Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel) novel Chapter 153

Gabriel’s POV

Tina moved like she’d been here a hundred times. And honestly? She had—a few times in the past, during nights I didn’t care to remember.

“Come on, sit,” she urged, easing me down onto the edge of the bed.

I slumped back with a groan, the world tilting slightly. Tina was right—I was drunk. No, fuck, I was wasted.

My pride didn’t want to admit it, but my blurry vision, spinning head, and the way my limbs felt too heavy to move?

Yeah, I was gone.

Moments later, she returned. Music played low from the speakers—sultry, slow, seductive.

The lights dimmed.

Tina stood in front of me now, one hand resting on her hip. And for the first time tonight, I actually looked at her.

She wore a nude-colored gown, so close to her skin tone that for a split second, it looked like she wore nothing at all.

“I remember you liked a striptease,” she purred, swaying her hips to the rhythm. “Let’s see if you still do.”

I watched her move—confident, sure of herself. She let the dress slip off her shoulders. It slid down her body and pooled at her feet like silk. Her bra was lace, matching her panties, hugging her curves perfectly—designed to entice.

And then… It happened.

Her face blurred.

And in its place—Clairessa.

Fuck.

It was her dancing now.

My Clairessa, moving the way she did that first night, her slender body like silk, meant just for me. The innocence in her eyes, until passion took over. I could still remember the taste of her skin, the heat in her breath as her hands slid lower, caressing her breasts, tugging at her nipples, driving me wild with pleasure.

No. This can’t be happening.

I blinked, shaking my head, trying to erase the vision, but it lingered. Still her.

Still Clairessa.

Tina—no, Clairessa—climbed into my lap, straddling me. Her perfume hit me—sweet and heavy—but it was wrong. Too strong. Too artificial. She didn’t smell like vanilla and strawberries. She didn’t smell like rose petals—soft, sexy, warm.

She didn’t smell like her.

“Gabriel,” Tina whispered against my ear, her lips grazing my jaw, “let me take care of you tonight. You need this.”

My hands landed on her waist. They should’ve pulled her closer, but instead, they stayed still.

She rocked against me, kissed my neck, and tried to draw me in. “Kiss me, Gabriel,” she breathed.

I brought my face close to hers, squinting through the haze. I was longing for clarity. I needed to be sure.

I cupped her cheek, tucked her hair behind her ear… locked eyes with her, searching her face, but all I saw…

“Clairessa…” I groaned.

Tina froze.

She pulled back, wide-eyed. “What did you just say?”

I blinked, the haze lifting for a moment. “What? No, nothing. I’m… I’m confused.”

“You just said Clairessa,” she hissed. “You just called me Clairessa.”

“No,” I lied, dragging a hand down my face. “I didn’t.”

She got off me fast, arms crossed, fury in her eyes. “Don’t bullshit me, Gabriel. Who the hell is Clairessa?”

“No one you need to know about,” I snapped, hoping to end it.

"Her laugh was bitter. 'You can’t fool me. I knew something was off the second I saw you tonight. The cave? Strippers? You drunk? That’s not you. This is about a woman, isn’t it? She broke your heart.'

“No woman breaks my heart,” I muttered. Who was I trying to convince—her or myself? I was in denial.

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