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| ANOTHER JOURNEY BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 116 - 120 |
PREVIOUSLY...
Todd: What exactly are you saying? What the hell is this whole conversation about?
Tea: I think it's about the fact that you thought that if you didn't put a stop to it, I would have gone ahead and screwed him right there in the whirlpool. Because, that's how you think of me. Isn't it?
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
chapter 116:
[Todd and Tea are silent. Todd stares at the television screen in front of him. Tea stares up at Todd, still resting her head on the pillow on his lap.
The inappropriate sound of laughter fills the small space as an old corny sitcom plays on the television screen. Todd picks up the remote control from a nearby table and flips through the channels again, looking for something less syrupy to watch, to distract him from Tea's questions, to allow him to continue to ignore her.
Tea knows what he's doing. She closes her eyes, certain that she knows the answer to the most recent question she posed to Todd. She knows that if he did offer her an answer, it wouldn't be a positive one.
She knows what he thinks of her. She's certain that he views her in the same way that so many other people have in recent years. She had held out hope that he hadn't meant all of the cheap shots he had been taking during this trip about her personal life. Now she knows that he had meant every word, every insinuation, every insult.
As she begins to cry, Todd continues to stare at the television. He finally settled on a news channel and sets down the remote.
He is trying to focus on what is being discussed on the television program but he doesn't care about battles occurring in foreign countries. He has enough to think about with the battle occurring in his lap.
Just like the night before, when he tried to comfort her pain, his hand begins to stroke her hair. He doesn't know what else to do or say. He doesn't know how else to handle this moment.
He hates words. He hates emotions. Tea has always demanded both from him. He hates that. He hates even more that he can't stop himself from giving in to her, from giving her what he knows she needs right now.
He comforts her. He loves her. He gives her as much as he can in this moment. He continues to stroke her hair as she continues to softly cry.
Numerous minutes later, after she's been quiet for a long time, Todd chances looking down at her again. Her eyes are closed. Her face is peaceful. She is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen.
Todd Manning doesn't see beauty in many things. He doesn't seek it out and on the rare occasions that he stumbles upon it, he doesn't easily acknowledge it, even to himself, except for the beauty he has easily found in his daughter. But, in this moment, he doesn't turn from it. He doesn't push it away. In his lap is pure beauty.
He stares at her for several minutes. When he finally speaks, his voice is a gravelly whisper filled with more emotion than he ever wanted to feel for anyone.]
Todd: I love you, Tea.
[Tea's eyes instantly open. She also instantly regrets it. She knows that he must have thought she was asleep and hadn't meant for her to hear him. As she stares intently at his eyes, she fears that he will push her away and retreat now that he revealed himself.
He doesn't look away, though. He doesn't try to push her off his lap. He stares at her eyes as his hand continues to stroke her hair.]
Todd: I don't think of you that way. I understand.
[Tea is dumbfounded. She's speechless. Todd smiles slightly, realizing that he stunned her.]
Todd: I did promise I'd surprise you, didn't I?
Tea: You certainly did. Todd...
Todd: I don't want to talk about it anymore, okay? It happened. It's over.
Tea: What is?
Todd: You're not going to let it go, are you?
Tea: What do you want me to let go of?
Todd: You're just going to keep pushing it and pushing it.
Tea: I have no idea what you're referring to, Todd. Are we letting go of what happened earlier? At the pool? After we came back from the pool? What we were discussing a few minutes ago? What you just said?
Todd: One or more of those things, sure.
Tea: Which ones?
Todd: You're just going to keep asking questions, aren't you? You're going to keep irritating me. You're going to ruin the moment.
Tea: Do you really want this moment to remain as it is? Do you want me to tell you that I love you, too?
Todd: No. I just thought you wanted to hear that.
Tea: So, you were just saying that because you thought I wanted you to? You didn't really mean it?
Todd: I didn't want you to keep thinking that I thought of you that way.
Tea: I'm confused.
Todd: I didn't want you to feel that way.
Tea: What way?
Todd: The way you were feeling. What you said earlier wasn't true. I don't think of you that way. I don't think that you would have done that. Maybe later, but not tonight.
Tea: You're saying that you do think that I'll cheat on you, just not tonight?
