Previously: Tea: I promise, you won't hurt me. Touch me other places until I wake up, okay? That way, when you're touching me...there...if anything feels uncomfortable, I'll tell you and you'll stop. I know that you won't hurt me, though. I know that. You can touch me anywhere on my body at any time and I will always be okay with that. You can look at any part of my body and I'll be okay with that, too. I'm not afraid of your touch. I'm not afraid to allow you to look at me when I'm not wearing anything. I'm afraid of what I feel, of how much I feel, of how much it hurts to think about losing you. I swear to you, though, that I am not afraid of you, of your touch or of your expressing your feelings for me in a physical way. I'm afraid of believing that you do feel something for me. I'm afraid to trust you with my heart but I promise you that I am not afraid to trust you with my body.
[For several moments there's unbearable silence between them as they each fight they're own internal battles to stay in this moment despite the fact that each feels the need to flee, to protect themselves, and each other, from going too far. They both know that proceeding would potentially risk their relationship but each feels unable to stop their progress towards further intimacy.
As Todd is turned away from Tea, he looks down at his hands and suddenly feels relief as he sees a way out. He turns back in her direction before speaking.]
Todd: We can't do that anyway.
Tea: Why?
[Todd holds his hands up to her with the back of his hands facing her.]
Todd: I haven't cut these things in a while now.
Tea: Your nails?
Todd: I can't touch you there. I'd hurt you.
[Tea wants to allow him the out that he's searching for. She also knows that he knows that it's not a reasonable excuse. If she allows him to use this to stop their activities then he will ultimately convince himself that she really did want a reason to prevent him from touching that part of her body.
As she speaks, she knows that no matter what she says, it could lead to disaster for their relationship.]
Tea: Todd...
Todd: We'll just have to wait until tomorrow...or whenever.
Tea: You've been in my purse...
Todd: You don't have to change the subject. I said we're not doing it. Let's go to bed.
Tea: You did an inventory of everything that I brought with me when we began this trip.
Todd: Not officially. Let's go to bed.
Tea: We both know that in my purse...
Todd: You have a lot of junk. Let's go to bed.
[Tea decides to push ahead, despite her concern for how each of them will react if they proceed to where this is obviously leading and despite the fact that he clearly doesn't want her to.]
Tea: I want you to touch me.
Todd: We've already agreed that sort of thing will have to wait.
Tea: No, we don't have to wait, but you have to wait right here.
[Tea turns and quickly leaves the bathroom.]
Todd: Delgado...
[Todd follows her. As he steps out of the bathroom, he immediately shuts off the light in the bedroom.]
Tea: Todd...
Todd: No more games. I'm tired. I'm going to bed.
Tea: I want you to touch me. If you want that too, meet me in the bathroom.
[Tea takes her purse into the bathroom. Several minutes pass before Todd appears in the doorway. Tea is surprised that he's still only wearing his underwear. As her eyes move from his underwear, up his body to his eyes, she smiles at him.]
Todd: Did you see something funny?
Tea: No. I see someone who I find very appealing.
Todd: You're so tired, you're not seeing anything clearly right now. But, I can see you clearly.
Tea: Do you like what you see?
[Todd recognizes Tea's attempt at a flirty glance but he also senses some vulnerability in her question.]
Todd: You're beautiful.
[Tea quickly looks away, clearly uncomfortable with his unexpected compliment.]
Todd: Did I say the wrong thing?
Tea: No, of course not. Those were the right words in the right moment. You're getting better at this.
Todd: It wasn't a line, Tea.
Tea: It's getting late, we should go ahead and do this so we can both get some sleep.
Todd: I don't need that stuff.
Tea: Yes, you do.
[Todd steps closer to her until he's right in front of her, their bodies almost touching.]
Todd: Do you think you're beautiful?
Tea: That's not for me to...
Todd: I meant, do you think that I think that?
Tea: We should really just focus on doing this right now...what we came in here to do.
Todd: Are you sure about that? Because, this is what I came in here to do.
[Tea is surprised when Todd reaches his hand out and lightly caresses her skin from the side of her face, down her neck, over one of her breasts, down one side of her stomach, to the outer part of her thigh.]
Todd: Do you think I like touching you?
[Tea doesn't respond.]
Todd: Do you?
Tea: You're a man...
Todd: You're a woman. You're a very hot woman.
