Worth It - Lisa Oliver Page 0,6
and creating new little families with significant others, but what happens when that novelty wears off?”
Ra frowned. “It doesn’t. Oh, I’ll grant you, the newness will wear off over time, that’s natural. But the whole point of having a mate picked by the fates, is that person is perfect for you in every way. A fated mate relationship would mature and blossom just like any other loving relationship would.”
“Love,” Zeus scoffed. “I’ve been in love a hundred times and none of those relationships lasted long in the grand scheme of things. Sei’s joining with that wolf of his has lasted longer than most of the people I’ve loved, and a year is barely a blink in time to beings like us.”
“You haven’t been in love.” Ra had the audacity to laugh. “You’ve felt lust or got passionate about various women through the centuries, for a huge variety of reasons, but none of that has anything to do with love. In most of those cases, you were just determined to get your leg over some woman who said no originally, and you used all the tricks you could think of so you could get your own way. That’s not love. That’s playing games, and you’re good at that, I’ll give you that.”
“I’ve loved.” Zeus rubbed his chest. He was fairly certain he’d loved some of his wives and partners.
“Being in love is when the idea of fidelity isn’t a chore.” Ra was still chuckling. “For you, fidelity wasn’t a chore because you were never faithful – ergo, you were never in love. That’s what’s got your panties in a twist about paranormals, isn’t it? A shifter’s bite means your dick wouldn’t work for anyone else but the person who bit you.”
Something of Zeus’s concern must have shown on his face because Ra slapped his knee, cackling with laughter. “That’s it, isn’t it?” More laughter. Zeus was seriously thinking there had to be somewhere else he could go, but he was still watching that middle screen with his peripheral vision… and…
“Come on.” Ra finally pulled himself together and got up from his chair. “We’re going to try this motorcycle riding concept. It’ll be fun. We’ll stop at a diner, have greasy burgers and chips and burp at the locals. I promise…” he added as Zeus opened his mouth to object. “You have my solemn vow if any paranormal comes running out of the bushes at you with their teeth bared as we’re riding down the road, I’ll protect you from random bites, okay? Oh, I know, you could wear a big studded collar, like the goths used to wear in the eighties. You’re big enough. It’s not as though anyone will give you any grief over your wardrobe. Who knows, you might even get laid.”
“I don’t need a damn collar.” Zeus flicked another glance at the screen, his fingers itching to do some godly intervention. “Let me send a quick text, and we’ll go. It’s the only way I’m going to get any peace from you, isn’t it?”
“You know me so well,” Ra beamed. Then cocking his head to one side he asked, “What’s a text?”
“Seriously?” Zeus pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contact list.
Chapter Two
Really, you’re giving up on me now? Paulie glanced up at the sky, and then back at the four youths currently backing him into a corner. Ever since he’d gotten on the bus on Christmas eve, nine months before, Paulie had gotten the impression someone was watching him. It wasn’t an evil feeling, or anything bad. Over time, Paulie came to accept it was his anonymous benefactor keeping an eye on their investment. He didn’t have the feeling of being watched all the time, but he’d gotten used to having a ghostly presence near him, around him as he went about his day. It was comforting. And now it was gone. Bad timing.
“You think you’re too good for the likes of us, don’t you?” A hard shove against his shoulder, pulled Paulie into the here and now. “Won’t party, doesn’t drink. You don’t play sports, haven’t joined any clubs. All you do is walk around with your nose stuck in a book, or you’re sucking up to the teachers.”
Paulie knew the faces of the men bothering him. Well, “knew” was a relative word. He’d seen them around campus and had immediately pegged them as bullies and from then on had gone out of his way to avoid them.
“I’m not bothering you,” he said quietly, hugging