by Aria Grace
She lives with her husband and two sons. If she isn’t writing, she’s reading, or making colorful to-do lists.
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Harper B. Cole is the pseudonym of three award winning, bestselling authors (including two USA Today Bestsellers) who love telling stories in the Omegaverse almost as much as they adore reading them.
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Winter Warmed
Aria Grace & Lorelei M. Hart
1
Wren
Eyes clenched, jaw set, body tense; I brace for the fist that’s heading my way.
A rush of air hits my face, but the knuckles never touch me. As I cautiously open my eyes, I’m faced with the tattooed fingers of my former boss. He stopped short, just centimeters from my nose. That massive, chunky ring of his is close enough to almost touch me.
I know from personal experience the sort of welt that thing leaves behind.
“You honestly think this is all that easy, little bird?” he asks as his fist drops away. The alpha before me is the very picture of cruelty. And he’s got the gold and silver smile, the greasy slicked back hair, and the bare arms and chest which are all corded with sinew and muscle to prove it. “You think you can just get another job? Find another place to live? You think I’ll just let you go?”
He paces across the living room of the dingy apartment and drops onto the sofa with a self-satisfied grunt. Surrounding us are his goons and lackeys. They’re mostly uninterested in our conversation, but I know that can change with just a snap of his fingers.
“I’ve paid off my debt,” I remind him, picking my words carefully. “Our contract is over.”
“You paid your debt a long time ago,” he muses. “But you kept living here, and you kept costing me money. You may be one of my best earners, but there are days when even you don’t bring in much. No fault to you, little bird. That’s just business.” He rubs his chin and grins at me. “But facts are facts. You can’t leave until you’ve paid off what you’ve accrued while living here.”
“But if I can’t leave, then...”
“Then you’ll just keep costing me more money that you’ll need to pay back?” He chuckles and kicks his feet up on the coffee table in front of him. “You’ve always been quick on the uptake, little bird.”
“I can still pay you what I owe, even if I don’t live here.” I’m not even going to try and dispute the money he’s gouging me for. We both know I’ve been nothing but a profitable asset to him, and that’s why he’s loathe to let me go.
“Except, if you’re not here, how can I be sure you’re not going to run off somewhere?” he says, quirking a brow. “Like I said, you’re smart. Smart enough to try to leave the city at the first chance you get. Smart enough to change your name and disappear. No, I can’t let that happen.”
“And you’re smart enough to know that if I was going to just skip town, I could’ve done it by now,” I counter.
“You certainly could have.” He tilts his head, a crooked smile splitting his mouth. “So why didn’t you, huh? Why not grab your freedom when you had the chance?”
I look away because his eyes are unnerving.
“Is it because I know where your parents live?” he asks. “Is it because you know I could just...” He holds up two fingers and makes a scissor motion. “Snip their brake lines and no one would know it was me. There are all sorts of horrible things I could do.” He chuckles as if the very thought of it is exciting.
“Yes, exactly. You’ve got me pinned down.” I force myself to look him in the eye. “You know I’m never going to just up and leave. There’s no risk of me running away. So let me take this other job. Let me pay you back in my own way.”
“And once you’ve paid me back, you’ll go crawling back to mummy and daddy?” he asks with a mock baby voice. “Maybe beg them for forgiveness? Repair that relationship you so utterly trashed?”
“Why does it matter what I do?” I force myself to stay strong.
He knows how to pick at me, needle me, wear me down. He’s good at that. “You’ve got to know this doesn’t benefit me at all.” He huffs and narrows his eyes at me. “You know what you’re really worth. Which means, you’ll have no objection to me wanting a little extra. I need to do something to cover the losses you’re about to incur me.”
Here it comes.
I knew it would come down to this. He was about to give me some sort of astronomical number that I would never be able to earn on my own. The sort of number that would break my spirit and cause me to just submit.
I’ve prepared myself for this. Whatever he throws at me, I’m not going to back down.
“I want a million dollars,” he says without batting an eye. “One million. That’s the price of your freedom, little bird.”
My heart is pounding. It’s lower than I thought it would be. I fully expected him to head right on up to one hundred million or even a billion. But one is actually something I could do. It would take some time, but I could do it. I was about to agree when he stopped me with a finger to my lips.
“I’m not finished,” he says as if reading my mind. “I want it before December 31st. A full one million dollars sitting here on my coffee table.” He bangs his heel against the table to emphasize his point. “Before the last day of the year.”
I’m gonna be sick, but I don’t let my face give me away.
“So you go, you play whatever game you want.” He waves a hand toward me dismissively. “But if I’m not counting fat stacks of cash at my New Year’s Eve party, then you’re going to be right back to work on New Year’s Day. Got it?”
“Yeah, I got it.”
“Good. Now get out of here.” He jerks his head toward the door.
Spinning on my heel, I have to force myself to walk calmly from the room. The warm sun of early December is low in the sky when I set foot outside. It’s a balmy seventy degrees, but I can barely feel it.
