by Tinnean
“Good morning,” Will responded as he ran a hand through his hair in order to try and bring it under better control. He didn’t look at Eli; instead he kept his gaze on the floor in front of him.
“Sleep well?” Eli inquired nonchalantly.
“Better than I expected, thanks for your concern.” Eli continued to act as if life was normal, and it annoyed Will to no end, although he refused to let it show.
“Martin and I are going to the south range this morning, and we probably won’t be back until late this afternoon.” He turned to look at Will as if he was waiting for a reply, but Will just continued to stare at the floor.
It was safer that way, or so Eli thought. Will was very far away from him right now, and Eli could feel it. He was cutting himself off and building a wall that would be, in time, impenetrable. Eli wanted desperately to touch him, to lay his hand on Will’s thigh, to put his arm around him, feel his lean torso, anything, but Will would not allow it, he knew that much. Everything about him screamed, “Leave me alone.” He had humiliated Will last night. It had seemed necessary at the time, but now it just seemed… cruel. His thoughts last night that Will was scheming to get him into bed in order to blackmail him as his sister had done to Martin now seemed absurd. The silence hung there for a while. “I’m sorry about last night,” he stated.
Will still did not look at him, but was surprised by his apology. Does he mean it, or is he going to follow this statement with another painful insult? He waited to find out before speaking.
“Not for kissing you,” Eli clarified with feeling. “For those I make no apologies.”
Will appreciated the fact that he didn’t try to touch him, although he sensed that Eli wanted to, but he was probably wrong. I’m not his type, he thought. Eli might enjoy tormenting and embarrassing him, but that was all there was to it, or so he convinced himself.
“I’m sorry for what I said. I’m sorry if my words hurt you.” He didn’t elaborate any further. He got up and started walking back toward the door. Making apologies seemed pretty foreign to him. Will doubted he did it very often.
“Mr. Hunter,” Will called to him as he was leaving. He stopped at once and returned to the room. “May I go to town and pick up a few things? I wasn’t originally planning to stay very long, and I didn’t pack much.” It galled him that he had to ask his permission to leave the ranch.
“Of course,” he said. “Be back by dinner, and please… call me Eli.”
“Yes, master,” he replied sarcastically.
Eli grinned. “And don’t you forget it,” he said as he closed the door behind him. Will had still refused to look at him, and it bothered him more than a little.
“Well, this has certainly been a wonderful beginning to my stay,” Will said out loud to himself in disgust. He showered and dressed casually in simple jeans and a T-shirt. Thoughts of Eli’s kisses, both of them, and his own behavior, invaded his mind constantly. He tried desperately to push them away and think about something, anything else, but they kept returning, as did the unmistakable tightening in his groin. There was nothing he could do to change the past twenty-four hours, but he did have control over the next month, making sure it never happened again. Keep my distance. Remain aloof. Be strong.
He was well aware that it was Eli who had stopped the progression of their encounter last night. If it had been left up to him and his flimsy resolve, he would probably have awakened this morning beside him. Where did that wanton behavior come from? He never acted like that. In the two and a half years that he and George were together, never had he felt heat like that. The sex was monotonous and boring; lots of thrusting, but little passion. Other than that, there was nothing more than a few less-than-spectacular kisses. Why was it that he had so little control with Elijah? I don’t even like the man, so why is my dick still hard thinking about him? “Whoa, slow down!” he chided himself. No way did he want anything like that from Elijah Hunter. The man was cruel and heartless. To become involved with someone like him would be sheer hell. He has made it clear that he has no respect for anyone and certainly no respect for me personally.
“All I have to do is make it through until the thirty-first and then get the hell out of here.” He said this out loud as he prepared to leave his bedroom and venture to the kitchen.
“GOOD MORNING, Mrs. Coleman,” he said, more cheerfully than he was feeling.
