MILES "I can't believe this!" My mother stormed into the dining area Friday evening, her phone shaking in her hand. Dominic and I had just finished being fitted for our wedding attire for tomorrow and were now waiting for dinner. "It's going to rain!" she sobbed, her voice shrill with disbelief. "Our venue is outside! We can't get married in the rain!" I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. "Oh honey," Maverick said, already up and moving toward her, his touch gentle as he smoothed his hands over her arms. "We can just move the wedding inside. The Ballroom Plaza has a beautiful venue with an elegant touch." My mother began to cry into his chest, but I knew it wasn’t real devastation. It was frustration that things weren’t going exactly how she wanted. It was pride wounded. I didn’t even bother hiding my smirk. Until Dominic bumped my shoulder. I shot him a glare, and he subtly shook his head, his eyes saying be nice. I mouthed, What? He narrowed his g
MILES Marcus was away for the weekend. He had texted me several times Saturday morning, apologizing for not being here to "keep an eye on me." I called him immediately. "Hello?" He sounded surprised. "Marcus." "Yes?" "It is not your job to protect me." There was silence for a beat. I could practically hear him debating whether to argue. I honestly didn’t know how to feel about him knowing everything. He tried not to show it, but I could see the way he looked at my mother—with empty smiles and eyes full of restrained indignation. It reminded me of Kenzie. The first time Kenzie found out, I had to threaten never speaking to her again. I almost lost her over it. She had been livid, ready to fight, ready to expose everything—but she didn’t. Not because she forgave my mother, but because I told her she’d lose me if she did. I wasn’t protecting my mother. I was protecting myself. I had no idea how far my mother would go. And now, Marcus was toeing the same dangerous lin
DOM Miles seemed nervous. That was new. She sat on the island, her back straight, her fingers subtly picking at her nails while I iced her shoulder. She never fidgeted. She never hesitated when she wanted something. But now? She wouldn’t even look at me. I stood between her legs, resting one hand next to her hip. I was definitely this close on purpose, but she still didn’t meet my eyes. Instead, she turned her head away, baring her throat to me. The sight made my mouth dry. Made my fingers twitch against the ice pack. It was fucking killing me. I wanted to bury my face there, in that perfect dip between her neck and shoulder. Wanted to bite, to mark her. I could see the goosebumps rising on her arms, the way her pulse fluttered too fast. She felt this. I exhaled slowly. "Are you mad?" She still didn't look at me. "Why would I be mad?" I studied her, watching the way she still wouldn’t meet my gaze. "Did I tease you too much?" I asked, dropping the ice pack to the counter. S
*WARNING EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT * MILES "I need you." A shiver rolled down my spine at the sound of his voice—low, rough, barely restrained. His hands rested firm on my thighs, his fingers skimming the hem of my shirt like he was trying to stop himself from tearing it off. I swallowed, my pulse hammering against my ribs. "Is this what you brought me in here for?" My voice was steady, but I knew he could hear the breathlessness creeping in. "Got a library fantasy you need to live out?" Dom exhaled a slow chuckle, his thumbs stroking soft circles against my inner thighs. "No." His lips brushed my temple, and his hands inched higher. "I figured you'd like it. But now?" His mouth moved lower, grazing the shell of my ear. "Now I want something else." I clenched my thighs around his hands, the heat pooling between them unbearable. "And what's that?" His breath ghosted against my skin. "I want you to read to me." I blinked. "What?" "Pick up your book." He leaned
DOM Marcus knew something. MARCUS: Stay around lil sis this weekend, hm? That was a strange request. First my dad, and now Marcus? I mean, I was already planning to be with Miles this entire weekend. Our parents wouldn’t be back until Tuesday, so I planned to get well acquainted with her. Were my intentions entirely pure? No. Absolutely not. I was going to try and fuck her in as many places in the manor as I could. DOM: Why? I had to figure out what he knew. Marcus wasn’t one to hide things from me—but that didn’t mean he couldn’t. He was a master at keeping secrets, only revealing them when it suited him. MARCUS: Just don’t leave her alone with those love birds. She told me their PDA is gross. Our parents? Strange. DOM: They’re gone until Tuesday. MARCUS: Oh… then just watch over her, will ya? I frowned at the screen. Was he… falling for her? I almost scoffed. The idea was absurd. He knew we were fucking. But then again… that’s all we were doing, wasn’t i
DOM Miles was getting fucked up. Like, real fucked up. Just twenty minutes ago, she was ready to leave. Now she was in the middle of a beer pong tournament, completely wrecking everyone, but also getting shit-faced in the process. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. I should have told her I didn’t want to come. Why the fuck did I agree to this? ‘Because you’re turning into a kiss-ass,’ my own brain mocked. ‘Oh, fuck you.’ Another deep sigh. She had me arguing with myself now. Miles swayed on her feet, her lazy smile making her look both adorable and wildly reckless. Her gray eyes were glazed over, and her movements were a little too loose. It had only been twenty fucking minutes. Her friend Kenzie threw me a smug, knowing glance as she wrapped an arm around Miles' shoulders. I frowned. Then—the cherry on top. Kenzie kissed her on the cheek. Miles—drunk as fuck—held her kissed cheek like it was something sacred, her face lighting up before she grabbed Kenzie's chin
