Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel)

Gabriel's POV

My fists clenched at my sides with the effort it took to hold myself back. When I finally spoke, my voice came out rough-too rough-but not from anger. From the desire still burning inside me, aching to be let out.

"I gave you an almost impossible task," I said, steadying my breath. "And you still delivered more than I ever expected. You salvaged the pitch. You made Randolph stay. You saved this deal."

My gaze dragged over her slowly-as if my eyes had a will of their own. It halted on the slow, sinful rise and fall of her chest, the soft curve of her cleavage just barely visible through the parted fabric.

Each breath teased the opening wider, tempting me to look longer... to fall deeper.

A fresh wave of heat surged through me, stirring a throbbing ache tightening in my pants-one I fought hard to ignore.

I ran a hand down my face, trying to refocus-and tear my eyes off her breasts before I lost control. Before I ripped that flimsy button wide open, shoved the fabric aside, and wrapped my mouth around one aching nipple.

I swallowed hard, the memory of her taste flooding back-the way she used to whimper when I ran my tongue-

Fuck, Gabriel. Get it together.noveldrama

"I owe you an apology," I said, forcing the words out. "I've acted like a bastard this past week—and it's because I've been trying. For Adrian. Pushing him to step up... and in the process, I pushed you away. That wasn't fair. And now, it feels like it was all for nothing."

"He showed up eventually," she replied, uncertain. "That counts for something."

I let out a ragged breath. "Maybe. Maybe not. Sacrifice is a lonely thing. You give everything... and just hope something sticks."

Every part of me screamed to close the distance and claim her right then and there.

"I should be mad at you."

Her gaze dropped.

"But I'm not."

Her head lifted, brows drawn tight.

"I want to be."

Her shoulders curled inward.

"But I can't."

That hit her. Her eyes locked onto mine-wide, searching, trembling with the truth we were both trying to deny.

"I can't hate you, Clairessa. God knows I've tried."

And I had. I'd tried to shut her out.

Push her away.

Drown her from my system.

But she was the one woman who'd sunk her way in and stayed. Not even time had dulled it. Not even pain.

She didn't respond. Still resisting it just like I had for weeks. But I knew now. There was no point. It was useless.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked. "When you realized Adrian wasn't coming?"

She hesitated. "Because I panicked. I didn't know where he was... and I didn't want to deal with your reaction."

Fair.

I nodded slowly, jaw flexing. "Next time, Clairessa... no matter how bad it is-you come to me. Don't shut me out again."

She gave a small nod. Something in her expression collapsed-regret, exhaustion... maybe even guilt.

Then she whispered it, soft and reluctant.

"Adrian didn't show up on time... which means the contract still stands."

That was it. I couldn't hold back anymore.

I stepped forward-closing the last inches between us—until she was right there, her body a breath from mine.

"Is that what you want, Clairessa?"

She tried to step back-barely an inch-but my hands moved before I could think, wrapping around her waist, gripping tight as I drew her soft body slowly against the hard length of mine.

She tensed in resistance, then pushed weakly against my chest-no real force behind it and kept her eyes averted, breath shaky.

"Let me go," she said, voice tight.

"Not until you look at me."

She bit her lower lip in frustration, then finally lifted her gaze. And there it was— the shift.

The heat.

The truth she didn't want to admit.

She still wanted this. Wanted me.

"Now," I said, voice low. "Tell me the truth. What do you want from me?"

"It's too late to ask me that," she shot back. "I made it clear weeks ago."

My hand grazed a slow line down her spine, then trailed back up to the curve of her neck.

"It's never too late."

I reached up slowly, letting my hand hover, then brushed a soft strand of hair

behind her ear—barely touching her, yet feeling her shiver.

"As long as we're still breathing," I murmured, "there's time."

She stayed still. Made no move to stop me.

Her skin warmed beneath my fingertips, and when our eyes locked again, I made

sure she saw it-everything I'd been hiding.

The want.

The ache.

The fire I couldn't put out.

The control I'd tried so damn hard to hold snapped in a breath.

And when the words finally broke free, they came rough, ragged.

"I miss you," I breathed, leaning in until our lips brushed. “I miss us."

Her breath hitched.

But then-she shook her head. Disbelief flashed in her eyes as she pulled her face back from mine, just enough to put space where I didn't want it. As if pretending she hadn't heard me would erase the words.

But I saw it. I felt it.

And I wasn't letting it go.

"You heard me," I pressed. “I miss you. I miss us. You were my safe place, Clairessa. And I miss that. I want that back."

Her eyes narrowed, like she was trying to armor herself with anger instead of admitting how deeply the words cut.

"Oh, really?" she snapped. "Are we just pretending the contract doesn't exist

now? The one you had your lawyers draw up where you handed me over to your son?"

I braced for that. She was right.

"I stood here, Gabriel." Her voice cracked, thick with emotion. "Right here-I begged you to choose me. To choose us. And you made me feel like I was nothing. Like everything we shared meant

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absolutely nothing to you."

My face tightened, something raw flashing through as I watched the damage I'd

done bleed through every word.

"I fucked up." My gaze shifted

sideways, unable to meet hers. "K

didn't fight for you like I should have.

I chose Adrian. I chose being his

father over being yours... even when

it tore me apart."

My jaw clenched, and the words caught in my throat. "I thought I was doing the

right thing—sacrificing my own happiness for my son's."

She rolled her eyes and scoffed, but the sound rang hollow. "None of that matters

now. You've already made it clear where I stand in your life."

I leaned in, my lips brushing the shell of her ear. "Then let me fix it."

Her body trembled against mine the way she shifted, just slightly, leaning in like

part of her wanted to believe me. Like part of her still remembered what it felt like to burn with me.

Then I lowered my mouth toward hers.