28. Sloan

CHAPTER 28

Sloan

W atching Daisy's growth has been astounding. Less than a week ago, giving Daisy this cupcake with sentimental feelings likely would have sent her into a complete tailspin and led to some massive blowout between them. Did she mean to bring Daisy to tears? No. Far from it, actually. But she'd take that over yet another argument with her. So the tears are an oddly welcome friend.

Daisy takes her time eating the cupcake. Despite her efforts to hide it, Sloan notices the few stray tears breaking through her facade. She also notices how Daisy's tongue slides over her thumb as she licks off the stray icing. Transfixed by the action, Sloan's mind wanders, remembering what it felt like when they kissed. The feel of it along her lips, soft but eager as she licked before nibbling. Her mind continues to drift, wondering what that delicious tongue would feel like on other parts of her body. Wondering if other parts of Daisy's body taste as sweet.

Her core heats, causing a growing slickness between her legs. Fucking Hecate, does Daisy even know what she's doing to her? Sloan shifts, trying to ease the pulsing tension begging for release. She clears her throat, hoping to distract herself and draw Daisy's attention. Daisy's dreamy eyes meet hers, and this is it. This is officially the end of Sloan. With one look, Daisy has become the sun, her guiding light and source of all warmth.

"Fuck me," she says under her breath

"Sorry?"

"What?"

"You said ‘fuck me,' is something wrong?"

Shit. She didn't mean to say that aloud. "Oh. No," she says, hoping it comes across smoothly.

Daisy raises an eyebrow at her but lets the lie slide. "Do you have to get back to work?"

Sloan thinks over her schedule for the rest of the day. No meetings or site visits are planned. "No. Why? What do you have in mind?"

"We could head back to my place and talk more about our goals for the event. Do we want to give it an official name?"

Sloan's heart leaps at the offer of spending more time together. "Yeah, sure," she says, trying to play it cool and not like she was asked if she wanted a thousand wishes. "And absolutely. What do you think we should call it?"

Daisy stands, gathers up their garbage, and takes it to the bin before coming back to stand beside Sloan. The slightest movement would allow her to link their pinkies together—barely even qualifying as a hand hold, but just the thought of it has her pulse skipping a beat.

"Did you drive?" Daisy asks.

"No. Our office is a few blocks away, so I walked."

"Cool. Well, I parked this way, so…" Daisy gestures up the road, indicating where they need to go. Sloan smiles, more to herself at the awkwardness of it, and follows Daisy's lead. "By the way, I think we should call it Mixing Our Spirits," Daisy adds.

"I love it!" She truly does. It's a fun play on the supernatural community, the idea of it being an opportunity for the community to mix it up, and it has a fun ring to it. "It's perfect!" Just like Daisy.

* * *

Stepping into Daisy's home, Sloan is both surprised and awed. The space screams Daisy, much like the cupcake did. As she removes her shoes and steps into the house properly, she's filled with a sense of warmth. Daisy's home is lived-in but comfortable, inviting and fun. Usually, Sloan would find the mix-and-match of colors, textures, and overall style off-putting, but somehow Daisy makes it all work. Rather than clash, the pops of color bring life into the space. Her choice of mixing textures and fabrics is bold, like her, making the space feel like Daisy.

"Your home is gorgeous."

Daisy blushes but waves off the compliment. "I'm sure it's not nearly as nice as your place. It's taken me years to collect all the different pieces, and it involved a lot of thrifting."

"I mean it. It feels like you," Sloan replies, leaning against the kitchen counter when Daisy stops to get them drinks. "However you did it, you did a wonderful job."

"Thanks. You have to be creative when you don't have tons of money."

She may not have meant that as a jab, but it still hurts. She knows she's lived a life of privilege. A very different life than Daisy, for sure. This community can be so brutal, and they didn't rally around Daisy like they should have after everything with her family went down.

"If only money could buy happiness," Sloan says.

"Well, it certainly makes things easier, that's for sure." Daisy places two glasses on the counter. "Anyway, would you like water, soda, a mixed drink?"

"Water is fine."

