Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Pounding Skin
SERIES: Skin Deep, Inc.
AUTHOR: L.A. Witt
NARRATOR: Michael Farraiuolo
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 9 hrs and 36 min
RELEASE DATE: April 30, 2019
BLURB:
Fighter pilot Jon Russell never sleeps with the same man twice. Known for his lack of shame when it comes to hooking up, Jon has no interest in commitment—even friends with benefits sounds like too much work.
Matt Huffman has slept with lots of women. He’s had loads of girlfriends. So why does the hot as hell pilot getting a tattoo as the result of a lost bet stop his breath? And how come he can’t stop thinking about him, even after he’s gone?
When Jon returns to Skin Deep the second time, he doesn’t want another tattoo. He wants to hook up with the gorgeous artist he spent hours agonizingly close to, and Matt wants to explore some curiosity about men. Fulfill the desire he can’t stop fantasizing over. And he wants to do it with Jon.
As their casual hook up becomes more than just skin deep, both Matt and Jon are faced with questions they don’t want to answer. Matt understands he’s bi—but are these feelings he has typical of hooking up with a man? Or is it only Jon that can make his heart pound? If Jon wanted nothing more than a fling, why does he find himself needing not just Matt’s body, but all of him? And can their relationship withstand the hardships that makes Jon avoid them in the first place?
REVIEW:
Note: Technically this is Book 2 in a series, but it works fine as a standalone. It does, however, have some spoilers for Book 1 🙂
Matt Is a tattoo artist at Skin Deep, Inc. He really likes his job, but he’s not making a ton of money. Recently he’s had an eye-opening experience with his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend. He’s always kinda of been attracted to guys, but he’s been teased and bullied from a very early age about being gay, so his default is to DENY DENY DENY!
When Jon makes a bet over a football game and loses, he has to get a tattoo, of whatever his squadron wants, where they want it. Matt helps him out to make it a little less awful than a Green Bay logo on his chest, but still he’s afraid of needles and he really doesn’t want a tattoo anyway. However, he does want the tattoo artist. When he thinks Matt is reciprocating his interest, he asks him out, but Matt reacts with his typical denial. But then he has a change of heart and he admits that he really IS attracted to Jon, but that he hasn’t really ever dated a man. But boooooooy does he want to. And who better to teach him the ropes than a guy who isn’t looking for a relationship. Jon takes his reputation as a manwhore as a badge. Matt thinks this could work out for everybody.
But of course as they start seeing each other, they have a fabulous time. Matt really does want to make up for lost time and try out all the things he’s ever fantasized about. Jon is a more than willing tutor. Things are moving along really well – they don’t fight, they like the same things, they both have their own lives and jobs. Jon begins to invite Matt to some of his outings with his squadron and Matt thinks, what the heck? It’ll be fun.
Matt also decides he has to come clean with his family and friends. His former girlfriend of course is not surprised at all, given the 3-way with her current boyfriend. he also has to face an old roommate as well as his family – his father had been the one leading the charge to boot the “sissy” out of him when he was a kid, but his father has been gone for a few years now. He’s worried about being honest with his family and how they will react, so he asks for Jon’s support.
As things move along and Jon and Matt spend more time together and are enmeshed in each other’s lives more with Jon stopping by the tattoo shop and bringing lunch, Matt going to dinner with Jon and his RIO (his co-pilot basically) and attending Navy squadron functions, the lines become blurred. At least for Matt. He begins to realize that he has taken this casual, friends with benefits deal and it’s become something a lot more. When Jon continues to basically say this is a casual thing, Matt isn’t sure he can continue – because he is falling for Jon big-time. But can he walk away and what will Jon do about it?
I really liked this story. I loved Matt’s backstory. He was truly traumatized by the homophobic bullying that he endured growing up. He learned to bury his true attractions, but at some point, when his inhibitions had been lowered, he’d given in to his desires. Jon helps him see that there is nothing wrong with what he wants and he’s more than willing to show him the way. Jon has worked oh so hard to keep himself unattached. He’s so scared of being hurt, that he can’t see what’s right in front of him. Only when others point out his behavior and it’s Jon’s turn to face HIS denial, that he accepts that he really does have something great with Matt. As usual, Michael Farriauolo does a fantastic job narrating. We get to see some of the guys from Book 1 as well and they are certainly recognizable as well. There are a lot of sexy times in this book, but there are also a lot of moments where we witness the growth of these characters and they move into their own futures.
RATING: 
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