A Twist of Fate

by Donna Raider

  “If you don’t mind,” she smiled, “I’d like to take the contract and read it tonight.”

  “Marcus, old boy,” a handsome man in an expensive business suit slapped the agent on the back but abruptly stopped when he saw Leah. “Oh, Marcus, you are way out of your league,” he smiled at Leah taking her left hand. “Adam Rothchild, at your service.” He proceeded to kiss her hand.

  She nodded but remained silent as Marcus interrupted the other man’s maneuver. “Adam, how nice to see you,” Marcus seethed. “We were…”

  “How did you convince this gorgeous creature to go out with you?” Rothchild ran his eyes over Leah. “I don’t believe I have ever seen you out with a lady of this caliber.” His eyes fell to the wedding ring on her left hand, and he raised an eyebrow.

  “This isn’t a date,” the mayor glared at Rothchild. “We were just finalizing a contract. Mr. Devon represents the Maine’s Got Talent group and my son won the contest.”

  She picked up her purse and the signed contract. “I will drop this by your office tomorrow,” she smiled at Marcus then turned to walk away with the priest who had quietly joined the group at the table.

  “Darling, sometimes your beauty completely overwhelms me,” Mika tucked Leah’s hand through her elbow.

  Fury swept through Marcus as he watched the priest help Leah with her coat and guide her to the waiting limo. “Damn you, Rothchild.” Marcus slammed his fist into the table. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “Marcus, in case you didn’t notice that work of art she has on her left hand, the woman is married. Oh, yes, I forgot, that doesn’t matter to you.” Rothchild shook his head and walked away, secretly aware of Marcus’ brief affair with his own wife.

  Marcus didn’t care if she was married. She was sleeping with the priest, so obviously wedding vows didn’t matter much to her. If she were prone to stray outside her marriage, he would be there to help her. He had to find a way to get close to her.

  ##

  “Phantom of the Opera,” Leah’s smile told Mika she had selected the right musical. “Oh, Mika, I have always wanted to see this. What a wonderful surprise. I love the music, and the story is intense.”

  They settled into their seats at the Majestic Theatre. Leah slid her arm through Mika’s and hugged her arm tightly. “Umm,” she hummed. They pressed as close to one another as possible in the theater seats. “Phantom is the longest running musical in New York.” Mika informed her.

  Leah sat in awed silence as the driving music and melancholy story carried them away. Although they had attended many musicals in Boston, there was nothing quite like New York theater.

  After the musical, they walked down Broadway to Times Square. Leah was speechless. She had never seen such opulence. She was a little intimidated but totally secure with her wife. She hugged Mika’s arm tighter, pulling it between her breasts. Mika pulled Leah into her arms, intending to kiss her quickly, but Leah’s lips pushed against Mika’s, and she caught her lower lip between her teeth when Mika pulled back slightly. Completely oblivious that they were standing in the center of Times Square, Mika kissed Leah with all the passion and longing that had built up in her during the day. While she had found it very arousing to watch Leah’s skillful manipulation of Marcus Devon, Mika hated the way the man had looked at her. When she opened her eyes, they were standing in their penthouse.

  Mika took her by the hand and led Leah onto the terrace where candles lit a dinner setting for two. “We haven’t eaten much all day. I thought you might like something to eat.” Mika poured her favorite wine, pushed the button to alert the kitchen they were ready for their midnight supper. Within minutes, a soft knock on the door announced the arrival of their meal.

  “Would you like to change into something more comfortable,” Mika asked, “while I place supper on the table.”

  “No. I am very comfortable,” Leah smiled her ‘tilt your world’ smile. “I wore this dress with the express purpose of having you take it off me.”

  They slept late the next morning, partly because the prior day had been exhausting and partly because Mika was an expert at taking sexy dresses off her even sexier wife.

  CHAPTER 2 - Old Black Magic Called Love

  “Friday,” Leah laughed aloud as she fell on the bed beside Mika, “We have all day today and tomorrow and Sunday to make love.”

  “At some point today, we need to get a copy of the contract back to your boyfriend,” Mika teased.

  Leah slapped her playfully then kissed her tenderly. “How did I ever get so lucky to have a wife like you?” she grinned.

