Chapter 12

Chapter 12
Joslyn cleared her throat and averted her gaze from the magnetic pull of his eyes. Forcing herself to stand tall, she adopted a posture of confidence and resolve—a stark contrast to the storm of emotions raging inside her. Gabriel's nearness sent a wave of weakness through her knees, but she refused to let it show.

“No matter what, I won't betray Sigourney. It’s an unspoken rule between friends to never date each other's exes. You're off limits, Gabriel.”

“In that case, if we're gonna state the facts, then it's Sigourney who's violated that rule between you two because you and I met first, didn't we, Joslyn?”

“That— That's different. She wasn't aware. We all weren't.”

“Oh yeah? Well I'm still saying this: fuck such rules. Whether they're unspoken or in the damn constitution, I don't give a fuck about that crap. And I am not off-limits, darling. Lapointe can't decide that for me. Only I can.” Gabriel moved even closer, backing her up against the wall of the hallway. “I want you, Joslyn. And I always get what I want,” his voice turned husky.

“T–That doesn't apply to me.” Joslyn stuttered, struggling but failing to keep her voice steady.

“I always get what I want,” he repeated firmly. At this point, their chests were touching as they both panted, equally breathless from the heated atmosphere between them.

“Why bother fighting it?” Gabriel asked softly, raising his hand to caress her face. He hooked her short silver hair behind her ears so he could feel her smooth and silken skin tingle and flush under the mercy of his mere touch.

“Your eyes, your lips, every part of your body, is begging for my touch, baby.” He whispered, trailing his other hand down her exposed arm, feeling the goosebumps surfacing on her skin.

“Just admit it. You're just as attracted to me as I am to you, Joslyn. You want me as much as I want you. Maybe even more.” His warm breath fanned her face, making her eyelids droopy.

His baritone voice carried the perfect blend of depth and huskiness, an intoxicating allure that wrapped around her like a siren’s song. It was temptation itself—akin to the devil murmuring sweet nothings into her soul, coaxing her closer. Every inch of Gabriel exuded seduction, and Joslyn was slipping, slowly but surely, into his grasp.

“I don’t,” she croaked before hurriedly clearing her throat. Gabriel smirked, fully aware of the effect he had on her. “Did I ever admit that?” Joslyn retorted, although deep down, she knew her protests were pointless. Every denial, every argument—it was all futile and they both knew it.

Gabriel's gaze shifted to Joslyn's mouth, taking in her unintentional pout and before he knew it, his hand still cupping her face inched closer to it. “Your lips,” he started, his calloused thumb grazing her bottom lip and tracing the delicate curve of her Cupid’s bow. His gaze remained riveted on the mesmerizing sight as he added, “need not speak the words your eyes so clearly confess, love.”

Joslyn swallowed thickly, heat creeping up her face under Gabriel’s unwavering attention. She fought to ignore how much she relished his touch—or the faint stir of disappointment that unfurled within her when he finally pulled away, ending the moment all too soon.

“Well, hot neighbor,” he began, the heated glint in his eyes softening yet not fully extinguished, “as much as I'd like to finish what I started, I've got to go. Won't be neighborly of me to subject you to this…hardness.” He gestured toward his crotch and Joslyn's blush deepened at the bulge she found tenting his pants.

She hurriedly averted her gaze, making Gabriel chuckle before he shot her one last wink then walked away, leaving Joslyn all flustered like he had at the airport.

❀ ❀ ❀

Later at night, as Joslyn returned from her visit to the grocery store, she couldn't help but stall her movements at the reception of her building. Her mind reverted to the events of the morning after her jog. Since their interaction earlier that morning, thoughts of Gabriel had lurked in the back of Joslyn's mind, remaining constant there despite her trying to shut them out.

However, now that she'd spied the opportunity to satisfy her curiosity, Joslyn thought it best to utilize it. With that thought, she approached the receptionist counter, putting on a friendly smile for the woman seated behind it, whom she had interacted with a few times.

“Hey, Eunice.” Joslyn greeted.

“Hi, Jos.” The young brunette greeted in return while reciprocating Joslyn's smile. “Back from the store already?”

“Yup,” Joslyn responded, lifting the plastic bag containing the few items she'd purchased. “Just wanted to satisfy some nighttime cravings.”

“Ha,” Eunice agreed, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “As you totally should, girl.”

Joslyn simply hummed, allowing a moment of awkward silence to settle between them, as she tapped her fingernails against the surface of the counter, not knowing how to bring up the topic of her new neighbor.

Eunice, noticing Joslyn's reluctance, decided to give her a little nudge. “You know you can ask me for whatever help you may need, right, Jos? I've never bitten you before and I certainly do not intend to start now,” she said jokingly.

Joslyn chuckled despite the flush painting her cheeks red in embarrassment when she leaned fully against the counter, blinking owlishly. “I just didn't want to seem like a gossip…”

Eunice's brows raised slightly in question then. “Oh?” She voiced, wordlessly waiting for more from Joslyn.

“...however, I also can't help but be curious…” Joslyn trailed off again, causing the brunette to unconsciously lean forward over the counter, now just as inquisitive as she.

“About?” Eunice asked in restless anticipation of Joslyn's response. “Well, come on, Jos, spill the beans.”

“So, it's about my new neighbor,” Joslyn began in a low voice.

Eunice's eyes widened, the excitement palpable in their depths. “You mean real-estate mogul, Gabriel freaking Reid?! I know right!”

Joslyn raised her brows at her reaction, having not expected that. Promptly, she blinked away her surprise, however, and continued speaking. “Don’t you think it's a bit strange that someone as rich as he would leave their luxurious abode, just to come live here?”

The young receptionist gave a simple shrug in response. “I dunno, Jos, rich people tend to act a bit weird sometimes. And who am I to object if his weirdness had brought him here to this very building?”

But Joslyn disagreed, refusing to believe that Gabriel didn't have any ulterior motive for moving into her apartment building, especially on the same floor as her, and was simply acting based on the impulses guiding people like him, who had more money than they knew what to do with.

Eunice's next words, nonetheless, succeeded in resolving Joslyn's jumbled thoughts. “Besides, he might just be sticking around for a while to scope out the building he'd just purchased. You know, quality control or whatever.”

Joslyn frowned in confusion. “What building?”

Eunice tilted her head, oblivious to how much her next words were about to affect the course of Joslyn’s life. “Ours, of course. Gabriel Reid is now the owner of this apartment building.”

Joslyn's jaw promptly dropped.