Todd: If you're not knocked up, you'll try to put an end to this again. You did it before, while we were married, remember? You'd find someone to do it with later, if you needed to.
Tea: I don't want to end this.
Todd: Sure you do.
Tea: I want to be with you. I want this to last. I love you.
Todd: You don't know how to love.
Tea: You could teach me.
Todd: I don't know how to do it either. I'm more screwed up than you are.
Tea: That's hard to believe.
Todd: Trust me. I have way more practice than you do at screwing everything up.
[Tea looks away for a moment, trying to keep her own emotions under control.]
Todd: I mean it, Tea. The stuff I've been saying isn't what I really think. I hate the stuff that you've done. I hate the people you did that stuff with. I think maybe I kind of understand why you did it...sort of. I still get to hate it, though, so don't try talking me out of that.
Tea: I'm not sure if I completely understand.
[Tea sits up. Todd almost reaches out to stop her but holds himself back and allows her to leave her resting place on his lap.]
Tea: You know, back in Llanview, everyone looked at me that way...well, almost everyone. They knew that I had married you for money. They even knew the dollar amount.
Todd: How the hell could anyone know that?
Tea: I don't know. One of our confidants must have leaked it.
Todd: Well, it wasn't mine.
Tea: You think it was mine?
Todd: You probably told more people than I did.
Tea: Well, somehow Lindsay knew and I don't think that she and Carlotta are buddies.
Todd: Lindsay? Sam's ex?
Tea: Exactly.
Todd: So, you think it was Sam who blabbed it?
Tea: I don't know. I think she was still married to Clint at the time that she tried to gleefully rub it in my face that she knew. She may have heard it from him.
Todd: Well, who the hell told a Buchanan?
Tea: I don't know. It doesn't really matter anymore. Everyone knows. I don't think they know all the details, though. I don't think everyone knows that sex wasn't part of our deal. They probably all think that I'm a really expensive whore.
Todd: Who cares what they think?
Tea: I do. Or, I did.
Todd: You don't anymore?
Tea: When you left, people looked at me with pity. Not because they felt bad that my heart was broken, though. I think their pity was more for the humiliation. It didn't feel like anyone genuinely thought of me as a woman whose marriage to the man she loved had suddenly come to an unexpected, and abrupt, end. It was a business deal that ended, after all, not a real marriage.
Todd: That's not true.
Tea: Isn't it?
Todd: You know that's not true.
Tea: Sometimes I'm not certain that I know anything when it comes to our relationship.
Todd: You know all you need to know.
Tea (referring to his admission of love): But, I don't know it, Todd. I don't believe it.
chapter 117:
Todd: Which part don't you believe?
Tea: Any of it.
Todd: You don't believe that I feel stuff for you?
Tea: No.
Todd: You don't believe that I don't look at you like you're a...
Tea: A slut? A whore? A...
Todd (interrupting): If I did, don't you think we would have done the horizontal mambo by now?
Tea: You're not attracted to me. You never have been.
Todd: Okay, I get it now. This is all a trick to get me to say a bunch of those...what are those things called...compliments, right?
[Tea doesn't respond. She doesn't look at him. Todd knows that she feels horrible about herself right now.
As Todd moves closer to her on the sofa and reaches his hand out to touch her, she tries to pull away.]
Tea: Don't.
Todd: You don't want me to touch you?
Tea: No.
Todd: You don't want me to hold you? You don't want me to kiss you? You don't want me to take your shirt off and...well, you know?
[Tea looks at him. He can tell that something has changed. She turns her body towards him and places her hand on his leg. Her other hand goes to the back of his neck as she leans in and kisses him passionately.
As her hand begins to move up his leg, his hand instantly grabs onto it, preventing her from reaching her target.
Tea ends their kiss and looks at him seductively.]
Tea: Isn't that what you want?
Todd: No.
Tea: Why not? What's wrong with me?
Todd: Make up your mind. If I jump you, it means that I think of you as a whore and you'll be convinced that I don't have any feelings for you, right?
Tea: You don't.
Todd: If I don't jump you, then you think that I'm not attracted to you and you'll be convinced that I don't have any feelings for you. No matter what I do, you've already got me screwed.
