by Donna Raider
##
“Dorie and I thought we would visit your town and mix a little fun with work,” Marcus said amicably.
“If you haven’t already,” Mika said, “you might want to get a room here. It’s the best bed and breakfast in town.”
“Yes,” Dorie added, “we were fortunate enough to get the last two rooms last night.” She wanted them to know that she wasn’t sleeping with Marcus.
As the pair perused their menus, Mika observed Marcus. The man looked like he had been to hell and back. He had lost about twenty-five pounds since they last saw him. His face was gaunt, and his eyes were recessed, with dark shadows beneath them. He had aged, and the light in his eyes was now a dull emptiness.
Yes, Mika thought, longing for Leah could do that to a man. She glanced sideways at her wife who had her hand on the inside of Mika’s thigh. She had to drag her mind away from how good it felt when Leah touched her. She smiled to herself and thought. Marcus couldn’t have picked a worse time to show up in their town. Cranky Leah, Volatile Leah and downright Furious Leah are just looking for something to send up in flames.
“I believe we have an appointment at ten in the morning,” the mayor said coldly. “Will you be there, too, Miss Cain?”
“Ah…yes,” Marcus stumbled, he wasn’t used to getting such a cold reception from others.
“If that is agreeable to you,” Madam Mayor.” Dorie was polite and smart enough to defer to Leah.
“That will be fine,” the mayor smiled, looking up when the diner door opened. “Amber,” please join us.”
“Amber and Richie entered the skating competition at the Fall Festival,” Mika tried to move the conversation to a safe topic.
“We’re all going ice skating after lunch,” Richie chimed in. “You should join us. Tell us what you think of the routine Amber and I are skating.”
“We would love to,” Dorie smiled a beautiful Leah-like smile. “Do you skate Marcus?”
“Yes, I do,” the man seemed to brighten at the prospect of spending more time with the Cross family.
“We will be at the ice rink around three,” Richie exclaimed. “You can’t miss it. It’s right in the middle of town. You can rent skates there, too.”
##
The Cross family returned to their home after lunch.
“I think I will just relax until time to go skating,” Leah kissed her wife lightly and went upstairs.
Mika went to find her son. They needed to talk. She knocked on Richie’s door. “Come in.”
“Richie, remember when you told me you thought you were in love with Amber,” Mika studied the boy’s face as she spoke. Richie nodded. “Did I just see a change, of course, today?”
Richie looked at the floor and blushed. “Father, she looks just like Mom. She is nice like Mom. She’s younger than Amber.”
“My point is, son, you will change the course of your affections several times before you find the woman with whom you want to spend your life.”
“Were you attracted to other women before you met Mom?” the boy asked, suddenly interested in the priest’s past.
“Yes, but I always knew they weren’t the one. I always kept looking,” Mika smiled. “But the minute I looked into your mom’s eyes; I knew she was the one. I also knew we would have a long road ahead of us to get permission to marry, but she was worth it.”
“I know how hard it was for you and Mom those two years,” the boy looked thoughtful, “but you never slept with her.”
“If you love someone,” Mika held the boy’s gaze, “you do everything in your power to protect them. You never do anything to hurt them, no matter how much you hurt.
“Richie, you’re already very handsome. You’re smart, talented and funny. You will have women crawling all over you as you grow up. Many of them will offer themselves to you without you even asking. Don’t accept. I know this sounds corny, but once you have sex with a woman, the relationship changes. If you discover you made a mistake, then you both live with guilt and sometimes a broken heart.”
“Did your relationship change with Mom, once you…uh…?” Richie stammered.
“It changed a great deal,” Mika nodded. “But we waited until we married, and it is truly wonderful. Your mother is everything I ever wanted. I just want you to have that same kind of relationship with the lucky girl who becomes your wife. Looks can be deceiving. Be certain what is on the inside is as pretty as what is on the outside.
