Miles
Prologue
I need this—to notthink. The last couple of months have been filled with travel—and not all of it for pleasure. I love what I do, but there are times when I need to shut the world out. What better way than to fuck my frustrations and stress out of my system? As soon as the plane lands, I feel the tension return; it’s this city. It holds memories that I’d rather keep buried. I do what I always do and push those thoughts aside. I need a distraction, and I know just the place to find one.
I’m confident enough to say that I can have any woman I want, and I take full advantage of that when I travel. But I’m back in town, and I don’t want to let people know that I’m here just yet. So I came straight to the place that would guarantee I get what I need.
I see the bed in the center of the space. The door on the left opens, and a woman enters the dimly lit room. She makes her way to me. She’s naked, only wearing heels, as requested. There’s something abouta woman in heels that drives me wild. Without a word, she kneels before me. This is exactly why I’m here—no questions asked. She doesn’t hesitate and moves to unzip my jeans, pulling out my hard cock. I can’t help the groan that escapes me. It feels so good. Between the back-to-back jobs, the traveling, and babysitting I’m doing, it’s been hard to get a good fuck without interruption, and there have been plenty.
I look down at the woman; she has my cock in her hand and brings it to her lips, licking the tip. Then she parts them and takes all of me. This isn’t the first time I’ve had my cock in her mouth. Whenever I come back to this city and need my privacy, I come to see her. I’m a creature of habit. I don’t like change; I stick to what I know. She takes me deep, so fucking deep. I grab her hair and push her down farther until I hit the back of her throat, and I hear her gag. I pull her off because I want to take my time.
“Bend over the armrest and spread your legs,” I order. She doesn’t speak and does exactly what she’s told. I love it when they’re obedient. So willing and ready for me to do whatever I want. I make my way to her, my cock throbbing for relief. My phone goes off. Fuck, I should have turned it off, but I never do. That ringtone is specific to one person. It must be urgent if he’s calling.
“Hello.” I don’t bother to check the caller ID.
“Miles, if you’re done getting your dick wet, we have a situation,” Gabriel Kayde tells me. I’m not surprised that he knows where I am, even with the amount of traveling he does.
“What’s the situation?” I ask, but I’m sure I already know the answer.
“It’s not a what, but the who.” He responds with that authoritative tone only he and his brother can get away with.
“I’m on my way,” I say, and I swear he can hear my molars grinding. Glancing down at my dick, I’m beyond annoyed. Fuck! I hang up. “Go,” I order her, irritated now.
It’s not her fault I have to leave with a case of the blue balls. I put myself back together and head out. My frustration is evident as I walk through the hallway, internally cursing the bane of my existence.
Veronica
Chapter 1
I can’t stay hereanymore. Being twenty-three and living with my parents isn’t ideal. Well, living here is a loose term since I haven’t settled in one place. When I’m not living abroad, I’m here in Veridian Bay, drifting between my childhood home and my cousin’s penthouse. Usually, I’m traveling, so I miss a lot of what’s going on, especially with my mom. The memory of her falling weeks ago still haunts me. If I’m being honest, traveling is an excuse to run.
Standing here and looking at my old bedroom is like going back in time. When I went away to boarding school, I’d visit home, and nothing had been changed, just like when I went to college. My mother, being sentimental, never redecorated it. I guess the room is a representation of how naive I was and still am. I take in the light-pink walls, the floral decorations, and the photographs displayed throughout the room. I don’t recognize who that person was; shit, I don’t recognize myself now.I’m so lost, I lost myself a long time ago. I’m a twenty-three-year-old college dropout who parties and drinks her life away. I don’t know what I want in life.
When I’m not staying here, I go to my cousin Caleb’s penthouse. I hoped it would give my family the hint that I needed space and freedom, but if anything, it just made them worry more. It feels like I’m suffocating. I need my own place. Somewhere that’s not owned by my family. I know that might be limiting, since my family practically owns this city. My father retired and passed his empire to my brother Ian, who is CEO of Kayde Investments, among other things. At first, Dad was still struggling with letting go of the reins. Now, he’s enjoying hovering over Mom even more than before. My parents’ love is one for the ages. The thought makes my stomach turn because I know I’ll never have one of my own. My brother Gabriel is the corporate lawyer, but he’s on standby in case the family needs him for anything, and I meananything.
