The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
| SOULMATES BY CAROL |
CHAPTER 56 |
chapter 56
Todd backs down from his position of dominance on top of Tea. But he keeps the left side of his body pressed against her right side, the end of the sofa pressing against her left side. Neither speaks, waiting for the other to determine the method of the rest of the evening. Todd finally breaks the silence determined to make part of this start tonight.
Todd: I’ll let you get up if you tell me what happened at the beach today.
Tea: I’ll stay here forever then. They’ll find us dead.
Todd: You have a real obsession with dead people, don’t you?
Tea: I’m not kidding Todd. I’m not ready.
Todd: Then make me stop.
Tea: I can’t.
Todd: Why not? You used to be really good at stopping me. No one else could ever exact the emotional chaos from me that you could.
Tea: No one?
Todd: Well, Moose came close a couple of times, but no, no one.
Tea: Well that was then.
Todd: And this is what? Never?
Tea: Do you want me Todd?
Todd: (visibly caught off guard) Do I what?
Tea: (placing her hand on his goatee, seductively rubbing it) Do you want me? (She moves in and brushes her lips on his, but keeps them just far enough away to make him want her, to make him want to kiss her.)
Todd: Where did this come from? I thought you said…
Tea: (coyly interrupting) I’m not the one who’s talking. You are. (Brushing her lips close to his again, teasing him and disrupting his train of thought) Do you, Todd?
Todd: (trusting her, that he’s somehow opened some door to her insides) Yes. I want you. (He moves his head closer to hers, his lips nearing hers, he moves in to kiss her.)
Tea: (pulling back) So this is all about ulterior motives? This isn’t about helping me. This is about you helping yourself back into my bed. Was I that good Todd? Did I meet your expectations? Was I the best sex you ever had? Do you want more?
Todd: (confused and beginning to get angry) Why are you saying this? Why did you do this? (getting louder) What’s wrong with you?
Tea: (standing up and looking down on him and speaking as equally loud) ME? What’s wrong with me? I’m not the one who would rather do it with a mental case than deal with reality.
Todd: (standing up staring her down and angrily responding) I don’t know why you’re doing this. Why are you doing this, Tea?
Tea: Because it’s easy. It’s so easy.
Todd: (turning his back on her, totally confused as to what has just happened) I care about you, is that a crime? I want to be with you. Didn’t think that was a crime either, but maybe it is.
Tea: Look at me. Todd. Look at me! (Todd turns halfway, unable to face her eye to eye. His trust has been shaken.) You think you know what’s best for me? For us? You don’t have a clue. Because if you knew what was best for me, you’d take me back to that hospital and you’d realize once and for all, there is no us.
Todd: Well I don’t have to look at you to know that. I’m through with this. I’m through with all of this.
Todd storms out of the parlor and out onto the back porch. Tea sits down, softly crying. Her plan had worked. It was the hardest thing she had ever done and she knew she couldn’t back down. She knew the way to Todd Manning's defenses was to become sexually aggressive with him. He was never able to stay in the same room with her when she did this.
It was taking all the sane, rational thought process she had left to give this one last thing to Todd. She had to let him off the emotional hook. He would forever blame himself if he hadn’t tried. She let him think he tried. Now he would be defeated and would take her back to the hospital. And he could feel a bit of a victory, because at least he tried. He hadn’t just walked away. She was trying to do the most selfless thing her mind would still allow. There wasn’t much will power left and being that close to Todd, in such a sensual way, was very trying on her sensibilities as well. He always lit a sexual torch of passion when she was near him and being as close as they were, it took all the self control she could find left inside to use it against him as his weakness. She knew him like a book. And she had read right through him. Hopefully, this had sealed the last chapter.
Todd stared out into the ocean, so cold and so empty, just like his soul at this very moment. He had trusted Tea and she had thrust his love like a boomerang right back through his open heart. “Why did she do this?” he pondered. “She doesn’t want to talk and she doesn’t want to make love and she says she wants to go back to the hospital. How will I? How can I? What can I do to make this work?” He was terribly distraught. In an instant, his mind raced, tracing back everything that had happened that day. Making a list in his analytical brain, he tried to surmise what her objective was. Tea was a selfless person. There wasn’t a selfish bone in her body, no matter how hard he had tried for years to beat it out of her. Suddenly, his mind flashed, twitched a little and everything came to light. He raced back inside and found the sofa empty. He stared into the parlor, looking around the room. There was the sofa in front of him, two smaller seats on each side and a big overstuffed chair with it’s back to him. His heart sank.
Todd: (whispering) She’s gone.
Tea: I’m right here, but I’m ready to go.
Todd: (looks up, a bit excited, like his mom and dad had forgotten his favorite Christmas present and all of a sudden had jumped out from behind the tree with whatever it was he so badly wanted) The hell you are! (His tone was strong, but kind.)
Tea: (Watching as he approached her) Todd. We resolved this. Let me go.
Todd: The hell I will. (Sitting back beside her) I’ve got your game Delgado and I need to let you know something. It won’t work. You don't scare me any more. You forget. I just told you I want you. Trying to test those waters will only get you this. (He presses his lips strongly on hers. She pushes back at first, but he just won't let up. Her body can only respond and her brain is helpless against his intoxicating choice of weapons. He had pulled straight from his arsenal of the heart! He finally ends their kiss. Softly he replies placing his arm tightly yet reassuringly around her shoulders, enveloping her with his entire body.) It just won't work this time, Delgado.
Tea: It won’t. I mean, what won’t work? What are you talking about?
Todd: Okay, now we’re going to play blonde. Shall I get an interpreter? Do you want this in Spanish blonde or English blonde?
Tea: That’s not funny. Let me go, Todd.
Todd: Haven’t I already addressed that issue? I’m not going anywhere and neither are you.
Tea: But you left the room. You had let me go.
Todd: I’ll admit that you tricked me for a minute or so, but I’m ready for you now. And it won’t work again.
Tea: I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Todd: Yes you do. And it’s okay.
Tea: It’s not okay, unless you’re taking me back.
Todd: I’m not taking you back. You’re where you belong. (moving his mouth closer to hers) We belong together.
Tea: I can see we’re going to have a problem.
Todd: No problem. (Pulling his arm that is around her even closer to him and gently forcing her head into his shoulder.) There. Is that better?
Tea: Better for what?
Todd: You’re going to do this Tea. I’m right here by your side and together we’re going to face this beast. We’re going to open him up and if you get scared, you’re going to hold on tight to me. (looking directly into her eyes, his eyes watering up) My beast is in me too. And trust me. Your beast is no match for mine.
Tea: What if he is?
Todd: Then we may just end up holding on to each other for dear life. And we will end up on the other side of the burning lake still holding on to each other.
Tea: Oh god. (She grabs hold of Todd’s hand that is near her face.)
Todd: What?
Tea: What if, in the end, all we end up with is two beasts?
To be continued…
2001 Copyright by Carol
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