Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel)

Gabriel's POV

Chapter 40: Getting Over Gone Wrong

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I sank back into the plush cushions of my Manhattan apartment's leather sofa, feeling utterly disinterested as Tina ran her tongue across my neck in a slow, deliberate stroke, attempting to ignite something within me. I closed my eyes, waiting for the familiar sensation of desire to take over me. But all I felt was nothing-cold, empty nothing.

Her soft hands roamed over my chest, caressing the fabric of my shirt, her fingers teasing the muscles beneath. She straddled my lap, pressing her body against mine, Her lips moved lower, trailing kisses as she reached for my shirt buttons.

I grabbed her wrists, stopping her.

“Tina... I'm sorry." I apologized, already regretting why I'd invited her over. “We can't... not today."

Instead of stopping, her eyes, full of longing, locked with mine. "You can... we can... if you would just let me,” she pleaded softly, moving on top of me, her hips grinding against mine more forcefully.

But still, nothing. No spark. No fire. No desire.

I closed my eyes, hoping I could pretend. Maybe if I focused hard enough, I could make myself believe Tina was Clairessa. I could lose myself in the fantasy, let it play out in my head. But that would be unfair-to Tina, to myself.

The truth was, I'd called Tina over tonight to get my mind off Clairessa. It was supposed to be simple-a distraction, something physical to drown out the noise in my head. But the more Tina tried, the more futile it became because Clairessa was all I could think about. Her smile. Her scent. The way her body moved against

mine.

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And now she was probably in the club, grinding against another man. Jealousy coursed through me. The endless images my mind conjured of her with someone else were messing with my head, dulling whatever desire I might have felt for Tina.

“Tina...” I began again, holding her hips to still her movements. "I can't. I'm not in the mood."

She pouted, a deep sigh escaping her lips as she slid off my lap in a huff. “But isn't this why you invited me over? To help take your mind off... whatever's bothering you?” Her fingers trailed seductively down my chest - a move that had once driven me crazy. Now, it did nothing.

“I know,” I replied, my frustration growing. "But my mind's somewhere else... it's complicated."

She looked at me with annoyance, then reached for the bottle of whisky on the table and poured a generous amount into a glass. She took a large gulp, her eyes closed for a moment as she absorbed the burn sliding down her throat.

"What about something more exciting?" she asked, her voice playful but edged with impatience. She scanned the room before spotting the remote on the sofa beside me.

With a grin, she grabbed it and turned on the speakers, a slow, sensual beat filling the room. Tina stood up, her movements sensual, as her gaze locked onto mine. I already knew what she was about to do, and I felt exhausted just thinking about it.

"Tina, I don't think-"I started, but she interrupted me, pressing a finger to my lips with a teasing smile. “Just watch,” she whispered, her eyes dancing with mischief as she began to sway her hips to the rhythm of the music. The lights from the city skyline outside the window, highlighted every curve of her body.

She was wearing a long fur coat, which she now began to slide off her shoulders with a mischievous smile. Beneath, she revealed red lingerie-delicate lace and suspenders that hugged her body in all the right places. The lacy thong and garters left little to the imagination, and her long, toned legs seemed to stretch endlessly.

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Tina was sexy,no doubt. She was a model, after all, and her body was proof of that. But tonight, none of it aroused anything in me.

Tina moved closer to me, her hands running up her sides, teasing the straps of her suspenders. She smiled mischievously. “What should I take off first?” she asked, her voice low and sultry, her fingers playing with the clasp of her bra.

She unhooked the suspenders first, letting them fall to the floor, before her hands moved up to her bra. With practiced ease, she unhooked it and let it drop, her breasts now bared to me, the soft glow of the room highlighting their perky curves.

“You always loved this part,” she purred, her voice seductive and inviting, as her fingers traced a path along her exposed skin. She gave her breasts a playful jiggle, giggling at her own performance.

But as I watched, my body betrayed me. Sure, there was an ache, a dull pressure building in my pants, but it wasn't for her. It wasn't Tina I craved. Every time I closed my eyes, it was Clairessa's face I saw, she consumed my thoughts. Her scent, her voice, her touch, her soft moans-everything about her haunted me.

upset.

“Tina.......” I stopped her, grabbing her hand before she came any closer. She looked at me, confused and “I can't,” I said more firmly this time. “This... isn't working."

I could see the shock written all over her face, as I rose from the sofa and retrieved her coat. Without a word, I handed it to her.

“Put this on,” I murmured, not meeting her gaze. “Please.”

Tina stared at me, disappointed. “Gabriel, what the hell is going on?” she asked, her voice rising with anger. "What's your problem? I'm right here, and you're acting like I'm invisible!"

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I rubbed the back of my neck to ease some of the tension pressing down on me. “I don't know what's wrong.”

I admitted, irritated at myself and the entire situation. Tonight was supposed to be an escape, a way to forget Clairessa, but it was only making me think of her more.

Tina frowned, clearly hurting. “It's another woman, isn't it?” She accused me coldly,

I didn't respond, downing the rest of my whisky In one gulp.

