Temptations: A Limited Edition Contemporary Romance Collection

by Blue Saffire

  “I just don’t think it’s a good idea. What will happen if you start to feel ill?”

  “Easy — we’ll bring Melia. She’ll know what to do.”

  Luka’s heart jumped into his throat.

  “This is something that I really want, Luka.”

  Luka walked over to Susan and helped her up. He tipped her chin upwards and kissed her.

  Susan shook her head petulantly. “You can put all the moves on me you want. I’m still going — with or without you. Maybe I’ll ask Melia to go with me and you can stay home. We’ll have a girl’s only day.”

  Luka felt a moment of panic. Susan and Melia alone?

  Susan arched an eyebrow and looked at him expectantly.

  He rolled his eyes and nodded. “Fine, we’ll go.”

  Susan’s face lit up and she grinned from ear to ear.

  Frowning, he grabbed Susan by the shoulders. “But you have to eat a hearty breakfast. And I’ll pack a picnic, okay?”

  “Brilliant. You’re the best.”

  Luka looked into the rearview mirror at Susan leaning against the open car window. She seemed to be enjoying her outing. Melia, on the other hand, looked out of the opposite window pensively.

  Still, Susan chattered excitedly throughout the whole drive, laughing and holding Melia’s hand. For a moment, life seemed blissfully perfect.

  It was a weekday, so La Jolla Cove was empty save for a few sunbathers. A light cloud cover filtered the sunlight into a warm, golden haze. Luka laid down their picnic blanket at a shaded spot where they could all still see the seals sunbathing on nearby rocks.

  “Mmm.” Susan sighed contently as she saw Luka unpacking their picnic basket. He pulled out a bottle of Prosecco with a devilish smile. Susan squealed and he poured her some in a plastic glass. Then he took a few raspberries and dropped them in.

  “I said if we were going to do this, that we were going to do it right, didn’t I?”

  He pulled out three carefully wrapped grilled cheese sandwiches. Susan smiled broadly and turned to Melia. “Luka makes the most sinfully perfect grilled cheese sandwiches in the world.”

  “These are all sweet — like you two ladies.”

  Melia blushed and Susan laughed.

  The grilled cheese sandwiches combined different gourmet cheeses with fruits and chocolate. “I can see why you’ve kept him for so long,” Melia said, nudging Susan.

  “Really, it’s only the food that’s made me stay this long!” Susan said, with a giggle.

  Melia bit into her raspberry, brie, and dark chocolate and closed her eyes in appreciation.

  “If you take a sip of the Prosecco it cuts the richness a bit, so you can keep eating.” She opened her eyes to find that Luka was staring at her. She flushed again and looked down at her hands. She mumbled a thank you and took a sip of her drink.

  After they had finished eating, Susan asked Melia to walk with her and pick up seashells. Susan slipped her thin arm around Melia’s waist. The two women walked down the shore bathed in a golden glow. Luka couldn’t hear what they were saying, but they laughed and occasionally bent down to pick something up from the sand.

  Melia dug her bare feet into the warm sand and breathed in the salt air. She felt so free and happy. In the open air, her problems seemed so much smaller than they had last night.

  Susan linked her arm with Melia’s and turned around. She stopped and looked at Luka. “He’s so handsome, isn’t he?”

  “Yeah, he is.” Melia smiled. “If you’re into the tall, dark-haired types.”

  “I think he likes you.” Susan looked up at Melia who bent down to pick up a piece of sea glass. “I think you would be good for him.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, I think he’s going to miss you when I die and you have to leave. I… can see the submissive in you, Melia. You try to hide it, but I see it — and I think you two would really be perfect for each other once I’m gone.”

  It was interesting to see them both together, the two women that he loved. Susan caught his gaze and smiled at him, waving him over.

  “I’m feeling a bit tired,” she said when he had jogged up to them. “Accompany Melia and pick up some seashells while I catch my breath for a moment.”