[Todd brings his body into hers as his hand slides from her thigh to her butt. His other hand lands on the other side of her butt and he quickly pulls her body as tight against his as he can.
An involuntary moan escapes Tea as his actions inflame her passion. Todd's mouth descends on her neck, sucking on her flesh. Tea moans again as she feels herself completely lose control of her own body.
Several excruciatingly pleasurable moments later, Todd pulls his mouth away from her flesh. Their eyes meet in an intense gaze before Todd quickly brings his lips to hers, his tongue pressing between her lips, his need to be inside her body greater than it has ever been before.
Tea moans. Todd grunts. They continue to kiss as their tongues explore. It isn't until Tea's hands find their way into the back of his underwear and she pulls on his body, wishing more than his tongue was inside her, that Todd pulls back and stops what they're doing.
As he pulls his body away from hers, they're both breathing heavily, both feeling their bodies screaming out for the shared release they've denied each other for too long.]
Todd: That wasn't supposed to happen.
Tea: You slipped?
Todd: Yeah, I slipped. I let down my guard for a few seconds and you used it to your advantage.
Tea: Why are you angry?
Todd: Let's just put an end to this stupid night.
Tea: Todd...
Todd: I accept your apology. You just couldn't control yourself. I understand.
Tea: Sometimes it is hard. Sometimes there's a need inside me...a hard, throbbing need. And, sometimes my need is for a hard, throbbing...
Todd (raising his voice as he quickly interrupts): Go to bed!
Tea: What about you?
Todd: I haven't taken a shower yet.
Tea: We could take one together.
Todd: Yeah, you'd like that.
Tea: I think I would.
Todd: All this weeping and falling apart has just been an act, hasn't it? I bet everything you've said and done since the second we met has all been an act.
Tea: For what purpose?
Todd: To get your hands on my money.
Tea: I had your money. I gave it away.
Todd (not believing her): Yeah, right!
Tea: I did. I didn't need it. I didn't want it. After you left me, after you abandoned me on our wedding night, I not only tore up that insulting check you left me but I also gave away most of the money you had previously given me.
Todd: You expect me to believe you?
Tea: Would you like to see the receipts?
Todd: Yeah, because I know your kind.
Tea: What kind is that?
Todd: You know the kind.
Tea: Tell me. Say the word.
Todd: I thought you didn't want to hear the truth anymore.
Tea: What truth? That I'm a whore? That I'm a slut who would screw any dick as long as that dick has other sizable assets?
Todd: Let's see... Kevin, he's got access to tons of money, right? R.J., he's probably got lots of cash stashed away somewhere. Me...
Tea: Why are you doing this?
Todd: Me? You're the one who did this. You're the one who has been looking for a way out...a way to keep from having to go through with your pathetic seduction scheme. You liked it better the last time, huh? You could steal my money without having to dirty yourself getting it on with me. Now you're getting scared that you may have to go through with it this time, that I may not let you get your hands on what I've got until you've given up what you've got. That's right, isn't it? Things have been going further than you wanted them to go this time. You wanted to get your hands on my money again but now you're afraid that you might actually have to earn your fee this time, so...
Tea (raising her voice): Go to hell!
Todd: You know, that's what they should call this place...hell. Honeymoon hell. All this heart junk and all that frilly, girly stuff...it's all a bunch of garbage. They expect you to see all this stuff and just rip your clothes off and screw your brains out because of some cheap, tacky junk.
Tea: Yeah, well, my clothes are already off but I have no desire to screw your brains out. I'm getting dressed and going to bed.
[Tea angrily storms passed him, leaving Todd alone in the bathroom.]
[Todd stands alone in the bathroom, not completely understanding what just happened...why they both suddenly stopped what he knows was immensely enjoyable to him and what he assumes, from the way her mouth responded to his while they were kissing, was also enjoyable for her.
He knows from Tea's quick response of anger and her lack of trying to talk him out of sabotaging their moment, that he was right about his earlier suspicion. She wanted, or needed, that moment to end, just as much as he did. He knows that it was probably because her emotions were becoming too much for her, but he can't help but wonder if there could be more to it than that. His paranoia won't allow him to completely eliminate the thought that maybe she doesn't really love him.
Todd closes the bathroom door, shuts off the light, removes his underwear and stands, in the dark, under an extremely hot shower, trying to burn away the hatred and disgust he feels for himself right now.
