Page 10 of Knot Your Pucking Mate
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 thedoorman’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 ashe 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.
Chapter Six
Axel
She’s everywhere all at once.
I’ve never experienced such an overwhelming barrage of sensory input.
Her body presses flush against mine as she deepens our kiss. The sweet sound of her whimper fills my ears as she perfumes, her scent engulfing us in a cloud of chocolate and marshmallow goodness that has a growl of pure desire rumbling up my throat.
I’ve wanted Mandy from the moment I set eyes on her. The attraction and desire were instantaneous. My alpha instincts were almost impossible to smother. There was a moment whereI nearly purred after being in her company for all of, like, a minute.
