Page 25 of Christmas Heat
The woman's eyes turned appraising, flitting over her again in a way that seemed much more calculating than just casual interest. She leaned into sniff her, the movement obvious, making no room to hide what she was doing. Whatever she smelled–or didn't, as the case was–didn't seem to phase her.
"I have a little side hustle," Gwen said then, her voice confident despite the shameful words that she was saying. "I set up pretty girls like you with men who can take care of them. Like a mutually beneficial arrangement. No strings attached. I knowtonsof great guys who wouldloveto help you out."
"Oh, I don't think—" Charlotte tried to deny her, but Gwen cut her off, leaning in to sniff her again in a way that, if she was an alpha, would've made her bristle and growl.
"You are an omega, right, sugar? What's your scent?"
"I uh– I don't have one yet," she stammered, her eyes decidedly focussed on the beers in front of her even as her face heated in shame.
The woman's eyes seemed to brighten at that. Her eyes cut over to Charlotte's nametag, which readLottie.She hadn't wanted to put her real name on it. Hadn't wanted to risk any of the patrons finding her identity or following her home.
"Here's my email, doll. Just think about it and reach out if you change your mind," she drawled as she left her card on the counter.
And Charlotte did think about it. All night, as men grabbed her ass and stared at her chest instead of her face, Charlotte thought about it. Which was how, that night before she left for the evening, she found herself emailing Gwen after her shift using the bar's internet connection. She had cancelled her own internet subscription at her apartment the week prior to save money.
She bit her lip and forced her thumbs to type out the words on her ancient phone. There was a huge crack down the middle of the screen that made typing difficult, and it was at least six models old, but new phones were well down the list of her budget priorities, somewhere after kitchen appliances.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Interested?
Hi Gwen, it's Lottie, the waitress from Tim's Bar. I thought about what you said, and I'm interested in meeting someone who may be able to help, if you have anyone in mind. Thank you for your help. All the best, Lottie.
She quickly put her phone back in her pocket before stamping the time on her timecard and rushing home. It never felt safe walking on the street at night, but she kept her head down and her breath held with every person she passed, her keys clutched in her hand as a weapon.
The bar was only a couple minutes' walk away from her place, but this wasn't the safest part of town even in broad daylight, and it only became seedier after dark.
A few beta and alpha men catcall to her as she hurries down the street, whistling at her like a dog. She ignores them, silently praying they'll leave her alone and picks up her pace until she's nearly running, only taking a deep breath once the door of her dingy apartment closes behind her.
When she finally collapses in her nest after thoroughly scrubbing the smell of unfamiliar males off her skin in the shower, she's asleep almost instantly.
???
The next morning, she drags herself out of her nest and trudges along down the street to a cafe with free WIFI, planting herself on the bench outside it. She couldn't afford to pay the exorbitant amount they were asking for a tea, but she could quickly log in and check her email before anyone shooed her away.
Shivering a little in the morning chill, she finds herself shocked to see there is a response already waiting in her inbox.
The email is brief with a form attached for her to fill out asking her name, height, weight, designation, scent, sexual limits, and desired financial compensation. She quickly fills it out, not wanting to waste any time or risk getting asked to leave before she can complete it and send it back.
Name?Lottie.
Height? 5'2.
Weight?She didn't know. She hadn't been to the doctor's office in years and had no reason to weigh herself otherwise. She makes up something that sounded right.
Hair colour? Brown.
Eye colour? Hazel.
Ethnicity? Caucasian.
Sex and designation?She swallows.Female omega.
Scent profile? N/A. Have not yet perfumed.
Sexual limits?
