Fan-Tastic Read online

  A Total-E-Bound Publication

  www.total-e-bound.com

  Fan-Tastic

  ISBN # 978-1-78184-163-1

  ©Copyright Stephani Hecht 2012

  Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright November 2012

  Edited by Sue Meadows

  Total-E-Bound Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.

  Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

  The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

  Published in 2012 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.

  Warning:

  This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Total-e-sizzling and a sexometer of 2.

  This story contains 45 pages, additionally there is also a free excerpt at the end of the book containing 7 pages.

  FAN-TASTIC

  Stephani Hecht

  Everybody knows the best lovers are geeks.

  It’s time again for the annual Comic Book and Horror Convention. Normally, Deke liked to avoid these things. While he may be a well-known actor, he wasn’t hunky or a beefcake and he was always overlooked. In fact, most people like to call him ‘the geek of geeks’. But, the producers of his popular TV series don’t care and they order Deke to go. So, while he knows he won’t have any fun he has no choice but to attend.

  Blake harboured a crush on Deke even before the other man became famous. When he finds out that Deke will be at the convention, Blake knows he has to attend as well. Since he is trying to promote his own comic, Blake decides that he can mix a little business with his fun.

  To Blake’s dismay, not only does Deke not remember him, but the actor refuses to believe that Blake could have any romantic feelings for a geek. Blake decides that he can’t let this opportunity slip through his fingers, though. He may have given up on Deke all those years ago, but not this time. Will Blake be able to convince Deke to give him a chance? Or will the final credits roll before they find love?

  Dedication

  To Amber Kell — My partner in crime and fellow coffee whore.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  People: Time, Inc.

  Logo: Viacom

  Gumby: Clokey Productions

  Cirque du Soleil: Cirque du Soleil

  Party Rock Anthem: LMFAO,LLC

  Chapter One

  Blake didn’t know if he was going to faint, pee himself, or scream like a girl.

  Maybe he’d go for the gold and do all three. Yeah, that was one way to make a memorable impression. But, who could blame him? He was in the same building as Deke Masters! The Deke Masters who starred in Zombie Drive, which was not only ashow on TV, but a damn good comic, too.

  Blake scanned the busy, crowded convention hall, desperate to get a glimpse of Deke. He knew that it would be easy to miss the guy. According to his stats on the internet, he was only five-foot-eight inches. Plus, he had short dark hair, which tended to make it hard to distinguish him in a group of people.

  Blake ran a self-conscious hand through his own blond hair. Just that morning it had seemed like a great idea to spike it up and put red and black streaks through it. Now Blake found himself regretting the decision. Not only did it make him look like he was desperate for attention, but he found that countless other guys were sporting the same style and they were all younger than Blake’s twenty-five years.

  But he wasn’t just another fanboy—at least not this year. Blake reached over to the table by his side and ran his fingers lovingly over the cover of his comic. Sure, it might be a small indie-press and he might only have a handful of followers, but he was finally starting to get noticed. Shoot, if even one person asked for an autograph over the week, Blake would do a happy dance to celebrate the moment. Especially since the last thing he’d signed was the court order that evicted him from his home.

  He took in another breath, his gaze flicking over to the large display that Zombie Drive had up front. While various other cast members were mulling about, Deke had yet to make an appearance and Blake was getting nervous.

  The program had explicitly said that Deke was going to be there, but what if something had changed at the last minute? Panic began to bubble inside Blake. Shit, he’d wasted the last of his money to come here and it might have been a waste of time.

  Of course it was a waste of time! Even if he did get to talk to Deke, there was no way in hell the guy would give a loser like Blake a second glance. The man was a TV star for frick’s sake—whereas Blake shared his mother’s basement with her five, grumpy, ugly, smelly cats.

  “Wow, Star Cats! I love this comic,” a voice called.

  Blake was so caught up in his musings that he almost missed the comment. Great! This was probably his one and only fan in the place and he’d almost blown it. He threw a smile on his face and turned around, only to be stunned right down to the tips of his bright red Nike high-tops, to find himself staring at none other than Deke himself.

  Aw, damn, if he wasn’t just as hot as he appeared on the show and all the interviews, too. With short, brown hair, big chocolate eyes and pale skin, he was thin and boyish at the same time. Most of all, he didn’t tower over Blake, which had to be a first. In fact, they were about the same height.

  “You actually read my comic?” Blake asked, his question ending with an embarrassing squeak.

  Deke flashed him a smile, the one that had always made Blake want to melt into a puddle of goo. Sweet, with just a hint of dimple and showing off perfectly white teeth, it was better than anything Blake had seen a professional model sporting.

  “Sure, I read it. I’ve been following it since you first started posting weekly pages up on your website,” Deke said.

