Author's Notes:
- This chapter follows Lauren and continues directly from where chapter 8 ended.
- Some reviewers have mentioned wanting to see Bo and Lauren together soon. I promise that it will happen but there is a method to my madness. As much as I'd love to make it happen right away, it can't in order to be realistic and true to the characters. With that said, I can't express how much I appreciate your sticking with my story – just know that it will be worth the wait.
A HUGE thank you to everyone reviewing, following and who have marked "Time" as a favourite.
Special thanks to bluebunnyRAFI for providing me with information on Brazil's culture – much appreciated!
Thanks to my Beta, Neytiri's Heart - for her advice and awesome insight. And to my friend Bev, for helping me hash out storyline details and getting me past my slump.
Chapter 10 - "The Bond"
Base Camp – Lauren's tent (evening - day 20)
Lauren lay back on her cot and closed her eyes. She felt emotionally exhausted from dredging up her past; her residual feelings regarding Nadia; and all her hurt and disappointment with regards to her relationship with Bo. The blonde was a pro at hiding and masking her emotions but once she allowed them to show, she found it difficult to stuff them back down again.
Before Nayara could begin, Lauren gently squeezed her hand and looked in her eyes, "This may sound stupid but… will this hurt?"
Nayara replied genuinely, "No. There will be no pain whatsoever."
The Empath could tell that Lauren had some questions but was hesitant to ask. As if reading her friend's mind, she asked, "Would you like me to explain what will happen?"
She nodded her head. "I'm sorry, I know that you're trying to help and I don't want to hinder your… process. I just have this compulsion to understand."
Nayara chuckled. "I know, Lauren - you can't turn off your scientific brain." The brunette paused for a moment before continuing. "How about this? I'll give you the Cole's Notes version and once we have a quiet moment back at the Compound, you can ask me all the questions you want."
"Okay." Lauren sat upright so that she was at the same eye level as the brunette.
Nayara adjusted her chair so that it was closer to Lauren's cot. "It's ironic that as a Fae that feeds off of emotions, I need to physically touch the person. Well, that's not quite accurate. I don't have to touch the person - I can feed or channel as long as I'm within visual sight of the individual; but having a physical link makes for a better connection and transference."
The Light Fae continued, "It's different for every Empath but what works for me is touching some part of the person's face – whether it's with my hand to some part of their face or my forehead to theirs."
The brunette settled back into her chair. "When I start, you will feel my hand grow warm – it won't be burning hot but it will definitely be noticeable. There is also the possibility that you may feel a tingling sensation throughout your body. But this is different for everyone, so you may not experience it."
Lauren nodded her understanding, prompting Nayara to continue.
"As I feed, you will start to feel incredibly tired as if you had a long, hard day and all you want to do is sleep. In fact, it would be very difficult for you to stay awake. But when you do wake, you will feel well rested; probably the best sleep that you've had in a long time. You'll also feel very happy, energized and light, like a heavy burden has been lifted. This sensation or euphoria as I like to call it, will last for a few days, perhaps five, but it is really dependant upon how much I consume."
The blonde interrupted, "Take as much as you like."
"Are you certain?" the brunette wanted to make sure.
"Yes, I am." Lauren said resolutely.
Nayara nodded her acknowledgement. "Okay then. Finally, and this is important, channelling causes a bond to form which affects both parties - such is the nature of the feed. This bond is determined by the state of our existing relationship, which is then intensified or magnified, and which lasts for the entire euphoric period.
I'll give you few examples to clarify. If the state of our relationship was that we didn't like each other, then after feeding, our feelings would be more intense and we would hate one another. If we were casual friends, then our friendship would feel stronger as if we were best friends. And if we liked each other romantically, then those feelings would be more intense and would lean towards love. Regardless of the type of relationship, this heightened emotion would affect us both and last for a few days."
The brunette looked into her friend's eyes, seeking confirmation again. "Do you understand everything that I've just told you? I want you to be sure of this Lauren."
