Chapter 22- Nascent

Friday, March 2nd, 2018 – 16:45 pm

MI6 Headquarters, Vauxhall Bridge, London

"Agent Lewis, here are the files you requested."

Lauren took them off the young man in front of her and politely dismissed him.

Staring at the pile of manila folders, Lauren felt confused. She had been so dazed the past few days she hadn't remembered requesting them. Now that they were here, she needed to read each page, determined to catch up on everything and stop hiding in the past. She had spent too long avoiding Bo, reading what was written about her in the newspapers or online that she forgot the promise she made. To get to know the real Bo Dennis. And these files in front of her were indisputable facts.

The first folder was Bo's medical records showing that she had been admitted five times to get her stomach pumped. Many minor admissions, mainly bruises and cuts from falling. One entry caught her eye. A few years ago, she had been in remission for three weeks. During her rehab, doctors discovered Endometriosis that was treated immediately, saving her life.

The following folder was her criminal record. Lauren was surprised to learn that she had been arrested for criminal damages to hotels. And one well-hidden report filed for obtaining sexual services, which incurred a penalty fine only. Lauren pinched the bridge of her nose. Her beautiful Bo, who wanted to wait until their third date to have sex, had been caught with prostitutes.

Lauren rested back on her seat; her Bo was lost from the girl she met in France. The Bo she saw today was so angry. Lauren pushed the file away, she had watched every interview that Bo had given, and she always seemed happy, smiling. Lauren concluded from the folders splayed out that it had been all for the show.

Lauren opened another folder; her finances were a shock. She had millions in the bank and owed seven properties and many expensive cars. At least she had no money issues as her career rocketed. Evony had kept her promise. The show was aired in eighteen Countries, and Bo was the leading star. She had won awards for everything from Canadian Screen Awards, Gemini Awards, Golden Maple and an ACTRA. Her social media followers went from twenty-seven thousand to two-point-two million as soon as she came out at the BAFTAS. And today has ten times that amount with twenty-two million Instagram followers.

Lauren rubbed her eyes. Bo surrounded herself around so many people, but not one that she could count on when she needed them the most. Lauren made a promise to be there, even if that were just as a friend. Never would Bo be alone again.

Lauren closed the file; she had no idea what to do next. Placing it in her top drawer, she dialled a familiar number.

"Hey, Vex," Lauren leaned back in her chair.

"Hey you, how are ya? Any news from Bo?"

"I need to give her time. If I don't hear from her by the end of the week, I will try again." Lauren sighed down the phone, "I never realised it until I saw her how much I missed her."

"Just clam-bang her princess, you know it brings all the girls to your yard."

Lauren heard Vex laughing at his own joke and joined in. "Bye Vex, see you soon. I'm finishing up and will be home soon."

"Bring back Chinese food. You have literally nothing in the fridge except booze and butter."

Lauren looked at her phone. She really didn't know what she would have done without him. He was there for her. Without hesitation, he gave up his rented room and slept on the floor until she got her own place. Vex drank with her every night, repeatedly listening to her talk about Bo. Vex had tried on so many occasions to get Lauren to follow. Still, the longer she left it, the more it was publicised of Bo's relationship with Tamsin. It got to a point where you couldn't turn on your TV or open up an internet browser without seeing their faces. They had shot to stardom overnight, and Lauren broke more each day.

Lauren took a job at M16 in Protection Detail, and after six months of training, she was assigned to George Weatherby. It meant excessive travel, and when not on Duty was put through her paces with intense combat training. Lauren thought back to the day with Jack. Jack had promised that if she had joined his team, they would together break down Evony's power. Lauren remembered Bo on the brink of death and being told her heart stopped twice. Lauren sighed and began to think she had made the wrong decision that day. All that was ever important to her was Bo, and a few days ago, she had nearly died. Lauren had to put things right.

Lauren was packing up and putting on her jacket when she heard a knock at the door. Opening it to find Bo standing in front of her, dressed in a fine-gauge merino-wool top, knee-length satin skirt, heeled ankle boots, long earrings, and an armful of stacked bangles. "Hi, Lauren."

