Reality Love Bites

Chapter 6


"Okay, so with the music and the crowd, getting decent audio will be impossible. Just get some shots of Tamsin and Kenzi in the booth laughing, talking and getting to know one another. We will cut the footage with some music of our own and insert the before and after interviews throughout. I doubt there will be much physical contact between these two, but a few hand touches would be good if you can get them," Vex said, telling Hale what he needed for the show.

"You don't think Tamsin and Kenzi will hit it off?" Hale asked as he set up his camera. He had just finished doing the interviews with both Tamsin and Kenzi with the prompt cards Vex had given him. "They both seemed quite excited from the interviews."

Vex waved the camera mans comment away. "This little thing isn't really Tam Tam's type. Besides, it's the first date and even though I have asked Tamsin to try to play it up for the camera's, I doubt she will. Not yet."

"Kenzi's attractive, fun and sassy, what's not to like?"

Vex looked at Hale curiously. "Yes, she is all those things and while I can see Tamsin becoming friends with that little firecracker, there are several other women in the running that are more Tamsin's type in the sexy, hot, hot lovin' department. Just finish setting up the camera and leave the matchmaking to me, okay." Hale regarded Vex for a moment before shrugging and continuing his set up. "Thatta Boy!" Vex slapped Hale on the shoulder and went to the bar for a drink.


Bo watched as Lauren slowly removed her button down shirt and shorts and to her it was as hot as any strip tease she had ever seen, and she had seen a few. The blonde was wearing a high cut, black one piece bathing suit. Bo's breath hitched when Lauren turned and placed her clothing on a chair near the tub, giving her a clear view of the blonde's bare back and long, toned legs. She forced her gaze away, picked up her beer and took a slow, long sip, but she looked up again as Lauren climbed into the hot tub and sat in the seat right beside her. Bo motioned to the other bottle, which Lauren declined with a small shake of her head and a soft 'no, thank you'.

Squeals and whoops from the other side of the pool had them both watching Crystal with her hands covering her breasts and groin running past them and around the pool before stopping in front of Evony who was waiting for her with a towel. "She is really pushing the boundaries for the rules of the house, don't you think?"

Bo turned to face Lauren, "Honestly, I think it's the fighting that will be upheld above anything else. Oh, and getting caught having sex with another contestant, of course. I think the rest will just give the producers some titillating footage to bring in more viewers. Because surely they would have booted Evony for shooting you today before the game had even begun otherwise, don't you think?"

A small frown creased the blonde's forehead as she considered Bo's statement and the brunette found it utterly adorable. "I suppose so."

"The confrontation made good drama as did the fight earlier and the instant dismissal of Candy and Jasmine, but they can't kick everyone out or there won't be enough people left to vie for Tamsin's affections. So I think they will be loose with the rules as long as it's pretty harmless. Though if you hadn't been wearing your protective gear you could have been seriously hurt!" Bo's eyes drifted over to where Evony sat. She rolled her eyes as they continued to drink and get louder and louder. Bo had noticed however that Evony, herself, wasn't doing a lot of drinking and was just egging on the others. "I'm pretty sure even now she is trying to push some of the others into going too far so that they get eliminated from the show. I really don't like that woman very much."

"I wanted to thank you, Bo. For sticking up for me today."

Bo shrugged as she turned back to Lauren, "I don't like bullies, Lauren. I would have done it for anyone."

Bo felt as if Lauren was looking directly into her soul, her gaze was serious and intense. "So if Evony had done it to Crystal?"

"Well, maybe not Crystal," Bo said jokingly, but she had a feeling that Lauren wasn't buying her aloof dismissal about her obvious display of protectiveness she had displayed at the paintball centre. "Okay, I probably wouldn't have done it if it had been someone else, but you already know that, don't you? I feel a certain protectiveness when it comes to you. I've felt it since the moment we met. I've felt a lot of things from the moment we met...," Bo let her voice trail off. She felt the air around them changing as if it was being charged with the intensity of their gazes.

