by Donna Raider
“There you are, you rascal.” An incredibly handsome blond-haired man entered the club and went directly to the couple. He clasped the man in a bear hug and patted him on the back. “You must be Rebecca.” He hugged her too. “Where are Mom and Mika?” he asked, hugging his brother’s shoulders again.
“Oh, you know.” The man shrugged and laughed.
“Oh, yes.” The newcomer nodded and grinned mischievously.
“Rebecca, this is my brother, Adam,” the man made the introductions. “Adam, this is Rebecca.”
“Wow, Bro! She looks almost like Mom.”
The man blushed and nodded. “She is just as wonderful, too.”
The three visited amicably. The brothers obviously adored each other. They were laughing and telling Rebecca stories of their childhood. Another glass of wine was procured for Adam. He raised his glass in a toast.
Rebecca thought she had never tasted anything as delicious as the wine. Does one even use wine and delicious in the same sentence? she thought. Exquisite maybe—no, delicious.
“And now my big brother is about to graduate with honors from Harvard. A doctorate, an MD, and a research scientist. So, do we call you ‘Doctor,’ Doctor?” Adam laughed proudly.
“What are you doing here?” his brother asked. “I thought you were somewhere in Africa digging up relics and bones.”
“Mom and Mika called me last night and told me your news.” Adam grinned. “I had to be here for the first meeting of the parents. You know, keep them from embarrassing you.”
“Mom pulled strings and got you here?” His brother laughed.
“Of course,” Adam answered.
The door to the club slowly opened as the priest ushered her wife into the room. All eyes turned to the door, and a silence fell as observers watched the woman move gracefully across the room to her sons. Joe was positive her smile filled the room with sunlight.
“Queen Mommy.” Adam rushed to his mother and hugged her, lifting her off the ground. He kissed her on each cheek before setting her down and hugging her again.
“Let me look at you.” A dazzling smile graced her lovely face as she surveyed her son from head to toe. “So much like Mika.” She shook her head as if she couldn’t believe two such beautiful people existed.
“Mother.” The blonde man hugged Mika. “I see you have the theological world in an uproar. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” The priest smiled, almost embarrassed. “But enough about us. We’re here to meet your brother’s fiancée.”
“Mom, Mika.” The sandy-haired man and Rebecca stood. “I would like you to meet Rebecca Cortez. Rebecca, meet my mothers, Leah and Mika Cross.”
“I am so pleased to meet you.” Rebecca extended her hand to the couple. “I feel that I already know you. You are all Richie talks about.”
Leah, Joe thought, of course she would have a name like Leah, and Richie is their son.
“Cortez.” The priest tilted her head. “Any relation to Fernando, the explorer?”
“I hope not.” Rebecca smiled. “He wasn’t a very nice man.”
“That is the understatement of the year,” Adam joined in.
“I hope you like Greek food,” Mika addressed Rebecca, “Queen Mommy has selected an awesome Greek restaurant for us tonight, complete with dancing fire eaters. The food is superb, and the show is even better.” She looked at Leah as if she would carry her around on a pillow if she’d let her. Joe had never seen so much love in one look.
“Priest.” Leah laughed. “Don’t call me that in public. People will think we’re pretentious.”
“Sorry, darling, it just slipped out.” The priest grinned. “That is what our children call her,” she told Rebecca.
“I think it’s adorable.” Rebecca smiled, winning the hearts of the entire family.
As the family left his club, Joe was very pleased with himself. After ten years, he had names to go with everyone, especially Leah.
##
The next night, Adam entered the club alone. Joe watched the young man from his vantage point behind the bar. Adam sipped his mother’s favorite wine, waiting for his parents.
“How was the Greek restaurant last night?” Joe asked, trying to draw the young man into a conversation.
“Good.” Adam nodded.
He may look like Mika, but he acts like his mother, Joe thought.
“Your parents must be very proud of your brother,” Joe tried again. “Do you go to Harvard too?”
“Boston U,” Adam answered.
“Great university,” Joe said.