MILES "Something is telling me I shouldn't tell you," I teased, my voice thick with playful mischief. Dominic stepped closer, drawn in like a moth to my flame. "I can keep a secret." I dragged my fingers over the silky-soft comforter, shifting on the bed as I watched Dom. He stood by the door like a man barely keeping himself from running for his life. It made me smile. I was tipsy—floaty, warm—but my mind was clear enough to see how he reacted to me. How he always reacted to me. I was in control here. And I liked it. He had just asked me what I thought about him. Dangerous question. He should know better. I rolled onto my stomach, propping my chin up with my hand, letting my eyes rake over him like he was something delicious I was starving for. Which he was. "When I think about you?" I hummed, pressing my lips together like I had to consider it. Dom’s jaw ticked. He ran a hand down his face, exhaling through his nose like he already regretted asking. Good
MILES It was so damn hot. And heavy. Something was on top of me. My eyes popped open, and I groaned as the throbbing in my skull made itself known. A muffled, "Not yet," was heard above my head. What the fuck? My first thought was Oh no, did I bring some guy home? Panic crept up my spine. Dom would kill me. No—Maverick would be disappointed, which was somehow worse. And my mother? She would annihilate me. I wiggled my arms free from my blanket—only to realize I was trapped under a very warm, very muscular arm. My heart nearly stopped. Slowly, I turned my head and—Oh. Relief flooded me. It was Dominic. His sleeping face was unfairly gorgeous, his dark lashes casting shadows over his cheekbones, his full lips slightly parted, hair messy and soft. But there was something else—something I couldn't ignore. His brows were drawn together, like he was still frowning in his sleep. I reached up before I could stop myself and pressed a gentle finger between them, massaging the little
*WARNING! READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED* *SUICIDE ATTEMPT/TALK OF SUICIDE* MILES "You should just fucking die already. No one wants you. Oh and, don't call him again." I didn’t even hang up. I just dropped the phone and took step after step forward. It landed with a soft thud behind me, but I didn’t turn back. Didn’t reach for it. It didn’t matter anymore. My body was still moving, still breathing, still aching. But my mind? That had already given up. I couldn't tell the difference between pain and nothingness anymore—maybe they were the same. Maybe I was just too tired to care. My foot dragged against the gravel on the road to the Cliffs. I was supposed to meet the guys at the party to watch the ocean storm and hit the highest cliffside. I was supposed to be having a good time and finally let myself...be. But of course, not if my mother had anything to do with it. Tanya's words hit home. "You should just fucking die already." The words coiled around my throat, venomous, unsha
*WARNING: SUICIDE ATTEMPT**READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED* DOM Something was wrong. I had been feeling it all night. The way my phone burned in my pocket. The way my gut twisted every time I checked my screen and saw nothing. No messages. No calls. No Miles. I had tried. Three times. Three fucking times, and she hadn’t answered. Marcus was already knee-deep in some girl’s attention, laughing, drinking, having a good time. But even he noticed. "Dude," he called over, watching me check my phone again. "She probably just fell asleep or some shit." I forced a half-smirk, pocketing my phone before I squeezed the back of my neck. "Yeah. Maybe." I didn’t believe it. Not even Marcus believed it because the bastard was dead wrong if he thought I hadn't caught him checking his phone as well. I knew Miles. She didn’t just disappear. Not like this. Not without a fucking reason. "Dom." The voice was too close, too familiar, and I already knew who it was before I turned. Tanya. Fucki
*WARNING VIOLENCE AND ABUSE * MILES My mother had been watching me all morning. Not in the usual way. Not with irritation. Not with thinly veiled disgust like she always did when I so much as existed in her space. No, this was different. She was calculating. I could feel it in the way she lingered in doorways, in the way her eyes flicked toward me at breakfast, in the way she adjusted her rings, twisting them around her fingers like she was thinking. Plotting. I had half a mind to ask her what the hell she was up to, but instead, I let her wait. Let her decide how she was going to approach me. And then when she finally did? I nearly laughed. "Miles, come with me." It was demand but it lacked her usual bite. Maverick had left early this morning on a business trip so it was a surprise she wanted to be near me at all. I arched a brow, barely glancing up from my book. "Excuse me?" She sighed as if I were the most difficult person in the world, then crossed her arms,
