Chapter 393 The Play Must Be Convincin
g
"I need some privacy. You can go out now," Gabriel said coolly as they reached the bathroom vanity and saw that Jocelyn was still holding on to him without any sign of leaving.
"Okay, Gabriel. I'll wait right outside for you. Just call if you need anything." Jocelyn smiled sweetly and nodded in agreement. After tiptoeing to plant a kiss on Gabriel's cheek, she finally let go and left the bathroom cheerily.
Watching her leave and hearing the door close behind her, Gabriel's expression immediately turned grim.
Despite feeling weak and wobbly, he staggered to the window. Looking down, he spotted four burly bodyguards standing right beneath the bathroom and bedroom windows, clearly there to prevent any possible escape attempts.
Gabriel chuckled sardonically to himself upon noticing a guard in the garden below glancing up in his direction.
When had he, Gabriel, ever been reduced to such dire straits, especially by the hands of a nineteen-year-old girl?
Given the situation, escaping seemed highly unlikely.
Well, when in Rome... He could play along with Jocelyn's charade for a while.
But Teresa, not being able to find him, must be worried sick by now.
So, this act could only go on for a short time.
After relieving himself and freshening up, Gabriel opened the door to go out.
"Gabriel, are you all set?" Jocelyn immediately approached him as he came out, wrapping her arms around his and snuggling up to him affectionately.
"Jocelyn, leaning on me like this, I'm afraid I might fall," Gabriel said with a faint smirk as he looked at Jocelyn.
With stars in her eyes, Jocelyn grinned and replied, "Gabriel, maybe you feel weak because you skipped breakfast. You'll feel better after we eat."
"Really?" Gabriel's tone was ambiguous, but his smile remained gentle.
Jocelyn nodded affirmatively, "Yeah, let's hurry up and have breakfast."
"I don't like eating in bed; let's go downstairs," said Gabriel as he stepped forward.
"Sure, I'll follow your lead," Jocelyn said with a completely innocent nod, helping Gabriel out of the room and down the stairs.
The villa wasn't overly large, but every corner exuded opulence. Gabriel quickly noticed that there were twelve bodyguards, some of whom he had not yet seen—all towering black or white men. Even if he were in prime condition, he was not sure he could take them on, especially not in his current state.
"How's the breakfast tasting, Gabriel? Do you like it? If not, I can get someone to make it again," Jocelyn asked with a beaming smile, watching Gabriel intently eating his breakfast.
"It's decent," said Gabriel, swallowing his food and looking up at Jocelyn. He seemed to ask casually, "How's your sister been these last few days?"
"My sister?!" Jocelyn raised her eyebrows in surprise, then grinned, "She's doing just fine. Plus, even if she weren't, she's got plenty of people around her to care for her. She always tells me to stay happy."
"So, what's making you happiest right now?" Gabriel asked as he dipped a slice of bread in a jam and continued to eat.
"Obviously, it would be you divorcing Teresa and then being with me, making me your wife!" Jocelyn blurted out without hesitation.
Gabriel's lips curved into a smile, "But the person I love is Teresa, not you."
"How do you know you won't fall for me if you've never slept with me?" Jocelyn asked with a tilt of her head and a slightly hurt expression.
He chuckled. "Well then, how many men have you slept with?" Gabriel asked calmly, still smiling.
Jocelyn immediately shook her head, "None! Gabriel, you're the first man I ever wanted to sleep with."
—The first man she ever wanted to sleep with.
A nineteen-year-old girl, so incredibly naïve or maybe just spoiled rotten by Hayden.
"What if I slept with you and still didn't fall for you? Wouldn't that be a loss for you?" Gabriel asked, his expression unchanged.
Jocelyn shook her head, "No, you will. I'm every bit as good as Teresa and so much younger. You're bound to fall for me."
Gabriel nodded nonchalantly, "Before I met Teresa, my share of women wasn't small. But a nineteen-year-old from the Smiths is a first for me."
"Gabriel, you're agreeing to give us a try?" Jocelyn chirped excitedly.
Gabriel raised an eyebrow, "A trial run wouldn't hurt me. Why not?"
Jocelyn giggled with delight, the bashfulness of a young girl on her face as she passed her fried egg to Gabriel's plate. "Eat up, Gabriel. You'll need your strength."
"Alright." Gabriel nodded and bent his head down to continue seriously eating his breakfast.
Jocelyn propped her chin up, watching him with bubbles of hopeful pink nearly escaping her eyes.
After breakfast, Gabriel felt some energy return, but he was still far from his usual self. Still, he wasn't in a rush. He looked at Jocelyn, quirking his sensual lips, his voice rich and low with a hint of flirtation, "Finished eating. Shall we go now or wait a while?"
"Can we go now?" Jocelyn asked with a blush spread across her face.
Gabriel tilted his head, his eyebrows teasingly lifted, "Sure, I'm free right now."
"Okay, let's go upstairs." Jocelyn nodded and quickly wrapped her arms around Gabriel's, leading him toward the indoor elevator.
Once inside the elevator, Gabriel's long fingers lifted her chin, sizing her up.
Her heartbeat quickened under his gaze, cheeks flushing even redder.
"Gabriel, who do you think is prettier, me or Teresa?" she asked shyly.
"Each has their beauty," Gabriel replied, smirking. "But..."
"But what?" Jocelyn pressed eagerly.
Gabriel's mouth curve deepened, and his voice became more suggestive. "You're definitely fresher."
At nineteen, Jocelyn was caught in the throes of a crush on Gabriel. She couldn't withstand such teasing. She blushed even more, biting her lower lip shyly, "Do you like that about me?"
Gabriel smirked lightly, "We'll find out soon enough."
"Ding!" The elevator stopped on the second floor, the doors opened, and Gabriel withdrew his hand hooked around Jocelyn's chin, stepped out, and headed to his room, with Jocelyn quickly following behind him.
Once inside the room, the door slammed shut, and Gabriel pinned Jocelyn against it without delay, leaning in to capture her lips.
Fervently, he tried to envision Teresa in Jocelyn's place, kissing with focus and desire, stirring his passion.
Despite Jocelyn's claims of being a first-timer, Gabriel found it hard to believe.
Therefore, he couldn't afford to take any chances. To swiftly extricate himself from the situation, he had to make the act convincing.
If he angered this reckless girl and she went after Teresa, Gabriel knew he might not be able to manage the fallout.
To Jocelyn's surprise, Gabriel kissed her so eagerly, directly on her lips.
His kiss was truly alluring, and within moments, Jocelyn found herself overwhelmed by his advances. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, and she responded with equal fervor.
However, just as she began to reciprocate, Gabriel's lips and tongue retracted and slid across her cheek.
Finding it difficult to pretend Jocelyn was Teresa, he withdrew just as she started responding.
