Page 72 of Ascendant Moon (Gladstone Shifters #6)

“Nate! Rosy’s had a blowout and I’m out of baby wipes! Hurry!”

Scooter came running, stark naked and dripping wet from the shower. While Lincoln tried to contain the overfilled diaper, Scooter rummaged in the closet for another towelette dispenser.

“Got it, sweetheart. Here’s a clean pad to use, too. What else do you need?”

Lincoln appreciated his mate’s quick response, and the rush of seeing him naked.

“Thank you! I need a fresh onesie, her tracksuit outfit, and the red sneakers. And can you take this nasty nappy to the trash for me? I wish someone could explain how one tiny baby can produce such a stinky mess!”

Scooter didn’t know, but they’d discovered that little Rosalee had numerous ways of keeping them on their toes—many of them unpleasant.

For first-time parents, he thought they were doing fairly well, and Lincoln was determined to be the kind of father he never had growing up.

Aside from lack of sleep and hurried love-making, they’d fallen into some predictable routines.

When Melva wasn’t working at the daycare, she was always willing to watch Rosy, giving her dads some down time.

Once the diaper disaster had been cleaned up, Nate finished his shower, dressed, and strapped Rosy into her carrier, resting against his chest and belly.

While he grabbed some premixed formula for the diaper bag, Lincoln boxed up the crockpot full of Italian meatballs—their contribution to the big Thanksgiving potluck at the packhouse.

Everyone was required to supply a dish, giving the regular kitchen staff a well-deserved day off.

Nate’s winter coat was large enough to cover both him and Rosy, saving them the hassle of wrapping her in blankets for the short walk.

It was cold outside today; the ground nearly covered with patchy, dry snow—carried hither and yon by the wind.

RJ and Jonah met them on the path, and they walked together in companionable silence.

With less than four weeks to go, Jonah had packed on the weight, already at the waddling stage.

Everyone assumed he was carrying multiple pups, (an idea RJ would neither confirm nor deny), though no one knew more than that.

It was warm, crowded, and noisy inside the packhouse, everyone busy chatting, passing babies, and scoping out the various dishes their packmates had brought in.

Lincoln placed the crockpot on one of the hot food tables, stashed the box underneath, and went to give Scooter a hand with the baby and diaper bag.

Since Nate’s protective mode hadn’t eased much, Rosy would be staying very close to her parents for this shindig.

The poor guy had almost burst a blood vessel when they first presented her to the pack—surrounded by well-meaning people who wanted to touch and scent and generally get too close for Nate’s comfort.

They all knew better, but welcoming little ones to the pack was an exciting event, and some folks got careless.

Today, at least, their child would not be the central focus, and that took some of the pressure off.

Food and conversation would keep the masses occupied, and if things got hinky, Lincoln might have to call in Granny Melva to run interference.

On the far side of the room, Ben and his family, along with Evan’s parents and siblings, joined the party with their own food contributions.

Nearly everyone carried something edible, setting it down wherever they could find space.

The Canada contingent had only arrived yesterday, and Lincoln didn’t know who any of them were.

Apparently, Evan’s family came to see them on Thanksgiving, while Ben’s relatives joined them around Christmas time.

The timing had something to do with winter travel and avoiding snowstorms, which made perfect sense for denizens of the Upper Peninsula or Canada.

Lincoln couldn’t imagine having ten siblings plus mates, countless nieces and nephews, and who knew how many cousins!

While he and Scooter wanted a good sized family, it wouldn’t be anywhere near that big.

Ben stood on a chair, garnering the crowd’s attention for a brief speech.

“Welcome everyone! There’s plenty of food to go around, and some great desserts stashed away for later. I want to wish all of you a wonderful holiday, and to remind you how much the Gladstone pack has to be thankful for. Be sure to greet Evan’s family and our newest members. Let’s eat!”

And they did, though in a group of shifters this size, no one had to worry about leftovers.

Families tended to stay together until everyone had a plate, making sure the kids were well fed before dispersing into the crowd.

Since Lincoln and Rosy were still getting acquainted with everyone, they didn’t have to do much roaming.

Instead, a constant stream of pack members sought them out for conversation and questions.

Jack and his family came to get another peek at little Rosy, and William commented on their recent trip to the courthouse.

“It’s not the most romantic way to get married, but it does the job. RJ and Jonah are the only ones who’ve had a formal wedding, and it was lovely. Lincoln, are you going to keep your last name?”

A proud Scooter slipped an arm around Linc, as his mate answered the question.

“No, but I’ll have to file a petition for a name change like Lance did. It might take a while to make it legal , but if anyone asks, I’m a Scoon.”

After that, the couple enjoyed seeing the other families with recent additions.

Donna and Lou came by with Marcel and Alain, followed by Micah and Erin with Kaylee, and finally Lance and Roman with Alastair, Logan, and Quinn.

When Rosy, and Jonah’s future pups, were added to the mix, Gladstone would be bursting at the seams with preschoolers.

Lincoln thought it was great, as Rosy would have other kids her age to grow up with.

When it came time for dessert, Melva showed up with plates for Lincoln and Scooter, and exchanged them for a chance to hold Rosy. Fortunately, she’d get to change the little minx, who decided to fill her diaper at the most opportune time. Melva simply laughed and grabbed the diaper bag.

“I’ll be right back, boys. Granny has some business to attend to. You enjoy your dessert!”

Scooter kept his eye on the pair, even though Rosy was only a few yards away.

His wolf wasn’t happy about the child being out of immediate reach, but Melva was careful to honor their wishes, and wouldn’t let Rosy be carried off by handsy packmates.

Lou had struggled with the same issue, but was now accustomed to his sons being passed around.

Isolation wasn’t healthy for shifter children, and was, in fact, the opposite of fostering the pack bonds every shifter relied on through life.

