Page 101 of Glitterati Omega

The trust lawyer turned a very interesting shade of pink, and Rupert scowled at him. “Please turn the papers over to Mr. Ndoni. We’ll have them sent back shortly.”

“Yes, of course,” the man said as he leaned forward to pass the paperwork to Winston. “Please take your time—I didn’t realize you were in such a … uh, delicate! Condition. We can certainly wait for the papers, Mr. Cullinan.”

He gave them a stiff nod and tip of his hat, then almost ran back to his car. Winston folded the papers under his arm and offered Rupert his hands. “Now,” he said.

“Oh,” Rupert groaned, “that was far too much excitement.” He heaved another labored breath. “Let me rest just a minute. I … apparently can’t get a deep breath.”

Winston smiled gently at him. “Unsurprising,” he said. “Mama would likely tell you that your lungs are being compressed to make room for the baby.”

Rupert huffed another couple of breaths. He still felt a little shaky, but he reached for Winston nonetheless. “Help me up, please.”

“Would you like to go lie down?”

“I think I might.” He paused to rub at his belly once he was back on his feet. “See if I can get the both of us settled back down.”

“Mm,” Winston agreed. “You probably shouldn’t be charging around here like a bull elephant ready to gore someone.”

“Excuse you,” Rupert sniffed. “I’m not an elephant.”

Winston’s brows lifted. “Hm, no,” he agreed. “Perhaps a mother hippopotamus.”

“Oh!” Rupert cried. “You’re terrible! You needn’t make fun of me.”

Winston blinked. “Who said I am making fun? Merely observing, love. Mother hippopotami are terrifying. And you were quite terrifying there. I thought he might get a shoe thrown at him.”

Rupert shook his head. “I don’t think I can reach my shoe,” he said mournfully, looking down. He glanced up at Winston. “And I might fall over if I tried.”

The alpha pressed his lips together, trying to suppress laughter. Then he sobered. “What’s this about your ex-husband?”

“Nothing,” Rupert said quickly. “We can talk about it later.” He hooked one hand around Winston’s arm and laid the other over his belly. “Right now, I really do think I should have a little lie down.”

Winston hummed like he disagreed but shuffled them down the hall. “Right this way then, love.”