ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE SINGLE DAD (Gabrielle and Damon) novel Chapter 37

CHAPTER THIRTY–SEVEN

GABRIELLE’S POV

Damon walked ahead of me into the plane, taking my Birkin from me after muttering under his breath about how I was slowing us down.

I wore a hoodie and sweat pants, and a big, dark sunglass covered half my face. I couldn’t let anyone see the dark circles from crying all night.

Especially Damon.

“You can rest in the room, Gabrielle. There’s a bed there so you can get some sleep before we land,” he said, opening the door to said room for me.

It was a luxurious master bedroom in the nose of the jet.

“This room wasn’t here before,” I said.

“That was a different plane,” he responded, dropping my bag on the bed. “A cheaper one. You couldn’t sleep last night?”

I lay on the bed without taking the glasses off. “I slept well,” I lied.

He didn’t respond.

I watched him arrange our bags and my mind briefly went to the day before.

He was right.

I shouldn’t care about Emily anymore but I just couldn’t help it. She was not just my only sibling, she was my twin. I couldn’t just switch off a bond like that even if I tried.

Jared, on the other hand I could forget about it if I tried harder.

But not Emily.

“I’ll see you later,” Damon said, dragging me out of my thoughts. “Get some sleep.”

Then he walked to the door.

“Damon?” I called out.

He turned, his hand still on the knob. “Yes?”

“Please… stay.”

His expression didn’t change at all. Not a twitch. Not even the smallest hint that he heard the need in my voice.

But he let go of the knob.

He walked back to the bed and stopped right in front of me.

“You want me to stay,” he said, not asking, just stating it in that quiet, controlled way he always used when he was holding something back.

I nodded. “Yes.”

He watched me for a long second.

His eyes moved to the sunglasses on my face. “Take it off.”

My breath caught. “Why?”

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“Because you’re talking to me,” he said. “Not hiding from me.”

I hesitated.

Then I pulled the glasses off slowly.

His jaw tightened when he saw my swollen eyes and puffy face.

He lowered himself onto the edge of the bed. “You didn’t sleep at all.”

“I tried,” I said. “I just… couldn’t.”

He leaned back slightly against the headboard, his eyes still on me. “Come here.”

I didn’t even think about it for a second.

I moved closer until his hand reached for my waist and guided me into his chest. He held me close enough so my body rested against his instead of the bed, his hand rubbing my back slowly.

He felt warm and solid.

He felt safe.

“Rest,” he said.

“I don’t want you to leave,” I whispered.

His chin lowered a little like he was looking down at my hair. “I’m not going anywhere.”

My eyes stung again, and I forced them shut as I listened to his heartbeat under my ear.

I leaned in closer and his other arm wrapped around my waist while the one that was on my back stroked my hair.

“Damon,” I murmured.

“Hm.”

“You said you’d give me whatever I wanted.”

“Yes.”

I looked up at him. “I want you to fulfill your promise to me. You’ve done what you wanted to do.”

He hesitated, his hand pausing on my hair. “You’re vulnerable right now,” he said. “I don’t want to take advantage of that.”

“I’m not asking you to take advantage,” I said quietly. “I know what I want.”

His eyes stayed on mine, unreadable and dark. His hand was still in my hair, his fingers warm against my scalp, but he didn’t

move.

“Gabrielle,” he said slowly. “You cried yourself sick last night. You can barely keep your eyes open. You’re tired and you’re confused. I won’t touch you like this.”

My heartbeat picked up. “You think I don’t know my own mind?”

He let out a breath through his nose. “I think you’re in pain. And when people are in pain, they look for anything that makes it stop.”

I froze against him.

Was that what he thought this was?

He looked down at me for a long moment. His hand moved from my hair to my cheek and his thumb brushed under my eye

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where it was still faintly swollen.

“You’re too soft right now,” he said. “Too open. I could ask for anything and you’d give it. That’s why I’m not touching you.”

I leaned into his palm. “But I want you to.”

His breath hitched, just slightly, and his fingers curled against my skin.

I didn’t wait for him to decide.

I leaned up and kissed him.

That broke his restraint.

His hand slid deeper into my hair, gripping it gently as he pulled me closer and deepened the kiss. His other hand moved to my waist, holding me in place like he didn’t want even an inch of space between us.

The kiss was slow at first, like he was still trying to fight himself even while giving in. But the moment my fingers brushed the side of his neck, something in him snapped.

His mouth pressed harder against mine.

A low sound escaped him, almost like he hated how much he wanted this.

His thumb brushed my jaw again, and his hand tightened in my hair as he tilted my head to kiss me deeper.

My breath caught, and he pulled me even closer until I was practically straddling his lap without thinking.

He broke the kiss just long enough to look at me, his breathing uneven, his forehead nearly touching mine.

“You should get some rest,” he said, still holding me close. “You’re very weak, Gabrielle.”

I tried to control my breathing but I couldn’t. He was right. It was just a kiss and yet I was panting like I had fought someone.

I nodded and rested my head back on his chest while he resumed stroking my hair.

And it didn’t take long before I succumbed to sleep this time.

*

****

“Gabby!” Lila screamed as she ran into my arms. “I’ve missed you so much.”

I chuckled. “I’ve missed you even more.”

Susan and George walked into the room to welcome us. Well, mostly Susan.

“It’s so nice to have you back,” she said, as George took the bags upstairs. “It’s been a boring house without you.”

Damon turned to us.

“And you too,” she added quickly.

I pressed my lips together in an attempt to hold back my laughter but it was slipping out.

Damon didn’t seem to notice.

His eyes lingered on me. “Make Gabrielle something filling to eat.”

“Yes, sir,” Susan responded, still standing beside me.

I looked between both of them as they waited for one to leave first. It seemed like Susan wanted to talk in private.

I held Susan’s hand. “I’ll meet you upstairs, Damon.”

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He gave a curt nod before walking up the stairs.

The moment we were alone Susan finally spilled.

“I heard you were in New York…” she began, her voice low, almost hesitant, as if testing the waters. “I didn’t know… I mean, we didn’t get any word from you before you left.”

I squeezed her hand gently. “It’s… a long story, Susan. I’ll tell you later,”

She frowned, concern etched across her face. “Gabby, you look… tired. Worse than usual. Are you okay?”

I hesitated, glancing toward the stairs where Damon had disappeared.

“I’m fine,” I lied softly, trying to keep my voice steady. “Just… a lot happened.”

Her eyes softened, and she gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Well, whatever it is, I’m glad you’re back. The house… it just doesn’t feel right when you’re not here.”

I smiled faintly, the warmth of her words settling somewhere heavy in my chest.

“Thanks, Susan. It’s good to be back,” I whispered, giving her hand one last squeeze before letting go and heading toward the

room.

My mind was already racing back to Damon and what had passed between us on the plane.

And the promise he was going to fulfill to me.

But when I pushed the door open, the anticipation that was building fell and broke to pieces.

There, on the bed were Lila and Damon sitting, reading a storybook. But it wasn’t them that made me pause by the door.

No.

It was the woman sitting beside him, her hand on his arm and her head over his shoulder as they looked like a picture perfect

family.

Anya.