Clairessa’s POV "Say you'll never leave me..." Gabriel's husky voice demanded, his lips tormenting me with wet kisses. "I..." I opened my mouth to respond, but before the words could leave my lips, a loud, insistent banging shattered the moment. I forced my eyes open, my lashes fluttering as I tried to adjust to reality. My hand instinctively reached for Gabriel’s side of the bed—but it was empty. Cold sheets. I blinked, my senses catching up. And then it hit me. It was a dream. Gabriel wasn’t here. I let out a quiet groan, rubbing my eyes as I slowly sat up. A dull ache settled in my limbs, a reminder of last night. A frown tugged at my lips as I glanced around the room. No sign of Gabriel. Had he gone to the balcony? Maybe the bathroom? I was about to call out for him when the knocking came again, firmer this time, pulling me from the fog of sleep. With a heavy sigh, I threw the sheets off me and stood. My body felt exhausted in places I hadn’t even realized could be
Clairessa’s POV My eyes locked onto my reflection in the mirror, forcing myself to stay strong. "You’ve got this..." I whispered to my image staring back at me. Then, with a deep breath, I grabbed my toothbrush, attempting to scrub away every taste of him in my mouth. I turned the shower on and stepped under the cold spray, letting it wash over my body. I scrubbed with more force than necessary, desperate to rid myself of every lingering scent and trace of him. Squeezing my eyes shut, I let the water run over me, my hands pressing against the cool tile. But the soreness between my thighs was a constant reminder. The sting on my ass where he had spanked me over and over… By the time I was done, my skin was fresh, clean—and even though I was still sore, I felt like myself again. Or at least, I tried to. Just as I finished dressing, a knock sounded at the door. Brenda. Right on time. I let her in. She moved around the room, folding my clothes, putting my shoes away like
Gabriel’s POVA fucking cruel asshole. That was the best way to describe me after what I’d done to Clairessa. I had fucked up. Badly. I knew it the moment I left her. The moment I walked out of that villa, telling myself it was for the best. That leaving without a word—without facing her—would make it easier. I told myself that maybe, if I put enough distance between us, I could forget her. But I was wrong. Because every second, every breath, every damn moment since I left, she consumed me. I closed my eyes, and there she was—imprinted in my mind like a brand I couldn't erase. Her soft moans echoed in my ears, the way she had begged me to take her, the way her body trembled beneath me, completely open and willing. I groaned, running a hand over my face, trying to push the thoughts away. But it was useless. I could still taste her on my tongue, still feel the way she melted under my touch. No matter how many times I took her, no matter how many ways I made h
Gabriel’s POV Clairessa stood in front of me, gripping the door like she was debating whether to slam it in my face. Her eyes widened, her lips parted slightly, and for a moment, I saw it—the shock, the hesitation, the way she swallowed hard like she needed a second to process that I was actually here. "Mr. Storm…" Her voice was steady, but her expression was anything but. "What are you doing here?" Mr. Storm. Formal. Cold. Like I was just her boss. Like I hadn’t had her beneath me, moaning my name, begging me to take her. I deserved that. Ignoring her question, I took a step forward, pressing just enough weight against the door so she had no choice but to move back. She did, reluctantly, but only an inch—like a challenge. She was dressed in an oversized T-shirt that fell to mid-thigh, her toned legs bare. Her hair was thrown up in a messy bun, loose strands framing her face. She looked effortlessly beautiful. And I wanted her. Even now, when she was furious wi
Gabriel’s POV I stepped closer, reaching for Clairessa’s hand. She pulled me back for a moment, then slowly let me take it. Her hand felt delicate in mine, like I might break her if I wasn’t careful. I looked into her eyes and whispered, "I could never have my fill of you." I confessed, baring my emotions, hoping she could see I was being sincere. "You don’t know what you do to me... I don’t think I could ever get enough of you." She yanked her hand away, her eyes flashing with anger as she turned her back to me. "I'm done with your games, Gabriel," she retorted. "Teasing, taunting… using sex as a weapon to control me, to own me. But you give me nothing in return." Her words hit me hard, sinking deep. I knew she was right—I had almost nothing real to offer her. Yet, I couldn’t let her go. My hands gently rested on her shoulders as I turned her to face me. She was trembling, and I could see it wasn’t just from anger—it was from hurt, too. "Clairessa, I’m sorry… about that
Clairessa’s POV Oh my God. It all made sense now. Everything—why Gabriel was the way he was. Daniel’s story… about his friend walking in on him… But he never got to say the name of his best friend because Gabriel had walked in. Now, I finally understood the feud—how two close friends could turn into enemies.The betrayal had cut so deep into Gabriel—I could see the hurt on his face, the pain he had buried for years now rising to the surface. "Gabriel... I'm... so, so—" His expression darkened instantly. "I don’t need pity," he cut me off, tilting his head slightly. "That night turned me into this man you claim is so hardened. There was a time I loved earnestly… and it was destroyed." My heart broke at the rawness in his voice. I held his gaze, willing him to see my sincerity. "It’s not pity, Gabriel. It’s understanding–for the hurt and pain you went through. No one deserves that kind of betrayal.” His jaw tensed. "You’re right… I guess you can relate. Your ex che
