Gabriel's POVSitting in the grand auditorium, I couldn’t focus on anything but Gabriel. The room was packed with influential people—investors, tech gurus—but my focus stayed on him. Even though he was across the room on the big stage, it felt like his eyes were on me, and I couldn’t help but feel warm all over.He stood tall, wearing a sharp grey suit, speaking with passion about how technology could change the world. His voice was calm and confident, making every word sound important.The way he moved—his posture, his gestures—showed strength and control. Gabriel wasn’t just a businessman; he was a visionary—a man who saw the future and was determined to reshape it. His presence was magnetic, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t look away. I glanced at the crowd and noticed everyone else was as captivated as I was. It wasn’t just admiration—it was respect. Gabriel had a way of making everything else seem insignificant, and all I could think about was how much I admired him—
Gabriel’s POVI held Clairessa’s hand tightly as we walked through the hotel lobby. She protested, telling me to let her go, but I ignored her. My emotions were raging. Seeing her with Daniel had set me on fire.Out of all the men in the world, she chose to have lunch with him—my enemy. Daniel had always been a thorn in my side, constantly trying to take everything from me, even my ex-wife, Angelique, back when he had more money than I did. That was years ago, though. Now, things were different.I had more power and wealth than Daniel could ever dream of. I had built my empire with sweat and blood, surpassing him in every way. Yet here he was, acting as if he could still take what was mine.I tightened my grip on Clairessa’s hand, feeling her tremble beneath my hold. Good. Let her feel it. Let her understand no one crosses me. I wanted her to know how angry I was—not just for leaving the conference without a word but for walking out with him. For letting him make her laugh and smile w
Clairessa’s POVAs I walked into my apartment, I was seething with rage. Gabriel had pushed me to my limit. I wanted to hate him, to forget he existed. But deep down, I knew I couldn’t, no matter how hard I tried. I wanted him. My fingers brushed my lips where he had kissed me, and I clutched his shirt close, letting his scent fill my senses. I could still feel his touch lingering on my skin. Pressing a hand against my chest, I tried to steady myself."Get a hold of yourself, Clairessa," I scolded aloud. This was supposed to be about revenge, not about losing control over him. Gabriel’s jealous tantrum over my lunch with Daniel was infuriating. Instead of talking to me like an adult, he used my attraction to him as a weapon to force me into following his ridiculous rules.He had no right to demand I never see Daniel again, even though I had no intention of doing so. Who was Daniel to him? Why did Gabriel care so much about one simple lunch? His reaction at the restaurant made it clea
Clairessa’s POVI arrived at Adrian’s restaurant, and a wave of nostalgia hit me as I took in the familiar surroundings. Memories of our time together overwhelmed me—late nights spent here, the ideas I had shared to help him grow the business, even the colors I chose for the walls. I had put so much into his dream, pausing mine because I believed we were building a future together. How wrong I was.Lost in thought, I barely noticed a waitress approach. “Do you have a reservation?” she asked.I nodded absentmindedly, my eyes scanning the tables for Adrian. Then I saw him, standing by the bar.He wasn’t alone.Nicole stood beside him, laughing, and they were deep in conversation.My heart sank. Of course, he hadn’t changed. All those promises, all the begging for a second chance—it was all a lie. He was still the same lying, cheating… jerk. Tears stung my eyes as I tried to hold myself together, but it was too much. Why did it still hurt this much? Maybe because I hadn’t fully let him g
Clairessa’s POV For just a moment, Gabriel hesitated. Then his lips crashed into mine, hungry and desperate. Our tongues tangled, and a surge of heat swept through me as I melted into him. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer, and I felt his heart pounding hard against mine. The fire between us grew with every kiss, every touch. Each time his lips met mine, waves of pleasure rippled through me. I pulled away, breathing hard, staring into his dark eyes. For the first time, I felt powerful, knowing I was the one making him lose control. Slowly, I began to undo his shirt, revealing his firm, toned chest. My hands explored his skin, marveling at the firmness of his muscles. His body was sculpted and hard beneath my fingertips, each touch awakening something primal within me. I needed more, craved more of him. I let my lips trail down his neck, tasting him, feeling his body tense beneath my touch. His arousal pressed against my thighs, and I reached down, grasping his throb
Gabriel’s POVI paced frantically around my living room, struggling to control my spiraling thoughts and my throbbing erection, desperately aching to be buried inside her. Clairessa had just confessed she was a virgin, then backtracked, saying she wasn’t. I didn’t know what to believe, and the confusion was driving me mad.If she was a virgin, I couldn’t touch her. That was a line I never crossed. I didn’t want to hurt her or take something so important from her. But the thought of her being innocent made me want her even more, and it was messing with my head.I felt torn—frustrated and suddenly, it all felt wrong, as if I was taking advantage of her pain for my own selfish gain. What kind of man did that make me? No different from her cheating boyfriend, who kept her around for his personal benefit.“Gabriel, say something…” she said, her voice shaky. “Clairessa, I need you to tell me the truth,” I replied, my gaze fixed on her. “Are you a virgin?” “I… um… no… of course not. I’ve
