Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. The rights to those characters and to the show belong to the creators of the show, to CBS, The Sullivan Company and to A&E.

The Places to Love

Chapter Eighteen

Sully was standing under the large oak tree on the side of the house when Michaela pulled up. She smiled as she climbed out of the Jeep Cherokee, realizing that this was truly their home now. "What are you doing out here?" she asked going around to the back of the vehicle. Sully walked over to help her unload their dinner, marveling at what the picnic basket might hold.

Before answering her question, he kissed her gently in greeting. "Just lookin' at our house."

"Amazing, isn't it? Our house is done… really done." She gathered the carry out bag as Sully picked up the picnic basket and blanket. She walked up the steps stopping just before the door.

"Michaela?"

She turned and looked at him when he spoke. "Well… it's done now. Did you want to carry me over the threshold?"

"Almost forgot," he laughed setting down the items as Michaela propped the brown paper bag on top of the basket. Lifting her easily, he struggled a little for the door handle, finally managing to open it. "Mrs. Sully… Dr. Quinn… I present you our house." He kissed her as he stepped inside and Michaela giggled with happiness.

Soon the blanket was spread on the living room floor, the candles lit and two wine glasses filled. Both were busy eating food from little take out containers. Sully looked over at her, dropping his fork as he did. "You haven't said anything about your lunch with William," he pointed out. Michaela's cheeks turned a bright red as she stuffed her mouth full of lo mein noodles. Sully regarded her with interest, wondering what she didn't want to tell him. Given the recent incident with Ethan, he quickly grew suspicious. "He didn't try anything, did he?"

Michaela shook her head, her eyes growing large as she took a sip of wine. "You were right."

Sully raised his eyebrows. "I was? About?"

"William did apparently have… well feelings of a sort." Sully smiled in an almost gloating manner. "Don't say I told you so."

"I wasn't going to," Sully smirked.

"You were thinking it." Sully's only answer was a barely concealed smile. "Perhaps I should have seen it before now. He took me out to dinner before I moved to Colorado. I felt like all evening there was something he wasn't telling me. He admitted he had planned to tell me then how he felt – to ask me to stay."

Sully's smile faded. It wasn't that he didn't trust Michaela but only that he sometimes struggled with feelings of inadequacy. One of the reasons it had taken him so long to move their relationship to more than friendship was that he felt as if Michaela was out of his league. "What did ya think about that?" he asked, picking his fork back up and taking another bite of his dinner.

"I started thinking that if he'd told me that I might not have moved here. Perhaps I would have stayed." Michaela wasn't noticing the look on Sully's face, her mind following its own course.

"Ya have regrets?"

Michaela turned quickly, noticing how anxious he looked. "No," she said quickly. "I was actually thinking how glad I was he never said anything. If he had, I might never have come here – I might never have met you."

Sully couldn't help but smile. "Good answer," he whispered.

"It's true." She set her food container down and moved a little closer to him. Laying a hand on his thigh, she smiled up at him sheepishly. "I never imagined the sort of passion we share, Sully. You fill my thoughts at the oddest times and well…"

"What?"

Michaela swallowed hard and then looked down. "The more I'm with you, the more I want to be with you. Sometimes I can't think of anything else."

Sully set his food to the side and rose up onto his knees. "You know it's the same for me Michaela." As he whispered these words, he leaned over and undid the top buttons of her shirt, stirred by her words.

"But you're a man Sully. I never thought women were supposed to feel like this. My mother always called it the wifely duty. I never had the impression that she found it enjoyable."

He tried to suppress a laugh but failed miserably. "The wifely duty?" he chuckled. Michaela nodded and moved in a little closer. Sully grew very serious for a moment, looking directly into her eyes. "Do you find it enjoyable?"

Michaela knew he was teasing and she rolled her eyes as she spoke. "You know I do." She lifted a hand to his neck wanting to feel his lips against hers but Sully resisted.

"Would you find it enjoyable with William?" He had an almost malicious glint in his eye as he asked.

"Sully!" Michaela chided.

"What? I think it's a fair question. After all he did just admit that he's harbored feelings for you for years."

"You just want me to stroke your ego." She shook her head disapprovingly.

"Ain't my ego I want you to stroke," he replied with a grin. He leaned in as he spoke, quickly covering her lips with his so that she couldn't reply. The kiss was long and deep, each becoming lost in the magic their union always created. "Well?" he asked pulling back.

Michaela wrapped her arms around his neck and moved so that she sat on his lap straddling him. "I can't even imagine doing this with William," she whispered. "He seems so… " Sully kissed her again, hard and deep making her heartbeat quicken.

Eventually they broke apart, Sully grinning madly. "He seems so what?"

"Who?" Michaela said tracing the outside of his lips with her fingertips, completely consumed by what Sully had begun.

With a gentle laugh, Sully reached behind her moving items out of the way as she proceeded to ply his neck with sensual kisses. "William," he answered as he laid her down on the quilt, his body covering hers. Michaela's hands were already on his waistband, her mind miles away from their previous conversation.

"Do we have to talk about him?" Her voice was low and sultry, a hint of annoyance present.

"No." It was the last intelligible sound uttered for the next minutes. There were moans, and grunts – sounds of pleasure but nothing distinct. Between her fingers and feet Michaela managed to ease Sully's pants down anxious to feel him moving against her. The pace was frantic but neither minded knowing there would be many other times spent here. Michaela's shirt was splayed open yet her bra still on as Sully freed her of her pants. Both still partially dressed, he lowered himself to her intending to take things a little slower but losing that battle as Michaela writhed against him. Her fingers on his bottom encouraged his already fast movements as did the breathy sounds she was making in the back of her throat. Feeling her body tense under his, he couldn't help but smile to himself. She was incredible in every imaginable way and to know that she wanted to be with him as greatly as he wanted to be with her only increased that feeling.

A strange sound escaped her mouth and it startled Sully so that he pulled back to assess the situation. Michaela's feet wrapped around his legs pulling him back towards her. "Don't stop," she gasped.

Sully renewed his efforts with vigor as Michaela matched his rhythm. He held off watching her face, only losing the battle when she tightened around him once more. Sully collapsed on the floor beside her panting hard as he worked to regain his breath. Michaela instinctively rolled towards him. "We forget to be careful," she said through her own heavy breathing.

Stroking her arm, Sully gave her an apologetic look. "Sorry," he whispered. "I should have…"

Michaela laid her fingers over his lips quieting him. She leaned over and kissed him, then laid her head against his chest. "Don't apologize. It's not time for me to ovulate now anyway. I'm sure we're fine." They both grew quiet as the last rays of sun faded from the sky, only the candles for light. "Thank you," Michaela whispered placing soft kisses to his chest.

"For what?"

Smiling up at him, she traced the same path with her fingers. "For our house… for what just happened…" She looked up at him suggestively. "For loving me like you do."

"I'm sure glad you left Boston."

"Me too," she whispered settling down against him once more.