Todd hunched a shoulder. She had a gleam in her green cat’s eyes and he didn’t like it one bit. He recognized that look and it spelled trouble. In spite of himself, he felt a thrill run though him. He enjoyed sparring with her. He decided to have some fun.

“Yeah, you can visit,” he said lightly. “How’s that idiot you’re married to?”

“Max and I are through,” Blair said with ice in her voice.

“Since when?” Todd asked in surprise. Well now…this is turning out to be very interesting.

Blair rose agitatedly to her feet. “We’ve been separated for a few weeks now. We just haven’t told anybody. He’s with that bitch Skye and they deserve one another. I’m done with him, Todd.”

Todd nodded and said nothing. He simply waited. “I’ve been living at Dorian’s with Starr.” Todd walked over to her. He invaded her personal space stopping inches from her.

“So why are you here, Blair?” He whispered roughly. Blair forced the tears back. The truth was that she missed him. He’d been on her mind for a long time and she couldn’t shake it. Only Todd knew how to get under her skin and make her feel vulnerable. He instinctively knew what buttons to push.

“I…I don’t know,” she breathed.

Todd smiled slyly. “Liar…”

She closed her eyes briefly. His warm breath feathered over her skin. Ever since he came back into town she had not been able to put him out of her heart. He plagued her thoughts and her dreams. She just wanted the torture to end.

“Feel like listening to some music?” He purred silkily. Without waiting for her to respond he turned on his sound system. Vintage Earth Wind and Fire floated out over the speakers. The song was ‘Reasons’ and it was slow, sexy, and exactly what he was feeling. He laughed softly. “Haven’t heard this song in…forever.” Blair nervously licked her lips. When Todd wanted to, he could be devastatingly charming. It was an unfair weapon he used when they were married. She felt the electric pull and tried to tamp it down.

Stop it. You have been burned by this man before. Don’t be a fool.

He drifted past her and lifted her glass. He drained the scotch and set it down decisively on the table. “Wanna dance?”

Blair laughed a little. “What…now?” She put a trembling hand to the side of her head and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

Todd continued to stare at her saying nothing. He stood motionless. His long muscled arms hung loose at his sides. He was not doing anything, yet he looked dangerous.

As if pulled by an invisible string she slowly made her way to him. She stopped a breath away from his chest.

Something flickered in his eyes. He lightly linked his pinky fingers with hers. With a minimum of pressure, he raised her arms until they were around his neck.

Blair’s heart was beating so hard she could barely stand. Not a word was spoken between them. They stood toe-to-toe, unmoving and staring deep into each other’s eyes.

Todd began to move slowly. He lightly ground his hips into hers. They kept perfect time to the soulful music. He was exhilarated. This was unexpected and he couldn’t believe he was holding her in his arms.

Careful. You’ve been burned by this woman. Don’t be a fool.

He ignored his stupid conscious and pulled her closer to him. He smiled in masculine pride when he felt a small shudder run through her lovely body. He bent his head and pressed his forehead against hers. He rubbed his chin back and forth over hers. “What do you want?” He breathed with need. Blair let the tears fall. “I want to… feel…I want…not to be afraid.”

Todd caught a tear with the tip of his tongue. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. Not ever again…”

Blair trembled in his arms. She looked up at him unsurely. “Really?” She whispered.

Todd felt anger run through him. He hated what this town had done to her. He hated the fact that she was shaking in his arms, alone and scared. He tilted her chin up with his thumb. “Yeah,” he said roughly. “I will make sure that no one ever hurts you again. Count on it.” He said it like a vow and Blair believed him. She stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his. They were cool and silky.

He stopped the gentle swaying and remained still while she kissed his mouth. His eyes were open and staring. She broke contact and stood nervously.

He slowly wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and brought his lips down on hers. He opened her mouth with his tongue and kissed her fully. Blair moaned slightly and returned the erotic soul kiss. Their tongues mated intimately. Todd flicked his tongue inside the silky cave of her mouth.

God, she felt so damn good.

He was rock hard and ready to bury himself inside her. He turned her around so her back was pressed against his chest. He trailed open mouth kisses down the side of her jaw on to the satiny flesh of her neck. Blair titled her head back to allow his mouth full access. “Todd…” she whispered faintly.

She threaded her hands through his beautiful hair, loving the feel of the chestnut silk as it fell from her fingers.

He groaned and ran his hands up over her soft curves and cupped her breasts. He plucked at the nipples until they pebbled with desire. Todd stepped away from her breathing harshly. He spun her around and stared passionately at her.

“If we do this, then don’t expect to go back to Max. Do you understand me, Blair? I don’t share…ever,” he said intensely.

Blair nodded. She knew what he was asking. He was asking for trust. This time she knew there were no games to be played. This was the real deal. “I understand Todd,” she said simply.

His breathed hissed through his teeth. In one quick stride he was upon her. He swept her in his arms as if she weighed nothing and walked upstairs into his bedroom.

He set her down on her feet and knocked the phone on his nightstand off the hook. “I don’t want any interruptions,” he growled.