The blonde nodded her head. "I trust you." she said genuinely.
Nayara exhaled deeply, "Alright then; close your eyes and relax."
Lauren laid back and got comfortable on her cot.
Leaning forward slightly, Nayara placed her left hand on Lauren's forehead and momentarily closed her eyes as she took a deep breath and exhaled. The blonde noted how soft her friend's hand felt and relaxed under her touch.
A few seconds passed before Lauren started to feel something. At first she wasn't sure but then she felt the warmth slowly intensify from underneath the Empath's hand. "I can feel it… the spot under your hand is very warm."
Lauren always considered her observations of Fae and their feeding methods to be interesting; so finding herself on the receiving end of a feed, despite the circumstances, tugged at her curiosity. The blonde noted her physical reactions to the Empath's channelling and felt compelled to verbalize her observations, moreso for herself than for anyone else's benefit. "My body also feels tingly… the sensation starts from near your hand and then radiates out."
Nayara smiled at her friend's scientific geekiness and saw her stifle a yawn. Lauren was starting to feel tired and it was just a matter of time before she fell asleep.
Despite her grogginess, the blonde's insatiable curiosity compelled her to force her eyes open to observe Nayara.
"Your eyes!" Lauren exclaimed.
"What?!" Nayara was taken aback by the slight outburst and pulled her hand away in reaction.
"Your eyes are brown." The blonde said in a softer tone; her fascination with the physical change in the Empath's appearance temporarily surpassed any fatigue she felt.
Nayara smiled. "You know how a person's eyes normally indicate their mood or emotional state?"
"Yes." Lauren's sudden burst of energy instantly receded and she was now struggling to keep her eyes open.
"For an Empath, the eyes are the doorway to one's emotions – they reflect it completely. When I feed, my eyes take on the color of the person that I'm channelling from." Nayara observed the blonde's eyelids grow heavy and softly placed her hand back on Lauren's forehead. "So, feeding from you, my eyes become brown."
The blonde blinked a few times but was unsuccessful in keeping them open. "That's a shame." she drawled.
"What's a shame?" the Fae asked, confused by her friend's statement.
"Your blue eyes… so beautiful." Lauren managed to reply through her drowsiness.
Nayara blushed at the compliment and smiled that only the blonde could illicit such a response from her. "I consider myself honoured to reflect your eyes Lauren."
Lauren smiled sweetly at her comment before she drifted off to sleep.
The Empath stood up from her chair some time later and covered Lauren with a blanket. The blonde was resting and would sleep through the night. It wasn't that Nayara didn't want to help Lauren but feeding from her meant that a deeper connection would form and she was trying to prevent that from happening. As it was, Nayara already felt strongly for Lauren and had been suppressing her admiration for and attraction to her. She considered her to be an amazing person; a wonderful friend; and a brilliant scientist who was extremely loyal and passionate. The Empath wanted nothing more than to pursue a relationship with the blonde but she knew that Lauren was not ready and she didn't know if she ever would be; her love for the Succubus ran deep and the pain of her heartbreak, even more so. Now that Nayara fed off of her, she was cognizant that the next few days would be difficult as her feelings for the blonde would be more intense.
Nayara sighed as she looked down at the doctor. She gently brushed a strand of blonde hair from her face; her fingers lingering on Lauren's cheek to memorize how soft and wonderful her skin felt. The Empath didn't know how the blonde survived these six years with the Fae after everything that she went through and yet still remained loyal to them. Nayara felt her anger grow as she thought about Lauren's treatment by her own kind and she felt ashamed to be Fae.
The brunette kissed Lauren's forehead tenderly and quietly exited her tent. Nayara knew that Lauren would feel better in the morning and she hoped that it would be the start towards her recovery. However as she walked away, her thoughts began to stray and she felt her emotions fluctuate. She grew angry thinking about how foolish and selfish Bo was for hurting Lauren and for throwing her love away; and at the same time, she was also incredibly jealous as the Succubus held the blonde's heart. Nayara wished she were so lucky – if she were Bo, she knew that she never would've made such a mistake. The Empath stopped in mid-stride and took a couple of cleansing breaths to get her emotions under control before resuming the trek back to her tent. The next few days were definitely going to be difficult.