He hates the way he treated Tea. He wanted to make her feel beautiful...not like she was just any woman, but like she was Delgado...his Delgado. He didn't want her to feel like she was just body parts to him. He knows that other men have made her feel that way before. He wanted to make her feel special, to help her see herself the way that he sees her. He wanted to show her how beautiful she is to him, in ways that go beyond physical. He couldn't do it, though. He couldn't allow her to see inside himself that much, to see what he sees or know what he feels. If he ever let his guard down completely, she would know how much power she has over him. She could use it against him, like it always seems to be used against him whenever he makes the mistake of having feelings for anyone.
In the bedroom...
Tea is fuming, not enough to leave their hotel room, but enough to keep her from falling asleep as she lies alone in the cozy room's large bed. She's angry at the things Todd said to her, especially after she previously asked him not to talk to her like that. Her anger at herself, though, is far greater than her anger at Todd. She understands why he reacted the way he did. At least, she thinks she understands. She's not clear on what exactly it was that triggered his response this time. Her mind tries to play back the scene in the bathroom to determine what set him off.
Tea sighs out loud. She's completely exhausted and her mind won't allow her sleep, preferring instead to focus on the mysteries of Todd. And, her heart won't allow her sleep until she speaks to him again...until she knows that their time together isn't through yet.
In the bathroom...
After standing under the hot water for several minutes, Todd finally sets the temperature to a cooler setting and feels around in the dark until he finds a small bar of soap still in its wrapper. He quickly removes the wrapper and tosses it over the top of the shower, unconcerned about the amount of water that he's also flinging across the room with it. He brings the bar of soap up to his nose and cringes. It has an overwhelming floral scent that isn't at all masculine. He uses it anyway, wanting to wash away the filth of a long day...the filth of a lifetime.
In the bedroom...
Tea jumps out of bed, frustrated. She's exhausted and she can't sleep. She's in love with a man and she doesn't know how to love him. She wants to open her heart to him but she's scared to risk so much knowing that he probably won't stay...knowing that even if he wanted to stay, he may not be able to...even worse, she's uncertain if she could allow him to.
Alone in the darkness, Tea can't hide from the truth that she not only wanted Todd to sabotage their evening, she pushed him toward it. He was right. She wanted him to end their evening. She pushed for it to continue and when he appeared to be allowing it, she pushed more, knowing that if she pushed enough, he would finally end it.
In the dark, Tea gravitates towards the window seat she remembered seeing when she briefly surveyed the room minutes earlier, during a lighter mood. She smiles as she thinks about Todd arranging for them to share this honeymoon suite. Todd never did explain to her how they ended up in this particular room. She doesn't know if he specifically requested it or if it was somehow suggested to him by the desk clerk, but she does know that he chose for them to stay in one of the hotel's honeymoon suites. She's touched by his gesture. She wonders if he wanted to make up for the disaster their last wedding night became. Tea lowers her head into her hands, upset with herself for ruining whatever Todd's plans were for their time in this room.
In the bathroom...
Todd has finished washing all of his body that he intends to wash, except for one part. He lathers up his hands and drops the bar of soap back where he found it. As his hands apply the soap to his penis, he contemplates giving in to what his penis wants, what it's wanted every day of this trip, what he has been painfully denying himself because he wanted to wait and build up the pleasure to share with Tea.
Todd groans in frustration as he removes his hands, again leaving himself without satisfaction. He speaks quietly...to his mind...to his body...to his past...to whatever it is that he knows will never allow him to find lasting pleasure of any kind.]
Todd: This is all your fault.
[In the bedroom...
Tea hears Todd speaking but can't quite hear what he's saying. She leaves her seat by the window and approaches the bathroom door. She knocks on it seconds before the water shuts off.]
Tea: Todd?
Todd: I'll be out in a minute.
Tea: You don't have to hurry. I just thought I heard you say something.
Todd: Oh! Yeah, I guess I did.
Tea: I couldn't quite hear what you said.
Todd: Good!
Tea: How can I respond if I don't know what you said?
Todd: I wasn't talking to you.
Tea: Who were you talking to? Yourself?
Todd: Something like that.
Tea: Okay. I didn't mean to interrupt your conversation. I just didn't want you to think I was ignoring you, if you had been speaking to me.
Todd: Tea?
Tea: Yes?
Todd: Are you really ticked?
Tea: No...yes...maybe...I don't know.
Todd: Are we doing multiple choice again?
Tea (smiling): Sure. Go ahead and pick the answer you want.
