Page 4 of Until Presley (Happily Ever Alpha World)

CHAPTER

THREE

PRESLEY

I enjoyed talking to Ham, but now that he’s with Margo, I know he won’t be around me again. Especially after she called me Elvis. At first, I was proud of the nickname when Clara gave it to me, but now I hate it. It’s not nice when they say it.

Dr. Miller asked me to help at the back of the boat, getting the cage ready with another researcher and their aide. I strip off my shorts and tank top so I don’t get them wet, then help George get the cage in the water.

“Sprite.” A growl comes from behind me, and I’m lifted off the dive platform and over the back wall of the boat.

I’m handed to Walker, who sets me down, and Ham strips off his shirt and tosses it at me.

His massive, ripped chest is on full display, covered in tattoos.

A light dusting of chest hair trails down his abdomen, and the happy trail that dips into his shorts has me swallowing hard.

He smirks before turning to help George slowly lower the cage into the water.

My eyes linger on the tattoos across his back.

I push away from Walker and climb over the wall again to hand George some equipment he needs.

“Walker,” Ham says, and the equipment is taken from my hands and handed over.

“Hey, I can do that.” I start to argue, but then Ham’s large arms wrap around me from behind.

His cool hands, wet from the water, touch my heated abdomen, and I flinch.

My stomach twitches. I push back, and something long and hard presses into my back.

I know exactly what it is, and I tip my head back to look up at him.

“Sprite, I know you can do it. But you have us to do it, so let us. Also, please put your clothes back on,” he says softly in my ear.

Hurt and humiliation hit me fast, and tears sting my eyes.

He’s not hard for me. I’m such an idiot.

I glance over at Margo, who’s giving me a death stare.

I start to pull away, but Ham holds me fast and turns us to face the water.

I hear Walker talking, but I can’t focus on his words.

All I can think about is wishing I were invisible.

“Presley,” Ham says as his lips touch my forehead. “I—” He pauses as I struggle.

“Don’t be nice to me just because I blew you a kiss. Go take Margo up on her offer.”

“Who the fuck is Margo?”

“Her.” I try to point, but my hands are trapped in his.

“I don’t want her. I want you.”

I can’t stop the bitter laugh that escapes me. “Sure, you do. I’ve fallen for this joke before. Sorry to disappoint you, but Margo and Clara won that one too.”

“I don’t know who the fuck Clara is, and I already told Margo she’s not my type.”

“Please, this is my job. Don’t mess with me here,” I beg. I liked him, and it hurts so much that he’s just like all the other guys.

“I’ll give you some space, but we are happening.” He pulls away.

I turn to see Dr. Miller watching me, and I quickly look away to swipe a tear from my eye.

I refocus on what we’re here to do. We’re here to observe the sharks’ behavior, especially since there’s also a large population of dolphins in the area.

We haven’t seen many dolphins with scars from shark attacks, but we’ve heard it’s happened.

After the research in Australia, we wanted to keep a close eye on our pods and groups.

I slip into my full wet suit while Ham works around me, getting into his. He helps me lift my tank and watches as I test my regulator and walk back to the cage. I have my camera with me and tap my mic to make sure it’s working.

When I sit on the edge of the platform, I sense Ham there, and it makes my chest constrict again. Why did he have to be just like all the rest?

I slip into the cage and focus on the world I enjoy being a part of. It’s the one place where I’m truly at peace.

I expect Walker or Otto to enter the cage with me, but when I turn, I find Ham’s eyes focusing on me through his mask. I look away, focusing on the calming blue water, and then I see a shadow approaching from below.

“Big one coming up from the bottom,” I say into my comms.

“Another from the starboard side,” Ham says, and I turn toward where he’s pointing.

“Female.” I clarify.

Ham hands me the spear gun with the tag and tracking device attached. I lean out, and as she passes, I push it out quickly, the tag securing to her fin. She thrashes, and I’m pulled back into the cage.

“Thank you,” I tell him, looking up at him as the cage rocks. We both look down as a large male strikes the bottom at our feet. “Big male. He’s at least seven.”

“The female was about ten,” Ham says, and I nod.

“She wasn’t to full maximum weight. Dr. Miller, want me to tag the male?”

“No, let’s just do the females.” His reply crackles in my ear. “See if you can get a bigger one.”

“Yes, sir.”