Base Camp (day 21 – early morning)
Lauren woke up feeling refreshed and incredibly well rested. She couldn't remember when last she had such a restful sleep. As she contemplated last night's events, the blonde was surprised to find that she wasn't upset about what led to her requesting Nayara's help. Instead, she felt as if the weight of the world was taken off of her shoulders. Rationally, she knew that her situation hadn't changed but it was as if her emotions were detached. She couldn't even make herself feel sad or overwhelmed when she thought about her life's circumstances - her brain knew the reality of her situation but her emotions weren't affected by them. She felt liberated in every sense and it was a wonderful feeling.
They were all seated quietly in the helicopter making their way back to Brasília. It had been a long but productive 10 days in the field and thoughts of what had to be done when they returned to the Compound, filled the minds of the three women. Serena noticed that the doctor seemed different this morning but she couldn't quite put a finger on what it was. There was a slight change in her gait and how she spoke; and though the doctor was normally pleasant and professional, this was something more.
It wasn't until they were about half-way through their flight that it occurred to her what was different. They were all watching the lush green landscape below when the Ignis heard something. At first it didn't register as it was indiscernible against the sound of the helicopter blades and all the cabin noise, however once Serena was able to differentiate the sound from the rest of the din she was able to trace it back to the blonde. Serena finally clued in to what was different with Dr. Lewis - she was 'chipper'. The doctor seemed to be in her own world, smiling and humming to herself as she looked out at the countryside below. Serena had never heard or seen the doctor hum in her six years with the Fae; and she didn't know if she should be amused, thankful or concerned by what caused it.
Back at the Compound's Lab, Lauren couldn't wait to get her hands on all the samples that they collected in the field. She had boundless energy and her mind was racing with all the things that she had to do: extract the samples; examine them for variations or mutations; record findings and pertinent information; and properly store for preservation and avoidance of contamination. In following this procedure for each sample, there would be a plethora of information collected from all the villages surrounding all three Base Camps. They would then be able to collate and compare the information and look for any commonalities between all the sites and the infected patients.
The hours flew by as Lauren worked diligently; testing and observing blood, plant and water samples under the microscope and recording the information. Nothing else existed as Lauren hummed to herself, happily immersed in her work.
When Serena entered the lab to take the blonde to lunch, she knew that with everything collected in the field, the doctor would be busy. As such, the Ignis was prepared for the doctor's workaholic persona to try and deflect her attention in some way or that she would insist on eating later. Instead, Lauren just smiled, thanked her for reminding her about lunch and promptly put the samples and equipment away so that she could go to the dining hall with the Ignis. Serena was flabbergasted.
In the dining hall, Lauren was all smiles and engaged in small talk with those seated next to her even if she didn't know them. When Serena walked Lauren back to the lab afterwards, the doctor asked her to pass her regards on to Ash Santiago. While they were talking, the blonde intentionally but briefly touched her arm. The Ignis was baffled - the doctor was never touchy feely. Serena even enquired about her health to see if she was feeling okay, to which the blonde chuckled.
Later that evening
Nayara had observed the blonde during the day but didn't want to intrude on her work tempo. Aside from also being incredibly busy and having to provide the Ash with her weekly field report, the brunette was still adjusting to her amplified feelings and needed time to control what was real and what was heightened. Now that the work day was done and her emotions were somewhat contained, the Empath decided to pay the blonde a visit to see how she was doing.
Lauren opened her door and smiled. "Nay! Hi!"
"Hello… Nay?" the brunette repeated in a puzzled tone as Lauren showed her in to her apartment.
The blonde beamed, "It's my new nickname for you – it's short for Nayara."
The Empath chuckled. "I like it."
"Would you like something to drink?" Lauren asked.
"No thanks, I can't stay long. I just wanted to see how you were feeling."
