“You know you’re the perfect man for the job.”

Mike struggled with both his desire to argue and his knowledge that arguing with Colette was fruitless. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Why not?” Colette was perched on the edge of a desk, a stiletto-clad foot swinging in the air. They’d excused themselves to one of the empty cubicles that populated the third floor of Murmur Inc., where the phone sex operators were busy making calls all around them. “You saw the way he was looking at you during the Q&A. You don’t think you two have chemistry?”

That’s exactly the problem. I think we do.

“Yeah, but you saw how abruptly he left after we finished filming in Bel Air. He couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. He probably had somewhere to be, or he was embarrassed. He’d recently finished filming his first scene, after all. I was there, babe. I saw for myself how well you two got along. I think you can do it again.”

“It’s not a good fit. He’s too green.” Mike prayed she couldn’t read his true feelings in his body language. He had a decent poker face, but Colette had a knack for seeing through it. Then again, he couldn’t consciously hide feelings he didn’t fully understand himself. All he knew was he was resistant to working with Josh. Or Dick, as he’d have to call him on camera.

He’d come up with a number of great excuses—like the newbie thing, or the fact that Josh seemed to have imprinted on him like a fucking gosling—but that was all they were: excuses.

The truth went deeper than that, though he didn’t know how far. His gut told him that working with Josh would change things, and for some reason, it scared the hell out of him.

Colette shrugged. “It seemed like a good fit the other night. I think you bring something out in Dick.”

“He could be like that with everyone for all you know. Pick someone else.” Mike gestured to the busy room around them. There were two dozen or so performers on standby, waiting to see how many of the new recruits showed up. “You have no shortage of people who’d love to work.”

“I will, if you insist. You’ve paid your dues, so if you object to the pairing that much, I’ll respect your wishes.”

Mike breathed a sigh of relief.

“But—”

The sigh caught in his throat like a shard of glass.

“—first you have to look me in the eye and tell me that you have no desire whatsoever to work with Dick. If that’s the case, I’ll never assign you two to the same project. Ever.”

Fuck. She knew exactly how to manipulate him. Mike didn’t think he could tell a lie that egregious to her face. He wanted to work with Josh. Really wanted to. He couldn’t explain why. Josh had a mouth the size of the Midwest, and he was clueless to the point of his own detriment, but Mike liked that about him. Somehow.

It didn’t hurt that Mike found him ridiculously attractive, either. Since their first meeting, he’d had dreams about kissing bruises into that long neck of his. Just thinking about it made him want to—

No. He was a professional. This was another gig, like any other. He’d do his damn job, as he always did. He’d show Colette he could handle whatever she threw at him.

“All right, I’ll do it,” Mike said. “But only because I can’t blacklist a new porn star before I know what sort of career they’re going to have. For all I know, Dick’s gonna be the next Brent Corrigan.” It wasn’t a total lie, and so he was able to deliver it without flinching.

“Then it’s settled.” Colette climbed to her feet with a click. “Assuming Dick shows up—which I’m quite certain he will—he’s all yours.” Her gaze flickered over his shoulder. “Speak of the devil, there he is now. I’ve reserved Booth Seven for you. I’ll meet you in there.”

Mike blanched. “You’re gonna direct us? Don’t you have bigger projects you could be overseeing?”

“And miss Dick’s debut with one of my brightest stars? Never. I’m expecting big things. Nothing short of a mouth-watering performance will satisfy me, so you’d best give it your all.” She winked and sashayed off in the direction of Booth Seven, dragging Mike’s dropped jaw after her.

His attention didn’t stay on her for long, though. Movement out of the corner of his eye drew his gaze to the doorway, where Josh had, in fact, walked in. As Mike watched, Josh took in the room in a sweep. His gaze lingered on the wide windows on the far wall before skipping across the sea of people hard at work. Mike thought maybe he wouldn’t notice him, tucked away in a cubicle like the other buzzing bees, but unerringly, Josh’s beautiful eyes rested on him.

When did I start describing his eyes that way?

Before he could think of an answer, Josh approached him. “Hi.”

“Hi.” Mike gave him a once-over. “You look well.”

“Good, because I feel like I’m going to be sick.”

“Nervous?”

“Oh yeah.” He smiled. “But excited too.”

“Glad to hear it.” Mike studied him. Beneath the steady fluorescent lights, he was able to pick out details about Josh’s appearance that he hadn’t noticed before, like the couple of whiskers he’d missed when shaving, or how his eyelashes were a shade darker than his hair. “Welcome to the third floor. That means you made it, more or less.”

“Thanks. Though I gotta admit, this isn’t what I was expecting.” Josh looked around. “Doesn’t look like a porn set to me.”

