Chapter 30 Presley
Chapter Thirty
PRESLEY
Me
Who’s coming tonight?
Myles
Can’t. Working. Out of town.
Me
Do you only speak in fragmented sentences now?
Myles
Time is money, baby!
Me
Ew. Never say that again.
Merc
Agreed.
Merc
Also, I can’t come either.
Me
Why?
Merc
Oh, I just don’t want to.
Cash
I can’t come either. Taking Taylor trick-or-treating.
Cash
Also, I don’t want to.
I roll my eyes. I don’t know why I expected any of them to show up. Myles is rarely home, and when he is, it’s for an audition or to meet someone about an audition. I’m incredibly proud of his hustle, but just hearing about how hard he’s working makes me tired.
Mercury is another story. When she’s not working, she’s at home.
While I don’t consider myself a true introvert, my little sister definitely is.
She may love rock music, but she is not the quintessential rock-chic.
She would rather spend her evenings at home watching concerts than actually attending them.
Cash…well, Cash is a grump who doesn’t remember what fun even is anymore.
Me
You know, I don’t feel very supported right now.
Zara
We’re coming!
Me
Omg! ZARA! When did you join the sibling group chat?
Zara
I’m not actually sure. Hen must have added me cause you guys just started blowing up my phone while I was waiting for him to finish movement therapy.
Myles
That sneaky little shit. He just wants to get another vote on his side when it comes to choosing a name for the group chat.
Zara
Well, I’ve got news for him. I’ve heard some of his name ideas (Creed It and Weep?!?!), and they’re shit. He doesn’t get my pity vote.
Merc
That’s horrendous. Also. you’re my new favorite sister.
Myles
Same.
Me
Honestly, that’s so fair. You are the only one coming to my Halloween party, after all.
Merc
RUDE.
Zara
I’m just excited to see what Hen picked out for a costume.
Me
You don’t know?
Zara
It’s a surprise!
Myles
And he kept it? That’s impressive.
Me
Speaking of… Tell Hen I have my own surprise tonight.
Cash
Oh, it’s a surprise all right.
Me
Shut up, Cash.
I set my phone on the bed and turn toward the hallway.
Where is he?
Hollis said he needed to run an errand, but that was a while ago. When I asked if it had to be done today of all days, he nodded and said, “Yes, it can’t wait.”
Now, we need to be at the bar in two hours, and I’m starting to get nervous.
What could be so important that—
The front door opens. I exhale in relief, trying not to seem panicked or frazzled, even though I definitely am. I turn my attention to the costume pieces I’ve laid out on the bed, just as he enters behind me.
“Hi,” he says.
I turn to see him leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, looking at me as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.
“Hi. Did you finish your errand?”
A small smirk forms at the corner of his lips. “Mm-hmm.”
“Okay…” I begin to let it go, but then I remember I’m married to a millionaire. “Is it a car?”
He tosses his head back and laughs. “No, Pres. It’s not a car. Although now that you mention it…”
I glare at him, and he grins. “Kidding. Mostly.”
“Your costume is in the closet,” I tell him over my shoulder, grabbing the lacy thigh highs I bought for tonight.
Part of our impromptu date the other night was going to the costume shop together.
I’d been putting it off, so focused on making sure every little detail went as planned, but he convinced me it was okay to have fun too.
We had the best time. I’m convinced Hollis will do just about anything to make me laugh.
That man dressed up like the tooth fairy and Pooh Bear, but my favorite was when he squeezed his six-foot, two-inch frame into a cheerleader costume with the super-short skirt and pom-poms. He was such a good sport about it, posing for silly photos that I totally sent to my entire family—minus Hendrix.
Hollis was a bit more focused when choosing costumes for me to try on. He definitely stuck with a theme. Sexy nurse. Sexy maid. Sexy princess.
We may have taken a few of those home. For later.
For the Halloween party, though, we settled on two classics—a witch and a vampire. Not exactly a couple’s costume, but close enough.
I’m just finishing up getting everything on when I hear Hollis’s footsteps echo behind me. “That is not what your costume looked like in the store, Pres.”
I turn around and see him staring at the leather bustier I added. “The dress was a little plain,” I explain. “Plus, it wasn’t fair that only one of us got to wear leather.”
I give him an appreciative glance. He makes one hot vampire. Black shirt and pants that hug his muscular frame, but it’s the leather vest and long black velvet trench coat that really give him that otherworldly vibe.