  “Same way I was lucky enough to have a wife like you. God allowed it.”

  “Yes,” Leah said thoughtfully, “we must go to Mass. While you showered, I got the schedule from the internet. Is Saturday at four, okay with you?”

  “Yes, now let’s get dressed and drop the contract to Marcus and I will take you for a carriage ride, Your Majesty.” Mika bowed low.

  They picked up the copies of the contract from Mrs. Worth on their way out the door. James drove them to Marcus’ building where Mika left the agreement with the receptionist in the lobby. Leah sent Marcus a text the contract was with his receptionist. A brief “Thanks” was all she received back.

  James dropped them at Central Park, and they soon settled into a carriage.

  Mika put her arm around her wife and pulled Leah tight against her side. Leah snuggled into her. Both loved the soft warmth of the other.

  “The carriage will take us around and through Central Park,” Mika explained. “This is the huge expanse of land you asked me about.”

  Leah had ridden in many carriages in the past, but this one was the most wonderful. The joy of her wife beside her; the way she continually stole kisses and professed her love. Everything about her life was perfect.

  After the carriage ride, Mika took her to a small, but unique Italian restaurant. The food was exceptional; the quality of the wine was indescribable. “I hope you don’t mind trying my favorite wine,” Mika grinned.

  “This is incredible,” Leah looked up at her through long dark lashes. “The aroma and flavor are delightful. I feel almost as boorish as Marcus. I have never asked you if you had a wine preference. I just assumed mine was the best.” Leah sipped her wine again. “I was wrong.”

  “This is one of the few restaurants that has it,” Mika laughed. “I doubt you have ever encountered it. “It comes from the vineyards surrounding our villa in Italy.”

  After lunch, Mika pulled her into a shaded doorway and kissed her slowly, sweetly. She parted her teeth allowing their tongues to taste each other’s wine. Leah slowly became aware of the sound of rushing water and pulled her head back to look around. Still in Mika’s arms but in a different shaded doorway, Leah noticed an enormous waterfall. The cascading waters were almost deafening. “Niagara Falls?” she asked. “You transported us to Niagara Falls!”

  Mika took her by the hand and led her to a railing overlooking the falls. “We’re on the Canadian side,” she explained. “I find it much more beautiful. It has fewer large rocks than the U.S. side, and we can go under Horseshoe Falls on the boat.”

  Mika put her arms around Leah’s shoulders as the cold spray from the falls settled on them. “Look! That is a Maid of the Mist boat going into the falls.”

  Leah watched as a steamboat disappeared under the falls. She held her breath until it reappeared from the frothy, white waters. “That looks dangerous,” she exhaled.

  “It is the closest I have ever felt to my maker on this earth,” Mika said softly in her ear. “Will you ride it with me? I want you to feel it.”

  Leah smiled mischievously at her. “You should know by now, darling, I will do anything with you.”

  Mika kissed her softly, trying to quell the heat that consumed her body, at Leah’s words.

  “Now, don’t get scared and react and throw a fireball or anything.” Mika grinned. “We can’t have you turning Niagara Falls into a desert.” />
  Mika helped her with the rain gear the boat operators provided everyone to keep them from getting soaked. She led Leah to a place on the outside rail of the boat. Leah clutched her hand tightly as the boat began to move toward the tumultuous falls. She realized she couldn’t hear anything over the roar of the thundering water. The boat pitched roughly and moved into the white rapids. It suddenly was engulfed in a solid sheet of water. She looked around and could see nothing but water. Except for her wife’s hand, she was cut off from the rest of the world. She was completely alone. Just God and her. Mika was right. It was amazing that rushing water could make one so humble.

  As the boat moved toward the dock, Mika pulled Leah into her arms again and kissed her passionately. When she opened her eyes, the falls were gone, and they were in the bathroom of their penthouse.

  Surveying her surroundings, she laughed, “A bathroom, darling, you take me to the most interesting places.”

  Mika peeled off her raincoat and tossed it into the bathtub, then began unsnapping Leah’s raincoat. “This cute little cap has got to go,” she laughed as she pulled the string beneath Leah’s chin freeing the rain cap. She removed her coat and tossed it into the bathtub. Leah shook her raven hair causing it to fluff around her beautiful face. Last, Mika removed their plastic boots then their shoes.

