Hired for Heat (The Hired Series Book 1)

by Leann Ryans

  Sandra had focused on her goals and career to the exclusion of all else since she was in grade school. The few times she had dated had been brief, and always ended when she was unwilling to put her work aside to give the man the attention he wanted. Plus, she had never felt that she would be able to settle for a beta partner. Since she had been a child, she had wanted to feel the special Alpha-omega bond that her parents had shared. To be able to feel her partner’s emotions and know, without a doubt, that she was wanted. The fear of being used or controlled had always held her back from trying to find an Alpha partner though. How was she to know they wanted her and not just an escape from the future of an unbonded Alpha?

  Laughing at herself, Sandra thanked the waitress as she brought over her dinner before digging into it. Every time she came, she ordered whatever the chef special was for the night and she had never been disappointed.

  Moaning as the flavors of the tender beef fillet melted over her tongue, she barely kept from embarrassing herself and licking the plate clean. With a content sigh when she was finished, she leaned back and pushed the plate away. It was only a moment before the waitress was whisking it away and asking if she wanted dessert. Declining, Sandra finished her wine and collected her things, ready to head home for the night.

  Leaving enough bills on the table to cover twice the cost of her dinner, she made her way out into the chilly evening air. Regretting not thinking to bring a jacket with her, she figured the walk back home should keep her warm enough once she got moving. If that didn’t work, thinking about the muscles on Alpha twenty-eight sure would.

  Ducking her head to hide her grin, she walked the few blocks to her building, nodding politely to the people in the lobby as she made her way to her elevator. Still feeling restless, Sandra decided to remake her nest as a way to try to calm herself.

  Dragging the old pillows and blankets from her bed, she dumped them with the rest of her laundry and pulled out new ones. Arranging the pillows around the edges, before weaving blankets over and between them, she hummed to herself as she worked. She couldn’t help noting the things she would have to change to allow enough room for someone the size of the Alpha to lay in it with her.

  Finally, happy with the result, she snuggled down into her blankets, clutching a pillow in the space meant for another body.

  6. Sandra

  Sandra sat with her hands in her lap, forcing herself not to fidget with anxiety. As far as anyone could tell from looking at her, she was the picture of serenity. Perfectly calm and collected, just waiting to be called back.

  In reality, her heart was racing, and she hadn’t been able to focus on anything all day. She had changed her outfit three times before work, then again just before she had to leave for the meeting. She had spent twice as much time on her hair and makeup as usual and had probably checked her reflection at least a hundred times that day to be sure everything was still the way it should be.

  Drawing in a deep breath through her nose, she released it slowly until she saw the door leading into the back open and Ms. Burrie step through. The rest of her breath burst out in a rush as Sandra stood and forced herself to take measured steps to meet her. Giving her a small smile, Sandra followed behind through the bare white halls once again.

  They bypassed the ones where the Alpha’s cells were before Ms. Burrie turned into a new hall and stopped, opening a door to show her a small, dark room with a window in one wall. The window looked into the room next to it where the Alpha was seated alone at a small white table.

  “This is where I will be. If at any time you feel threatened, or uncomfortable, simply wave two fingers at the glass and I will come let you out. It is a two-way mirror, so you will not be able to see me from the other side and he will not know anyone is present unless you tell him,” she told Sandra.

  Giving her a nod, she waited as Ms. Burrie backed into the hallway to move on to the next door. A small cart sat outside of it with covered dishes and a pitcher of water.

  “You mentioned you were taking your lunch break for this meeting, so I took the liberty of setting up a meal for the two of you,” Ms. Burrie said when Sandra gave her a questioning glance.

  Giving her a genuine smile, Sandra thanked her, relieved to have something to use as a shield while with the Alpha. Eating would keep her hands occupied so that she wouldn’t fidget from the nerves crawling across her skin.

  Giving a nod of consent when Ms. Burrie looked to her before turning the knob, the door was opened, and the cart pushed inside before Sandra followed it over the threshold. The Alpha stood as they entered the room, his blue eyes zeroing in on Sandra. Not waiting for Ms. Burrie to make introductions, she strode up to the Alpha and extended her hand.

  “Hello, I’m Sandra,” she said smiling up at him.

  Now that she was closer, she could tell how truly massive he was. Towering at least a foot over her five-foot seven height, his shoulders were twice as broad as hers, his shirt stretched tight across the muscles. His spicy musk surrounded her, and she found herself leaning closer to get more of it.

  “Austin. Pleased to meet you,” he responded hesitantly, gently taking her hand in his.

  His hand was slightly rough, like a man used to working with them, and it dwarfed hers, completely enveloping it as his long fingers wrapped around her smaller ones. His eyes seemed cautious though they held a sparkle of mischief as he leaned over to press his firm lips to the back of her knuckles, nostrils flaring as he scented her. His voice had been a deep rumble that sent chills down her spine and caused her core to clench around nothing.

  Ducking her head to hide the flush she could feel creeping up her cheeks, Sandra turned towards Ms. Burrie who said, “If you would take your seats, I’ll lay the food out for you and give you some time alone to get to know each other.”

