Chapter 64 Behave and I Won't Touch You
Arabella cut straight to the point, "The disbarment proceedings against Zachary—that's your doing, isn't it?"
Gabriel never shied away from owning his actions. As he turned and walked toward her, he asked coolly, "They came running to you for help that quickly?"
"This is between us—why drag other people into it?" She clenched her fists in anger, tilting her head back to glare at Gabriel accusingly.
"He's hardly innocent. That divorce agreement of yours definitely had his help behind it."
Arabella paused before responding, "So what? Legal consultation is literally his job."
"But his job interfered with my interests. Don't you think I have the right to fight back?"
"You... you're absolutely despicable!"
Her furious expression reminded him of an angry kitten, and Gabriel realized he might be somewhat twisted—he seemed to enjoy seeing her eyes flash with rage. It made her look so vibrant, awakening a desire to conquer her.
Following his impulses, while admiring her angry expression, his fingers had already moved to trace her cheek without conscious thought.
He caressed the delicate skin, unable to resist its softness.
But the next second, Arabella slapped his hand away hard. "Don't touch me!"
Rather than getting angry, he smiled, still wearing that indulgent, doting expression as he coaxed, "Alright, be good and get into bed. Then he won't have any more trouble."
"Shameless!"
"Stop cursing and save your energy for... other activities." His suggestive words hung in the air as he pulled Arabella toward the bed.
Hearing this made Arabella's scalp tingle with instinctive resistance, while she remained deeply confused.
They'd been married for over two years, and he'd been so dismissive of her before. Why had his attitude changed so dramatically recently?
Could it be that Emily was pregnant and couldn't satisfy him anymore, so he had to settle for second best?
Before her spiraling thoughts could reach a conclusion, Gabriel handed her the ointment tube. "According to the doctor's instructions, I need another application before bed."
Arabella snapped back to reality and took the medication.
Gabriel lay down expectantly, waiting for her service.
She stared at him, hesitating for a moment before sitting on the edge of the bed. As she was about to lean over, she suddenly looked down at her chest.
After her shower, she was wearing pajamas that were even looser than her afternoon sweater. Leaning forward like this...
She self-consciously tugged her collar toward her back until it was tight against her neck.
Gabriel didn't miss her childish gesture, his lips curving in an amused smile.
This time, the medication application went smoothly, finished in under two minutes.
Arabella set down the ointment and looked back at Gabriel, "If I sleep here, you'll stop targeting my friend?"
Gabriel replied, "You should be sleeping here anyway."
Arabella was still struggling internally, but she had no other choice. She gambled that Gabriel still had some conscience left. After hesitating for a while, she got up and walked around to the other side of the bed, lifting the covers.
"Turn off the lights," he instructed.
She reached over to switch off the bedside lamp, then lay down with her back to him, leaving enough space between them for two more people.
The room was peaceful and quiet, but her nerves were on high alert, constantly wary of the man behind her making a move.
However, time passed, and her back remained undisturbed. She could even hear his steady, deep breathing.
It seemed he had already fallen asleep.
Only then did Arabella slowly relax her guard, letting her nerves settle as she gradually drifted toward sleep herself.
But just as her consciousness was becoming hazy, there was movement beside her. Before she could react, her body was pulled into a warm, solid embrace.
"Ah—" She jolted awake from her drowsy state, instinctively trying to resist, but Gabriel's low, gentle whisper was right in her ear, "Don't move. Behave and sleep, and I won't touch you."
Her body stiffened, half-believing, half-doubting, but not daring to move again.
They lay there peacefully embraced, like nested spoons in the kitchen drawer—fitting together perfectly.
The house normally maintained perfect temperature and humidity, with the light silk comforter providing just the right warmth. But with him pressed against her back like a burning flame, she quickly felt overheated, her spine beginning to perspire.
Arabella couldn't stand it. With every nerve taut, she carefully tried to shift away, attempting to create some distance between them.
She moved once, twice, three times... There was no reaction from behind her, so she quietly sighed in relief, finally managing to put some space between them.
But just as she began to relax, his arm tightened around her waist, Gabriel effortlessly pulling her back against him, his breath directly against her ear.
"Didn't I tell you not to move? Now you can't blame me for what happens next..." His rich, low voice seemed to rumble from deep in his chest, making her back tingle with sensitivity.
Warning bells went off in Arabella's mind. She flinched like she'd been electrocuted, explaining in a small voice, "You were pressed too close. I was hot, so I—mmph."
Before she could finish, he raised himself slightly, his lips finding hers with unerring accuracy even in the darkness, silencing her with a kiss.
Arabella instinctively frowned, pressing her hands against his shoulders. "Gabriel... don't do this. I'm very tired and want to sleep."
"I'm tired too, was almost asleep until your tossing and turning woke me up." The implication was clear—it was her fault, so she should accept the consequences.
"No, I..."
She tried to protest, but Gabriel no longer gave her the chance to think about anything else.
She didn't know how long he'd been restraining himself since she'd returned, how much he'd been suffering.
Originally, sleeping with his own wife should be perfectly natural—he should be able to whenever he wanted without having to consider consequences. But because she kept demanding a divorce, with their relationship so tense, he wanted intimacy but couldn't bring himself to make the first move, his mind constantly searching for excuses and justifications.
If she had simply slept peacefully, tonight he would have had to continue enduring. But since she was squirming around in his arms, wasn't that deliberately provoking him? Then he couldn't be blamed for exercising his husbandly rights.
Arabella was no match for him. Despite her desire to resist, he dissolved each attempt one by one.
And strangely, her body seemed incredibly familiar with his touch from some unknown point onward, even developing an almost addictive response.
So between half-hearted resistance and surrender, she gradually yielded, allowing herself to be completely overwhelmed.
After the storm had passed, their hearts still raced wildly.
Arabella shamefully pulled the thin blanket over herself, asking Gabriel sarcastically, "With this kind of frequency, how did you manage to keep it secret from Dominic before?"
Gabriel lay beside her on his back, one hand resting on his forehead as he steadied his breathing.
Hearing her words, he turned to look at Arabella. Knowing she was overthinking things again, Gabriel felt exasperated. But given their recent harmony and compatibility, he was in too good a mood to argue. He simply asked calmly, "Who told you I ever slept with Emily?"
"Do I need someone to tell me that?"
He remained even-tempered, "You'd have to be as foolish as you are to believe something that never happened. Emily only has eyes for Dominic. Setting aside the fact that I never had those intentions—even if I did, do you think she would have been willing?"
Arabella pressed her lips together, saying nothing, uncertain whether to believe this explanation.
After a while, she spoke again, her tone hesitant, "If that's really true, then before... the way you treated me before..."