Bo pushed Lauren into the room and backed her against the wall, "I know we've got a lot to talk about, and we should do that sometime. But first." Bo lifted Laurens' face and kissed her passionately on the lips. A long, drawn-out kiss until breathing became an issue. Without any warning, Bo spun Lauren around, so both were facing the wall and kissed her down her neck. It was as if no time had passed as their bodies danced to their own rhythm. Bo pulled down Laurens' jacket, reaching for the front of her shirt, ripping it open, causing buttons to fly.

"Now, I don't mind it a bit rough, but Bo, please slow down."

"I need to feel again, Lauren," Bo replied, ignoring Laurens' request.

Lauren stretched her neck to allow Bo more access and closed her eyes. She understood. She hurt her, and now she needed to make up for it in any way she wanted it.

Bo had her hand in Lauren's shirt, on her breast, kneading it, pinching at her nipple. Lauren inhaled and could smell Bo's familiar scent and relaxed. She was back with Bo, her Bo and was intensely aroused.

Bo's hands wandered over Laurens' body as she gyrated against her. Nibbling on her earlobe, causing a moan from Lauren, turning her on even more.

Lauren reached behind, beneath Bo's skirt, sliding her hand past Bo's underwear and feeling that she was wet for her. Lauren squirmed; an electric pulse shot through her on her discovery that she thought she would orgasm just from that thought alone.

Bo's breath was heavy. She was enjoying Laurens' fingers as they entered her. She continued the trail of hot kisses, and the sweet smell of Laurens' perfume aroused her so much, she knew she would not take long to get her release. More than that, she wanted to touch and feel Lauren. Grabbing Laurens' hand, she pulled it away and spun her around, kissing her once more, this time with more fire than before. Exploring her mouth with her own and owning her at that moment.

Lauren was eased further into the room, and when she felt the table behind her, she mounted it. Bo climbed on top, unbuckling Lauren's belt, popping the button and unzipping her trousers. Bo didn't bother to remove them; she simply shoved her left hand beneath Lauren's underwear, using her right hand to steady herself on the table.

With each of them having their hands between the other's legs, Bo used her momentum of being on top to thrust them further into each other. Never once breaking the kiss, their bodies reacted, heat and blood rushing their senses as they both held on the brink of their orgasm.

As if Bo knew, she whispered into Laurens' ear, "Come for me."

Laurens' leg started to tremor as if she had been holding on. The reality was it had only been a few minutes, but it was full of want, desire, need and longing that neither was ashamed to admit. They were fucking like wild animals, the furthest from lovemaking. Still, they didn't care that it was a quickie on a table. All they cared about was each other, and it's what they both needed. Laurens' orgasm was fast yet powerful, her body shuddering again when she felt Bo's own release.

Bo's body jolted seconds after Laurens', a shockwave that made her feel like she was once again breathing with the living. Bo fell against Lauren, slowly moving her hand and kissing her hard.

"Wow." Bo slowly stepped off the table. "Even better than I remember."

Lauren turned on the desk and let her legs hang over the edge, "Now we've had make-up sex, we need to talk, Bo."

Bo grabbed her bag. "That was not make-up anything Lo, and I'm not ready to talk to you."

Lauren felt as her heart raced, "So you're ready to fuck me but won't have a coffee with me?"

"This doesn't mean anything, Lauren." Bo straightened her skirt.

"So, that meant nothing?" Lauren tried to fasten up her clothing, realising she had buttons missing.

"Yeah, it meant I had some fun," Bo smirked and walked to the door, turning its handle. "It was good to see you again. I would have come to see you sooner if I knew how easy it was to fuck you."

"What?" Lauren shrieked, "Well, guess it beats paying escorts."

"Still googling me?" Bo stopped walking and laughed. "You don't change Lauren."

"Yeah, but you did, didn't you." Lauren barely whispered. "Because of me."

"Don't flatter yourself," Bo lied. "I've got some stuff to deal with. Being a super-rich megastar is exhausting."

"You've done really well." Lauren smiled, "Your show is aired in every country, just like you said it would. I'm so proud of you."

"That's on me." Bo pushed Lauren away from her, "So you can fuck your proud moment speech."

"Bo, please, we need to talk," Lauren stood in front of her and held her hand on the door, preventing Bo from leaving.

