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| LAST CHANCE BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 181 - 190 |
PREVIOUSLY...
Todd: So, you'll be ready?
Tea: I'll be very ready, Todd.
Todd: Okay.
[Without saying anymore, Todd hangs up. Tea smiles to herself, knowing that when he arrives in a few minutes his lack of enthusiasm for conversation will be irrelevant as their bodies take over the communication task.]
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
chapter 181:
[A few minutes later, Tea is sitting on a chair in the living room, waiting as the excruciating seconds pass until Todd enters the penthouse and finally enters her again.
As she hears his key in the lock, she quickly stands up, surprised at how nervous she feels.
Todd steps into the penthouse and looks at her.]
Todd: Why are you wearing clothes?
Tea: I wanted you to undress me.
Todd: Okay.
[Todd tosses his keys to the side, not caring where they land. He quickly approaches her and begins rapidly trying to disrobe her.]
Tea: Todd, we can go slower.
[Tea looks into his eyes and sees so much lust that it makes her gasp slightly. She immediately begins pulling on his clothes, trying to eliminate them from his body.]
Tea: Could we speed this up a little?
[Todd places both of his hands over hers and stops her actions. She looks at his face again and finds him smiling at her.]
Todd: You're horny.
Tea (lying): I am not. I'm hungry. I wanted to get to dinner sooner.
Todd: Okay. Let's eat.
[Todd lets go of Tea's hands, turns and walks into the kitchen, leaving a stunned, horny and frustrated Tea standing alone in the living room.
A moment later...
As Tea enters the kitchen she finds Todd nibbling on some of the food she left out while she was cooking.]
Tea: Todd...
Todd: How much longer until dinner's ready?
Tea: Twelve hours.
Todd: Couldn't you have found a quicker recipe?
Tea: Do you remember promising me that?
Todd: I don't remember ever promising you anything about a recipe.
Tea: I'm not talking about recipes.
[Tea watches as Todd picks up a large piece of celery and proceeds to add shake after shake of salt to it from a salt shaker. She gets frustrated and pulls the vegetable from his hand as he's about to put it into his mouth.]
Todd: What's going on with you, Delgado?
Tea: The man I live with...the man I love...the man that I haven't been with for almost two days called a few minutes ago. He made it clear that when he got home...
Todd: What? Go ahead. Continue your story.
Tea: You promised me that tonight we'd have twelve hours, remember that? I wasn't sure if that would happen or even if you'd come home tonight but when you called...and, the things you said...
Todd: I was joking.
Tea: I guess I should have known that, right? After all, what isn't a joke with you?
[Tea turns and storms out of the kitchen. Todd knows that she's upset. He smiles as he slowly exits the kitchen, knowing that her bad mood will disappear very soon...as will the clothing from her body.]
chapter 182:
[Todd enters the living room from the kitchen just in time to see Tea rush upstairs. He walks to the bottom of the staircase and yells up to her.]
Todd: Tea? You're not packing your stuff and leaving me again, are you? You know, the latches on that suitcase of yours are probably worn out from overuse by now. Tea? Hey, Tea?
[He hears nothing but silence from upstairs. He walks over to the sofa and sits down, pulling the coffee table closer with his foot so he can rest his feet on it.
A minute later the phone begins ringing. After several rings, Todd yells toward the ceiling, and Tea, again.]
Todd: You gonna get that, Delgado?
[After a few more rings, Tea answers the phone.]
Tea: Hello?
Todd (into his cell phone): When I come home, you won't be wearing anything, right?
Tea: Todd? What is this?
Todd: I'm trying to figure out when everything got screwed up.
Tea: When you decided dinner was more important than...
Todd: Than what?
Tea: Making love to your wife.
Todd: You know, you're not technically...
Tea: Is that how you think of me?
Todd: Just because my sister couldn't keep her mouth shut...
Tea: Did you tell her that? Is that what I am?
[Todd doesn't respond.]
Tea: What am I, Todd?
Todd: You're Delgado.
Tea: How do you feel about me?
Todd: You know.
