Love's Return

By Trina Lane

Will love get a second chance or is history destined to repeat itself?

Critical care pediatrician Dean Whitten spends his days working with pint-sized people who hold the power to bring him great joy or, when the situation takes a turn for the worst, break his heart. He finds himself having a rare day off and he really wants to make the best of it. However, it happens to be Valentine's Day and Dean hasn't had anyone special in his life for a very long time—fifteen years to be exact. Dean is resilient, though, and is determined to make the best of the day alone. Cupid, however, decides to give Dean a little surprise when his past comes back in a big way.

Just out of the Marine Corps, Eric Sparks is starting over in life. When he decides to break from preparing for his new job by going to the movies, he isn't expecting to encounter the boy—now a grown man—who stole his heart as a teenager.

Fifteen years ago, Eric left the country with his military family, ending his and Dean's budding relationship. The two quickly discover that their dormant feelings are erupting again, especially once they're back in each other's arms. But Dean is settled in his life and Eric is scheduled to move across country in a matter of days. Will love and life give them a second chance?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Jan 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781784303778

Trina Lane

If you look up the word conundrum in the dictionary, there should be Trina’s photo next to the description. Her multifaceted personality has left her friends scratching their heads in wonder. A scientist with a passion for history, music and photography she loves to travel and experience new places but is terminally shy around people she doesn’t know. Trina has been devouring romance novels since her tender teenage years. In 2007 she finally took the initiative to write down one of stories that had been rattling around her head for years. Her choices in reading and writing material are as diverse as her iTunes library, which contains music from Mozart to Metallica. Her one concession is all stories must have a happily ever after ending. Did we mention she’s incurably romantic?

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A Totally Bound Publication

Love’s Return

ISBN # 978-1-78430-377-8

©Copyright Trina Lane 2014

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright December 2014

Edited by Faith Bicknell-Brown

Totally 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, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized 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 2014 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Sizzling and a Sexometer of 3.

LOVE’S RETURN

Trina Lane

Will love get a second chance or is history destined to repeat itself?

Critical care pediatrician Dean Whitten spends his days working with pint-sized people who hold the power to bring him great joy or, when the situation takes a turn for the worst, break his heart. He finds himself having a rare day off and he really wants to make the best of it. However, it happens to be Valentine’s Day and Dean hasn’t had anyone special in his life for a very long time—fifteen years to be exact. Dean is resilient, though, and is determined to make the best of the day alone. Cupid, however, decides to give Dean a little surprise when his past comes back in a big way.

Just out of the Marine Corps, Eric Sparks is starting over in life. When he decides to break from preparing for his new job by going to the movies, he isn’t expecting to encounter the boy—now a grown man—who stole his heart as a teenager.

Fifteen years ago, Eric left the country with his military family, ending his and Dean’s budding relationship. The two quickly discover that their dormant feelings are erupting again, especially once they’re back in each other’s arms. But Dean is settled in his life and Eric is scheduled to move across country in a matter of days. Will love and life give them a second chance?

Dedication

For my fans who continue to support and challenge me to write better stories.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

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

Diet Coke: Coca Cola Company

The Wolfman: Universal Studios, LLC

Fatal Attraction: Paramount Pictures

Lonestar: LSF5 Cactus, LLC

Michelob Ultra: Anheuser-Busch, Inc.

The Monkees: Monkee’s Franchising, LLC

The Love Boat: Aaron Spelling Productions, Inc.

Love Me Tender: Elvis Presley Music

BlackBerry: BlackBerry Limited

Frisbee: Wham-O Holding, Ltd.

Skype: Microsoft Corporation

Barney’s: Barney’s Inc.

Legion: Sony Pictures Digital Productions, Inc.

Frankenstein: Mary Shelley

Chapter One

The Texas summer sun beat down on his bare skin, deepening the tan on Dean Whitten’s body. It was days like this he was thankful for cool pools, cold lemonade and best friends to share them with. Beside him, Eric lay in a blue and green striped lounge chair, his golden body so much bigger and harder than Dean’s slight frame. A sheen of sweat highlighted ridges of muscle rippling down Eric’s stomach, tempting Dean to touch him. What would Eric’s skin feel like? Was it soft like his, or did all those glorious muscles make it hard? How would it feel to dig his fingertips into the resilient flesh, or taste the salty, damp skin? Eric’s nipples were hard, and Dean longed to suck them between his lips. Sometimes he played with his nubs in the darkness of his bedroom. The pinch of his fingers caused flares of heat to shoot straight to his cock.

Speaking of cock, his was waking up, and Dean knew his swim trunks couldn’t hide an erection. He jumped off the lounger and into the pool. The cool water soothed his fevered skin and wayward anatomy. As he shook the water from his head, a giant wave covered him, sending Dean tumbling beneath the surface. Eric’s strong hands gripped Dean’s arms, hauling him back to the surface. His chest collided with Eric’s and Dean savored the feel of slick skin rubbing against him. God, what he wouldn’t give to kiss those lips only inches away. His breath caught as Eric’s blue-green eyes darkened and his pupils dilated. Dean panted in excitement, his lips tingling, and he clutched Eric’s wide shoulders. Their heads moved a fraction closer, and—

Dean’s eyes shot open. Damn it! Why did he always wake up just before the good part of his dreams? He rolled to the side and blinked as the blue numbers on his clock mocked him. He squinted at the rays of early morning sunshine slanting through his bedroom window. His internal alarm clock refused to recognize that it was his day off and a Sunday to boot. After years of early morning rounds and late night on-call duty, it was difficult for him to maintain normal sleep patterns. Usually this didn’t bother him that much—after all, it wasn’t like he had a regular bed partner to disturb when his phone signaled an emergency at the hospital—but it would be nice to sleep in when his schedule allowed for it. Dean reluctantly rolled out of bed, knowing he wouldn’t get any more sleep. He stumbled down the short hallway leading to the kitchen and jumped back when his bare feet touched the cold tile.

Socks. He needed socks. He turned about-face and slid the folding door that hid his washer and dryer. When he opened the dryer, he frowned, scratching his head for a second, his sleep-addled brain confused. He could have sworn he’d done a load of laundry the other day. Lifting the lid of the washing machine, he cursed as he saw the bedraggled remains of his missing clean clothes. Taking a tentative sniff, he determined that since the fabric had sat in the machine for a day it smelled a little musty. It was probably best to run the load again, so he added some soap and reset the cycle.

Retreating to his bedroom, he discovered that his dresser drawers were rather bare, since his wardrobe mainly consisted of scrubs, but he managed to find an old Baylor University sweatshirt that had seen better days. He dug around for a pair of socks, smiling when the only ones in the drawer were orange and black striped with white ghosts and googly eyeballs. A patient had given them to him last Halloween. He tugged them on then turned to walk out of his