Open Desires

Author's Note: This story is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places described in this narrative are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Although my stories are generally written for the Interracial category, I have decided to submit this series to the Loving Wives category for feedback from a different audience. If you are not comfortable reading an interracial cheating story, please do not continue.

I have written this as a stand-alone story but would be happy to continue Lauren's adventures if there is interest.

All comments and feedback are welcomed.

HF

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The young, brown-haired woman sat at the small, wooden dining table, tapping her pen thoughtfully against her notebook. Lauren glanced out the window of the Camden apartment, her gaze lingering on the London skyline as she thought about the week coming up. I really need to get that risk report finished, she thought unhappily to herself before she turned her attention back to the notebook in front of her. She was making her usual weekly list of to-dos, planning her grocery shopping for the weekend. Lauren Cartwright liked lists -- they gave her control, structure and purpose.

Her boyfriend was in the kitchen, opening and closing cabinets as he prepared something for lunch -- given it was a Saturday, she realised he was likely making a quick pasta dish. A standard go-to meal that both of them enjoyed. The sounds of clattering pots and pans made Lauren smile to herself. James was always moving in a way that suggested he was slightly hurried, even when he had nothing urgent to do.

There was another clatter of pots, and she glanced briefly towards the kitchen, watching as James Harrison stood up, holding the pot in his hands with a satisfied smile. He was tall, with broad shoulders and light brown hair. His relaxed, but purposeful, stride always filled their small apartment with an easy energy that she found relaxing after a long day in the office. 'I don't know how he does it, he's always so... bubbly', Lauren thought.

"Hey, babe?" James called out from the kitchen; his voice almost drowned out by the banging on the pot on the stove. "Are we out of tomatoes? Did you get any yesterday?"

Lauren looked up from her notes, her pen paused above the paper. I'm pretty sure I brought some, she thought, casting her mind back. Ah, yes... I did... she recalled. "Check the fridge. Bottom shelf."

James opened the fridge door and let out a satisfied hum. "Found them. You're a lifesaver. Thanks!"

Lauren returned to her notes, but her thoughts kept drifting to her plans for later on that evening, the nervous energy inside her bubbling to the surface. She was meeting Rachel tonight, the first time in three years, and the thought of seeing her old university friend after so long made her both excited and nervous. It's been so long; I hope that nothing has changed too much...

They hadn't kept in touch as much as she would have liked, but when Rachel had reached out for dinner, Lauren had agreed without hesitation. It was a chance to reconnect, to step out of her usual routine of her life that she had created -- her financial consultant job at Sterling & Brooks, her apartment, her steady relationship with James. All of it spoke of stability, a comfortable routine that had become a hallmark of her life. But Rachel had always been a spark of excitement in her life, a daring little thrill, a contrast with her normally carefully planned world.

"Are you sure you're okay with me going out tonight?" Lauren asked, her voice soft but tinged with concern. James had enjoyed going out with Lauren and Rachel. But that was three years ago. So much had changed since then. Their relationship had changed, become deeper, more like a marriage than dating.

James appeared in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame with a little smile. His tall frame always seemed to be able to fill a doorway, a room, anywhere really, with his presence. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" he asked, his blue eyes sparkling.

Lauren shrugged, closing her notebook as she looked up at her long-term boyfriend. "I just feel bad. We haven't had a proper weekend together in a while. And, well... I guess I'm not used to being out on a Saturday night without you," she told him, a little expression of regret on her face.

She and James had been dating for just over four years, since she was introduced to him by a mutual friend at her 23rd birthday party -- she still remembered Alison asking if she could bring a lawyer friend to the party. Lauren had agreed and when she first met James, when he'd introduced himself to her at the club, she felt an instant flutter in the pit of her stomach as her green eyes met his blue ones. They had connected over a couple of drinks that night and an in-depth discussion on some of the best restaurants in London.

