Author's Note: Hey friends! It feels like it has been forever! Oh wait...LOL...So please thank Patriotsgirl011 for this actually getting posted :) It's not done just yet, so new chapters will be a few weeks apart. Hope you all can be a bit patient! But I sincerely hope you all enjoy "After the Fire" - the sequel to "Beyond the Flame"...
So if you happened upon this story and have not read "Beyond the Flame" some parts of this may not make sense. I encourage you to read that one first if you have not already.
xxxx Chapter 1
One year after Charlotte's birth; three years after the fire
The early summer months greeted the city with an unexpected heat wave: one eerily reminiscent of three years prior, when record high temperatures seemed to surpass prior set highs on a weekly basis. Day time heat was downright oppressive. Staying cool and remaining indoors became a focus for many urban dwellers. And just like three years prior, Lauren Lewis felt grateful that she had chosen a night shift career at the hospital. At least nightfall brought with it a tempered heat that she could tolerate.
Exiting the hospital's main entrance, Lauren glanced at her watch. It was six in the morning, and the early sunrise began its daily routine of blanketing the city with bright rays to match the sweltering humidity. Just stepping outside of the hospital for a few minutes seemed beyond bearable, and the walk to her car had the doctor near meltdown before her hand connected with the door handle.
Beads of sweat lined the back of Lauren's neck as she climbed into the driver's seat and put the key in the ignition. Not a minute later, Lauren had the air conditioning blasting a flow of cool air directly on her face. The light weight hospital scrubs allowed her to cool off quickly, but Lauren never once adjusted the temperature away from the coldest setting available.
Buckled in and wearing her aviators, Lauren shifted the car into reverse and backed out of her parking space. She was keenly aware of the time and navigated the vehicle out of the parking garage quickly. Lauren kept the same quick pace steering through the city streets, taking every alley and shortcut she had learned from spending a lifetime in this city.
Lauren's original plan including leaving work no later than five am that morning, but a busy night anchored her to the hospital until six am. This one hour delay did not completely ruin the plans she had in mind for this special day, but it did require her to hustle. She did not allow the minor setback to dampen her mood though, but instead, she simply recalculated routes and timing to maximize efficiency for the morning drive.
Morning traffic was just starting to build as Lauren made her way from the hospital to a nearby local diner; her first stop on an already blinding hot day. She drove the BMW around the corner and cut into the parking lot without regard for the white painted lines on the pavement. Avoiding other vehicles and saving precious minutes, Lauren halted the car right outside the diner's front door. She activated the hazard lights, climbed out of her shiny, flashy car and slammed the door closed without a care that she was technically parked in a "no parking" zone.
Not outside but for a few seconds and the warm morning air caused perspiration to form on the back of her neck again. She moved quickly; Lauren's short strides led her inside the sparsely occupied diner. Fortunately the cool air inside enveloped her the moment she entered the diner, giving way to an appreciation of a technology mostly taken granted nowadays. The quick change in temperature allowed her a more relaxed breath, one that also brought with it the welcoming scent of bacon filling the space around her. It triggered Lauren's stomach to growl.
"Morning Doctor Lewis. Your order is all ready to go."
Whether her hospital scrubs gave away her identity or her frequent prior visits had allowed the employees to recognize her by sight did not matter. What mattered was that Lauren's pre-scheduled breakfast order was ready, which equated to less time delayed from her intended plans. That in itself was worth the hearty tip she planned to leave.
Lauren glanced at the old fashioned analog wall clock hanging above the register. It was already six twenty two am. Lauren quickly calculated the math in her head: Bo would leave the fire station by seven, and that left the doctor very little time to get across town: thirty eight minutes to be precise.
A quick exchange of to-go bags, a smile and payment with that large tip kept Lauren in the diner for a very short period of time. Despite the large awkward shaped bags now in hand, Lauren hustled out of the diner before carefully opening the car door and carefully placing the packaged food on the car's back seat. Not thirty seconds later, Lauren resumed her position in the driver's seat, started the car and immediately soaked in the colder air once again blasting through the vents.
Lauren maneuvered through side streets efficiently. She passed by all the familiar buildings and signs that were not items she evened cared to pay any attention. Having driven this path so many times before, Lauren had memorized anything interesting on the route quite some time ago. Besides, looking away from the road would only serve as another potential delay in her morning. She didn't even allow her thoughts to drift over a review of her work night, instead choosing to keep her focus on the road and her intended destination. In her mind, distraction was simply not an option this morning.