Lauren broke the spell by closing her eyes and shaking her head slightly, "Bo..." Bo reached out and placed her hand on the blonde's leg, mid thigh. She relished the intake of breath and the lick of her lips, that Lauren responded with at the contact. The blonde opened her eyes and Bo saw that they were darker in colour and almost smouldering with lust. "Bo... you shouldn't. We can't... I don't..."

"Excuse me ladies?" One of the cameramen had snuck up on them as they had gotten lost in the closeness and intensity of their forbidden attraction.

Both women turned their faces forward to give him their attention, but it was Bo that recovered her voice first. "What's up?"

"I just need to ask you both some questions from these prompt cards about todays challenge and your thoughts about the bachelorette and then we can head out for the night and give you ladies a break."

"Sure thing! Shoot!" Bo responded with a smile that would be sure to diffuse any suspicion if the man had noticed anything unusual about their behaviour. "I'm sure you are ready to get back to the crew wing and get some well deserved rest."

The man nodded eagerly, "you got that right. They are long days for sure and we don't get paid nearly enough!" He lifted his camera and started asking his questions.

Lauren found her voice and answered them with fake enthusiasm, trying desperately to ignore Bo's hand on her thigh. She was sure that the bubbles and steam hid what was going on under the water, but with every passing moment Bo's hand would inch just that little bit further up her leg. Her skin seemed to burn beneath the brunette's hand and towards the end of the interview she clamped her legs together, effectively trapping Bo's hand from moving those last few inches. She was wet, aching and pulsing with her bodies demanding reaction to Bo's touch.

"Thanks ladies. See you in the morning."

Bo waved her free hand that wasn't trapped between Lauren's thighs. "Our pleasure, right Lauren?"

Lauren forced a smile and wished the cameraman a good night's rest. The moment he was out of earshot and view Lauren reached down, grabbed Bo's hand and removed it from her leg, placing it on the seat between them. "Are you trying to get us kicked out of the house?"

Bo's eyes widened and a blush crept up her neck and cheeks, "No, I just... Are you mad? Am I in this alone? Am I the only one feeling this incredibly strong connection between us?"

Lauren squeezed Bo's hand, which she still held between them. "No, I'm not mad, but that was incredibly reckless and it can't happen again."

"So you don't feel anything for me?" Bo tried to pull her hand away but Lauren held fast. She was beginning to feel incredibly stupid and embarrassed by her rash actions to touch the blonde doctor. What the hell is wrong with me? I'm as bad as Crystal for fuck's sake! Her reaction wasn't like it was unwanted though. "I'm sorry for touching you when it so obviously wasn't welcomed. My mistake."

Lauren moved Bo's hand back to her thigh, her hand still resting on top of it. Bo didn't move a muscle and waited for the blonde to sort through and reiterate what she wanted to say, trying to make herself clearer. "I didn't say it wasn't welcome," Lauren murmured softly, her eyes searching Bo's, "but it's against the rules and despite this instant connection, I barely know you. We are both here to compete for another woman's affections, can't you see how wrong this is!"

"Are you here for LOVE or for the money?" Bo stared intently at Lauren. The blonde was very good at schooling her facial features to hide what she was truly feeling. Bo guessed that it would come in handy as a doctor, but right now it pissed her off and she pulled her hand away from Lauren as her frustration rose.

Lauren allowed Bo to take back her hand and she missed the contact immediately. "Bo, please don't be mad."

"I'm just trying to understand. I know why I'm here. I am here because my crazy best friend dragged me here in the spirit of a free holiday and a chance at winning some money and possibly some new work opportunities. Love was the furthest thing from my mind after the nightmare of my last relationship, that left me not just broken hearted but unemployed as well! But that all changed the moment you walked into the room. Now I am sticking around so that I can be around you and get to know you better."

In that moment Lauren wanted to kiss Bo. She was so earnest and sweet and wore her heart on her sleeve. Despite her obvious mending heart, Bo was still open to the possibility of having something special with her. She had bravely declared that she wanted to get to know her and risk being hurt again. "God, you are so cute! I could kiss you right now," Lauren blurted before she had a chance to stop herself and she clamped a hand over her mouth and felt the blush burn her cheeks.

Bo beamed at Lauren, dimples out in full force. "That would certainly get us kicked out, doctor."