Tea: Can you tell me? Can you say it out loud?
[Todd is silent.]
Tea: You were able to tell me that you never loved me earlier.
Todd: Here we go. I knew you wouldn't let that go without putting me through hell for saying it.
Tea: If you can say that, Todd, why can't you say how you really feel about me?
Todd: So, you know that's not how I really feel about you?
Tea: I know that you were just angry and you didn't mean it.
Todd: Well, if you know then I don't have to say it, right?
Tea: I wouldn't mind if you did.
Todd: I've said it before.
Tea: You are allowed to say it more than once.
Todd: Tea...
Tea: What if I told you that you're my husband?
Todd: Am I?
Tea: In my heart...in my soul...in my will.
Todd: By will, do you mean that legal thing or some willpower type thing?
Tea: I have no willpower when it comes to you.
Todd: Good. Get down here.
Tea: You could come up here.
Todd: You promised me we'd do this down here, remember?
Tea: When did I promise that?
Todd: That time you got me all...you were...and then you didn't... You took off on me again, remember?
Tea: So, you think I owe you?
Todd (becoming very serious): No. You never owe me that, Tea. I don't want you to ever feel that you owe me or that you have to do it. You never have to do anything with me if you don't want to.
Tea: I know that. But, I suppose I did make a sort of promise to you that day.
Todd: Do you want to follow through on it, down here?
Tea: Sure.
Todd: I'll be waiting...and I won't be wearing anything.
Tea: Why don't I believe you?
Todd: Because you know me.
Tea: Maybe we could go a little slower than before.
Todd: Maybe...a little.
Tea: I'll be right down.
chapter 183:
[A moment later, Tea appears at the top of the stairs. Todd watches as she slowly descends the staircase.]
Tea: Would you like something to drink?
Todd: No.
Tea: Are you sure?
Todd: Why are you so nervous? We've done this before.
Tea: I know. This feels different.
Todd: Why?
[Tea sits down on the other end of the sofa from where Todd is lounging.]
Tea: I don't know. It just does.
Todd: If you're expecting...
Tea: I'm not expecting anything, except for you to make love to me tonight.
Todd: I might have to leave.
Tea: Todd, you could stay.
Todd: Don't start, Delgado.
Tea: I'm not. You don't have to spend the night in bed with me but you could stay in the penthouse. We have done that before, remember?
Todd: Maybe...
Tea: I promise, I'll stay out of your way. I'll probably be so exhausted by the end of the twelve hours anyway.
Todd: Are you still on that twelve hour thing?
Tea: Twelve hours of you, Todd -- that's bliss.
Todd: Nothing about me is bliss. Even I can't stand to be around me for twelve hours straight. You wouldn't enjoy it like you think you would.
Tea: Well, that's the difference between the two of us.
Todd: What is?
Tea: I actually like you.
Todd: So, you're kind of cracked yourself then, huh?
Tea: I don't think I'm cracked and I don't think I'm crazy. I like you, Todd Manning. I love you.
[Tea slowly moves closer to Todd on the sofa.]
Todd: Is this the part where you finally shut up?
Tea: This is the part where you tell me how you feel about me.
Todd: I could show you.
Tea: You could tell me and then you could show me.
[Tea pushes a falling strand of hair out of Todd's face and hooks it behind his ear.]
Todd: This is important to you?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: So important that you need to ruin my fun for it?
[Tea straddles Todd's lap, facing him.]
Tea: Trust me, Todd. You will have fun tonight.
Todd: I better after being put through the ringer like this.
Tea: I promise, I'll kiss it and make it feel better if it hurts.
Todd: It's hurting pretty bad right now.
Tea: What is?
Todd: Every part of my body.
Tea: Where should I start?
Todd: My lips. They're about to have an allergic reaction.
Tea: To what?
Todd: I love you, Tea.
[Tea leans toward Todd and kisses him passionately.]
chapter 184:
[Tea and Todd continue to kiss while Tea sits on his lap, facing him. His hands burrow under her clothing in the back until he feels her skin. He pulls her body closer, wanting to feel her pressing more tightly against him.
