Part 12: 'DELIVER US FROM TEMPTATION'
1998
Greenwich, CT
When he arrived at his parents' house early Friday evening, Sean looked around and found that no one seemed to be home. He decided to go in and say hello to his grandfather. He walked down the hallway and turned the corner to his grandfather's side of the house. When Sean entered grandpa William's room he saw that the old man was sitting in his favorite chair with the remote in his hand chuckling to a Bob Hope movie on the classic movie channel.
"Hey, grandpa. Want some company?"
Grandpa William was happy to see his grandson "Hey, boy come sit over here and look at this with me."
Sean sat down on the small love seat and gazed at the television while thinking of how he could get out of his date with Sheridan. He just did not feel like pretending with her tonight. None of the excuses he thought of seemed feasible, so he just sat back and watched the TV with his grandfather; waiting for the time when he had to go pick Sheriden up for their date. Suddenly grandpa spit out some tobacco in his can and the sound startled Sean.
"Granpa, why do you keep dipping that tobacco. Don't you know that stuff is probably the cause of your emphysema? "
"Don't tell me about tobacco, boy. Your great, great grandfather made his living on tobacco, you know?"
" I thought the family was into breeding thoroughbreds back then?"
"Well, they were, but your grandpa had his own thing going on the side for a while. Before long he helped the family run the horse farm, but a lot of his money was made in tobacco. And that's where your trust fund originated."
"Humph, I didn't know that." Sean said becoming interested in his ancestor. He folded his arms behind his head and relaxed waiting to hear grandpa tell him more. "What else can you tell me about your grandfather."
"Well, boy, it's a lot of things you don't know about him and I don't think I'll live long enough to tell it all to you."
"Awe come on grandpa, don't wuss out on me with the old, tired and dying excuse. You're living right now, so tell me what kind of man he was. Do I really look like him as much as you always say I do?"
"Well, first of all, you do look a lot like him, 'cept you're a little taller and thicker. He had crystal blue eyes like ours. His hair was almost cut like yours and he was just a great man all around."
"Why was he so great?"
"Well, he loved the land, the people and most of all he loved his family. He didn't take to well to what everybody else did or expected him to do. He left home when he had a fight with his father over financial matters and my great grandfather, Ned, accused the woman who would become grandfather's wife of messing up his books."
"It must have been a big argument for him to move out? Did his father not like great, great grandmother."
"Well, it wasn't like that, she actually worked for him as his secretary and bookkeeper."
"Really. Well if he trusted her with his books, why would he accuse her?"
"Well there were other issues that he was dealing with that he refused to see at the time, but eventually it all worked out."
Not wanting to uncover the past that he had hidden for so many years, Grandpa William scathed the real issue "Things were different then, son. Men couldn't do what they wanted, and if they tried, it would sometimes result in harm to everybody else, in the form of loss of business, hiked up prices or a slew of other things that men could think of to punish each other for the things they didn't agree with. There were even certain standards about who you could marry back then which would also affect the family."
"So, I guess, because great, great grandmother's family didn't have a lot of money, then people would have really looked down on that?"
"Yeah, something like that, son."
"So, obviously he married her anyway. How did everybody take it?"
"Well, it took some time for them to marry. They were in love with each other since they were teenagers and when they got to be young adults, the attraction was too strong for them to deny it. They would sneak around and steal kisses with each other throughout the day. My grandfather would make up special projects that grammy Marita would have to help him with so that they could be alone."
"So grandpa , what are you saying, they messed around, back then?" Sean asked half laughing at the notion of people fooling around in the late 1800's.
"I guess that's what you could call it at least for back in those days. Yeah I guess they fooled around."
"Tell me about it grandpa. I know they told you the story or at least your father did."
Grandpa knew all too well the story of his grandparents. As a young boy, he always had questions about his colored grandmother, so his grandparents' love story had been reiterated so many times that it was engraved in his memory for eternity, locked away intentionally to avoid the indignation his grandfather had to withstand just to be with his grandmother. Grandpa started to tell Sean some of the story, again leaving out the true identity of his grandmother. "Well the last straw for them occurred during a Masquerade party that my great grandfather, Ned had hosted. After that incident they both knew that they had to get married or risk disgracing themselves and their family in other ways...
______________________________________________________________________
1883
At The Masquerade Party
Lexington, KY
"I'm glad to see you could make it." Marita said to Sean as she eased up next to the masked stranger who had just walked in.
"How'd you know it was me?" Sean asked removing his mask.
