Chase the Storm (17 page)
Authors: V.m Waitt
near nine when the rodeo ended for the night, some of the riders moving on to the events the next night. Chase and I walked through more of the fair, but eventually headed to the exit and his truck. On our way back to the inn, we stopped for dinner, enjoyinghomemade barbeque ribs and potatoes. A warm feeling filled me as Chase sat across from me, smiling and teasing with a glint in his eyes. The sadness from earlier was gone, and I was relieved to see it replaced with a relaxation he didn’t enjoyoftenenough.
He parked in front of the inn, and we got our bags out of the bed of the truck. It was as quaint inside as out, complete with fireplace and chairs. While it was elegant, it wasn’t overstated. Chase gave the girl behind the counter a tip of his hat, and I followed him up the stairs and down a short carpeted hall. At the end, he stopped and used a key to open the door. The room was large, with a four-poster bed, expensive linens, and fluffy pillows. On one wall were French doors that led to a balcony, while the other wall offered two tall windows with a fireplace in between. In the corner were two plush chairs and a table. Adoor to our left led to a tinybathroombigenoughfor a sink, toilet, and shower stall.
Spellbound, I walked toward him, gasping when his fingers hooked throughmybelt loops and he yanked me to him. His mouthcaught mine in a scorching kiss, his tongue working between my parted lips as he wrapped an arm around my waist. I began to undo his shirt while our tongues met again and again. Our cocks rubbed together, seeking what frictionthe thick jeans allowed.
For as longas I lived, I would never get used to the feelingofkissing him, the way my heart raced and body tingled. As soon as his shirt was open, I pushed it off his shoulders, and he released me long enough to let it fall. While in his embrace, he backed us up to the bed and laid me on it. Standing between my parted legs, he reached down and popped the button of my jeans and lowered the zipper. My eyes never left him as he bent over and grabbed my jeans and briefs, pulling themboth down at the same time. When his progress was stopped by my boots, he kneeled and cupped my foot with his hands, sliding the boots off with some force and dropping them. The sound sent a shiver of anticipation up my spine, and he pulled mypants offthe rest ofthe way.
Still kneeling, he placed a kiss on the side of my thigh, urging my knees farther apart with his hands before pulling me forward so my ass was onthe edge ofthe bed. Proppingmyselfup onmyelbows, I watched as he buried his face in my crotch, nuzzling my sac with his nose before I felt the wet of his tongue flicking the loose skin. He licked the soft skin behind my balls, and I shook when I realized where he was heading. As many places on our bodies as we’d explored, he’d never touched me like that.
“Chase, wait….” I began, and then stopped when he looked up at me, reassuringme withone glance he was exactlywhere he wanted to be, doingwhat he wanted to do.
By the time his tongue flicked over my entrance for the first time, I was trembling, the vibrations surging through me. Dropping back onto the bed, I used what little leverage I had to grind against his face, coaxing his tongue to where I wanted to experience it most. He teased me with maddening circles before finally penetrating my hole with the tip of his tongue.
Clenching my eyes, I didn’t realize I was squirming until his large hands spanned my hips, keeping them still as he continued to probe me with his tongue. Fisting the blanket under me, I was lost in the new sensation and the raw intimacy of the act. Just when I thought I couldn’t feel any closer to him, he did something that made me incredibly aroused and more in love with himat the same time. Every nerve in my body was hyperaware of what he was doing. Precome leaked from my cock, dripping onto my abs, and a thin sheen of moisture formed on my body. Unable to hold off any longer, I massaged my cock in time with his probing tongue. Just as I teetered on the edge he’d placed me on, ready to fallinto bliss, he lifted his head and brought me back down.
“Please,”I begged, stillstrokingmylengthas I opened myeyes. “Please what?”
“Take me, fuck me,” I stammered. The fire of my orgasm had already been ignited. It wasn’t going to take much before the inferno roared throughme.
