I get what you are saying about the Lena/Axel scene.
Though I think they know each other so well that they just let their bodies do the talking. All the circumstances remind Lena of the past...the furniture, the smell, how dominant Axel was. Axel likes to own, Lena likes to be owned. That's their relationship. The scene fits the characters and the atmosphere perfectly in my opinion.
I suspect we agree on most parts here, but not the conclusion.
At the beginning it's stated that Axel takes Lena's kisses as a sign to take it further, which I think is a good example of the "let their bodies do the talking" point. And I agree that all the memories coming back—especially the smells—works really well to build up the tension.
Also the fact that they know each other so well makes the dynamic in the situation different than if they were just two people randomly hooking up. But the fact that they aren't together anymore (after a really bad breakup as well), and that they haven't slept together in a really long time and have no way of knowing exactly where the other person stands, also makes the dynamic different than to when they still were together. For that reason I think the scene should've established consent in a clearer way (which could still be subtle).
It depends on what the developer wants.
From a literary standpoint, I'd say that confessing her love wouldn't make sense, as it likely doesn't exist. I think that Cindy is on a road to self discovery and probably sees Ian as a means to an end. Wade has neglected her for too long and she craves attention, spontaneity, excitement, and so on. That leads me to think that she doesn't so much want love, but being desired as a woman, as someone who's told she's beautiful, as someone who's made to feel like she has something to offer. It's possible that this is why Axel makes such an impact on her; he can probably read her like a book.
I think it was for the best that Cindy didn't have the chance to answer Ian before Wade suddenly showed up. The situation gives her
a lot to deal with, so it's only natural that she doesn't know exactly what she wants or feels yet.
However I don't agree that she sees Ian as a means to an end. She definitely craves attention and wants to feel desired, and Axel offers that, probably more than anyone else could. But I also think the chemistry between her and Ian is very clear. Ian's less successful than Axel, and looks less like someone "nazis made in a lab", but what he could offer that Axel doesn't, is a more genuine interest in Cindy. If you remember the dialogue in the back alley at the end of chapter 7, Cindy asks if she's "so unlikeable that I have to beg for people to go out partying with me". The confirmation that she's likeable and an interesting person is something Ian is way better suited to give than Axel. Axel is clearly written to be a threat to Ian's advantages towards Cindy, but if Ian plays his cards right, there's no way Cindy will choose Axel over him.
