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 nonchntly, “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 feit 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, hisrge 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, be had been drunk on the street, and she had taken advantage of the situation,


    bring 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 Den had their first meal alone together, and at first, there was a bit of awkwardness


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


    friend.


    Suddenly, Den 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 herposure and shed Den a smile, “Don’t know him.”


    After dinner, Den 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.


    She candidly shared her feelings about Den while stepping out of the elevator, “He seems nice.


    Probably a match for


    marriage.


    Suddenly, she smelled a familiar scent of tobo. Looking up, she saw Melvin leaning against her


    door, his coat draped over his wrist, legs crossed, with a cigarette between his thin lips, his cold gaze


    enveloping her through the


    smoke.


    Why was he here?


    Shouldn’t he be rolling in the sheets with his new me?


    Jocelyn hung up the call and fished for her keys, walking past him expressionlessly.


    Melvin’s fingers, holding the cigarette, parted slightly, enveloping Jocelyn in smoke as she approached.


    She was used to it.


    She unlocked the door.


    Tuming back, she met Melvin’s inscrutable gaze. His eyes were so seductive that they made her blush.


    She liked, no, she loved Melvin.


    She thought Melvin loved her too. Otherwise, why would he be so earnest every night?


    They had been together for three years.


    He was good to het giving her everything she wanted except mamage.


    Last year, she attended a friend’s wedding and told him how romantic and happy it was.


    But he said, “Only fools get married.”


    That moment, she felt like she was thrown into an icy pool, chilled to the bone.


    That should have been her clue. Melvin didn’t love her.


    He only loved the feeling of being with her.


    That’s how people are, always thinking they’re the exception. That’s why they keep hitting the wall.


    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    This time, she turned back.


    “You forgot something, Melvin?”


    She remembered clearing out all his things. These past few days, she had even fantasized about


    finding something of


    his.


    “The ones I bought that night, there should be half a box left.” Melvin extinguished his cigarette, tossing


    it into a nearby


    trash bin.


    Jocelyn immediately got what he meant.


    That night, in the heat of the moment, they had run out of protection.


    Previously, they used a brand that only had six per box, which they would finish in less than two days.


    Later, he bought them by the tens.


    That night, in a rush, they bought a box downstairs and used half.


    Talk about being flush with cash, he wasing back to im what was left unused.


    Popping over here to pick something up would take so long. He could’ve just bought it and been done


    with it.


    Jocelyn pulled out the stuff for him.


    Melvin pocketed it right away and exined, “I didn’t really want toe get it, you know, sizes vary,


    and it might not fit. Plus, if your new me catches a glimpse, he might feel a bit inferior.”


    Jocelyn’s ears started burning.


    Who asked him to exin?


    “Melvin, you better take it easy too, gotta practice some self-control, or you’ll be running on empty,


    Jocelyn shot back.


    without mincing words.


    Melvin squinted his eyes, “Even if you had three more years, you wouldn’t drain me.”


    A wave of bitterness swept over Jocelyn’s heart. If she kept this up for three more years, she’d waste


    half her life.


    By that time, she’d really be the talk of the town.


    “Get moving Don’t keep her waiting, Jocelyn said, pushing the door to close it.


    Melvin held the door, and Jocelyn looked at him.


    Melvin’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, “Are you seriously thinking of tying the knot?”


    “Yeah.”


    The two stood off for a moment, and Melvin was the first to let go, “If you get hitched, make sure to


    send me an invite.”


    “We’ll see,” Jocelyn replied.


    She couldn’t be enemies with someone she had loved, but she couldn’t just be friends, either.


    And there was no way she’d invite him to her wedding


    She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from getting cold feet.


    fetvin’s lipa curved up slightly, “After everything we’ve been through, you won’t even let me witness


    your love story