  Blake felt like he’d won a million dollar lottery and an Olympic gold medal on the same day. He even took his dorkiness a step further by bouncing a bit on his feet, probably coming off as some excited school girl.

  “I can’t believe that you, of all people, like my comic. That’s so cool.” Blake ran a hand over his hair. “I watch your show every week. I even record it so I can re-watch it whenever I get spare time.”

  Deke gave a knowing smile as he shoved his hands in his pockets. “So, let me guess, you have a major crush on Linda?”

  She was the starring actress on the show and had a habit of showing more skin than clothing. Which had never made sense to Blake. After all, if he’d been in a zombie apocalypse, he’d be covering up as much of his body as possible so one of the shufflers didn’t bite or scratch him.

  A heat came over Blake’s cheeks as he shook his head. “No, Linda isn’t exactly my type.”

  “Relax, I was just kidding you. Given the fact that your comic has a gay theme, I kind of figured that you were more of a Mike or Lex kind of guy.”

  The heat grew worse as Blake began to fiddle with the name badge hanging from his neck. “Actually, you’ve always been my favour
ite.”

  There was a long, drawn out pause and Blake looked up to see that Deke was shooting him a sceptical glance.

  “Riiiiiiight,” Deke drew out. “Because the computer nerd always is the hottie when compared to a fireman and ex-CIA agent.”

  Blake shrugged. “I can’t help it. I like both you and the character you play.”

  “You don’t even know the real me.”

  “I saw you in a few interviews.”

  “That’s not the real me. That’s what the PR people and my agent want me to pretend I am.”

  Deke turned around and began to walk away and Blake saw his only chance quickly evaporating. Deciding he had nothing to lose, he blurted, “I saw you when you played Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

  Deke froze for a moment, before he slowly turned and arched a brow. “You saw me in a production I did during my senior year of high school?”

  “Yeah, I did.”

  Cocking his head to the side, Deke narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Okay, then what school did I go to?”

  “Mt. Clemens High. Only then you didn’t go by the name of Deke Masters. You were called Eric Davison.”

  Deke’s gaze flicked down to Blake’s name tag. “And if that’s the case. Then how is it I don’t know you? Are you using a pen name or something?”

  God, could things get any more humiliating?

  Blake shook his head. “No, I was a freshman at the time, who just worked in the lighting booth and helped paint the props, so you probably didn’t notice me.”

  In fact, Blake was certain that Deke hadn’t noticed him. For all the time Blake had spent shooting the cute senior furtive glances, never once had Deke returned the look.

  “You were really good. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody play Puck better,” Blake said, once again nervously fiddling with his name tag.

  “And just how many times have you seen A Midsummer Night’s Dream?”

  Every chance I could get. Because even though none of the others starred you, at least it was some way for me to remember you. To relive the connection we once shared, even if it was one-sided.

  Blake gave what he hoped was a casual shrug. “Oh, you know. A few times in college. I went to one of those artsy places, so they were always making us go to plays.”

  Deke gave a slow shake of his head. “You know, most guys who come on to me only do so in the hopes that I’ll introduce them to Mike, Lex or Linda.”

  “I don’t care about any of them,” Blake replied honestly.

  The tight press of Deke’s lips still screamed that he didn’t buy it. So Blake decided to push things up a bit. “At the cast party for our high school play you wore those really tight red jeans with a bright yellow top.”

  Deke rolled his eyes. “Of all the things to bring up, you had to pick that hideous outfit?”

  “It did make you stand out in the crowd. I remember that Amy Schlomom couldn’t keep her hands off you.”

  “Yeah, she was my best friend, even after I broke her heart by telling her that I was gay.” Deke glanced up from under his lashes, his dark-eyed gaze so probing that it made Blake’s breath hitch. “But, you already knew by then, didn’t you?”

  “I had hoped.”

  “Really? Why is that?”

  Figuring he had nothing to lose, Blake admitted, “Because I had the biggest crush on you.”

  Deke opened his mouth to reply, but one of the convention coordinators called his name. Flashing a smile, Deke said, “I guess I better get going. Maybe we can catch up later.”

  Even a comic book nerd like Blake knew that was a brush off, but he returned the grin, hiding the fact that his heart was breaking. “Sure, I’ll be here all week.”

  He then turned back to his table, cursing under his breath. That couldn’t have gone any worse.

  Deke hurried up to the main stage, but his mind continued to stay with the slender blond who was still standing by the tiny table of comic books.

  As he took a seat behind the long table where the other actors sat, Deke continued to rack his mind, trying to remember Blake. For the life of him he couldn’t recall ever meeting him before.

  Then, just as he was about to give up, it came to him. Of course! Sure Blake had been several inches smaller and even skinnier then, but all of a sudden Deke had a clear visual of the, then, freshman.

  Blake had always hung back in the shadows. When he wasn’t working on the set or lighting, he would be hunched over some kind of sketch book. Deke now regretted that he never went to see what Blake was working on.