Blair was breathless with desire. She tried to keep her wits about her. “Are you sure, Todd? I mean…I know you have had issues…”

He yanked her to him and put her hand on his fly. “Does that feel like I have issues, Blair?”

He smiled like a wolf. Enjoying the fact he was turning her on. “I’m not a monk. I never have been. I just choose not to flaunt it. I don’t have to; it’s no ones damn business. Do you think there haven’t been women while I was gone?” He chided lightly.

Blair was stunned. “Uh…I…g-guess not,” she stammered. This was a whole new side to Todd she was seeing and she liked it. She liked it very much.

“Good,” he whispered. “Then there isn’t a problem. Right?” He gently pushed her on his bed.

“But just in case you have any doubts, I’ll prove it.” He toed off his Italian loafers and stood barefoot. He ran his tongue over his white teeth and smiled sensually. With excruciating care he began to unbutton his shirt.

With each button coming undone, tan muscled chest was exposed. He pulled the shirt from the waistband of his slacks and dropped it to the floor. Blair sighed, her breath a breeze between them. His chest was deep and muscled, tapering down to a six-pack stomach.

“Like what you see so far?” He purred sexily.

“Very much,” Blair choked out.

She would burn this into her memory. This was the most erotic moment of her life and she wanted to savor it.

Todd unbuckled his belt and then with slow deliberate movements unzipped his zipper. The linen pants slid down his legs pooling at his feet. He stepped out of them and kicked them away.

Blair swallowed visibly.

He stood in midnight blue cotton boxers. They clung to his strong thighs like a second skin. The soft cotton gloved his sex snugly.

Well Todd, you were never lacking in that department. She thought slyly.

He was hard, full and proudly male.

“Come here,” he commanded erotically.

Blair rose and crossed the room. He knelt at her feet and removed one shoe, than the next. He kissed the top of her dainty foot and stood, dragging his hands up her body pulling her dress off in one quick motion. Blair gasped in surprise, suddenly clad only in a tiny pair of French panties and bra.

Todd reached in back of her and snapped her bra off. It fell like a rose petal to the ground. Her breasts were satiny and perfect.

“I had forgotten how exquisite you are,” he breathed.

He traced the delicate bones of her collar and outlined the dusky areolas. Then slid down her flat belly and stopped just short of her soft sex. He ran them up again all the while staring at her, gauging her breathing and every minuet expression that raced across her face.

He bent and drew the hardened bud in his mouth and flicked his tongue back and forth until Blair clung to him or else fall.

He divided his attention between both breasts until he too was trembling with longing.

He hooked his fingers in the waistband of her panties and delicately ripped them off her body.

“Todd,” Blair sighed. She didn’t know how much more of this sweet torture she could take.

“Shh…” he whispered against her flesh. “When I’m done there won’t be anything left.”

He scooped her up and laid her on his bed. He kissed her hard on her mouth. Blazing a trail on down her belly until he reached the silky hair of her sex. He looked up at her and smiled. “Say it,” he said intensely.

“Please…” Blair whispered. “Taste me…”

Todd laughed low at the back of his throat. Thrilled he extracted the passionate response from her. He separated her with his thumbs and gently bit the tiny seed of flesh at the core of her.

Blair arched her back and moaned in bliss. “Oh…yes…” Todd smiled against her and thrust his tongue into her deeply making love to her intimately. He flicked the tip back and forth across the nubbin until Blair thought she’d lose her mind from the sheer pleasure of it.

Todd felt desire streak through him, liquid and white-hot. He kissed his way roughly up her quaking body until he was on top of her. He laced his fingers through her hair and stared into her eyes.

Blair was desperate to have him inside her. She wrapped her legs around his waist, urging him to enter the silky hot wetness.

Todd never took his eyes from hers as he rubbed his painfully hard cock against the slippery wet heaven between her legs. He teased and glided his sex against hers until she was begging him to enter her.

His eyes fluttered shut as he gave into pleasure. He entered her with one strong thrust.

Blair squeezed the muscles of her sex to glove him tightly inside her. “Oh God Blair,” he moaned. “You feel so good…so right…” He moved in and out of her in a rhythm as old as time itself. Blair felt herself spiral out of control.

She cried out as a powerful orgasm overtook her. Todd remained still and watched in wonder; thrilled that he was the one making her feel this. Him, no one else.

He couldn’t take it any longer; he gave into his own release and came in long shuddering spasms.

They lay heart to heart and unmoving. Blair kissed his scar tracing its shape with the tip of her tongue.

Todd eased his weight off of her and pulled her into the circle of his arms. He absently rubbed his chin against the top of her head. They stayed silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

“What are you thinking, Blair?”

She looked up at him. “I’m thinking what now?” She said truthfully.

He smiled faintly. “Me too.”

They both laughed quietly at each other’s honesty.

Todd sighed. “I meant what I said. I’ll ring your beautiful neck if I see you in the same room with that asshole.”

He said it lightly, but Blair could hear the insecurity behind his words.

She cupped his face in her hands. “I swear it to you Todd with everything I have in me. That will never happen.”

Todd relaxed a bit, some of the tension draining from his body. “Where’s Shorty?”

