LONELY IN YOUR NIGHTMARE

LONELY IN YOUR NIGHTMARE - PART NINE

PREVIOUSLY

"Mommy's fine, T.D.," said Téa trying not to laugh.
"Guess he's just not used to Mommy kissing Daddy is he?" asked Todd frowning.
"Guess not," said Téa smiling.
Todd returned the smile.
Trevor clearly looked confused.
They left.

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Lonely In Your Nightmare – Part Nine

December 2000

It was late at night. Téa Delgado Manning walked into her bedroom after putting Trevor to bed. Her bedroom was dark – the only illumination filtering in through her window from the moonlight. She left the lights off.
Todd Manning stared out the window.
"You know, I love you, Téa," he said. The tone in his voice was edgy.
"I never stopped…"
She walked up behind him placing her hands around his waist.
"And I love you. Now what's bothering you?" she asked.
"Téa, you know, if I thought you were alive… sooner… I would have…"
"Todd, I know you would have. It was good between us… before the kidnapping… I would forgive you anything… I have…" replied Téa, "Don't let tonight's attitudes get you down."
He continued staring out into the night.
"…it was a nightmare, Téa – these last two years – a lonely nightmare…"
"Todd, it wasn't easy for me, either," replied Téa.
"But you had Trevor. I had no one," said Todd in a monotone.
"You had… no women… in Berlin?" asked Téa.
"No one could compete with your ghost," said Todd turning to face her, "What about you…and Vincent?"
He sneered.
"He was no match for your ghost either," said Téa, "Jealously does not become you, Todd."
He embraced her, "I can't stand knowing… seeing… other men… look at you…"
"Yeah, well, there's only one man I look at. He's about six foot, with hazel eyes, long light brown hair and a scar on his face…"
"Oh me? You mean me? Even after two years of loneliness and nightmares?" he said somberly.
"Even after two years," she replied softly – leaning into him – kissing his lips – kissing his insecurities away.
"What now?" asked Todd between kisses, "Can we pick up…where we left off?"
"We can try. I'm willing. Are you?" she asked.
"I'm willing," replied Todd. He was getting into it – becoming responsive to her attentions.
There was silence as he began to kiss her.
"I gotta to go to Berlin soon. To settle my affairs there…" he said as she kissed his neck – teasing him.
"How long will it take?" asked Téa, pulling away and playing with his hair. Her sensations were growing as Todd teased her back.
"About a week. I want to stay here, another day with you and then leave after tomorrow…. that should give me enough time to return by Christmas. Is that… all right… with you?" he questioned, nuzzling her cheek, her ear…
"I have to be in court tomorrow morning but then I'll have the rest of the day off," she replied. She could feel her face getting hot.
There was silence between them as Todd began to drown in his growing sensations.
"You liked to dream didn't you…Delgado… of me…" he whispered as he continued to nuzzle her ear.
"I did…" she replied closing her eyes enjoying his attentions.
"Were your dreams fact… or fiction?" He put his arms around her waist, pulling her into him.
"Fact," she answered.
"What was…your favorite fact?" he asked. Their intimacy building.
"New Year's Eve – Viki's cabin…" whispered Téa into his ear.
"We barely made it. We were snowed in," replied Todd. The moonlight on his face reminded him of that night.
"You built a fire," she replied.
"You had wine…" he said.
His mouth found hers.
"Remember the dancing?"
"You showed me salsa…" said Todd between kisses.
"Can you still hear the music?" Their sensations were growing in intensity.
"Show me…" he whispered.
She put her hands on his waist and found his eyes – burning with desire…
She moved in rhythm – remembering the music she heard that night and he responded – following her lead – the dancing intimate – suggestive…
"And then…we slowed it down…" said Téa. Todd repositioned his hands and they fell into a more traditional dance.
"Your eyes…so intense…" replied Todd.
They danced slowly around the bedroom hearing music where there was none…
lost in a dream…their dream….
"Remember counting down the seconds?" said Téa as they got closer to the bed.
"1999…began… like this…" whispered Todd taking her mouth into his – his kiss searing, open, teasing her… and she responded with the same burning desire.
They fell on the bed.
"How did that man touch you that night?" asked Todd.
"He started by taking my face in his hands and kissing me…" directed Téa.
Todd did as she instructed, kissing her with wild abandon like he did that night.
"Then he trailed his kisses down my neck to my…" her voice trailed off.
Todd undid her shirt, her bra, and flung them aside following her instructions.
She moaned as his tongue teased her.
"She…took off his shirt… I remember…" said Todd softly.
She unbuttoned his shirt and slid it off his shoulders just like that night…
"And she…teased him… just like he teased her…" instructed Todd. She lightly caressed his chest with her lips. He groaned.
"He stood up and…removed his pants…revealing…" she paused, as Todd slowly stood up, over her, undoing his pants… so totally lost in her dream…
"Revealing what?" he asked.
"His beautiful…" she paused, "body."
"She was trembling… as she undressed…" said Todd, watching her intently as she removed the rest of her clothing.
"Chestnuts crackled in the fire," said Téa.
"I could burst…now…Téa…" said Todd swimming from the intensity, the heat of the moment…
"He did… that night… in me," she replied standing next to him. Her naked body next to his - sparking the most intense sensation he'd ever known. The moment…round and round and…
He positioned her so she would fall on top of him, as he kissed her …
couldn't keep his lips off of her… and again they fell on the bed…
"She was so…" muttered Todd as she engulfed him.
"…She was on fire that night…" muttered Todd finishing his thought. He could see the light from the fireplace dance off her features.
"And tonight?"
Her kisses on his neck…
"She's…ah…. electrifying…"
Suddenly their intense gasps…passionate moans...urgent breaths intermingled…
"Te..amo…mi…querido…" he said for her.
"He said that…on that…night as well…" said Téa collapsing on him.
"You take the…nightmares…away… Te amo mi quierido…" she replied.
He took her in his arms and fell asleep beside her.

