Chapter Twenty

Finding her way through the parking lot Michaela stood next to the passenger side door waiting for Sully to let her in. She couldn't believe that he would lie right to her face. Did he think that she wouldn't find out? She couldn't believe it.

"Michaela," Sully stopped mere inches in front of her. "What did Jolene say to you?"

"Enough," she nodded toward the door. "I want to go home please."

"Michaela come on," he touched her shoulder. "Whatever she said to you was a lie. Let's just forget it. We were supposed to have fun tonight."

"You know what I'm just going to walk home."

"What!" he grabbed onto her hand. "Michaela no, we're miles away do you know how dangerous it is out there?"

Letting go of Sully's hand she wrapped her arms around herself and looked toward the door.

"Fine," he said. "I'll take you home." Opening the car door he let her in, then as it shut he looked at her for a few seconds through the window. Her eyes were trained ahead staring off into space.

The drive home was quiet; neither said a word to one another—neither knowing what to say. Michaela was not only mad at Sully but at herself. She was mad that she left herself care and most of all she was mad that she left herself fall for Sully. Driving past her house Sully pulled into his own driveway. Stopping the car he turned and looked at her, but before he could utter a word she opened her door. "Michaela!" he unbuckled himself and rounded the car.

"Michaela please wait," he touched her arm. "Please just a minute." Turning around he could see the tears in her eyes and it ripped him in two knowing that he put them there. "Michaela please just tell me what happen, please. I won't be able to go to bed tonight knowing that you're hurting."

"You should have thought about that before you slept with Jolene," she said, turning toward her house.

"What!" he said in utter shock. "Did she tell you that I slept with her?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It does to matter! She told you I slept with her! God, Michaela that's not true."

"Isn't it!" Michaela turned around walking back toward Sully. "I over heard her talking with her friends in the bathroom. She told them that you two were together and the only reason you took me to this event was to look good in front of your colleagues!"

Sully stood dumbfounded for a minute trying to absorb everything she said. "Michaela that is not true. I promise you that it's not true! I have never and will never sleep with that woman. There is nothing about her that I find the least bit interesting or attractive."

"Please," Michaela said, wiping away her tears. "She's gorgeous."

"What do I have to do," he pleaded. "I'll do anything to make you believe me."

Looking into his eyes Michaela saw such sincerity and in her heart she wanted to believe him more than anything, but her head told her differently. "I can't go through this again. I can't be lied to," she started to openly cry. "I can't, Sully."

"Thursday," he said remembering. "I can call Robert E. right now. He was with me, he can tell you that I was with him until 2:30 in the morning working on those frames. And Grace she knows how much I can't stand Jolene. Michaela please, I would never ever cheat on you."

"Why would she say those things?" Michaela asked, moving closer to Sully.

"I don't know," he shook his head. "Because she's jealous and she want's to come between us."

"Is…is there an us?" she asked. "Was there ever an us?"

"I thought there was. I mean I know I never officially asked you…but I hoped that we were…a couple." Brushing the tears from her eyes he cupped her face. "I want us to be a couple."

"You don't even think she's the least bit attractive?"

"Not even a smidge," he laughed. "Especially when my girlfriend is the sexiest woman in town."

"Sully," she looked down, her face becoming red.

"Michaela I'm serious though," he took her hand. "I will call Robert E. and anyone else you want me to. And we can go back to the dinner and make Jolene tell you the truth. Anything you want."

"No," she shook her head. "I think I had enough of her for one night."

"So…so you believe me."

Looking away Michaela didn't say anything. She still wasn't completely sure she wanted to give in and believe everything he was saying to her. She still hadn't torn down that wall.

"You don't do you," his eyes saddened.

Turning back to Sully she looked at him a moment before speaking. "The night I decided to leave Jack he told me he had been unfaithful." Wiping a tear away from her eye she hugged herself. "I know he didn't love me…I know that now, but I just didn't think… it didn't occur to me he was having affairs. I don't know what hurt more, him hitting me or finding out he was sleeping with other women."

