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He was rapidly reaching the point of no return, and lifted his head again to make another plea for her to stop when there was a loud knock at the door.
Her hands stilled. “Who the heck is that? Talk about bad timing.”
“It's probably perfect timing, actually.” He reached down to slowly pull her hand out of his shorts and looked around for his shirt.
Her eyebrows rose. “What are you doing? We'll just ignore it, they'll go away.”
“We can't ignore it. Both of our cars are out there, so it's obvious we're here.” He chuckled at her miffed expression.
“It's not funny,” she said, but he caught the beginnings of a grin skirting her lips. “Hand me my bra, please.”
Another knock.
“Hold on,” she called out as she finished dressing. She rose from the couch and nearly lost her balance. “Whoa. See how you make me weak in the knees?” she whispered into his ear before kissing him softly and trailing her hand across the very prominent bulge in his shorts.
He grinned as he sat up straight on the couch, taking deep breaths and trying to talk himself out of his aroused state. It wouldn't be polite to greet company with an erection.
He needn't have worried. When Elizabeth opened the door and he saw that she stood face to face with Bill Collins, he was swamped with a surge of anger so swift it obliterated every other feeling coursing through his body.
“Hello, Elizabeth,” Bill said.
Will rose from the couch and strode toward the door. He was there in seconds, before Collins had a chance to react or retreat, and grabbed him by the front of the shirt.
“What do you want?” Will nearly snarled.
“I–I only came to apologize! I swear!”
“Will, stop,” Elizabeth said firmly. “Let him go.”
Will held him a few moments longer, fighting the impulse to propel him out the door and over the railing. He released him, but stood over him menacingly. “Get the fuck out of here.”
“I–I didn't come to talk toyou, I came to see Elizabeth,” Collins said, and Will saw beads of sweat forming on his upper lip and forehead.
“Get off my property, Bill,” Elizabeth said calmly. “Leave now before I call the police.”
“Elizabeth, please,” Collins pleaded. “I’m so sorry for everything. I–I never intended for any of this to happen. I never thought you would meet George. I never expected him to become involved with people you knew—”
“Involved?Involved?” Will growled. “Is that what you call what happened to my sister? Aninvolvement?”
“No, I–I wasn't talking about your sister. I didn't even know she was your–your sister. Not at first. I had no idea. I was talking about Charlotte and–and Lydia.”
“Oh, so you'renotapologizing for Georgiana?”
Will hovered over Collins, his nails digging into his palms as he curbed the urge to throttle the man’s stubby little neck. He felt a soft pressure on his arm and realized it was Elizabeth's hand. Her touch calmed him just enough that he could keep his hands at his side, and he took a deep breath and stepped back.He’s not worth an assault charge. But the fact that he washere, that he had the guts to show his face at Elizabeth's house… Will was beyond incensed.
“Answer a question for me, Bill,” Elizabeth said. “Did youeverintend on coming clean with the authorities? If Will hadn’t recognized you...would things have carried on as usual?”
“I–I don't know, I'm not sure. I couldn't say anything. George threatened me! He's evil—you don't know what he's capable of. I swear to you, I had no choice—”
“You think we don't know what he's capable of?” Will said, nearly shouting. “And youdidhave a choice, you fucking coward. You could have walked out of that room that night and gone for help. You could have gone to the police the next day. Don't stand there and tell me you didn't have a choice.”
“Leave, Bill. Now,” Elizabeth said. “I don't want an apology from you. Just get out of here and never speak to me again. Go.”
Will stepped forward until he was towering over Collins, staring down at his red, quivering face. He poked a finger roughly into Collins’s chest, emphasizing his words. “If you ever,evercome near Elizabeth or my sister again, I will make it my personal goal to make your life a living hell. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, yes, I do. I'm sorry, you're right, I-I shouldn't have come. I'm sorry.”
Collins left, practically running from the deck. Will followed at a distance and stood in front of the house until his car was out of sight. Sighing, he went back up the stairs and found Elizabeth standing outside, staring out at the ocean.
