Sully went to the window.  "Sun's comin' up—guess I'll have my chance soon."  He turned back to her, and Michaela noted the dark circles beneath his eyes.

     "Before that happens, though, why don't you go upstairs and get some sleep?" she suggested.  "You must be tired—thanks to me, it's been a long night."

     He stretched and yawned.  "It was worth it, though," he said.  "Anyway, you must be as tired as I am."

     "Exhausted," Michaela admitted with a rueful smile.  "But Katie will be up any time now—and Matthew and Brian soon after.  It's not the first time I've stayed up all night—I can rest later.  Truthfully, I'm not sure I could close my eyes right now anyway. "

     "Me either," Sully agreed.  "I think we're both too keyed up."    He came over to her and slipped his arms around her waist.  "How about we plan on takin' a little 'nap' together later?" he suggested, looking at her meaningfully.

     "I think that's an excellent idea," she answered, a blush warming her cheeks as she pictured a daylight "interlude" between them.   She felt deliciously brazen at the thought.

     "I'll be waitin' for you upstairs this afternoon," Sully whispered in her ear.

     "You draw the curtains and light a fire, and I'll be there," she whispered back.

     They kissed deeply, the anticipation of their coming intimacy lending an edge of sexual tension to the encounter.

     Reluctantly they parted, each one unwilling to release the other; but both aware that with their children due to awaken any moment, they didn't have the luxury of time for more.  Mingled with their desire, however, was a realization of their mutual fatigue.  They smiled at each other wearily.

     "Well, " Michaela began, "if neither of us is going to get any sleep for awhile, I'd better put on some coffee and start breakfast—oh!" she exclaimed as a sudden thought struck her.

     "What?!" Sully reacted sharply, startled by her outburst.

     "Sully, I'm so sorry!" she said in remorse. "In all the time you've been here I never once offered you anything to drink or even a morsel of food.  You must be famished.  What was I thinking?"

     Sully, relieved that the cause of her distress wasn't more serious, grinned at her.

      "I confess a steamin' cup of coffee and maybe a hot biscuit or two would go down pretty well about now," he admitted.  "But I ain't helpless.  I coulda helped myself if I'd had a mind.

    'Besides," he added, walking over to her slowly.  His eyes regarded her in a provocative way that made her blush.  "There's other kinds of 'food,' Michaela.  There's food for the mind—“ his voice got lower,  "food for the spirit—“  lower still, "and the best kind of all, food for a starvin' man . . . like the feast you gave me last night," he finished in a husky whisper.   His arms encircled her waist again and he stared into her eyes intensely.

     Simultaneously moved but flustered,  Michaela looked away—the memory of her earlier physical  "abandon" making her blush more furiously than ever.

     "No need to be embarrassed Michaela—not with me," Sully said softly, reading her mind.  He gently turned her head toward him so that her eyes met his own.  "You're a beautiful woman –every soft, sweet inch of you."  He caressed her cheek, then with one finger traced the curve of her lips.  "What happens between us is beautiful too—the natural expressin' of our love for each other.

     "Remember what I told you before the weddin'?" he added.  "That you're good at kissin?  Well you're even better at it now—an' so much more besides."  He regarded her tenderly.

     "Thank you Sully," Michaela whispered.  "I'm so glad that I . . . please you.  And you're right—about what you said—about us.   I guess—it's just that—“ she hesitated, her shyness preventing her from expressing herself the way she wanted.

     "It's just that you'll always be my 'proper lady' from Boston," Sully finished for her indulgently.  Michaela sighed, impatient with herself that after more than two years of marriage and intimacy with her husband, she could still be plagued by embarrassment when it came to discussing sexual matters.

     "It's all right, Michaela," Sully assured her.  "That's part of what I love about you—it's part of your charm.   I understand that you have a hard time talkin' about 'certain things."  It don't matter to me.  Because when we're together, and the lamp is out, you're everythin' I could ever want or hope for."

     "You've been so understanding, Sully—so patient and gentle," Michaela told him softly.  "I was so nervous in the beginning, afraid that in my—inexperience—I would disappoint you.  I believe that I've overcome most of my inhibitions, but sometimes I shock myself with the strength of my—“ she hesitated, "my fervor.  And I fear that I shock you as well."

     Sully was silent a moment, trying to frame the words to reassure this beautiful woman who had claimed his heart from the first time he saw her,  that her fears were groundless—that her gradual transformation into a sensual, passionate woman had become for him not only a source of intense pleasure, but ever-increasing  joy.   Taking her hand in his, he kissed it gently.  Then, gazing deeply into her eyes, he said, "You have never been a disappointment to me, Michaela—you never could be.  Findin' you, lovin' you, was the answer to all my prayers.  From the first time we came together, you've filled my heart, and my soul.  I never knew the kind of love I have with you.  Sharin' that love, and feelin' it grow deeper and deeper, has only given me greater joy.  And seein' how you've changed, knowin' that I was a part of bringin' out that excitin', hidden part of you –gives me the greatest joy of all.

     "That's what marriage is, Michaela.  Two people lovin' each other, trustin' each other, givin' every part of themselves to one another—heart, mind and body.  You never need to feel afraid or ashamed to show me or tell me what you're feelin', what you want, or what you need.   I want to hear it, to feel it, and, most of all, to give it to you—whenever and however I can."   He cupped her face in his hands.  "Do you believe me?"

     "Yes, completely," Michaela whispered, her heart swelling with gratitude and amazement that she had been blessed with such a tender, compassionate man to love her.  "And I promise that later I'll show you how deeply I believe!"

     He grinned at her.  "That's a promise I'll gladly hold you to!" he declared, and pulled her to him in a deep, lingering kiss.