Sully couldn't stand it any longer and broke the distance that was separating them. Wrapping her in his arms he could feel her quiver. Sully knew if he were to ever see Jack in person he would kill him for hurting Michaela. "I'm so sorry, Michaela."

"I'm sorry," she shook her head. "I'm sorry I ruined tonight. I sorry I messed everything up. I just don't know who or what to believe anymore."

"Shhh….don't. Don't say you're sorry. You didn't mess anything up. Nothing that happened tonight was your fault. Nothing."

"I'm sorry I didn't believe you," she cried. "I should have known to trust you than some woman I've never met. You have never given me a reason not to believe you. Sully…I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too. I know you were looking forward to tonight."

Looking down she nodded, not wanting to tell him just how disappointed she was that tonight didn't work.

"Well," he smiled. "The night isn't over yet."

"No?"

"Nope. You wanna come in?"

Biting her lip she smiled. "Yes, yes I do."

"Josef!" Elizabeth burst thru the door of Michaela's home office. "They're back!"

"Oh," Josef looked up from his medical magazine. "I didn't hear them come in."

"That's just it!" her eyes widened. "They went back to Sully's."

"Oh," he went back to his magazine. "Well, come over here and sit down, I got that book you wanted from Barnes and Noble."

"Did you not just hear anything I said? She went over to Sully's! In his house!"

"So."

"So what does she need to go over there for?"

"Maybe they want some privacy."

Growing exasperated she huffed, "what do they need privacy for?"

"Lizzie," he dropped his magazine into his lap. "She's an adult. If she wants to go over to his house we can't stop her."

"She's lucky I let her go out to dinner at all!"

"Let her?" he laughed. "When was the last time she asked us to do anything?"

Sitting on the couch she rubbed her temples. "I just don't want her to get her heart broken. She doesn't need that on top of everything else."

"She's going to be fine. She's strong and she knows her family is here."

"But what about Jack," she turned. "She's letting her guard down now with Sully, If he out there looking for her she can't be running off and being carefree, now it not the time."

"I'll talk with John tomorrow and I'll see what I can find out. We don't have people on him like we did in Mystic. We have to figure out where he's at."

"That's what scares me," she sighed. "Not knowing where he's at."

"Don't worry," Josef kissed her head. "It's not going to be like last time. He's not going to get to her and take advantage of her. We have enough people looking out for Michaela. And if I'm right I think that's going to be a job Sully takes very seriously."

"How can you put so much trust in him?" Elizabeth asked.

"I thought you were getting past that," Josef remarked, looking at his wife. "You seemed happy last night when you came home from dress shopping and even today as they left."

Elizabeth felt tears well in her eyes, "I just didn't want to fight with Michaela. We've spent so many years fighting and not seeing eye to eye. Oh Josef," she sighed. "When I thought she was gone I felt as though my heart was being ripped out of my chest and I prayed, I prayed every night that God would bring her back to me. I…I don't want to waste this second chance fighting with her and disagreeing."

Wrapping his arms around his wife Josef continued to hold her. "Then just support her," he kissed her again. "Just support her and if she falls pick her back up."

"Here you go," Sully smiled handing Michaela a glass of wine. "I think you need it."

Taking the glass she shook her head. "Thanks."

Sitting down next to her on the couch he loosened his tie a bit. "I don't know if I told you or not, but you looked so beautiful tonight."

"I think you did," she giggled.

"Well I'll say it again. You look amazing."

"Well then the credit should go to Maureen. She's the one that fixed me up."

Moving closer to her he placed his hand provocatively at her waist. "I'll have to thank her later."

Michaela could feel Sully's hand capture her rib cage and it set sparks flying all through her body. Her conversation just hours ago with Maureen filled her head and she had no idea where the night would lead. Setting down her glass she looked to Sully and took his hand. "Would you do me a favor?" she asked.

