Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Pulling his underwear and socks off, Sam straightened, acutely aware of how naked he was. After a moment’s pause, he dropped fluidly to his knees and waited, his gaze lowered, eyelashes hiding his expression. From this position, all he could see were Agent 11’s shiny black shoes and black trousers. He breathed deeply, evenly, trying to think like Sammy. He wasn’t embarrassed. He wasn’t ashamed. He knew he was beautiful and desirable—
No, he wasn’t. Agent 11 was straight. Sam probably looked pathetic to him, kneeling on a cold floor, pale and naked, and a little turned on. Sam’s cheeks burned from humiliation.
“What is it?” the agent said, stepping closer. “You were doing so well, but now you’re all tense and awkward.”
Sam shook his head. “Just feeling self-conscious,” he mumbled, looking at the floor.
“Don’t be,” Agent 11 said, pushing Sam’s floppy fringe away from his eyes.
“Look at me, Red.” His voice was gentle but commanding.
Sam obeyed. “I’m sorry—I’m not good at it. I look ridiculous.”
“You don’t. Trust me, you have no reason to feel self-conscious. You’re exactly the type those rich assholes would like.”
Sam scoffed, unable to meet the other man’s eyes. “Coming from a straight man, it doesn’t mean much,” he mumbled.
“Sam.”
The command in the agent’s voice was impossible to ignore. Reluctantly, Sam looked him in the eye.
“I might be straight, but I’m not exactly new to this,” Agent 11 said. “I’ve been pretending to be a gay man for the past few years for another mission.”
Sam’s mouth fell open. “Really? Why?”
Agent 11 shook his head. “I’m not supposed to be talking about this with you. You don’t have the security clearance.”
Sam gave him his best puppy eyes. “Please?”
Agent 11’s expression turned pinched before he chuckled. “You’re a fucking menace.” He sighed when Sam grinned. “I have to romance the heir of one of the richest men in the UK, who is suspected… in a number of very serious international crimes. My cover needs to be bulletproof. It needs to be good enough to withstand any amount of scrutiny. That’s why it’s taking so long.”
Sam curled his hands in his lap. “How are you going to—to seduce that bloke if you aren’t gay?”
Agent 11 looked almost amused. “There are things that can help me out with that.”
Sam scrunched his nose. “Viagra?”
The agent shrugged, looking largely unconcerned. “If necessary. The bloke is pretty enough to be mistaken for a woman, so it may not be necessary.” He looked at Sam. “My point is, I’ve been successfully pretending to be a gay man for years. I’d like to think that I know what I’m talking about.”
“And you really don’t think I look ridiculous?”
“No,” Agent 11 said. “You look good. Now let’s try again.”
Sam nodded, inhaled deeply, and relaxed his body. He was Sammy, an adventurous boy who willingly enrolled himself in an illegal auction, seeking a sugar daddy. Nudity didn’t bother him. He knew he looked good. He knew he was desirable. He liked the attention. He liked feeling eyes on his body. He wanted people to want him. He wanted to be doted on and pampered.
He was Sammy, and he felt beautiful. Desirable.
“Good job, Sammy,” Agent 11 said, laying a large, calloused hand on Sam’s nape.
Sam didn’t tense up. He didn’t flinch. He looked through his eyelashes at the other man, biting his bottom lip and leaning into the touch subtly.
The dark eyes smiled at him. “You’re ready.”
Chapter 6
In any other circumstances, Sam would have been excited to be on a Mediterranean cruise, especially when the ship was like a five-star-hotel, including crystal-laden tables and potted palms. Granted, he hadn’t seen much of the ship before he was ushered into a huge cabin below the deck that served as a temporary cabin for all of the boys and girls participating in the auction.
Sam struggled to keep his expression suitably excited as he watched the others chat excitedly about the auction—the auction that was supposed to begin in less than half an hour. His stomach churned uncomfortably.
To distract himself, he eyed the other boys and girls. There were about two dozen of them, and they all looked startlingly beautiful and confident. No matter how hard he’d studied for his cover, Sam felt like a fraud, like any moment now they would guess that he didn’t belong.
“Nervous?”
Only his training with Agent 11 prevented Sam from flinching. Pasting on a smile, he turned around.
A girl about his age was smiling at him sympathetically. She was very petite and very pretty, with long golden hair and huge blue eyes. “You’re new to this, aren’t you?”
Sam nodded. He was glad that he had a cover of a newbie; he didn’t think he could have pulled off a cover of someone experienced at this. “I’m Sammy,” he said, stretching out his hand.
The girl shook it. “I’m Martha. Pleased to meet you!” She looped her arm through his and beamed at him. “Don’t be nervous, sweetie. It’ll be fine. My best friend participated in this cruise last year and she couldn’t be happier with her sugar daddy.”