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Chapter 36

How the cookie crumbles

Tris' POV

I lay my head back against the headrest of the car's seat. I felt like I closed my eyes for just a moment when Tobias gently shakes me awake, letting me know that we are home. If I thought everything hurt before going into the bakery this morning, I was wrong.

" How about I draw you a nice, hot bath?" Tobias asked me as he closed the door to the house behind us.

" That sounds nice," I say, it really does. My muscles ache and my head slightly hurts.

" Why don't you relax while I set everything up." Tobias says, heading up the stairs.

I take a seat at the table, my hands fiddling with the placemats as my mind goes over the disaster. We saw each other this morning. Never for a second did I blame Tobias for everything that's going on. Of course, it's very scary and this man is very serious about doing his job. My bakery is proof of that.

But what has me worried is what lengths this man that Marcus hired would go to. Would he go as far as hurting Emily?

He rubs my shoulders, I look up, I see the gentle smile and kind eyes of the man I love. What would have happened had he not come back? What would've happened if he didn't have a father? Would we have been married by now? Possibly have another child. Okay, I'm getting a little ahead of myself there.

" Let me help you", Tobias says, taking my hand and gently helping me to my feet. He leads me to my bathroom, which is connected to my bedroom. My cheeks warm at the thought of Tobias being in my bedroom. A lustful thought rushes through my mind, of us as teenagers behind closed doors. Suddenly I am a teenager again.

The running water sends shivers down my spine, my heart races and my breath become heavy. We may have a child together, but the thought of being naked in a tub of water in front of this man makes a pool of wetness between my legs become a problem.

The tub is filled with bubbles and a few lit candles surrounding the tub. Tobias awkwardly turned the water off and back to me. He swallowed hard, past his Adam's apple.

Even the sight of him, struggling to maintain his composure almost sent me over the edge.

I admit, I've gone on a few dates since Tobias left so many years ago, but there hasn't been another lover. No I wouldn't let there be one. I am his and he is mine. We have always been that way.

With that realization, it's as if everything is clear. My hands reach up, caressing his face, caressing his face and pulling him down towards me. Letting our lips touch.

" This is not what I did this for," Tobias says." Not that I don't want to."

" I know," I, I say breathlessly.

" You're still healing." He points out.

" I'll survive."

" No. Not like this. I want our first time together again to be uncontrolled and special." He says, shaking his head, he bent over a little further, his lips meters away from my ear as he whispers." I want to have my way with you… That means no holding back."

With the sound of his voice, I want to be with him, but yet I restrain myself. I gasp ready to be taken right here right now. But knowing waiting will make it that much sweeter.

"I'll let you get undressed" Tobias says, excusing himself out of the bathroom and closing the door gently behind him.

Shit!

I woke up early the next morning feeling rested. I try to get ahead of the day. Making breakfast, coffee, and packing the school lunches. Almost seems normal. Almost.

Tobias wakes up to the fresh smell of roasted beans, I sigh knowing damn well this can't go on forever. Tobias sleeping on the couch, me in a big warm bed, Emily not knowing the truth as to why her newfound friend is sleeping over. Christina, feeling like this bubble that we created for us to raise the kids is slowly bursting. I can't say I don't blame her, but eventually one of us had to move on. Right.

"Morning," Tobias says, as he leans in from the back, circling me with his arms.

"Morning," I say, breathless when I feel his erection against my lower back.

"Sorry." He chuckles softly realizing our predicament. "I can't help it." He whispers teasingly into my ear. I close my eyes, trying to both savor the feeling and trying to get control of myself. I nod, not daring to speak.

"I was thinking… Why don't I drive the kids to school today? Meet you and Christina at the police station." Tobias suggested. He reaches for a cup of hot delicious coffee.

"You sure?" I ask.

"Yeah. of course." He says, smiling his signature smile.

"Thanks," I say, appreciating his gesture.

"Hopefully we could find out if those cameras caught anything useful."

"Yeah, me too. Should we tell the police…Everything?" I ask. Knowing damn well we need all the help we can get.

"If the situation arises, yes, I think we should." Tobias says, his eyes dropping to the floor. Obviously uncomfortable with the idea, but what other choice do we have? Christina was right about one thing; it isn't just our safety.

Christina and I carpool to the police station together meeting with Detective Max. He guides us to a room in the far end of the station. The room has glass walls, a podium in the front of the room along with an over-large TV hanging, and an erase board that takes over the whole wall. There are a few other detectives that are present when we step into the room. Detective Lauren and Detective Edwards. Detective Max explains that they will be working on the case together.

"Let's begin shall we." Max says, raising his right hand that has the remote. His fingers click on some buttons, before long the TV turns on, following his commands. The screen displays a black and white version of our bakery. The TV screen cut into six squares, showing all angles that we had set up in the back, front of the outside of the bakery, the lobby, kitchen, breakroom and the office.

We watch in horror as I receive a call on my cell phone. Although there is no sound, I know it's Tobias on the line. We follow my every move as I speak on the phone and secure the bakery to make sure it is in fact closed for the night. All the while a man, who is well built in his late twenties, with jewelry piercing painfully throughout his face, walks in the back door. He moves fast and is careful. Hiding out in corners as I move along.

My hand rushes to cover the cries that escape my mouth as I watch the man come behind me, hitting me behind my head. I collapse to the floor just as he moves around the bakery's kitchen. Setting up the stove to start the fire.

"That son of a bitch." Christina says, just above a whisper.

"It can't be." We all turn to see Tobias standing at the doorway of the room. His mouth gaped open in shock staring at the TV screen.

"Do you know who this is?" Detective Max asks.

"It just so happens… I do." Tobias answers, sending the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.

"So, who is it then?" Detective Lauren asks.

"His name is Eric Coulter…." He answers, his face paler than I have ever seen it before.

A/N

Finally getting down to the bottom of it all. Comments, concerns…. Only four more chapters to go.

I know that fanfiction has been having a lot of issues with their email alerts… Causing a lot of confusion and what not….

Please know that we have posted five chapters of the new Halloween story. The story is called Nightmare Motel. I hope you all enjoy it.

We will also be publishing a new chapter for Thanksgiving in the previous year's story, Thanksgiving with my EX.

So on Thanksgiving Day please keep an eye out for that as well.

Until the alerts are fixed, look on Tuesdays for our new chapters of A second chance at love.

Revised by: FDFobsessed

Like always, happy reading everyone, be safe and stay healthy,

Trini