by Londyn Skye
James moved delicately inside of Lily, at first, covering her mouth in deep, slow, fiery kisses throughout every stroke. Lily immediately fell under the spell of his profound affections. Very quickly, any and all pain was overshadowed by the euphoria she felt while he rode passionately through the tight cavern of her body. “Jaaames,” she sang in a velvety tone after his soft stroking began pushing her body faster up its blissful ascent.
The sound of his name escaping Lily’s lips fueled James’s desire to make this moment last for her, to ensure that she did not ever regret allowing him to be the first man inside of her. He found even more strength when he saw Lily’s eyes roll back and her eyelids darken her world. He marveled at the sight of her slightly parted lips and the overall look of gratification on her face, like she had just been welcomed into a heavenly realm. James felt proud to have taken her to that world, a world in which he prayed Lily was feeling completely free in.
In response to his slow and loving patience, Lily spread her legs even wider to welcome even more of James into her. At that moment, the pair began reading and feeding off of each other, one understanding what the other needed as if they had made love in another life, merging physically just as naturally as their souls had as children. They moved in sync as their sweat-slicked bodies glided erotically across one another in perfect rhythm and harmony, all of which was illuminated beautifully by the flickering firelight nearby.
Manifested within every stroke into her body, was an emotion or feeling that James wished to silently communicate with Lily. His efforts proved not to be in vain. In every kiss, gentle touch, and soft glide between Lily’s folds, she could feel the sincerity of his love radiating throughout every inch of her body. Over and over again, Lily was absorbing every anguished emotion that James had attempted to convey to her that night and throughout the years. It was because of those silent, sincere, impassioned confessions that Lily’s tears began to fall, and her angelic moans began to rise. Hearing her reaction, James gently buried himself even further within her, hastening his strokes and turning Lily’s breathy moans into guttural cries of elation. The heat he created within her began to rage, and she buried her nails into James’s back. Her body began begging for mercy and yet more of him at the same time. Pumping her hips up toward James, meeting him thrust for thrust, Lily arched her back, her insides tightened and erupted violently, covering the length of him in her juices. She then cried out James’s name again like a sultry song, as the elation of pure pleasure rippled throughout her entire body.
The look on Lily’s face was a luxurious treat for James’s eyes. The sound of his name erupting from her in that lascivious tone brought joy to his ears. The beautiful combination ultimately gave him the freedom to finally let go too. His body rewarded him with a long, intense, soul-piercing climax that tensed every muscle within him and reverberated into every inch of his being. He let out a guttural groan of overwhelming gratification as he ejaculated hard into Lily, pumping his seed deep within her womb before collapsing weakened and limp on top of her.
The pleasurable sensations were pleasantly drawn out for both of them, taking its sweet time to secede from the tips of their nerves. They breathed heavily in sync as they made their long descent from the heavens together, their chests rising and falling in perfect rhythm. While lying there waiting to catch his breath, James began kissing Lily’s forehead lightly and caressing her face. “Are you alright?” he asked her when he was finally able.
Lily did not reply. Instead, James felt a tear trickle onto his hand.
“Are you cryin’?” he asked, suddenly fearing that he had hurt her in some way. He shifted to move his weight off of her, but she stopped him.
“Please, don’t move,” Lily begged, holding on to James even tighter. “Stay here inside ‘a me. Just a little while longa’ … Please?”
“I’m here,” James assured her, continuing to caress her face. “Let me in, Lily,” he whispered. “Tell me what you’re feelin’?”
“Free,” she said through her tears. “I feel free when you’re inside ‘a me.”
James closed his eyes tight, trying desperately to fight back the sudden rush of emotions that threatened to surge forward through them. He kissed Lily softly in response and let his lips linger on hers for a moment while he lay there content to be inside of her for as long as she needed.
“I ain’t neva’ felt nothin’ like this before in my life,” Lily confessed after they had lain there for a while.
James kissed her again before slowly rolling off her. From behind, he pulled Lily toward him, molded his body next to hers, and wrapped his arms tightly around her. “That’s what it feels like to be loved,” he whispered in her ear, caressing her gently, hoping to still convey his feelings for her through his touch.
Soothed by the feel of James molded against her, Lily fell into a slumber not long after that. As she lay there, James continued his nightly tradition of watching her sleep, but this time with the honor of holding her close and kissing her soft, bare skin lightly from time to time. He then fell into a sound and peaceful sleep of his own unlike any other his body had ever allowed him in his adult life—one that was completely free from the nightmares that usually plagued him. It was a feat that only proved possible with Lily nestled lovingly in the protection of his arms: the place where James finally had the courage to admit that he had wanted Lily for years.
Chapter Twenty
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Sunday November 13, 1859
The Dream Symphony
The critically acclaimed
visual and musical showpiece
playing
one night only
at
Winter Garden Theater
Christmas, 6 pm.
Tickets now on sale!
December 1859
A stunning photo of Lily seated at a grand piano with the image of a floating, shadowed angel in the background accompanied that short New York Times front page listing. Within twenty-four hours of hitting newsstands, at three times the normal ticket price, The Dream Symphony had completely sold out at Winter Garden, the most prestigious theater in the United States.
