Page 38 of Loving Lauren
No touristy adventures today. They couldn’t handle anything more intense than a slow walk along the beach, bare feet in the warm sand, hands intertwined while the salty breeze cooled their overheated skin. The rhythm of the waves was better than any meditation app Sierra had ever tried.
Lauren stopped every few minutes to take photos, some for their social media, some for potential brand content, but mostly because they couldn’t seem to help themselves. They caught Sierra staring out at the endless ocean, the afternoon sun creating a perfect halo effect in her hair. Then they got a windblown selfie of them both, sleepy grins and salt-tangled hair on full display, which they posted right away with the caption:soft days with my softest person.
They returned to their room and collapsed onto the bed as if someone had shot them, intending to nap for about an hour before their late afternoon session. Sierra was drifting off when her phone started buzzing insistently on the nightstand.
Jonas. Of course.
She groaned but forced herself to answer. “Hey, what’s happening?”
“Quick update about tomorrow’s shoot. We’re stepping it up a notch. I reserved a yacht for us for the next two days. Sunrise to sunset. Get ready for serious luxury vibes and a lot of sea breeze messing with everyone’s hair.”
As soon as she hung up, Sierra turned to Lauren with wide eyes. “Guess what we’re doing tomorrow?”
Lauren raised an eyebrow, clearly too tired for guessing games.
“Yacht.”
Their eyes went wide simultaneously.
“Oh shit, we’re gonna die fancy.” They both burst into slightly hysterical laughter.
Back in their room, they got undressed after the evening shoot. They both were too tired to talk. Sierra started the shower, and the room quickly became steamy. After a long day in the sun, hot water was pure bliss.
Lauren stepped under the spray first, and when Sierra joined them, they shared one of those looks that seemed to communicate entire conversations. The look that made Sierra’s chest feel tight and warm and perfect.
“It’s tomorrow.” Lauren repeated what Sierra had teased them with the day before.
Sierra grinned and reached for the shampoo. She worked it into Lauren’s hair with slow, gentle fingers, rubbing at their scalp until their eyes slipped shut. Lauren let out a soft, content sound that made her chest warm.
The water carried the suds away, along with the weight of the day. Sierra lingered, taking her time, because this was simple and close and hers.
She grabbed the body wash next, rubbing it between her palms before smoothing it over Lauren’s shoulders. Slow circles, steady pressure, kneading at muscles that had hauled camera gear and makeup bags for hours. Her hands moved over every curve and angle, down their back, massaging their legs and working their way back up over their hips. When Lauren turned around to face her, Sierra traced every line and freckle she could find, until they were both breathing harder.
Then it was Lauren’s turn. They shampooed Sierra’s hair with the same careful attention, fingers working through the tangles that salt air and wind had created. Rinsing it clean, then reaching for the body wash with hands that were gentle but sure.
When Lauren’s touch moved between Sierra’s thighs, the gasp that escaped echoed off the shower walls. Sierra’s hands found Lauren’s shoulders, holding on when her knees nearly gave out. Lauren kept her steady, their touch slow, circling, careful. Sierra’s breath hitched, broke, and turned ragged. And then it hit her all at once, pleasure flooding through, drowning out everything, even the water still pouring down around them.
Before she could even catch her breath properly, Sierra’s hands found Lauren’s hips. She pressed her mouth to their shoulder, tasting water and skin, then slowly moved lower. Her hands wrapped around Lauren’s length, stroking in rhythm with the sound of water falling around them. Lauren cried out, head falling back against the shower wall as release took over.
They stood there afterward, pressed close together, hearts pounding against each other’s chests.
Lauren kissed her temple. “Bedtime?”
Sierra agreed, and they quickly dried off, climbed into bed still warm, and immediately cuddled up together, as if it were the most natural thing. Clean, loved, and perfectly exhausted.
As they both started drifting toward sleep, Sierra murmured against Lauren’s shoulder. “I love shower days.”
Lauren smiled into her hair. “I love you.”
Later, wrapped in towels on the balcony, Lauren went quiet. Sierra was scrolling through the day’s photos when she noticed.
“What’s wrong?”
Lauren hesitated. “That model today. The one with the green eyes.”
“What about her?”
“She kept looking at you. Like, really looking.”