"I should have fucking known," she snapped, pacing back and forth as though she'd made some grand discovery. “You haven't called me in months, and then, out of the blue, you text me to come over?"

She angrily began slipping back into her lingerie. “What happened? Did she turn you down, so now you're crawling back to me?"

I scoffed at her tone. "There was no crawling involved. I sent you a text, and you obliged without hesitation, so quit the drama. Listen, tonight is different,” I muttered, avoiding her gaze. “I just....... need space to clear my

head."

Her glare intensified. "Does this have anything to do with that little assistant I saw you with the last

time?"

"She's not my assistant," I snapped defensively, the edge in my voice surprising even me.

Tina raised an eyebrow, "Oh, did I strike a nerve?" she taunted, a grin spreading across her face as she stepped closer. "So, you do like her."

I turned away, shaking my head. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Clairessa works for me, and that's

all."

“Clairessa.....” she repeated, rolling the name on her tongue as though savoring it. “I remember now. You're

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not fooling me, Gabe. I've known you for a while. You haven't slept with her yet, have you? But you want to. You want to so badly, but screwing her would mean breaking one of those forbidden rules of yours. That's why you're so worked up. Right?"

"That's enough, Tina,” I'd had it with her tantrums. How the bloody hell did she know what I was dealing with? I hated feeling vulnerable, and at this moment, I needed to be alone, so I could get my emotions checked. “I think it's time for you to leave."

She sighed, her seductive tone returned, as she slipped on her coat. "Oh, Gabe, don't be like that," she said softly. “I know you keep yourself so guarded so no one can get close to you, but I can see right through the

façade."

"Tina, there's no façade," I shot back coldly. "This is me. You've always been aware of the terms of our

relationship."

“Oh, Gabe,” she said, shaking her head with disappointment. “Look at how triggered you are simply because I brought her up. You've never turned down sex-not once. Sex is the one thing you've always wanted because it means less talking. But tonight? Tonight, you're saying no to all of this?”

She opened her coat, gesturing to her body with a mocking scoff. “That means you're in deep with this girl, but you're too blind to realize it."

"Tina," I said, my voice icy, "I'm glad you remember the terms of this arrangement, because right now, it feels like you're overstepping."

She narrowed her eyes, scoffing again. “Overstepping?” she echoed, her voice rising. “I'm not overstepping, Gabriel. I'm simply pointing out the obvious. You've developed feelings for that little girl, and it's scaring the hell out of you."

She closed the gap between us as her hands slid down my torso, stopping at the bulge on my pants. A smug smile spread across her face. “Oh, Mr. Storm," she teased, "someone's in denial. You're almost hard as a

rock."

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“Tina, I already said, not today," I warned harshly.

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“Oh, I get it now," she smirked, taunting me. “You called me over here to help you get that little girl out of your head. And all the while I was dancing, you were imagining I was her. Now you're stuck with a hard-on that's desperately begging for release."

She tried to reach for my pants again. “I can help you with this problem if you let me..."

I firmly clasped her wrist in mine, and she flinched, snatching her hand back in pain. This wasn't how the night was supposed to go. I'd planned to fuck her and lose myself in the pleasure of her sexy body. Instead, I was being analyzed and lectured when all I wanted was a distraction. "Tina, thank you for the offer, but my answer is still no." The last thing I wanted was admitting to Tina that she was right about

what was wrong with me.

She smiled at me sadly, as though she pitied me. “I don't know who broke you, Gabe,” she whispered, “but whoever it was... they did a damn good job."

"I'm not broken,” I replied through clenched teeth. “Dario will be waiting downstairs to take you home." She was reluctant for a moment, her eyes searching mine for something that wasn't there. "This was a bloody waste of my time,” she muttered, grabbing her purse and walking toward the door.

But before she left, she turned back to face me, her expression disappointed. "Whoever she is, Gabe, she's probably out there living her best life while you're stuck here, denying yourself what really matters. She's still got control over you, and she's not even around.”

The door slammed behind her, and her words hit me harder than I cared to admit. I let out a deep-seated, angry growl, downing the last of my whisky. The night had ended in the worst way possible.

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Tina was fucking right about everything. Angelique's betrayal still haunted me, dictating my every move when I

claimed to be done with her. I just couldn't bring myself to move on... to open up my heart again to

anyone.

And now there was Clairessa. She was different, and I hated that she was breaking through all the walls I'd

built to protect myself. It made me feel exposed, like I was losing control. I hated that she had any kind of hold over me, that she could make me feel things I'd sworn I'd never feel again.

My eyes landed on my phone. It sat there, mocking me, daring me to do something I knew I shouldn't. I stared

at it, every nerve in my body screaming to leave it alone. But my hand moved anyway, grabbing it before I

could stop myself.

I swiped to her name. My thumb hovered over the screen, my heart hammering against my ribs.

Just one call. That's all.

The ringing started, each tone louder than the last. Then, a click.

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Chapter 41: Under His Gaze

Clairessa's POV