Chapter 3

Jussara entered the bedroom and, after closing the door behind her, leaned against it, still trying to process what had just happened. Her heart was racing and her hands were trembling as she remembered Gabriel’s intense kiss. A sense of vulnerability caught her by surprise; he had left her shaken, and the image of that moment kept spinning in her mind.

She ran her hand over her lips, where his touch still seemed to linger, and sighed, somewhat annoyed with herself. It made no sense. What had he been thinking? And why had she reacted that way, falling so easily for his provocation?

"I fell for it like a fool," she thought, feeling incredulous. It was impossible to deny that it had been the best kiss she had ever had.

At the same time, however, a nagging doubt began to form. Was he just testing boundaries? Or was it some kind of game to him? Even though she tried to remain professional, Gabriel was managing to shake her defenses.

Taking a deep breath, Jussara moved away from the door, trying to regain her composure. She knew she needed to stay focused. She was there to take care of him, nothing more. But as she closed the curtains and got ready to sleep, an unexpected sense of anticipation made her heart beat faster. No matter how much she tried to deny it, she knew that facing Gabriel in the coming days would not be as simple as she had imagined.

---

The next morning, Jussara woke up before sunrise, remembering that she had to give Gabriel his medication promptly at six o’clock. She knew he would be in his room, and part of her simply did not want to go there.

She was still shaken by the intensity of the previous day, by the kiss that had left her confused, and the last thing she wanted was to face Gabriel Monteiro again so soon, especially if he decided to tease her in the same way.

But she had no choice. It was her job, after all.

"Now the high salary makes sense," she thought irritably.

Taking care of Gabriel Monteiro was not just about treatments and medication, but also about enduring his difficult temperament. He was unbearable, arrogant, and despite everything, for some reason, she still felt vulnerable around him.

Taking a deep breath, Jussara adjusted her uniform and prepared herself to face the start of another day.

She paused for a moment before opening the door that connected the two bedrooms. It was early, and she hoped the morning would be calm, with Gabriel lacking the energy for more provocations.

She crossed the room in silence, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the dim light. When she approached the bed, the sight of his defined torso, partially uncovered, left her speechless. For a moment, she forgot why she was there; he had such a beautiful body, more imposing than she had expected.

Trying to stay focused, Jussara stepped forward and turned on the bedside lamp, calling him in a low voice.

"Mr. Monteiro… it’s time for your medication."

But before she could finish the sentence, Gabriel woke up with a shout.

"NO!"

Her heart skipped a beat, and she stepped back, startled by the intensity of his yell. He was breathing heavily, his eyes still half-closed, as if trapped in a nightmare. His face looked tense.

Jussara remained still, waiting for him to calm down, her voice now softer.

"Hey… are you okay?"

Gabriel slowly opened his eyes, and the sight of Jussara beside him immediately irritated him. He felt exposed, vulnerable, especially because she had witnessed such an intimate moment, a remnant of the nightmares that had haunted him since the accident. The dreams were intense, as if they were real, and he hated the feeling of being out of control.

With a deep, low voice, almost a whisper, he spoke, but the coldness in his tone made Jussara shiver.

"Get out."

Jussara swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on him for a moment, before carefully placing the medication on the nightstand. Without saying a word, she stepped back, moving silently toward the door, and left the room, her heart pounding.

---

The morning passed slowly for Jussara, each hour seeming longer than the last. The encounter with Gabriel had left her shaken, and she decided not to return to his room until it was time for the next dose of medication. She tried to distract herself, but her thoughts kept returning to his icy gaze and the tone of his voice. For the first time since she had accepted the job, she questioned whether she should really stay.

When lunchtime arrived, she did not even feel like eating. Her stomach felt knotted by the intensity of her emotions. The memory of the kiss from the previous day still lingered, mixed with the strange vulnerability she had witnessed that morning.

Locked in her room, Jussara gave herself some time to try to reorganize her thoughts. She would have to face Gabriel once more, and despite everything, she would not allow him to shake her again.

When it was time for the next medication, Jussara took a deep breath and knocked on the office door. Gabriel, without lifting his eyes from the documents spread across the desk, automatically extended his hand. She handed him the pill and a glass of water, and he took it without even looking at her.

Making an effort to be polite and professional, she asked calmly.

"Were you able to have lunch?"

He did not respond, focused on the papers, seemingly ignoring her presence. With a neutral expression, Jussara gave up and left, going straight to the kitchen to make sure. She asked the staff, and they confirmed that Gabriel was eating all his meals normally. A sense of relief washed over her, and she walked away satisfied, although she still did not understand why that made her feel so at ease.

Back in her room, Jussara still did not feel hungry. She decided to use the break before the next medication time to rest a little. As soon as she lay down, she realized how exhausting the day had been, and before she could help it, she fell into a deep sleep.

She woke up startled by the alarm clock, remembering that she was already late for Gabriel’s medication and dressing change. She got ready quickly and went to the office, but he was not there. Determined to find him, she went to the living room and found him sitting on the sofa, wearing only shorts, barefoot and shirtless. His well-defined body left her frozen for a moment. The scent of a freshly taken shower filled the room.

Gabriel noticed her presence, raised an eyebrow, and asked in a slightly mocking tone.

"Like what you see?"

Jussara quickly regained her composure, trying to ignore the heat rising to her face. Maintaining a professional posture, she replied calmly.

"I just came to bring your medication and change your dressing. If you cooperate, this will be quick."

He smirked, a smile that seemed to mix challenge and provocation. Without saying anything, Gabriel simply nodded, as if granting permission, and reached out to take the pill, which he swallowed with the water she offered.

"Now, if you could show me the injury, I’ll change the dressing."

Gabriel sighed, with an expression of impatience, but slightly lowered the waistband of his shorts, revealing the injured area near his abdomen. She tried to stay focused, but his closeness and his scent made the air feel heavy.

As she changed the dressing, Jussara felt Gabriel’s gaze on her, watching her closely, almost suspiciously. For a brief moment, he seemed to be carried away by something beyond frustration and anger.

"You have angel hands," he said softly. Gabriel looked at her intensely, as if trying to decipher something deeper within her. Then, to her surprise, he gently touched her face, making her heart race.

Jussara felt a wave of heat flood her body. That tender gesture caught her off guard, and for a moment, she allowed herself to think that maybe, behind the hard and irritated façade, there was a good man.

With great tenderness, Gabriel gently pulled her toward him, making her sit on his lap. The closeness between them was electric. His lips pressed against hers unexpectedly. The sensation was intense, a mix of passion and confusion that overtook her, and she found herself kissing him back fervently.

She tried to pull away, but could not resist the heat of the moment. Her mind fought against her body; the last thing she wanted was to give in to a man who seemed so complicated. But the intensity of the kiss and the way he held her left her breathless. It was as if all the repressed feelings and the pain of the previous day were swallowed by that kiss.

With great effort, she gently pushed Gabriel away, stepping back and staring at him with confused eyes filled with desire and indignation.

"What was that?" she asked, her voice trembling, still feeling the intensity of the kiss.

He looked back at her, an arrogant, provocative smile forming on his lips.

"Just a test, Jussara. I wanted to see how far you’d go."

She stood up quickly, moving away from him and trying to regain her composure. Her heart was still racing, and her mind was spinning from what had happened.

Without saying anything else, Jussara left, closing the door behind her, trying to process the intensity of the moment. Gabriel, in turn, remained on the sofa, a satisfied smile on his face as he realized he had managed to awaken something in her.