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| PAINFUL DISCOVERY BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 11 - 13 |
PREVIOUSLY
Todd is so engrossed in his own thoughts he doesn't hear Tea call and leave a message at her office notifying her secretary that she'll be taking a sick day. Tea considers calling Viki for help but she knows that Todd would view that as a betrayal so she decides to continue dealing with Todd on her own even though she knows there could be a physical risk to herself.]
Chapter Eleven:
[Todd continues his internal battle. He doesn't know if he could get rid of Peter even if he wanted to...he doesn't know how. Tea would help. She said she would help but what could she do. Todd's concerned that Peter might make him hurt her if she keeps pushing. It isn't safe for her to be in his life but he can't let go of her. He's never been able to let go of her any of the other times that he tried. He knows he won't be able to let her go this time either. So, Delgado stays - that means Peter has to go. Todd tries to figure out how he can finally rid himself of his father - his monster. He knows that he won't go easily. It will be a huge battle...maybe one he'll have to fight for the rest of his life.
Todd opens his eyes and looks at Tea who is sitting on the edge of the bed. He knows that the battle would be worth it if he gets to be with Tea. If it would mean that Tea was safe...that Starr was safe. He knows that he could make them both happy if he conquered the monster inside himself so he could be with them.
Todd moves to the floor in front of Tea. She stares into his eyes trying to determine what he's thinking. Todd can hear Peter's voice in his head telling him that he's stupid if he thinks he will ever be happy. Peter assures Todd that he will never be free of him...never.]
Peter's voice inside Todd's head: You're such an idiot. You're falling for her lies. (mockingly) 'I love you, Todd.' Yeah, right! She loves your money. She loves having the Manning name. She doesn't give a damn about you and she never has. She's using you. Can't you see it? Are you too stupid? She's manipulating you and it's working. She's setting you up to destroy you and you're letting her. She doesn't know you, does she? She thinks you're a decent person. Obviously, she doesn't know you. If she did she would know that the part of you that is me is the real you, not that wimp you were when you were groveling asking her to marry you. Someday, though, if you keep letting her back into your life, she'll meet the real you and I'll be there laughing at you then. She'll be disgusted. She'll be repulsed. She'll leave you. She'll betray you. Besides, look at what you were considering doing with her a little while ago. We both know you're not man enough to please a woman. If you even tried she would laugh at you. She'd ridicule you. And even worse, you want to make love to her, to be gentle with her - what kind of wimp are you? If you want to get your thrills then get your thrills but do it with no ties, no attachments. How many times do I have to teach you this lesson, son - use and then throw away - it's the only way to enjoy a woman. This one...this one, she could be good for a few thrills if you don't pay attention to any of her sappy talk about love and having a future together. I'll tell you what to do with her, son. I'll tell you exactly how to treat her. Together we'll make here cry in agony. What do you say, son, let's have some fun.
Todd (squeezing his eyes shut and yelling): Shut up!
[Tea can see the signs of Todd's struggle on his face. She reaches her arms out and hugs Todd's head to her chest. Todd punches the bed on both sides of Tea's body as she holds him and he listens to his father's words in his head. Through his father's words of hatred Todd starts to hear Tea's words of love.]
Tea (softly): It's okay, Todd. I love you. I'll help you.
Chapter Twelve:
[Todd opens his eyes and pulls his head away from Tea's chest. He looks in her eyes for several moments. Tea stops speaking but Todd continues to hear her words echoing in his mind. As he listens to both his father and Tea speaking to him in his head he notices that Tea's voice is gradually becoming louder while his father's voice is becoming weaker.]
Todd: Tea, he's still here. I can still hear him but it's not as loud.
Tea: That's good. Maybe someday you won't hear him at all anymore.
Todd: I don't think so. I think I'll always hear him. I don't want to listen to him anymore, though. I want...I want to be with you. I want to be a father to Starr...a good father...not like Peter was to me.
Tea (touching his cheek): You are a good father, Todd. Starr adores you.
Todd: She doesn't really know me.
Tea: Yes, she does.
Todd: Do you know me?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: And you still love me? You still want me? Even now?
Tea: Especially now.
Todd: Why?
Tea: You make me happy.
Todd: I've made you miserable.
Tea: Yes, but you've also made me happy.
Todd: When...when have I ever made you happy?
Tea: When you told me that you loved me, that you wanted a future with me.
Todd: But I hurt you. I pushed you away.
Tea: You were afraid. I knew that. I understood that.
Todd: I'm still afraid.
Tea: I know that, too.
Todd: You're willing to take the chance? Knowing it might not work, you're willing to take this chance?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: You love me?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: You want to make love to me?
Tea: Yes.
[Todd puts his hands inside the unbuttoned shirt Tea is wearing. While running his fingers lightly across her skin he moves the shirt exposing her breasts. He slowly moves the shirt down her arms and off her body. After throwing the shirt on the floor Todd looks at Tea. There were times during their marriage when he would try to sneak glances at her when he thought she wouldn't notice but this time he allowed her to watch him look at her.
