Despite the conviction with which the film crew spoke of their experiences, Ethan had been skeptical about it all. To him, it had sounded like an effort to whip up some advance buzz for a movie that might otherwise disappear without trace. But Kim, as always, had believed there might be some truth to the stories, and the production company thought the sanatorium would make a great setting for the
Spirit Seekers
season finale. So they’d found themselves spending a fortnight in that Godforsaken corner of Massachusetts, searching for ghosts.
The only bright spot had been Ethan getting to spend time with an up-and-coming actor called Hayden Skarz. He’d interviewed Hayden a couple of times in the course of filming the episode. There’d been definite chemistry and some heavy-duty flirting going on between them. But he and Boyd Morrison were an item, had been for the best part of a year now, and tempting as the possibility had been, he wouldn’t dream of sleeping with another guy behind Boyd’s back.
Boyd slid a hand down beneath the waistband of Ethan’s baggy shorts. “Seems like there’s still a lot of tension here…” He gripped Ethan’s cock, rubbing his thumb in an almost absentminded fashion over its head. “Maybe I should do something about that, too.”
The last of Ethan’s inhibitions evaporated as Boyd tugged gently at his shaft. Desire pulsed through his veins and his balls tightened in response to Boyd’s tantalizing caresses. Tomorrow they’d finish up the editing. The production company would be able to deliver the episode to the network and he and Boyd could start firming up their plans for the weeklong vacation in Acapulco they’d talked about. Sun, surf, killer cocktails and hot sex. What more could a guy need?
“I need to have you in my mouth,” Boyd murmured. “Take off your shorts.”
Ethan did as instructed, grateful he’d decided to go commando that day. It made stripping for his lover so much easier.
Once the garment had been tossed to the floor, Boyd settled between Ethan’s legs. He pushed Ethan’s thighs wide apart with the flats of his hands, giving himself all the room he required to maneuver. Submissively, he gazed up into Ethan’s eyes and licked his lips. The blatant come-on had Ethan almost losing his load on the spot. Boyd loved playing the slut and never seemed happier than when he was on his knees sucking Ethan’s cock.
“Come on, Boyd. Don’t tease me,” Ethan begged.
“Just have a little patience.” Boyd flashed him a cheeky grin. “After all, weren’t you the one who thought this was too risky?”
“I changed my mind.” His nerves were as taut as piano wire, his whole body straining for release. Let the entire production team walk in right now and see him half-naked, his dick gripped in Boyd’s hand. He didn’t care.
“Well, if you’re sure…” With that, he dipped his head and pressed a kiss to Ethan’s cock-tip.
“Oh, yeah.” Ethan sighed and leaned back farther in his chair as Boyd took more of him into his mouth. The feel of Boyd’s wet, supple tongue swirling in languorous circles over his helmet had him sighing in bliss.
Slowly, Boyd bobbed his head back and forth, engulfing Ethan’s length. He seemed to have mastered the art of letting something in his throat go slack, so that by the time he’d finished swallowing, his nose nuzzled into Ethan’s pubic curls. Ethan wasn’t sure quite how Boyd did it. All he knew was that nothing felt as good as being buried so deep in his lover’s gullet.
He bucked his hips, gently fucking Boyd’s mouth. Boyd kept on sucking him, seeking to induce the moment when Ethan would lose his load. Ethan looked down to see that Boyd had unleashed his own cock and was tugging at it with fast, urgent strokes. It didn’t seem like the most elegant way to get off but it was clearly working for Boyd, who mumbled his pleasure around the solid column of dick in his mouth.
Ethan groaned as his orgasm built with unstoppable force. He gripped the chair so tightly his thumbnails pressed half-moons into the black imitation leather armrests.
Boyd cupped Ethan’s balls, tickling them with the fingertips of his free hand. The soft, spidery motion was enough to push Ethan past breaking point.
“Oh, God, Boyd, that’s…” He couldn’t complete the sentence, too caught up in the intense wave of sensation pounding through his body. Boyd gulped down his cum then let Ethan slip from between his lips in order to concentrate on bringing himself to his own peak.
In moments, Boyd’s cum spilled out. Ethan had the presence of mind to hand his lover a wad of tissues from a box on the desk so he could clean himself up.
