Page 24 of Until Presley (Happily Ever Alpha World)

CHAPTER

SEVENTEEN

HAM

A s we drive onto campus to meet with her advisor, I can tell she’s stressed out by her fidgeting. I reach for her hand and pull it to my lips.

“It will be okay, baby,” I say before pressing a kiss to the back of her hand.

“My parents are going to be so mad at me for pressing charges against Clara.”

“She needs to get help, and this is the only way.”

“I know, but I’ve never turned her in before.

When we were in boarding school, she and all her friends bullied me.

I thought things would get better in college, but they didn’t.

She had her sorority sisters and their boyfriends harass me.

That’s how I met Morgan. I was walking across campus, and this jerk ran into me, knocking me over on purpose.

Morgan laid him out. She literally had him flat on his back, gasping for air, and she’d barely touched him.

She insisted I take a self-defense course, but I never used it against Clara until yesterday.

” Presley turns to watch me as I drive, her head resting against the seat as she looks at me.

I turn to give her my eyes when we come to a light. “Did you ever tell them she was bullying you?” I can almost imagine what she’s going to say, but instead, what she says pisses me off.

“I did once. They confronted her, but she told them I was being overdramatic. They believed her and not me. I never brought it up again.”

“Jeezus, why?” My grip on the steering wheel tightens, and the leather groans.

“I don’t know. But it’s always been that way.”

“Well, sprite, you have me now, and I’ll always believe you.”

Her lips tip up in a soft smile. “Thank you, honey. I love you.”

I will never tire of hearing those words pass her lips, and I’ll do everything I can to keep her safe. I need to figure this all out. This meeting is our first step in the process.

She directs me to a parking lot outside the sciences building, and I help her out of the Jeep. I give her a quick kiss and wish her luck as we walk into the building together with our hands laced. She leads the way up to the fourth floor, where she knocks on a door.

“Enter,” a voice says from the other side.

I open the door, and we step inside. There is an older gentleman sitting at a desk, and Professor Blackman is seated in a chair opposite.

“Why are you here?” His question is directed at me, but Presley answers, thinking he’s talking to her.

“I have an appointment with Dr. Rivers to discuss my doctoral studies. I also have to change my schedule.”

“Why?” Professor Blackman stands and he takes in her appearance. He turns on me. “Have you hurt her? I’ll call the police.” He pulls out his phone, but again, before I can answer him, Presley does.

“No, Ham would never hurt me. I was attacked by a student yesterday afternoon. I’ve filed a restraining order, but she’s in the class you are having me teach.”

“That’s ridiculous. Why would a student attack you?” Professor Dickhead, as I’m going to refer to him from now on, asks. “Besides, you’ve been distracted since the beginning of the term. I think you need to focus on your schooling and less on boys.”

Before Presley can respond, I interject.

“She was attacked because the student got a D on her paper. She’s attacked Presley in the past, but this time, Presley fought back and defended herself.

” I defend my girl. “And as for her being distracted by me, that’s not true.

She’s been focused and determined to finish early.

I support that for her.” I don’t know why we have to explain ourselves to this dick.

Her meeting is with Dr. Rivers, who is already aware of the issue with Clara.

“I don’t believe you are a part of this meeting.”

“Excuse me, Professor Blackman, I’d like to hear more about this. And you are?” Dr. Rivers stands from his desk and waves us forward. Presley takes the remaining seat, and I stand at her side.

“I’m Ham Martinez. I’m Presley’s boyfriend.

There is more than just an attack going on here.

The same student posted a picture of my girlfriend online and left a suggestive comment.

We’ve already had to move to a hotel because a student showed up in hopes of getting good grades.

” I pull out my phone and open the screenshot of the post. He looks it over.

“We’ve already removed one image from school’s social media page.

We can’t control what others post outside of that.

But I agree, this is a serious situation.

How about this? I’ll give you until the end of March, after your fellowship up in Chattanooga, then we’ll decide what to do.