The coal eyeliner and pointy teeth I’m going to help him put on later will also help.
“Pretty sure this is pleather.” He flashes a grin.
“I think the term is faux leather, and so is mine.”
“Well, whatever it is, it’s sexy as fuck. If I drop anything tonight, just blame it on your tits.”
I snort out a laugh. “This new, unedited version of you is wild. You’ve just had all those dirty thoughts running through your head all this time?”
A cocky grin spreads across his lips as his gaze trails down my body. “And you didn’t?”
“Oh, I definitely did. But until recently, I just thought it was very one-sided.”
He closes the distance between us. “I fought them, but I’ve always had feelings for you. I just don’t think I realized it until I heard your shrill voice yelling at me over the phone for ghosting you for twelve years.”
“My voice is not shrill.”
He smiles. “No, it’s actually pretty fucking perfect.”
I look up at him. I’m so gone for those soft green eyes and freckled cheeks. I can’t believe I ever thought I’d be able to let him go. Now, I just want to stand on that bar top tonight and scream, “He’s mine! That hot vampire right there—he’s all mine.”
Shit. That reminds me…
“Hen and Zara are coming tonight.”
He nods. “You thought they might. Didn’t you sort of tell Hendrix he had to?”
“Yeah, but that was ages ago. Before—”
He smirks. “Before you married his former best friend and then purposely avoided telling him?”
“Yeah. That.”
He places his hands on either side of my face, taking care not to mess up the makeup I spent forever applying. “It’s going to be okay.”
“You sure?”
He nods. “Like the others, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled. But if not, we’ll handle it. Just like we have with everything else that’s come our way. I told you from the start, we are a team, and nothing will ever change that.”
A team. I’ve never been on one before.
I avoided sports in high school. I never joined the choir. Even at the bar, I was always the boss’s daughter until I eventually took over.
Even in my own family, I’ve felt sort of set apart. Different.
But I like the idea of being part of something with Hollis.
A team. A partnership.
A marriage.
The bar is quiet when we arrive. A few employees volunteered to come in earlier and decorate, but they left hours ago.
It’s just Hollis and me.
I go to flip on the lights behind the bar, but his hand stops me. “Wait,” Hollis says.
“What? Why?”
“Just stay here for a second, okay?”
It’s dark, and we’re both covered in black from our spooky costumes, so I have a bit of difficulty tracking him as he moves through the space. But, a moment later, the entire bar is engulfed in tiny twinkling lights.
Red, green, and purple lights hang from the ceiling, the bar, and almost anywhere they can be displayed safely. There are spiderwebs and holy shit. Is that a fog machine in the corner?
My eyes are everywhere, taking it all in. “Oh my god! This must have taken hours!”
“Mel and Lamar were happy to do it.”
“Remind me to thank them, ’cause this is so over the top. I mean, people are going to—”
“Pres.”
I turn back to the sound of his voice and gasp. My vampire husband is down on one knee, holding a ring. I clutch my chest like a woman from the 1800s suffering from the vapors. “What is that?”
He smirks. “What does it look like?”
“It looks like an engagement ring.”
“It is.”
“I—wait. Is this what you went to do today?”
“Yes.”
“You do remember we’re already married, right?”
His lips twitch. “Can a guy propose?”
I try to fight a smile, looking at his costume and the spooky lights. “Don’t you mean boo-pose?”
He shakes his head back, shoulders shaking. “You’re really gonna make this difficult, aren’t you?”
I nod. “Uh-huh.”
“Get your ass over here, Pres.”
I close the gap between us, allowing me to get a better glimpse of the ring he’s holding.
“Oh my god.” My attempt at shitty puns is instantly forgotten as my eyes begin to water.
It’s ornate and classy. The gold filigree band wraps around a large oval diamond.
It’s exactly what I would have picked. “Is that—”
“Antique? Yeah.” His eye soften. “It’s why it took me a while. Had to find just the right one.”
I blow out a long breath. I don’t understand why I’m getting so emotional. It’s not like I really have anything to say yes to. I’m already married to the man.
It’s not like he can ask me to marry him again…
“I want to marry you again,” he says, making a total mockery of my thoughts.
“You what?” I laugh. “Why?”
He takes my hand, his expression turning serious.
“Because I want us to have something to remember. I want to be able to close my eyes and see you walking down the aisle, know the vows we promised, remember the feel of your lips on mine when we kissed. Shit, Pres. I don’t even know if we said or did all those things. ”
“It would have been nice if they had at least taken a picture.”
