Page 3 of Lavish

“I know we were sudden and it’s wild and feels reckless. But let go, Sunny. It’ll be okay.”

His voice was low and sure. His eyes burned—full of belief, full of me—and for a moment, it almost cracked something open in me. Almost. I wanted to reach for him. God, I wanted to want him the way he wanted me—recklessly, loudly, without calculating the fallout. But I couldn’t.

Not yet.

I thought about the proposal. We were in his bed. No ring, no kneeling. Just certainty. I said yes before I even mapped the consequences. That was mistake number one. Love was messy—illogical. But being with Miles felt like stepping off a cliff: thrilling, terrifying, and utterly overwhelming.

“I need King Developments first,” I whispered, more to myself than to him.

I saw his eyes blaze, and his hands slid down my thighs, cupping my ass, pulling my hips against him. “Why? You have me.”

“You don’t get it, Miles.” I tried to push him back, but he was a brick wall. He reached between my thighs, his fingers touching the dampness through the fabric.

“I’ve listened to you talk about taking this company from Erik for months.”

“That’s not it!” I snapped. “You’re anheir. Erik is an heir. You both justgetcompanies handed to you. I’m not Laurene—I’m not the princess, nor can I do whatever the hell Gigi does. You don’t know what it’s like to have to fight for something. I’ve earned every inch of what I’ve got from my family, and I’m still not enough.”

“You’re enough for me.”

“I love you—” I was serious. I’d only ever loved my family, but he showed me otherwise. “But I need and deservemore.”

His jaw flexed. His fingers stayed where they were—pressed between my legs, claiming.

“I get that your mom’s a lot,” he said, shaking his head. “But you don’t even realize you’re in the best damn position. To do whatever you want and not have your fucking mama on your back like she is with Erik.”

“Have you told Erik about us?”

He pulled back just enough to let air between us, not enough to leave.

“You haven’t,” I said.

“You’re half-naked in my arms,” he growled, “and you’re asking me if I told my best friend about us? Now? We have other things to deal with.”

“Erik’s not gonna be happy, that’s why you haven’t told him.”

Miles sucked his teeth.

“You’re pressing me? Have a conversation with him. While you’re at it, why don’t you get your father in line.”

He let out a dry laugh and finally released me. “You think families are supposed to fall in line like little soldiers,” he said. “We don’t march to the orders of one person in the family, and smile for the goddamn camera. That’s notmyfamily, Serena. We love each other. Wecare.I’ll do it my way when I’m ready.”

I frowned. “You’re saying I don’t care about my family?”

“You’re fucking planning to usurp your brother. And for what? Yvonne isnevergoing to hand you King Enterprises. When it comes time to pass the crown, it’s going to go to Erik—just like italwayswas. He’s the firstborn, even I know that.”

I turned away from him, crossing my arms. I just wanted Mama to give me something, like she did for Erik.

He stepped closer, his voice lower now, bitter and honest.

“Just take what you can get,” he said. “You and me—we can still start our lives, away from all this.”

I went still.

“Take what I can get,” I repeated, voice flat.

He blinked like he just heard himself.

“You mean settle,” I said. “Shrink myself so I fit. Clap from the sidelines like a good girl? Be silent. Be amouse.I should just be grateful I was born into this family and I have money? Is that what you think I deserve?”