Bo sighed. Her heart raced so much from being in the same room again with Lauren. It disappointed her how her body could react when her heart was so clearly still broken. A traitor, but still she was comforted by it. "Fine, I will call you tonight. I have your number. But now you need to get out of my way. I have a rehearsal in an hour and need to get to the theatre."

Lauren stepped aside and stood beside her and went to take her hand, but Bo moved it away. "But you've just come out of the hospital."

Bo flung her arms in the air. "Did you not read the papers today? Evony got a doctor to go on the record and say I had a bad reaction to prescribed medicine I take for my endometriosis."

"I'm sorry, Bo."

"Why you didn't cause it, no one did. Just genetics." Bo leaned in, "And spoiler alert, I can't have children."

Reactions took over and Lauren held Bo tight in her arms.

Bo tried to wiggle free but eventually relaxed into the hug. It had only been a minute, but time had stood still for them both. Lost in a moment that both wanted to capture for eternity. Time had been cruel to them both, but now it was being kind. All the love that was there, was there still. There was no denying it. Both not ready, however, to admit it. Slowly they pulled apart, "I really do need to go. I will be late."

"Okay, I'll walk you out."

Bo nodded, and Lauren pulled her jacket back on and buttoned it up, covering herself from her torn shirt.

Once outside, they said their goodbyes.

Bo got into a corporate car. A few minutes of silence until the loud world around her once again started. A few minutes to gather her thoughts. She was still in love with Lauren, but she would never allow her back. It was too painful.

Lauren drove home, remembering to order a Chinese on the way for Vex. Waiting got the food to cook she smiled. Bo had visited her, they had sex and kissed. She still felt Bo on her, inside her and it felt good. It wasn't perfect but it was a start and that was all she needed, a glimmer of hope, a tiny crack, anything and everything was better than nothing.

Tuesday, March 6th, 2018 – 23:10 pm

Laurens' Apartment, London

Lauren threw the remote control for the TV at Vex, "Here, all yours, I'm off to bed."

"Tired, are we?" Vex playfully grabbed Lauren, pinning her to the sofa using his legs, "Bo's booty calls keeping you awake?"

Lauren slapped his legs away, "She is just processing this."

"Maybe," Vex drank his beer, "She won't talk to you or even listen to your side. She has now stopped kissing you, made you sign a contract and is marking your neck in bruises that no amount of concealer can hide."

"Stay out of this Vex," Lauren stood and walked toward her bedroom, "This is between us. I lost her once, and I won't lose her again."

"You don't have her, so you can't lose what you don't have," Vex screamed back over his shoulder.

"I have a part of her, and at the moment, that is enough." Lauren spun on her heels.

"You have nothing of her. You're being used by her, and in return, you feel shitty."

Lauren's phone beeped, alerting her to a new message.

"Bo again? Booty call? run along then." Vex sat back down and turned the TV volume up. "Sex without love is just sex. At least ask her to replace the clothes she tears or better still wear something with Velcro tonight!"

Lauren didn't answer. Instead, she went to get changed, as she needed to be at Bo's hotel room in thirty minutes.

Sitting in her car outside Bo's hotel, Lauren checked her make-up in her rear-view mirror just twenty-five minutes later. Vex was right about one thing, her love bites were getting harder to hide. And she looked tired. Work was busy, her Diplomat was going back overseas, and there was a lot of preparation. She found it hard to concentrate on details when she was so tired. At the same time, she was not about to give up Bo again.

Lauren rested back on the car's headrest with Vex's words echoing in her mind. She was feeling used. Apart from the brief moment in her office, they had not kissed since. Bo had called her over later that night to her hotel, citing that she didn't want to revisit the past and proposed a new agreement. It was then that Bo asked her to sign a contract and enter into a deal with casual hookups without strings. Lauren signed and went along, hoping that eventually, they would get their connection back and then she would broach the topic again to talk about what happened. But the next night, it was the same, sex without kissing, and back the night after that. Each one felt cold. A simple text message was sent to her phone with a time to be at the hotel. Then secretly ushered to her room by her security. Lauren felt determined that tonight would be different. She was going to talk to her.

Lauren felt more confident and exited her car with a renewed jump in her step.