Page 65 of Glitterati Omega

“Yes,” Rupert agreed. How many times had he been mocked for even suggesting it was a job?

“All right. So your job will be mother, and you will be paid.”

Rupert frowned. “Who will pay me? It’s not like—”

“I will,” Winston said.

“No.” Rupert pulled his hands away. “No, I don’t like that one bit, Winnie.”

The lawyer quirked a dark brow at him. “No?”

Rupert chewed at his lip. “I’d rather keep some of my own,” he said at length.

“Oh,” Winston said, his eyes widening.

Rupert wrung his hands. “I know that must seem like I don’t trust you, and don’t get me wrong, but I—”

“No,” the alpha said quickly, “that makes sense to me. You were abused.”

Rupert felt like Winston had slapped him. “Abused? I wouldn’t go that far.”

The lawyer picked up his hand again, gently stroking the back of it. “Rupert. Think about what you told me.”

Rupert swallowed.

Winston clutched his hand tighter. “You had to know. You said he hit you.”

“But I—”

Winston leaned his head down, peering cautiously at him. “Rupert. You implied that he forced you. And you probably don’t mention the extent of the emotional abuse, because you don’t even recognize it yourself.”

“I … oh God.”

Winston wrapped an arm around his shoulders, then dragged him into a crushing embrace. Rupert slapped a hand to the alpha’s chest. He could hear Winston’s heartbeat.

“It’s all right, sweetheart,” the alpha whispered in his ear, “you’re all right. You’re safe, I’ve got you. Let’s breathe now.”

Rupert inhaled deeply, then closed his eyes. Images of Thomas flitted behind his lids; he could almost hear the alpha now, a hundred demeaning things crowding into his brain.

He took another deep breath, then exhaled, the apparitions dissipating like smoke. He opened his eyes and looked up at Winston.

“Can you tell me where we are?”

“The hotel in Durban,” Rupert replied.

“Good. Tell me something you hear right now.”

“Your voice.”

Winston chuckled. “And something you see?”

“You,” Rupert replied.

“You’re not very good at this game,” Winston laughed again. “Something you smell? And if you say me—”

“Can I taste you?” Rupert asked, slinging his arms around the alpha’s neck.

A startled laugh escaped the other man. “You’re ridiculous,” he said.

“It’s working,” Rupert murmured. “I’m here and not—not … somewhere else. I’m with you.”

Winston leaned in. “All right then,” he said, “so long as it’s working.”

Rupert tilted his head and slanted his mouth over Winston’s, letting their lips meet in a slow, chaste press. One kiss led to another, and time melted away like the sunset, sliding into the shadows of the night.