Clairessa’s POV Gabriel chuckled softly, stepping forward with that confident stride of his. “You must be Jess.” He extended his hand. Jess straightened, smoothing her hair as if she hadn’t just been caught gawking. She took his outstretched hand, gripping it a little too eagerly. “And you must be the famous Gabriel Storm.” Her eyes practically sparkled. “In the flesh.” His grin was effortless. Then, turning back to me, Gabriel’s hand brushed against my cheek, lingering longer than necessary. His lips pressed lightly against my forehead, warm and possessive. “I’ll call you,” he murmured against my skin, his breath sending shivers down my spine. Then he stepped back. “I’ll let you two catch up. It was nice meeting you, Jess.” “The pleasure is all mine!” Jess exclaimed, leaning against the doorway, watching him leave with a look of admiration that quickly turned to mischief the moment the door clicked shut. “Claire…” She let out a dramatic sigh. “That man is the definition of
Clairessa’s POV I had the most exciting, exhilarating, and emotionally challenging weekend.And it felt good to be back at work.Work had always been my sanctuary, my little world where I could lose myself in designs and calculations, shutting out the chaos when it became too much.Being an engineer, creating structures from scratch—it gave me a sense of purpose nothing else could. But today, my mind refused to stay focused.It kept drifting back to the unplanned vacation.The yacht.The island.Gabriel.His lips... the way they trailed fire along my skin. His hands, possessive and gentle all at once. The memories rushed back, causing my stomach to flip.I bit my bottom lip.Focus. Focus, Clairessa.I sat straighter, pulling my laptop closer. The blueprints on the screen blurred as flashes of Gabriel’s smirk and deep voice echoed in my head.Snap out of it.I drew in a deep breath, letting my fingers fly across the keyboard, forcing myself to get lost in the work before me.But just
Gabriel’s POVAs Clairessa walked out, I stood frozen—caught between chasing after her or letting her go.And I let her go.Even though it felt like someone had reached into my chest and torn my heart out without mercy.The last look on her face—God, I’d never forget it. That raw, agonizing pain in her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks.I did that.All because I let my emotions override every ounce of reason I had.Because of a fucking photo. One I didn’t even trust. I reacted without thinking. Without proof. Without giving her the benefit of the doubt.I let it poison everything. Let suspicion consume me. Let anger drive me—and now? God, now I might’ve destroyed the one good thing I had.I may have just destroyed the only real chance at love I’ve ever had. At happiness. At peace.“Fuck...” I muttered, dragging both hands through my hair, fingers tangling in the strands like I could burn the frustration out through my scalp.But nothing made sense anymore.Flashes from the night
Clairessa’s POV Gabriel’s jaw tightened, and his eyes flashed with an emotion I couldn’t quite name. He turned to Tina, who had slipped on a robe, and gave her a look that sent a chill through me. “Wait for me outside.” Of course, she obeyed like a loyal little pet, slamming the door behind her and locking us both in. He had the nerve—the audacity—to ask her to wait. Like I was the one interrupting something special. Like I was the problem. He turned back to me slowly, his expression darkening into something harder, more detached. “Clairessa, you’ve taken it too fucking far,” he warned, then took a slow breath, his chest rising and falling as he tried to regulate himself. He tried to play it calm, but it was too late for that. “If you can’t be reasonable, maybe we should—” “So now you're kicking me out?” I exploded, my chest heaving. “Because I caught you with your ex? The one you swore you were done with?” My throat tightened, and the tears I’d been holding back finally spi
Clairessa’s POVStanding in front of Gabriel’s apartment at 6 a.m. was crazy—completely unhinged, really. I knew that. I knew it the moment I stepped out of the cab and walked up the steps. Who just shows up at someone’s home without calling first?But when the man you love—who doesn’t just claim to love you but proves it daily—suddenly ghosts you, ignores your texts, doesn’t take your calls for two whole days, and then invites you to another dinner he doesn’t show up to... that breaks all the rules.Moreover, rules didn’t matter anymore.Not when my chest was tight with fear, anger, and disappointment. Not when I had this gut feeling that something was wrong—that she had something to do with this. Nicole. It had to be her.I was here to confirm it. I deserved to know the truth.Before I could listen to the little voice in my head urging me to turn back, I quickly typed in the code. Of course I knew it.Gabriel’s home was quiet—just as I imagined. Though he was an early riser, he pref
