Lavish (California Kings #2)

Prologue

SIX YEARS AGO: THE KINGS’ SUMMER SOIRéE. DAYS BEFORE LAURENE’S ENGAGEMENT PARTY

A defiant crimson stain spread slowly across the champagne silk.

Shit.

This dress cost four thousand dollars, and in less than twenty minutes, it’d been ruined. I let out a breath and counted down from five. Omar Whitmore—too loud, too smug, too drunk—had stumbled right into me with a glass of wine.

I smiled through it. Of course I did. I always smiled through the bullshit.

I smiled and excused myself without waiting for my mother’s reaction or Miles’s apology. I already knew how that conversation would go with him.

Serena, don’t make a scene. Serena, he didn’t mean it. Serena, calm down.

Something was wrong with Omar.

The whole town had seen this past month—maybe even longer than that. I thought his weirdness began after his father died. Rumor had it Woody had rewritten his will before he died, and Omar shouldn’t actually be in charge.

But Miles wouldn’t talk to me about it.

Tonight was meant to be a great night.

My fingers worked the zipper at my back.

If I focused on the details of the party, it was easier to not be embarrassed. Half the party watched as Miles’s father spilled wine on me; Miles was shocked and didn’t help.

I peeled off my dress and lifted my heels. I headed to my closet in my bra and panties to find another dress, enjoying the cool air.

Good thing my room was on the far left of the mansion; all I heard was distant music and mumbling.

Laurene’s upcoming wedding was probably the gossip topic.

The women loved to talk about my brother.

Another multimillion-dollar deal! Mama’s already calling him the future of King Enterprises, conveniently ignoring who actually keeps the company afloat.

Give me a fucking break.

I placed my hand on my hip, pushing through the rack for a dress acceptable for tonight. The door creaked open behind me.

“You should knock,” I said calmly without turning around.

“When did I start doing that?” Miles’s voice was low, then the door closed.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

“I came to make sure you were okay.”

I grunted without turning around and picked up a dress, then changed my mind.

“You really gonna act like that?” Miles said.

“How should I act instead?” I finally turned my head.

Miles was closer than I expected—too close, really.

His shirt was undone at the top, exposing just enough collarbone and hint of chest to make my skin tighten.

That lazy, crooked smile teased the corner of his mouth like he knew exactly what effect he had on me.

“He didn’t mean it,” Miles added. “My father. He was trying to?—”

“He’s been like this for months now, Miles. Your father’s been making scenes at events, which we could ignore, but not today. The Ashbournes are here, and Laurene’s engagement means a lot to my parents.”

His jaw twitched, but he didn’t deny it.

“I handled it,” he said. “Back then. Tonight too.”

“No.” I stepped closer, my thigh brushing against him. “You apologized before. That’s not the same thing as handling it. You need to do something about him, Miles. What’s wrong with him? What aren’t you telling me?”

Miles shook his head. “Sunny, chill.”

“I can’t have your father embarrassing my family and ruining things. Mama asked me to help plan everything and you know how much this party means to me.”

“Unlike your family, we don’t worry about how we look.”

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “Yeah, it’s been like that forever.”

Miles came closer, pinning me against the closet door. He put his hand on my waist, his rough fingers making slow circles that sent shivers down my spine. He slowly licked his lips; his intense gaze had nothing to do with the party or the wine.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know what I mean.” I didn’t break eye contact with him. “I’ve told you again and again: people in this town look up to your family just like mine. Mama said?—”

Miles groaned and rolled his eyes. “I don’t wanna hear what your mama said right now.”

I chewed on my lip. I didn’t want another fight with him about it. That’s all we ever fought about.

“You should take it seriously. The Kings and Whitmores founded Lush. We can’t lose that power. This is who we are, Miles.”

“We’re more than our last names,” Miles said, getting serious, then he sighed and looked at me.

He let his hand drift down my hip, his thumb brushing the lace. My thighs squeezed together. I gulped.

“Is that why you won’t tell them we’re engaged?” he asked, voice low, almost teasing.

I didn’t answer.

“You’re a King. I’m a Whitmore,” he went on, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “People would be thrilled. Keeping the power in the family, hmm?”

My frown deepened.

“Do you ever take anything seriously?” I snapped, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

His smirk faltered—just slightly. But then he tilted his head like he was studying me, deciding whether to play or push.

“Only when you look at me like that,” he said quietly, giving me those puppy dog eyes he knew I couldn’t fight, and I hated how warm my face suddenly felt.

“You play too much.” I hit him, smiling reluctantly.

I wasn’t Laurene, but she had something I wanted, even though she didn’t love—or maybe even like—Conrad Ashbourne.

She wasn’t the forgotten middle child.

Miles didn’t move, but I felt his energy shift. His hand was still on me, but the heat of it now felt different—less possessive, more…distant. Like he already knew the answer, and just needed to hear me choke on it.

“We can fuck in secret but can’t hold hands in public?”

“We’ve been together six months. Who gets engaged that fast?” I still can’t believe I said yes.

“We do,” he said. “It’s us. It’s our business. Who gives a fuck what people say?”

“My family has a tradition?—”

The Kings had been following it since my great-great-grandfather Augustus King founded this town after the Tulsa Massacre.

“That archaic arranged marriage rule? C’mon, times ain’t that desperate, and the average life-span isn’t twenty-five anymore. We can be our own people now. Out of everybody you can break that rule.”

Could I? There were a lot of things within our family I couldn’t change. No matter how much I fought, my rules and boundaries were cemented.

“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 an heir .

Erik is an heir. You both just get companies 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 deserve more .”

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 not my family, Serena. We love each other.

We care. 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 is never going to hand you King Enterprises. When it comes time to pass the crown, it’s going to go to Erik—just like it always was. 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 a mouse. I should just be grateful I was born into this family and I have money? Is that what you think I deserve?”

My hands were fists now.