Nikki’s Chair

Hi all, I haven’t written on here for many many years, mainly due to time. Felt like writing something quick today, I hope you like it. I’ve got a few loose ends to finish on some other older stories that I hope to get to in the coming months.

Nikki’s Chair – Nikki

Maggie had passed by the little barbershop on Main Street nearly every day for weeks now. It wasn’t even on her usual route home, but she found excuses to detour past it, her heart fluttering as she caught a glimpse of who she assumed was ‘Nikki’, the stylish barber with her platinum-blonde undercut and ever-present confident smile.

The shop itself had a warm, vintage charm—black-and-white tiles, red leather chairs, and a large picture window with “Nikki’s Barbershop” painted in bold cursive gold foil. But Maggie’s focus was always on Nikki, who seemed to exude an effortless charisma as she worked. Maggie had never been brave enough to step inside, though. She didn’t even need a haircut—or so she told herself.

Today was different. Maggie lingered outside as the autumn sun dipped low, painting the shop window in a golden hue. She glanced at her reflection, fidgeting with her mid back-length chestnut hair.

“You’ve got this,” she whispered to herself before pushing open the door, the jingling bell making her pulse quicken.

Inside, the barbershop smelled of sandalwood and faint citrus. Nikki was just tidying up, wiping down one of the chairs and folding some towels. She glanced up and flashed a grin that made Maggie’s knees weak.

Maggie had barely stepped into the barbershop when her breath caught at the sight of Nikki. She looked just as effortlessly chic as always. Nikki’s platinum blonde hair was styled in a sharp undercut, the longer top brushed back in sleek waves that gleamed under the warm overhead lights.

She wore a fitted black button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing toned arms and a faint swirl of a tattoo peeking out near her wrist. The fabric hugged her in all the right places, tucked neatly into a high-waisted pair of leather leggings that flattered her figure.

But it was her shoes that truly caught Maggie’s attention—sleek, silver stilettos that looked both impossibly tall and impossibly comfortable on her. Nikki moved in them with the kind of practiced ease that spoke of confidence, each click of her heels against the tiled floor commanding the room’s attention.

Her makeup was impeccable, subtle but striking. A bold red lipstick matched the capes that hung via hooks idle on the wall, and her eyeliner was sharp enough to rival the scissors on her counter. The faintest hint of highlighter accentuated her cheekbones, catching the light when she turned her head.

When Nikki looked up and saw Maggie standing nervously by the door, she flashed a dazzling smile that made Maggie’s stomach flip

“Hey there,” Nikki said, her voice warm and inviting. “Just in time—I was about to close up. What can I do for you?”

Maggie froze, her rehearsed excuses evaporating. “Uh… I was just wondering if you do women’s cuts too…?” she stammered, feeling her cheeks flush.

Nikki leaned casually against the counter, tilting her head. “Of course. A lot of my clients are women. Looking to try something new?”

Maggie hesitated. She hadn’t planned this far ahead. “I just… thought maybe it was time for a haircut.”

Nikki’s smile widened, and she gestured to the studded red leather chair. “Well, you’re in the right place. Come have a seat.”

Before she could overthink it, Maggie sat down. She sank into the plush leather of the barber chair, her heart pounding. The chair felt massive, its high armrests cocooning her in place. She gripped them nervously, her fingers brushing the cool metal studs along the edges whilst her boots made contact with the footrest.

Nikki whisked a silky, crimson cape from a nearby hook, draping it over her with a practiced rustle and flourish. Maggie’s breath caught as the smooth fabric settled around her, its sheen catching the light.

She followed by slowly wrapping a soft neck tissue snugly around Maggie’s neck before fastening the cape with two loud snaps. Maggie shivered—not from the chill, but from the electric intimacy of Nikki’s hands so close to her skin.

“Let’s get you settled,” Nikki said, stepping around to the side of the chair. Her silver stilettos clicked softly against the tiled floor as she adjusted her position.

With a practiced motion, Nikki placed one hand on the chair’s back and pressed the pump pedal with her heel. Maggie felt the chair lift slightly with each press, accompanied by the rhythmic hiss-click of the hydraulic system. Nikki’s movements were smooth and deliberate, her stiletto heel sinking into the pedal with just the right amount of pressure.

“Perfect height,” Nikki murmured, giving Maggie a teasing smile. “Now I’ve got you right where I want you…”

Maggie let out a nervous laugh, her cheeks flushing. She couldn’t help but watch Nikki’s legs as she worked—long, toned, and impossibly confident.

