Thank you, everyone, for your feedback! I really do love hearing from you all.

As for this chapter, I'd like to hear from people on how they feel about the pace of this story. Right now, since we're kind of in the building stage of Bo and Lauren, I know things have slowed a lot (previously we were jump at least a week or so a chapter, I think). If me pulling that way back is bothering anyone, just let me know. I haven't really read any other fanfics for this couple, so I don't know how this compares or what the general preference is on this.

Oh, also, this story is my first attempt at writing same-sex love scenes, so sorry if those are also less than they should be. I'm hoping to improve over time.

That being said, I'm also just really enjoying playing with this story, and I want to thank everyone for continuing to indulge me while I do.

Enjoy!

"He was terrible!" Kenzi slurred.

"He really was. But he was nice," Dyson said.

"Nice doesn't sell drinks!" Kenzi replied.

"Well, I mean, it doesn't hurt…" Dyson commented. "This is the hospitality business."

Kenzi thought for a moment, chewing on her straw. "Okay, so nice might sell drinks, but it doesn't make them."

"I think Ashley might stab me in my sleep," Tamsin said, taking a generous gulp of her drink. "She has the crazy eyes."

"Girls tend to get crazy when the people they're sleeping with lie to them," Bo replied.

"Don't be smug just because you aren't sleeping with a crazy person," Tamsin answered.

"I stabbed someone once," Lauren commented.

Bo coughed, choking mid-sip. "You did what?"

"I want to hear this," Ciara said.

Lauren looked around the table. "Wow, you all believed that? Either you're all way drunker than I thought or I'm an amazing liar."

"Truthfully I can't believe you lot fell for that," Vex said, reclined in his seat.

"How afraid of you do I need to be?" Bo said, turning her head to Lauren.

"Very," Lauren answered solemnly.

Bo grinned and looked at Lauren, momentarily lost in the thought of leaning in to kiss her.

"No!" Tamsin shouted, throwing a pretzel at Bo and Lauren, breaking the trance they were slipping into. "You don't get to be all cute and happy when I'm about to get murdered!"

Lauren blushed slightly. Bo dropped her hand to Lauren's leg, her fingers unconsciously tracing patterns near Lauren's knee. It was a small gesture, but it warmed Lauren's heart. She reached down and threaded her fingers through Bo's under the table, her thumb tracing circles on Bo's hand.

"I've got to say, Tam, I feel like this is mostly your fault," Nate said, eating a chip.

"What part of it is someone else's fault?" Ciara asked.

Nate thought for a moment. "I stand corrected. Tam, this is entirely your fault."

Kenzi smiled and leaned back, snuggling against Nate, who kissed the top of her head.

"Great talk, guys, glad to know you're all on my team," Tamsin said, rolling her eyes.

"We need a new bartender," Dyson said, looking at Kenzi. "Ideas?"

Kenzi shrugged. "What about Lauren?"

"What about me?" Lauren asked.

Dyson looked over at her. "Have you bartended?"

"Not much, really. I can do the basics," Lauren answered.

"Do you know the ingredients in a rum and coke?" Kenzi asked.

"I even know that you shouldn't shake it," Lauren answered with a smile.

"You're literally the most competent bartender we've interviewed tonight," Kenzi said, taking another sip of her drink. "You're hired."

"Lauren has a job," Bo commented.

Lauren shrugged. "I'd be willing to help out some on weekends, if that helps you all out," she said, looking at Bo. She turned to face Kenzi. "I'd probably be better as a bar back, though."

Bo took a sip of her drink. "I can help out more on the weekends, too," she said.

"Funny how you jump back on board to help us when Lauren is going to be here," Dyson commented with a smile.

Bo shrugged. "What can I say, Dyson? She's prettier than you."

Dyson laughed.

The Dal closed at 2:00a. Vex and Tamsin had left around 1:00a, leaving Dyson, Ciara, Kenzi, Nate, Lauren, and Bo at the end of the night. They all pitched in with cleanup and closing, letting the staff that had worked that evening leave a bit earlier than normal.

Lauren was wiping down tables when Bo walked up to her. "You really don't have to work here, you know. I mean, I know you said you would, but you really don't have to."

