Where the Devil Dances

By T.A. Chase

Falling in love with David isn't the smartest thing for Eric to do, when a madman stalks Eric's every move.

Scars aren't always on the outside. Architect Eric Sandel is living proof. He moves to Morley after surviving a terrible fire in order to rebuild his life and hopes designing the new Opera House will help him bury the past.

Firefighter David Browdie hasn't had time for serious relationships; his 'on call' status tends to leave relationships in the dust. When he meets Eric at the neighborhood dog park, sparks fly and he thinks maybe this time, serious will win after all.

But a demon from Eric's past haunts him. David and Eric must work together to find a way to stop the madman before they all go up in flames.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Apr 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781781842645

T.A. Chase

There is beauty in every kind of love, so why not live a life without boundaries? Experiencing everything the world offers fascinates TA and writing about the things that make each of us unique is how she shares those insights. When not writing, TA's watching movies, reading and living life to the fullest.

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A Total-E-Bound Publication

www.total-e-bound.com

Where the Devil Dances

ISBN # 978-1-78184-264-5

©Copyright T.A. Chase 2013

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright March 2013

Edited by Rebecca Douglas

Total-E-Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2013 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Total-e-burning and a sexometer of 2.

This story contains 79 pages, additionally there is also a free excerpt at the end of the book containing 7 pages.

WHERE THE DEVIL DANCES

T.A. Chase

Falling in love with David isn’t the smartest thing for Eric to do when a madman is stalking Eric’s every move.

Scars aren’t always on the outside. Architect Eric Sandel is living proof. He moves to Morley after surviving a terrible fire in order to rebuild his life, and hopes designing the new Opera House will help him bury the past.

Firefighter David Browdie hasn’t had time for serious relationships—his ‘on call’ status tends to leave romance in the dust. When he meets Eric at the neighbourhood dog park, sparks fly and he thinks maybe this time, serious will win after all.

But a demon from Eric’s past haunts him. David and Eric must work together to find a way to stop the madman before they all go up in flames.

Dedication

To all my readers and my wonderful editor. Without any of you, there would be no story.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

The Food Network: Television Food Network G.P.

Dodge Ram: Chrysler Group LLC

Prologue

The air was so heavy Eric couldn’t breathe. Everywhere he turned, the heat and pain chased him. The fire crackled closer to him and a snap drew his attention upwards. The beam holding the ceiling cracked and shifted even as he watched. If he didn’t move fast, he’d be trapped under the collapsing ceiling.

He ran. The flames dancing through the building disorientated him. He stumbled over a step. Was that the step leading up to the altar or did it lead back down to the foyer of the church? Confused, he searched without seeing a way out.

An orange ember fell on his hand and he cried out as it burnt his flesh. His lungs protested the smoke. It was like breathing in pure fire. Eric’s chest ached and his head spun. He thought about stopping and resting for a second, but there was no place. Fire skipped to an internal beat, encircling him.

More embers showered down on him as something hard slammed into his chest and he went down. The back of his head hit the floor with a jarring thud. A beam was pinning him to the floor. Heat, pressure and pain mixed together as every nerve in his body screamed while the fiery monster consumed all his thoughts and feelings.

The insistent pull of unconsciousness was heady, too much to fight. He saw a large shadow moving at the edge of the smoke—death coming to claim him, he guessed. No longer caring or hoping for escape, he let go.

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.

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.

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