Nayara sat on the couch while Lauren sat beside her. The blonde seemed to have a permanent smile on her face. "I feel great! Never better!"
"That's good to hear, though to be honest, you've been acting as if you've been on Methamphetamines all day." Nayara chuckled. "I know that you're not but you don't seem yourself to everyone else – you're hyper-focused and almost bouncing off the walls; and you're humming and smiling all the time." The Empath paused and had a sparkle in her eyes, "Though you do have a beautiful smile and really should smile more often."
"Flatterer." Lauren laughed and playfully swatted the brunette's arm. "I suppose it would look like that. I just felt incredibly happy and energized all day… I still do. It's an amazing feeling. Thank you so much, Nay."
"I'm happy to hear that you're feeling better Lauren." The Empath smiled genuinely as she got up to leave.
The blonde reached out and gently grabbed Nayara's hand to stop her from leaving and the brunette instinctively curled her fingers around Lauren's. The simple touch caused Lauren's heart to race which caught her off guard; similarly, chills travelled through Nayara's body and she had to take a quick breath to collect herself.
"Can I ask a favour of you?" Lauren asked as she quickly composed herself and let her hand drop down to her side.
"Anything." The Empath replied seriously as she sat back down.
"I didn't pack much coming here and I really need some extra clothes and other essentials. I don't know the area and I was wondering if you could take me shopping sometime this week?" Lauren asked.
The Fae thought it was going to be something serious or dire and chuckled at the request. "Of course! I'm sorry, I'm such a terrible hostess – I haven't even shown you around Brasília."
"I wasn't expecting you to Nay. We've had more pressing things to deal with. My needing clothes for the field and gym is not a priority-"
"Nonsense, Lauren." The Empath interrupted. "Having you comfortable while you work to find a cure for the disease ailing my people is more than reason enough. I am swamped with meetings tomorrow but how about we leave work a little early the day after?"
"That sounds great, thank you." Lauren said genuinely. "I'll let Serena know. I'm sure that she will be happy to flex her bodyguard muscles outside the walls of the Compound." Lauren chuckled. Even though the Ignis never complained, she knew that Serena was bored whenever in the Compound and would appreciate the opportunity to actually perform her duties as a protector instead of spending her time escorting her to the dining hall for meals.
Brasília (day 23 – early afternoon)
When the doctor told Serena that they would be going into the city a couple of days ago, she was ecstatic. Even though it hadn't been long since they were in the Atlantic Forest, being in the Compound was mind numbing. She longed to do the job that she was assigned but whilst within the Light Fae HQ, there was no point. However, venturing out into an unknown environment would put her on her guard for any possible threats - this would be a better use of her time, effort and skills - and she was looking forward to it. Serena was aware that their excursion would most likely be uneventful but anything would be a better change of pace from the routine of the Compound.
Dr. Hernandez drove them to one of the popular shopping districts that had a huge variety and selection of stores. Both Serena and Lauren didn't know what to expect and were surprised to find that the outlet stores were very similar to those in Toronto. They quickly realized that the business of retail didn't change because one was located in a different hemisphere. When they got out of the car, Serena explained to Lauren that she would hang back a bit in order to assess the surroundings; that both she and Dr. Hernandez could go wherever and do whatever they wanted - she would be there in the background.
At first Lauren felt that she was being rude that Serena was walking behind them as she was not able to participate in their conversation or shop together; but as soon as she thought it, she realized how silly that was. First of all, this was what the Ignis wanted – she was doing her job; secondly, Serena didn't do conversations; and lastly, could she really picture the Ignis shopping, trying on clothes and asking if the outfit matched her complexion? Once the blonde chuckled at herself, she didn't give the bodyguard situation a second thought and was able to comfortably walk, talk and shop with Nayara without feeling as if she were ignoring or being discourteous to Serena.
