Chapter 18: A Lingering Dream

Harper had barely made it back to her apartment before collapsing onto the couch, exhaustion pulling her down like an anchor. She’d kicked off her shoes, intending only to rest for a few minutes before getting ready for her night class. Instead, sleep claimed her almost instantly, and with it came a vivid, unexpected dream.

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The office was bathed in a golden light that didn’t exist in reality, soft and warm, casting long shadows across the polished floors. Harper sat at her desk, papers spread before her, but she couldn’t focus. Her attention was drawn entirely to Blyaine.

Blyaine stood near the window, the sunlight wrapping around her like a second skin. She moved with her usual grace, her heels clicking faintly against the floor as she paced. Harper’s gaze traced the line of her tailored skirt, the curve of her hips, and the way the fabric hugged her figure perfectly.

Her blouse was slightly unbuttoned at the collar, revealing a hint of smooth skin and the delicate chain of a necklace Harper had never noticed before. Every movement was deliberate, every gesture a quiet command of the space around her. Blyaine’s presence was magnetic, pulling Harper in without a single word.

Blyaine turned, her sharp eyes softening as they met Harper’s. There was a knowing smile on her lips, one that sent a shiver down Harper’s spine.

“You’ve been distracted,” Blyaine said, her voice low and smooth.

Harper opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Her throat felt dry, her heart pounding as Blyaine took a step closer.

Before Harper could process what was happening, Blyaine was standing beside her, leaning down. Her perfume was subtle but intoxicating, a mix of something floral and warm. Harper’s breath hitched as Blyaine’s hand rested lightly on the back of her chair, her fingers brushing against Harper’s shoulder.

“Is there something on your mind, Harper?” Blyaine asked, her voice teasing but with an undercurrent of something deeper.

Harper’s pulse raced as Blyaine’s other hand came to rest on the desk, her body leaning closer. The angle brought Blyaine’s face impossibly near, her lips just inches away. Harper’s eyes flicked down, drawn to the way those lips moved as she spoke, soft and inviting.

“I…” Harper tried to speak, but her voice faltered.

Blyaine tilted her head, her dark hair falling over one shoulder. The movement was so effortlessly elegant, it was almost hypnotic.

“You’re always so tense,” Blyaine murmured, her tone softening. “You need to learn to relax.”

Her hand shifted, her fingers lightly brushing against Harper’s jaw. Harper’s eyes fluttered shut at the touch, her breath catching. The sensation was electric, sending warmth coursing through her veins.

Blyaine leaned closer, her lips hovering just beside Harper’s ear.

“Trust me,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Harper’s eyes snapped open, her heart racing as Blyaine pulled back slightly, her gaze heavy with something Harper couldn’t quite name.

---

Harper woke with a start, her heart hammering in her chest. The apartment was dim, the faint glow of the setting sun filtering through the curtains. She sat up, running a hand through her hair as she tried to steady her breathing.

The dream lingered, vivid and all-consuming. She could still feel the ghost of Blyaine’s touch, hear the softness of her voice, and smell the faint trace of her perfume.

“Get it together,” Harper muttered to herself, shaking her head as if to clear the memory.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the way Blyaine had made her feel—even if it had only been a dream.

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The days had taken on a strange rhythm for both Harper and Blyaine. The routines of work, study, and life carried on as usual, but something unspoken lingered in the spaces between their words.

Harper’s POV

Harper sat at her desk, her fingers idly twirling a pen as she stared at the legal document in front of her. The words blurred together, her focus slipping away as her mind wandered to Blyaine.

It wasn’t just the dream—it was everything. The way Blyaine’s sharp presence filled a room, how she spoke with authority yet softened unexpectedly when Harper least expected it. And the little things: the brush of her fingers when she handed Harper a file, the way their shoulders had accidentally touched during a meeting.

Every small interaction seemed to carry weight, a quiet charge that Harper didn’t know how to handle.

She glanced up and found Blyaine across the room, her dark hair catching the light as she leaned over a colleague’s desk. Blyaine’s sharp profile, her tailored blazer, the way she gestured with precision—it all drew Harper in like a magnet.

A small sigh escaped her as she looked back down at her work. Focus, Harper. She’s your boss, not some… Harper shook her head, unwilling to finish the thought. But no matter how hard she tried, her heart still skipped whenever Blyaine’s voice called her name.

---

Blyaine’s POV

Blyaine tapped her pen against the edge of her desk, her gaze drifting to Harper’s corner of the office. She tried not to make it obvious, but her eyes lingered on the younger woman more often than she cared to admit.

Harper was different. She worked tirelessly, always eager to learn, yet there was a vulnerability beneath her determination that Blyaine couldn’t ignore.

Her thoughts strayed to the other night—finding Harper asleep at her desk, the soft curve of her face lit by the faint glow of the office lamps. And then the kiss. Blyaine’s heart clenched at the memory, equal parts regret and longing.

She knew she shouldn’t think about Harper like this. It was unprofessional, inappropriate. But she couldn’t deny the pull she felt, the way Harper’s presence stirred something in her she hadn’t felt in years.

Her gaze flicked back to Harper, who was now chewing on the end of her pen, her brows furrowed in concentration. It was such a small, unconscious habit, yet Blyaine found it endearing. She doesn’t even realize how captivating she is, Blyaine thought, catching herself before her mind wandered too far.

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Harper’s POV

A shadow fell across Harper’s desk, and she looked up to find Blyaine standing there, a file in hand.

“Can you review this for me?” Blyaine asked, her voice calm and professional.

“Of course,” Harper said, reaching for the file. Their fingers brushed as Blyaine handed it over, and Harper felt a jolt of electricity shoot up her arm. She glanced up, their eyes meeting for a brief moment.

“Thank you,” Blyaine said, her voice softer now.

Harper nodded, swallowing hard as Blyaine walked away. She stared at the file in her hands, her skin still tingling from the brief contact.

---

Blyaine’s POV

Walking back to her desk, Blyaine clenched her hands to keep them steady. That brief touch, so insignificant in theory, had sent her pulse racing. She glanced back at Harper, who was now intently focused on the file, her lips slightly parted as she read.

Blyaine exhaled slowly, trying to regain her composure. This is getting out of hand, she thought. But despite her best efforts, she couldn’t stop the small smile that tugged at her lips.

In the quiet of the office, with only the hum of computers and the occasional shuffle of papers, the tension between them grew. It was subtle, unspoken, but it was there—an undercurrent neither of them could ignore.