Clairessa’s POV I let out a shaky breath, my lips curving into a smirk. "I thought you liked my games." Gabriel chuckled darkly, sending a shiver through me before he dipped his head to my neck. "You have no idea how much," he murmured against my skin, his tongue gliding over the sensitive spot just below my ear. A tremor ran through me, my body instinctively arching against him. His scent—rich, clean, woodsy—wrapped around me, making my head swim. "You smell so sweet," he breathed, his nose trailing along the curve of my throat, savoring me. "Do you know what that does to me?" "Tell me.” His tongue swiped along her cleavage, sending a jolt of heat straight through me. "It makes me want to devour you." A soft whimper escaped before I could stop it. Then—ding. The elevator doors slid open, shattering the moment and forcing him to pull away. I gasped softly, my lips tingling, my body aching from the sudden loss of contact. Still gripping my waist, he guided me
Clairessa’s POVGabriel lifted me off the floor, throwing me over his shoulder as if I weighed nothing. My legs dangled behind him, my palms pressing against his back in protest. “Gabriel! What are you doing?” I gasped, kicking slightly. "Granting you your wish," he purred. Then, without warning, he smacked my ass. A sudden sting shot through me as his palm connected with my bare skin. “Ouch,” I gasped, the unexpected heat spreading through the thin fabric of my dress, igniting something far more intense than pain. He carried me effortlessly across the room before lowering me onto his lap, my body draped over his legs. My face pressed into the soft bedding, my legs hanging off the edge—completely at his mercy. "Let's see what we have here," he murmured, his fingers trailing along the hem of my dress before slowly pushing it up. Cool air kissed my exposed skin, making me shiver in anticipation. I let out a soft breath as he slid my panties down my legs completely. I
Clairessa’s POVEmbarrassment washed over me like a tidal wave as the memory of my confession replayed in my mind.Fuck.I had just told Gabriel I loved him.A truth I hadn’t even admitted to myself yet.This was crazy. Impossible. It had to be the orgasm. The overwhelming pleasure. It wasn’t me—it was the moment, the passion, the intensity.Did he hear me? Did he remember?Oh God.What if he was just waiting for me to say it again, to confirm what my body had already betrayed?No. No way.I had to play it off. Act like it never happened.I snuck a glance at him, but the moment our eyes met, my stomach flipped. He was watching me, a smug expression tugging at his lips."What?" I blurted out, still shy and utterly mortified by what had just happened—or rather, by how I had completely lost control.Gabriel’s smirk widened. "Did you just admit you’re in love with me… mid-orgasm?”"I… no… I—" I stammered, panicking, my heart hammering against my ribs.Before I could form a proper defense,
Clairessa’s POV I woke up completely exhausted, my body sore but deliciously satisfied. My eyes snapped open, darting around the room as I tried to process everything. I shifted, pushing up onto my elbows, and spotted Gabriel sitting at the desk near the window, his attention locked on his laptop. He looked effortlessly handsome, his jaw tight with concentration as he typed. Then my gaze drifted to the giant clock hanging on the wall. 6:30. Shit. It all came rushing back. How did I let myself sleep this late? Panic surged through me. "Gabriel…" My voice was hoarse, my throat dry from sleep. At the sound of my voice, Gabriel's head snapped up, his eyes locking onto mine. He was on his feet in seconds, striding toward me. Concern flickered in his expression as he sat beside me. "What is it?" he asked, his voice edged with worry. "Oh my God…" I gasped, jerking upright as panic took hold. "You didn’t wake me—shit! I overslept!" Relief softened his face as he real
Clairessa’s POV"I could get used to this…" I said, sipping my coffee as I watched Gabriel move around the kitchen with practiced ease. He was shirtless, wearing just a low hang of his sweatpants, revealing just enough to make my mouth go dry. It was a sight to behold—Gabriel Storm, billionaire CEO, standing barefoot in his kitchen, flipping pancakes like a man who had nowhere else to be but here, with me. He turned his attention away from the pan, dark eyes locking onto mine. "Used to what?" I grinned, setting my cup down. "Used to you cooking for me. Spoiling me. Making me breakfast every morning like a perfect, doting man." He chuckled, leaning against the counter, folding his arms. "I love to please you," he drawled. "As I’ve demonstrated many times. So, by all means.”Heat spread through my skin as memories of last night flooded my mind—his hands, his mouth, the way he tasted and explored every inch of me, giving me mind-blowing orgasms over and over again. He was right
Clairessa’s POV Adrian’s timing was absolute shit. Fucking jerk. He just couldn’t let me breathe, could he? Of course not. He wanted to ruin me. The only reason I unblocked his number was because he threatened me… Shit. I should’ve blocked him before coming to Gabriel. But I didn’t, because after our last conversation, he never even crossed my mind again. And of all the damn times to call— It had to be now. Right when I was with Gabriel. And the bloody phone wouldn’t stop ringing. Adrian was an asshole who refused to understand that we were done. And now Gabriel was on the verge of finding out. His words echoed in my head, sending a wave of fear rippling through me. "I’ll take care of him—make sure he learns never to mess with what’s mine."What did that even mean? Take care of him? As in… talk to him? Threaten him? Worse? I panicked, shifting in my seat. Gabriel talking to Adrian was a disaster waiting to happen—everything I’d been trying to avoid. Hell n
Clairessa’s POV Gabriel strode to the island and set me down, his body fitting between my legs. A low groan escaped him as he nudged forward, his hardness pressing into my heat, sending a shudder through me. He pushed up the oversized T-shirt I wore, his gaze darkening as he parted my legs and discovered the bare skin beneath. “No panties,” he drawled, his voice heavy with hunger. His eyes gleamed with something primal as his fingers slid over my slit, stroking—finding me exactly as he wanted. Hot. Slick. Ready. “You’re wet… and you’re all mine.” His voice was pure possession, his lips grazing my throat as he groaned against my skin. A deep ache throbbed in my core, spreading like fire, my body already responding to him—wet, needy, desperate. He shoved his sweatpants down, freeing himself. Then, with a firm grip on my hips, he pulled me closer and drove into me with a single, deep, hard stroke. A broken cry escaped my lips as every inch of him filled me, claiming me comp
Clairessa’s POV Adrian’s words were manipulative, carefully designed to worm their way into my emotions. But the truth was undeniable—I loved Gabriel. With everything in me. And yet, I was just as wrong as Adrian. The weight of that reality pressed down on me, swallowing my words, making it impossible to confront him the way I should. I forced down the lump in my throat and squared my shoulders. “I’m not here for all this. What do you want?” "Claire, please." He pulled out a chair for me. "Not until you tell me what you want." I stood firm, arms crossed. "Just… sit. Please." His voice was laced with something close to desperation. With a sigh, I sank into the chair, my arms still folded. "Say your piece." Instead of answering, Adrian slid a menu toward me. "How about we start with lunch first? What would you like to have?" Typical. He always thought he could charm his way out of things, flashing that coy smile like it would erase everything. If only he knew how littl
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