Page 12 of Until Presley

I don’t hear anything, and my heart starts to ache. He didn’t even make love to me. Oh, he did a lot, but we didn’t have sex at all. I flop back in bed and get a whiff of his cologne. I pull the pillow to my face and take a deep sniff. I’m not washing this pillow for a while.

Sliding out of bed, I head to the bathroom and clean myself up. I notice the love bites all over my body. I don’t remember him biting and sucking on me like that, but I smile as I think of what he did do. It was amazing.

I grab a soft pair of gray jammies with black stars and slip them on before heading to the kitchen to make myself some tea. After picking up my clothes from last night, I grab my cell phone and send a quick text to Leah. When she doesn’t respond, I figure she’s still sleeping. I click on my speaker and put on some music. One of my favorite songs fromWednesdaycomes on, andI do the dance she does in the show. I had to watch the scene over and over to nail the routine.

“What kind of dance is that?”

“Ahh!” I scream and spin around to find Ham standing in the doorway. He’s holding a takeout bag in one hand and two drinks in a carrier in the other. “How the hell did you get into my house?” I didn’t check to see if the house was armed, but I knew it was locked.

He kicks the door closed, then walks over to the coffee table to set everything down before making his way toward me. I take a step back.

“I asked you a question,” I say.

“I memorized the codes when you put them in last night.” He pulls me into him, and I push a hand against his chest.

“You didn’t want to have sex with me, so why are you back?”

He chuckles as his hands slide into my hair and tip my head back, making me look up at him. His palms are warm against my cheeks.

“Presley, don’t ignore what I’m going to tell you. I wanted to fuck you so hard and deep that you couldn’t walk today, but the first time I slide into your body, you’re going to remember it all. You’re not going to be drunk. Get it?”

I can’t say anything as my mind is overcome by the image of him deep inside me. My body practically convulses with need. My core spasms, and my breath hitches. I lick my lips to moisten them before nodding my head in understanding.

“Now kiss me,” he demands and leans down.

I arch up into him, and the next thing I know, I’m in his arms, wrapping around him, as he sits me on the counter. His kiss makes me forget everything but him. All the reasons why I shouldn’t be with him float out of my head. I trust him, and I hope he never breaks that trust. When he pulls away, his soft T-shirt is gripped in my hands.

“Tell me what kind of dance that was?” he asks again. I shake my head to focus on his words.

“I watch the Netflix showWednesday. It’s her dance.”

“Wednesday. We’ll have to Netflix and chill with that one.” He looks me up and down. “But you might need to wear more clothes, or we might be pausing it a lot.” He chuckles softly, and the sound is like a direct link to my clit. He lifts me off the counter and swats my ass. “Breakfast and tea are in the bag for you. Now go get dressed.”

“Where are we going?” I look at him over my shoulder.

“Snorkeling.”

“Woohoo!” I rush to my room.

I slip on my white bikini with little pink flowers all over it. I don’t wear this one for research trips because it’s a tie-style bikini, and that doesn’t work very well under my wetsuit. I pull on a pair of worn-out bibs and grab my pink Converse before braiding my long hair. I head back out to the living room, where Ham is on the phone.

“We’ll be there in about twenty minutes. See you then,” he tells the person and hangs up.

“Are we meeting people?” I glance down at what I’m wearing, wondering if I need to change.

“Just Walker and his family. Don’t worry.”

I take the offered cup and sip, realizing it’s a perfect blend of lavender and rose iced tea. The memories of my mother drinking this when I was a little girl almost stagger me. “How d-did you know?” I turn to look at him.

“I spent some time in Paris and other places around France. I know it’s a popular tea, and when I went to make you coffee, I noticed you didn’t have any, but you had plenty of tea. I thought you’d like it. Is it okay?”

I hold the cup in my hands as I take a big whiff and close my eyes. For a moment, I let the memories wash over me. When I open my eyes, he’s standing in front of me.

“My mother loved rose and lavender tea. She drank it all the time. I know it’s become popular because of that television show, but I haven’t had it in years. Thank you.” I reach up and pull his face down to mine. Kissing his cheek, I let him feel how much this moment means to me.

We walk out to his Jeep, and he helps me up into it as I take a bite of the flaky croissant he got me. It dawns on me he’s changed clothes since last night.

“Did you run home before you came back?”

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