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  Alex scrubbed a hand down his face, a week’s worth of scruff scratching against his palm. “What part of ‘being released’ do you not understand?”

  “The part where you fucking give up. That’s not the Alexander Payne I know.” Trevor stood and held out his hand.

  “What?”

  “Come on. You’re hitting the showers, and then we’re hitting the gym.”

  “I’m a free agent. The league isn’t footing your bills anymore. I’m already a month behind on my lease, I can’t afford—”

  “I can float my fees for you for a week, maybe two, before my boss catches on.”

  “Then what? I’m not gonna make the kind of money I need flipping burgers.”

  Trevor got this grin, this calculating, mischievous, gorgeous grin—and just because Trevor had a great smile, and just because Alex noticed, didn’t mean anything. Right? “I know where you can get a pile of cash fast.”

  “I’m not selling drugs.”

  Trevor rolled his eyes. “You’ve got something even better to sell. Scoot over.”

  Alex would have asked what Trevor had up his sleeve, but a guy like Trevor, with a bodybuilder physique, didn’t wear shirts with sleeves, he wore those low-cut tanks with the thin straps that showed off every muscle he’d been perfecting over the last ten years.

  Though skeptical of Trevor’s idea, Alex scooted over. Trevor pulled the computer onto his lap and typed Black Stallion Studios into the search engine.

  Alex laughed. “You want me to make porn?”

  “Not just any porn. Gay porn.”

  “I’m straight.”

  “So you keep saying. And because of that, they pay a hell of a lot more than what the other studios pay.”

  2

  It was late on a Friday afternoon when the map on Elijah’s phone directed him to turn right into his destination. Ahead, Black Stallion Studios’ wrought iron gate stood open, and he pulled through. The thick bars and exaggerated height made it look like something built to keep a Tyrannosaurus Rex from escaping, not something to keep prying eyes at bay.

  He followed the winding, well-landscaped road to the covered porte-cochere per the instruction on his acceptance email. The building he pulled up to had two wings, both boxy, with hard lines, cantilevered terraces, and miles of glass. Something a Frank Lloyd Wright wanna-be might have designed.

  From the information Black Stallion had given him, one wing belonged to Black Stallion’s owner and director, Niko Stavros. The other one housed the men for the shoots. Elijah didn’t know what to expect for the weekend, hell, he didn’t even know if he wanted to be there. He’d made his rent for the month, barely, but his truck payment was almost due, and he’d spent his last twenty bucks on gas driving to the studios.

  Elijah turned off the engine but didn’t make a move to leave his truck.

  It’s only a jack-off scene. Might as well get paid for something you already do.

  Except he usually didn’t do it in front of cameras and a bunch of strangers.

  How is that different than live modeling?

  He wasn’t sure. But it was. The most unsettling thing? The idea of being filmed until he made himself come, kinda turned him on.

  But…

  Fuck it.

  He could find another way to make a few bucks. He had Demetri’s card. He shoved his keys back into the ignition as knuckles rapped on his driver’s side window.

  Elijah buzzed the window down. The guy at the window put his hands on the sill and leaned down. “Don’t tell me you’re chickening out, dude.”

  Elijah laughed. “You here for a shoot?”

  “Yeah. First time.” The man held out his hand. He had sun-bleached hair that curled up at his collar and one of those long, lean bodies you’d expect from an elite athlete. But then again, this was Southern California, almost every other guy looked like him. Or wanted to. “Alex Payne.”

  “Elijah Maddox.” They shook, the contact lasting a beat too long. Had that been on his end or Alex’s? “It’s my first time, too.”

  Alex popped Elijah’s door and held it open. “Come on, fellow porn virgin. Don’t make me go in there alone.”

  At Elijah’s hesitation, Alex made the bock bock chicken noise, though the grin on his face made Elijah chuckle. “Not sure if it’s a chicken thing as much as a fork-in-the-road kind of thing. You know, the fork where one path has all the twists and turns and pitfalls and the other is nothing but clear skies and a carefree hike.”