Daisy nods, picking up a glass and turning to the dispenser in the fridge door to fill it up. "Are things not as great as they appear at the Wilks household?" she asks, her voice strained as if she is holding back.

"Depends on what you think great is. We are not, and have never been, a close family. There has always been a sense of competition with the Roses—well, more specifically, at the time, with Gladys, may the Goddess rest her soul. So there's lots of expectations and rules to make us appear on the same level as them. Honestly, my mother is cold, and my father is strict. That doesn't make for a loving or fun upbringing. Appearances are vastly different from reality."

Daisy leans against the opposite counter, contemplating Sloan's words. "Is that why you were the way you were when we were younger?"

Sloan sips her drink, places it back on the counter beside her, and crosses her arms over her chest. Daisy's eyes flare with a faint flash of heat when she looks down at Sloan's chest. "Probably. Look, I know I was a giant bitch, and I caused you a lot of harm. Again, I am truly sorry for all of it, and I wish I could take it back. There is no real excuse for what I did. I felt a lot of pressure, and I was too afraid to push back. Hell, I'm still scared of that because I don't know what it's like to be on my own. To be without my family as a safety net. I will never know what you've been through. But I will forever be in awe of you."

Daisy blinks. "In awe of me? Why? I'm nothing special."

"Nothing special? Daisy…" Sloan says, stepping toward her. She raises a hand and hesitates, wanting to grab her and show her how special she is. Instead, she settles on placing her hand softly on Daisy's cheek and gazing into her eyes. "You are the sun. You burn brighter than anyone around you, giving life to everyone you connect with. I've watched you this past week, and you have an amazing ability to connect with others. I've never seen anyone else brighten the world as you do. You have lit a fire inside me. I burn because of you. I burn for you. Daisy, you aren't just special. You are the prize."

Sloan's hand softly slides to the back of Daisy's neck and waits. She waits for the little nod, head tilt, or the glance down at her lips. Something to tell Sloan that she wants this too. That Daisy feels even remotely the same. She sees Daisy's hesitation holding her back. The concern about what all of this could mean. How would pursuing something between them change her? Change them?

Not wanting to scare Daisy away or push her too far when she isn't ready, Sloan lifts her hand and begins to pull away. As she steps back to turn, Daisy's hands forcefully land on her hips, pulling her in. Sloan's body is flush with hers, and Daisy's hands find the sides of Sloan's face. Daisy's lips are on hers before Sloan even knows what's happening. The connection is forceful. Eager. Full of longing and words unsaid.

Sloan's body melts into Daisy's as she gives into the kiss. Her head tilts to the side, allowing better access and relaxing into it. Her lips part, and Daisy responds in kind, deepening the kiss. When their tongues meet, speaking what they cannot say, sparks fire under Sloan's skin, sending a tingling sensation throughout her entire body. They have kissed before, but not like this. This one shatters the earth beneath her feet, sending her falling into a world unknown.

Her hands settle on Daisy's hips, pulling her closer. Daisy's hand slides onto the back of Sloan's neck and fists her hair as she moans into Sloan's mouth. Sloan pushes her hips into Daisy, pinning her against the counter. One of her hands moves from Daisy's hip to the edge of her shirt. She fingers the hem, seeking reassurance. Daisy nods ever so slightly, and Sloan's hand slips under her shirt, over her round belly, and cups her breast. She runs a hand over the apex, feeling the hard pebble of her nipple underneath lacy fabric.

"Holy fuck, you're hot," Sloan says, rolling Daisy's nipple through her bra. Daisy lets out a squeak of surprise, pulling Sloan's head back and kissing down her neck. She makes her way to the hollow of Sloan's neck and licks the small cavity, making Sloan weak in the knees. "So fucking hot."

Sloan lays soft kisses on the top of Daisy's shoulder while slipping her hand inside her bra and pulling her breast out. It's heavy in her hand and overflows her palm, soft and glorious. She pulls away, leaning down and pulling Daisy's peaked mound into her mouth, sucking and flicking the sensitive tip through her shirt. Daisy releases a soft groan, arching her back and pushing her chest toward Sloan. Sloan's other hand wraps around Daisy's back, pulling her in. She needs her. Needs to taste her. To consume her.