Being in security, one needed to be observant of one's surroundings and also of people – not so much what they said but how they said it; their eyes; their mannerisms; and their body language. Fortunately, Serena had an eye for details and was skilled at reading people; both of which were an asset in her line of work. In keeping some distance between herself and the two doctors, the Ignis was able to assess the area and have a clear view of anyone that would approach Dr. Lewis. She was also able to observe the blonde carefully and without interruption. Ever since they returned from the Atlantic Forest, the doctor was happy; she was all smiles and constantly humming; and even though she was the consummate professional she was more pleasant than usual. The Dr. Lewis that she knew back in Toronto was cool and detached; now she was warm, friendly and very personable. It's not that Serena didn't like seeing this side of the blonde or that she was concerned about her behaviour; she just didn't know what happened to cause the change.
She watched as both doctors went from store to store, looking at clothes and trying them on; talking and laughing as they did so. Each woman would bring the other something to try on just for the fun of it and then they would give their opinion once they were finished modelling. Even though Lauren was looking for clothing for the gym and the field, she also tried on hats, shoes, blouses and dresses for fun. Both doctors seemed to be enjoying themselves as they modelled various articles of clothes whilst also teasing each other about the clothes that they were wearing. Serena knew that they both needed a well earned break after the long hours that they spent in the lab and in the field; and if this was their way of blowing off steam, it was harmless fun and definitely well deserved. As she watched the two women interact, she wondered if Dr. Hernandez was the cause for Dr. Lewis' change in attitude. It was obvious that they were close friends but the subtle glances that they shared, as well as, indications in their body language whenever they were in close proximity of one another, suggested that there may be something more between them. Granted, it didn't matter to Serena if her client was involved with anyone – her only concern was Dr. Lewis' safety. However, if she were a matchmaker, she would say that the two looked good together.
Three hours later they were done shopping – Lauren had purchased what she needed as well as two outfits – a sun dress and an evening dress – upon the Empath's insistence that they fit her perfectly and looked fabulous on her. Nayara then suggested that seeing that they were in the city, they should make the most of the opportunity and grab a bite to eat at a popular Churrascaria, which she explained, was a restaurant that specialized in barbequed food.
As they entered the restaurant, the smell of barbequed meat permeated the air, making them salivate; the aroma fuelling their hunger. Lauren insisted that Serena sit and eat with them and was pleasantly shocked when the Ignis didn't argue - she was starving and not surprisingly, loved meat cooked over an open fire. Nayara explained that the Passadores or meat waiters would come to their table a few times during their meal with sizzling skewers on which were speared various kinds of meat: prime rib, steak, pork ribs, sirloin, lamb, steak wrapped in bacon and chicken. After they chose what they wanted, it would be served with rice, black beans, sweet plantains and potatoes.
By the time they had finished eating, they were stuffed and completely satisfied with their meal and dining experience. If Serena could take one of these Churrascaria restaurants back to Toronto, she would. As they quietly walked back to Nayara's car, their individual thoughts were on the delicious food that they just consumed as well as the fact that it was a nice change of pace being out of the Compound. As they drove back, Serena listened to the two women talk about what they bought; clearly enjoying their shopping high. The Ignis just smiled as she herself was on a high of her own - she was able to escape the humdrum routine of being inside the Compound and do her job; she could only hope that Dr. Lewis would want to go shopping again soon.
Back at the Compound, Serena said good night as Nayara walked with Lauren to her apartment.
"Thank you so much Nay. I can't tell you when last I went shopping for myself or with anyone else for that matter… I had a great time." Lauren gushed.
"I did too." Nayara said as they approached her apartment.
"Would you like to come in for some tea?" Lauren said before the brunette had the chance to say good night.
Despite the fact that Nayara's rational instincts screamed 'no' and insisted that she make a hasty retreat to her apartment; she replied, "Thanks, I'd love some." The Empath couldn't pass up the opportunity to spend some time alone with Lauren even though she knew that it wasn't a good idea.
They were both on the couch enjoying their tea and sat so that they were facing one another - Nayara's back was resting against the arm of the couch and Lauren was seated in the centre.
