Page 36 of Beyond the Red Carpet

The insistent vibration of Vanessa’s phone against the coffee table broke through the haze of desire. She pulled back from Kate’s lips with a sigh, glancing over at the screen. Elliot’s name flashed up at her, demanding attention.

Vanessa hesitated, her finger hovering over the screen. But then Kate’s hand was on her cheek, turning her face back towards her, and the decision was made. She let the call go to voicemail, leaning in to capture Kate’s lips once more.

The kiss was slower this time, deeper. Vanessa lost herself in the sensation of Kate’s mouth moving against hers, the soft slide of their tongues. She tangled her fingers in Kate’s hair, holding her close.

But then Kate was pulling away, a furrow between her brows. “Should we tell Elliot?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “About us? About this being...real?”

Vanessa’s heart stalled in her chest as she searched Kate’s face in the dim light. “Do you really want this?” Vanessa’s fingersstilled against Kate’s skin. “All of it. The age difference, the media, the way we started.”

Kate’s palm pressed warm against Vanessa’s cheek, her thumb brushing along her skin. “I want every single part of it.” Kate’s voice rang with conviction, each word deliberate and clear.

Kate leaned in, slowly closing the distance between them. Her breath ghosted across Vanessa’s lips, a whisper of anticipation that made Vanessa’s pulse quicken. When their lips finally met, the touch was feather-light, teasing.

“Even how we started...” Kate murmured between kisses. “Maybe it wasn’t perfect, but it led us here. And I wouldn’t change that for anything.”

Vanessa’s chest tightened at Kate’s words, at the raw honesty in her voice. She pulled Kate closer, eliminating the space between them. Their lips met again, and this time Vanessa poured everything she couldn’t say into the kiss - her fears, her hopes, her growing certainty that this was more than she’d ever dreamed possible.

Kate’s hands slipped beneath Vanessa’s shirt, fingertips dancing across her ribs. The touch sparked electricity through her body, igniting every nerve ending. Vanessa arched into the contact, deepening the kiss until they were both breathless.

Vanessa’s heart thundered against her ribs as Kate’s hands traced higher, leaving trails of fire across her skin. The forgotten TV cast shifting shadows across Kate’s face.

Kate’s lips found that sensitive spot below Vanessa’s ear, and rational thought scattered. Vanessa’s fingers tangled in Kate’s hair, pulling her back up to capture her mouth in a searing kiss.

The blanket slipped to the floor as Kate shifted, straddling Vanessa’s lap. Their kisses grew deeper, more urgent. Vanessa’s hands slid under Kate’s shirt, mapping the smooth expanse of her back, wanting to memorize every inch.

Kate broke the kiss. “Bedroom?” she whispered against Vanessa’s lips.

“Here,” Vanessa breathed, pulling Kate back down to her.

24

The last rays of sunlight painted the Santa Monica sky in shades of orange and pink. Kate didn’t think she’d ever get tired of the view from her deck.

Arms slid around her waist from behind. Vanessa pressed against her back, her chin resting on Kate’s shoulder. Kate’s skin tingled where Vanessa touched her, the same electric response she’d felt all weekend. Her breath caught as Vanessa’s fingers splayed across her stomach.

Kate closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of Vanessa’s body against hers. The weekend at the cabin had changed everything, and Kate still couldn’t believe this was happening, that Vanessa felt the same way about her.

She turned in Vanessa’s arms, meeting those mesmerizing hazel eyes that now held such tenderness.

Vanessa’s phone buzzed in her pocket. With a slight frown, she reached between them to retrieve it, glancing at the screen.

“It’s Elliot,” she said, her thumb hovering over the answer button. “And it’s a video call.” She took a deep breath. “We can’t keep ignoring him.”

Kate nodded, and Vanessa answered the call, turning slightly so that Kate remained in the frame.

Elliot’s face filled the screen. His eyes lit up as he took in the sight of them together. “Look at you two. All cozy and always in character. I love it,” he said, his voice filled with enthusiasm. “The photos from the weekend in the jacuzzi? I don’t know how you two keep outdoing yourselves. I take it you had a relaxing weekend away?”

Kate glanced at Vanessa, a silent understanding passing between them. Vanessa cleared her throat, drawing Elliot’s attention back to her.

“Elliot, we have something to tell you,” Vanessa said.

Elliot waited, his eyebrows raised in anticipation.

“We’re together,” Kate said, the words tumbling out in a rush. “For real.”

Vanessa chimed in. “After this weekend, neither of us are pretending.”

There was a beat of silence, and then Elliot’s face erupted into a smile so wide it seemed to stretch beyond the confines of the screen. His eyes sparkled with joy, and he let out a whoop of delight that startled Kate, making her jump slightly in Vanessa’s arms.

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