Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 169: I Needed To Hold Her

Gabriel's POV

I gently pulled the duvet down and slipped my arms around her, lifting her against me. Her body was burning, her skin clammy, her breath shallow. She didn't stir- just shivered helplessly in my arms, trapped in some fever dream.

"Clairessa." My voice cracked as I shook her gently, trying to coax her into consciousness.

"Hey, open your eyes... please."

No response.

"It's me. Gabriel. I'm here," I whispered, lifting her slowly into my arms and brushing damp strands of hair from her face.

Her eyelids fluttered, and for a moment, they opened. Our eyes met just briefly. She gave the faintest smile, soft and dazed-then slipped back into the fever, her eyes shutting again.

Fuck.

I had to do something.

I lowered her carefully onto the mattress and rushed to the bathroom, soaking a towel in warm water.

I came back and laid it across her forehead, holding it there, hoping to ease the heat. After a minute or two, I replaced it with a fresh one, trying to bring her temperature down.

But I knew that wouldn't be enough.

The cold had settled deep into her bones, and no towel could fix that.

She needed warmth-real, penetrating heat that reached from the inside out.

I hurried back to the bathroom and ran a hot bath, steam rising steadily as the tub filled.

By the time I returned, she was still trembling, her breathing shallow.

I lifted her into a seated position, her back resting gently against the headboard. Then I undressed her carefully-removing the sweater, then her socks-until only her joggers remained.

My fingers traced the edge of the elastic waistband of her sweatpants, as though contemplating whether to remove them or not. Not because I didn't know what I was doing, but because I was trying to stop the fire sparking in my chest. I knew exactly how my body would react to seeing her naked.

I hastily pulled down the heavy fabric, intending to look away-just to get her into the bath. Nothing more.

But the moment I realized she wasn't wearing anything underneath, heat surged through my body.

My eyes betrayed me, dragging over the swell of her breasts, lingering too long on the delicate V between her legs.

God... this wasn't about me. It was about her. She needed care, not desire.

It took every ounce of strength to tear my gaze away from her flawless, breathtaking body... even though every nerve in me burned to keep looking.

I lifted her into my arms and carried her into the bathroom.

I gently lowered her into the steaming tub, cradling her until her body sank

body

a towel behind her head for support, then dipped a

it over her skin-her arms, her shoulders, her neck-trying to coax the warmth back into

face, I wiped away the

how beautiful and innocent she looked, even now, weak with

let my thumb graze the curve of her lips. They were red, soft,

to kiss the cold away-to make her forget

moment-her skin flushed, half-submerged in water, every inch of her

dragged the cloth across the center of her chest, then moved lower, passing between the gentle rise

from the contrast of heat and

it stirred something dark inside me. Something I fought

guiding the towel over her flat stomach, reminding myself why I

about what I wanted. It couldn't

warmth into

bones-trying to chase away the

lower,

of

And painfully vulnerable.

I had

Now.

Focus, Gabriel.

This was about keeping

and weak, pulled me out

"Gabriel..."

her

her face, eyes locked on

whispered. Then her eyes fluttered

That was enough.

like before. The fever was still there, but not as

lifted her from the

dried her off,

pants I'd laid

on the bed earlier.

I tucked her beneath the duvet, pulling it up to

had done for herself

my

be right back," I whispered near

the faintest

toward the door—but my eyes stayed

the only thing

the kitchen, made

tea and brought