Chapter Five
Mandy
I’m snuggled up in my beanbag with a thick, velvety soft purple blanket draped over me and my laptop on my knees when the doorbell rings suddenly.
Quickly checking my watch for the time, I see it’s right on seven—the time Axel and I agreed he’d pick me up for our first date. Shit. The day has completely escaped me. The room is dark, and I’m still wearing pajamas of all things! I’m not ready.
I jump up suddenly, my laptop and blanket tumbling to the floor as I rake my fingers through my hair. It’s a goddamn rat's nest. There might even be Flamin’ Hot Cheetos dust on my face. It’s definitely on my fingers. There is not a chance in hell I can let him see me like this.
The bell rings again as I stand there panicking, my heart pounding in my chest, unsure what to do.
There’s no way to let him in to wait while I get ready without him seeing and scenting me.
I don’t want his first impression of my scent to be associated with my current state.
The stress has caused my usually sweet marshmallow notes to take on a burnt note.
Not appealing. When authors talk about the writing cave, they don’t necessarily talk about how you appear when you come out of it after a few days.
To be fair, I think I showered yesterday.
I can’t leave him outside to wait for me, can I? Is that cruel? Will he mind?
A knock comes from the apartment door as I pull my phone from my pocket and fire off a text. There’s a cafe on the bottom floor. Hopefully, he won’t mind waiting for me there.
Mandy
Got lost in my writing. Running a little late. Would it be okay if we met at the café downstairs in 15 minutes?
His reply comes quickly.
Axel
Iced Caramel Mocha Latte?
Mandy
Extra whipped cream please :-)
I smile to myself and dash to the bathroom to have what might end up being the quickest shower of my life.
He’s been paying attention.
It wasn’t even eight hours after I ran off on Axel that he sent me a message asking if I was okay. I’m not sure how he got my number—I suspect it was Vae or Marilyn—but I’m not mad about it.
In fact, it made me feel special that he cared enough after our brief meeting to chase me down and get in contact again.
I’ve probably been in the romance writing world for too long and read too many dark romances, but it’s somewhat romantic and a whole lot exciting.
Plus, Axel doesn’t come across as a creep.
He’s playful and open. If someone asked me to show them a golden retriever book boyfriend in real life, Axel would be that person.
Our messages over the last few days have been the perfect mix of flirty and fun, with some deeper conversations popping in occasionally.
We’ve been getting to know each other outside of being scent matches—which he still doesn’t know.
He will tonight. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought.
After we arranged to meet tonight, I decided not to use any scent blockers.
It’s risky. I rarely go anywhere in public without scent blockers.
Self-preservation and all that jazz. All it would take is the wrong alpha to be attracted to my scent and my life could be turned upside down.
It’s better not to offer the temptation in the first place.
But I don’t want to keep this a secret anymore. Axel deserves to know the truth of why I ditched him in the locker room the other day. Not for any other reason than I was freaking the fuck out.
I write romance novels.
I don’t live in them.
Turning off the shower, I quickly wrap my hair in an old cotton T-shirt I use for this very purpose. I won’t have time to dry it properly, but there was not a chance in hell I’m going to skip washing it. No, I’ll just have to scrunch in some product, give it a good old plop, and hope for the best.
Oh my god. Why did I have to lose track of time like this? I can’t even say it’s out of character. It might suck right now, but I wrote over six thousand words today, so I can’t really complain. I guess I was feeling inspired.
A solid twenty minutes after I sent Axel downstairs, I’m on the elevator heading towards the ground floor, ready to meet him and see what he has in store for me—damp hair and all.
The doors open and I step out into the lobby, my eyes instantly finding Axel where he’s leaning against the wall beside the doorman’s desk, two iced coffees in hand.
Walking towards him, I look my fill, taking in the way his biceps strain against the fabric of the white Henley he’s paired with a pair of black jeans and white and black kicks.
He looks so relaxed and casual as he people-watches, not yet realizing I’m here and that his life is about to change forever.
Will it, though? What will a scent match mean to him?
He’s a romance reader, which I have to believe makes him someone who would find the magic in a fated mates kind of situation.
I suck in a breath as butterflies dance in my stomach.
Admittedly, I don’t know him well enough to know what his reaction will be.
His campfire scent hits me as I approach, tickling my nose and calming the storm of anxiety rushing through me.
I’m more prepared this time around. More aware of just how much his scent will affect me.
Knowing does nothing to stop my chocolate-marshmallow scent from exploding from my pores.
Not quite a perfume, but not far off it either.
Axel’s head whips around, his nostrils flaring as my scent reaches him. His eyes widen and then close as I reach his side. He inhales deeply as he slowly places the coffees on the desk beside him, eyes still closed. Then he turns toward me, opening his eyes.
“Mandy,” he growls. His irises are darker than I remember them, his pupils dilated, leaving only a small ring of brilliant green behind. Heat curls in my lower belly at the clear lust in them. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was scared,” I admit, rubbing my hands together nervously. “It was a shock. And I didn’t know you—I still don’t, really. But I want to. I mean, if you do…”
I trail off as the heat of embarrassment stains my cheeks.
Oh. My. God.
I’m not one to be at a loss for words.
Ever.
My life, my career, my livelihood. They’re all based on my ability to string words into coherent, meaningful sentences.
But they’re failing me now.
It doesn’t seem to matter to Axel, though.
He steps forward, his large frame filling the space between us and causing my breath to stick in my lungs.
I tilt my neck, looking up at him as my brain tries to catch up with my beating heart.
My senses are in overdrive, overwhelmed by his closeness, his warmth, his scent and the overpowering pull I feel to climb this alpha like a tree and press my ear against his chest while he purrs for me.
Axel’s hands grasp my hips as he leans down and presses his face into my throat, inhaling my scent. Slick pools in my panties as he nuzzles against me, and the purr I’ve spent the last few days imagining rumbles up his throat. I’d be horrified if I weren’t so lost in this moment.
“I’d like to kiss you now, Mandy, my mate. If that would be okay with you?”
I squeak a noise of agreement, and he pulls back, his eyes locking with mine once more before he leans down, his lips pressing against mine with a featherlight touch that sets off every single nerve in my body all at once.
This is officially a better first kiss than any I’ve ever written.