Tea: You could be screwed tonight, Todd. We could both have a lot of fun getting screwed tonight.
Todd: That's never gonna happen, Tea.
Tea: Right.
[Tea stands up and quickly goes into the bedroom. Todd follows her.]
Todd: Are you planning to take off on me again?
Tea: Why should I stay?
Todd: I told you why, a few minutes ago.
Tea: But, you can't say it again.
Todd: Sure, I could. I just don't want to. I don't want to cheapen it by saying it all the time.
Tea: You thought I was asleep. You didn't want me to hear.
Todd: You don't know that. Besides, if I did, wouldn't that prove that I meant it?
Tea: You didn't mean it.
Todd: I hate this. No matter what I do, it's the wrong thing. None of it matters. None of it counts. I put myself through hell because of you. What do you want? Tell me what you want, Tea.
Tea (speaking softly): I want to leave.
Todd (angrily): Fine. Go ahead. Get the hell out. I'm tired of trying so hard and having none of it mean a damn thing to you.
Tea (emotionally): Todd, could you touch me again?
Todd: Isn't that how this mess got started tonight?
[Todd looks at Tea and his anger quickly fades. She has tears in her eyes and her body is shaking.]
Todd: Tea...
Tea: Touch me like you did earlier...like you did last night. Touch me like you mean it, like I matter.
[Todd watches as tears cascade down her face. He doesn't hesitate for more than a few seconds before climbing onto the bed and sitting with his back against the head board. Tea climbs onto the bed and immediately curls up next to him, placing her head against his leg.
Several minutes pass as he strokes her hair while she cries.]
Todd: I figured it out, Tea.
[Tea doesn't respond.]
Todd: Don't you want to know what I figured out?
[Tea tries to bring her emotions more under control before she speaks but it's clear from her voice that she is still extremely emotional.]
Tea: What?
Todd: I figured out why you're putting me through this.
Tea: Why?
Todd: You're trying to get me out of my pants.
[Tea laughs slightly, which causes a small smile to appear on Todd's face.]
Todd: You thought I was too dumb to figure it out, right? In the past, you cried on my shirt, knowing that I'd have to get rid of it. Now, you expect me to get rid of my pants just because you dropped a few tears on them. It won't work. I'm on to you, Delgado.
[Tea sits up, wiping at her eyes.]
Tea: You caught me, Todd.
Todd: You look disgusting.
[Tea laughs again, making Todd feel an odd sensation...happiness. She gets off the bed and goes into the bathroom. She blows her nose and splashes water on her face for several minutes. When she returns to the bedroom, Todd's relieved that she looks better...calmer.]
Tea: I'm sorry.
Todd: You should be.
Tea: Seriously, I'm sorry I'm such a mess.
Todd: You look better now.
Tea: That's not what I meant.
Todd: I know what you meant. In case you haven't figured it out yet, we shouldn't talk about it. If we do, you'll just end up crying on my leg again.
Tea: I actually enjoy that.
Todd: It's a good thing weird chicks turn me on.
Tea (surprised): Todd!
Todd: What? Oh, I'm not supposed to call you a chick, right? I'm supposed to call you a lady.
[Tea returns to the bed and sits down on the edge.]
Tea: I'm so confused. I think you were right earlier.
Todd: Of course I was. About what?
Tea: No matter what you do, I won't believe it. I'll either take it as rejection or think that sex is all that you want. I don't know anything else, Todd. I don't know how to do this. I know sex and I know rejection. I don't know how to be in love. I don't know how to make love.
Todd: Sure you do. You just think that you don't. That's what I meant earlier, but you took it wrong and walked away.
Tea: What did I take wrong? What did you mean?
Todd: I said something about us not screwing and you heard rejection.
Tea: If you never make love to me, that is rejection.
Todd: Lots of people don't do that for lots of reasons. It doesn't mean that they don't feel stuff for each other. Besides, I never said that I wouldn't do that with you.
Tea: Yes, you did.
Todd: No, I said I wouldn't screw you.
Tea: What are you saying?
Todd: I'm saying that it will be light out soon. We need to go to sleep.
Tea: Tell me what you mean.
[Todd moves over to where Tea is sitting and brushes the hair that is covering the side of her face out of the way so he can see her face better.]