  “I hear ya.” Alex leaned an arm on top of the open door. “The only trouble is, you don’t know which path you’re on until it’s too late to turn back.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “And I’m betting neither one of us would be here if we didn’t need the money. Am I right?”

  Fuuuck. Elijah pressed the release button on his seatbelt.

  Alex clapped Elijah on the shoulder as he climbed out. “Good man. Let’s get checked in and see what the fuss is all about.”

  They were led into a long hallway outside Niko Stavros’ office and told to wait there for their turn to sign their contracts. Already, three men were waiting in chairs lining a wall decorated with photographs from porn shoots.

  The photographs ranged the whole spectrum from modern to old-timey. From a vanilla handjob to leather and chains and gang bangs. All tastefully matted, framed, and hung as if they graced the walls of a modern art museum.

  The men introduced themselves around. A tall, muscular black man was the first to stick out his hand. “Darius Williams. They pay me to bring the D,” he said, straight-faced and cocky.

  “You wish,” a short, stocky Hispanic man beside Darius said. “If anyone is paid to bring the D, it’s Hardy.”

  “You two the fresh ass they’ve promised us?” Darius asked.

  “Uhhh... Umm…,” Alex stammered. “I’m here—”

  The Hispanic man jammed his elbow in Darius’ ribs. “Fuck, man, you’re gonna scare the young pups off.”

  Darius burst out laughing, his smile expanded from ear to ear. “I’m messing with you fools.”

  The guy with the elbow said, “I’m Reynaldo Reyes.” Then he hitched a thumb at a guy sitting at the end, his nose in a book. “That’s the old man. Grant Hardy.”

  “Old man, my ass.” The guy never glanced up from his book.

  Grant couldn’t have been more than a few years older than Elijah, early thirties at the most, but Elijah figured youth had its advantages in the porn industry.

  “Don’t mind him,” Darius said, “he’s trying to finish his book. He doesn’t know how Snow White ends.”

  “Spoiler alert,” Reyes said, “no one gets fucked in the ass.”

  “Not unless you read that erotic version,” Darius piped in. “Where those dwarfs—”

  A door opened, and a middle-aged woman with graying hair stuck her head out. “We’re ready for you, Grant.”

  Grant wedged a bookmark between the pages and left the book on the chair. He greeted the woman with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “How’s my favorite person?”

  The woman rolled her eyes. “If you’re trying to get on my good side so I’ll schedule you for the early shoot, you’re wasting your breath. You know we shoot all the easy stuff first.”

  “Damn.”

  Then to the rest of them—but mostly to Reyes and Darius from the looks she gave them—the woman asked, “You boys behaving?”

  Grant snorted. “You’re kidding me, right?”

  “Aw, Ms. Rose, you know there ain’t no fun in that,” Darius gave her a big, cheesy smile.

  Grant disappeared through the door. Before Rose left, she mouthed the words ‘behave,’ though the smile she fought cut the sting.

  “Have a seat, my man.” Reyes picked Grant’s thick tomb of a book off the chair. Reyes read the title out loud, “Guns, Germs, and Steel.” Then dropped it on the floor at his feet.

  “Christ,” Elijah said, “the foundation shuddered.”

  “G
ives a whole new meaning to heavy reading,” Alex deadpanned, finally finding more of his voice.

  Alex had been the one who’d talked Elijah into staying, now the guy looked like he was two seconds away from bolting. Elijah pointed to the vacated chair and to Alex said, “Go ahead.”

  “Thanks,” Alex muttered as he brushed past Elijah.

  At least this way Alex would have to go through him if the guy decided to go AWOL.

  “Hey, man,” Reyes said to Alex, “Don’t I know you from somewhere?”

  The color drained from Alex’s face. “No, man. I’ve got one of those faces, you know?”

  Elijah eyed Alex. Come to think of it...

  “Naw, man.” Darius shook his finger at Alex as if trying to place where he’d seen him before. “Reyes is right. You look familiar. Really familiar.”

  Reyes snapped his fingers. “You ever do straight porn?”

  Alex shook his head.

