Beautiful When You Don't Try (Camren)

Chapter16

"Do you even know how to cook?" Camila asked with a laugh in her voice as she took the burning vegan dish from Lauren's hands.

"I'm a work in progress." The photographer retorted as she leaned back against the far counter and watched the diva try to salvage the food. Her eyes trailed over the brunette locks pulled back in a lost pony tail that fell down the bared long neck and the small portion of her back that her light dress left exposed. "Adrianne always did the cooking. She said I could pay the bills."

Camila tweaked an eyebrow. "So you were the man of the relationship? The bread winner?"

"If you want to simplify things to that archaic of a level, then yeah, I guess so. It just made sense seeing as I paid her paycheck as well."

The diva huffed an amused laugh and raised her brow. "Well, I do believe mutual responsibility by both parties would prove far more beneficial for our relationship. Which, of course, means you will have to learn to cook. How did you survive the last four months on your own?"

Lauren broke her gaze on the brunette's back and quickly glanced around to see if the parents were present. They were in the living room watching the parade on TV. Alejandro seemed to be avoiding her, or at least eye contact with her. Camila had said he probably felt he had crossed a line with his questions and was taking his time to carefully consider his next batch.

Quietly, she moved to stand behind the diva, bringing her hands up to her bare shoulders and dragging them down the smooth skin of her arms. As her hands reached Camila's and pulled them away from her cooking disaster, she placed several light kisses on her shoulders, up the crook of her neck, to her ear. "I became a regular at every restaurant and deli within a three block radius of the studio and my apartment."

Camila leaned her head back against Lauren's shoulder, closing her eyes and losing herself as Lauren wrapped her tightly in her arms and the lingering kisses on her bared neck. "Are you serious?" Her voice was light and the question was only meant to convey her contentment in the moment.

"I am. Though I can cook breakfast. Pancakes, french toast, eggs, sausage, bacon...all the stuff you wont eat." Lauren lightly shifted her weight between her feet in a gentle sway with the diva in her arms. "But as long as I can do this, I will learn to cook for you. I'll even hire fancy French chef to teach me with private lessons."

"If that's the case, why not just hire the chef to cook the meals for us."

Lauren smiled broadly and nuzzled into the dark brown tresses, inhaling their scent deeply. "Well, since it is beneficial for us to split responsibilities equally, you can help pay for him."

Camila finally pulled her arms apart and turned to face the raven haired woman, kissing her gently and wrapping her arms around her neck. "Try the lessons first. If you nearly burn down the kitchen again, then we will discuss it."

"I didn't almost burn-"

"You did." The diva argued nodding her head.

"I did not."

"You did." She nodded again.

"I...I'm not arguing with you." Lauren stated with a smile and turned away from the diva, tucking her hair behind her ears to reveal a growing smirk.

"I know you aren't. Because you did." Camila retorted, returning her attention to the blackened mess beginning to harden to the cooking dish. "You most definitely did."

Lauren retreated to the sink and picked up the nozzle attachment and aimed it at the unsuspecting diva and turned the cold water on full blast. The icy liquid hit Camila between the shoulder blades and her scream of shock was overridden by a gasp. Lauren bit her bottom lip and grinned as the diva struggled to approach her, the water now hitting her in the chest and neck.