Before he changes his mind, I scurry across the parking lot of the rundown apartment complex and climb into my car. It’s the one thing that’s actually mine. Once I’m out of the parking lot and well on my way downtown, my emotions finally let loose.
A million dollars in less than a month?
He knows I can’t swing that. There’s nothing I can possibly do to earn that much money so quickly. I’m not exactly a high price escort who’s capable of raking in those elite alpha clients who are willing to pay ten grand just for me to hang on their arm for an evening.
It would take my best night of tips at the strip club every night for the next six months straight in order to come close to making a million dollars. But I promised my new boss I wouldn’t dance there anymore…back when I promised I wouldn’t be taking escort clients either.
But if I want any shot at earning my freedom, I don’t really have a choice.
My thoughts are running a million miles a minute as I reach the far side of town where Glass Bay Apartments is located. We’re close enough to smell the ocean, but not close enough to see it. Still, it’s a short drive if I ever want to bury my toes in the sand. Or walk into the sea and never come back out.
He can’t harass my parents if I’m gone, can he?
As I park the car, a wave of emotion completely overwhelms me. Resting my head against the steering wheel, I finally let myself cry. I never cry when I’m downtown. I can’t risk anyone who knows my old boss seeing me. I can’t show that kind of weakness in the crowd I’ve been forced to run with for the last few years.
But here, in the parking lot of this quiet little apartment complex, in this simple suburb, far from the hustle, I actually feel safe.
Until a knock on my window makes me flinch.
I jerk my head up in surprise, desperately wiping away the tears.
Kind, blue eyes gaze down at me. It’s one of the other residents of Glass Bay. I’ve seen this guy around a few times, but mostly fr
om a distance. He’s a good-looking alpha with a smile that’s to die for. But right now, his face is lined with concern.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his voice muffled through the window.
Clearing my throat, I nod and slowly open the door. “Y-yeah, I’m fine.” I climb out of the car. “Just a stressful last meeting with my old boss. Nothing too terrible.” I force a smile and hope he drops it. “I, um, I appreciate the concern though.”
“I hope you don’t think I was being too nosy.” He steps back to not crowd me. “I was just worried when I saw you hunched over like that.”
His expression is earnest. He’s obviously a sweet, well intentioned and honest man. Nothing like the alphas I’m used to dealing with. Definitely not the sort of person that needs to get mixed up in my drama. No matter how hot I think he is.
“Not nosy at all,” I assure him. “It’s nice to know that people care.”
“You’re the one who does all the landscaping around here, right?” He looks over his shoulder at the apartments.
There are three buildings that make up Glass Bay Apartments. They’re situated in a U-shape around a large grassy courtyard with a sidewalk along the perimeter. The flower beds, trees, and lawn are all maintained by yours-truly in exchange for a free apartment.
“Well, less ‘landscaper’ and more ‘lawn mower.’” I chuckle at my dumb joke. I really don’t know much about landscaping work. Honestly, I’ve only had this job for a few weeks, but I like to think I’m getting better at it.
“Either way, you do a great job,” he says with a smile. “Can I walk you to your apartment?”
Oh crap. He’s hitting on me. This wasn’t just some concerned neighbor. He was concerned, yes, but he also saw an opportunity to break the ice. Like I said earlier, he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who deserves to get wrapped up in my BS.
Then again, it’s not like I hate the attention.
He’s kind, and judging by the fancy watch on his wrist, he’s probably loaded too. The apartments here aren’t exactly high end, but they’re nice enough and the location is desirable so he must be gainfully employed at least. There’s certainly no shortage of nice cars in the parking lot.
Plus, the owners run background checks on everyone, so the place claims to be safe and secure.
Flashing my cheesiest smile, I loop my arm through his. “I’m Wren, by the way. And you are?”
“Darren,” he replies, his expression brightening as he escorts me toward the sidewalk. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Wren.”
I shiver beneath the rapt attention he’s showering me with. Unfortunately, guilt is already gripping my lungs. I can’t actually follow through with the whole “gold digger” thing. I might be desperate for cash, but I can’t bring myself to take advantage of someone who seems like a genuinely good person.
That wouldn’t make me any better than the scum I’m trying to escape.
Still, Darren’s easy on the eyes, and he seems interested in me. As he walks me toward my apartment, my heart won’t stop fluttering. It’s like I’m in high school all over again. A smitten young omega who can’t take his eyes off an alpha who’s way out of his league.
“If you’re up for it, I’d love to take you out some time,” Darren says as we reach the front door to my first-floor apartment.
My poker-perfect smile nearly cracks.
It’s so hard to not immediately say yes. No matter how perfect he is, I can’t let myself get wrapped up in him. If I’m not going to use him as a way to get money, then I can’t get distracted by that pearl white smile and those baby-blue eyes.
“You’re sweet.” I gingerly disengage my arm from his. “Any other time, I’d love to take you up on your offer, but I can’t. I’ve got so much stuff on my plate right now, I’m just...it’s not a good time. I’m sorry.”
“When would be a good time?” he asks, stepping a little closer.
