Chapter 9 Maybe We Can Just Move On
There was no answer.
She glanced toward the bedrooms. Both doors were closed, and the apartment remained completely silent. Shane and Aunt Darla were probably asleep.
Satisfied that she wouldn't disturb anyone, Stella stepped inside and quietly closed the door behind her.
Lucius followed her in.
The moment the door clicked shut, she turned around.
He was already standing close.
Before she could say anything, Lucius stepped toward her, closing the remaining distance between them. His hand settled around her waist, and with a sudden movement, he backed her against the wall.
“Lucius—”
He lowered his head and captured her mouth in a kiss.
Stella's hands instinctively rose between them, but he caught both her wrists and pressed them gently against the wall on either side of her head.
Then his mouth was on hers again.
He kissed her repeatedly, each kiss lingering longer than the last, as though he had been holding himself back all night and had finally run out of patience. His body remained pressed close to hers, his hand still secured around her wrist while his other arm held her against him.
Stella turned her face away for a breath, but Lucius followed, brushing his lips against the corner of her mouth before capturing it again.
After he pulled away for the third time, she finally managed to whisper, “Stop. Don’t make any noise; my aunt and Shane are asleep in the house.”
Lucius held her hands tightly, his grip both possessive and desperate. He towered over her, his height casting a shadow that felt both intimidating and thrilling. His eyes were dark and hungry, glistening with an intensity she had never seen before.
Traces of her lipstick smeared across his mouth. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin, and she could sense the weight of his longing.
“You promised me we’d sleep together on the weekends,” he murmured, his voice low and thick with emotion. “It’s Friday night.”
She felt the heat radiating from him, intoxicating yet overwhelming, making it hard to think straight. The way he kissed her, so selfishly, left her weak and breathless, as if he was siphoning away her resolve.
As she struggled to pull away from him, it became increasingly clear that he wasn’t about to relent. The more she tried to pull away, the tighter his hold became, wrapping around her like a cocoon. Panic fluttered in her chest.
“If you don’t agree to keep quiet, I’ll make you leave right now,” she warned, attempting to sound firm despite the tremor in her voice.
His expression shifted, softening into something almost pitiable.
“Darling, I’m so drunk. How can you throw me out like this on a cold, freezing night?” His eyes searched hers, as if he were a lost soul seeking refuge, and she felt a rush of conflicting emotions.
Taking a deep breath, she fought to steady her racing heart, trying to suppress the feelings he stirred within her.
With a sudden burst of determination, she pulled her wrists from his grasp and pushed against his chest, urging him back.
“You can sleep on the couch and leave early in the morning before anyone wakes up.”
He stepped closer again, capturing her wrists once more, his face lowering near hers. He pressed his palms against the wall beside her head, effectively trapping her in place.
“I don’t want to sleep on the couch. Can I sleep with you in your bed?” he whispered, his voice laced with seduction, his breath mingling with hers.
She could see the desire etched across his features, and it made her pulse quicken.
It was as if he believed that kissing her was the only way to breathe, and the tension was so palpable it left her gasping for air.
Yet she pushed against him again, desperate to escape the intoxicating pull he had on her.
“It’s the couch or nothing,” she insisted, her voice shaky as she turned and fled toward the kitchen, needing distance.
Lucius’s expression darkened, frustration and desire flickering across his face as he struggled to contain himself. He didn't follow Stella into the kitchen. Instead, he turned away, swaying slightly as he made his way toward the living room.
He dropped onto the massive cream-colored sofa and let his head fall back against the cushions, closing his eyes for a moment as he tried to steady himself.
The apartment was anything but ordinary. Spacious and impeccably designed, it had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, dark wood floors, a sleek marble coffee table, warm recessed lighting, and artwork arranged carefully along the walls.
When Lucius finally lifted his head, his gaze wandered around the room.
That was when he noticed the photographs.
A collection of large, beautifully framed photographs occupied one section of the living room, but the more he looked, the more he realized they weren't limited to one wall.
There were photographs scattered throughout the apartment, displayed on shelves, side tables, and other carefully chosen spaces.
All of them featured Shane.