  There was no denying that the guy had major talent. Deke hadn’t been lying when he’d said that he’d been following Blake’s comic for some time. Not only was the story the right blend of sex and action, but the artwork was amazing.

  Two guys approached Blake’s table. Of course, Blake had to flash that sexy smile of his. The one that had instantly made Deke stand up and take attention, even before they’d exchanged a word.

  The guys were taller and bulkier than Blake and they really seemed to be invading his personal space. Blake took it all in his stride though. He just continued to smile, gesturing with his hands as his spoke.

  “Deke! Did you hear the question?” a voice called.

  Oh shit! He’d completely forgotten that he was supposed to be taking part in a Q and A presentation. He gave a slight shake of his head and smiled at the crowd. “Sorry, the jet lag is still getting to me. Can you repeat it for me, please?”

  The reporter, one that he recognised from People magazine nodded, then asked, “There are rumours that some of the major characters are going to be killed off this year. Can you tell us if one of them is you?”

  Actually, he already knew for a fact he wasn’t. While the fans didn’t find him sexy like some of the other cast members, he had a lot of followers that just loved him for his adorableness. While it annoyed him, at the same time he clung to it since it kept him steadily employed.

  Giving a coy chuckle that he knew would annoy but endear his fans he replied, “You know I can’t tell you that. Are you trying to get me into trouble?”

  On cue, one of the producers waved a mocking finger at the reporter. The crowd reacted as expected, with a soft titter of laughter. The next question was for another cast member, who was only in three more episodes—poor sap. At least that allowed Deke to turn his attention back to Blake.

  He frowned when he noted the two men were still there and they had somehow managed to move in even closer. Blake was still smiling, but there was some nervousness behind expression now. Then, one of the men reached forward and pressed what looked to be a key card for one of the hotel rooms into Blake’s hand.

  Blake shook his head and tried to hand it back, but the man refused to take it. The man and his friend didn’t seem to take the rejection very well. Their faces grew dark with anger and one of them swept his hand over the table, knocking over some of Blake’s comics.

  Deke had seen enough. Not caring if it got him in trouble, he got up and rushed over to Blake’s table.

  He’d hoped that his leaving would go unnoticed, but damned if a few of the reporters didn’t turn their cameras his way, tracking his path as Deke hurried to Blake’s side.

  “Is there a problem here?” Deke asked casually.

  One of the men sneered at him. “Not anything that’s any of your business.”

  While Deke knew he was too small to take on the meatheads by himself, one of the benefits of being on one of the top rated shows was that security was never far behind him. Hooking his hand over the man’s shoulder Deke said, “I can make it mine and their business really quick if you don’t leave now.”

  The men looked like they were going to argue for a moment, but they took one glance at the security guards, then turned around and left. As they were walking away, Blake tossed the card at them. “Here, make sure you take this with you, because there is no way in hell that I’m going to be using it.”

  It was only then that De
ke noticed how silent the convention hall had grown. Blake must have realised the same thing, because his eyes grew wide as he paled.

  “So, Deke, who’s your friend?” the People reporter asked, right before there was a flash as somebody took a picture.

  “It’s Blake Tallision and he has the best comic out there.” Deke reached out and held up one of the copies, happy to notice more flashes going off. “You guys really need to check it out. He’s amazing and so talented.”

  Before the rush of questions that was sure to follow could come, Deke leaned in and whispered, “You wore a pair of black jeans and a Pokémon T-shirt.”

  Blake scrunched his face up. “Huh?”

  “The night of the cast party for our high school play. It took me a minute, but I finally remembered. What I can’t figure out is what you spent all your time drawing.”

  Giving Deke a timid smile, Blake said, “Maybe someday I’ll show you.”

  Chapter Two

  Blake was packing everything up for the evening when Deke approached him. As always, whenever he caught sight of the man’s slim body and boyish grin, Blake’s heart did a little stutter.

  Damn, one would think that after all the passing years he would have got over his crush, but it’d only managed to grow stronger.

  “So, what are you doing for dinner?” Deke asked.

  Eating the other half of the comp sandwich they gave us for lunch today since I can’t afford anything else.

  Blake shrugged. “I’m tired, so I thought I would just go up to my room and crash.”

  “How about you let me take you out to dinner?”

  Blake felt that cursed blush creeping up on his face again. “I don’t know.”

  “Come on. I want to catch up. We can go to the steak house that’s right inside the hotel. It’s a bit pricey, but since my company is footing the bill, we can splurge.”

  Wow, it had taken forever, but Blake was finally getting what he’d always dreamed of, but never dared believe would ever come true…an invitation to a date with Deke.

  “Okay, sure. I am kind of hungry,” Blake conceded, his stomach doing a happy little flip.