Michaela was embarrassed, "Oh, see......", as she tried to sit back down again, "I can’t even kiss you the right way!"
Sully laughed softly and leaned in, "Yes you can", he whispered and he kissed her very gently on the lips. Michaela blushed and looked down as usual and Sully pulled away.
"I want to check my horse, will you walk with me?’, Michaela asked trying to end the awkward embarrassment she felt.
"Sure", said Sully, he rose and offered her his hand. She smiled, took his hand and stood up, glad she hadn’t stumbled again. They walked slowly towards where Michaela had left the horse, "It’s a beautiful evening, isn’t it?", she said gazing up at Sully. He looked up at the sky, "the stars are really coming out now, it is beautiful...", he said.
Michaela removed the saddlebags and the bedroll from the horse and Sully removed the saddle and blanket, "Give her a little rest..", he said, "what do you have there?" "Food, water, a blanket. I wasn’t sure how far I would go or how long I would be away so I came prepared."
"You did that? You were going to look for me through the night?", asked Sully.
She reached for Sully’s arm which made him stop and look at her face, "I was determined to find you Sully", she said softly looking into his eyes. He smiled at her and bent down and kissed her forehead. She thought it was strange that he didn’t kiss her on the lips.
She realized that perhaps he was waiting for her to initiate a kiss or a hug. She thought about that and since they were all alone out here, no one would see if they kissed, there would be no one to think she was doing anything improper. Perhaps this would be a good place for her to explore her feelings, to abandon some of her shy ways, to feel more comfortable around Sully. She was deep in thought when suddenly she fell forward, her foot entangled in a vine.
"Are you all right?", Sully laughed again, "I’m sorry, let me help you", he bent down and offered her his hand.
Michaela looked at him with a little anger that he was laughing at her, "I’m here to slow you down again!", she laughed.
Sully laughed too, remembering the time he said she would slow him down when they went after the water sample. "It’ okay, I don’t think anyone will try to shoot us this time", he said as he pulled her up.
"I hope not", she said as she wrapped her arms around his strong shoulders, stared into his eyes and tried to kiss his lips. She was startled when he turned his head.
"Let’s go", he said and he started out for the campsite again. She pulled the bedroll tight into her arms and walked slowly behind him.
At the fire, she rolled out the bedroll and noticed a piece of paper inside. "Follow your heart", it said, Michaela knew Olive had written that message to her. She smiled, and folded the paper and slipped it into the saddlebag Sully had placed near the blanket. "You shouldn’t get too comfortable, you’ll need to head out soon...", Sully said as he sat down next to her. "I’m not leaving Sully, I’m staying right here so that we can talk. I want to mend things between us, don’t you?"
He looked at her and nodded. The sky was growing darker now and her hair glistened in the soft light of dusk."I love your hair that way", Sully said, "so fluffy, curly and........soft looking".
She blushed, "Thank you, it’s nice to hear you say something so sweet to me".
"Maybe I don’t do that enough", he smiled, "I should tell you more often how beautiful you are..."
"No, it’s not the compliment, it’s your tender and kind words. I don’t know anyone else who would say my hair was fluffy or soft", she smiled her crooked little smile at him.
"Those words come to me when I think about you or look at you", he said as he reached for her hand, "Well I don’t mean fluffy and soft, I mean beautiful...........".
She laughed and held his hand tightly, hoping he wouldn’t pull it away. "Sully.........sometimes you’re so quiet it makes me nervous....I don’t know what you’re thinking about....I don’t know if you’re thinking about me. "
"I’m quiet sometimes, I know, and of course I think about you. Sometimes we don’t have to talk, do we?" said Sully looking at her.
Michaela reached up and stroked his face gently with her hand, "Sully, I appreciate your quiet manner. It’s part of your strength and your character", she said as she stroked his arms and swept her eyes up and down his handsome physique.
Sully felt his heart pounding in his chest as he looked at her. The way she was looking at him and rubbing his arms so firmly with her small hands, he had never seen her like this. She ran her hands one more time up his arms and slowly brought them across his shoulders and gently around his neck. She pulled herself up on her knees again, this time without falling onto him. Sully just stared at her, unable to move, fixated on her eyes, her hands, her body. She looked deeply into his eyes, searching for approval from him, that he wanted her to continue.
