I hesitated, chewing on the inside of my cheek.
“Honestly? Just… a loose braid. Something to keep it from tangling up again.”
“That I can do.”
I arched a brow. “Can you?”
“Used to braid my sister’s hair all the time,” he said. “Not exactly the same, but… I’ve got the basics.”
“Your sister doesn’t have my hair.”
“No,” he agreed easily. “But you can tell me what to do.”
God.
I shouldn’t have found that as attractive as I did. But the fact that he was offering to help me, that hewantedto help, that he wasn’t the least bit intimidated… it warmed me like a hot cup of herbal tea.
And the thought of having this man’s hands on me again was enough to shred any last doubt I was holding onto.
I shifted, turning slightly toward him. “Okay, but you have to listen.”
“I’m all ears.”
“You’ve got to be gentle.”
He smirked. “Interesting. I would have thought you’d like it rough.”
My mouth popped open, and I swatted him with my good arm playfully. “Listen, we can flirt later, but not when you have your hands in my hair. Got it? We’re on business now.”
He wet his lips — the bold motherfucker — his eyes sweeping over me with the tease. “Yes,Boss.”
“You don’t get to use that name.”
“I do when the roles are reversed like this.”
I rolled my eyes. “Shut up before I change my mind.”
Braden laughed, the sound deep and delicious from his beautiful throat. Then, his eyes settled on me, sincere and loaded. “I’ve got you,” he promised.
And I was so fucked because I believed him.
“Come here.”
He gestured to the space on the floor between his legs, offering a hand to help me maneuver down. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t cherish every touch and sweep of my skin against his on the way.
“Do you want one braid or two?”
“Two, I think. And I mean it,” I said, plucking the extra hair band off my wrist and handing it to him. “Gentle. If you hit a knot, don’t just yank it — you have to hold the section and work it out from the bottom up. And keep tension, but not too tight.”
There was that throaty laugh again. I felt it all the way through my toes.
“I hear you,” he assured me, and the moment his hands touched me, I had to fight back a moan. He massaged my shoulders and neck first, trying to help me relax before one hand gently moved to the bun my hair was currently tied in.
“May I?”
I nodded, adjusting a throw pillow under my right arm for more support as I settled in.
True to his word, Braden was careful as he maneuvered my hair out of the band. He untied it slowly, ensuring my hair didn’t get snagged or tangled. When it was loose, I felt my heart pick up a bit, the speed and intensity making my next breath feel shallower than the last.