Lauren splashed water at Bo as she continued to grin at her. "I can't believe I just said that! This is crazy, I don't know what is happening!"

Bo wiped the water from her face and smoothed back her hair, "Will you go out on a date with me, Lauren?"

"What!"

"When this is all over and we are out of the house. Whether I get booted tomorrow or you make it all the way to the end... Will you go out with me?"

Lauren laughed and Bo allowed the joyous sound to wash over her. "I don't know what to say! This is so surreal..."

Bo took a drink of her beer before laying it all out in front of the blonde who was looking at her with a dumbfounded look on her face. "Look, Lauren... I like you... a lot. I don't know if you believe in love at first sight or if you believe real love grows over time... all I know is that I feel incredible whenever you are near me and I am willing to fight to keep this feeling. I want to explore this connection that I feel with you and I will do my best to keep my hands off you while we are here to ensure that I can continue to get to know you." Bo looked at Lauren with hope filled eyes and said, "Just tell me that this isn't all in my head. That you feel it too, please."

Lauren stood up, ensuring that her body was between the crowd's view of Bo and raised a finger to her lips. She kissed it and then placed the same finger, she had kissed, against the brunette's mouth. "It isn't just you, Bo...I feel it too. I want to explore this thing we have as well. I'm going up to bed now, it's late and the tequila is giving me a headache. See you tomorrow."

Bo reached out and kissed Lauren's finger in return, before watching the blonde get out of the hot tub and walking away.


The limousine pulled up in front of the large mansion that held the contestants and crew for the show. Tamsin turned her attention to Hale, who sat quietly across from them and asked him if he would mind stepping outside for a moment to give her and Kenzi a quiet moment alone together.

"Vex said I'm supposed to get a few shots of you finishing up your date," Hale responded reluctantly as he looked from Tamsin to Kenzi, his gaze lingering on the tiny raven haired woman, whose blue-grey eyes mesmerized him.

"I will walk Kenzi to the door and thank her for the wonderful time we had. Vex will get his footage, Hale. It was just very hard to have a decent conversation in the club so that is why we danced and drank instead, isn't that right Kenz?"

"Dance we did, Tam Tam. I had a blast!" Kenzi fixed Hale with one of her penetrating stares, "I'm sure we won't keep you waiting long, Hale."

She said my name! She is so beautiful... and those eyes. Why do all the women I feel a real attraction beyond sex, end up being either taken or gay? Well, this is the first lesbian that I have had a crush on, I think.. But still! It's like some cosmic joke or something, he thought to himself. "Of course. I'll just set up and wait outside."

"Thank you, Hale, you're very sweet," Kenzi responded with a smile that left him flustered and falling out of the stretch limousine. He managed to save his camera from hitting the driveway, but lost his hat in the process, the wind blowing it into the garden that adorned the centre of the circular drive.

He stuck his head back inside, giving each of them a huge smile to deflect the embarrassment he felt, "Take your time ladies." He finished his statement with a wink before closing the door.

Tamsin chuckled, "I think he has a crush on you. Too bad he thinks you're a lesbian."

"Yeah, yuck it up, Nordic princess. I'm glad you find my predicament so amusing!"

"You like him!"

"Do not!"

"Do too! I'll give him your number when I kick you out of the house, okay?" Tamsin said wiping tears from her eyes from her laughter. "He is a really great guy. I was here a week before you and we talked a lot while we went through all the prep work for the show and what was expected of me.

"You'd really do that? Give him my number?" Kenzi asked in surprise. She felt no need to hide anything from the blonde anymore. Tamsin already knew that she was an imposter.

Tamsin just grinned at the young woman, "Why not? It seems that I have made a metamorphosis from the bachelorette to matchmaker."

"Don't discount the possibility of finding love yourself, Tam Tam," Kenzi said in sympathy. "You are really great and if I swung that way I would be all up in your business."

Tamsin laughed again and rolled her eyes, "No you wouldn't, but thanks for saying so. Let's get back on track shall we. Do you have any questions about our plan?"

