Clairessa’s POV I had the most exciting, exhilarating, and emotionally challenging weekend.And it felt good to be back at work.Work had always been my sanctuary, my little world where I could lose myself in designs and calculations, shutting out the chaos when it became too much.Being an engineer, creating structures from scratch—it gave me a sense of purpose nothing else could. But today, my mind refused to stay focused.It kept drifting back to the unplanned vacation.The yacht.The island.Gabriel.His lips... the way they trailed fire along my skin. His hands, possessive and gentle all at once. The memories rushed back, causing my stomach to flip.I bit my bottom lip.Focus. Focus, Clairessa.I sat straighter, pulling my laptop closer. The blueprints on the screen blurred as flashes of Gabriel’s smirk and deep voice echoed in my head.Snap out of it.I drew in a deep breath, letting my fingers fly across the keyboard, forcing myself to get lost in the work before me.But just
Clairessa’s POVI pushed open Gabriel’s office door, my pulse quickening at the sight of him. There he was, dressed in a crisp white shirt; the suit clung to his body, outlining every toned muscle. He looked devastatingly handsome.Focused on his laptop, brows slightly furrowed—the definition of power and control. But the second I stepped inside, his attention shifted to me.His gaze locked onto mine, then slowly traveled down my body. Warmth spread through me as his eyes lingered on my hips, my waist, my curves.I knew he was taking me in, devouring every inch, and I made sure to give him something worth looking at. I swayed my hips a little more, adding a subtle elegance to my steps, just to make him burn with need.I had chosen this grey body-hugging dress intentionally. It curved around me perfectly, and judging by the way his gaze darkened, he approved."Mr. Storm... You called?" I murmured, my voice sultry as I stood before his desk.Gabriel inhaled deeply, his nostrils flaring
Gabriel’s POV Standing in front of Gabriel’s door, my fingers brushed through my curls for the third time, making sure everything was in place. My little black dress clung perfectly to my body—short, simple, sexy, with just enough cleavage. I wanted to steal his breath, leave him completely speechless. Before I could press the button, the door swung open. A woman dressed in a tailored uniform greeted me with a warm smile. She looked like she was in her mid-thirties. "Welcome, Miss Hartwood. I’m Jane, Mr. Storm’s house manager." She extended her hand. I shook hers, smiling back. "Please, call me Clairessa. Nice to meet you." She nodded, stepping aside. “Likewise. Please, come in.” As I entered, the familiar luxury of Gabriel’s apartment surrounded me. The place was like a fortress—dark tones, sleek lines—a space as commanding as the man himself. Jane led me through the hallway, then stopped. "Mr. Storm is in the kitchen. I’ll leave you here.” She smiled again before di
Clairessa's POV I could see the pain on Gabriel’s face when he mentioned his ex-wife. His fingers tightened around the stem of the glass, knuckles white. Even if he didn’t love her anymore, the look in his eyes made it clear—he wasn’t over the past. “Oh.” The word barely left my lips, my voice smaller than I intended. Gabriel let out a slow breath. “Cooking was something we did together. After the divorce… I just stopped.” I reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “I’m glad you’re cooking again. And that it’s for me.” A faint smile touched his lips. “Talking about it is freeing, not having to keep it all bottled up… but I won’t lie—it’s also difficult. I felt ashamed for a long time, like her cheating meant I wasn’t enough, that she had to seek attention… love from somewhere else.” He let out a slow breath. “So, a part of me blamed myself.” My hand brushed against his forearm before my fingers glided over his knuckles, a gentle reassurance. “I know that feeling. Bu
Clairessa’s POV Those were all the words Gabriel needed to hear. His fingers slid through my slick folds, teasing, gathering the wetness pooling between my thighs. "Fuck… my sweet… you're dripping for me," he purred, his voice thick with hunger. His fingertips brushed my swollen clit, circling it slowly. A soft moan escaped my lips, my hips jerking against his touch. "Gabriel…" He groaned at my response, pressing harder, stroking me in maddening circles. My body trembled uncontrollably. "You're so fucking perfect," he rasped, his fingers dragging lower, tracing my entrance before plunging two inside at once. I cried out, my walls clenching around him. He didn’t ease in—he took. His fingers thrust deep and fast, curling just right, stroking that sweet spot that had me unraveling into desperate moans. "You're so fucking tight," he growled, pumping his fingers into me, over and over again. "And mine alone." "Daddy… oh god, yes," I mewled, gripping his shoulders for supp
Gabriel’s POV My eyes locked on Clairessa, every nerve ending in my body coming alive at her command. Fuck…, I thought. That was the last thing I expected her to say. She lay back, her breasts perky and her legs parted, essentially offering herself to me. Daddy… I need you, her words echoed in my mind, igniting something primal within me, pushing me to the edge—to claim her like a beast. She had no idea about the war raging inside me. No clue how much control it took not to give in. Because when I took her, I wouldn’t be gentle. I wouldn’t hold back. I wanted to slam into her—hard, fast—claiming her in ways she hadn’t even imagined. I wanted to do dark, sinful things to her body—things she’d never experienced. To own every inch of her. But she wasn’t making it easy. I was her first—and I intended to keep it that way for a long time—which meant I had to be thoughtful. I couldn’t drag her into the darkness of my twisted, traumatic world. But the last time we were toget
