Chapter Thirty

Warning: This chapter depicts graphic sex between two consenting, married adults. Once again, if you are under 18 or are easily offended by sexual situations, do not read this chapter.

Was it all a dream? Those were the first words that popped into Michaela's mind when the morning aroused her senses. She opened her eyes as the sunlight bathed the room a golden yellow. She realized that she was in the hotel room, Sully's arms and legs were entangled with hers, and no, it had most definitely not been a dream. For that, she was thankful. She felt stiff, sticky, hot and a little sore under the covers with him. She suddenly became aware that Sully gave off a lot of body heat. She'd have to keep that in mind for the wintertime.

She wanted to get out of bed and freshen up, but she wasn't quite sure how to maneuver herself out of Sully's arms. His arms were wrapped around her, his legs were between hers, and she wasn't quite sure if she could manage to get through this without waking him up. She tried, anyway. She slowly pushed his legs aside, hoping her touch wouldn't disturb him. They had both been drained and exhausted when they fell asleep, so hopefully he was a heavy sleeper. He needed all the rest he could get!

She was starting to make progress when he rolled over, virtually pinning her torso to the mattress. She stifled a giggle, and her skin tingled under his arm hairs. She sighed. This was all new to her, so she supposed she'd have to learn his morning rituals quickly, and he'd have to adjust to hers! So, she slowly began to squirm from his arms, and just as she was doing so, he stretched out, causing her to fall onto the floor with a very loud thump! She was stunned, laying flat on the floor, bare naked, staring up at the ceiling. The entire situation was quite humorous, but she was too shocked to laugh.

Sully sat up quickly and looked over the side of the bed.

"Michaela? What happened?"

"I'm just doing my morning exercises," she teased, jokingly rolling her eyes. Sully looked at her skeptically. Realizing how she must look at this point in the morning, she stood and quickly moved across the room, pulled her trunk open. She finally found a robe to put over her naked form. Sully laughed a little as she tied it tightly around herself. He watched as she sat down at the bureau across the room and began to take the pins out of her hair. He stared at her for several minutes. He couldn't believe this beautiful, passionate creature was his lover; his wife.

Once the pins were out, Michaela began to brush through the ratted hair, the almost-intact ringlets and every stray piece of hair she could find. She saw Sully walking up behind her, and she smiled. She blushed, admiring how free he was. He didn't seem to care that he was wearing nothing except for what he had been born with.

He took the brush from her hand and began to run it through her long locks, being careful of the rough patches, brushing them gently until they were manageable and smoothed out. Their eyes met through the mirror, and he caught her blushing again. He leaned down as he brushed her hair, and he pressed hot kisses to her shoulder and the nape of her neck. She leaned her head back against his chest and chuckled.

"You've been holdin' out on me," he whispered against her ear. She turned on her seat and looked up at him. He reached around both sides of her, resting his hands against the bureau. She leaned back, nearly falling as he pressed kisses to her lips, her cheeks and her neck. She giggled happily and reached out to hold onto him so she wouldn't fall. He finally picked her up into his arms and carried him back to bed.

"Just what am I holding out on?" she wondered innocently as Sully placed her between the sheets and crawled in beside her.

"Last night. Ya said…"

"I know," she replied.

"I didn't know ya spoke Cheyenne," he laughed. Michaela sighed softly and gave him a kiss upon the forehead.

"I don't," she replied. "Let's just say that medical text isn't the only thing I read. Did I get the pronunciation right?""

"Perfect. Well, what else do ya know?" Michaela grinned.

"I know… Nemehotâtse. I love you." Sully answered her with a kiss. Michaela stretched out, rolling onto her back. Sully's hand began to play with the belt of the robe, and he started kissing her neck softly. Michaela loved the way he wanted her.

"Michaela?"

"Hmm?" she asked as his hand slipped into the robe, lightly caressing the side of her breast.

"Last night…if I hurt ya…" Michaela turned onto her side and stroked the side of his face. "I love ya, Michaela, and…"

"Shh," she whispered, giving him a soft, slow, sensual kiss. "What you and I shared…" She felt herself blushing.

"It's just me, Michaela. You can say it."

"I know," she said quietly. She closed her eyes and shook her head. "I suppose I still need time."

"That's all right." Michaela smiled up at him.

"Sully…I want to thank you."

"What for?"

