Undercover Fighter Read online

  “Nonsense,” McCready replied with a predatory smile. “As my gift, I would like to offer you any of my women for the night.”

  The words entered the room like a falling anvil. Suddenly, Wyatt understood the need for an audience. This was his first test; his first real chance to prove he was on McCready’s side, and agreed with his lifestyle. If he refused the ‘gift’, McCready would know instantly Wyatt wasn’t one of them.

  Maybe he could’ve weaselled out of it if he’d been alone with McCready. But with all eyes on them, it would be rude to refuse the apparent gift, and too obvious he was avoiding it.

  McCready had arranged it well.

  “What’s wrong?” McCready asked. “You won’t refuse will you?”

  Wyatt shook his head. “Just trying to decide.” He made a show of looking all the women in gold up and down.

  “Well, we won’t wait forever. Decide quickly.”

  Or what? Wyatt longed to ask, but didn’t dare. He sighed. There was really only one decision he could make.

  “Her,” he said, pointing at Kat.

  McCready’s smile widened. “An excellent choice.” McCready glanced at Kat with something close to dislike in his eyes, and realisation slammed into Wyatt like a fist. McCready had known—or at least suspected—Wyatt would choose Kat. And this moment was as much a punishment for her as a test for him.

  He’d wanted to humiliate her publicly in front of this crowd, wanted to show her he had power over her, owned her body and her soul.

  And Wyatt had played into his hands.

  His stomach roiled at the thought. But Kat stepped forward, her chin high as she stared him down. His heart kicked in his chest. He liked her defiance, her strength. They appealed to him far more than all the bare skin she had on display.

  “Well, you two have fun,” McCready said, stepping back. “Kat, you know what’s expected.”

  The hot burn of humiliation flowed through him, but Wyatt tried to ignore it. Instead, he walked over to Kat and held out his arm for her, as if she were a 19th-century lady, and he was the gentleman escorting her. She took it with great dignity, and they walked along the hall and away from the people watching their every step.

  Kat led Wyatt down the corridor, up a flight of stairs, and to her bedroom. McCready’s final words rang in her head. She did know what was expected. McCready expected her to take Wyatt to her room and fuck him senseless.

  But Kat didn’t want that, not really, not like this. She actually liked Wyatt, and she certainly found him attractive. If circumstances had been different, she might even have pursued him herself.

  Instead, their time together would be tainted by McCready, by the situation. Kat found herself a little disappointed in Wyatt. She knew he didn’t have much of a choice, that when McCready gave you a gift, you had to accept. But couldn’t he have chosen another girl? One he didn’t know. Then she wouldn’t have to do this, knowing how things could be different between them.

  The thought of Wyatt with another woman caused a jealous twist in her gut, surprising her. Oh God, she liked the guy even more than she’d realised.

  Well, if they had to do this, then she’d make it as bearable as possible. Instead of pretending she was elsewhere, like she usually did, she could pretend she and Wyatt were two normal people, who met at a party and liked each other enough to start a relationship.

  It wouldn’t be so bad. And if Wyatt was as good in bed as she suspected, with those muscles and intense looks he threw her way, then maybe at least she’d get something out of it.

  Kat pushed the door to the bedroom open. As soon as she stepped inside, the red light of the camera switched on. She shuddered and pointedly looked away.

  Wyatt came in behind her, looking around curiously at her room. Kat saw it through his eyes. The whole room was white. White carpet, white furnishing, white bedspread, white walls. There was nothing personal to be seen. No photos or knickknacks. A blank slate.

  She intentionally kept it that way as a reminder not to get comfortable. This wasn’t her home. While some of the women in the house had finished out their sentences with McCready and elected to stay on, lured by the familiarity of something they’d known for so long and the easy life of luxury, Kat wouldn’t be one of them.

  “So, we got through that relatively unscathed,” Wyatt said, smiling at her.

  Kat sat on the edge of the bed and leaned back in expectation. “Yes.” She crooked her finger at Wyatt, and he stepped towards her, but his brows pulled into a scowl.