Gabriel’s POV"Mr. Storm…" Clairessa’s voice echoed softly through the intercom, and something inside me tightened. "Clairessa, my office. Immediately," I said, my tone firm, my mood darker than I cared to admit. Ever since that night at my house—the night I lost control and let the passion between us overtake me—she had made it a point to avoid me. She barely spoke to me, kept her distance, and buried herself in work as if nothing had happened. I should have been relieved. After all, I was the one who pushed her away, drawing a line between us that she now refused to cross. But instead of relief, all I felt was... emptiness. I missed her. God, how I needed to see her. It was something I didn’t even want to admit to myself. Yet every time she walked into a room, the atmosphere shifted. She was a burst of energy, a breath of fresh air in my otherwise suffocating world. Now, she had grown cold—so distant that I barely recognized her. And it was my fault. I deserved her indiffe
Clairessa’s POV I pressed the send button, letting out a long sigh of relief. Finally, the reports were done. It had taken forever, but I’d always loved a challenge—especially one that involved putting the arrogant Gabriel Storm in his place. There was no way I was losing this. My goal was clear: to get my revenge on Adrian by sleeping with his father. The plan was already in motion, especially after what happened between Gabriel and me at his home. The only reason he stopped was that I had mistakenly let it slip that I was a virgin, leading him to assume I wanted to trap him into some emotional commitment. As if… Everything was spiraling out of control. My feelings for Gabriel… Adrian’s betrayal… they were both pulling me in different directions, making things more complicated and dangerous. Gabriel made it clear—sex was all he was after, and that’s all I wanted too. This wasn’t about love or affection; it was about revenge—revenge on Adrian. Gabriel had no idea about that,
Gabriel’s POVClairessa’s message burned in my mind. I stared at my phone, barely registering the droning voice of Tesco, the CEO of Zenco, seated across the large conference table. His associates, lawyers, and executives were seated around him, their expressions a mix of forced attentiveness and boredom. He was attempting to renegotiate terms that were already set in stone, but my attention was elsewhere. My grip tightened around my phone, heat rising in my veins. She thought this was a game. She thought she could push me, test me, and get away with it. She had no idea who she was dealing with. "Mr. Storm?" Tesco's voice cut through my haze. I lifted my gaze, finally acknowledging the man sitting across from me. He offered a coy smile before continuing. "Mr. Storm, as I was saying, we believe the current valuation does not fully reflect the potential of our company, and we would like to revisit the—” He had been spewing the same nonsense for the past hour, trying to
Clairessa’s POVI stormed out of Gabriel’s office, muttering curses under my breath. That insufferable, arrogant, exasperating man. My legs trembled, my core still throbbing from the torment he had put me through. Every inch of me was hypersensitive, burning with the cruel, lingering ache of his touch—or lack thereof. Damn him. How dare he leave me like that? How dare he play these wicked games with me and then walk off as if nothing had happened? I should have known his calm demeanor, his so-called forgiveness, was nothing but a carefully laid trap. I should have known he was planning something. He never let anything slip through his fingers. And now, he had me exactly where he wanted—hungry, desperate, aching. Argh! I hated him. Yet, I wanted him. There was no denying it. It was an intoxicating, maddening feeling—one that consumed me entirely. Taking a deep breath, I reached for the elevator button, eager to escape before I lost the last shred of contro
Gabriel’s POVI cleared my throat, forcing myself to focus as I turned my attention to Nicole, who stood at the far end of my office. "Welcome, Nicole. Have a seat." I gestured to the conference table. She nodded and took a seat. My gaze immediately shifted to Clairessa."Clairessa," I called, my voice smooth, commanding. "After you." She hesitated for just a second before stepping forward. And that’s when my jaw clenched. That damn dress. It clung to her ass—high, round, and perfect—making my fingers twitch with the urge to grab it, to caress and explore every inch. But what really held my attention was the way her steps faltered, the way her thighs pressed together just a little too tightly—like she was fighting something. Still fighting me. "Sit beside me," I ordered, sinking into my seat at the head of the table, stretching out with effortless confidence.Clairessa met my gaze with a faint smile, but I caught the hint of annoyance simmering in her eyes. She was u
