Signed and Sealed

by Stretke, B. A.

  “According to Mrs. Coleman, Will is rather tense every time you come near him. She said that Will told her that every day he waits for the moment when you are going to turn on him. He doesn’t trust you at all. After all the tests, threats, and assumptions, he is walking on eggshells around you. He believes that you’re just biding your time until he screws up and you can pounce.”

  “I’ve told him how I feel in plain, clear English. How could he possibly believe I’m still playing games? It stopped being a game the first time I kissed him.” Elijah remembered the first kiss, and Will’s response to him. It brought a smile to his lips. “He does care about me. As much as he fights it, he still feels something for me. We fucked, for God’s sake; I felt just how much he loves me.”

  “Give it time, Elijah. He’ll come around.” Martin consoled him as best he could.

  “I don’t have much time.” Elijah considered for a moment and then added, “I could get him to stay longer. He’s working on my last year’s tax returns. I could contact the farmers’ cooperative and hire him.” He smiled with relief. “I could hire him to do my audit. If I handle it right, that could take weeks.”

  “Sounds like a plan, Brother.” Martin started to laugh.

  “Before you leave,” Elijah said, catching him, “I’d like you to do me a favor.”

  “Anything,” Martin answered emphatically.

  “John Gerard stopped by here yesterday. He wanted to speak with Will. I’d like you to find out why. Find out what he wanted to say to him. I don’t trust that bastard, and I don’t want him bothering Will ever again.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” Martin assured him.

  Chapter Nine

  Will spent the morning going over tax returns. As before, he could find nothing amiss. Eli’s records were clean and proper. Why does he want me doing this? he wondered as he pulled out yet another file of papers. It was definitely busywork. If I’m stuck here at his desk, then I won’t be wandering off into the forest or getting lost in the mall. “That man has some nerve,” he exclaimed to the empty room. He glanced at the soup and sandwich that Mrs. Coleman had delivered an hour ago, but his appetite wasn’t there. He took the coffee, though, and drank the Thermos dry. At about two o’clock, he decided he needed to go for a walk. Will quickly cleaned up the desk and instead of going out the front door, opted to take the garden route and exited through the French doors behind the desk.

  He walked aimlessly around the garden for a while before heading off in the general direction of Kathy Graham’s place. “I need to get the hell out of here. I need to go home,” he declared. His mind accepted that, but his heart yearned to stay. His heart told him to accept Eli, to listen to him, but his heart had been wrong before. His heart had told him that his parents loved him, despite everything, but their inheritance had told a different story. His heart could not be trusted, so he relied on his mind for guidance.

  Kathy invited him to sit with her on the porch and enjoy a glass of cool lemonade. “I’m sorry to be bothering you so much, but there just isn’t anyone here I can talk to,” Will explained.

  “I don’t mind in the least. I enjoy your company,” Kathy assured him.

  They talked about all manner of things except Will’s situation. He wanted to get away from his thoughts for a while and just be normal. They discussed school, family, most embarrassing moments, aspirations, etcetera. Kathy seemed to know that Will didn’t want to discuss Elijah, so she never approached that subject.

  Will left Kathy’s around four and went back to the study. He let himself back in through the garden. He immediately picked up where he’d left off. Elijah had warned him that if he didn’t finish the tax returns, then he wouldn’t be leaving on Saturday, and he took Eli’s warnings seriously. He didn’t want to give Eli any excuses to have him stay longer. Will figured if he worked through the evening and most of tomorrow, he should finish it easily before Saturday. At six o’clock, Mrs. Coleman knocked and then entered.

  “Dinner will be served in an hour,” she announced. She noticed the soup and sandwich sitting on the table untouched and scowled. “You shouldn’t be skipping meals, it isn’t healthy.”

  “I’m sorry,” Will apologized. “I was busy and then I went for a walk to get some air,” he tried to explain.

  “That’s no excuse. Next time I bring you lunch, young man, you eat it. Hear me?” Mrs. Coleman was scolding him, and all Will could do was smile.

  “Yes, Mrs. Coleman,” he said. “I hear you.”

  “Good, now go get ready for dinner. Both Mr. Hunters will be joining you.” With that, she quickly turned and left the study.

  Will gathered up the loose papers and reorganized the files as they had been. He stowed them back into the drawer from which Elijah had taken them that morning. After he was satisfied with the cleanup, he ventured back upstairs to his room. The thought of having dinner with both Elijah and Martin was not pleasant. It was hard enough playing the game with just Elijah, pretending to be disinterested, distant, and unaffected, but to have to fool them both over the dinner table was going to be difficult, if not impossible. Chances were, he would say something that would tip them off or something that would lead to an in-depth questioning session by Elijah. Will wished he could just stay in the sanctuary of his room until Saturday. He had just enough time to change into a pair of nice jeans and sweater. At seven o’clock sharp, Elijah appeared at his door to escort him to dinner.

  “How was your day?” he asked politely.

  “Very good,” Will answered. The games begin, he thought.

  Eli drew Will up close to him as they descended the staircase. “How are you getting along with my taxes?”

