Page 89 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
Girlfriend.
That word launched a javelin from the moon straight through Candace’s heart.“Yes”left her mouth before she had even finished processing the question. She wanted to be Daisy’s partner, and girlfriend, andso manymore things she could scarcely name them all.
How could she lie about such an intrinsic truth any longer?
“I want that. I really,reallywant that.”
Daisy’s mouth moved into a full, goofy grin.
“Well, Candace Perry gets what she wants, right? And what about me? Can’t I get what I want, too?”
Again, in a slow concession, Candace said, “Yes.”
That one word was all it took to break the final barrier between them. The moment her lips completed it, Daisy’s were on them like the waves crashing on the shore. Fierce and fast, decades of desire spilled over. The figure that pushed her to the blanket and arched over her was almost unrecognizable.
One hand raised Candace’s overhead, while the other held her jaw, firmly but with near-possessive care. Heat and friction built as their bodies melded into place.
Pulling.
Grinding.
Pressing.
They moved in chaotic tandem in a desperate bid to feel.
Pleasure flooded Candace as Daisy’s thigh nestled between her legs. She gasped into the mouth locked on her own. The sound was muted by the tongue that found its way inside, seeking soft sighs and moans made by measured ministrations.
Fizzy champagne, along with the lingering trace of earthy taste from a smoked joint, teased Candace’s taste buds. She was taken by the bittersweetness, made ravenous as the smell and taste worked in delicious dichotomy to overwhelm her senses.
The hand that gripped her jaw trended down. From Candace’s neck, sweeping through the valley of her sensitive collar bones into the slit between her dress, Daisy’s touchstaked her claim. With searing softness, it slid up and over Candace’s breast to curl around her side and back. There, her palm splayed wide, drawing them even closer.
When they parted for breath, Daisy’s dark, succubus-stare bore into Candace like hot coals.So hot.There was no doubt of what she wanted or that she intended to follow through.
The realization of where things were going hit Candace hard. She’d been expecting anger, even an end to their partnership. This was… not that. The tempest that churned inside of her broke, and so did she.
Once again, Candace’s emotions poured out in tangible form.
The mood flipped in an instant. Daisy let go and sat back on her heels, fretting as if she were the problem.
“Fuck… I came on too strong, didn’t I?”
Candace shook her head even as her outpour said otherwise. She got up and mirrored Daisy’s position.
“No, it’s not that! These are happy tears, I promise. I’m sorry. I can’t seem to keep it together when I’m with you.”
“I love that you can be yourself around me,” Daisy told her. “When you lose control, when you eat a whole mountain of bagel bombs or wear so-called trashy clothes, I’m glad I get to see you. So don’t apologize for that, or anything else. I don’t want there to be any more regrets between us.”
As she spoke, Daisy inched forward. This time, her kiss was far more chaste; a peck before she went to look for something inside the basket.
“You’re a foodie Mary Poppins,” Candace said through a sniffled giggle. “What else could you possibly have in there?”
“Plenty. I’m pretty sure the way to your heart is through your stomach, so I came prepared. And I wasn’t going to come without a couple of these.”
As Daisy passed her a bagel bomb, Candace knew without asking which flavor it was. She took in a shaky breath and squinted away more tears. Ripples of memory from that summer's day drifted between them.
“You come off cool and collected, but you really are sweet, Daisy DeMarco.”
“This is a taste. Just wait until you’ve had a whole bite.”