"Anything."

"Would you dance with me?" she asked.

Smiling he set his glass down next to hers and took her hand. "I would love to." Walking over to his stereo he popped in a CD and soon soft music filled the air. Wrapping his arms around Michaela's waist he gave her a little squeeze. "I'm sorry we didn't do this earlier."

"That's okay," she was truthful. "I think I like this better."

"Me too," he pulled her in closer.

As she slowly swayed back and forth to the music Michaela lost herself in Sully's arms. Everything about that moment seemed right to her. She couldn't believe that she chose to believe Jolene over Sully. What was she thinking? The feeling of Sully's hands moving up and down her back created delightful sensations within her. Leaning her head on his chest she breathed in his scent, never wanting to forget that moment. Looking up at him their eyes locked and ever so slowly he leaned down and placed his lips upon hers.

Not shying away this time she ran her fingers through his hair as he continued to ply kisses to her face. Gently falling back upon the couch she held steadfast. She hungrily sought his lips, not able to get enough of him. Deciding to take matter into her own hands she moved around Sully sitting on his lap straddling his legs the best she could in her dress.

Sully happy at her initiative, moved his hands from her waist to capture her cheeks bringing her in closer and deepening the kiss. "Michaela," he whispered in her ear.

"Mmmm…" She moaned into his mouth, turning him on even further. "Just kiss me."

Grabbing her again by the waist he lowered her onto the couch covering her body with his own. Running his hand down her smooth leg, she brought it up wrapping it around his waist drawing him in all the closer. She could feel his hand creeping closer to the hem of her dress before his hand slowly delved inside to caress her silky white skin of her outer thigh.

Michaela's heart felt as though it was going to beat out of her chest and she knew Sully could feel it. She was nervous but delighted at the same time, an odd mixture she had never felt before. Closing her eyes she let her head fall to the side as Sully started to ply kisses to her neck and gradually work his way downward. His hot breath was beating upon her chest, driving her completely mad. Suddenly she felt his tongue dart out of his mouth and taste her skin for the first time. His hand gently made its way up to her breast where he massaged it through the fabric.

"Sully," she breathed.

"You're so sexy," he grinned, hovering over her. "I…I just..." He couldn't finish his sentence before having the urge to kiss her anew. He just couldn't get enough of her and he felt there were too many barriers blocking them from becoming one. His hand again raked her upper leg, becoming familiar with the territory. He could feel the edging of her lace panties and he looped his thumb inside gently teasing them downward, but as soon as they reached mid-thigh he felt Michaela tense in his arms.

Stopping his movements he pulled her a little bit forward to see her face. "Are you okay?"

"I'm…sorry…I…I just," her face turned red. "I'm sorry we can…"

"You're not ready," he understood, caressing her face. "It's okay."

"No, I…I am."

"Michaela," he shook his head. "It's okay. I understand. I don't want to rush things. If you're not ready, it's okay."

"I wanted to be ready," her face turned even redder. "I feel like a teenager," she tried to joke.

"It's not the right time. Besides I want it to be special, not here on my lumpy couch," he grinned.

"You're not disappointed?"

"Oh, I'm disappointed," he nodded.

"Sully," she shook her head trying to hide her embarrassed smile. "I…I want it to be special too. I…I just need some time. Not knowing what Jack's doing here is making me a little jumpy."

"Oh Michaela," he realized. "I'm sorry did….I remind you of Jack?"

"Sully…"

"I should have known," he sat up. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have been touching you the way I was. I just-"

"Sully," he touched his arm. "You didn't remind me of Jack. Nothing you do reminds me of him. And if you didn't notice I didn't exactly tell you to stop."

"But you did."

"It's not because of how you were touching me. I just…I have these feelings for you that…that sometime they're so overwhelming and it's been awhile since…well it's been awhile," she blushed.

Stroking her cheek he broke the distance between them and touched her forehead with his own. "Like I said before, we'll just let things happen."