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."

filled with a strange, thick silence. It wasn't just Maverick's question hanging between us-it was everything

his scent, something deep and clean...enveloped me.

to hold on to the comfort his words offered, but the air between us was shifting. My pulse quickened, my thoughts growing hazy as I rested my head on

beneath me felt safe, yet there was something undeniably intense about the way we sat, bodies almost

pull away, couldn't. The heat from his palm seeped into me, awakening something deep inside. Our

suddenly, we were kissing. His lips on mine were firm, urgent, but not rushed. My pulse raced. The world around us faded to nothing, and the kiss deepened, stirring things I hadn't let myself feel

found my waist, pulling me closer, our bodies melting

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

furrowed, his breathing

Concern flashing

eyes

tried to

"What's wrong? Did

en

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

can't we?" Dwayne

averting my

before he slowly withdrew it, his expression

but finally said. "I'm going back

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

still avoiding

don't have a life there

"I don't

don't have to,

to meet