Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Autumn’s lower lip trembles, but she manages not to cry. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you for making Noble happy. It makes us happy.” Mom pats the chair again. “Sit, Noble. The wait staff will take care of the mess.” She hands me a napkin for my hand. “Put this on your knuckles. They’re going to swell. Autumn, please take care of him.”
“I will.”
“I can’t wait,” I murmur.
That comment earns me a mild kick in the shin. I wink at her, and she pinkens. Across the table, Granddad gives me a grunt of approval while Mom sighs in satisfaction. I pick up my glass and propose a toast. “To Autumn for taking me on, and to my family, who loves me and will love Autumn, too.”
“To Autumn,” Mom cheers.
“To all of us.” Autumn says.
Under the table, she grabs my hand, and she doesn’t let it go throughout the entire lunch or when we leave for the car, and not even when we get back home, where I make love to her in the fading sunlight of the afternoon. We’re bound together, her and me, forever.
EPILOGUE
AUTUMN
Ten years later
“Nothing fits me,” I huff, glaring at all the clothes in my giant closet. How can I own so much shit and none of it fits? Well, anything that one wouldn’t wear to bed.
“I enjoy you naked.” I spin around to see my husband standing in the doorway of my closet. He’s in slacks and a buttoned-up shirt. The top few buttons are undone, and his sleeves are rolled up. He works from home three days a week, and today was a home day. I loved being able to pop into his office whenever I wanted. I hadn’t today, though. My hands have been full.
“Okay, I’ll go naked.” He narrows his eyes on me, not liking my suggestion.
“Don’t think because you’re pregnant I won't spank your little ass.”
“It’s not so little anymore.”
“You’re being—” he pauses.
“What? What am I being?!” I stomp my foot. Okay, my hormones might be getting to me. I thought all that would cool down after my first trimester. I’m halfway through my second, and they seem to be getting worse. I’ve been dying for my baby bump to pop out. Well, it’s here now, and nothing fits!
“Sexy? Adorable? Incredible?” He smirks.
“You’re full of shit. That’s what you are.” I laugh.
“You’re about to be full of me.” He walks toward me. I hold my hands out. “No way. We don’t have time. I have to find something to wear and get the boys ready. Not to mention the heaters aren’t working for outside. We can’t keep everyone locked inside the house. People enjoy being outside. The back yard is one of the best parts of our home.”
“Kitten.” Noble places his hands on my hips.
“Don’t ‘Kitten’ me. Also—”
He cuts me off, his mouth taking mine. I melt into Noble. His hand slips into my black stretchy pants. “No panties,” he growls against my mouth.
“It would show panty lines.” I wiggle my hips, needing his fingers to do their magic.
“There are people all over this house today. You can’t go without panties. You didn’t even come to feed me lunch.” He cups my sex. By feeding him lunch, he means lay me out on his desk for him to have his way with me.
“I’m sorry.” I puff out my bottom lip.
“Liar.” He claims my mouth again but gives me what I need. His fingers go to my clit. Dirty words of what he’s going to do to me later tonight spill from him as he strokes my clit. My husband knows exactly what to do and say to get me off quickly. I cry out his name, which he muffles with his mouth.
“Mom!” I hear one of my boys call.
“Little cock blockers.” Noble pulls his fingers out of my pants, licking them clean a second before both boys burst into my closet. Jeremiah and Connor came into our lives when Connor was only two while his brother was three.
I’d met both boys when I’d gone to one of the shelters in the city. The second I laid eyes on the brothers, I knew they’d be ours. I glanced over to Noble, who’d been with me that day, and he’d given me a nod in understanding. No words had been needed. We took them home three days later. Now they aren't even teens, and they’re almost taller than me.
“I hate these things!” Jeremiah shakes the tie in his hand. He’s not one for getting dressed up.
“I’ll come over and help you in a second. Let me finish getting dressed.”
“I’ve got the boys,” Noble tells me. “Also, my mom got you a dress. I laid it on the bed.”
“Seriously? Gosh, I love that woman.” She is always a million steps ahead of everyone. I might not have grown up with my parents, but Erin has filled those shoes for me.