32. Daisy

CHAPTER 32

Daisy

O ver the next few days, Daisy tries to remain friendly but distant with Sloan. They meet when they can, based on their work schedules, to discuss any further updates for Mixing Our Spirits, and then fuck like they've never fucked before and won't ever do it again. It's sweaty, raw, and glorious.

She looks out to the tables, pushing out a tendril or two of magic, letting it wander around the space behind the bar as she lets her mind focus on Sloan. The split attention has become a new way for her to test her ability with her increased power.

With Sloan captured in her thoughts, she begrudgingly admits to herself that, mind-melting orgasms aside, spending time with Sloan isn't horrible. Which is exactly why she needs to make sure she stays distant. She doesn't want to lead Sloan on and make her think that there's potential for anything else, but she also doesn't want to let herself think there's room for more.

Getting attached isn't allowed. After a lifetime of disappointment in people she cares about leaving her and tossing her aside like a used tissue, Daisy understands that she can only trust herself. Getting attached isn't acceptable. No matter how well Sloan can make her come. The Goddess is likely tired of hearing her scream her name in vain as she rides Sloan's fingers and tongue, as she eats Sloan's delicious cunt…

Daisy stops her train of thought before it gets too far. She isn't seeing Sloan tonight and can't take another punishing self-service session chasing the release she gets with Sloan. Her pussy needs a night off.

"Earth to Daisy!" Stella says, snapping her fingers in front of Daisy's face.

Daisy blinks and pulls her magic back in, remembering where she is. "Shit, sorry. What can I get you?"

Stella laughs. She knows Daisy well enough that she likely knows precisely where her thoughts are by the flush of her skin. "Can I get a cheeseburger, fries, and a pale ale?"

"Sure thing. Is anyone else joining you?"

"Nope. Thought I'd stop by, get a bite to eat, and see how you're doing," Stella responds, placing her hands on the bar top and linking them together. "So, uh, what's this about?"

Daisy puts her order into the system, pours her ale, and hands it to Stella. "What's what about?"

"Please. You are all rosy and are giving off some potent ‘fuck me' vibes."

Daisy scoffs. "I am not giving off ‘fuck me' vibes."

"Please, if I weren't seeing someone right now, I would have you bent over behind that counter screaming my name before you could say, ‘Give it to me,'" Stella says. "That look you have right now always made me weak in the knees."

Daisy blushes at her comment, making her skin flush further.

"So, tell me who they are that's got you all potent. Whoever it is, it must be good."

Daisy leans onto the bar top, closing the space between them. It should be awkward to talk to her ex about sleeping with someone else, but it's weirdly not. They were always better friends than lovers, and they never shied away from sexual conversations.

"It's been fucking mind-blowing. Sorry to say, but I think this is the best I've had. I can't quit thinking about her."

Stella smirks as her gaze intensifies, latching on for more information. "Oooh. Do tell."

"I can't get enough. Seriously, I have to stop myself from thinking about my head between her legs, her head between mine, how she tastes, everything. It's wild," Daisy says.

"It sounds hot as fucking hell."

"Honestly, Hades likely finds it scorching, and he lives among the flames of hell." Daisy laughs. She's worked herself up again, so she picks up a coaster and starts fanning herself with it, hoping it will help to cool the flames of desire raging inside her.

A ding sounds behind her, signaling Stella's order is ready. Daisy picks it up from the order window and places it in front of Stella.

"So, who's the lucky lady?"

Daisy places a bottle of ketchup and a stack of napkins next to Stella before pouring a drink for another patron. "Don't laugh," she says when she returns.

Stella perks up. Intrigued. "This has to be good. Who is it?"

"Sloan Wilks," Daisy says sheepishly.

"What?" Stella yells.

Daisy puts her hands up. "Shh."

"Sorry. But Sloan. The tormentor herself?"

"Yes. She's really not that bad. Just misunderstood—like me."

"Okay, I gotta know how this happened," Stella says, settling further into her seat.

Between getting drinks and orders for other patrons, Daisy fills Stella in. Daisy shares about the couple of makeout sessions she and Sloan had over their weekend at The Dandelion that she conveniently left out last time she and Stella talked, as well as their new current agreement. When she's done, Stella can only stare at her, mouth slightly agape.

Daisy laughs. "Yeah. I didn't see it coming either. But if we wanted to complete this project, we needed to give in to the heat between us."

"And if it's as good as you say, thank fucking Hecate you did!" Stella says, raising her nearly empty glass to the air in salute.

"Hear, hear."

"Honestly, I'm happy to see you doing better. Not to be rude, but you were in rough shape when I last saw you."

"Yeah. I'm working on it. But having this event to work on has been helpful. It's given me something to look forward to."

"That's great. Seriously, I'm happy for you, Daze."

"Thanks, Stella. Truly. And thank you for being here for me when you didn't need to be. You don't owe me anything after how I treated you—and I'm so sorry for that. I can't tell you how much it has meant that you came when I needed help." Daisy smiles softly at Stella. It's not much, but she hopes that Stella understands how much she appreciates her support and kick in the pants.

The friendship with Stella post-breakup has been unexpected, but she meant what she said; her support has been appreciated. As they continue chatting and Stella fills her in on who she's seeing and all their fun details, Daisy feels a little ember of hope blossom in her chest. Hope that she can one day have what Stella seems to have with her new partner, and hope that Stella is right—that there is someone out there meant for her and that she is worthy of that love when it arrives. In the meantime, she's content to have some mind-blowing sex with Sloan. Or at least she plans to be content as often as she can until Sloan calls it quits.

* * *

As her shift winds down, Daisy reaches for her phone and checks for messages from Sloan.

None.

She's been oddly quiet today. They've practically been messaging nonstop when they aren't together. She tries not to read too much into the sudden silence, but something in the back of her mind tells her that Sloan is trying to keep her space and setting a boundary between them.

She attempts to reassure herself by saying that Sloan has likely been busy at work, that she hasn't had a chance to chat. Deep down, she senses there is truth to that, but her stupid heart, looking forward to seeing Sloan's name on her phone, can't be so sure.

"Stop being a needy bitch," she tells herself, grabbing her coat and wallet from her cubby in the back before heading home for the night.

As she enters her living room, her magic thrums under her skin, sensing something isn't quite right. She steps further into the room before noticing her grimoire is open on the coffee table. Not where she left it.

She approaches it cautiously because while she hasn't had it in her possession for long, she knows it can be fickle. She leans over, reading the displayed page.

Honesty Spell

"An honesty spell? Really?" she asks the tome.

It flicks its pages at her, clearly miffed that she's questioning its expertise, before landing on the honesty spell again.

"No one is lying to me. Or if they are, I don't need to know about it," she answers, walking away and into the kitchen to make dinner. She hears the grimoire pages flipping wildly behind her but ignores them. That book mysteriously showed up on her doorstep and pushed her to bond with it. While it's helped her tap into the power in her family line, she's still hesitant to trust it fully. It also feels weird to believe a book suggesting someone is dishonest with her. What next? Is she going to start listening to the toaster?

She makes a quick bowl of ramen and brings it into the living room, sitting on the floor. She places the bowl on the table beside the grimoire as it slams its cover on the table. "If you don't behave, I will lock you in the basement. Your choice," she says, slurping a spoonful of broth.

The grimoire closes itself up and returns to the bookcase with what sounds like an audible humph .

"Good choice," she says.

Daisy turns on her TV, flips to a streaming service, and selects the next episode of Toil & Trouble as she settles in for an evening of trashy shows. All the while, the warning from the grimoire sits at the back of her mind.