  “Look at that face, man.” Darius wouldn’t let it drop. “He’s got one of them innocent faces. It’s the innocent looking ones who are the kinkiest. I’ll bet Reyes’ left nut—”

  “Hey,” Reyes hollered in protest. “Bet your own damn nuts.”

  “Fine, you wuss,” Darius said, glancing at the heavens or the gaudy crystal chandelier hanging high above. Were those...? Were those penis-shaped cut crystal pieces hanging from the lights? “I’ll bet my left nut that you’ve done one of those pup play vids—”

  “Definitely not,” Alex said.

  Reyes snapped his fingers again. “You’re a furry. You were in Furry Fitness and The Fast and the Furriest—”

  “What the fuck is a furry?” Alex asked Elijah.

  Elijah shrugged. Who the fuck knew?

  Reyes and Darius lapsed into silence, but the wheels churned in their heads as they tried to place where they knew Alex from.

  The door opened and spat Grant out. He kicked Reyes’ foot off his book and picked it up, his eyes narrowing when he got a good look at Alex. “Hey, man, don’t I know you from somewhere?”

  Alex glanced up at Elijah, his expression screaming help me. But before Elijah could say anything, Darius was called into the office, and Grant left to get his gear from his vehicle.

  Elijah took Darius’ seat, a knot of concern tightening in the pit of his stomach. He could still say no until he signed on the bottom line, until the cameras started to roll. It wasn’t too late.

  It didn’t take long for Darius and Reyes to finish their contracts and for Rose to call out to Elijah and Alex. “Niko is ready for you boys. He wants to talk to you together since you’re both new.”

  Elijah glanced over at Alex. He had the most adorable here-goes-nothing curve to his lips. Adorable? Where the hell had that come from?

  Talk about getting into character for a part.

  And he guessed if there was a time to appreciate his bi side, it was right before shooting a scene with Black Stallion. Being housed with a group of hot, sexy guys certainly wasn’t a drawback to the gig.

  But to say his stomach hadn’t developed a nauseating twist considering what he was about to sign up for, would be a lie.

  What the hell are you doing?

  “Yo, bro,” Alex said from the doorway to Niko’s office. Darius and Reyes had both disappeared, presumably to get their stuff out of their vehicles as well. “You coming?”

  It wasn’t like he had to make a career in front of the camera. He just needed to get out of his financial bind. As soon as he got that monkey off his back, he’d quit. If his mother could see him now... scratch that. She definitely wouldn’t want to see that.

  Elijah stood. “Yeah, I’m coming.”

  In more ways than one.

  Alex didn’t know what he’d expected the office of one of the top gay porn directors and producers to look like. But the enormity of the room shouldn’t have been a surprise considering the sheer size of the building and the popularity that Black Stallion Studios appeared to enjoy online.

  Inside, the decorating theme from the hallway carried through to the office with stylized photos from porn shoots, both vintage and from recent years. On the wall opposite a bookcase, was a glass case displaying a vast collection of sex toys. From dildos and vibrators of every shape and size, to floggers, gags, and leather restraints.

  “Interesting collection, Mr. Stavros.” Alex reached out to shake the director’s hand. “Beats my grandmother’s collection of Hummel figurines.”

  Stavros chuckled, his voice deep, his smile genuine. “Call me Niko.”

  Niko had one of those ageless, olive-skinned, Mediterranean looks. Not the typical Californian Botox-induced kind, but the works-hard-to-stay-fit kind. He had fine lines radiating from the corners of his eyes and flecks of gray in his dark hair at his temples and peppered throughout his manicured beard.

  But Alex had done his research. Niko was in his mid-forties, a porn star in his own right back in his early days. In impressive shape, he could probably strip naked and put a lot of his performers to shame.

  Alex made a mental note to get the name of Niko’s personal trainer, in case his thing with Trevor fell through.

  After shaking Elijah’s hand, Niko said, “You boys have a seat.”

  Instead of walking behind a sleek glass desk tall enough and wide enough to be perfect for fucking, Niko ushered them through to a seating area overlooking a pool and patio. Alex and Elijah sat on the black leather sofa with clean, chrome lines, while Niko settled into a matching leather chair across from them.