“So…,” Nikki coed, her fingers gently combing through Maggie’s hair. “What are we doing today?”

“I… I’m not sure,” Maggie admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Something shorter, maybe?”

Nikki’s eyes sparkled. “Shorter, huh? How about we really go for it? Something bold….?,” she pressed.

Maggie’s stomach flipped. She wasn’t sure if it was fear or excitement. “uh…Okay,” she breathed.

“That was easy,” Nikki grinned, reaching for her clippers. “You’re going to love this. Trust me.”

With that, she turned the chair away from the mirror and clicked the clippers to life with a loud ‘pop’, Maggie tensed, her heart pounding in her chest. The low hum of the machine filled the room, blending with the faint buzz of fluorescent lights overhead.

“Head down for me, sweetheart,” Nikki murmured, her tone soft yet commanding. Maggie obediently tilted her chin to her chest, feeling the silky cape and soft tissue against her chin, still in complete shock as to what she’d agreed to.

The clippers touched the nape of her neck, sending a shiver through her body as the vibration hummed against her skin. With the first upward pass, she felt a faint tug as strands of her hair surrendered to the blades. Nikki moved slowly, deliberately, each stroke precise sending mounds to the floor with a delicate flick of the wrist.

Maggie could hear the sound of the hair falling, a soft whisper as it hit the crimson cape. Glancing down, she saw the first clippings—a mix of chestnut strands scattered like confetti across the smooth, gleaming fabric. Her breath caught at the sight, a strange mix of nervousness and exhilaration washing over her.

Nikki’s free hand brushed gently against her freshly clipped neck, steadying her as she worked. “You’re doing great,” she said, her voice warm and reassuring. “This is going to look so hot on you.”

The clippers continued their rhythmic hum, and more hair tumbled down. Longer locks slid down the cape’s glossy surface, some catching momentarily before falling to the floor in soft piles around Nikki’s stilettos. Maggie couldn’t stop watching, hypnotized by the way the snippets contrasted against the deep red of the cape and check floor tiles.

Nikki paused to tilt Maggie’s head slightly to the side by clutching her chin, her fingers light but firm. “Perfect,” Nikki murmured, resuming her work on the sides. Maggie’s heart fluttered at the closeness of her voice, the scent of Nikki’s perfume enveloping her—a warm, woodsy mix that felt as intimate as the moment itself. Maggies heart continued to beat out of her chest and different feeling developing in her stomach and below…

The shorter hair near her temples was the next to go, buzzing away in neat, even strokes. Maggie felt a cool breeze against her freshly exposed skin, a sensation that made her shiver despite the warmth of the shop.

As Nikki worked, she leaned in close, her chest brushing lightly against Maggie’s shoulder, which was no accident. Hair continued to rain down steadily, some strands sliding across Maggie’s cheek causing her crinkled her nose, before landing on the cape. Nikki paused to gently brush them away with her fingers, her touch lingering just a moment longer than necessary, her jewellery jangled.

“You’ve got great hair,” Nikki said, stepping back to assess her progress. “It’s really fun to work with.”

Maggie managed a soft laugh, her nerves slowly giving way to something else—an unfamiliar but thrilling sense of surrender. For the most part she was just concentrating on breathing at this point.

Silence filled the wrong as the clippers were switched off and placed on the counter after Nikki had dusted the blades. She then picked up her scissors, Nikki began working on the top. She combed through Maggie’s remaining hair, her movements precise and deliberate. With each snip, more clippings fell, some drifting lazily through the air before landing on Maggie’s lap. The combing and snipping was hypnotic.

The steady rhythm of the scissors was almost meditative, broken only by Nikki’s occasional hum of approval. “This length is perfect for showing off your face,” Nikki said, tilting Maggie’s head slightly to the side again. Maggie couldn’t help but blush, grateful for the cape that hid her fidgeting hands.

Soon, the transformation was nearly complete. Maggie felt a wave of exhilaration as Nikki stepped back, assessing the nearly finished haircut with a critical but approving eye. “Alright, one last detail,” Nikki murmured, reaching for a smaller set of clippers from her station. These were sleeker, quieter, designed for precision work.

“Time to clean up that neckline,” Nikki said, flashing Maggie a quick smile as she clicked the mini clippers to life. The soft hum of the tool filled the quiet shop, blending with the faint rustle of hair on the floor.

