by Donna Raider
“Yeah,” Ruth smirked. “So, can I dance with her?”
“No!” Mika answered emphatically.
“Ruth sighed deeply, “I didn’t think so. Had to try, though.”
Leah raised an eyebrow but quickly turned her attention to Delilah, who was hailing the sheriff.
“Emily, sweetie,” Delilah called her daughter from across the room. “You need to be in this discussion.”
“Not really,” Leah growled.
“Leah and Mika are planning to buy Richie a car for his sixteenth birthday,” Delilah grinned as if she had a secret. “I know you wanted to give your son his first car.”
The priest was still enthralled with her wife and was surprised when a dark, hateful look crossed her lovely face. “This isn’t the place for this discussion,” Leah frowned.
“What discussion?” Richie and Amber joined the Cross table.
“Nothing, darling,” his mother waved her hand as if the matter was settled.
“We were just discussing getting your first car.” Delilah wouldn’t’ leave it alone.
“Yeah, kid,” Emily ruffled Richie’s hair as if he were still ten years old. He ducked away from her hand, frowning. He was almost sixteen. He didn’t want Emily ruffling his hair in front of his date. Of course, only he thought Amber was his date.
Finally pulling her thoughts away from her wife—and after midnight—Mika joined the discussion. “Let’s discuss this at lunch tomorrow after church,” she smiled her most charming smile.
“There isn’t anything to discuss,” the sheriff scowled. “I am giving Richie the Cuda for his birthday, and that’s that.”
Leah slowly leaned across the table. “I will turn that death trap into a bedpan before I let my son drive it,” she hissed in Emily’s face.
Man, they are so destroying the night I had planned , Mika thought.
“Yeah, that is something the wicked queen would do,” Emily growled.
So ruining my night, Mika frowned. She caught her wife’s wrist as she turned her palm upward. The electricity from Leah’s anger shot through Mika. The jolt made her catch her breath. Angry sex has always been awesome, too , Mika thought.
Leah whirled to face Mika, anger dancing in her dark eyes. Mika quickly gave Leah her best little girl look, and Leah burst out laughing. “You are incorrigible.” She leaned over and kissed Mika.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Samson had gotten to the mic and successfully ended the dangerous discussion at their table, “we have had many, many requests for our power couple to sing a song they made famous while visiting New York last year. A titter ran through the crowd.
Visitors and townspeople jumped to their feet, applauding until Leah led her wife to the microphone. She had drunk just enough wine to perform for the audience. Mika was still thinking about her, after midnight, so they were in a good frame of mind to sing That Old Black Magic Called Love .
Try as she might, Mika could not keep her eyes off her wife and true to form, she had to fight to keep from staring at her cleavage during most of the song. They bowed as the audience clapped and wolf whistled. “I swear if you don’t look into my eyes instead of at my—” Mika cut her off.
“If you don’t want me to look, don’t put it out there so gloriously,” Mika conjured a blush.
Secretly, Leah loved the way Mika craved her. If she had responded any differently, Leah would have been disappointed.
Richie was on the mic. “Mika requested that we play this song. It is for you, Mom from both of us.” The band started playing You Raise Me Up .
Leah melted into her wife’s arms, laying her head on Mika’s breast and listening to her heartbeat. They danced in silence, sharing the words they knew were true for them.
##
After midnight had been everything Leah had promised and then some. As the sun came up, Mika was propped against the headboard her legs pulled up so her wife could lean back on them, facing her. Mika slowly trailed her fingers from the scar on Leah’s lip, down her neck, coming to stop at the hollow of her throat. “You’re amazing,” she said softly. “You are everything I have ever dreamed of.”
“Darling,” Leah started, but her throat seemed to close. She took a deep breath. “I didn’t even know how to dream of someone as wonderful as you. You are so much more…we are so much more than I could have ever imagined.”
“Well, my immortally beautiful wife,” Mika pulled her closer for a kiss, “we must get ready for church.”
“Aren’t you exhausted?” Leah asked. “We haven’t slept in forty-eight hours. Honestly, you have had quite a bit of emotional and,” she shrugged, “physical trauma.”
