Chapter 6 It’s Just a Casual Fling
Lucius straightened in his chair.
The movement was subtle, but the shift in his attention was unmistakable. His arms unfolded, and he rested one forearm against the table, his broad shoulders angling slightly toward her.
His brows rose a fraction.
“I’m listening.”
There was a faint edge to his voice now, a quiet impatience beneath his otherwise controlled demeanor.
Stella drew a quiet breath before beginning.
“First, we keep our relationship private. Second, there’s no interference in each other’s lives.”
She paused, preparing to state her final condition.
Before she could continue, Lucius interrupted.
“I’ll decide what the third rule is.”
His gaze remained fixed on her, his expression giving nothing away.
Stella's lips pressed into a thin line.
She had been unhappy with the idea when it first occurred to her. It seemed contradictory to the arrangement she had proposed, but she had eventually decided that it was necessary.
“Sure. What is it?”
Lucius leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he waited for her to speak.
“There won’t be another person between you and me.”
Stella’s brows drew together.
Lucius’s gaze remained locked on hers as he continued, his voice low and measured.
“As long as we’re sleeping together, you won’t sleep with anyone else, and I’ll do the same.”
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle between them.
“Whatever exists between us, Ms. Gibson, it stays between us. I don't share what is mine.”
Stella nodded without a second thought.
“Works for me. It’s fine.”
She settled back in her chair, her fingers brushing over the edge of the table before she continued, her voice calm and matter-of-fact.
“If you ever want to date another girl seriously, you have to let me know. And if I want to end this relationship because I want to be with another man, I’ll let you know. If either of us wants to end this arrangement, we’ll end it immediately.”
Lucius stared at her.
His expression remained unreadable, but his gaze sharpened as he listened.
At the mention of her finding another man, his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
The thought of Stella walking away from him again, this time because she had chosen someone else, stirred a possessiveness he had no intention of revealing.
He leaned back in his chair, his arms still folded across his chest, and regarded her in silence.
‘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.
As the machine began to hiss, the café door suddenly chimed.
Ding.
Stella lifted her head, glancing toward the entrance.
A handsome man had just walked inside.
Several women immediately turned in their seats to look at him. Whispers spread through the room. A few women straightened their backs, while others leaned toward their friends, trying to get a better look at the newcomer.
Stella had grown accustomed to hearing such reactions.
A woman seated near the window immediately leaned toward her friend, her eyes fixed on the man as a delighted smile spread across her face.
“I told you! I told you! See, I never lied to you. I told you handsome men come here often.”
She giggled, covering her mouth with her fingers as she continued watching him.
“I didn't know we'd be lucky enough to see three of them in a single day!”
Her friend turned toward the entrance, her eyes widening as she took in the man's appearance.
“Oh my God, he’s so handsome. I think I’ve seen him somewhere before.”
The woman seated across from them rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
“Of course you have. He’s a popular model.”
She picked up her coffee, taking a quick sip before glancing toward the entrance again.
“The only reason I still buy fashion magazines is because of him. Trust me, I know exactly what you’re talking about.”
“Wait, I remember his name. Is it Triston White?”
“Triston Turner.”
“Yes, exactly,” the other woman said, snapping her fingers as though she had finally remembered.
Stella barely paid attention to them. Her attention was already fixed on the man making his way toward the counter.
Triston stopped in front of her, then reached up and removed the cap sitting on his head. He tossed it casually onto the counter before running a hand through his short hair, pushing the slightly tousled strands back from his forehead.
He was dressed entirely in black. His fitted black T-shirt stretched across his muscular chest and broad shoulders, while his black jeans emphasized his tall, powerful frame.
Several silver rings adorned his fingers, catching the light whenever he moved his hands.
A small silver earring pierced the upper edge of one ear, simple enough not to look excessive but striking enough to give his entire appearance an edge.
His looks alone were enough to turn heads, but there was something about the way he walked that made him even more noticeable.
Stella drew in a frustrated breath.
“Oh my God, why are you here today? You know it’s not going to take long before the cameras fill up my restaurant. I’m already so busy today.”
She moved around the café with quick, efficient steps, checking on the customers and glancing impatiently toward Triston.
Triston watched her for a moment before leaning one hip against the counter. He folded his arms, his jaw tightening as he looked at her.
“Do you think I did it on purpose? I’m busy too. You forced me to come here.”
Stella shot him an exasperated look before turning toward one of the employees behind the counter.
“Can you please help me with it?”
“Of course.” The employee immediately nodded and took the coffee mug from her.
Stella rounded the counter and grabbed Triston’s hand.
“Come with me.”
Without waiting for an argument, she pulled him toward the single table at the end of the café, away from most of the customers.
The moment they reached it, Triston looked down at her, his brows drawn together.
“What’s going on with you?”
Stella released his hand and turned to face him.
“What are you talking about?”
Her impatient tone only seemed to irritate him further.
Triston planted both hands on his waist, his fingers hooking near his belt as he stared down at her. At six foot four, he towered over Stella, his height and muscular build making him appear even larger when he stood so close to her.