Chapter 25: Fighting Off My Attraction

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Gabriel’s POV

“This is the final report for the Rainers project,” Clairessa said, her hands gliding over the cursor on my desktop. As she stood behind me, her body lightly brushed against mine, sending a jolt through me that I couldn’t ignore.

Her perfume lingered in the air, intoxicating all my senses, making it impossible to focus. All I could think about was how much I wanted her–how badly I needed to bend her over this desk and make her mine. My fingers twitched with the urge to reach out and touch her, but I clenched them, keeping them firmly on the desk.

Clairessa wasn’t making this easy. The more time I spent around her, the worse it got. I had built walls around myself–shutting out emotions, attachments, anything that could weaken me–but she was tearing them down piece by piece. And I hated it. I hated how she made me feel, how she awakened desires I thought I’d buried long ago.

I wondered what she saw in me. Yes, I was a billionaire, and women often fell for my wealth and power. But with Clairessa, it felt different, like she was looking for something more–something I wasn’t willing to give.

“Thank you, Clairessa,” I muttered, forcing a neutral tone as I watched her walk back to her seat. Her black dress hugged her curves perfectly, every step she took tempting me more. I gritted my teeth. I couldn’t let myself go there–not with her.

She smiled brightly, clearly proud of her work. “I think with this, we can wrap up the project earlier than expected,” she said, her voice brimming with excitement.

She wasn’t just beautiful–she was brilliant. Efficient. Every task I threw her way, no matter how complex, she handled with ease. Each success only made her more irresistible, more impossible to ignore.

“Yes, we can wrap it up,” I replied, keeping my face blank, hiding the internal struggle raging inside me. I wanted her, but I couldn’t let myself have her. It would ruin everything.

“So, did you have a good weekend, Mr. Storm?” she asked, her eyes meeting mine.

I swallowed hard. She had no idea. My weekend had been torture. I’d tried to distract myself with work, with anything, but it was useless. I’d gone to bed and woken up thinking about her, wanting her so badly it ached.

“I had… a decent one,” I lied, forcing myself to look away. My gaze lingered on her full, red lips for a second too long. I wanted to close the gap between us and kiss her until she was breathless and begging for more. But the image shattered as I wondered if she still thought about her ex. Was she still in love with him? Did she think about him the way I thought about her? Fuck….. She was vulnerable, and I wasn’t the type to take advantage of that.

But God, I wanted to.

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Chapter 25: Fighting Off My Attraction

sighed. “I, on the other hand, had a terrible

found myself saying, eager to know more, needing

was a mess.

How could anyone disrespect her like that? “Does that happen often? Them leaving your apartment like that

often,” she replied, but I could tell

to party at your place, make it clear they have to clean up after themselves or hire cleaners afterward. Otherwise, your house should no

do that to Jess. She’s wild and crazy,

to set

home. Otherwise, you’ll

up other people’s messes,”

She shifted in her seat, brushing off the topic. “But enough about Jess and my

much concern and tenderness.

look like I’m doing?” I retorted, harsher than I intended.

to put on this hard exterior. It’s okay to let your guard down sometimes,” she said softly. Her fingers inched across the desk,

seeing too much, getting too close. Vulnerability always came at a cost–an insanely expensive one–and

read me,” I snapped, standing abruptly. “You’ll only

in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything. For a brief moment, I regretted my actions. But I couldn’t let her in. I couldn’t allow

skin was soft and warm, her innocent gaze pulling me in. I hated myself for pushing her away, but it was necessary.

said, my voice cold again.

turned and walked away. I needed distance–needed

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Wed, 19

5.

25: Fighting Off

dangerous, no matter how much I didn’t

smiling in that familiar flirtatious way I had grown used to. Women often tried to capture my attention, but I wasn’t a man who

Storm,” she greeted, her eyes lingering a little too long as she

calm, but I could sense her nervousness. I noticed every small movement, every soft breath she took, and the desire to close the space between us was almost overwhelming.

her, trying to keep my composure as her soft

voice cut through the restaurant’s gentle piano music.

“Gabriel?”

saw Tina, one of my no–strings–attached flings. I had been avoiding her calls for weeks, hoping she’d take the hint,

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