Todd: So, you're really ticked, huh?
Tea: Why did you pick that answer?
Todd: It's the only one I believed.
Tea: Maybe you should come out here so we can have a normal conversation, instead of having to talk through a door.
Todd: I don't know how to do normal conversations...or normal anything else. Haven't you figured that out yet?
Tea: I'd like to try.
Todd: I'm surprised you're still awake.
Tea: I couldn't sleep. I was too upset...
[Tea pauses and takes a deep breath before finishing her statement.]
Tea: ...with myself, mostly.
[Todd turns the light on in the bathroom and opens the door. Tea is surprised to find him standing in front of her, dripping wet, wearing nothing but a bath towel wrapped around his waist.]
Todd: You're drooling, Delgado.
[Todd turns away from her and walks toward the sink. He turns back in her direction as he leans his butt against the countertop. He stares at her as she joins him in the bathroom, relieved that she has a smile on her face.]
Tea: I am not.
Todd: Well, your mouth was hanging open like you were about to start.
Tea: You do look...
Todd (interrupting): Before you start another fight...
Tea: No more fights. I promise.
Todd: You've promised that before and we always seem to end up fighting anyway. Why is that?
Tea: I was hoping you could explain it to me.
Todd: Not a chance.
Tea: I guess it's just something that we both need to work on.
Todd: We better do it quick. We're almost out of time, you know?
Tea: I know. I'm sorry about earlier. I should have handled the situation better.
Todd: What situation is that?
Tea: I should have talked to you instead of fighting.
Todd: I love you...go to hell -- three little words that have the same meaning in the end, right?
Tea: I do love you. I don't know why it's so much easier for me to say than to...
Todd: Show me?
Tea: Yes...in a way.
Todd: It's late and I'm naked, we should go to bed.
Tea: I'd like that.
Todd: You want me to go to bed like this?
Tea: If you were comfortable, yes, I would. I know that you wouldn't be comfortable like that, though...not with me. I'll go into the other room and give you some privacy.
[Tea is surprised that Todd doesn't want her to leave the bathroom, especially since he's wearing nothing but a towel at the moment.
Tea takes several deep breathes, trying to keep herself calm. She doesn't want her anxiety to overwhelm her again and lead to another fight. She also doesn't want to lose control, because of his lack of attire, and do something that causes Todd's anxiety to overwhelm him.]
Todd: Is this what you do before you puke?
Tea: What?
Todd: You're breathing weird.
Tea: I'm alone in a small room with a man that I'm very attracted to and he's only wearing a towel...
Todd: Is that what you think?
Tea: Do you have something on underneath that towel?
Todd: If you go out to the car and get the beer left over from last night, I'll get drunk and you can look under my towel.
Tea: Do you have to be drunk for that?
Todd: It helps.
Tea: Does it lessen your anxiety?
Todd: Are you thinking about trying it yourself to lessen your anxiety? If you turn out not to be knocked up, that is.
Tea: I certainly was having some trouble handling my anxiety earlier.
Todd: So, you did have anxiety?
Tea: Not because I was afraid of the thought of you touching me.
Todd: Did you feel uncomfortable not wearing anything?
Tea: Some. But...
Todd: Not because you're scared of me?
Tea: It definitely wasn't because of that.
Todd: But, if it had been any other guy, you wouldn't have felt that way?
Tea: Probably not.
Todd: So, I'm special? I'm the guy you care so much about that you never want to have sex with, is that it?
Tea: I want to.
Todd: But, you don't.
Tea: Do you?
Todd: We're analyzing how screwed up you are right now.
Tea: Fine. Yes, I'm screwed up. I'm confused. I'm scared. I want to be with you and I don't want to be with you.
Todd: Let's focus on the part I believe.
Tea: I do want to be with you, Todd, whether you believe that or not.
Todd: Yeah, sure you do, whatever.
Tea: I do.
Todd: Are you playing along with the room's theme again?
Tea: I do want to be your wife again.
Todd: Is this finally a proposal?
Tea: Not yet.
Todd: You can't expect me to wait forever. You know, there are tons of chicks who would love to be in your position.
Tea: If they saw how you look in that towel, I imagine they would be quite envious that I get to have you all to myself...at least for the next few days.
[Todd looks down at himself as his hand briefly touches the front of his towel while he responds.]
Todd: Most chicks if they saw me and this guy coming their way, they'd be diving out windows or grabbing their guns.
