Page 58 of Sobek’s Joy

“And you?” Rudy asked softly. “What do you need?”

Sobek’s eyes darkened, his voice dropping to a low growl. “You. Them. This.” He gestured around them - the room, the house, the life they were building. “A family. A home. I didn’t realize that was all I ever wanted until I had it, and now I’ll never let it, or you, go.”

Rudy’s heart ached. He could feel the truth of Sobek’s words through their bond, deepened by the incredible love Sobek had for him and their kids. The ancient god had spent so long alone, because that’s how he expected to live his life, never putting down roots and just moving from place to place. But now he had a home…now he had them.

Rudy leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Sobek’s lips. “We’ve got it too,” he whispered. “All of it. Thanks to you.”

Sobek’s arms tightened around him, pulling him down until Rudy was sprawled across his chest, his head resting on Sobek’s shoulder. They lay there in silence for a long moment, the steady beat of Sobek’s heart beneath Rudy’s ear.

“I’ll reach out to the others,” Sobek said finally. “See who’s open to visits. We can start small…playdates, maybe, to see how the kids get along. And if it works…” He trailed off, but Rudy knew what he meant.

If it worked, their kids might just get the childhood they deserved. One where they didn’t have to hide. One where they could be themselves.

Rudy sighed, his body relaxing against Sobek’s. The worry wasn’t completely gone, but it was easier to bear now because he wasn’t bearing it alone.

“Thank you,” he murmured.

Sobek pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “You never have to thank me, mate. Not for this. Not for anything.”

Rudy smiled, his fingers tracing idle patterns over Sobek’s chest. He could feel the bond between them, warm and steady, like a second heartbeat. He hadn’t known he’d been lonely until Sobek had crashed into his life - until he’d had someone to share the burden with. The fear, the love, the responsibility of it all.

And now…now he had forever. Him, Sobek, and the kids made such a wonderful family. Rudy tilted his head up, capturing Sobek’s lips in another kiss. This one was slow, deep, full of promise. When he pulled back, he grinned.

“Now. How long do we have before the kids wake up?”

Sobek’s eyes gleamed with understanding. His hand slid down, gripping Rudy’s hip possessively. “Long enough.”

Rudy laughed, the sound muffled against Sobek’s chest. “Good. Because I really feel like I could do with another bath.”

Chapter Nineteen

“I want to show you something.”

Rudy glanced up from where he was supervising Timothy’s attempt to build a block tower without knocking it over. “Show me what?”

Sobek shifted his weight, suddenly nervous in a way he hadn’t been since...well, since he’d first realized Rudy was his mate. He’d been planning a huge surprise for his mate for more than a week, and now…well, now the day had come, everything was ready, and all Sobek had to do was get Rudy to show up. “I thought we could go to my realm - the Egyptian realm. I thought...the kids would enjoy it. They could shift freely there and run around without worrying about being seen.”

Interest sparked in Rudy’s eyes. “Really? Is that allowed? You can take us there?”

“Of course.” Sobek crossed the room, crouching beside Timothy and steadying a block before it could topple. “It’s not somewhere I go very often, but I felt that as you’re my mate, and these little ones are my family, then you should get a chance to see it, too.”

Rose looked up from her coloring book. “Can I climb the pyramids?”

“There are no pyramids in my realm, little one.” Sobek ruffled her hair. “But there are trees. Very tall trees and rocks, perfect for climbing.”

“Will I be allowed to shift? Is it safe there?” Jack asked quietly. He’d gotten a lot better since being able to shift regularly, but out of all three of the children, he was the one who had the most issues with his animal side - likely because he’d seen his family killed in their furry forms.

Sobek’s chest tightened, and he forced a smile. “You can shift whenever you want. All of you can. That’s the point of going.”

Rudy’s expression softened, and Sobek felt the rush of gratitude and love that swept through his mate. Rudy reached over, squeezing Sobek’s hand. “When did you want to go?”

“Now, if you’d like.” Sobek kept his voice casual, even as his heart hammered against his ribs. He knew everything was ready, Ra had confirmed it this morning through the Paulie app. But just because the preparations were complete didn’t mean that Sobek was ready for what he was about to do.

Rudy blinked and looked down at his soft T-shirt and worn pants. “Now? I’m not exactly dressed for…”

“There’s no dress code. You’re perfect the way you are.” Sobek stood, pulling Rudy to his feet. “Trust me.”

Rudy studied him for a long moment, those bright blue eyes searching Sobek’s face. Then he smiled. “Okay. I’m sensing there’s a surprise in this visit somewhere, but I’m game. Let’s go.”