That focus kept Lauren on track and not a handful of minutes later, Lauren finally crossed through town. With a heavy foot, Lauren turned off the main road and drove her car into the parking lot situated behind Fire Station 55.
It was six forty seven a.m.
Thirteen minutes to spare put a smile on Lauren's face. She pulled the BMW into an empty parking space. A quick glance out the car window afforded her a view of Bo's pristine Camaro parked in the spot next to her. Lauren sighed as her smile grew wider. Several memories flooded the doctor's mind. She never would forget the first time Bo took her out in the Camaro, and she would always remember the first time Bo let her drive it. And while Lauren almost allowed her mind to drift over memories of several other firsts involving that particular vehicle, her determination to make her morning plan successful stopped those thoughts from formulating any further. Instead, with the car in park and the air conditioning keeping the blonde cool, Lauren slid off her sunglasses and flipped down the visor. She checked her makeup when an intense wave of butterflies fluttered through her chest. She placed her open palm against her heart as if willing it to slow down just a bit.
Lauren stared with pure joy at her own reflection in the visor's mirror. Her eyes sparkled because of Bo, and her smile remained a little wider because of Bo. Lauren happily fell into this love three years ago, and they had built a wonderful life together every day since. While the passing of time brought a more settled, secure blanket to the relationship, the comfort of establishment did nothing to stop the excitement Lauren still felt when anticipating Bo's presence. Further fueling Lauren's excitement was the fact that Bo knew nothing of Lauren's visit this morning. She pictured the smile she would see on the Fire Chief's face and her heart immediately began to race again. All the slow breaths in the world would not slow her heart one bit.
Comfortable with her appearance even after a long night of work, Lauren flipped closed the visor, shut off the vehicle's ignition, grabbed the oversized plastic bags of food containers from the back seat, and walked quickly across the sweltering parking lot. The morning sun glared off the spotless windows affixed to Station 55 and radiated heat off the blacktop below. More heat: outside a fire station, no less. Lauren shook her head and smiled. The irony was definitely not lost upon her.
With a balanced hand, Lauren managed to ease the fire station door open while still grasping the large bags. She nudged the heavy metal door fully open with a bump of her hip and maneuvered inside. The cool air within wrapped around her, and Lauren did not hide the audible sigh from the relief. Even her shoulders lowered as she stood immediately inside the door to simply enjoy the cooler air. With a glance around the room, Lauren recognized a mix of fire fighters in the midst of the morning shift change.
Her presence didn't deter the fire fighters from their morning chatter either. Lauren knew almost every one of the fire fighters at Station 55, and her presence was not uncommon enough to warrant excessive attention. At minimum, the men were always polite to Lauren with a cordial hello. She attributed that to the fact that her partner was their boss and the men did have manners, not to mention none of them wanted assigned to truck waxing duty for bad behavior.
There were moments however, like this one, when Lauren's presence caught their attention. The stares weren't caused due to Lauren wearing medical scrubs or that her smile was evident, but simply because the bags held tightly in her grip were huge and appeared awkward and bulky. Couple that with curiosity on their contents, and firefighters from around the room were quick to greet her. A mix of their booming voices echoed their morning greetings to Lauren, with one voice standing out above all the rest.
"Morning, Doctor Lewis! Can I help you with those?"
Lauren glanced over the many faces nearby, catching the approaching figure of fire fighter Ryan Lambert. He was dressed in his standard issue uniform pants and shirt, although the dirt smeared across his upper arm and shoulder confirmed what Lauren already knew: he was at the end of his shift.
He marched toward her from the direction of a very shiny fire truck, offering Lauren a smile as he arrived at her side. He instantly grabbed hold of the bags, relieving Lauren of the heavy contents.
"Morning Ryan. Thank you."
Having two free hands, Lauren adjusted her purse over her shoulder as Ryan peeked in the top of the bags.
"Whatcha bringing the Chief?"
Lauren smiled. She appreciated his assumption that the contents of those bags was for Bo. It wouldn't have been the first time Lauren brought Bo something to the station. But as part of Lauren's plan, nothing in those bags was for Bo.
Her smile stretched further as Lauren nodded toward the main room.
"There is absolutely nothing in those bags for the chief, but follow me and you shall find out what I'm bringing you guys."
Lauren tugged open the nearby doors leading away from the truck garage and into the common room full of tables and chairs. Ryan stepped through the doorway behind Lauren, and several other fire fighters who had noticed the mystery bags followed.
Lauren glanced around the room once looking for Bo, but the only individuals around were men.
