All Chapters of THE BILLIONAIRE'S RELUCTANT BRIDE : Chapter 101 - Chapter 110

EVANGELINEThe kiss was soft, hesitant. It was a question and an answer all at once.Gael responded. His hands settled on my waist with infinite gentleness and deepened the kiss slightly when I didn't pull away.My hands fisted in his shirt, torn between pulling him closer and pushing him away.The conflict raged in my chest, desire warring with self-preservation. But his touch was so different now, so careful and reverent, that I found myself melting despite my reservations.When he began working at the buttons of his shirt, I watched with nervous fascination.His chest was broader than I'd imagined, defined with muscle and scattered with tattoos.I tensed when he reached for the zipper of my dress."May I?" His voice was strained with restraint.I nodded, not trusting my voice, and felt him slowly draw the zipper down.The silk pooled at my feet, leaving me in nothing but my underwear.I wrapped my arms around myself instinctively, suddenly feeling exposed and vulnerable.This was s

EVANGELINEI woke up the next day, feeling utterly wrecked yet somehow complete. My body ached in places I'd never felt before.The memories of last night hit me in waves and my cheeks burn with embarrassment. Gael had sworn he was going at his gentlest pace, yet he'd taken me until I'd collapsed from sheer exhaustion. And truthfully, I believed he really had been gentle with me.I couldn't believe it had actually happened. I'd lost my virginity to Gael. We'd finally consummated our marriage.My gaze drifted to the other side of the bed, finding it empty as expected.Had he left after our lovemaking? The thought sent an unexpected ache in my chest.I glanced at the wall clock and my eyes widened in shock then at the windows.The sun was already high in the sky, signaling it was late afternoon.I'd slept through breakfast and lunch, completely unconscious to the world until now.My body had clearly needed the rest after last night's activity."I'm late for Thaddeus's exhibition!" I thr

EVANGELINEThe endearment slipped out before I could stop it, and Gael's expression softened immediately. His look became gentler, revealing how much my words had affected him. There was something almost vulnerable in his eyes, as if my casual affection had touched something deep inside him.I turned away to break the intense eye contact before he could do something that might embarrass us both. The moment felt too intimate for such a public setting, and I was acutely aware of the curious glances from other gallery visitors.I noticed Ophelia watching our interaction with obvious displeasure, her lips pressed into a thin line. Did she perhaps have feelings for my husband? The possibility sent an unexpected surge of possessiveness through me.After a few more minutes of stilted conversation, during which Ophelia made several more pointed comments about shared history, Lysander seemed to sense the tension and began making polite excuses to move on."Great seeing you, Gael," he said warm

EVANGELINEThe address in Gael’s car GPS was a building that loomed against the dark sky like something out of a science fiction movie, all glass and steel reaching impossibly high into the clouds.I craned my neck back, trying to count the floors, but lost track somewhere around thirty. The structure seemed to stretch endlessly upward, disappearing into the darkness above.How many apartments could one person possibly need? The excess was staggering, even for someone of Gael's wealth.The moment I stepped out of the car, a man in suit materialized from the shadows and blocked my path.I jumped back instinctively, my hands coming up in a defensive posture."Mrs. Dettling, this way." His voice was professionally polite, but everything else about him screamed danger. From his tailored suit to the way he carried himself. He looked like he could kill someone without breaking a sweat."Who are you?"I looked him up and down suspiciously, taking in every detail.He took a step toward me and

EVANGELINEGael entered what appeared to be the master bedroom, a space as luxurious as the rest of the apartment. The bed was enormous, covered in expensive linens that looked like they'd never been slept in. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered the same spectacular view of the city, but somehow it felt more intimate here.He placed me gently on the surface of the bed, the mattress soft beneath me. Then he crouched in front of me, bringing us to eye level.His good hand cupped my cheek, his thumb wiping away the streams of tears with infinite tenderness.Something strange flickered in his eyes. It was an expression I'd never seen on his face before, and it made my chest tighten with emotion.I couldn't stop staring at his hidden injured hand. The guilt was eating me alive. How could I have been so cruel? How could I have challenged him to hurt himself?He straightened slowly and walked to one of the built-in drawers.I watched in growing dismay as he retrieved a first aid kit and began w