Port Charles Chronicles: Chapter 40 (adult)

        “Blair, I’m alright.  I just tripped on the curb when I got out of the car.  I’m not going to collapse here in the lobby.”

       “I know that, but stop being a baby.  Let me hold on to you.  You and I both know you just put on a show for Dr. Webber, you’re nowhere near as steady as you wanted him to believe.”

        He had to begrudgingly admit she was right.  His legs felt like jelly.  Dying will do that to you, Manning.  “Okay Blair, you can hold me as much as you want.” Giving her one of his usual slight smiles, he slipped his arm around her waist as she did the same.

      Todd had seen Carly headed for them, and actually found himself grateful when Johnny Zacchara intercepted her.  He didn’t want to chat socially.  Seeing Zacchara reminded him he hadn’t talked with Starr about her visit with the man.  She had obviously put it on the backburner because of his actions.  He recalled his last encounter with Johnny.  It was the first night the fever had started to take hold, but he knew he had been less than cordial.  It still bothered him that Johnny had even made the offer to Starr.  Why had the guy gotten involved?  He didn’t buy that it was because of the grandfather.  Something more was going on.  As the elevator doors closed, Todd found himself staring at Johnny.  You have a secret, and I intend to find out what it is.

       As they got on the elevator, Blair sensed a change in Todd, his hold around her waist had tightened slightly and she wondered what had happened.  She looked at him and noticed his attention was elsewhere.  She glanced into the lobby and saw Carly with Johnny Zacchara.  The doors closed and she looked at Todd. “You still don’t like the idea of Starr working with that man, do you?”

     “No, I don’t.  None of it makes sense.  He doesn’t know Starr, but he’s offering to take her contract from that sleazy porn producer and help her get an album cut.  Why would he do that?  Do you know it was his gun she used to threaten Corinthos?  The guy says he feels guilty about his grandfather’s part in Hope’s death, but I think there's more going on here.”

     “I get that you’re suspicious, but remember, this is Starr’s choice.  She’s a woman now and it’s what she wants.  Right now, I just want to get you back to the room to rest and we’ll order some dinner.  Todd, please don’t do anything stupid.”

      Todd started to respond but stopped as they reached their floor.  Once inside the suite, Todd headed for the couch, as Blair went to the room phone to call and get some dinner ordered.  He was sitting there when he spotted his cell phone lying on the floor.  He got up and retrieved it   He must have dropped it, but he really had no memory of doing it.  The phone was dead, he pocketed it and turned to see Blair looking at him.  “Did you get dinner ordered?”

       She nodded. “I ordered Chinese, they’ll deliver it soon.”

      “Good, I’m starved, that hospital food they gave me at lunch was disgusting.  The last good meal I remember was breakfast before we went house hunting.  I’m going to get changed.  These scrubs just don’t do it for me.”  As he walked toward the bedroom, he called over his shoulder.  “Say, we need to call that realtor.  You said you wanted that house we saw.  I think we need to get it.  I want out of this place as soon as possible.”

       Blair stared after him, struck again by Todd’s ever mercurial moods.  No one listening to him or seeing him at that moment would believe he had been at death’s door earlier that day.  She followed him into the bedroom and watched as he started to slip a T-shirt on.  “Hey, I thought you were going to rest?”

     “I’ve been lying in bed all day.  Humor me.”  Todd walked over and stood directly in front of her.  He reached up and moved a strand of hair out of her eyes.   “Now if there’s another reason you want to get on the bed, just speak up.  I’ll be happy to oblige.”

      Blair blushed under his intense gaze.   His hand had come to rest, lightly caressing her neck as his fingers gently massaged the nape and his thumb was rubbing softly along her cheek.  Her breath caught, as he then ran his fingers slowly down her chest stopping just above her heart.

      He closed his eyes for a moment feeling her heartbeat under his fingertips.   It was beating fast and he knew it was for him.  Blair’s hand touched his cheek and he opened his eyes.  “You are so beautiful,” he took in her sparkling eyes and the slight smile that graced her lips.  He would never forget the night she showed up outside his door.  Suddenly he asked.  “Why?”

     “Why, what? “

     “Why did you pick me?  It wasn’t like I was the most handsome guy in town and my reputation was the worst around.  Why did you come to me that night?”

       Blair realized he was talking about the first night they made love.  “I guess I came because I knew you were the one person in the whole entire town who really understood me.  That night I needed that.  You did, too.  We were connected, more than either of us realized.  After I argued with Cord, it seemed so natural to go to you.  I’m glad I did.”

       “I’m glad you did, too.  So here we are.   Do you know this is the first night since you got here that I’m not drunk, feverish or half-dead?” His hand dropped to the top button of her blouse and plucked it open.  He let his fingers brush gently over the exposed portions of her breasts before unbuttoning another few.

       “Todd, the food will be here shortly.”  Blair was trying to think rationally, but it was getting more and more difficult.  She gasped as Todd’s hand reached and touched her now bared midriff.