  Mika was on her knees in front of Leah. Her stomach lurched as she slowly ran her hands up Leah’s legs to the band of her slacks. Mika looked up at her for permission. “Oh! Yes,” Leah sighed. “Yes, please.”

  Mika slowly slid her slacks and panties to the floor. Leah gasped as she felt Mika’s warm breath just before Mika’s soft moist lips began kissing their way up her thigh. She clutched Mika’s hair to keep from falling. Then she guided her lightly to where she needed her the most.

  Leah pulled Mika’s head into her and loudly sobbed as she moved her mouth to please her. Driving Leah into a frenzy, Mika dropped her shirt to the floor then slowly worked her way up Leah’s body, sliding her blouse up as she rose. Mika loved her front release bra and knew she had started wearing them, almost entirely, since their wedding. Mika removed her shirt as Leah clutched frantically at her. In one swift move, Mika swept Leah into her arms and carried her to their bed. She slipped them under the covers and slid down to align her lips with Leah’s breast. She had found that Leah was most sensitive and reacted the most feverishly when she caressed and sucked her breasts.

  Mika felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her and move up to her ear. “I can’t take that after last night,” she said hoarsely.”

  “Then you better stop teasing me and give me your best shot at mortal love,” Leah said in the deep sultry voice that always took over when she was about to lose control.

  Mika watched Leah’s eyes as she lowered herself between her legs. She loved the way Leah arched her back toward her and threw her head back as she cried out Mika’s name. Mika slid her hands under Leah’s hips, lifting her from the bed. “Yes, oh yes, Mika. Please, baby, don’t stop. Don’t ever stop loving me.”

  Leah called Mika’s name repeatedly as she sobbed against her chest. Mika knew Leah was crying, but knew it was not from sadness, but a total release of her feelings. “No, please don’t move,” Leah gasped as she clutched Mika tight against her. “Just stay like this for a little while.”

  Mika remembered the first time Leah had cried on their wedding night, during their lovemaking. It had scared her. She thought she had hurt Leah. “No, darling, you haven’t hurt me,” Leah had assured her. “It is just that I have waited for so long for this. I’m crying for joy.”

  Slowly Leah released Mika from her grip, and she moved off her, coming to rest on her side, sliding her arm beneath Leah and pulling her tightly into her breasts. Mika loved the soft puffs of air that teased her nipples as Leah breathed against her. She felt satisfied as if a great weight had been removed from her stomach and chest. They had made love this morning, but the desire for Leah had started building during the carriage ride and had only increased when Leah clung to her during the boat ride. Mika had fought it all day, wanting to share with Leah some of her favorite things about New York before returning home.

  “I am sorry,” Mika whispered. “I couldn’t wait any longer.”

  “Silly priest,” Leah raised her eyes to meet Mika’s. “Don’t ever apologize for giving me so much pleasure. I was dying for you. I just didn’t want to interrupt our tour of New York. “Now we can continue until the need takes over again. I must warn you, good as that was; Magic Leah will make an appearance sometime after midnight.”

  “I can’t wait,” Mika smiled gleefully. “I should be woman enough for you by then.

  “I want to take you to my favorite supper club tonight,” Mika gave her a little girl smile. “I knew I couldn’t make it through supper without ending up here. I thought a couple of hours of mortal love making now would hold us until midnight.”

  “Maybe,” Leah smiled sensuously.

  Her phone began ringing. She frowned at the unfamiliar number that appeared on her screen. She showed the number to Mika before answering the phone.

  “Oh, hello Mr. Devon,” she frowned at Mika. “Is there a problem with the contract?

  “Thank you for the kind offer, but I have plans with my wife tonight. You do know I’m married? . . . Yes, she accompanied me on this trip.”

  “Of course. No. I’m not offended. I hope you have a good evening too.”

  “Everything okay?” Mika asked, sitting up and scooting her back against the headboard. Leah moved to lean against her knees, propping her foot on Mika’s shoulders, letting her toes tickle her ear.

  “Yes,” Leah sighed heavily. “Just Marcus inviting me to dinner. Apparently, he thinks I ‘fool around’ on you with my parish priest.”