“Good morning, William.” She looked at Will and smiled graciously. She was washing and cutting vegetables and preparing what looked to be a stew. Must be for dinner, Will speculated as he took a mug from the counter and filled it with wonderful-smelling black coffee. He took the first gulp and savored it. The first cup in the morning always tasted the best.
“Can you sit for a while and talk?” Mrs. Coleman asked.
“Sure. I’m going to town to pick up a few things, but I have all day for that.” Will sat down at the breakfast table, and Mrs. Coleman dried her hands on her apron and joined him.
“I was so glad to hear that you would be staying, at least for a while.” She sounded sincere, but Will had his doubts.
“Do you know why I’m staying?” Will asked, uncertain if Elijah would have shared the entire story with her.
“Yes,” she answered, “Katrina left and you are staying in her place.”
“It all seems pretty weird, doesn’t it?” Will took another long sip of his coffee.
“What do you mean?” Mrs. Coleman asked curiously
“A couple of days ago, I didn’t have a care in the world, and look at me now. I couldn’t be in the middle of more trouble and confusion if I tried.” Will took another sip and then speculated, “If I hadn’t answered the phone last Saturday, I wouldn’t be in the situation I’m in now. I need to get that thing disconnected.”
“It will all work out for the best, I’m sure,” Mrs. Coleman sympathized. “Try to look at it like a vacation and enjoy yourself.”
Will wondered if she was referring to the scene that she interrupted last evening. Will smiled at the simplicity of Mrs. Coleman’s statement. He decided that he liked this woman. She was obviously very loyal to Elijah and his brother and would never say a word against them, but she also tried to put the best face on what she recognized as an uncomfortable situation. She was loyal, but she wasn’t blind.
“Vacation… hmm… I’ll try to do that.” Will chuckled. What worried him was the part that Elijah Hunter had to play in this vacation of his. He finished his cup and poured another.
“Elijah won’t do anything to hurt you,” Mrs. Coleman stated, as if reading his mind. “He’s worked hard to get to where he is. It has not been an easy road for him… ever.” She sighed. Will kept silent, hoping that she would continue. “He was only eighteen when he took custody of his nine-year-old brother. It wasn’t easy taking on the responsibility for the health and welfare of a child. He raised him well, though, taught him to be strong and honest and to be a man.”
“What happened to their parents?” Will was curious.
“Their father was not much in terms of responsibility.” She snorted, showing her contempt. “He ran out on the family just after Martin was born. Elijah was only nine at the time.” Pride began to show in her eyes as she related the rest of the story. “Elijah took care of the family as best he could. He worked, went to school, and took care of their small farm. When he was eighteen, he bought his own place with money he’d saved. Within weeks his mother was diagnosed with cancer. She only lived ten months after that.” That was so sad; Will patted his eyes, trying not to show that the story was having an effect on him. “He built that small ranch into this thirty-thousand-acre estate and also raised his brother. The man is more than people think, much more.”
“You seem very loyal, Mrs. Coleman.” Will did not mean this sarcastically. He admired her for it.
“People who really know Elijah know him to be a fair, kind, and generous man.”
“What about the people who don’t know him?” Will ventured to as
k.
“They think that he is cold, hard, and uncaring. He can be cold and hard if the situation warrants it,” she added. “I’m not saying he’s a pushover, far from it, but he doesn’t hurt people just for sport.”
Mrs. Coleman was definitely one of Elijah’s admirers. Will hoped he paid her well for the level of loyalty that she exhibited. “What about Katrina? What are your thoughts on her situation and his handling of it?”
“It’s my guess that he is trying to teach her a lesson.”
“Is he teaching me a lesson too?” Will was less cordial.
Mrs. Coleman merely smiled that thin smile of someone who thought they knew something no one else did. “Can I offer you some breakfast?” she asked abruptly, changing the subject.
