1
Lucian
The knot inflated,and Lucian Bracknell let out a shuddering sigh as he sank face-first into his pillows. For a while he laid there, rocking his erection against the mattress, until a jerky movement caused the knot to slip deeper and put pressure against his prostate. With a strangled cry, Lucian jerked back and pressedagainstit.
He found release before his hips landed on themattress.
There were few things better than lazy afternoons like these. Alone in his small apartment, Lucian let go of what was right and what was wrong to embrace what wasgood. And working himself through another fantasy was more than good—it wasorgasmic.
As Lucian’s pulse returned to normal and his excitement wore off, he activated the pressure point on the base of the dildo and released the knot plugging him. The toy shrunk. Lucian removed it and tossed it into his laundry basket. It landed on one of his dirty work shirts withaplop.
Life was good. Maybe not great, but certainly far from bad. For an omega who’d just been through a prolonged stint at Stonecrest Rehabilitation Center, Lucian knew he couldn’t complain. He had a roof over his head, food in the fridge, and enough disposable income to buy frivolous things—like knotting dildos. But good sometimes wasn’tenough.
Lucian rolled over and planted his feet on the floor. His body begged him to stay in bed, and his knees were like jelly when he rose, but he had too much to do to laze around all day. The sheets needed to be washed, for one, but for two, he needed to get back to job hunting. The part-time gig he worked at the florist’s shop was low-pressure, but it would never get him to where he wanted to beinlife.
There were other jobs out there that an omega with limited skill sets could capitalize upon. The problem would be finding them. So far the job placement agency hadn’t given him any leads, and job hunting during his time off was slow-going at best. Lucian didn’t let it discourage him. He was capable, and he was determined to see himselfsucceed.
Lucian stripped the bedsheets. He stuffed them into a laundry bag, then dressed. Before long he was out the front door and navigating the labyrinthine basement of his apartment complex, destined for thelaundryroom.
His clothes would make it on thesecondtrip.
The laundry room was empty when he entered. Artificial floral scents drowned out the notes of the other omega tenants, but Lucian’s nose still picked up the faint trace of someone’s heat. He frowned and stuffed his bedding into one of the washers, then loaded coins into the slots and let the machine run. No matter how much therapy he received, the scent of heat still made him uncomfortable. He didn’t think that would everchange.
Once his laundry was started, Lucian hurried back to his apartment. There wasn’t any reason to be afraid—the subsidized housing he lived in was a designated omega-only zone, and he knew alphas weren’t permitted anywhere on the premises—but fear didn’t heed reason. All Lucian could do was breathe in deep and remember the calming techniques that Counselor Ellis had taught him during his time atStonecrest.
One. Two. Three.Holdit.
Three. Two. One. Letitgo.
Heat wasn’t a big deal. Heat was a normal part of an omega’s life. Now that Lucian was liberated from The White Lotus, he didn’t have to worry about what would happen if his heat hit early, or if a john decided that he was the one they wanted to bring to bed when he lost his mind to lust. He was safe now. He was free. In time, the scarswouldheal.
For now, all he had to do was keep movingforward.
A familiar sound pulled Lucian out of his head. Crisp bell tones, light and cheerful, cut through the silence of hisapartment.
His phone wasringing.
“Shit,” Lucian murmured. He pushed off the door and hurried back to his bedroom. It didn’t take long—the apartment wasn’t all that big. “Don’t hang up, don’thangup…”
Lucian fished the phone from his bedside table and answered. “Hello?”
“Hello, is this Lucian Bracknell?” The voice on the other end was female. It dipped low, sweet like honey, but refined like whiskey. Lucian didn’trecognizeit.
“This is Lucian,” Lucian replied, trying to keep the uncertainty out of his voice. He’d spent the last few weeks applying for jobs, but there was very little demand for an omega whose only accomplishments were a recently obtained GED and four years of illegalprostitution.
“Hi, Lucian,” the woman said. “This is Clarissa Holt. I’m calling to follow up about a job application that was forwarded to us from a placementagency.”
“It’s nice to hear from you, Ms. Holt,” Lucian said, praying to god he didn’t mess this up. He felt Counselor Ellis peering over his shoulder in spirit, coachinghimon.
Be approachable. Be humble. Be sure of yourself, but don’t come across aspushy.
“It’s nice to hear from you as well.” Her voice brightened. “I was wondering if you’d already foundemployment.”
“No. No, I haven’t.” Lucian grinned. He sat on the side of his stripped bed and ran a hand down his thigh. “If you’re looking for someone, I’d be happy to interview with you. What kind of position are you lookingtofill?”
“We have a bartending position available for the correct candidate, thirty-five hours a week, benefits after six months. If you’re interested, I’d be thrilled to have you in for aninterview.”
“I’minterested.”