Lucius's eyes narrowed.
He slowly lifted his head higher, looking from one photograph to another, his gaze lingering on every smiling image of the man who had somehow become such a prominent part of Stella's life.
Every photograph seemed to drive another nail into Lucius's already frayed patience.
His jaw tightened as he stared at them.
Even in an apartment that belonged to Stella, Shane's presence was everywhere.
And Lucius fucking hated it.
Moments later, Stella returned with a glass of water in her hand.
Lucius immediately straightened on the couch, forcing his expression into something calmer.
He didn't want her to see the jealousy and frustration still simmering beneath the surface.
More than anything, he didn't want to give her another reason to pull away from him.
Losing her once had already been more than he could bear.
As she approached, he adjusted his posture, smiling at her.
“You have to leave in the morning,” she reminded him, holding the glass out to him. Her voice was steady, though concern softened her expression. “Before anyone wakes up and notices you're here.”
Lucius nodded and accepted the water, taking a slow sip. He lowered the glass and looked at her for a moment, his gaze lingering on her face.
Stella began to step away.
His hand shot out and caught hers.
Before she could react, he tugged her toward him, pulling her down onto his lap. His arms immediately circled her waist, securing her against him as he leaned back into the couch.
“Lucius—”
His breath brushed against her neck as he tightened his arms around her.
“Stella...” His voice dropped, low and rough. “Today's Friday. We made a deal for three nights. I have to keep my end of the deal.”
Stella felt the heat radiating from him. Her body reacted instinctively, but she tried to hold on to her resolve.
“You're drunk,” she protested, though her voice lacked the firmness she intended.
He lowered his head, burying his face against the side of her neck.
“I’m not. Let me sleep with you.” His breath warmed her skin as he murmured against her, his voice quiet and insistent.
Stella attempted to turn her head away, but he captured her chin, tilting her face toward him before crashing his lips onto hers.
The kiss was fervent, consuming, and she found herself lost in the moment. Just as she thought she might lose her composure, she stood up, stepping away from him, her heart racing.
Behind her, a table stood against the wall, and she instinctively moved toward it, putting a little distance between them as she tried to regain control of herself.
“If you’re not not drunk, you can leave,” she managed to say, but her words were cut short as he surged forward again, capturing her face in his hands.
His lips found hers once more, urgent and relentless, until she could hardly think. He trailed kisses down her neck, exploring every inch of her skin with hunger, before his hands slipped beneath her dress, pushing aside her panties with a desperate urgency.
As he dipped his face between her legs, Stella gasped, her eyes fluttering shut as a wave of pleasure coursed through her. A strangled sound escaped her throat, and she bit her lip, trying to stifle the noises threatening to spill out.
She was acutely aware of Shane sleeping in the other room, the danger of discovery heightening her arousal. Her hands fisted in his hair as he continued his relentless assault, his tongue moving with an insatiable hunger.
Lucius looked up at her, his eyes dark with desire, and she felt her knees weaken beneath her.
Every touch ignited a fire within her, making it impossible to control the sounds escaping her lips.
He was insistent, unwavering, and as her body responded to him, she realized she was teetering on the edge of surrender.
“Oh God…”
Stella struggled to breathe, overwhelmed by his relentless touch. His tongue slipped through her folds, weaving through her senses before plunging inside, only to retreat and flick at her repeatedly. Each caress made her tremble, her body responding to his every move.
She shivered, gasping for air as the continuous licks of his tongue ignited a fire within her. The more she tried to regain control, the more insistent he became.
He lifted one of her legs over his shoulder, his hands sliding beneath her dress to find her breasts, covered by lace. With a swift motion, he pulled down her bra, his fingers exploring her softness while his tongue flicked at her most sensitive spot again and again.
“Mmmhhhh…” She bit her lip, trying to stifle the sounds that threatened to escape her as he grew more demanding, his tongue becoming rougher.
Her body quaked, teeth digging into her lower lip in a desperate attempt to contain her cries, but he showed no mercy, his tongue flicking and sliding, teasing her relentlessly.
She was completely at his mercy, lost in a haze of pleasure as he continued to devour her.