"Trust me when I say that keeping Bo from blowing this plan of ours is going to be a full time job. She has fallen hard for Dr. Hot Pants and I am sure she has been utilizing every moment while I have been out with you, ensuring that Lauren knows that she is interested. My job will be making sure Bo Bo doesn't get them kicked out for fraternizing. She has a way of luring women into her bed with her magic honey pot. You should have seen her before her ex crushed her heart and soul!"

"The fact that she is still mending over her past relationship may help us then. I for a fact can believe that Bo would be able to seduce almost anyone in that house. If I hadn't noticed her affinity for Lauren from the start, I would have had Bo at the top of my list for possible suitors."

Kenzi saw the familiar look that she had seen in countless women when they thought about her best friend and asked curiously, "Then why are you doing this? Why not try to win Bo over and court her, seeing as that is what this show is supposed to be about?"

"Well, besides the fact that the contestants are supposed to be the ones wooing me and not the other way around, I know that it takes more than several weeks to build a strong foundation for a lasting relationship. This platform is not an ideal place to find love, Kenzi, or at least not the lasting kind that I want. I am ultimately doing this for Vex. He is a dear, dear friend and has helped me a lot through my pain and grief from losing my wife. Him and Ciara..." Kenzi searched Tamsins face as she thought about this Ciara woman. Hmm, interesting, she thought. Tamsin snapped out of her thoughts and refocused on Kenzi. "Sorry, where were we? Right, so we stick to the plan and everything should go off without a hitch. There will be another elimination after the group challenge tomorrow. Yourself, Bo and Lauren are safe and whoever wins the challenge will be safe, everyone else is on the chopping block." Tamsin saw that Kenzi was frowning. "What is it? Why the frowny face?"

Kenzi shrugged, "It's just that I was a huge fan of these shows. But being on this side of it and knowing that it is nothing like what the finished product is going to be. I will no longer be able to be one of those clueless viewers watching and not know that it is all a big giant setup. Television is so fake! They tell you what to do, how to act and if they don't like what you have to say, they will cut it and make it more pleasing for the audience..."

Both women were silent for a few moments before Tamsin spoke up, "It's not all fake, Kenzi. I would like to think that our friendships that is developing is real... That most of the feelings are real, but because the place that it's happening is so surreal and in its own little private bubble and not in the harsh reality of the real world... well, that's what makes it seem so fake and unreal." Tamsin made a face, poking her tongue out to the side, "Did that make any sense at all?"

Kenzi laughed and reached out and patted her new friend on the arm, "Funnily enough, it did! Thanks, Tam Tam, because you are right, this friendship is very real. We better get out there. Hale has been waiting for a while and I'm sure all the ladies in the house are chomping at the bit to ask me all about my date with you."

Tamsin agreed with a shake of her head, her hand coming to rest on the door handle, "So you are still fine with the good night kiss we discussed?"

"Yep, just keep it PG-13 so that it's believable that you like me enough to keep me around, but not so much that it makes me a target for the others to try to get rid of me."

Tamsin opened the door and stepped out of the limousine before reaching in to take Kenzi's hand, "Got it. No tongue," she whispered with a wink. They walked up to the ornate front door hand in hand and with the porch light illuminating them, Hale filmed their few words of thanking each other for a wonderful night and sharing some of their favourite highlights from the night for the camera. Tamsin then leaned in and gave Kenzi an intimate but chaste kiss and a hug. "Good night, Kenzi, and thank you again for a wonderful night."

Kenzi smiled, "It was a blast! We will definitely have to do it again," she said before opening the door and walking inside.

Tamsin said good night to Hale, who seemed a little sad, but that couldn't be helped if their plans for the show were to work. Tamsin would make it up to the sweet cameraman later, but right now she was confident in not only the show's success and what that would do to help boost Vex's career, but also that she and her ally Kenzi would succeed in bringing Bo and Lauren together and hopefully give them the opportunity to find happiness with one another. At least someone will have a happy ending, Tamsin thought as the chauffeur took her down the hill to her living quarters...


Author's Note: Thank you for your continued support for this little story. I am still having a lot of fun writing it and I hope to hear whether you are still enjoying reading it! ;)

So bring on the sunshine...

xoxo

Doccubus21.