Warning: This chapter contains a graphic sexual encounter between two consenting, unmarried adults. Point of mention: If oral sex turns you off, don't read this chapter (though you'll miss some stuff you shouldn't miss). It doesn't have to be dirty, ya'll.

Chapter 80

March 1871 – Boston

Rebecca sat on a park bench, watching Johnny and Mary chase one another around and around. Mary had already dirtied up her dress, but Rebecca didn't mind. What mattered most was that her little girl was enjoying herself and having a good time.

"Mother! Can we go back to the confectionary?" Mary asked, as they ran around the bench, startling her.

"Oh dear!" she laughed. "You're hungry again?"

"I want to try something else."

"Perhaps another day," Rebecca laughed. "I don't want you spoiling dinner."

"But dinner is hours away." She and Johnny finally stopped running, and Rebecca grinned.

"Well, let's head home and find out what Martha's cooking. Perhaps she'll have something to tide you over."

"Alright," Johnny said with a nod. As they prepared to leave, Rebecca caught sight of a figure nearby, and she turned to see what had caught her attention. But, the figure was on the other side of the park, and it was difficult to make out his face. He was with a little girl. She could have sworn he looked like…

She shook her head. No. It couldn't be him. Now she was seeing him in places he wasn't. She knew she had to get over him eventually. She apparently wasn't as over him as she had thought.

With a shake of her head, she turned and took the children by the hands.

"Come along, children. We should be going."

Timothy studied Gabby as they walked through the park. She hadn't even looked up since they'd left the house. Surely a child of her age could find some joy in the park…even if only for a few minutes.

"Gabby, why don't you try the swing? You might like it."

"No," she said quietly. "I don't feel well. Can we go back?"

"Don't you want a little fresh air?" Gabrielle shook her head.

"I want to see my mother. I hate it when she sends me away." Timothy sighed.

"I'm sure she has good reason, Gabby. I can tell that she loves you very much." She nodded.

"She tells me all the time. But, if she loved me, she wouldn't be leaving. She says she's going to go to Heaven very soon. She says I might have to live with…with strangers." Timothy felt the lump rise in his throat. Perhaps that was why she'd wanted him there. Maybe Sylvia wanted him to take the girl in…maybe she wanted him to help find her a decent home.

"I know this must be difficult for you," he said quietly, as they settled down on a park bench. "Gabby, sometimes the people we love have to leave…even if we don't want them to. Even if they don't want to leave us." Gabby shrugged her shoulders.

"Doesn't seem fair," she said mildly.

"I know it doesn't, but…God has a plan for everyone."

"I wish his plan wasn't to take my mother away. Why can't it be someone else? Why not me?" Timothy swallowed hard, his heart breaking for the little girl. She was already willing to give up her own life for someone else's.

"Because God has a special purpose for you. It isn't time for you to leave this life yet."

"My mother's so young!" she pointed out. "It's not fair that she should die!" The girl shook her head and stood up. "Take me home. Please! Just take me home." She tried to hide the tears, but it was a lost cause, and Timothy stood slowly. Without words, they began a slow walk back to Mill Street, each silently praying for a miracle for Sylvia.

When she felt the familiar tickle of his lips on the back of her neck and his hand caressing her hip, Michaela grinned, and her eyelids fluttered open. She didn't want him to know she was awake just yet—she had only just drifted off—so she bit her lip to keep from giggling, and she waited for him to tease her again.

Disappointed that she had already dozed off after only a little while, Sully pressed another kiss to the back of her neck before creating a feather-light trail to the back of hear ear, gently nuzzling the sensitive spot that always made her squirm.

She held her breath, not wanting to make a sound, and when she heard him sigh, she closed her eyes, trying not to let her amusement show; trying not to let him know that what he was doing was torturing and tickling her at the same time. But she could hardly keep herself from gasping, as his hand moved from her hip and up her side, gently caressing the side of her breast, running his fingers across her already taut nipple.

He knew she was awake, because her breathing began to change. He knew she was faking sleep, and it was time to get even. So, he leaned down, slowly beginning to nibble on her ear lobe, teasing the rim with his tongue, causing her to shudder with desire.

She wasn't giving in. She gently turned further to the side, minding her belly but breaking his contact with her breast, and he sighed, deciding on the next course of action. So, he slowly pulled her hand toward him, and he placed a kiss her palm. Then he brought her fingers to his lips, kissing the pads of each of them before taking the tips into his mouth one by one, softly sucking them before kissing his way to her wrist, gently nibbling there. He could feel her pulse racing with desire. It was only a matter of time before she couldn't take it anymore.

Trying to steady her breathing, Michaela couldn't suppress a small moan, and she knew he heard it, because his soft kisses grew even softer but became filled with more intent, before he let her hand fall to the pillow, and he began moving her hair back to expose her neck. She wasn't certain how much more she could handle, but she was certainly enjoying this experiment!

