Now and Forever Still by A.M. Johnson Page A

chest. “You could say that, and I thought I was going to have to swallow my pride and beg you.”
    “Merry Christmas, Dad.”
    Thomas and I both turned at the same time. Elizabeth’s eyes were overrun with tears, and Sailor… she was beaming.
    I clenched my jaw as the wave of emotion filled my chest, and I was unable to speak.
    Sailor moved quickly to where we were sitting, and I stood.
    “I got tired of missing you,” she whispered into my chest as I pulled her into my body.
    I closed my eyes and let the tears come. I felt Elizabeth’s small hand on my shoulder and a shudder ran through me. My entire life was in this house, in these women, and now in that little boy sleeping upstairs. Thomas had gifted me back my family, and when I opened my eyes I found my voice.
    “Thank you, son… you gave me the world tonight.” I released Sailor from my embrace, and she sat down next to her husband on the couch. And, as always, his hand found hers.
    Elizabeth wound her arm around my waist. “She’s coming home.” The words were nearly inaudible as she leaned into my body.
    “I’m excited for the new venture…” Thomas placed his free hand on Sailor’s cheek, and she leaned into the touch. “…and I’d do anything to secure her happiness.”
    Sailor’s eyes closed and a tear rolled down her cheek as he rested his forehead against hers. I thought I heard her say I love you , but Lizzie was pulling me away with a hushed whisper, “Let’s give them their privacy.”
    I took my wife’s hand in mine and we made our way down the hallway to our room.
    “Did you know?” I asked once the bedroom door was shut.
    She shook her head.
    “She’s coming home.” I was still in shock.
    “She is.” Elizabeth’s smile trembled.
    I took a breath.
    I exhaled.
    The universe… it shifted, and this time… we were on the winning side.
     

ELIZABETH
     
    HIS HANDS TRAILED ACROSS the bodice of my ivory dress and moved smoothly to my back. His fingers trailed with precision down the long line of buttons, each one undone created a weightless sensation in my limbs. The warmth of his breath on my neck sent goose bumps along my bare arms as the last button gave way to his demands. The ivory satin fell as my arms draped around his neck. His mouth on mine, our breath mixed as his tongue swept my bottom lip stealing a small taste.
    Married.
    His hands grasped my waist and his grip tightened as I moaned into his mouth. The rough patches on his fingers and palms only ignited the need within my sensitive skin as we stumbled from the flood of fabric around my feet.
    The thin lace of my undergarments were a thinly veiled attempt at modesty. The see-through fabric left nothing to the imagination. A gift of Cam’s for my wedding night. Sawyer drank me in as he stepped back, took a breath, and allowed his eyes to feather across my skin. The loss of his body heat and the anticipation that swirled in my stomach caused me to shiver as his gaze lingered along my breasts.
    “I like this.” He stepped toward me and ran a finger just under the silk and lace strap of my bra easing it over my shoulder.
    He placed sweet kisses along the line of my neck. “Sawyer,” I begged.
    “Elizabeth.” He chuckled.
    My eyes opened and I was no longer in that hotel room. I felt disoriented and my heart was beating a vicious pace. The bed shifted and I felt his lips at my ear. “Good dream?” I could hear the smile in his voice.
    I smacked his bare chest and rolled to my side, officially awake and in the present. “Not particularly,” I lied.
    “I call bullshit.” Sawyer’s large hand grasped my shoulder and rolled me with a gentle force onto my back. “Your face is red, Cricket.” He smirked and my lips twitched fighting my own grin.
    “The truth?” I shut my eyes. I’d been married to him for too long to be this embarrassed.
    He moved so that his body was over mine, and my eyes shot open. His powerful arms held his weight as he pressed against me.