Tea: I'm not afraid of you or what's under that towel.
Todd: What are you afraid of? What's got you so freaked out?
Tea: I don't completely understand it myself.
Todd: But, you know for a fact that you don't want me touching you where I almost touched you tonight?
Tea: I do want that.
Todd: But...
Tea: There's no but.
Todd: There's always a but. And, don't even think about changing the subject to how my butt looks in this towel.
Tea: I didn't get a very good look a moment ago. Maybe you should stand up again and let me get a better look.
Todd: Do you really think flirting with me is a good idea?
Tea: Since I want you to touch me, yes.
Todd: You want me to touch you?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: There?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: Isn't this the part where you start a fight with me?
Tea: Not this time.
Todd: You're not ready for this.
Tea: Maybe not but, as you pointed out, we may be running out of time. I don't want to waste any of the time we have left.
Todd: If you're not ready...
Tea: I'm ready.
Todd: No, you're not.
Tea: I'm not ready for how I feel. I am ready for you to touch me.
Todd: You'll fall apart and I'm not up for putting you back together again.
Tea: Okay. We'll go to bed. You'll wake me up in the morning. We'll caress each other, give each other pleasure, you'll hold me while I fall apart...
Todd: Do you fall apart with all your guys?
Tea: If I had felt the feelings for anyone else that I feel for you, I would have run for the door and not looked back.
Todd: So, why aren't you running?
Tea: I've tried. It never worked. I still loved you. I still needed you.
Todd: You don't need me.
[Tea steps closer to Todd. She notices his body language change as he instantly becomes uncomfortable.]
Tea: I need you, Todd. Right now, I need you to hold me while I fall asleep because I don't think I can sleep without you. In the morning I hope that you will touch me. If you do then I'll need you to help me deal with the pain that I'll feel.
Todd: If you're worried about pain, you shouldn't have me touching you there.
Tea: You won't hurt me physically.
Todd: Why would touching you there hurt you other ways?
Tea: Because, the closer we get, the more we bare ourselves to each other, the more I open up to you, the more my defenses fade because of you...
Todd: Okay. I get it. I won't touch you.
Tea: How many times do I have to tell you that I want you to touch me?
Todd: You shouldn't let your defenses down for me. There's a reason they were put there to begin with.
Tea: Because my mother left me when I was a little girl and never came back.
Todd: Yeah, and because of your old man, and because of your brothers, and because of every snob who looked down their nose job at you, and because of every guy at that fancy law firm you worked for who could only see what a great ass you had instead of seeing what an asset to their firm you were, and...
Tea: Okay. It's late. You don't have to go through the whole list.
Todd: But, I haven't gotten to the most important part yet. You have those defenses because of me. Because of all the times I pushed you away, or said things that hurt you. And, you need those defenses because we both know, we both have always known, that this won't work out. There's no way that we'll get what we want at the end of this.
Tea: I still have hope.
Todd: I don't.
Tea: I have enough for both of us.
Todd: Yeah, when you're not falling apart and picking fights with me.
Tea: Well, I don't seem to be doing that in this moment so let's finish what we started earlier.
Todd: Our fight?
Tea: No.
[Tea opens her purse which is still on the counter by the sink. She digs through it for several moments, finally pulling out a nail clipper.]
Todd: This can wait until tomorrow, right?
Tea: Not if you're going to use those fingers on my body right away when we wake up in the morning.
Todd: Don't you want to wait until after breakfast? Are you supposed to do that kind of thing on an empty stomach?
Tea: We'll have breakfast after we finish. I have a feeling that after we've enjoyed ourselves together, I'll be quite ravenous.
[Todd groans at the glint in Tea's eyes. She laughs at his reaction.
Todd doesn't stop her as she takes hold of one of his hands and begins to trim his nails for him. He even directs her to go shorter, wanting to be certain that he won't hurt her...if he does touch her where he desperately wants to touch her.
Minutes later...
They leave the bathroom together and return to the bedroom.]
[As Tea and Todd finish in the bathroom and enter the bedroom together, Tea sits down on the edge of the bed. Todd turns on one of the lamps and, while facing away from her, picks up one of their bags. As he turns back in her direction, he notices her watching him.]
Todd: We're not doing anything, right?
Tea: When we wake up, we are.
Todd: But, right now...
Tea: Right now, we'll sleep and rejuvenate our energy. We'll need lots of energy for the activities we have planned.
