GENRE: Gay Erotic Romance
LENGTH: 20,800 words
RATING:

Actors Ethan Grey and Alex Haynes are gay, but in Hollywood, they can’t be open unless they’re willing to be typecast in future movies or they’re dating prominent gay producers. Since neither are willing to become stereotypes, and neither have studio boyfriends, they take another path -- hiding their relationship under the cover of a pretend girlfriend.

What works for Ethan, though, doesn’t work for Alex, who screws up to the point of losing his job and the chance to get another. His manager finally finds him another job across the pond, where he meets Nathan Wells.

Nathan can be the prominent producer Alex needs to further his career, but there’s something Alex doesn’t know about the man. Soon Wells grows obsessed with Alex, and he’ll do anything to keep Alex from getting away.

Though Nathan wants Alex for himself, there’s still Ethan to think about. Is the love story between Alex and Ethan really over? Or will Ethan find a way to get his boyfriend back?

EXCERPT:
Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.

The last episodes of a season were always crucial, and so intense they often extended the shoot just to maintain the momentum. It was almost two in the morning and Alex had to struggle to keep his eyes open or he’d easily slip asleep as the next shoot was on a bed.

Alex eyed the one holding him by the throat and sudden weariness overwhelmed him. These long hours, the disagreement between him and Ethan, and this -- this bloodthirsty evil that was all over him -- it was all too much.

"Get off me," he hissed, sounding so much in character that other people didn't have the slightest idea he wasn't acting at all.

The bad guy laughed, sounding pleased with himself, and tightened his fingers around the column of Alex's neck.

"Nothing you can do now, hmm?"

Alex glanced briefly to the side of the bed where Ethan was, shivers running down his spine, watching Ethan being held down, too. He couldn’t tell what the shivers were about, though. He grunted when the man jerked him back to face him.

"Your partner can't help you. He wouldn't even if he could."

"What?" he squeaked.

A moment later the throttling vanished and Alex felt the wire connected to the leather harness under his boxers jolt and tug him up. This was the moment when in a couple of minutes he’d be dragged up along the wall and stretched out against it, acting as if he’d been crucified, arms spread out and chest bare. Alex felt like a side of beef strung up in a butcher's freezer but this was worse because so many people were staring at him. Ethan, too, for sure. And suddenly he couldn't breathe. He began to hyperventilate and his own hands closed around his neck now, clawing, scratching, fighting for air.

"Cut, cut!"

Alex could recognize Ethan's panicked voice amidst the fog surrounding him.

"Alex, Alex, talk to me, man."

He blinked--never felt himself being lowered back down to the bed.

"Alex." Light slaps jarred him more awake and suddenly all he could see was Ethan.

"Leave me alone," Alex scrambled up, shrugging a hand off his shoulder.

"Alex, are you okay?" The director of the episode strode toward him. Worry cut deep creases in his face.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Alex rubbed a hand over his face. "I guess I'm just exhausted. Sorry. Can we try again?"

"Nonsense." The director turned to the crew. "That's a wrap for tonight. We start again tomorrow night."

Alex smacked his lips together. He couldn't believe how relieved he was to be able to scram away from this place. And from Ethan.

Alex didn't say anything during their ride home, he didn’t even say goodbye to Ethan when they reached his apartment and he hopped out of the van. All he wanted was sleep.