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.
A Sense of Belonging
Chapter Twenty- three
Snowbird stood in the doorway watching her husband as he sat cross-legged in the middle of the backyard. His eyes were closed, his head turned skyward. With a soft sigh, she stepped down the stairs, shutting the back door behind her. The sound was enough to jar Cloud Dancing and he opened his eyes. "You never told me what you decided." Her voice was soft as he she moved closer but Cloud Dancing could see the curiosity in his wife's eyes.
"I didn't give him the letter yet."
"Is that a concession that I was right?"
Cloud Dancing smiled and gave her a nod. "Still it will be hard for him no matter when I give him the letter. He's lived his life believing she was dead."
"I still say don't give it to him at all. She abandoned him. What right does she have to come back into his life now?"
Hearing the anger in his wife's voice, Cloud Dancing rose in order to wrap his arm around her shoulder. "That isn't our decision to make."
The first tear slipped down her cheek as she nodded, acknowledging that he was right. "He's been through so much."
"I know." She wrapped her arms around his torso, pressing her cheek close to his heart. "But who knows what still lies in his future. Michaela will guide him through this better than Abigail would have. Perhaps it has happened at just the right moment."
"If he chooses not to contact her…"
Cloud Dancing interrupted her, knowing already what she was thinking. "I won't press him. We will support his decision either way."
Snowbird lifted her face. "It was a beautiful ceremony, wasn't it?"
"It was." His eyes twinkled with memories of the day. "Makes me wish we had such a day."
A grin spread across her face. "I thought we didn't need a piece of paper to prove our love."
"We don't and neither do they but it was a celebration of their love. We could certainly have a celebration of our love."
Snowbird stepped back unable to suppress the wide grin any longer. "Are you asking me to marry you?"
"Trying to," Cloud Dancing chuckled. "What do you say?"
Wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, she shouted loudly, "Yes!"
With one hand resting on her full stomach, Michaela wiped her mouth. "That was delicious," she said rubbing the inside of Sully's leg with the instep of her foot. "I'm glad one of us can cook."
Sully cocked his head to the side, feigning surprise. "You can't cook?" He reached down and lifted her foot to his lap where he began to massage the bottom.
"Perhaps you should have married someone else," she teased.
"I married just who I wanted to marry. 'Sides you more than make up for your lack of cooking in other areas." Michaela giggled, feeling a rush of warmth flood through her body at Sully's suggestive look. "Speaking of other areas, why don't you go slip into something more comfortable while I make sure upstairs is ready for us."
Both had been anticipating this moment since the waterfall and Michaela nodded. "Sounds good." She slipped her foot out of his lap and stood to retrieve her bag. As the bathroom door closed, Sully practically ran to the stairs to be ready for her.
Michaela took her time as she listened to him zipping back and forth above her head. Several different negligees were given to her as shower presents but she had left them all at home, preferring the one she actually chose herself. Just like her wedding dress it was white with a red bow, yet the material was sheer allowing a glimpse of her body. A sheer robe edged in satin came with it but Michaela left this off, thinking it silly to put on another layer of clothes that Sully would simply peel off in another few moments.
Sully heard the squeak of the bathroom door and gave the loft one final glance. Satisfied with what he saw, he laid on his side across the bed, propping his head up with his arm. Michaela climbed the wooden stairs and smiled as she emerged into the soft glow of candlelight. Turning to face Sully her eyes grew large. "What are you wearing?" she asked trying hard to suppress a giggle.
"Do you like it?" Sully tried to act serious as he thrust his hips forward to show off the red velvet g-string.
Michaela was trying hard to get a read on his face but she wasn't sure if he was for real or not. "I …uh… it's …uh… nice."
"It's from Marjorie," he laughed putting Michaela out of her misery.
She rolled her eyes and laughed softly. "Figures she would give you something like that. Ugh… take it off."
"You don't like it?" he asked rising to his knees and rotating his hips in imitation of a male stripper.
"You look gay." Both broke into a fit of laughter. "I don't need that to happen again." This was the first time Sully had heard Michaela make a joke about David and it did his heart good.
