A Quick Update: Finding Joy Amidst Setbacks

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Hello, dear readers!
I wanted to take a moment to update you all on what’s been happening in my world lately. As many of you know, I’ve committed to writing a blog post every day, six days a week, to keep you entertained and informed about my sapphic fiction journey. However, five days ago, I had a little mishap and took a fall, which left me feeling a bit flat.
While I don’t love writing when I’m not at my best—especially when health issues come into play—I think it’s important to share this with you. It’s a reminder that we all have our ups and downs, and sometimes life throws us a curveball.
On a positive note, I’m incredibly grateful for the consistent writing I’ve been doing leading up to this. Thanks to my dedication, I’m a month ahead with my content! I have stories set up for pre-order, which has been a lifesaver during this time. Being able to take a few days off to recover without the pressure of catching up has been such a relief.
During my recovery, I've found joy in simpler things. I’ve spent time in my garden with my dog, enjoyed the company of friends and family, and even relished moments of rest by listening to audiobooks and reading other authors’ works. It’s been a wonderful way to relax and recharge, and I’m finding that I’ve actually enjoyed this slower pace.
Now that I’m on the mend, I’m looking forward to diving back into my writing tonight. I can’t wait to get back to creating the stories you love!
Thank you for your understanding and support. I appreciate each and every one of you, and I’m excited to share more adventures in sapphic fiction with you soon!
Warmly,
Sapphic Shelley

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Excerpt from Hidden Love by Sapphic Shelley.

The dim glow of the Edison bulbs hanging from the exposed rafters cast a seductive sheen over the polished mahogany bar of The Ember Lounge. A lone saxophonist crooned a sultry melody that wove through the murmur of conversation and clink of glasses. Elena Martinez stood behind the bar, hair cascading down her back like spilled ink, the dark waves a stark contrast to the crisp white of her button-down shirt. Her fingers absently traced the edges of a coaster as her eyes scanned the room, searching, always searching, for a glimpse of blonde hair and green eyes that still haunted her dreams.

And then, there she was again. Mira Thompson stepped out of the shadows of a secluded booth in the far corner, the sight of her hitting Elena like a physical blow. The years had been kind to Mira - the planes of her face more defined, the softness of youth sharpened into the sculptured elegance of a woman who had weathered storms and emerged stronger. But her eyes, those moss green eyes that Elena had once been able to read like a favorite novel, remained shuttered and unreadable.

Elena's heart pounded a staccato beat against her ribcage as she stepped out from behind the bar, her movements fluid and purposeful despite the tremor in her hands. She wove through the tables, the hem of her black slacks brushing against the hardwood with each step, until she stood before Mira, close enough to catch the subtle notes of her perfume - jasmine and regret.

Mira's voice trembled as she finally spoke, each word a fragile offering in the face of Elena's anger. "I never meant to hurt you, Elena. I know my actions caused you pain, and I've carried that regret with me every day since."

Her eyes glistened with tears, the green depths swirling with a tempest of emotions - remorse, longing, and a desperate plea for understanding. "There were reasons, things I couldn't tell you then. Mistakes I made, choices that haunt me still. But please, believe me when I say that leaving you was the hardest thing I've ever had to do."

Elena's heart clenched at the raw vulnerability in Mira's voice, the walls she had so carefully constructed around her heart beginning to crack under the weight of Mira's words. She wanted to cling to her anger, to the familiar armor of resentment that had shielded her for so long. But as she looked into Mira's eyes, she saw a reflection of her own pain, a shared history of love and loss that bound them together, even now.

"Then why?" Elena whispered, her voice barely audible above the pounding of her heart. "Why did you leave, Mira? Why didn't you trust me enough to let me in, to let me help you face whatever it was that drove you away?"

Mira's hand twitched at her side, as if aching to reach out and bridge the distance between them. "I was scared, Elena. Scared of my own mistakes, scared of dragging you down with me. I thought I was protecting you by leaving, but I see now that I was only running from my own demons."

