Here is another moment. It follows directly after the last chapter. And for you Sulieters who enjoy references, there's a Star Wars allusion. Enjoy!

Chapter 3

Candles softly lit Sawyer's bedroom as slow '70s music surrounded him and Juliet. Two half-filled glasses of wine set next to the record player on the dresser. He held her close, her hips nestled into his while her head nuzzled his shoulder. He played with her soft blond hair in one hand while he held the other close to his chest. He hummed softly as they danced.

"This is perfect," she sighed. Her eyes were closed and she listened to his heart beating.

"Mmm," he said in a rumble. She could hear the sound against his chest. She loved it.

"Thank you for dinner," she said, rubbing his back with her free hand from the base of his neck to his belt. "It was delicious."

He nudged her closer. "You're welcome, sweetheart."

With her eyes still closed, she smiled slyly. "How much did you have to pay Mrs. Phillips to cook it for you?"

His brow furrowed and his jaw dropped. "Nothin'! I slaved away all afternoon in that kitchen."

She looked up at his feigned hurt face and chuckled. "You may be a good con, James, but I was an Other. We know everything."

Putting his head down, he let out a soft sigh. "How did you know?"

Her eyes glistened with victory. "I saw her leaving your house as I went home to change. Either you're having a torrid affair with a 68 year old woman behind my back or you asked her to cook dinner."

"How do you know it's not the former? She looks like she's got a few good times left in her," he said, grinning devilshly.

She poked him in the side, causing him to grunt. Laughing, she said, "You didn't have to go to all this trouble for me."

His face softened into a warm smile. "I wanted to." Shrugging, he said, "Besides, it only cost me a Saturday afternoon cleaning out the old lady's flower beds. Giving you a perfect night is worth it."

She could feel her whole body warm. It wasn't the wine, but what he had said. "I love you." She reached up and kissed him gently. Against his lips, she whispered, "Very much."

His hand slid down her side, his fingertips gliding down the soft cotton fabric of her light purple paisley dress. It was simple, all that she could find in 1974 off of a catalogue, but she looked stunning. He knew when he had opened the door that night, watching her stand there in that dress, her hair glistening like sunshine, her eyes bright and warm—he knew that he could hold her forever. And he wanted to.

Finally, his hand found the hem of her dress and he slid it back up so that the skirt rested on her hips. Her fingers made tracks in his hair, lightly tugging and playing, giving him encouragement to continue. He picked her up and she made a soft, sexy cry as she wrapped her legs around his strong hips.

Her breasts pressed against his chest as he kissed her neck. His hands couldn't touch enough of her. He followed her shoulder blade down to the curve of her bottom, pulling her as close to him as he could. She dusted him with light kisses on his forehead, temples, nose, and neck. She then rested on his mouth. Her tongue found his as she slowly teased him, flicking his lips and tongue with the tip of hers. She was gratified by his long, restless moan. She knew he needed all of her. She wanted all of him too. "James," she cried out, her voice cracking. He knew it was the signal.

He moved them close to the bed and he gently set her down. He wanted to be gentle, slow. He wanted their first time to last as long as possible. He wanted it to be special. This was the first time he had truly made love. He had slept with women he had loved before, but it had always been fueled by a con or the fear of certain death. He had never felt truly safe and made love to a woman for no other reason than pure love. But Juliet Burke had given him that.

He looked over her body as she lay still on the bed watching him. She petted his face and shoulders with her fingertips. The candlelight lit her body to a soft glow. He took her hand, intertwining their fingers. "You make me so happy," he said. "Happier than I ever thought I could be on this island."

"James," she repeated quietly, squeezing his hand.

He brushed a strand of hair from her face. "I love you, Juliet."

She smiled. "I know." Pulling her down to him, she hugged him tightly, kissing him deeply.

Sliding her hands underneath his shirt, she playfully scratched his back before tugging his shirt off. She delighted in his rugged body rubbing against her dress. He gave a low rumbling chuckle as she wrapped her leg around his hip. Shrugging off his jeans, he tenderly removed her dress.

He removed her panties and kissed her thigh. Then her stomach just below her navel. He moved up to her chest and the side of her neck, nipping affectionately at her skin. When he got back to her lips, he kissed her thoroughly. Holding each other, they stared quietly into each other's eyes for what felt like hours.

Tracing a line from his cheek to his chest, her eyes shimmered with warm tears. "I could stay like this. Always."

He smiled the smile he reserved only for her. Kissing her again, he said firmly but lovingly as he looked straight into her eyes, "We can sweetheart. Always."

He nudged her legs apart with his knee and was about to enter her when she said nervously, "James?"

Panting, he said, "What, darlin'?"

"I haven't done this in a while."

"I'm right here." Taking her hand again, he cupped her cheek with the other hand. Leaning down, he said against her ear, "I've got you."

"I love you so much," she said almost inaudibly.

"I've got you, baby," he said and for the first time in his life knew that he meant it unconditionally and for no other reason than the fact that he wanted to know her completely.

She opened her legs slightly wider, inviting him to take her. She wanted to be his and she knew, she could feel that for the first time in her life, she belonged to someone without motivation, without reservation. As he entered her, whispering her name, she knew that he was hers, too.

They spent the rest of the night making love, drinking wine, and dancing as the candles wore down to darkness and the bright moon became their only light. They fell asleep that morning in each other's arms, safe and spent.

TBC