  Mika thought back over their encounters with Marcus. “I’m not sure we ever told him I’m your wife,” she mused. “He probably thinks you are sleeping with your parish priest.”

  “I am,” Leah laughed devilishly. “I just happen to be married to her.”

  “Umm, and don’t you forget it, my beauty,” Mika said in her deepest, evil voice, as she gently caressed Leah’s breasts.

  “You know,” Leah smiled her predator smile, “Magic Leah is just waiting for you.”

  “After midnight,” Mika reminded her. “Right now, we need to call our son.”

  They both spoke with Richie on the speakerphone. Mika regaled him with his mother’s superior negotiating skills. The boy laughed loudly as the priest told him what a bumbling fool Marcus had become when Leah began pushing for changes in the contract. Of course, Mika didn’t tell him she had worn a dress cut so low, that she had also become a bumbling fool for his mother.

  “So, will you be home tomorrow,” Richie asked. “I miss you both.”

  “We thought we would do some sightseeing tomorrow,” Leah answered. “We want to attend Mass in the oldest Catholic Church in New York and see a musical on Broadway.”

  “We’ll be home Sunday,’ Mika added. We will get back early Sunday morning. We’ll try to be home in time for church.” She looked at her wife for affirmation, and Leah nodded.

  “Is everything okay there?” Leah read the unhappiness in her son’s voice.

  “Yeah, it is just weird.” The teen answered. “Emily is on the night shift and sleeps all day. Grandpa is on the day shift and sleeps all night. Grandma wants to make gingerbread decorations to hang on our Christmas tree. It will be our first Christmas as a family, you, Mika and me. I thought we would begin our own Christmas traditions. I wasn’t thinking gingerbread, Mom.”

  Leah laughed that free, happy laugh, reserved for her son and wife. “I love you, Richie. Yes, you’re right. We will be introducing our Christmas traditions at the Cross home this year.”

  “Why don’t you let everyone know we will meet at Town Hall after church to give a full report on our final contract,” Mika added.

  “Tomorrow is Saturday,” Leah noted. “Emily should be off
work. I bet she has something special planned for the two of you.”

  “Yeah,” Richie perked up. “I bet she does. Okay, see you guys Sunday. Love you, Mom. Love you Mika.”

  “Goodnight, son.” Both parents laughed into the phone, knowing their son’s mood had already improved.

  “Let’s dress for dinner,” Mika kissed her softly, “and see how our evening plays out.”

  ##

  The supper club, located in a historical, classically designed building, was one of those closely held society secrets of New York. For members only and very elegant. A place where the wealthy of the city could enjoy themselves without being bothered by the less desirables of their city’s nouveau riche . The membership roster showed the Cross family as one of the original founders. The membership was always paid ten years in advance. The credit card on file was drawn on a bank in Switzerland.

  Tables were placed discreetly apart and secluded by tasteful greenery surrounding each table, giving it the illusion of being the only table in the room. The low lighting and soft music completed the ambiance of the restaurant.

  The maître d' pulled out Leah’s chair and placed her napkin across her lap. “May I recommend the Chateau Cheval Blanc 2005 an excellent Bordeaux from Saint-Émilion, France?

  “Let’s try something neither of us has tried before,” Leah smiled at her wife.

  “That sounds good,” Mika nodded to the man.

  A waiter in a black tuxedo brought the wine, cradling it in his arm for Leah to examine. She nodded, and he opened it offering her the cork. She declined, and he poured a small amount of the wine in her glass for her approval. She smiled as the wine passed her lips and nodded her pleasure. The waiter filled her glass and then Mika’s.

  Leah looked around the restaurant. Her wife smiled as the candlelight reflected from Leah’s mesmerizing brown eyes. “This is lovely,” Leah smiled her approval.

  “The loveliest of them all,” Mika said lost in her beauty.

  They ordered dinner and finished the bottle of wine. A talented female singer joined the band and began singing love songs designed to encourage couples to dance. Mika walked to the singer and whispered to her. She led her wife to the dance floor and began to move her around to the soft music of Josh Groban’s You Raise Me Up . “It is for you,” Mika whispered in her ear.