  “I should finish by Saturday,” he informed him coldly, and then his mind began to wander. Eli looked so handsome in his tight, black jeans and his white, cotton shirt. Will also remembered how handsome he had looked last night in his pajama bottoms and bare chest. His breath caught, and he quickly changed his thoughts away from visual images of last night. Why did I have to fall in love with him? he thought as they entered the dining room together. This could be so easy if I just felt nothing, but it’s not going to be easy. No matter what happens, it’s not going to be easy.

  Dinner was surprisingly quiet. Elijah made a mundane comment about Will’s job back in Michigan. Will defended his position with the farmers’ cooperative without sounding too defensive, or so he hoped.

  Elijah then looked at him with a strange, longing quality to his expression. “What is your dream, William?” His question seemed odd.

  “Personal or professional?” Will asked carefully.

  “Personal,” he replied and pinned Will with his dark gaze as he waited for his answer. The room became deadly still in anticipation of the response. Even Martin was watching him as if truly interested.

  Will contemplated his answer and then stated, “True love and happiness are my personal goals.” He then skidded into his professional goals before anyone could comment. “And my professional goal is to someday own my own business.”

  Will’s candid response surprised him. “Love and happiness.” Elijah repeated his words, savoring the sound they made and the implications they represented. Will looked away, fearing that with those two words, he had accidentally shared too much.

  “Isn’t that what most people hope for?” he covered.

  “No,” Elijah said without hesitation. “Most people are looking for money and fame.”

  “Those would be professional goals, not personal,” he countered, but both Elijah and Martin were emphatically shaking their heads.

  “For many, those are personal goals,” Elijah stated, and Martin agreed. Will didn’t want to go down that road again. It was obvious they were referring to Katrina, so he tried to steer the conversation in a more inoffensive direction.

  “I visited with Kathy Graham this afternoon,” he announced and then went back to his meal. “She’s a very interesting lady, I enjoy talking with her.”

&
nbsp; “I’m glad to hear that,” Elijah stated, barely suppressing a laugh. Will wasn’t very good at changing the subject, but he let it go.

  After dinner, Martin excused himself, and Elijah asked Will to take a walk with him. Will had hoped to disappear back into the study and continue his work for the remainder of the evening, but that dangerous, risky part of him had readily accepted the invitation. The sun was just beginning to set, and the darkness was taking over. It was Will’s favorite time of day. He liked the darkness; it was liberating in the way it cloaked and protected. Darkness was detachment and freedom. Will never understood fear of the dark. You can’t see what’s in the dark, sure, but what’s in the dark can’t see you, either. He smiled at the rambling of his own thoughts, and suddenly realized that Elijah had no difficulty seeing him in the dark.

  “I love it when you smile.” Eli’s arm went around him, and he was held snug to his side once again. They walked on in the direction of the large stable, but instead of going in, they skirted the edge and followed a narrow path. The path went through a cluster of trees and ended near the small paddock. Elijah leaned on the fence and stared out at the night sky. Will stood beside him and stared at him.

  “Why are you doing all of this?” Will’s bravery was coming to a head, so he ventured this question one more time.

  “All of what?” Eli evaded.

  “Threatening Katrina and keeping me captive, for starters,” he said sarcastically.

  “Because I can.” His answer shocked Will. That was what he thought, but he never considered Eli would actually tell him the truth. “That’s what you believe, isn’t it?” Eli voiced Will’s own thoughts, and he was again startled. His tone had taken on a sharpness, but Will didn’t really care. He wanted to have this out.

  “That is exactly what I believe,” he told him with equal scorn.

  Elijah slammed his hand against the fence and turned on Will, facing him with a look of fury so powerful that Will stepped back from him.

  “Why is it impossible for you to accept the fact that I truly care for you?” he demanded, but did not touch him. He remained near the fence, giving Will space but keeping him in one spot. He would have to walk past him to get away or risk running through the woods. The path ended where they stood.

  “Because it is absurd,” he spat. “I have nothing, I am nothing to you, there is nothing here that you could possibly be interested in.” His voice rose to a fevered pitch as his emotional control let go. “I know that you let Katrina go. I spoke to her this morning. I also know what you did to John Gerard, he told me the whole story, so please hold your declaration of undying devotion and use it on someone who is more foolish and more apt to believe it.”

  He stepped closer to Eli as he continued on his tirade. Elijah remained still and silent, yet his rage was evident in his eyes, and it hung heavy in the air. “I know what your game is. But believe me, I’m not going to fall like John. He was unfortunately too stupid to see the truth, or too blinded by the wealthy prospects to even consider the truth. I am neither stupid nor blind, so whatever you have planned, I guarantee it won’t be half as satisfying as you’d no doubt anticipated.”

  Will’s heart was beating out of his chest when finally he fell silent. He saw Eli then, very clearly, and he was instantly filled with dread. He’d gone too far, he’d declared too much. Will tried to step past him, but Eli grabbed his arm and hauled him up against him. Elijah turned him and pushed his back up against the fence as he leaned into him, pinning him there with the weight of his body.