"For everything. For being patient and willing to wait for me. You have no idea how much it meant to me; how much it will always mean to me." Sully picked her hand up in his and gave it a gentle kiss.

"Ya gave me a gift last night, Michaela. We both gave each other somethin' that nobody else in the world can have or take." He sighed softly. "I was blind last night. I didn't know…I didn't want to disappoint you."

"You didn't," she promised. "I was afraid that I wouldn't be…" Her cheeks flushed, and Sully reassured her with a kiss.

"You were. You were everything, Michaela. Everything and more." Michaela thanked him with a loving hug and kiss. Sully traced his finger along the outline of her jaw, and Michaela began to feel those desirous urges rapidly flooding through her systems. She promptly decided that she should probably get up and get dressed, though at the moment, she wasn't sure why. Sully was a little surprised as he watched as Michaela started to get out of bed. "Where ya goin'?"

"I should get dressed," she said quietly.

"Why? Ya don't got no place to be." Michaela glanced at him skeptically, and she looked over at the clock.

"Sully, it's ten o'clock in the morning!"

"So?" Michaela laughed as Sully's lips found her neck again. She lay back down, reveling in the feel of his hot breath against her skin. If they weren't careful, they'd never get out of that bed. But, as he continued to shower her with kisses, she began to think that she wouldn't mind. She slowly began to explore her new husband's body with as much fervor as he was exploring hers. He helped her out of her robe and began to stroke along her long, slender legs and her soft, pale thighs.

She pulled her knee back, putting her foot flat on the mattress as he crawled between her legs. She smiled a little and shook her head.

"It isn't even dark yet."

"That don't matter, does it?" he asked, his mouth kissing her sensitive stomach, moving up between her breasts. She quickly began to forget everything she'd been taught. Wifely duty? She wasn't so certain of that. It didn't feel like a duty! And her mother had told her that the 'wifely duty' was to be performed at night under the protection of the darkness. That made it sound almost sinful! There was nothing sinful about the love they'd made last night.

"No," she breathed as his hand found one breast, and his mouth found the other. She closed her eyes, relishing the feelings that he elicited in her. Sully paused his torturously slow attention and looked right into her soul. He thought about how lucky he was. He'd never dreamed that he could meet someone as amazing as Michaela. Making her his wife had been the proudest moment of his life. He loved this woman with everything he had. She was his world; the most important thing in his life.

They'd found their places in each other's hearts, and now, they had their places lying in each other's arms. They melted together, sighing in unison as their bodies grew familiar with one another; their hearts learned to beat in time with the music of their lovemaking. They came together with enthusiasm and willingness to learn more about each other. They knew their hearts, but they were just getting started on their bodies.

Moving together, the heavens smiled upon them. They were one. That was the way they were meant to be. They were soul mates…two angels living on earth, making their own sweet music together and joining each other in earthly pleasures.

Lydia's eyes widened in surprise, as the nurse sat the vase full of flowers on her bedside table. She wished she felt well enough to reach over and pluck a flower so she could smell it, but her chest hurt too much. Lydia didn't need to read the card that was attached. She knew who they were from, and she couldn't wait to see him. She had ordered him to go home the night before, because she needed to get sleep, and she couldn't sleep anymore without worrying that he wasn't sleeping. So, now that he was home and resting, she felt better.

She sighed softly as the sweet aroma of the flowers filled the room. The nurse, a young woman who she used to work closely with, took out her bandage scissors.

"How are you feeling today, Lyddie?" she asked. Lydia smiled at her friend's nickname for her. They'd practically grown up together.

"Much better, Sarah. It's been awhile since we've seen one another," Lydia said with an aggravated sigh as the pain began to throb. She winced in pain.

"Yes. I'm sorry about everything, Lyddie. You never should have been hurt. Dr. Lewis deserved what he got, not you." There was a slight edge of bitterness in Sarah's voice. Lydia decided not to question it yet.

"It's not your fault." She saw Sarah's eyes obviously trying to avoid the swell in her stomach. "It's okay. You can ask." Sarah flushed.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "Am I that obvious?"

"I've known you since we were seven years old, Sarah Jones. Don't think I don't know." Sarah shook her head.

"Is David…Dr. Lewis the…" Lydia shook her head.

"He'll never be this child's father. Ever." Her jaw was set firmly; her mind was made up. Sarah nodded slowly. She opened up Lydia's bandage, and Lydia hissed in pain as the air hit her wound.