  Luka frowned. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Go on. I’ll be fine, here in the sun.” Susan tilted her head back and positioned the large floppy sunhat she was wearing so that the sunlight would hit her face.

  Melia and Luka walked up ahead. They walked in silence, listening to the cry of the gulls, and the crash of the waves. As they walked the water ebbed and flowed, pulling them closer to the ocean.

  “About last night…” hey both said at once, then laughed nervously.

  Luka looked up at a seagull circling overhead. “I love my wife.”

  Melia nodded. “I know.”

  “This isn’t about that, though. I can’t—not now. She’s sick and she’s dying, and I feel like it’s the worst kind of betrayal.”

  “I know.” Melia hung her head.

  “This hasn’t been easy for me, staying away from you — and trying to convince myself that I don’t…”

  Melia put up her hand. “Please…stop. I understand. It was a mistake. We were both feeling sad and lonely and our heads weren’t clear. It won’t happen again.”

  “It really can’t ever happen again,” Luka said. “We should turn back and check on Susan.”

  When they got back to Susan, she stood up and leaned against Luka. “You didn’t get enough of the sea glass. Come on, help me find some more and then we can go.”

  Melia shook her head at their invitation and sat down for a while. She watched them walk down the beach happily. She felt a surge of aimless jealousy, but it wasn’t directed at Susan. She didn’t really feel betrayed, rather, it was more of a feeling of wanting to be near Luka and on the receiving end of the loving look he was giving his wife. Melia buried her feet in the sand and wished she could bury the rest of herself too.

  She realized that she loved him.

  God, she had fallen in love with her employer, with a married man— and in her own platonic way, she had fallen in love with his wife, too. The betrayal was twofold and it killed her. She wiped a hot tear from her cheek, and to busy her hands she began to clean up the area where they had had their picnic earlier.

  “Luka, I think you need to find a new sub soon. I feel like I’m going to go at any moment.” Luka looked out over the dazzling ocean, the white caps, and the little waves caught the light like little diamonds. “I think Melia…”

  “Why are you so obsessed with Melia?” Luka asked impatiently.

  “Well, she’s gorgeous, she’s smart, and she’s amazing on a million different levels. So the question is why are you pretending that you’re not obsessed with her?” She turned a keen eye towards Luka who looked down at his hands. “Luka, I wanted her to be my home-aide because she seemed like a beautiful, smart girl— and I didn’t want to die and leave you alone.”

  “So you pimped me out to your home aide?”

  “Oh, shush. I know this hasn’t been easy on you.”

  Luka stopped and turned her to face him. “You think the hardest part of all of this has been the lack of sex? Are you insane?”

  Susan shook her head.

  “I could do without the sex for ten lifetimes if it meant I got to finish this lifetime with you. I can’t even bear the thought of losing you and you’re concerned with… who I’m going to have sex with?”

  “Don’t be silly Luka. I’m worried about who will take care of you when I’m gone. You have poured all of yourself into my care, honey, and I’m so grateful.” She caressed his face, tears in her eyes. “I am so grateful for everything you’ve done. You’ve given up living your life to make the end of mine more comfortable. But have you given any thought into what you’ll do when I’m gone?”

  Luka looked down.

  “I didn’t think so. You are so concerned with me, but I’m going to be
at peace soon. You’re the one that has to live on, and you can’t mope and mourn me forever, Luka. I want you to be happy. I can tell that you like each other. Don’t you?”

  Luka looked over her shoulder at Melia clearing their picnic area in the distance. “Yes.”

  “That’s nothing to be ashamed of. I knew this would happen. She’s spunky, and she brought life into our house when it only smelled of death. I’m happy you found each other. I want her to know that this is okay. I tried to talk to her about it, but she was either ashamed or didn’t know what to say. She’s a subbie too, deep down. Right now, she is fighting her feelings, same as you. And I want her to know that this is what’s right.” Susan began to cough.

  Luka took her into his arms and started to lead her back. “Okay, Cupid, calm down. Let’s get you home and in bed and we’ll finish this conversation later.”