"Doctor Lewis, is this what I think it is?"
Ryan carefully placed the bags on a nearby table, still peeking in the tops of them while trying to figure out what was inside while losing grip on the last of his manners as the aromas of food began to capture his sense of smell and in turn, all of his attention.
Lauren pointed to the bags Ryan had placed on the table and then pointed at all the guys now waiting patiently to see what was in the bags.
"Those are for you guys. Hot breakfasts. Enjoy."
Lauren's simple statement brought several other fire fighters toward her as Ryan began pulling boxes from the bags.
"Oooh, breakfast! Sweet!"
Lauren smiled to the other guys now looking over Ryan's shoulder.
"I should warn you: those are all high protein breakfasts. Sorry guys, no pastries, per Chief's request."
Lauren followed her admission of following Bo's directive with a laugh. The fire fighters' laughter mixed with hers, bouncing off the concrete walls. Every one of them had heard Chief's requests more than once: no more junk food.
Truthfully it wasn't really a request. Bo had been adamant about the team sticking to a healthier eating plan, and Lauren certainly did not want to contribute to their growing waistlines and slower response times. Not surprisingly, the fire fighters were very aware of Bo's thoughts on the matter and refrained from complaining to Lauren. While the men loved pastries, they were still very excited to receive a surprise breakfast delivery.
Their gratitude and thanks were spoken repeatedly as bags were torn open and styrofoam breakfast boxes were passed around. The news of food quickly spread to the others in the station, just like the delivery of any type of food at all. Lauren honestly didn't bring them a meal that often, but when she did, Bo's team was always grateful.
Lauren's smile never faded even when their vocal appreciation was silenced by mouthfuls of food. Quietly Lauren recognized that the guys shoveled forks full of eggs like they had not eaten in days. It was only in that initial wave of silence that Bo pushed open the doors from the opposite side of the room. The creaking sound from the hinge caught Lauren's attention. She looked over her shoulder and that is when Bo came into her line of sight for the first time that morning.
Her gaze shifted from happy fire fighters to a very happy Fire Chief. The sight of Bo in her perfectly pressed attire took Lauren's breath away. Yes she saw it every night when Bo got dressed, and every morning when Bo returned home, but seeing the brunette wearing it while standing in the fire station took Lauren's appreciation of it to a completely higher level.
Rather than ask about the commotion, Bo simply glanced around the room and absorbed the sight. Hungry fire fighters tearing through "to go" boxes immediately advised Bo that Lauren brought a surprise for the team today. She directed her attention to Lauren and held it on the blonde as she crossed the room.
Bo's smile said it all. Her eyes lingered over Lauren, standing confidently in the middle of her team of fire fighters. She was not expecting Lauren's appearance at all, but it was an appearance of which Bo would never tire. Dressed in a clean pair of hospital scrubs and a pair of converse sneakers, Lauren was every bit the stunning blonde bombshell dressed in the comforts of work attire. Bo never met another woman who could look so sexy no matter what clothes she wore until Lauren Lewis entered her life.
Lauren felt Bo's gaze burning through her as the brunette walked toward her. It gave rise to a heat inside the doctor that she had barely managed to cool down during her ride to the station. Watching Bo saunter across the room, Lauren smoothed her palms over her scrubs. It was an old nervous habit Lauren had shed years ago, except in moments when her anticipation far outweighed her outward composure.
Bo's paces stopped only when she stood facing Lauren.
"Lauren, what a surprise. I wasn't expecting you this morning."
Lauren tilted her head slightly while her smile grew even bigger. She said nothing, fearing her own voice would crack and give away the rest of her planned surprise.
Bo glanced away from Lauren momentarily, absorbing the sight of fire fighters shoveling forkfuls of breakfast in their mouths.
"Breakfast this time?" Bo asked as she returned her gaze to Lauren.
The chief raised her brows and smiled. It had been a few months since Lauren showed up at the station unannounced with food. Her curiosity over the doctor's reasoning brewed quickly.
Lauren adjusted her purse again and nodded to Bo's posed question.
"Yes, but high protein only. No pastries," Lauren replied.
"Yeah no pastries Chief! But this is sooo good!" Fire fighter Sanders managed to mumble his statement clear enough to bring laughter from everyone nearby. Bo laughed with them. She knew the fire fighters hated her healthy diet initiative, but this morning none of them seemed to mind. The men continued stuffing their faces with food as Bo replied to Lauren.
"Well that was very thoughtful. You know you don't have to bring them breakfast."