Lauren smiled and turned to Bo. "I don't mind. I like being here. And the proximity to your apartment means I might get to see you, too, which is a nice bonus."

Bo smiled, curling her finger under Lauren's chin and lightly urging her forward for a kiss. It was chaste, gentle, but it still made Lauren's heart quicken. Damn, what was this woman doing to her?

"So, we haven't gotten much time alone tonight," Bo said, quietly. "How was your day? Busy?"

"Not terrible," Lauren said.

"So you aren't too tired?"

Lauren looked at Bo and smiled. "Too tired for what, Ms. Dennis?" Lauren asked playfully.

Bo leaned into Lauren and captured her lips in a searing kiss. Lauren melted into her, feeling the relief of finally feeling Bo's tongue after two days apart.

Had it really only been two days? It felt longer.

Bo pulled back and took a shuddering breath. "I'm going to need you to stop doing that if you want us to make it upstairs," Bo whispered.

"What?" Lauren said. Then she realized that her right hand was on Bo's breast rubbing it through her shirt. She slid her hand down. "Oh. Sorry."

Bo smiled. "How fast do you think we can get this place clean?"

"Really fast, I hope," Lauren said. Her brain was wired, on high alert, desperate to be with Bo.

"Kenzi and Nate are going to a wedding tomorrow, so she's staying with him tonight so they can leave early in the morning. She won't be home until Sunday." As she spoke against Lauren's lips, Bo's hand moved to the front of Lauren's jeans, rubbing her through the denim.

"Bo…" Lauren tried to make it sound like a warning, but it came out as a plea.

"I told you I could make you say my name," Bo whispered, kissing Lauren again.

Lauren groaned and pushed herself back. "We need to finish cleaning. Now."

After the bar was clean, and Nate and Kenzi had left, Bo and Lauren made their way upstairs. Their mouths were together before the door to the apartment was fully shut, and as they made their way to Bo's bedroom they began discarding articles of clothing.

By the time they reached the bedroom they were free from all confines of fabric, and Lauren groaned as she felt Bo's naked flesh against her own.

"God, you should never wear clothes," Lauren whimpered as they pressed together.

Bo fastened her mouth around Lauren's left nipple, drawing a strangled gasp from Lauren. Her tongue ran over it, and Lauren found herself grinding her hips closer to Bo instinctively. Lauren pulled at Bo, bringing her head back up.

"I'll be naked as long as you will be, too," Bo panted as she pushed two fingers into Lauren.

"God, baby," Lauren moaned, reaching down to push her own fingers into Bo.

"Ah, shit, I love it when you call me baby," Bo groaned. They moved onto the bed, immediately resuming their activities.

"I know you do," Lauren said, her lips against Bo's. She was on top of Bo, her legs spread wide to accommodate the fact that Bo's legs were open as well, as they continued to press their fingers into one another.

Bo twisted her hand and pressed Lauren's g-spot, causing Lauren to nearly cry with pleasure. Lauren mimicked the movement, causing Bo to arch her back, exposing her neck to Lauren's mouth. Lauren took immediate advantage, sucking on Bo's pulse point as they writhed in pleasure.

Bo continued to move, and Lauren continued to follow, as Bo taught Lauren how she liked to be touched by touching Lauren. When Bo finally came it was with a strangled scream. The erotic noise washed over Lauren and triggered her orgasm as well, leaving Lauren a quivering mass in Bo's arms.

They laid together, panting, neither removing their fingers, trying to bring their heart rates back to normal. Bo shifted them slightly, so they were lying side by side, and dipped her head to kiss Lauren. It was sensual and gentle at first, tongues gliding together, until Bo and Lauren felt their arousal growing again.

Bo began to move her fingers slowly inside of Lauren, and Lauren did the same. Bo followed Lauren now, copying the movements Lauren made, feeling herself grow wetter each time she heard Lauren sigh or moan.

"You feel amazing," Bo whispered.

It was slow this time, more gentle. They stroked each other, bringing each other to the edge before slowing back down, easing off, trying to prolong the contact as long as possible. Bo tried to focus on Lauren, but it was growing harder and harder to ignore her own building need as Lauren pressed her higher and higher.

"Lauren…" Bo groaned.

"I know. Come with me," Lauren whispered back, pressing her fingers harder and deeper into Bo. Bo copied the movement, and soon they were lost, screaming each other's names, falling into ecstasy.

