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

“Feel free to keep going,” Jill called up, “no one said cut, so this’s gonna look great on the gag reel, guys!” and the laughter kicked off again.


Jason, shaking water out of his hair, waiting for Cherry to come up and fix his appearance for a second take, gazed at Colby. Colby was still smiling, but the smile was softer, smaller, back to being complicated. Those blue eyes met Jason’s, though. And they said, without words: of course you did it, I knew you could, you’re marvelous, congratulations.


That same shiver rocketed down Jason’s spine. Triumph. Elation. Reclamation. Together.


He might’ve been able to do it without Colby’s help. But he hadn’t had to.


Dripping, Jason mouthed, thank you. Colby’s cheeks went a little pink, and he shook his head, and then glanced away and found a stretchy purple elastic tie and became very occupied with gathering Will’s tumbled hair into a messy bun.


They reset. They did it again. Even better the second time. Smoother, clearer, easier. Flowing.


Chapter 52