Gabriel’s POV Tina moved like she’d been here a hundred times. And honestly? She had—a few times in the past, during nights I didn’t care to remember. “Come on, sit,” she urged, easing me down onto the edge of the bed. I slumped back with a groan, the world tilting slightly. Tina was right—I was drunk. No, fuck, I was wasted. My pride didn’t want to admit it, but my blurry vision, spinning head, and the way my limbs felt too heavy to move? Yeah, I was gone. Moments later, she returned. Music played low from the speakers—sultry, slow, seductive. The lights dimmed. Tina stood in front of me now, one hand resting on her hip. And for the first time tonight, I actually looked at her. She wore a nude-colored gown, so close to her skin tone that for a split second, it looked like she wore nothing at all. “I remember you liked a striptease,” she purred, swaying her hips to the rhythm. “Let’s see if you still do.” I watched her move—confident, sure of herself. She let the dress slip
Gabriel’s POVThe bass thumped through the walls of the VIP lounge, loud and chaotic—like the thoughts swirling in my head. I sat on the leather couch, whiskey glass in hand, surrounded by bodies moving to the heavy pulse of the music.Girls were grinding against the poles—shaking their hips, each one doing her best to earn my attention. The owner had apparently heard I was in the building and sent in his best—his “favorites,” as he called them. The ones who knew how to put on a show.They were barely clothed—skimpy shorts clinging too tightly to their asses, leaving nothing to the imagination. Long legs, smooth thighs, fully on display.Sweat glistened on their skin under the flashing lights as they wiggled and moved, casting flirtatious glances my way, hoping to be the one that got picked.One of the girls approached my table, her eyes fixed on me, attempting to seduce me with a gaze that clearly drank in my body. She stopped in front of me, then bent over, hands grazing the floor,
Gabriel’s POVThe vibrating sound came first.Then the soft thud of my phone against the desk as it lit up again.Clairessa was calling for the tenth time this hour.I tried to look away, tried to focus on the reports in front of me, but my traitorous heart wouldn’t cooperate. I reached for the phone, tempted to toss it into the drawer and forget it existed.But my fingers hovered, trembling slightly. No matter how hard I tried to ignore her call, my chest clenched each time I saw her name.It was already evening. The sun had set, and I still hadn’t moved—same damn position, surrounded by silence—except for her persistent calls.I finally gave in and picked up the phone.Thirty missed calls.A dozen unread messages.Messages lined my screen like daggers pressing against my chest.I scrolled past each one, feeling my heart betray me.Babe… have you landed?Gabe, what’s wrong?I’m worried.Talk to me.I heard you’re back. Went to see you but Tems didn’t let me through.Please talk to me
Clairessa’s POVWalking down the hallway, I clutched my phone tightly in my hand. I had called Gabriel a dozen times, left messages that went unanswered, and sent texts that remained on “read.”I felt uneasy, unable to shake the feeling that something was wrong.Just as I neared the elevator, movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention. Nicole. She strutted toward me with an exaggerated sway of her hips, tossing her hair back like she owned the place. I bit back a groan—of all people, she was the last one I wanted to deal with right now.I quickened my pace, determined to get into the elevator before she could reach me, but she sped up, closing the distance in an instant. Just as I reached the doors, she stepped in front of me, blocking my path.She fixed her gaze on me, wearing that infuriating, condescending smirk that made my teeth grind.I fought the urge to shove her aside. “Move, Nicole.”Her smile widened, making it clear she was deliberately trying to get under my s
Gabriel’s POVNicole startled, pulling away slowly, her eyes widening in confusion. "I’m only trying to protect you. You know I have your best interests at heart. I’d hate to see you waste your time on someone so… unworthy.""I don’t care for your advice. Now get out."She hesitated, then reached out again, brushing her fingers against my hand, her touch light, suggestive. "Oh, Gabriel, you're mad at the wrong person. I'm only here to help you see that Clairessa is conniving, vindictive. And she’s playing you."I recoiled instantly, rage tightening my chest. I gripped her wrist tightly, my fingers biting into hers—intentional, meant to frighten her."Don’t you ever touch me without permission again.""Mr... Storm, please let me—" she gasped, her eyes wide with panic as she tried to break my hold, but I didn’t budge, tightening my grip."Nicole, stay away from me. Stay away from Clairessa. And if you value your job, you will walk out of this office right now and never speak of this to
Gabriel’s POV I glared at Nicole, reluctant to entertain whatever nonsense she had concocted. But curiosity got the better of me. I opened my laptop, pulled up my inbox, and clicked on the new message from her. The image loaded. My heart stopped. The photo showed Clairessa—my Clairessa—lips locked with another man in her office. The impact hit me like a blow to the gut. The world around me blurred as the betrayal burned into my mind. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. I stared at the image, trying to make out the man’s face, but the angle was wrong. The only thing clear was Clairessa—the way her body leaned into him, the way her hand pressed against his chest. The same hands that had touched me. The same lips that had whispered my name. Betrayal stung so deeply, threatening to break through, but I forced myself to stay composed, to keep my expression blank, even as my insides burned. Nicole’s voice snapped me back to reality. “Mr. Storm, in case you're doub