Professor C (camren)

16.5 - Jauregui (Part 2)

Somehow, her throat began to withdraw all moisture from her mouth to the point that breathing had become an inconvenience. It was odd to feel her wildly beating heart while it felt suffocated in its place; and if Lauren decided to hold her breath it, it'd slam harder against her ribs in protest. And the first thing that Lauren did was cross her legs as her rampant thoughts directed her to the previous Saturday, when her lips were ravaging every inch of Camila's skin.

Thoughts alone were compelling and it wasn't long before her body was thrown in the fiery pits of arousal.

As if sensing Lauren's emotions, Dinah did top it off with a picture of Camila quietly reading a book in a corner with glasses perched atop her nose. Lauren assumed it was to rouse nostalgia of their quaint days together back when they were a couple.

Lauren appreciated it but it didn't lull her awakened desire. Needless to say, she spent some extra time in the shower.

-

Lauren traversed through the hallways with a certain bounce to her stride. Again, she was looking forward to seeing her glorious eight-letter surname plastered on her office door, which didn't fail to attract the attention of those who have come across it, that even Stowers decided to congratulate her on it.

Just as she did the previous day, Lauren lingered by the timber structure, holding a to-go cup of cappuccino in one hand while securing several folders in her arm. Her free hand was merely twirling her keys with her thumb poking through the hoop as she made some oddly festive clanks with them.

At one point, she began humming Joy to the World to accompany the tune she was making with the key ring.

Lauren never expected for the simple and most generic sound to incite the memory of her drenched key fob, which she still kept in a drawer in her bathroom. The reminder of dunking her hand in a murky puddle weakened her knees and was unconsciously compelling her fist to secure the metal objects within - halting her impromptu caroling.

Even before she could lay eyes on the inscriptions on the glass panel, her grin had already been plastered across her face fueled by her anticipation and excitement. And it remained there for the limited time she had before her attention was completely stolen by one sprightly little girl.

"Mauwen! Mauwen!" Pebble excitedly shrieked from behind her, preceded by a rushed pitter-patter of tiny feet, and shadowed by her mildly disgruntled uncle's voice, spewing reminders to keep her voice down.

The screech did more than just snap Lauren out of her musings. It startled her into leaping slightly in the air and squishing the malleable cup but managed to catch herself before risking burning her hand, or worse, scaring the child with her subsequent scream of scalding agony. She did murmur some choice words to herself, though, which she deemed warranted given the compelling explosion in her chest that lowered her body temperature and...her bravery.

Then again, despite panting to replenish the seemingly insufficient oxygen levels, Lauren recovered from her shock fairly quickly.

"Hi, baby." Lauren swiveled in place, beaming happily at the little girl, who was expectantly looking up, mirroring her smile fondly.

Those bright hazel eyes gleamed with innocent adoration for the psychologist. Lauren could not help but protrude her bottom lip at the sight despite her intention of showing the little girl an exaggeration of her excitement just as she always did. Pebble's features were just so pure and utterly unadulterated, something that Lauren desperately needed.

It reminded her of her two nephews courtesy of her brother, Chris and his wife but the connection she had with Pebble was different. It was a little more earnest, considering Pebble had no one else to perceive as her mother.