Gabriel’s POVClairessa obeyed immediately, shifting onto her knees on the counter, her soft hands pressing against the cool marble. "Bend forward," I commanded. She got on all fours, arching her back, her round, sculpted ass raised for me—smooth, firm, and begging to be spanked. But I noticed the way her fingers trembled, the slight tension in her body. She was nervous. I ran a hand down the length of her back, pausing just above the curve of her ass. "Do you trust me?" She nodded. "Use your words," I murmured, my fingers brushing lightly over her spine. "Yes, Gabriel," she whispered. "I trust you." "Good girl." My palm glided over the swell of her ass, appreciating the way she pushed into my touch. "Just like that," I murmured, my hand smoothing over her skin. "So fucking perfect." Then I brought my hand down. She gasped when I delivered the first slap, the sting spreading across her soft skin. I watched her closely, waiting for her reaction. "More?" A de
Gabriel’s POVI sat across from the bed, watching as Clairessa stirred from sleep. She stretched beneath the sheets, letting out a soft yawn as her eyes shot open. Damn, she looked stunning in the morning. Her curls were scattered, spread across the pillow. Her eyes, still heavy with sleep, blinked lazily as she rubbed them. The movement was innocent yet deeply seductive. The early sunlight slipping through the curtains made her skin glow. Her gaze finally found me, and when she realized I’d been watching her, she smiled shyly and covered her face before peeking at me through her fingers. “How long have you been watching?” Her voice was soft and drowsy. “Long enough.” I stood and walked over to the bed, sitting beside her. Gently, I pried her fingers away from her face, pressing a soft kiss against her forehead. “Good morning, my sweet.” “Good morning,” she whispered back. I wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Her warm, bare skin pressed against mine
Gabriel’s POV “Dad?” I didn’t bother looking up as I stirred the pot, letting the aroma rise and fill the kitchen. “I’m here,” I called out. I heard Adrian’s footsteps draw closer. He stopped at the kitchen threshold, and the silence that followed stretched just long enough to make me smirk without turning around. “Wait—are you cooking?” he asked, disbelief lacing his voice. “Dad, I’m shocked. You haven’t cooked in… what, years?” I finally turned to face him, wiping my hand on the kitchen towel slung over my shoulder. “Gretchen told me earlier she had a personal errand to run and would be back by noon.” I offered a casual shrug, reaching for the ladle and giving the pot another stir. “I was hungry and couldn’t wait that long.” I could feel the lie burning on the tip of my tongue. Truth was, I wasn’t hungry. Eating was the last thing on my mind. The food I was cooking—it was for Clairessa. I wanted her to have something warm when she woke up, something to ease the aftermath of
Gabriel’s POV I gently pulled the duvet down and slipped my arms around her, lifting her against me. Her body was burning, her skin clammy, her breath shallow. She didn’t stir—just shivered helplessly in my arms, trapped in some fever dream. “Clairessa.” My voice cracked as I shook her gently, trying to coax her into consciousness. “Hey, open your eyes… please.” No response. “It’s me. Gabriel. I’m here,” I whispered, lifting her slowly into my arms and brushing damp strands of hair from her face. Her eyelids fluttered, and for a moment, they opened. Our eyes met—just briefly. She gave the faintest smile, soft and dazed—then slipped back into the fever, her eyes shutting again. Fuck. I had to do something. I lowered her carefully onto the mattress and rushed to the bathroom, soaking a towel in warm water. I came back and laid it across her forehead, holding it there, hoping to ease the heat. After a minute or two, I replaced it with a fresh one, trying to bring her temperatur
Gabriel’s POV I gripped the steering wheel. “Clairessa—” “You made it clear you’re never going to forgive me,” she said, cutting me off. Her voice trembled. “So it’s better if I go. At least that way, I don’t have to stand next to you, knowing you think the worst of me.” She paused, her eyes glassy. “That look in your eyes… like I’m something filthy. It’s more than I can take. So please… just let me go.” And then she turned and walked away. Just like that. For a moment, I just stared at her, stunned. Her words tried to cut deep into my heart, but I fought it off. How dare she try to make this about my reaction to her betrayal, when she should be grateful—that I was offering her a hand when she deserved far worse for what she’d done? This felt like classic manipulation, just like she’d done before. And I was on the edge of giving in to the voice telling me to turn back... but I couldn’t. Watching her stumble through the storm, drenched and defeated by the rain... It tore some
