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."

my voice trailing off as the room filled with a strange, thick silence. It wasn't just Maverick's question hanging between us-it was everything we weren't saying, everything

closer on the couch, his proximity sending a shiver down my spine. His warmth radiated, his scent, something deep and clean...enveloped

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

safe, yet there was something undeniably intense about the way we sat, bodies almost too close, every brush of

palm seeped into me, awakening something deep inside. Our eyes met his gaze was darker now,

urgent, but not rushed. My pulse raced. The world around us faded to nothing, and the kiss deepened, stirring things I hadn't

my waist, pulling me closer, our bodies melting together as the kiss

hard. I jerked back,

breathing was also a

flashing in

eyes

to

"What's wrong?

en

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

can't we?" Dwayne

my gaze

in mid-air before he slowly withdrew it, his expression tightening. "What

finally said. "I'm

his hand completely, his posture stiffening. "You're going back?" His voice was low But now there was a tension beneath it, a

still

have a life there anymore. You belong

shook my head vehemently. "I

don't have

eyes to meet his, now. "I