Elusive: Princess Presley Duet Book 1 (Full Circle Series)

by S. E. Hall

  My answer is the steps I take in that direction, to which I hear him laugh. When I get there, he closes in behind me once more and covers my hand that’s already on the handle, with his own to open the passenger door for me. “Need help getting in?”

  “No, I got it,” I snip, eyeing up the situation… with my short dress and tall heels in mind.

  He backs up a bit. “By all means, be my guest. Lookin’ forward to watching this, especially since you’re not wearing any panties. Climb on up in there, Sugar, nice and slow-like.”

  Oh shit, that’s right.

  “Waitin’ for the show,” he taunts in the octave of sin.

  Along with a loud huff, I glare at him over my shoulder. “I could be wearing a thong, ya know.”

  “But you’re not.” He winks. “No bra either.”

  “Okay, that one I understand how you can tell, but what makes you so sure about the thong? Or lack thereof?”

  “Presley,” he presses in on me again, eyes smoldering, “your round, juicy ass,” he palms it, “is one of my favorite sights in the whole world. Therefore, I’ve studied it, at length. And, had the pleasure of sliding my hands, mouth and tongue all over it. Trust me, I knew the second I saw you tonight, the only thing between me and your completely naked body was that scrap of a dress. Oh,” he laughs, not in humor, but in cocksureness, “and I’m a little insulted you’ve forgotten… the part where I checked? Inside? Under the table? My hand, your bare, wet pussy?”

  Wanton heat engulfs me, my mind fritzing, able to think only of how desperately I want him — on me, in me — consuming me physically, expecting nothing emotionally. Too bad he’s made it very clear, that somehow, despite my total lack of giving him any reason whatsoever, he’s past that point — leaving me in the same, stagnant dust to which I’m no stranger. I can’t have the first, the physical… because he’ll try to pressure me into giving him the second.

  “Fine. Yes, I need help up, please,” I icily admit defeat and snap my head forward, unable to look at him and stay the course I must.

  “Figured,” he clips, giving me a boost into the truck. “You hungry?” He asks when he’s joined me in the cab and has the engine started.

  “No, but thank you. Straight home will be great, please. To my home.”

  “I get it, Presley, we’re parting ways at your door tonight. Felt the shift in ya, know it well. But I’m hungry, so if you’re not in too big of a hurry to get the hell away from me, mind if I drive through somewhere real quick?”

  “Sorry,” I exhale noisily, “of course I don’t mind.” Enough; time to say something along the lines of what he’s asked to hear. Something real. I can’t listen to the confused pain in his voice, the pain I put there, any longer without at least trying to explain some of it away. “Sutton, can I be honest with you?”

  “I have no fucking idea anymore. Can you?”

  “Don’t,” I bite, my head snapping his way. Even in profile, his misery’s evident — clenched jaw, tense shoulders, nostrils flaring with each weighted breath. “Don’t let my issues tarnish you, make you say mean things. That’s not who you are.”

  “No offense, Presley, but I’m not lookin’ for help figuring out who I am, got that one on lock. But by all means, if you’re in some rare mood to talk, open and honestly, how ‘bout hearing a little, just one fucking hint, about who you are? And before you try feeding me any more shit about the girlfriend I don’t have, or ruining my life, lemme catch ya up on what I think I already know. According to a reliable source, you’ve never had a real relationship, but you also don’t sleep around. You tease, tempt, talk to guys… then move on before taking the time to remember their name. Case in point, you asked your family to find you a guy to date, and the first one they bring, when you weren’t ignoring him completely, you called him, Cameron, not his name, and pushed him on Brynn. You ridicule Skylar’s marriage, and what you assume is her boring life every chance you get, but lit up brighter than the North Star when she mentioned a baby. You won’t let anyone really get any closer than some laughs, fun, and swapping smartass jabs, yet you guard those you love with your life. If you wanna tell me anything besides any of that, I’m all ears. You sure you don’t want something?” he tosses in, having pulled up to order his food.

  Fuck it… if we’re gonna talk ourselves to death all night, I’ll need sustenance. “Number four with a Sprite. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” he cages an inward laugh, orders, then glances at me, cocky grin in place. “Was that so hard?”

