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The Tessarae Inn |
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Poseidon Rising CHAPTER 15 Blair laughed as Chad dipped her. He pulled her up and caught her so that for a few seconds she was off her feet as she whirled in his arms. She threw her head back and laughed. She felt so free she almost forgot that she was in the middle of a crowded bar. Several of the patrons in Crossroads clapped and whooped. She quickly looked down at her dress to make sure it wasn’t riding up and revealing too much. The dress wasn’t particularly short or dramatic—a simple dark green slip dress--but she hadn’t considered being dipped and whirled when she dressed for the evening. She glanced at Chad and then looked away. If she looked too hard she might go into one of those rapid-breathing-hand-fanning routines Amanda was so fond of. A simple black T-shirt and black jeans yet when you looked at him all you felt like saying was, “Can somebody open a window in here, please. It’s getting kind of hot.” When the next song started she gasped then exhale. He grinned at her and pulled her close to him. She couldn’t stop smiling as they swayed to the music. He lowered his head slightly and moved his lips close to her ear. “Nothing but smooth sailing tonight,” he sang in a soft whisper. “Anything that you want from me is my delight tonight. There will be nothing but smooth sailing tonight.” Blair laughed. “You know I love this song.” “Anything that you want from me is my delight tonight.” Chad moved closer to her and the friction was driving her crazy. “Every single heartache will be kissed and loved away,” he sang along with the Isley Brothers. “Let my desire strike, your body will obey. Lay your hands on me, girl. Touch my burning sands. Let your waters calm me. Your wish is my command. You can count on me. I’ll set you free and easy. Any fantasy will be acted out complete-l-ly.” “I need to sit down,” she said. “I’m getting a little dizzy.” He grinned at her. “Dizzy is good. Just hold onto me.” She did and felt like she was really sailing. Sailing free. Chad continued singing in her ear. “Lay down here beside me and we’ll cruise the caravan. Let your fingers guide me to the pleasures you demand. Let my lips caress the deepest folds of your soul. Feel the fire I possess. I got to let you know. You can count on me, girl.” “Do you know all of the words?” “Hell-l-l, yes.” She smiled at him then hugged him tighter. “Lets go sailing,” continued Chad and the Isley Brothers. “Sailing, girl. Don’t you want to go sailing? You can count on me. I’ll set you free and easy.” When the song ended she felt almost drunk with pleasure. She reminded herself that she needed to keep her wits about her. He hooked his arm around her waist and walked her to their booth. “I’ll be back in a minute. I’ll get us a couple more beers on the way.” She started to tell him, no, but then stopped. Starr and Jack were with Todd and she had nothing to do tomorrow except sleep late. She could have another beer or two, maybe even a shot of Scotch. There was no longer a need to keep herself on such a tight rein. The long night was over and there wasn’t any danger that she was going to climb into a bottle for comfort. Chad returned and slipped into the booth beside her. “So how’s our first official date going?” “I’d say it’s an eight on a ten point scale.” “Only an eight?” “Ah the impatience of the young.” “I’m going to let that crack go but only that one and you know why. Now, why am I impatient just because I want my first official date with you to be a ten?” “Because you always have to leave room for improvement as the night goes on.” He grinned at her then threw his arm on the seat behind her. “I bow to your wisdom.” She smiled at him then leaned closer as he let his arm drop around her shoulders. “Thank you, Blair.” “For what?” “For this. For the way you looked at me when we were dancing. For the smile on your face. For what you do to that dress. For giving us a chance.” “This is just a date. And you promised me that you would not make this into something more than it is. Do you have a date for tomorrow night?” “Yeah, but I don’t want to talk about it now.” “None of my business but don’t forget our deal.” “How can I forget it? You keep bringing it up every ten minutes.” She looked up at him then traced his face gently with the tips of her fingers. “I’m trying, Chad. Okay? I really am. I don’t want to lead you on and besides I’m still a married woman for a few more days. We will behave accordingly.” “Yes, you will. Pluto, get your hands off MY wife.” Chad sat up straight but he didn’t remove his arm. “Todd? What are you doing here?” “I came to get you. We need to go home now.” “I’m not going anywhere.” Todd slid into booth across from them. “I know you’re a little emotional these days but enough is enough.” “Oh, please.” Todd studied Blair for a moment then glanced at Chad. “Did she tell you?” “Tell me what?” “Tell him what? “That you’re pregnant.” Blair felt a grenade explode in her head. “What!” Chad removed his arm. “I bet she’s been a little dizzy and woozy tonight, hasn’t she? And look at her drinking.” Todd took her beer and tilted it up to his lips. He drained the bottle then slipped out of the booth and stuck his hand out to Blair. “Come on, we have an unborn child to protect.” “What the hell is wrong with you?” “Me? You’re the one out here putting our child at risk with some kid young enough to be Starr’s brother.” Blair used both of her hands to shove Chad so he moved. She slid out of the booth and jumped right up in Todd’s face. “Why the hell are you doing this? Do you think coming in here with this lie is going to make a difference?” “Lie? I’m not the one lying. You’re in complete denial.” “Denial?” “Have you ever known us to be together the way we were the other night and you not get pregnant? Ever?” “Oh, shit, Todd. Why are you doing this?” Chad was next to her now. “You slept with him? The other night?” “She’s my wife. And you need to step back, son.” Chad glared at her for a short three count then threw some money on the table. “I’m stepping back all right. I’m stepping all the way back.” Chad walked past her and out of Crossroads. “Damn you.” “Damn you. Now come on I’ll drive you home.” ======= “Do you want to tell me what all of that was about?” Todd