Chapter 15 I Don’t Want to Lose You Again #2
“You were so busy all the time with your work that you forgot about me the moment you left my house. I wanted to see you. I liked seeing you around me. I liked having you in my office.”
His voice softened, and his hand moved slowly along her waist.
“Back then, it was my fault for not making our relationship clear and not telling you everything. I was bad at understanding my emotions, and I was even worse at showing them.”
He paused, his eyes holding hers.
“It was all my fault. I know that now.”
His fingers brushed lightly against her side as he drew her closer.
“But now I don’t want to lose you again. I don’t want you to leave me like that again. I want to be with you clearly, and I want you to know that I want you.”
Lucius shifted until they were facing each other. Stella looked up into his eyes, while he gazed down at her with an intensity that made it difficult for her to look away.
His expression was serious now.
“I’ll do whatever you want in the future,” he said quietly. “Our relationship will be the way you want it to be. You’ll have control over my life, Stella.”
He lifted a hand and brushed his fingers along her cheek.
“So, Stella, can you be mine now? I really want to marry you. Please, can we get married?”
His arms tightened around her, holding her close.
“I don’t want to lose you again.”
Stella was overwhelmed by the intensity of his closeness. Lucius gazed at her with a tenderness she had rarely seen in him, his expression softening as his fingertips brushed along her wrist.
His lips feathered over hers as he spoke, barely more than a whisper.
“Please say yes. You still haven’t given me an answer. You’re torturing me, Stella.”
He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a lingering kiss against her wrist. His lips moved higher along her arm before he lowered his head, his kisses trailing toward her neck.
Stella's breath caught.
There was something almost vulnerable in the way he was looking at her, as though her answer mattered more to him than anything else in the world.
She couldn’t resist him any longer.
Turning her face toward him, she met his lips with hers.
Lucius kissed her immediately, his hand sliding around her waist as though he had been waiting for permission to pull her closer. The kiss deepened, and when they fell back onto the bed together, Stella felt his arms tighten around her.
But this time, she shifted above him and looked down into his eyes, a playful smile touching her lips.
“This time, I’ll take control.”
Lucius's eyebrows lifted, amusement flashing across his face.
Before he could say anything, Stella caught his hands and held them above his head. She leaned down and kissed him, lingering against his lips.
For a moment, Lucius simply stared at her.
Then he smiled.
It was such a bright, genuine smile that Stella couldn't help smiling too. He looked almost ridiculously happy, as though she had just given him everything he had ever wanted.
She kissed him again, and he closed his eyes, surrendering completely to her.
***
Lucius sat comfortably on the couch, a contented smile lingering on his face as he held Stella's hand in his.
He couldn't seem to stop touching her.
His thumb moved back and forth over her fingers, tracing them absentmindedly while his gaze kept dropping to the ring on her hand. Every few moments, he lifted their hands together, comparing hers with his as though he still couldn't quite believe what he was seeing.
Stella sat beside him, looking through the gifts scattered across the table.
Their wedding bands were simple gold rings, nearly identical except for their size. Hers was smaller and more delicate, while his was wider and distinctly masculine.
Lucius turned her hand slightly, watching the light catch against the gold.
His eyes softened.
Seeing that ring on her finger made him happier than he was willing to admit.
He slowly twisted the band around her finger, then looked at it again. A faint smile tugged at his mouth.
He still couldn't believe she was wearing his ring.
When Stella finally pulled her hand away to reach for another gift, Lucius reluctantly released it, his gaze following her fingers.
“All right, I’m going shopping with Juliet,” she said, setting one of the gifts aside. “I’ll see you this evening.”
Lucius immediately reached for her hand again.
“Why do you need to go shopping?” he asked, already sitting forward. “I’ll come with you.”
He stood, looking completely serious about the idea.
Stella smiled and let out an exasperated breath, shaking her head.
“No. You cannot come. We’re doing girly stuff.”
She rose from the couch and stepped closer to him. Then she leaned down, cupped his cheek, and pressed a soft kiss to it.
“And I’ll buy something special that you can see me in tonight.”
She pulled back, and Lucius’s expression immediately changed. A pleased smile spread across his face, softening the hard features that usually made him look so intimidating.
“All right, then. I approve.” His eyes narrowed playfully as he looked at her. “You’re promising me a surprise?”
Stella smiled. “I am.”
“Then I don’t mind letting you go.”
She laughed softly and waved her hand.
“Bye. See you tonight.”
She blew him a kiss before turning and walking away.
Lucius caught the gesture with a faint smile, his expression softening as he watched her disappear through the doorway. His eyes followed her until she was completely out of sight.