I back up, bumping against my front door.
He presses a hand against the door frame, leaning forward so his face is inches from mine. The gap between us is painfully small, and my heart is racing.
I’ve dealt with a lot of alphas in my life. None of them have had the same sort of presence that Darren does right now. None of them have made my body quiver with desire like this.
“Because…” he continues. “I don’t think I’ve ever met an omega who intrigues me as much as you do.”
Oh crap. Oh fuck. He just came right out and said it too.
My cheeks are hot and I can’t even look at him. Turning away, I stammer as I try to remember what I was going to say. “I...um...I don’t really know. Things, stuff, is weird...”
His hand gently cups my face and coaxes me to look back up at him. When I do, I’m rewarded with a kiss. His lips brush mine, hesitantly at first.
But when I don’t pull away, he presses deeper. The heat of his mouth overcomes me, claiming my lips as his tongue slides against mine, seeking to know me.
I’m putty in his hands and that scares me. Turning my head away, I break the kiss and stare at the ground. My pulse is pounding, and my breath is short. As much as I don’t want to end this, I can already feel myself slipping away.
“I’m sorry,” he apologizes, stepping back. “That was too forward of me. I shouldn’t have done that.”
As he steps away, cold air fills the place where he stood. I instantly miss his presence and want him back.
But I’m stronger than my physical desires.
“N-no,” I assure him as I compose myself and smile. “It was nice. But it doesn’t change anything. I’m going to be...busy. At least until after the new year. I just can’t spare the time...no matter how nice the company.”
Darren’s expression brightens slightly. “To the new year, then.”
I hadn’t expected him to be so eager. This is going to make things so much worse when I fail. Still, I force myself to smile in response. “To the new year.”
2
Darren
I don’t think there’s anyone on this planet who hates themselves as much as I do right now. With my smile still firmly in place, I back away from Wren and watch him disappear into his apartment.
The rock in the pit of my stomach is threatening to make me vomit right there. If I were less of a man, I might have done it too. Thankfully, my apartment is only one floor up, and the stairs are nearby. Two minutes later, I’m safely inside it with the door locked behind me.
The full-length mirror by the front door serves as a reminder that everything I do is just a farce. My freshly pressed suit, nice car, fancy watch, and clean-cut attire are all just part of the elaborate costume I’ve been forced to wear. The employer who holds my chain is the same one who’s got Wren on the hook.
The jealous, brutal, manipulative bastard who can’t handle the thought of anyone getting free of his grip.
Storming into the apartment, I yank off the tie that’s like a noose around my throat and drop it on the ground before I collapse onto the sofa. Even the furniture in my apartment was provided by my boss. It’s all supposed to fit the persona I’ve been given. The successful young financier who is single and very much interested in the cute omega downstairs.
At first, I was just supposed to keep an eye on him and report back on what he’s been up to at this new apartment. As long as Wren kept up with his normal work, our boss was content to let him entertain this little fantasy of life as an upstanding citizen.
But now that Wren’s started asking for his freedom, I’ve been given new orders. My job is to distract him from his task. Derail his attempts to get the money that’s required to pay off his debt. I’m to seduce him, get him to trust me, promise him a way to fix everything, and then bring him back to the boss.
The man doesn’t want to just prevent Wren from leaving, he wants to crush his soul. And he wants to use me to do it.
It might have been easier if I hadn’t felt myself slowly falling for Wren over the last few weeks of stalkin
g him. Even from a distance, I could feel the pull between us. He’s earnest, hardworking, and desperate for his freedom.
Dragging myself back to my feet, I take a deep breath. The memory of his lips sends a chill down my spine. I’m surprised he was able to break away, because at that point, I couldn’t have even if I wanted to.
That kiss had taken on a life of its own.
Even now, I want to follow him into his apartment and pick up where we left off. My self-control is usually superb, but with Wren, I find myself struggling.
Slinking into the back bedroom, I gaze almost distastefully at the CCTV set up that my boss provided. Three monitors display feeds from four different cameras. Each one shows a different room or angle of the apartment just below mine.
The one where Wren lives.
His apartment was bugged the day after he moved in. While Wren was off dealing with his duties as an escort one night, I snuck in and placed the cameras and microphones wherever I thought they’d provide the best vantage point. It’s why the boss chose me after all. I’m not really a financier...just a guy who’s really good at surveillance.
And I’ve never felt bad about it before. Not really anyway.
Now, however, just glancing at those screens gives me heart burn. Especially because it looks like Wren is getting ready for a shower. It seems our kiss on the front stoop worked him up a bit more than he was letting on.
I don’t know why that makes me happy.
It shouldn’t. I was doing it to take advantage of him. My whole intention was to deceive him. To get under his skin and distract him. But my attraction to him makes it hard for me to regret that kiss.
I turn my back on the monitoring devices as he starts to strip out of his clothing. My skin is flushed, and my cock is starting to swell. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted to watch him. After weeks of monitoring him, I’ve seen him naked plenty of times.
