Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel) novel Chapter 228

Clairessa's POV

It was day two of Randolph’s over-the-top birthday celebration, and today he’d invited us to a laid-back poolside hangout at his private villa. No external guests—just the “storm team,” as he liked to call us.

This time, I made sure to get to the pool early, before anyone else. I wasn’t about to repeat yesterday’s mistake—showing up late for no good reason, unless you count oversleeping and spending too long getting ready to knock Gabriel off his game. And honestly? It worked. He was all over me.

Not that I let it show. I played it cool—like it hadn’t fazed me at all. But it was all part of the plan: make Gabriel sweat, throw him off balance. And watching him lose control?

God, I loved every second of it.

The pool area was calm. Lounge beds lined side by side, each with neatly folded white towels.

The water looked clear and blue under the sun, and soft music played from the speakers nearby. Everything felt easy and peaceful.

I picked a lounger close to the water, set down my things, and just as I was about to slip out of the sheer yellow cover-up over my bikini—

I heard a voice behind me.

“Claire.”

I turned slightly. Adrian.

“Adrian,” I said with a smile. “Didn’t expect you this early.”

“Didn’t expect you either,” he grinned.

Then he stepped closer. “Let me help with that.”

“With what?”

Before I could figure out what he was referring to, he reached out to slide the fabric from my shoulders.

“I—it’s okay, I got it,” I said, hesitating.

But he was insistent. “No, let me.”

So I did. He slowly pulled the cover-up from my arm like we were still a couple and this was some intimate moment.

He threw the light fabric onto the bed, and his gaze roamed down my body, clad in a bright yellow bikini—hungrily.

“Damn,” he muttered. “You look even hotter now than when we were together.”

I gave a small, nervous laugh. “Yeah. Thanks, I guess.”

Funny that he never used to compliment me like that when we were together. But now, suddenly I’m hotter than before? Yeah, whatever.

“You really do look incredible,” he added.

“Thanks,” I said again, brushing nonexistent sand from my thigh.

Adrian hovered, still talking. “We should talk. Really talk.”

I stepped back slightly. “Adrian… I don’t think there’s anything left to talk about. We’ve said everything already.”

“Don’t be like that.” His voice dipped. “You know we haven’t. There’s still so much between us.”

I crossed my arms over my stomach. “If this is about us getting back together, please don’t. We’re here for Randolph’s birthday-slash-work. Let’s just… focus on that.”

He sighed. “I wish I could. But with you looking like this? I can barely think straight. And I don’t think there’s a better place for us to talk about us than somewhere private. Like this.”

I opened my mouth, then shut it again. He was persistent—I’d give him that.

“I don’t know what else you want me to say. I’m not interested, Adrian. We’ve had this conversation. A thousand times.”

He smiled, cocky. “Then I’ll try a thousand more. Until you change your mind.”

A breeze swept through, brushing strands of hair across my face.

And Adrian leaned closer to push them away. Just then, we both heard a familiar dark voice.

“Adrian.”

We turned. Gabriel stood a few feet away, shirtless, wearing only swim shorts.

His chest was broad and defined, muscles cut like stone. His hair was slicked back and damp with both sweat and sun, those intense eyes locked on his son like a warning shot.

Gabriel waved him over with a tilt of his fingers. “Come here.”

Adrian glanced at me, then jogged over. I had no idea what Gabriel was saying to him, but his jaw was tight, the veins in his arms prominent.

He was pissed. I didn’t need to guess why.

Good.

Last night, he played one of his maddening control games under the table—touching me exactly the way I craved, bringing me to the edge of a mind-blowing orgasm… and then stopping.

There was nothing more exasperating—or infuriating—than that. I’d actually been considering letting him off the hook, maybe even saying yes to getting back together.

But after that stunt?

Now he’d forced my hand. It was time to return the favor—and drive him even crazier than he did me.

Gabriel’s eyes snapped back to me, scanning my body in the bikini with a look that ignited a heat inside me no sun could ever match.

He looked like he wanted to devour me—or destroy someone. A feral thrill rushed through me, knowing I had that kind of power over a man as cold and controlled as him… and now, he was clearly burning for me.

Randolph joined them, and within seconds, the three men were heading my way.

“Clairessa!” Randolph beamed. “Looking radiant as always. Ready to take on the day in that bathing suit, I see?”

Before I could respond, Gabriel threw him a furious glance, as if daring him to say one more word about my body.

I gave a breathless smile to ease the tension. “I do love swimming,” I said, folding my arms beneath my chest. “It’s one of my favorite things.”

“She’s an incredible swimmer,” Adrian chimed in. “Though I’m still better. Probably.”

Randolph was the first to shout, “Well damn, we’ve got our winner! Clairessa, you really are something.”

Adrian swam up, panting. “She cheated.”

“I did not,” I countered, breathless, laughing. “I whooped you fair and square.”

“No way,” Adrian grinned. “You had a head start!”

Randolph chuckled. “You just got whooped. Sit this one out, Adrian.”

I threw my hands in the air and did a little splashy victory dance. “Victory!”

My eyes shifted to Gabriel’s again. He was watching. Closely. I gave him a playful glance.

Just as I reached for the pool steps, Adrian lunged and pulled me back in.

“Rematch!” he shouted.

I squealed as water splashed. “Adrian!”

We tumbled in laughter, but the moment my head surfaced, I looked up—and froze.

Gabriel’s face was stone.

He wasn’t smiling now.

He was barely breathing.

And I enjoyed it. This was simply a little payback for yesterday.

But then Adrian didn’t let up, and he was pressing my body closer to his in the pool. That’s when I knew it was time to end this.

I tried to pull away. “Okay, okay! That’s enough!”

Adrian laughed but let me go. I moved to the edge. “Can someone help me out?”

Gabriel was there in seconds.

He extended a hand, snatching me from the water in one smooth pull like I weighed nothing. As I landed against his chest, his lips brushed my ear.

“You’re playing with fire,” he whispered, his voice dark. “And I’m going to punish you for it.”

I turned to him, breathless. “You wish you could.”

His eyes dragged down my body, drinking in the sight of my wet skin, the bikini clinging to every curve, before settling between my legs. The intensity of his gaze sent sparks racing through me.

It felt like he’d already undressed me with his eyes—stroking my heat in his mind.

I could see it.

Feel it.