~ STARK ~
"What?" Hildie asked with a little laugh.
Instead of answering, I took her hands and pulled her up to sit, then reached for her hair—the braid messy and with a few strands loose because of my clawing at her hair. I sucked in a breath because Hildie opened her mouth on my chest and pulled herself against me, but I was determined to get her hair loose, to see her mussed and out of control.
But moments later, groaning as Hildie teased me with stroking hands, I struggled to loosen the braid with my shaking fingers. The damned thing seemed determined to best me. But finally, one by one, I found the pins that kept the braid turned under at her nape, and then pulled the long rope of her hair down, tearing the lace out of the bottom of it, and combing my fingers through it, the glossy thick strands and curls falling loose over her spine and then shoulders as I shook it out.