“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.
“Hey,” all of them say.
“I love you guys too.” I laugh, as all my boys continue to stare at me. I didn’t know I could actually love this much. My life is filled with it. Noble’s persistence made this all possible.
Noble had talked about building us a home, but Erin wanted us to come live back at the family estate with her and Grandpa. This place is giant, and I wanted to be close to everyone in our family. That’s something I never had. I wanted that for our boys too. Plus, we got married here.
“All right, let's leave Mom alone so she can get ready. I’ll be over in a second.” Each of them gives me a kiss on the cheek before they go.
“They’re getting so big.” My eyes start to water. I don’t know where the time has gone. It feels like just yesterday that Noble and I met.
“None of that.” Noble rubs my small baby bump. “We’ll have a baby girl here shortly.” I place my hand over his. This man has given me everything and more.
After I graduated from college with my degree in social work, Noble’s mom, who I even call Mom now, asked if I would be interested in coming on board with the Patton Foundation. At first, I was hesitant, not wanting to be handed something. I didn’t think I’d agree, but Erin can be as persistent as her son.
I thought maybe I’d lend a hand at first, but I was quickly sucked into the foundation, helping not only to distribute funds, but I’ve also created a new organization, which is launching tonight. Its purpose is to help other women entering college get prepared for other things they might need beyond room and board.
There are a lot of essentials that slip through the cracks; not only that, some of them can be overwhelmed. I know I had been when I first started college. I didn’t really have that much direction, but thankfully, Noble found me. I know not everyone gets a Noble, but maybe I could help in some way. It’s why I named the new branch of the foundation Noble Needs.
“I love you so much,” I tell him. Love is not even a strong enough word for what I feel for him.
“You’re really going to love me because I got the heaters working.” Of course, he did. I don’t know why I let myself get worked up over anything. Noble always finds a way to make everything work out.
“Is there anything you can’t do?” I tease him.
He drops his head, resting his forehead against mine. “Let you go.”
“I’d never ask you to.”
How could I? For so long I never felt like I belonged anywhere until him. He changed everything for me. Noble is and always will be my home.
* * *