Loving You

Chapter Twenty-Six

I watch as Daisy bites her lip, wondering if she should tell Tyler what she was thinking. After a beat, he clears his throat, "What else would work?"

Daisy's cheeks turn rosy pink and she opens and closes her mouth several times before actually speaking, "D-Dylan would think less of there being on Officer with us if I hung on your arm and we acted like we were dating."

Tyler pauses for a moment, listening to what she was saying. When it registers, he grins, "You know, that would actually work! But you'd have to teach me how to act, since I'm no good at it!"

She smiles up at him, "Here, come in the next room with me and we'll talk about it."

He smiles and walks over, taking a quick look at me, "Sounds great. Jess, you do whatever you'd like, since you're safe in the hotel."

I nod, "Thanks, I think I'll just watch tv." I flick the tv on and sink back into the couch as they wander into the bedroom. I bite my lip as a new idea comes to me a moment later. I need to go talk to Elvis. Quietly I slip out of the room, taking my key with me. I head to the elevator and go up two floors, since we had to drop down another level because none of the suites on the next floor were available.

My heart beats double time when the doors open on his floor. My eyes land on his door, and I start to feel weak in the knees with tears stinging my eyes. Why was I so mean to him back home? We could be wrapped in each other's arms right now if I hadn't laughed in his face. Tentatively, I make my way down the hall and step up to the door. Just as I'm about to knock, the door swings wide and Judy comes out. "Oh..." she says quietly, closing the door behind her, "What are you doing here?"

I look up at her, then to the door, "I'm here to see Elvis." I bite my lip, "Is he in there?"

She nods, "Yes, but he's having dinner with his parents, so you need to leave." She passes by me and goes down the hall, vanishing into a different room. I roll my eyes, I hate you woman. After I'm sure she's gone, I lift my hand and knock on the door.

Two long minutes later, the door opens and Vernon looks down at me, "Jess... We're in the middle of dinner. Right now really isn't the best time."

Before I can process what I'm doing, tears spill from my eyes, "Please let me in, I really need to talk to him!"

"Daddy?" Elvis calls from inside the room, "Who's at the door?"

Vernon looks down at me, "Please leave." He looks at his shoulder and steps back, "No one, son." The door closes in my face and I just stand there staring at the solid wooden door. I could hear them chatting and laughing inside, and I bang on the door again.

This time when the door opens, it's Gladys. She looks down at me and sighs, "Sweetheart, you need to go. Come back in a little while, when you two can be alone."

I shake my head at her and try to peak around her into the room, "I really need to talk to Elvis." I wipe the tears that spill down my cheeks, "Please..."

She sighs and steps aside, "Fine... But please be quick."

Quietly, I walk into the room behind her and close the door. I march over to the table, twisting the fabric at the front of my dress in my hands. For a second, I watch Elvis push food around his plate without taking a bite. I take a deep breath and look at him, "Elvis?..."

His eyes lift from the plate and he studies me for a moment, then brings them back to the plate and takes a bite of potato. Gladys and Vernon both watch him, then look at me. It was obvious that it was the first bite he'd taken from his plate. Gladys nudges him, "Put your fork down and go talk to her in your room. You aren't eating anyhow."

Elvis sets his fork down, takes a drink of his water and stands. Silently, he walks into his bedroom and leaves the door open. I follow him in and close the door behind me. "What do you want?" He asks quietly, studying my face again.

I ring my hands in my fabric again and take a deep breath to try and control the tears that stung at my eyes, "Elvis... I'm really sorry about how I acted when you came to my house. I really shouldn't have laughed like that, because it wasn't that funny." I keep my eyes to the floor, "I was foolish, and I'm real sorry. I understand if you don't want to see me anymore, but I just want you to know how much I love you." I bite my lip, "I would really like to try and talk about what happened..."

Elvis stays quiet for a few beats and folds his arms over his chest, "Jessica, I understand that I hurt you, but I don't think I deserved to be humiliated that way. I felt bad enough that I had even cheated on you in the first place, and you laughin' made me feel that much worse."

I nod, finally looking up at him, "I know, and I don't really know why I laughed. I felt good about being able to talk to you, but then I saw you and got all weird. I don't know what happened, maybe it was the dream I had that morning."

He furrows his brow, "You had a dream that mornin'?" He sits down on the edge of the bed and pats the space beside him, "Come sit and tell me about it."

Why did I say anything about the dream? Because you're stupid, Jessica. I sigh and walk over, sitting beside him, "I had this dream that I woke up and Daddy and Mama were arguing, but not with each other." I bite my lip, "When I got downstairs, you were standing there and you stole me away after kissing me. We went to the top of the hill and made love to make up. But when we were about to go again, this cop came and told us that Dylan was in the area, so we should leave. We drove to the hotel and you took me up to your room. We started fooling around again, taking our time, but I woke up before it got to anything good."

Slowly, I lift my eyes and look at Elvis, and notice him giving me a look, "So... You had a sex dream, then woke up and found out I was there, and my bein' there stopped you from talkin' to me like a serious adult?"

I nod slowly, "I know it sounds stupid, but yes."

He reaches over and takes my hand, "Jessica, you really hurt me, baby. I was ready to try again..."

I look into his eyes and bite my lip, "I'm sorry... We can try again now, if you'd like."

Elvis nods, "I'd like that. Come on, come sit down at the table and eat with us, then when Mama and Daddy leave, we can have an adult 'conversation'."

I giggle, "I'd like that." I stand with him and go out to the table. Gladys grabs a plate of food for me and sets it in front of me. I thank her and dive in.

When dinner is over, his parents leave after cleaning up. Elvis looks over at me and I feel myself melt, physically. "So... There's somethin' I've been meanin' to do with you for awhile."

I smirk and turn towards him on the couch, "Yeah? What's that?"

He slides towards me and kisses the soft portion of my jaw, eliciting a moan out of me. "Before I tell you, why don't you tell me a little more about that dream of yours. Specifically what we did in the hotel room."

I bite my lip, "Oh, you wanna know, huh?"

He nods and runs his hands over my arms, "Yes please, baby." He licks his lips slowly, "I really want to know."

I giggle softly and look into his eyes, "Well, how about I show you instead?"

Elvis shakes his head, "No, I wanna hear you say it. I like to listen to you talk like that."

I bite my lip, "You like me talking that way?" I look down at my lap, "All we did in the hotel room was kiss, and then I pulled your clothing off and was about to take Little E in my mouth when I woke up." I shrug lightly, "It ain't much."

He stares at me, his eyes burning with desire, "That's enough for me." He leans forward and captures my lips. I melt into his body and he lifts me, carrying me to the bedroom. The last thing I remember is the sound of the bedroom door slamming closed.