Todd: I don't know what will happen here, Tea. I don't know how far we'll go this time. I do know that I never want to screw you. That's something that my father did with his bimbos. That's something that I've done before, too. That's not something that I ever want to do with you. I'll never screw you, Tea. That's one thing that I promise you. I'll never treat you like that. I'll never look at you that way. You see something that no one else sees when you look at me. I see something that no one else can see when I look at you. I never want that to change. Do you understand?
Tea: Todd...
Todd: No more talking, Tea. Just let me know that you understand and that we never have to talk about this again.
[Tea smiles at him for a brief moment before their lips lightly touch in a tender kiss.]
chapter 118:
[Hours later, Tea awakens next to Todd. She moans pleasantly as she snuggles against his body, enjoying being next to him, although she wishes that they had at least gotten to the point the previous night of removing their shirts so her face would be resting against his skin right now, instead of his shirt.
Todd knows that she's awake but allows her some extra time to enjoy herself before they return to the car, and to their trip.
Several pleasurable minutes later...]
Todd: How long are you planning to pretend you're asleep?
Tea: I'm not pretending. You feel so incredible, I don't want to move. You smell incredible, too.
Todd: It's the chocolate.
Tea: What chocolate?
[Tea feels a surprising texture against her lips and opens her mouth, allowing Todd to feed her a small portion of one of the brownies he was devouring before she woke up.]
Tea: More.
Todd: We're all out.
Tea: Todd! Did you eat...
[Tea stops speaking, her anger immediately fading, as she opens her eyes and finds Todd grinning at her with a very large brownie in his hand.]
Todd: You sure you want more?
Tea: Yes.
[Todd breaks off another small portion and places it at her lips. She opens her mouth to accept it and, in the process, her tongue caresses Todd's finger for a moment.]
Todd: More?
Tea: Yes.
[Todd breaks off another portion and extends his fingers toward her lips again. Just as he reaches her lips, though, he pulls the snack away from her and quickly pops it into his own mouth.]
Tea: Todd!
Todd: You really want more?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: How much do you want it?
Tea: More than anything.
Todd: Really?
Tea: I have a hunger.
[Todd laughs at her less than subtle attempt at seduction, certain that she is speaking of more than brownies.]
Tea: I'm serious, Todd. I want as much as you can offer me. And, I want it right now.
Todd: You're positive?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: You might end up with more than you can handle.
Tea: I'll handle it.
Todd: Okay. Just remember that you wanted this.
[Todd takes the rest of the sizable brownie and places it at her lips. Her suspicions are heightened by his change of methods. She chances trusting him anyway and opens her mouth, intending to take a small bite. Todd doesn't give her the chance, though, as he pushes the rest of the brownie into her mouth. She mumbles with laughter and a mouth full of brownie as excess crumbs litter down on the bed.
As Tea is still trying to accommodate the excess food, Todd's mouth descends upon hers, sharing the chocolate delight with her.
A few moments later, Todd pulls away and gets off the bed.]
Tea: Where do you think you're going? We're not done here.
Todd: I'm thirsty. Aren't you?
Tea: Bring me orange juice.
Todd: You're demanding.
[Todd goes into the other room and rummages through the small refrigerator, looking for beverages for both of them.]
Tea (raising her voice so he can hear her): And, I want you back in this bed immediately, mister. We still have some personal business to take care of that we never found the time to complete last night.
[Todd returns to the room with a small bottle of orange juice for her and a can of soda for himself.]
Todd: It's not my fault you can't handle your sleep deprivation.
Tea: Well, I am wide awake now. I expect my surprise.
Todd: I just gave you your surprise -- breakfast in bed.
Tea: It's more like breakfast on the bed. There are crumbs everywhere.
Todd: So? Why should we care? We don't have to clean it up.
Tea: I'm going to use the bathroom quickly and then we can get down to business...or, I should say, pleasure. Okay?
Todd: We should probably be going soon.
Tea: There's no hurry, right? You made arrangements to keep the room another day, didn't you?
Todd: Well, yeah, but that was just so you could sleep. It wasn't so we could have hanky-panky time.
Tea: Well, now we have an entire day and night to fill. And, since we missed out on our hanky-panky time last night...