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Téa Manning walked out of the kitchen dressed in a power suit, holding a cup of coffee and looking over a brief. She had just fed Trevor who was playing in his playpen in the living room. She sat down on the couch.
"Mommy" exclaimed Trevor, "Go bye-bye…"
"Yeah," said Téa looking up from her brief, "I'm going bye-bye. Daddy's going to watch you today…"
"Daddy!" said Trevor pointing to Todd as he walked into the living room, holding a cup of coffee. He was dressed in his traditional black.
"Hey, T.D.," said Todd leaning over the playpen and smiling at the boy.
Trevor smiled back.
"What do you have to do this morning?" asked Todd getting up and sitting down next to her.
"I have an arraignment here in a bit. Then I have some paperwork at the office I need our paralegal to work on. He's a good paralegal…" started Téa.
"He?" questioned Todd.
Téa gave him a look.
"Kidding," said Todd, "I was thinking of taking Trevor over to Viki's – spend some time with Starr this morning."
He took a sip of his drink.
"I think he'd like that," said Téa.
"You should talk to Blair about her staying in Llanview. This way you could be with Trevor and Starr," suggested Téa.
"For that to happen Dorian and Blair would have to patch up their differences. I don't know if Blair's willing to do that," said Todd.
Téa put down her brief, "What differences?"
"Over Blair's mother. It's a long story," said Todd.
"Oh," said Téa. She got up, found a pen and paper and wrote some numbers down, handing it to Todd.
"What's this?" he asked.
"In case something should happen to Trevor and you have to take him to the hospital, I need you to call me. This is my cell phone and pager number," explained Téa.
"Oh. I feel like a…babysitter…" mumbled Todd.
"Todd! Of course you're not, but you don't have those numbers do you?" questioned Téa filing her brief in her briefcase and reaching for her coat.
"No, I don't suppose I do," he said.
The doorbell rang. Todd stood up. Téa adjusted her scarf and answered the door. It was Blair and Starr.
"Tee!" said Starr.
Téa bent down and gave Starr a hug.
"Hi Starr," said Téa.
"Going somewhere?" asked Blair.
"To work. What brings you by Blair?" asked Téa.
Starr found Todd and they exchanged hugs. Todd took Trevor out of the playpen so he could play with Starr.
Blair smiled, "Starr wanted to see little Tee, as she calls him."
"Oh," said Téa.
Todd walked up behind Téa.
"Blair."
"Todd."
Todd took Téa by the arm and turned her around. He gave her a kiss.
"See you in a while," said Téa. She felt a tug on her pants. It was Trevor. Téa bent down and gave him a kiss on his cheek, "Te qurero."
"Te qurero," he said.
"Blair," said Téa walking out.
"Téa."
"C'Mon Trevor, let's play," said Starr taking the boy's hand. It seemed to lift the frown on his face as he watched Téa leave.
Blair and Todd walked into the living room and sat down.
"I was going to go over Viki's. You saved me a trip," said Todd.
Blair smirked, "Well Starr just thinks 'little Tee' is the coolest thing…"
"Little Tee…" laughed Todd. He paused and got serious.
"Blair, maybe you should think about moving back to Llanview. This way Starr can see Trevor and I can spend more time with her too," said Todd.
"Well, to be honest, Starr's been asking me too. I'm going to see Dorian this afternoon – see if we can call a truce," said Blair.
"Great," said Todd.
Just then the doorbell rang. Todd and Blair stood up. Todd answered the door.
"Manning." Vincent Reyes stood at the door, wearing a suit and an expensive overcoat. His jet black hair was short and slicked back. He smelled nice, thought Blair.
"Reyes." said Todd. He could feel his anger rising.
"Téa here?" asked Vincent.
Blair got a little closer.
"She went to her office," said Todd abruptly.
Vincent turned to leave.
"Waitaminute Reyes. I've got something I want to say to you," said Todd curtly.
Vincent turned around, "Oh?"
"Look, I'm going to Berlin tomorrow to settle my affairs. I'll be gone for about a week. And I don't want you sniffing around MY wife while I'm gone…" started Todd.
"You pick and choose her friends now do you?" questioned Vincent attempting to reign in his temper.
"Oh. You think for Téa now?" questioned Todd stepping forward.
Blair stepped between them.
"Stop it both of you," said Blair. Then lowering her voice she said, "Starr…and Trevor are within earshot playing in the living room. They don't need to hear this."
"Fine, I'm leaving," said Vincent and he left.
Todd shut the door, "That man is like a leech."
"I thought he was…attractive. Competition Todd? Téa…"
Todd gave Blair a look. She shut up.
Starr and Trevor continued to play oblivious to the tension in the room.
It was shortly before the lunch hour and Todd rang the door at Llanfair.
Trevor was in his arms.
Viki answered it and let him in.
"What brings you here Todd?"
"Auntie Viki," said Trevor holding out his arms. Viki took the boy from
Todd's arms and Todd followed her into the den. Jessie was in there and went over to her mother, making faces at Trevor. He laughed.
"Hi Uncle Todd."
"Hi Jess. Well, I'm planning something so I need your help," said Todd putting his hands in his pockets.
"Oh? What?" asked Viki.
"Well, I'm going to Berlin tomorrow to settle my affairs there and I'm planning a romantic dinner out – at the country club tonight. Club Indigo's having some singer…Sara Mc…something. Maybe you could watch Trevor tonight?" asked Todd.
"I'd love to watch him," volunteered Jessie.
"Is this going to be a surprise?" asked Viki.
"Well…yeah…" said Todd.
"Jessie and I would love to watch Trevor and I know Téa trusts us to. Just do yourself a favor and tell her what your planning, o.k.," suggested Viki.
"Huh? Why?" asked Todd.
Viki paused then gave Todd a slight smile, "…because Téa's been a single parent for two years now and she worries… sometimes needlessly… but she does worry about Trevor…"
"I don't get it. She's said she trusts me with Trevor…" started Todd.
"And I don't mean to imply she doesn't. It's going to take her and you and Trevor a bit of time to adjust to each other. For example, remember when Trevor smacked you when he saw you kiss Téa? He's just worried for his mommy…. like she worries for him… he's not used to seeing 'daddy' kiss 'mommy'. Do yourself a favor. No surprises, all right," suggested Viki.
"All right, no surprises," said Todd smiling at Viki.