Adam nodded and took another sip of his wine.
“What is your field of study?” Joe refilled his wine glass.
“Archeology,” Adam said. “This is my first year of graduate school, but I was fortunate enough to be selected this year to participate in a dig in Africa.”
Joe smiled. Two glasses of wine did tend to loosen the tongue. “Then I suppose you will get your doctorate?” Joe raised a questioning eyebrow.
“Of course.” Adam grinned as if he had been asked that same question numerous times. “Right now, I am just looking forward to all of us being home for the summer.”
Joe wanted to confirm what he thought he had heard. “Pretty big crowd when you’re all home, I bet.”
“Yes.” Adam laughed, recalling his siblings. “Eleven of us, counting my eldest brother and two mothers. Of course, by summer, we will have two more. So, thirteen in all.”
“I don’t mean to be nosey and certainly not rude,” Joe continued cautiously, “but your mother has given birth to eleven children?”
Adam laughed aloud. “That’s everyone’s reaction,” he noted. “The eldest—you met last night—is adopted, and there are five sets of twins. Sara and I are the oldest twins.
“Here is my gorgeous sister now.” Adam jumped from the bar stool and rushed to his sister’s side as she entered the bar. “My God, you are beautiful.” He bent to kiss her cheek and embrace her.
“You just say that because it’s like looking into a mirror, my handsome brother.” She smiled warmly at her brother and slid her arm around his waist as they walked back to the bar.
Joe thought they looked like a Greek god and goddess. Both were tall and blonde with incredible blue eyes and dimples. There was no denying they were the priest’s children.
“A glass of wine, please, for my lovely sister.” Adam raised his empty glass for a refill.
“I am so sorry I didn’t make it last night.” Sara smiled at Joe as he placed her glass on the bar. “I had my last final today before spring break, and I had to ace it. You know how Mom feels about anything less than an A.”
“Do I ever,” Adam said, laughing. “Remember that time Auntie Delilah gave me a B in calculus? I thought Mom was going to turn both of us into toads.”
“She made Auntie tutor you for the rest of the year.” Sara laughed.
“She was right to do so.” Adam grinned. “I can’t even begin to tell you how much I use that knowledge every day.”
“Speaking of knowledge,” Sara became serious, “have you found anything that will help Mika in her argument with the church?”
“Not yet,” Adam said, frowning, “but I am confident I will. Mika is right.”
“Tell me about our brother’s girl.” Sara giggled.
“She is wonderful.” Adam smiled. “She fits right in with us. She looks a lot like Mom, only not quite as stunning and regal.”
“No one could be as wonderful as Mom,” Sara bragged. “We are very lucky, Adam, to have them for parents.”
“Yes.” The young man nodded.
Sara lowered her voice to a whisper. “Has he told Rebecca about our parents?”
“I don’t think so,” Adam said secretively. “How do we tell someone our mother is a witch, and our other mother is an angel?”
“Can you even imagine the padded cell they would put us in?” Sara grimaced.
Adam shrugged. “So, we’ll all be h
ome for the summer. Then you go back to med school, Bro joins his research lab, and I go off to graduate school. I love being out in the field, doing actual digs and research. I have received a scholarship from Cambridge,” he added humbly. “I think Mom and Mika will be pleased.”
“I know I am.” Sara hugged him. “Wow, Cambridge. Wow!”
“I don’t want to bring it up right now,” he said tactfully. “I don’t want to steal Richie’s thunder. Okay?”
Sara nodded, totally agreeing with her brother.
“Regina and Matt get their cars this summer,” Sara noted. “I am glad we will be home for that. I’m certain they’re tired of sharing a vehicle.”
“That was a fun time in our lives.” Adam grinned. “Although sharing a car with you had its downside.”
“Remember the time Mom caught you drag racing across the toll bridge?” Sara laughed.
“I wish I didn’t.” Adam recalled how his mother had sent his car airborne, looped it over three times, and suspended it upside down, before gently lowering it upright on the other side of the bridge. “I thought I was going to die,” he said, recalling how he had vomited for hours afterward. “I have never exceeded the speed limit again, even now.”
