #3
Lucius remained where he was, his broad shoulders rising and falling as he looked at her with a dazed expression. His normally sharp features were softened by the alcohol, but there was still something commanding in the way his dark eyes remained fixed on her.
Then he stepped toward her again.
“Stella,” he called, his voice rough and low.
She immediately stepped back again, creating more distance between them.
Stella stared at him in confusion.
Catherine was right there. If Catherine was the woman he was supposed to marry, then why was he still calling her name? Why was he still coming toward her? Why was he kissing her instead of Catherine?
The questions ran through her mind as she let out a quiet breath and looked away from him.
She turned to leave the room.
Lucius moved after her immediately.
Before she could get far, his arms wrapped around her from behind, his broad chest pressing against her back as he held her close.
“Don’t leave me here alone,” he said, his voice low and tired. “I want to go with you.”
Stella stiffened and immediately tried to free herself from his arms.
“Lucius, let go of me,” she insisted.
He refused to release her.
“I’m going to go wherever you are going,” he insisted, his voice carrying the stubborn certainty of a man accustomed to getting what he wanted. “Take me with you.”
Catherine was furious.
“How can you do this to me?” she demanded, her voice rising. “I told you we are about to get married, and you still kissed him?! Stop kissing him. He doesn’t like it. You are—”
Her words tumbled out in anger, but despite her fury, she still did not dare step closer to Lucius.
Stella continued struggling against Lucius’s hold.
“Let go of me,” she insisted again.
But Lucius’s arms remained securely around her.
“No,” he said again. “Take me with you.”
Finally, Stella realized she had no choice.
She turned around, reached for his hand, and took it in hers.
“Fine!” she said sharply.
Then she started toward the door.
Lucius followed immediately, his fingers closing firmly around Stella’s hand as he fell into step beside her. There was a relief in his expression, as though the only thing that mattered to him now was getting out of the club with her.
He guided her toward the exit, keeping her close at his side.
Triston followed a few steps behind them, glancing back once before finally leaving the room as well.
Catherine remained where she was.
Her face burned with anger as she watched Lucius walk away with Stella, but her shouting had already become meaningless. Lucius didn't even look back.
The doors closed behind them, cutting off the noise from inside and leaving Catherine standing in the room, furious and humiliated.
Triston led them toward the car. He opened the door for Stella first, then waited for Lucius to get in before walking around to the driver's side.
The drive to Stella's apartment was quiet. Lucius remained beside her, his hand still holding hers as though he had no intention of letting go anytime soon.
When they finally arrived, Triston drove them directly to the apartment building and pulled up near the entrance.
Before getting out of the car, Stella turned toward Triston.
“You should go home now. I’ll handle it from here.”
Triston frowned, his eyes briefly shifting toward Lucius before returning to her. “Are you sure?”
Stella nodded. “You have a shoot tomorrow. Go get some rest.”
Triston hesitated for a moment before finally sighing and nodding. “All right.”
Stella opened the door and stepped out, with Lucius following immediately after her. She glanced back once at Triston before turning toward the building, Lucius falling into step beside her.
Triston stayed in the car, watching the two of them walk through the entrance together. Only after the doors closed behind them did he start the engine and pull away from the curb, disappearing into the night.
Lucius stayed close to Stella as they stepped into the elevator, still heavily drunk and seemingly unwilling to let her out of his reach.
One arm was wrapped firmly around her waist while his other hand remained hooked around her arm. He rested his head against the top of hers, his body leaning into her.
Stella shifted beneath his weight, trying to free one arm.
“Lucius,” she murmured, glancing up at him. “Let me go for a second.”
Instead of listening, he tightened his hold and pulled her closer, nuzzling his face against her hair near her ear.
Stella sighed.
He clearly had no intention of cooperating. The longer they stood there, the more stubbornly he clung to her, making it nearly impossible for her to move.
When the elevator finally reached her floor, Stella managed to guide him out. He stayed pressed against her side as they made their way down the hallway, his arm never leaving her waist.
By the time they reached her apartment, Stella had almost given up trying to make him let go.
She unlocked the door and pushed it open. The apartment was dark and quiet. She reached for the light switch, then paused. Her gaze moved toward the hallway.
“Shane?” she called softly.