Gabriel’s POV I stood by the window in my bedroom, staring out at the heavy downpour, hoping the rain could somehow drown out the noise in my head. But it didn’t. The ache in my chest was unbearable. It felt like someone had torn my heart out with their bare hands, and I was still expected to function. To breathe. To move on. Clairessa lied to me. She deceived me. And no matter how many times I tried to reason it out—tried to stitch together a narrative that didn’t hurt as much—I couldn’t move past it. The sickest part? My own son was also in love with her. We both fell for the same woman. But I didn’t just fall. I plummeted. I let my guard down for her. Let her in like she was my second chance at something I didn’t even believe in anymore. Love. I told myself she was different. Safe. Real. Mine. But no. She wasn’t. She was exactly like Angelique. The same games. The same fake innocence. The same damn sweetness masking manipulation. Deception. Lies. And I bough
Clairessa’s POVAs soon as the door slammed shut, it felt like my entire world collapsed.A sharp, jarring pain tore through my chest, and I clutched at my heart instinctively, as if holding it might stop it from breaking apart.My legs buckled beneath me, and I crumpled to the floor, gasping for air as a sob ripped from somewhere deep inside me.I tried to silence it—to swallow the sound—but it was no use. I didn’t just cry. I broke down.Tears streamed down my face, falling freely onto the wooden floor beneath me.Gabriel’s last words echoed in my head again and again, each repetition cutting deeper into my already shattered heart.“We’re done. Nothing is ever going to happen between us again.”But it wasn’t just the words.It was the look in his eyes.A look that will haunt me forever.Disgust. Disdain. Like I was a mistake—a betrayal he regretted ever letting into his life.And what hurt the most wasn’t just losing him… it was knowing that someone who once loved me so deeply
Clairessa’s POVMy voice cut through the room, stopping Gabriel in his tracks.“No… I didn’t,” I choked out, my chest tightening, hands trembling at my sides. “This was a stupid plan. One I never should’ve gone through with—”He turned around slowly to face me—but I kept going.“But don’t stand there acting like you’re innocent. You cheated on me, remember?”His eyes darkened, pain flashing before it drowned in fury.“Don’t you fucking—” He stepped forward, his voice tight with rage.“Liar,” I spat, stepping into the fire between us. “I walked in on you and Nicole. Naked. In your bed. Don’t stand there pretending you ever gave a damn about me… about us.”“I was drunk, Clairessa!” he exploded. “I didn’t even know how I got home! Nicole told me I kept calling your name all night—like a pathetic mess. Over and over again. She didn’t touch me. Nothing happened.”I shook my head, unable to erase the image burned into my memory. “You expect me to believe that? That you just conveniently end
Gabriel’s POV “Which part?” I growled. “Dating my son? Or crawling into my bed, moaning my name like it meant something?” “No one sent me.” “Still lying,” I hissed, gripping her arms—maybe too hard, but I didn’t care. Not now. I needed the truth. I needed it like air. “You don’t just fall into bed with two men from the same bloodline by accident. So who the hell sent you?” She writhed in my hold. “I’m telling the truth! Gabriel, you’re hurting me. Please…” “Not until you tell me the truth,” I bit out. “This is mercy compared to what I’ll do if you keep lying.” My fingers sank deeper into her skin. I shut down whatever was left of my conscience. I was done being reasonable. The truth was coming out—no matter the cost. “I know you planned this,” I growled. “Every move. Every kiss. You made me fall while you played your sick little game. So tell me—who sent you?” “I’m begging you,” she sobbed, struggling against me. “Let me go, and I’ll tell you everything.” I stilled.
Gabriel’s POV I gripped the edge of the desk in my home office, holding it firm like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. I needed to act. Needed answers. The damn truth I grabbed my phone and hit the contact for Clayton—my PI. He picked up on the first ring. “Clayton,” I growled the moment I heard the click. “I was just about to call you,” he replied, voice tight—strained in a way that was unusual. “What did you find?” I demanded, not even bothering with a greeting. There was a pause. “Gabe…” he began, and that hesitation told me everything. Clayton never stalled. Never stumbled. He was a blunt, straight-to-the-point bastard. If his tone had changed, I knew the news was going to rip through me like a blade. “Just tell me,” I snapped. “This finding might shock you. I don’t know how to—” “Bloody hell, speak, Clayton. Now!” I barked. His delay was shredding what little patience I had left. I already knew—I just needed him to confirm it. “It’s... it’s going to hit har
Gabriel’s POV“Adrian… playing savior to a woman while your business circles the drain? That tells me your priorities are completely out of whack. Why bring her here of all places? What happened to your loft?”He shot me a bitter look. “You already know what happened. You refused to help out when the restaurant got scammed. So I had to let go of the loft in order to pay staff. Keep the business alive.”“That’s not my business,” I said flatly. “I gave you a choice: come work at the company or deal with your mess. You chose. Don’t come crying now.”Adrian rubbed the back of his neck and looked down.I continued, “You know how sacred this house is to me. I’ve always had a no-guest policy here. So why the hell bring her here? A hotel, a friend’s place—anywhere but here.”Adrian met my stare. “I’ve been staying here ever since I gave up my loft. Naturally, she’d stay with me. And no, I can’t afford a hotel right now.”“Adrian,” I said, stepping forward, “don’t you get it? I’m trying to set