Todd: What we're doing only takes a few minutes, if you do it right.
Tea: If you do it right, it takes hours.
Todd: I'm a guy. I just want to get in, get out and then get something to eat.
Tea: Well, I'm a woman...
Todd: So, you're planning to put me through long drawn-out hell?
Tea: I plan to give you a great deal of pleasure.
Todd: You're taking a vow of silence?
Tea: For that, Manning...
Todd: What are you going to do, Delgado?
Tea: I'll think of something.
Todd: You can't think of anything right now, you're so exhausted. Lay down and go to sleep.
Tea: I'm waiting for you to join me.
[Todd places the bag he's carrying onto a small dresser and looks through it for a moment, looking for something to wear to bed. He stops his search momentarily and looks back at Tea.]
Todd: Delgado?
Tea: Yes?
Todd: Why does having me around help you sleep?
Tea: You sleep better when I'm in bed next to you, don't you?
Todd: That's different.
Tea: You comfort me.
Todd: I tick you off.
Tea: Yes, but you also comfort me.
Todd: How?
Tea: After you left, I never expected to see you again. Actually, that's not quite true. I did think that you would eventually return to Llanview to be with Starr and that I would encounter you from time to time. I never thought that you'd come back to me, though.
Todd: It's late. We shouldn't get into this junk now.
Tea: You wanted to know how you comfort me.
Todd: Digging around in that garbage isn't going to help me understand.
Tea: I always hoped that someday we would have moments together like the ones we've had on this trip.
Todd: Moments when you want to kill me?
Tea: Moments...
[Tea pauses, uncertain how to explain her feelings to him.]
Todd: Never mind. Just lie down and close your eyes. I'm about to take this towel off.
[Tea doesn't move. Todd thinks he notices a slight smile on her face as she continues to watch him.]
Todd: I'm not warning you again, Delgado. The monster is about to be uncovered.
Tea: I'm not afraid.
Todd: You were earlier.
Tea: Not of...your friend. I will give you privacy and look away, if you really want me to.
Todd: What do you want?
[There are several seconds of silence as Tea decides how to proceed in this moment.]
Tea: I want to watch.
Todd: You do?
Tea: Yes?
Todd: What exactly did you want to see?
Tea: Whatever you're willing to allow me to see.
Todd: I saw all of you earlier.
Tea: You did.
Todd: Do you think I owe you a look now?
Tea: No.
Todd: Really?
Tea: It's not a competition.
Todd: So, just because you showed me yours doesn't mean that I have to show you mine?
Tea: Of course not. Only do what you're comfortable doing.
Todd: If I followed that advice, I'd spend every second of the rest of my life alone.
Tea: Why did you choose to stop being alone? Why did you bring me on this trip?
Todd: That's it! Enough chatter. We're going to bed...to sleep.
[Todd turns away from Tea and faces the dresser. He digs through the bag in front of him and pulls out underwear and shorts. As Tea watches, Todd tugs on the towel around his waist and, after loosening it, allows it to fall to the floor. He picks up the underwear and, to Tea's surprise, tosses it back into the bag. He then quickly pulls on the shorts, turns off the light and walks around the bed and gets in on his side.]
Tea: Todd?
Todd: I already declared there will be no more talk this evening...morning...whatever it is. Go to sleep.
Tea: Would you like me to take my shirt off first?
[There is silence for several moments as Todd contemplates his options. He does like the feeling of her bare skin against his but he knows that if she's topless, it would be almost impossible for him to fall asleep right now. His earlier shower wasn't nearly enough to calm his body down, sexually speaking. And, after all the minutes he spent with her while he was wearing nothing but a towel and knowing that she was just watching him, looking at his bare butt, while he got dressed, he knows that his body would rather stay awake and do pleasurable things with her than waste it's time with sleep.]
Todd: I don't want you to take your shirt off.
Tea: Okay.
[Tea is about to snuggle against him when he speaks again.]
Todd: I'll do it.
[Tea smiles. Todd sits up and reaches out to her body. He grasps the bottom of the T-shirt she's wearing and pulls the material over her head. He then tosses her shirt passed her body and onto the floor.]
Todd: You know that we're not doing anything, right?
Tea: Right.
[Todd surprises Tea as he brings his body closer to hers. For a moment his face nuzzles her neck before his lips lovingly caress her skin. Tea's soft moan of approval makes it more difficult for him to stop.
