"The Neighbors"

Sorry about the wait. I hope you stay with this story. There is a lot more to come…

Rated M for Mature Content.

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Chapter 20: Love or Obligation

And just when they sit at the table, Emily and Maya walk in through the slider unaware that their husbands and Emily's mom are in the house sitting at the dining room table looking up at them. When they finally do notice, their smiles and their laughter fade away as Emily's eyes open wider than ever. She drops Maya's hand and says with surprise in her voice,

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

Emily POV

Seriously, what the fuck are you doing here?

"What kind of welcome is that?" my mom asks bewildered.

"Sorry Mom, I'm just surprised," I say as I walk over to her giving her a warm hug.

"I came to see you at your very first art show at the Gallery but my train was delayed and I missed it so I came straight here. And Ryan has been just wonderful while we waited for you, Josh too. So where were you?"

"We got out so late we stayed in the city. If we knew our husbands were back, we would've come home right after the show," interjects Maya.

"Oh mom, this is Maya St., Grayson," I catch myself hoping no one heard me stumble through my introduction.

Maya walks over to my mom extending her hand to welcome her, "It's so nice to meet you Mrs. Fields. Josh and I are thrilled to have your daughter and Ryan for neighbors. They are just the kind of people we were hoping for."

Maya eye sexes me in front of everyone but I think they are all too focused on my mom's reaction to notice. And me, I'm caught in her eyes as I look at her really look at her for she is the woman I crave. She sees me as no one else does. She will do everything in her power to make sure I know that and feel that. I crave a woman addicted to me. Does she really exist? I think she does as she is standing right there before me. I crave her lips pressed onto mine. I crave to touch her beautiful skin. I crave the warmth of her body against me. But it's not just sexual, I crave her soul. I crave to hear the sound of her voice. I crave her essence. I crave a woman, her name is Maya. Hers is the perfect love we all want to have. Hers is the love I crave…

"So, Maya did your clients enjoy your nude portrait of Emily? And did anyone bid on it?" Josh asks forcing a shocked expression from my mother's face and everyone else as we can't believe he's being so blunt.

"Nude portrait of my daughter?" my mom asks in disbelief.

"Mom, Maya paints nudes. She asked me if I would pose for her and I mean, I was reluctant at first but after I saw them, how beautiful they were, I couldn't say no."

"Yes you could have," my mom stands furious with my decision.

"Mrs. Fields, if I may, her name was not used and no one will own that painting except for Emily and Ryan," Maya reassures looking so lovingly into my eyes. Is this really real? I hope so…

"Is it still hanging in the gallery?" my mom asks concerned.

"No, I had it taken down and wrapped. It will be delivered to my house and I can bring it over when it gets there," Maya explains placing her hand on my mom's forearm giving it a soft squeeze as she gives her a genuine smile which makes me smile that smile only she can make me smile.

"If you really want to know how great Maya is at painting then you should see the portrait she did of just Emily's face. It's stunning. I have no words to describe how perfectly she captured everything I've always loved about my wife," Ryan tries to break the tension in the room.

"Oh, you saw that painting?" Maya asks surprised.

"Yes, I showed it to him right before you and Emily finally got home," Josh says with an accusing tone.

"I'd like to see that painting before I leave if that's okay?" my mom asks Maya warmly.

"Of course. I would be happy to show it to you," Maya takes a breath letting it out slowly not really sure what her husband was getting at.

"So where are your bags?" Ryan asks me.

"I left my bag at the Gallery with my cell phone. I can't believe I forgot it so I packed my dress with Maya's stuff and borrowed some clothes," I say not realizing the implication of what I just said until it is too late. My eyes widen not knowing how to talk my way out of this one.

"So, you and Maya spent the night together?" my mom asks innocently.

"Yes, it didn't make sense to get a hotel room for her since I was staying at the Gallery owners penthouse," Maya tries to explain but somehow it just keeps getting worse.

"So you did spend the night together?" Josh asks not like a question but like his suspicions were just confirmed.

"His penthouse has so many rooms you wouldn't even know another person was there," Maya tries to cover.

It looks like my mom and Ryan are buying it but not Josh. This would be the perfect opportunity to come forward with our love affair but I can't do that right now. Not in front of my mother! We have to wait and I hope Maya understands…

"So mom, how do you like our home?" I ask trying desperately to change the subject as Maya and I collect the dishes placing them on the kitchen counter to be washed.

"It's beautiful. I can see why you like it here so much." That's not at all why I like it here so much.

As I put the dishes on the counter, my hand touches Maya's sending a shockwave throughout my body. I catch her gaze as our hands stay connected ever so slightly. I can see her deep within her eyes spinning circles around her latest conquest, me. She is a mysterious, sensuous woman. There are many secrets I have yet to uncover behind those dark and dangerous eyes. Her mind is so vivid expressing her inner passions through her painting and her dancing. (Oh her beautiful sexy dancing!) She is romantic and spiritual hiding her sensitive nature but never her passion. I can feel the depth of her emotions through her eyes and the strong current of her personality. I want this woman. I crave this woman…

"Emily, Emily…"

"What?"

"Where were you just then?" Ryan asks.

"Oh, I'm just tired. It's been such a hectic few days. I think I'm ready for bed." With Maya…

"Yeah, I've seen enough. Come on Maya let's go," Josh says coldly.