In the beginning, Landon Von Brandt had helped clear the path for the journey that had led the show to this point, using his clever, relentless strategies. On this occasion, however, he did not have to use passive-aggressive verbal exchanges with the coordinators of the theater or dig up incriminating financial documents to force them to allow Lily to perform there. Instead, it was the powers that be at Winter Garden who extended an invitation to Lily after her show quickly proved itself to be the powerhouse that it was. They simply could not pass on the opportunity to welcome Lily with open arms after so many newspapers in the North began writing feverishly about her journey to success. A multitude of articles had deemed Lily as The Prodigy Slave: a supremely talented pianist and composer, who had earned her freedom by bringing her dreams to life as dancing shadows, infused with a style of music ahead of its time, in a mystical, ingenious, “must-see” phenomenal show.
As the demand for tickets to see The Dream Symphony continued to grow, Landon had made the tough decision, along with Lily, to let the lie about her freedom continue to further enhance the fascination about her theatrical masterpiece. Not only did the curiosity about her show continue to grow but so, too, did the respect from those who welcomed Lily and her entourage to their cities. Gone rather quickly were the days when journalists were eager to tell lies to abort Lily’s musical ambitions. Gone with it was the humiliation of being rejected from hotels, sleeping in the back rooms of theaters, and of owners demanding demeaning changes to her show. With the blend of controversy and overwhelming praise from critics, Lily’s color began to have little relevance. In a matter of just six short months, she was now being embraced with the dignity she well deserved, in every place her journey was taking her.
While Landon was proudly handling the dirty work behind the scenes on The Dream Symphony journey, Wil
liam had been loyally by Lily’s side, passing on his life wisdom and helping to make her transition into the world of music as seamless as possible. Through his devotion, Lily had learned to conduct herself as a true professional. Day by day, her musical expertise grew exponentially, all while her symphony traveled slowly on a tour through every major city in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Lily’s stint in Pennsylvania had long since ended, and she was now in the midst of yet another sold-out show at a popular venue in Jamestown, New York, playing the final show of a five-night stretch. After the completion of her show there, she would soon be pressing further east for her highly anticipated Christmas performance at Winter Garden. The state-of-the-art, well-known theater was located in Manhattan on an up and coming street that was starting to become synonymous for its artistry, eclectic entertainment, and unique performers … a street known as Broadway.
To say that Lily’s life had evolved tremendously while on her journey to a prestigious theater, on a famed stretch of road, would be a monumental understatement. After coming from a life where she had absolutely nothing, everything that Lily was experiencing during her journey managed to have a profound effect on her. But it was not the fancy hotels, the tailor-made dresses, the fine dining at fancy restaurants, performing in elaborate theaters, or the money that now poured in like a heavy summer rain that had the greatest impact on Lily. She indeed appreciated those things, but what impacted her more than anything were simply people. All of the perfect strangers who tearfully applauded while she bowed at the end of every performance brought Lily an immense amount of joy. The people who approached her at post-show events to confess how moved they were by the two-hour experience of her dream show had mutually moved Lily as well. Lily’s massive mental collection of those accepting, appreciative Negro and Caucasian faces never once left her psyche. Each and every one of them had infused themselves into her soul, empowering her to write the sort of music that erupted from the warmth they bestowed upon her. Her beloved fans were always one of the many reasons why she broke down into tears as she prayed every night, thanking God for allowing her the honor of finally knowing what it was like to feel human.
But far above any other person, Lily’s mother reigned supreme and remained at the root of the emotion in her music. Her mother was also the reason that Lily never forgot her tumultuous beginnings, nor took for granted the life she felt God was now granting her. Always remembering that her mother and other slaves had never been afforded such luxuries helped Lily to remain humble. She absorbed every new experience, no matter how big or small, with profound appreciation, and accepted the help she received from everyone with the sincerest gratitude, no matter how significant their contribution to her cause.
Along with her mother and her fans, there were three other people that Lily held dear to her during her time on the road. They were three brave men who had put their lives on the line and used every bit of power they had to catapult her from the filth of a cottonfield into the spotlight of a highly regarded stage on Broadway. They were three men who stood steadfast by her side throughout every step of her journey, watching in complete awe at the way she handled the transformation of her life with such grace and humility. They were three men who, while helping Lily’s life change, consequently had theirs change for the better as well. William Werthington often thanked God for sending Lily into his life and giving him a reason to climb out of the dark hole he was living in after losing Emma. Landon Von Brandt, the imperial narcissist, had set his selfishness aside because of Lily and finally found a greater purpose in his life outside of himself. But none was more affected by Lily than the only man of the three who had embraced her years before he ever knew about her musical gift. Long before newspaper articles were written about her, years before there was an overwhelming demand to see her sold-out shows, and talks of performing on Broadway, Lily had changed James Adams. It did not take something as epic as their wondrous musical adventure to transform his life. Lily’s presence, her being, simply the fact that she existed in his world, had altered James’s life from the very first moment she became a part of it.