After several minutes, Tea feels Todd move his hands around to her front. He pushes her away from his body slightly as he tries to undo her clothing while continuing to kiss her passionately.
Finally, he gives up and pulls away from their kiss.]
Todd: Did you have to make this so difficult?
Tea: When I dressed this morning I wasn't thinking about how my attire would affect sex on the couch. I was thinking more of my own comfort during the day.
Todd: Well, next time don't be so selfish. Think about my needs...not your own.
[Tea starts to get up but Todd holds on to her and pulls her closer to him.]
Todd: Wait. Where are you going?
Tea: I was just going to stand up and relieve myself of some of this clothing that's getting in the way.
[Todd lets go of her. She moves off his lap and stands in front of the sofa. She begins slowly unbuttoning her blouse.]
Todd: Wait.
Tea: I don't think I can. I've waited long enough.
Todd: We should turn the lights off.
Tea: Todd, who will see us this high up?
Todd: A window washer?
Tea: At this time of day?
Todd: Well, a helicopter could fly by.
Tea: This will be an issue for you if we're not in the dark, right?
Todd: I was thinking of you.
Tea: I'm sure you were.
Todd: You're into romance, right? Complete darkness is romantic, isn't it?
Tea: With you it will be.
[Tea walks around the living room, turning off numerous lights.]
Tea: Anytime...anywhere...any way with you is romantic for me.
Todd: That's what all the chicks say.
Tea: You better not have any other chicks, Todd.
Todd: You've seen how women throw themselves at me every time we go out in public. It's pathetic really.
[Tea turns off the last of the light and walks back toward where Todd is still sitting on the sofa.]
Tea: Do you think it's pathetic when I throw myself at you?
Todd: I don't know. Try it and I'll let you know.
[Tea pushes away the coffee table, causing Todd's feet to fall to the floor. She kneels down in front of him and begins undoing his trousers.]
chapter 185:
[Todd places his hand on her hands, stopping her from opening his trousers.]
Todd: I thought you wanted to go slower.
Tea: You said you wanted me to throw myself at you.
Todd: Yeah, well...
Tea: We could go a little slower.
Todd: Okay.
[They both look at each other for several seconds, each waiting for the other to make the next move.]
Todd: Well?
Tea: If I decide our next move, my hand will be inside your pants in less than two seconds.
Todd: And, you think I want to stop that?
Tea: You said you wanted to go slower.
Todd: Only because you did. I'm a guy, Tea. We could skip all this other stuff and just get to the main event and I'd be okay with that.
Tea: Well, so would I.
Todd: Really?
Tea: Absolutely.
Todd (laughing): Right! And, then you'll put me through hell for not giving you all that stupid romantic stuff you really want.
Tea: No, I won't.
Todd: Yes, you will.
Tea: Todd, what I want right now is for you to let go of my hand so I can put it inside your pants.
Todd: You're serious?
Tea: We agreed to have quickies whenever we wanted, right?
Todd: Right.
Tea: Well, right now I want it.
Todd: This isn't a trick?
Tea: No trick but I think we both could definitely use a treat.
[Todd lets go of Tea's hands and places his hands behind her head and leans toward her. He kisses her deeply for several moments before breaking their kiss and leaning back on the sofa.
Tea opens his trousers and tugs on them. Todd allows her to pull them down to his ankles.]
Todd: Wait. I just remembered something.
Tea: If you tell me you have to go into the office now that you have part of The Sun back...
Todd: I don't have any of The Sun. You swiped it from me, remember?
Tea: Do you want to talk business right now?
Todd: No.
Tea: Then let me continue.
[Todd reaches into his jacket pocket, searching for something.]
Todd: I just thought that you might want these back.
Tea: What?
[Todd pulls a pair of her underwear out of his pocket.]
Tea: What are you doing with my...
Todd: Remember our little moment on the dock?
Tea: I don't recall anything little about that moment.
Todd: Well, you should probably take these back before something embarrassing happens. The next time I'm tossed in jail and they make me empty my pockets in the crowded squad room, I don't want to have to explain what I'm doing with these. I know what they'd think. They'd probably add an extra charge even without a victim.