They had seemed an unlikely couple at first; her, the ambitious, somewhat meticulous and slightly reserved junior financial consultant -- someone who was both driven but also warm and caring outside of work, while he was the gregarious, affable junior lawyer with a focus on family law. Their relationship had gone from strength to strength -- dates at high-class restaurants, weekends away, holidays to the Continent. She could still remember that incredible trip to the Greek islands with him -- laying on the beach and splashing around in the water all day, the evenings out partying in some of the clubs, and then, spending the night wrapped in each other's arms, making passionate love.

Their relationship had gone from strength to strength, each one complimenting the other. She brough stability, he brought spontaneity. Not only did they seem the perfect match for each other, all of their friends and family thought so too. They had continued this way now for several years, dating and enjoying each other's company as they built their careers. Finally, it had culminated in them moving in together nearly a year earlier into a small apartment in Camden, near the centre of London, a location that was convenient for both of them to access their workplaces.

James crossed the room and sat down next to her at the dining table. He placed a hand on her knee, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You deserve a night out, Lauren. You've been working so hard lately." He paused, looking into her green eyes. "I've got a mountain of paperwork to go through for a case anyway, so I'll probably be boring company tonight anyway." His voice dipped into a teasing tone. "Plus, I know how you get after a couple of glasses of wine... all excited and... horny..." He finished with a knowing little grin.

Lauren's cheeks flushed at his words, but she smiled, shaking her head. "That's not true."

James chuckled. "It's true, and you know it. Every time we go out for drinks, you end up wanting to drag me into the bedroom as soon as we get home."

Lauren bit her lip, trying not to laugh. "It's not that predictable."

"Sure, sure," James teased with a little smile, leaning in to kiss her gently on the cheek. "But seriously, go. Have fun. I'm not worried about you. I trust you." He paused, his smile softening. "I also remember how Rachel used to bring out that wild side of yours."

She smiled at him, appreciating his understanding. James had always been supportive of her career, her ambitions, and that made everything easier. They both had demanding jobs -- her with financial consulting, him with law -- and finding time together was always a balancing act. But James was steady, reliable, and always there when she needed him. The perfect boyfriend.

As Lauren continued to meet his gaze, she felt a flicker of something deeper in her mind -- something she hadn't considered in a long time. There had always been an edge to her friendship with Rachel, an openness to adventure that Lauren sometimes struggled to embrace on her own. But Rachel had never been one to hold back.

"I know," Lauren said, resting her head briefly on his shoulder and giving him a tender, little smile. "I guess I'm... well, that I'm just not used to being out on a Saturday night without you."

"Well, I'm pretty sure Rachel's excited to see you," James replied, brushing a strand of her dark brown hair behind her ear. "Go, have fun. Catch up with her. You've been looking forward to this."

Lauren sighed, grateful for his encouragement. "I just hope it's not too awkward. It's been, what, three years since we last saw each other?"

James chuckled. "If I know Rachel, she'll make sure it's anything but awkward."

That was true. Rachel Porter had always been the outgoing one. Back at university, Rachel had been the one to drag Lauren to parties, to push her out of her comfort zone. Lauren had been more reserved, focusing on her studies, but Rachel had this way of bringing out her adventurous side. Seeing Rachel tonight felt like stepping into another version of herself -- one that she hadn't been in touch with since Rachel had left to work in New York several years earlier.

Rachel had returned to London about eight months earlier, the new Marketing Director at a trendy tech startup. She'd reached out to Lauren a few weeks after getting back but work schedules and well... life... had gotten in the way. Tonight, had been the first time they had been able to agree to a time. In the emails that they'd exchanged, Rachel had told Lauren about her new boyfriend, a man named Xavier Adams, who'd she'd met at a marketing conference. According to Rachel, he was a few years older than her and the owner of a boutique digital media agency. From the way that Rachel described him, Lauren was interested to meet the man who'd managed to steal her friend's heart.

James kissed the top of her head and stood up again, returning to the kitchen. "Besides, it'll be good for you to catch up. I remember how close you two were before she left for overseas."