“The best part was that Mom grounded you from driving the car for three months.” Sara laughed mischievously at her brother. “So it was virtually my car for three months.”
“Yes, but you were always my best wingman.” He grinned. “You were great to drive me on dates.”
“Hey,” she said with a laugh, “what are sisters for, if not to have your back? You always had my back. Remember our senior year when all the girls at my slumber party decided to steal and drink all the wine from the church?”
“Fortunately for you, Mika caught you puking up your insides in the backyard.” Adam hugged his sister’s shoulders.
“You and Mika carried wine from our wine cellar to the church that night so there would be wine for Mass the next morning.” Sara sipped her wine. “Remember Mom’s face when she tasted the wine in communion?”
They both howled with laughter. “She hated communion wine and always pursed her lips as if something awful were about to touch them. When she tasted the wine from our wine cellar, the look she gave Mika was priceless.” Adam grinned. “I think Mika took a bullet for us on that one.”
“Oh, yeah.” Sara continued laughing. “As if Mom would ever do anything to Mika but love her.”
“You know, their twenty-eighth anniversary is coming up,” Adam said, turning serious. “We should plan something special for them. Like a cruise with the entire family. You know how much they love us all being together.”
“You know we can’t interfere with their anniversary cruise on the sailboat in June,” Sara added. “But maybe a cruise in August for the entire family, before we all have to return to our studies.”
“The Greek Isles,” Adam said, “Mika loves the Greek Isles and Mom doesn’t care, just as long as she is with Mika.”
“When are the babies due?” Sara asked.
“End of April,” Adam answered. “August would be perfect. Hannah and Mark will be eight, so they can go too.”
“Let’s see what our big brother thinks.” Both nodded, pleased with their plan.
Their brother and Rebecca soon joined the twins, and everyone began to plan the anniversary surprise.
When their parents joined them, they moved to the largest booth in Joe’s establishment. He served them all a fresh glass of wine and called his cousin, who owned the Greek bakery, and ordered a rush on enough baklava to serve the entire family.
By the time he refilled their wine glasses, he had the Greek pastry beautifully displayed on a dessert tray. As his waitress placed dessert plates on the table, he presented the dessert tray with a flourish. “On the house.” He smiled as he placed the gift in front of Leah.
She tilted her head and looked at him, then smiled that heart-stopping smile he loved so much.
As he had hoped, the dessert was welcomed by the entire family. “This is very thoughtful of you, Joe.” His name on Leah’s lips sounded like a soft breeze. He wished he had told her his real name. “Vincent” would have lingered on her lips longer than Joe did. Names don’t matter anyway, he thought.
CHAPTER TWO
Everything about immortals was heightened: their love of fine wines and fine foods, their love of music and dancing, their sexual appetites, their strength, and their desires. They could go for long periods without sleep, but eventually, exhaustion would overcome them. They had a deep devotion and commitment to their mates.
##
Mika lay with her head in Leah’s lap, listening to the two little hearts beating against her ear. Leah slowly ran her fingers through Mika’s hair and occasionally traced her lips with her fingertips.
“It’s been nice spending the last four days with the children. Their spring break will soon be over,” Leah said. “They grow up so fast.”
“Umm,” her wife sighed. “Especially our eldest. It seems like just yesterday I was teaching him to play baseball and trying to endear myself to his gorgeous mother.”
“It seems you were pretty successful. Although he didn’t accept any of them, he received several full athletic scholarship offers from some pretty prestigious colleges.” Leah laughed softly. “However, I think the jury is still out on whether or not you endeared yourself to his mother.” She bent and kissed Mika’s lips gently, just the right amount of pressure for her to feel when Leah moved her lips sensuously against hers.
Mika put her hand behind Leah’s neck, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss. “What can I do to win your heart, My Queen?” She smiled up at Leah.
“I’m certain you will think of something.” Leah moved to stretch her body out beside Mika on the sofa, kissing her more demandingly.
