The Shadows Fall: Chapter 10 (mild adult)

Todd brought Blair, in his arms, to the doorway of the suite at the Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa. He had booked them the most expensive suite available, that had a balcony overlooking the ocean. He carried her and did not set her down until they were full into the room. Amid modern minimalist decor, the doors to the terrace beckoned, lined with sheer curtains, resting on a high gloss, white marble floor.

"Todd, this is beautiful."

"Like you. But, I have to put you down before I break my back." He teased.

"Hey, you didn't have to carry me all the way from the lobby."

"No, I didn't. But I wanted to."

She went out onto the balcony first. "It's so lovely. Oh my goodness, look at this place."

He came up behind her. "Yeah. All ours for the next few days. How does this compare to our first marriage, Mrs. Manning, and our first mini honeymoon?" She pictured the shabby motel that they had taken a room in on the beach in Key West, when she had lied to him about the first baby. "This is a bit better," he said.

"As long as we are together. But this is a bit better."

"Great. Now, let's get going, we have a dinner reservation."

"I am kind of hungry."

"And you know I am, so let's go."

"Should we change?"

"No, let's go like this."

She followed his lead, and she, in her golden replica gown, and he in his tuxedo entered the private elevator from the penthouse suite and the doors closed with a ding. He chose the 3rd floor, ballroom level.

"Honey, that's not the restaurant level," she said.

He gave her a side glance. "I know."

"Well the restaurant is on the second level and the grill is on the ground level."

"I know." He said, pretending to pick at a hangnail.

"Todd Manning, what are you up to?"

"Me? Nothing." The third floor notification light came on, and the doors opened. He lead her to the last doorway on the left. On the outside of the door, there was a marker that read, "Tortuga Room" and then underneath, "Private Affair, Manning." He opened the door and let her go into the room before him.

Her eye caught flowers everywhere, in creams and reds with gold trim. As she stepped inside the room, a string quartet began to play. Cellos and violins began to put forth the lilting sounds of Borodin. Her eyes welled with tears as she surveyed the room. "Oh my God," was all she could say. In the center of the room was a small table, clearly designed for two, covered in ivory linens. One wall was a series of archways, each adorned with gold wall sconces. The entire room was bathed in golden light. Two baroque chairs upholstered in crimson were stationed at opposite ends of the petite, round table.

She looked at him. Before she had a chance to speak, golden balloons of every size and shade fell from the ceiling, and he smiled, offering her his hand. She took it, and they held each other, dancing and spinning, looking into each other's eyes and memorizing what rested there. "Now, I have something to tell you," he said.

"All right. Anything."

"This is my safe place."

"But it's only for tonight. You can have a safe place at home, too."

"No, I mean, this is my safe place. This is what my safe place looked and felt like all those times." She could not speak. They continued dancing, eyes connected. He continued. "This is what it was, exactly, with just one or two things different. The place I called my safe haven was this. You and me. Except there, you would hold me in your arms for days, and the music would never stop and it would never end unless I wanted it to." She brought him to her, and held him tightly. He said in her ear, "See? It wasn't so bad." Her tears dropped.

They rocked against each other for what seemed a long while, his face next to hers, and her hands in his hair, slowly massaging the back of his head. Finally, a knock on the door interrupted. Blair sat in one of the chairs, and Todd opened the door. Three waiters wheeled in three large carts with golden domes, glassware, utensils and more flowers. Lighting two candles in between them, the last waiter said, "Congratulations and enjoy. There will be no more interruptions this evening, sir, after serving, as you requested."

"Thank you." Todd signed an invoice propped on a clipboard, and they left.

Blair was watching him as he signed the sheet, and put a wad of bills into the man's hand. He was in command, strong, and immensely desirable. Her man; the same one who crumbled into her arms when he couldn't face his demons could be as powerful as a mountain and protect her from anything. He sat across from her, the wait staff unveiling the goods underneath the golden domes; chinese take out, fortune cookies, unskinned baked chicken, mashed potatoes, champagne, coffee and of course, pizza. Dessert was chocolate chip crepes. More champagne and a bottle of Scotch were on the bar in the corner. She laughed at the assortment, taking his face in her hand and bringing him forward to kiss his lips briefly before noticing something at the far end of the room. "Uh, I don't remember that at the first edition of this wedding," she said.

In one far corner, barely visible to the eye because it was draped in the same material as the wall decor and sheer curtains, was a large, circular bed. Flanking it were various items; on one side, a long couch, same coloring so that it faded into the walls, and on the other side was a large tub, again, the same color as not to be noticeable. She knew he had created this place for them. For her. Behind it was a wall of draperies, and she could see that when opened, they revealed a panoramic view of the ocean.

He responded, "No, that wasn't there. But it is now. Remember, with all of these old memories, we have to keep making new ones."

After they had eaten, he covered the food with the domes, and moved the carts to the other end of the ballroom by the door. The quartet was dismissed as well.  He took her hand and lead her to the sofa, and before they sat, he pulled the curtains open to reveal a night of moonlight and stars, sparkling off the sea. She watched him pulling the drapery cords, and stopping to look at the ocean with his back to her. She reveled for a moment in the appearance of him in just the vest, with his white tuxedo shirt with French cuffs. His shoulders were always broad and masculine, and his waist, even now years later, whittling his shape inward. She put her hand on her stomach for a moment, and felt nothing yet, but knew that soon, she would begin to feel their life forces move inside her.

He turned to her and said, "Well Mrs. Manning. What next?" Against the backdrop of the ocean, his skin looked warm and creaseless. His hair, now resting fully on his shoulders, was shining, reflecting light in some places more than others, with the moon playing on it like gold.

She got up, and unfastened the back of her gown, as she walked to him, letting it fall to the ground. With one hand, he pulled her to him by the waist and began kissing her mouth. His other hand went to her hair and pulled free the antique hairpins that kept her mane upswept, and it bounced to her shoulders. Dropping the pins to the floor, he pulled her into him with both hands, seeming to dwarf her body as he embraced her.

She pushed his vest back as he kissed her neck, letting the material fall to the ground, and then, unbuttoning his shirt, removed it over his shoulders. All the while, she responded to his kisses and his touch, revealing his statuesque scarred body, perfect in its imperfections. Wrapping one leg around his waist, she whispered, "you are my safe place, Todd."

He swung her around, lifting her off the ground, as she wrapped her other leg around him, and he held her in his arms, walking them back to the oversized bed. He placed her down like expensive porcelain, and she tucked his hair behind his ear, saying, "I want you, always."

Silent as he usually was, he joined her on the bed, with the crashing waves outside the glass, separating them from the rest of the world. As always, she accepted him, fully, and he melted into her, surrounded by her love, pushing all of his love inside her.

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