The Unwilling CEO’s Love Game

Jocelyn eyed him warily. "Stop."

"I'm seriously dizzy," Melvin claimed as he reached the bedside, asking her, "Should | take off my pants?"

Jocelyn was speechless.

She quickly got off the bed, "Sleep as you please, I'm heading out."

Just as she was about to leave, Melvin grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his embrace.

Jocelyn crashed against his firm chest, her breathing instantly erratic.

His arms tightened around her waist, pulling her close, his chin resting on her forehead as he took a deep breath. "I miss you."

Her throat tightened, and the words demanding him to let go were swallowed back.

He had declared his love for her last night, and now he expressed his longing. These sweet nothings were like pebbles thrown into

the still waters of her heart, rippling consistently.

"You need a rest," Jocelyn softened her tone, not arguing with him anymore.

Melvin remained silent, just holding her.

As his weight increasingly pressed down on her, Jocelyn frowned. "I can't hold you up much longer."

"Out of practice, huh?" Melvin's voice was lazy, likely from genuine tiredness. "You used to be able to."

Her cheeks flamed with heat as she pushed at him. "Get off."

He stumbled back from her shove, steadying himself with a gaze that bore a wealth of unspoken emotions, probably deep affection

and tender longing.

Jocelyn dared not meet his eyes. "Just don't squish Euston in your sleep." And with that, she swiftly left the room.

Being in the sspace as him was too much. Her heart was in chaos.

Despite everything that had happened, seeing him again made her feel like a young girl with a fresh crush, all flustered and

nervous.

Melvin must have been truly exhausted because he didn't cout of the room.

Jocelyn curled up on the couch, her mind replaying recent events, unsure how things had evolved into the current state.

They had lacked familial affection before when they were dating in secret. But now, they seemed more like a family than ever after

breakup.

Daisy chwith groceries and saw Jocelyn alone on the couch, Melvin's shoes by the door. "Where's Melvin?"

"Asleep in there." Jocelyn gestured towards the bedroom.

She stood up, noticing her mother carrying two heavy bags of groceries, and helped carry them to the kitchen. "Why buy so much?

We still have leftovers from lunch. We could just heat those up for dinner."

Daisy started unloading the groceries. "We have a guest over. It wouldn't be proper to serve leftovers."

"It's not necessary."

"Don't worry." Daisy declared firmly.

Jocelyn watched her mother busy with cookery helplessly. "Mom, you really don't have to go to all this trouble."

"I have to treat him well," Daisy insisted as she began prepping the food. "If I'm good to him, he'll be good to you in the future."

Jocelyn felt a twinge in her heart. "Who knows if we'll end up together."

"That's why we prepare. If you do end up together, then we're laying the groundwork now. If not, at least he'll be a friend. He took

such good care of your father. And even though | wasn't exactly welcoming him after finding out about your three-year secret

relationship, I've caround. We should treat him well, whether as a guest or a friend."

Jocelyn hugged Daisy from behind, her heart warming. "Mom, you're the best."

"Don't get sappy on me." Daisy patted her hand with a laugh. "Con, help out."

The mother-daughter duo busied themselves with dinner preparations from late afternoon until dark.

"I'll go check on your dad. You go wake Melvin," Daisy said, wiping her hands before heading to the master bedroom.

Jocelyn went to her own room.

Upon entering, she discovered Euston awake on the bed, quiet and content, while Melvin seemed to be sleeping soundly.

"Euston, when did you wake up? Good boy," Jocelyn whispered, gently tapping the baby's cheek.

Suddenly, Euston slapped Melvin's face, exclaiming, "Dada."

The slap wasn't hard, but it was loud enough to make Jocelyn jump, fearing an angry awakening.

Yet, Melvin didn't even flutter an eyelid.

Jocelyn grew concerned. It wasn't like him not to react.

"Melvin, wake up," she called out.

Still no response.

Worrying he might have drunk too much, she gently prodded his shoulder. "Melvin?"

His lack of response sent a wave of fear through her. She instinctively checked for his breath.

There was none!

Panic whitened her face.

She didn't hesitate, quickly climbing onto the bed and pushing his shoulders, her voice tinged with desperation. "Melvin, wake up!"

The man who had been motionless and breathless suddenly opened his eyes, staring at her without a hint of sleepiness.

Jocelyn was stunned.

There was a playful glint in his eyes. "Scared | was dead?"

Jocelyn's fear was vivid and amplified, her taut nerves collapsing in relief, leaving her disoriented.

"Your eyes are red, shimmering with tears," Melvin observed earnestly. "So worried about me?"

Seeing the smug smile on his face, Jocelyn's anger flared.

Pressing her lips together, she backed away from the bed.

Melvin caught her wrist, yanking her forward while his other hand pressed against her waist. She toppled onto him, her hands

bracing against his chest, stopping inches from his face.

His breath tickled her face, an irritating sensation.

"Get off me!" Jocelyn was upset, the scare moments ago still shaking her.

Melvin realized he'd frightened her and quickly sat up, holding her close to soothe her. "Sorry, | was just trying to tease you."

"Is that funny?" Jocelyn glared at him.

Did he have any idea what she had felt in that moment?

"That was lame," Melvin admitted with a sheepish grin, "I screwed up. Promise, | won't do that again."

Jocelyn's sense of injustice surged forth unbidden. Her lips puckered in a pout as she turned her face away, tears betraying her

stoic front.

Melvin was genuinely panicked now.

He fumbled to dab at her tears, coaxing in a rush, "Hey, hey, no tears, please. | shouldn't have spooked you. I'm really sorry."

His earnest apology seemed to knock the wind out of Jocelyn's sails, and she began to slap at his shoulder in a half-hearted

attempt at retribution.

She wanted to throttle him, but her blows were as threatening as a kitten's paws, eliciting no more than a chuckle from him.

Finally, unable to swallow her pride, she latched onto his hand and bit down hard.

Right on the existing bite mark she left two years ago.

She didn't let go, and Melvin didn't pull away. In fact, the fiercer she bit, the more delighted he felt inside.

If Daisy hadn't cknocking, Jocelyn might never have released her bite.

Looking at the deep indentations of her teeth on his hand, she realized she was a hair's breadth away from drawing blood.

Catching sight of the glistening teardrop at the corner of her eye, Melvin reached out to wipe it away and asked with a tender

smile, "All good now?"

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