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

Cornered

(ARIELLE'S POV)

The bathroom door creaked open, and out stepped Dwayne. His hair was damp from a shower, droplets sliding down his broad, muscled chest. For a split second, we both just stared at each other, equally startled.

"Arielle?" His deep voice broke the silence, his brows knitting together in concern.

My mind foggy, I blinked repeatedly to ensure it was indeed him not my hallucination.

"What are you doing in my room?" I asked, trying to sound strong. I looked around the room, taking in the familiar surroundings. The bed, the dresser, and everything in it-everything looked like it belonged to me, but something felt off. "This is my room." His frown deepened as he stepped further in. "I've been staying here since we boarded the ship."

I shook my head, a feeling of panic enveloping me. "No, no, this is my room," I insisted. "I remember vividly. I was just... just in the..." I paused and tried to recall my earlier actions, but my memories were hazy.

Frustration welled up inside me. "You get the wrong one," I said, louder now, my fingers curling into fists. "I'm sure of it. This is my room." I looked around again, trying to find some piece of evidence to back up my claim. But everything seemed in its place.

Then, my eyes locked on something-a small key card on the bedside table, Dwayne's name printed on it. My heart skipped a beat, and my breath caught in my throat as I realized the truth.

"Sofia," I muttered as both a wave of discovery and anger hit me simultaneously. "She must have switched our room numbers."

Dwayne's eyes narrowed as he quickly processed the situation. Then, as the truth settled in, they darkened with disgust. "What's in her damn head?" He shook his head, his eyes never leaving mine. "You're shaking. What's wrong?"

I didn't respond but tried to brush it off, but it seemed my body had other plans. I felt my head spinning as I still tried to process what was Sofia's whole plan. And then, suddenly, another wave of intense heat hit me. My skin prickled, hot and sensitive, as though every nerve had been set alight.

"She... she did something," I managed to gasp. My head was spinning, the room blurring around me. "Sofia. The drink..."

My body started to feel like it had been set on fire, and I stumbled in my frantic attempt to get relief.

But Dwayne was swift, and he quickly caught me. His face darkened, and he swore under his breath. Stepping closer, he reached out but hesitated, his hand hovering near my arm. "Arielle, look at me!" He held me upright, his arms draping around me.

I tried to speak, but my words were slurred and raspy. I tried to stay sober, but the burning was overwhelming.

The heat is driving me crazy, and Dwayne's mesmerizing emerald eyes make him like Adam in the Garden of Eden, no, the poisonous snake that tempted others to eat the apple.

My hands moved to my blouse, clawing at the fabric as if peeling it away would cool the fire beneath my skin.

"Shit," Dwayne's hand shot out, gripping my wrists firmly. "No." His voice was low, steady, and laced with something I couldn't quite name. "Don't do that."

I whispered hoarsely. "Dwayne... it's killing me!" Tears welled in my eyes, and I

what's wrong with you," he said, his voice dropping an octave, rough and intimate. "You don't understand what you're asking of me. If I do anything right now, we'll both regret it. Stay with

all. The fire inside me was relentless. I nodded weakly before

could hit the ground. He swore again, then scooped me up effortlessly, his arms cradling me against his solid chest. "Come on. You need cold

what happened next the blur of movement, Dwayne's body still radiating heat as he carried me into the bathroom. The sharp scent of his aftershave mingled with the steamy air, and I felt my pulse quicken coursing through me. He set me down gently, his touch lingering just a fraction longer than necessary, before turning on the cold water in the

body jerked in protest, my skin pebbling from the cold, but it

hands never leaving me as I leaned against the cool porcelain. His shirt was damp from the splashes, clinging to his chest in a

His breathing wasn't steady.

at Dwayne, who was crouched beside the tub, his face etched with worry and... something else. Something that made my stomach flip. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but it only made

face, his fingers brushing softly over

his voice softer now, almost

you," I whispered, my voice

a voice outside the room

you in there? Can you hear me?" a

I followed his gaze. My heart immediately

woman, you came

I heard the voice of another person seeping through the door, hesitant. "Ma'am, are you absolutely sure this is the room? There are a lot of guests aboard

off, her tone dripping with conviction. "I lost my diamond watch earlier this evening, and I saw this man behaving suspiciously near the lounge. I have every reason to believe he took it and stashed it in here." The hell? A diamond

Dwayne's arm. "She's trying to set you

did she suddenly target

mix, "We'll need to search the room if there's an allegation of theft, but we must proceed carefully. Sir, if you're in there, could you open

delicate matter, and I

make accusations, but my watch is incredibly valuable. I simply can't let it go unaddressed," she said, her tone shifting to

sure he won't mind clearing up

and I froze,

got to work, as I tried to piece

gave me, the aphrodisiac-it made sense now. She swapped the name tags on our doors before I realized, so that I would walk into Dwayne's room while I was delirious due to the drug effect. It was easy to imagine what would happen next, and there was no way

walk in the perfect time and

turned to Dwayne, and the look on his face mirrored my thoughts. His jaw was tight, but he gave nothing

could she use such despicable and illegal means to harm others? With so many people around, how could she stoop this low, risking not just my reputation but Dwayne's too? Was she really that desperate to ruin me? To what end? Outside, Sofia's patience was wearing thin. "If he has nothing to hide, he won't mind letting us in," she said sweetly. "Otherwise,

cursed in mockery. "She's

respond, another voice

are you