[Tea enters the bathroom and closes the door. Todd works his fingers through his hair, combing it as much as he intends to today.
A few minutes later, Tea returns to the bedroom and finds Todd looking at their road atlas.]
Tea: Todd...
Todd: If we start driving right now, we could be at the ocean by tonight.
Tea: I don't feel like being stuck in a car all day.
Todd: Even if you're stuck in that car with me?
Tea: I'd rather be stuck in this room...in this bed. I guarantee we'll have more fun here than in that car.
Todd: But, we have to keep moving.
Tea: Why?
Todd: We're trying to go to every state, remember?
Tea: Todd, I really don't care about going to all the states. I don't care where we are. I just want to be somewhere with you.
Todd: You'll be in the car with me.
[Tea pulls the map off of the bed where Todd has it in front of him and tosses it on the floor. She then sits down where the map was and takes his hand in her own.]
Tea: If this is going to end soon, I'd rather not spend the rest of our time in a car. I want to be in your arms.
Todd: We've tried that. You always end up bursting into tears. It's safer in the car.
Tea: Of course, I've cried a little...
Todd: A little?
Tea: This is a difficult time. Isn't it difficult for you?
Todd: Yeah, but that's because you keep complicating everything. We get in the car and we drive. That's what this trip is about. It's not about...
Tea: Hanky-panky? What if I want it to be about that?
Todd: You'll just cry again.
Tea: So?
Todd: You think I enjoy that?
Tea: Does it hurt you to see me in pain?
Todd (sarcastically): No, Tea, it makes me feel like dancing. What the hell do you think?
Tea: That's right. You still owe me some dancing.
[Tea moves closer to Todd and places her arms around him.]
Tea: We could stay. We could find a place to go dancing. Or, we could buy a CD player and we could dance privately, right here in this room. We could have a good time, Todd.
Todd: Like we did last night?
Tea: Last night was important.
Todd: Last night sucked.
Tea: We said some important things, didn't we?
[Todd pulls himself out of Tea's grasp and stands up.]
Todd: I don't want to talk about this stuff anymore. I don't want to talk at all. Can't we just have fun together without all the talking?
Tea: If it's fun that you want, I think staying here and enjoying some hanky-panky will be more fun than driving non-stop all day. Don't you?
Todd: So, you just want to stay here for one more night and then we go back to driving all day, every day?
Tea: Actually, I was thinking...
Todd: I'm gonna hate this. I just know it.
Tea: Fine. Forget it. I give up. Let's just leave.
[Tea goes into the bathroom to gather their things. Todd stays in the bedroom, yet again confused by Tea's rapid, and unpredictable, mood changes.]
chapter 119:
[A few minutes later, Tea exits the bathroom and is surprised to find Todd lounging on the bed.]
Todd: So, are you taking off your shirt yourself or do I have to do all of the work?
Tea: What are you talking about, Todd?
Todd: I'm talking about us making out. Why are we even talking at all? Let's start taking off our shirts. You start.
Tea: I'm not in the mood right now, Todd.
Todd: You were in the mood a few minutes ago before you changed personalities on me again.
Tea: You would be wise to never joke about that, given your less than stellar history of faking personality disorders.
Todd: Who's joking? You were all over me. You wanted to stay here and do stuff. Then, suddenly, you're ticked off and demanding we leave, with no reason for the switch.
Tea: No, reason? You made it abundantly clear that you had no interest in making out with me now...or ever.
Todd: When the hell did I do that? I was all ready to delay our trip, stay here and get it on with you. You're the one who suddenly changed your mind about staying here, right after I made it clear that I was okay with that. Maybe you don't want to screw around with me as much as you keep claiming you do.
Tea: Oh, really?
Todd: Yeah, really. Maybe it's just my mind that you enjoy screwing around with and not my body.
Tea: That's what you think?
Todd: I think that maybe instead of spending so much of your time over-analyzing me, you should put some time into figuring out what the hell is wrong with you.
Tea (her voice raised in anger): You want to make out with me?
Todd (his voice also raised in anger): Yeah.
Tea: Right now?
Todd: That was the idea.
Tea: Fine!
Todd: Fine!
