Lahat ng Kabanata ng Exclusive Privilege: The Billionaire’s Toy: Kabanata 171 - Kabanata 177

North’s POVLucien's hands tightened around my waist, pulling me closer until I was standing flush against him. He tilted his head back to look up at me, and the exhaustion in his eyes was so profound it made my chest ache."Good," he murmured, his voice raspy with fatigue. "Because I'm not sharing you either."The possessiveness in his tone should have alarmed me. It was the same possessiveness that had fueled his accusations earlier, the same fear that had almost torn us apart. But now, after witnessing his raw vulnerability with his mother, I understood it differently. It wasn't about control; it was about fear of loss.I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. "I'm not going anywhere, Lucien."He closed his eyes, his breath warm against my stomach. "You say that now.""I'll keep saying it until you believe me." I paused, my fingers still stroking his hair. "You know, for a terrifying billionaire who reduces executives to nervous wrecks, you look surprisingly vulnerabl

Lucien’s POVHis happiness settled somewhere deep inside my chest with terrifying ease. Every moment he leaned closer against me. I loved all of it far more than I should have.Eventually we stopped near one of the floating sea lounges anchored farther from shore. North stretched across the cushioned seating afterward while sunlight reflected beautifully against the water surrounding us.Kisses were exchanged lazily.Photos too.At the time, I barely paid attention to the distant camera flashes because security constantly monitored properties like mine anyway.That became my mistake.The trip operated under a strict no-phones policy for guests and staff, so neither of us saw the internet exploding until we landed back in New York.My assistant met us immediately after arrival, looking stressed enough to irritate me before she even spoke.“It’s everywhere online,” she informed carefully while handing me a tablet. “We removed the original posts quickly and tracked the source, but the pho

North's POVCelebrity overnight was not a term I thought existed in reality until it happened to me. One moment I was a law student with a messy life and a part-time job that barely covered my textbooks or debts.The next, my face was splashed across every gossip blog in existence because the man I loved happened to own half of Manhattan.Security became my shadow. Wherever I went, black SUVs followed. Restaurant reservations required background checks. It was not a very fun experience, despite what the magazines claimed about "living the dream."My social media accounts blew up in ways that defied logic. Millions began to follow me with hopes of snippets of their favorite billionaire. They wanted to know what Lucien Crowe ate for breakfast, what he wore to bed, whether he preferred boxers or briefs. They wanted pieces of him, and I was the gatekeeper they had to tolerate.For a few weeks after the explosion, I did not post a single thing. I let them starve. Then I saw the hate comm

North’s POV He took a breath, steadying himself. I could see his hand shaking."You make me want to be better. Not for the board, not for the shareholders, but for you. For the life I want us to build. Will you stay with me for the rest of my life? I won't let the world ruin us. I will be your friend when no one else wants to be. Through hard and annoying times, through happiness that makes our cheeks hurt. And no, I can't take no for an answer, because I literally cannot live without you. I've tried. It doesn't work. You're in my blood now. So baby, please. Marry me. Make me the luckiest bastard in the universe.""Yes," I whispered. Then louder, "Yes, yes, yes!"I covered my mouth as he slipped the ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly, heavy and real and mine."Lucien, you jerk," I couldn't help but cry, hitting his shoulder as he stood up. "So this is what you were doing. The disappearing, the secret smiles..."He chuckled, pulling me into his arms. "I had to inspect everything my