"You don't have to worry about that." He stood quickly and peeled it off to reveal his own growing arousal. Looking up he caught Michaela staring right at him but she didn't shy away like she often did. "I like this." He reached out to stroke the material of her nightie, rubbing the silky edge between his fingers.
Michaela grinned broadly. "Thank you, I picked this one out myself. Though right now I'm feeling a bit overdressed." She looked down his body as she spoke, desire burning bright in her eyes. Sully took the opportunity to pull her close, one hand clasping her about the waist as the other tangled in her flowing hair.
With her question from earlier at the waterfall still lingering in his mind, he laid his mouth next to her ear. "Isn't this better than being scared of what's coming next?"
"Yes," she whispered. "Besides I decided that we could still add new elements. We should make use of the book that Marjorie gave us. Perhaps each time we try something new."
Sully didn't reply but there was no need. Michaela could hear his ragged breath as he began to place hot kisses to her shoulder and she could feel his fullness against her thigh. He had planned to read her poetry, to give her a massage but ever since the waterfall he'd been fighting off his desire and he wasn't sure he could deny himself any longer. It didn't help matters that Michaela seemed as eager as he was. He could feel her fingertips brushing against his backside and he resigned himself to saving the other activities for later.
Without warning, he lifted her straight up in the air and Michaela instinctively folded her legs around him as her arms wrapped around his shoulders. Continuing the hot kisses to her skin, Sully carried her to the bed gently laying her down. While his mouth moved over the flesh of her abdomen, his fingers worked in other places, one hand wandering down to her soft curls while the other moved upward to find her silken fullness. Michaela moaned loudly and Sully looked up at her loving the way her face looked when she was enjoying herself like this.
Normally her head would be thrown back, her eyes squeezed shut so it surprised Sully to find her head up, her eyes meeting his head on. "Come here," she whispered with a wave of her hand. Sully obliged, crawling over her body until he was on eye level with her. Still he supported himself on his arms but Michaela wanted to feel his weight on her and she ran her hands down his body pushing on him until he lowered himself fully to her.
"I don't regret anything. I want you to know that. I love every minute that I've been with you and I wouldn't change a thing."
Sully's response was a deep lingering kiss that took her breath away. As he pulled back, the love in her eyes moved him deeply. "My whole life I felt like I was wandering trying to find something. I never felt settled until I met you. This is my place… where I belong."
Michaela felt a deep quivering at his words, amazed at how much two people could be like one. "Make love to me," she whispered the words tender and sweet. Moving one of her legs, she hooked it over the crook of his knee bringing their most intimate places into contact.
Sully wanted each movement to convey his love. He wanted to make love to her with his hands, with his mouth, with his body. Each soft stroke of his fingers dripped with love, his tongue tasting the sweetness of her love for him with each pass. When he joined them in that familar rhythm, each powerful stroke conveyed his love. Every sound uttered by either of them was the sound of love. Michaela called out his name over and over, her inhibitions gone as he chased her over the edge of reason. As he spilled the fruit of his love inside of her, a deep sense of belonging encompassed him once again and he clasped her tightly not wanting to withdraw from her yet afraid that the feeling would end.
Soon Michaela's breath became more even yet she still made little sounds of pleasure in the back of her throat as Sully kissed her face and neck. Eventually it became impossible to sustain the connection and he moved to the side reluctantly but Michaela followed him. She continued to stroke his chest as her head lay in the crook of his arm. "Hold me all night," she whispered and Sully knew that he would never again feel lost.
Pulling her tight against him, he looked deep into her eyes. "I'm going to hold you for the rest of our lives."
Thank you all for reading. The sequel will be out later this summer after I finish 80921. The name of the sequel is Full House. Finally Sully and Michaela get to move into their new house but soon find themselves surrounded by house guests – two that demand a little more attention than expected, one that seems as if he will never leave, and one that will make Sully question the past. On top of that Michaela becomes preoccupied with having a baby and of course preoccupied with the activity that makes babies. Join the newlyweds on their next adventure in Full House.