Page 42 of Wicked

“Um, less than an hour,” I say. There’s no need to mince words.

“Emergency heat companionship is something my company provides. Your options will be a little different, of course. Not all of our companions are available at such short notice. But not many mammalian shifters go into heat this early, so we do have a few alphas you can choose from.” He sets his suitcase on the bed and unlatches it. Inside the suitcase are four small metal boxes with a white label along the top. Each label has a man’s name on it.

“My friend Gerald—”

“Is already on assignment. I apologize. But I have four alternatives here for you.” He hands me the first box. It’s labeledRichard. “We find it’s more helpful to compare scents rather than photos.”

I pull the lid off the box and an intense musky scent wafts from the clear substance inside. “Wow, that’s… powerful.” I cough a few times, then put the lid back.

“No on Richard, then. I thought you might prefer his scent. He’s a red wolf shifter. Try this one.” Steel hands me the second box, which is labeled Steve.

Steve’s scent makes my eyes water. The tin should be labeled sweaty balls.

“Sorry,” I say, handing him the tin. “Usually I’m not very picky.”

It’s one of the reasons why being a sex worker was such a good fit for me. I almost always enjoyed sex, regardless of who it was with. Sure, some of the guys Lester set me up with were selfish in bed, and I had to finish myself off. But I still got pleasure from the sex.

Steel hands me the third tin. This one is Theodore. It’s not as revolting as the other two, but he certainly doesn’t appeal to me. The last tin—Harvey—is similarly disappointing.

“Do you ever provide companionship for omegas who already have a fated mate?” I ask.

Steel considers me carefully. “Yes. But it’s easier if the mate is present.”

“What do you mean?”

“Sometimes their mate is physically unable to provide the stimulation an omega desires during their heat. In that case, the presence of their mate is still preferable. Not only because the omega will develop a revulsion to the scent of other alphas as they descend into their heat, but because the presence of their mate is calming. It is possible to give an omega some satisfaction without their mate’s presence, but in that case we like to get a blocker prescribed for the omega’s olfactory senses.”

In other words, Steel can’t help me. There isn’t time to see a doctor or get a prescription. My body wants Manny, and that’s not something I can change right now.

“Thank you. I don’t think one of your companions will be able to help me this time around. I’m sorry you came all this way.”

Steel sets “Harvey” into his suitcase. “Do you have a knotting dildo or any other toys to help satiate you? I have a few care packages in my car that I could offer you.”

“Yes, that would be amazing. Although… I don’t have any money.” I had hoped Gerald could help me himself. Then I could pay him back or something. I highly doubt Steel gives his care packages away for free or offers credit of any kind.

“The gentleman who answered the door said he would compensate me for my services. Perhaps he’d compensate me for the care package as well?” Steel suggests.

Sweet H. At least I’m not completely alone in this.

“Perfect. Thank you.”

Steel pulls out a phone, swipes a few times, and hands it to me. “Here are the options. Please note the sizes listed along the bottom.”

Loneliness settles in my chest as I look through the photos of Steel’s care packages. They’re comprehensive with knotting vibrators, protein bars, and even an alarm that reminds you to drink water. The last package also comes with a weighted blow-up doll that heats up to the temperature of a human being and has posable arms. For omegas who want to pretend someone is holding them, I suppose.

Briefly, I consider choosing that package and putting Manny’s shirt on the doll, but it makes me too sad.

“The second package, please.” The knotting vibrator is a bright pink, instead of the flesh-colored one in the first package. I don’t want to pretend that the dick I have inside me today is real.

I hand the phone back to Steel.

“Very well. I’ll be back shortly.” He closes his briefcase and hurries out of my room.

This is it. No one else is coming to ease the need growing inside me. My mate has left me, and I have to pretend that I don’t care—that I’m strong enough to handle this all by myself.

I hold myself and rock back and forth. The pain inside my body is so overwhelming, I can’t hold still.

There’s another knock at the door, and this time Steel discretely slides a box inside my room and closes the door again, rather than coming back inside.

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