Page 289 of As The Shifter World Turns

“We’re talking about the future, Neil,” Nate explained. “If we have anything to announce, Daire will shout it from the Sunshine Manor roof.”

My mate draped his arms around my shoulders. “This weekend isn’t for serious discussions. Let’s leave it until we get home.”

If my beast hadn’t been pushing me to shift, I would have taken my mate to bed, but he was right. The next two days were for family.

“Let’s go,” Micah said and we all stripped off.

Watching my friend transform into a unicorn and gallop into the woods never got old, while Archer and Ivor’s wolves raced off together chasing rabbits. Martin and Toby’s foxes headed in the other direction, while my grizzly insisted we waded into the lake. It was what we always did. He didn’t need to ride my ass about it but he did.

As Nate was a hedgehog and enjoyed eating insects, we didn’t stay together once we’d shifted. He was happy to stay close to the house while my grizzly enjoyed the freedom of hunting.

Once he’d eaten his fill, I took my skin and joined Neil. “Nate’s showering,” he told me as he patted the sofa while the others were still hunting. “I may not have shifter hearing but I guessed you and your mate were discussing the future.”

“Nothing’s definite.”

“Well, if you make the decision to try, you’ll be an amazing dad.” He’d told me that many times in the past.

“Being around Charlie has shown me how much I want my own kids. Mine and Nate’s. I can’t wait to see them playing with the other manor children.”

He patted my hand. “Me too.”

132

MAYBE IT’S TIME?

Nate

I came home early, grocery bags in hand. I’d been thinking about this on and off ever since that day on the roof when my mate told everyone he wanted a baby. I’d been upset with him for telling them first, but I hadn’t been upset at the notion. And with each day, I wanted to start a family with him more and more.

We’d had some good talks about it, we discussed things we wanted to do as parents as well as the nitty gritty of how to make it work financially and emotionally. We’d done all of the ground work.

What we hadn’t done was make a decision to go ahead. And really, that was my fault. Now was the time to make a commitment to my mate and to our shared future.

Tonight was all about moving forward and showing him that he meant everything to me. I needed there to be no room for doubt in his mind that I wanted this for all the right reasons. Not out of a sense of this being the logical next step or guilt over making him feel bad when we’d been talking at cross purposes.

I set the bags down and started to unload everything. My grocery shopping had crossed over from cute to just a tad bit extra. And by a tad bit I meant over the top. There was no mistaking it, this dinner was extra to the extreme.

Baby carrots, baby corn, baby squash, baby potatoes-—adorable. But when I referred to Cornish hens as “baby chickens,” it was a bit much. That didn’t stop me, but I acknowledged it.

To go with the meal, there were mini-loaves of bread or “baby bread” as I officially named them along with single “baby” cheesecakes.And if he didn’t get the baby references, that was fine, too. I had a card, stickers, and a number one daddy onesie wrapped at the ready.

It didn't take long for me to have the hens and the potatoes in the oven. If the internet was right, the hens would be ready just in time for when Daire arrived home.

I set the table, hid the presents and popped in the shower. What I hadn’t counted on was Daire arriving home early, while I was still covered in soap.

“Knock, knock.” my mate’s voice drifted through the door I’d left open to keep the steam at bay. “Dinner smells good.”

Thanks.” I rinsed my face so I could look at him while we talked. “You’re home early.”

“Yeah, I was ready to not be at work.” He pulled off his shirt and threw it in the hamper. “Room for one more in there?”

He was already working on his jeans.

“Like I could turn down an offer like that.” I quickly rinsed my hair off, so I could focus on pampering my mate.

“You look so clean.” He stepped inside and ran his finger down my chest. “I hope you don’t mind me dirtying you up.”

Daire’s finger kept going lower and lower, until it grazed my cock. “What do you think? Do we have enough time for a little fun before dinner burns?”

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