Lauren ducked her head, a shy smile playing at her lips. ‘I’ve never felt anything like that before. With anyone.’
Rain’s heart swelled with emotion, and she pulled Lauren down for another kiss, pouring all her love and devotion into the gentle press of their lips.
They lay like that for a long while, trading soft kisses, until finally Lauren sat up, stretching languidly. ‘As much as I’d love to stay here with you forever, we should probably eat something. Keep our strength up.’
She winked, and Rain laughed, the sound bubbling up from deep inside her. ‘Lead the way, chef.’
Lauren slipped out of bed, pulling on a silk robe, and walked into the bathroom. Rain heard the shower come on, then minutes later, Lauren reappeared fully dressed.
‘Hey, that’s not fair, we could’ve had a shower together.’
‘I know, but I want to go for a walk and get some fresh air. If you were in the shower with me, that wasn’t going to happen.’ She bent over and kissed her full on the mouth. ‘I’ll make coffee before we go.’
Rain watched her walk away, a goofy grin on her face. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this happy, this complete.
But then reality came crashing back in, and her smile faded. Rain still had to tell Lauren the truth about Fay, about the danger they were all in. She knew it was going to shatter this perfect little bubble they’d created, but she also knew she couldn’t keep it from her any longer.
With a heavy sigh, Rain dragged herself out of bed, showered and got dressed. She made her way to the kitchen, steeling herself for the difficult conversation ahead. But no matter what happened, she knew one thing for certain: she would never keep secrets from Lauren again.
Chapter Thirty-Five
‘Lauren—’
‘Two coffees to go,’ Lauren said, holding them up in the air.
‘Can we talk?’
‘Later. I want to get out while it’s still sunny.’
The early morning sun cast a warm glow over the rolling hills of the Cotswolds as Lauren and Rain strolled hand in hand along a winding country lane. The air was crisp and fresh, filled with the gentle scent of wildflowers and freshly cut grass.
Lauren leaned into Rain’s side, a contented smile playing on her lips.
‘This is perfect,’ she said, gazing into her eyes.
‘You’re perfect,’ Rain said.
They stopped walking and turned to face each other. Rain cupped Lauren’s face in her hands and kissed her softly, tenderly.
‘What was that for?’
‘Do I need a reason to kiss the most beautiful woman in the world?’
‘Charmer.’
They continued walking, enjoying the comfortable silence and the beauty of the countryside. Every now and then, Rain would pull Lauren into her arms and capture her lips in a tender kiss, her hands cupping her face like she was the most precious thing in the world.
As the clouds began to darken the sky, they turned back towards the cottage.
‘Race you back to the cottage!’ Lauren took off running, laughing. ‘Last one makes lunch.’
‘Hey, that’s not fair. You had a head start,’ Rain called after her as she chased her.
Just before the clouds opened with a deluge, Rain and Lauren tumbled through the front door, laughing and out of breath. Rain kicked the door shut behind them and pulled Lauren into her arms, kissing her passionately. Lauren melted into her embrace, her hands sliding up Rain’s chest and tangling in her hair. They moved as one into the living room and onto the bed. Lauren’s eyes never left Rain’s as she slowly undressed her, covering every inch of her skin with tender kisses. Lauren’s breath hitched as Rain’s lips trailed down her neck, her hands caressing her curves with reverence. They made love slowly, tenderly, pouring all the affection they felt for each other into every touch, every kiss. Afterwards, they lay entwined in each other’s arms.
Rain brushed a strand of hair from Lauren’s face, her eyes soft and adoring. ‘I never want this moment to end,’ she said, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.
Lauren smiled, her heart so full of love she thought it might burst. ‘This is just . . . magic. I could stay here forever.’
‘Hey, I thought we were going to make lunch.’
‘We were but I can’t help myself when I’m around you. You’re just too irresistible,’ Lauren said tracing lazy circles on Rain’s bare back. ‘I can’t tell you how happy I am that you came here.’
Lauren suddenly felt the muscles in Rain’s body tense.
‘What’s wrong?’
Rain spoke without turning around.
‘Didn’t you wonder why your sister told me where you were?’ Rain asked, her voice tentative.
Lauren smiled. ‘I already know. My sister’s a hopeless romantic at heart.’
Rain turned towards her, the sudden shift in her demeanour sending a ripple of dread through Lauren.
‘Not in this case. Lauren. There’s no easy way to say this, but . . . I lied to you.’
Lauren froze. ‘About what?’