“This building used to be a recording studio, but Colette scooped it up decades ago and turned it into Murmur Inc. The office area, as you can see, is where the phone sex operators work.” He pointed at the booths that lined the walls, all of which had opaque glass and red “live” lights outside the doors. “Filming takes place in those booths when it’s not on location. They’ve been cleared out and made into individual sets. They’re bigger inside than they look.”

“Wow. I’d love to see one.”

Mike shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “You’re in luck. We’re about to head into one right now.”

Josh jerked his head toward him. “‘We’?”

“Yeah.” He swallowed. “Colette assigned me to work with you.”

There was a pregnant pause.

“So, you’re gonna be my first?”

Mike winced. “Don’t say it like that. It sounds all—” He waved a hand. Sexy.

“Oh, sorry.” Josh looked anything but. Mike swore his eyes were actually sparkling with mischief. “Let’s go, then.” He turned away.

“Wait.” Mike grabbed his shoulder, which was a huge mistake. Josh was warm and firm beneath his fingers. He snatched his hand back like he’d been burned. “We should go over some things first. I’m supposed to be mentoring you, right?”

“Right.” Josh licked his lips. “Teach me.”

Oh, that’s just unfair.

Mike cleared his throat. “When you get in there, you have to be professional at all times. No fucking around, no bad jokes, and most of all, remember what we’re here to do.” His mouth was dry as he said the next part. “We’re going to have sex, yeah, but this is a job. You’re at work, and you need to act like it.”

“Does that mean I’m not allowed to enjoy it?”

Heat rushed through Mike’s body before he could rein it in. He managed to keep his facial features from so much as twitching. “You can, and if I have anything to say about it, you will. But that’s a by-product of the industry, okay?”

Are you talking to him or yourself?

“Right. Good advice.” Josh smiled. “Thanks, Sean.”

Mike’s stomach lurched. That didn’t sound right at all. He took a quick peek around. No one was paying the slightest attention to them. He blurted out, “It’s Mike.”

Josh blinked. “What’s Mike?”

“Me, smart-ass. My name’s Mike.” Christ, why am I telling him this? The newbie probably won’t understand the significance.

“Oh.” Josh’s eyebrows pinched together, which suggested he had an inkling after all. “Wow. Okay. Hi, um, Mike.” He looked like he was struggling with words. “Downstairs, Colette said porn stars have to be careful with their real names. Why’d you tell me yours?”

I’d love to know that as well. He shrugged. “It . . . seemed like the right thing to do.”

“Because you know my real name?”

Mike seized onto that like a lifeboat bobbing next to the Titanic. “Yeah, that’s it. Now we’re even.” He glared at him. “But don’t you dare tell anyone. Not your priest. Not your mother. Not anyone. Capiche?”

Josh nodded, eyes grave. He seemed sincere enough. Mike expected a wave of panic to hit him any second now, but for some reason, he believed Josh would keep his secret.

“C’mon. We can’t keep Colette waiting.” He headed for Booth Seven.

Josh fell into step next to him. “Colette’s going to be there?”

“Yup. Lucky you. She wants to oversee your debut personally.”

“How is that lucky? She’s terrifying.”

“Do you have any idea how many porn stars would kill to be directed by her? She’s a living legend, and she’s got the awards to prove it. For her to take time out of her day to coach a newbie . . . I can’t imagine what her motivation is.” Mike wove through the maze of cubicles to the correct door. The red light next to it was on. The crew must already be in there, setting up.

As he reached for the door handle, Josh said, “Colette doesn’t believe in me, does she?”

Mike paused, swilling words around in his mouth. “Honestly? No. But why would she? She’s only seen you once, and you were a nervous wreck. I’ve been working with her for a long time, and she still gives me shit when I don’t deliver a stellar performance. It’s like I said: this is a job like any other, and she’s your boss. You gotta make her happy.”

“I’ll try.”

“If it’s any consolation, I think you have it in you.”

“Why?”

Mike should lie. For both their sakes. But Josh looked so torn, he couldn’t help but encourage him. “Because that kiss we shared was one of the best I’ve ever had.”

Mike opened the door without waiting for a response and strode into the room. It was crammed with filming equipment and the people who operated it, but the set was clear: a simple faux leather couch set on a white rug in the center of the room. Box lights and boom microphones hung above it, ready to highlight every curve and capture every moan. Off to the side, Colette was setting up monitors hooked up to the cameras, on which they could review the footage in real time.

She caught Mike’s eye and raised a brow, asking a question: You ready? He nodded. She flicked a hand toward the sofa. That was one upside to working with Colette for so long. Mike could follow her vaguest instructions.

But first, Mike stopped off at a table that had been set up on the right side. Half of it was covered in bottles of water and snacks, and the other half acted as a mini wardrobe station. Mike removed his shoes and socks and tucked them out of sight before depositing everything in his pockets onto the table: phone, keys, wallet, gum, all of it. He couldn’t very well have it falling out of his pockets or jabbing anyone in any unfortunate places.