“No, thank you. I thought I’d have something in town while I’m there.” Will wanted to question her further, but knew that her loyalty to Elijah would prevent her saying anything that he didn’t want her saying. Why did she act so strange when questioned about Elijah’s intentions with regard to me? What is he planning? Will stood and walked over to the sink to rinse his mug and then placed it back on the counter. His mind was consumed with possible motives for Elijah wanting him there. What lesson is he planning on teaching me? he wondered. Whatever Eli’s plan, Mrs. Coleman wasn’t going to tell him.
“Before you leave,” Mrs. Coleman said, her voice breaking into his thoughts, “Elijah asked me to give you this.” She handed Will a bank card.
“What is this?”
“It’s Elijah’s bank card. He called and arranged for you to have full access.”
Will was stunned. “When did he do this?”
“Before he left this morning, just after he spoke with you,” Mrs. Coleman said casually.
Will laughed uneasily. “I can’t take this.”
“He said for you to feel free to purchase anything you need.” Mrs. Coleman was beginning to act uncomfortable.
“It’s okay, Mrs. Coleman. I just can’t use his bank card. He doesn’t owe me anything. I’m not his responsibility.” Will tried to smile in order to put Mrs. Coleman’s mind at ease.
Mrs. Coleman nodded. She understood Will’s reluctance to accept such a generous gift, but what Will didn’t know was how unlike Elijah it was to make such an offer. He must have a great deal of trust in him, Mrs. Coleman thought to herself, because that bank card would give him access to many thousands of dollars. She wondered if Elijah was testing William to see if he was as money-hungry as his sister. If that was the case, then giving him his bank card would be a rather large risk.
Will placed the card on the table. “I appreciate the offer, but I cannot take advantage of his generosity.”
Mrs. Coleman was pleased to see how different William and his sister Katrina really were. If this was a test, she thought to herself, then William definitely passed.
Will left the ranch just before noon. Mrs. Coleman had drawn him a map directing him to the mall. It looked to be an easy drive—the town was a little over thirty miles away. He was planning on making the most of his time away, since he didn’t know whether he would be allowed to leave again.
Five hours and many packages later, he was sitting at a table in the food court having a cappuccino. If I could spend every day like this, he was thinking, the next few weeks would be a breeze. He was finally pondering the idea of starting back to the ranch when he saw an all-too-familiar frown headed in his direction. He noticed that Eli was dressed as he had been that morning, although more dusty and worn-looking. He looked as if he’d had a long, hard day, yet he walked with speed and purpose. Eli’s eyes never left his, as if he thought Will might try to bolt and was ready to give chase if need be. He garnered a lot of attention from the passersby and the idle shoppers. They actually looked startled to see him there in the mall. They watched him as he made for the food court and the young man sitting there. Curiosity over his identity became the talk of the day.
Will remained seated and resumed drinking his cappuccino. He refused to get upset and jump to Eli’s command. Eli could look as sinister as he wanted, Will would not be frightened by him. He told himself this as Eli came to stand beside Will’s table, towering over him with a look of angry frustration. Will looked up at him with an expression of complete innocence.
“What can I do for you?” he asked. Eli’s irritation was evident, but Will tried to remain oblivious to it.
“Don’t get me started with a question like that,” he said harshly. “There are many things I want you to do for me, but none are appropriate for the mall.” His tone took on a low huskiness that Will didn’t recognize. Was he baiting him into an argument, or trying to embarrass him? Eli bent down close to Will, leaning one hand on the table in front of him. “Just when were you planning to return to the ranch, if ever?” he asked accusingly.
“You said,” Will began hotly, “be back by dinner. Dinner is at seven, so I translated that as meaning, be back by seven.” He made an exaggerated gesture to the clock on the wall. “It’s barely five o’clock. I have plenty of time.”
“You’re going to push me, aren’t you?” he said in a tone that was neither light nor friendly.
“Only if you get in my way,” he retorted, more stouthearted than he was feeling. His mood darkened considerably. If they hadn’t been in this very public place, Will was certain that Elijah would have shown him very clearly who was in control. But as it was, he could only glare.