A single tear escaped down Mira's cheek, glistening in the muted light of the lounge. "I never stopped loving you, Elena. Even when I couldn't be with you, even when I thought I didn't deserve your love, it was always there, burning inside me like an unquenchable flame."

Elena's breath caught in her throat, the anger that had fueled her for so long beginning to dissipate in the face of Mira's honesty. She could see the truth in Mira's eyes.

Mira reached out a trembling hand, her fingers brushing against Elena's cheek in a tender gesture of longing and regret. The touch was feather-light, a whisper of skin against skin, yet it sent a shiver down Elena's spine. Time seemed to stand still as Mira's fingertips traced the contours of Elena's face, mapping out the familiar terrain of a love that had never truly faded.

Elena's breath hitched in her throat, her body betraying her as she leaned into Mira's touch. It was a gesture so achingly familiar, a reminder of countless moments stolen in the shadows of their past. Elena's eyes fluttered closed for a brief moment, savoring the warmth of Mira's skin against her own.
When she opened her eyes again, all Elena saw was a reflection of her own longing, a mirror of the love that had never died, despite the wounds they had inflicted upon each other.

Mira's voice was barely above a whisper as she spoke, her words a plea for forgiveness. "I'm so sorry, Elena. For everything. I know I hurt you, and I can't take that back. But I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere. Not unless you tell me to."

Mira's hand slid from Elena's cheek to the back of her neck, her fingers tangling in the silky strands of dark hair. "I'm scared too, Elena. Scared of losing you, of never being able to make things right between us. But I'm even more scared of living a life without you in it."

Elena's heart raced in her chest, each beat a reminder of the love that still pulsed beneath the surface of her skin.

"I never stopped loving you, Mira," she whispered, the words feeling like a weight lifted from her soul. "Even when I tried to hate you, even when I convinced myself that I was better off without you, my heart never let go."

Mira's eyes glistened with unshed tears, her lips curving into a smile that was equal parts joy and relief. "I never stopped loving you either, Elena. You were always the one, the only one who ever truly understood me."

Elena's hand found Mira's, their fingers intertwining in a silent promise of forgiveness and hope. The warmth of Mira's skin against her own felt like coming home, like finding a piece of herself that had been missing for far too long.

In that moment, the past seemed to fall away, the hurt and the anger and the betrayal fading into the background of their story. All that mattered was the present, the feel of Mira's body pressed against her own, the promise of a future that they could build together.

And as their lips met in a kiss that was both tender and passionate, Elena knew that she was exactly where she was meant to be. In the arms of the woman she loved, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, as long as they faced them together.

Mira's voice trembled as she spoke, her words a fragile echo in the dimly lit corner of The Ember Lounge. "Elena, I know I've hurt you in ways I can never fully atone for, but..." She paused, her breath catching in her throat as she searched Elena's face for a glimmer of hope. "Is there a chance for us? To rebuild what we once had, to find solace in each other's arms once again?"

Elena's heart raced, the weight of Mira's question hanging heavy in the air between them. The scent of Mira's perfume, a delicate blend of jasmine and sandalwood, enveloped her senses, stirring memories of stolen moments and whispered promises from a lifetime ago.

As she gazed into Mira's eyes, Elena saw the depths of her own longing reflected back at her. The years of pain and anger that had built a fortress around her heart began to crumble, brick by brick, as the realization of Mira's sincerity washed over her.

With a shaky hand, Elena reached out, her fingertips grazing the soft skin of Mira's cheek. A single tear escaped her eye, tracing a glistening path down her face as she whispered, "I've never stopped wanting that, Mira. Even when I tried to convince myself otherwise."

Mira leaned into Elena's touch, her eyes fluttering closed as a wave of relief and gratitude surged through her. "I know I have a lot to prove, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to earn your trust again, to show you that my love for you has never wavered."

Elena's hand slid down Mira's arm, her fingers intertwining with Mira's in a silent promise of forgiveness and a second chance. The warmth of their joined hands seemed to radiate through her entire being, chasing away the chill of the past and igniting a spark of hope for the future.

As they stood there, hands clasped and hearts beating in sync, the world around them faded away. The soft murmur of conversations and the clinking of glasses became distant echoes, mere background noise to the profound connection that had always existed between them.