They walked into the country club late that evening. Todd had done the right thing and told Téa of his plans. She had come home in the afternoon and they played with Trevor for a bit. When it came time, they got dressed and dropped Trevor off at Viki's.
The club's lights were dim, candles burned and the dining room was decorated in peach flowers. She was in awe.
"Where is everyone? Why are we alone?" she asked.
"I arranged it so we would have some privacy," said Todd.
He escorted her to a table near the window, and seated her. A waiter came by and poured them a glass of wine.
"You've planned everything," said Téa softly.
He held up his wine glass, "A toast."
She held up hers.
"To happy endings. And new dreams…" said Todd. He could feel himself losing himself… in her eyes.
They clicked glasses and sipped the wine.
Téa got quiet and shivered.
"Are you cold?" asked Todd.
"No, I…" started Téa.
"What?" whispered Todd.
"Todd, don't go to Berlin…" said Téa. Her voice cracked.
"Téa why not? I have to go…" said Todd.
"I just…all of a sudden…got a… a premonition… a bad feeling. Don't go Todd," said Téa, "Not yet. Not now."
He stood up and held out his hand. She took it and he took her into his arms.
"Hey, it's going to be all right. Berlin isn't so scary. Besides, I speak a little German – Ein Bier Bitte – well, that's all I know but, look… I'll be all right in Berlin," he said trying to reassure her.
"I don't want to loose you again Todd," said Téa.
"I'm coming back Téa. You can count on that," said Todd caressing her back with his hands.
"I don't want to dream anymore Todd," she said softly looking into his eyes.
"And I don't want anymore nightmares. I'll be back o.k. C'Mon relax. Let 's enjoy tonight, huh?" he calmly said.
"I am never going to leave you again…" She leaned forward and kissed him in an attempt to kiss her fears away.
He held her tight in his arms.
The candles burned bright.

TO BE CONTINUED