Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

against the window. Thanksgiving was only two months away. That door closed a little. I could see me staying. I felt the ties get a little stronger.
    ****
    I'd missed real autumns. LA's was nothing more than slightly cooler and shorter days so to see changing leaves and that frosty clarity to the late afternoon sky was a novelty. I stood on the porch and watched Will. The sorrel was putting up a fight, the muscles in its hind quarters bunched and tense as it plunged backwards, away from the man at the other end of the rope. It shook its head, trying to rid itself of the determined weight while Will held on, his lips set in a thin, tight line.
    I leaned against the rail. Apart from those five years in California, I'd been a drifter one way or another all my life. I'd planned on remaining that way until I came to Blue Forks.
    Will didn't know that I watched him, watched his strong and raw movements from the porch. The afternoon sun touched the clouds of dust and found copper in the sorrel's coat. It bathed Will in light and I knew, in that moment, while he was locked in this powerful dance of dominance with the big colt, that I had finally come home. The revelation stole my breath. I slumped onto a chair and set my coffee down.
    Thanksgiving was no longer an open door. The bed and breakfast was no longer a burden. It was only part of the reason I'd stay. The main reason was out in that corral subduing a horse.
    Will glanced toward the house and smiled. I smiled back while something inside lifted at the sight of him. The prospect of spending the rest of my life with him, our nights in that bed, dancing in the kitchen, made me want to rush across the dirt and tell him. Instead, I rose and went back into the house, needing a little time to gather the right words together.
    "You're very quiet tonight." Will settled beside me, drawing me close.
    I rolled over and let my hand stray across his chest, until it came to rest over his heart. His pulse quickened beneath my fingers.
    "I've been thinking, that's all."
    He covered my hand with his. "Good thoughts or bad thoughts?"
    "Good thoughts." I moved my fingers further down, loving how Will's breath caught in his throat when I ran my thumb around the rim of his dick.
    "Horny thoughts?"
    "Those too." I nipped at his earlobe. "In fact, they're winning at the moment."
    Will rolled on top of me. "Same here." He rocked his hips over mine and swept his tongue between my lips. "Horny thoughts work for me."
    I grabbed his ass and pushed back, seeking friction, wanting him inside me. "Then fuck me."
    He grinned. "I can do that."
    The doorbell sounded like a fire alarm.
    "Fuck." Will looked at me. "Doesn't everyone have their keys?"
    "There's only two rooms occupied tonight and they're both back from town."
    "Perhaps someone needs a room." He glanced at the alarm clock. "It's kinda late."
    I eased my way out from underneath him and gathered up my clothes. "I'll go and see. Wait there. I'll be back and I'll tell you my good thoughts."
    "I'm not going anywhere." Will grabbed my hand, pulled me close and kissed me. "Don't be too long."
    "I won't. I promise." I hurried into my clothes and ran down the stairs, hoping that the idiot leaning on the doorbell hadn't woken the other guests. This guest was going in the small room at the far end of the corridor…the one with the dripping faucet.
    I pasted on my best welcome smile and opened the door.
    A man stood on the porch, a suitcase resting beside him. "Is Will here?"
    I stared at him for a moment and then I stared at the suitcase. "Who wants to know?"
    "Tell him Terry's here."
    I stared at him again. Tall, as tall as Will, fair-haired, dressed as if he'd just walked out of his day job in an office somewhere. The ex.
    "Sure. Give me a minute." I stepped back and let him in. "Wait here."
    "Thanks." He dropped the suitcase in the hall.
    I summoned up the presence of mind not to tear up the stairs. Instead, I drew a deep breath and took my time, wondering how Will was going to take the return of his ex, complete with suitcase.
    "That was quick." Will threw the covers back, revealing a body I wanted—badly.
    "Not a guest…not as such."
    He sat up. "What's that supposed to mean. Is everything all right?"
    "That depends. It's Terry. . He's waiting downstairs with a suitcase."
    "You're kidding me." He reached for his jeans.
    "Tall, fair-haired, blue eyes, wearing a suit?"
    Will sighed. "Yeah, that's him. What the fuck does he want?"
    I watched him