"So, when we were in the field and I asked you what talents you had, why didn't you say you could sing?" the Empath asked curiously.
"I guess I never considered my singing to be a talent; it's just something that I always did growing up… my family and I always sang at events and gatherings – it's what we did together." Lauren smiled at the memory. "I hadn't realized how long it had been since I last sang though."
"That explains the humming then." Nayara mused.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you've been humming almost constantly since we left Mata Atlântica but you never hummed before that; so I'm guessing that you had a tendency to hum at some point in your life."
"Now that you mention it, yes, I used to hum a lot – it was an unconscious habit of mine... I've forgotten how much of myself I've hidden since I've been with the Fae." the blonde contemplated out loud.
"You should start singing again Lauren, you have a lovely voice." The brunette said genuinely.
"Thanks, that's sweet of you to say, however, I'd really like to hear you sing sometime." Lauren smiled at her friend and pondered on her recommendation, "Though I'll definitely give your suggestion some thought as I've always enjoyed singing."
The blonde took a sip of her tea before switching topics. "Anyway, you said that I could ask you questions about your feeding and you also said that you never had the opportunity to discuss the after effects from someone who you have fed off of. How about we help each other out?"
"Sure." The Fae agreed, looking forward to gaining some insight into how her feeding affected others.
"Why don't you start?" the blonde offered.
"Okay. What exactly did you feel as I fed off of you – aside from the heat from my hand and your feeling tired?" Nayara asked.
"Well, it felt as if I had a high fever that was restricted to the spot under your hand - at the time I assumed that the heat would radiate out past that point, but it didn't; instead it felt like, umm… tendrils reaching out through my body and where it travelled, it left a cool, tingling sensation." Lauren paused to formulate her thoughts, "It didn't hurt though; in fact it was a pleasant sensation. It also made me feel very calm and relaxed."
The brunette nodded indicating that she was happy with the response and that Lauren could ask her question.
"I have this intense desire to say and act upon everything I think and feel; it's like I don't have a filter or any restraint whatsoever. It's incredibly difficult to suppress. Is this normal?" Lauren blurted out without taking a breath.
"Yes, very normal – it's a side effect of my feeding from you. Freeing one's emotions is very liberating and for the entire euphoric period you will want to say and do exactly what you think and feel – it's like your body craves that emotional expression. Trying to suppress it will be arduous as your ability to censor yourself will be greatly diminished - you'll have to try really hard to not say and do what you want." Nayara paused and smiled, "Though I have to admit it's very interesting seeing this side of you without all the walls that you normally have in place."
"Enjoy it while you can Nay." Lauren smiled. "It's ironic actually… usually it would be very easy for me to censor myself and the fact that I am currently experiencing difficulty doing so would normally be very disconcerting for me. However, at the moment, I just don't seem to care." the blonde chuckled at this revelation.
"How do you feel now though… after the fact?" the Empath asked.
"I feel incredibly happy and full of energy. My mind feels clear and uncluttered. And I feel as if all my troubles have disappeared because the feelings associated with them seem to be… gone. I have you to thank for that Nay." The blonde suddenly reached over and pulled the brunette into a warm embrace; surprising the Empath. "Sorry, that's me not showing any restraint."
Nayara chuckled as Lauren released her, "I don't mind. I'm just glad that you're feeling better. Just remember that all of this is temporary."
"I know. I'll just enjoy it while it lasts." Lauren smiled. "Are there any after-effects? Will I come crashing down from a high?"
The brunette shook her head, "No, you'll just feel as you did before but it should be slightly less intense. The reason is that you've released some of your pain, frustration, sadness and anger; so even though it still exists, there would be less of it."
The blonde smiled and nodded her understanding.
"Thank you Lauren. In all my years, I've always wanted to know if my feeding had any negative or hurtful effects but I never had the opportunity to find out. It always seemed incredibly rude to ask." the brunette chuckled.
"It was my pleasure; besides, it is I who should be thanking you." Lauren gave her famous smile.