Mira's lips quivered as she leaned in, the warmth of her breath mingling with Elena's in the scant space between them. With a tender intensity, Mira closed the remaining distance, her lips brushing against Elena's in a kiss that was both gentle and passionate. The contact ignited a fire within her, a blaze that had been smoldering beneath the ashes of their past. Elena's lips, soft and inviting, moved against Mira's with a familiar rhythm, a dance they had once known by heart.

As the kissed deepened, Mira's hands found their way to Elena's waist, pulling her closer until their bodies were flush against each other. The heat of Elena's skin seeped through the fabric of her dress, igniting a trail of goosebumps along Mira's arms. Every nerve ending in Mira's body came alive, electrified by the sensation of Elena's touch, the taste of her lips, and the scent of her perfume—a heady combination that threatened to overwhelm her senses.

Mira poured every ounce of her love, her longing, and her remorse into the kiss, silently communicating the depths of her feelings for Elena. The years of separation melted away, and for a fleeting moment, it felt as though they had never been apart, as if their hearts had always been intertwined, waiting for this moment of reunion.

Elena pulled back slightly, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she searched Mira's face for confirmation. Her eyes, dark and introspective, held a silent question—a plea for reassurance that they could truly move forward together, leaving the pain of the past behind. Mira met Elena's gaze, her own eyes shimmering with a mix of hope and uncertainty.

Can we really do this? Elena's eyes seemed to ask, vulnerability etched into every line of her face. Can we rebuild what we once had, or will the ghosts of our past always haunt us?

In that moment, with Elena in her arms and the taste of her lips still lingering on her tongue, Mira knew that she was willing to face anything to be with the woman she loved.

Mira's eyes shone with newfound determination as she held Elena's gaze, her voice filled with quiet conviction. "We can do this, Elena. Together." Her words a promise and a vow. "I know the road ahead won't be easy, but I'm willing to face whatever challenges come our way, as long as I have you by my side."

Elena's heart swelled with a mix of relief and joy at Mira's declaration.

Mira reached out and gently cupped Elana’s face, her thumb brushing away a stray tear that had escaped from the corner of Elena's eye. The touch was tender, almost reverent, and it sent a shiver down Elena's spine. "I know I hurt you in the past, Elena," Mira whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "And I know that it will take time for you to trust me again. But I promise you, I will spend every day proving to you that my love for you is true, that I will never leave your side again."

Elena leaned into Mira's touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment as she savored the warmth of her skin against her own. She surged forward, capturing Mira's lips in a searing kiss that spoke of forgiveness, of second chances, and of a love that had never truly died. And as they held each other close, their hearts beating in unison.

Their embrace tightened as the world around them faded into a distant hum, the warmth of their bodies melding together in a symphony of reconciliation. Elena's fingers traced the delicate curve of Mira's spine, each touch a silent promise to cherish and protect the love they had fought so hard to reclaim. Mira's hands, in turn, tangled in Elena's dark tresses, anchoring herself to the reality of this moment, to the woman she had once feared lost forever.

As they pulled back, just enough to gaze into each other's eyes, Elena saw a glimmer of the future reflected in Mira's tear-stained face. A future where the scars of their past would fade, where trust would be rebuilt brick by brick, and where their love would grow stronger with each passing day. She knew it wouldn't be easy, that there would be moments of doubt and fear, but in the steadfast determination of Mira's gaze, she found the courage to believe.

"We're going to make it," Elena whispered, her voice filled with a quiet conviction. "You and me, together. No matter what."

Mira nodded, a watery smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "No matter what," she echoed, sealing the promise with another gentle press of her lips against Elena's.

And as they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the soft glow of the Ember Lounge casting a warm halo around their entwined silhouettes, Elena and Mira knew that they had finally found their way home. Home to each other, to the love they had once thought lost, and to the hope of a future that shimmered with the promise of forever.

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While the love scenes in this blog are family friendly, sweet and cosy,
the Sapphic Shelley books are steamy and contain sensual themes appropriate for a mature romance novel.