Melva tried to bring a sweeter-smelling Rosalee back to her parents but was waylaid by another group who wanted to see the little cutie pie.

Caleb, Robyn, Nolan and Garrett converged to surround the infant, all leaning in for a good scenting and to comment on her outfit.

All four had a certain wistful look in their eyes, as in “when is it my turn?,” though it was Nolan who spoke.

“Look at her Garrett! Do you suppose we would get one as adorable? Maybe the spring event will bring us our Honor Mate.”

Robyn couldn’t resist teasing her packmates just a little.

“I don’t know boys. If you want a baby this beautiful, you’ll have to find someone better looking than the two of you . Just saying…”

Caleb busted out laughing as Nolan tried to come up with a crushing reply, failed miserably, and had to be dragged away by his grinning mate. Melva’s face lit up with pleasure as she turned to Robyn.

“Nice one, dear. I can admire a woman who’s fast on her feet. Now, I better return Rosy before Scooter’s eyes burn a hole in the back of my head!”

############

Later that evening

As soon as Rosy went down, so did her dads—though not for sleeping.

After days of quiet negotiations, Scooter finally convinced Lincoln to top him.

It wasn’t lack of knowledge or ability, but rather a confidence issue, and Scooter had used the Thanksgiving holiday to break down the last of Lincoln’s hesitation.

“I’m thankful for a lot of things this year, but mostly you. Just because you’re an Omega doesn’t mean you can’t be in the driver’s seat, and I want you inside me. Please, sweetheart, just make me feel good.”

Lincoln melted. Scooter rarely asked for anything, always giving and attentive with no thought for himself. He couldn’t possibly deny his mate after a request like that, and truth be told, he’d been secretly curious about switching things up.

Lincoln started with soft kisses, working his way to Scooter’s left ear and then further down to the mating mark.

The big man moaned with pleasure as Lincoln licked and sucked against the scar, full-body shivers shaking the bed as he lost control of his powerful body.

There was no question now whether Lincoln could make his mate feel good, and the knowledge encouraged a boldness he’d never felt before.

Next, he stroked Scooter’s muscular arms and pecs, stopping to tease and lick at his sensitive nipples.

They weren’t surrounded by chest hair as Lincoln’s were—in fact, his mate had no body hair above the sternum.

It provided a stark and enticing contrast to his furry belly and abs, leading to the enormous prize between tree-trunk legs.

Lincoln had been purposely rubbing against his mate while his hands and mouth were busy, and he couldn’t possibly miss Scooter’s erection.

The thing was simply ginormous—long, thick, hot, and throbbing, with a glans that was almost totally concealed by a generous foreskin.

Lincoln licked away the sweet/salty precum as he slid the sheath down to expose his mate’s beautiful cock.

Too huge to swallow, he used both hands to stroke while he sucked away at the crown.

Scooter began to growl and thrash, trying not to hurt his smaller mate or knock him clean off the bed.

It almost happened anyway when Lincoln went after the man’s balls—rolling, squeezing, and tugging on the loose skin of his scrotum. Scooter was about to lose it.

“Liiiinc! I’m gonna cum if you keep doing that. I need your cock . Slick up my hole and get in there!”

The role reversal certainly did something for Lincoln’s libido, especially when his mate sounded so desperate.

“Okay, love. Spread your legs, and I’ll get you ready.”

Lincoln drizzled cool, squelchy lube on Scooter’s hairy pucker, working it in with his fingers while lightly stroking the man’s twitching dick. In no time, he was sawing four digits in and out until his mate begged him for more.

“Hold your legs up so I can get in there. You want it hard and fast?”

Scooter’s rumbling growl bounced off the bedroom walls as he eagerly nodded.

“Let me have it!”

Lincoln slid right into the tight, hot channel—startled by the amazing sensation and afraid he wouldn’t last very long.

Scooter lifted his head so Lincoln could reach his mouth, fervid kisses amid heavy breathing and a building orgasm.

Instead of sitting back to enjoy the ride, Lincoln’s wolf decided to up the stakes, pushing his human half to give his mate even more.

Scooter’s muscles contracted as the orgasm gripped him, tightening his channel around Lincoln’s cock.

That’s when two sets of fangs dropped, and the pair latched onto one another’s mating scars, creating an intense feedback loop.

Scooter’s cum painted the space between their bodies while Lincoln filled his channel with seed.

Pleasure exploded in their heads, so all-consuming neither man made a sound, save the gasping of breath.

Suspended in time, the sexually charged loop circled round and round until their jaws finally let go.

Tender licks followed to seal the fresh wounds, threatening to start the orgasmic cycle all over again.

Temporarily spent, Lincoln lay sprawled on top of his mate—exactly where Scooter wanted him.

A mutual low rumbling and the scent of satisfaction spoke volumes, words unnecessary until the afterglow began to fade.

Scooter adjusted his mate’s position so he could kiss him properly.

“That was…wow! You were perfect , Linc, just like I thought you’d be. We have to do that again—lots of times!”

Lincoln smiled, in total agreement with his fantastic mate.

“Yes, we will. I wish I’d been brave enough to try it earlier. Love you, Nate.

Scooter pulled Lincoln a little bit closer, more than grateful for the sweet, strong, sexy, man.

“I love you, too, Linc. So much.”

The sounds of a stirring infant reached their ears just before Rosy began to fuss. Both men laughed, knowing that for a while, these stolen moments were the best they could do with a little one in the house. Scooter reached for a couple of clean hand towels, passing one to Lincoln.

“We better clean up a little before going in there. What are we gonna do when there’s a half dozen of them running around?”

With a mischievous grin, Lincoln leaned over to kiss his mate.

“Don’t know, love, but I can’t wait to find out.”