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Leaving Home

Page 21

by Chase, T. A.


  proof.” After standing, Max strolled over to offer his hand to Chaz. “Welcome to St Martin Ranch, Chaz. I’m sure you’ll be a great addition.”

  Chaz stood and shook Max’s hand. “Thank you for taking a chance on me, and for

  being such good friends to Peter.”

  Derek smiled. “We only did what Peter would have done for one of us. We’re family,

  Chaz, and we welcome you into it.”

  “I’m glad to be included.” Chaz glanced over at Peter. “Do you think your boss might

  let you have the rest of the afternoon off?”

  Peter felt his face heat up, but he couldn’t stop his thrilled grin. “I’d have to call Les, and ask.”

  “Oh, trust me, Les will totally let you take off the rest of the day. Derek or I will call him and let him know what’s going on. I’m pretty sure you can expect a call from him

  tomorrow.” Max winked.

  Peter jumped to his feet before grabbing Chaz’s hand to start dragging him out of the

  room. Derek stopped them with a question.

  “Where have you been storing your stuff, Chaz?”

  Chaz glanced at him. “My brother’s place in North Carolina. Matthew got out of the

  army eight months ago and he’s thinking about moving as well. Maybe there’s a place

  around here for him to rent.”

  “Army, huh?” A calculating look crossed Derek’s face. “Is he looking for a job as well?”

  “Yes.” Chaz frowned. “He’s still adjusting to being out of the military, and he might

  have PTSD, though he hasn’t been diagnosed with it or anything like that.”

  Derek waved his hand to dismiss Chaz’s doubts. “Doesn’t matter. He can get help here

  as well if need be. I might have a job for him with my record studio.”

  “All right. I can give you his number tomorrow if you need it.”

  “I’m sure Les has it if I decide to talk to Matthew before tomorrow.” Derek flapped his

  hands at them. “Get out of here, and have a more intimate reunion.”

  Peter dropped Chaz’s hand before going back to hug Max and Derek. After he did, he

  grabbed Chaz’s arm to lead him down the hallway towards the back door. His office was in

  the main house, but he had his own little house several yards away from all of the other

  buildings.

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  LEAVING HOME T.A. Chase 157

  Chaz laughed as they almost tripped down the back steps. “Take it easy, love. We have

  all the time in the world now that we’re together.”

  “I need you to make love to me, Chaz. You are the only man I ever loved or will love.”

  Peter pushed open his door to let Chaz walk in.

  After shutting the door, Peter leant back against it, staring at Chaz. While he really

  wanted to get to the bed, he wanted to take a moment to settle the image of Chaz standing in his house.

  It had been so hard to leave his parents’ house all those years ago, but he’d known it

  was the right thing to do to grow into the man he wanted to be. He’d found his own family and a new place to live.

  Standing inches away from the man he loved, and knowing that they’d soon be making

  love in his bed, showed Peter that he’d been right to move down to Austin. While some

  people might not think it had been a good thing, Peter couldn’t argue with it. If Chaz came back into his life, he’d do it a hundred times over. Peter figured out love was always worth leaving home for.

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  Where the Devil Dances

  T.A. Chase

  Excerpt

  Chapter One

  David stepped inside the fence at the neighbourhood dog park. He let Sadie off her

  leash and laughed as the large greyhound barked at him, staring intently at the object in his hand.

  “What?” He held up the dingy, chewed-up tennis ball in his hand. “You want this?” He

  threw the ball as far as he could.

  Sadie tore off after it before it’d even left his hand.

  He tucked his hands in his jeans pockets and moved though the damp grass, the first

  stars peeking through the twilight as he made his way towards his favourite bench. There

  wasn’t much time for Sadie to run tonight since he had to be at the fire station at midnight.

  He hoped his shift was uneventful, but there’d been a rash of fires lately and none of the men had been able to get much sleep when they had been working.

  Sadie dashed up to him, dropping the drool-covered ball at his feet. After bending over,

  David picked it up to throw it again before continuing his stroll. Then his progress halted and he flailed his arms to keep his balance. Glancing back, he noticed a pair of shoes he hadn’t seen in the gloaming. Shoes he’d tripped over like an oaf.

  The shoes belonged to a man sitting at the darkest end of the bench.

  “Sorry. Didn’t see you there.”

  “It’s okay.” The man’s voice was a pleasing baritone with a slight accent.

  Movement in the man’s lap drew his gaze and David saw a small dog with large ears

  staring at Sadie.

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  “Sadie won’t hurt your dog if you want to let him down.” He gestured to where his

  own dog was running in circles.

  “Raoul would like that,” the stranger said quietly, leaning forward to set the little dog on the ground.

  Raoul stared at the man for a moment like he was waiting for a signal.

  “Go play, Raoul.” The stranger flicked a pale hand towards Sadie. One bark then the

  dog raced across the grass to greet Sadie.

  David pointed to the bench. “May I?”

  The man seemed to shrink farther into the shadows, but didn’t protest when David sat.

  “I’m David Browdie, and the clown over there is Sadie.” The man’s moving away had

  given David a hint that the stranger wouldn’t shake his hand, so he didn’t offer it.

  “I’m Eric Sandel and that is Raoul.”

  Good, Eric might give off a vibe of not wanting to be touched, but he didn’t seem to

  mind talking.

  “What kind of breed is Raoul? I’ve never seen one like him.”

  “He’s a Papillon.” A hint of affection crept into Eric’s voice.

  “Papillon?”

  “It’s French for butterfly. The breed was named for their ears.”

  David studied the white and black dog in the low light of approaching night. “I can see

  it. His ears look sort of like butterfly wings.” He shot Eric a glance. “Are you from France?”

