by Donna Raider
Leah had forgotten that not even Richie knew who Mika was and what she could do. Of course, she would want her close by in case of emergency. Mika could never let anyone else know who she was.
Sara nursed contentedly as her family discussed their plans. Soon the small mouth went slack, and Leah knew her tummy was full. She lifted the baby to Richie, who placed her in her crib, bending over to kiss her gently.
Nana peeked around the door and flashed a big smile at the family. They all quietly left the nursery and went to the family room.
“We need to leave the house early in the morning, Nana,” Leah explained. “I’ll feed Sara and Adam before we leave.”
Nana nodded in agreement. “They have missed you,” she told Leah. “They are such good babies, but they were always cranky at feeding time. They wanted their mother.”
Leah’s smile was brilliant. Nana’s words pleased her.
##
Breakfast turned into a welcome home event, as early rising townspeople expressed their joy at seeing the mayor and the priest.
“What are you doing up so early,” Ruth sat down their coffee and Richie’s chocolate.
“We’re helping with the framing of the Women’s Shelter,” Richie exclaimed.
When did his voice get so deep? Leah thought as she watched her son laugh with Ruth. Is he shaving?
Grace, Isaac and Mary, entered the diner. “Richie, join us,” Isaac yelled.
“I need to finish breakfast,” Richie walked toward the group. “My family is helping with the Women’s Shelter today.”
“We’re helping, too,” Grace smiled sweetly. “We’re not supposed to be there until nine.”
“We want to get an early start.” Richie returned her smile. “I’ll see you later.”
“Is he shaving?” Leah whispered to her wife.
The priest nodded her head. Leah groaned softly.
Richie returned to his seat in their booth as Ruth placed their orders on the table. “I’ll be over at lunch,” she informed them. “Naomi is serving lunch to all the volunteers. I’m going to take their orders so we can have their meals on the table when they get here.”
“That is so nice,” the mayor tilted her head and smiled one of her sweetest smiles at the tall brunette.
Grace hesitantly approached their table, eyeing Leah cautiously. “Please, Grace, join us,” the mayor invited the teenager.
Grace slid into the seat next to Richie. “We’re all going to the new movie tonight. Isaac thought you might want to go,” Grace said softly, placing her hand on Richie’s thigh.
Although the placement of Grace’s hand did not seem to bother Richie, it sent his mother through the ceiling. “Young lady,” Leah said in her sternest voice, the small vein popping out on her forehead, “What do you think—?”
Mika squeezed her wife’s hand that was resting on her thigh and cut off the tirade she knew was coming.
“What do you think…plan on doing at the shelter?” Mika finished her wife’s sentence. “The mayor could use some help watching for potential accidents.”
“Oh, yes!” Grace exclaimed excitedly. “I would love to be of service to the queen. I…I…uh mean…”
Leah bowed her head. “Just find me when you get to the building site, please.” So I can have you fitted with a chastity belt.
Really, Your Majesty? Mika replied to her thoughts, grinning from ear to ear.
Grace scampered away leaving a fuming Leah glowering at her wife.
“I’ll run over to the church and get the keys to the forklifts,” Richie volunteered. “Meet you at the site in ten minutes.”
“We will be there, son,” Mika said.
As soon as Richie left the diner, the priest burst into laughter. “You’re funny,” she hugged her wife.
“Did you see where she put her hand?” Leah fumed. “I am well aware of what she was doing.”
“Said the Queen of Tease,” Mika grinned. “Did you see that it had no affect at all on him? We don’t turn on for just anyone, you know. Only the one we love.”
“He is shaving! Mika, when did he start shaving?” Leah almost sobbed. “And his voice! When did his voice become so. . .so manly?”
Mika could see her wife was working herself into a fit. She placed a calming hand over Leah’s. “Let’s discuss this tonight when we’re alone.” She directed Leah’s attention to the many diners who were very interested in their conversation.
