Worth It - Lisa Oliver Page 0,53

pulling the amulet free of his shirt. “You should’ve known this would keep me safe even if you weren’t around.”

“I haven’t been thinking very clearly since I waited for you at your apartment, and then my computers couldn’t find you,” Zeus admitted. “It’s been the longest week of my life. I’ve been frantic, worrying where you might be.”

“And I’m sorry for doing that to you.” Paulie sniffed. “I want to be claimed by you, I really do, but…”

“No. Don’t say but.” Zeus slid his hands around Paulie’s back. “Whatever concerns you have, we’ll fix them. I might be a god, but you’ve seen I’m just as capable of making mistakes as the next guy. I’ll spend a lifetime apologizing for it if necessary. Just don’t say ‘but’ because then I’ll think you don’t want me.”

“Who has ever turned you down? I’m sure everyone wants you.” Paulie smiled and Zeus’s heart started beating again. “I want you too, and I feel safe when you’re around. That feeling of safety is hugely important to me, but you have to know what you’re getting into if you claim me.”

“I promise I’ll be faithful to you always.” Strangely, Zeus didn’t feel trapped saying the words. In fact, there was almost a feeling of relief running through his veins. No more having to endlessly prove myself.

“I think my bite ensures you won’t have a choice. But listen, please, this one time. What I have to say is important for both of us going forward.”

It wasn’t a big ask and Zeus did say he’d do anything. He nodded.

“While I was away, the Fates came to see me,” Paulie said quietly.

“What the fuck?” Zeus hadn’t seen those bitches for a gazillion years. “What did they say?”

“Don’t be mad, okay? If you get angry, you won’t listen, and I need you to hear me.”

Fucking Fates. If they’ve told Paulie they can break our bond…

“The Fates said they were sorry for what happened to me before I met you, and they apologized for tying my thread to yours.” Paulie held up his finger. “Don’t get angry. Listen. They said… they said they considered breaking our bond and even talked about hiding me permanently from you, but they said that if they did that, I had to give up something else.”

“Oh great,” Zeus said bitterly. “They want to leave you roaming the earth forever without a mate of your own. Don’t they understand how much pain you’ve already been through. Those…”

“Their deal included another mate who would love and protect me the way they thought I needed them to.”

Shit. “You didn’t take it.” Zeus patted his shoulder. The scar ridges were still there.

“I wasn’t even tempted. A mate is forever.” Paulie glanced down, and then back up again. “You hurt me beyond measure, but I’m stronger than I look. I could survive your absence if I had to.”

“You don’t have to,” Zeus said firmly. “I’ll claim you gladly; you’ll wear my mark. We’ll buy a house somewhere private so your tiger can be free and…” He stopped as a thought hit him. “If it wasn’t your chance at a mate the Fates wanted to take away, what did they want? You’re a demigod, they wouldn’t have cut your thread.”

Paulie bit his lip, his eyes troubled. “You promise you won’t get angry again?”

Zeus was furious enough the Fates even thought about approaching his mate. “Don’t make me promise when I don’t know what you’re going to say. As soon as someone says don’t get angry you just know you’re going to hear something you don’t want to hear.”

“Well, I don’t know what you’re going to think about it,” Paulie cried. “It’s not as though we know each other. I don’t know what your feelings are about families, and children…”

“Children? Did you say children?” Zeus looked down at Paulie’s stomach, covered by a shirt. Then, really slowly, he reached out, cupping his hand over Paulie’s belly but not touching. Flickers of energy rose up, meeting his fingers. “Oh Paulie, I’m so sorry.” Double shit. Another new development I left him to cope with on his own. Could I be any worse as a mate?

“I’m not.” Paulie pushed his hand away and covered his middle with his arms. “It was a shock, a huge shock, although not as much as one if I hadn’t met Hades first, and I can’t say I’m ready for this, not at all. But who is ready for kids? We’ve created a new life, you and me, and