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 instinctively recognized it

towel behind her head for support, then dipped a smaller cloth

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

brought the towel to her face, I wiped away the

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

the curve of her lips. They

kiss the cold away-to make her forget the storm,

skin flushed, half-submerged in

across the center of her chest, then moved lower,

as I watched her nipples harden-whether from the contrast of

inside me. Something

and focus downward, guiding the towel over her flat stomach, reminding myself

about what I wanted. It couldn't

warmth into her skin-pressing heat deeper into

bones-trying to chase away

my hands trailed lower,

of

And painfully vulnerable.

I had to

Now.

Focus, Gabriel.

about desire. This was about keeping

voice, soft and weak, pulled me out

"Gabriel..."

on her lips

face, eyes locked on

feel better," she whispered. Then her eyes fluttered

That was enough.

wasn't shaking like before. The fever was still there, but not as aggressive.

reached in, lifted her

towel. Gently, I dried her off, then dressed her in

and pants

on the bed earlier.

her beneath the duvet, pulling it up

had done for

brushing my

back," I whispered near

gave the faintest

toward the door—but my eyes stayed on her a

now-feverish, fragile, barely holding on-she was still the only thing that made sense in

the kitchen,

tea and brought it