  “What?”

  “Admitting you were hungry.”

  “Just proceed to the window and grab the food before it gets cold, mouthy. You know, there’s this evil rumor floating around, pretty universally, that getting a man to discuss things is like pulling teeth. Congrats on being the anomaly, you’re the talkingest damn dude I’ve ever met. And no, it wasn’t hard. Worked up an appetite, listening to all your babble.”

  “Then you’ll be happy to hear… I’m done. It’s your turn.”

  *****

  “Good thing I stopped, even though you were on the fence about being hungry,” he teases, watching me finish off my double cheeseburger.

  I scowl at him while swallowing the last bite, only amusing him more. “Hand me your trash, I’ll throw it away inside.” When he doesn’t, I reach for it, ready to say goodbye, for good, and retreat inside my lonely little haven.

  “Presley, I waited patiently while we ate, doesn’t mean I’m letting you off the hook. I’m not walking you to your door, and you’re not walking in your door, until you talk to me.”

  “It’s late,” my groan’s as lackluster and dreary as this whole evening — except that kiss, branded into my mind forever— anything but lackluster.

  “Three questions,” he hurriedly counters.

  I shift to face him. “Three, and make ‘em count, ‘cause after… we’re done. With everything.”

  God, he’s gorgeous, and the sexiest kind of adorable… eyes cast up in thought, plump lips twisted as he debates how to best use his three questions. “Got it. First one,” his stare darkens as it bores into mine. “Why did you run, stop talking to me, just like that?”

  I sit up straighter, drag in a breath of compromise, and decide to put it all out there — candid and unashamed. “Because I knew I’d met my match. That you could actually be the one to finally throw me off balance, my game, if I didn’t cut ties. I caught myself, too many times, thinking about you when you weren’t around, and… waiting to hear what you’d say next. To make me laugh. Smile. Reconfirm how you just… “get me.” Scoping you out, from the corner of my eye, to see if you were doing the same. It was too much, I was getting in too deep, thus, time for me to go. So, to keep my mind occupied, and try to prove I’m not a cold-hearted bitch who’s unconcerned with other people’s feelings, which I’ve recently learned is the consensus, I enlisted the help of my family — probably not the best idea I’ve ever had — suggest any decent guys I could try and date. And maybe this first one didn’t turn out so well, since he was feelin’ my cousin, but that’ll be the last of that particular problem,” I laugh, not at all disgruntled, “‘cause my only other female cousin is more than taken. Things have nowhere to go but up.”

  I expect him to ask me to expand on that, but he’s silent, lest his deep, slow breathing. He takes his time studying me, as if memorizing my every nuance, until finally, his voice crackles with the same hopeful curiosity alive in his eyes. “Why’d you come back?”

  I’ve already shared much more than I ever planned to, might as well show my whole hand. “I… missed you,” I whisper, having never spoken louder in my life.

  His lids droop to half-mast, mouth gradually curling up into a devastatingly sexy smirk. He doesn’t say anything though… so I do.

  “You’ve got one more question left.”

  “I’ll save it. Heard all I needed to know, Hot Shot.”

  Chapter 9

  Sutton

&nbs
p; I walk her to the door, waiting ‘til she’s safely inside before climbing back in my truck and driving away… only to shift into reverse and roll back, jumping out and running up to check that the door’s locked. It is. Atta girl.

  Having that confirmed, I stay headed for home on my second attempt, trying to keep my inner reflections during the drive below feminine proportions… since I do have a dick and all. It’s just… Presley… damn that woman does things to me like no one ever has before. And I somehow know, never could again.

  I’m not an “insta” kinda guy. Up until hanging out with her that first time, I was what some might call… accessible. And I’m far from in love with her, but I love being around her. I love the uncontrollable desire that consumes me when she sheds her armor, lets herself enjoy time with me, and the effortlessness of enjoying time with her. I even love the spark of impassioned craze when we argue — her sassy mouth setting my “fight to fuck” instincts to firing on all pistons. It also doesn’t hurt a damn thing that she’s flaming fuckin’ hot, beautiful, inside and out… and amazing, in bed.

