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
Clairessa’s POV Back home, I struggled to concentrate on the work in front of me on my laptop screen as Jess’s nagging voice from behind kept breaking my focus. I clenched my jaw, fingers tightening around my pen as I stared at the screen, refusing to pay her any attention. "Claire, you know I’m not going to let you work in peace until you spill… You didn’t come home last night. That only means one thing." I looked back, giving her my best mock-angry glare. "I already told you. I went out." My voice was steadier than I expected, but Jess wasn’t buying it. She hopped onto my desk, using her hip to shove my files aside as she made herself comfortable. Arms crossed, lips curling in disbelief. "Oh, please. We’ve been friends for a decade, and you’ve never kept a secret from me." Rubbing my temples, I leaned back. "There is no secret to tell." Jess huffed dramatically. "Liar." "Fine," I exhaled. "I went over to Gabriel’s apartment. He invited me to a dinner celebration for the d
Clairessa’s POV My fingers began typing before I could stop myself. Me: Hello, Gabriel. I apologize for disturbing your meeting, but it seems like there’s an Aston Martin delivery from you. I only wanted my car back, not a new one. His response came almost immediately, as if he’d been waiting. Gabriel: Hey, sweet. Your tone… you sound upset. I just thought your old car was overdue for a change. That thing was a safety hazard on wheels. But if you don’t like this one and have something else in mind, we can swap it. My brows furrowed. Of course, he’d insult my car, just like Jess had. But it wasn’t about the car. It was about what it meant. Me: It’s not about liking it or not. I just think a car is too expensive a gift. A pause. Then another message. Gabriel: You don’t think you’re worth expensive gifts? I froze, my fingers hovering over the keypad. Why did he always do this? Always make me question my own words, as if I was somehow undervaluing myself? Me: It’s not
Clairessa’s POVMy pulse pounded as Gabriel's hard body pressed against my softness, the heat radiating off him like a drug I couldn’t resist. His familiar dark, woodsy scent wrapped around me, intoxicating, making it impossible to think. “So, you don’t like my surprises?” he murmured, his lips brushing against my ear. I swallowed, trying to steady my restless nerves. “Well… I never said that,” I breathed, my body betraying me as it melted into him despite my weak attempt to resist. “Then what is it?” His other hand came up, tilting my chin so I had no choice but to look into his stormy gaze. “Gabriel, you bought the car without asking me first.” His lips curled, amusement and arrogance blending in that infuriatingly sexy way. “That’s typically how surprises work, Clairessa.” His fingers trailed lower, brushing away a stray drop of water gliding down my neck. His touch was so light, yet it sent shivers through me, making it impossible to resist him any longer. I sucked i
Clairessa’s POVMy back pressed against the cool wall, my legs still locked around Gabriel’s waist.His strong hands held me effortlessly, keeping me pinned as if I weighed nothing. His eyes burned into me—dark, smoldering. “Let me see you,” he coaxed. “I want to look at you.” My breath came in short pants as I loosened my grip, releasing the towel and letting it fall to the floor. His gaze roamed over me, pupils dilating, hunger flashing across his face. “Damn…” His voice was husky, almost guttural. “My sweet… you’re beautiful,” he murmured, his lips trailing over my shoulder, up the curve of my neck. “Every inch of you.” His nose nuzzled against my skin as he inhaled deeply. “And you smell like vanilla,” he groaned, his mouth finding the spot just beneath my ear. “Sweet. Warm. Tempting.” His fingers slid into my damp hair, massaging my scalp. “Did you wash your hair?” I nodded breathlessly. “Good,” he whispered against my throat. “Because I want to bury my face in it
Clairessa’s POVAfter sleeping for what felt like forever, I finally dragged myself out of bed. My body still ached faintly, but compared to earlier, I felt stronger. No fever. No chills. Just a craving for fresh air and something cold to drink.I’d been holed up in that room all day, not just because I needed rest, but because it was easier.Easier to hide. Easier than running into Adrian and his mission to get me back… or worse, Gabriel and the drama that would unfold when he told the truth.The idea of running into either of them made my stomach twist, so I figured if I moved quietly enough, I could sneak down to the kitchen, grab a glass of juice, and return before anyone noticed.My throat was dry, parched even. I glanced at the empty glass on the nightstand and sighed. There was no escaping it—I needed juice.Slipping quietly out of bed, I padded across the room, easing the door open like it might squeak loud enough to call them both over.The hallway was empty. Good. I tiptoed
Clairessa’s POVMy body trembled, a deep shiver running through me like heat and cold were warring inside my veins.Through the fog, Gabriel’s voice cut in—urgent, panicked.“Clairessa... hey, are you okay? Look at me... please.”Then I felt his hands—lifting me, holding me close, peeling away layers of clothing…The dream came in flashes. The soft splash of water. His arms supported me as he bathed me—like I was breakable, like I still meant something to him.He dressed me gently, laid me in bed, tucked the duvet around me, then pressed a kiss to my forehead.When he turned to go, I reached for him, my fingers curling around his. I remember whispering it… three small words.“I love you.”A voice, distant and persistent, tugged me out of the warmth.“Claire… Claire…”My eyes flew open, blinking against the light. Adrian’s face swam into focus.“Thank God,” he breathed. “You’re awake.”I stared at him for a moment, disoriented, my heart still wrapped in the remnants of the dream. I gla
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.