To his delight, Josh followed suit without needing to be instructed. He dumped a similar assortment of personal belongings onto the table, removed his shoes, and pulled off his socks. As he bent over, his shirt rode up in the back, making it apparent once again how tight and compact his body was. Mike was looking forward to seeing all the parts he hadn’t gotten to yet.

He caught himself staring a second too late and looked up to find a full-blown smirk on Josh’s face.

He glowered. “Shut up.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Brat.”

They made their way over to the couch. Mike sat down first while Josh hovered like he wasn’t sure what he should do. Mike sighed. There was still plenty his new mentee didn’t know. He patted the seat next to him, and Josh took that as permission to flop onto it. A photographer appeared as if from nowhere, snapped some shots of them sitting together, and then disappeared only to be replaced by a light tech with an umbrella lamp. Mike blinked spots out of his eyes. Fucking lighting, always blinding him.

Josh was sitting on the edge of his seat like they were watching an action film together. “What now?”

“Colette will let us know. I’m sure we’re not going to do anything too complicated today. There aren’t any scripts, since we never know who’s going to make it past orientation. She’ll keep it short and sweet.”

Josh squirmed. “Do you think she’ll have us . . . go all the way?”

Mike raised a brow at him. “I’m sorry, I don’t speak high school. Are you asking if we’re gonna fuck?”

“Uh, yeah.” His flush was back, creeping up his neck.

“Maybe, but I doubt it. Colette likes to ease the newbs in. Last time I did one of these, we had oral.”

“One of these? You’ve mentored a newbie before?” Josh shook his head. “I dunno why I’m surprised. You’ve probably done this hundreds of times.”

“I wouldn’t say hundreds.” Mike did some quick math in his head. “Dozens.”

Josh was looking down at his hands, which were hanging between his legs. His expression was caught somewhere between resignation and uncertainty. There wasn’t a trace of the bravado he’d plastered on before.

“Hey. Look at me.” Mike waited until he did before asking, “What is it?”

“Do you wish Colette had paired you with someone else? Someone better?”

Mike blinked. “What?”

“You have all this experience, and here you are, stuck here with me.”

Mike stared at him. “This isn’t like you. Where’s the annoying cockiness?”

Josh laughed, but there was no mirth behind it. “I’m not feeling like myself. Problem is, I’m not feeling like Dick Reams either. I’m about to have sex in front of a room full of people, and I can’t stop thinking about that mole I never got removed, or how my bare ass is going to be plastered on the internet forever.”

“If it’s any consolation, I’m sure it’s a great ass.”

Josh snorted but didn’t look any less panicked. Mike’s heart throbbed. So much for keeping things professional. But he was the mentor here. It was his job to be responsible.

“You can still leave, you know. It’s not too late.”

Josh startled. “Huh?”

“You don’t have to go through with this. If porn isn’t the right job for you, there’s no shame in that. Plenty of people try it and don’t like it.”

“Shooting stars, right? I’d hate for Colette to think I was one of those after she gave me another chance.”

“Fuck what Colette thinks. And hey, you’re only a shooting star if you quit after we film this scene. That kissing scene didn’t count. You can quit now, and it’s like it never happened.”

That was supposed to be comforting, but Josh’s brow furrowed. “I think I’m uncertain. There are things about this that I don’t get. I don’t want to sound judgmental, but I don’t understand how you . . . detach. Like, how do you have sex with all those people and not—you know?” He gestured at empty space as if the rest of his words could be found there.

Mike thought he understood what Josh was going for. “You just do. We all perform with whoever we’re told to perform with that day, and you can’t get invested in your costars.” Including me. “Can you handle that?”

“I think so.” He chewed his lip. “I knew what I was getting into when I signed up for this, but I guess I’m still figuring things out.”

“Well, it’s not going to make any more sense after, trust me. I’ll get Colette, and we’ll call this whole thing off.”

Mike climbed to his feet, but Josh grabbed his arm. “No, wait. I want to do this.” He hesitated. “I want you.”

Mike’s whole body flashed hot. “I’m flattered, but you don’t know me.”

“I know.” Josh wet his lips. “But I’m still glad it’s you.” He didn’t elaborate; he didn’t need to.

Had Mike been a stronger man, he would have reminded Josh what he’d said about not getting invested. Wanting him could only complicate things. Then again, it was good for costars to have chemistry. Wasn’t that why Colette had paired them together?

A smile curved Mike’s lips. “I thought you weren’t into gingers.”

Josh burst out laughing, and the uncertainty between them shattered like thin glass. Mike took his seat again and threw an arm over the back of the sofa. When Josh leaned into it, Mike pretended not to notice.

Colette walked over then, heels clicking on the tile floor, and stood next to the main camera with her hands on her hips. “We’re almost finished setting up. Do either of you need anything before we get started? Water? Food?” She looked at Mike. “Medications?”

