All Chapters of Rival Hearts: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Harper Lawson stepped into the chemistry lab, books clutched tightly against her chest. Today was the dreaded day of the group project presentation, and her nerves were already buzzing. But of course, her tension skyrocketed the moment she spotted Emery Collins at the corner table, already leaning casually against a lab bench, smirking at her with those infuriating amber eyes.“Ready to fail spectacularly?” Emery asked, her voice teasing, low, confident.Harper huffed, trying to keep her composure. “I…plan to survive, thank you very much,” she replied, though the tremble in her voice betrayed her.Their assigned lab group was a mix of classmates Harper barely knew—loud, chatty, and easily distracted—but Emery and Harper were paired together for every step of the experiment. From the moment they started measuring chemicals, tensions flared, not just academically but physically. Every brush of elbows, every accidental touch of hands, every shared glance sent shivers of heat through Harp

The rain pounded against the dorm window, a relentless drum that matched the racing of Harper Lawson’s heart. She stood near the glass, arms wrapped around herself, trying to focus on her textbook, but the persistent memories of Emery Collins and the teasing messages from earlier in the day consumed her thoughts.The knock at the door made her jump. Her pulse spiked before she even had time to process.“Open up, Harper,” Emery’s sultry voice called from the other side. “I have…plans for us.”Harper’s chest tightened. “Emery…” she whispered, knowing she had no intention of saying no. Pride and reason battled with her body’s response, but the desire that had been simmering all week was too strong. She opened the door.Emery leaned casually against the frame, her wet hair slicked slightly from the storm outside. Her amber eyes glimmered with mischief and heat, lips curved in a teasing smirk. Harper’s knees went weak at the sight.“You came,” Harper breathed, barely able to form words.“O

(Emery POV)I perched at the edge of the lab table, arms crossed, watching Harper Lawson move with that mix of focus and frustration that always made my pulse quicken. I’d known this day was coming—our group presentation—but I hadn’t expected my body to react like this just standing across from her. Every subtle glance, every flinch at my teasing, every little stumble of hers was like fuel to a fire I didn’t want to put out.God, she’s impossible. And I love it.The other group members chatted around us, oblivious, giving us space we didn’t even need. All I cared about was Harper. She didn’t know I was watching her every move, memorizing how her hair fell over her eyes when she concentrated, how her lips pressed together when she was frustrated, how her chest rose and fell faster when she caught me staring.“Are you even paying attention?” I teased lightly, stepping closer under the guise of helping with a data sheet. I could see her flinch, her eyes darting up to mine, cheeks pink.I

The campus was buzzing with activity. Posters for the upcoming student elections fluttered on every bulletin board, and groups of students gathered for clubs, debates, and competitions. Harper and Emery had been dragged into the annual campus science competition by friends, promising fame, bragging rights, and a small cash prize. Neither of them had expected to be on the same team—or that being paired would make the competition so electrifying.Emery leaned against the table in the lab, amber eyes scanning Harper’s notes. “You know, I think you’re trying too hard,” she said, voice teasing. “You’re distracted…by me, aren’t you?”Harper’s cheeks flamed. “I am not distracted by you,” she protested, but her eyes flicked toward Emery anyway, betraying her.“Oh, come on,” Emery said with a smirk, stepping closer under the pretense of pointing at a formula. “Your pulse is racing. Your hands are shaking. Admit it—you want me.”Harper tried to focus on the calculations in front of her, but eve

The dorm hallway was quiet, almost eerily so, as Harper slipped inside her room. The door hadn’t even clicked shut before Emery stepped forward, blocking her path with that teasing smirk and amber eyes glinting with mischief.“You think you can get away from me?” Emery whispered, voice low and intimate. “Not tonight.”Harper’s knees went weak, body already betraying her. “Emery…” she breathed, voice trembling, heart racing, heat pooling low. “I…we…shouldn’t—”“Shouldn’t what?” Emery countered, closing the distance. Her hands slid around Harper’s waist, pulling her impossibly close. The warmth of her body pressed against Harper, making her gasp softly. “You want this. You’ve wanted this. Don’t lie to me.”Harper swallowed hard, lips parting as Emery’s thumb brushed along her jaw, tilting her face upward. The kiss was slow at first, teasing, exploratory. Every brush of lips sent shivers through Harper’s body, igniting nerves she hadn’t known could burn so fiercely.Her hands trembled as