As the youngest and only daughter of Abigail and Miguel Kayde, I live a very sheltered and privileged life, which is why my entire family takes it upon themselves to butt into it. The overprotective brothers, cousins, and uncle. I even have a fucking watchdog, or more like a lapdog, who’s just waiting to take orders at my brothers’ beck and call. And who I especially hate. He’s ruined my fucking social life. My dating life is nonexistent. Any friends I had don’t speak to me. Fuck him! He takes orders, like the good pet he is.
My phone alarm goes off, and I look at the appointment reminder for today. I’m meeting with a real estate agent to find my own place because I need to start living my own life. I hope I have better luck with this one. Of course I don’t have a job to pay for the apartment, but I’m not as stupid as everyone thinks. Between partying and traveling, I’ve managed to invest and have a good amount saved up. I can thank my cousins for that. Icould go to my father for help, but it would just be another conversation about how I don’t have my life together. I know I’m a disappointment and the weakest member of my family. I don’t contribute anything to it. My parents built their empire, and my brothers keep growing it. They all have a role. Me, I’m just the reckless daughter and sister. Living here is just another reminder of how I’ll never measure up.
I close the door behind me and walk downstairs when I hear my mother’s laughter along with my father’s voice…and someone else. It’s not any family member I recognize, especially not my brothers. Ian is always too busy with work or his new girlfriend, Serena, who I love. Gabe is travelingagain, so it’s not him. I follow the voices that lead to the balcony. My mother’s favorite spot in the entire house. It’s such a beautiful day. The ocean view is incredible; the blue water and bright sun cascade over the clear sky. I loved growing up here, away from the city and any prying eyes.
Mom is sitting next to my father and another man, whose face I can’t see. I see my mother smile; she’s so beautiful. All my life, people have told me I look just like her when she was my age, but I don’t see it. We are both blonde and average height, but that’s where the similarities end. My eyes are from my father—blue, like the ocean water in front of me. Unlike my mother, I’m very curvy; some have said too curvy.
“Veronica, come, we have a guest.” My mother motions for me to join them, so I take a seat next to her. “You remember Cam, don’t you?”
I look at the douchebag, who I haven’t seen in years. His curly brown hair is shorter than the last time I saw him. His gray eyes lock onto me. He’s friends with my brothers, but he hasn’t been around for a long time. The last time I saw him was when I came home for my mother’s birthday, before my freshman year of college. It was a hazy night; the pieces I doremember I know weren’t my best moments. Truth be told, I don’t have a lot of them. But the way he treated me that night—thatI can’t forget.
“Vaguely,” is all I say.
He holds out his hand. “Well, it seems that I didn’t leave a memorable impression. So let me reintroduce myself.” He extends his hand to me. “I’m Cam Villanueva. It’s a pleasure to meet youagain.”
I shake his hand, faking formalities, and he knows it. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment I can’t be late for. I’m going to look at apartments.” I look at my mother; she’s always been so supportive. When I told her I planned on moving out, she seemed happy for me.
“How are you going to afford it?” my father asks.
“I have savings.” I can see he wants to respond, but my mother tugs on his arm, signaling for him to stop. “Don’t worry, if I need cash, I’ll just sell photos of me partying. The media loves those.” I can feel the mood shift. “That was a joke.” There’s an awkward silence, and I see Cam’s head turn to my mother. Shit. The last thing I want to do is embarrass her. I turn to my father and look at him. “I have two very smart brothers and cousins who have taught me to invest.” I don’t bother to look in Cam’s direction. I don’t need his judgment, but he still speaks.
“Well, Veronica, if you’re looking for a place, my family owns some properties. I can arrange for you to look at some.”
