Don't Shoot the "Messenger", Ch. 14

His arm was wrapped securely around her waist as she lay upon his chest. He was asleep, her magnificent dark angel. His hair, now down to his shoulders, was spread out on the pillow behind him, surrounding his head like a burnished halo. Blair reached up to his face and traced his two scars. The first had been given to him to stop a horrendous act against Marty. And because of it, he had lost most of the hearing in his right ear. Todd had kept the scar as a constant reminder of his monster and what he was capable of. The second had been given to him by Mitch Laurence. Mitch, the real monster, who had thought nothing about burying Todd with his dead father just to torment him. He had carved the wicked “L” in Todd’s face to show he was in control. Mitch had known Todd was in his way and had chosen to remove him. He had left Todd on the road to die, and he probably would have if Hesser hadn’t shown up. She hated Mitch, he had terrorized her family as much as Todd’s. “I’m glad he’s dead,” she whispered to herself.

           “You’re glad who’s dead?’ Todd had felt her gentle fingers on his face and had lain still wondering what else Blair might explore, but her words had seemed so incongruous with her movements. He looked down at his wife curiously. “That‘s kind of a weird statement. Who were you thinking about just now?”

           She gazed up into his hazel eyes and then dropped her eyes, her hand moving absently across his chest. “Oh don’t worry about it, it’s nobody.” She had never brought up what Mitch had done. Even though he had faced the horrors of his time in Victor’s tomb, they had both steered clear of any mention of the man who had put him there.

          Todd reached over and captured her moving hand in his. He knew she was trying to get off the subject, but why? “Blair, talk to me, answer my question. Who were you talking about?” he pulled her hand up to his lips and gently kissed her fingertips.

         The electricity that went through her at his touch made her body tingle, she didn’t want to talk about Mitch, she wanted her husband’s mind on her. She snuggled closer and began nibbling on his nipples, hearing his gasp.

           “God, woman, I’m trying to have a conversation.” It was all he could do to get the words out. She had started kissing her way lower across his abs. As her tongue swirled around him, all conversation was lost to the sensations rolling through him. Her hands were fondling him and her tongue was working magic. Blair wanted a better position so she moved on top of him and Todd found himself face to face with her beautiful behind. Deciding to take advantage and reciprocate, Todd moved under and began to lick her. Her little yelps caused him to smile as he went to work trying to drive her as crazy as she was driving him. It became a challenge, as they both worked to finish the other first, and Todd suspected he was going to lose this particular battle. He had to concede defeat when she took him deeper into her mouth and he gave in, pushing further inside and taking his release. Although now satisfied, he continued to work on Blair until she was begging for mercy, making him hard all over again. Slipping out from under her, he placed his hand on the small of her back, rubbing in small circles and then entered her from behind. Bringing his hands underneath her, he found her softness, and used his body weight to help move his fingers along her and around her, as he moved inside. Within moments, they both cried out, and he collapsed, spent and wrung out, lying on top of her, blissfully satisfied.

He listened to her soft breathing, fast at first, then slowly returning to normal, as he stroked her back. His fingers played with the strands of her hair. He loved her so much. She loved him so much.

Do I dare? He’s going to be so shocked. She couldn’t believe it herself. She had wanted to make absolutely sure before bringing it up. She hadn’t had a chance to talk to Larry about all the ramifications. She kissed his hand, which had moved up alongside her face, and he turned her over onto her back.

He was so beautiful and so dangerous, she quivered at the look in his eye. She had seen that look the night of their wedding when she had danced with him, it had basically said she belonged to him and no other. Like a territorial lion, he had staked his claim. As she looked into those eyes now, it all became clear. Todd hadn’t said anything, but she could tell. She had noticed the slight edge in his mannerisms and the quicker temper. His little outburst about Kevin just one example. Her man was dangerous and she wouldn’t have him any other way. He was still holding her down, “What do you see?” She said, enticingly biting her lower lip, then licking it.

“I see my woman, totally and absolutely mine. I see the desire in her eyes, desire for what I can give her, for what I can make her feel.” He leaned over and began nuzzling her neck and she was unable to silence the moan from escaping. His voice sent chills up her spine; her man was in charge and taking what was his. She gave into her feelings, begging him to proceed and found herself swept away again as he took possession of his woman into his arms.

Once again they clung to each other, Todd had fallen back asleep. She caressed his chest as her eyes drifted shut.  Her earlier thought, popping unbidden into her head as she sleepily smiled you’re going to love my news and then she joined her husband in slumber.

Todd awoke first and smiled down at his wife. Her hair was tousled from all the lovemaking they had done, and he noticed the little smile gracing her lips. She loved him. Of course, he still had to take her to task for ignoring his question last night. He knew Blair. She thought he would be so swept away by her charms he would forget it. By now she should know better. He never let a question go unanswered. She had made the cryptic comment and he wanted to know who she had been thinking of while lying in his arms. He‘d get that answer but for now, he needed to get ready for work.

He slipped free of her and watched her turn over gripping the pillow in lieu of his chest. He reached for his robe and headed to the bathroom.  He wanted to have breakfast underway by the time the kids got up. His glance at the clock told him he had about an hour and a half before his house turned into a zoo. It always amazed him, how they all even made it out the door on time. With the exception of Shorty, the rest of his family were heavy sleepers and waited until the last minute to get in gear. Todd walked over to Blair as he finished buttoning his shirt and gave her a gentle kiss then he headed downstairs. It looked like it was going to be another good day outside. Todd pulled out the orange juice and poured himself a glass as he waited for the coffee to finish. He wandered to the window to look out over Llanview and a movement caught his eye. He directed his stare to a small area of the forest, an area he remembered Hesser standing in a while back. There wasn’t anything there, but he had an uneasy feeling someone had been looking at the house. He turned away from the window. Your imagination is starting in, Manning, just because Kipling is out, doesn’t mean he’d still be in the area.

