“That you’ve called me by my name.”
“It’s not your name. I gave you a perfectly good name—the name of a saint—but if you prefer something different, and you’re respecting my choices, then...I can respect yours.”
Chapter forty-nine
Matty lay in Sloan’s bed for the second night, on her side with her head on the pillow, watching as Sloan let the dressing gown fall to the floor. Naked, she climbed under the summer blankets, then snuggled as close to Matty as she could get.
“Hi.” Matty grinned, happy to be close.
“Hey.”
“Everything okay?”
Sloan nodded and went in for a kiss, but Matty pulled back. “Not so fast, I want to talk.”
“Oh.” Sloan rolled onto her back, the blanket barely covering her chest. “What about?”
“Lots of things. How you’re feeling?”
Sloan shifted so they were facing each other again and smiled. “She’s calling me Sloan.”
“Uh-huh…that must be pretty good, right?”
“Yes, it feels very validating.” Sloan smiled. “Can we kiss now?”
Matty chuckled. “No, I’ve got more things.”
“More things…” Sloan mused as she reached out and let her palm slide onto Matty’s torso. “I like things…”
“Are we thinking about the same things?”
“I’m not sure… Are your things phallic-shaped?”
“They weren’t, butnow...maybe...”
“I have a lot ofthings,” Sloan whispered. “And I want to use them.”
Matty nodded, ignoring the way Sloan’s hand had eased around to caress her breast, fingers plucking gently at the nipple.
“Tell me about Maggie.”
“Now?” Sloan frowned. “When I’m trying to seduce you?”
“Don’t worry, I am absolutely going to let you do that in a moment...with or without your phallic things.”
“I prefer with,” Sloan answered, and pinched the nipple just hard enough to elicit a hiss from Matty. “You like that, don’t you?”
“Stop changing the subject.” Matty smiled but moved just enough to encourage Sloan’s exploration. “And yes, I find it surprisingly pleasurable.”
“Maggie was someone I was in love with,” Sloan offered, without any more interest than if she’d just been asked her birthday. It was a fact—nothing more, nothing less.
“Why did you break up?” Matty asked.
“Because...my dad had just died and then my mother had a stroke, and Maggie didn’t see a future where she had to include looking after a disabled person.”
Matty’s breathing hitched when Sloan pinched and caressed again. “And she...she just...left?”
“Mm-hm. She did.” Sloan moved in, ghosting her lips across Matty’s. “And as much as I am happy to tell you anything you want to know...” Their lips touched again, just briefly. “I really want to fuck you...so, can we do that? Mm? Can I fuck you, Matty?”