“If you’re finished, I will drive you back to the ranch.” It wasn’t a question. He abruptly reached down and retrieved all of Will’s bags from the floor and turned toward the door. Will finished his drink and fell into step beside him. Eli shifted all of his bags to his left hand and took hold of Will’s hand with his right. His grip was firm and his irritation was communicated clearly. Will felt like a child being scolded and marched out of the store. Once outside, Eli stated abruptly, “I see I will have to keep you on a very short leash from now on.”
“Short leash!” Will exploded. “I just went shopping.” He attempted to jerk his hand away, but Eli wasn’t letting go. “I needed a few things. I hadn’t planned on being here for more than a day or two,” he tried to explain as Eli continued to haul him through the parking lot to his car.
Suddenly, he stopped, and looking down at Will with the darkest of blue eyes, he stated, “If I give you an inch, you will take a mile.” His voice was not harsh, but there was finality in his tone.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You don’t own me. Just because my sister tried to blackmail your brother, that doesn’t give you the right to treat me like a prisoner.” He stepped back and came up against the side of his car. There was no escape. Eli dropped his bags and pinned him to the car with an arm on either side of him. He bent his head seductively toward him as his body pressed against Will and his hands gripped his shoulders. His nearness was making Will very uncomfortable. He fought for composure.
“I do own you, and you would do best not to forget that fact.” His eyes bored into Will. “Until your sister returns, you belong to me. You will do as I say and not ask questions. Understood!”
Will gave Eli his blackest stare. “I’ll stay until the thirty-first as agreed, but I’ll kill myself before you ever own me. Now let go of me before I do something we’ll both regret.”
William infuriated and excited him at the same time. No man had ever affected him the way he did. When Eli had returned to the main house this afternoon, only to discover Will wasn’t there, his first thought was that he’d left, gone home. After last night, Eli knew he’d gone too far, too fast. All day, it was in the back of his mind that Will might decide to leave. Eli knew he’d planned to go to town, but was certain that he should have been back. How can anyone shop for five hours? he thought. It is impossible.
He’d jumped into his car and raced to the mall. He was desperate to find Will. He left his men more than a little puzzled by his behavior. The thought of Will getting away was unacceptable, and he was prepared to bring h
im back no matter where he was. He was not going to be allowed to leave until Eli determined his role in this scheme of his sister’s. If he was a player, he would deal with him as harshly as he planned on dealing with Katrina. If he was innocent, he would release him, no questions asked. But regardless of the outcome, William would play by his rules. He even telephoned his pilot to stand by in case he needed to fly to Michigan. When he’d first seen Will sitting in the food court, he was flooded with conflicting feelings of relief and a need to strangle him. Will had no idea what he’d put him through. He never was one for public displays, but that was before Will. Right now, all he wanted was for him to understand who was boss.
Will could feel the car door press against his back and gradually became aware that people were watching them. “Let me go,” he hissed. He didn’t want to cause a scene by pulling away from him, but they needed to end the exhibition. “I refuse to be your prisoner.”
Will looked at him with eyes filled with rage and passion, a combination that excited Eli beyond his ability to control it. He couldn’t help himself; he kissed Will hard and exacting, conveying a promise and a need for much more. It was brief yet mind-numbing. Will’s brazen disregard for Eli’s authority, his attitude of unyielding independence, and his ability to melt in Eli’s arms caused a level of arousal in Elijah that was slow to subside. This morning, in Will’s room, Eli had wanted to put his arm around him, but he knew Will would not have allowed it. His words had put up a solid wall between them. Will was so distant from him that he wasn’t even sure he was aware that he was in the room. The way he ignored him and stared at the floor rattled him so much that he immediately apologized in hopes of getting him to at least look at him again. Elijah couldn’t remember the last time he’d ever apologized to anyone. He wasn’t sure he ever had. Will was at least looking at him now. He was as mad as hell, but he could see him.
“I was too harsh; I didn’t mean what I said. You’re not my prisoner, Will. You’re my guest and my responsibility. Whether you like it or not,” Eli said all-too-knowingly.