  May not love her, yet, but I want her more than I ever have anything else in my life. And Lil’ Miss Fancy Face can concoct up all the ridiculous excuses or plans to date, she wants — they’re not fucking happening.

  “Call JT,” I direct my Bluetooth, and just as I’m parking in front of my apartment, he answers.

  “Somebody better be in jail or the ER,” he yells.

  “Really?”

  “Fuck,” he’s awake now, having just realized what a fucked-up statement that was, considering I drove his cousin home. “No, not really! What’s wrong? Where’s Presley?”

  “Oh my God, what is it?” Bellamy’s on-the-brink-of-tears hits my ears.

  “Jesus Christ, Kendrick, you’re a fucking train wreck. Nothing’s wrong with anyone and Presley’s safe at home. Calm your woman down, I’ll wait.”

  I chill, in silence, while he kisses Bellamy’s ass… laughing while she chews his.

  “Okay, I’m back,” he says in the pout of a just-reprimanded child. “Why are you calling so late?”

  I check the clock on my dash and roll my eyes. “It’s not even time for “last call,” Grandpa.”

  “You ever gotten a good look at my girlfriend? Spend as much time in bed with her as she’ll let me. And I’d like to get back to it, so again, why are you calling?”

  I take the call off Bluetooth and get out, walking to my door as I explain. “Pres is still set on that dating bullshit of hers.”

  “Yeah, and?”

  “And, no. Hell to the fuck no.”

  “Not sure that’s your call, bro. You tried, helluva effort, and I was rootin’ for ya, but it’s time to give up. I’ve told you over and over how she is about relationships, or total lack thereof. Honestly, kinda sick of saying it. Real sick of watching you two make each other miserable. Presley’s, well, I’m not sure what exactly, or why, but, she’s got some obvious hang-ups, phobias, whatever you wanna call ‘em.”

  “You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I groan, seriously considering taking off in a dead sprint in the other direction. No shit — it’s that bad.

  “Not kidding at all. She’s-”

  “No,” I interrupt him. “Just walked up to the apartment. Hailey’s here.”

  He busts out laughing, “Oh, shit. Dude, sorry, but that’s so damn creepy it’s funny. Is she like sitting in front of the door, rocking back and forth, talking to herself?”

  “No, she had a key made behind my back, remember? Haven’t had a chance to get the locks changed yet, so… she’s inside, peeking at me through those ugly-ass curtains she put up.”

  “The creepy’s coming from inside the house?” He does a terrible “horror movie” voiceover. “Not good. I think that means you’re gonna die in seven days.”

  “Two different movies, dick. But your support’s touching, really.”

  “Wait, how’d she know you’d be walking up right now?”

  “Well, option A, she’s been staking out the fucking window, just waiting, or B, she drugged me and shoved a tracking device up my ass while I was out cold. At this point, no idea which to bet on.”

  “Yeah, that’s just… I don’t even know what that is.”

  “Nobody does,” I sigh. “Lemme let ya go so I can deal with her, but we’re not done talking about P. I’ll call you in the morning. Answer.”

  “Whatever. Good luck.” He’s chuckling as he hangs up.

  I slowly, cautiously, approach the door, which flies open. “Where’ve you been?” Hailey manages to whine, accuse and fake concern with one voice.

  “You know where I’ve been. You were there.” I hedge around her, tossing my keys on the table.

  “Nope.” Her head waggles side-to-side at a deranged speed. “I called and asked, you left Lit a long time ago.”

  I take a seat on the couch and very slowly, remove my boots, using the time to decide how to best approach this… situation. “Hailey,” I finally start, propping my arms on my knees. “Need ya to listen, comprehend, and do what I say. Turn around, walk out the door, forget my name, where I live and work. Do it now.”

  “I will not!” she screeches, coming to sit beside me.

  “Eh, I figured you’d be difficult. Fuck it.” I stand up and pull out my phone. “Calling the cops.”

  “W… what? Why?” she sputters, and dammit if tears don’t start rolling down her cheeks, buying her a reprieve.

