Chapter 26

Thanks once again for all the wonderful reviews and encouraging words. They do mean a lot! This is all for fun, I don't own any part of this wonderful show, only the story line!

Jack stood there, shocked by her non confession of love. He was certain he knew how she felt. He gave chase. Sue saw him in the corner of her eye as he sped up toward her. She giggled like a little girl and ran away from him as fast as she could. She was no match for Jack's speed, she was caught almost instantly. As Jack picked her up from behind she squealed like a child.

"You'll think about it?!" Jack exclaimed with wide eyes. "You'll think about it?" He asked again, this time in mock disbelief. Sue smiled and begged him to put her down.

"I can't read your lips when I'm upside down." She said matter-of-factly trying to keep the grin from turning up her lips. She failed.

"I said… 'you'll think about it?" Sue simply nodded and continued to walk away. He took her hand and gently, painstakingly slowly, pulled her toward him, and into his embrace. In slow motion, he leaned into her and caressed her lips, lightly brushing them with his. He pulled away enough for her to be able to read him. "Well then, let me give you something to think about." He whispered as he claimed her lips. Sue's arms wrapped around Jack's torso, pulling him close. She could feel his breathing and heart beat speed up as their play intensified.

Sue's heart was soaring higher than the sun wheel was today, higher than the seagulls, even higher than the jets that left white contrails across the pristine blue sky. The man she'd watched from afar for so long, the one person she could see herself holding hands with in her golden years, the only man she ever wanted in a biblical sense had just admitted his true feelings for her. He loves her. He loves her! He loves ME! She screamed in her head as he pushed her toward eternal happiness.

Jack finally backed off from their passionate embrace to allow her some room to breathe and reveal what she'd come to know while he passionately kissed her. "I guess, I could learn to like you too…" She teased. Jack's mouth gaped. She laughed.

"I will kiss you into liking me." He stated confidently.

"Will you now?" She looked back at him. He nodded.

"I'm game for that…" She said smiling at him with one eye brow raised. He gave in and laughed.

"Let's go back to the house." He suggested.

"Chicken." Sue teased.

"Excuse me?" Jack asked with a mischievous smile pasted on his face.

"I called you chicken. You just said you were going to kiss me into submission, and now you're backing off and dragging me back to the house." She said dripping with sarcasm.

"Come on." Jack said taking her by the hand. With a misguided sense of trust, she placed her hand in his. He pulled her to him, wrapped her in his arms and kissed her passionately, lovingly. When Sue could no longer breathe, she pulled away from him. He smiled at his conquest. "Like me yet?" Jack asked.

Sue just smiled and walked with him to their car. It was no more than 10 minutes before they arrived back at the beach house. Sue went to let Levi out to run and take care of business while Jack prepared a little surprise late afternoon snack. Jack walked out onto the beach carrying a bottle of wine in one hand, two glasses and a bag of grapes in the other and a blanket draped over his arm. He spread the blanket, poured two glasses of wine and walked to the water's edge to retrieve Sue. Levi was chasing waves and running after the birds on the shore barking as he played. He offered her the glass of wine.

"Thank you." She said sipping the wine. "Mmm, it's good."

"Come." He said holding his hand for her to take. They walked slowly to the blanket on the sand and sat. Jack offered Sue some grapes. She nibbled while watching him intensely. Jack refilled both of their glasses and took a gulp of his as he stretched out on the blanket propping himself up on his elbow. Sue followed suit, watching him intensely.

"Trying to get me drunk?" Sue asked smirking at him.

"Not at all." He said leaning in to kiss her softly. Sue took a sip and another grape. Jack picked up the grapes and fed her one. She could feel the heat rise from her neck to her ears. Jack smiled knowing what he was doing to her. He took another sip of wine and another grape, mimicking her. Sue followed his lead. Sue leaned in and kissed him lightly causing him to smile. They continued their tit for tat back and forth until the grapes were gone and both glasses were empty. Jack offered her another glass which she refused. Jack pulled himself closer to Sue putting his hand on her hip. He leaned in and kissed her lightly. He kissed her again. And again.

Sue brushed her hand across his jaw, then trailing a finger through his hair. She kissed him lightly as well. He pulled her to him, caressing her lips with his. Lips lightly brushed against the other's, teasing, tempting each other with want and need. Jack pushed forward molding his lips to hers. His hand slipped to the small of her back and gently pulled her closer to him. Their kiss intensified as Jack swept Sue's lips silently begging for entrance. Sue joined his fury of passion as her hands tangled in his thick hair, wrapping her fingers around it letting the silky strands slide through her fingertips.

Jack pulled back from their lustful kiss leaving a light trail along her jaw, neck and finally the tip of her nose. He stared deep into her eyes, saying nothing. Sue smiled at him as her hand traced his chin stubble along his jaw line. A sweet smile crept across her lips.

"I love you too Jack Hudson." She said smiling at him. Jack's eyes lit up and his smile was wide. He lunged forward and kissed her. They both laughed.

"You really mean that?" He asked. Sue nodded biting her bottom lip nervously.

Jack leaned in and kissed Sue. Their passion quickly built as the kiss flared and took on a life of its own. Jack rolled Sue onto her back and continued kissing and caressing her. It was torture for her. Jack too. Jack broke the kiss but didn't relent his torturous route from her neck to her ear, jaw and shoulder, then switching sides.

He finally released his pursuit of Sue, but didn't release her from his hold. His heart still pounding and still breathless, Jack whispered to her.

"I want you Sue. I want to make love to you, here on this beach." He kissed her cheek and chin in a sweeping motion.

"J-Jack…" Sue said nervously.

"Don't worry, it won't be tonight." He said putting her questions to rest. Sue pushed herself into a sitting position, trying to put some cold water on their fire. Jack sat upright then leaned for something near the wine. As he turned to him, he managed to sit on his knees and be eye to eye with Sue. He leaned in and softly kissed her on the lips, then tip of her nose. When Jack backed off, he produced a small black velvet box. He was obviously nervous. So was Sue.

"Sue… I know I just told you I love you, but I do. I've loved you for a long time." He swallowed hard as Sue's mouth hung open. "I would be honored if you would be my wife. Will you marry me Sue?" He asked hopefully.

Tears filled Sue's eyes instantly and spilled onto her cheeks. "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you." She whispered.