Chapter 16: A Sweet Scent
Edrick

I lifted my blindfold, as did she. The sweet scent that I smelled was definitely Moana…

Or so I thought. It faded so quickly that I was no longer sure if it was her who I smelled, or someone else. It couldn’t be her, anyway; she was a human. She had no scent.

“It looks like we have our first winners!” the announcer called over the microphone.

As Ella squealed with delight on the platform above, I realized that I was holding Moana’s hand. I saw her blushing and I quickly dropped her hand. When we re-emerged from the maze, Ella was standing at the entrance with one of the staff members — the same girl from before.

The staff member gave Moana and I a strange look, but still said nothing and instead handed Ella the grand prize; the rare doll that Ella had so desperately wanted.

As we walked back to the car, Ella couldn’t stop chattering about how much she loved her doll, how amazing it was that she was able to make me find Moana so quickly, and how this was the best birthday she had ever had in her entire life.

I finally took my mask off, breathing deeply and rubbing the backs of my sore ears from wearing it all day. The driver pulled away from the curb and started taking us in the direction of the penthouse, where, unbeknownst to both Ella and Moana, I had arranged for

wiggling happily in her seat. I couldn’t help myself from sneaking a glance at Moana every so often, who didn’t seem to notice me looking at her as she focused solely on

arm around Ella’s small shoulders. “What are you going to

furrowed brows for a few moments, tapping her chin with her

face turned red, but as I watched them, my mind wandered back to the strange scent I

where that scent came from?”

quick and faint. Although, I think

window instead at

agreement — still bundled up in extra layers, of course, as if I would touch her against her will — and shot

the

she said. “I can

fine,” I replied.

together as part of our arrangement for a few days now, I was already feeling immensely better. I thought to myself that the insomnia was just caused by being lonely in bed, but then I would think about other one night stands I had

her demeanor was often cordial with me — she was even a little cold with me sometimes, whereas I had had previous one night stands with women who were head over heels for me. Maybe there was just something comforting about Moana. She was exceptionally good with children, after all, as I discovered from watching how naturally she handled

side of the bed,

want the curtains

opened the curtains after our second night of sleeping together. Normally I liked to keep the room as dark as possible to try and help me sleep, but it didn’t seem to be bothering me now. Besides, the

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