Mr billionaire's regret chasing his irresistible wife by Gabby Emmanuel

Friend zone.

(ARIELLE'S POV)

I felt my face heat up in embarrassment, and when I looked at Dwayne, he was already watching me, amusement dancing in his emerald eyes. His smile was slow, almost teasing, as if he enjoyed how flustered I'd become. "Um," I stammered, regaining a bit of composure. "Maverick, baby, can you go back to your room? I need to talk to Uncle Dwayne."

"Alright, Mama," he said and got off Dwayne's legs, before running off to the room.

I turned to Dwayne, still reeling from embarrassment. "Don't mind what he said, he's just being a child."

Dwayne's chuckle was low, his voice rich. "Oh, I don't mind. Not at all."

I breathed out in relief. "Thank you.

But then his expression changed, his gaze steady, almost too serious for the moment. "You knew this was bound to happen though, right?"

I frowned, confused. "What?"

"Maverick's question," he said, leaning forward slightly, his presence all-encompassing. "One day, he's going to ask more about his father. He's going to need answers, Arielle."

I sighed, nodding. "Yeah, I know, but I just didn't expect it to be this early. I mean, he's just three."

"Four soon," Dwayne corrected.

"I know, I know, but still he's still so young."

Dwayne nodded. "That's right, but children are smart these days."

trailing off as the room filled with a strange, thick silence. It wasn't just Maverick's question hanging

his scent, something deep and clean...enveloped me. His large hand settled on mine, the weight

comfort his words offered, but the air between us was shifting. My pulse quickened, my thoughts growing hazy

way we sat, bodies almost too close, every brush of skin

slow, deliberate. I didn't pull away, couldn't. The heat from his palm seeped into me, awakening something deep inside. Our eyes met his gaze was darker now,

firm, urgent, but not rushed. My pulse raced. The world around us faded to nothing, and the kiss deepened,

pulling me closer, our bodies

reality struck hard. I jerked back, gasping for air. "We...

furrowed, his breathing was also a

flashing in

eyes

to reach

"What's wrong?

en

between us. "It's not that. It's

we?" Dwayne asked,

paused, averting my gaze from

before he slowly withdrew it, his expression tightening. "What do

mean..." I hesitated, but finally said. "I'm

stiffening. "You're going back?" His voice was low But now there was a

nodded, still avoiding his

He asked. "You don't have a life there anymore.

head vehemently. "I

have

raised my eyes to meet his,