Despite how exhausted they both are, they both want to continue and they both know that they both want to continue. Todd kisses down her chest until one of her nipples is safely inserted in his mouth. Tea moans louder, her body reacting to him, the way it always does.
Tea isn't amused when Todd suddenly releases her nipple from between his lips, turns his body around and lies back down, facing away from her.]
Tea: Todd?
[He doesn't respond.]
Tea: Manning...
[Todd smiles at her demanding tone.]
Todd: I thought you were tired?
Tea: That wasn't very nice.
Todd: What wasn't?
Tea: Is that how you plan to say goodnight every night?
Todd: What was wrong with that? I kissed you goodnight, didn't I?
Tea: No, you sucked my nipple goodnight, but I guess I shouldn't bother wanting something more.
[A frustrated Tea turns away from him and lies down with her back facing his back.
Minutes pass uncomfortably.
Todd finally gives up, unable to take her silence any longer. He turns toward her before speaking.]
Todd: I was kidding, Delgado.
Tea: I wasn't amused.
Todd: I was.
[Todd places his arm around her body and encourages her to turn onto her back.]
Todd: Come on, Tea. Don't go to sleep ticked. You'll ruin my beauty sleep with your nightmares again. You know I can't afford that.
[Todd's hand moves to the area between her breasts and he lightly touches her skin with his fingertips.]
Todd: If I kiss you goodnight, on the lips, will you fall asleep right away and start snoring so I can sleep?
Tea: I'll try. I can't promise I'll snore, though.
Todd: Trust me, you will. You always do.
Tea: You really like it when I snore?
Todd: It lets me know you haven't gone out the window...yet.
Tea: I'll never go out the window, Todd. I'll never disappear on you, I promise.
Todd: I'll believe it when it doesn't happen.
Tea: It won't. You'll see.
Todd: Whatever.
[Tea brings her hand up behind his head and encourages him to bring his lips to hers. They kiss tenderly several times before Todd repositions himself with his head resting against her chest and his arm resting across her stomach.]
Todd still hasn't fallen asleep yet. Ever since the morning light began to trickle into the room through the light draperies that cover the windows, Todd has been watching Tea sleep. He gave up on his own attempts at sleep more than an hour ago. He knows his mind, and his body, and he knows that sleep won't be coming to him tonight. Right now, he's enjoying watching as she blissfully sleeps beside him.
As always, Todd watches her, wanting to join her, wanting to be where she is. The expression on her face is so peaceful, so comforting. It soothes him just to be close to her...close to her peacefulness.
He doesn't want to wake her but he can't stop himself from touching her, from sharing with her the way that he feels about her. In the past, before this trip, when he watched her sleep, he did it from a distance. He had to keep his presence hidden. Touching wasn't allowed. Now, not only is it okay for him to share his presence with her, but she even made it clear before she fell asleep that she wanted him to. She wants him to touch her while she sleeps. She wants to awaken and find him next to her, touching her, giving her pleasure. It's still difficult for him to believe that she really does take pleasure from him but he can't resist this opportunity to try.
Todd moves his fingers tenderly over her skin, enjoying the smoothness of her flesh beneath his fingertips. He has the blankets pulled down to her stomach. The entire front part of her upper body is on display for him. There's nothing preventing him from viewing her face, her neck, her breasts. There's nothing preventing him from touching her, either...not even his own mind. Maybe it's the sleep depravation. Maybe it's knowing that their chance to be together could end in a couple of days. Whatever the reason, right now, nothing is in the way of his eyes studying her, or his fingers touching her.
It takes several minutes for Todd's touch to makes its way into her dreams. He's there already...in her dreams, the way he often is. Now, he's touching her with such a delectably light touch, it almost tickles. She smiles at him, wanting him to know how much he pleases her.
Todd stares at her face, knowing that, although she's still asleep, she can feel him touching her. He knows that her smiles if for him, for how he's making her feel.
To add to her pleasure, Todd brings his lips to her skin and kisses just above the breast nearest him. He notices her breathing change slightly. He brings his mouth to her flesh again. This time, he uses his tongue in circles against the soft flesh of her breast, avoiding her nipple, for now.
Tea makes a slight noise. Todd knows that if he continues, she'll soon awaken. He proceeds.
Tea feels like she's floating as her mind moves further into consciousness, closer every second to reality, to the man she loves kissing, and flicking his tongue at, her flesh as he tries to tantalize, and tease, her awake.
