Page 5 of Between the Stacks

“No catch,” she said. “Go all out and have fun with the project. Contracts are the same. The standard twenty percent rule is in place and the remaining eighty percent goes to you and whoever joins you for the movie. I think the calendar will sell well on its own. Paired with movies from our hottest actors and actresses, we’ll have a certified hit on our hands.”

“When do you need an answer for the holiday?” I asked.

“How long do you need?”

“A couple of days,” I answered. “Nothing major. I want to pursue my choices before deciding.”

“Huh,” she muttered. “I’d thought you’d go for the obvious.”

I snorted. “Not likely. It’s overplayed, Lorna.”

“But it sells, even as ‘overplayed’ as you say.” She thumbed through the stack of files in front of her. “Here is the contract forDriver. Read it over with your lawyer, Jonesy. There are three sets of dates in there. Choose one that will fit with your schedule at the college.”

I placed the crystal tumbler on her desk before I took the manilla folder from her and inclined my chin. “I’ll send it to Jonesy tonight and have it for you before the end of the week. As for the other. Give me two days.”

“Two days it is. I’ll have everything drawn up when you’re ready.” She sat back in her chair, glass poised at her mouth. “As always, it’s a pleasure doing business with you, August.”

“Likewise,” I said.

A calendar shoot? I wasn’t afraid to show my body. I worked out every morning before classes, and my allotted time at the library. However, I was one of the older members of Lorna’s passel of actors. She could use any of them and the project would still sell. Choosing me came as a surprise. Sure, I had a few adult entertainment awards under my belt, including Best Cum Shot, Best Solo—Male Scene, and Best Masked Men Scene.

This felt different, though.

A recognition of sorts.

I appreciated her giving me the opportunity.Driversignaled a new direction for my career with Lorna, so any chance there was to preview what was coming, I’d take it. I wasn’t the young buck anymore. As a seasoned actor, I could take calculated risks while being the star and the veteran.

On the drive back to the campus, I called Jonesy to give him a heads up on the contract. He said he would be out of town for a week or more but didn’t say where he’d be. Calling now could wake him while waiting until the morning could catch him in the middle of a meeting. “Hey Astra, call Jonesy.”

“Calling Jonesy,” the on-board system repeated. I loved the hands-free functions in my Porsche.

The phone rang twice before he answered. “Morning, Aug.” His roughened voice hit me in the chest. “Shit, sorry, evening.”

“Hey,” I replied. “Sorry to wake you.”

The rumple of cloth accompanied the sound of Jonesy fumbling with something. Knowing him, the clock on his phone. “Shit, I’m out of here in twenty minutes. Thanks for the wake-up call. I owe you.”

I chuckled softly. “Not a problem. Unfortunately, I didn’t call to shoot the shit or wake you up. I received the contract forDriver.”

“Did you? Congrats, man.” He let out a shuddered groan then exhaled. “Scan it and email it to me, I’ll take a look on the flight home.”

“Sounds good.” I appreciated his help. “Hey, what are you doing when you get back?”

“I have a few days,” he said, lowering his voice. “Are you propositioning me, Mr. Librarian?”

I snorted, adjusting my stiff dick. What we had was casual. No strings attached. It made for an exciting rendezvous whenever our schedules matched. I’d also used him in some of my earlier features with BTL. “I don’t have to proposition you.”

“No, you don’t,” he agreed. “I’ll change my flight and meet you at the house when I arrive.”

“Perfect. I’ll see you then.”

I spent the rest of the evening reading the contract and checking the portal for assignments. There were always a few stragglers who waited until the very last minute to send in their papers. I had their names memorized by now because they were always the same. I’d pondered a few times if they’d done so just to get a rise out of me. They were, after all, my best students.

As I closed the lid on my laptop, my phone beeped at the same moment sirens rang out, growing closer, cutting through the peacefulness of the night. Glancing at my phone, I cursed. One of the dorms was on fire and students were directed to stay away from the area to give first responders and firefighters access to the scene. A second text followed the first, requesting all professors on campus to meet in the administration building for an emergency meeting.

So much for a quiet evening at home.

Lyra

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