Page 29 of Captivating Anika
“You said five thirty?” he asks, turning to face me.
“Please. If I run late, I’ll message you. I’ve gotta go, I’m late,” I add, already grabbing for the door handle.
But Hog has other ideas.
“Not so fast,” he mumbles, hooking a hand around my neck and leaning his body over. “Been wanting to do this all damn morning, and I don’t think I can wait ’til tonight.”
Then he’s kissing me, and I momentarily forget where I am as I immediately allow him entry. His mouth is magic, his lips firm and his tongue demanding. I’m almost defenseless, especially when he groans softly down my throat. The sound has shivers running down my back, invoking images of skin sliding against skin, naked bodies lost to pleasure.
The man hasn’t even had his hands on me and yet my body is craving his touch.
I have to blink a few times when he abruptly ends the kiss.
“Jesus, Anika, that mouth of yours should come with a warning,” he grumbles. “I was this close to hauling you clear across the center console. Gonna need a cold shower before I’ll get any sleep.”
Wow. Who knew all this simmering heat was under that easy, laid-back exterior? There’s a lot to Hog I could never have guessed at, and now I have another visual I’m sure will stick with me all day.
“I’ve gotta go,” I manage.
“Yeah, that’s probably best,” he rumbles, his blue-gray eyes smoldering with a heat I can feel.
I exit the car, my legs a little shaky as I make my way to the door. The moment I walk inside, I’m hit in the face with a mist of cold water. Landon is standing before me, a spray bottle we use to wet down hair aimed at me.
“Need another hit?” he asks before I can find words to blast him with. “’Cause, girl, that kiss was so hot you’ve got steam coming off you.”
I snap my mouth shut because the words on my lips are not suitable for public consumption, and my first customer is already waiting for me.
Ignoring Landon, I focus on my client.
“Morning, Stephanie. Hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long? Why don’t you follow me.”
If I recall correctly, we’re doing roots and a trim today. As I pass Kim on the way to my station, she tosses me a small towel to mop my face. I do so, grateful for a decent waterproof mascara, which stays true to its claim and doesn’t smudge.
“Can I get you a coffee?” I ask my client when she sits down in my chair.
“Please. A vanilla oat milk latte, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
I’ll quickly make myself one too. I’m going to need the extra hit of caffeine to clear my post-kiss haze. Although the wet greeting I received went a long way to shaking me out of my fog.
“He’s right, you know,” I hear Monique’s voice behind me as I stand at the espresso machine, grinding my beans. “That looked intense.”
I peek over my shoulder to find her smiling at me while stirring a plastic bowl of hair dye.
“You’re not kidding,” I return, mumbling.
“So, it looks like things have progressed?”
I shrug and dive into the small fridge to grab the vanilla syrup and the oat milk.
“I guess? I’m trying not to overthink everything and go with the flow,” I admit.
She pats my back. “In that case, enjoy the ride, my friend. The only thing I’m pissed about is losing my wingwoman on girls’ nights out.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I call after her as she returns to her station.
I finish Stephanie’s latte and deliver it to her.