Tea: Todd, maybe we shouldn't discuss this right now.
Todd: Being reminded of my past doesn't turn you on?
Tea: No.
Todd: You want to have dinner now, instead?
Tea: We could have dinner but I'll still want this later.
Todd: You're sure about that?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: Why?
Tea: I knew about your past before I married you, before I fell in love with you, before I shared my body with you the first time...and the second time...and the...
Todd: You don't find it creepy?
Tea: Are you still committing that crime?
Todd: No.
Tea: Do you want to?
Todd: No.
Tea: Then, I'm okay with the fact that it is something that is, and will always be, in your past. I'm not okay with what you did but I know that it happened. It's in the past. I want a future with you.
Todd: You're really sure about that?
Tea: I'm positive about that? So, dinner?
Todd: Yeah, sure. You want to talk about business, too?
[Tea stands up. Todd pulls up his pants and also stands up.]
Tea: If you want to.
Todd: We might as well. The mood for sofa sex is shot.
Tea: Don't say shot in this room. It brings back bad memories.
Todd: Well, what has ever happened in this room that doesn't bring back lousy memories?
Tea: Our first kiss, for one.
[Together, they walk toward the kitchen.]
Todd: Oh, yeah, that. You were so blown away with my technique you ran.
Tea: I was blown away with my feelings...with how much I loved you.
Todd: I thought it was because you were scared I would slip you some tongue.
Tea: Actually that sounds pretty good.
Todd: If you're trying to tell me that you're about to try to feed me the tongue of any kind of animal, you can forget it.
Tea: Don't worry. There's plenty of ketchup.
chapter 186:
[Todd and Tea are having dinner in the dining room.]
Tea: So, you never told me, did you get Blair's shares of The Sun?
Todd: What's the point? You already swiped 49% of it from me.
Tea: I did not.
Todd: Do I have that 49%? No. Do you? Yes. You screwed me.
Tea: Not yet but I am hoping for later tonight.
Todd: We're talking business right now. There's no mixing business with...funny business.
Tea: Seriously, I didn't steal it from you. I acquired it in the only way that we were ever going to get Kelly's shares of The Sun back.
Todd: We could have blackmailed her.
Tea: With what?
Todd: You could have given me some time to come up with something.
Tea: I don't think Kelly has too many secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Todd: You never know.
Tea: Well, it's irrelevant now, anyway.
Todd: Yeah, because you grabbed it for yourself.
Tea: I did not.
Todd: Do you own the shares now or don't you?
Tea: I own them but it's just a technicality.
Todd: What does that mean?
Tea: It means that I made sure that the contract only stated that you could never own those shares. It doesn't say anything about the owner of those shares having to actively participate in the running of the newspaper.
Todd: So, you're gonna back off and let me run my paper the way it should be run without any of that decency or fairness garbage getting in the way?
Tea: I'm not interested in the newspaper business. I have a law career that I need to return to.
Todd: But, I'm not under investigation right now...that I know about.
Tea: I can have clients besides you.
Todd: I didn't okay that.
Tea: You don't get a vote.
Todd: Like hell I don't. I'm not going to have you defending anymore serial killers like Bo Buchanan.
Tea: Bo Buchanan is a serial killer?
Todd: Now that I'm running The Sun again I'll be digging through the garbage can of his life. I bet I'll find a bunch of skeletons.
Tea: I hope not...at least not literally.
Todd: He's not as great a guy as he pretends.
Tea: I know but I highly doubt...
Todd: Why are we wasting our time talking about that jerk?
Tea: You brought him up.
Todd: Well, I don't want to talk about him anymore.
Tea: Then, let's talk about how you'll get Blair's shares away from her. Because, you know, without those shares, my shares are worthless.
Todd: I'll get them. I'll take care of it tomorrow morning so I can be back at The Sun by tomorrow afternoon. Have you read the garbage they've been printing? It's disgusting. It's like reading The Banner.
Tea: Well, you'll change all that.
