Reality Love Bites

Chapter 16


Lauren fought the urge to run after the limousine as it pulled away from the curb with Bo safely inside. They had paid no heed to the cameras and crew surrounding them as they had said their tearful farewells. Bo had seared Lauren's mouth with a knee-weakening kiss full of love and promise before reluctantly moving out of her arms and into the waiting vehicle. Silent tears fell down Lauren's cheeks as she stood on the side of the street and continued to watch her love be taken away from her for a second heart-wrenching time.

She let out a choked laugh through her bittersweet crying when she saw Bo's head and upper body pop out from the roof of the moving limousine. Lauren waved and blew a kiss back to the equally tearful and distressed brunette until she was no longer in view and her shoulders slumped with the weight of the loss of her new love. Her heart ached already. After spending such a wonderful night wrapped in Bo's loving and passionate embrace, she felt raw and emotional with each growing second and it was as if she could feel Bo moving further and further away.

Lauren started at the vibration she felt against her leg and she suddenly remembered the item that lay snug in her pocket. Bo's phone. She had pushed it into the front pocket of her jeans as they had embraced. Lauren held her breath as Bo whispered instructions into her ear, before sucking her earlobe for a moment, then releasing her, looking at Lauren with sparkling, intense eyes. Every caress, every word, affected Lauren so viscerally. Bo was within her now and she longed for the moment that they would be reunited again. The show couldn't finish fast enough for Lauren's liking. She wanted Tamsin to say fuck the remaining overnight dates for Evony and Ciara. She wanted Tamsin to just choose Ciara and propose already! She wanted to be wrapped in Bo's arms again, right now!

Lauren let out a sigh and turned her attention to the crew that were milling around. "Let's get the 'morning after' interview over so that I can get back to the mansion," the blonde said using her fingers as quotation marks. She was irritable with the whole process, but as she sat in the portable booth and answered the questions posed to her, she couldn't help but smile as she talked about Bo. The mere thought of her lover and the memories they had made last night had Lauren wet and aching by the end of the interview. She squeezed her legs together for a moment before exiting the small room. Lauren was thankful to see a car waiting for her and said a soft goodbye to the crew before getting into the vehicle for a few moments of peace as they made their way up the hill towards the mansion.

Lauren stared at the phone in her hand. It was fully changed thanks to the iPod dock and she saw the little note Bo had made and set as her lock screen. Call me at the Hotel tonight, no matter the time. I love you, Bo. xo

Lauren knew Bo wouldn't be back at the hotel yet, but she rang and talked to the concierge and organised a small surprise to be waiting for her when she got back. Pleased with herself and feeling lighter and excited about calling Bo later, her heart ached a little less as she turned the phone off to save power. She couldn't wait till she could excuse herself tonight and go to her room, the same room that had been Bo's and Kenzi's. She would be alone and away from the camera's and she could talk to Bo and get her reaction to her gift. She hoped the network didn't mind her charging the gift to the room they were paying for. Lauren shrugged to herself too happy and excited now to care as the car pulled up in front of the mansion.

Ciara was out the door and asking questions before Lauren had even had a chance to step out of the car. "Oh my God! Tell me everything! When Tamsin came by last night and told us what was going on... Oh, Lauren! Tell me it was a night made of all your wildest dreams. Don't skimp on any of the details!"

"I may have to tone it down a little bit," Lauren responded with a huge grin.

Ciara literally squealed like a little girl hearing that she was going to Disneyland before she hugged Lauren tightly. "Come on! There is a light lunch and champagne waiting for us inside! I've been going stir crazy for hours being in this huge house by myself since Evony left for her date looking positively edible." Ciara bit her lip nervously.

Lauren took her hand and gave it a squeeze, "She ain't got nothing on you, Ciara. Tamsin has sincere feelings for you. I know it. I feel it in my heart."

"Really? Gosh, I hope so, Lauren. I've been in love with her for so long. I couldn't bear it if I lost her now."

Still holding Ciara's hand, Lauren tugged and started to lead them into the house. "You need to tell about your night as well. What happened when Tamsin just showed up out of the blue last night when she was supposed to be having a date with me? I owe her apology," stated Lauren as they sat down on the couch behind the glass coffee table that held an assortment of different finger foods, small sandwiches and a bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket of ice. "I wasn't very nice to her and after everything she organised to get Bo and me together. Oh, Ciara, it was amazing! The best night of my entire life. It was so hard to see her go again this morning, though."

"Tell me everything," Ciara stated as she poured them some champagne and they nibbled on the food. The afternoon was filled with laughter and pleasant conversation as they shared everything, not caring about the camera's surrounding them.

"This whole experience has been worth it because I got to meet you, Lauren. Please tell me we will stay in touch when all this is over."