##
Mika and Richie stood in the shade of a tree where they had left their tool belts. They had run the forklifts non-stop all morning and had placed all the lumber where it needed to be. They were ready to start framing. The midday sun beat down mercilessly on them. Most of the workers had already shed their shirts. They were making jokes about doing the same. Leah had left over an hour ago to feed the babies.
They smiled as they saw the mayor walking toward them with two glasses and a pitcher of something cold over ice.
“I thought you might like some lemonade,” Leah smiled, tiptoeing to kiss her wife.
“You are the best, Mom,” Richie chug-a-lugged the first glass.
“This is delicious,” Mika held out her glass for a refill. “Do you grow your lemons, My Queen?” Her eyes gleefully danced as she bantered with her wife. What I truly want is to drag you behind those bushes and…
The snap of Leah’s head, as she locked her gaze with Mika’s, told the priest her thoughts had been received.
“Uh, we’d better get back to work, son,” Mika mumbled.
I would be okay with that, Priest. Behind the bushes, I mean, Leah’s thoughts drove her crazy. Mika held her breath as she sashayed away from them.
“Mika,” Richie waved his hand in front of the priest’s face trying to get her attention. “Earth to Mika,” he laughed.
“Oh, I am sorry, son. I was just…”
“I know.” Richie laughed. “Watching my mom.”
“I…what were you saying before you became such a smarty?” Mika grinned.
“I was asking you if it would be okay if I took off my shirt. All the other guys have taken off theirs. Mine is soaking wet from perspiration. I’ll smell better without it. I’ll hang it from the tree limb. Maybe it will be dry when we go in for lunch.”
“Sure,” Mika nodded running her hand down the front of her soaked t-shirt aware of how it clung to her body revealing every curve.
Richie removed his shirt hanging it on the tree. Both buckled on their tool belts as they headed for their section of the framework.
Leah suppressed a moan, as she watched her wife walk across the grass. It was as if she were in slow motion. The sun seemed to reflect off her blonde hair, and a light sheen of perspiration glistened on her arms and face. Mika’s back muscles rippled, as she slowly fastened on her tool belt. Leah gasped for air as Mika flexed her shoulders, working out the kinks in her neck.
“My God, how do you keep your hands off her?” Ruth moaned beside her.
“I don’t,” Leah answered without thinking. She drained her glass of lemonade, seeking relief from the thoughts dancing in her head. Thoughts no lady should think.
I am game for all the above, My Queen! Mika’s thoughts entered Leah’s head as he bowed low to her, blue eyes holding hers from across the lawn.
“Leah, you’d better breathe before you faint.” Delilah joined the group of women ogling the priest. “Oh! My, gosh! She is gorgeous.” Delilah gasped as she caught sight of the woman.
“This heat is more than I can stand,” the mayor declared sharply. “I’m going to the diner where it’s cool. Ruth, aren’t you supposed to be taking the workers’ lunch orders, not drooling over them?” She whirled and stomped toward the diner. As she left, she noticed that a large crowd of men, women and teenagers had gathered to watch her son and wife.
Leah watched the workers as they filed into the restaurant. Naomi was strictly enforcing her No Shirt, No Service rule, so the aroma in the diner was less than delectable.
> “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Leah blinked her eyes, and all the workers had on clean shirts, including her wife and son.
“Whew, thank you for that, Madam Mayor.” Ruth fanned the air in front of her face as she placed their order on the table.
“We’re making a lot of progress,” Mika kissed her wife. “Uh, am I in trouble?” She asked, noting the cold reception her kiss received.
Don’t even talk to me; Leah’s thoughts were hot. I swear, one more word, and I will ravish you right here in front of the entire town.
The priest ate her burger in silence. She had no idea what she had done to illicit such a reaction from her wife, but she liked it.
“Amber,” Richie called the green-eyed beauty to their booth. “Please, join us.”
Half this town is lusting after my wife or my son; the mayor rubbed her temples. It is unbearably hot, and I need some relief. The twins didn’t even come close to helping me get comfortable.
“Honey,” the priest smiled knowingly, “I need to run over to the rectory before we go back to work. Will you walk with me?”
“Of course,” she smiled.
