Page 11 of Such a Sweet Omega

Jabez

A couple of days had passed since I had dinner with the omega. I told myself that I should not contact him, allowing him to do so if he chose. He’d insisted that the next time we ate, it would be his turn to pay, and although I did not want him to, if it meant I had the opportunity to see him again, I’d bite the bullet and allow him to do so.

As I dressed for the evening in the private bathroom off my office, I tried to think of a place to suggest, somewhere inexpensive enough not to tax his budget but nice enough not to insult him. His clothing was neat and clean but not expensive, and I saw no reason to make him spend dollars he couldn’t afford just to make up to me for a meal whose cost I barely noticed.

I wondered how I had never noticed him at the club before the night I banished his former wanna-be dom, but truth was, I had not spent many evenings at Cuffed in the past few months. My work had taken up a great deal of time, and I’d been out of town for a while at a healers’ retreat. One thing and another had me too busy to be where I preferred.

And this was something I was determined to change.

Not just because Beale might be there. Or rather not only for that reason. I was supposed to be the healer on staff, and although I did trainings with all our employees on how to handle any accidental—and they’d be better be accidental—injuries, nobody was better prepared to do that job. My fellow owners counted on me to be there and had been very understanding when I was not.

On this night, I had agreed to get out my favorite toys and offer all comers a chance to experience something that mightbe new to them. Not many people understood the violet wand and its erotic and healing properties. I’d been to one too many conferences where someone was selling the devices and loading down beginners with the heavy-duty electromechanical types that would give “the ultimate” erotic sensations. Some of these salesmen even guaranteed their customers orgasms like they’d never dreamed possible.

Returning to my office, I opened the antique chest where I kept all my wands and attachments. It had once been in a sea captain’s cabin, traveling all over the world, according to the antique dealer who sold it to me, and I wasn’t sure that was true. But it was very old and still had that amazing wood smell I loved whenever I pulled out a drawer or opened one of its little doors.

When I scened, especially with an experienced omega, I might bring out the serious devices, but for a demonstration, like tonight, where anyone was allowed to participate? Solid state all the way. I lifted out the case I would bring with me onto the main floor and filled it with all the attachments I thought I might like to use with those who cared to try.

Nothing I had here was dangerous, in theory, but I would keep control of it at all times because anything could cause harm in careless or inexperienced hands.

“You about ready?” One of the DMs for the night rapped on my open office door. “We’ve had several people ask if you were going to ‘really’ demo tonight.”

“Can’t blame them.” I’d had to cancel three times due to medical emergencies requiring my attention. My mentor had told me that I could expect a light schedule as a pack healer, but he’d never imagined what it would be like in the big city where I not only had a full practice but the additional duties of Cuffed. I needed to look into taking on an apprentice soon so they could learn in time to be of help before I totally burned out. “Be there in two.”

“Okay, boss.” He cast me a sympathetic smile. As well as a paid staff member here, Julio was an EMT. “I know what it’s like to be needed by someone.”

“Julio, have you ever considered giving up your work with humans?”

His eyes widened. “Why? What have you heard?”

I silently cursed myself. The prejudice against shifters in some human quarters could be extreme. Many still thought we were the stuff of romance novels, but among those who did acknowledge us as sharers of the Earth with them, a small percentage didn’t want us to continue to do that. Or at least not in their backyard, so to speak. “Nothing. I am going to be looking for an apprentice soon. My practice is more than I can comfortably handle, and you’re already helping out here with your medical skills.”

“And you would consider me?” The coyote shifter was an excellent dungeon monitor, careful and vigilant, and he’d bandaged nearly as many boo-boos as I had. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll think about it. It’s a big decision, and it doesn’t pay much at first.”

“But I—”

“Think!” I ordered, chuckling to ease any sting as I guided him out the door. “Go make sure the lighting is set up for my demo. Last time, my remote didn’t work, and I couldn’t turn it on and off as needed. It ruined the whole effect.”

“On it.” He dug in his heels for just a moment. “But I am most likely going to take you up on your offer. My omega dad always wanted me to be a ‘real’ healer.”

“I’d say you do a fair amount of real healing every day, but I understand. He probably would feel more comfortable with you working more with shifters.”

“There is prejudice on both sides,” he agreed. “Not only the humans.”

After he headed out, I finished loading my case and followed. The club was packed, and there were more people hovering around my station than would be there by chance. They expected a show, but first, they were going to get a lecture.

Chapter Ten

Beale

Jabez is not only haunting my dreams, but my every waking thought now. He had picked up all my pieces and put them back together twice—once at the club and then at the restaurant.

I’d typed out a text to him over a dozen times only to delete. I didn’t send a single one.

When I was walking in the coffee shop, I swore I’d seen him walking by the window or getting in line, but it wasn’t him. Only my imagination.

I sat down the next night with my phone in my hands, wondering how bold I could be. We did have a loose arrangement where I told him that I wanted to treat him to a meal after everything he’d done for me.

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