FORBIDDEN PLEASURE

Prologue

Leola looked sexy in black, Ty thought.She was elegant despite the recent tragedy that made her a widow.

      A group of friends offered their condolences for her husband,Joe Davidson.Tyler stood near the food table in the back watching Leola as she greeted everyone.A smile that didn't reach her eyes graced her lips when an olderly lady hugged her and whispered in her ear.

Sadness dimmed her blue-grey eyes that usually sparkled with life whenever he was around.What she didn't know is that he had seen that emotion frequently during her five-year marriage to his patner and best friend .Joe always saw leola as his possesion than a wife.He had broken all the vows he had recited during there wedding.Too many nights spent in clubs when not on duty with women gripping onto him like a life line while his wife waited at home not knowing whether he was alive or a bullet had got to him.

     Over the years ,Ty had felt obligated to make up for his best friend's behaviour by being a confidant and friend to Leola.His good intentions had backfired.
  Joe might have married lee but Ty was more her husband than he had ever been.
[lee -Leola's nickname]

Lee glanced around as if looking for specific and halted when her eyes landed on him.Her expression softened when she saw Ty.A familiar longing stirred between them,that neither had ever acted on.
  She moved towards him and he too as if he was being pushed forward by an invisible force.They met at the centre of her living room and for a moment everyone around them faded.
               Her traditional black dress that reached just bellow her knees traced her curves such that he could fill ty junior stirring.Brunette hair perfectly framed her face ,that was of an angel.She had left her hair to flow down her back rather than the ponytail she always had whenever  he went over.

  Not a care for the people in the room,Ty reached forward and pressed a loving kiss to her forehead ."I'm so sorry for your loss Lee .I am here for you ,whatever you need feel free to ask me,"his condolence seemed inadequate for the tragic events of the past week . "No need to worry.I'll be fine,"she whispered her voice dry from crying "thanks for coming ."
" No need for formalities with me,"he pocketed his hands into his suit"you know i would have been here for you .No matter what."

"I wasn't sure you would be able to attend."she smiled slightly,"i know you have a tight schedule."

Lee was used to joe being away from home almost 24/7 claiming he had a tight schedule.By the frown on Ty's face she knew that was yet another lie her husband had told her and she,the ever naive wife,had believed.

  Ty saw the tear that dropped from her eye.He wiped it off and pulled her in for a hug.He couldn't help the anger that he felt for the deceased right now cause he didn't even deserve the title of being his best friend.He lost that the moment he started mistreating his wife.
"I could really use some fresh air,"Lee uttered distracting him from his thoughts."Care to join me?"
"Sure"
  They slipped discreetly out the front door and followed a walkway veering to a white gazebo surrounded by plants and flowers.Night-blooming jasmine twined through lattice columns around the structure.

"How have you been ?"Ty asked quietly .Glancing back at him,she gave a slight shrug ."As well as can be expected .The funeral has worn me down, am glad its finally over.But i still can't believe he is dead. I am expecting him to tumble in drunk as always saying its a joke ."
  Ty saw the pain reflected in her eyes.He wished to sweep her away to an island and protect her from all this.
    "Joe was always gone so much that a part of me just feels like this is an extended leave on a case ,"she mummered into his chest as he held her muffling her sniffles.

He heard the pain in her voice .It mingled with the loneliness he had seen glimpses of in the past few years .
"You know it was always my fear that he would get killed in the line of duty ." " Getting killed in the line of duty is a risk all cops take.""I know ,but it never eased much ,"she replied to him.
"I'm sorry."He didn't know what else to say."Don't be ."She waved a hand in the air as if to dismiss his apology.

"It's not always easy being a cop's wife,"she said after a while"Why didn't you warn me." "If i had would you have listened?"he asked teasingly.She laughed truly ,a laugh that he had missed to hear ,"Probably not."
"Then there is your answer"
          "Have you learnt more about the accident that killed him ?"He chose his answer carefully so as not arise a disagreement "It's still under investigation,"he replied"I  will let you know when the investigation is over and i am at liberty to say.