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.

the steaming tub, cradling her

like her body instinctively recognized

behind her head for support,

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

brought the towel to her face, I wiped away the

paused-unable to stop myself from admiring how beautiful and innocent she looked,

let my thumb graze the curve of

forget the storm, the pain, the

a moment-her skin flushed, half-submerged in water, every

across the center of her chest, then moved

me as I watched her nipples harden-whether from the contrast of heat and chill, or

it stirred something dark inside me. Something I fought

and focus downward, guiding the towel over her flat

what I wanted.

massaged the warmth into her skin-pressing heat deeper

bones-trying to

lower, gliding

part of her was

And painfully vulnerable.

I had to

Now.

Focus, Gabriel.

This was about

soft and weak, pulled me out of my

"Gabriel..."

name on her lips almost undid

her face, eyes locked on hers.

Then her eyes

That was enough.

before. The fever was still there, but

reached in, lifted

I dried her off, then dressed her in the

and pants

on the bed earlier.

she was warm and dry, I tucked her beneath the duvet,

like she had done for

leaned in, brushing my hand across

right back," I whispered near her

faintest nod, barely there-but

door—but my

on-she was still the only thing that made sense

kitchen, made

and