An epic motion picture! A gay Napoleonic War love story! Ballrooms and battles at sea! Romantic happy endings on the silver screen! And a film that’ll change everything for its stars ... Jason Mirelli can’t play adrenaline-fueled action heroes forever. He’s getting older, plus the action star parts have grown a little thinner since he came out as bisexual. This role could finally let him be seen as a serious dramatic actor, and he needs it to go well -- for his career, and because he’s fallen in love with the story and the chance to tell it. The first problem? He’ll be playing a ship’s captain ... and he hasn’t exactly mentioned his fear of water. The second problem? His co-star: award-winning, overly talkative, annoyingly adorable -- and openly gay – box office idol Colby Kent. Colby’s always loved the novel this film’s based on, and he leapt at the chance to adapt it, now that he has the money and reputation to make it happen. But scars and secrets from his past make filming a love story difficult ... until Jason takes his hand and wakes up all his buried desires. Jason could be everything Colby’s ever wanted: generous and kind, a fantastic partner on set, not to mention those heroic muscles. But Colby just can’t take that chance ... or can he? As their characters fall in love and fight a war, Colby and Jason find themselves falling, too ... and facing the return of their own past demons. But together they just might win ... and write their own love story.

Seaworthy

Colby jerked his gaze away. Stared at his script page without seeing any words.


Leo Whyte, playing Jason’s trustworthy first lieutenant, stumbled over a tongue-twisting line involving nautical terminology. Everyone laughed. Jason clapped him on the shoulder, a big hand and a companion, getting along.


Of course he was. Jason Mirelli was utterly depressingly adorable. Leo was practically vibrating with camaraderie.


Colby flipped a script page, and flipped it back.


The half-ship sailed majestically through the soundstage. The greenscreen backdrop would turn into an ocean, a Napoleonic War battlefield of flags and currents and cannons, courtesy of special-effects wizardry. Right now it gave them just enough for intense conversations: Jason shouting orders, being obeyed, quietly and tensely consulting with his lieutenant. Jill came over to offer a suggestion about emphasis, tone, emotional nuance. A world at war, and also personal loyalty and devotion.


Chapter 11