" I just knew." She replied looking back into the crowd of dancing marauders. She longed to be able to go out on the dance floor with Sean, but quickly dispelled the notion, knowing it would not happen.
"You make a beautiful Cleopatra." Sean whispered as he admired Marita's soft silken brown skin under the blunt wig that adorned her head and he remembered the kiss they had shared when she came by his office a few days before to convince him to come home. He would not concede, but he did agree to come to the party to see everyone.
"Thank you kind sir and you must be one of the handsomest --- well who are you supposed to be?" She asked studying his costume.
"Can't you tell? I'm a court jester. See these things here..." Sean continued to point out the different aspects of his costume and how he could be identified. They stood together for a while and talked about Sean coming back home, but he would not back down and Marita grew tired of trying to convince him.
As the night went along Marita realized that if they continued to stand on the sidelines together people would become suspicious.
"Well, I think I'm going to go home."
"And leave me here by myself?" Sean became saddened that he would be left to deal with the family about his leaving. He also wasn't ready for Marita to leave because he enjoyed being with her so much. Noticing Isaac's absence he asked, "Where's your father?"
"He went to Louisville to see his cousin. You know he usually doesn't take part in these functions."
Sean had quickly surmised that if Isaac were in Louisville the earliest he would be back, if he had left that day, would be tomorrow afternoon. "Yeah, you're right, he doesn't. When is he coming back? "
"Probably day after tomorrow, he just left after work today."
Silently elated at the possibilities Isaac's absence presented, Sean saw this as an opportunity to spend some time alone with Marita. Since he left home their encounters were brief, leaving him empty and unfulfilled.
"Let's get outta here. I'll meet you at the field." He said leaving the room knowing she would soon follow. He made his way to the clearing and waited against the fence, staring out at the clearing until Marita would join him.
As he waited he thought about Marita's visit to his office during the middle of the week. He had been washing up preparing to go to the field that Vivian had leased to him and start plowing for his next tobacco crop. When he saw MArita that day, all he wanted was to fuse his lips with hers. He had been so amused a few days before, when she spoke of looking for a friend who was 'short, bald, and fat with no teeth' and he knew she had missed their afternoon rendezvousing at the lakeside where they would share their kisses before he walked her home. Her excuse was that she was on a mission to get him back home, but what she really wanted was to see him herself. When they locked their mouths together he prayed that she would stop talking about everybody else and share a little intimacy with him on the twin sized bed that he had set up in his office. Unfortunately, she wouldn't relent, and he had become irritated with the subject and suddenly was not in the mood anymore for intimacy, so he got up and finished buttoning his shirt. Eventually he found that she had talked him into going to the Masquerade party his father was hosting for his new wife, Charlotte.
Now as Sean waited for Marita, he again longed to share more intimate moments with her and realized that their brief encounters of stealing kisses could not go on forever without culminating into something more.
A few minutes later, Marita slipped up behind him and jiggled him at his waist. Sean jumped at the suddenness of her approach, but after realizing it was her, he quickly turned around and grabbed her; then began to tickle her mercilessly until she went to her knees in surrender screaming loudly, begging for him to stop.
"Now, THAT should teach you to try and scare me Ms. Peters." He said as he lifted her up to face him. Slightly smiling, admiring her choice of costume, he mused to himself, 'she certainly is a beautiful Cleopatra'. He stroked her cheek with the back of his forefinger. "I wish I had come as Antony." He said piercing precariously at her.
Marita giggled slightly embarrassed at his compliment and blushing from the way he looked at her. "Now what would the guests have said?"
"I guess we would have given them something else to talk about." Sean turned around and looked out at the field realizing that they were out in the wide open and any one of the guest might decide to venture out from the house to get some fresh air and possibly see them, so he asked "Where do you want to go?"
"I don't care, you lead the way. We can just walk together." She said admiring the smoothness of his chest under the open shirt that he wore as part of his costume.
Sean began to lead them toward her house right outside the edge of the Logan property. As they strolled along the familiar path to her house, he talked about the family as Marita listened intently. "I didn't get to speak to Lexy. She was so busy dancing with Pa that I didn't want to disturb her fun. I did speak to Alice, but she was so preoccupied with what Jeremy was doing that she forgot I hadn't been home in weeks. Jeremy and Clay were hovering around Charlotte like hawks. You know I don't think anyone was that concerned about my not being at home. It seems that they may even be getting used to it."
"Maybe your right Sean, but I know I'll never get used to you not being around so often. I miss you walking me home and --- and a few other things." She said shyly.
