Vineyard Dreams (Beyond The Red Carpet #4)

Chapter 16

16

E lle’s hands shook as she unlocked her front door. The image of Caroline Ashford’s perfectly styled blonde hair and designer outfit burned in her mind. She kicked off her shoes and dropped onto her couch, pulling her phone from her pocket.

Her fingers moved across the screen, searching Harper’s name alongside Caroline Ashford’s. Article after article popped up, most from last year. Photos of Harper and Caroline at red carpet events, holding hands, sharing intimate dinners.

“Fifty-one.” Elle stared at Caroline’s age listed in her bio. Her chest tightened. All those times she’d worried about the sixteen-year gap between her and Harper seemed ridiculous now.

Elle clicked on another photo - Caroline and Harper at the premiere for Lena, Caroline’s arm wrapped possessively around Harper’s waist.

A sharp knock on her front door startled Elle. Setting her phone aside, she crossed the room.

Elle opened the door to find Harper standing there, her eyes searching Elle’s face.

“Hey,” Harper’s voice was soft, hesitant. “Is it too late? Can I come in?”

Elle stepped back, holding the door open wider. “Sure.”

Harper slipped inside, the silence broken only by the click of the latch as Elle closed the door behind her.

“I’m so sorry about that,” Harper said, her gaze fixed on the floor. “She just... showed up.”

Elle watched her, a knot tightening in her stomach. “She drove all the way from Los Angeles?”

Harper nodded, her eyes finally meeting Elle’s. “Yeah. She had a script she wanted me to see.”

“She mentioned wanting to talk to you. About us .” Elle watched Harper’s reaction, bracing herself. “If you’re getting back together with her,” she said, the words catching in her throat. “I’d understand.”

“Elle, stop.” Harper reached out, her hand warm against Elle’s arm. “That’s not… that’s not what this is about.”

Elle pulled away, wrapping her arms around herself. “Then what is it about, Harper? She shows up out of the blue, after all this time… She wants you back,” Elle pressed, unable to shake the image of Caroline’s confident smile. “She wants you to go back to Hollywood with her.”

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 caught the 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 shirt up 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.

With a slow, deliberate movement, Elle unhooked Harper’s bra, the delicate fabric falling away to reveal the soft skin beneath. Elle’s heart thudded in her chest as she explored the contours of Harper’s body. Elle’s lips traveled down the slender column of Harper’s neck, her tongue darting out to taste the salt on her skin. Harper’s breath hitched as Elle’s mouth found the hollow at the base of her throat, the sound sending a jolt of desire straight to Elle’s core.

Elle’s hands moved with a mind of their own, tracing the outline of Harper’s ribcage before finally coming to rest on the soft swell of her breasts.

Elle cupped Harper’s breasts, her thumbs brushing over the hardened peaks of her nipples. Harper arched into the touch with a soft moan, her body instinctively seeking more. Elle obliged, her fingers teasing and tweaking the sensitive buds until Harper was writhing beneath her.

Elle’s own jeans felt unbearably tight as she ground her hips against Harper’s, the friction sending waves of pleasure coursing through her veins. She slipped her leg between Harper’s, the denim-clad thigh pressing against the heat of Harper’s center.

Their kisses grew more fervent, more demanding, as they began to move against each other. The rhythm was slow at first, a gentle rocking motion that soon gave way to a more urgent grind. Harper’s hands clutched at Elle’s back, her fingers digging into the muscles as she met each thrust with one of her own.

Elle could feel the tension building within her. She shifted her position, adding more pressure with her leg, eliciting a gasp from Harper.

The sound of their ragged breathing filled the room. Elle unbuttoned Harper’s jeans, and she slipped her hand beneath the waistband. Harper’s body bucked at the contact, her hips moving in a silent plea for more, and Elle moaned into the kiss when she discovered how wet Harper was.

“Oh god,” Harper groaned, breaking the kiss as Elle’s fingers slowly circled Harper’s clit.

Elle’s lips traveled down her body, between Harper’s breasts. She took one rosy nipple into her mouth, sucking and nipping at the sensitive flesh while her hand continued its exploration below.

Harper’s moans grew louder, her body moving in sync with Elle’s as they chased the release that hovered just out of reach.

“Elle, I can’t wait.” Harper’s dark hair was splayed across the pillow, her eyes pleading with Elle as she brought her hand up to Elle’s cheek. “I need to feel you inside me.”

Elle nearly groaned when she heart those words. She sat up, taking a moment to drink in the sight before her—Harper’s dark hair fanned out against the pillow, her brown eyes heavy with desire, her chest rising and falling with each ragged breath, and then Elle hooked her fingers into the waistband of Harper’s jeans, her gaze never leaving Harper’s. She watched Harper’s lips part slightly as Elle began to slide the denim down her legs, along with the silky fabric of Harper’s underwear. Harper lifted her hips to help, her eyes locked on Elle’s.