Sloan brings her hand back around, sliding it down her leg, gathering Daisy's skirt up to access to what lies underneath. She slips her hand underneath the hem of the soft fabric and glides it up Daisy's delicate thigh. So soft. Her hand finds Daisy's heated core and runs a firm finger down the center. She's already so wet. Her underwear is soaked through. Knowing this is her reaction to Sloan touching her makes Sloan feral with need.

"Yes," Daisy sighs out. "Wait."

Sloan pauses. Her fingers playing with the edge of Daisy's underwear. "Do you want me to stop?"

"Hades, no! I want you so fucking bad," Daisy practically pants as she pushes her hips into Sloan's hand. "I… I just need you to know I'm clear," she says, looking away.

Sloan kisses her fiercely, then pulls away, gazing into her deep blues. "Me too. I was tested a couple of months ago but haven't had a partner in close to a year."

"I've been with others more recently, but I get tested every few months to make sure." She flushes as though embarrassed by the conversation, but it only makes her more beautiful, if that's even possible.

"Thank you for telling me. For being open," Sloan says, punctuating each word with a kiss down her neck.

Daisy's head falls back as Sloan's finger slides around and under the side of Daisy's panties and between her soaking wet lips. She runs her finger around the edge of Daisy's opening, teasing her with the gentle sensation. Her thumb finds her sensitive nub and begins rubbing soft circles. Daisy's hips push forward, seeking more. Sloan adds more pressure, and Daisy's head tips back. A moan escapes her lips as she begins moving against Sloan's hand, chasing her pleasure.

Watching Daisy as she seeks what she wants is intoxicating. Sloan had never imagined getting to this place with her, and now that she's here, she needs to see everything. She wants to see her come undone. To see her explode in the heat of desire. She needs Daisy to see how perfect she is.

Sloan inserts a finger into Daisy's hot pussy, and it is fucking heavenly. Goddess, she could do this for days and never tire. Daisy writhes against her as Sloan pumps her finger in and out. She adds a second finger. She's so tight around her.

"More. I need more," Daisy begs as Sloan pumps harder.

"Whatever you wish, cupcake."

Sloan adds a third finger, and Daisy lets out a wild groan as it stretches her. Filling her. Daisy's fluids leak over Sloan's hand, creating a slickness that she can't wait to taste. Daisy lifts her shirt off, exposing her released breast, and Sloan can only marvel. She pumps her hand hard, meeting Daisy's grinding pace, and takes the exposed breast into her mouth. She swirls her tongue around the perfectly peaked peach nipple before gliding her teeth gently over it. The added sensation sends Daisy over the edge, and she cries out in pleasure. "Yes. Fuck my soaking pussy, Sloan!" She pulses tightly around Sloan's fingers as Sloan rubs her thumb back and forth over Daisy's clit.

Sloan releases Daisy's breast with a loud pop! and gazes at Daisy, watching her come back down to earth. She is so fucking beautiful. The flush of her skin adds a wonderful glow, and at this moment, Sloan wants nothing more than to continue making her look like this.

Sloan removes her fingers from Daisy's pussy and brings them to Daisy's lips. "Suck. I want to see you taste yourself."

Without hesitation, Daisy does as instructed. Her gloriously warm mouth slides over Sloan's fingers. Her tongue sliding down the underside of them as she takes them in. She sucks hard as Sloan withdraws and replaces them with her mouth. She meets Daisy's tongue with hers, tasting Daisy's fluid from her tongue. She is sweet like a melon with a hint of bitterness from the coffee she consumed earlier.

"You're fucking perfect," Sloan growls into her mouth. "I need more."

Sloan pulls back and kneels before Daisy, lifting Daisy's flowing skirt overhead. She places her mouth on Daisy's pussy and huffs a heated breath. She slides her tongue along the fabric before hooking it with her fingers and yanking it down.

"You better hold on," Sloan says before plunging her tongue into Daisy's delicious center.