He gently traced his tongue along the back of her neck, and he could feel her shudder underneath him. He pressed a kiss to the center of her shoulders, before he shifted himself and began to kiss his way down her back, slowly running his hand along the length of her body.

Deciding to toy with him further, she rolled onto her back, almost pinning his hand to the mattress, but he pulled away just in time, and she waited for him to touch her again, hoping she could maintain her composure.

"Michaela," he finally breathed. "I know you're awake." When she didn't respond, he let his hand enclose over her right breast, gently kneading it, as he studied her face for a response. He saw the corners of her mouth tug upward in response, and her cheeks began to blush. As his hand moved lower, he saw the smile fade and she began to squirm, as he drew nearer to his destination.

He shifted positions, crawling over her and gently spreading her legs with his hands, and Michaela bit her lip, as he began to caress her, causing her to almost jump off of the bed. Finally, her eyes opened, and her hands reached for him. Pleased that he'd finally roused her from her pretend sleep, he continued his attentions to her most sensitive areas, as she writhed before him, arching her back and gripping the sheets.

"Sully!" she cried out, arching into the pillow, as he continued his slow, sensual torture that caused her toes to curl and her heart to beat so fast that she thought it might explode inside of her. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined having such a sensitive, generous, caring lover. She'd always thought of making love as something with far less romance and much more discomfort. Being with Sully had changed it all, and as he took her over the edge, she wished she could return the favor. Unfortunately, her shyness was beginning to get in the way again.

After she began to come down from her high, Sully kissed his way up her body, lingering at her belly, kissing her there and making her grin from ear to ear. Being with him…it already felt like they were married. Sometimes she almost forgot that they weren't. They were as close as two people could possibly be.

Groaning, as he shifted his weight to accommodate his growing desire, he crawled over her, looking into her eyes and pushing her hair back, reveling in the sight of her still-damp locks lying against the soft pillows, as her perfectly mismatched eyes gazed up at him with such love and admiration. He couldn't get over the way she still blushed in his presence. They knew one another, body and soul, yet there was still such innocence inside of her. He would cherish that forever, and he and she both knew that he would never ask her to do anything that she didn't feel comfortable doing.

"Did you ever think about me?" he asked quietly, kissing her lips and then her forehead before pulling back to wait for the answer, as his body lay comfortably over hers, feeling her heat emanating and surrounding him.

"When?" she whispered, her arms circling his body and pulling him closer.

"Before…before we even said we loved each other." Michaela blushed heavily.

"Sully…does it matter?"

"I wanna know," he urged, kissing her neck, as she giggled, relishing the way he couldn't stop from kissing her.

"Why? It doesn't matter now, does it?" A playful smile began to spread.

"Nah. But I'd like to know." Michaela sighed, as his hand gently caressed the side of her left breast.

"If you must know," she said, feigning exasperation, "yes." Sully grinned, as Michaela leaned up to kiss him hungrily, not wanting to pull back, but he did.

"For the record," he said with a nod, "sometimes I couldn't get ya outta my head." Michaela smiled a little, and she brushed his hair back out of his face. When he saw the blush come to her cheeks, he brushed his fingertips across her lips before giving her a sweet peck on the forehead.

"If I did somethin' to make ya uncomfortable…" She shook her head.

"No," she said with a smile. "You didn't. I suppose I'm just…curious."

"Curious?"

"Mr. Sully," she said in a low voice, "I've always believed in reciprocation." She sucked in a sharp breath. She couldn't believe she'd just said it out loud, and she flushed heavily. "I mean…oh, Sully, I'm sorry." He grinned, his desire even greater now. Hearing her say it let him know that she'd been thinking about it. Despite that proper exterior, she was the most sensual woman he'd ever known…even if she wasn't certain that was the right thing to be.

"Nothin' to apologize for, Michaela," he breathed, kissing her forehead.

"That was so…bold of me," she said quietly, feeling her face burning red hot. But, he reassured her with a kiss.

"Michaela, trust me," he said with a smile. "Ya didn't do nothin' wrong. Ya said what was on your mind at that moment, and—"

"You don't mind?" she asked. Sully grinned and shook his head.

"I don't mind," he assured her, giving her a soft kiss upon the lips. "Like I told ya a long time ago…just do what feels natural." Deciding to take his word for it, Michaela nodded, and she closed her eyes. "I don't want ya to do somethin' ya don't want to." Michaela nodded. And a moment later, they were wrapped up in one another again, kissing passionately, as the minutes ticked by slowly, letting them enjoy one another fully, before Sully slowly rolled over, bringing Michaela on top of him and holding her close to his body.