They fell back, detaching from one another, both covered in sweat and panting.

"God, I really, really missed you," Lauren said with a laugh.

Bo grinned rolling to her side to look at Lauren. "Me too." She leaned into Lauren and they shared a lazy kiss.

"Are we going to sleep tonight?" Lauren asked with a playful smile.

"Later," Bo said, kissing Lauren again. Lauren returned the kiss, feeling happier than she had in days. "Besides, we have all weekend."

"All weekend?" Lauren asked with a slight smirk.

Bo looked slightly abashed. "Yeah, I mean…I mean, I wasn't trying to say –"

Lauren cut Bo off with a kiss. "All weekend sounds perfect."

Bo smiled, and Lauren felt warmer at the look of pure happiness on her face. "Really?" Bo asked.

God, how had Lauren gotten this lucky? What good karma had she built up that she was naked in bed with this woman? "Really," Lauren repeated, pulling Bo back against her body.

Lauren woke up with a pounding headache and a dead right arm. She winced slightly as she opened her eyes and the morning light bit against them. In front of her face was mass of dark hair – Bo. Her arm was curled under Bo, holding her back to Lauren's front. For a moment she thought of trying to pull her arm back, but that would make the blood start flowing again and that would soon lead to a horrible feeling of pins and needles as the limb woke back up. More importantly, that would wake Bo, and Lauren had no interest in moving away from her yet.

Lauren shut her eyes against the aching in her head. She should have had a glass of water before going to bed last night. It wouldn't have prevented the hangover, but it would have helped. Of course, she hadn't had water because she had been busy with other things.

She and Bo had stayed up until almost 4:30a, talking, laughing, and enjoying one another. This wasn't Lauren's first sexual experience – she'd been with other women before Nadia, and then, of course, five years with Nadia – but this was unlike any of those encounters. Yes, Bo and Lauren had been drunk last night, so the talking and laughing was at least in part a product of that, but the fact was they were both stone cold sober the first night they spent together, and the same thing had happened.

Bo shifted slightly in her sleep, her naked skin rubbing against Lauren's, and Lauren felt the light stirrings of arousal begin within her. That was new, too. She couldn't remember the last time she had such an insistent and prolonged desire for someone.

She felt Bo stir in her arms. "Hey," she said, letting Bo know she was awake.

Bo rolled over to face Lauren, a smile coming over her sleep-softened features. "Morning." She lifted her hand to her head. "Ow."

Lauren laughed, and then winced when the noise hit her ears. "We drank too much."

Bo nodded, settling against Lauren. "We should take some Aspirin."

"Food might help, too," Lauren commented.

"Mmmm, yes, that is an excellent idea," Bo said, giving Lauren a quick kiss. Her eyes looked more alert now as she smiled at Lauren again. "I like waking up with you here." She laid her hand lazily on Lauren's hip. "And I definitely like waking up with you naked." Bo gave Lauren a longer kiss. When they broke apart, Bo laid her head on Lauren's chest, relaxing against her and Lauren ran her fingers through Bo's hair. "There's a diner not far from here. Want to go there for breakfast?"

Lauren smiled to herself. "That sounds good, but I should probably go home."

She felt Bo hesitate for a moment before saying. "Oh, yeah, sure."

"I need to get some clean clothes."

"Right."

"And a toothbrush, if we're going to spend the weekend together."

Bo sat up and turned to Lauren, her face bright. "Yes! I mean, yeah, totally, you should."

Lauren laughed. "You thought I was bailing on you, didn't you?"

Bo shrugged. "I mean, it's not like we ever talked about it or anything. But I definitely want you to stay. I mean, if you want to…"

Lauren pulled Bo into a kiss, her tongue trailing against Bo's. "I definitely want to," she said in low voice when they separated.

Bo's eyes were dark and she leaned down to kiss Lauren again. They continued to kiss for a while, Bo pressed on top of Lauren, until Bo pulled back taking a gulp of air.

"I don't think I can do this again until we have some food," she said, dropping her face to kiss Lauren's neck.

Lauren laughed. "You say that like it's some kind of moral failing on your part," she responded, trailing the tips of her fingers down the back of Bo's neck.

