Chance to Be King Read Online Free PDF Page B

must have paid for the meal. He fumbled in his jeans for his wallet, the beer and his tiredness slowing him down.
    Thomas observed this for a few minutes then he drawled, "Not that I mind watching you touch yourself but what are you looking for?"
"Wallet. Gotta pay for dinner," Eric said, starting to worry as he failed to find his wallet.
    "Your wallet's in your jacket pocket, 'Ric, but don't worry about it. Just gives me an excuse to drag you out again."
    Eric finally located his wallet, and in the process the door keys to the cottage, with a sigh of relief. By this time they had reached the SUV. He got in the passenger side and closed the door. "So you're not gonna put out tonight?"
    Looking over his shoulder as he reversed out of the space —as he pointed out, Thomas preferred not to run over anyone, and Eric would have smacked him if the man hadn't been driving— Thomas shook his head. "Call me strange, but I prefer my partners to actually be conscious when I fuck them into the mattress."
    Eric shivered in anticipation and for a moment he regretted just how sleepy he actually was. "'Nother time," he murmured.
"Another time, soon." Thomas agreed.
Chapter 3
    "Go 'way, Tom. Too tired to fuck." Eric reached out an arm to shove Thomas away. He'd been awakened from a deep sleep and was really grumpy about it. The object of his grumpiness licked his ear and woofed loudly. Eric frowned in his sleep; he couldn't remember Thomas barking in their previous encounters. The barking continued, louder and more urgent than before.
    "Not now. Stop licking me. Ow! " The licking turned to biting "Stop fucking biting me, dude." He coughed as the smoke got into his lungs.
Smoke?
    Eric sat up in bed. Millie and Toby leaped at him in their urgency to attract his attention. Thomas wasn't in the room, of course. The room was rapidly filling with smoke. Fuck! The cottage was on fire.
    He coughed again, the action spurring his tired body to actually move. Since he already wore his sweats and t-shirt, he grabbed his sneakers and cell and crawled to the door. It was warm. Not a good idea to go out that way. Fortunately the window of the bedroom opened easily. Lifting both dogs out, Eric climbed out after them and tumbled to the ground, wheezing. He didn't stop to look at the cottage until he was a safe distance away. When he did turn, bright flames were licking through the kitchen and main room.
    Unable to think, and unable to process what a close call he'd just had, Eric dug out his cell and dialed 911.
    * * * *
"Mr. Pow… Pawlacki?"
    Much too tired to correct the fireman standing at his side, Eric nodded wearily, his attention still on the burning carcass of his cottage. Toby and Millie were at his feet, huddling in close; Eric could feel them trembling under his hands.
"Do you own the property?"
     
"No. no…" he coughed, the smoke getting into his lungs.
     
The fireman frowned. "I think the EMTs need to take a look at you."
     
"I'm fine, just very tired." Eric said. "I'll need to contact the managing agents tomorrow I guess." "Do you have anywhere to stay tonight?"
    Eric shook his head. "No, I'm new to the area and I don't know anyone. I'll have to find a hotel. I can't think straight at the moment." He was so damned tired. Eric just wanted to lay his head down and sleep for a month. Maybe this would turn out to be a very bad dream.
"Mr. Pawlowski will be staying with me."
    Turning in surprise, Eric saw Thomas standing behind them. Although he looked like he'd dressed in a hurry, compared to everyone else he looked immaculate. Eric became very conscious of the wreckage of his clothes and the tears running down his face from the smoke.
    "And you are?" inquired the fireman.
"Thomas Clay. I live at the big house."
The fireman nodded; obviously that was enough information for him to go on.
    "I own the cottage." Eric stared at him in shock. In all the time they had spoken Thomas had never once let on that he was Eric's landlord.
    Thomas seemed to