"Dr. Quinn wants you to let this have air for a little while. He'll be back here in a few minutes to check on you." Lydia nodded, and as Sarah started to walk away, Lydia grabbed her hand.

"Lyddie?" Lydia swallowed hard.

"He's not going to hurt anyone again," Lydia whispered, not hiding the fearful tremble in her voice. She noticed tears sparkling in Sarah's eyes, but the young nurse nodded.

"Well, he's sure leaving a path of destruction everywhere he turns." Sarah sighed heavily. "I'm sorry he took you with him, Lyddie."

"I'm not." Sarah looked at her quickly. "I realize now that I played a part in it too. In the end, I'm happier than I ever was. I'm going to be a mother, Sarah, and I've met the most wonderful man. He understands me. He loves me." Sarah's face was pale, and her eyes were dark with sadness.

"I'm happy for you, Lyddie. I'm so happy for you." Sarah quickly escaped from the pain of sitting with a woman who had suffered just as much or even more than she had. Lydia sighed and shook her head, mentally noting the fact that the only real visitor she'd had since she'd been admitted to the hospital was Albert. Not even Gertrude had made it in to see her. Lydia was quickly developing ideas for how to get away from Gertrude and be on her own again.

Gertrude knew about the baby. Many people were already whispering and gossiping. With each week, she was growing larger. People stared without wanting to be caught. She was the unmarried woman in trouble. She was a sinner in their eyes.

Before she had the chance to think about what living in Boston would do to her child, a child that would be stared at everyday, a child that everyone would know was born out of holy wedlock, a knock came to the door. Her gray eyes lit up at the sight of Albert, but a deep frown immediately followed.

"Albert, you're supposed to be at home sleeping."

"I was. Now I'm here. How are you feeling?" He pulled a chair up to her bedside, noticing how nothing but a blanket covered her torso. Her shoulders were exposed, as her bandage lay open, exposing the wound left by the bullet. Lydia suddenly realized this, and she crossed her arm over her chest. He pretended not to notice, and he smiled up into her eyes. "You look like you're feeling better."
"I am," Lydia assured him. But, she didn't get everything past him.

"Is something wrong? You look like you've been upset." She slowly looked up into his eyes. How was she supposed to tell him that she was suddenly terrified of being a mother to a child that everyone would know was a bastard? How was she supposed to tell him that she was afraid that she and her child would be shunned by society for the rest of their lives? She couldn't tell him that! She didn't want to upset him.

"I want to leave," she whispered, her words meaning more than what Albert heard. She did want to leave. She wanted to get out of Boston and never come back. She didn't want to run away from it all, but she knew that her conscience would never get away from it. She would carry the memories with her for as long as she lived. It was enough to live with, and she was growing to hate the city. She wanted freedom and quiet. She wanted lazy days to sit on the porch, rocking the baby in her arms. She wanted to watch the sun set in the sky for once. She had never witnessed a sunrise or a sunset, as the buildings in downtown Boston blocked the everyday miracles.

"It won't be much longer before you can go home, Lydia," Albert soothed. Home? She didn't quite know what or where home was anymore. Albert watched her, feeling his heart breaking. He knew she was suffering, and he wanted to take it all away. He was ready to, but he wasn't sure she was. "Don't worry, Lydia. You'll feel better soon." Lydia nodded through her pain. "I'll talk to Dr. Quinn. Maybe he can get you out of here soon."

"Maybe," she replied quietly.

"I ran into Marjorie Quinn today. She said that Sully and Michaela's wedding went on without any complications. She said it was a beautiful ceremony." Lydia smiled.

"I'm happy for them. David didn't…"

"He's still sleeping off the effects of a terrible headache behind bars," Albert assured her. He kissed her hand softly. "Don't worry about him. God willing, you'll never have to worry about him again."

The afternoon passed the oblivious lovers by as they spent their day exploring one another and filling each other completely, quenching each other's passionate thirsts and hungers. Now, Michaela was sleeping on her stomach, one arm stretched over Sully's chest, the other hanging limply over the side of the bed. Her long, chestnut hair was dark and tangled again as it lay across her porcelain pale back. Sully watched her as she slept, and he thought about how lucky he was. His wife was innocent and sweet, but she was also passionate and full of fire. He loved how she had reservations about many things, but when desire and passion took hold, those reservations melted away with just a touch or a kiss.