“I am a little,” Mika admitted, grinning. “How about you?”
“Totally,” she nodded.
“We have to resolve the car issue at lunch today,” Mika frowned. “Then we can sleep the rest of the day or just lay around and watch TV. Whatever you want to do.”
“Sounds heavenly.” She slid off the bed and headed for the shower. “Want to join me?”
##
All the church pews were full. Many of the visitors had attended the Morning Mass and stopped to shake the hands of the mayor and priest, thanking them for an outstanding weekend.
Ruth had just placed their lunch in front of them when the Samson and Delilah walked in. Delilah was babbling about the Cuda being a family tradition, as Richie ran to sit with his Mother and Mika. He was very subdued.
“Family crests are traditions,” Leah smiled up at Delilah, “Not rusted out pieces of green junk.”
“It’s okay, Mom,” Richie hung his head. “It’s important to Emily.”
“Yes, well, your life is important to me, Richie” his mother scowled at the sheriff. “I suppose it is one of those stick shift thingies.”
“If it’s any consolation,” the priest whispered in her ear, “it should certainly curtail his dating.”
A smile of glee lit up Leah’s face. “I think that is wonderful. Thank you so much, Emily. I know Richie will be proud of his first car.”
No one could believe her complete reversal in demeanor. Richie had so counted on his mother destroying the pea-green Plymouth Barracuda.
As soon as they reached home, Richie asked if he could speak with Mika alone. “Private talk,” he answered his mother’s raised eyebrow.
“Mika, help me?” the boy begged. “I will be the laughingstock of our town. No girl in her right mind would be caught dead in that green bomb. I wanted something cool, like a pickup truck. The girls love pickup trucks. Cool girls don’t dig antique cars.”
“What does Emily plan on doing for a car, if she gives you her Cuda?” Mika asked. “I thought she was married to that car.”
“I don’t know,” Richie answered thoughtfully. “She surely has the money to buy a new one. I mean, she has lived with her parents for six years. She doesn’t pay rent or buy groceries. She just saves her money, except for drinking. Delilah and Samson refuse to buy her booze.”
“I guess there is some sentimental value to the car,” Mika said. “It was her first car. She wants it to be your first car. Maybe she wants a cool new pickup, too.”
“Yeah, she is dating that pretty waitress in Brighton,” Richie nodded. “It would be nice for her to have a vehicle that doesn’t breakdown every time she goes on a date.”
“We have a few months to work things out before your birthday,” Mika smiled. “I’m betting your mother will resolve this. She’s not about to let you drive that safety hazard to college. I just hope her solution doesn’t involve anything incendiary.”
“Humph,” Richie huffed. “I thought she threw me to the wolves.”
“Your mother would never do that,” Mika laughed. “Trust me. She will work it out so everyone will be happy. Just trust her. She is a great politician, you know.”
“Enough of this private time,” Leah swept into the room. “How about a movie? It’s my night to choose. I’m thinking chick flick.”
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��Uh, I promised Mary we would go ice skating with Grace and Isaac. Supposed to meet them at the ice rink,” Richie backed from the room and ran upstairs to get his skates. They listened in silence as he bounded back downstairs, yelled, “Love you, guys. Don’t forget I’m spending the night at Emily’s,” and slammed the door.
“Oh, my, that worked out well,” Leah poured them both a glass of Brandy and inserted the DVD. “Want to watch Catching Fire , The Hunger Games?”
“When did you buy that?” the priest grinned, settling beside her on the sofa.
“I didn’t, dear,” she smiled. “Emily gave it to Richie after she found out what it was. She bought it thinking it was porn. When she watched it and discovered it was geared toward teenagers, our son received it.”
“Porn,” Mika laughed, “Life with you and your town is very interesting.”
“And full of surprises,” Leah remarked.
“Oh, yes,” Mika exhaled, thinking about how she had surprised her last night. “Last night was astonishing.”
“Have you ever…,” her warm lips were against Mika’s ear as she whispered to her.
Mika jerked back as if she had burned her. It took a few minutes for her to catch her breath. Leah’s suggestion had spread a feeling of hot, cold and total awe through the priest.