Standing up, he toed off his boots and unbuttoned and unzipped his pants, but before he took themoff, he crawled onto the bed between my spread legs. Releasing myself, I moved my hand to his lower back, running up the taut muscles before weaving into his hair and pulling himto me for a kiss. There was no mistaking the flavor he shared with me, and while I thought it would repulse me, how primal it was only turned me on more. I hissed when he lowered his jean-clad hips to my naked ones, rubbingthe roughmaterialover mysensitive dick. I loved the feelingofhis weight on me as he let me work myself against himwith shallow bucks of myhips. Layingonme, he broke the kiss and grazed his lips alongmyjaw to myearlobe, whichhe sucked before continuingdownmyneck.
I wasn’t sure he knew he’d let it slip until he raised his head and looked down at me. It was then that I realized my hand had stopped moving along his back. Fingering the hair off my temple, he gazed at me witha new emotioninhis eyes.
“W—what did youcallme?”I stuttered.
“Angel,”he repeated, his mouthdescendingonto mine again.
The warmth that resided in me in his presence boiled to a white flame, and I melted beneath him. My chest ached as my heart swelled against my ribcage, but the motion of his hips never ceased. My nails dug into his flesh as my breathing became heavy and labored. I wanted to tell himhow good it felt, how fucking amazing it was to feel himtouch me, to have him play and work my body the way only he knew how, but all I could manage was a steadystreamofobscenities.
“I want to watch you ride me, Elijah,” he pleaded roughly before swiftly repositioning us so I was lying on top of him. My heart skipped a beat at his request; it was a position we’d never done before. I’d lain on top of him while we kissed, but never had I sat on him exposed and vulnerable.
Untangling myself from him, I stood, his gaze darting between my cock and my face as I slid his jeans down his legs before hooking my thumbs into his underwear and exposing his raging erection. Chase got the lube, popping the cap and slathering it along his dick, pulling the foreskin with each drag of his fist. He beckoned me with his eyes, and I straddled him, capturinghis cock under me. Pullingme up, he eased his hand behind myballs, teasingmyhole before insertingtwo fingers. Chase knew how to manipulate my body, how to bring me to the brink of orgasm and keep me there until he was ready to push me over. With each flick of his fingers, I got more lost in himuntil I was pulling his hand away, signaling I was readyfor him.
With my hands on his chest, I raised my hips and he gripped his cock. Slowly, tentatively, I impaled myself on him, watching in awe the uninhibited emotions cross his face, the wayhis eyes darkened and his lips parted as his tongue moved over them. At first my body rejected the intrusion, but after a few breaths, I lowered myself past the tight muscle until I was sitting fully on him. Unsure what to do next, I remained motionless, biting my lip. His hands grasped my hips lightly, circling them, directingmymovements untilI was wantonlyundulatingonhim.
His eyes immediately dropped from mine to my cock as it bounced with each rock of my hips. Every inch of himwas buried inside me, filling me. Hesitantly I gripped my erection. I’d masturbated during sex with him before, but never so openly for him. Sucking his bottom lip between his teeth, he watched my hand moving up and down my dick. His jaw clenched, and I knew he was trying to hold himself back from unraveling too soon. Realizing I was in control of his pleasure, my embarrassment gradually gave way to a growing confidence. Reclining, I changed the angle and placed a hand onhis calf.
My head fell forward, my chin on my chest as I watched the bliss onlyI gave himwashover his face. While I knew he stillbattled memories and mourned Owen, I cleared the stormin his eyes, even if only for a few hours. I might have doubted who was in his heart, but I didn’t doubt where his needs lay.
Chase wanted me.
That thought alone was enough to send the rush of pleasure hurtling through my body at a blinding pace. “Coming, baby,” I cried, letting my endearment for himescape easily.
Cryingout his name, mycock splashed come onto his abs, collecting in the divots ofhis muscles. Under the strength ofthe climax, I tensed until it subsided to gentle sparks. I tried to keep myeyes opened to watchhim, but theyshut untilmycock was convulsingwithcompleteness.
