Chapter 10
Lauren's eyes fluttered as she gently surrendered to the morning light. Remembering the magical evening, she rolled onto her side propping herself up on an elbow silently studying Danny still sleeping soundly. Her lips curved up as she soaked in Danny's natural beauty, noting her delicate jaw line, and feminine cheek bones. She loved that Danny was so easy going in every aspect of her life, her attire, her demeanor, and just the way she lived. Lauren was sure she had no idea how amazing she was and she didn't want to know, shying away from any kind of attention.
Lauren cursed herself, as her mind wandered, comparing Danny to Bo. She almost laughed at how different they were. Bo, the black leather and boots seductress whose hair is always neatly tied back and commands the attention of entire rooms; and Danny, the unassuming girl next door, who lives in jeans, a t-shirt and flip flops, and her hair is always a mess. "They are exact opposites," thought Lauren, "Danny the reluctant hero, and Bo the lion killer." Both beautiful women, who possess a strength of character and yet, both so vulnerable.
Lauren, sighed, thinking, "I love them both, for completely different reasons."
Shaking away the thoughts of Bo, Lauren's gaze drifted over Danny's chest. She examined the curves beneath the light fabric finally resting her eyes on her tanned stomach, which was peeking out where her shirt had ridden up.
Unable to resist any longer, the blonde reached over and slipped her hand under Danny's shirt running her fingers gently over her flat belly. A smile crept across Danny's face, as Lauren's lips brushed her neck.
"Mmmmmm, good morning," said Danny opening her eyes.
"Good morning," replied Lauren reaching down to claim her lips, feeling the comfort and easiness of waking up with Danny.
Lauren slid down a little in the bed, pushing Danny's shirt up over her chest and partially laying on top of her. Her lips gently brushed the wolf's breasts, her mouth caressing her as her tongue teased a nipple. Danny closed her eyes feeling a familiar urge rising in her loins as well as a happiness warming her heart.
"I have the whole weekend off," said Lauren in between kisses," what do you want to do today?" she asked grinning as she nipped at a nipple.
"We'll think of something," whispered Danny her feral eyes glowing as she intently followed Lauren's every move.
Still lying in bed two hours later, Lauren was cuddled into Danny, her fingers lightly brushing Danny's midsection absentmindedly, when she remembered the dream, or memory from the night before. Danny had been reluctant to talk about it so Lauren was hesitant to even ask but she couldn't let it go. Danny interrupted her thoughts, "Can I ask you something?"
"Mmmmhmmm," replied Lauren contentedly.
"Are you happy?" asked Danny shyly.
The beautiful blonde propped herself up on her elbow so she could gaze into the gentle auburn eyes that were searching hers. "I'm," she chuckled and pushed her hair over her shoulder, "very happy," as if realizing for the first time that maybe she could be. Danny smiled, her disarming grin reaching her eyes, as Lauren's heart melted.
Lauren playfully punched Danny and rolled off the bed, "Come on, we should get up and enjoy the day."
"I was enjoying the day," muttered Danny.
Danny hobbled out into the kitchen after raiding Lauren's closet to find a pair of shorts and a T-shirt that she could squeeze into. Mumbling to herself she said, "must be getting fat," as she smoothed the t-shirt over her abdomen.
"You aren't getting fat," replied Lauren shaking her head amused that someone with twelve percent body fat could even think such a thing.
"Who was that?" asked Danny referring to the person who had rang the door bell moments before.
"It was Katie. I texted her early this morning and asked her to bring these over," replied Lauren grinning, as she held up a rather large brace for Danny's knee, a cane and a sling.
"Mmmmm," said Danny raising her eyebrows unconvinced that she required such things, "and you think I am going to use them?"
Lauren frowned at Danny, "your knee, and shoulder are a mess and since I'm your doctor I would rather you didn't make them worse before I can get you in for an MRI on Monday."
"Fine," grunted Danny taking the brace and reluctantly strapping it on her knee, "but I'm not using the cane."
"As you wish," replied Lauren, her eyes dancing with mischief, knowing she had won. She had only requested the cane because she knew Danny would object, but this way it seemed like a compromise.
Flipping a grill cheese, Lauren mentioned, "Bo called and they are all going to the Dal tonight and want to know if we'll join them."
"Whatever you want to do is fine," replied Danny picking up the paper to see what death and destruction had taken place over the past few days.
