I said with relief. "Now, if you could just muss your hair, we'll be done."
He ran his hands through those dark locks. The end result? He was even more devastating than he'd been only seconds ago.
Captain arched a brow, and my heart tried to escape my chest.
"Perfect," I said.
Reaching for my phone, I tried to get a few profile shots, but Cap's gaze stayed on me as I walked around him.
"Um," I said and stopped recording. "Well, thanks, Captain. Edward, Daemon and Eric have nothing on you."
I turned around, fiddling with my brushes and makeup, pretending to put everything away when in reality I needed a break from those intense eyes. The room had been getting warmer since he sat in that chair. I tried for a joke to break the tension.
"Seriously though, you're rocking the vampire look," I said with a laugh. My back was still to him. "Maybe you should walk around like this all the time."
"Maybe I will," he said which made me freeze. I hadn't heard him move. But from the sound of his voice and the warmth at my back, I knew he was standing right behind me. "If you keep looking at me like that, I'll definitely consider it."
Two feelings were fighting for dominance in my mind.
I didn't know if I was more embarrassed that he'd noticed me staring—or too turned on to care. As he lowered his head to my neck, it caused goosebumps to rise, and I knew. My attraction was definitely beating out my self-consciousness.
"Captain," I breathed as he dropped a feather-light kiss to my neck.
"Hmm?" he asked.
"What are you doing?"
"I don't know," he said. "Want me to stop?"
I was just about to tell him, Never. Please don't stop. But before I could get the words to form, there was a knock at my door. It opened a second later.
"Hey, hello? Anne?" Lady stuck her head in. Her eyes widened as they traveled from me to Captain. "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't aware you had company."
"That's okay," I said, trying to regain my cool as Captain took a step back.
"I really should've waited to be let in. That was rude of me."
"No, it's fine," I repeated. "We were almost done anyway."
Captain's brow furrowed, and I threw him a self-depreciating smile.
"Lady, this is my best friend, Captain," I said. "I can't remember if you've met."
Lady gave a brief nod. "Though you talk about him constantly, I believe this is the first time we've set eyes on each other."
Captain leaned forward and held out his hand.
"It's nice to meet you," he said.
"Charmed." Lady hummed, but I noticed she didn't take his hand. Instead her eyes simply moved over him as Cap's arm returned to his side. "Do you always look so pale, or is this Anne's doing?"
"It was me," I said, giving a mental sigh. That explained why she was looking at him so funny. Captain still had on the vampire makeup. "He doesn't usually look so corpse-like."
"Anne," she huffed. "Please."
I laughed as Captain threw an arm around my shoulders.
"Yeah, I let Anne use my face as a canvas whenever she wants," Captain said.
"Isn't that nice." Lady smiled and then turned her attention back to me. "Your father needs you downstairs, Anne. That's why I came up to get you."
I blinked. "Really?"
My father never needed me for anything. He'd talk to Lady or Beth about the latest fashions. It was a passion they all shared. I could've cared less who was wearing what or dating who.
"Yes," she said. "It's an urgent matter. Sorry, young man, but I'm going to have to steal your friend away."
Captain gave a slow nod. "That's fine. Thanks again, Anne, for letting me come over."
"Of course," I said, pushing some wipes into his hand. "Here, take these. Make sure you get all the makeup off, or it will clog your pours. Drive safe, Captain."
"I will." His lips turned up, and he gestured to his face. "Wouldn't want to get stopped looking like this."
The smile turned a bit stiff as he looked at Lady.
"Nice to meet you, ma'am."
"Likewise," she said.
"Bye, Anne," he said.
"Thanks for being the best non-sparkly vampire ever," I called, and he threw a wave over his shoulder, chuckling as he left the room. Part of me was glad Lady had interrupted us. I didn't know what I would've done if she hadn't. And the more I thought about it, the less certain I was that Captain had kissed my neck at all. The brush of his lips