Page 45 of Until Presley

“Boyfriend?” George’s voice takes on a different edge, and I’m about to hang up when a beep comes across the line.

“That’s him now. Talk to you soon.”

I hang up and click over to Ham. “Sweetie, did you fall asleep?”

“I did, baby. Sorry. I’m heading up to bed now. I wanted to call and tell you I love you and I’ll see you this weekend.”

“Love you too. I fell asleep also. I’m heading to bed now.”

We talk for a few more minutes before we say goodnight and hang up. I fall asleep thinking about Ham’s declaration that hewants to get me pregnant. I dream of beautiful, tanned-skinned, wavy-haired babies with his eyes.

CHAPTER

EIGHTEEN

PRESLEY

I’ve been in Chattanooga for a week, working at the aquarium with the staff and visitors regarding the sandbar shark and the sand tiger sharks in their exhibit. I’ve been teaching visitors that sharks aren’t always the killers they’re portrayed to be in the movies, and that they’re actually more scared of us than we are of them. When I work with the staff, it’s focused on conservation issues with sharks in the wild and how their observations help our research. I’m building relationships with the staff that I’ll be able to cultivate when I’m doing my own research. It’s been a refreshing week for me, just being away from Miami and everything going on there.

Clara’s father hired a cutthroat attorney, who claims I initiated the attack and Clara stopped me. I’m so angry. She even has our parents convinced she’s innocent. The police and district attorney have footage of her grabbing me and pulling me into the alcove, but there are no cameras in there to prove what really happened. The cameras show me stepping out and her coming at me, but it’s not enough. I’m devastated that she might get awaywith this, just like she’s gotten away with her treatment of me through the years.

Clara continues to harass me, saying I’m the reason she isn’t going to graduate. She Snapchats me messages, but I can’t take a screenshot of them without her knowing. Ham said he’s going to bring me another phone so I can take pictures. Plus, it will give me a new phone number so she can’t contact me. Our parents still haven’t shown up, but they’re supposed to be in Miami this weekend. I have a meeting with my advisor when I get back on Monday. I’m worried they are going to make me stay there. I’m ready to wake up with Ham every day again, not just on the weekends or when we can meet up. I’m ready to move on with my life with a family and friends who actually care about me.

I have a friend I met through the zoo and aquarium community, Lydia Rorke, who invited me to her wedding here in Chattanooga. Ham is flying in this evening so we can attend together, and we can spend the weekend with each other. Lydia works for the Nashville Zoo, and we became friends when I was studying for my master’s degree. I had to explore other marine life in zoos and aquariums. I was interested in the stingrays that are also a part of the shark family. Her zoo has two types, and I was communicating with her via email and Zoom. We’ve never met in person until tonight. I’m kind of excited to meet her, but her friend Sydney is someone I really want to meet.

Sydney was a field researcher and animal photographer before she came to the Nashville Zoo. She studied rhinos and elephants in Southern Africa. I can’t wait to talk to her. Yes, I’ve traveled a lot, even went to South Africa, but I never had the chance to go inland for safaris or other tours to see the land animals. My father was always too busy to take me, and my tutors couldn’t without his permission.

Lydia wanted Ham and me to come to her rehearsal dinner tonight so we could meet in a little more relaxed situation and a smaller group.

I’m dancing around the hotel room as I get ready, waiting for Ham to show up. I’m in my bra and panties, swinging my hips to a new song. It’s about a girl wanting her boyfriend to knock her up. It’s fun, and I like it, but it aligns with the thoughts I’ve been having lately that brought on listening to it.

The number of dreams I’ve been having about getting pregnant is crazy. Hanna and I were talking yesterday, and she told me she got pregnant before she and Walker got married. She told me she doesn’t regret it. I talked to her about my dreams and thoughts, and she laughed, saying maybe it was fate.

I know I might not finish my doctorate this year like I wanted, but I’m getting tired of putting my life on hold. For the longest time, I thought this was the only way my father would pay attention to me, but now I know there is nothing that will make up for the way he’s treated me lately. After everything that happened at Christmas and when he found out I was with Ham, it’s been abundantly clear that his focus is only on himself. Me getting my doctorate reflects on him; it’s not an accomplishment for me.

I twist around as the song continues, dancing provocatively.

“Baby,” is growled from behind me, and Ham kicks the door closed before he’s on me and has me bent over the bed. I moan and claw at the covers as he rips my thong from my body. “You want my baby?” he growls against my core.

“Maybe,” I moan. “I don’t know, but it’s been in my thoughts since you mentioned it last month.”

Ham has made sure that every chance he can, he’s in Miami with me. He is proving that I’m his focus, and it makes me love him even more.

Ham’s tongue slips inside me, and I hum at the feeling. He gets me to the edge before he stands up. His buckle hits the floor, then he’s pushing his thick cock inside me. I throw my head back and cry out at the intrusion but love it at the same time. Ham grips my hips and holds me tight as he works in and out of my body. As my body climbs higher and higher, I moan and tell him my feelings.

“I love you so much. Please. Harder,” I beg, and he doesn’t disappoint.

His fingers dig into my hips and his thrusts are harder. My body tightens, and then I feel it all let go as I cry out. He groans as he comes deep inside me.

I want to crawl up onto the bed and take a nap, but I still have to get ready so we can go to the party.

Ham

Hearing that song playing and my girl dancing to it was more than I could take. All I could think about was her pregnant with my baby. Her belly round with my child and proof that she’s mine. I want that so bad I can taste it. I know she wants to finish her doctorate first, and I’ll wait, but hearing that she’s even been thinking about it was a turn-on. I want to support Presley, always.

Carefully, I lift her off the bed and carry her to the bathroom, where I shower with her and we get ready to head to her friend’s rehearsal dinner. If I knew it wouldn’t make us late, I’d have taken her again in the shower. I want to make love to her all weekend long.

I’ve missed her being in our home in Key West. My mom and Hanna miss her too. When I go to visit my brother, he’s always looking for her. She’s been sending him pictures and decorations for his room. The most recent thing she sent him were images she took while swimming with a bowmouth guitarfish. It looks like a shark and ray got together. She left him a note that I read to him, telling him that she saw it when she was on a dive in Papua New Guinea. It’s just another reason I love her so much. She loves my family and loves to do things I like to do. I know we will never get bored with each other.

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