  Rose came in and laid a couple of manila folders on the coffee table. To him and Elijah she said, “When you two are finished here, bring your things into the other wing, and I’ll get you settled in. I’ve got the two of you sharing a room since Niko has you in a scene together. I figured it would give you a chance to get to know each other better first.”

  “Excuse me?” Elijah croaked.

  “A scene? Together?” Alex asked. “I thought—”

  Rose’s gaze snapped to Niko’s. “Sorry, did I miss something?”

  “It’s fine, Rose.” If Niko was annoyed, Alex couldn’t detect it in his voice or see it in his demeanor. “Why don’t you check on the others. I’ll go over the contracts.”

  Elijah waited for Rose to leave before he turned to Niko. “I thought we’d agreed on a solo—”

  Niko silenced Elijah’s objection with a raised hand. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees, his gold chain swinging against the mat of black hair at the top of the open neck of his shirt.

  “The solo scenes are in the plans, and they are great for popping your porn cherry, but I think, especially now that I’ve seen you two together, that a jack-off scene with the two of you would be off the charts.”

  Elijah glanced at Alex and gave him one of those what-do-you-think faces with a non-committal shrug. Not that any shrug in the history of shrugs had ever been decisive.

  To Niko, Alex asked, “What does this mean for our bottom line?” Because really, that’s why they were there.

  “More money. Significantly. Your pay goes up with what you’re willing to do. The two of you jacking-off beside each other is one thing. Add kissing, mutual masturbation, a blow job...”

  Niko threw in one of his own shrugs as if he really wasn’t heavily invested in what Alex and Elijah would agree to do, but his nonchalance seemed forced.

  “And the two of you together… the viewers are going to eat you guys up. Here at Black Stallion, we pay the flat fee for each scene, but we also pay a percentage of downloads. The hotter the scene, the more it gets downloaded, and the more money you two make. Simple.”

  “Do we have to decide right now?” Elijah’s voice went up an octave.

  “ASAP so we’ll have time to schedule the extra scene.”

  Someone knocked on the office door but didn’t bother to wait for a reply before it opened and a young man walked through. Alex figured the guy couldn’t be much younger than himself, but the slight body and boyi
sh features made him look much younger.

  “Bass,” Niko admonished, “You need to wait.”

  “You have an important call.”

  Niko nodded toward Alex and Elijah. “This is my assistant, Sebastian. Sebastian, meet Elijah Maddox and—”

  “Alex Payne.” Sebastian slapped a hand over his mouth. “Oh my fucking gay God. Alex fucking Payne.” Then he squealed like a schoolgirl who’d caught sight of this month’s answer to Justin Bieber.

  “You’ll have to excuse him,” Niko said. “He’s not normally anything like this.”

  Elijah grinned. It was the first full smile Alex had seen from him since they’d met and if Alex weren’t straight, he would think that dimple that popped out in his cheek was damn adorable. “Darius is going to be mad he lost his left nut in a bet.”

  Sebastian whipped out a pen from his back pocket and dropped to his knees in front of Alex. What the actual fuck? Sebastian held out the pen. “Sign my shirt?”

  “Someone mind telling me what the hell is going on?” Niko asked.

  “If you knew anything about—”

  “Bass.” Niko gave Alex an apologetic smile. “You’ll have to forgive my nephew he’s—”

  “In love,” Sebastian finished for his uncle. “Please say you’ll fuck my ass and inseminate me with your baseball babies.”

  “He can’t get you pregnant.” Niko snagged Sebastian’s sleeve and pulled him to his feet. “I should have known. Bass has a thing for baseball players.”

  “Won’t hurt for him to try though,” Sebastian said with a pout. “Miracles happen, and anything is possible if it’s gay God’s will.”

  The heat settled in Alex’s cheeks and he couldn’t think of what to say.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were famous?” Niko didn’t look pleased, and by the way the crease formed between his brows and the way his biceps bulged when he crossed his arms over his chest, the man looked seriously pissed.

  “Um... I’m not famous. There was a chance at one time that I was going to be somebody, but that’s behind me now.”