[Tea quickly pulls off the sweater she's wearing and climbs onto the bed. She immediately presses her body against his as they kiss passionately. Todd's hands immediately begin working on unfastening her bra.
They each immediately forget any anger they may have had and easily give into their passion for each other. As Todd unhooks her bra, and she feels his hands caressing her bare back, Tea whimpers slightly.
Todd rolls her onto her back and continues to kiss her for a moment before pulling away from her and sitting up.]
Todd: Oh, hell!
Tea: Do you need to stop?
Todd: We probably should.
Tea: Are you still angry at me?
Todd: No. It's definitely not anger that I'm feeling right now.
Tea: What are you feeling?
Todd: Don't start another fight. Apparently, it turns you on too much.
Tea: I don't think I was the only one turned on just now. Was I?
Todd: Are you sure you don't want to get in the car and spend the next ten hours driving?
Tea: I don't want to drive anymore, Todd.
Todd: You just want to stay here until it all falls apart?
Tea: No.
Todd: Well, tell me what you do want. And, cover up so I can look at you again.
Tea: I want you to look at me the way that I am right now.
Todd: That wouldn't be a good idea.
Tea: Why not?
Todd: Stuff would happen.
Tea: That could be a good thing. We both know that we won't be having sex today so the pressure's off.
Todd: Maybe for you.
Tea: We can explore this passion we have for each other without having to worry about it going too far.
Todd: Too late for that.
Tea: Do you want to know how I want to spend the rest of our trip?
Todd: With all of your clothes on?
Tea: Do you really want me to put a shirt on?
Todd: If you're cold, sure, you should put a shirt on.
Tea: I'm not cold, but I will put a shirt on so you'll be more comfortable.
Todd: Not much chance of that right now, either.
[Tea gets up from the bed. Todd can't stop himself from watching her as she fastens the bra that he immensely enjoyed unfastening a few minutes earlier. As he closely watches her every move, Tea picks up one of their bags and places it on the end of the bed. She stands near him, knowing that he's staring at her barely covered chest, and slowly sorts through the different clothing items in the bag. As she considers what to wear, she hopes that he'll decide for her that she shouldn't wear anything right now.
Finally, when it becomes clear to Tea that Todd won't be stopping her from covering her upper body, she pulls out two options from the bag and presents them to Todd as she approaches the side of the bed he's sitting on.]
Tea: I can't decide. Which do you think I should wear?
Todd: Uh...you know...whatever.
Tea: You don't have a preference?
Todd: No...whatever you want.
Tea: Are you sure about that?
Todd: Yeah...I'm sure.
Tea: Okay.
[Tea tosses the two shirts toward their bag. Todd watches her, not knowing what she's planning to do, but unable to look away, or to force himself to stop her.
Tea reaches around her back for a moment before stepping into Todd's personal space and leaning towards him.]
Tea: I think the clasp is stuck. Could you help me?
Todd: What?
Tea: I want to change my bra. You undid this one earlier. Could you do it again?
Todd: You think I broke it?
Tea: No. I just thought that maybe you could open it for me.
Todd: Because, you can't?
Tea: Right.
Todd: And, you're shoving your breasts into my face because...?
Tea: Because, maybe that's where I want your face to be.
[Todd smiles slightly at Tea's brazenness.]
Todd: Delgado...
Tea: Yes?
Todd: Do you actually want what I think you want?
Tea: What do you think I want?
Todd: I could show you.
Tea: You could.
Todd: You want that?
Tea: I want you to do whatever you want to do.
Todd: Whatever?
Tea: Whatever.
Todd: So, anything?
Tea: Anything at all.
Todd: And, if I wanted to put clothes on you and take you out to the car and drive with you for the rest of the day?
Tea: We could do that. It's not what I want, though.
Todd: What do you want?
Tea: In this moment, I want you to remove the barrier between my breasts and your mouth.
Todd: You're sure?
Tea: I'm positive, Todd.
[Todd reaches his hands around Tea's body and unclasps her bra.]
chapter 120:
[Tea stands before Todd, her bra unfastened but still in place. She waits as Todd contemplates what they are about to do...how far they are about to go. He knows this could easily go too far.
As he considers her breasts before him that are still covered by the bra he's holding in place, he knows that they have already gone too far...too far to turn back. He doesn't want to turn back. He wants to move forward even though he knows that it ultimately will probably be a big mistake.
