Novels by Toyobaby

Tiana's Pov My heart leaped into my throat, then hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. My free hand, still on his chest, clenched, feeling the frantic beat beneath my palm. We were so close. So incredibly close. I could feel the heat radiating off him, the subtle tremor in his body, the desperate control that was finally, gloriously, shattering.His eyes, dark and stormy, devoured my face. They flickered from my eyes to my lips, then back again, a silent, agonizing battle playing out in their depths. His thumb, where it rested on the back of my head, began to stroke, a soft, almost unconscious movement that sent shivers down my spine."Gabriel," I breathed, his name a soft plea, a question, a challenge.He let out a low, guttural groan, a sound of pure, unadulterated torment and desire. His head dipped, slowly, agonizingly slowly, until his forehead rested against mine. His breath, hot and ragged, mingled with mine. I could feel the tremor in his body, the sheer force of

Tiana's PovHis gaze. It wasn't just friendly. It was... hungry. Intense. It sent a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with cold and everything to do with a dangerous, thrilling heat. My heart was still doing a marathon in my chest, even after he'd disappeared from the study window.Did I imagine it? Was it just the light? Or was it... was it real? The Gabriel from my dreams, the one who looked at me like that, was he actually there, in his eyes, just now?I shook my head, trying to clear it. No. Get a grip, Tiana. He's your dad's best friend. He's probably just surprised to see you all grown up. He probably thinks you're, like, a niece. A very tall, slightly awkward niece.I took a deep breath and looked around my new room. It was nice. Too nice, maybe. Big bed, soft carpet, a huge window looking out onto the garden. But it still felt like a guest room. Not my room. Not home. Not yet.Unpacking was a blur. I tried to focus, to put my clothes away, but my mind kept drifting.

Tiana's Pov"Tiana, honey, we have some news!" Mom's voice floated up from downstairs, all chirpy and way too happy for a Tuesday evening. I was sprawled on my bed, scrolling through my phone, trying to ignore the fact that my brain was, as usual, replaying the latest Gabriel dream.Yeah, that Gabriel. My dad's best friend. The one who haunted my sleep with those ridiculously handsome smiles and touches that felt so real, I'd wake up all flustered and confused. He was, like, thirty-something, noble, always dressed sharp, and totally off-limits. My forbidden fantasy. My secret obsession since I was, like, fifteen."Coming!" I yelled back, shoving the embarrassing thoughts away. Gotta act normal. Always normal.I trudged downstairs. Dad was already there, looking a bit nervous, which was weird. Mom was practically bouncing. "Sit down, sweetie! We have big news!"I plopped onto the sofa, trying to look interested. "What's up? Did you win the lottery?"Mom giggled. "Even better! Your dad

Tiana's PovThe first sliver of dawn was just painting the sky a bruised purple, but the room was still steeped in the heavy, intoxicating scent of him. Of us. My fingers, still trembling slightly, traced the hard line of his jaw, feeling the stubble that had grown rough against my skin during the night. He was asleep, finally, his breathing deep and even, his arm a warm, possessive weight across my waist.I shouldn't be here. We shouldn't be here. Every fiber of my being screamed it, a frantic, guilty whisper in the quiet of the morning. He was Gabriel. My dad's best friend. The man who had watched me grow up, who had always treated me like a kid, a responsibility. And now... now he was just Gabriel. My Gabriel.The memory of the night before, of his lips on mine, his hands on my skin, his desperate groans echoing in the darkness, sent a fresh wave of heat through me. It had been a whirlwind, a storm of pent-up desire and forbidden longing, unleashed with a ferocity that had stolen m