Behind Closed doors

Chapter 25

The next morning, Lauren woke up with a heavy sigh. Her body ached, and her sleep had been fitful at best, thanks to Sam's drunken presence beside her. Deciding she needed to shake off the night's frustrations, she slipped quietly out of bed and headed to the bathroom to take a hot shower.

As the warm water cascaded over her, Lauren let herself relax, her thoughts swirling around Kamala's reaction the night before. Kamala's jealousy had been intense-infuriating, sure, but undeniably hot. Lauren couldn't shake the image of Kamala storming out, her satin robe clinging to her curves. The desire that had been left unfulfilled from the night before twisted in her gut, but now it was mixed with a sense of longing and guilt.

A few moments later, the sound of the water running stirred Sam from her sleep. Her head hurts like hell. She groaned, rubbing her head and trying to piece together what had happened. When she realized she was still in Lauren's room, she cringed, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

The bathroom door opened, and Lauren stepped out, a towel wrapped around her waist, her hair damp and clinging to her neck. Sam's eyes widened. "Oh God," she murmured, sitting up slowly. "Lauren, I am so, so sorry. I had way too much to drink. I didn't mean to... you know, trouble you or make things awkward."

Lauren gave her a small, tight smile. "Yeah, you definitely overdid it," she replied, trying to keep her voice even. "But don't worry about it. I'm just glad you didn't end up puking all over the place."

Sam winced. "Thanks for taking care of me. Seriously."

Lauren nodded, grabbing a t-shirt and some jeans to put on. "No problem," she said. "But you should probably go back to your room and clean up. We've got a flight soon."

Sam's eyes darted to the clock, and she groaned. "Right. Shower, then pack," she muttered, scrambling off the bed. She gave Lauren a sheepish grin. "Thanks again. You're... really great." With that, she hurried out of the room, leaving Lauren alone.

Lauren ran a hand through her damp hair and sighed. She needed caffeine-desperately. Grabbing her phone and making sure she looked presentable, she followed Sam out of the room, the two of them stepping into the hallway at the same time.

As they closed Lauren's door, they were met with a striking vision: Kamala had just stepped out of her room, her white button-up tucked into a pair of snug jeans. Her hair was styled, and she looked every bit as formidable and captivating as ever. Lauren felt her heart skip a beat, a familiar mix of desire and nerves settling in her stomach. Kamala's eyes flicked to them, and she rolled her eyes, but only Lauren caught the gesture.

Sam smiled nervously. "Morning, Madam President," she greeted.

Kamala's lips curved into a tight, practiced smile. "Good morning," she replied coolly, her gaze meeting Lauren's. There was a smoldering fire behind those eyes, and Lauren knew exactly how angry Kamala still was. But the tension, the edge of fury, made Kamala even more attractive, and Lauren couldn't help the thrill that ran through her.

Kamala's gaze lingered on Lauren. "You two had a great night?" she asked, her voice saccharine with false pleasantry. "I didn't realize you two were... so close."

Sam's eyes widened. "Oh! No, we're not together," she quickly clarified, chuckling nervously. "I just... had way too much to drink last night, and Lauren was kind enough to help me out. She took great care of me."

Kamala's eyes narrowed, and her lips twisted into a sarcastic smile. "Of course," she drawled. "Lauren's always the perfect gentlewoman. A good heart."

Lauren's stomach twisted. The air felt thick with tension, but it didn't stop her from noticing how Kamala's hips swayed as she turned and descended the stairs, her jeans hugging her curves in all the right places. Lauren bit back a groan of frustration.