2. Heard That One Before
Chapter two
Heard That One Before
Asher was nearly running late. He’d gotten a burst of inspiration on his newest painting and had to roll out of his nest to work on it at the crack of dawn. The orange light of early morning poured in through the frosted glass of the windows as he stood before his canvas completely naked. As he worked the peachy glow of dawn turned to the brighter white of morning and his alarm went off.
Asher had glanced at the clock to see that he had less than an hour to get ready and head to school. But he hesitated and perfected one last little detail first, which is what cost him the valuable minutes that he was now trying to make up by rushing to the bus stop to catch the next bus at 8:15, while trying not to drop the four canvases that he was carrying under his arm.
Asher was wearing his school clothes, which consisted of a paint-splattered white cropped tee that he wore under loose, thin denim overalls that were unhooked and hanging loose on one side and also covered in colorful splashes. They showed all the skin from his rib cage to his hips, where the band of his black thong peeked out every now and then.
It was the closest Asher could get to feeling naked while in his art classes and he hated to paint with clothes on, which led to him often streaked and stained with paint on various parts of his body. His hands were by far the worst victims of his art and his nails were an ever changing hue of paint stain and dried, flaking splatters of vibrant rainbows. He had at least taken the time to somewhat style his mop of soft brown curls and waves into something approaching a style that he thought looked chic in its effortlessness.
His makeup was what he’d really taken up his small store of time with. He’d just felt like looking pretty, and less masculine, and he’d done a full face, though left off eyeshadow in favor of a heavy wing and coat of mascara. As he walked, Asher couldn’t help but feel like he’d forgotten something. He reached the bus stop in time, he caught a glimpse of himself in the glossy tinted glass of a fabulously expensive car that was parked just down from it, and realized he’d forgotten his signature item.
Asher leaned his canvases against his leg and fished out his tube of lip gloss before bending down to see his reflection in the black glass of the car window. He opened his mouth into an ‘o’ and painted on a thick layer of the gloss, pursing his lips and rubbing them together to evenly disperse it.
The omega capped the lip gloss and slid it into his pocket just as the window rolled down and Asher realized the parked car was not in fact empty, and this stranger had just watched him use his car as a mirror. However he was distracted, as the window rolled down and the scent of an alpha hit him. He smelled like sandalwood and a hint of citrus and Asher breathed in deeper as the scent wafted into him, warming him and making the skin along his spine prickle with awareness.
“Well, hello there.” The stranger said and his voice increased that tickle and turned it to heat and Asher realized he was getting aroused by him. Oh. It had been a while since he’d felt it and it made him want to strip this alpha down, sit him on the stool before his easel and cockwarm him and be held as he painted.
That morning Sebastian woke up with a slight headache, but it was nothing that a few aspirin and three cups of coffee couldn’t cure. By the time he chugged a bottle of water and showered, he felt human again and he dressed for work, choosing a grey suit with a subtle red and black threading through it that he paired with a black shirt and a white silk tie printed with dark red roses. He kept his makeup simple and almost non-existent and used a bit of product to keep his hair in check. By the time he was ready, he looked much better than he felt.
Sebastian knew he needed to get something to eat and possibly more coffee on his way to the office. The night hadn’t ended with him meeting his soulmate, or even a suitable bed companion, but he was satisfied with knowing that his friend had found someone. He would have to call and tease Cody and possibly even find out what happened between him and the bartender.
Sebastian fed Princess and gave her a scratch behind her soft ears before leaving, catching the cab he’d called that waited outside his home and directing them to the club from the previous night. Retrieving his car was done in a matter of minutes and he was on his way to work. He drove through the busy streets and tried to find somewhere he could get a decent coffee and breakfast.
He spotted a little cafe about halfway up the block and parked at a meter that he quickly fed and ran inside to grab a large latte and a flaky croissant that called to him from the glass case at the front. He took his bounty to his car and quickly ate there since he still had time on his meter. He was just picking a crumb off his jacket when his attention was called by someone stopping next to his car.