  In the car, Susan laid her head in Melia’s lap. Susan hugged her waist and murmured just before she fell asleep, “I’m so glad you’re a part of my family.”

  8

  Later that night…

  Susan looked so small amongst the pillows and blankets in her bed. Luka and Melia worked quietly and quickly to make her comfortable. Susan was very pale, her sunken eyes rimmed with dark circles, and her dry, cracked lips had taken on a purple-bluish tinge. Her breath was shallow and ragged, and when Melia had taken her pulse it was irregular. It pained her deeply to know that Susan was approaching the end of her days although she had known it would come eventually. Luka’s hands trembled as he smoothed the blankets over his sick wife. He tenderly straightened the knit cap she wore that served the dual purpose of hiding her bald head, and keeping it warm. He, too, knew that Susan’s time was coming to an end. And he wondered if he was ready for it.

  Luka shook his head and struggled to blink away his tears. His voice cracked as he turned to Melia, “I knew—I knew it was a bad idea to go out today. The air, the physical effort—it was too… much.”

  “Shhh,” Melia whispered. “It’s not your fault. Come, she’s tired and needs to rest.”

  Melia made them both a cup of tea while Luka sat with his head in his hands in the living room.

  Luka gestured his thanks for the cup of tea Melia offered him. “Luka.”

  He didn’t look up from the cup he was so intently studying.

  “Luka, the only thing you can do for her is to make sure that her last days are as comfortable and happy as possible. What you did today was great. Susan is stubborn.”

  Luka snorted. “That’s an understatement.”

  Melia shook her head with impatience. “The point is Susan is getting sicker and being able to do these types of things while she still has the strength to get around is so important. The last of her days need to be filled with love.”

  “I know that there isn’t a lot of time left.” He sighed. “I knew this day was going to come eventually. I guess I thought I’d be more prepared.” He laughed bitterly. “I guess no one can be prepared for this.”

  Melia felt sympathy for his pain.

  “I wanted to be strong—whatever that means. I wanted to face the end with courage, but it’s not the end that scares me anymore. I’m just trying to figure out what comes next.” He looked at Melia, but she flushed and looked at her hands.

  When she looked up, Luka seemed so lost and pitiful that she rushed to his side and held his hands in hers. She lost herself for a second and raised his hands clasped inside hers to her lips. She kissed them. The way he looked at her broke her heart.

  She sprang back into her armchair and looked at Luka. “When I was a kid, I ended up in foster care. My father had died and my mom was unfit to take care of me. I bounced from home to home. It was awful. I didn’t know what it was like to belong to a family or to a home. For the longest time, I felt lost. I was always getting involved with dirt bags, guys who didn’t care about me. Which was fine — I didn’t care about me either. Until I came here. You and Susan.” Her words caught in her throat, but she pressed on. “You have been the only home I have ever known.” Melia choked back a sob. “I am so grateful to you guys for opening your home to me. You have no idea what it’s meant. Before I came here, my life was a mess. I have come to love Susan. It will be sad to have to say goodbye to her, and the worst”—Melia covered her mouth and her chest, and took a deep breath— “the worst will be leaving this home.”

  Now it was Luka who tried to come to her side. Melia felt her heart shattering into a thousand jagged pieces. She wanted nothing more than to disappear into the armchair as she was filled with a sorrow so complete she had no words to describe it. Susan’s death would deprive her of a friend and the man she loved. It was too much for her to bear in that moment.

  “Melia.” Luka cupped her face and locking his gaze with hers. She couldn’t help but appreciate just how beautiful he was. “Melia, I wanted to talk to you about what happened the other night. I know we said that it could never happen again, but it doesn’t have to be that way.”

  Melia opened her eyes wide and jumped out of her seat. “No. No, no, no.” She shook her head and backed away. She couldn’t do this. Not to Susan, not to herself. She ran upstairs, knowing what she had to do.