She slid her hands to the back of his neck and lightly massaged his neck He rolled his head back and closed his eyes, enjoying her fingers kneading his muscles. She slid her hands slowly down his back, bringing her closer to him until she felt his breath on her cheek. She turned her face slightly and brushed her lips against his cheek, looked up into his eyes, again for his approval, and she put her mouth on his. Sully was breathing so hard and fast that he could barely move, her lips felt warm and her hands, oh, her hands felt so wonderful rubbing his back. She kept kissing him as she pushed her body closer and closer so her breasts came in gentle contact with his chest. She loved the taste of his lips, the closeness of his body, she suddenly pushed herself onto him, knocking him backwards onto the blanket, "What the........", Sully muttered as their lips briefly parted. "Don’t talk, just hold me, let me kiss you", she whispered in his ear and then kissed his ear very softly and continued kissing down his neck. She pulled away for just a moment, she wanted to see the look on his face. Sully didn’t know what to think, he had his hands on her back, afraid to move them, the feel of her body on top of him was more than he could describe.
She looked deeply into his eyes, "Sully, are you okay?" Silence, she panicked, maybe she was doing something wrong, something he didn’t like, "Sully?.....should I move?"
"No, .....please......stay right where you are", he said softly and nervously. Michaela smiled softly, and she continued kissing his neck and weaving her fingers through his hair. She gently rubbed his ear with one hand and kept kissing the other ear. Sully moaned softly and pulled his arms tight around her, she continued the trail of kisses onto his cheek until she reached his mouth and he responded. He put his hands up to her head, stroking her hair, keeping her there. He loved the feel of her lying on top of him, she felt soft and small but her breathing was strong and heavy. He stopped and she rose her head , he gently pushed her off him and rolled her onto her back.
He took a couple of deep breaths, he didn’t want to lose control, to do anything he would regret or that would upset her. He turned his face slowly towards her to find her looking at him with a soft smile on her face and gently biting her bottom lip. He rose on his elbow and looked deeply into her eyes, "Michaela..... I don’t know what to say...." He lay his head next to hers and picked up her hand in his and slowly brought it to his lips and sighed, "you ....are....so special......"
"You don’t have to say anything Sully", as she placed her fingers gently on his lips, "just put your arms around me." He pulled her into his arms, closed his eyes and thought this was one of the most wonderful feelings he had had in a long time, and one of the most wonderful times they had shared. Michaela ran her finger up and down his chest, she was surprised to find that she liked being close to him. She wasn’t afraid and she didn’t feel ashamed or embarrassed, she felt calm, happy, loved. "Sully, you were right, this is wonderful and it’s nothing to be afraid of. I hope you don’t think I’m being foolish, that I don’t know what I’m doing. "
Sully felt a lump in his throat, he tightened his arms around her for a moment. "Michaela, you kissed me....that’s special, you’re special........"
She interrupted him, "But Sully, you know that I’m.....well....inexperienced....but I want to make you happy. I don’t want to disappoint you."
Sully pushed her away slightly so he could look into her eyes, "Is that what this has been about, you disappointing me? Michaela, you could never disappoint me. You know, experience doesn’t mean you’re good at something."
"That’s true", Michaela said, head bowed, she thought of experienced women, "Sully, do all men......well..I heard Jake say that all men go to places like Hank’s........."
Sully smiled slightly thinking how innocent she was yet he was glad that she wanted to talk about these things with him, "Michaela no, all men don’t, and this man certainly doesn’t. You should know that", said Sully.
"I know, but is that what men like...woman like that?", she asked hesitantly.
"Not all men, most of that is the liquor, ya lose control with liquor. Some men are lonely and they think a place like Hank’s will help them", he lifted her face, "but most men know that there is nothing like the love of a woman, a special woman".
"But Sully if a man goes to Hank’s and well........you know........."
"I don’t wanna talk about Hank, I wanna talk about you and me. This night is special and lets not discuss Hank and the saloon."
Michaela smiled and leaned her face onto his hand and brought her hand up to cover his.
"Sully, you're so kind and patient. I don’t want to push you away, or push you into someone’s else’s arms", Michaela said her eyes filling with tears.
"You ain’t gonna do that. I would never force you to do something you don’t want to do, I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable and if you do you need to tell me. If we talk about it, maybe that’ll help us both be comfortable, okay?", Sully said as he put his face closer to hers, "yours are the only arms I’m interested in"..