Nayara smiled genuinely at the blonde and reached for her hand.
Both women quietly looked at how comfortably their fingers intertwined and fit together. However, when Nayara realized what she had done, she pulled her hand away hastily. "I'm sorry. I… I shouldn't have done that." she said embarrassed by her actions.
"It's okay Nay. I don't mind... really." Lauren admitted.
"We can't trust our feelings right now Lauren. Everything will feel more intense because of our bond." Nayara cautioned, irritated at herself for being rational and also for giving into her heightened emotions.
Lauren closed the distance between them and gently cupped Nayara's cheek, causing the brunette to melt into her touch. "Why do we have to be careful? We could continue lying to ourselves but we both know that we've felt an attraction to each other before the bond."
Nayara covered the blonde's hand with hers, savouring the moment before she brought their hands down to rest on their laps. "I don't want our friendship to suffer Lauren; besides, you're not over Bo."
The blonde smiled sweetly at the Fae sitting in front of her, "You are wonderful, do you know that?"
Nayara tried to diffuse the situation and made light of things. "This is your lack of restraint talking." she chuckled.
"True but I'm also being honest. You've done so much for me Nayara – I won't ever forget it." Lauren replied seriously as she looked sincerely into the brunette's eyes. "Do you know what I thought when I first saw you?" she asked softly. "I thought you were absolutely stunning and I found myself lost in your incredible blue eyes."
"Lauren…" the brunette tried to find an excuse to pull away or stop what was happening but she couldn't come up with a reason that mattered; all rational thought was rapidly dwindling. "My God, you're beautiful."
Lauren dipped her head and blushed; allowing her hair to act as a curtain to hide behind so that she could quickly regain her composure. Once she did, she looked deep into the Empath's eyes, "I've wondered what it would be like to kiss you but was afraid to try." The blonde adjusted herself so that one leg was half-kneeling on the couch and her right foot planted next to the brunette's feet; each hand was resting on the couch on either side of Nayara as she leaned in towards her, essentially trapping her in place. "I'm not afraid now." The blonde said in a husky voice as her eyes drifted from Nayara's eyes to her mouth.
The longing in Lauren's voice and the proximity of her body made the Empath's desire spike and whatever was left of her control, immediately went out the window when she felt the blonde's soft lips on hers. She instantly cupped Lauren's face in her hands and pulled her into her; forcing the blonde to straddle her as their mouths crashed against one another. Lauren's fingers wove themselves through Nayara's hair at the nape of her neck, while the brunette's hands found their way down Lauren's back and waist, holding her in place. At first, their kisses were slow and tender as they savoured the sensation of their lips on one another, but it quickly turned hungry and passionate; their hands roving over each other's bodies.
As their kisses intensified, Lauren was flooded with a wave of intense emotion. The blonde wasn't sure if it was the bond or if it was an affect of her physical contact with the Empath; all she knew was that she was experiencing exactly what Nayara was feeling at that moment and this connection was incredibly emotional and arousing. As strange and wonderful as the sensation was, the blonde wasn't afraid or concerned; instead it only made her feel closer to the Empath.
Nayara had fantasized about kissing Lauren and now that it was happening, it was so much better than she had ever imagined but she couldn't trust if it was because of their real feelings or if it was the bond making them act on their attraction. It took everything within her to rein her emotions in; with her hands gripping Lauren's waist, she lifted her off of her, effectively ending a very sexually and emotionally charged moment.
They were both breathing heavily as Nayara promptly stood and put some distance between them.
The Empath saw the puzzled look on the blonde's face. "I'm sorry Lauren… believe me I didn't want to stop but if I continued, I wouldn't want to leave your apartment tonight and we're not ready to take things further."
Lauren took a few deep breaths as the meaning behind Nayara's words sank in. "You're right." she said, her logical side agreeing with the brunette.
The Empath exhaled in relief. "Are we okay? I don't want things to be awkward between us."
The blonde nodded her head and smiled reassuringly, "Yes, we are okay. Though, I'd really like for us to talk about this after our bond ceases."
