Semper Fidelis by Morticia Knight Kendall McKenna Sara York LE Franks Devon Rhodes T.A. Chase S.A. McAuley Page A
Tags: Erotic Romance Fiction
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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.
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
“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.
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
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