Lauren let her eyes linger on Danny who was wearing her favorite yellow t-shirt, and she smiled, her heart filling with happiness, feeling like for the first time she had something, someone, in her life that was just hers. Danny was just so easy to be around.
Danny looked up to catch Lauren starring, "what?" she asked, her fingers pushing the hair from her eyes and tucking it behind her ear.
"Nothing," replied Lauren grinning as she shyly focused on flipping another sandwich.
Danny glanced at Lauren again and her lips curved into a knowing smile.
"Ummm," Lauren hesitated, as Danny looked up from the paper to meet her eyes. "I wanted to ask you about your dream last night." Cautiously studying Danny for her reaction the doctor waited patiently trying not to pressure the wolf.
Danny looked back down at the counter, a shadow crossing her face as she nibbled at her bottom lip, "there isn't much to tell."
Lauren rested her hand on Danny's shoulder reassuringly, as she bent down, her gentle brown eyes meeting Danny's and said, "Please let me in."
Danny inhaled Lauren's familiar scent of vanilla and cinnamon and wanted nothing more than to share her life but everything always seemed so damn complicated. She sighed gaining her resolve and explained, "what I remember is….."
Lauren sat back taking a bite of grill cheese, her brows furrowed in concentration, "So the little girl chasing the car, that's you when you were about eight, right?"
Danny nodded.
"And the man?" asked Lauren. "You called him Papa? What's his name?"
"I don't know," said Danny sadly shaking her head as she licked her lips nervously.
"The beautiful long dark haired girl?" asked Lauren, intrigued.
"I'm not sure who she is, but I have a strong connection to both her and the man. "What would you say if I told you I can feel them?" asked Danny hesitantly.
Lauren tipped her head to the side, and smiled rubbing Danny's shoulder, "If you say you can feel them, I believe you."
"You don't remember anything else about this place, or where you were, what happened after that?" asked the beautiful blonde.
Danny shook her head sadly, frustrated with her inability to remember more.
"I need to go," uttered Danny suddenly jumping up from the breakfast nook. "I need to see my foster parents," she said with sudden urgency in her voice. She quickly kissed Lauren on the cheek, "Maybe they can tell me what the hell is going on."
"Danny, just slow down," suggested Lauren surprised by the sudden urgency and needing to settle the situation into something she could manage. "I'll come with you, just give me a minute to get ready." Just as Lauren was heading to the bedroom to change, the door bell rang.
Lauren quickly walked to the door and opened it hesitantly, as she was not expecting any visitors. On the other side of the door was a leather clad beautiful brunette waiting impatiently to be allowed in.
"Bo?" asked Lauren a blush rising on her cheeks. "I wasn't expecting you. Is everything alright?"
The dark beauty pushed past Lauren noticing she was still in sleepwear and no robe, "Of course, I was just worried about you is all."
Bo entered the living room feeling her temperature rise, witnessing Danny pulling on her shoes wearing Lauren's clothes. She recovered enough to fain interest in Danny, "I am so happy you are alive!" she said wrapping her arms around the wolf.
"It's good to see you," replied Danny genuinely happy to see her and unaware of the angst that Bo was feeling at that moment. As Bo held Danny, her senses picked up the unmistakable scent of Lauren on her and she grit her teeth.
Danny pulled away from Bo, smiled and said, "I was ummm, just leaving, so I'll leave you guys to visit."
Lauren followed Danny to the door, "I'm sorry, I've ruined our day together."
"Ummm, 'you', didn't," said Danny pushing Lauren's golden locks behind her ear tenderly.
"I didn't know she was coming over," Lauren continued to try and explain; frustrated that Bo had just showed up. Lauren loved that Bo usually did what Bo wanted to do but in this case it was a little inconvenient and awkward.
"That part is obvious from the look of guilt all over your face," sniped Danny, immediately looking away, regretting her comment.
"Danny, I….," started Lauren feeling the heat in her face and knowing that her feelings had betrayed her.
"It's okay Lauren," offered Danny reaching for the door knob, hurt drifting through her eyes.
"Danny wait," begged Lauren grabbing for Danny's hand. "I'm sorry, everything happened so fast that I haven't had a chance to talk to Bo."
Danny nodded trying to be understanding.
Lauren wrapped her hands around Danny's neck and kissed her gently at first and then more deeply. "I'll come over to your house after I am done with Bo, okay?" suggested Lauren trying to reassure Danny.
Danny smiled a quick unconvincing smile as she pulled the door open.