Gabriel’s POVThe moment Clairessa stepped into my office, I saw it—the battle she was losing. Her skin was flushed, her breathing uneven. My eyes raked over her. She looked sexy as hell in the dress I had chosen for her. The stylist had sent a collection, but I’d picked this one. The dress. The lingerie. Every piece she wore—I had selected it. Fuck, I had a sick need to brand her. And damn, she looked perfect. The Alexander McQueen dress framed her hips, hugging every curve just right. My gaze trailed over her—her hips, her slender, smooth legs moving closer in those red-bottom heels, revealing glimpses of her caramel inner thighs. She stopped in front of my desk, gripping the edge so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her thighs pressed together, as if trying to suppress the fire raging inside her. But the way she trembled made it clear—resisting was impossible. Watching her struggle against the sensations flooding her body, knowing I controlled every last on
Gabriel’s POVClairessa had disobeyed me. Again. I leaned back in my chair, fingers pressed under my chin as I replayed every moment of her defiance. She had ignored my calls. Then she made up some excuse about working when she was out having lunch with Daniel—which turned out to be a lie. I had believed her, even when my instincts whispered that she wasn’t being entirely truthful. Not just about Daniel. There was something else she was holding back, something she wasn’t ready to say. I could feel it, but I refused to dwell on it.Because none of it mattered.I had chosen to trust her.Trust—a word that felt foreign, a feeling I hadn't allowed myself in years.I didn’t trust anyone.Not in business.And certainly not in a relationship.But here I was, giving her the benefit of the doubt.I refused to bring the baggage of my last relationship into what we were building.Even though the thought of her with him still ignited a dark, seething jealousy within me—especially
Clairessa’s POV Satisfaction swelled inside me, but it barely lasted before his hand slipped between my thighs, grazing the lace that barely covered my warmth. “Such a tease,” he murmured, almost to himself. “You’ve had your fun. Now you’re going to take your punishment like a good girl.” Panic shot through me, knowing I was completely exposed and at his mercy, yet I couldn’t ignore the way my body eagerly anticipated his next move. His hands gripped my hips as he slowly pulled my panties down, letting them stop just before my knees. “Your ass is just as perfect as the rest of you,” he rasped. His large palm traced the curve of my ass, caressing it with a deceptive softness that only made my breath hitch. “I can’t wait to see your soft, silky skin flush under my touch… to feel the heat rise with every strike.” Before I could even process his words, his hand came down—hard. A shocking gasp left my lips as the impact sent a jolt of pleasure and pain straight to my core.
Clairessa’s POV I stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped tightly around me, my damp hair pulled into a loose bun. The warmth of the shower still lingered on my skin as I walked toward the bed. But the moment my eyes landed on it, the lingering heat was quickly replaced by shock. Neatly arranged on the bed were a black lace bra, matching panties, sheer pantyhose, and a sleek, fitted office dress. My fingers brushed over the fabric. It was expensive—nothing like the office dresses in my closet, the ones I could afford. The design screamed sophistication and professionalism, but it was also undeniably sexy. I could already tell it would hug my body in all the right places and command attention. I hadn’t brought any clothes to Gabriel’s house, assuming I’d head home to change before work. But, of course, Gabriel had planned ahead. And from the look of things, he had gotten my exact size. I didn’t have to wonder too much about how he knew. My eyes darted around the
Clairessa’s POVGabriel sensed my hesitation and closed the distance between us, his strong arms slipping around my waist, pulling me deeply into his embrace.“What’s wrong?” His voice was gentle yet probing, concern etched into his features. I forced a smile, hoping he wouldn’t hear the panic rising in my chest. “Nothing… I just— I wasn’t expecting this.” “I know we agreed to keep our relationship private, but I thought it was time.” A lump formed in my throat. Time for what? “Don’t you think that would be us moving too fast?” The words slipped out before I could stop them. His brows furrowed slightly. “Maybe… but I know what I want.” He brushed his thumb along my cheek. “I never thought I’d say this to a woman or even feel this way, but I want you—and it isn’t just about sex. I want to be with you for a long time, Clairessa. And I’m too grown to play games.” His words melted my insides, breaking down every last defense I had. The affection in his eyes was undeniable…
Clairessa’s POV The SUV pulled into the private entrance of Gabriel’s Miami penthouse, my heart beating a little too fast as I stared up at the towering building. Was he home? Would I be walking into a confrontation? I turned to Dario, hoping for some sort of warning. He was already stepping out to open my door. "Is he home?" Dario gave a curt nod. "Mr. Storm is waiting inside." Then, without another word, he opened the door for me. I sucked in a deep breath before making my way toward the private elevator. When the doors slid open, the penthouse greeted me with its usual quiet and dark ambiance. I hesitated before stepping forward, glancing around. I half expected Gabriel to be waiting in the living room, arms crossed, ready to interrogate me. But he wasn’t there. Then, I heard it—his voice, deep and smooth, drifting from down the hall.Following the sound, I moved past the plush seating area, through the wide marble hallway, until I reached his office. The do