gripped the steering wheel as he whipped in and out of traffic. “I’ll let you go first. You tell me what the hell you were doing. Letting some puppy dog sniff all over you.” “Oh, shut up.” He glanced over at her. “You’re not being fair to him, Blair. Don’t make me hurt him because you know I will.” “You signed the divorce papers.” “I’ve been more than tolerant in this situation.” “The hell you have. What, do I have the words ‘The Property of Todd Manning’ stamped on my forehead or something?” “Or something.” “Oh, Todd, does it have to be this hard? I gave everything you care about back to you. Why can’t you just let me go?” “I’m glad you understand that’s not going to happen.” Blair let her head fall back against the headrest and closed her eyes. She rubbed her hands gently over her abdomen. Every since he threw that stupid prediction in Chad’s face she felt a sense of dread and nausea slowly creeping up to her throat. Suppose she was pregnant? She didn’t start using the pill again until a few weeks ago and they hadn’t used any other protection. How had she let that happen—again? Maybe he was right. Maybe she was no more willing to let him go than he was to let her go. How stupid was she willing to be about this? When she opened her eyes they were in front of The Manning Building. He cut off the car, got out and walked around to the passenger’s side. She did not move but he opened the door and stretched out his hand. “Come on, Blair.” “What are we doing here?” “Checking on our children. Amanda is out tonight.” She placed her hand in his and slowly got out of the car. He tossed his keys at the attendant as they walked into the lobby. For some reason the penthouse felt different as she walked in this time. She could sense the presence of her children and Todd. It felt familiar and like home. She shook her head to dislodge her feelings. Susanne seemed relieved to see them. Starr had insisted they watch Animals Who Kill Parts XV and XVI back to back. Susanne kept glancing around the room as if on guard against something that might jump out at her. Todd walked over to the bar and studied the bottles for a few seconds then glanced at Blair with his right eyebrow arched. Blair rolled her eyes. Poor Susanne. Todd told Susanne she could leave since he was home now. She smiled gratefully and left quickly. Blair went upstairs and found Jack sleeping peacefully. She kissed him then checked on Starr, who was also asleep clutching a stuffed spider. She sat next to her and stroked her arm gently. Her beautifully little girl. She never wanted this much disruption in her life but life was teaching her that she couldn’t control what happened even to the people she loved. Suppose she was pregnant? She stood up and began to finger Starr’s array of stuffed animals. Why did she make such foolish choices? Having a baby had never made things easier between she and Todd—only more complicated. What if she was pregnant again? What if….? She needed to go home. She needed some peace. She had a lot of thinking to do. She walked down the hall. As she passed his bedroom she noticed the door was open. He was lying on the bed and as soon as he saw her, he called out. She stopped but she didn’t go in. “I need you, Blair,” he called again. “No.” “Not for that,” he said casually. “Amanda, usually does this but she’s out tonight.” That statement intrigued her so much that she walked into the room. “Does what?” He waved her closer to the bed then stretched out his hand to her with a small jar resting in his palm. “It’s for the scars,” he said. “I can’t reach everywhere.” She found it difficult to look at him. She had spent a lot of time trying not to think about what Amanda told her. She tried to force herself to see it as the ramblings of a woman given to exaggeration and purple prose. Amanda didn’t exactly believe in the unvarnished truth when a tarted-up, embellished version was possible. “Blair.” She moved closer and took the jar from Todd. He locked his gaze on her then slowly unbuttoned his shirt and rolled over on his stomach. She watched him. What was she doing? There was enough potential trouble looming on the horizon, why make things any more complicated? Why didn’t she just put the jar on the dresser and get the hell out of there? She looked at the jar in her hand then back at him. The thought of Amanda touching him like that made her angry. She stepped out of her shoes then climbed onto the bed next to him and opened the jar. The jacket she was wearing felt tight so she took it off and threw it on the end of the bed. She raised Todd’s shirt to expose his back and fought to keep the tears that threatened to roll down her cheeks at bay. There were too many reminders of pain and loss that stretched as far back as Ireland written in the scars on his back. She looked away but then took a deep breath and rubbed her finger in small circles in the cream. She began to gently rub the first scar she could reach. She worked slowly massaging each scar with the cream. She tried not to count them. It was too real. So much pain. She didn’t want to imagine what he endured. She kept working on his back long after she had put ointment on each scar twice. She felt dizzy and woozy. Again. Finally, he reached up and pulled down his shirt then rolled over onto his back. She tried not to look him in the eye. He closed his eyes and she began to work methodically on the scars on his chest. She was so intent on what she was doing that when he rose up and pulled her to him and kissed her she was caught completely off guard. He pulled her down on him then rolled over so he was on top of her. The intensity of the embrace knocked the breath out of her. He kissed the tears that began to trickle down her cheeks then kissed her lips with such intensity she felt as if she couldn’t breathe. Her body rose up to meet him as his hands slipped under her dress. Her breathing was erratic and ragged. Jack’s screams pierced the air. She felt the frustration ripple through his body. He held her tighter for a second then rolled off of her. “I’ll check on him,” he said. He quickly buttoned his shirt and left the room. She wiped her tears. What was she doing? Bad choices all the way around. She looked at the door then grabbed her jacket and ran.
Chapter 16 Poseidon Rising FAN FICTION
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