  “What are you doing?”

  “What does it look like I’m doing?”

  “We’re not actually doing this,” he said, as if it was obvious. “We should sleep.”

  Kat stared at him with mingled relief and horror. He didn’t expect her to have sex with him because he could and it made her instantly like him again. But McCready was probably listening to their every word, and if Wyatt kept talking there was every chance he’d get them both into a load of trouble.

  He sucked in a breath, clearly intending to say more on the topic, but Kat hopped up and threw herself into his arms before he could, kissing him soundly.

  At first he didn’t kiss her back, but when she poked his side in warning he reluctantly opened his mouth to her. The kiss was wet and deep. And even though her head reminded her she was doing this for show, Kat sank into the kiss, enjoying Wyatt’s mouth against hers.

  He was a good kisser, his tongue tangling with hers in a way that sent pulses of heat to her core. Her skin tightened and she deepened the kiss even further. Her hand slid under his shirt, touching his hot skin. She groaned, her mind already tumbling ahead to imagine what he’d feel like against her, naked.

  The sound must have startled Wyatt, though, because he tore his mouth from hers. His head reared back so he could see her face.

  “What are you doing?” he murmured, looking baffled.

  Kat avoided looking at the camera, though it called to her. She had to hope Wyatt’s words were low enough not to be caught on the microphones scattered about the room.

  “Let’s take a shower,” she said loudly. Then, she stepped out of Wyatt’s arms, instantly missing their warmth, and tugged him into the bathroom.

  Wyatt stayed silent as she turned the taps on and tested the temperature. Then, without looking at him, she stepped under the stream, still in her gold bikini. Wyatt hadn’t moved.

  “Get in here,” she said, eyes widening in warning.

  Wyatt was smart enough not to voice his confusion. Instead, he pulled off his shirt, revealing his beautifully broad, muscled chest and the tattoos that dotted his skin. One day she’d ask about those, but now was not the time.

  Next, he pulled off his jeans and let them pool on the floor. She’d never got such a good look at his thighs before. It had never been more apparent that he was a life-long athlete, since he was in such perfect shape. Her mouth watered.

  He hesitated over his boxer briefs, but then left them on, stepping into the spray of hot water.

  They were inches from each other, steam rising between them, water sluicing over them. Her breath quickened, and his eyes darkened as the water plastered her bikini even closer to her skin, moulding to every dip and curve.

  But he still didn’t touch her.

  “Why are we in the shower?” he asked.

  Kat glanced around the room, making sure McCready hadn’t installed a camera since the last time she’d checked. “Because he’s watching us.” She kept her voice low so it wouldn’t rise above the sound of rushing water.

  “McCready?” Wyatt asked with a frown.

  “Yes. There’s a camera in my bedroom.”

  Wyatt stepped back. “What?” he hissed.

  Kat frantically pressed a finger to her lips. “Shhhh. I’m not supposed to tell you. He can’t know you know.”

  Wyatt stared at her. “That’s so creepy. How do you live with it?”

  She shrugged. “There’s a reason I’d do anything to get out of h
ere.”

  Wyatt nodded slowly. “I’m starting to understand that more and more. I’m sorry I was so hard on you.”

  Tears sprung to her eyes, surprising her. She blinked them away. When was the last time someone had apologised to her? She couldn’t even remember.

  “It’s fine. You didn’t know.”

  “But I do now.”

  “Yes. So you know I have to do whatever it takes to stay in his good books. Including going out there and fucking you.”

  Wyatt growled, shock and annoyance slicing across his face. He stepped closer towards her until they were barely an inch apart. “I will not.”

  Kat swallowed. “We have to. Do you know how much trouble I’ll get in if McCready knows we didn’t have sex? Even if you were reluctant, he’d expect me to seduce you.”

  “Is that what he meant when he said you knew what was expected?”

  Kat nodded, leaning back against the cool tiles behind her. Sympathy entered his expression and Kat looked away. It was too close to pity.

  “You shouldn’t refuse, either,” she said harshly.