Lauren nodded as she drank the remainder of her champagne, "Oh absolutely! We can double date!" Lauren said with a giggle.

"Or I could be the third wheel if Tamsin chooses Evony," Ciara said with a laugh that came out almost as a sob.

"Ciara! You can't seriously think that Tamsin would choose her over you! She's horrible!"

"She's stunning, accomplished, exotic and oozes confidence! The fact that's she's a bitch is a very little part of what Tamsin may find attractive about her. Besides, she's not a bitch to Tamsin, only to the rest of us because we are her competition."

Lauren just lets out a grunt in response. She really did despise Evony and the mere thought that Tamsin could even for a second consider picking her over the wonderful woman sitting beside her... was unimaginable!

"I'm grabbing another bottle and you are going to tell me why you are so worried about Evony!"

Ciara picked up her glass and followed Lauren into the kitchen. "The reasons I just laid out for you weren't enough?" Ciara let out a morose little laugh and shook her head, "It could be the fact that I practically gave her my blessing to sleep with her tonight if she wanted to! I'm such an idiot! What possessed me to do that!"

Lauren practically choked on her mouthful of bubbly. "YOU DID WHAT?!"

Ciara sighed as she sat on the stool at the kitchen island and allowed Lauren to fill her glass. "It wasn't just Tamsin and I last night, remember. Evony was here too, and I could see that there was a real attraction there and Evony can be damned alluring! Tamsin loves strong and self-assured women, especially since losing Jess. She seemed to date women that were as different from her as possible. She dated a whole bunch of Evony's!"

"Well, there's your answer then," Lauren said simply as she drank more of her champagne.

"Huh?" Ciara asked, confused.

Lauren shook her head and rolled her eyes at the clueless woman in front of her. "Don't you see! If she really wanted to live happily ever after with an Evony, she would have already. Simple."

Ciara laughed, "I like your theory, Lauren, but the other Evony's paled in comparison to the REAL Evony. When I got a few moments alone with Tamsin it was as if the world fell away and it was just us floating in our own little bubble, but I couldn't ignore the fact that I saw Tamsin using some very familiar mannerism's on both of us over the course of the night. I know her better than she knows herself and even though I showed her exactly how much chemistry we are capable of in the limousine after our date, it doesn't change the fact that..."

Champagne sprayed from Lauren's lips and she coughed and spluttered for several minutes as Ciara's laughed at the blonde's reaction. "What?! I came into this thing late in the game, Lauren. I needed to stake my claim and it wasn't just Evony I was concerned about losing Tamsin to. You are a dead ringer for Jess, you know. Not just in your beauty, but in your wonderful character and caring soul. You remind me so much of her." Tears welled up in Ciara's eyes and she let out a sob as her grief for her beloved deceased best friend overcame her. "God, I still miss her every day!"

Lauren put her glass down and stumbled around the counter and embraced the crying woman. "Oh! Hey, hey... Shhhh. It's okay," she murmured as she comforted Ciara.

Several minutes later, Ciara was wiping at her eyes, embarrassed by her outburst as she pulled out of Lauren's comforting embrace. "I'm so sorry, Lauren. I didn't mean to start blubbering like a complete Basketcase."

"I understand, Ciara. There is nothing to be embarrassed about, you obviously loved your friend very much. I have felt it every time that you reminisced about the history you have with Tamsin and Jess was a huge part of those stories. She deserves to be remembered and missed, so never ever feel ashamed for it."

"See! You are so like her. Thank you for your words. I know we haven't known each other long, but I feel so close and connected to you and just feel that we are going to be friends no matter what happens on this silly show."

"I feel the same way. Now will you please get back to the fact that you and Tamsin got down and dirty in the limo!"

Ciara blushed, "I don't know what came over me. I had never really been so bold and forward before, but after seeing all the women that were vying for Tamsin's heart, I just sort of threw caution and fear out the window and just went for it!"

"Aaannd," Lauren prompted, "how was it?"

Ciara turned a bright crimson, "Amazing. Beyond anything, I had imagined. I think that's why I told Tamsin that she was free to explore her attraction to Evony tonight. That she didn't owe me anything yet. Not until she chooses me and asks me to marry her. I need her to be certain, because if she chooses me, it will be forever. This isn't a game to me. It's real and I am completely invested in Tamsin and what I want with her. There's no gimmick, no falsehood of emotions. I have loved her for over ten years and my emotions and intent have been laid bare and naked at Tamsin's feet and I know she is terrified of risking our friendship. She needs to be certain beyond doubt, Lauren."

The blonde reached out and took Ciara's hands into her own, "She would be a fool not to pick you, but I admire your ability to allow her the freedom to search her own feelings and to decide if she is in it one hundred percent with you."