They shot delighted looks at each other, giggling and panting.
“Man, I can’t believe we just did that,” Ethan said as he pulled his shorts back on.
“Told you it would be totally worth it, though.”
Ethan’s thoughts flashed to the vacation they’d been planning. Now, while they were both in a mellow, relaxed mood, seemed as good a time as any to bring the matter up. “So I was thinking we should start looking for somewhere to stay in Acapulco, see if we can get some kind of cheap last-minute deal.”
“Yeah, about that…” Boyd sounded hesitant and for once, he couldn’t meet Ethan’s gaze.
Ethan said nothing, waiting for him to elaborate. Instinct told him he wasn’t going to like whatever Boyd had to say.
“I’m not going to be able to make it to Mexico now. I—I kind of accepted a job working for Mario Rodriguez.”
“You did
what
?”
Boyd rubbed his eyes with the heels of his palms. He glanced at Ethan, shamefaced. “We got talking on the last night of filming at Silver Falls. He told me he needed another second unit editor and—well, he made me an offer that was too good to turn down. I’m flying out to join up with the rest of his crew in Toronto on Tuesday.”
“And how long were you going to keep this from me?” Ethan’s post-blow job euphoria had disappeared, replaced by hot and cold chills that coursed through him.
“I’m telling you about it now, aren’t I?” Boyd sounded defensive. “Listen, we’ve had a great time these last ten months but there’s no point kidding ourselves. We both know this relationship’s run its course.”
Do we? I thought things were going from strength to strength. Shows how much of a clue I have.
“So what are you saying? You’re breaking up with me?”
“Ethan, I didn’t want it to end like this but…”
Suddenly, the air in the confined editing suite seemed stifling. He had to get out of the room before he threw up. “Thanks for nothing, buddy.” He crossed to the door in a couple of quick strides before slamming it behind him as he left.
In the corridor, he rested his back against the wall and took long, slow breaths, fighting the nausea churning in his gut. How could Boyd be such a fucking coward? If he’d wanted out, he’d only had to say something. They could have both walked away with their dignity intact. Instead, he’d left Ethan feeling like everything was somehow his fault for not reading the obvious signs that his boyfriend had had enough.
“Hey, Ethan, everything okay?”
He jumped at the sound of Kim’s voice. She regarded him with her head cocked to one side, concern evident in her expression.
“Boyd and I—we just…”
He didn’t need to say any more. Though he’d tried to keep the fact that he and Boyd were dating a secret—relationships between co-workers being frowned on by the company—Kim had quickly divined the truth about the two men.
She put a soft hand on his forearm. “I’m so sorry, honey. Wanna go to Johnny Mullin’s? We can get a couple of brewskis and you can tell your Aunty Kim all about it.”
“Why not?” Ethan flashed Kim a watery smile. Right now, he didn’t want to be alone and his co-presenter was always good company. He linked his arm in hers and they headed in the direction of the elevator.
Chapter Two
By the time they reached Johnny Mullin’s, Ethan had begun to have second thoughts. The bar had become the
de facto
crew hangout, located as it was just across the street from the offices of Archer Film and Television, the company responsible for making
Spirit Seekers
. Frankly, it was a dive with low lighting, ramshackle wooden furniture and a jukebox that didn’t hold a single record made since 1985. But when he was in the mood, there was nowhere better to knock back a beer, eat Buffalo wings smothered in blue cheese sauce and play a few games of pool. However, it wasn’t the surroundings that concerned Ethan so much as the thought they might bump into someone they knew. Right now, he didn’t want anyone else being aware of his humiliation.
To his relief, the only face he recognized belonged to Mac, the bartender, who nodded genially in their direction as they walked in. Billy Joel’s voice echoed from the sound system, saying goodbye to Hollywood.
They took seats at the bar, and Mac wandered over. “What can I get you folks?”
“We’ll have a couple of boilermakers,” Kim said.
Ethan shot her a look. Among the crew, Kim Holloway had gained a reputation for being one of the boys. She worked hard and played even harder. The tales of her ability to drink any man under the table were legendary. When asked, she put it down to having four brothers, one older and three younger, and growing up poor in a rundown area of New Jersey. Given her tough, ‘take no shit from anyone’ exterior, it came as a surprise that she, rather than Ethan, would be the one to believe firmly in the paranormal.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked as Mac placed beers in front of each of them, followed by heavy-bottomed shot glasses containing potent Irish whiskey.