Her hands rested upon his chest, and their eyes met. He smiled up at her, as she bit her lip nervously. He knew what she was thinking, so he gently moved his hands to her back to caress her there, letting her know that whatever she wanted to do was alright. He loved her just the way she was, and if this was too much, she shouldn't do it. At the same time, his body was responding to the idea of what might happen, and he couldn't deny that it spurred his passion, making him desire her all the more.

Without words, Michaela brought her mouth down on his in an urgent kiss, letting him know that this was what she wanted. He relaxed beneath her, letting her do whatever she wanted to. And, when her tongue begged for entrance into his mouth, he opened up to her, letting her taste his kiss.

Before he knew it, her hands were roaming down his body, and she was following her own lead. Her heart was racing, but she found that with each moan that escaped Sully's mouth, she was doing something right. He was enjoying it, and if he could give her that kind of pleasure, he deserved the same in return.

Slowly, her kisses moved down his body, and he kept his eyes on her, watching as she nervously approached her next task. He closed his eyes, relishing the feel of her, as she began to stroke him, and when she heard him let out a moan, she knew this was natural.

A moment later, his hips jerked in surprise when he felt her taste him, and when he looked at her, she was trembling.

"Did I…" she started, uncertain now.

"No…I…" His head fell back, and when he moaned again, Michaela bit her lip and proceeded to slowly take him into her mouth. "Michaela!" His breathing became more rapid, as her mouth surrounded him, slowly taking him farther in, the walls of her mouth warm and moist, as her tongue brushed along his length, causing him to clench his fists and try not to move so she could explore. She began to grow a little more comfortable, and a moment later, Sully was writhing in pleasure under her touch, which made her want this all the more.

She moaned softly, sending vibrations throughout his body. She pulled back a little, boldly flicking her tongue over his tip, and he moaned again. Watching the way he reacted to her movements made Michaela's heart pound. She…Michaela Quinn, the timid lady doctor from Boston, Massachusetts, was able to make the man she loved feel such pleasure. She'd never expected to be so bold; so adventurous. She loved making him feel this way, and the thought brought a crimson blush to her face again.

"Michaela…" Michaela's gaze locked on his, and though she was blushing, she caressed him a few more times before moving back up into his loving arms. She knew he'd come close to losing control, and she wanted to give him a few moments to regain his composure, and as she waited, she kissed his neck, softly tasting the salty sweat that had formed there.

Sully's hands moved to her hips, and he began to kiss her shoulders, tasting her perspiring skin as he lowered her down onto him. She cried out, feeling every nerve in her body come alive, as she lay atop him. She balanced herself, and they began to move together as one.

"Sully…" she whimpered. "Oh…" Her hands held onto his shoulders, and she leaned her head back, taking in the feeling of pure ecstasy and freedom. She looked back down at him, and she smiled, watching him holding her and moving with her. When his eyes opened, she felt his soul reach out for hers.

Looking up at her, his heart swelled. He wondered how he could have gotten so lucky as to have this wonderful, gorgeous, sensual woman as his soul mate. He loved every part of her. He only wanted to hold her and make her happy forever, and if it was possible, he would.

Michaela felt her control slipping, and she gripped his shoulders, and her nails grazed his chest, leaving temporary markings there, as her body clenched around him. And the bubble burst, as they both came over the edge and collapsed together in their heightened states of passion.

Rolling off of him, Michaela pulled the blankets around them and curled up next to him. The warmth of his body still filled hers, and her hand splayed across his chest, feeling his heart beating there. She rested her head on his shoulder, as he pulled her into his arms.

Kissing the top of her head, he gently massaged her shoulder.

"Ready to go back yet?" he asked. Michaela looked up at him quickly. "Just kiddin'." She gently pushed on his arm, and he squeezed her closer.

"It's so peaceful here," she whispered, listening to the crackling of the fireplace in the next room.

"Your family had good taste when they bought this place." Michaela smiled.

"As I recall, they spent more time fixing it up than they did staying in it." She smiled a little. "That was fine for me though. I got to swim all day. It was perfect." Sully laughed.

"I'm surprised ya didn't spend all day readin' books instead of swimmin'." Michaela grinned.

"Well, I wasn't swimming at night, was I?" she asked, as Sully pulled her into a kiss. She smiled against his lips, as their noses touched. "I hate to admit it, but this has been a wonderful day…" Sully looked at her, raising his eyebrow.

"You hate to admit it?"

"Well, I didn't expect to be able to enjoy myself…considering everything that's happened. I feel almost guilty…" She flushed, and he kissed her forehead.

"Your ma wouldn't want ya to put your life on hold, Michaela." She smiled.

"But I'm certain she wouldn't approve of doing this to pass the time!" She couldn't help but kiss him again, feeling unable to resist the taste of his kiss. Sully sighed softly.

"After Abagail died, I felt guilty for a lot of things. She might not have looked like it, but she loved fishin'. She wouldn't admit it, but when we went together, we had fun. I went shortly after…and I just felt guilty, 'cause she wasn't there." Michaela nodded in understanding.

