The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word GIGOLOS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
G
I
G
O
L
O
S
More clues leading to the result GIGOLOS
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Lovers" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case lovers = gigolos.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does GIGOLOS mean?
GIGOLOS noun- A man who has a sexual relationship with a woman from whom he receives payment.
- A hired escort or dancing partner for a woman.