As Todd's hands lets go of her bra, Tea is uncertain whether they'll be continuing or stopping. She tries to prepare herself for either possibility.
Todd stands up in front of Tea. He looks into her eyes as his hands lightly caress her skin as the straps of her bra are removed from her arms.
Tea is engrossed in his eyes as she feels his hands touch her waist and direct her body toward the bed. As they stand to the side of the bed, Todd places his fingers on her forehead. She closes her eyes, prepared to cherish the gentle contact she knows will follow.
Todd's fingers slowly move down the sides of her face and down her neck until they fan out across her upper chest. As they lightly move across her breasts, Tea's breath catches.
When Todd's hands again land on her waist, he encourages her to sit down on the bed. Todd sits next to her.]
Tea: Todd?
Todd: You shouldn't talk right now.
Tea: I want to take your shirt off. I want to...
[Todd can sense Tea's emotions escalating. Her emotions scare him but they also send a warm feeling through him. He hates that part of it. He hates that she fills him with something. He doesn't quite know how to identify it. It's...pleasant. As the realization occurs to him, he cringes inwardly, knowing that she makes him feel good. Even worse is the knowledge that he wants to feel it. He needs to feel it. He also wants her to feel it, too. He's not certain if he creates that same feeling in her but he wants to try.]
Todd: What do you want, Tea?
Tea: I want...
Todd: What?
Tea: I want to know what it feels like to feel your skin against mine.
[Todd caresses the back of her neck with his hand.]
Todd: You've got that.
Tea: I want that. I want more.
Todd (smiling slightly): You always did.
Tea: I want it, Todd. It can wait, but I do want it.
Todd: Okay.
[Neither moves, except for Todd's fingers moving sensually on the back of her neck.
Almost a minute later...]
Todd: Well?
Tea: What?
Todd: Why aren't you doing it?
Tea: You didn't say I could.
Todd: Yeah, I did.
Tea: No, you didn't.
Todd: So, now you're gonna start a fight? You always do this. I try to give you what you say you want and you always pull this kind of garbage on me. Put a shirt on. We're leaving.
[Todd quickly stands up and walks out of the room, leaving a stunned and confused Tea in the bedroom.
Moments later, as Tea follows him out of the bedroom, she finds Todd already pacing in the other room. When Todd looks toward her, he's surprised that she still isn't wearing a shirt.]
Todd: I thought I told you...
Tea (interrupting): We're doing this right now.
Todd: Like hell we are. Put a shirt on right now or I'm walking out that door without you.
Tea: We had a misunderstanding. We've had hundreds of those during our relationship.
Todd: Thousands.
Tea: So, why are you so upset this time? I didn't realize that you were saying okay to my taking your shirt off in that moment. I thought you were saying okay to the possibility of it happening some time in the future.
Todd: It doesn't matter. The mood's gone now, anyway.
Tea: Is it?
Todd: Obviously.
Tea: It's not obvious to me.
Todd: Apparently even straightforward responses aren't obvious to you.
Tea: Todd, look at me. I'm standing bare...well, partially bare...in front of you. Do you really want to put this off until another time?
Todd: It's not my fault you started a fight.
Tea: I did no such thing. Let's go back into the bedroom. Let's share this...today...here...now.
Todd: Maybe we shouldn't. And, before you misunderstand me and start another fight, I mean maybe we should stay out here. It might be safer.
Tea (smiling slightly): You're concerned that you won't be able to control yourself rolling around on a bed with me while we're both half-naked?
Todd: You're the one who's always losing control and pushing things further.
Tea: I don't care where we do this, just as long as we do go further.
Todd: Sit down. And, no more starting fights.
Tea: I promise what I have in mind is most definitely not a fight.
Todd: Probably something worse.
Tea: Like tenderness?
Todd: Yeah, like that.
Tea: A few minutes ago, the way you were touching me, was very tender.
Todd: I was just trying to get you in the mood.
Tea: Well, it worked. Now, it's my turn.
Todd: For what?
Tea: To get you in the mood.
Todd: This isn't a good idea.
Tea: I want to experience this with you. Do you want to experience it with me?
to be continued...
