Off Camera: Complicated, #2

By Megan Slayer

Navigating college is hard, but not as hard as learning to love and trust.

Kade Evans knew what he wanted to do with his life—write scripts for Hollywood. He's poured his heart into his work and learning the tricks of the trade, but being only twenty-one he knows he needs experience. How's a guy supposed to get experience when he's shy and quiet? The answer might be closer and more forceful than he thinks.

Tony Victor's goal in life is to make movies. He won't quit until he's working on the next blockbuster. First, he's got to get through college and get the handsome guy from scriptwriting class to notice him. Tony's never had trouble getting attention, but something about Kade calls to him. Tony's head says go slow, but his heart is ready to take things to the next level. Will these two find common ground or will the simmering passion between them fall apart when their secrets are revealed?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Megan Slayer
• Release date: Mar 13, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386541400

Megan Slayer

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com. When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Book preview

Off Camera

A Complicated Story

By Megan Slayer

Off Camera

Copyright © 2019, Megan Slayer

Edited by Michele Paulin and CJ Slate

Cover Art by Kris Norris

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Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

Electronic Release: March 2019

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

Navigating college is hard, but not as hard as learning to love and trust.

Kade Evans knew what he wanted to do with his life—write scripts for Hollywood. He’s poured his heart into his work and learning the tricks of the trade, but being only twenty-one he knows he needs experience. How’s a guy supposed to get experience when he’s shy and quiet? The answer might be closer and more forceful than he thinks.

Tony Victor’s goal in life is to make movies. He won’t quit until he’s working on the next blockbuster. First, he’s got to get through college and get the handsome guy from scriptwriting class to notice him. Tony’s never had trouble getting attention, but something about Kade calls to him. Tony’s head says go slow, but his heart is ready to take things to the next level. Will these two find common ground or will the simmering passion between them fall apart when their secrets are revealed?

For MP...I’m glad you picked up the first TD book. Can’t think of a better person to work with.

To JPZ ...you know how I feel. Love you. 

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

About the Author

Also Available from Megan Slayer Publishing

Chapter One

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Autumn 2001

Another day, another paper. Kaden sighed and pulled the book he needed off the library shelf. He flipped through the pages. Christ. He loved the papers and the theory behind the movie-making process, but geez, he wanted to be out in the field.

He tucked the book under his arm then headed back to his study table. Getting out of the library wouldn’t be bad, either. If he wasn’t in the upper floors of the media center, he was stuck in his dorm room, plotting, planning and dreaming about the movies he wanted to write. None of those were getting him any closer to actually making the films playing in his mind. He kept a notebook in his bag just for the script he’d started. One of these days, he’d have a name for his main character instead of Main Character and he’d know how to put the pieces together to make a coherent work. Soon.

He plopped down at a table. Movement across the room caught his attention. He glanced over at the other person. A tall, dark and brooding man... All of Kade’s weaknesses rolled into one. Holy crap. Where had that guy come from?

Shivers skated down Kade’s spine. He pretended to look at his book and not ogle the guy. Hair the color of ink slipped over the man’s forehead, and his dark eyebrows crinkled. There were no visible tattoos or rings on his left hand. Neither meant he was gay, but Kade could hope and drool. He slid the back of his hand across his mouth to suppress his sigh. Men like this one wouldn’t give him the time of day. He was too plain for their tastes—if they even went for dick.

Kade forced himself to look away and focus on the book. The words about Hitchcock made no sense—especially since he wasn’t interested in Hitch. He wanted cock—that guy’s cock. God. Kade had become such a waste. He wasn’t getting any action from the others he dated. They either wanted nothing of him or were tired of hearing about his obsession with film noir and comic book characters. He hadn’t bothered to tell anyone else about his script-in-progress. None of the men in his past seemed worthy of knowing.

Would this guy turn out to be the same? If Kade took the chance and made the first advance, he just might find out.

"Is that the Expanded Works of Hitchcock book?"

Kade looked up from the book and pressed his lips together. Hunk o’ man was talking to him. Holy shit. He even had a gravelly voice like Kade preferred. The guy worked his five o’clock shadow like a pro.

Yeah, this is the expanded works. Writing a paper? Kade scooted the book across the table. I’m writing one for Scriptworks 2. I like the class. He was babbling. Damn it. I’m sorry. Did you need the book?

I’m being forced to do extra credit. The man snorted. It’s bullshit.

Why? At least, the guy was direct.

He glared at Kade.I want to be making a movie; not writing the damn reasoning behind making films.

Sounds fair. I like to write those movies you want to make. He stopped. Shit. That was a come-on if he’d ever heard one. Or a dick-headed response. He’d never been smooth.

Whatever. The guy shoved the book into his bag. Thanks.

