Page 71 of Ascendant Moon
“Grandmother, this is my partner, Nick Garcia.”
Gray had never dated anyone, male or female, so it was a surprise when word reached her that he’d found a boyfriend in Michigan. She’d always hoped he would marry a lovely Diné girl and give her great grandbabies to hold. Gray’s introduction and his arm around Nick’s waist, however, had dashed those hopes.Nevertheless, she would be kind to the handsome young man for Gray’s sake.
“Welcome, Nick. Tell me about yourself. I want to know the one who makes my grandson so happy.”
Sergio watched Tayen, monitoring her scent for clues as they conversed. He could sense the questions queuing up in her mind as she noticed numerous changes in Gray and his adoration of Nick. Before the dam burst, Sergio held up his hand to stop the discussion, even as Tayen’s eyes clouded over. The others quietly waited as the True Elder skillfully introduced new thoughts to replace the troublesome ones.
Gray’s appearance is exactly as it should be.
You are proud of your grandson.
Nick is a perfect life partner.
He is happy and content, as you wished.
The ranch is a wonderful opportunity.
Gray loves you very much.
Before releasing her, Sergio softly reassured Gray and Walter.
“Tayen will be fine. If I have missed anything, Walter, send Gray a text before we return tomorrow.”
Gray started talking as soon as Tayen’s normal expression returned.
“We’ve had a long day and need to rest, but we’ll be back after breakfast tomorrow before leaving for the ranch. There’s a lot to do, and we’re eager to get started.”
Gray received hugs from his grandparents, though they both offered one to Nick as well. Tayen had seemed more subdued than usual, but Sergio assured them it was a normal response on their way back to the B&B.
“I couldn’t read her actual thoughts, but Icouldsense her reaction to my suggestions. I think Tayen’s biggest concern is that the ranch isn’t close to Window Rock, and even further from Albuquerque. She’s used to seeing Gray often, and of course, Nick is not the life partner she expected Gray to bring home.”
When they reached the Inn, a platter of caramel brownies awaited them, and not a crumb remained by the time they went up to their rooms. Nick had his clothes off before Gray could even turn down the bed, and they went at it with gusto. Several orgasms later, the pair cuddled together on the comfy bed, finally ready to get some sleep. Nick, however, had a question.
“I never knew my grandparents. Could I adopt yours?”
Gray was still getting the hang of parsing out his mate’s scents, but he could tell that Nick wasn’t really joking.
“Of course. They already like you because you mean something to me, but it won’t take long before they love you, too. Things willreallychange when our babies come along, but you’ll have them eating out of your hand by then anyway. My grandmother probably assumes we won’t have any children, and I can’t wait to surprise her.”
Nick pulled Gray in for sweet kisses.
“Me too, mate. Me too.”
Chapter 36
Sunday, September 26th
The journey from Albuquerque to Rancho Lobo gave the four-pack plenty of time for reflection and conversation. Their brief morning visit with Gray’s grandparents and mother had been awkward and stressful, giving Sergio a rigorous mental workout. As expected, the woman’s memories had needed significant adjustment, along with her attitudes. Compared to Tayen, Gray’s mother hadn’t been as sanguine about his homosexual relationship; doubly insulted that he’d chosen someone of Mexican descent instead of Diné.
She also noticed, as expected, Gray’s obvious physical changes—more muscle, increased body and facial hair, flawless skin, and the lack of traditional earrings. Sergio didn’t do extensive tampering, but some was necessary to convince her that Gray’s appearance hadn’t changed. As for her son’s choice of life partner, Sergio replaced her anger with open-minded tolerance—leaving room for future acceptance as she got to know Nick and his friends.
They’d left on good enough terms, though Gray had been even more quiet than usual as they got underway. He and Nick sat in the back, with Dante driving and Sergio riding shotgun. Nick reached across the seat to clasp his mate’s hand, filling the air with his calming scent.
“What is it, love? No one blames you for what your mom thinks, and I’m sure she’ll come around in time.”
Gray sighed and turned to face Nick, giving his warm hand a squeeze.
“I hope so, but that’s just part of it. A lot of my people share her feelings, and I don’t want them hurting any of you. The Diné have a long history of wars and oppression that started back in the 1600s, and hatred is hard to overcome. On top of that, our own government chose not to officially embrace the gay community. I want the ranch to be our safe place in every way.”