"Yeah," Lauren said, her voice trailing off. She stood and walked over to the living room window, looking down at the street below. Her mind wandered back to the text exchange she'd had with Rachel earlier that day whilst she and James were out having breakfast at a nearby cafe.

*****

Rachel (10:12 AM): So excited to see you tonight! 💃

Lauren (10:14 AM): Same! Been too long. I've missed you.

Rachel (10:17 AM): I've missed you too. Can't wait to introduce you to Xavier. He's dying to meet you. 😉

*****

Rachel had mentioned Xavier a few times in their texts, and while Lauren was curious, she was also a little hesitant. She'd never been great at meeting new people, especially in social settings where she felt out of her element. She had always felt more comfortable behind her computer, working on spreadsheets and financial reports. But if Rachel was bringing him to dinner with them, wanting her friend to meet him, Lauren realised he must be important to her.

Lauren turned back to James, who was now stirring something on the stove in the kitchen. "Rachel's bringing her boyfriend tonight."

"Xavier, right?" James said, glancing over his shoulder. "You said she mentioned him in her last email. What's he like?"

Lauren shrugged. "I don't really know much about him. Just that they've been together for a while. Sounds like they met just after she got back from New York."

"Well, I'm sure he'll be nice. Rachel wouldn't date anyone who wasn't," James said with a wink. "Just go with the flow tonight. You're always good at that."

Lauren smiled at his faith in her. She wasn't sure she agreed. She wasn't exactly a 'go with the flow' kind of person. She liked structure, plans, knowing what was coming next, what process to follow. That's why she was good at her job as a financial consultant -- everything was about analysis and control. Just the way she liked it.

Still, there was something about tonight that made her feel a little off-balance. Maybe it was the idea of meeting Xavier. Maybe it was just the fact that it had been so long since she'd seen Rachel, and she wasn't sure how much they'd both changed. Or maybe it was something deeper -- something about herself that she hadn't yet figured out.

*****

By late afternoon, Lauren had showered and was getting ready to get dressed. She'd glanced out the window earlier -- it was the end of a typical late September day in London, grey and overcast. At least the rain had held off, she thought gratefully to herself. She stared at her closet in the corner of her bedroom, staring at the row of neatly hung clothes. As she stood there, wrapped in just a bath towel, she felt a familiar rush of indecision wash over her as she tried to choose what to wear for the evening. Rachel always had a knack for dressing stylishly, seemingly always effortlessly put together, and Lauren wanted to feel confident tonight -- but without overdoing it.

She eyed her work clothes first -- a tailored blouse and black pencil skirt from Reiss -- but quickly decided against it. No. Too formal. Tonight was about catching up with an old friend, not meeting a client.

Instead, her eyes landed on a softer, more relaxed, option. A simple cream sweater that she had bought recently from Zara and a pair of dark skinny jeans from Calvin Klein that fit her snugly, accentuating her slim, toned legs. She pulled them out and held them up to the mirror, trying to imagine how she'd feel walking into the restaurant dressed in them. Hmm, not bad, she thought as she looked at her reflection.

Jeans and a sweater felt safe but stylish. Comfortable but put together. After all, it was just dinner with an old friend. She smiled to herself, feeling satisfied with the choice. It was exactly the kind of outfit Rachel would approve of -- casual but classy. Just what all good financial consultants are wearing these days, she thought ruefully to herself. Then her eyes landed on another item in the closet -- a knee-length black dress. On an impulse, she reached for it. Hmm, I haven't worn this in a while...

She was still holding up both outfits in front of the mirror, biting her bottom lip in indecision when James walked into the bedroom, still in his casual weekend clothes. He took one look at her and grinned. "You're overthinking it again."

Lauren rolled her eyes, looking at his reflection in the mirror. "But... I want to look nice."

"You always look nice, trust me..." he said, wrapping his arms around her from behind and pressing a soft, little kiss to the top of her head as if to remind her of his feelings for her. "But if you're asking me, I like the jeans," he said with a little grin.

Lauren smiled and hung the dress back in the closet. "Jeans it is, then."

