Authors: Morticia Knight Kendall McKenna Sara York LE Franks Devon Rhodes T.A. Chase S.A. McAuley
Tags: #Erotic Romance Fiction
“Pops, I was going to tell you before your party this summer. I wanted Dean to come with me, but he said I had to tell you guys first because he didn’t want to spring it on you, especially on your big day.”
Dean took Phil’s hand in his, and squeezed it to let Phil know he was there to support him. Of course, Dean wanted to run out of the room and hide until the discussion was over. But that was the coward’s way out, and while Dean was a lot of things, he wasn’t a coward. One couldn’t be when one jumped from helicopters into raging waters and saved people. Not that he wasn’t frightened from time to time to do his job.
“What were you going to tell us?” Phil’s mother stared at him steadily, and it was obvious that they were going to force Phil to say it.
Phil took a deep breath as he met Dean’s eyes. Dean hoped his smile encouraged his lover to say it.
“Not sure why you need me to say it when you both obviously know.” Phil lifted Dean’s hand to his mouth, brushing a kiss over Dean’s knuckles. “I’m gay and Dean is my boyfriend. Actually, he’s my partner, since we’ve been together for two years.”
“Good man,” Cap muttered.
Dean was surprised when Phil’s mother clapped her hands before she launched herself into his arms. After hugging him tight, she eased back to place a kiss on his cheek.
“I’m so happy to meet you, Dean. Phil always seemed so happy when he came back from his trips, and I know he talks to you every night.” She patted Phil’s cheek. “Maybe you should consider getting your own place now, since Dean will be coming to Dutch to visit.”
Phil’s chuckle sounded tired, and Dean could see that his lover’s energy was beginning to wane.
“I see what all this is about. You and Pops want the house to yourselves. Meeting Dean gives you the opportunity to push me out of the nest.”
“Well, Phil, you are twenty-eight. Don’t you think you should have your own place by now?” Cap pointed out.
“Why aren’t you upset?” Dean couldn’t help breaking in and asking. Their reactions surprised him by the way they seemed so unconcerned about Phil’s being gay.
Cap glanced over at him. “Why would we be upset about something Phil can’t help?”
“We’ve known Phil was gay since he was about eighteen. At first I always wondered why he never brought any girls home, then his cousin spotted him out with a boyfriend in Fairbanks, and told us.”
Phil winced. “That had to be a shock.”
Shaking his head, Cap said, “No. Like Kayla said, we’d known before that you were gay. We were just waiting for you to find a reason to tell us, and it appears you finally have.”
Dean couldn’t believe how calm they were about Phil’s announcement. Yet he was thrilled that Phil wouldn’t be cut off from his family like he had been. Everyone needed a family to support them, so Dean had created his own, but if Cap and Kayla were willing, maybe he could adopt them as his parents.
Phil yawned, and the Rhodeses immediately got ready to leave.
“We’ll let you rest, Phil. The doctors said you’ll be able to go home tomorrow. They just wanted to keep you overnight to make sure there aren’t any complications from being in the water for that long.” Cap touched Phil’s shoulder before shaking Dean’s hand again. “I’m betting we’ll be seeing you tomorrow, son.”
“Yes, sir. I got leave to hang out here until Phil is settled at home, then I have to get back to Kodiak.” Dean shrugged. “We have some PJs at Dutch Harbor for training, and they’ll take up the slack if there are any calls while I’m here.”
“You’re a rescue swimmer, right?” Cap seemed impressed.
Dean nodded. “Yes. I’ve been one for eighteen years. Have a few more to go before I retire.”
“Don’t we all?” Cap laughed. “We’ll talk some more tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.”
Phil’s mother hugged him tight before they left. Once they were gone, Dean sat on the edge of the bed before leaning down to press a hard kiss to Phil’s lips. He slid his hand around the back of Phil’s head to cup him and hold him still while he deepened the kiss.
Dean poured all of his love and fear into the embrace, hoping Phil could feel how much Dean cared for him. Phil let go of him, then fisted his hand in Dean’s sweater, keeping him from moving away. It wasn’t like Dean was going to break their connection any time soon. Keeping Phil in his arms and his life was the most important thing for him.
Finally, they needed to get air, so Dean eased a few inches away, letting Phil’s pants wash over his mouth. He rested their foreheads together, and he closed his eyes.
“I was so afraid when I heard that the Angela Kayla had capsized. I froze for a moment because I couldn’t help thinking about what would I do if you didn’t come back,” he whispered.
“I know, Dean. That’s how I feel every time I hear there’s a search and rescue going on. I’m on edge until I know whether it’s your unit that goes out or not. If it is you, I can’t think of anything else until I get a call from you telling me you’re okay.” Phil licked his lips. “I hate saying this, but I’m tired of not coming home to you. Maybe my parents are right. I need to get my own house.”
“Get a place in Dutch Harbor, and I’ll come live with you.”
Dean grinned as Phil pulled farther away so their gazes could meet.