Sebastian looked over and saw the upper body of a stranger, though Sebastian couldn’t see his head from his perspective and he’d never wished more for a convertible as the roof blocked his view. The omega was wearing a short, white cropped tee and baggy overalls that hung loose on one side. Everything was splattered with paint, which made sense, since he seemed to be carrying canvases. An artist then.
Sebastian could see on the side of his waist, disappearing under the overalls, a streak of gold paint, which to Sebastian, suggested that he hadn’t been wearing them while painting. He was about to get out of the car to get a look at his face when he saw him set his canvases down and lean them carefully against his leg and then he bent over and the prettiest face Sebastian had ever seen appeared and he felt the breath catch in his lungs as his eyes drank him in as well as the way his overalls hung down, revealing the strap of what he was certain was a black thong.
He sat there, frozen as the omega pulled out a tube of lip gloss and he recognized the container. Of course he did, how could he not? It was his very favorite… Cherry Breeze. Sebastian watched in desperation, cock hardening in his slacks as he observed him. His hair was brown, gently wavy and messy with immaculately applied makeup.
However, those things passed over him, not catching his attention as he watched a little white doefoot, glimmering with gloss as it traced over the most perfect pair of full, lush lips, swiping back and forth as it coated his lips. He could see the soft pink tongue inside his mouth as he parted his lips and applied his gloss and he felt his own lips part, pulling in a breath and let it out on a soft sound. Holy fuck.
As the gloss was put away, Sebastian finally managed to pull himself together and rolled his window down, not wanting the omega to leave without saying something to him. Surprise flickered across his face and Sebastian put on his most charming smile as he looked out at the pretty paint-splattered dream outside his car.
“Well, hello there.”
The pretty omega looked at him with surprise, his glossy lips making a little ‘o’ and Sebastian breathed in a deep breath. His entire body throbbed as he was hit with the scent of cherry, and it wasn’t just the lip gloss. The omega’s scent was the same and the alpha’s cock throbbed, heat coalescing in his loins as he breathed him in. Gods… not only was he beautiful, but his scent was mouthwatering… Sebastian’s favorite scent.
“Oh… Hi. Sorry about using your car as a mirror. I didn’t realize that there was anyone inside.”
“That’s quite alright.” Sebastian said with a smile that was returned by the bombshell standing outside his car.
“Anyway, thanks. Nice meeting you.” The omega said and stood to leave, reaching for his canvases.
Sebastian felt a shot of simultaneous surprise and panic as he realized that the omega hadn’t flirted with him, and was ready to walk away without so much as a backward glance. When was the last time that had happened? Especially when he was in his flashy car, wearing his expensive suit. The omega didn’t have any other scents on him, so Sebastian was sure he was single. His interest was immediately piqued and a stupid, perfect, crazy plan popped into his head.
“Wait!” Sebastian called, and the omega leaned back down.
“Yeah?”
“How would you like to be a model?”
The omega laughed and shook his head, somehow even prettier when he smiled.
“Honestly, I’m a bit disappointed. I thought you’d have something more creative. I’ve heard that one before.”
“No, really. My name is Sebastian Rossi. I’m the owner and CEO of Rossi Cosmetics and we are looking for a model for our new campaign. You’re just what I’ve been looking for.”
Sebastian could not believe that HE of all people was using his name to get closer to an omega. He felt like such a hypocrite, but he still pulled out a card and handed it over, the omega reached in to take it before slipping it into the cute front pocket of his overalls.
“Oh. I thought you looked familiar. Um… I’m not sure. I’m really busy with work and school. I don’t know if I have the time.”
“Just think about it and give me a call on my cell. But the pay is excellent and you’d only really need to be on set for a couple of days and I’m sure we could work around your schedule.”
“Okay. I’ll think about it.”
“Great.” But as the omega started to straighten up again, Sebastian called out, “What’s your name?”
“I’m sorry, that was rude of me. I’m Asher Knight. It’s nice to meet you Sebastian.”
