knew. How could I not know?”
Blinking back his own tears, Paulie watched as a single tear rolled down Zeus’s cheek, dropping to the ground as a flawless diamond. From the shocked faces around the room, Paulie guessed the act had some significance, but all Paulie could see was his mate’s slumped shoulders, defeat and sorrow emanating from his whole body. It was that sorrow, that need to comfort his mate, that propelled Paulie forward.
“Please let me go,” Zeus whispered to Orin. “I have to find him.”
“Turn around, Zeus,” Orin instructed.
“Please. I need to go.” Zeus started to turn even though he clearly didn’t want to move that way.
“Turn around, Zeus.” Paulie ignored his own tears. “I’m here, and I’m so sorry I did this to you.”
“Paulie, you’re here?” Zeus’s eyes widened. “You’re truly here! Oh, my sweet mate, Paulie.”
In a blink, Paulie was swept off his feet, cradled in arms that signified safety to his battered soul even after Zeus’s earlier betrayal. Resting his head on Zeus’s chest, Paulie took the first full breath he’d taken since Zeus had zapped out of his apartment.
“You’re free to go, Zeus.” Paulie barely heard Orin’s whisper as they were translocating out of Poseidon’s domain.
Chapter Eighteen
I need privacy. Feeling more alive than he thought possible, now he had his mate safely in his arms, Zeus allowed the atoms of him and his mate to swirl around the cosmos for a bit, trying to decide where they should go. He didn’t want to take Paulie back to his own apartment – the scene of his big mistake – and Olympus was out. Zeus knew Hera and Demeter would be telling everyone his big news, and he didn’t want to deal with the fallout from his family.
But then, just as he was going to have no choice but to land somewhere, Zeus remembered how Ra had created a haven for Paulie on his own domain, complete with impenetrable wards. I can do the same thing. The grass was soft under his feet as he landed, and the sound of birds, the warmth of the sun, and the gentle waft of a summer breeze, made the space magical.
But the true magic was in his arms. Allowing his regular size and form to take shape, Zeus sat on the grass, keeping Paulie firmly on his lap. “I thought I’d lost you forever,” he said gruffly. “Please don’t hide from me again.”
“I thought you didn’t want me because I was lousy in bed.” Paulie lifted his head and Zeus could see his tiger peering at him from behind sad eyes. “When my friends offered to hide me, I wasn’t thinking clearly and… so much has happened. I should’ve talked to you.”
“I probably wouldn’t have listened, not at first.” Zeus felt compelled to admit his shortcomings to his mate. “I’m not good at that side of things. Those things I said to Orin, they were all true. I did worry having a mate meant I stopped being the stud I have a reputation for being. But when I thought I lost you… I made a huge mistake leaving you the way I did and treating you like you meant nothing. I promise I won’t leave you like that ever again.”
“Hold off on making any promises just yet.” Paulie rested his hand on Zeus’s chest, as though reassuring himself of where he was. “I learned something while I was away… something I didn’t think was possible. You might not want me around when you learn about it, and that’s fine if that’s what you decide, but I’m hoping you’ll be fair about what needs to be done, about getting a house and being supported, at least until I can work…”
“I’ll buy us any house you want,” Zeus interrupted quickly. “And you never have to worry about money again. Honestly, honeybunch, whatever you want is yours.”
“Honeybunch?” There was that twinkle Zeus was hoping to see.
“Honeybunch, sweet pea, I have a million lifetimes to work on endearments, but I meant what you heard me tell Orin, after the bit about me being an ass. I love you. I want to claim you and be with you forever, and if that means living life on earth for all time…”
“I do think offering to cut your dick off was a bit extreme.”
Zeus’s butt tightened. “If that’s what it takes. I could turn it into a dildo, and you could wear it like a necklace…”
“I’ve already got a necklace from you.” Paulie tugged at the cord,