Elle returned to her previous position, her body hovering over Harper’s as she settled between her parted thighs. She placed a gentle kiss on Harper’s stomach, her lips lingering on the warm skin as Harper shivered beneath her. She took one of Harper’s nipples into her mouth, her tongue flicking over it, and a ragged moan left Harper’s lips.

Elle reached down, her fingers exploring the slick heat that awaited her. Harper moaned at the contact, her hips bucking slightly as Elle’s fingers teased her entrance.

“You’re so wet,” Elle murmured, her voice thick with desire.

Harper responded with a whimper, her hands fisting the sheets beside her as Elle slowly pushed two fingers inside her. Elle began to move her hand, her fingers gliding in and out of Harper with a steady rhythm. Harper’s breathing grew more erratic, her body arching off the bed as she matched Elle’s movements with her own.

“Faster, please,” Harper begged, her voice barely above a whisper.

Elle obliged, increasing the pace of her hand as she continued to drive Harper closer and closer to the edge. Harper’s cries of pleasure filled the room, her body writhing beneath Elle as she chased her release.

Elle shifted slightly, allowing her to thrust deeper, to hit that sweet spot that would send Harper over the edge.

With a final, desperate cry, Harper’s body convulsed, her inner walls clamping down on Elle’s fingers as she came. Elle continued to move her hand, drawing out Harper’s orgasm until she finally collapsed onto the bed, her body limp and sated.

Elle carefully withdrew her fingers, bringing them to her lips as she tasted the essence of Harper’s release. The intimacy of the moment was not lost on her.

She moved to lie beside Harper, pulling her into a tender embrace. Harper nuzzled against Elle’s chest, her breathing gradually returning to normal as she came down from her high.

For a long while, they lay in silence, the only sound the soft ticking of the clock on the wall. Elle stroked Harper’s hair, her mind replaying the events of the evening. As they held each other, Elle realized that she was falling for Harper in a way she had never expected.

Harper stirred, lifting her head to meet Elle’s gaze. Her eyes held a softness that Elle had come to cherish, a look that told her that this connection was not one-sided.

Harper’s lips brushed against Elle’s, and it didn’t take long for things to build up again, the heat between them growing with each kiss.

Harper pulled away and sat up, her fingers popping open the button of Elle’s jeans. Her eyes never left Elle’s, and the sound of the zipper lowering was almost lost in the pounding of Elle’s heart. Harper hooked her fingers into the waistband of Elle’s jeans and underwear, her gaze questioning.

“Is this okay?” Harper’s voice was husky, her own need evident in the tremor that ran through her words.

Elle nodded, and Harper began to tug the clothing down her legs. Elle lifted her hips, helping Harper remove the last piece of clothing between them.

Harper’s gaze raked over her, appreciation clear in her heavy-lidded eyes. The desire Elle saw there was intoxicating, empowering. It had been years since she’d felt this wanted, this alive.

Harper leaned down, her lips finding Elle’s once more. The kiss was deeper this time, more demanding. Harper’s hands roamed over Elle’s body, exploring the curve of her hips, her waist, the swell of her breasts.

Elle’s own hands were not idle. She slid them down her toned back until she was clutching Harper’s ass.

Harper shifted, one hand planted beside Elle’s shoulder while the other slid up Elle’s thigh.

Elle’s breath caught in her throat as Harper’s fingers grazed her folds. Harper’s touch was light, teasing, and it drove Elle wild with anticipation.

“Please,” Elle moaned, her hips bucking in search of more contact.

Harper didn’t make her wait. Her fingers found Elle’s clit with just the right amount of pressure. She moved in slow, deliberate circles, each stroke bringing Elle closer to the edge.

The sensation was overwhelming, and Elle found herself already on the edge. Hearing Harper come just a few minutes ago nearly did it for her, never mind this. Now, she held onto Harper’s thigh and arm as Harper slowly slipped her fingers inside.

A low moan escaped Elle’s lips.

Harper’s mouth moved to Elle’s ear, her breath hot against her skin. “You feel so good,” she whispered, her voice sultry.

Elle’s fingers dug into Harper’s skin as Harper picked up the pace. Elle knew it wouldn’t take much to make her come. She’d been thinking about this for days, and nothing could have prepared her for how amazing this felt.

Harper shifted lower, her lips wrapping around Elle’s nipple, and with that, Elle felt herself tumbling over the edge, her body shuddering as wave after wave of pleasure washed over her.

A ragged moan left Elle’s lips as she clung to Harper, her hips pushing back against Harper’s hand, riding out every last bit of her orgasm until she was completely spent.

As Elle’s body finally stilled, Harper withdrew her hand, and moved to lie beside Elle, pulling her into a tender embrace. Elle nestled against her, her head resting on Harper’s chest. The steady beat of Harper’s heart was a soothing rhythm, lulling Elle into a state of blissful contentment.

None of this felt real.