Leaving Home by Chase, A. (life books to read .txt) 📗

he got back to the States.” Chaz reached out, then ran his hand through Peter’s hair. “Sorry I couldn’t help with the horses. I’ll try to be better next time.”

“Did you take anything for the pain?”

Chaz liked the fact that Peter had asked, even though he realised Peter wouldn’t be

happy to hear if he had taken some pills.

“Nah. Do you have a heating pad around here?” He shifted slightly. “Maybe some heat

on it will help get the kinks out.”

Peter surged to his feet. “I know we do. Sometimes Les has really bad headaches and

his back muscles lock up. Heat helps him. You should go take a hot bath as well. Soaking

might work some magic.”

“Sounds like a good idea.” Chaz braced his hands on the arms of the chair before trying

to get up. It didn’t work. “I’m going to need some help standing, Peter.”

Peter didn’t say a word, just simply took Chaz’s hands in his and hauled him up. They

stood inches apart, and Chaz saw a flash of heat in Peter’s eyes. Grinning, Chaz winked.

“Let me loosen up my back, honey, and we can have some fun later on.”

www.total-e-bound.com

LEAVING HOME T.A. Chase 81

“Do you want to share my bed tonight, or should we stay here?” Peter licked his lips,

drawing Chaz’s attention to Peter’s plump bottom one.

Chaz closed the gap between them to kiss Peter. He rested his hands on Peter’s slender

hips, flexing his fingers as Peter took control of their embrace. Chaz hummed with happiness when Peter wrapped his arms around Chaz’s neck before angling his head enough for Chaz

to deepen the kiss.

He sucked on Peter’s tongue, loving how the man tasted. It was a flavour unlike any

other Chaz had sampled before, and he knew he could become addicted to it if he let himself.

Maybe needing someone with the same fierce craving he had for the pills wasn’t so bad. It had to be healthier than drugging himself every day.

After he took a step towards his bed, Chaz’s back seized up and he grunted. Peter eased

away from him, then gestured in the direction of the bathroom.

“I’m going to get the water started for your soak. After that, I’ll go find the heating pad and bring you some aspirin. I know it’s not as strong as your pills, but it will help a little.”

“You do that. You’ll probably be back here before I get my clothes off.” Chaz waggled

his eyebrows. “You can help me get undressed.”

Peter blushed, and Chaz chuckled softly.

“I love that you can still blush. It’s a rare thing these days.”

www.total-e-bound.com

LEAVING HOME T.A. Chase 82

Chapter Eight

Peter was glad Chaz liked him blushing, because he had the feeling he was going to be

doing a lot of it when he was around the man. He dashed into the bathroom to start filling the tub. As he left, he saw Chaz slowly making his way over to the bathroom door. The way Chaz was moving, he might be right that Peter would be back before he even got naked.

Margie had got home while they’d been out riding, so Peter went to her small suite of

rooms. He knocked on her door, waiting patiently for her to answer.

“Yes, Peter. What can I do for you?” she asked, after opening the door.

“Do you remember where Les put the heating pad? Chaz needs it for his back.”

She gave him a narrow-eyed stare. “He didn’t take any medicine for that?”

He shook his head. “No, and I can’t begin to tell you how happy that makes me. I hate

that he’s in pain, but I don’t think dulling the problem with drugs helps.”

“Of course it doesn’t help. All it does is mask the real issue. How does he know he

hasn’t injured himself even worse because he can’t feel anything?” Margie frowned. “I think he put it in the hall closet closest to their room.”

“Thank you. I’m going to grab that, and give him some aspirin.” He started to turn

around, but her hand on his arm stopped him. He looked at her.

“Don’t get your hopes up that he’s off the drugs for good. It doesn’t work that easily.

Lord knows, I wish it did.”

Peter hugged her, then kissed her cheek. “I know, Margie, and I’m going to try to keep

remembering that, so when he does start using again, I won’t be disappointed.”

“You have the right to ask him to stop, especially if he wants to start a serious

relationship with you,” she reminded him.

He turned to walk off, saying over his shoulder, “I don’t know if what we’re doing is

serious or not, Margie. It might just be a little fun.”

She didn’t reply, simply shut the door as he raced away. He gathered all the stuff he

wanted before heading back to Chaz’s room. After dropping the heating pad by the bed, he

took the aspirin and the glass of water he’d brought into the bathroom.

www.total-e-bound.com

LEAVING HOME T.A. Chase 83

Chaz was sitting on the toilet, looking for all the world like he’d been frozen in that

spot. The only things moving were his hands as he opened his fingers, then clenched them

tight.

“Are you all right? Do I need to call the doctor or something?” Peter set the glass on the counter before crouching next to Chaz.

“I’m fine. Just went a little further than I should have. Let me have those meds, then

you can help me into the water. At least I managed to get myself naked, huh?”

As much as Peter wanted to baby Chaz, and do everything for him, Peter knew Chaz

wouldn’t welcome being taken care of. He wasn’t an invalid or a cripple. He was simply

trying to heal up from an injury. Actually, it was several injuries that, individually, would have levelled a lesser man.

“Sure. Here you go.” He handed everything over, then, after Chaz was done, he

returned the glass to the counter. “Let’s get you in the tub.”

It didn’t take that long, even with Peter being as careful as he could. Chaz settled into the steaming water with a sigh, and Peter rolled a towel to