“Um,” Mika hummed against Leah’s lips as she slowly unbuttoned the blouse Leah was wearing. Mika slowly kissed behind Leah’s ear, down her throat, and to the rise of her perfect breasts. She kissed Leah’s skin as it became visible when each released button revealed more of Leah’s perfect body.
Leah deftly unbuttoned Mika’s shirt and pushed it aside to feel her skin against Mika’s.
She gasped as waves of unbearable heat surged through her body. “Please, baby, now,” she whispered in Mika’s ear.
As their clothes disappeared from their bodies, they clung to each other, relishing the feel of skin against skin. Leah writhed beneath Mika, seeking more contact with her, pulling her closer. Mika whispered her adoration and desire, giving praise to Leah’s breathtaking beauty. They pledged their love for eternity. Their primal cries went on until the early morning hours when they collapsed in each other’s arms.
Later, Mika held her, rubbing Leah’s back and kissing her lightly. “There has never been a time I didn’t love you,” Mika whispered.
“I thank God for that every minute of every day.” Leah kissed Mika again, lovingly, a moan escaping from deep within her soul. “I love you so much.”
“What did you think of Rebecca?” Mika asked as Leah lay quietly in her arms.
“I liked her. She will make a wonderful pediatrician. Did they mention a wedding date?” Leah said.
“I don’t think they have set one yet,” Mika answered, caressing Leah’s body as easily and naturally as she breathed. “I think they want to set up their practices first. I do think it will be best if they live in this world. Both are mortal.”
“Would you have married me sooner, if you could have?” Leah asked a question to which she already knew the answer but loved to hear Mika verbalize it.
“I would have married you the day after I met you.” She laughed. “Obviously, I couldn’t stay away from you. After all, you did pick up my dry cleaning. Women like you are very difficult to find.”
“Doesn’t it bother you that they’re willing to wait?” Leah frowned.
“Maybe they aren’t,” Mika teased her.
“That isn’t fun
ny.” Leah slapped her arm playfully.
“Not everyone has my same moral compass or your strength,” Mika said seriously. “Although I honestly think our son does. I do know she isn’t staying with him here in the Towers.
“He wants to be certain. You know he was pretty sure he was in love with Amber until he went off to college.”
“I am glad to hear that.” Leah snuggled further into Mika. “You know I loved you at first sight.”
Mika stood, lifting Leah in her arms like a baby, and walked to their bedroom. “Let’s get into bed. I bet you are tired.” She kissed her wife. Leah moved her tongue tentatively to explore Mika’s lips, then shyly to engage her tongue as she walked.
Mika placed her gently on the bed, slid down beside her, and pulled the covers over them. In Mika’s arms, she turned to face her. “I’m not very tired,” Leah said in that low, sultry voice that always turned Mika into a willing victim of seduction. There was nothing quite like Leah having her way with her.
##
Mika awoke as Leah settled on their bed, holding a cup of coffee toward her. “Wake up, sleepyhead. We’re meeting the children at nine for breakfast.”
Mika groaned then pulled herself up against the headboard. She gratefully accepted the coffee then leaned forward for her good morning kiss.
“You abused my body all night and then wake me at the crack of dawn.” Mika pouted. “You are evil!”
Leah laughed at Mika’s little-girl pout and kissed her again. “I didn’t hear any complaints last night.”
“No, and you never will.” Mika beamed.
“I assume you know where we’re meeting them.” Mika sipped her coffee. “I believe I was admiring your new dress and necklace during that conversation.” The vision of Leah’s dress showing just enough cleavage to drive her crazy flashed across Mika’s mind’s eye.
“Hum, my necklace.” Leah laughed. “I love you so much. You are wonderful for my ego.”
The phone blared Adam’s ringtone, and Leah reached for it, putting the call on speaker.
“Queen Mommy.” Adam laughed as he heard her silky, husky voice. “Are you two out of bed yet?”
“Of course we are.” Leah tried to project her haughtiest voice.