Nayara's eyes brightened, "I'd like that."
They both stood there gazing at one another; each hesitant to move. Finally, Nayara broke the silence. "I should go." she said softly and turned to make her way to the door.
Lauren's voice halted her movements. "You know, you can hug or kiss me goodnight. I won't bite… unless you want me to?" She smirked.
The Empath cocked her head and grinned, "I think its best if I don't answer that."
Nayara bridged the gap between them and gently kissed Lauren on her cheeks, alternating between left, right and left; before resting her forehead against the blonde's; breathing her in. They both stayed that way for a few moments before Lauren pulled away and kissed the brunette lightly on her forehead. "Good night Nay." she said sweetly.
The Empath nodded and said goodnight before walking out the door.
Lauren locked the door and leaned her back against it. She took a deep breath and exhaled loudly, 'What are you doing?' the sensible side of her said as she rolled her eyes upwards. The blonde was still adjusting to this euphoric bond that she had with the Empath - it simultaneously fascinated her and perplexed her. She smiled as her fingertips instinctively touched her mouth where only a few moments ago, Nayara's lips were.
Pushing away from the door, the blonde collected the dishes and put them in the dishwasher before turning off the lights in the kitchen. Despite everything going on in her life right now, Lauren didn't feel any guilt or regret about kissing Nayara. She knew that before the feeding, she cared about the Empath and had found her attractive but knew that she most likely wouldn't have acted upon it. Maybe the channelling did make her fearless and maybe the bond did heighten her feelings for Nayara but regardless of why she felt what she felt, she was glad that they kissed. It was very liberating to act on an emotion instead of ignoring it and burying it deep inside.
It was late and Lauren had a long day ahead of her tomorrow, so she got ready for bed. As she took her night clothes out of the drawer, she glanced at her cell phone and decided to check for messages.
Based on the date-time stamps, Bo had left a number of voice and text messages while she was in the Atlantic Forest and judging from their tone, the blonde gathered that the Succubus was drunk when she left some of them:
* How are you? I hope you're ok and they're treating you well. *
* I miss you Lauren. I wish you were here. *
* Guess what? Trick installed a mechanical bull at the Dal! Its fun but it hurts like a bitch when you fall off! *
* How could you just run away? You didn't even stay and fight for us. *
* Vex is back in town and has his powers back! Thought that would appeal to your scientific curiosity. *
* You were willing to listen to Tamsin but you wouldn't even give me, your own girlfriend; a chance to explain what happened? *
* You always keep things from me as if I can't handle the truth and then you expect me to know what you're thinking and feeling?! *
* I love you Lauren. *
* There were two of us in this relationship. You brought your share of shit to the table and you put everything on me yet you didn't see me run away from us! *
* Please give me another chance. *
* How could you just leave without us talking things out? *
* What gives you the right to make a decision that affects us both?! I never got the chance to explain my side of things and you expect me to be okay with this?! *
* I'm so sorry Lauren. My life is empty without you in it. Please give me another chance. I want to make things right. *
Normally Lauren would be upset – angry or crying or heartbroken - yet listening to and reading Bo's messages didn't phase her; it was as if a stranger called and texted her by mistake. She knew she should be upset but she just wasn't.
The blonde was very calm when she returned Bo's texts:
* I'm fine. I've been very busy in the lab and field. *
* They're treating me well here so there's no need for you to worry. *
* Bo, I have to be honest, I don't believe you when you say that you love me. I also don't trust you after you lied to me about Dyson and Tamsin. *
The blonde turned off her phone and put it away in the drawer. The rational side of her peeked through and was concerned that she texted Bo while she was in this state. However, all sensible thoughts rapidly disappeared and were replaced with a 'don't care' attitude. It was late and she was tired and all she wanted to do was go to sleep. Lauren had a superabundance of tests to complete in the lab this week before they went to the second Base Camp site to extract more samples. Her primary concern was to find a cure and not whether or not she should've responded to a text message.
TBC