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

Jason had been ready to step in and transform himself into Colby’s security if anyone got too close. Colby had agreed to take pictures with the group, turning on that veteran performer’s charm, masking any tension behind genuine joy at the idea of having helped someone. He even let himself be hugged, after they very politely asked.


He felt like cheering a lot. Because Colby touched him more.


Not dramatically, and not demonstrative in the way Leo was or Jason’s own family would be. But small gestures, more and more of them. Those toes nudging Jason’s thigh the day he’d arrived. A hand catching Jason’s for balance on uneven history-worn steps. The closeness of bodies under a single shared umbrella after Colby forgot his own.


Jason ended up in awe all over again. Every time. Magic.


Chapter 89