"Being too depleted to have sex with you? It's not a moral failing, it's a crime."

Lauren laughed again. "In the two nights we've spent together I think we've had sex roughly ten or more times. I think we're doing fine."

"Disagree," Bo said, giving Lauren another kiss. "Okay. Breakfast. Toothbrush. Let's do it."

"And clean clothes," Lauren said as they untangled themselves from the sheets.

"You don't need clothes," Bo said as she stood.

Lauren laughed and rolled her eyes.

Bo and Lauren spent the morning gathering Lauren's things from her house and having breakfast. By the afternoon they were back at Bo's, lying together naked, talking, joking, and trying to catch their breath. At 3:00p, Bo's cell phone rang. She grabbed it from the nightstand and saw "Kenzi" displayed across the screen.

"Hey, Kenz, how's the wedding?" Bo said, picking up the phone.

"Aisha quit!" Kenzi said without preamble.

"What?" Bo asked. Lauren looked over at Bo.

"She just called, she got in some fight with her roommate and she's moving. She quit. I don't have coverage for the bar tonight, and Dyson can't cover."

Bo sighed. "And you need me to cover."

"Please, please, please, please? Plus, you know, it might be a good night to train Lauren, right?"

Bo glanced over at Lauren, who had looked at Bo when she heard her name through the phone. "I don't even know if she's free tonight, Kenzi."

"Oh, please, I know you two are probably naked on my couch right now. Just ask her."

"We aren't on the couch…"

"Don't care, don't need details. Just ask her."

Bo sighed and turned to Lauren. "Did you want to work your first shift with me tonight?"

Lauren smiled. "Sure, why not," she said.

Bo looked at her with a 'thank you' look and turned back to the phone. "She said she can."

Bo could hear the relief in Kenzi's voice. "You two are the best. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Bo and Kenzi finished their conversation and got off the phone. "Well, I guess we know what our plans for tonight are," Bo said, turning back to Lauren.

"What time do we have to go in?"

"Around 7. The rest of the staff will handle it until then."

Lauren nodded. "So we only have about 4 hours until then."

Bo grinned. "Waste not, want not."

At 9:00p Bo was tending bar while Lauren restocked and cleaned glassware. The bar was mostly full and time was passing quickly.

Lauren found herself falling into the rhythms of the bar easily. The customers, for the most part, were regulars and easy to work with. She'd even managed to make a couple of drink when Bo got a rush of orders. It was a nice change of pace from her regular job, mindless tasks that, if you made a mistake, didn't kill anyone.

Bo was talking and laughing with some people who were seated at the bar, and Lauren smiled to herself as she watched. Bo was a natural at these kinds of things. She had an easy way about her that made people like her.

Lauren had just walked out with clean glasses to put under the bar when she heard one of the customers talking to Bo.

"So, what time is your shift over, honey?" the woman slurred out.

Lauren was momentarily taken aback, and she stole a glance at the woman. She was pretty, with dark hair and green eyes.

"Around midnight or one, I think," Bo answered, continuing to mix drinks.

"There's this great party I know about. We should go."

"Oh, really? That sounds fun," Bo said with a smile. "I'd definitely like to go. By the way, you're total is $7.50. What time does it start?"

"11," the woman said, sliding a $20.00 across the bar. "Keep the change."

Lauren felt her heart tighten in her chest. You two have never said you're exclusive, never even said you're dating, she reminded herself. She had no claim over Bo, not really. But still…she didn't want to watch this.

She was about to walk back toward the kitchen when she felt Bo snag her wrist and stop her. "Can my girlfriend come?" Bo asked, still looking at the drunk customer.

The woman froze. "You have a…this is your girlfriend?"

"Yeah," Bo said, nodding and grabbing the money from the counter.

"Oh. Great. Just…great." The woman slid off the stool and walked away.

Bo turned to Lauren with a grin on her face. "Hope you're okay if we skip that party. But, hey, $12 tip!"

Lauren smiled. "Girlfriend, huh?"

Bo blushed slightly. "Oh, yeah, I just, uh…is that okay? I mean, I know we haven't talked about that…" Bo's voice trailed off as she looked at Lauren.

Lauren leaned in and gave Bo a light kiss. "It's definitely okay."

As always, I love to hear from you