Taking a deep breath, he retraced his steps to the bed, stood above her and held out his hand. She took it hesitantly, unsure but needing to trust him. He pulled her up taking both of her hands in his. Slowly he moved her out into the middle of the room. He paused, taking in the fullness of her beauty. Then sliding his arms around her, he pulled her close, hearing her breathing catch as he embraced her. He brushed her temple, her cheek lightly with his lips. She clung to him, burying her face in his shoulder. He touched her cheek softly with his lips again, a silent request to which she responded--pulling back slightly, tilting her face towards him. He found her luscious mouth with his. There he lingered, playing tenderly, barely touching her--running his tongue along the curve of her upper lip, kissing the corners of her mouth. He felt her hungry, shivery reaction and his control weakened. He deepened the kiss, crushing his mouth against hers, slipping his tongue in to meet the sweetness there, tasting her fully for the first time...

Téa felt herself sinking. She hung on for dear life. The openness of the kiss, the sweet shock of his tongue in her mouth surprised her. She was amazed by his sudden willingness to be intimate, his obvious desire, the intensity and confidence in the contact. Her knees were giving on her. This is ridiculous, I’m like a teenager on my first date, she thought. God, I just didn’t know how it would be, what to expect... He’s so beautiful, so gentle... so erotic... and he’s not running away this time.... Please, Todd, show me... show me you love me... I need to know....

Todd savored her eager response to his kiss. He smiled inwardly, hearing the familiar voice in his head, she is delicious, yes? Like fine, sweet wine.... rare, exotic.... drink her in.... taste all of her.... He gently kissed her upper lip once more. Then he loosened his embrace slightly, drew back and met her eyes with his. The corner of his mouth turned up almost imperceptibly as he slid his hand across her back and released the bodice of her dress, sliding the zipper down past her waist. Is very simple, Todd--no? The voice was laced with self-assured humor... Getting a beautiful woman out of her clothing is my especiality! Even this incredibly enormous dress is no challenge. Just do how I say--take it slow, easy--is no problem. You make love with every movement, worship her with your eyes and your hands... You will see, it will work, soon you will have nothing between you and this exquisite creature.... but skin...

 Téa’s mind instantly jumped to a series of desperate, silly thoughts. Oh my God! The dress! I meant to change for him before things got serious. This is not going the way I planned. How will he deal with all these clothes. I wanted to be soft and feminine for him, approachable, not layered in all this stiff fabric and elastic. Todd can’t handle all this, I don’t want him to--I’ve got to change. She clutched at the bodice of the wedding gown, seeking to move away from him to find the soft, silky garments that she had laid out earlier....

Todd tightened his grip around her waist, pulled her back into his embrace. He smiled slightly, spoke softly, “No....no.... now where are you trying to go--huh? Just calm down... relax. Just stand still, okay? Just stand still, Téa...” He gently pulled her hands from the front of the dress. It began to fall away, exposing the silvery undergarments beneath. He slid his hands down her arms, freeing her upper body of the gown. Pulling her close, he planted a moist kiss in the hollow at the base of her throat, then another lower, and another... As he traced a path into her cleavage with his lips, he gently coaxed the dress down around her hips. He hesitated there, pausing to search her face, but Téa’s eyes were closed. Just do it.... he thought...

Todd grasped the dress and deftly slid it, along with the accompanying petticoats, over her hips and down her legs--falling to one knee as he lowered them to the floor. He paused there to look up at her, savoring the sight. Téa’s head was lowered, her eyes still closed. She stood perfectly still, except for the rise and fall of her breathing. She looked both virginal and seductive at the same time--a maddening mix of Holy Madonna and steamy harlot. Her body was breathtakingly illuminated by the flickering candlelight against the shadowy backdrop of the darkened room....

All that lacy, sexy, white lingerie--the creamy stockings... Still down on one knee, Todd reached out without thinking--wistfully touching the silky bare skin peeking out above the stocking on her left leg. All at once he was overcome with love for her. He needed her so badly. The feeling excited, scared him far too deeply. He slid his hands around her, gently enfolding her pelvis in his arms, snuggling his right cheek against her lower abdomen... He lingered there for several moments, feeling safe, feeling her warmth, her softness--feeling his own warmth rise to a fevered burning in his soul. He felt her hand lightly touching his shoulder, felt the other one caress the side of his face, lightly pressing him into her exquisite body, inviting him into the tantalizing sanctuary that would soon be his...

Téa felt so loved, so cherished. Tears sprang to her eyes as he embraced her lower body... He does love me... he needs me like any man needs a woman... I wasn’t sure... his defenses are so formidable... he’s so damn hard to read... but I know this is real... this is so real it hurts... She reached down to touch his face, smoothing his hair back tenderly, stroking his cheek, willing to hold him there forever if that’s what he needed. Then a new feeling swept over her... a shiver of anxiety... she suddenly knew that something was dreadfully wrong...

A sickening wave of dizziness swept over Todd as the bottom suddenly dropped out of his world! His consciousness contorted, tilting crazily! The hideous command came thundering out of nowhere, ripping through him again, without warning--disintegrating his composure in explosions of fury and passion! He turned his face toward her body impulsively, nuzzling through the silky lingerie to a spot of bare skin. He tried not to panic as he kissed her there, fighting back the urge to bite, to draw blood--to rip through all that lacy whiteness. No... his mind screamed, not now! I don’t want this! She’s not a threat--leave her alone! His body convulsed as he felt the old agony descend. The familiar, seething darkness cascaded through his nervous system, pelting down on his newly exposed emotions like searing bolts of black lightning. He turned away from her, gasping in a cold, trembling sweat--straining to regain control...

He rose from the floor with terrifying speed, sliding his hands up Téa’s body to her neck. He grasped the back of her neck tightly with one hand, forcing her head back. Slowly, sensuously, he rubbed the side of her face with his scarred cheek. He whispered into her ear through clenched teeth, upper lip quivering slightly, “You’re finally mine, Delgado.... I’ve waited so damn long for this... You’ve been causing way, way too much trouble... I’ve tried, but I just couldn’t get to you...” He nipped her earlobe, then touched his tongue to the inside of her ear, chuckling softly... “Oh, I got a lick in here and there, but someone always interfered--never let me finish... You were always so... protected... Well, guess what Téa...” He pulled back grinning--practically salivating over her... “You’re not protected anymore...”

He sniffed lasciviously up her neck--ran his tongue up the side of her face, then snapped his teeth at her, watching for her reaction. He bore down on her lips savagely with his mouth, crushing her body into his, forcing the air out of her lungs. Grasping her hair, he jerked her head back sharply and began to kiss her neck roughly, making his way down her throat...

Téa held her breath in shock! Instinctively she made no attempt to fight, made no sound. Slowly she forced the muscles in her body to relax, one by one. An icy tingle ran up her spine as that chilling voice hissed in her ear. Her mind screamed at her to do something, anything to save herself, but she wisely ignored the impulse. She suspected that he wanted her to put up a fight--needed it as an excuse to hurt her. She remained calm even though her confusion was staggering. Thoughts came to her so fast that it was impossible to process anything coherently... What happened! What went wrong! Something triggered this, was it me... something I did...?

There was only one thought in her mind that was clear... completely, inescapably clear.... Todd was no longer with her....

To be continued...