Page 34 of Securing Samantha
Whiskey let out a moan. Her fingers pressed harder into his scalp as she massaged his head. She began making circles on the top of his forehead and down by his ears. Samantha kneaded the top of his head before making her way to the back and down to his neck. The motion relaxed him, and he barely noticed his hands slipping from the chair arms and falling to his sides.
“I need to start rinsing,” she whispered. The water began to run again as she ran her fingers through his hair to rid it of the shampoo. “I’ll add a conditioner, don’t move yet,” she reminded him. He heard her pump a bottle and massage it into his hair. When she finished, she ran her fingers along his jawline and through his beard again.
“I’m never letting Shadow near me again. Lass, you’ve perfected your skills. I can’t recall feeling this relaxed in ages,” he complimented her with his eyes closed. He heard her sniff. “Lass, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I got product in my eye. Burns like hell. Give me a minute,” she assured him.
“You don’t sound fine.” He started to rise from the chair. Her hand touched his chest.
“I need to grab a towel. Stay put,” her voice sounded weird. He did as she bade him to do.
“I’ll rinse the conditioner out now.” She turned the water back on and ran her fingers through the strands. He realized she went to the trouble of telling him what she planned to do next. Claire mentioned something to him concerning the support groups teaching ways to work around his triggers and he wondered if she learned this method in her group.
She wrapped the towel around his head. “If you’ll stand and put your beard in the sink, I’ll rinse it out and give it a good wash,” she told him.
He stood and turned around. She guided him over the sink by softly pressing her hand on his neck. When she finished, she dried his beard with a towel.
“Let’s head over to the chair and I’ll start cutting.” She helped him keep the towel on his head. He opened his eyes and met her liquid filled blue ones.
“Lass…” his voice trailed off as he cupped her cheek. His face leaned down, and he felt her soft breath increase on his cheeks.
Her eyes slowly closed of their own accord. A shudder went down her body and then her eyes popped open as she seemed to realize he planned to kiss her. She stepped back. “It’s the product,” she insisted.
He walked over to the chair. He closed his eyes when she brought the towel to his face to dry the beard further. “I need to brush out your beard. Let me know if it hurts,” she instructed.
She brushed through the tangled mess, and he heard her pick up the scissors.
“If you can talk to me, it helps,” he told her. “I called the child therapist Kassie mentioned LJ visited. He suggested I take time introducing myself. I thought I might bring him to the team building. It’s loaded with video games, an air hockey table, Ping-Pong, a swimming pool and such. There’s always a team member there, and I won’t be completely alone with him. You don’t need to worry about him,” he assured her. “He’ll think he’s visiting the team.”
“I think it’s a great start. I appreciate you checking with his therapist. I’ll start trimming your beard now, no talking,” she told him.
He sat still while she cut the bulk of the beard, making his face feel lighter. Her body rested against the chair as she took her time and went slow, for him. Guilt assailed him as he realized he pushed her away. He feared she might grow scared of him especially not knowing his triggers. Yet she soothed him in a way he didn’t realize existed since he returned. She didn’t cut or run. She stayed and learned while he became the one who took off at the first opportunity.
“I want to tell him together. Your presence will assure him after my actions at the cabin. I’ll never hurt either of you again,” he explained. Did he hear another sniff?
“I cut the beard and I’ll need to use trimmers. But I want to cut your hair first. She turned the chair to refrain from him seeing himself in the mirror as she combed through his overgrown length. It didn’t escape his notice her actions kept him from seeing her too.
She snipped away and he squeezed his eyes shut.
“I haven’t seen the team much lately. Saint stopped in for a moment when Taco came in for a haircut. Saint got a glimpse of Bryanna bringing in some of her scones to sell with my tea,” she made small talk with him. “Taco chatted up the ladies and got an ear full of town news while he ate half the box,” she giggled.
“He’s as gossipy as an old lady,” he groused and chuckled. “I never knew the team had a gossip queen in its midst. From the sounds of things Saint’s got a bit of a crush on your friend.”
“Taco’s crushing on her scones. He’s very good at noticing Bryanna’s delivery schedule or he conveniently shows when she closes early and comes here,” she told him suspiciously.
“It’s the first, lass. He’s a glutton. I noticed when he goes into Seattle, he returns with a bunch of tacos from a food truck. Heaven forbid a Tuesday comes without him yelling, ‘Taco Tuesday.’” She finished his sentence at the same time making them both laugh. His deep laugh mixed with her feminine one sounded perfect to him.
“I’m ready to dry it now, Whiskey. Do you want me to use a towel or the hair dryer?” she asked.
“I don’t use one, but I’d like to try it.”
She stood in front of him. Samantha turned on the dryer and straddled his legs as she styled it. He loved the feel of her. He ached to pull her into his lap, smell her hair, and feel her body pressed against his.
“Whiskey, I’m ready to use the trimmers,” Samantha told him as she shut the dryer off.
“I don’t feel the least bit worried. Do it, lass,” he assured her.
She adjusted the blades, and the slight humming began. She caressed his jaw before tilting his chin upward and began trimming. He was grateful he kept his eyes shut. When her hand stroked along his jawbone, his eyes rolled to the back of his head. He swallowed hard at her touch. He struggled to remember why he pushed her away when it seemed she clearly did her homework. She prepared herself for him to come home. And he left her high and dry.