“So fucking hot. I love watching you come. I love knowing it’s me makingyoulook like that,”Chase said huskily.
He pulled me downto him, his lips seizingmine. Movinghis hands to my hips, he lifted me up, gliding his cock out of me before slipping inside again. We kissed while he raised and lowered me, his need growing each time. Mycome pooled onhis bodywhile our tongues swirled against each other and tiny twinges rocked through me. Bruising fingers dug into me as his hands stilled me and he fully buried his cock in me as he came undone. It was a feeling that encompassed every part of me. He’d touched every fiber of my body to my heart and soulwith the simple act of giving himself to me in the most carnalof ways. I’d never felt more cherished then when he shared suchanintimate part ofhis essence withme.
Panting for breath, he relaxed and fell limp onto the mattress. I shifted my hips forward, slipping his drained cock from me, but I remained on him, sealed to his chest by sweat and come. Reaching up, he brushed my hair from my face. Soft sounds were exchanged along with lingering, wispy breaths and kisses. He flipped us so I was on my back, and his head landed on my chest with his arm possessively around my middle.
“So fuckingbeautiful,”he whispered adoringly.
I blushed, but no longer denied his words. In fact, after the many times he’d repeated it while we made love, part of me started to believe him.
The room was dimly lit by the glow of the moon, but it was enough to make out the slopes of his body as he lay next to me. We were only five hours fromhis farm, but the distance had apparently been enough for him to shed one of the few barriers left between us. The bed under us wasn’t his, there were no pictures ofa lover a few rooms away, and inthe darkness of a strange room, I felt oddly brave. Brave enough to attempt to tumble another barrier.
“Baby?” I hedged, figuring if he shot that down right away, there would be no need to continue.
“Mmm?”
“Will you tell me about him?” I asked gently, outlining his collarbone with my finger. Lifting his head, and without looking at me, he fell onto his back and sighed. Refusing to give up on him, on us, I followed him, pressing to him. I was hopeful when he didn’t jump out of bed, but hated seeing the lines of hurt reappearing on his face, replacing the ones of ecstasyI’d seenonlyshortlybefore. “I want to know him.”
Chase hadn’t told me anything about Owen, other than he was his partner. The only reason I knew he’d died was because Mike had told me. If it hadn’t been for him, I would have still been expecting Owen to show up anyday.
When his eyes closed and his lips thinned, I remained quiet. If he wanted to tell me, he would, but I wouldn’t push himfurther. However, I would lie next to him, let him know that no matter what tragic memories my question had raised, I wouldn’t leave his side. I was about to give up when he began to speak in a voice so soft I had to hold my breath to hear him.
“I was raised to runthe farmwhenmyparents no longer could. I just never expected it to be so soon. I thought I might see a bit of the country, maybe even go to college, but that wasn’t meant to be. During my senior year of high school, my mom passed away. She’d been sick, but it still hurt to watchher go. I was eighteen, motherless, and anyhopes ofcollege died when she did. There was no way I could leave my father alone. My dad and I worked our asses off every day frommorning until night. While part of me itched to explore outside of Nebraska, I realized the farmwas where I ultimately belonged. The hard part was I knew I was gay. I’d figured it out when I was fourteen or fifteen, but there isn’t exactly a place for a kid inArthur, Nebraska, to explore his sexuality.” He laughed a bit, almost to himself, and beganto runa hand up and downmyback.
“My dad always did the traveling. He went to the auctions and stuff while I manned the farm. But the summer when I was twenty, he wasn’t feeling well and sent me to my first auction by myself. I had strict instructions, but was excited to go because it was my first time away from the farmalone. The auction went okay, I got a few things I was supposed to, but missed out on a few others. I was pretty scared, and my first night there, I was sitting in the stands and this beautiful cowboy sat next to me. He took mybreathaway.