Todd: Damn right! I can't wait to tell Asa either. I think I'll invite him to a meeting without letting him know it's me.
Tea: You should also invite paramedics to that meeting since I have a feeling you'll need them.
Todd: Don't worry about me. If he starts a fight, I'll win.
Tea: I was thinking of his heart condition.
Todd: Oh, yeah. This could be even more fun than I thought.
[Tea shakes her head at Todd who continues being gleeful thinking about Asa's reaction to the news of his return to publishing.]
chapter 187:
[After dinner, Todd is lounging in the living room while Tea cleans up in the kitchen.
When Tea finally returns to the living room, Todd jumps up, energized.]
Todd: You ready to go?
Tea: Go where?
Todd: Bedroom...laundry room...docks... Wherever you want to do this tonight.
Tea: Could we take the night off? I'm exhausted.
Todd: Earlier, you were ready to go.
Tea: That was earlier. After doing all of the dinner cleanup myself, I'm just not in the mood anymore.
Todd: You're joking, right?
Tea: You can wake me up with a massage in the morning and we'll enjoy ourselves then, okay? Tonight, I think I'll just take a long bath and go to bed. Good night.
[Tea kisses Todd on the cheek and goes upstairs, leaving him horny and confused.
Minutes later...
Tea is removing her clothing in preparation for her bath when Todd bursts into the bathroom.]
Todd: What the hell is this?
Tea: This is a startled almost naked woman, about to get into the bathtub. Now, would you like to explain to me why you invaded my privacy in such an overbearing, abrupt and rude manner.
Todd: No...this isn't my fault. You can't blame it on me.
Tea: What are you talking about, Todd?
Todd: That whole thing downstairs was a ploy, right?
Tea: A ploy?
Todd: Yeah. You were ticked off that you got stuck with all the chick work.
Tea: Chick work?
Todd: Cleaning up everything.
Tea: Because men have no responsibility when it comes to dirty dishes?
Todd: Exactly. So, why are you ticked at me?
Tea: Todd, I am in no mood to deal with any sexist attitudes right now. I just want to take my bath and go to bed.
Todd: So, you're just going to keep punishing me?
Tea: How am I punishing you?
Todd: By withholding...you know...you.
Tea: You think I'm withholding sex because you didn't help clear the table?
Todd: That's what you're doing, right? And, now you're standing in front of me, looking like that, just to rub it in more.
Tea: I'm standing here, partially dressed, because I was about to get into the bathtub. I usually take all my clothes off before I do that. I'm odd that way.
Todd: So, you were hoping I'd come up here, see you naked, and apologize, right?
Tea: Todd, this isn't a ploy. This isn't a trick. I'm taking a bath because it helps me relax. I'm not withholding sex so you'll behave the way I want you to.
Todd: Then why are you?
chapter 188:
Tea: Todd, I'm not withholding sex at all. I'm simply not in the mood right now.
Todd: Well, get in the mood.
Tea: Is that a demand? Are you insisting that I put aside my own feelings to accommodate you so that you can get your thrills and then go wherever you're planning on spending the night?
Todd: Never mind.
[Todd turns and leaves the bathroom.
A part of Tea is tempted to go after him and make sure that he's okay, concerned that her frustration may have caused her to sound harsher than she had intended. Ultimately she decides that it wouldn't be a good idea to go after him, given how much her mood has deteriorated in the last few minutes.
Instead, Tea continues removing her clothing and gets into the bathtub, hoping, and trusting, that Todd won't do anything stupid because of anything that happened, or was said, this evening.
Minutes later...
Tea has her eyes closed and doesn't hear Todd as he returns to the open doorway of the bathroom.
For several minutes, Todd watches her as she relaxes in the tub. When Tea finally does open her eyes again, she's startled by Todd's presence.]
Tea: Todd, you scared me.
Todd: I can leave if you don't want me to see you like that.
Tea: No. It's fine. I just wasn't expecting you to be there.
Todd: I was waiting for you to come downstairs but you never showed.