Weeks earlier, during Lily’s photo session for the New York Times, James had stood in a corner absorbing the beautiful sight of her smiling while experiencing yet another first: a photographer creating visual proof of her existence. As he proudly watched her, James began to wonder what his life would be like without Lily, but then realized that he already knew the answer to that question. Without ever taking his eyes off of her, as she posed for the camera, he began recounting how miserable he had been during the years they had spent apart. He remembered how denying his feelings and living his life so far away from her had caused him to quickly morph into a man that he was ashamed of. He recalled how angry he then became at himself for not having the resources or the courage to stand up to his father and take Lily with him when he left home. He thought back to how he was in serious denial about the fact that mistreating Lily and leaving her behind was at the root of his rage, drinking, and promiscuity. But with the way his life had changed since he walked through the doors of his boyhood home back in January, James now knew that he could never again question that Lily was undeniably the problem and the remedy to all that troubled him while he was away. Simply being in her presence had instantaneously halted everything that had been ailing him through the years, no different than the day they first met. The truth in that, however, was something that James had only summoned the courage to completely give in to after Lily’s concert at Branaugh Theater six months prior. That night, it was Lily’s willingness to forgive James and express it through her words, her emotions, and the sharing of her body, that had the power to permanently seal off that chasm in his soul, the way a thousand women, gallons of whiskey, and dozens of bar fights would have failed to do. With Lily considering him once again as her confidant, best friend, and now her lover, James finally felt like the sort of man he could be proud of again, and most importantly, one that Lily could be proud of.
Giving in to what he felt for Lily not only healed James, but also gave him the strength and motivation to help her begin to heal too. He began sealing her wounds with the passion, patience, understanding, and love that he promised to give her. As a result, he quickly witnessed Lily’s confidence explode and saw a more intimidating, courageous woman begin to emerge. James was extraordinarily proud to see how her transformation showed in the way Lily commanded the stage, in the way that she now walked with her head held high, and in the way she now looked people in the eyes whenever she spoke to them. But of course, what he enjoyed more than anything was the change in her sensual side when it finally began to flourish.
James had been slow with Lily intimately, at first, giving her the opportunity to explore and ask anything of him that she desired while she went about discovering a side of herself that was a mystery. He had catered so well to Lily emotionally and physically that being one with him and trying new things had quickly become an addiction for her, nearly as strong as her drive to create music. With her newfound obsession, all of the awkwardness that Lily once felt, when James would simply look at her with want in his eyes, had completely vanished. In place of that timid girl, a fearless lioness was born with sexual desires that proved to be unrelenting and parallel to her man’s. Her desires were so strong that Lily soon became the aggressor on their sexual conquests, taking the lead on their spontaneous escapades, gazing at James in crowded rooms during large gatherings with lust-filled eyes that seductively eluded to what she wanted. And James certainly obliged in every way possible, never once daring to deny her.
Before her tour began, Lily had continued her ritual of leaving letters for James underneath his door, but this time containing graphic verbiage or instructions that sometimes led him out to her favorite tree on William’s estate at late night hours. James would eagerly make his way there only to find Lily’s clothing left behind on the shore of the lake as she swam nearby, enticing him with the knowledge of her nudity. Seeing Lily t
here, dying to touch her, to hold her, James would nearly tear his clothes off before diving in and chasing her down as she playfully tried to escape. All the while, both would be laughing as carefree as children at their silly antics. It was never long, though, before James caught his woman and their laughter was replaced by the sounds of soft moaning as he tasted every visible part of her skin and devoured her full lips. In those moments, the cool water did nothing to stop the heat within Lily from rising. Thoroughly aroused by James’s affections, she would wrap her legs firmly around his waist, begging him to penetrate her without a single word. Responding immediately to what Lily wanted, James would quickly bury himself deep within her and passionately make love to her underneath the soft glow of the moonlight, letting the echo of their pleasure-filled sighs mix harmoniously with the sounds of the nocturnal creatures of the night. Afterward, they would sneak back into the house and lay together near the fireplace, where James would then slowly kiss and massage every inch of Lily’s body with Anna Mae’s specially made lotion, the way Lily had once fantasized. Once his woman was warmed and relaxed, James would pull her in close to him, arranging her in such a way that as much of her bare skin was pressed to his as humanly possible. The simple pleasure of having Lily wrapped tightly in his arms, keeping her safe and warm, continued to give James the peace of mind to sleep soundly and completely free from his nightmares.
After setting out on tour, Lily grew even bolder, initiating numerous playful trysts with James in their enclosed carriage, during their rides to hotels, or in dressing rooms after her shows. She would tease and arouse him with her lips in the most erotic of ways, tempting him in places she knew she should not, turning on his carnivorous craving to ensure that he would be ready to greet the warmth between her thighs when their hotel room door shut behind them. It was on one of those incredible nights that James realized that Lily had indeed defined for him the true meaning of passion and lovemaking, just as his dreams had predicted. The power and intensity of what they shared had further cemented their bond and added yet another layer to James’s plethora of reasons to love Lily. Their newly rebuilt bond was the reason why James had stood in the corner watching the New York Times photographer capture images of Lily, realizing that there was no looking back, that the torture of his life without her now would easily eclipse any and all pain he had ever felt in his life.