Ciara looked at the time, "They will be having dinner soon. God, I just know this is going to be the longest, most excruciating night of my life. I am going to be imagining them together and Evony seducing Tamsin and turning on the charm to get her into bed and whether the love of my life will give in to that temptation." Ciara put her head into her hands, "Argh! I wish I was an airhead who has absolutely no imagination, right now. Help keep me distracted, Lauren, so that I don't go completely mental. Please!"

Lauren grabbed the bottle and glasses and said, "Come on! Movie marathon until you can't keep your eyes open and you can just dream about your new life with Tamsin." Lauren winked at Ciara and gave her a reassuring smile. "I still have absolutely no doubt who Tamsin will choose and you still have your full day date tomorrow. By tomorrow morning, Tamsin will be like 'Evony who!'" ...


Bo entered her hotel suite to find a trail of rose petals leading to the bed. Upon the bed was a black box sealed with a bow of gold ribbon. Bo opened the small card tucked under the ribbon first. She smiled as she read the note and saw that it was signed by Lauren. It read...

I wish I could be there with you right now, my love.

Believe me when I say that I am missing you desperately already!

I hope you'll be wearing this when I call you tonight.

Eternally yours, Lauren. xoxo

Bo opened the box to find a bright red sheer bra and panty set with a see through robe inside. She gave a wicked smile as she held the silky expensive garments in her hands. Bo placed the lingerie back into the box and replaced the lid when there was a knock at her door. She opened it to find a young man in a courier's uniform waiting impatiently with a bored look on his face.

"You Bo Dennis?" he said, his tone matching his countenance.

"That's me. Yes."

"Sign here please." He thrust the tablet and stylus at her.

Bo signed quickly wondering if this was another surprise from Lauren. The courier didn't even look at her signature as he shoved the tablet into his bag and pulled out a padded yellow envelope and practically tossed it at her, already turning to leave. Bo watched him walk away for a moment before stepping back into her room and closing the door. She opened the envelope to find a dvd saying play me and a golden debit card. Bo crossed the room and inserted the disc into the entertainment centre and pressed play. Vex and Tamsin filled the screen and Bo sat on the end of the bed, her mouth hanging open as she listened to what they had to say.

"We are both hoping that you had a wonderful night with Lauren and that you are prepared to continue on this crazy roller coaster of a ride that Tamsin here has concocted," Vex said and Bo could see that he was trying his best to sound civil. "She has practically railroaded me into changing my entire show, just so she can play matchmaker and it is going to cost me big time! So you better not disappoint me, Bo Dennis and you damned well better be serious about that blonde doctor of yours."

Tamsin slapped Vex on the arm and explained what the hell he was talking about. "Vex really means to thank me for making his show a slam dunk and he will be begging me for help in his future projects." Vex started to gripe at Tamsin and Bo could see their friendship shining through and it made her smile. Despite her dislike of the eccentric man, she could see genuine love in his voice and face as he argued playfully with her. "Just shut up for a moment will you, so I can tell Bo what we have in store for her."

Vex waved his hand in the air, "Whatever! Get on with it. You need to get to your date with Evony."

Tamsin looked back at Bo through the television screen, all playfulness gone. "I will be expecting to see you in two days time standing right beside me, Bo. That's right, there is going to be a double proposal. I will propose to either Evony or Ciara and YOU will be going down on bended knee and asking the lovely Lauren Lewis to be your wife. The enclosed debit card has five thousand dollars on it and you are to visit a jeweller of your choice to choose a ring for your lucky lady. A car will be sent to get you the day after tomorrow to bring you to our final shoot. Well, that's it. See you at the proposal," Tamsin finished with a wink seconds before the screen went dark.

Bo sat on the bed in silence for several minutes, flipping the plastic card between her fingers.

Marriage. To Lauren.

She swallowed hard.

This is HUGE! Am I ready for that kind of commitment? Is SHE? What if she says no?

Bo shook her head, ridding herself of that thought.

No! I love her and she loves me. Waiting and time won't change that. I'm going to get her the most beautiful ring I can find and I am going to ask her to spend the rest of her life with me.

"She loves me," Bo said softly to herself, feeling the warmth of her feelings for Lauren wash over her, rinsing away any doubts that were trying to invade her. "Yes, she loves me," she repeated as she grabbed her jacket and headed for the door.

Time to go shopping, she thought as she closed the door and headed towards her future...


Author's note: Here is the chapter that took me a week to write. Very busy week indeed! Lol

I hope you enjoyed this installment and you'll let me know by leaving a little review with your thoughts. Are you all team Ciara? Or are there some of you hoping that Tamsin chooses Evony? There are probably only three or four chapters of this story left and then I will set my mind back out into space to continue with The Matriarch's and The Commander's blossoming relationship though I'm sure that it will not be smooth sailing for them. :)

Till next time, take care.

Faithfully Doccubus forever and ever,

Doccubus21

xoxo