Tea: Todd, I am sorry if anything I said hurt you but I won't put aside my own feelings just because you want a quickie.
Todd: I thought that's what you wanted. You said so earlier.
Tea: I did and I meant it at that time.
Todd: But, you don't mean it anymore?
Tea: The moment passed.
Todd: And so did your mood and your desire to be with me?
Tea: My desire for you is still there. It's definitely there. I just didn't feel like putting myself through that tonight.
Todd: Sex with me is that bad?
Tea: Sex with you is great. You know that.
Todd: I don't know that.
Tea: I've made that clear, haven't I?
Todd: I don't know.
Tea: Well, allow me to clear up any uncertainty -- I love having sex with you. I love making love to you. I love you.
Todd: You just didn't want to be with me tonight?
Tea: I do. It's just...
Todd: Just what?
Tea: We'll have sex, and it will be great. I'll enjoy myself, but...
Todd: But what? Spit it out.
Tea: I don't feel like being rejected right now.
Todd: You said you understood.
Tea: I do. It just isn't easy for me when it happens. I offered to reschedule for tomorrow morning and maybe we should move our pleasure to the mornings from now on.
Todd: You think it'll be easier in the morning?
Tea: Yes. If we do it now then I go to bed alone, feeling hurt. I do understand, as much as I can, why you're not able to share that intimacy with me right now, but it does hurt. If it happened in the morning, it still might hurt but it would be different. It's reasonable to expect that if we make love in the morning we won't be staying in bed together for hours. You have your newspaper back now and you'll want to spend your days there and I'll have my job...as soon as I acquire some clients.
Todd: You have a client.
Tea: I need more than to wait around for the next time you get into trouble with the law.
Todd: That will probably be in a couple of days.
Tea: Well, I'm no longer willing to wait. I'll still be your lawyer when you need me but I can also have other clients.
Todd: You could come and work at the paper.
Tea: You don't need me there.
Todd: Maybe I do.
Tea: I don't know if you're serious...
Todd: I am.
Tea: Well, if you are, could we discuss business sometime when I'm not naked?
Todd: I could get naked, too, if you wanted.
Tea: I really don't feel up to it, Todd.
Todd: The rejection thing?
Tea: Yeah, the rejection thing. You can't share a bed with me and if we made love tonight, in that bed, that's what I would want.
Todd: We don't have to do it in the bed. We could go back downstairs. Or, here...
Tea: You want to make love in the bathroom?
Todd: It wouldn't be your first time, right?
Tea: Let's not rehash that now, okay?
Todd: It wouldn't be my first time, either.
[Tea looks away. Her reaction makes Todd feel both better and worse.]
Todd: Jealous?
Tea (returning her gaze to his eyes): Yes.
Todd (smiling): Really?
Tea: Well, I'm glad you're enjoying it so much.
Todd: I am.
Tea: Well, good for you.
[Tea closes her eyes again trying to return her body and mind back to a more relaxed state. Todd knows what she's doing. He approaches the bathtub, determined to help her feel better.]
chapter 189:
[Todd kneels down beside the bathtub. Tea senses his closeness and opens her eyes.]
Tea: Todd, don't.
Todd: I could wash your back for you...or whatever other body parts you want.
Tea: You don't have to.
Todd: What if I want to?
Tea: It would lead to...
Todd: What?
Tea: Not tonight, okay? I just can't go through that tonight.
[Seeing the sadness in Tea's eyes, hurts Todd. Moisture forms in his eyes and his voice softens as he speaks to her.]
Todd: What's wrong with me? Why can't I give you want you want?
Tea: Todd...
Todd: Don't. I don't want you to pretend that it's okay anymore.
Tea: It is okay.
Todd: No.
Tea: We'll get through this. Together, I promise, we'll get through this.
[Tea leans toward him, placing her arms around him. She brings her lips to his and kisses him, tenderly at first but their kissing quickly escalates until Todd suddenly pulls away.]
Todd: No. You don't want this.
Tea: Yes, I do.
Todd: No.
[Tea stands up and steps out of the bathtub. She quickly approaches him and soaks the front of his clothing with the moisture from her body as she embraces him and returns to kissing him passionately.