Nikki gently guided Maggie’s head forward again, her touch firm but tender as she tilted it just the right way. Maggie’s chin rested against the silky cape, and she felt the faint pull of the snug neck tissue beneath it.

“Hold still for me, sweetheart,” Nikki murmured, her voice low and soothing.

The clippers touched Maggie’s nape, and she felt a slight tickle as Nikki traced the outline of her hairline with delicate precision. Nikki’s movements were steady and meticulous, the mini clippers gliding smoothly along the freshly shaven sides.

“There we go,” Nikki said softly, brushing a few stray hairs off Maggie’s neck with her fingertips. “Nice and sharp.”

As Nikki worked her way around, she leaned in closer, her perfume—sandalwood and citrus—washing over Maggie in gentle waves. Maggie could feel the warmth of Nikki’s presence, the occasional brush of her fingertips against her skin as she adjusted the angle of the clippers.

A few tiny snippets of hair fell, barely visible against the glossy red of the cape. Nikki paused every so often to blow lightly on the nape of Maggie’s neck, clearing away any clippings before continuing. The sensation was maddeningly intimate, sending shivers racing up Maggie’s spine.

Nikki set the clippers down and grabbed a small pink neck brush, sweeping away any stray clippings from Maggie’s neck and shoulders. The soft bristles tickled her skin, and Maggie felt her breath hitch.

Nikki stepped back, surveying her work with a satisfied smile. “All done,” she announced, setting her tools on the counter. “You ready to see?”

Maggie nodded, her heart racing as Nikki spun the chair toward the mirror. She barely recognized herself. The back and sides of her hair were shaved so close they felt like velvet, the sharp lines perfectly framing her features. The top was expertly scissored and styled, leaving her with a chic, edgy look.

“Wow…” Maggie whispered, raising a tentative hand to her head. Her fingers brushed the freshly clipped sides, the sensation of the short, soft hair sending a thrilling shiver down her spine that she’d never felt before.

“Told you it’d look amazing,” Nikki said, leaning against the counter, her grin warm and playful.

Maggie couldn’t stop staring at her reflection, her confidence growing with every second. But the intimate ritual wasn’t quite over yet.

Nikki stepped back to the chair, fingers deftly loosening the snaps of the silky crimson cape. She pulled it away with a gentle expert tug, and Maggie felt the smooth fabric slide down her shoulders and across her arms before Nikki folded it neatly over her arm. Maggie glanced down to see strands of her hair still clinging to the cape, now scattered on the floor as Nikki hung it back on the hook.

Next, Nikki reached for the soft neck tissue still snug around Maggie’s neck. With a practiced motion, she unwrapped it and brushed the tissue against Maggie’s skin to catch any stray clippings before dropping it to the floor. The light, feathery touch sent goosebumps racing across Maggie’s arms, and she tried not to visibly shiver.

“Let’s get you cleaned up,” Nikki murmured, her voice low and soothing. She brushed the small hairs off Maggie’s neck with a soft bristle brush and blowdryer, each stroke gentle, slow and deliberate. Maggie closed her eyes briefly, savouring the sensation of Nikki’s hands and the warm intimacy of the moment.

“There …,” Nikki said, her voice tinged with satisfaction. “You’re good to go.”

Maggie stood slowly, feeling light, almost weightless as she took in her reflection one last time. Her hand instinctively went to the back of her head again, reveling in the velvet softness.

“You’ve got to let me know how it feels walking out of here with that haircut,” Nikki teased, leaning casually against the counter. “Though I’m guessing you’re already loving it.”

Maggie turned, meeting Nikki’s eyes. The warmth in her gaze was almost too much to handle, but Maggie managed a smile. “I do. Thank you. It’s…it’s perfect,” was all Maggie could manage at that moment.

“Good,” Nikki replied, her smile warm and a little teasing. “Because I loved giving it to you.”

“I’ll see you in two weeks…,” Nikki replied, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “ Please don’t be a stranger, Maggie,” Nikki winked.

As Maggie left the shop, the faint hum of the clippers still echoed in her ears, mingling with the memory of Nikki’s hands and the touch of the silky red cape buttoned tight. The boldness of her haircut—and the lingering spark of Nikki’s touch and scent—stayed with her long after she walked away. She left the shop with a bold new haircut—and an even bolder crush. She knew she’d be back…

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