Chapter Text
Don't You Kiss me Once or Twice - Chapter 1
1970
I was dead asleep when the bell from the hallway rang. I groggily opened my eyes and looked over at my alarm clock that was next to my head. The alarm clock read: 2:07AM.
Shit.
This was Elvis’ personal bell that he had placed in the hallway at Graceland for whenever he needed something from the house chef or maid but they were out of town so I guess the bell was for me. What did he want at 2 in the morning? I cursed as I quickly got out of bed when it rang again. I quickly headed into the bathroom to brush my teeth. I had worked with Elvis for the past six months as his personal assistant and it was no easy job. I honestly was in no mood to change into actual clothes, I kept my pjs on that consisted of shorts and a t-shirt. I grumbled walking up the steps that lead to the living room since my room was downstairs in the basement.
“Jess!” Elvis exclaimed, energetic as ever at 2 in the morning.
I rubbed my eye, walking into the kitchen “Morning.”
“Oh I’m sorry, were you asleep?” He asked from where he was leaning on the kitchen island, he was still dressed in his black dress pants and white button down, long sleeve shirt with the first two buttons open, showing a bit of his chest hair. His hair was still in place which meant he had just gotten back from the event he was at.
“It’s fine.” I replied.
His eyes swept over my body and landed on my bare legs, lingering for a second then found their way to up my eyes.
I raised my eyebrow, waiting for him to tell me what he needed.
He cleared his throat “Um could you make me that really good cheeseburger that you always make?” He smiled sheepishly. He's my boss I don’t know why he has to ask if I could do it.
I smiled and nodded, walking over to the fridge.
“Thank you. I’ll be in my room.” He said, pushing himself off of the kitchen counter and walking away.
I stretched, still feeling a bit hazy. I turned on the stove and placed the pan on top, waiting for the pan to slightly heat up before I threw in the butter and beef patty. Elvis always had vinyls in every room including the kitchen, I needed to really wake myself up I decided to turn it on. One of his albums was already on so I just kept it as is. I loved his music, getting to see him everyday on that stage is exhilarating and wonderful every time. You really never get bored from seeing him live.
Suspicious minds started playing.
I hummed as I threw in the burger patty on the pan.
“We can’t go on together, with suspicious minds” I sang softly, while swaying my butt to the beat.
I flipped the burger as it started getting brown while still singing and getting more into the song. I was full on dancing at this point and bopping my head up and down.
I turned around to get the bread from the counter behind me, I gasped and clutched my chest when I saw Elvis in his pjs with a smirk on his face leaning on the door frame of the kitchen.
“Fuck. Elvis, you scared me.” I huffed.
“Doll. You didn’t tell me you can move like that.” He bit his lower lip as his smirk spread to a full grin.
I rolled my eyes at the nickname and grabbed the buns off the counter turning to heat them up a bit on the skillet. As I dropped the buns to toast them I could feel the heat of a body, burning on my back.
“Who are you rollin’ your eyes at darlin’?” Elvis whispered. I could feel his breath on my ear, sending tingles down my spine. He was standing so close that if I were to take one teeny tiny step I would bump into him.
“The ghost that was behind you Mr.Presley.” I replied, biting back a smirk.
Elvis burst out laughing and moved away from behind me. He leaned on the counter behind me, crossing his arms over his chest.
I turned and placed the plate on the counter, right next to where Elvis was leaning.
“Have dinner with me.” He said.
“I already had dinner and it’s almost 3 in the morning.” I replied “Also we have a flight to Vegas tomorrow.”
“Yeah and you can have a lil nap on the flight.” He replied, picking up his burger and taking a bite.
Knowing him, I went over to the fridge and got him a cold bottle of Pepsi. He grinned and wiped his mouth with a tissue, grabbing the Pepsi from my hand.
He hummed softly “You know me so well doll.”
“I have to.” I chuckled “I am your assistant after all.”
“So you wouldn’t be interested to get to know me if you weren’t my assistant?” He narrowed his eyes.
“I didn’t say that Elvis.” I laughed and hopped to sit on the counter opposite of him.
“You’ve been working for me for the past what 6-7 months?”
“It feels like a decade though.” I joked.
