Page 47 of No Mane, No Gain

“Morning, beautiful,” Chaos’s deep voice came from behind her. She turned to find him leaning against the doorframe, looking unfairly good in just a pair of board shorts.

Olive’s eyes couldn’t help but travel over his toned chest and abs, lingering on the tribal tattoos that decorated his left arm. When she finally dragged her gaze back to his face, she found him smirking.

“See something you like?” he teased.

Olive rolled her eyes, but couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “You’re not so bad, I suppose. For a tech nerd.”

Chaos laughed, crossing the terrace to wrap his arms around her. “A tech nerd who’s about to take you snorkeling with sea turtles. If you’re interested, that is.”

Olive’s eyes lit up. “Are you kidding? Lead the way, Aquaman.”

The next few days passed in a whirlwind of adventure and romance. They snorkeled in crystal clear waters, explored colorful local markets, and indulged in long, lazy afternoons by the pool. In the evenings, they enjoyed candlelit dinners on the beach, talking for hours under a canopy of stars.

Through it all, Olive found herself falling harder for Chaos with each passing moment. It wasn’t just the grand gestures or the luxurious surroundings - though those certainly didn’t hurt. It was the little things. The way he always seemed to know when she needed a moment of quiet. How he listened intently when she talked about her passions. The gentle touches and soft looks that made her feel cherished.

On their last night in Cabo, as they walked hand in hand along the moonlit beach, Olive decided to broach a topic that had been on her mind.

“Chaos,” she began, her voice soft. “Can I ask you something?”

He squeezed her hand gently. “Anything,bella.”

Olive took a deep breath. “You could have anyone. Supermodels, actresses, literal princesses probably. So why choose a snarky romance vlogger with trust issues?”

Chaos stopped walking, turning to face her. His hazel eyes were intense as they met hers, filled with an emotion Olive was almost afraid to name.

“I did choose you,bella mia. You’re my mate. The one for me. There was no choosing. You just are. And if I had a choice, I’d say it’s because you’re real, Olive,” he said, his voice low and earnest. “You’re brilliant, and funny, and compassionate. You challenge me in ways no one ever has. When I’m with you, I don’t feel like Chaos Amato, tech tycoon and shifter alpha. I just feel like... me.”

Olive’s eyes watered. “Even with all the drama? The gossip, the rumors, my insecurities?”

Chaos cupped her face in his hands, his touch impossibly gentle. “Especially with all of that. There is no one like you. No other woman is as special as you.”

For a moment, Olive couldn’t breathe. Part of her wanted to run, to protect herself from the possibility of heartbreak. But a larger part, the part that had been slowly healing and opening up since she met Chaos, knew what she wanted to say.

“I’ve never met a man like you either,” she whispered.

Chaos pulled her in for a kiss that left her weak in the knees. When they finally broke apart, both breathless and giddy, Olive couldn’t help but laugh.

“You know,” she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief, “if this were one of my romance novels, this would be the part where we race back to the villa for a night of passion.”

Chaos’s grin turned wolfish, his eyes flashing with heat. “Well, far be it from me to deviate from the script.”

With a squeal of laughter, Olive found herself swept up into Chaos’s arms as he carried her back to the villa. As they stumbled through the door, lips locked and hands roaming, Olive had a fleeting thought. Maybe happily ever afters weren’t just for storybooks after all. He stopped in the living room by the massive glass wall facing the beach.

She inhaled deeply and shuddered when Chaos’s eyes glowed gold. His animal was making itself known. She glanced at his lips again. Leaning forward slowly, she pressed her lips to his, sliding her tongue over his bottom lip.

A low growl emanated from him. His immediate response caught her off guard. One second, she was exploring his mouth, the smooth texture, and amazing sensations. The next second, he was the one pushing her against the glass wall and pressing a very large erection into her midsection.

The kiss, if it could be called that, was more of a possession of her mouth. It was as if he needed to remember the contour of herlips and the feel of her tongue on his. Her nipples drew into tight points under her robe. She struggled to breathe and moaned as he ground his hips into her.

He pulled back, kissing down her neck and to the tops of her breasts. She blinked her eyes open and glanced at his hair.

“Chaos...”

His head jerked up. The feral set of his features had her already-wet undies needing a massive wringing.

“Say my name again.”

Good god, what the hell did she do? He sounded fucking amazing when he spoke with the rough, growly voice.

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