"Yeah, me too Marita."
They continued to walk until they came to her house and sat on the swing on the front porch. The moonlight was their only illumination amongst the dark shadows of the night...
"Um, Marita? " Holding up his hat and scratching his head, Sean was confused as to why they had to sit in the dark when there was no one in the house...
"Yes, what is it?"
"Um -Do you mind if we go inside? Don't you think it's a little dark out here? And besides someone might see us."
"Oh, yes, I'm sorry. I just thought that you would be leaving..." Marita spat out a few more excuses as she got up from the swing and opened the door. Sean followed closely behind her. When they came into the entryway, Marita turned around, looking at Sean... "Stay right here while I light the lanterns."
Sean removed his hat and stood in the doorway leaving the door ajar to allow some of the moonlight in to help Marita find her way around to get the matches and light the lanterns. When he saw the first flicker of light he closed the door behind him and walked into the kitchen. He recognized that Marita was visibly nervous; he assumed it was because they were in the house alone together without the threat of anyone interrupting them. So, to help alleviate her anxiety, Sean removed his cloak and sat down at the kitchen table, while Marita contemplated where to place the lanterns.
"OK, here we go." She said after returning from lighting up the other rooms and placing one lantern in the kitchen and another in the sitting area to allow an even stream of light throughout the front of the house. Trying to get a conversation going to remove the overriding tension she felt, Marita began looking through the cupboards as she wrestled to untie her cloak, which had become knotted. "Would you like some coffee or ---or tea?" She said while pacing from cupboard to cupboard. Frustrated with the knot, she abandoned it and removed the costume wig, which had become uncomfortable and shook her hair out until it lay wildly about her face and shoulders. She patted her hair down and tried to keep talking to avoid an awkward silence. Then she returned to grapple with the knotted strings of her cloak. "We also have a few biscuits or --or some, some bread..."
As she paced back and forth, Sean suddenly noticed how exquisitely she looked in the lantern lit room. Her auburn hair highlighted the smoothness of her copper brown skin and her large brown eyes exuded the essence of seduction. He wanted her, but he tried to quickly dismiss his vivid thoughts. Noticing the difficulty she was having with the knot and that her nervousness had not subsided, Sean got up from his seat, walked over to Marita and stood behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders to calm her then to help her with the knot. He could feel her soft round derriere against his groin and he could smell the faint perfumed scent that lingered about her. Her body being this close to his suddenly caused him to relinquish his self-control. Marita was stunned at the effects of their closeness and stood motionless.
Sean brought his hands around to her neck and he hovered directly above her ear as he barely whispered, "No, Ms. Peters, I don't want any coffee..." loosening the knot, "...or tea," gently pulling the cloak from her shoulders, "...or biscuits..." As he moves her hair back and leaned down to take possession of her neck, the cloak falls to the floor and he continued his taunting whispers while planting long soft kisses on the side of her bare neck "...or bread..."
Marita is instantly hypnotized by his touch and held captive by his kisses. "Well, I'm afraid that's all I have to offer."
Sean turns her around to face him and she wraps her arms around his neck. Then he returns to kissing her, now on her chin and face, while slowly massaging her arms. "There is one more thing you can offer, Marita"
Marita could not think clearly, feeling herself being drawn deeper and deeper into the certain trap that Sean was weaving for her. "And what would that be..."
His response was to capture her lips with his own, sweep her up off of her feet and slowly walked to her bedroom while they continued to lose themselves in their kisses. As he carried her into her room, Marita felt as if she were being transported into another realm, which she knew nothing of. She became frightened from her ignorance, but safe as she relented to the man that held her in his arms.
Inside the bedroom, Sean gently placed Marita's feet on the floor in front of her bed and looked into her eyes as he loosened the roped belt around her waist, causing the linen dress to fall slightly open. Sean next removed the scarf from around his neck and rid himself of his shirt. Seeing his chiseled torso, Marita went beyond herself and moved in closer to him, putting her hands on his chest, she looked up at him relaying that she was offering herself without rebuttal. Sean, understanding the gesture and unable to contain the passion burning within him any longer, pulled her dress open and slid it off her shoulders exposing her bloomers and corset, which tightly hugged her body and boosted her full chest above the fringes of the garment. Sean reached around her back and began rapidly untying the corset as he planted vigorous kisses on her neck.
