“Still freaks me out to feel that. You have a whole human being in there.”
“Tiny, but whole, yes. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten used to the feeling either. There’s nothing quite like it in the world.”
“Wish I could feel it. Hell, I wish I could take the pregnancy burden off you and carry the load for a bit.”
I tilted my head back to look at him, smiling. “You do more than carry the load for our family. You’re the best husband and father I could’ve ever asked for.”
He leaned, catching my lips with his, and as we opened to each other, our tongues teasing with the promise of what might come tonight, little hands landed against our thighs.
“Up!” We pulled back with a laugh, picking up Alder, who immediately leaned in between our faces in a dance we’d all become all too familiar with. Deacon looked at me with a twinkle in his eye as he grinned and began to spatter his face with kisses. At the same time he did, so did I, and Alder burst out with laughter, wriggling in our arms with delight.
Suddenly, he pulled back and grabbed the backs of our heads, nudging us closer together, and we peppered each other with kisses until he stuck his face in between us once more. We carried this on for a few minutes before putting him back on the ground, and he rushed to join his brother and cousins back on the floor.
“I don’t think we could have ever wished for a better little boy. He’s so loving and kind, the best big brother.”
“He is,” I agreed, leaning into Deacon once more. We stood there for a moment, holding each other and basking in our love for each other.
“All of this is better than I ever imagined it would be. Thank God for that Auction.”
“And every auction since,” I said with a grin, “I quite enjoy buying weekends with you.”
“With three kids, we have to schedule a date night annually somehow.” He teased, leaning in to kiss me once more. I held the side of his face as I managed to deepen the kiss this time, loving the way his body molded against mine, even with my big belly. The comfort of his strong arms around me, leaving me feeling as safe as could be.
“Hey, you two, get a move on. The Secret Santa is starting!” Harper leaned out from the threshold between the kitchen and hallway, waving her hand at us. I smiled at my best friend’s wife and nodded, reluctantly pulling myself from his hold.
“I have a secret Santa to give you later,” Deacon said into my ear, nipping the lobe as he squeezed my ass.
Laughter bubbled out of me as I shook my head. “That’s an image I could’ve lived without.”