My whole body erupts in chills.

"Feel good?"

"So good," I murmur, enjoying it to the fullest.

"When you do me," he says as he takes his fingertips to the top of my head, producing another wave of chills, "I like it up here."

I laugh. "Is that right? That's your big shampoo training tip, Larue? Do me like this?"

He leans all the way down into my ear, so close that my eyes shoot open when his breath tickles the sensitive skin. "Do me just like that, Rook. Please."

Oh, f**k.

I swallow, trying to stall for a response, but I have nothing. I take a chance and glance up at him. He's laughing at me. "You're bad."

"You have no idea. Now, close your eyes so I can rinse. I might make you wet, so I apologize ahead of time for that."

Oh, he is so bad.

And I am in so much trouble because even though he's very careful with the water as he rinses my head, I am definitely wet.

"So, you're a model now. Or you most likely will be tomorrow. What's your big plan? Got one?"

"Yeah," I answer, thankful that we're done with the sexual banter for now. "I'm gonna ride it out while it lasts."

"So you think you'll like being a model?"

"Maybe, but it doesn't matter. If it pays decent money I'm gonna do it." He shuts the water off and I turn a little to look up at him. "It's a break I really need, Ronin. You have no idea. So maybe I'll like doing this stuff or maybe I won't. But I'm gonna get as much out of it as I can and then, when it's over, I'll go do something else."

"Like what?" The strong smell of citrus permeates the air as he starts working in the conditioner.

My hair is so long and thick, this usually takes a while even when I'm in a rush, but Ronin takes his time and I sink into the chair a little more, totally relaxed. "College, maybe. I never got good grades, and I took the GED when I was sixteen so I could quit going to school, but I know you can start out in community college and then transfer into a better place. That's my dream. It'll probably never happen, but you asked."

"What would you study?"

"I dunno," I lie. I could just tell him, but I don't feel like it. It's my dream and it's personal. It means a lot to me and I'm not gonna share that with some guy I just met.

"What if you didn't get this job? Or what if it doesn't last? Models are known for having a pretty sketchy schedule. Work one day, none the next. It's not real stable."

This question is even worse than the last one. "Yeah, well, I'm used to disappointment, so no big deal. If it doesn't work, I'll move on and do something else. I might be young, but I've learned a few good lessons in my day."

He goes still so I open my eyes and look up at him. He's frowning. "What lessons, Rook?"

"Don't rely on anyone to get what you want. You just gotta go get it yourself."

"That's kinda sad," he says as the water comes on again.

"Nah, just practical." I shiver as the water rushes over my head.

"So you're not the type who looks for a boyfriend to take care of her?"

I snort. "Fuck. No. The last thing I want right now is a guy who wants to take care of me."

"Huh. Well, what do you tell them then?"

"Tell who?" I ask, looking up at him again.

"The guys you date? Do you tell them you're just interested in casual stuff, or what? I don't get it."

I'm tired of this conversation so I shut it down. "I tell them nothing, Ronin, because I don't let anyone get that close."

"Because someone hurt you?" he asks, trying to sound casual.

"Is this a psych couch or a shampoo station?"

He smiles down at me and shuts the water off, then wrings out my hair and drapes a towel over my head. "Sit up." He fluffs my hair with the towel for a few minutes, then tosses it into a basket across the room and hands me a comb. "So, was it everything you thought it would be?"

The innuendo is back and I smile as I drag the comb through my hair and stand up next to him. He's tricky, this one. Knows just when to light me up and dim me back down. "It was so much more," I gush, "I have no words to describe it."

"Try," he says, suddenly serious.

His hands begin to wander around my waist, tugging on my belt loops, a safe way to make contact but not put his whole hand on my hip.

I'm holding my breath and it comes out in a soft rush. "It was gentle."

He smiles.

"And it made me tingle."

"Tingle?" he asks. "Really? That good?"

I nod as I watch his lips. His mouth opens a little and I draw in a deep breath.

"Well, I'm not sure you're ready to step into my shampoo shoes, but give it a go, OK? And if you get nervous, just take a deep breath and I'll hold your hand the whole way through. From working the faucet to rinsing the conditioner, I have your back, Rook."

Never once does he crack a smile.

I nod and become very serious. "I really appreciate your confidence in me, Larue. Now, please, lie back in my chair and I'll do you just the way you like it."

Chapter Seventeen - RONIN

Rook's hands on me almost drive me over the edge. I take a deep breath as she sprays the water down my head, then leans down to talk in my ear, just the way I did with her. She's totally on to me and this makes me smile.