“Marcus brought a woman who looks like your mom here for a reason.” The priest continued. “Don’t be fooled by a pretty face. Okay?”
Richie studied the priest for a long time. “You do know Mom was with others before she met you? Not just Emily.”
“Yes,” the priest cringed at the boy’s statement. “I know all about your mom’s past, but she never had control of her life. There was always someone in the wings waiting to push her in the wrong direction. Her mother, the Legion, Delilah, Samson and the king, they all took from her, giving her nothing in return. She had to become the Wicked Queen to battle the evil in her life.”
“I never thought about it that way,” Richie looked very sad. “Thanks Mika, for many things.”
“I’m proud of you, son, and I love you as if you were my own,” the priest smiled. “See you downstairs in an hour?”
Mika was surprised to find her wife in the hallway outside their son’s room. She put her arms around Mika’s neck and pulled her lips down to hers. “That was the nicest sex talk I have ever heard,” she whispered. “I want you so much, right now.”
“I know,” Mika grinned. “Just hold that feeling until Tuesday.”
##
Marcus and Dorie were already on the ice when the Cross family and Amber arrived. Richie knelt and put on Amber’s skates while the priest knelt to put on Leah’s skates. Amber and Richie moved onto the ice and skated away.
Leah leaned forward and kissed her wife’s lips, gently moving her full, soft lips over hers. Mika moaned and pushed against her lips hungrily. Leah pulled back after several long seconds. “You know this is my second favorite thing for you to do on your knees.”
Mika looked at her with a blank stare and shook her head as if she had no idea what Leah was referring too. Leah leaned forward and whispered several sentences into her hear.
Mika pulled back from Leah with a shocked look on her face then flashed a brilliant smile, “I know,” she said, “I just wanted to hear you say it, Your Majesty.”
They stood hand in hand watching Amber and Richie skate. “They are beautiful together,” Leah noted. “We should bring home the couple’s trophy again this year. Are you and Richie skating Parent and Son?”
“Yes, and yes,” Mika squeezed her hand. “Richie deserves at least one trophy this year. What he did last year was very unselfish.”
Marcus and Dorie slid up to them. “The ice is great,” Dorie exclaimed. “I have never been on a rink so well kept.”
“You can thank the mayor for that,” the priest smiled at her wife. “She keeps everything in this town in tip-top shape.”
Dorie nodded as if she could totally believe that. “I bet she is responsible for the lovely Christmas decorations all over town, too. This town looks like a Currier and Ives Christmas card.”
“Do you skate, Madam Mayor?” Marcus asked.
“I do,” she smiled, pulling her wife onto the ice.
So much for getting to hold her while skating , Marcus thought.
As if the park sound system had been programmed just for them, When a Woman Loves a Woman began blaring from the speakers.
Forgetting everything else in the world, they skated as if the only thing that mattered was being in each other’s arms. They skated the same routine that had won them last year’s trophy. The crowd gasped when Mika threw Leah into the air, caught her high above her head, and then slid her slowly, sensuously down her body. The onlookers exhaled collectively as the couple spun around, Leah’s beautiful face only inches above the ice. M
ika pulled Leah between her legs and slowly up her body to end the routine spinning with Leah’s arms around her neck. Mika’s hands were on the small of Leah’s back, pressing her tightly against her.
The crowd that had gathered around the rink applauded, wolf whistled and screamed accolades to their power couple.
The noise seemed to yank them back to where they were, standing in the center of the rink, holding each other like there was no tomorrow.
Dorie looked at Marcus. Perspiration was pouring off the man, and he seemed to be having trouble breathing. She knew how he felt. She just wanted to get back to her room and take a long cold shower. “Sorry, Marcus,” she said, “your idea doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell.” They left the rink before Leah and Mika skated back to their bench.