"Yes she does!" Lambert yelled.
Lauren blushed. While she was happy the guys appreciated the breakfast so much, the breakfast was not the reason for her arrival at the station. There was a significance to her visit today, of all days, that she was sure no one else knew. Even Bo. Bringing food was just a part of the visit. The overarching reason for her presence had yet to be revealed.
Lauren shifted her eyes away from Bo and back again. This time she replied with a much quieter voice.
"I wanted to bring them something, and I felt like seven am is a bit too early for cupcakes."
Lauren winked at Bo and waited to see if Bo put together the few pieces of the puzzle that the doctor had dangled. She knew Bo was still trying to decipher the reason for her presence when the chief formed a curious expression.
Bo glanced at her watch. It was seven am, but cupcakes? Bo's mind reeled with questions, but she had yet to read between the lines.
"Early for cupcakes? Yes. Plus those would count as pastries."
Lauren nodded but never replied. She swallowed hard but her mouth was dry. There was a quiet moment of intense connection between them, not that anyone else noticed. The others were simply too busy enjoying breakfast.
When Lauren didn't reply, Bo decided a quieter space may be better suited to discuss whatever was on the doctor's mind. Without taking her eyes from Lauren, Bo pointed over her shoulder.
"Well I was just getting ready to pack up and head home."
While the fire fighters focused their attention to the food in hand, Lauren kept her eyes trained on Bo. She admired every thread of the uniform, and she certainly admired what lie shielded beneath it. Crisp lines still held their own even after a full shift, polished shoes reflected the ceiling lights brilliantly, and even the collar to Bo's shirt maintained its crease to perfection. Lauren's wandering gaze absorbed the sight before her, trailing from head to toe and back again while she appreciated Bo standing tall and proud amongst a sea of fire fighters. If Lauren ever had the desire to shred Bo's uniform with her bare hands, this was certainly the moment.
Without alluding to her building desires, Lauren maintained a calm outward posture. She barely shifted her stance from one foot to the other as she stared at the love of her life. Despite her efforts, Lauren's attempt at remaining calm was too perfect, and that in itself revealed far too much about what was racing though Lauren's mind.
The fire chief knew Lauren too well to miss the doctor's nonverbal cues: her slightly parted lips, her curious gaze, and her fingers threaded together to avoid any nervous hand gestures. Bo's curled lip and wink were quickly followed by an almost unrecognizable nod in the direction of her office. It was an invitation Lauren would never turn down.
With patient steps, Lauren followed Bo across the room to the double doors through which Bo had entered. Lauren purposely forced her eyes to refrain from traveling over Bo's backside despite her appreciation of the view. Fortunately they reached the doors quickly and Bo signaled Lauren to walk through first.
The doctor crossed through the doorway, smiling and offering a nod of her own as thanks for the chivalrous gesture. Her pulse escalated again but she refused to turn around. It was Lauren's silent determination to maintain some semblance of control and outward self-confidence for as long as she possibly could. Even her walk possessed a slight sway in her hips, just barely enough for Bo to recognize as she trailed behind Lauren.
Following the familiar path down the fire station hall, Lauren arrived at Bo's office door. It was open and she did not hesitate to walk inside. The tiny window unit air conditioner was blowing a stream of cold air into the room, providing a brief chill to help temper the heat that had been growing again since Lauren arrived at the fire station. She inhaled and exhaled slow deep breaths, hoping to channel the cool air through her lungs to reign in the fire building inside. Only when Lauren heard the door close behind her did she mentally admit all the cold air in the world would never tame her desires. That responsibility lie solely with the woman standing behind her.
Without turning around, Lauren smiled as she caught sight of the framed photos on the wall. Gone were the muscle cars photographs that previously decorated the Fire Chief's office, now replaced with several framed photos of their family.
There was a picture of Bo and Lauren dressed in their respective uniforms during Halloween last year. Only the pumpkins in the background made it look different from any other typical work day. There was also a picture of the two of them with their daughter Charlotte on the day she was born. Kenzi had snapped the picture of a very tired Lauren and a very excited Bo holding Charlotte a few hours after she was born. Despite being critical of her own appearance in the picture, Lauren still adored it immensely. Centered between those photos was Lauren's favorite picture of their daughter: Charlotte cheerfully smiling with her tiny hands grasping a toy fire truck while wearing a toy stethoscope around her neck. That picture was but a few weeks old and somehow Bo had taken it at just the right moment with Charlotte sitting by her toy box. Lauren had a copy of that same photo at her office as well.
