What if Connor hated the way he looked?
Which was a weird thought to have, but Max was stuck with that,too. He cared what Connor thought about him, and apparently, that extended towhether or not he found him physically attractive.
Max wasn’t even sure what hewantedConnor to think. Justthat he was afraid of what he would.
He was almost disappointed when Connor didn’t react at all.
“This is the color, right?” Connor said, looking up at him againand holding out a jar of hair dye.
Max took it, read the label, and then passed it back. “That’s theone,” he said. “We could’ve gone for a different color if it’d suit the themebetter. I should’ve said.”
“Oh no.” Connor shook his head. “You’re my muse, so we’re keepingyour hair exactly the way it is.”
Muse.
That… that was a nice thing to hear.
Max turned the word over in his head a few times as he sat down,leaning back to get himself comfortable.
“I’m gonna put some oil around your hairline and on your earsfirst, okay?” Connor asked from behind him. “To stop the dye staining.”
“Sounds good,” Max said. “You know what you’re doing, huh?”
“I’ve… been known to dye my hair, in the past,” Connor said.“Tried a few different colors.”
Max grinned at the thought. “I’m gonna need to see pictures.”
“If you behave, I might be able to find some for you later,”Connor said. “This shouldn't be too cold, tell me if it is.”
Max closed his eyes in anticipation, tilting his head back to giveConnor access to his forehead. The first touch of fingers against his skin madehis heart skip a beat, but Connor was gentle, and he’d warmed up the oil first.
“Okay?” Connor asked.
“Perfect,” Max said, relaxing further into his seat. “Feels great,actually.”
Connor chuckled. “Wait until the free head massage starts,” hesaid. “I’ve had proposals based on them alone.”
“I already proposed,” Max murmured as Connor spread oil over hisears, making him squirm as he touched the sensitive spots behind them.
“That’s why you get a head massage,” Connor said, tilting Max’shead forward to put oil on the back of his neck, rubbing circles into the tensemuscles there as he spread it around.
Max sighed happily, feeling the last of his fear melt away. Hecould barely remember what he’d been worried about now. Connor was being kind,and gentle, and everything Max should have known he’d be.
“I’m gonna start with the color now, okay?” Connor said. “I can’treally warm it up, so I apologize in advance.”
“‘sokay,” Max murmured, his mind already drifting off. “I’llsurvive.”
“Of course you will,” Connor said kindly, twisting the cap off thejar of dye.
Max straightened his head up again, trying to make it as easy aspossible for Connor. He heard the sound of gloves crinkling, and braced himselfto be touched again.
It wasn’t so much of a shock this time. Max was getting used toConnor touching him.
Hell, he was starting tolikeit. Especially with Connor’slong, strong fingers digging into his hair, massaging his scalp here and thereas he spread the color around.
Max squirmed in his chair again, his skin tingling as Connorstroked through his hair, fingers tangled deep in the strands, soothing thetension he’d been carrying there.
Heat flared in his gut, making him gasp in surprise.