Michaela nodded and leaned into his chest. He put his arms around her and pulled her close. He wanted to comfort her, to reassure her that things between them were going to be all right. She needed to know that hugging and kissing were beautiful things to do. Michaela lifted her head and looked up at Sully, "What are you thinking about?", she asked.
"I’m thinking that you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. That I’m glad you came out here tonight and most importantly that you can trust me. That kissing and hugging is okay", he said and then he kissed her. Michaela put her hands in Sully’s hair and kissed him hard, pressing her lips into his. This continued until Sully pulled away, "Can ya breathe okay?", he said with a little chuckle.
Michaela laughed and jumped to her feet. "Sully I feel wonderful, I feel free", she yelled and spun around with her arms up and hair flying. Sully was surprised to see her jump around, but he was pleased to see her so happy and relaxed. He couldn’t remember seeing her this relaxed. He stood up and she ran into his arms and they kissed again. Sully then turned away quickly, "Sully what is it?" Sully became nervous that Michaela would see his obvious desire for her, he knew he couldn’t turn and face her, so he quickly sat down again, legs crossed. Michaela happily sat down too, none the wiser to his condition.
"Shall we stay here the night?", he asked. Michaela blushed and said, "I don’t see why not." Sully smiled and took her hands and kissed them softly. Michaela felt as if she were melting into the blanket, his lips felt warm on her hands, she leaned towards him and kissed him on the lips. Sully freed her hands and pulled her close, she ran her hands up his chest. She pulled her head away and delicately ran her fingertips around the collar of his shirt and fingered the beads on his necklace down his chest and then ran her fingers up his chest, when she touched his skin Sully gasped for breath. Michaela pulled her hands away, blushing. Sully reached back to the bags and pulled out a small folded blanket and laid his head down on it. "Maybe we should think about getting some sleep", he said hoping that would calm him down. Michaela snuggled up to him and he held her tighter than he ever had.
Sully woke to the soft light of dawn, she was still in his arms, breathing softly. I didn’t dream it, he thought, thank goodness. He squeezed her a little and kissed the top of her head. She moved ever so slightly against him. This was a feeling he loved, her body against his, her hand resting on his chest. He wondered if she would be more comfortable now, more loving with him. He felt glad that she had initiated the kissing and holding, she wasn’t afraid and she wanted to be with him, he was happy about that too. Yesterday he felt so awful, so empty, and now he felt so wonderful. What he thought had been the worst day of his life turned into the best night of his life. He was so in love, he finally felt that she loved him. Michaela opened her eyes and pressed her ear into Sully’s chest, "I love the sound of your heart beating", she said.
"You make it beat faster that’s for sure", he said as he kissed the top of her head again, "Good morning".
She scooted up onto her elbows, "Good morning", she kissed him sweetly, "Uhm..........", she smiled and raised her eyebrows.
He chuckled softly, "Michaela, are you all right?", realizing she was still in her amorous mood.
"I’m wonderful", she smiled brightly but then quickly frowned, "...Oh no, have I done something wrong?", she looked into his eyes.
"No, no of course not, I just never seen you like this", Sully said happily as he put his finger under her chin and leaned in closer to her, "but I like it."
He started to get up, "No, please don’t, not yet, this is so comfortable I want to stay like this just a little while longer, please", she pleaded as she placed her hands on his chest.
"Fine, feels great to me too", and he pulled her to him and kissed her hard and deep, he tangled his fingers into her hair and pulled her close to him with his other hand. He gently laid her down and continued kissing her, she responded her hands in his hair, her other hand squeezing his shoulder. His lips followed down her neck, she sighed and thought she had never felt anything so wonderful in her life. "Sully, you make me feel so good...", she whispered. "uhmmm", he mumbled still kissing her neck, her ears, back to her mouth. He finally placed his head down gently next to hers, he had to catch his breath, control his feelings. She lay still, running her fingers up and down his side, "Are you trying to tickle me?", he asked. "No, I’m just feeling your muscles, your warm skin, it feels nice", she said, as she pushed open his shirt and started placing small kisses on his chest. Sully felt his body tighten. Michaela kissed her way up to his neck and once again found his lips. He put his arms around her shoulders, enjoying the kiss and rolled her over onto her back. She laughed, "...oh Sully.."
"Arghh", he said and snuggled his face into her hair, her soft, fluffy hair.