“Based on my very empty wallet, I’m pretty sure all my cash went to bribing them to marry our drunk asses. There was no money left over for official wedding pics.”
“So are you asking me to marry you again or telling me?”
“I’m not stupid enough to believe I could ever tell you to do anything.” He chuckles. “This is me asking. But just so you know, if you say no, your ass is still married. You’re stuck with me one way or another.”
“Stuck with you, huh?”
“Like fucking glue.”
Hell yeah, you are.
“Well, I guess we’d better call my parents then.” His brow furrows. “A wedding reception would be the perfect time to have a wedding, don’t you think?”
His eyes light up. “Is that a yes?”
“Hollis, I’ll marry you as many times as you want.”
“I just might hold you to that.”
I hold out my left hand and wiggle my ring finger. “Keep buying me pretty rings, and I’ll let you.”
He slips the ring on, and it fits snugly against my wedding ring. We both stare at it before he grips my chin and turns my face upward.
“I love you, Pres. I know it might seem soon, or maybe not, since I just got down on one knee and asked you to marry me—again. But I think I’ve loved you longer than I even understood what the word truly meant.”
My eyes start to water again.
“You were a friend and confidant when I needed one. You gave me a family when I had none. And now you’ve come back into my life and shown me the kind of love I never thought was possible. Thank you for loving me—every broken piece.”
I swallow, my throat thick with emotion.
“You are not broken, Hollis. We’re all just painfully human, full of scars and imperfections.
And I love all of you—the strong and silent side you show everyone else, and the sweet and caring side you save for me.
I don’t remember how we ended up in that chapel or why, but I thank God we did, because it brought us here. It brought me you.”
He kisses me hard, pouring all his emotions into that single kiss. Love, devotion, passion. Then he pulls back, heat blazing in his eyes. “How long until everyone else shows up?”
I look at the clock over the bar. “Thirty minutes.”
“Good. Turn around. Hands on the bar top.”
My core clenches at his command. He looks downright feral in his badass costume and dark makeup. I’ve never really been into vampire romance, but I might be after tonight.
I do as he asks, placing my hands on the cool wood. I turn my head to see him eyeing me up and down. “Spread your legs. Keep your hands right there. I want to see that ring on your pretty finger while I fuck you, Pres.”
Oh, damn.
He makes fast work of his belt and unzips his pants. He’s so impatient that he just slides his pants down enough to pull his dick out. I watch as he strokes himself. His lashes flutter as he reaches out and slides a hand under my skirt.
“A thong and thigh highs. You wanted me to fuck you tonight, didn’t you?”
I bite my lip. “Well, I have been a very good girl.”
I feel his hot breath on my shoulder as he gives it a playful nip. Really glad we ditched those fake vampire teeth at the last minute. They would have definitely gotten in the way tonight. “Life with you is never going to be dull, is it?
“Never.”
His hand slides between my legs to cup my pussy.
My thong is already drenched. He gives it a tug, letting the fabric slide between folds.
It brushes my clit, and I gasp. Then I feel his hot breath next to my ear.
“We’re pressed for time, so I’m going to take you hard and fast. But later tonight, we’re going to celebrate the proper way. ” He gives a short pause. “For hours.”
He pushes my wet thong to the side and grabs my hips. “Bend forward, Pres.” I feel his hand smooth over the globe of my ass cheek as I bend my back to give him the perfect angle. “That’s it.” I feel the head of his cock work its way into my entrance, and then he slams into me.
I cry out, the pleasure so intense I don’t even care how loud I’m being. Hollis doesn’t let up once he starts. He promised hard and fast, and that’s exactly what he gives me.
His belt buckle is digging into my ass. My makeup is probably trashed, but I don’t care. I really don’t fucking care.
“Fuck, Pres.”
“Don’t stop,” I beg. “I’m so close.”
He reaches a hand up, sliding it over the ring he just gave me. “Never,” he says against my ear.
His sweet declaration and the possessive way he grips my hand—it’s all too much, and I come seconds later, screaming his name. He follows right behind me, groaning as he empties himself into me.
When our breathing levels out, he kisses my temples and pulls out. A knowing smile spreads across his face as he starts to stuff himself into his pants and buckle his belt. “Don’t you dare think about cleaning yourself up. I want you leaking my cum all fucking night.”
I just shake my head. “There’s that dirty talk again.”
“Only for you, wife.”