by AdamCharles
Mace moved back down and spread Noah’s hole, fingering him again and doing his best to stretch him. When Noah’s moans grew louder, he got into position and held Noah open wide by hooking his thumbs inside him. He let go once his cockhead was in, and he moaned as well as he bent over Noah. He supported himself on his forearms so he didn’t press against Noah’s stomach, but their skin still brushed. Noah ran his fingers through the thick hair of Mace’s chest. The omega had become obsessed with Mace’s more masculine qualities recently, always stroking his muscles and commenting on how sexy he was.
Mace went slow, enjoying the steady glide, but he let himself go deep so he could knot his lover. Noah began to tremble. He’d said the knotting had felt even better the past two months. His reactions made that clear, but Mace still worried about the intensity of his orgasms. He wanted to give Noah all the pleasure possible, but for the first time in his life, he had someone to protect and cherish. He worried, and nothing anyone had said helped.
Mace lowered himself so he could cradle Noah to him, and they trembled together as the knotting happened. They both began to grunt and grind against each other once they were locked together, and their cries echoed all around as they came.
Mace whispered, “Mine.”
Noah slowly opened his eyes and replied, “Yes.”
Mace hadn’t said the word during sex since their first days together, and Noah’s response made him smile. More words hovered on the tip of his tongue, but he kept them in. For now.
* * * *
Noah smiled as he eyed the new tub. Mace couldn’t help grinning as he leaned against the doorjamb.
“It’s big enough for two people,” Noah said.
“That’s the point. I can sit behind you and massage you. Your back, your legs, anywhere that hurts.”
“My cock?”
Mace laughed. “Is it hurting?”
“Throbs and aches all the time.”
“Well, it’s a taking care of you tub. Not a sex tub.”
“Having sex is taking care of me.” Noah began to strip off. “Come on. You can massage whatever you like.”
Mace started the faucet and waited for it to get hot. Then he put the stopper in the tub and began to slowly add in cold water to get it just right. He sprinkled in the bath salts the doctor had said would relax them and help with Noah’s occasional headaches. He closed the door, the steam and fragrant air relaxing him as well. He undressed quickly but moved forward and helped Noah get in first. Mace settled down behind him, enjoying the feel of his omega nestled against him. Noah wiggled to wedge Mace’s cock between his ass cheeks. He leaned back and smiled. “Just where I want you.”
“Playing with fire, baby.”
Noah sank down into the rising water and rested his head on Mace’s chest. “Like it when you call me baby.”
“Good, because I’m not gonna stop.”
Noah moved his arms back and forth in the water. “We need to think of names.”
“Yeah, I know. What were you thinking?” He stroked Noah’s hair, watching some strands curl in the steamy air.
“Maybe Gideon or Thomas, since it will be their heir. If it’s a boy.”
“Thomas is nice, and he’s blood. What about Michael Thomas? Michael was my dad.”
Noah shifted against him and linked their right hands, intertwining the fingers. “What happened to him? Everyone goes quiet when it comes up. I was scared to pry.”
“Fight with a mountain lion. He was trying to protect young wolves during their first shift.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you. He was a good beta. Everyone liked him. We weren’t close, but he showed me some favor. Encouraged me playing with Gideon. It’s probably the reason I wound up as his second.”
“You’re the strongest beta here. You’d have distinguished yourself no matter what.” He paused. “But it’s good he cared about your future. I can see things changing already. There have been so many matings lately. So many new families. It’s better this way.”
They both stayed quiet a while, and Mace hugged Noah closer after turning the water off. It seemed like a given they would stay together, but Mace still feared bringing it up. “What about a girl name?”
“Michelle? That would still be in honor of your dad.”
“Michelle. Okay.” He thought a minute. “Michelle Lea? Michelle Grace?”
“Grace. That’s pretty.”
Mace kissed the top of Noah’s head. “There we go then. A boy name and a girl name.” He sighed. “I’m glad I did this. Nice place to think.”
“Nice place to do lots of things.”
“Naughty boy.” Mace moved one hand to fondle Noah’s nipple.
“Mmmm, you’re one to talk. If you’re gonna do that, you better finish what you start.”
“Don’t worry, baby. I will.”
Chapter Six
Mace found Thomas alone chopping wood, and he walked over to him. “I can help you stack,” he offered.
“Thanks,” Thomas said.
They worked in silence for a couple of minutes before Thomas asked, “Something on your mind?”
“Yes.” Mace put down the two logs in his arms and wiped his palms on his jeans. “Now that you know me better, I want to be sure you still feel the way you did months ago.”
“About?”
“Me and your brother.”
“Yes, I do, especially with the pup coming. I’ll be there all I can for my niece or nephew, but I want Noah to have what I’m trying to give all omegas. A real family.” He put the axe down and came over. “Why are you asking?”