Todd responds to her passion, needing her and wanting to give her as much of himself as he can right now.
As Tea begins to pull at his clothing, trying to remove it, Todd pulls slightly away from her.]
Todd: Tea...
Tea: I want this, Todd. Make love to me.
Todd: I can't stay.
Tea: I know that.
Todd: Maybe we shouldn't. I don't want to hurt you.
Tea: It's okay.
Todd: No, it isn't.
Tea: It will hurt. The rejection will hurt. I know that. I guarantee, though, that everything before that moment will not hurt. It will feel good. It will feel incredible. It will be worth it.
Todd: Yeah?
Tea: Yeah.
Todd: You think that now because you're...
Tea: Horny?
Todd: But, later, when you're not...
Tea: Horny?
Todd: Tea...
Tea: I want this, Todd. I promise, I do.
Todd: Maybe if we didn't do everything, it wouldn't be as bad for you.
Tea: What do you mean?
Todd: When I helped you...when I was massaging you... Remember?
Tea: Believe me, I'll never forget.
Todd: Right. But, it didn't hurt as much when I left after that, right?
Tea: I guess not.
Todd: I'll just do that again. I'll take care of you. That way it won't be as bad when I have to leave.
Tea: I don't care how bad it will be after we're finished. I want you, Todd. I want all of you.
Todd: I don't know.
chapter 190:
Tea: We could compromise.
Todd: How?
Tea: We could have that quickie we were considering before.
Todd: How would that be any better? You'd still end up alone and hurt.
Tea: But, it won't hurt as much as it would if we went all out and made love for hours. We'll do this here. Now. Fast. And, we'll both agree that there won't be anything after. No hugging. No holding each other for hours. No falling asleep next to each other. It will be purely to relieve the sexual frustration that we both feel right now. When it's over, you'll go wherever and I'll go to sleep. We won't see each other again until morning.
Todd: You'd be okay with that?
Tea: Do I have a choice?
Todd: Yeah. You could find someone else who can give you everything you need.
Tea: You give me everything I need.
Todd: No, I don't.
Tea: I need you. As long as you can give me you...as much of you as you can handle right now...then I'll have everything I need. I want more, yes. I want to share a bed with you. I want you to hold me for hours. I want to fall asleep in your arms. I want to wake up feeling the warmth of your naked body next to mine.
Todd: You have a long list.
Tea: It's even longer than that.
Todd: You always did have a lot of demands.
Tea: I'm not demanding anything, Todd. I'm telling you what I want...what I hope someday you'll be able to give me. Until then, as long as you give me what I need, I'll be okay. I need you to love me. I need you to respect me enough to not hurt me on purpose.
Todd: That's what I'm trying to do here and you're trying to talk me out of it.
Tea: It's okay if you make love to me and need to distance yourself because you've let me know that you can't stay right now and that it isn't because you don't want to be with me. Someday maybe you'll be able to explain it even more so I can understand it even better.
Todd: I don't understand it. How am I supposed to make you understand it?
Tea: I don't know. Right now, I just need you to keep trying. I know that part of you is probably trying to talk yourself out of being with me at all.
Todd: Yeah.
Tea: But, you're here. You're willing to fight that self-protective urge and be with me physically despite the internal battle you have to fight your way through each time. That means a lot. That really does. It may take a while to fight through all of those other defenses so you can stay with me...so you can sleep with me.
Todd: You're up for that fight?
Tea: You're the one who has to do most of the work. I'm willing to continue doing my part as long as you continue to do yours. I won't be okay with it if you give up and decide to settle for what we have right now. As long as you keep fighting for more, I'll accept that there are limitations right now.
Todd: So, you really are okay with this?
Tea: Do you want to be with me right now?
Todd: You know I do.
Tea: Is it love or is it sex?
Todd: Both.
Tea: I can accept that.
Todd: You're sure?
Tea: Yes. Now, we need to get your clothes off because I don't feel like being the only one who's naked in this room anymore.
to be continued...