He laughed again and shook his head “I didn’t know you were that hilarious darlin’”.
I shook my head, we were constantly around each other but we rarely had an occurrence where we were on our own. The house is usually very busy but today it was very quiet, I think half of the crew is already in Vegas.
“Anyway, I was goin’ to say you’ve worked with me for a while but I barely know much about you.”
“Well, what do you want to know?” I asked, tilting my head to the side. He gave me a half smile and tapped his chin, thinking.
“What made you decide you wanted to become an assistant?”
“Honestly?” I smiled sheepishly “I needed the money.”
“What did you do before?”
“I worked in a startup as an auditor. Boring, I know.”
“And that didn’t pay much?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
“It did for me but then my sister didn’t end up getting a scholarship to college and I needed something that pays more.” I shrugged.
“You’re paying for your sister’s education?” His expression softened.
“Yeah.” I looked down at my feet “Well, you know my dad is retired and my mom was a stay at home mom, it kinda fell on me as the older sister to take care of things.” It was hard to have that kind of burden on a 26 year old just starting my career and having to change paths for the sake of money but I love my family and I would do anything for them.
Elvis had met my parents and siblings; my sister Ella (18) and brother Jack (22) a few times, they were big Elvis fans so I had to introduce them to him when we were in Vegas because we’re originally from California so it was an easy drive for them to pop over and say hello. Elvis though insisted they come back to Memphis with us and get a tour of Graceland when he found out that they were big fans, they stayed with us over the weekend and had the best time.
“You know, I could-“ he started to say before I interrupted him.
“Don’t even.” I pointed my finger at him “I’m not telling you this for sympathy or money. You asked and I answered honestly.”
He raised his arms in surrender “Fine doll.”
“How’s the burger?” I asked since he only had a bite.
He smiled and picked it again, taking another bite. He moaned loudly and dramatically which made me laugh.
He licked his lips and smirked while looking at me “Best damn cheeseburger. Lord have mercy!” He said and took another bite.
I shook my head at him with a huge grin on my face, it was an ordinary burger. He loved to exaggerate. But his compliment still made me blush slightly.
“You know, there’s a little burger joint in Vegas close to the International that has really good cheeseburger.” I told him.
“Really? Well then I have to try it when we get there.”
“I’m going to bed.” I said, jumping off the counter to land on my feet.
He pouted slightly looking at me with puppy dog eyes. God I wanted to punch him sometimes because how can a man be this attractive, it’s not fair.
“Come on, finish your burger. You need to sleep as well. Long day tomorrow. We have the flight and right after we land, you’re going straight to rehearsals then the evening show.”
He sighed and nodded “Let’s hope I can sleep.” He muttered.
“I can make you camomile tea, it really helps.” I said.
He shook his head “It’s fine Jess. Thank you.”
“Good night.” I said and started walking out of the kitchen.
“Nighty night.”
I dreaded going back to Vegas because it was way more hectic and tiring and I’m not even the one preforming. But what usually happened was that Elvis gets irritated very quickly when we’re on tour or in Vegas. The girls and the parties and the pills were too much. He’s way more relaxed and himself in Graceland or when he was recording. I usually disappear after the show, I don’t like partaking in what happens late at night. Sometimes Jerry would convince me to stay but I hated waking up late so I would usually opt out.
I could see Elvis starting to get frustrated during rehearsals and I knew it was a combination of lack of sleep and anxiousness of having to be on stage in a few hours. Elvis wanted to take a break but the Colonel insisted to keep going. I quickly left the hotel to walk down the strip and headed towards one of the little coffee shops that I discovered a while back. I always got him black coffee and a little cinnamon roll from here, he loved it. So I grabbed some for him and walked back to the hotel.
He was still on the stage but he was shaking his head.
“Okay, I think it’s time for a break.” I said loudly as I started walking up the stairs that lead to the stage. I waved the coffee and little bag that had the cinnamon roll to Elvis. I knew the Colonel was glaring daggers at the back of my head but I didn’t care.
He smiled and nodded “I agree.” He said loudly. Everyone looked grateful as they walked off the stage to either grab themselves water or food.
Elvis walked over to me and took the coffee cup from my hands, he sipped it slowly.
“Hmm. Thank you.” He smiled.