Todd studies her upper body. The night she disrobed in front of him he was afraid to allow himself to really look at her...afraid of what might happen if he lost control with her. Now, he wants to lose control. Not to the monster inside himself, not to anger or rage, but to the way he feels about her...how much he wants her, how much he needs her, how much he loves her.
Tea watches his eyes disbelievingly. She can't believe that she's actually seeing lust in her husband's eyes. She can still see fear in his eyes but it's not the strongest emotion anymore. As he moves his eyes up to meet her eyes she sees him looking at her with desire and with so much love.]
Todd: Did you really enjoy what I was doing to you earlier?
Tea: Very much.
[Todd moves his eyes back down her body to her breasts. Slowly he moves his face forward and places his mouth over her left breast. He tries to remember everything he had done earlier so he can give her the same pleasure. He wants to give her nothing but pleasure. He moves his hands to her lower back and begins caressing her soft skin.]
Chapter Thirteen:
[Suddenly, Tea jumps off the bed and moves toward the kitchen area.]
Tea: Breakfast...I'll make us breakfast.
Todd: What's wrong, Tea? Did you not want me to do that?
Tea: It's not that. I just thought you're probably hungry. It's starting to get light out. It's breakfast time. We should have breakfast.
[Todd walks toward Tea who nervously walks backward until her back is against the wall. Todd stands in front of her as she tries to casually cover her chest with her arms.]
Todd: What's wrong? What happened?
Tea: Nothing...nothing is wrong.
[Todd moves so he's even closer to her, unnerving her even more.]
Todd: Tea, I can tell something is wrong. Tell me.
Tea: It's nothing.
Todd: If this isn't what you want you don't have to stay. You don't have to be with me. (sadly) I would understand if you didn't want to be with me.
Tea: Of course I want to be with you. I've wanted that for a long time.
Todd: Are you nervous? Is that it?
Tea (nervously): I...I...I...I'm not nervous. What makes you think I'm nervous?
[Todd steps so close to Tea that if either of them moved the slightest bit they would be touching each other.]
Todd: You're stammering. You do that when you're nervous or sometimes when you're lying. Are you lying to me?
Tea: I'm not lying to you.
Todd: Are you nervous? And remember you said you're not lying to me.
Tea (tingling from the nearness of Todd): Okay, maybe I'm a little, just a little, nervous.
[Todd moves Tea's arms away from her chest, puts his hands on her waist and presses his body against her body. He moves his lips tantalizingly against Tea's lips but doesn't kiss her.]
Todd: Why are you nervous?
Tea (distracted by Todd's overt sexuality): Um...uh...what?
Todd: Why are you nervous?
Tea: Aren't you nervous?
Todd: I'm terrified.
Tea: Then let's have breakfast, okay?
Todd: Whatever you want, Tea.
Tea: Good.
[Todd keeps his body pressed against Tea's as he moves his lips across her cheek. Tea sighs with pleasure.]
Tea: Todd...um...you'll have to move if I'm going to make breakfast.
[As Todd steps away from Tea she controls the urge to pull him back toward her.]
Todd: I know where everything is. I'll take care of breakfast.
Tea: Are you sure? I don't mind cooking.
Todd: No. I can handle getting breakfast for my wife.
[Tea smiles unconsciously at hearing Todd refer to her as his wife.]
Todd: Why don't you sit on the bed. If you're cold or uncomfortable you can put that shirt back on or cover with a blanket or whatever.
Tea (looking down at herself, reminded that she's only half dressed): Does this make you uncomfortable?
Todd: Everything about this makes me uncomfortable. I told you I'm terrified.
Tea: Then I'll put the shirt back on.
Todd: Don't do it for me. (gesturing at Tea's body) I'm gonna have to get used to you like...like this, right? Unless we only do this in the dark.
Tea (nervously): Will we be doing this...this...uh... (gesturing toward the bed)...this in the future?
[Todd approaches Tea and places his hand behind her head and brings her face close to his causing their bodies to again come into contact.]
Todd: As completely terrified as I am right now I hope that we'll be doing this...this... (looking toward the bed)...this after breakfast if you want and I definitely want to do... (he places his free arm across her lower back and pulls her body into his)...this in the future. Would that be okay with you, Delgado?
[Tea stares at his luscious lips as they say her name, wanting desperately to feel his lips again...on her lips...on her neck...on her breasts...on her stomach...on her... Tea gets lightheaded and feels like she's about to swoon. She closes her eyes and moves her lips toward his.]
Tea: Maybe we should forget breakfast.
Todd (pulling away from her): Nope. Can't do that. Now you've got me thinking about food. We'll eat and then we'll do...whatever.
Tea (with a grin on her face): Whatever.
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