I wasn’t done with that. Kade reached for the man’s arm, but he walked away.

Well, what a shit. Kade rolled his eyes. He’d practically memorized the book, but still...the asshole didn’t need to take it.

He flipped his messenger bag closed then stood and stretched. Chasing after the jerk was an option, but he’d gotten a head start. Kade wouldn’t be able to catch up once the guy left the elevator. Leaving well enough alone was good, too.

He glanced at his watch. Retrieving the book could wait because he needed to get to class.

Kade hurried across campus to the music and performing arts building. He passed people he knew along the way and waved at one of his former boyfriends. His ex gave him a two-fingered wave then turned his back on Kade. At least, this guy acknowledged him.

A deep ache settled behind Kade’s eyes. He was twenty-one and still didn’t have a boyfriend. He didn’t have any damn experience with men beyond kissing. No wonder he was alone. No one wanted to get involved with him long enough for him to gain any experience. Why would they? He lacked confidence. After his puppy love relationship with his last boyfriend, Dalton, had fallen apart, Kade found he didn’t have the guts to even ask guys out. Dalton had made fun of his lack of experience and had managed to rip Kade’s life to shreds by publically embarrassing him. Everyone back in high school had known Kade had come out, and they knew he was too shy to try anything but kiss.

Kade hustled up the steps to the second floor of the building and strolled into the classroom. He sat in his usual seat and gazed out the window at the campus below. The Kenton College campus wasn’t much different from any other college. Tall buildings for each major dotted the landscape. The grounds featured various grasses and flowers grown by the horticulture groups. Flags for the different student organizations flew on the main student center. Next to the library, a huge fountain bubbled. Kenton wasn’t a bad place to attend. The moment he’d seen the brochure, he’d known this was where he wanted to go.

A chair scraped on the floor beside him, and the screeching noise grabbed his attention. When Kade looked over at the noise maker, he bit his tongue. Sexy man was right beside him. What the hell? He’d never seen the guy in his class before.

Jesus. This room is a dump. Asshole hunk slapped his books on the desktop. This is Scriptworks 2, right?

It is. I’m Kade. He stuck out his hand but pulled away when he noticed the Hitchcock book in the guy’s stack. You snatched that book from me earlier. I didn’t know you were in this class. Nice to see you again. Never let it be said he didn’t have manners. It’s interesting—if you want to learn the theory and practices of writing scripts.

Tony, the guy grunted. I make movies. I don’t learn theory.

Tony? Ah. The name didn’t particularly suit, but whatever. He’d assumed the guy’s name would be something tougher like Ace or Killer. You’ve made movies? Have any of your works made it into the school’s movie festival? Everyone in the film department wanted one of their movies or short films featured in the film festival. Agents and sometimes even big name directors checked out the offerings.

"Yeah. I made one about bullies called Don’t Talk. Tony folded his arms and crossed his ankles. I focused on the perspective of the one doing the bullying. Got my tuition paid for until I graduate. What about you?"

I wrote a script for a commercial on the local news station and did some camera work for the news here on campus. Kade allowed himself to exhale. I’d rather plot the movie or commercial than work the cameras. The angles aren’t my thing.

Then maybe you shouldn’t make movies. Tony flipped open his notebook. The move seemed to signal the end of conversation.

Fine. Kade opened his book and clicked his pen. Why did the sexy guys have to be dicks? And why was he attracted to asshole types? Because he actually believed he could reform a bad boy? He’d need some practice being with that bad boy first. Tony wasn’t an option. They’d have to like each other first. He didn’t get the impression Tony wanted anything to do with him. Kade could take a hint. Fuck Tony.

Actually, no, he wanted to fuck Tony. The ripple of muscle in his arms and the way his T-shirt clung to his strong frame... He’d entranced Kade. Kade wondered what it would feel like to run his hands over those muscles or to be caught up in those arms? With Tony’s attitude, Kade doubted he’d get answers to his questions.

An hour later, the professor finished talking, and Kade scrawled the assignment on his planner. A two-minute script for a commercial about his favorite song. He could do that.

He tapped his pen on the page. What song did he want to use? Something slow and sensual with a story... Yeah, something with a lot of visual cues already built in.

This is bullshit. Tony slapped his book shut. What do they think we are? I can’t write this crap.

It’s an exercise. Gets us to think short. Kade put his book and notebook into his bag. I’m sure you’ll come up with something.

To be honest, he didn’t believe Tony would finish the project. The guy seemed too bent on his own way of doing things and wasn’t receptive to change.

Kade left his chair and headed toward the door. With a nod, he acknowledged the professor then left the classroom.

Wonder if we could pair up. Tony’s footsteps grew louder on the tile floor. What about that? Want to pair up?

Who says we can? Kade stopped in the doorway and stared at him. "I mean seriously. You