He moved her arm off of his chest, but he kept her hand in his. He brought it to his lips, and slowly kissed each of her fingertips. He took them each into his mouth, softly sucking on them. Michaela woke, as Sully's actions sent sparks of mass desire right to her core, but she pretended to be asleep. When Sully saw that his maneuvers weren't working, he placed her hand aside and slowly began to trail his fingers down her spine, down to her buttocks. Michaela bit back the urge to squirm or giggle. She was biting her lip so hard that she thought it might split and bleed. Sully rolled onto his side and began to place feather-light kisses upon her shoulder blade. He moved down her back, kissing all the way to the small of her back, a place where her flesh was extremely sensitive when it came to his hot mouth.

Finally, she let a moan escape her mouth. Sully smiled happily, feeling proud that he'd succeeded, but his pride was quickly overcome by desire. Michaela turned her head so she could look into his eyes, and she gave him a sleepy smile. He moved in, capturing her mouth with his own, and she giggled and rolled onto her side to press against him.

"Haven't you slept?" she asked. He shook his head.

"Nope, but you sure sleep a lot," he joked. Michaela playfully swatted his arm, and she relaxed against him as his arms folded her in. "I could stay like this forever." She flushed, unbeknownst to Sully, but he assumed she was anyway. Sully was already discovering many things about his bride that made his heart swell with joy. There was a spot on her neck, just behind her ear, that made her squeal when he kissed her there. There was a spot on the inside of her thigh that made her tremble when he touched it in just the right away. He loved the way she smiled at him after they made love. She was still so innocent and naïve about many things, and he was too, but they were learning quickly and enjoying every bit of it.

"Sully?"

"Hmm?" he asked, his mouth finding her shoulder. She tilted her head back, smiling contentedly as he tried to distract her.

"Do you not intend to leave this room at all?"

"Not if I can help it," he replied. Michaela sat up in bed, pulling the sheet around her body. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing. I just feel like we haven't seen the daylight in a while."
"There somethin' wrong with that?" he asked, looking down to see her knee exposed under the sheet. He bent down to kiss it, and his hand began to make its way up her thigh. Before she knew it, Sully was pulling her under him, and he was straddling her hips. She laughed as his fingers moved ticklishly over her sides. She squirmed as his hands tortured her and pleased her at the same time. She was quickly realizing that their desire for one another was insatiable. They wanted more and more each time, and the fire burned hotter with each caress and kiss.

She arched her neck up, bringing her lips to his. She could feel his desire growing by the moment, and his hands were working their magic, bringing her over the highest high, his thumb encircling around her most sensitive bundle of flesh and nerves.

She sharply gasped into his mouth, and his tongue explored her, kissed her and loved her. Her arms pulled him closer, her nails gently raked down his back, and she lifted her other knee to bring him closer. She arched upward when he entered her, filling her completely. He looked down into her eyes, drinking in her beauty and the desire that pooled in her eyes. He wanted to kiss her until the end of time, hold her and make love with her until the last sunset. He knew it wasn't possible, but he could surely try.

They moved together, learning how to work together to rise to the ultimate pinnacle. Michaela moaned under him, and his thrusts became more urgent and demanding as did her kisses. They give and took to and from each other, and they made each other theirs once again. Rolling and tumbling and tasting and thrusting. Sweat mixed with sweat, and they tasted each other in their kisses….

"I never dreamed that I could be this happy," Michaela whispered in the afterglow of their lovemaking, as they lay pressed together under a thin white sheet, skin to skin, heart to heart. Sully's breathing was ragged, and he kissed the nape of her neck as her fingers curled at the damp hair on the back of his neck. Slowly, he withdrew himself from her, and she rolled onto her stomach, resting her head upon his chest. Their hands linked together, and their fluids combined, draining them and making them feel complete at the same time.

"You're my happiness," Sully breathed after a while. Michaela liked the sound of that. She loved knowing that she made him happy, and she hoped that she would continue to do so for the rest of their lives.

They were silent afterward, and Sully pondered the events of the last five months. He couldn't believe how close he'd come to never having met Michaela. If she hadn't been in New York, he probably would have died alone on the porch steps of the New York hospital. He never would have gotten to experience her smile, her laugh, her tears or her passion. He never would have gotten to know how incredibly strong and sensual she was. He never would have gotten to know how delicate she could be. Michaela had been breathing new life into him since they night they met. She continued to do so every day. She filled him, completed him and made each day worth living.