Chapter 4

A week had passed since that unexpected kiss, and Jussara was surprised by Gabriel’s behavior. He had not made any further attempts to approach her intimately. In fact, his attitude had been quite neutral, almost indifferent, as if the moment they had shared had been nothing more than a fleeting whim. Yet, at the same time, the absence of his advances left Jussara with a strange feeling, as if a void had settled between them.

However, her nights had changed. Since that day, her dreams had begun to be invaded by him. Every night, Gabriel appeared in her mind, always kissing her with the same intensity and passion she had felt on her lips. In the last dream, they went further, and Jussara woke up with her heart racing, her breath uneven, and the sensation of her lips still warm.

She caught herself thinking about the vivid details: the way he held her, the firm touch of his hands, the way his gaze became intense and seductive.

With each sunrise, Jussara felt more confused. It was as if Gabriel had become an intrinsic part of her thoughts, and that left her restless. She always woke up feeling desire and, at the same time, guilt, reminding herself that he was her boss and, more importantly, a man tormented by his own inner battles.

That morning, after one of those dreams, she got ready for work feeling more pensive than usual. When she arrived at Gabriel’s room to give him his medication, she could not help letting her gaze linger on his body, now more familiar. He was lying on the bed, sunlight filtering through the curtains and illuminating his face. Jussara felt a flutter in her stomach, a reminder of the feelings she was trying to ignore.

When she entered, Gabriel opened his eyes and looked at her with a neutral expression, but his gaze was piercing.

"You look different today," he said, with a tone of curiosity that caught her by surprise.

"Me?" Jussara replied, trying to keep her composure. "I think I’m just a little tired."

"Tired of taking care of me?" he teased, a mischievous smile forming on his lips.

She did not respond, feeling her face grow warm. Instead, she picked up the medication and approached the bed.

"It’s time for your medicine."

Gabriel watched as she prepared everything, his eyes seeming more intense with each passing second. Jussara had the impression that he was trying to decipher something in her behavior. That moment made her nervous, reminding her of each one of her dreams.

When he took the medication, the tension in the air was palpable. He watched her in an almost appraising way, and Jussara felt exposed, as if he could read her most intimate thoughts.

She stood there, watching him sit up, completely naked. Unintentionally, her eyes fixed on his bulge, and her face instantly grew hot. Gabriel, pretending not to notice, settled into the wheelchair and went to the bathroom to shower. Jussara remained there, motionless, her mind confused between what was right and what she desired.

Time seemed to drag on while her feet felt glued to the floor, and when the bathroom door opened, her heart raced again. Gabriel came out with a towel around his waist, water still running down his body, and his eyes met hers. His gaze was intense, and Jussara felt a wave of emotions flood through her.

"Are you waiting for something?" he asked, his voice deep and challenging.

Jussara could not answer. His question caught her off guard. With one last look at Gabriel, her mind spun. The line between professional and personal was quickly fading, and desire was there, palpable.

Gabriel moved closer, pushing the wheelchair. He watched her with an intensity that left her speechless, and for a moment, all she could think about was how close he was.

"Don’t tell me you’re afraid of me," he teased, with a smile that mixed irony and charm.

Jussara felt her breath falter. She knew she was venturing into unknown territory, but there was a part of her that longed for that danger.

"I… I’m not afraid," she replied, even though her voice trembled.

"Then come here and prove it," he whispered, the tension in the air almost tangible.

Jussara’s heart pounded in her chest. She knew that, at that moment, any decision she made would change everything between them.

Jussara hesitated.

"You can’t play with me like this, Mr. Monteiro," she said, trying to keep a serious tone, but her voice came out softer than she intended.

He moved even closer. The towel at his waist seemed to slip slightly, revealing warm, well-defined skin. Jussara swallowed hard, her mind trying to process the situation. She was there, in front of the man who had been her patient and now seemed to be much more than that.

"Why not?" he asked, with a provocative smile. "You’ve already seen everything. There are no more secrets between us."

She had a brief moment of clarity, remembering her position. He was her patient, and she was his nurse. There was no room for this kind of confusion.

"I’m not just any woman," Jussara replied, trying to remember her purpose there. "You shouldn’t see me that way."

"And if I want to?" he said, his voice now a whisper, laden with intent. "You’re more than a nurse to me, Jussara. And you know it."

Her heart raced at his words. The desire burning inside her was undeniable.

"Sir, we need to have limits…" she began, but the sentence faded into the air.

He took her hand and pulled her to sit on his lap, his hands firm on her waist, and before she could protest, he sealed her lips with his in an intense kiss. It was different from the kiss they had shared before; there was urgency and passion, a need that seemed to transcend any logic.

Jussara found herself giving in to that moment, her fingers sliding through Gabriel’s wet hair as he deepened the kiss. The sensation was overwhelming, as if all fear and uncertainty dissolved in a single instant.

When they finally pulled apart, Jussara was breathless, her mind spinning and her body warm. She looked into his eyes, which shone with a mix of satisfaction and challenge. Gabriel smiled, as if he knew he had won an internal battle she did not even realize she had been fighting.

"You can’t deny that this was good," he said, his voice low and full of meaning.

"I can’t," she agreed, even though her mind was still confused.

He kissed her again, and she knew they would not stop there.