It was no secret that Mike usually took Viagra before a performance. This time, though, he was certain he’d be able to perform without it.

“We’re all set,” Mike said.

Colette nodded and turned away to check something.

It took him a moment to realize Josh was staring at him. “What?”

“Way to answer for me.” His ridiculous pout was back. The urge to bite it was getting harder and harder to resist. “Gonna order for me at restaurants too?”

“Of course not.” He grinned. “I would never take you to a restaurant.”

“Good point. I can’t see you picking such a boring first date.”

This time, it was Mike who flushed. “Date? Getting a little ahead of yourself, don’t you think?”

“Ooh, am I embarrassing you, Mikey?”

Mike whipped his head around to see if anyone was close enough to hear them. No one was. “Dude, shut up.”

“What? That’s not technically your name, so I’m not breaking the rules.”

“You still can’t call me that when we’re on set.”

“Then when can I?” He batted his eyelashes. “When we’re alone?”

Is he trying to flirt with me or annoy me? Mike honestly couldn’t tell.

“Stop that.”

“Make me.” He leaned closer and mouthed, Mikey.

God, he’s such a brat. Mike got a wicked idea. “You know what? I’ve changed my mind. You’re welcome to call me Mikey.”

“I am?”

“Sure. And I’ll call you Joshie.”

The horror that crept over Josh’s face made Mike’s entire day. “I’ll never call you that again.”

“Good boy.”

Mike wasn’t sure if he imagined it or not, but he thought he saw Josh shiver at that.

Colette reappeared, laptop in hand. “All right, gentlemen, I think we’re all set. How’s everyone feeling?”

“Fine,” Mike said.

“Nervous,” Josh admitted.

“Relax. This is an informal shoot. All you have to do is look pretty and follow directions, one of which you already have down.”

Josh preened at the compliment. Mike took note. He’d wondered before if praise was the way to coax a good performance out of Josh. He might need to put it to the test.

“What are we going to be doing?” Mike asked. “Something ending in ‘job,’ I’m guessing.”

Colette was looking down, cradling her laptop with one arm and pressing keys with the other. “Nope. Anal.”

Mike tensed. “What?”

“Can you not hear me?” Colette snapped her fingers at one of the sound techs. “Are the microphones giving off feedback on your end?”

“No, I heard you. I’m, um, surprised.” Mike snuck a peek at Josh. He was staring at him with a lost look on his face, like he was waiting to see what Mike did before he reacted. “You don’t usually have the newbs do penetrative sex on their first run.”

“Well, I think Dick here can take it, no pun intended. Besides, if I’m going to take time out of my day to coach a newb, I might as well be thorough about it.”

“Does that mean I’m going to have to bottom?” Josh asked.

“’Fraid so. Sean is known for being a power top, and since you have no reputation to defend, you’ll have to fall on that sword. Forgive my word choice.”

Damn. As much as Mike’s cock was already swelling at the idea of getting to top Josh, he felt bad for him. Josh’s first porn experience was not only going to be a bang instead of a whimper, but he’d have to switch sides too. This could go all sorts of wrong.

Josh leaned closer to him, lowering his voice. “Should I be worried?”

“No.” Mike swallowed. “Why?”

“Because you look as nervous as I feel.”

Fuck. His face must have slipped. He affixed it back into place and wondered why he was feeling what he was. There were a few obvious answers: Josh was showing all the classic signs of confusing fantasy with reality. If Mike were smart, he’d nip that particular bud before it got messy. But it wasn’t his job to protect Josh, no matter how much he wanted to. And if he were being honest with himself, the chemistry between them was real. No wonder Josh was confused.

Josh hadn’t listened to any of the advice Mike had given him thus far. If Josh insisted on going through with this, what more could Mike do?

You can leave. You can do exactly what you told Josh to do and call this whole thing off.

But that wasn’t the way professionals acted. He’d be setting a bad example in front of one of the new recruits. If he did that, Colette would remember it the next time she was picking leading men. And she’d never cast Mike with Josh again. For some reason, the thought of never getting to work with Josh was painful, and not just to his bank account. God, he hoped he wasn’t starting to feel something for the newbie. Who was he to lecture Josh on staying unattached when he couldn’t manage it himself?

The clock was ticking. He needed to make a decision.

Should he take a more hands-off approach? Stop meddling and let Josh learn for himself what this industry was really like? Mike wasn’t his babysitter, plain and simple.

He looked over at Josh, as if he were hoping to find the answers written on his face. Josh met his gaze, and in his light eyes, Mike saw the memory of what he’d said to him moments before. “I want to do this. I want you.” So much for hands-off.

“Sean?” Colette gave him a curious look. “Everything all right?”

Mike swallowed hard. “Yeah. Let’s begin.”