  “Why not?”

  “You want to pass his test, don’t you? Well, this is it. Or at least the first step. If you don’t do this, your charade will be over, and you’ll never find out what happened to your brother.”

  Wyatt crossed his arms over his chest, and Kat was momentarily distracted by the play of muscles. “I can’t,” he said simply.

  Kat made a sound of frustration. “Why not? Am I not hot enough? Remember you chose me.”

  “I chose you because I knew you wouldn’t rat me out if I didn’t sleep with you.” He was growing annoyed now, but Kat kept pressing.

  “So, it must be because you don’t find me attractive. Here I am, ready, willing—”

  “Are you though?” Wyatt asked, voice deadly soft.

  Kat stopped and blinked. “What?”

  “Are you willing?”

  “What do you mean?” she asked, but she was afraid she knew.

  “What would happen if you said no to me? If you walked out of this room and didn’t come back?”

  “I wouldn’t.”

  “But if you did?”

  Kat swallowed. “McCready would punish me,” she said in a small voice.

  “Exactly,” Wyatt said, gripping her upper arms. “If you can’t say no without punishment, you can’t say yes, either. So I’m not doing it. I won’t sleep with you unless and until you can say no, but still choose to say yes.”

  Kat blew out a long breath, her chest curiously tight. She was touched by the gesture, even though she knew it would screw things up for her with McCready. That Wyatt cared so much for her—for women—was like a breath of cool mountain air after being in a fetid cave of misogyny and exploitation.

  Her heart took a tumble. Kat was perilously close to falling for this guy, teetering on the precipice. Part of it was a mild form of hero-worship, she knew this and recognised it. But most of it was him. His honour, his sweetness. His determination and strength. It wasn’t that he looked better in comparison to men like Spider or Senator Phillips. It was that he really was a good, decent man.

  “So what do you suggest I do?” she asked him, voice pleading. “I can’t not sleep with you. McCready will know and I’ll be punished in a far worse way than what a night in your bed would be. I can’t imagine that would be much of a punishment. At least, I hope not.”

  Wyatt cracked a grin. “I can guarantee it would be all pleasure, no punishment.” His voice went deep and rough on the word pleasure, sending a shiver down Kat’s spine and making her clit throb in response. As much as she appreciated his concern for her consent, she regretted she couldn’t sleep with him to ease the ache.

  “Can we pretend we’re having sex in here, then go to sleep?” Wyatt asked, back to the problem at hand.

  She shook her head. “No, McCready wants it on camera. For blackmail material later. Those are the rules.”

  Wyatt dropped his head, his brow furrowed as if he was thinking. Kat slicked her hair back off her face as she waited for him to see she was right. There was no other option.

  “Then we fake it,” he said.

  “What?” Kat asked.

  “Actors do it all the time, right? I’m sure we can convincingly fake some sex and an orgasm or two. But we’ll keep our clothes on under the covers.”

  Kat stared at him, processing what he was saying. “It could work…” she said eventually, skeptical.

  “Of course it will. McCready will be fooled, we won’t feel coerced, we all win.” He glanced over the edge of the glass shower wall into the bedroom beyond. “Decide quick, because I worry we’ve been in here too long.”

  Kat let out a baffled laugh. “Okay, I guess we can try it.”

  Wyatt grinned, pleased, and Kat’s heart tumbled all over again.

  Yeah, she was in real trouble with this one.

  Chapter 11

  They wrapped towels around themselves to disguise the fact they were still wearing underwear and headed straight for the bed. Kat got in first and flung the towel away once she was under the covers. Wyatt hesitated a second as he stared at her, wondering what the hell he was doing.

  It was the only thing he could do, given the circumstances. But he felt like he’d stepped into some bizarre alternate reality where shit like this was normal. What kind of man would put cameras in an employee’s room? At the thought, Wyatt glanced up and scanned the ceiling. The camera was in the corner, disguised as a motion detector with a red light activated. He shivered at the sight, and couldn’t shake the feeling they were being watched.

