30. Daisy

CHAPTER 30

Daisy

L ight cascading through the curtain wakes Daisy. She cracks an eye open, remembering that she is home and in bed. Heat radiates behind her as a hand winds its way up her stomach before landing on and cupping her breast.

Sloan.

Sloan. Flashes of the afternoon's events run through her mind, sending fire to her core and panic to her chest. Her breathing begins to pick up as the desire to flee from her own home builds. She needs to get out. She needs to get away. Away from Sloan and all that happened between them.

But is what happened between them bad?

Well, no. If she is honest with herself, it was the best sex she's ever had. It literally made her legs collapse, and she's pretty sure she had an out-of-body experience. Goddess, the things Sloan could do with her tongue…

But the two of them? Together? It doesn't make sense.

Sloan's the good witch—the princess of the supernatural world. Daisy is anything but. Her entire life, everyone has told her she isn't worthy. So why would someone like Sloan even want to be with her? They wouldn't. No, this—whatever this was—was a mistake. A release of tension between two foes. Yes. That's precisely what it was.

"Good morning… or evening… whatever," Sloan groans into her ear, instantly calming the panic dancing in her chest.

Daisy swallows. "Hi," she breathes.

"You are entirely unexpected."

"I mean… I can't be entirely, given you're in my house," Daisy teases as Sloan starts to roll Daisy's nipple between her fingers.

"You know what I mean. I didn't expect to find… well, you."

"Again, we're in my house," Daisy replies, her ass involuntarily pushing itself into Sloan's core. "Ow!" Daisy squeaks as Sloan pinches her nipple.

"That's what you get for being a smartass."

Hmm. I wonder what would happen if I…

"We should order some pizza. Do you want pizza?" Daisy says, frantically extricating herself from Sloan's grasp and flinging herself out of bed. A chill runs down her spine at the sudden absence of Sloan's heat, sending goosebumps over her body and making her nipples hard as stone. Sloan's eyes consume her naked body. They flare with heat as she devours all of her lumps and wobbly bits. Daisy grabs her housecoat from the chair beside her, wrapping herself up in it, knowing that if she stands here under Sloan's hungry gaze a moment longer, she will be unable to leave the room.

"I'll go and grab my laptop so we can order," Daisy says, pulling herself away from the intense heat and stumbling out the bedroom door.

Having moved to the living room after ordering food, Daisy makes sure to keep her distance. Sloan side-eyes her, and Daisy makes an excuse to get up to get something or something before sitting down again at the opposite end of the sofa. Sloan doesn't verbally question the maneuver, but the mood in the room shifts, with Sloan becoming more tightly coiled rather than the languid persona she was giving off post-sexcapade.

Daisy awkwardly excuses herself to answer the door when their order arrives. She reappears, pizza and drinks in hand, to find Sloan has moved to the spot Daisy vacated.

"I'll go and grab plates," Daisy says, placing the box on the coffee table.

"No need," Sloan responds coolly. She holds out her hands, plates appearing before their eyes.

"Right." Daisy takes the plate Sloan offers her and comes around the table. With her plate loaded, she sits at the opposite side of the sofa again, curling her legs underneath her as she leans away from Sloan.

Sloan's eyes cut to her, and she sighs exasperatedly. "Really?"

Daisy chews slowly. Maybe if she takes forever to respond, Sloan will move on.

Sloan turns to face her fully, narrowing her eyes. Waiting.

Fuck.

Daisy swallows her bite. "What?"

"Daisy, I know there's something wrong. You've been weird since we woke up. Tell me."

"I don't kno—" Daisy starts.

"No. No playing dumb. I know you're not dumb. Be honest."

Daisy reaches for her drink and takes a long, slow sip.

"Daisy." Her name is both a curse and a promise from Sloan's lips.

"I'm maybe, slightly, a tiny bit…nervous."

"Okay. Why?"

"Because you're… you."

"Yes, and? You're Daisy." Goddess, why does her name have to sound like the heavens singing when it comes from Sloan's lips? "We've been over this."

"You don't get it," Daisy says, flopping back dramatically. "I'm not like you. We as, well, as whatever this is, don't work."

Sloan scoffs. "Really. Because the events from a couple of hours ago would say otherwise. Fuck, the mess in your kitchen says differently." Daisy blushes at the reminder of how she squirted all over Sloan's chest. "Did it feel good for you?"

Daisy hesitates, looking down at her hands, avoiding Sloan's gaze. The look that would break down the barriers she's spent years building. A necessity to keep herself protected. Safe. Unbothered. Or at least to appear that way.

"Daisy. Did you enjoy me fucking you?" Sloan asks, her tone more demanding.

"I think that was clear."

"Did you enjoy fucking me?"

"Again, I think that was clear."

"So what's the problem then? We're two consenting adults who realized we could tolerate each other and slept together. And it was fucking amazing," Sloan says, her voice turning husky. "I'm not asking for a commitment, and from your reaction right now, I don't think you are either. So let's take this for what it is."

Daisy nods. "And what is it?"

"Some great sex to help let out some tension, which we both clearly need."

"Ok. And for how long are we going to release this tension?" Daisy asks before settling back into her seat and taking a bite of her pizza.

"However long we feel like keeping it up. When we, or one of us, decide it's enough, we can call it quits. We can even pretend to hate each other again. It will be as if this," she says, motioning between them, "never happened."

What if she doesn't want to pretend it didn't happen? Is that what Sloan wants? To get what she can and then forget that Daisy exists?

Daisy pauses.

Sloan leans in, placing a hand on Daisy's thigh. "There is undeniable chemistry between us. Why not take advantage of it? No feelings, just sex."

Does Sloan only see her as a good lay? Sloan is the first person to make Daisy feel something in a long time. Sure, they've been angry and frustrated at each other, but that heat…it feels like it's inevitable.

She looks to Sloan, who is watching her carefully, awaiting a response. Her stomach rolls, telling her not to do it. To instead tell Sloan what she's been thinking. That she may want more. But the look on Sloan's face makes her hesitate. She looks eager. Like this is the best plan and that it's what she truly wants.

So Daisy sucks in a deep breath before saying, "Okay."

A bright smile instantly breaks across Sloan's face. "Should we shake on it?" she jokes.

"How about cheers?" Daisy suggests holding up her can of ginger ale.

Sloan picks up her drink and raises it before her. "To amazing sex and kicking ass coordinating this event!"

"To being fuck buddies." May it be enough.