DOM I wasn’t getting enough of her. That was the problem. Miles had been right there—in the house, in the hallways, at the dinner table—but it wasn’t enough. Not anymore. She had been keeping her distance, not too much, not enough to be obvious, but just enough to make me ache. To make me want more. And I couldn’t have more. Not like I wanted. Not with my father watching. Maverick had been more observant lately. Not just with me, but with everyone. I noticed it at dinner. The way his eyes tracked conversations, the way his fork hovered mid-air as he listened. The way he watched Miles. She had been more talkative. Not forced, not in the way that would make anyone suspicious, but in a way that felt natural. Like she had finally settled into her place at this table. And my father? He had noticed. Not in a bad way. If anything, he seemed pleased. It made sense—he liked her, actually liked her. She was sharp. Smart. She could hold a conversation and keep up with him, somethin
MILESThe venue was grand.Too grand.Every inch of it reeked of wealth—chandeliers dripping in crystal, tables lined in pristine white linen, golden accents catching the light at just the right angles to remind everyone just how much money had been poured into this production.And that’s exactly what it was. A production. A show for the people. For Maverick Black. For the perfect Valentine-Black union.I was supposed to be impressed. Supposed to stand in awe of the splendor.But I couldn’t bring myself to care.Because the real performance was happening off-stage between me and her.Candice was watching me. Not with open suspicion, but with patience. Like she was waiting to see what I would do next. I knew she had noticed. Knew she felt the shift.She just wasn’t sure why it had happened.Not yet.She waited until we were alone.The moment the men were out of earshot, pulled away by the wedding coordinator, Candice’s heels clicked sharply against the marble as she stepped closer."Do
DOM Something happened. I could feel it in the tension hanging over the house. In the way the air thickened, pressing against my chest, settling in the spaces between conversations. More than anything, I could tell by the way Miles had changed. It wasn’t anything obvious. Nothing dramatic. She didn’t act different, didn’t suddenly move or speak in ways that set off alarms. No. It was in the way she walked. The quiet certainty in her movements. The way she carried herself with purpose, like someone who had made a decision and planned to see it through. And her eyes? Her misty gray eyes weren’t empty. Weren’t hollow or afraid. They were on fire. It took everything in me to be good for the rest of the week. No searing looks across the dinner table. No careful touches in the hallway. No stolen kisses in the library. Not even when she sent me those filthy fucking texts late at night, taunting me, reminding me that she was still there even if she was keeping her distance. I
MILESI was drowning.Thick black ink filled my lungs, coiling around my ribs, pressing down, down, down until I was weightless. Trapped.It seeped into my pores, into my bones, slithering through my bloodstream like it had been there all along—just waiting for the moment to consume me.Pain I had never known choked me, and I could grasp at nothing. See nothing.I was nothing.But I didn’t want that.I wanted freedom.I wanted control.I wanted a life.Then, amid my fading, a voice whispered through, muffled by the darkness.My eyes searched frantically, clinging to the hope that there was a way out."Please!" I begged. Screamed. But my throat was full of ink. "Help me!"My arms flailed aimlessly, desperate for something to hold on to—an anchor, a lifeline, anything—"I can pull you out."My eyes flew open.I gasped, body jerking upright, my lungs starved for air.My hand slammed against my chest, trembling, nails digging into my skin like I needed proof that I was here—that I was rea
DOM I was ruined. I could still feel her on my skin. Could still taste her on my tongue. Could still hear the fucking moan she let out when she— Fuck. I pressed my forehead against the cold wood of my bedroom door, my breath uneven, my body aching. Every inhale felt too shallow, every exhale ragged, like my lungs had forgotten how to function. My body was still burning, my head still spinning, and my cock still aching—even after she had just wrecked me. I shuddered. My fingers curled into fists against the doorframe, nails biting into my palms. A sharp sting. A distraction. But it did nothing to stop the way my body still throbbed from the memory of her. She had devoured me. She had owned me. And the worst part? She had left me like this. Not just because of what she did. Not just because she had dropped to her knees, taken me into her mouth, and consumed me like I was her fucking last meal. No. What ruined me was what came after. The way she touched herse
MILES He was exactly where I wanted him. On his back, chest rising and falling in sharp, ragged breaths. His hands clenched into the on the hardwood floors, every muscle wound tight like he was barely holding himself together. Like he was afraid if he moved, if he breathed wrong, I’d disappear. But I wasn’t going anywhere. I smirked as I crawled up his body, dragging my nails lightly over his abs, feeling them twitch beneath my touch. He was waiting—watching me through heavy-lidded eyes that flickered between hunger and something deeper. Something that looked a lot like surrender. I leaned down, my breath ghosting over his lips. “How do you like it?” I murmured. Dominic sucked in a sharp breath, his fingers twitching like he wanted to reach for me. Like he thought I was giving in. He had no fucking clue. I pressed a slow, lingering kiss to his jaw, feeling his pulse hammer beneath my lips. Then I slid lower, lower, my hands trailing down his ribs, his stomach, his h