As soon as they entered the coolness of the church, Leah transported them to Mika’s bedroom in the rectory. Their clothes dropped to the floor, and Mika pulled her into her arms. She lay down beside Leah and touched her gently. Moving her lips to her breast, she resolved her discomfort. Mika chastised herself for forgetting to take care of her this morning. Leah’s sighs of relief told her everything was okay.
“I am such a bad wife,” she murmured against Leah’s lips. “Why didn’t you say something?” She kissed Leah’s lips gently, then more eagerly. Leah pulled her hard against her running her tongue between Mika’s lips demanding entrance and receiving a pleasurable welcome.
“Um, you taste like a milkshake,” Leah chuckled.
“Wonder why,” Mika kissed her slowly, thankfully. “You know this is all the time we have. Richie will be looking for us to get back to work.”
“Please, baby” Leah kissed her, a soul-searing kiss.
“I’m so whipped,” Mika grinned moving to please her.
When Leah finished with her, she dressed them. Putting her arms around her wife’s neck for one more kiss, she said, “Don’t even think about wearing a wet t-shirt in public again. I won’t have my wife and son putting on a Chippendales show for the people of our town.”
“So whipped,” Mika grinned.
##
They materialized under the tree where the priest’s tools were. Mika buckled on her tool belt and looked around for Richie.
“Oh, good,” Mika laughed, as she spied her son and Amber walking toward them, “I beat Richie here.”
“Mika, where were you? We were looking for you and Mom,” Richie hailed his parents. “How late are we working? I promised Amber we’d go to the movies. There’s a new chick flick at the theater,” he grinned.
“We should probably work as long as we have daylight,” the priest answered. “That should be around seven-thirty.
“The show starts at seven” Richie frowned then looked questioningly at Amber.
“Why don’t you leave at five-thirty? We did get here two hours before anyone else this morning,” Mika offered.
“You sure it’s okay?” Richie worried, not wanting to let down Mika.
“I promise,” Mika assured him. “Maybe I can get your mom to work a little magic on our side of the building.”
Richie nodded in agreement. He loved it when his mom kicked in with her magic. She didn’t do it often, but when she did, it was always for a good cause.
Leah watched her wife and son as they framed out one long side of the building. She was pleased to see that the two were working twice as fast as any other group of workers.
Ruth, Mary, and Emily carried a huge iced tea dispenser. Delilah and Amber carried an equally large ice chest. Grace and Mary followed with plastic cups. The workers took a break.
The mayor watched as Max shyly approached his wife and kissed her gently. Leah considered Max and Mary one of their success stories. With Dr. David’s help, they had resolved Max’s jealousy, and the two now had a beautiful baby boy. It was obvious they were very happy.
Leah noticed that the other workers had already removed their sweat-stained shirts. Only Mika and Richie still wore their shirts. She knew her wife had relayed her wishes to her son.
“I have to go home and tend to the twins,” Leah informed Mika. “I’ll be back right after sundown. I believe we can move this construction along. Do you have the blueprints?”
“I do,” Mika nodded. “Any help you can give us will be deeply appreciated.”
Legion watched the couple. They were so much in love. It almost made him wish the Queen could have her happy ending. Almost!
CHAPTER 36 - Playing Horsey with Mommy
“Quick, run to Bubba,” Richie laughed as Sara and Adam ran crooked paths to him, their little legs moving as fast as possible for a two-year-old. Mika was crawling on her hands and knees pretending to chase them.
The twins squealed as Richie swept them up from the floor and turned to keep Mika from getting them. He sat down on the floor with a baby on each leg. “Once again, Bubba has saved his babies from the dreaded tickle monster.” Richie hugged them tightly and kissed each of them on the cheek as they climbed his chest to perch on his shoulders.
Mika fell over on her back, arms and legs outstretched, pretending to be asleep.
“Get her,” Richie encouraged the two, as they slowly climbed out of his lap and crawled toward their mother. Approaching Mika cautiously, they giggled as they stood up and threw themselves onto the priest’s stomach.