“He was so handsome with his black hair and light eyes, but it was much more than that. He had this… this life or energy around him that drew me to him. Immediately, I had to know everything about him and started a conversation. I knew he was straighthell, he was a cowboybut it didn’t matter, I just wanted to be near him. That first night, we sat together through the entire auction, and when it was over he invited me to dinner. I was scared as hell, afraid I would do something to frighten him off, but I accepted and we went out. I’d never laughed as much as I did with him. He made me feel alive, really alive, for the first time in my life. After dinner, we said good-bye at my truck and he kissed me.” Chase smiled fondly at the memory, his fingers going to his lips as if he was relivingthe moment.
“It was the most amazing feeling I’d ever experienced. We made plans to meet the next day at the auction. I spent every waking second with him, and then that night, he took me to his hotel. ’Course, I’d never been with a man. I’d only fantasized about kissing them. I wasn’t sure about much beyond that. Owen was a few years older and had already beenwithseveralmen. He took care ofme, guided me through everything very patiently. It was the best weekend of my life. The next day, I had to leave to go home. It broke my heart, but he promised we’d stay in touch, and we did.”
Finallyhis eyes opened, moisture brighteningthem, and found mine.
“For a year, we spoke every few days and got together every few months. Even when we were apart, the passion never lessened, it was always there. I told himhe didn’t have to stay faithful, but he did anyway, insisting he wanted to. I was twenty-one when my dad died of cancer. Scariest time of my life. I didn’t know what to do, how to run the farm alone, deal with funeral arrangements, pay the bills, nothing. I called Owen. He was on my doorstep the next day with his bags and his dog and never left myside for sevenincredible years. UntilDenver….”
I wanted to kiss away his pain, but I didn’t want to interfere with the memories he was swimming in. One by one he had lost everyone important to him, suffering more with each death. Listening to his story, hearingthe agonyinhis voice, I knew the reasonhe was able to get out of bed everymorningwas to honor the memoryofhis parents and Owen.
“I always went with him, but that one time I stayed behind. We had a sick horse and didn’t want to risk leaving him with someone else. I didn’t want Owen to go, but he swore he’d only be gone a few days. I don’t know exactly what happened. I never wanted to know the details because the images in my head were bad enough. I just know, for the first time since I’d met him, he didn’t keep his promise. He never came back.”
Asingle drop ofsorrow escaped his eyes, and I swiped it awaywith the pad of my thumb. “I’m sorry.” I bit my bottom lip. “I’m glad you didn’t go withhim.”
“I wasn’t. For wellover a year, I lay in bed every night praying God would take me, let me spend eternity with Owen, just how we’d planned. We had married about a year after he moved in, out on the back field. Just a few guests and Dodger.” He paused, a sad smile on his face. “He even took my family’s name. He said his brothers could carry on his name, but I’man only child and the last McKenzie, and Owen wanted to share the name withme. It was the most romantic gesture.”
“I wish I could have met him,” I admitted when grief ebbed through me.
“Youwould have liked him,”he said simply.
“And Admiral?” I asked quietly. He didn’t seem surprised I had realized the connectionofAdmiraland Owen.
“He bought him as a yearling at the auction where we met. Owen broke him, turned himinto a beautiful mount. Every Sunday, we’d ride to the top ofthe hillonthe southside and watchthe sunset. Sometimes we’d even pack a picnic and spend the night out there. It was a simple life,” he finished sadly.
In the silence, my fingers moved along his forearm from wrist to elbow and back again, enjoying the quivering of his skin regardless of where his heart was. Just whenI thought he was done, he spoke again.
Swallowing, I gnawed on my lower lip and waited, but he only mumbled under his breath.
“What?”I encouraged, leaningcloser.
His eyes drifted to mine, and, with fragileness in them, he exposed his thoughts. “Sometimes I wonder ifmaybe he sent youto me.”
I didn’t know how to respond, so I kissed his chest and held him closer. He returned my embrace, his lips finding my hair. He stopped talking, and even though I had a lot ofquestions, I didn’t ask any ofthem. Instead, I laid my head on his chest as he so often did with me and listened to the heartbeat that could have beenstopped far too soonifhe’d made the trip withOwen.