“Because I’m going to ask him to be my mate. We can’t do our run until after the baby comes, since he can’t shift right now, but I’m going to ask him. I can’t leave the words unsaid any longer.”
“What words, exactly?”
Mace cleared his throat. “That I love him and want him to be my mate. That I want lots of pups with him. The rest of my life with him.”
Thomas grinned. “He’s gonna say yes, so why are we talking about it?”
“I guess I’m old fashioned in some ways.”
“You’re taking good care of him. I’ll be proud to see you two mated.” Thomas came closer. “And I’m happy he proved to you there are other fish in the sea.”
Mace rubbed the back of his neck, not sure what to say and wondering if Thomas actually meant what he thought he meant.
Thomas laughed. “I’m not blind, Mace, though people think I am. I know how you felt about Gideon. Suspected it before I even laid eyes on you, based on some things Gideon said. He tried to keep it from me, but I got him to confess a couple of months ago. Right after I told him I thought you and Noah were falling for each other.”
Mace felt his cheeks flush. “It was a crush really. He was older, destined to lead, and we were close as we grew up. I was enamored.”
“Rightly so. He’s a fine man. But it takes more than that for it to work. For it to be right.” His gaze cut to the side. “Here comes your sweetheart. You gonna ask him right here?”
Mace glanced back quickly. “No. I’ve got plans. Big ones.”
“You better,” Thomas said with a laugh. “He deserves it.”
“Yeah, he does,” Mace said softly.
“You forget we have a scan this afternoon?” Noah asked as he came walking up and hugged his brother.
“No. We’ve got about an hour,” Mace said.
“No, we have like ten minutes. It’s at two.”
Mace flushed again as he checked his watch. “Shit. Guess I was distracted.”
“Hmmm.”
“You going to find out the sex?” Thomas asked.
“Yeah. We couldn’t get a good look last month.”
“Maybe it’s a girl.”
“Maybe. We’ll find out today probably.” Noah held out his hand. “Come on.”
“Yes, sir,” Mace said, taking Noah’s hand and kissing it.
“Let me know. We’ve got a c
rib to get to work on!” Thomas called.
“We will,” Noah said. He turned his attention to Mace. “What were you two conspiring about?”
“Our secret.”
Noah groaned, and Mace kissed his temple. “Don’t worry, baby. You’ll love it.”
Noah looked skeptical, but Mace felt certain Noah would be happy for multiple reasons once they got back home.
* * * *
Mace kept checking down the hall to make sure Noah was still in the bathroom. He wanted everything to be perfect when he came out. He lit candles on the table and slid the lasagna back into the oven to brown the cheese. The bread was ready, and he’d tossed the salad and put it back in the fridge to keep it crisp. He’d scattered rose petals over the table and on the floor around the dining area. Now, he wondered if it was going to be way too obvious. He didn’t really mind that, but he wanted to be the first one to say the words.
Noah came out just as Mace was putting his present on his plate. He wore only a robe, and he stopped short when he saw the candles on the table. “What is this?”
“Little celebration. Finding out about the baby and all.”
“But what if we hadn’t been able to tell?”
“We still could have a nice dinner.”
Noah went over and picked up the small box. “What’s this?”
“A present.”
“Can I open it now?”
“Yes.” Mace felt his own excitement building.
Noah pulled the wrapping paper off and lifted the lid. He just stood there staring into the box. Mace moved closer. “Do you like it?”
He’d bought Noah a bronze pocket watch with a wolf on the cover. He’d often seen Noah admiring the one his brother had, which he knew was a family heirloom. Noah carefully lifted it out and turned it over slowly. He opened it and read the inscription. His mouth fell open, but he didn’t speak.
“Say something,” Mace urged.
“It says, Thank you.” He glanced up. “What for?”
“For everything.” Mace closed the watch in Noah’s hand and clasped it there, lifting his hand to kiss his knuckles. “Noah, I want you to be my mate.”
“You do?”
Mace nodded. “I do.”
“Because of our daughter? I get you feeling more protective of a girl and all, but you don’t—”
Mace stopped him with a kiss, and he deepened the embrace until Noah began to struggle. When his panting omega stared at him, Mace said, “It has nothing to do with that and everything to do with the fact that I’m in love with you. It’s not about our child or the fucking or anyone’s expectation. It’s about the fact that I don’t feel complete when you’re not near. I wake up if you roll out of my arms at night. I can’t even enjoy a cup of coffee or a beer if I’m not with you. Nothing has any meaning without you.”
Noah’s mouth fell open again, and tears welled in his eyes.