"But, Sully…this is far different from fishing." Sully chuckled.

"Yeah…it is. But ya know what I mean. Just 'cause somethin' bad happens doesn't mean we should stop livin' our lives…stop lovin' like we want to." Michaela sighed and melted into his embrace. She knew he was right. There was nothing to say she shouldn't enjoy the company of the man she loved…the father of her child…the man she was going to marry in just two more months.

She lifted her head and smiled, as she gazed into his eyes, feeling more love than she'd ever felt before. Knowing one another's hearts and minds, they began to kiss, letting passion take them to new heights once more.

March 1871 – Colorado Springs

Cloud Dancing stopped short of the bluff, catching the directional change in the wind. Something wasn't right. He could tell that there was trouble ahead, but the Sprits would not tell him what kind of trouble. But, he knew that he was needed.

He brought his horse into a fast canter, and he could feel that danger was near. He felt safe knowing that his knife was on him just in case, and he hoped that he wouldn't need to use it.

His heart began to pound, as he rode further downhill, seeing something in the distance at the tree line. Swallowing hard, he urged his horse onward. He noticed a horse grazing nearby, and the feeling in the pit of his stomach turned even more worrisome.

As he neared the scene, he stopped his horse and let him graze, deciding to walk the rest of the way. And when he finally came across what he'd been looking for, worry turned to anger. How could anyone do such a thing to a woman?

Kneeling down, he gently turned her over, seeing the blood spilling forth from a wound in her stomach. Someone had shot her, and judging from the look of things, it had happened no more than an hour ago.

When he saw a bloodied knife lying beside her in the grass, he knew that there had to have been a struggle, and obviously, she had lost. So, he checked for a pulse and was relieved to find one. It was weak, but it was beating, and he was determined not to let it stop.

Since town was farther away that the reservation, he decided that he had to risk taking her to the reservation in order to sew her up properly. He would take her back to town when she was a bit stronger and in less danger.

Taking the knife from the ground and into his hands, he went about finding materials to build a litter, and he searched for the yarrow leaves that would be needed to help stop the bleeding.

March 1871 – Boston

"Where are Ma and Pa?" Johnny asked, as they filed into the Quinn house one by one. Rebecca thought for a moment about her answer.

"They're having a picnic," she decided. Johnny nodded.

"Will they be back before bedtime?" Rebecca met his gaze, but she quickly turned away to lock the door so Harrison wouldn't have to bother and so she could come up with something to tell the boy.

"They may be, but I wouldn't count on it. Sometimes people lose track of time. I'm sure they'll be home tomorrow morning." Johnny glanced at her suspiciously.

"What're they doin' that's gonna take 'em all night to get back?" Thankfully, Rebecca didn't have to answer that question, because Martha came into the foyer.

"Welcome home," she said with a cheerful smile. "Children, there is hot cocoa waiting for you in the kitchen!" Johnny and Mary's eyes lit up, and they rushed into the back of the house to find their treats. Rebecca shook her head, and she stifled a laugh.

"They're going to be up all night! We just went to the confectionary." Martha grinned sheepishly.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. I thought they could use something to warm their tummies." Rebecca nodded.

"That's fine."

"Would you like me to get you something?" Martha asked, always eager to help out. Rebecca smiled.

"No thank you, Martha." She paused. "Have my sisters been by today?" Martha sadly shook her head.

"I'm afraid not. Mrs. Quinn wouldn't have liked this at all. She wanted her daughters to love one another. To be happy. Miss Rebecca, she was so proud of you. And of Miss Michaela."

"I like to think so," Rebecca replied. "If it wasn't for this will, perhaps everything would be better." Martha frowned.

"It's a sad day to see the children you've been with since they were in diapers begin bickering over family money. It pains me to see everyone so unhappy, Miss." She held back a few tears of her own. "Mrs. Quinn…as bitter as she could be…was like a sister to me. She was a kind, generous woman in her day, Miss. She was. Years and life experiences…well, one tends to change after such a life." Rebecca glanced at her curiously, but before she could ask Martha to explain herself, Mary came rushing in, a chocolate mustache over her upper lip. Rebecca couldn't help but grin until she saw the stain all over the front of her dress. With a weary sigh, she shook her head, trying to suppress her amused smile.

"Oh dear. Come along, sweetheart. Let's get you cleaned up."

"But Mother!" she whined. But, she closed her mouth when Rebecca took her hand and led her up the stairs to change her into something clean…if that was possible. Martha smiled. Rebecca reminded her of Elizabeth in so many ways. She even had a hidden past, though she didn't have a clue about her own.

Shaking her head, Martha began to busy herself with the dusting, which she'd done twice that day already. Keeping busy kept her mind off of worrying about the future and what truths might come to surface now that Elizabeth was gone.