Chapter Thirty-Two

Will grabbed a rock and threw it with all his might. It hit the water with a resounding splash. With a satisfied smile he picked up another and threw it as well. 

He had never been one to blow up or throw things in temper and he had always laughed at people who did but now he understood. 

This felt good! 

Will picked up another rock and was about to chuck it into the icy river as well when a big callused hand grabbed him by the wrist and stopped him, “What are you doing out here without a coat?” 

Will yanked his arm out of Turner’s grasp and threw the rock. He waited until the ripples subsided before responding, “Throwing a temper. I would think it was something that a man like you would recognize.” 

Turner grunted, “You think so, huh?” 

Will nodded and stooped and grabbed three small rocks in his hand, “Yep. It should be something that’s very familiar to a man like you.” Will threw one rock, “There goes a man out in the snow bank to freeze to death because I’m angry,” he let the second rock fly, “And there goes the sofa into the same snow bank just so I can get my way!” The third rock flew in a similar path to the first two, “Oh and here let me just yell and bluster and hurt everyone around me because I can’t murder everyone who looks at me the wrong way!” 

Will glanced at Turner and saw him grumbling to himself while pinching his nose and glaring at Will over his knuckles, “Really? Are you done now?” 

“No!” Will reached for an especially large rock and slipped on the ice and mud. He cried out with shock, realizing he was going to tumble into the half-frozen river only the be grabbed around the middle, in a grip that was somehow strong and yet tender enough to keep from hurting his nearly healed incision or ribs. 

Will found himself pulled against Turner’s broad frame and he cursed the reaction that his own traitorous body had. He was mad as hell at Turner and hurt by the man’s earlier words and yet somehow with a simple touch Turner had him ready and willing to drop his trousers and bend over. Pathetic. Will was pathetic. 

“What are you doing?!” Will demanded when he realized that Turner was dragging him toward the barn. 

“Getting you out of the cold air, you pain in my ass,” Turner grumbled. 

“Technically you’re the only one that causes a pain in any asses in this relationship,” Will pointed out, attempting to struggle out of Turner’s grasp but finding that it was impossible. 

Turner’s silence was all that meant Will’s argument but he wasn’t ready to stop, “You know what you are? You’re a mean, hateful, brooding, son of a bitch!” 

Turner sighed, “My mother isn’t a nice woman so I can’t argue there.” 

“You are bossy, arrogant and temperamental. You don’t care on bit about whether or not you hurt those that care about you, you blockheaded jackass! You’re a damned bastard, is what you are! A condescending, venom-mouthed…..” 

“Venom-mouthed what?” Turner inquired as they stepped into the barn and he released his hold on Will. 

Will whirled around and opened his mouth but then frowned, “I don’t know. I can’t think of an more insults.” 

Turner grabbed a saddle blanket from a bale of hay and draped it gently over Will’s shoulders, “That was very colorful.” 

Will pulled the blanket tight around himself and sighed, “Not nearly as colorful as you deserved.” 

Turner’s knuckles caressed Will’s cheek gently and Will had to force his body to remain still and not throw himself into Turner’s arms, “I know. I’m sorry, Will. I get angry and I don’t think about what I’m saying. It’s a flaw of mine and it always has been…. You were right before. Peter wouldn’t have wanted me to kill that man but that’s not what matters anymore.” 

“It isn’t?” Will asked, his gaze dropping to the hay strewn dirt floor beneath their feet. 

“No, it isn’t,” Turner stepped closer and pulled Will into a hug. He buried his face in his neck, “You told me that you didn’t want me to kill him and that’s what I heard and I listened…. Even though I didn’t exactly express my gratitude over your opinion.” 

“Turner, as much as I love you, I won’t be with someone that I have to walk on eggshells around. I won’t be worried that you’re gonna fly off in a rage and say things just to hurt me. You have to learn to control that if you want to keep me.” 

Turner was quiet for a long time and Will frowned when he felt the man shudder. Was he….? 

“Don’t say a goddamn word,” Turner sniffed as hot tears plopped onto Will’s neck. 

“Turner….” 

“That was a word.” 

“No, it was a name,” Will countered. He put his arms around Turner and rubbed his back, “Why are you crying?” 

“I’m not. My eyes are watering,” Turner argued, though he didn’t raise his head from where it rested on Will’s shoulder. 

Will sighed as his gaze traveled upward, “Then why are your eyes watering?”

“Goddamn hay,” Turner sniffed again and then yanked away from Will. He turned his back to him and kicked a bucket across the floor, “Because, dammit, I hurt you! The one goddamn person in the world that I love and I hurt him. I’m a bastard!” 

Will’s heart softened. His anger faded. Hell hadn’t he already decided he was pathetic? He couldn’t hold a grudge, or a temper, it would seem. Will went to him and hugged him tight from behind, “You’re my bastard, Turner, and I’m not going anywhere as long you promise to try to do better with your temper.” 

“I promise.” 

They stood that way a long while and then finally Turner sighed, “We should probably get in and help Lillith pack.” 

Will frowned, “Lillith is packing?” 

“Yeah she’s coming with us,” Turner replied. 

Will was surprised, “I could tell inside earlier that you weren’t too crazy about the idea. Why’d you change your mind?” 

“Because she’s a friend,” Turner shrugged, “And I can’t leave her here to fend for herself. Not with men like that Harry character sniffing around.” 

“Is the ranch big enough for all of us with your brother and his family living there?” 

Turner took Will’s hand in his and led him out of the barn, “Yeah, it is. She could always get her a house in the town about an hour away from the ranch if that suits her better. Either way she’ll be safer than she is out here in the middle of nowhere.” 

Will nodded his agreement and rose on his toes to press a kiss to Turner’s jaw. Turner turned his head and caught Will’s lips with his own. 

The kiss was hungry and urgent. Both men wanted and needed the other. They hadn’t been intimately alone since the first day Will had arrived and Will was feeling more than a little needy for Turner. 

He wanted those big hands caressing his body and he wanted to feel Turner filling him completely and sending him out of his mind with pleasure. 

Turner nipped at Will’s lip and Will happily gave him further access to his mouth. Their tongues warred as their passions raged. 

Without breaking the kiss, Turner put his hands on Will’s hips and began to lead the man back toward the barn. Will threw his hands around Turner’s neck and buried them in his hair, pulling his mouth closer, wanting more, more, always more….

The door to the house threw open and they jumped apart quickly, “Oh no!” Lillith exclaimed shaking her head and pointing her finger at them. “I’m not going to be in here doing all the work while the two of you are having fun in my barn! If you’re going to kidnap me and force me to come with you then you are damn sure going to help get things ready!” 

Turner’s face reddened and Will could tell he was about to lose his temper. Before he could say anything, Will kissed him gently and then turned to Lillith, “You’re right.” 

“She is?” Turner grumbled, his bottom lip sticking out in a pout.

“Yes, she is. Besides--” Will laid his hand on Turner’s tight stomach, “The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get to the ranch and be all alone in our bedroom for days if we so choose.” 

Want flashed in Turner’s dark brown eyes, “Days?” 

“If you think you’re up to the challenge, Ol’ Fella’,” Will winked. 

Turner laughed a deep throaty sound that caused trembled to wash over Will’s skin, “Oh, I’m more than up to it, young gun. You just wait.” 

A/N: I managed two today ;) Love y'all and the support you give me is amazing! I love reading your comments and while i don't respond to them all, know that I do read them and I'm grateful for them all!