Chapter 50
Chapter fifty
Monday morning brought a new normal back to the house and to Sloan’s life—the office, the routines, and the slow, uneasy business of handing Gloria back pieces of her independence.
She rose early, fixed Gloria’s breakfast tray, and left her to it while she showered and dressed for the office.
The charcoal grey trouser suit felt right. She matched it with the off-white blouse and small pendant she’d been given by her father on her twelfth birthday. She fingered it as she looked in the mirror, blue topaz sparkling as the sun caught it.
Everything had been different when he'd still been around. Her mother had been happy. Sloan had had a life.
And then she thought about Matty. In any other circumstance, she doubted they'd have ever met—or maybe they would have.
The coffee delivery had nothing to do with Gloria.
Neither did the meeting at the bar. It might have been fun, nothing more.
And Maggie—would she still have been around? She let that thought go unanswered.
It was because of Gloria that Matty had become a bigger part of her life and had given Sloan the chance to consider more than just short-lived fun.
When she was ready, she went downstairs and found her mother looking smug.
“All done?” she asked, noting the tray. Nothing was left but a plate of crumbs.
“Yes, thank you.”
Sloan lifted the tray and took it out to the kitchen, opening the dishwasher and loading the plate and knife. The microwave clock blinked at her. It was nearly time to go.
She reloaded the tray with coffee and cereal. Carrying it through, she stopped at the door to the lounge.
“Just taking this up to Matty and then I’ll be heading off. Do you need anything before I go?”
Gloria was sipping the last of her tea. “No, all good. I’ve got a film to watch if Her Ladyship isn’t down soon.”
Sloan let herself smile at the barbed comment.
“I’m sure Her Ladyship will be grateful.”
“Tired her out, did you?” Gloria winked. “I might need earplugs at this rate.”
“No, I’m not falling for it.” Sloan chuckled and moved on, the sound of Gloria laughing following behind her.
At the top of the stairs, Sloan paused, checked the tray, and then used a hip to press the door open.
Matty was sprawled on the bed, hair mussed and splayed across the pillows, the toy and harness still on the floor.
Sloan’s body remembered before her brain did.
The harness biting at her hips. The weight of it.
Matty on all fours, knees sunk into the duvet, face pressed hard into the pillow as if she could smother the noise.
Sloan behind her, hand in Matty’s hair, the other on her hip, holding her exactly where she wanted her—driving in, pulling back, again and again, until Matty stopped trying to be quiet and Sloan stopped trying to be gentle.
“Morning,” she said gently as she set the tray down on the floor beside the bed.
Asleep, exhausted, and very, very satisfied, Matty mumbled, “Five more minutes.”
Sloan leaned down and kissed her head. “As much as I’d love to let you stay in bed all day, I am actually paying you to be awake.”
Matty giggled. “Pay me to sleep.”
“If I were to pay you to be in bed, I can assure you, it wouldn’t be to sleep.” She stood up. “I have to go. Mum’s had breakfast and she’s watching a film.”
Matty blinked against the sunlight as she opened her eyes. The room was warm and her naked skin beneath the sheet felt sensitive.
“Morning,” she said, her voice still rough. “You look nice.”
Sloan glanced down at the suit. “I’ll be home early.”
“Hm, and can I take it off of you when you return?” Matty sat up, the sheet falling away to reveal her breasts.
“Maybe,” Sloan said as her gaze drifted lower.
Matty arched, pushing her chest out as she stretched, teasing her. “Only maybe?”