  The last thing I want is her shoved in a holding cell, not even for a second, so I try one last time to get through to her. “Why? Come on Hailey, you can’t possibly be this delusional. I’ve tried my best to be patient, nice, but damn girl, you sure haven’t made it easy. I don’t want to say mean things or intentionally hurt you, but it looks like I’m gonna have to just lay it out for you, aren’t I?”

  “Yes, you are, because I don’t understand the problem… now. I did, you’re obsessed with that, that bitch, but now? She doesn’t want you, Sutton. I saw it with my own two eyes tonight. And I’ll bet that’s where you’ve been, taking her home. Yet here you are, not with her. She sent you away, because she Doesn’t. Want. You. But I do, so quit wasting your time chasing her and give me a chance. I’ll wait, right by your side, until you fall in love with me and forget all about her.” She smiles, of true belief that she’s just proposed the perfect solution.

  Deep breath… in through the nose, out through the mouth. “Hailey, you have overstepped every possible boundary, so fucking far, you went hurtling over the cliff. Hell, you trampled boundaries I didn’t even know existed! Despite declaring it, every single fucking chance you could create, you were never officially my girlfriend, and in no way, on any realm of possibility, is it okay that you,” I hold up a hand, ready to start ticking the list off on my fingers… positive I’m gonna run out of fingers, “called Presley names. Talked down to Bellamy and Brynn. Showed up where I work, then showed your ass. Had a key made to my apartment. Redecorated that apartment. Called my job to check my whereabouts. Are waiting inside my home, uninvited. And the biggie, the one that, if you weren’t a woman, would’ve got ya a lights-and-sirens trip to the ER? Putting your hands on Presley! Take-”

  “Oh my God, could you say Presley more?” That’s her response, all she caught out of everything I said… not even half of what I wanted to.

  “Hailey,” I’m surprised it comes out, my jaw clenched so damn tight I think I may have chipped a tooth, “get the fuck out. Counting to three, and this time, I will call the cops.” I go open the door for her, my seriousness unmistakable.

  She’s halfway through it, and I’ve got it halfway closed on her ass, when she whines out a last-ditch effort. “Sutton, are you sure about this? Things were going great between us, before. If we could just get back to that, if you’d forget about her, I know we’d be good again.”

  “No, we wouldn’t. Things were cool in the beginning, but that’s only because I had no idea how much you were reading int
o it. And now that I’ve seen how crazy, cruel, and catty you can be, nah.” I shake my head. “Not cool, and not the kind of woman I’m looking for long-term.”

  “She put her hands on me too! She physically removed me from the bar, Sutton! How is that not cruel and crazy?”

  “She didn’t do it out of whack-a-doodle jealousy, malice, or selfishness. She did it to defend others, people she cares about. She didn’t haul you out because you grabbed her arm. If that was the case, she would’ve just wasted your ass right then and there. No, she’d only had enough after you insulted Brynn and Bellamy, then hit me. Wasn’t about her at all. Any chance you see the difference?”

  “Whatever. Have fun chasing your own tail. Miss Perfect doesn’t want you. Let me know how it feels,” she spits nastily as she breezes all the way out the door.

  And like the man my mama raised, I keep a good distance, but follow her into the dark parking lot, waiting until she’s safe inside her car before heading inside. Where I lie awake in bed, devising a plan on how to catch my tail.

  *****

  “What the hell?” JT answers, chipper as ever. “First you call in the middle of the damn night, and now at the crack of dawn? Dude, lay off the meth and go the fuck to sleep or I’m checking ya into rehab.”

  “I weigh two-hundred-and-sixty pounds. If I’m doing meth, I’m not doing it right.”

  “Good point. So, what is it I can help you with at,” there’s a pause, “seven forty-five in the morning?”

  “I’ve got an idea. Presley asked all of you to find her guys to date, right?”

  “Yeahhh…” he drones.

  “Well, it’s your turn, fucker. Tell her you found one, set it up.”

  “I’d get right on top of that… except I didn’t. I’m tellin’ ya, you need sleep.”

  “Me, dumbass. I’m the date. But don’t tell her that. Make up a name or something, and get her there, wherever, and I’ll be waiting.”