Page 41 of Sawyer
“Ma makes it for me,” Noah says between sniffles as he leans away from me and puts his arms out to Sawyer.I feel my heart skip a beat.
“You want to come to me, buddy?”Sawyer seems surprised if his wide eyes are any tell.
“Yeah,” Noah hiccups, and I look at Sawyer in question.
“I got him.You go make your monster spray.”He takes Noah from my arms and pulls him to his torso.Sawyer's large arms embrace my son, and I can’t move as I watch the two of them, Sawyer immediately grabbing a tissue and wiping my son's face with the same soft touch I just experienced.
“Should we go to your room and wait for your ma?”Sawyer asks Noah, but looks up, asking me the silent question.I nod as Noah hiccups a yes.I walk to the kitchen to quickly fill up an empty spray bottle with water, adding some blue glitter from my small craft box and mixing the concoction until it’s ready to fight the monsters.
Walking back down the hallway to Noah's room, I pause at the door.Sawyer’s sitting by Noah's bed, my son tucked in tight and cozy, and reading him a book.I swallow past the lump in my throat as my heart lurches in my chest.
“Here we are.”I step into the room, holding out the water bottle.Noah instantly sits up and grabs it.
“Where did you see the monsters, buddy?”Sawyer asks him, putting the book down.
“Over there.”Noah points toward the window, and I frown.I move over and triple-check it’s locked before I pull the curtains firmly closed.
“There, all locked and tight.No monsters in here tonight.”
“But what if they come back?What if the sprayer doesn’t work?”Noah asks with teary eyes.
“They won't come back.But in case they do, do you want to test the spray on me?”Sawyer asks, and my eyebrows rise.
“But what if it hurts you?”Noah asks, his little eyebrows pinching together.
“The monster spray only works on monsters, darling.It won’t hurt Sawyer,” I add, coming to his side and kissing him on the forehead.
“Here, have a practice.”Sawyer stands close by and puts out his arms.I internally cringe that his crisp white t-shirt is about to be covered in blue glitter, but he asked for it.
Noah lifts the spray bottle and pulls the trigger a few times, squirting Sawyer right in the chest.
“Good shot.See, I told you, it’s in perfect working order.Your ma wouldn’t have it any other way.”Sawyer grins at him, and I smile.With Noah now seemingly happy, he snuggles into bed, the water bottle firmly in his grasp.
“Good night, honey.”I give his head another kiss and step away.
“Good night, Ma.Good night, Seesaw.”He’s already half asleep, his words mumbled.
“Good night, buddy.”Sawyer takes my hand and leads me out and down the hall to my room.
“I’m sorry about your shirt.I can wash it now, if you like.”I’m ready to fix it, even though it’s late and I’m exhausted.
“Get into bed, Annabelle,” he says firmly.
“But I don't want it to stain or ruin your top…” I add, wondering how bad it will be by morning.
“You’re practically asleep standing up.You’ve had a hell of a night.Don't worry about my top.Get into bed.”I move around to my side of the bed and slip in.At the same time, he grabs the shirt at the back of his neck and pulls it from his frame.
I gulp.I saw his brother's body on my cell phone, which surprised me.But now that I’m seeing the same defined muscles and the contouring of Sawyer's body in real life… I can’t move my eyes.
“This alright?I don’t want to wear wet clothes to bed.”He remains standing, looking at me.I like that he asks me.He doesn’t take it for granted that he can move around my space without my approval.
I pull the covers up to my chin.“Uh-huh.”I nod, somewhat dazed, wondering if he can see drool on my chin from looking at his beautiful bare chest.The small smirk he gives me tells me that he does.He slides into the bed beside me, and my heart races like I’ve run a marathon.I haven’t had a man in this bed in a very long time.Closing my eyes, I take a calming breath.
“Come here, my little warrior.”He reaches for me, his large, strong hands finding my waist, and he pulls me across the bed and into his warm embrace.With my back now firmly against his bare chest, he hugs me to him, and I ease into it, feeling safe, secure, and content for the first time in forever.
“Warrior?”I grin, even though he can’t see me.
“Hmmm, stubborn for sure, prideful, resilient, determined, courageous… beautiful…” he trails off, and I bite my bottom lip, scared my grin will split my face apart.I’ve never been complimented like this before.The attention he’s bestowing on me is entirely new.He leans over and pecks a kiss on my bare shoulder.At that light touch, I close my eyes, my body feeling a sprinkling of warmth all over.