Lauren's focus on the photos waned the moment Bo's hands fell upon her hips from behind. Despite wanting to keep her collected outward appearance, Lauren could not hide the sharp intake of air from Bo's touch. Just that breath triggered Bo's hands to tighten their grip. It took all of Lauren's control to not fold into the chief's arms.
Lauren shifted her feet and slowly turned around to face Bo. She tossed her purse aside but never hid her smile or her appreciation of their closeness. The doctor slid her hands over Bo's shoulders, smoothing out the uniform that still did not have one wrinkle on it. She admired the fire fighter embroidered emblems on Bo's crisp white button shirt before she trailed her eyes over Bo's chest. Her gaze lingered a moment before finally returning to Bo's face.
"Good morning, Chief Dennis."
Lauren's voice was but a whisper, almost inaudible over the loud hum from the air conditioner. Her tone had dropped a full octave since standing in the presence of the other fire fighters. It was not intentional, but a slight nervousness had crept into her confidence and threatened to reveal far too much, far too soon.
Bo instantly took notice. The fire chief snaked her hands further around Lauren's waist and pulled her closer but kept the smallest airspace between them. The soft hospital scrubs were but a thin barrier keeping her hands from Lauren's softer skin. Bo bit her lower lip as she smiled before offering her reply.
"Good morning to you, Doctor Lewis."
Bo's tone had also dropped, and Lauren smiled knowing that always happened when Bo had one thing on her mind. It was definitely the same thing Lauren had on hers.
The doctor slipped her hands further over Bo's shoulders, loosing draping her arms around Bo's neck. She shifted her gaze from Bo's eyes to her full lips, losing all coherent thought as she tried desperately to maintain the teasing pace she had set since arriving in the fire station.
Bo cleared her throat intentionally and Lauren quickly raised her line of sight.
"Lauren, I know that look."
Lauren felt the pink creeping across her cheeks.
"Oh, do you?"
Bo nodded. "Yes, and I certainly know what it means."
Lauren lightly brushed her fingertips along the back of Bo's neck, sending the fire chief squirming with her own building desire. The blonde leaned closer to Bo, hovering a breath away before kissing the brunette's cheek.
One kiss to Bo's neck and the brunette closed her eyes.
Two kisses higher along her soft skin and Bo deeply inhaled.
Three kisses that led Lauren's lips to the edge of Bo's jaw and the fire chief's muscles tightened. Her muscles tightened everywhere.
Bo's grip fixed on Lauren's waist as she expelled her held breath. The slow, methodical kissing covering her flesh turned her on, and Bo wanted nothing more than to capture Lauren's lips with her own. Quickly, the chief turned her head toward Lauren but the doctor pulled away quickly.
"Uh, uh, uh," Lauren replied.
Lauren smirked, pulling a conceding laugh from Bo. In stolen private moments like this, Lauren liked to have the upper hand. It was a familiar, playful approach of which Bo had become accustomed. Rather than say anything, Bo simply turned her head away again, giving Lauren full access to her exposed neckline. Lauren did not hesitate. She continued placing kisses over Bo's jaw and cheek. Each perfectly placed kiss stimulated Bo's senses and directed her thoughts to nothing but desires for the one woman standing before her.
Lauren's patience guided her lips back down Bo's neck; as low as the starched collar would allow. Bo exhaled deeply again, carrying forth an audible sigh that traveled through Lauren's ears and directly to her heart. The doctor loved that sound. It was a familiar note that triggered Lauren's previously slow paced motions to escalate and reveal the significance of her presence.
Lauren playfully nipped at Bo's neck one more time before finding the strength to lean back slightly, reestablishing that pocket of air between them. The small separation gave Lauren just enough calm and self-control to state her intentions for this early morning visit.
Lauren stared into Bo's eyes. She saw the hunger Bo held for her. It was the same hunger Lauren recognized all those years ago when they first connected like this, and that spark had not dwindled since.
With confidence, Lauren took one calming breath and offered a provocative smile to Bo before speaking.
"Three years ago, today, I first walked into this fire station and kissed you in this very office."
Those simple spoken words softened Bo's expression from hungry desire to pure love and adoration. Bo's brow rose slightly and her lips parted. Her eyes widened as a deluge of memories filled Bo's mind. Her heart jumped at the memory as her emotions swirled further with each passing second. Not a moment of that interaction was ever forgotten. Bo's heart beat hastened, and her brilliant smile told Lauren that she remembered that very moment as if it were yesterday.