Lauren turned to find Bo's intense brown eyes drilling into her after just witnessing the passionate exchange between her and Danny. "What?" asked Lauren, pushing past Bo to clear the plates into the dishwasher.
"What do you mean what?" spat Bo crossing her arms over her chest.
Lauren busied herself in the kitchen not wanting to make eye contact with Bo.
Bo clenched and unclenched her jaw several times before she asked softly, "Did you sleep with her?" Not waiting for an answer the angry succubus blurted, "I can smell you all over her and your chi is off the chart."
"Bo," said Lauren, stopping to look at her, "I really don't see how that is any of your business."
Bo flinched at the tone and thought, "I have no right to feel what I am feeling right now."
"I'm sorry," sighed Bo.
"What are you really doing here?" asked Lauren intently looking at Bo knowing that she hadn't just popped over. "Are you just spying on me?"
Bo nodded and shrugged, "kinda."
"Why?" asked Lauren coolly.
Bo moved swiftly across the kitchen wrapping her arms around the doctor, her mouth covering Lauren's as she protested trying to push the dark beauty away. Bo pressed deeper, wrapping her tongue around Lauren's, the blonde's hands slipping to her side. Lauren's knees felt weak, Bo's touch was just so intoxicating; she could never resist Bo.
Satisfied with her work, Bo stepped back grinning. Lauren shoved her angrily and spat, "You don't get to waltz in here and do that!"
"What?" asked Bo innocently noting Lauren's chi had increased significantly. "You liked it obviously," she smirked.
"We're not doing this," spat Lauren, her hands shaking, trying to distance herself from Bo, detecting just a hint of blue in her eyes.
Bo's gaze was on Lauren, noting the curves beneath her night gown, the low lying neck line that emphasized her collar bones and the little curls of blonde hair that fell across her shoulders. She was rapidly losing control, her desire taking over and she was no longer worried about Dyson or Lauren, just her raw desires.
Bo moved close to Lauren and placed her palm on her cheek gently caressing it with her thumb. Lauren was like putty in Bo's hands and she could feel herself becoming involuntarily aroused.
"Lauren, I'm sorry, I've been an ass to you. I admit I don't know what I want, you or Dyson, I love you both. I want to be with you and I want to be with him too. Now I feel like if I don't do something I will lose you forever to someone else. Can't we just give us another try? Can't you just wait for me?" asked Bo sincerity pouring from her heart.
Lauren swatted Bo's hand from her cheek and turned away. "You have no right to come in here and say those things. To ask me to wait while you are in someone else's bed? You have no right Bo." The brunette winced hearing Lauren's words and knew she was right.
"There is no us Bo, the opportunity is long gone and that has been painfully obvious for several months," continued Lauren, knowing she had waited and had wanted Bo more than anything. Bo stood silently listening, knowing she was selfish to even want Lauren to love her.
Taking a deep breath, Lauren turned to face the beautiful succubus. "I love you and likely always will but I can't do this anymore." "I'm in love with Danny, and she loves me completely and unconditionally. Please don't ruin this for me. You need to let me go Bo," implored Lauren her eyes pleading with her to understand.
The words stung Bo and a wave of loss flooded through the succubus' features. Lauren knew she had hurt her but there was no other way. She reached for Bo's arm, barely able to speak she whispered, "I'm sorry Bo, I just can't."
Bo nodded sadly but couldn't resist one last kiss. She grabbed Lauren around the waist catching her off guard, capturing her lips, just as the door opened accompanied by a quick knock.
"Hey, just me, I forgot my….." Danny's voice tailed off seeing Lauren wrapped in Bo's arms. Lauren's eyes met Danny's, her heart breaking witnessing the hurt cross her face.
"Danny, wait!" called Lauren desperately, pulling away from Bo.
"Sorry," whispered Danny closing the door, anger, disappointment, and hurt filling her lungs as she struggled to breathe.
"Damn it Bo," growled Lauren angrily pushing the succubus away, despair filling her eyes. "You need to go."
"I'm sorry," stammered the dark temptress, knowing the pain she saw in Lauren's eyes was because of her. "I'll go find her and explain," she said trying to make amends.
"Stay away from her Bo, you have already done enough," blurted Lauren not expecting it to sound so harsh and cringing when she saw the sting it caused.
Lauren looked at the floor and said, "Please go."
Bo sighed, took a step forward toward Lauren and then thought better of it. She bit her lip, turned and left.