##
Marcus Devon lay staring at the ceiling of his room. He ached all over for Leah Cross. He wondered if anyone had ever died from wanting a woman. His mind ran amok, trying to come up with ideas to get Leah Cross alone. No idea was too outlandish or dangerous. He had to be with her. His fascination had turned into a disturbing obsession demanding action.
Dorie Cain thanked the heavens for the strong pressure of the cold water pounding her from the showerhead. She couldn’t recall ever being aroused by anything as much as she was by the skating of the mayor and the priest. It was like watching two lovers ravish each other fully clothed. It was difficult to explain. They had not touched each other inappropriately or suggestively, yet the entire performance was the most sensuous thing she had ever witnessed.
She knew Marcus was losing it and wondered if she should call Baron and inform him of her concerns. Marcus was much more obsessed with being alone with the mayor than he was about getting the contracts Baron had insisted they bring back.
She thought about the Cross family. They were the perfect family. Leah and Mika were so much in love; it practically poured off them. They were both devoted to Richie, and he was a perfect gentleman. They had done a great job of raising him.
Marcus had brought her along with the idea of having her seduce the priest and have the mayor walk in on them before anything went too far. Of course, Marcus would swoop in and console the heartbroken Leah.
The only problem with that little idea was the Crosses never got more than two inches from one another. They were always touching somehow: holding hands, Leah’s hand on Mika’s thigh, Mika’s arm around her, or their arms linked. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other. She couldn’t blame them. They were both breathtakingly beautiful. Both emanated the “not available” attitude loud and clear.
Their appointment with the mayor was at ten the next morning. She made up her mind she would talk to the priest before that and let her know what was going on. She wanted no part of causing harm to the Cross family.
##
“Are you awake,” Leah scooted closer to her wife.
“I am now,” she grinned, wrapping her arms tighter around Leah. “How are you this fine morning?”
“Much better,” Leah kissed her lightly. “Would you like pancakes for breakfast?”
“Is the Pope Catholic?” Mika laughed.
“Isn’t that sacrilegious or something, dear?” she whispered in Mika’s ear as if trying to keep the information between them.
“No, that was a definite yes.” Mika grinned, trying to overcome the heat enveloping her body from Leah’s soft, warm breath and lips on her ear. “You have no idea how that turns me on?”
“Hum…” Leah chuckled wickedly. “You think not?”
“I think I have about, oh, eighteen pages of things you are going to owe me for on Tuesday,” Mika pulled her closer. “You probably need to take off Tuesday.”
“I was planning to take off Wednesday also. Just to be safe. You know Tuesday night and all-day Wednesday.” Leah brushed Mika’s lips with hers. “Pancakes it is.” She slid out of bed before Mika could catch her.
Richie had already made coffee and was filling their cups when they skid into the kitchen. Leah was squealing and running with Mika chasing her. They skidded to a stop with Leah in Mika’s arms. “Lady, you truly raised this young man right,” Mika laughed as she released her wife and reached for a cup of coffee. “Thank you, son.”
Mika’s right , Richie thought, I do want the same type of marriage she and my mother have.
##
Mika and Richie cleaned up the kitchen so Leah could head for the office. She had a few things she wanted to check on before her morning council meeting commenced.
Mika dropped Richie off at his grandparents and arrived in the church a little after eight-thirty. She was surprised to find Dorie waiting for her in the office. Angie met her before she reached her office to let her know she had a visitor. “Would you mind staying in the room with us at all times?” Mika asked the secretary. “I don’t know what she wants.”
“I had hoped we could speak in private,” Dorie was clearly uneasy with Angie in the room.
“It is just church policy,” the priest shrugged. “Angie can hear anything I can hear.”
“I’m not sure where to start,” Dorie frowned. “I am just concerned about Marcus. He has an unhealthy obsession with your wife.”
“I gathered that,” Mika nodded. “Is he always like this with beautiful women?”
“No,” she shook her head. “He has always been so cool and debonair; a real Prince Charming. Women—even married ones—usually eat out of his hand.”
