"I had been planning to shave every last inch of it," Solomon said, letting her go and pulling back, and rubbing his face ruefully. But then he cocked an eyebrow at her, and a corner of his mouth pulled up, a mischief almost lost in the beard. "Unless, of course, you have some sort of preference to make known?"

It was a tease. Even if Raine had liked beards, Solomon would have put down his foot. Unkempt, hard to clean, scruffy--no, thank you.

Instead he rose, stretching and rubbing some heat into his sorest muscles, and then reached down a hand to help her to her feet.