  “For someone who claims to be nothing, you seem to think rather highly of yourself,” he gritted out between clenched teeth. “Personally, I think you are blind and stupid, but then that is probably why I find you so irresistible. Brainy men never did hold much attraction for me.” His sarcasm and put-down hit Will hard, but he said nothing. Eli was on the edge, he could feel it.

  “You have something I want, William, and I will have it.” He crushed Will to him as his mouth took his in a kiss so devastating and painful that all Will could do was hold on to him. His fingers gripped Will’s shoulder and back as he forced his lips apart. He bruised and plundered on his way to satisfaction. Will whimpered and pushed on his chest, but Eli was oblivious to his struggles. He was taking what he wanted. Whether or not Will was willing was of no consideration. His hands were rough and demanding against Will’s skin, but the heat they generated was intoxicating. His hands were everywhere, running up Will’s back, caressing his face, and then slipping down to cup his thigh and pull him into his hardness. Will could feel his lips, hot and swollen, under Eli’s insistent pressure, but he did not demand release. He stopped pushing against Eli and instead gripped the front of his shirt. His ability to take what he wanted was undeniable. Will tried to turn his head, tried to escape the burning, sensuous attack of Eli’s mouth on his.

  As a pained, frightened gasp escaped Will’s lungs, Elijah immediately stopped, startled and appalled by his own behavior. How was it that he’d allowed himself to be pushed to this point? He held Will tenderly as he surveyed the swollen, tender flesh of his lips and his large, dilated eyes, which stared at him as if he were a wild dog. He released him so abruptly that Will stumbled against the fence.

  Will, deeply affronted by Eli’s assault on his already ravaged nerves, pushed past him in an attempt to return to the main house and escape his scrutiny. He didn’t want to hear anything more he had to say. He knew the truth. Elijah stepped in front of him to prevent him leaving, but did not try to touch him. He had something to say. Will waited, but only silence ensued.

  They stood there immobile for several moments before Elijah stepped back and allowed him to go. He watched Will as he ran from him around the side of the stable and back to the house.

  Will composed himself before entering the house, and as casually as possible, headed for the stairway. Please don’t let anyone speak to me, he pleaded as he hurried up to his room. Will desperately needed to be alone. He needed time to think, to cry. He was crying again. I need to get away from here so I will stop crying. I want my old life back. It was boring and predictable, but at least I wasn’t tormented. I want to not feel again. Will sat at the small desk by the window and dropped his face in his hands. As forceful and domineering as Elijah was, he wasn’t really afraid of him. Eli’d had plenty of chances to treat him badly if he’d wanted to. He always backed off when he did; he never pushed it further than Will was prepared to go… until tonight. He kept himself under a tight control where Will was concerned.

  Tonight, Will had felt that control slip, and still he wasn’t afraid. He was angry and insulted, but he wasn’t frightened. Why does he cause me such emotional torment, such anguish? Why can’t I just push him away? He knew that answer as clearly as he knew his own name. As desperately as he’d sought to protect his heart and avoid any emotional involvement, he’d been lost since the first touch. The moment Eli looked at him, the moment he kissed him, the moment they made love, the moment he asked Will to marry him, he had been lost. Will needed to accept that fact and accept the fact that Elijah would never return his feelings. There was nothing more utterly crippling than that overwhelming need and desire to be close to someone. Will had never been in love before and he hoped it would never happen again. He wiped his eyes and stared blankly out his bedroom window. The only recourse he had left was to leave. Elijah wanted retribution and he was prepared to do whatever he needed to, no matter how despicable, in order to achieve it. Will needed to gather what remained of his dignity and walk away. Eli could have his home and his land—at this point, he didn’t care.

  When Will saw Elijah walking across the yard toward the house, his heart skipped. If it wasn’t for that small scrap of dignity that he had left, he would be down there, imploring him to let him stay, to please love him, to please forget Katrina and the contract and the deceit, but that wasn’t possible. Their entire relationship had been based on lies and tricks, and nothing could be built on such a foundation
as that. In Eli’s eyes, he was no better than John Gerard. Elijah stopped abruptly when two of his men approached. He seemed angry for the interruption. They were speaking to him, but he didn’t appear to be listening. Finally, he started to yell and pointed at one of the stables. The men looked uncomfortable and off-balance, as if his outburst was something they hadn’t expected and didn’t understand. Elijah looked up at Will in the window and then turned and headed in the direction of his men.

  Will took his empty suitcase from the closet and placed it on his bed. It was definitely time to go. One more day would prove nothing. He began gathering his things from the drawers and tossing them into the suitcase. He took his few things from the closet, but left the black Armani suit. It wasn’t his to take. He decided that he would leave early in the morning, avoiding any scene that might arise from a later departure. He finished packing and set his suitcase in front of the closet door. He left out his pajamas and a change of clothes for the next day, but everything else was packed. He carefully and quietly snuck down to his car and stowed the luggage in the trunk. There might be no time to haul out luggage tomorrow. He was resolved, and he was ready.