Lauren continued.
"And as you probably recall, three years ago today after I kissed you, I boldly propositioned you to come home with me."
Bo's laughter joined Lauren's as they both remembered, quite well, that moment when Lauren's seductive attempt failed miserably. They had barely known more than each other's names when Lauren spoke that very forward phrase that Bo declined. But they both also remembered Bo's decline of such an invitation wasn't because the fire chief didn't want to go home with her, but merely because she had work obligations that Bo could not ignore.
Bo nodded slightly as her laughter faded. "Yes I do remember that very well, Lauren."
Lauren adjusted her arms resting on Bo's shoulders slightly as she licked her lips. Lauren's confidence soared.
"In hind sight, I realize that proposition was not the best approach. However, in the past three years, I've learned a lot about how to approach you, Bo."
Bo narrowed her brow as curiosity began to build. Playfully, she flexed her palms against Lauren's hips and replied.
"Oh, have you? Would you please share what you have learned about approaching me, Doctor Lewis?"
Lauren's line of sight dropped back to Bo's lips again. The reflection of the ceiling light fixture glistened perfectly on Bo's moistened lips, driving Lauren to lean forward toward the Fire Chief. She quickly returned her view to Bo's eyes, who had caught her staring but said nothing of it.
"Well, I've learned that when you say no pastries, you mean no pastries."
"Very good," Bo replied with a laugh.
Lauren shifted her hands away from Bo's neck. She brushed her palms along Bo's shoulders before tightening her grip snugly.
"I have also learned that you love your career, and that being a Fire Chief isn't just a job for you. It is very much a major component of your life and of your identity."
Bo nodded. She could not deny that Lauren was right on both counts.
"Again, very accurate," Bo whispered.
Lauren gazed into Bo's dark brown eyes. The tension between them crackled; a testament to the connectivity both women shared with the other.
"I also learned that you are the most committed, wonderful, loving partner, and you are a devoted, protective mother who fiercely loves our family."
That statement pushed Bo to stand a little taller as her pride came forth. Her heart pounded now, a mix of desire and love manifesting physically and triggering a multitude of physical responses. Her mouth felt dry and the words that followed were spoken a bit softer.
"Yes, you are also correct on that count as well," Bo replied.
Lauren's smile widened. "And so in learning these things about you, I have realized that there is a right way to proposition you to come home with me."
Bo's happy expression quickly shifted to surprise. Lauren had her moments when she raised the bar and pushed Bo's buttons in new ways. This direct statement was certainly one of those moments. Bo's mouth opened to reply, but no words followed.
Lauren continued. "What I have learned is that, if I arrive here ten minutes before the end of your shift when you have no work responsibilities, and I have a babysitter fully aware that we are not to be disturbed when we arrive home this morning, then my chances of you accepting such a proposition increase ten-fold."
Bo remained quiet but her expression said it all. Lauren was right. She did learn quite a bit about Bo over the past three years, and if there was ever a way to get Bo to say yes to such a proposition, this was certainly a very effective method to deploy.
Lauren leaned toward Bo again, this time her lips on a direct path to connect with Bo's until she stopped shy the smallest of airspace between them. Lauren's heart was racing. Three years into a relationship and standing this close to Bo still pushed Lauren's libido to the stars.
"Come home with me."
Lauren's whispered words mirrored the same proposition she offered three years ago. She waited for Bo's reply as she felt the brunette's hands slip under the hem of her scrub shirt.
She didn't have to wait long.
"I don't know if I can wait until we get home."
Bo's words barely escaped her lips before a reenacted first kiss occurred. Unlike the slower, more deliberate pace held three years ago, this kiss connected the women with a bruising, explosive need.
Lauren's breathing ceased momentarily as she funneled her focus on the soft lips pressed against her own; on the strong hands sliding over her skin while shoving aside her shirt; on the moan that lingered in Bo's throat. Her proposition may have been for Bo to come home with her, but the sudden burst of desire electrifying the air around insisted they make use of Bo's private office before ever stepping foot out of Fire Station 55.
Lauren never denied she was any type of match for Bo's physical strength, and the fire chief proved it when she took one step into Lauren, effectively sending the doctor one step back. The edge of the desk met the back of Lauren's thighs, triggering the blonde's grip on Bo's shirt collar to shift immediately to the top button. Then to the next. And then to the next after that. Quick nimble fingers threaded buttons through shirt holes one by one to release Bo from that wrinkle free shirt. Lauren held focus until the last button was undone, despite the intoxicating arousal from Bo's teeth biting at Lauren's neck. With eyes closed, Lauren finally allowed a deep exhale and a sigh to follow as a current of sexual craving flowed through every nerve fiber in her body.