Sound good? Until then Clara will be removed from your class.

You’ll be able to start grading on your own,” Dr. Rivers proposes.

“Okay,” Presley says softly. I know she’s not happy. I’m not either, but I know why she’s doing this. She feels it’s the only way.

After we leave campus, I take her to the condo my realtor found for us earlier. It’s a short-term lease of only three months. Which gives us time if she has to stay past March.

We hire movers to pack up her condo. Then she puts it on the market. She insists on helping me pay for our place here. I give in, but I’m not going to use it. I’ll put it into an account. I have plenty of money in the bank and invested, so she doesn’t need to help.

When I fall asleep for the night, I have my girl in my arms again, and I feel a little bit at peace.

Presley

S itting on the sofa in our nineteenth-floor condo that Ham insisted that we needed, I start to fidget.

My hand twists in my lap as I think of him leaving later today.

Clara is out on bail and living at her father’s place.

She’s been removed from campus for my protection and for violating the school’s no-violence policy.

“Baby.” Ham sits down next to me and takes my hand in his. “I’ll be a phone call away and be back on the weekend. We don’t have anything booked for Saturday or Sunday yet.”

“But it’s coming. Are you sure you want to do long distance?” I look down at my lap, where my other hand plays with the hem of my sleep shorts. “I know we said those words to each other, but I’d understand if you wanted to walk away. I’m pretty difficult and needy right now.”

His warm fingers brush against my chin before he lifts my gaze up to his. I want to hide, but I need to give him this out.

“You are not needy, Presley. I wish your family would stop saying you are. You are the furthest thing from that. And those words mean everything to me. Do they to you? Because I will love you for the rest of my life.”

Tears spring to my eyes, and I nod my head. “I love you too.”

I lean into him, and he takes my lips in a deep kiss. Before I know it, I’m on his lap, straddling him. His hands are in my hair, tilting my head where he wants it. I can’t stop myself from rubbing against his hard erection.

He moves me to the side, laying me on my stomach. Ham props up my hips and pulls my sleep shorts to my knees. “I’m going to fuck this hot, sweet pussy one more time before I leave.”

He fucks me until I’m screaming his name and he’s groaning mine. I kiss him at the door and watch as he walks to the elevator. Ham turns as the doors open and blows me a kiss.

“Close the door, baby,” Ham says as he holds the elevator.

I step into the condo and lock the door. Resting my head against the heavy wood, tears blur my vision before I stand up straight and decide that I’m not going to be this weak girl anymore.

I have one month to prove I’m worthy of them extending me the chance to return to Key West to finish my doctorate under Dr. Miller.

I’m still in shock that Professor Blackman tried to say I was distracted and not focused on school.

That man has it out for me, and I’m getting frustrated with him myself.

Walking back to the kitchen table where my laptop is set up, I sit down and focus on tomorrow’s lesson for my class.

My father messaged me and said it would be two weeks before he and my stepmother could make it here.

I knew they weren’t going to push harder to get here.

He doesn’t care that Clara is not allowed to take classes on campus so long as I’m there.

She’s been extended online learning, but I doubt she’ll be focused to do that.

As the evening winds down, I make myself a plate of food and move to the sofa, where I can watch Supernatural . Ham texted to say he was home and would call me later. I fall asleep until my phone goes off, and I sit up.

“Ham?” I answer, not looking at the caller ID.

“No, it’s George. I heard about the attack and wanted to check on you.”

“Oh, hello, George.”

I look at the clock and realize it’s almost midnight. Ham was going to visit with Win. He must have fallen asleep like I did. We didn’t get much sleep over the last few days. We kept waking each other up, wanting to make up for lost time.

“Did you hear me, Presley? I can drive up if you need a friend.”

“Oh, no, I’m okay. Besides, I’m waiting for my boyfriend to call me to say good night.”

“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 he wants to get me pregnant. I dream of beautiful, tanned-skinned, wavy-haired babies with his eyes.