“Don’t cry, baby.” Mace tensed when Noah still didn’t say anything. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m … surprised. That’s all.”
“Really?”
“I mean,” Noah wiped his eyes, “I could tell you were over Gideon. And I know we get along great. And the sex is good. It’s just … it hasn’t come up.” He finally managed a smile. “I love you, too.”
Mace kissed him again. “Wish you’d said that first. You scared me.”
“I scared you? Mace, you’ve got to be kidding. I’ve been hooked on you since we touched for the first time. Yeah, I was worried when we arrived, but being with you … it’s perfect. Amazing. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, and so much more.”
They kissed again, and Mace sighed when the oven dinged at him. “Hungry, baby?” he asked.
Noah’s eyes cut over. “That your famous lasagna in there?”
“Yes.” He tightened his grip around Noah. “Hmmm, I guess we can eat first. I did make it because you like it so much.”
Noah laughed and drew him close. “You got plans for me?”
“Oh yes. I want to show my mate how much I love him.” Mace brought the food to the table, a huge grin on his face. “I know we can’t have our run until later, but I couldn’t hold it in that long. I would’ve exploded.”
Noah laughed. “Can’t have that.”
They sat down, and Mace reached across the table to take his hand. “Four months ago, I sat here alone, resenting Gideon for making a decision for me. Now, I’m glad some power out there knew what I needed better than I did.”
“Laying it on a bit thick, aren’t you? You must want me to do that thing tonight.”
Mace grinned. “You know you’ll do it anyway.”
“Hmmm, we’ll see.”
They both laughed again before digging in, and good as the lasagna had turned out, they abandoned their half-finished plates about seven minutes later. Mace was proud of himself for even making it to the bedroom with his eager little omega.
Epilogue
Six Months Later
Mace tried to keep his nerves under control as the doctor took Michelle’s temperature and wrote something down. She’d been sick for three days, and Mace hadn’t been willing to take her back out of the house for her follow-up visit.
Dr. Phillips gave Mace an indulgent smile. “Her fever is gone, and her skin is clear. It was just a reaction to the antibiotics I gave her. There aren’t a lot of things a baby can take, and this one even makes adults break out. She’s going to be just fine.”
“Thank you. Ignore him,” Noah said as he sat back in the rocking chair and began humming to Michelle.
Mace let out a big sigh. “Yes, thank you. I know it made your day longer to come out here.”
“It’s no problem. It was chilly today. I don’t blame you not wanting to take her out.” He began putting his things back in his bag. “I know you two had to postpone your run because of her fever. When will you be having your ceremony?”
“Next week, I think. Thomas and Gideon are going to watch her.”
Mace tensed up. The two alphas adored their little niece, but Mace still felt unsure. “If they prove they can change a diaper properly. Gideon made a mess of it last week.”
Noah laughed softly. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“It was on backwards. That could’ve gotten messy.”
Dr. Phillips smiled. “I’ll see you two later.”
“Good night,” Noah said.
“Yeah, good night, thanks,” Mace said.
Once the doctor was gone, Mace knelt beside Noah and stroked Michelle’s cheek. “I know we can’t be with her every second, but she’s still so small.”
“Small? You weren’t carrying her. Those last few weeks, I thought sure there had to be two babies in there. Eight pounds is a big baby, especially for a girl, and she’s almost eleven pounds now.”
Mace smiled at her. “It’s because she’s so long. She’s going to be a tall, beautiful girl.” He leaned over and kissed Noah. “With your beautiful blue eyes.”
Noah blushed as he shifted her in his arms. “Here. You rock her. She needs a bottle.”
Mace cradled her close and sat carefully in the chair. He’d been scared to hold her at first, but once he had he felt nervous when anyone else besides Noah held her. If she was in his arms, she was safe. Noah teased him about it, but he didn’t mind. In fact, he loved it.
Noah returned with the bottle and gave it to Mace. She sucked it down, just like she did every time. Mace had worried about her choking at first, but she screamed at him if he tried to make her slow down. Noah had gone to the bed, which they’d shoved in one corner of the guestroom when they fitted it out as a nursery. By the time Mace put Michelle down in her crib and covered her up, Noah had fallen asleep. Mace tucked the blanket around Michelle and watched her for a moment before moving to the bed and slipping in beside Noah. His omega sighed and turned in his arms, and Mace hugged him close, his happiness completed by the two people who had an unmatched talent for making snoring the cutest thing ever.
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The End
Coming Soon from Adam Charles and TEP
Toby’s Beta
Changes, Book Two
Evan’s Wolf
Changes, Book Three
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adam Charles lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He did this for the man who helped him come out of the closet, and despite his hatred of snow, it has been completely worth it.
Twisted E-Publishing, LLC
www.twistederoticapublishing.com