fast lane - c.leclerc

chapter thirteen

LAUREN

LAUREN OPENED HER eyes in a room that wasn't hers. Her head was pounding and reality hit her. She was in a room that wasn't hers. An arm was draped over her waist. Slowly but surely, she connected the dots. She rolled over, facing the beautiful man sleeping next to her. She recalled last night's events. Leaving Charles in the bathroom and returning to her friends like nothing happened. After that, the night turns into a blur. She remembers dancing with Lando and some other dude. How did she end up with Charles? Did Ruby even know where she was? 

Lauren considered getting up for a split second, but then she looked at Charles and just couldn't move. He looked so vulnerable and boyish. His usually neatly done hair was all ruffled. His lips were slightly ajar. Lauren snuggled closer to his body. Their chests collided and Charles moaned sleepily. He hugged her back, leaving a quick kiss on her forehead. Lauren blushed. His eyes were still closed, he was doing it automatically. Her heart jumped.

'Cute,' she found herself whispering to him.

'That's all you, Evans,' he whispered in return.

'What are you talking about?' she asked him, acting oblivious to the fact he caught her complimenting him.

'You think I'm cute,' Charles singsonged.

'I do not. I think you're repulsive,' Lauren tried her best to hide her smile but failed horribly. Charles squished her cheeks and kissed her on the mouth.

'You look like a fish,' he chuckled. The two stared at each other and simultaneously burst into a large fit of laughter. Lauren thought back to the previous night, how upset she'd been when he walked in with Alexandra. Her good mood faded.

Charles saw her smile falter. 'What's wrong?'

'I thought about last night,' she admitted.

'In what sense, a lot happened last night,' he wriggled his eyebrows playfully.

'This thing between us, Leclerc. I think we have to set some boundaries to make it work because-,' Charles cut her off.

'What thing? What even are we according to you?' Lauren's heart sank. She cleared her throat, regaining confidence.

'I mean we got into a fight last night because we saw each other with other people. We are very touchy and find each other physically attractive,' Lauren pointed out the obvious. Charles propped himself up, leaning his head onto his hand. 

'What kind of boundaries do you want?' he asked her.

'We keep it casual. No more sleepovers. No emotional stuff,' She was just protecting her own peace. She couldn't afford to catch serious feelings for the guy.

'What are you? A robot?' he asked her.

'Don't you agree with my boundaries?' Charles shook his head.

'I don't,' he said matter of factly.

'Why not?'

'Because I don't,' his attitude had become too pissy for Lauren's liking.

'You have the maturity of a carrot, Leclerc,' she spat.

'Well, at least I don't have the emotional capacity of a pitchfork,' he shot back.

'What does that even mean?'

'You know what it means. Listen, I think I get what you want us to be. Some kind of friends-with-benefits situation. Sure, we can fuck around, but we're doing it like two grown-up people,'

'What does that look like for you?' she asked him.

'For starters, I don't want you to act like a robot. Cuddling and enjoying each other's company is normal,' Lauren's troubled expression threw him off. 'Unless, of course, you're scared you'll fall in love with me. Is that it? Is that why you're so hell-bent on hit-and-running me?'

Lauren let out a gasp of disbelief. She crossed her arms. 'I am not scared I'll fall in love with you. You stand for all I hate about the male species,'

'Yet, here you are, in my bed, Evans,' 

'Shut up,' she told him, 'I'm not finished. You have a massive ego, you're not that tall and above that, you're a shit driver. Also what the hell is hit-and-running?'

Charles rolled his eyes at the girl. 'Thank you for pointing out my shortcomings, but-,'

'Those aren't your shortcomings,' she stated then pointed to his crotch, 'that's your shortcoming,'

'You're lucky you're irresistible, otherwise, I would've launched you off my balcony already,'

'You're so going to fall in love with me,' she poked his ribs, nagging him. Charles, being extremely ticklish, squirmed crazily. 

'Stop that,' he tried to swat her hands away. Lauren took her chance and straddled him. 'Oh, I like where this is going,' 

Lauren winked at him, pinning his hands above his head. She pinned them down, gazing at him seductively. She leaned in, though pulling back the second he did too. Instead of kissing him, she started poking his sides again. 

'For fuck's sake,' Charles cursed, trying his hardest to roll over. Finally, he got a good hold of Lauren. 

'Oh, I'm so scared,' Lauren whined mockingly. His tight grip on her body was arousing her. 

'You keep playing around, Lauren. Watch what happens,' He warned her.

'What are you gonna do to me, pretty boy?' Charles smirked and brushed her hair away from her neck. He kissed the sensitive skin long and hard. Lauren gasped. He sucked the tender flesh multiple times, leaving a trail of visible hickeys. 

Abruptly, he got up. 'Charles? What the fuck did you just do? Have you gone mad?' 

He innocently started putting on his clothes. Lauren rolled off the bed, sprinting to Charles' bathroom. Charles heard her loud curses from the bedroom. Satisfied with himself, he fixed his hair. He stuck his head into the door opening, sneaking a glance at his victim. Lauren's neck was nicely decorated. She looked like a horny middle schooler. She caught him looking which angered her even more. 

'You're so going to regret this. I'm going to leave now before I strangle you. Just know one thing, this was the last time you touched me in a very long time,'

'Fine. The same goes for you,'

'Please, as if you can restrain yourself. You keep hauling me into bed,'

'It takes two, Evans,'

'I'm aware of that. I'm just saying you're far more desperate,'

'You want to bet on it?' he asked her, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Lauren grew even more annoyed. 

'No, you're so immature. I'm out,' as she slammed the door shut. Her phone vibrated. Charles had texted her.

It's a bet 

She shot a quick message back.

I'm going to block you 

Lauren's final straw was when she unlocked her hotel room to find Ruby and Carlos enjoying themselves in her bed.

'Seriously?' she shrieked. The Spaniard and Ruby quickly covered themselves.

'We're sorry, Lauren. We didn't think you'd be back yet,'

'It's like you people want to see me explode!' Lauren shut the door behind her angrily and stormed back into the elevator. Her hair wouldn't stay in place at all. Avoiding the press was going to be a huge challenge.

a/n you guysss. another chapter of fluff. enjoy it, because shit's about to go down.