  He turned back to Kat, who was looking up at him with a question on her face. He shook his head, unable to answer. She’d told him there were microphones in here, too, so McCready would hear anything he said.

  With a sigh, he pulled up the covers and slipped beneath them, discarding his towel as soon as his lower half was hidden. The wet fabric of his underwear chafed, but Wyatt refused to strip all the way off. He’d have to deal.

  He rolled over to look at Kat, and for a single, breathless second, he forgot they were only faking it. She was propped on her elbow, her face seductive. Wet hair flowed over one shoulder, a perfect mix of casual and comfortable. Her breasts strained against the flimsy fabric of her bikini top, visible through the folds of her pristine white quilt.

  Wyatt’s cock hardened at the sight. He willed it down, but it wouldn’t obey, responding instinctively to the beautiful woman an arm’s length away with an expression of pure sex.

  This would be far more painful than he’d thought, to fake making love to a woman he wanted so badly. But he had to. For himself, for her. It wouldn’t be right any other way.

  Wyatt moved closer, slipping his hand over the soft skin of her upper arm. He wanted to go carefully and slow, take his time exploring her, but that would be for later, if he ever got that chance. When the time was for them, not for McCready’s benefit.

  On this occasion, it would be better to get it over and done with. Do just enough to convince McCready they’d had sex, and then go to sleep.

  With that in mind, Wyatt lightly pushed Kat onto her back. He shuffled forward, over her left leg, until he was lying in the cradle of her thighs. He was careful not to let the quilt dip as he moved, or it would reveal their lack of nakedness.

  He braced himself on his hands above her, staring at the beautiful woman lying beneath him as if she was his. He couldn’t let himself think that way, though. No matter how soft her eyes were as they looked at him.

  She ran her hands over his rib cage and goosebumps rose where she touched. She grinned at him and did it again, playful and teasing. Shit, he wished this was for real.

  He reached beneath the covers to adjust his painfully hardening cock as it strained against the damp fabric of the underwear.

  “You’re so wet,” he said, pretending he was testing her readiness, then winced. It sounded super corny under the circumstances. And besides,
would the guy he was pretending to be care whether she was enjoying herself? He doubted it.

  Amusement danced in Kat’s eyes, and she pressed her lips together to stop herself from laughing. Wyatt couldn’t hold back a small chuckle, rolling his eyes at himself. At least, if they had to do this strange and uncomfortable thing, they were doing it together and having fun with it.

  Usually, he’d go down on a woman at least once the first time they had sex. It was only right that he work to get her primed, and he always enjoyed a woman’s pleasure. But the character Wyatt was playing wouldn’t do that, not in this situation. And Wyatt deferred to his alter-ego’s way of handling things, knowing McCready would be analysing his every move. He needed this situation to be over and done with.

  “Baby, get in me,” Kat said in a convincing attempt at a woman in the throes of lust. How many times had she been forced to pretend to enjoy herself in the bedroom, knowing her boss was watching her every move? Wyatt couldn’t even think about it.

  Wyatt pretended to get his cock seated at her entrance and then gently thrust his hips.

  “Oh,” said Kat, halfway between surprise and pleasure, even though he wasn’t actually touching her. He tilted his hips again and Kat bent her legs up on either side of him.

  Wyatt didn’t think he’d ever felt so awkward in his life. He pressed his lips together to stop himself laughing, and his cheeks heated. How did actors do this on a regular basis? It was mortifying, particularly knowing someone was watching.

  “That’s it, baby,” Kat crooned. Wyatt dipped his head, hiding his expression from the camera, still torn between amusement and embarrassment.

  The worst of it was that he was also incredibly turned on. His cock was hard and aching and desperate for friction.

  He gritted his teeth, determined to power through this. Looking up at Kat to remind himself where he was and what he was doing, Wyatt found her eyes were fixated on his with an intense stare. Their gazes locked. He increased the pace of his fake thrusts, and Kat moaned in response. Even the sounds she was making, though he knew they were fake, were causing deep pulses through his cock.