“Let me put it this way,” Mika’s voice caught in her throat and jumped an octave higher, “if I haven’t done it with you, I haven’t done it.”
“That’s my good girl,” Leah purred and kissed her deeply.
CHAPTER 10 - Home
There was a chill on the house when Mika woke. The temperature had dropped considerably during the night. She slipped from their bed, careful not to wake Leah, and walked to the glass doors leading to the balcony. The earth as far as she could see was covered in a blanket of soft white snow. Mika had always loved fresh snow. She felt it was God’s way of giving everything a clean slate, a chance to start over, to do better. The moon bathed the cold, clear night with a blue light, making visibility almost as clear as day.
Making a mental note to turn up the thermostat later, she pulled on a Henley and a pair of sweatpants then settled in the comfortable chair at the foot of their bed. She could watch both the falling snow and her sleeping wife. The moonlight fell on Leah’s beautiful face. Her serene expression highlighted her glorious beauty. She seemed small. Awake, her persona was larger than life; a queen, a mayor, a regal, commanding figure by anyone’s standards. Sleeping, she looked like an innocent child. A constriction in Mika’s chest reminded her of how much she loved Leah. Mika knew she was obsessed with her. When she was away from her, Mika held her breath until she walked into view. Mika couldn’t bear to be very far from Leah. She always had the compulsion to touch her, even if only lightly, as if to reassure herself that such an incredible creature existed and welcomed her touch. She marveled at the wonder of Leah.
Sometimes loving Leah hurt—seriously hurt. Her sudden appearance in the room where Mika was would make the blonde stop breathing; her chest would tighten, and her stomach would feel like it was doing cartwheels. Leah always made her way to Mika quickly; otherwise, Mika was certain she would explode where she stood.
Leah’s smile always told Mika she knew what she was experiencing because she shared her feelings. Leah’s soft touch on Mika’s arm always grounded them both.
The silence of the early morning was destroyed by the sound of Richie’s ringtone. Leah reached first for her wife. A flash of fear crossed her lovely face as she realized Mika wasn’t in her bed. It quickly morphed into a glorious smile as her eyes focused on her wife in the chair. She answered her phone.
“Good morning, sweetheart. Yes, it is very early,” Leah glanced at the clock. “Snowing,” her eyes widened as her wife shook her head affirmatively. “Yes, I agree it is too dangerous for you to try to get home. Yes, you may stay with Delilah and Samson. Perhaps later in the day, we can meet at the diner. Love you too, sweetheart.”
As Leah turned off her phone, she pulled Mika’s pillow behind her and leaned back against the headboard. She scrutinized Mika as intently as Mika looked at her. Leah smiled that slow, sensuous smile that encompassed all that Mika was. “What are you doing way over there?” Leah said softly.
“Just loving you,” Mika smiled, trying to overcome the ache in her chest. She wanted Leah so much, loved her so much.
“Hum,” Leah hummed, “Why don’t you do that a little closer to me?”
Mika shed her clothes and slid into bed beside her. Leah slid down to lie slightly beneath her. Mika kissed her gently, slowly, letting Leah know that she was everything to her. They kissed for a long time, enjoying the feel of each other’s lips. Their tongues, gently caressing the others. They explored one another’s mouth, as if for the first time. Mika pulled back from their kiss and stared into the fathomless darkness of Leah’s captivating brown eyes. She softly touched Leah’s cheek as if she were afraid Leah would disappear at her touch. Mika slowly traced her face, her delicate nose, and her smooth, finely defined jawline. Last, and best, she traced her full, soft lips, and the tiny scar she loved so much. Everything about Leah made her senses soar.
Leah lay still, allowing Mika to worship her. She softly moaned when Mika caressed places that elicited a breathless response. Mika touched and caressed every inch of her body. Kissing it as if it were her first time to explore Leah. Mika was so sweet and gentle it made Leah’s heart hurt.