James gave her another kiss and continued on his way into the bathroom as Lauren placed the sweater and jeans down on the bed. Next came the decision of what to wear underneath. She opened her drawer, sifting through her options. For a brief moment, she considered one of her simpler, more functional bras and a pair of matching knickers. These are comfortable, she thought to herself. But then her hand moved and hovered over a set she hadn't worn in a while -- black lace from La Perla. The bra was delicate but supportive, giving her 36C breasts a subtle lift, and the matching Brazilian style knickers were equally feminine, hugging her hips in just the right way. They would make her feel sexy, even if no one else would see them. Yes, these will be perfect, she thought.

As she slipped on her bra, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror on the back of the closet door -- the image that stared back at her was of a pale-skinned young woman with a toned, athletic build that stood about 5'6" in height. Thanks to her regular trips to the gym and yoga sessions, she was able to keep her weight at approximately 130 pounds, despite the secret drawer of snacks she kept in her desk at work. The green eyes that stared back at her from her heart-shaped face with classical, high cheekbones and a pointed chin, were framed by her shoulder length dark brown hair. Usually, Lauren wore it tied back during the week for work, but now she had blown dried it and brushed it out, leaving it in soft waves around her head.

She positioned the cups of the bra over her firm breasts, making sure that the lace cups covered her medium-sized, light pink areolas. At the centre of each of these discs was a nipple -- a slightly darker pink and sensitive to touch as she experienced when the cups rubbed gently over these smooth nubs. Lauren reached behind her back to clip the bra straps together and adjusted the undergarment until she was satisfied with its position and support.

Reaching into the drawer, she pulled out the matching black lace bikini-style knickers, slipping them over her feet and pulling them up her slim, but toned, calves and thighs. Shifting slightly from side to side, Lauren pulled them up over her hips, covering her pubic mound. She preferred to maintain her naturally dark brown pubic hair in a well-groomed, neat appearance that she kept regularly trimmed to a short, manageable length in a simple, classic bikini style.

With a final glance at her reflection in the mirror, Lauren felt a sense of satisfaction and pride. She'd worked hard to get where she was in life. She'd come from a typical middle-class background, her parents, now in their early 60s, lived in the outer suburbs of London where she had grown up and gone to school. Her father, a retired engineer, had often talked about moving overseas now that he was retired but her mother, a part-time school librarian, somehow always convinced him to stay where they were.

Lauren and her younger brother had been raised in a loving household. He'd gone off to study architecture at university in Edinburgh and it had been months since they had caught up -- according to the last social media post of his that she saw, he was touring Italy with his Scottish girlfriend. Unlike her more outgoing and sportier younger brother, Lauren had always been somewhat of a nerdy girl at school -- always keen to hit the books, to push herself academically. That wasn't to say that she didn't like staying fit and active; but it was always solo activities, like running and swimming, that she preferred over team sports.

Her performance at school had landed her a coveted spot at the University of London where she had graduated with a degree in Finance with honours. Several internships had followed before she had secured a role as a junior analyst at a smaller financial firm in the City. She had moved on two years earlier to a financial analyst and consultant role at Sterling & Brooks Consulting, a boutique financial consulting firm that specialised in clients ranging from high-net-worth individuals through to specialist corporate and industrial firms.

Her analytical brain and somewhat reserved personality had made her perfect for the role, though she often reflected that she overthought problems and issues in her life. James was the perfect counterpoint to her in this regard -- with his relaxed, more carefree approach to life. The last four years had been incredible for her, James becoming more than just her boyfriend, now he was more like her soulmate.

She, and her female friends, often wondered what would come next with the pair of them. The logical step seemed to be marriage and, although they had regularly discussed it, James didn't seem to be in any hurry to take this next step. Sometimes, in the dead of night, while James lay next to her snoring, Lauren would lay awake, thinking about the future with him. She had been with him a long time and she did idly wonder at times if she had missed out on things by being with him. She would push these thoughts from her mind, reminding herself of how good he was for her, how well they fit together, both emotionally and physically.