Blair smiled at him. “Miss Starr is at Katie’s house having a sleepover.”

Todd grinned. “Our kid is amazing. Smart, like her Dad.”

Blair poked him in the ribs.

He laughed out loud. Then he turned serious. “Beautiful, brave, and one of a kind…like her Mother.”

Blair covered her face and started to cry. All of the lonely months of pain and disillusionment spilled out of her.

Todd wrapped his arms around her and let her. He leaned back against the headboard and vowed revenge against those who hurt her.

They would all pay.

To be continued…

Peace and Love…

VTW

*********************************************************************************************

CHAPTER TWO

Todd sat behind his desk at The Sun. His mind ticked over the mock-up of the next day’s issue. He grinned suddenly. He tossed his work on the desk and stacked his hands behind his head.

The events of last night loomed before him. He laughed out loud. He glanced around, hoping no one heard him. He sounded like a maniac, laughing alone in his office, but he didn’t care.

He felt light, so incredibly light and free. And he had his lovely ex-wife to thank for it. His smile turned erotic. He left her sleeping peacefully in his bed.

His cock twitched. She was stretched out on her stomach. Her naked back and shapely behind were on glorious display.

He gave the firm mound a little pat and dropped a soft kiss on her tailbone before leaving for the office. He was tempted to rip his clothes off and set himself upon her like a wild animal, kissing every inch of her until she begged him for more.

“Damn it,” he groaned. He rubbed his eye sockets with his thumbs. He was rock hard and helpless to do a thing about it.

He needed to keep his mind off Blair and on work. Todd shifted uncomfortably wishing his massive erection would go away.

He tried thinking of Briggs in his underwear with black socks, but that only made him laugh his ass off.

“Jesus, I’m losin’ it,” he muttered dryly.

The shrill ring of the telephone almost sent him out of his skin. He snatched up the phone.

“What?” He snapped ferociously.

“Good morning,” a soft sleepy voice purred into his ear.

Todd smiled whitely, his grumpy tone evaporating in a nano second. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

“Back at you,” he whispered.

He felt like a high school kid, giddy and stupidly happy to hear her voice. “I got your note,” Blair said softly. “And the rose…”

“Yeah?”

She laughed a little. “Yeah…” She was suddenly shy and tongue-tied. She was still feeling like this was a fantastic dream and something was going to come crashing down to ruin it.

Todd gripped the phone, wishing he were there to reassure her. “I thought you, me, and Starr would go out tonight. You know, maybe dinner or the movies…?”

Blair smiled. “Yes, I would love that, and I know Starr will be thrilled.” “Cool,” Todd said softly. “I’ll pick you both up after work tonight. Around six. Okay?”

“Yes. We’ll be ready.”

Todd twisted his fingers around the phone cord. “Well…I guess I’ll see you later then.”

Blair was grinning like a fool. “Have a good day, Todd. Bye.”

“Same to you. I’ll see you later,” he murmured.

“Hot date, Manning?” RJ sneered.

Todd replaced the phone carefully on its hook and coolly rose to his feet. “What the fuck do you want, Gannon?” Todd said flatly.

RJ ignored the question and continued needling. “What am I saying? You don’t date do you, Manning? Afraid things might get a little too physical? And then where would you be, huh?” He threw back his head and laughed.

Todd walked around his desk and right up to RJ, stopping inches in front of his face.

He grinned coldly. “Jealousy is such an ugly emotion isn’t it, Gannon?” RJ glared at him. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Todd tipped his head back enjoying the mind-fuck. RJ was so easy.

“I have more money, more power, better looks, and I always seem to get the woman. And it just pisses you off, doesn’t it?”

“You never had Tea though, did you Manning?” RJ shot back, he was getting hot and ready to hit that smug son-of-a-bitch in his face.

Todd held back a smirk. “Who says I didn’t?”

He ran his tongue over his teeth and continued staring RJ in the eyes. RJ became unnerved. “You’re a liar. She told me you couldn’t get it up if your life depended on it. And I believe her, not you.”

Todd shrugged his shoulders. “Believe what you want, asshole. It’s a free country.”

He casually turned around and poured himself a cup of fragrant coffee. “Amazing how dark that mole is on Tea’s inner thigh, it almost looks painted on,” Todd remarked. He blew gently on his coffee before taking a small sip and clocked him with a look.

“Just didn’t work out though. She wanted to change me and I didn’t want or need to be changed. I bear her no ill will. So you’re welcome to her. Doubt she’ll want you though. She’s moved on to bigger and better things, ya know?’

RJ gritted his teeth. “You motherfucker,” he growled in impotent fury. Todd was ready for him. Quick as a flash he set his cup down and hit him hard in his mouth.

RJ was taken by surprise and landed flat on his ass. Todd loomed over him. “Get up,” he rapped out. RJ rolled smoothly to his feet and hit Todd. His head snapped back from the force of the blow.

Todd licked at the blood on his lip and smiled. He looked like a stone killer. “That all ya got, you pussy.”

Todd did a quick combination, a hard hit to the chin and a blood letting punch to the kidney’s.

RJ dropped to his knees coughing. Todd lifted him up and slammed him against the wall.