Lauren's scrub shirt was pulled over her head quickly, and Bo shed Lauren's bra before the doctor's lips found Bo's again. Three years of kissing the same woman never dulled, and moments when impatience flared still challenged the doctor between fighting for control and just giving in to Bo's flawless touch.
Fiercely, Lauren shoved Bo's open shirt over her shoulders and tugged it away. Her hands sought out the clasp on Bo's bra and instantly unhooked it with expert precision. The heat radiating off Bo's body melded with Lauren's as hastened movements pushed both women closer to the other.
Needy hands sought out the naked skin within reach as their kisses maintained their hungry connection. Skin against skin stimulated their mutual arousal, but Lauren was the first to vocalize her wants and needs in between hungry kisses.
"Is there anything breakable on this desk?"
Her words were breathy but well understood. Bo answered by lifting Lauren off the ground and seating her on the edge of the small piece of wooden furniture. Lauren's hands threaded into Bo's hair as the chief shifted her lips down Lauren's neck. The chief's hands reached around Lauren and quickly swiped the desk's surface with her outstretched arms, sending most small objects sailing to the floor.
Lauren appreciated all of Bo's sides as a lover: that included her aggressive side. Clearing her desk with one solid swipe turned Lauren on more than she could admit, but her own tightened grasp to Bo's hair surely told the brunette what the doctor never said aloud.
Bo's mouth traveled lower yet, and Lauren quickly tugged Bo against her as she felt Bo's ravenous lips take hold of her breast. Lauren's head lulled back as she took the waves of guiltless pleasure as they flowed over her. Lauren kicked her converse shoes off, sending them to the floor with one thud followed by another. Her breathing now shallow and speckled with moans, Lauren wrapped one leg around Bo and pulled her closer yet.
Bo answered by shifting her lips to Lauren's again. The familiar dance of traded kisses and eager caresses kept their ultimate goal delayed a bit, but neither woman complained. The privacy of Bo's locked office incited their desires. Lauren took Bo's breasts into her hands and teased them playfully, knowing each passing second pushed their arousal a little higher; the stakes of a more explosive orgasm a little more probable.
With Bo's strength on display again, the Chief leaned Lauren back with ease. Instinctively Lauren reached behind her, one palm connecting with the desk surface to hold her up slightly. Her other hand gripped Bo's shoulder as their lips separated and provided them another small space in which to connect visually with one another.
Bo's deep brown eyes exposed her deepest, truest feelings for Lauren. In just that glimpse, the doctor saw it all: love, lust, respect, admiration, desire, attraction, devotion and affection. Lauren pulled slow, calming breaths for a beat as she absorbed the weight of her own feelings for Bo. Three years of unyielding love had not extinguished the flames between them. Even as parents with a focus on raising their daughter now, the couple never relented their longing for the other.
Bo saw the same in Lauren. She held that pause as long as the doctor dictated it so. Leaning over the blonde nearly pressed flat on top of the chief's wooden desk, Bo hovered patiently with one strong arm wrapped around Lauren and the other braced against the desk for support. She returned the gaze to Lauren, knowing the moment they resumed movement would bring about a quick crest to their escalating advances. Her wandering eyes scanned over Lauren's partially exposed body, and the Chief didn't hide the smile that formed as she trailed her eyes over Lauren's naked upper body.
Lauren slid one hand under Bo's chin and lifted slightly, redirecting the chief's gaze back to her eyes. Bo smiled and Lauren quickly matched it.
"How have we never had sex on this desk yet?"
Bo's smile grew wider at Lauren's question. She shook her head and shrugged.
"I say sex on this desk is long overdue. Wouldn't you agree?"
Lauren's response was a nonverbal nod, and Bo's fluid movements had slipped Lauren's scrub pants and panties down in less than three breaths. It certainly was well past time to christen that desk, and fortune smiled upon them that morning as the next uninterrupted thirty minutes gave them a new found appreciation for sturdy, office furniture. The hum of the small air conditioner was nowhere near loud enough to mask Lauren's moans as Bo entered her, but she did her best to cover her own mouth and hold back the loudest of her vocalized enjoyment.
Bo's familiarity with Lauren's body allowed her to trigger the doctor's orgasm at will, knowing the exact responses she would pull from Lauren with each and every calculated touch. She did not draw it out as she typically would have, aware they would reconnect multiple times over with ample time for slow intentions once they were home in the comforts of their king size bed.