When Leah couldn’t stand it anymore, she pulled Mika into her for a kiss then guided her lips back down her body to her breast. Every stroke of Mika’s tongue, every touch of her lips, and every warm breath on her skin kindled Leah’s desire for her. Mika made love to her so gently, so slowly, like a woman savoring a perfect cup of coffee on a cold, icy day. Mika memorized every feel of her, every reaction to her touch and her soft moans as she cried her name. Mika loved the sounds Leah made when they made love. She went out of her way to elicit those sounds that told her Leah loved what she was doing. Leah basked in Mika’s whispered words of endless adoration. Mika wrapped her body around her and engulfed Leah in her arms, merging into the only woman she had ever loved, would ever love. “Leah,” she whispered her name repeatedly as if worshipping a goddess. Mika’s whispered words of passion were as arousing as her touch on Leah’s skin. Leah’s love for Mika resonated in her cries at the overwhelming sensations she aroused in her.
They made love for hours, each intent on letting the other know how important they were, how deeply they were loved. It wasn’t the fierce, passionate earth-shaking love they usually shared. Their love was a sweet, gentle joining of mind and spirit that interlaced them together for all eternity.
As they lay pressed tightly against each other, Mika softly spoke into her ear. “I have traveled this earth, this universe searching for you. I didn’t realize that when I found you, I also found home.”
They snuggled and laughed sharing thoughts and ideas they had an eternity to explore together. Neither had ever been as happy, as completely at peace with their maker and the world.
CHAPTER 11- Payback’s a Witch
Thanksgiving was a congenial day. The Crosses hosted dinner for Samson and Delilah, Amber, Ruth, and Naomi. Emily brought Daisy, her girlfriend from Brighton, an attractive young woman who seemed overwhelmed with everything. She kept bowing to Leah. Mika was certain Emily had told her to do that just to cause mischief.
As promised, the band had cut their annual album for Marcus and spent a week making commercials and doing TV interviews to promote it. Within sixty days, the album was in the top ten nationwide and climbing in the charts overseas. The mayor had outdone herself with the town Christmas decorations. Mika said it looked like a winter wonderland.
##
Mika was in the bell tower putting a new rope on the bell. The old one had broken. She was very pleased to see how clean they were keeping the tower. The old hardwood floors were polished to shine, and someone had hung holly around the outside of the window.
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br /> She was leaning over the railing to reach the bit of old rope so she could pull the bell close enough to tie a new rope to it. A sudden swirl of purple caused Mika to lose her balance and plummet down the stairwell headfirst. Before she could react, she was quickly levitated back to the tower and lowered gently onto the floor.
“Darling, are you okay?” Leah was on her knees beside Mika.
“I am now,” Mika smiled, pulling her closer for a kiss. “You startled me.” She pulled Leah onto her lap and nibbled at her lower lip. Her tongue gently parted Leah’s lips, asking permission to move further. Leah clutched Mika’s blouse and pulled her in for a passionate kiss.
“I don’t have a lot of time before my next meeting,” Leah whispered. “I just came to say, hi.” She quickly slid her hand under Mika’s shirt. Her touch was heavenly.
Mika shifted Leah, so she was laying on the floor, her head cradled in Mika’s arm. She kissed her way down all the cleavage she could see then unbuttoned another button to allow further access. “I want you,” Mika pleaded.
A swirl of purple smoke and Mika found she was kissing the floor. Leah was standing by the window. “Silly Priest,” she grinned wickedly, “No one takes a Queen on the floor.” Then she was gone.
Mika moaned, rolled over on her back and spread out like a snow angel. She fought the urge to follow Leah. Sometimes Leah tormented her just because she could. Two could play that game. When Mika stood and looked out the tower window, Leah was sitting at her desk, welcoming the fire chief. Mika pulled out her phone and began texting.
Mika: You are a wicked tease.
Leah: Um, I always follow through eventually.
Mika: How soon?
Leah: I will have to think about that.
Mika: Groan. That is me hurting, thanks to you, Your Majesty. You really are evil.
Leah walked to her window and smiled at Mika.
Leah: I fixed your bell for you.
The priest turned to see a new leather strap hanging from the bell.
Mika: Thank you. Leather will last longer than my rope.