“Do you mean that?”
He shrugged. “I can see if I can get transferred to the Dutch Harbor station. If it’s approved, then I’ll come move in with you. We’ll just have to deal with the people in town making comments I’m sure.”
“You have assholes in every town, love. We just ignore them.” Phil cupped his face. “I love you more than anything, Dean Jacobson, and we can live our lives in happiness and joy.”
Dean nodded, letting Phil wipe a tear off his cheek. “Before I met you, I thought I was fine living on my own with my friends, but then I fell in love and I learned how alone I was. I don’t want to be alone anymore, Phil. I want us to be together in our own house. I want to come home to you after working, and I want you to know that I’ll be waiting when you get in from the sea.”
They kissed again, and Dean carefully wrapped his arm around Phil, bringing him closer. In their embrace, Dean found the promises they’d made each other and the will to always be ready to keep their relationship strong.
About the Author
There is beauty in every kind of love, so why not live a life without boundaries? Experiencing everything the world offers fascinates T.A. and writing about the things that make each of us unique is how she shares those insights. When not writing, T.A.’s watching movies, reading and living life to the fullest.
Email:
[email protected]
T.A. loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at
http://www.totallybound.com
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Also by T.A. Chase
The Beasor Chronicles: Gypsies
Every Shattered Dream: Part One
Every Shattered Dream: Part Two
Every Shattered Dream: Part Three
Every Shattered Dream: Part Four
Every Shattered Dream: Part Five
Rags to Riches: Remove the Empty Spaces
Rags to Riches: Close the Distance
Rags to Riches: Following His Footsteps
Rags to Riches: Anywhere Tequila Flows
Rags to Riches: Walking in the Rain
Rags to Riches: Barefoot Dancing
Unconventional at Best: Ninja Cupcakes
Unconventional in Atlanta: His Last Client
An Unconventional Chicago: No Bravery
What’s his Passion?: Mountains to Climb
With Devon Rhodes
International Men of Sports: A Sticky Wicket in Bollywood
International Men of Sports: Chasing the King of the Mountains
International Men of Sports: At First Touch
International Men of Sports: Blindsided
International Men of Sports: Burning Up the Ice
International Men of Sports: Serving Love at Carnival
International Men of Sports: An Ace in the Tiebreak
A RING AND A VOW
Devon Rhodes
Dedication
As with Cary and Owen’s first book,
To all current and former servicemen and women. Thank you.
And since I was raised a Navy brat…Fly Navy!
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Skype: Microsoft Corporation
Care Bear: American Greetings Corporation, LLC
iPod: Apple Inc.
The Wizard of Oz
: L. Frank Baum
Dopp kit:
Buxton Acquisition Co., LLC
Chapter One
“I just can’t do this. I…I need my ring back.”
“What?” Cary went breathless with shock as the words hit him like a blow. For a moment, he thought he might throw up.
“My ring.” Owen’s expression was as determined as Cary had ever seen it.
Cary pressed his lips together and swallowed as he processed what was happening. He had always feared that Owen would find their situation too hard—two servicemen in different branches, and soon different countries, for years to come. Cary inhaled deeply then blew out an exhale and nodded. He knew that this had to be almost as hard for Owen as it was for him, no matter how crushed Cary was at the moment. Maybe even more difficult, since Owen wasn’t one to express his feelings.
Owen stoically held his hand out, palm upward.
His heart breaking, Cary fumbled at the ring on his finger. It clung to him as though it was as reluctant to leave him as he was for it to be gone. Though it wasn’t the least bit tight, he couldn’t seem to get a good grip on it. Finally, he managed to pull it down his finger, held it for a moment then forced himself to place it in Owen’s hand.
Cary kept his eyes directed downward. Somehow if he didn’t see this happening, it would be less real. His eyes slid shut and he heard the echoing of the words that had shattered his heart and dreams
—“I just can’t do this…”
“I can’t leave you without doing this the right way…the way I should have done it to begin with.”
Cary’s eyes popped back open. Owen’s voice had come from lower than…
His breath caught at the sight of Owen down on one knee before him, holding the ring in his fingers.
No. No, no, no. It isn’t what you’re thinking. He…must’ve dropped the ring. Yes, and knelt down to pick it up…
He felt the ever-present optimistic side of him shoving that nay-sayer aside as he took in the sincere and worried expression on Owen’s face. Cary automatically reached out to Owen, who took both his hands in one of his, still holding the Naval Academy ring in the other—the ring he’d secretly swapped for his own before they’d parted just after graduation. The ring that Owen had told him to go ahead and keep in a deliberately off-handed way when the impulsive deception had finally been discovered.
Oh my God, this is really happening.
“Cary…” Owen’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed nervously.
Cary wanted to fall to his knees but he couldn’t move—it was like his joints were set in concrete. The harder he tried, the more frustrated he became. Finally able to move one arm, he pulled a hand free from Owen’s to run along his cheek while he encouraged him to continue with his eyes.