“He brought me here to seduce you and have your wife walk in on us before things got out of hand. Then he was going to step in and console your distraught wife.”
“How can we help him?” Mika asked sincerely.
“I don’t know. He’s in serious trouble at work. Our owner, Baron Goodson, was very upset with the contract he negotiated with Mayor Cross. He told him if he didn’t rectify this he would be out of a job. I certainly don’t blame you. I wouldn’t want my son pulled into the recording business at the age of thirteen.”
“We might be able to help him with the contract business,” the priest smiled tightly, “But I don’t know what to do about his obsession with my wife. Frankly, I am concerned someone might get hurt.”
“He has certainly reached the point where he might try to force himself on her,” Dorie blushed at the thought.
“Could you get him now and bring him to talk to me?” Mika asked her.
“I can try,” she stood to leave. “You have a wonderful family, Mika. I hope I will be as happy as you two obviously are when I marry.”
“Thank you, Dorie. I hope you are, too. Do you think you can get Marcus here at 9:15?
“I’ll try,” she said as she left the office.
“Angie, please make certain I’m not disturbed,” the priest requested. “I need to talk to my wife.” She closed her office door and locked it.
Mika made Leah jump when she appeared in front of her desk. “I forget you can do that,” Leah laughed. “To what do I owe this delightful intrusion?” she moved around her desk to kiss Mika.
Mika told her of the conversation with Dorie. “I’m going to clear his mind of desire where you are concerned,” she said.
“You can do that?”
“I don’t like to, but I can,” the priest exhaled softly. “He is in an awful way. Then I thought we might agree to a recording contract for the band. No personal appearances. No concerts. Just records and promotional interviews. That way he can keep his job. The poor devil is completely obsessed with you. I know how I would feel if you didn’t love me the way I love you.”
“Sounds like a great idea,” the mayor smiled, wrinkling her nose slightly because she knew it drove Mika crazy.
“You’re fooling with me,” Mika dropped her voice to that deep; you’re so sexy sound and smiled.
“Um, my favorite pastime.” Leah swayed sensuously back to her chair.
“You’re working on page nineteen,” Mika laughed as she transported herself back to her office.
As promised, Dorie brought Marcus to the priest’s office right on time. It was obvious the agent was nervous at meeting alone with the woman whose wife he coveted.
Mika shook hands with Marcus, holding his hand between both of hers. It only took a second for the priest to remove any thoughts of love or desire concerning Leah from the man’s mind. She replaced the feelings with ones of respect and tremendous fondness like one would have for a sister.
Marcus shook his head as if cobwebs had been removed from his brain. The light seemed to come back into his eyes, and he sincerely smiled for the first time since arriving in town.
“I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me,” the priest said. “I hope you have enjoyed your time in our town.”
“We have,” Marcus grinned. “I thank you and your lovely wife for your hospitality.”
The two visited amicably for several minutes then the priest asked Dorie to join them. They crossed the street to the mayor’s office.
“It must be nice to work just across the street from your wife,” Marcus said pleasantly.
Mika nodded.
When they arrived in Leah’s office, she offered them coffee and juice. Leah seated herself behind her desk, eager to complete their business. She went over what she and Mika had discussed, noting that all sales from recordings would go into a trust fund for all the boys in the band. The contract called for one recording session per year to produce an album of songs selected by the band. The band would help promote the album during the month of December.
“You really should consider at least one concert a year to promote the album,” Marcus suggested. “We don’t have to include that in the contract. I just want you to know it is an option for promoting the album. You know the New York concert is already completely sold out for both nights. You will produce your mystery singer, right?”
“I wasn’t aware of the sellout,” Leah frowned. “Yes, we will have the same Elvis impersonator.”
Marcus and Dorie agreed the recording contract would help Marcus save face at his firm and signed all the necessary documents. Odette made copies, and the two departed, happy that they had accomplished something that would please their boss.