Chapter 32: Pushing Her Away

I paced frantically around my living room, struggling to cont

rol 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 been with my boyfriend many times, I might add,” she stammered nervously, her cheeks flushing as she struggled for words. “I meant to say you’re the first guy who wanted to…”

She paused, her face red with embarrassment. “My boyfriend… I mean, ex–boyfriend, and I had sex a couple of times… but it wasn’t like what we have. His touch always felt cold, and he somehow blamed me for having a low sex drive.”

“That fucker,” I grunted under my breath. Not only had the jerk cheated on her, but he also blamed her for his own inability to arouse her.

I walked back and sat beside her, gently lifting her chin so our eyes met. “Your boyfriend was an asshole for not being patient enough to learn how to please you,” I muttered, unable to stop my fingers from lightly brushing across her breast. “Your body is so responsive to every touch. You’re every man’s dream. Only a fool wouldn’t see that.”

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Chapter 32: Pushing Her Away

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“Then why are we stopping?” she asked, leaning closer, pressing her body against mine. I knew if I didn’t create distance, I would end up parting her legs and taking her right there–hard and fast on the sofa.

“This is wrong,” I muttered, standing and putting space between us. “You’re hurt, and I took advantage of that,” I added, feeling like a fraud.

“No, you didn’t. I came onto you because I want you.”

hurt you. This is just rebound

I could tell she was frustrated with my holier–than–thou act. But she

doesn’t change the fact that I

as she came to stand behind me. Her soft palms slid into my elbow, turning my body toward hers. Her gaze locked onto mine now.

connection. And again at the hotel, and even now, it’s stronger than ever, pulling at both of us. No matter how many times you’ve tried to deny what’s happening between us… I know, in your heart, you feel it too… this passion burning

I began, but she cut

‘Clairessa‘ me. You don’t get to push me away because you’re scared of what’s going

us.”

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32: Pushing Her Away

not scared of anything,” I lied,

retorted, stepping closer, her eyes searching mine. “You’re terrified of feeling something real. That’s why you hide behind your rules and

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now, her body just inches from mine. My eyes wandered over her petite, sexy frame, lingering on the sight before me. She was wearing my shirt, and it stopped teasingly at her thighs. My gaze was drawn to her smooth, slender legs and the hint of

felt an overwhelming urge to strip the shirt off her completely, to have her standing naked before me while I worshipped every inch of her body. I wanted to hear her moan my name, to show her how desirable she

feel frigid? She was the

fighting the desperate need to claim her, to make her mine in every sense of the word. To show

But I couldn’t.

tore my eyes away, forcing myself to step back. “That’s the problem, Clairessa,” I said hoarsely, my voice tight with frustrated desire. “I don’t do connections or

you do?” she asked, her

women who understand the rules. They know not to

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32: Pushing

even mean?” she asked, crossing her arms over her

sex with women who understand that

shaking her head in disbelief. “You

any woman more than just sex. The women I sleep with know

to

them. Most of the women I sleep with are successful in their own right. But yes,

them? Like you’re some sort of king?” She scoffed. “That makes no sense. Why won’t you let anyone in?”

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