“Humph,” Mika groaned as she swept them up in her arms and made slurping noises on their necks. They squealed and laughed, reaching to Richie for help.
“Bubbie, Bubbie, help us,” they giggled, holding out their little arms to Richie.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” Mika laughed. “Mommy has you now.”
Leah watched her family from the doorway. She had never dreamed her heart was capable of so much love. She caught her breath as the twins simultaneously leaped from Mika’s arms into Richie’s arms.
“Horsey, Mommy,” they pleaded as Richie sat them down on the carpet.
“Okay,” Mika laughed. “Whose horse am I tonight?”
“Mine,” squealed Adam, climbing onto Mika’s back.
“Oh, I get to be the steed for the White Princess,” Richie smiled as he hoisted Sara onto his back.
Leah laughed out loud, as she watched her wife chase her son around the family room.
“Faster, Bubbie, run faster,” Sara shrieked kicking her heels into Richie’s sides as if her actions would spur him ahead of her mother.
“Run, Mommy, faster,” Adam urged his mother to catch his brother and sister. “They get away.”
Richie crawled into the dining room and skidded around the table, hiding behind the buffet. “Shush,” he whispered to Sara.
Mika and Adam crawled into the dining room. “Do you see them?” The priest asked Adam in a whisper.
“No,” Adam’s big blue eyes searched the dining room. “Go in there.” He pointed toward the kitchen. Mika cautiously crawled toward the kitchen.
“Not here,” Adam observed.
“Oh, no!” Mika exclaimed. “We’ve left the castle unprotected.” She whirled and crawled toward the foyer and circled into the family room.
Both make believe horses crawled into the family room at the same time clashing and carefully spilling their riders. Mika and Richie rolled over on their backs, laughing, as two cherubs bounced on their stomachs.
“Where is Queen Mommy,” Mika asked, searching for her wife. “Find Queen Mommy.”
Sara and Adam ran as fast as their little legs would carry them. They tackled their mother around the knees, squealing, “Queen Mommy, Queen Mommy.”
“You are just in time,” Leah laughed as she picked up the twins. “Dinner is
ready.”
Mika and Richie set the table and placed Sara and Adam in their highchairs.
“Amber called,” Leah informed Richie. “She’s running a little late.”
The doorbell rang, and the eighteen-year-old sprinted toward the door.
“Let me take this opportunity to tell my girl that I think she is the most beautiful woman in the world,” Mika smiled, kissing her wife gently.
“And the luckiest,” Leah kissed her again. “I never dreamed I could be so happy. Thank you.”
“Thank you for marrying me,” her wife whispered in her ear as Richie and Amber entered the room. “You made all this possible.”
“Something smells delicious,” Nana joined them. The twins called out for her as soon as they saw her.
After dinner, Richie and Amber went to the bowling alley, and Nana took the babies upstairs.
Mika carried the dishes to the sink as Leah put them in the dishwasher. “What is happening in your world tomorrow?” She asked.
“I am all yours,” Leah tilted her head, inviting Mika to kiss down the side of her neck.
“Want to take out the boat?” Mika murmured in her ear.
“Oh, yes, darling.” Leah turned in Mika’s arms and kissed her hungrily. “I would love to have a day alone with you.”
##
Mika put away the last of the dishes. “Want to watch a movie,” she asked.
“We can, if that is what you would like to do,” Leah smiled sensuously. “Or we could go to bed early.”
“I’m not sleepy,” Mika teased.
“Who said anything about sleeping,” dark eyes looked up at her through long lashes and full red lips parted as she ran the tip of her tongue along her bottom lip. “Guess who’s horsey you are tonight, Mommy,” she chuckled, a deep throaty sound that made a tremor run through Mika’s body.
##
Leah could hear the squealing and laughter as Sara and Adam woke their brother. She steeled herself for the attack she knew was coming. “Do you have on your pajama bottoms,” she whispered to her wife as she checked to make certain she had on a full pair of pajamas. After one embarrassing occasion when all three of their children had attacked their bed with them naked, they had learned never to fall asleep without clothing themselves decently.