      “There’s only one thing I’m hungry for right now.” To demonstrate his desire, he leaned in and began kissing her neck and the hollow of her throat.  Then he swooped her off her feet and set her down in the middle of the bed.  “All I want on my plate is you.  Can I have you, Blair?

       She looked up at him and licked her lips. “As long as I get my fill of goodies, too.”

       That was all the invitation Todd needed.

****

      Addie got up from the couch and strolled to the phone.  “The usual pizzas?”  She was flustered that she had spoken all that stuff about Todd. Normally, she kept a lot of her thoughts to herself, because she had always managed to say the wrong thing at the wrong time when she was still at St. Ann’s.  To this day, she wanted to kick herself for telling Max about Blair’s first baby.  It had caused a lot of heartache for both Todd and Blair.

       Starr dried her eyes.  “That's fine, Grandma.  Jack, why didn’t you come to the hospital?  When are you going to stop punishing Dad?”

      “Who says I ever will?”

      “You need to stop it, you’re hurting him and yourself at the same time.  He wasn’t responsible for what he did to Victor.  Hallie Mitchell was right.  Dad does suffer from PTSD, I saw it first-hand today. You have no idea what he’s been through, I was terrified by what I saw.”

      “I know what you’re doing and it’s not going to work.  I don’t care.”  There was no way he was going to let Starr know she had gotten to him.  He had seen how upset she was and that along with what Michael had told him earlier made his stomach turn.  He just wasn’t ready yet. They needed to back off.  He turned his thoughts away from his father and said,  “I’ve got something else on my mind right now.  Did you know Tomas and Mom broke up?”

      “Yes, I did.  I wasn’t too happy with Mom for getting together with him.  He’s the one who handed over Dad to Irene.  How did you find out?”

      “I overheard Mom with him yesterday.  She sent him away before bringing us up here.  That‘s what’s so strange.  I think I saw Tomas here today, in Port Charles.”

      “Do you think he’s up here, following Mom?”

      “I don’t think so.  He wasn’t dressed like he usually does.  The guy was decked out in a fancy suit and driving around town in a limousine.  The only time I ever saw Tomas in a suit was the night of the premiere.  Other than that he was always dressed in those tacky t-shirts and being all artsy with the stupid scarves.  I mean come on.  We get you’re an artist.  Get some different clothes.”

      Starr laughed as a picture of Tomas flashed through her head.  “You’re right he was a bit pretentious.” She had to admit she was intrigued.  Why would Tomas be in Port Charles if he wasn’t up there for their mom?  “Where did you see him?”

      “He went into a brownstone not too far from this hotel.  He met with some guy.  I think you might know him.”  Jack turned his laptop so Starr could see who he had been looking up.

      Starr was shocked to see a picture of Johnny Zacchara on Jack’s screen.

****

      She was giggling softly as he licked under her knee. “Stop, you know I’m ticklish there.”

      Todd grinned mischievously and continued to tease Blair by moving his attention to the sensitive place behind her other knee.   She was lying contentedly on her stomach as he moved to the small of her back.

     She could feel the fire inside her beginning to stir again.  “Todd, please, what are you doing?”  Surely he didn’t have the energy for another go around.  The next thing she knew he flipped her over on her back and moved in between her legs.  Blair grabbed the bedsheets as Todd’s tongue worked its way into her sweet spot. “Oh my God, Don’t Stop!”

     As per her command, Todd worked her up into a frenzy until she was squirming under him and begging for him to finish.  He looked at Blair glistening under him, caught up in the emotions and sensations rolling through her body.  He inserted himself and felt her tighten around him like a glove. God, he had missed this. They moved together, climaxing almost simultaneously.  He collapsed on top of her, spent.  He found just enough energy to roll off her and laid beside her.

       Blair rolled over and nestled her head on his chest.  “I don’t know if I ever told you before, but you’re amazing Mr. Manning,” she whispered softly as his hand gently stroked her silken hair.

       “I know one thing.  I’m very glad you had that fight with the White Knight that night before Christmas.  Maybe after we remarry I’ll send him some champagne to thank him for being an utter fool.”

       “That White Knight is your brother-in-law again.”

       “Damn, did you have to remind me?  I guess I won’t have to worry about him any longer.  So what do you think happened to our Chinese dinner?”

       Blair suddenly sat up, “Oh gosh, you must be starving.”

      Todd looked at her pert breasts lifting with her breaths, as she sat in front of him.   He felt his loins stirring.  There was just something about having her so close and back in his arms. “I’m hungry for you and the food.  The question is which to have first?”

       Blair looked down at him. “Are you kidding?”  She saw the all too familiar gleam in his eyes. “Whoa, I think I need some actual food if you’re thinking of going at it again.”

       Todd heaved a big sigh “Okay... I guess it’s the real food then.”

        Blair wrapped the sheet around her and slipped out of bed. “You stay here, I’ll get it.”

       He admired her as she left the room.  His thoughts wandered back to the evening of the Christmas gift.  He had known that night that something was different when he made love to Blair.

        Hopefully, this time, they would get it right.


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