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    Sounding the Depths
    Sounding the Depths
    Sounding the Depths
    Ebook90 pages1 hour

    Sounding the Depths

    By Maria-Claire Payne

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    About this ebook

    Can Ethan Gray convince Joshua Bennett, an explosive ordnance expert in the United States Navy, to drop his defences and let love in? Or is this British sailor out of his depth?

    Ethan Gray, former sailor on a nuclear submarine with the Royal Navy, arrives in California to work on a technical paper with a military recruiter, an acquaintance who introduces him to the elusive Josh Bennett.

    An explosive ordnance expert in the United States Navy and veteran of two Iraq tours, just returned from a third year he volunteered to spend in Afghanistan, Josh maintains tight control in his professional and personal lives.

    While Ethan's initial encounters with Josh leave the easy-going, confident British sailor in love for the first time, Josh remains reluctant to ever fall in love again. To win Josh, Ethan must help this man who captured Ethan's heart heal his own and leave his dark past behind him. With some persistent interference from Josh's feisty twin sister Lana—and a specific gay-friendly phone app—can Ethan convince Josh to drop his defences and let love in?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPride Publishing
    Release dateMay 21, 2012
    ISBN9780857159724
    Sounding the Depths

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      Book preview

      Sounding the Depths - Maria-Claire Payne

      A Total-E-Bound Publication

      www.total-e-bound.com

      Sounding the Depths

      ISBN #978-0-85715-972-4

      ©Copyright Maria-Claire Payne 2012

      Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright May 2012

      Edited by Sue Meadows

      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 2012 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 59 pages, additionally there is also a free excerpt at the end of the book containing 7 pages.

      Sounding the Depths

      Maria-Claire Payne

      Can Ethan Gray convince Joshua Bennett, an explosive ordnance expert in the United States Navy, to drop his defences and let love in? Or is this British sailor out of his depth?

      Ethan Gray, former sailor on a nuclear submarine with the Royal Navy, arrives in California to work on a technical paper with a military recruiter, an acquaintance who introduces him to the elusive Josh Bennett.

      An explosive ordnance expert in the United States Navy and veteran of two Iraq tours, just returned from a third year he volunteered to spend in Afghanistan, Josh maintains tight control in his professional and personal lives.

      While Ethan’s initial encounters with Josh leave the easy-going, confident British sailor in love for the first time, Josh remains reluctant to ever fall in love again. To win Josh, Ethan must help this man who captured Ethan’s heart heal his own and leave his dark past behind him. With some persistent interference from Josh’s feisty twin sister Lana—and a specific gay-friendly phone app—can Ethan convince Josh to drop his defences and let love in?

      Dedication

      To everyone fortunate enough to find a lover accepting

      that essential dark within each of us—

      and to those still searching:

      Sailor, soldier, civilian… One way or another, we’re all the walking wounded, mate.

      Trademarks Acknowledgement

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

      Harley Davidson: Harley Davidson Company

      Spandex: American Spandex, Inc, USA

      Velcro: Velcro

      Chapter One

      Josh cut off his engine and waved to the man in the Navy work uniform who stepped out of the recruiting office door at the roar of Josh’s Harley.

      You’re—what, three, maybe four—weeks out and now you’re back here already? Looking to sign up again? Maybe after my job? Todd laughed.

      Lifting his helmet and resting it on one knee, Josh reached up to shake Todd’s outstretched hand.

      Neither, dude. Josh drummed his left fingers on his helmet and ran his right hand through his blond locks after Todd relinquished his grip.

      Meeting Todd’s gaze, Josh gave his old friend the finger as the man arched an eyebrow… Shit, Josh thought, the prick remembers all my frigging bad habits.

      Feels fucking weird to have any hair at all. Josh grimaced and tugged at the short tendrils that possessed just enough length to hint at the riot of curls to come.

      Todd laughed again. Well, you still have a ways to go before the men at Chubby’s start mistaking you for your sister any time soon.

      Josh summoned a smile at the mention of Lana and tried to stop a furrow he felt appearing between his brows when he thought about his pain-in-the-ass sibling—but to no avail. He scowled when Todd raised that infernal eyebrow yet one more time.

      "Is there anything I can keep private from you fucking people? Josh leaned over, still straddling his bike, and punched Todd in the arm. Prick."

      Yeah, well, this is why I’ve been kicking your ass at poker since seventh grade, friend, Todd deadpanned. You and your tells… His voice trailed off, his tone turning sombre now. "So…how does the home front go since you’ve been back?"

      Josh sighed, running his fingers through his hair again. Okay, dude. Seeing the sceptical look on Todd’s face, Josh grinned. Really.

      Todd nodded. Well, get your ass in here then. There’re a couple of cherries wanting to know all about the bomb squad and I’m tied up with a British submariner.

      Josh grinned again. "So you want me to do your real job while you work on that technical paper, huh."

      You got anything more productive to do? Todd challenged.

      Josh felt that shadow crossing his face again. Just a trip to the cemetery. He hit the kickstand on his bike, grateful for the respite from the lonely task he dreaded. Nothing that can’t wait.

      * * * *

      Stepping into the recruiting office, the spicy scent of expensive men’s cologne filled Josh’s nostrils. He shot a cursory glance at the shaved head of Todd’s visitor, his bulk dwarfing the chair, seated with his back towards Josh.

      Tall one. Josh hesitated, inhaling again—and then the man stood up and turned. Josh found his hand engulfed in the stranger’s broad black palm.

      Josh pulled his own hand back, his gesture abrupt, the electricity between him and this other man instantaneous.

      And unwelcome. Still… Josh lifted his gaze and stared into the taller man’s eyes. For the first time in…fuck, forever…a man was looking at him—seemed to look through him and his face—to his core. His empty, hollow centre… The shock of this hulk of a stranger’s eyes filling with empathy and understanding overwhelmed him. This made no sense and left him naked and vulnerable and more

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