Page 25 of Vineyard Dreams

Harper sighed, running a hand through her hair. “She wants a lot of things. That doesn’t mean she gets them.”

Elle studied her, a sliver of hope piercing through the anxiety. “So, what are you going to do?”

“I told her I’m staying here.” Harper’s gaze held Elle’s. “I told her I’m not going back.”

Elle exhaled slowly, the tension easing slightly. “And the movie?”

“I told her I’m taking a break.” Harper pressed her lips together. “I would never work with her again anyway.”

Elle took a step closer, her hand reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair from Harper’s face. “And what about… us?”

Elle’s heart thundered in her chest as Harper moved closer, closing the distance between them.

“I want this,” Harper whispered, her fingers trailing down Elle’s arm. “I want you.”

The words sent a shiver through Elle’s body, but doubt crept in. “You had something real with her.”

“What Caroline and I had was...” Harper shook her head. “It was theater. Every moment caught on camera, every gesture calculated. I wanted a normal relationship, and she wanted a performance. I might have asked her out, but it took me almost a year to realize that she was only interested in me as a means to breathe life back into her career. She wanted those headlines. With you…” Harper’s lips slid into a smile. “With you, I can just be me.”

Elle studied Harper’s face, searching for any hint of uncertainty, but there was none.

“When I’m with you,” Harper continued, “I don’t have to be anyone but myself. Do you know how rare that is?”

Elle’s hand found Harper’s waist, drawing her closer. The warmth of Harper’s body against hers felt right, felt real. “And what about when she comes back? Because she will.”

“Let her.” Harper’s fingers traced Elle’s jawline. “I’m not going anywhere.”

The conviction in Harper’s voice melted the last of Elle’s resistance.

Elle’s heart pounded in her chest as she led Harper down the hall and into her bedroom. The room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the moonlight filtering through the partially drawn curtains.

Harper’s eyes widened as they entered the room, taking in the soft, earthy tones of the decor. Elle watched her, her eyes lingering on Harper’s face, her pulse quickening as she caughtthe slightest hint of a smile playing at the corners of Harper’s lips.

Without a word, Elle crossed the room, her eyes locked on Harper’s as she reached out, her fingers brushing against the soft fabric of Harper’s shirt.

Harper’s breath hitched as Elle’s fingers traced the curve of her collarbone, her touch leaving a trail of fire in its wake. Elle’s eyes never left Harper’s as she slowly unbuttoned the shirt, her fingers deftly working their way down the row of buttons.

As the shirt fell open, revealing Harper’s toned, sun-kissed skin, Elle felt a wave of desire wash over her. She reached out, her hands sliding over Harper’s shoulders, pushing the shirt off her arms and letting it fall to the floor.

Harper’s eyes met Elle’s, her gaze filled with a mixture of desire and vulnerability. Elle felt a shiver of anticipation run down her spine as she took a step closer, her hands finding their way to Harper’s hips.

As their bodies pressed together, Elle felt a surge of emotion well up inside her. She knew that this moment, this connection with Harper, was something special. Something that she hadn’t felt in a long, long time.

Elle’s lips grazed Harper’s neck, a soft, lingering kiss that sent a shiver through Harper’s body. She could feel Harper’s pulse quicken beneath her lips, a rhythm that matched her own racing heart. Her hands, firm yet gentle, held Harper’s hips, pulling her closer, eliminating any space between them.

Harper let out a low moan, the sound resonating deep within Elle’s chest. It was a sound of surrender, of desire, and it fueled Elle’s own need. Harper’s hands moved to the hem of Elle’s shirt, her fingers grazing the skin beneath, sending waves of heat coursing through Elle’s veins.

Elle lifted her head, capturing Harper’s mouth in a searing kiss as Harper’s hands continued their ascent, lifting Elle’s shirtup and over her head. The fabric fell to the floor, forgotten, as their bodies pressed together, skin against skin.

Their kiss deepened, a dance of tongues and teeth, each movement a testament to the connection that was growing between them. Elle’s hands explored the contours of Harper’s body, tracing the lines of her muscles, the softness of her skin. Harper’s own hands were equally adventurous, mapping out the landscape of Elle’s back, her fingers leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.

Elle’s breath hitched as Harper’s fingers found the clasp of her bra, deftly undoing it with a practiced ease that spoke of experience, yet there was a tenderness in her touch that made it clear this moment was different, special. The bra joined the shirt on the floor, and Harper’s hands were on her once more, this time with nothing between them.

They broke the kiss, both women gasping for air, their foreheads resting against each other as they struggled to regain control of their breathing. Harper’s eyes met Elle’s, and in that moment, there was a silent acknowledgment of the depth of their connection, a shared understanding that this was about more than just physical desire.

With renewed urgency, Elle’s lips found Harper’s once more, the kiss filled with a desperate hunger. Elle guided Harper towards the bed, their lips never parting as they tumbled onto the soft, cool sheets.

Elle’s fingers grazed Harper’s skin, the coolness of the air sending a shiver through both of them. She felt Harper’s body tremble slightly beneath her touch, a nervous anticipation that mirrored her own.

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