Chase the Storm Read Online Free PDF Page A

lit, the roomoffered a serene quality, one I could tell held fond memories.
    The shelves laden with books attracted me like a moth to the flame. All but one of my books was in my footlocker, which Mike was bringing bythe next day. I fingered the spines ofthe classic novels scattered inwith the books on farming and animal care. Moving from the bookcase to the fireplace, I smiled when I saw a framed picture of Chase. He looked younger, his bright eyes and a wide smile taking years off his age, but there was something else about him in the picture. His arm was around another man.
    Not ina friendly, casualway, but inanintimate, lovingway. The man next to himwas even taller than Chase and solidly built in a form-fitting Tshirt. His head was turned away from the photographer, who had captured him mid laugh. His eyes were on Chase, and they held a spark I’d never seeninanother man’s eyes before, but hoped to one day.
“Owen,”a deep voice grufflysaid withreverence behind me. “My… partner.”
     
I could tell by the tone of his voice he wasn’t referring to a business partner.
     
Chase was gay .
    I was like him. Not that I’d never met another gay man, but he was the first one I’d spoken more than a few words to. My breath rushed from me, and I swallowed around the lump that had suddenly formed in mythroat.
    Without turningaround, I whispered, “You’re gay.”
It wasn’t a question, more ofa statement, a realizationoftruth. “You have a problem with that?” he asked curtly but with a hint of amusement. When I didn’t reply right away, he continued. “I think you know where the door is. I’ll have Mike pick you up at the end of the driveway. Better get walking.”
“No!”
    I spun around to face him. I couldn’t leave. I had just gotten there, I was just starting this new life, and I didn’t want to go back. And for once, eventhoughhe was a bastard and didn’t seemto want me there, I felt like it was where I was supposed to be.
    “I don’t have a problemwithit. It’s not that at all.”I faltered. “Thenwhat is it?”he asked, growingmore annoyed.
“I was just surprised.”
“And whyis that? Farmers can’t be gay?”he teased.
    It wasn’t playful. It was more like a cat toying with its prey, batting it around untilit finally gave up. Since I had left the kitchen, he’d washed up and put on a plaid shirt that was unbuttoned about halfway. Snared by the depths of his eyes, I gawked at him, my mouth moving to speak several times before I finally said the words that had been caged inside me since the dayI’d realized it.
    “I’mgaytoo.”
A light flared inhis eyes, and theywidened slightly. “Is that so?” Unable to speak now that I’d revealed mytrue self, I nodded.
    “Is that why you’re out here? To, how do they say it, find yourself?” I shrugged and he shook his head. “You won’t find yourself out here, kid. There’s just a bunch of wheat and horseshit, and neither of those hold the secrets to the universe. Trust me.”
    “I’mona road trip,”I finallyanswered.
“Where from?”
“Boston,”I said, tellinghimthe same lie as I had told Mike.
“You’re accent doesn’t sound like Boston.” Before I could deny or explain, he spoke again. “Dinner is probablydone.”
     
He turned, expecting me to follow, and after a long look at his ass, I did just that.
    We sat at the island and ate the barbeque chickenand potatoes he’d prepared. It was messy, and I stole glances when he licked his fingers or ran his tongue over his lips to lap up the leftover sauce, my cock twitching each time he did it. I kept waiting for Owen to come home, walk into the kitchen and greet his lover, but we finished dinner uninterrupted and with no signs ofanother man. Perhaps he was out oftown.
    “Where are the rest of the animals?” I blurted, trying to make conversation. His brows met inconfusion. “Like cows and pigs.”
“This isn’t a nursery rhyme farm, and I’m not old McDonald.” He