"Well okay then, it was really nice meeting you Mrs. Fields. Maybe we can all go to the city and you can see what your daughter does at the Gallery," Maya suggests sweetly as her pinky finger slips over mine giving it a gentle hug. I can't help but smile that smile only Maya can make me smile. I look down trying to disguise my excitement from her touch, even the tiniest of touches.

Josh takes Maya's hand leading her out of the house but before she is completely out of my view, she turns looking over her shoulder giving me a wink and a whispered "I love you." I'm melting as I return the gesture and then she's gone…

"Wow, I didn't expect Maya to be so beautiful and so charming," my mom observes.

But I don't answer; I just keep smiling that smile only she can make me smile.

"Honey, let me help you with those dishes," my mom insists.

"Is there anything I can do?" Ryan asks.

"Ryan, if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to Emily just me and her. It's just that it's been so long since I've seen her."

"No problem. I understand. I'll just be watching the sports channel if you need anything."

He starts to walk away but then he stops, turns and looks at me to say, "I love you Emily." And then off he goes to the other room.

My heart sinks as I want to say it back but I just can't. So what do I do instead, I smile. That's it, I just smile.

I'm washing while my mother is drying. It seems like she is in deep thought about something but I don't know what, "Mom, is there something on your mind?"

"I don't know. I just can't shake this feeling that I have."

"What do you mean?" She's actually worrying me.

"Before you and Maya got here, I was upstairs in the guest room when I heard something outside. I could swear I saw two people hugging and kissing but I convinced myself that it was nature playing tricks on me. Was nature playing tricks on me Emily?"

"I don't know what you mean. I hear and see things all the time. Ya know mom, the shadows do play tricks on you." God I hope she buys that.

"Maybe so but it seemed so real. I mean, you and Maya seem rather cozy with one another. Should I be worried?"

"Mom! What are you getting at?"

"Do you like her?"

"Of course I like her. She's my neighbor and basically she's become my best friend."

"Friend? Is that all she is to you?"

"Mom, you really need to stop. You've been traveling all through the night. You're tired. I'm tired. There's really nothing more to it than that." Why am I lying to her? Maya and I were supposed to come forward about our love for each other and here I am covering it up. But why?

"I really hope that's true Emily because you have a really wonderful husband who loves you very much. I would hate to see him hurting because you have a crush on your neighbor, your female neighbor." I say nothing. I can't lie anymore and I can't tell the truth either, not yet anyway. "I'm going to let you think about what I said. I love you honey and I know you'll do the right thing." She kisses my forehead and goes upstairs leaving me to face Ryan alone…

At the Graysons…

Maya POV

"Josh, did you see my cell phone anywhere? I must've dropped it on the couch the night before you left on your business trip. I didn't even realize I didn't have it."

"Yeah, I found it on the couch. I tried to find some phone numbers as to where you might be but you changed your password. Why?"

I turn away from him while I unpack so he can't see the distress on my face, "Well, I was talking to Ryan and he said it was a good idea to change it each month for my protection."

"Protection from whom? A jealous husband?"

I turn around quickly shocked at what I'm hearing, "Josh! What are you talking about?"

"I got pissed that I couldn't figure out the password so I threw it against the wall and it crumbled into a million pieces. But guess what? It triggered the voice mail." My eyes grow wide as I can't imagine what he heard. "It was Emily telling you she loves you." Shit!

I turn away from him again as my jaw drops to the ground hearing his words but not believing them, "Oh come on Josh we always say stuff like that to each other. You know, 'love you.' It's no big deal." Oh my god why am I lying! It is a big deal. It's the biggest deal ever! I'm a grown woman, why can't I be honest with my husband. Emily and I were supposed to tell them! But I can't. Not now. Not yet…

But before I can finish my thought, Josh comes up behind me grabbing me by the shoulders turning me to look at him. He's scaring me. He never handles me like this. Never!

"Josh, what are you doing? Let go of me?"

"Not until you tell me the truth! Are you in love with her? Don't even think about bullshitting me right now! Are you in love with her?!"

His eyes are narrowed and staring deep into my soul. I can barely breathe. I want to say yes. I want to end this angst once and for all but I just stand there lost in his hurting eyes unable to find my words, any words…

"Maya, please answer me!"

At the Sullivans…

Emily POV

"Hey Ryan. Are you ready for bed?"

"Not just yet. Can you sit next to me, please?"

I walk over to the couch sitting by his side wondering what it is he wants from me.

"That painting that Maya did of you, of just your face. I can't stop thinking about it."

"She's an amazing artist."

"Yes she is. But this was different."

"Different how?"

"You were smiling. But it wasn't just any smile. It was as if that smile was meant only for her."

"I haven't seen it yet." What is he talking about? Does he know?

"It doesn't matter if you've seen it or not. What matters is…was that smile meant for only her?"

There is such sadness in his voice as he asks me that question that question that I do know the answer to. The answer is 'Yes.' But can I find it in myself to say that to him, to hurt him so? What am I saying? Maya and I were going to leave our husbands tonight and I can't even answer a question about a painting!

"Emily, I said, was that smile meant only for her…"

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To Be Continued…

Sorry it took so long. I hope you crave more…

I can't take full credit for this chapter so I would like to thank the one who gave me the voice to continue…