  Stepping behind the chair he had been sitting in, Austin held the back of it and gestured for Sandra to sit, scooting her in before striding to the opposite side to seat himself. His eyes never left her as Ms. Burrie placed dishes before them and poured two glasses of water. Sandra barely noticed when the woman left the room except to realize that she was now alone with an Alpha for the first time in her life.

  Taking a sip of water to cool her suddenly parched throat, she gave the Alpha another smile.

  “So, Austin, did they tell you why I wanted to meet with you?” she asked, trying to sound calm and professional even though she felt a bit awkward bringing up why she was at The Haven.

  Omegas being tended by an Alpha during their heat may be a common occurrence, but it still felt strange to her to basically be soliciting a man for sex.

  Lips quirking up at the corners, he lifted his own glass, holding her gaze until she was forced to break eye contact and glance away.

  “They did not inform me I was meeting anyone. They brought me to this room and told me to wait,” he finally responded.

  Glancing back at him, Sandra wasn’t sure if he was being truthful or if he simply wanted to make her explain why she was here herself.

  Straightening her spine, she squared her shoulders and looked into his deep blue eyes again.

  “I am interested in hiring you for my next heat. Your profile intrigued me, and while I am aware it is not necessary to meet prior to the selection, I felt it was better to do so,” she told him.

  Giving her a smirk, he relaxed back in his seat.

  “Oh, really?”

  “I felt it was inappropriate to select you without speaking with you about it before being put in a situation where our instincts overrule our thoughts. This will be my first time doing this, and I want to be sure you are okay with your part in it,” she explained.

  His eyes took on a hungry look as he leaned forward.

  “You want to be sure I am okay with being the first Alpha to fuck you during your heat? Is that what you’re asking?”

  Sandra’s mouth dropped open for a moment at his crude language even as her core clenched again, and she felt her panties grow damp thi
nking about him doing exactly what he said.

  “Well… I… Yes,” she said, fidgeting in her seat and dropping her gaze again. Reaching for the glass of water, her hand shook with the nerves he had unleashed with his blunt question.

  Peeking up to see his gaze wandering over her body, she choked a little on the water and sat the glass back down, covering her mouth with a napkin as she tried to clear her throat.

  His lips spread in a broad grin as he watched her, apparently amused at her discomfort.

  “I’m not sure I’m the right pick for you, Honey. Seems like you might need someone a little tamer than me. Someone with soft hands who will go easy on you,” he told her.

  Narrowing her eyes at him, she raised her chin.

  “I am capable of deciding who and what I need, and you are the stud I have chosen. Either you agree that you are capable of tending me through my heat, or I can find someone more… experienced,” she said with a small shrug, lifting her fork and finally taking a bite of her meal.

  Focusing on the food before her, she waited to see how he would respond to the challenge she had given him. It didn’t take long.

  7. Austin

  Austin studied the female before him. She wasn’t as small as some omegas were, but she was still tiny compared to him. He had been shocked when she walked in, especially considering he was expecting to be told he had to leave The Haven. Her business suit was a pale lavender with a brighter purple blouse. Her honey blonde hair was pulled up in some fancy knot on the back of her head with a few loose stands left to frame her face, while the wide, grey eyes were lined in black to make them stand out even more. Simple black heels completed the look of a confident businesswoman. He had thought she was one of the owners coming to cancel his contract until she introduced herself and the other woman asked for them to sit so she could serve the meal.

  He hadn’t been at The Haven long, and his stay had already been a bit rough. A disagreement with one of the other Alphas had ended with him already receiving a mark against him, and no omega had chosen him yet since he was in the high-risk section. They weren’t going to let him stay forever if no one showed any interest in him, so when she said she wanted him to tend her, it had seemed like he would get a chance to prove himself after all. The fact that he would be her first Alpha made her even more appealing.

  Austin found it cute that she had wanted to meet with him to be sure he was okay with her choosing him. The woman was obviously well-off, and he figured she should be used to telling people what she wanted and expecting to get it with no complaints. People in her position didn’t usually ask for permission.

  Her primness had him itching to ruffle her feathers just to see what would happen, and he almost laughed in her face when her jaw dropped after he questioned if she was really asking if he was okay with being the first Alpha to fuck her. Obviously unused to the blunt language, she still pulled herself together when he pressed her about choosing him. He wasn’t really trying to scare her away, he was trying to see how she would respond, and she turned it around by challenging him.

  Rock hard, Austin was ready to bend her over the table now and give her a preview of what she could look forward to, but he knew the woman in the scrubs was most likely behind the window and would stop him if he tried. That would probably be his last chance too. They had been very clear that he was not allowed to touch anyone but a paying client.

  Giving her a smile, he said, “Of course I’m capable, I’m just saying I’m not sure if you’re ready for me. I’m not one of the little betas I’m sure you’re used to. I’m big, I’m rough, and I have a knot that’ll stretch your little pussy to the max. If that’s what you want, then I’m perfectly happy to take care of you.”