Tea continues to float as his lips lightly close over her nipple. It isn't until his mouth opens wider and pulls more of her flesh into his mouth as he sucks gently, and she hears him moan sensually, that she finally forces herself fully into consciousness.
Her contented sigh alerts Todd that she's finally awake. He continues to gently lick at her nipple.]
Tea: I love you, Todd.
[Todd removes his mouth from her breast and looks up at her face. An adorable sleepy grin greets him.]
Todd: You probably say that to all the guys you wake up and find latched on to you like that.
Tea: You're the only guy I ever want to wake up like this with.
Todd: Maybe today...
Tea: Maybe the rest of my life.
Todd: Shouldn't we stop talking and start doing?
Tea: It feels like you already started. I think I need to do some catching up.
Todd: I'm not done yet.
Tea: Is that so?
Todd: I've got one more to go.
Tea: I'm not stopping you.
Todd: You could if you wanted to.
Tea: I don't want to. I want to do this and then I want to take a nap and wake up like this all over again.
Todd: You should be tired, you barely slept.
Tea: What time is it?
[Todd quickly pulls away from her and pushes aside the blankets covering him.]
Tea: Wait! Where are you going?
Todd: You wanted to know what time it is.
Tea: I didn't want you to leave the bed.
[Todd quickly returns to the bed with his watch in his hand. He sits next to her on the bed and hands her the watch. She looks at it and is shocked.]
Tea: Todd...
Todd: Do you want to order breakfast before we do any more stuff?
Tea: Do you know what time it is?
Todd: It doesn't matter.
Tea: I does when we've only slept for a few hours. No wonder I feel so tired.
Todd: Okay. We'll stop and you can go back to sleep, if that's what you want. I didn't really want to do any of this stuff anyway.
[Tea places his watch on a small table next to her side of the bed and turns back towards him.]
Tea: Oh, really!?
Todd: Really.
Tea: Then why did I wake up and find you engrossed in such a pleasurable activity?
Todd: Because, I knew it was what you wanted.
Tea: But, you didn't want it yourself?
Todd: Nope.
Tea: You didn't enjoy it?
Todd: Nope.
Tea: So, you don't want to do the same thing with my other breast?
Todd: If you wanted me to, I could.
Tea: And, what if I want to do something to you?
Todd: Like what?
Tea: I could show you.
Todd: I thought you were going back to sleep?
Tea: I will. First, we'll both enjoy ourselves. Then, we'll sleep for the next twelve hours.
Todd: Sure.
[Tea senses something in Todd's voice that makes her curious about the last few hours.]
Tea: Have you slept at all?
Todd: Of course I have. Everyone's slept at some point in their life.
Tea: I mean, since we got into this bed together a few hours ago, have you slept?
Todd: If you want to do stuff, let's just do it?
Tea: Todd, you need to sleep.
Todd: That's a myth.
Tea: That's a reality. Lie down on your stomach. I'll rub your back until you fall asleep.
Todd: What about our plans? I thought I was supposed to rub a certain part of your body...and, not your back.
Tea: You'd rather touch me...there, than have me help you fall asleep?
Todd: Sleep is for girls.
Tea: You need to sleep, Querido.
Todd: It's a waste of time. We have more important things to do.
Tea: I don't want to waste any time with you, you know that. Sleeping isn't wasting time. I don't want you to get sick from not sleeping.
Todd: I'm fine. I haven't even gotten to the part where I can't breath, yet.
Tea: Well, I don't want you to get to that part. Let me help you sleep.
Todd: You know what helps?
Tea: What?
Todd: Doing stuff?
[Tea sits up next to him and smiles at him. Her hand lightly strokes his hair, trying to ease anxiety she knows she can't understand.]
Tea: I want to do stuff with you. I don't want you to use that as a way to avoid sleep, though.
Todd: Why not?
Tea: Because, I worry about you. I love you. I want you to be okay.
Todd: I was okay with what I was doing before you woke up and interrupted me.
Tea: Were you?
Todd: Couldn't you tell?
Tea: I thought maybe you wanted me to wake up so you wouldn't be alone in your sleeplessness anymore.
Todd: That's stupid. Why would I want that? When you're awake there's just a lot of talking.
Tea: We could talk about why you haven't slept yet. Were you thinking about something that upset you?
[Todd pulls his head back, out of the way of her hand so she has to stop caressing his hair.]
Todd: Look, you either want to do this, or you don't. Which is it?
