Free All Fired Up by Kristen Painter

to grin. “At least not that I’m aware of. Although you shouldn’t mix electricity and water. Never mind that, I’ll show you how to use it.” She pulled out the small stool tucked beneath the vanity and motioned for him to sit.
    It squeaked as it took his weight, but held. He kept his eyes on the dryer. The towel split when he sat, revealing a thick, muscular thigh and reminding her of just how naked he was underneath that towel.
    Concentrate. “Face forward, please.” The top of his head reached her chest.
    He stared into the mirror, still watching her every move.
    “I use this thing every day, you know. It hasn’t killed me yet,” she promised.
    His shoulders dropped slightly.
    She leaned over him and dug in a drawer for a wide-tooth comb that wouldn’t tug his hair too much. The heat of his shoulder burned straight through her turtleneck to her stomach. Comb in hand, she backed up for better access to his hair. She stopped at the sight of his back. The two wicked scars above his collarbone had a matching set on the other side.
    He’d been pierced through. The thought made her a little sick and she swallowed the sudden nausea. The pain must have been unimaginable.
    She looked up. He still watched her. Something dark shimmered in his eyes. He knew she’d been looking at his scars. No words existed for what she felt. More than anger. More than pain. Helpless to say anything useful, she put her hand on his shoulder. So deliciously warm. “I’m going to turn the dryer on again, okay?”
    He nodded. “I will not move this time.”
    “I’ll be gentle.” She flipped the dryer on and slid the comb through his damp locks, carefully directing the stream of hot air.
    After a few moments, she abandoned the comb and used her fingers. She’d never known a man with such thick, silky hair. Most women would kill for hair like this. The soft gold strands fell through her fingers as the air dried them. She reached for more, starting at the base of his neck and winding her hand upwards. She massaged his scalp, kneading the balls of her fingers over his head.
    She glanced into the mirror. His eyes were closed, his lips slightly parted. She smiled. Having her hair blown dry had the same effect on her. Except Alrik still looked edible. She probably just looked goofy.
    Reluctant to finish, she spent a few minutes more than she needed to. He probably wasn’t enjoying her touch as much as she was enjoying touching him. Sweat trickled down her back. The room had become an inferno. She turned the dryer off. “All done.”
    He took a deep breath and opened his eyes slowly.
    She grinned at his heavy-lidded expression. “I told you I’d be gentle.”
    A lazy smile turned up the corners of his mouth. “You did not tell me that would be so pleasurable.” He stood, pushed the stool back under the vanity and stretched, filling the small, hot space with a sudden expanse of skin.
    “Yeah, it has that effect on me too.” The towel slipped down his hips a fraction. Calleigh backed up, tried not to stare and failed. “I should finish getting ready so we can get something accomplished today.”
    His smile widened. “I agree.”
    She had the distinct feeling he wasn’t talking about their trip to the mall.
     
     
    Still flush with the intoxicating pleasure of Calleigh’s hands in his hair, Alrik followed his charge out to her vehicle. At the moment, with the way he felt, he would have followed her anywhere. Especially in that short skirt. His fingers itched to touch the black fabric covering her legs. Was it soft? Silky?
    She paused in front of the vehicle. “Don’t freak out in the car, okay? It goes fast but it’s perfectly safe. Especially this one.” She motioned with a slight jerk of her head before pushing a button on a small box attached to her keys. The sleek black car responded with two quick beeps and a sharp snick.
    “What did you do?” He eyed the vehicle, wondering why it made those sounds.
    “I unlocked it.”