Moments Like This, Part IX
By: Lori (SixteenOzs)

DISCLAIMER: "ER," the characters, and situations depicted within are the property of Warner Brothers Television, Amblin Entertainment, Constant c Productions, NBC, etc. They are borrowed without permission, but without the intent of infringement. The story presented here is written solely for entertainment purposes and the author is not making a profit.

Please do not post or redistribute without the disclaimer above, or without the consent of the author.

Feedback is always welcome. I'd love to know what you think. Please send any questions, comments, or criticisms to SixteenOzs02@yahoo.com

SUMMARY: Follows Moments Like This, Part VIII

RATING: PG-15 (Adult themes, sexual situations)

Stories in this series

1. Long Way Back
2. Working Together
3. Moments Like This

PART IX

Mark opened the door and they entered the apartment. After locking the door, he turned around and leaned against it. He grinned at her. "Nervous?"

Susan laughed softly, then shook her head, "No. Nothing's ever felt this right before. This is exactly where I want to be right now."

"Me, too," he said softly. Smiling, he wondered, "Didn't you say something about getting out of these wet clothes?"

She grinned and walked closer to him. She picked up his tie and studied the pattern a moment before looking up to meet his eyes. "Yeah," she nodded, "we wouldn't want to catch a cold."

She moved her hand up to loosen the knot of his tie as her lips found his. After removing his tie, she ran her hands over his chest and under the lapels of his jacket, pushing it off his shoulders. Once his arms were free from the jacket, he wrapped them around her waist and traced small circles over her back. As the kiss continued, she pulled his shirt out of his pants and began to work her way through the buttons.

Breaking the kiss for a moment, she breathlessly teased, "You're falling behind here. You'd better hurry if you want to catch up."

He stared at her intently as he slowly shook his head and said, "No, I don't want to rush this. I want to remember every moment."

She smiled. That was one of the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her. She blinked back the unexpected tears that formed as she once again realized just how much she loved him and wanted to be with him. "Then you'd better make sure it's worth the wait," she said with a grin.

He laughed softly, but then assured her, "Don't worry, it will be."

He briefly brushed his lips against hers before he walked around behind her. Gently, he kissed the nape of her neck. He heard a soft moan escape her lips as he began to place a trail of kisses along the exposed skin on her shoulders and the top of her back. He tenderly turned her in his arms so that she was facing him again. His hands roamed across her back as he kissed her on the mouth before moving down, lightly kissing the delicate skin on her throat and across her collar bone.

She breathed deeply and closed her eyes. Tipping her head back, she slipped her arms around him and caressed the back of his neck. At that moment, nothing else in the world mattered. Nothing except the touch of his hand, his breath on her skin, the love she saw in his eyes. She knew she could lose herself in him, and for the first time in her life, that prospect didn't frighten her. She trusted him. Completely.

He raised his head to look into her eyes as he slowly began to lower the zipper on the back of her dress. "I love you," he said softly, "and I never want you to doubt that."

"I don't," she whispered back. "I love you, Mark."

Gently, he pushed the dress off her shoulders. She moved her left arm from his neck and pulled it through the sleeve of the dress before wrapping it back around his neck. She did the same with her right arm, her eyes never leaving his. She pulled him closer, until his lips met hers, as he pushed the dress down over her body, until it fell to the floor. She slowly traced her hands along the collar of his shirt before she moved to finish unbuttoning it. She slid her hands under the shirt and ran them up and down along his back as she started to kiss his chest, making her way back to his lips.

She wasn't sure if was the cool air hitting her damp skin or the way he was running his hands along her sides, hitting every spot that made her knees go weak, but she shivered involuntarily.

"Cold?" he questioned.

"Maybe just a little," she admitted. Seductively, she suggested, "We could always move this someplace warmer."

He didn't say anything, he just took her hand and led her towards the bedroom.

He smiled as he opened his eyes the next morning. She was sleeping on her side, facing him. One hand rested under the pillow, gently supporting her head. With the other, she held the blanket around her shoulders. Her hair fell softly across her face. He turned on his side so he could watch her as she slept.

It was all he could do to convince himself this was not a dream. Two months ago, if someone had told him he'd be waking up here, next to her, he would have laughed in their face. Now, he didn't even want to imagine what it would be like not to have her here.

If everything they'd been through to get to this point was any indication, he knew the road ahead wouldn't always be easy. But it was one he would gladly face, as long as she was with him. She was all he wanted, all he needed.

He gently brushed her hair back from her face and let his hand linger on her check. After a moment, he reluctantly pulled back, not wanting to wake her. He just watched her as he listened to the rain that continued to fall outside.

Some time later, she slowly opened her eyes and smiled as they met his. "'Morning."

"Good morning," he said softly.

"How long have you been awake?" she asked as she pulled her arm out from under the blanket.

"I don't know," he shrugged, "a while."

"So, what have you been doing?" she questioned.

"Watching you sleep," he smiled.

"That doesn't sound very interesting," she commented.

"I thought it was fascinating," he said as he gently ran his hand along her arm. After a moment, he smiled and said, "I was kind of surprised to see you sleeping in."

"Well, it's your fault," she smiled back.

"How's that?" he questioned suspiciously.

"You wore me out last night," she grinned.

He laughed softly, "I didn't hear you complaining."

"No," she smiled, "I wasn't."

He stared at her for a moment, then asked, "This is, what, the fifth night you've spent here?"

She thought for a second, then nodded, "Yeah, four nights this week plus that night I fell asleep on the sofa just after I got back. Why?"

"This is the first morning you were here when I woke up," he commented with a smile.

She smiled back, "Then I guess I'll just have to start waking up here more often."

"I think I could handle that," he admitted as he caressed her cheek.

"Me, too," she nodded as she kissed his hand. "So, what do you want to do today?"

"Well, it's still raining outside," he informed her.

"Guess that means a picnic's out," she commented.

"We could always stay inside," he grinned.

"Sounds like fun," she laughed. She watched him for a moment. "How'd we finally end up here?"

Shaking his head, he softly said, "I don't know. I just know that I'm here, I'm with you and I couldn't ask for anything more."

"I know," she nodded. Quietly, she admitted, "If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up."

"It's not a dream," he assured her. "This is real, very real."

She was moved by the truthfulness in his eyes. Grinning, she said, "Prove it."

He laughed, then in one swift movement, he pulled her on top of him and kissed her passionately.

Finally breaking the kiss, she breathlessly whispered, "I love you, Mark."

He smiled. "I love you, too."

She knew his smile reflected her own. Slowly, she lowered her mouth to meet his, and what began as a soft gentle kiss quickly turned into much more.

THE END

I'd love to know what you think. Please send all feedback to SixteenOzs02@yahoo.com

This will most likely be my last Mark and Susan fic for a while. I have ideas as to how I would like to continue the series, but right now, I'd prefer to focus my efforts on my Mark and Elizabeth fics. Thank you, as always, for reading! LLP

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