  In her bedroom, Melia struggled to stuff all of her things back into the boxes and suitcase she had brought with her only three months prior. She cried bitterly, hot tears streaming down her face... She cried until she was breathless with sorrow, and hiccupping, she threw herself onto the bed and fell asleep. When she awoke, it was dark. She reached for the lamp and looked at the clock next to her bed. It was past midnight. Her head was heavy and pounded with the headache that always followed a good cry. In the bathroom, she splashed ice-cold water onto her puffy face. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and her eyelids were swollen. She smoothed her hair, packed her toiletries into a box, and sat down at her desk.

  She took out two envelopes from a drawer, and while everything she felt was still fresh, she wrote a letter to Susan and one to Luka. When she was done and satisfied, she stuffed the letters under a corner of book on the desk.

  Making her bed for the last time, she trailed her fingers over all the books and smiled. This was the best thing for her, and she knew it. This was part of being an adult, she told herself. Sometimes, it was necessary to walk away from the most desired things in order to salvage the wreckage of one’s life.

  She nodded to herself and walked out quietly, hoping to make her exit without being heard.

  The next day, he felt terrible that she had misunderstood him. He wanted to kick himself for starting the conversation the way he had. She probably thought he was trying to convince her to commit adultery and cheat on Susan with him, that he only wanted to use her. If only she knew how he felt — that he loved her. Every fiber of his being needed to know that she loved him, too. He longed to tell her that Susan had orchestrated this, that he wasn’t a monster. The look of horror and disgust as she backed away from him had hurt him to his core. She had to know that she had misread him; he wasn’t capable of cheating on Susan. He had struggled so much to stay away from her throughout the last couple of months. He hadn’t succumbed to mere lust though; he had wanted to touch her because he loved her. He frowned into the cup of coffee he was preparing for Melia—a peace offering.

  Carefully, trying not to spill any of the hot liquid, he mounted the stairs. He softly knocked at the door with his foot and waited. He felt like a child rushing to the tree on Christmas morning; that same exhilarating anticipation kept a goofy smile on his face. He knocked again, thinking that perhaps she was sleeping or in the bathroom. He rehearsed what he would tell her over and over in his mind. He was sorry to disturb her; that he wanted to clear up the misunderstanding they had had the night before; that he wanted to preface everything with telling her that he loved her. Susan had known he would love her and that’s why she had chosen her. Luka grinned as he thought about it.

  But his smile began to fade as he realized that she wasn’t answering. H
e put the mugs on the floor and opened the door to Melia’s bedroom. The sun filtered in from the window, casting an eerie golden light on Melia’s neatly made bed. He leaned against the doorframe and took in the emptiness of the room. She had erased herself from the room, the only evidence of her stay there a book on the desk and the smell of her vanilla and patchouli perfume in the air. Luka clutched at his chest. He felt like he couldn’t fill his lungs with air as he closed the door and leaned against it, feeling profoundly bereft and lonely.

  9

  When Victor opened the door to his apartment, he found a pathetic-looking Melia standing there amongst her things.

  “Aye mija, I’m so sorry,” he said, hugging her instantly as she began to cry. He helped her bring her belongings inside and then ran to the kitchen to open a bottle of wine. They sat at the kitchen table drinking. Melia drained her cup quickly and poured herself another.

  “Oh, Victor, I really fucked this one up.” She threw back another cup.

  “Be careful, Melia, or you’re going to end up with your head in the toilet.”

  Melia snorted. “Anything would be better than this.”

  “What happened?”

  “I fell in love. I fell in love with Susan.” Victor raised an eyebrow. Melia threw a crumpled napkin at him. “No, not like that. She’s kind, warm, and direct. She was so strong and wonderful; you guys would have hit it off, Victor! I know you would have loved her. Everything about her screamed fierce. I really came to appreciate and love her genuinely. But then there’s Luka.” Melia drained her cup again. “Luka was smart, and so dedicated to his wife, and I fell in love with him, too. His eyes, the way he touched me…”

  “The way he touched you? Girl, are you crazy?”

  “I don’t know what came over me, Victor. I really don’t. I stopped it, I swear.”