“Trust me, there’s no better cure for a broken heart.” Kim picked up her shot glass and encouraged Ethan to do the same. She drained the whiskey in a single gulp.
When Ethan followed her action, the alcohol seemed to burn a trail of fire down to his belly. Tears pricked at his eyes and he gasped for breath.
Kim, sipping more sedately at her beer, grinned at his reaction.
“And just how was that supposed to help?” he asked her once he could find his voice again.
“Well, it stopped you thinking about Boyd for a minute, didn’t it?” She raised a hand, attracting Mac’s attention. “Could we have a basket of nachos over here? Extra guacamole, please.”
Mac nodded. “Coming right up.” He ambled through to the kitchen to place their order with the cook.
Billy Joel had given way to Bruce Springsteen on the jukebox and over at the pool table, a man’s voice whooped in celebration of completing his shot.
“So what happened between you and Boyd, exactly?” Kim half-turned on her bar stool so she faced Ethan.
“He’s gone and got himself another job. Sorted it out while we were filming in Silver Falls and waited till just now to let me know. But I got the impression he was trying to find a way out of the relationship anyway.” He took a swallow of his beer then blew out a long breath. “If I’d have known Boyd was angling to break up with me, I’d have fucked Hayden Skarz when I had the chance.”
Kim’s eyes widened in her evident surprise. “Hayden Sk—? Wow, I didn’t realize he’s that way inclined. The guy does a pretty good job of keeping it under wraps.”
“Well, whatever… That’s all water under the bridge. All I know is that I was looking forward to a relaxing break in the sun with Boyd, and now…”
“Hey, you can do a hell of a lot better than Boyd Morrison. Trust me.” Kim bent her head closer to Ethan’s. “As soon as the guys find out you’re on the market again, honey, they’re going to be queuing up.”
He sighed, wishing he could feel the same confidence in his ability to attract a new lover as Kim obviously did.
“And it gets better,” she went on. “Soon, you’ll have the pick of hot men from all across Europe to choose from.”
“What are you talking about?”
They were interrupted by the reappearance of Mac, who placed a basket down in front of them. It was filled with tortilla chips smothered in sour cream, guacamole and jalapeño slices and topped with melted cheese.
“Dig in,” Kim said before pulling a nacho from the pile and popping it into her mouth.
That was another of the things Ethan liked about her. She enjoyed her food and didn’t care who knew it.
“This is why I was coming to find you,” Kim said when she’d finished chewing. “I bumped into Dan just now.”
She referred to Dan Albany, the CEO of Archer Film and Television, who had built the company up from a tiny office over a video rental store in downtown Burbank to the multi-million-dollar success it had become. Unlike some bosses, Dan still took a hands-on role in the various shows Archer produced. Ethan couldn’t decide whether that was because the man cared about maintaining standards or was simply an old-fashioned control freak.
“Really? I thought he was at that industry convention in Vegas?”
“He got back a couple of hours ago and came straight into the office. He told me he wants to set up a meeting with both of us this week to discuss locations for the next season of
Spirit Seekers
.”
“But we’re only just wrapping up this one.”
“I know, but he says he’s seen what a couple of the other networks are planning, and it’s very clear they’re trying to copy our formula right down to the last detail. Though why wouldn’t they, when we’re the number one show on the market?” Kim reached for another nacho. “And we need to keep ahead of the competition, capitalize on our popularity. According to Dan, he’s sold the new season into sixteen different territories worldwide. And he says all the foreign sales are what gave him the idea.”
“What idea?”
“
Spirit Seekers
International
. Think about it, Ethan. In the last four years, we’ve visited derelict mental asylums, old penitentiaries, lighthouses… Great locations for filming, I grant you, but none of those places is more than a couple hundred years old, and people are starting to say we’re running out of ideas. Europe, though… Man, that place is crawling with history. Just think of the places we could go, the things we’ll see.”
Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. Ethan had seen Kim in this mood before. When she was on a roll, she could persuade anyone to do just about anything, but he still felt the need to exercise a note of caution.