Asher reached his hand into the car again and Sebastian wanted to moan out loud at how soft his hand was, but the omega’s paint covered fingertips endeared him. An adorable, gorgeous artist.
“The pleasure is all mine, Asher.”
“Oh! That’s my bus! See you around!”
Asher waved and picked up his canvases to dash to the bus stop just ahead. Sebastian watched him turn away and had to bite his lip as he saw him from the back. Fuck he even had a perfect ass.
Sebastian dialed Cody on his way to work and let his friend’s story about his night with the bartender distract him from the absolute knockout he’d just witnessed. Apparently, Cody had been pulled into the back after closing for “the best and most intense sex of his life” and he had another date on Thursday night.
“What the fuck do you MEAN, Sebastian Rossi asked you to be a model?” Asher’s friend Trevor practically shrieked as they headed to their figure drawing class.
Trevor was actually a photography student, but he’d insisted on taking figure drawing to “better understand the human subject”.
“I meant what I said.” Asher replied calmly.
“And you’re obviously going to do it, right?”
Asher shrugged. “I don’t know. I have three jobs already. When would I have time?”
“Asher Knight! THINK! If the pay is good, you could probably quit one of your jobs, and just think about all the art supplies you could buy. Brand new tubes of paint and blank canvases... plus all that free time to paint. Imagine it …”
Asher hadn’t thought about the offer like that. Quitting one of his jobs would give him more free time to paint. He thought about quitting at the tanning salon and having whole weekends dedicated to nothing but art. That sounded like a dream.
“You’re right! I’ll call him after class.”
Asher got through his figure drawing class, even as their nude model seemed insistent upon making eye contact with him, flexing whenever Asher looked up at him. The omega found it extremely awkward. He was in class and he didn’t appreciate the distraction while he was trying to work.
When the class was over, Asher closed his sketchpad quickly and left, wanting to avoid the alpha who so desperately looked as though he wanted to talk to him. Asher didn’t pause as he heard the slap of bare feet on tile floor behind him. He knew who it was and he wasn’t happy when his arm was taken in a large hand and he was pulled to a stop. He turned to see the model standing there in a robe and Asher tugged his arm out of the stranger’s hold.
“Yes?” Asher deadpanned and the alpha’s winning smile faltered a bit.
“Uh… Hi. I’m William.”
“I know. The professor introduced you on your first day.”
“Right. I was wondering if maybe you’d like to get coffee sometime or maybe dinner?”
“No thank you. You are handsome, objectively and I appreciate the compliment, but unfortunately, I don’t find you sexually attractive.” Asher said, honestly, then added as he went to walk away. “If you’ll excuse me.”
Asher made a hasty retreat from his would-be suitor. Trevor caught up with him as he turned the next corner and his friend pulled Asher to a stop as he started to laugh.
“Oh my gods, Asher. I’ve seen you do that… what? Like, 10 times and it never gets old.”
“I don’t want them to have false hope for something that I’m never going to want. It isn’t my fault that they get wrapped up in their own feelings. Anyway, I have to get going or I’ll be late for work.” Asher said, looking down at his watch to check the time against the bus schedule and seeing that he’d be able to catch the next one if he hurried. “See you later, Trev!”
“See you!”
Asher made it to the bus stop in time and as he waited, he pulled the little card out of his overalls pocket, reading it again.
Sebastian Rossi
CEO, Owner
Rossi Cosmetics
Below that was an address and two phone numbers, one for office and one for mobile. Asher pulled out his own phone and typed in the number, putting it to his ear and letting it ring. It only rang twice before it was answered.
“Hello?”
“Hello. Is this Mr. Rossi?”
“Speaking, who is this?”
Asher’s body warmed as familiar heat prickled up his spine. Arousal. Even this alpha’s voice aroused him. How very odd. Asher wasn’t the type to be attracted to many different alphas. It was hard to find someone who piqued his interest, but Sebastian Rossi was definitely one of them. Asher wondered if this was a good idea.
“This is Asher Knight. We met this morning.”
“Oh! Of course. Did you decide to take me up on my offer?”