The male skirts off, and we watch a bit longer as more females move into the area. When a larger female, close to thirteen feet, swims by, I reach out… and miss her. She circles back, and this time my aim is better. Again, Ham pulls me in to keep her thrashing tail from hitting me.

Another ten minutes pass when I notice a hammerhead moving through the water toward us, but it’s the tiger shark I’m focused on.

“Dr. Miller, we have a tiger coming in.”

“I see that,” he responds.

“I don’t have any more tags.”

“Not today. Come on up.”

We wait as they use the winch to move the cage back up to the boat.

When it’s time to get out, I feel Ham’s hands at my waist, helping to lift me out.

I sit on the platform to get some fresh air.

Ham emerges from the water and sits next to me, doing the same.

Walker helps me up, and my body is exhausted, even though the dive was only thirty minutes long.

After Ham gets his tank off, he helps me with mine, and I can’t stop myself from smiling at him.

“Thank you,” I say softly. When I turn to walk away, he stops me.

“I want to take you out for dinner,” he says in his gruff voice, and I turn away.

I want to, but I must make school my focus. My doctorate is all I’ve ever wanted. Ever since I can remember, this has been my goal.

I move to the cabin and talk with the other researchers. We all give our insight and discuss what we found today. Next week, when we return to retrieve the satellite trackers from the sharks we tagged a month ago, it will mark the first major part of our research.

The captain and professor navigate us through the waters to the area where the dolphins are so we can track a couple of them.

This time, another doctoral student handles the tagging.

Leah wants to specialize in dolphins, but she and I work together on several projects.

She’s been one of my closest friends for a long time.

I don’t have many friends, so I cherish the few I do have.

My dearest best friend lives in New York and works as a firefighter on a specialty rescue squad in Brooklyn.

I’m by Leah’s side as she tags the last dolphin, and we high-five before returning to the surface. We watch as several of the other researchers get into the water to dive for a bit. Walker stays on the boat with Ham and the rest of us. I notice that Otto and Margo are getting along now.

I also notice that no matter where I go on the boat, Ham isn’t far behind. He stays close. When everyone who was swimming decides to come back aboard, he helps but still moves to stay by my side.

“That man has it bad.” Leah laughs, and I look up at her.

“What do you mean?”

She shakes her head. “Presley, tell me you aren’t so far into your books that you don’t realize that man wants you.”

I look her up and down. She’s blond, just like me, but tall like a model.

“He hasn’t looked at me once or any of the other girls. He only has eyes for you,” she says.

“But he told me to get dressed earlier,” I reply, stating the obvious as he helps Otto remove his tank.

“Girl, it’s because George was looking you up and down.” She scoffs, shaking her head again.

I’m about to argue when I turn and see Ham moving back to my side. Leah moves off, and I start to move but decide not to run from Ham yet. I know I will eventually. Men like him are never interested in me for long. I’m too smart for them.

“So, tell me about your family,” I say, trying to make conversation.

“My mom lives in a pool house on my property. I have a younger brother too, who lives nearby.” He doesn’t share more, and I wonder if he’s not close to them. I understand that. I’m close to my brother but not my stepsister.

“I have a brother too.” I smile. Talking about Griff is one of my favorite subjects, other than sharks. “Griff is ten and loves to spend time with his big sister. He’s coming to hang out with me in a couple of months for a break from the parents.”

“You like kids?” he asks, and I turn to face him.

I curl up on the sofa, pulling my legs between us. “I love kids. I don’t think I’ll have any, though.” I lower my eyes, hiding the pain in them.

“Why?” His long fingers slide against my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his.

I feel exposed and vulnerable when he looks at me. It’s a new sensation I’ve never experienced with a man before.

I wave my hand around, gesturing at the life I’m building.

“I have so much to do here. I need to get my doctorate, then join a research team. I don’t want to raise a child the way I was.

I love my father, but he wasn’t always around.

He loved my mother so much, but she was the only thing that kept his attention—other than whales. ”

“That sucks. But you could get on with a facility locally and not have to travel, right?”

“It’s not that simple.”

“I thought I heard you bragging about how good you are.” He chuckles, and I throw my head back and laugh.

“Maybe I speak before I think sometimes. I have a couple of friends who are zoologists, and I’ve asked them about getting on with a conservation aquarium. But honestly…” I glance out over the water. “I’d miss this. I love being in the ocean.”