The Unwilling CEO's Love Game novel Chapter 1

Jocelyn Winslet slumped against Melvin Martinez's chest, feeling utterly zapped. She listened to his strong heartbeat and basked in the residual warmth he left inside her, her emotions surging. It took quite a while for her to simmer down.

Post-romp, he was puffing on a cigarette, blowing smoke rings, looking like he was in seventh heaven.

"I'm twenty-six this year." Jocelyn's hand rested on his chest, her voice coquettish and soft, "My folks are on my back about getting hitched."

Ashes fluttered on the duvet.

She felt his heartbeat skip.

Melvin casually flicked the ashes off the duvet and asked nonchalantly, "Got anyone in mind for that walk down the aisle?"

"Mhm."

"Do you dig him?"

"He says he's up for giving me a home."

Melvin took a drag and then stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray.

"Well, that's nice. I'll clear out in a bit." He gently pushed her away, threw off the covers, got out of bed, and headed to the bathroom.

Hearing the sound of water, Jocelyn felt a pang in her heart. She threw off the covers, stepped out of bed barefoot, and opened the bathroom door. Inside, steam clouded the air, and his lean, toned physique—broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs—brought joy to her otherwise dull life.

Melvin turned around, facing her through the mist. He turned off the water and asked, "What's up? Looking for another round?"

It had been three years. There were many moments of honesty between Jocelyn and Melvin, but each time she still felt a hint of shyness.

However, her shyness didn't mean she was afraid.

She moved toward him, her hands caressing his chest, slowly drifting lower until he let out a muffled groan. She kissed the water on his chest, mist in her eyes, her lips parted slightly, "You really won't marry me?"

Melvin looked up, eyes closed, with a look of bliss on his face, "We had a deal from the start."

"But can you bear to let me go?" Jocelyn knew just how to touch his sensitive spots, making him almost desperate to give his all to her.

Melvin swallowed hard, his throat dry, and Jocelyn bit down on his Adam's apple.

His eyes snapped open, his large hands gripping her waist, lifting her. And his voice husky, "Then don't get married."

"I can't afford to wait." Jocelyn looked up, the mist and the light above her head swirling in her vision.

"Then go get married."

His voice was gravelly and thinking of her being intimate with another man drove him into a frenzy. He wished he could just end her.

That way, she'd never marry anyone.

Jocelyn used all her tricks, hoping to make Melvin yearn for her, even if he lied about wanting to marry her, but he left decisively.

She ran her hand over the pillow he had slept on, thinking back to three years ago.

Three years earlier, he had been drunk on the street, and she had taken advantage of the situation, bringing him home.

That night, fueled by alcohol, they were passionately entwined.

When he sobered up, he said they were a good match, and if she was up for it, they could keep it casual until she wanted to marry. Then she'd just tell him, and he'd bounce.

True to his word, he did just that.

...

Jocelyn and Declan had their first meal alone together, and at first, there was a bit of awkwardness.

Declan was polished, chatty, and easy to talk to, making her feel like she was catching up with an old friend.

Suddenly, Declan said, "Does that guy know you? He's been staring at us."

Confused, Jocelyn turned around and locked eyes with Melvin, her heart skipping a beat.

What a coincidence that he was here too.

He had left so decisively before; he couldn't possibly be stalking her, right?

That suspicion was quickly dismissed when a sultry woman sashayed over to him, and as soon as she sat down, Melvin's gaze never strayed back to Jocelyn.

Just like that, he had found a new bedmate.

He had quite the appetite. Aside from her menstrual cycle, he needs it every night.

She felt choked up but regained her composure and flashed Declan a smile, "Don't know him."

After dinner, Declan dropped Jocelyn off.

When she exited the restaurant, Melvin and that woman were still there. Jocelyn inadvertently saw the woman's foot flirtatiously entwining Melvin's leg under the table.

...

Just as she entered the elevator at home, her mother, Daisy, called to check in.

Jocelyn was aware of her parents' thoughts; at twenty-six and unmarried, she was far away and it didn't matter to her, but her parents had to face the neighbors' scrutiny.

While her peers were on their second kids, she didn't even have a prospect, practically drowning in their gossip.