“I thought I could at least meet with you. I am, after all, a college student. I could use the extra money.”
“When can you meet? This afternoon?”
“No, sorry. I’m headed to work right now. I’ll see if I can get someone to cover my shift tomorrow, if you’re available around 4:00?”
“I can move some things around. I’ll schedule you.”
“Thank you. Do you need me to bring a portfolio?”
“Have you modeled before?”
“Yes. My best friend is a photography student. He’s used me as a subject many times, though some of the photographs are somewhat sensual in nature, so if that bothers you I won’t include those.”
There was a little pause and Asher could swear the alpha’s voice deepened as he answered.
“No, that doesn’t bother me at all. Please bring your portfolio. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow, Mr. Rossi.”
“Tomorrow, Mr. Knight.”
Asher sighed as he looked down at his phone and hit ‘end call’. He wished he could go home, masturbate to the thought of being fucked by Sebastian Rossi and then paint his way through his post orgasm buzz, but he had to get to work.
Sebastian was hard as a fucking rock, right in the middle of the day in his office, sitting at his desk. His body reacted to Asher Knight as if he were a teenager all over again, popping knots left, right, and center, but there was just something about the omega that called to Sebastian. It awakened his wolf and made him salivate at the thought of getting a taste of those glossy cherry lips. Gods… the omega had smelled so much like cherry, so sweet and syrupy that Sebastian wanted to eat him out, just to see if he was as sweet as he smelled and he was certain the answer would be yes.
Asher was a college student, and he was much younger than Sebastian, but that wasn’t going to stop him. He wanted Asher Knight in his bed, but he’d have to see if the omega felt the same way, because Sebastian was ready to springboard off the cliff into whatever this was that he felt for the omega so strongly. Gods, how could he already be so whipped for an omega he didn’t even know? He’d seen him once , for a grand total of five minutes and he was ready to risk it all for him.
He was pulled out of his thoughts as his phone rang and he saw it was Evan. Just the person he wanted to talk to.
“Hey, Evan.”
“Did you look through the portfolios? I need an answer.”
“You said I had until Friday.”
“Yeah, I also said I was going on a diet but guess who had a full fat latte this morning?”
“I think I found someone. I have an interview with him tomorrow, but I need to either push up or push back that meeting with the design team.”
“You actually found someone? From the portfolios?”
“Actually, no. It’s someone I met by accident, but he’s perfect. I want him to be the main model of the fall collection.”
“M-Main model? Sebastian... You don’t do main models. What is going on?” Evan asked, voice full of suspicion.
“I just found the perfect model. I’ll get him on board, and you make the arrangements and push that meeting tomorrow afternoon.”
“Sebastian, if you are using company resources to get an omega into your bed I’m gonna be pissed.”
Okay, sure, Sebastian did want to bed Asher Knight, but that wasn’t the reason he was doing this. At least, not entirely.
“Evan, you should trust me. Have I ever let my personal shit get in the way of the company’s business?”
“No… but I also know you’ve been single for almost a year and I think it’s possible that your dick might be working as a dowsing rod.”
“It isn’t. Everything will be fine. Don’t worry so much. I’ve got this under control. Am I attracted to this omega? Yes. Would I still want to hire him if he didn’t want anything to do with me? Absolutely. He’s got this… gorgeous bone structure and these lips . He’s literally perfect for the fall collection. Trust me.”
“Alright. I trust you.”
“Thank you. Now, please reschedule the meeting and I’ll get our main model.”
“Alright.”
Sebastian spent the last bit of his day working, but mostly just fantasizing about the omega he would be meeting tomorrow. His fantasies weren’t even sexual really, or at least, not mainly. He thought about Asher sitting in his lap and kissing him gently, or laying out on his couch with Princess Unicorn Dumpling on his chest like a big, immovable bump on a log.
Sebastian wanted to take Asher on a date, treat him like a prince and then take him home and give him the most pleasure he’d ever felt… but that all depended on what Asher wanted, and if he said no, Sebastian would respect his decision, even if he would be disappointed.