Gabriel’s POV I shoved the thoughts of Adrian out of my mind. This moment was mine—no matter the cost. Nothing was going to stop me. Not now. I placed hot, open-mouthed kisses down her chest, trailing slowly along the dip of her cleavage, and paused when I felt her breath hitch. Her skin was warm under my lips, flushed—responding to every touch. As I looked up, the reality hit me like a jolt of lightning—she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her nipples strained against the thin black fabric, betraying how much she wanted this. A violent need tore through my chest. I couldn’t hold back anymore. I caught one nipple through the dress,ateeth grazing it, biting down just enough to make her whimper—a mix of pain and pleasure—and then my tongue asoothed where I’d marked her, slow and reverent. Her fingers curled into my hair like she wasn’t sure whether to pull me closer or push me away. “Stop this,” she breathed, her voice barely holding. My mouth stilled. I looked up at her, fingers still ro
Gabriel’s POV I clenched my fists to stop myself from doing something reckless. “No, you can’t,” I barked. “Adrian came home drunk out of his damn mind. And you—” My eyes narrowed. “Have you been drinking?” She tossed her hair back, casual and defiant. “Maybe.” That answer should’ve fueled the fury already building in my chest and pushed me closer to losing it. Not sparked a twisted urge to taste the alcohol on her lips. “You’ve got some nerve,” I muttered, pushing back the dark thoughts. She folded her arms. “You don’t have any right to be jealous. Adrian’s an adult. So am I. Besides, he’s my—” “Ex-boyfriend,” I corrected through gritted teeth. “And you told me you didn’t want him. So what the hell is going on now?” She tilted her head, slowly, deliberately. Her voice dropped to a soft, almost teasing lilt. “Maybe my feelings have changed.” A violent surge of jealousy tore through me—hot, reckless, blinding. It twisted into something darker. Rougher. A raw, aching desire
Gabriel’s POV I’d been pacing back and forth across the living room like a lunatic, my fingers raking through my hair so much I could’ve torn it out. It was past midnight. Adrian still wasn’t home, but he wasn’t the reason I was close to losing my mind. Clairessa hadn’t come back either. No call. No text. Not even a damn emoji. I’d reached out all day—called, messaged. Nothing. And of all the damn days she could disappear on me, it had to be today. It had to be this one. The day I’d planned a grand surprise for her—just for her. I’d been working on it for weeks. Quietly. Meticulously. Had people handling the details, making sure everything was ready. And today—of all days—it was finally done. And the timing couldn’t have been better. She’d crushed the pitch on the Randolph Project—I watched her speak, command the room, leave everyone floored. Even Randolph himself, the CEO, looked at her like she was the best thing to happen to his company in a decade. I was so damn proud.
Clairessa’s POV “What the hell?” We rushed out into the hallway, shock crawling up my spine like a cold chill. And there he was. Adrian. In a fistfight. The crowd parted just enough for us to see him—Adrian—locked in a full-blown fistfight with some guy in a designer blazer. The other man was wailing on him, punch after punch, while Brian shouted for them to stop and forcefully pulled them apart. Now, Adrian and the other guy were fuming, glaring at each other like rabid dogs as stunned guests watched with murmurs of disappointment. "You're done for in this city!" Adrian spat at the man, pushing against Brian's grip. My voice rose before I could stop it. "Adrian!” He turned toward me. Blood trickled from his lip. His eyes locked onto mine, filled with drunken haze and something that looked a lot like guilt. “Claire?” he said, blinking. He stumbled forward. “What are you… doing here?” “Unbelievable,” I muttered. “You’re drunk.” “I’m not drunk,” he slurred, staggering. “Just
Clairessa’s POV At a closer look, the mystery man was tall and lean, with sun-kissed blond hair that brushed his shoulders and a clean jawline. Striking bone structure—surfer-model attractive. An effortless charm played across his face, and his eyes brightened the moment they landed on Jess. He stepped back with practiced ease, meeting both our gazes. “Jess. I thought that was you.” I smiled, slow and knowing. “Yes. It is definitely Jess.” Jess shot me a daggered look that could've sliced the champagne glass in my hand. I grinned back. “How do you know my friend?” He extended a hand, his voice calm and laced with amusement. “I’m Brian. We met at an art exhibition in Florence. Brief... but memorable.” Jess muttered under her breath, “An experience I’d like to forget.” Brian tilted his head. “Sorry, I missed that?” “She said she’s surprised to see you. That’s all,” I cut in sweetly, flashing a casual smile. “I hope it’s a good surprise, then.” He held out his hand again. “Fo
Clairessa’s POVJess’s whole posture shifted. She went still, lips pressing into a tight line. “What about him?”I glanced up, helpless. “He said he misses me. That he wants me back.”Jess gasped like I’d just told her I was secretly royalty. “I’m sorry—what?!” She scooted closer, practically bouncing. “You are not about to drop that bomb and leave me hanging. Spill. Every. Detail.”So I did.I told her everything.About the conversation in his office.The way he looked at me.His apology.His confession.How his words made my heart stutter—even though I hated that they did.How I walked out.And now? I didn’t even know what the hell I felt anymore.Jess leaned back slowly, folding her arms. “Damn. That man never does anything halfway, does he?”“Tell me about it.”She gently massaged my legs, eyes thoughtful. “So… what do you want to do?”I swallowed hard. “I don’t know. My emotions are spiraling. It’s like I can’t even tell what’s real anymore. I want to say I’m over him—that I’m do