Lauren never needed to indicate a lack of patience either, for just the slight tilt of her head was all the request Bo needed. It was in that moment that Bo's touch provoked Lauren's muscles to tighten around her fingers. The doctor's bucking hips kept pace with the chief's movements until she could not physically exert any additional strength to hold herself up any longer.
Happily resolved to collapse, Lauren's back finally pressed the full length of the desk as she whispered sweet, appreciative words under her breath to the woman who just took her to the moon and back.
Awash in an enraptured haze, Lauren reached blindly for Bo. She was floating far too high to open her eyes, but Lauren did manage to catch Bo's wrist and tug the Chief closer.
Still standing alongside the desk, Bo followed Lauren's tug and shifted her feet one step to the right. She pulled Lauren's hand to her lips and placed gentle kisses over the doctor's palm and the back of her hand. Bo stared happily at her love-intoxicated partner, waiting patiently for Lauren to regain her composure.
The blonde's smile appeared before her eyes ever opened, but when they did, she caught the sight of a very proud, half naked Fire Chief staring down at her. Lauren fixated on Bo's exposed curves, her perfect breasts and strong upper body muscles covered by the softest skin. Lauren licked her lips intentionally as she admired the view.
Bo noticed.
"See something you like?" Bo asked.
There was no need to answer the rhetorical question. Rather than fill the time with any more whispered words, Lauren pushed herself upright and swung her legs off the desk. Completely naked, perched upon Bo's desk and the Fire Chief half naked before her, Lauren saw so many things that she liked. The doctor reached for Bo's belt, slipping the buttery soft leather out of the silver clasp. She kept her eyes fixed on Bo's as her fingers unbuttoned the brunette's pants and lowered the zipper. The act forced Bo to hold her breath which she quickly released as Lauren buried her hand inside Bo's perfectly pressed pants.
Determined to give Bo a taste of what was in store for her when they finally made it home, Lauren wrapped her free arm around Bo and tightened her grip. Rhythmic strokes from Lauren's fingers inside Bo's pants matched the swipes of her tongue against Bo's nipple.
Held firmly in Lauren's grasp, Bo wrapped her arms around Lauren and allowed the doctor to control the tempo from that moment on. The Chief fought to keep her eyes open but the sensations flooding her senses had other ideas, and the weight of her eyelids kept her eyes shut as Lauren mapped Bo's favorite path to her own explosive orgasm. Bo slid her hands from Lauren's shoulders to the back of her head, soaring through her climax with both hands buried in Lauren's soft blonde hair.
The euphoric frenzy weakened her knees exponentially. Even the strength of a Fire Chief lapsed at the hands of a talented blonde doctor, and it took the remainder of Bo's resolve to barely maintain an upright position. Long, quiet minutes passed from that moment on as Bo used all her remaining strength to simply stand within Lauren's comforting arms.
Their hungry, needy coupling came to a close at the fire station that morning, but their morning was far from over. They shared several more kisses and quite a few laughs at their behavior before pausing their escapades to re-dress. Lauren never allowed Bo to see her giggle when she realized Bo's shirt was now full of wrinkles. And like two teenagers sneaking around after prom, Lauren and Bo avoided every fire fighter in the building as they finally made their way out of the station and in to the parking lot.
The morning sun radiated off the concrete as they walked to their cars, pushing temperatures higher yet. Hands remained clasped in the other's hold as they strolled side by side, only to be released when their steps halted in between the BMW and the Camaro.
Lauren offered a pleasant smile and a wink as Bo released her grip on the doctor's hand. The Chief reached for the door handle to the Camaro, but Lauren's extended arm held the door closed.
Bo glanced over Lauren as the doctor stepped into her personal space.
The blonde brushed her lips over Bo's ear once, placing a telling kiss before delivering that same proposition she had first offered three years ago.
"Come home with me," Lauren whispered.
The repeated invitation was certainly one the Fire Chief would never turn down ever again. She smiled and placed the gentlest of kisses to Lauren's cheek before the doctor took one step back and waited for Bo's reply.
Three years after Lauren first asked it, Bo finally replied with the answer she had hoped to hear the first time.
"Absolutely."
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Hope you liked this warm up chapter to get us back in to the world of Lauren and Chief Bo. Like it at all? If so, stick around for more! Thanks for your reviews!
*I don't own the characters. I just created the story, not the characters in it*
