Read Online Signed and Sealed by B.A. Stretke - Free Book Online Page B

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 him 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