Page 99 of Glitterati Omega

Rupert frowned at the little jar. “Why?”

Mandisa shook her head. “She and Mother went somewhere this morning. She said it’s for your stripes.”

“Stripes … oh, the stretch marks.”

“Yes—your tiger stripes,” Mandisa laughed. “You get stripes when you become a mama.”

He smiled weakly. “All right. Won’t she and Ndileka be home though?”

Mandisa shook her head. “Not before you two head back.” She glanced him up and down. “And you need to go.”

He peered down at himself. “Why?”

She laughed. “You need new clothes! You stay here much longer, you’ll be wearing Mama’s cloaks.”

Rupert flushed. “It’s not that bad, is it?” He turned, as though he could see himself better.

Mandisa shook her head. “It is bad. Go.”

She just laughed at him when he flushed, so he tried to give her a smile, like he found the comment funny. He pondered that she could laugh at him. She’d been through this four times before. Had she not felt a bit self-conscious? A bit worried?

He wished he could have stayed a little longer and maybe found the courage to talk to her about it. Body image had been something of a verboten subject in most of his circles. You simply didn’t talk about it, especially if you didn’t have something nice to say. At least, to a person’s face. Behind their back, anything was fair game.

As it was, he didn’t think he had the kind of relationship with Mandisa where he could talk to her about such things.

He was saved a moment later by Winston arriving. “Did you talk to Morgan?” he inquired, and Rupert nodded. “Then we’re ready to leave?

“Yes. I think so.”

Mandisa gave them both a hug, then smacked Winston on the arm. “Spend some money on your omega, brother. He should be spoiled.”

“I think he’s been spoiled enough in his life,” Winston grumbled, and Mandisa shook her head.

“It is different,” she insisted. “Your omega is doing divine work, and you should honor that.”

“Is that why you have so many children?” Winston asked, his brows lifting. Mandisa stared at him, then laughed again.

“No,” she said with a coy smirk. “There are other reasons for that.”

Winston rolled his eyes. “We’re leaving now,” he said, taking Rupert by the hand and leading him out of the house.

,

They stopped in Johannesburg on the way back. Charli and Moose had stayed behind, closing up the house there. They joined Winston and Rupert, and the four of them traveled back to Cape Town, as Rupert still had business to attend to before they could head back to theus.

Charli seemed as though she wanted to say something, but she was watching Winston carefully, her lips pursed tight. Rupert hated that his heart tripped a little faster just watching her. She had news, and none of it good.

It was Moose who told him, though. Winston had tasked him with getting Rupert into the house, while Winston and Charli unloaded some of the other luggage. Rupert wasn’t allowed to carry anything, so Moose had his carry-all. They were partway down the corridor that led to the primary bedroom, when Moose paused. Rupert looked up at him. Moose glanced away with a sigh. “Thomas paid us a visit while you were gone.”

Rupert felt his heart sink. “No.”

“Mm.” Moose’s mouth twisted; his mustache twitched.

“They were supposed to file a restraining order,” Rupert pressed. “He shouldn’t have been anywhere near the property.”

Moose nodded. “Charli sent him packing and called the police. They’re aware now.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Rupert demanded.