“What’s the matter, Todd?” Samuel inquired.

“I don’t know Samuel, I guess I just hate the idea of either one of those guys walking around free right now.”

“You really think Kipling has managed to keep Mitch alive don’t you?”

“You can’t kid me, Samuel, you believe it too. You know what it means if he’s alive. I didn’t want this, I was doing okay thinking he was locked up. But now everything is coming back. I can’t do this, Samuel, not again. If he’s out there I’ve got to find him and end it.”

Starr had walked into the kitchen and noticed her father leaning on the counter. Although he held a glass of juice it was obvious he was in the middle of one of his private conversations, most likely with Samuel. She knew better than to interrupt so she went to work. getting bagels and a variety of cream cheeses out for her family. As well as pouring a couple of glasses of milk for the ones that liked it. He still hadn’t acknowledged her and she began to get worried.

“Todd you know if you go after him you could fall into the same hell you’ve been trying to escape all this time.”

“It won’t be like that Samuel. I can control myself but I’ve got to get him. It’s the not knowing that’s killing me.” A flash of sunlight off the knife Starr was using to cut the bagels shown in his eye and Todd realized he was no longer alone. He cleared his throat and straightened up. “Good morning Shorty. I’m sorry, I didn’t see you come in.”

“That’s okay Dad, you seemed lost in thought, or were you talking to someone?”

Todd heard her question and realized how different Starr’s life had become since he had come back home. She found it perfectly normal to ask him if he was talking to one of his alters. If an outsider had heard the question they would have wondered what on earth she was talking about. “Perceptive aren’t you. Yes, I was having a chat with Samuel. There’s a problem that has just surfaced and I was using Samuel as a sounding board.”

“It must be some problem, I’ve been in here about five minutes.”

“Okay, now you're pulling my leg.” and for emphasis he jerked his leg toward her.. “I know we weren’t talking that long.” he grinned and she grinned back.

“You’re right, it was more like twelve.” she teased.

Todd laughed, “I get the picture. I’ll try to keep from getting so engrossed next time.”

“So engrossed in what?” asked Blair as she walked into the kitchen. She wandered over to Todd, giving him a smile and gave him a kiss.

“It’s nothing, I was having a discussion with Samuel when Starr came in and I didn’t notice her, she was chastising me.”

“You ignored your daughter to talk to yourself, you should be ashamed of yourself.” Blair winked at Starr knowing Todd couldn’t see her face.

“Hey, not you too.” At which point they both smiled at him and he knew Blair was kidding. Down the hall, they heard Cole’s voice. “You guys better get your butts in gear or you’re going to school hungry this morning.”

They looked at him and Hope quizzically as they came into the kitchen. “What’s going on Cole,” asked Starr.

“Jack’s teasing Sam unmercifully about some Sleeping Beauty that Sam says he met at the forest’s edge.” replied Cole and went to put Hope in her chair.

Todd felt his stomach flip but he kept his face composed, as the boys entered.

“She is too real. She talked to me and everything.” Sam said.

“You’ve just been reading too many fairytale books, Sam, You can’t believe those stories.” laughed Jack.

“Jack, stop teasing your brother,” Blair spoke up. She could tell Sam was getting upset. that no one believed him. “Sam if you say you saw her, I believe you. Can you tell me what she looked like?”

“She’s not as tall as you, Mom, but taller than Starr and she has light brown long hair and is really nice. She was sleeping in the woods and I thought she might need a kiss to wake her, but she told me she came from down the mountain.”

“It sounds to me like she’s probably just some young girl who lives in one of the smaller towns around here. She was probably just walking through the woods and wanted a look at the house. If you see her again, you let me know, will you Sam, I’d like to meet your little friend. Now you better hurry up and eat or we’re all going to be late.”

Blair had noticed that Todd hadn’t said much with regard to the girl. In fact, for a brief moment, she thought she had seen a frown. She poured herself a coffee and walked over to her husband. “What’s the matter, surely you’re not bothered by Sam meeting a young girl on the mountain.”

“I don’t recall him saying she was young. Blair, I don’t remember there being a whole lot of towns on this side of the mountain. I just wonder where she came from.”

“Todd I’m sure it’s nothing. If she is some country girl, she was probably enamored with the house. It’s a very unusual house and a poor country girl would probably consider it a dream home. I doubt if she’ll be back” Blair sat down next to Starr and grabbed a bagel and began eating, while the children talked around the table.

“You don’t believe that for a minute do you, Todd.”

“Not for one second. I knew I saw someone out there this morning and now I’m certain.”

Well, you’ve got Shaun watching the property, maybe his cameras have seen something.

“Yeah, I’ll check with Shaun.  Samuel, that feeling won’t go away.  I’m going to have to tell Blair soon.”

“Don’t jump the gun, wait until you see Shaun, no sense alarming Blair for nothing.”

“Blair, I’ve got to stop and see Shaun about something, I’ll see you at The Sun. “ Todd gave her a quick peck and headed out.

Blair looked at her husband’s retreating back. Her news would have to wait. Todd was hiding something and it was time to find out what it was.