The glint in his eyes graduated to a veritable spark of lust. “That’s right.” Then, smiling that devilish smile again, he said, “But you know what? I think it’s time to take a break and wash your hair now.”

Annika wanted to groan in disappointment and frustration. She was ready. She was so ready. “What about your clothes?” she asked petulantly, splashing the water. “Why am I the only one naked?”

Hudson leaned forward in response. Annika felt her breath hitch as he came closer. She could smell the faint fragrance of his aftershave, combined with a very Hudson scent—masculine and strong. She felt her breathing get shaky as he got closer still, his eyes burning into hers. And then he dipped his head and laid the softest trail of kisses from the spot behind her ear to the hollow of her neck. Annika heard a moan, and realized it was coming from her throat.

“Patience,” Hudson whispered again, against her skin.

“I don’t know how much longer I can be patient,” Annika managed to say. Hudson pulled back and chuckled.

He grabbed the shampoo and Annika slid forward so she had enough room to tip her head back. The idea of Hudson shampooing her felt … strangely erotic, though she wasn’t sure why. It was just shampoo. It was just hair.

“Tilt your head back,” he said, gently moving her chin with his fingers. She did as she was asked, her eyes fluttering closed. The warm water from the shower head flowed over her, and she felt herself relaxing amid the lavender fragrance of the shampoo.

Then his fingertips were in her hair, massaging it into her scalp. He used just the right amount of pressure; never had a hairdresser come close to getting it so right. His fingertips moved from the crown of her head to its curve to the nape of her neck and back up again. He massaged behind her ears, and with every point of pressure on her scalp, Annika felt the stress and tension in her shoulders dissipate. A slight headache she hadn’t even realized she’d had began to disappear.

“You’re smiling,” Hudson noted, and though her eyes were closed, Annika could hear the answering smile in his voice.

“That feels incredible,” Annika said, and then she felt his finger trailing down the column of her throat. Her heart began trip-hammering.

He stopped at her chest, right over her heart. “Good,” he said, his voice deep, authoritative. “Isn’t it so much more fun when you’re nice to me?” He used the showerhead to rinse out her hair thoroughly, his fingers handling each lock with gentle care, the hot rivulets of water like strips of silk against her sensitive skin.