  He could smell the omega’s arousal from where he sat across from her, though she did a better job of hiding her shock this time. Pupils slightly dilated, she looked like that was exactly what she wanted, and Austin couldn’t wait to give it to her.

  “Well, I’m glad you agree,” she managed to say before focusing back on her lunch.

  Finally trying his own, he barely tasted it as he imagined what she would look like without the suit. She had a sweet, slightly citrus scent that made his mouth water and he knew she would taste just as good.

  “So, when will you be needing my services?” he asked her between bites.

  Flicking her gaze up to his for a moment, she responded, “Within the next two weeks.”

  Nodding, he continued to eat as he thought of another question.

  “What made you decide to come to The Haven? This obviously isn’t going to be your first heat, yet you say you’ve never done this before, so why now?”

  Putting down her fork, she leaned back and studied him. After a moment she finally said, “Curiosity.”

  A snort of laughter escaped him before he realized she was serious.

  “So, you randomly decided that you were curious about what an Alpha’s knot would feel like?”

  Humming a little she nodded and said, “Basically.”

  He sat up straight and raised his eyebrows at her as she gave a small shrug.

  “I’ve always spent my heats in my safe room, and I decided it was time to see what it would be like to be tended through my heat instead. I’m at a point in life where I can step back from my career a little and start focusing more on me, and this is the first step in deciding if bonding would be something I want in the future,” she explained.

  Once the words left her mouth, she seemed to regret them, and he could understand why. A lot of the Alphas at The Haven hoped to find an omega who wanted to bond. It was the only way to get out from under a lot of the restrictions that were placed on them. The Haven was the best place to be for an Alpha, but eventually, even the best looking and best behaved still grew too old and were sent to one of the camps. Austin had long ago accepted what his life would be like, and only hoped to be at The Haven long enough to get a few rounds in with an omega since it was unlikely that he would ever get the chance again after leaving here. He needed to get a lifetime’s worth of memories out of however long he had, and he planned to start those with her.

  “Well, if curiosity got you this far, is there anything specific that you’re curious about? Any special requests you want to make while we can discuss the pros and cons?” he asked with a smirk.

  Snorting, she rolled her eyes at him, but he could see a smile teasing her full, pink lips.

  “I’m sure we can leave that for now,” she told him.

  Chuckling he responded, “I don’t know, we might need to go ahead and establish a safe-word for you.”

  Raising her eyebrows at him, she cocked her head to the side.

  “Will you be capable of listening to me if I used one?”

  Considering her question, he shrugged and said, “Probably not, but at least I could say I’d try.”

  Laughing, she shook her head. “No, you wouldn’t. You’ll go into a rut as soon as you enter the room and breathe in my pheromones, then you’ll proceed to dominate me and demand submission. I’ve done my research; you don’t have to pretend it’ll be anything other than you doing whatever you want with me.”

  Feeling his grin stretching across his face as he imagined doing exactly that, he couldn’t help but hope the next couple of weeks passed as fast as possible, because it was going to be torture waiting to get this woman beneath him.

  8. Sandra

  Sandra went back to work quite satisfied with the meeting. She had found herself actually enjoying the Alpha’s company once she realized that he was only being crude to try and shock her. After she figured out his game, it became fun to banter with him and see if she could shock him in return.

  Though he was still heavy in her thoughts, she was able to focus better on her work and stayed well past her usual time catching up on the things that had been left unfinished that morning. With her heat coming, she couldn’t afford to get behind on anything.

  That was the one thing that Sandra had alwa
ys hated about being an omega; that for approximately a week every four months, she would have to trust someone else to run her company while she was unable to function. If anything critical happened during that time it would have to wait, and some clients had issues working with her because of that. More than one client had taken their business elsewhere when they realized she was an omega.

  When she made it home late that night, she quickly ate the cold takeout that had been left on her counter before crawling into bed, dreaming of a mountain of muscle with dark blue eyes and a wicked laugh.

  ***

  The week passed in a blur of moments that seemed to last forever at the time, but looking back, seemed to barely take a heartbeat. There had been multiple times when Sandra had almost reached out to Ms. Burrie to schedule another meeting with Austin, but she couldn’t come up with an excuse that seemed good enough. Just wanting to see him again did not seem like a valid reason when many omegas never saw the studs outside of their heat.

  Sitting through another meeting that seemed to be dragging on, Sandra began to tap her pen on the table. It took a moment for the tap, tap, tap to register and for her to realize what she was doing. Forcing herself to put the pen down and place her hands in her lap, it wasn’t long after when she realized she was bouncing her leg and she couldn’t sit still any longer.

  Lurching out of her chair, she called the meeting to an end, fanning herself as she paced the length of her meeting room. It was a little early, but Sandra knew what was happening and she preferred the others to leave before they began to notice. The beginning stages of her heat usually lasted a day or two before she reached the point where she could no longer function, so she made her way to her office to try to finish the items she still had to take care of before going on leave.