  “I moved here from France when I was younger,” Eric admitted.

  “Thought so. I’ve been trying to place the accent.”

  “It isn’t as strong as it used to be. I can’t seem to get rid of it all.” Eric chuckled softly, but David felt it drift on the breeze, teasing his ear then shooting straight to his hardening cock.

  Whoa, man, you have a date with your hand tonight if you’re getting turned on by some man’s laugh.

  Checking his watch, he realised he had to go. He stood before whistling for Sadie.

  “I have to get going. It was nice meeting you, Eric. Maybe we’ll run into each other

  again.”

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  Sadie trotted over and sat obediently, letting David snap the leash on her collar. He

  waved a hand towards Eric’s silhouette as David jogged off with Sadie in tow.

  Eric watched David run off. “Goodbye,” he whispered.

  Raoul whined at his feet. He leant forward and picked the dog up. His pet stared at him

  until he gave Raoul a treat.

  “You’
ve seemed to have made a friend. Are you glad I didn’t leave when I saw him

  entering the park?” Eric brushed a hand over the dog’s back. “Something about David

  Browdie intrigues me.”

  Raoul barked and he laughed.

  “Silly, I know. I’ve spent five minutes talking to him and naturally that gives me insight into his character. Let’s go home.”

  He hooked a leash on Raoul’s collar and set the little dog down. It felt good to get out of his house once in a while, it loosened his stiff body, but the cool night air tended to make his muscles tighten.

  Heading in the opposite direction from David, Eric thought about the designs he

  needed to work on that night and hoped he’d be able to complete the orchestra pit for the Opera House. The aches and pains already radiating through his body and skin warned him

  it wasn’t going to be a peaceful night.

  Before he left the park, he shot a look over to where David had entered. Maybe he’d

  come back to the park tomorrow night—for Raoul, of course—exercise was good for the little dog.

  * * * *

  A shadowy figure slipped from doorway to doorway, following Eric from the park to a

  small Victorian-style house a street away. He was careful to not let that little pain-in-the-ass dog his old friend walked see him, or catch scent of him.

  Eric looked so different from the last time he had seen him. He chuckled softly to

  himself—he had been the cause of the change. Pride swelled in his chest. He’d turned a

  good-looking man into a masterpiece forged in flames.

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  He waited until Eric had entered the house and had shut the door before he moved

  away, continuing down the street past Eric’s home. The man who had talked to Eric

  intrigued and worried him. Eric was his. He’d worked hard to ensure that Eric would turn to him. It hadn’t worked last time, but he had the opportunity to solidify their relationship this time and he would do it.

  Sharing didn’t come easy to him. He’d tried to let Eric have more friends, but when Eric

  had started seeing that accountant, he’d lost all rational thought. Jealousy and anger over Eric’s betrayal had consumed him. Breaking them up was the hardest thing he’d ever

  accomplished, but he’d done it.

  He climbed in his car and headed to his building. As he stepped into his apartment, he

  glanced around. Things were ready. After turning his computer on, he hooked his camera to it and started to download the pictures he’d taken earlier. Minutes later he printed them out.

  One by one he taped them to the walls, adding to the hundreds of images of Eric already

  papering the wall.

  “Eric, my pretty little architect,” he breathed. Someday soon Eric would design their

  home and they would be together forever. He only needed to convince Eric they were meant

  to be together.

  It was time. He grabbed his supplies and left, excitement racing through him. Stuffing

  the bag into the trunk of his car, he felt his hands shake with emotion.

  He’d have to remember to be outside Eric’s house tomorrow morning to see how his

  lover would react to his next present. He would do whatever he had to win Eric back.

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  About the Author

  There is beauty in every kind of love, so why not live a life without boundaries?

  Experiencing everything the world offers fascinates T.A. and writing about the things

  that make each of us unique is how she shares those insights. When not writing, T.A.’s

  watching movies, reading and living life to the fullest.

  Email: chase.ta@gmail.com

  T.A. loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and

  author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.

  Also by T.A. Chase

  Out of Light into Darkness

  From Slavery to Freedom

  The Vanguard

  Two for One

  Where the Devil Dances

  The Four Horsemen: Pestilence

  The Four Horsemen: War

  The Four Horsemen: Famine

  The Four Horsemen: Death

  The Beasor Chronicles: Gypsies

  The Beasor Chronicles: Tramps

  Home: No Going Home

  Home: Home of His Own

  Home: Wishing for a Home

  Unconventional at Best: Ninja Cupcakes

  With Carol Lynne

  The Haunting of St. Xavier

  Dracul’s Revenge: Dracul’s Blood

  Dracul’s Revenge: Anarchy in Blood

  Total-E-Bound Publishing

  www.total-e-bound.com

  Take a look at our exciting range of literagasmic™

  erotic romance titles and discover pure quality

  at Total-E-Bound.

  Document Outline

  Also by T.A. Chase

  Out of Light into Darkness

  From Slavery to Freedom

  The Vanguard

  Two for One

  Where the Devil Dances

  The Four Horsemen: Pestilence

  The Four Horsemen: War

  The Four Horsemen: Famine

  The Four Horsemen: Death

  The Beasor Chronicles: Gypsies

  The Beasor Chronicles: Tramps

  Home: No Going Home

  Home: Home of His Own

  Home: Wishing for a Home

  Unconventional at Best: Ninja Cupcakes

  With Carol Lynne

  The Haunting of St. Xavier

  Dracul’s Revenge: Dracul’s Blood

  Dracul’s Revenge: Anarchy in Blood

 

 

 


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