Frustrated with the tight knotting, Sean turns Marita around with her back facing him and he quickly rips the remaining strings that stubbornly bound her body. Shocked by the veracity of his actions, Marita grabs hold of the corset and wraps her arms around it to prevent it from falling to the floor and completely exposing her upper nakedness. Again Sean returns to ravaging the side of her neck and shoulders, and now holding her waist between his strong hands, and pressing her backside into his erection, he gently moves his hands under the loosely hanging article and gently glides upward trying to get Marita to relax and let go of this one obstacle to their ultimate pleasure and fulfillment.
Sean knowing he'd startled her with ripping the strings from her clothing sought to sooth her tension. He softly croons behind her ear and his warm, moist breath weakens Marita's will. "Relax, sweetheart. I'm sorry. I'm not going to hurt you, just let me feel how beautiful you are?" Feeling her grip on the corset loosen, he inches his way up and reaches the boundaries her hands had created outside of the corset to hold it up. Still feeling resistance, he pleads with her "Please, Marita. Please, honey. Please" he continued to beg her as his kisses became more fervent all over her neck and shoulders.
Breathless with passion and fear Marita tried a frail attempt at protest, but couldn't find her words. "Sean, I don't know if I... if we..."
"Shhhhh. You can honey, you can... and we should." He coerces her as he gently forces his hands beyond her weakening barrier and cups both of her erect breast as the corset falls to the recesses below. Looking over her shoulder, he moans with pleasure upon finally visualizing what he had only dreamed about for years and now they were within his grip. As he uses his thumbs to gently but quickly massage her nipples, Marita feels a flow moistness between her legs and tightens her thighs hoping it will cease. Sean now turns her around again to face him and he captures her mouth as he moves his hands to her hips to discard her of the bloomers. Wrapping her hands around his neck, Marita begins returning his passionate kisses as she weaves her hands through Sean's hair.
Sean is relieved that the bloomers are not as challenging as the corset and relishes in his accomplishment as he expertly slides them down her hips and they quickly fall to the floor. 'I've got to be with her, I can't wait any longer' he thinks to himself as he moves slightly away from her and seeks to become free of his own pants, undergarments and shoes before he explodes. As they stand bearing their nakedness to each other, Marita steps out of the bloomers and Sean gently places her on the bed, removes her shoes and settles himself above her, resting his weight on his knees and hands. Marita is outside of herself and wreathing back and forth underneath him waiting for the longing in her to be satiated. Sean, intoxicated with the wiggling of her firm breasts devours one with long hungry motions and then the other awakening Marita to an overflow of feelings she had never experienced and yet another level of pleasure the she never thought any human could feel. And at that moment her fear overtakes her.
As Sean continues his pursuit she feels his raw, hard, bulging manhood on her thigh and knows what is about to happen as Sean inches closer to the silent pulsing that calls for him to possess her. He can feel the warmth and moisture of her femininity with his male sex and just as he prepares to claim this woman as his own, binding himself to her for life, she cries out...
"NOOOOOOOOO!!! STOP IT!!! STOP IT, NOW, PLEASE SEAN NO!!!"
"WHAT??" Sean is jolted up from his position, initially not recognizing the reasons for her outburst.
Marita begins to howl uncontrollably as she wraps herself in a fetal position and buries her head in the covers, trying to hide herself from him.
Sean recovering from his own ebbing passion realizes what he has done to her. He feels a deep anger welling up inside him for his attempted violation, but at the same time he moves to console her. He gently wraps her in the covers and puts his pants on. Then he sits down next to her and pulls her up to his chest and holds her as she sobs. Rubbing her hair and rocking her back and forth he tries to console her as his own tears break forth and fall streaming into her hair...
"Shhhhh sweetheart, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Marita. Please forgive me. I didn't plan this, believe me I didn't -- I didn't, honey. I love you."
They both sat together slowly rocking and being consoled in each other's arms. Marita had calmed down and was comforted by the fact that Sean was not trying to take advantage of her. She realized that she had played along at first even though she knew that they had crossed over the forbidden threshold. She wanted him as much as he wanted her, but she just could not bring herself to completely release her body to the passion Sean was promising her. All of the conversations she had heard her Aunt Nana and the women on the farm have about women who gave their bodies freely to a man without the privilege and security of marriage had rushed through her head at the height of the moment she and Sean shared and she could not help, but think that now they would speak of her that way if she continued in her bed with Sean.
"Sean, I'm sorry for scaring you, I just ---I just couldn't go on with..."
"You don't have to explain. I understand. I should have never let it get that far." Holding her upright, he looked into her brown eyes with all the emotion and fervor of a man in love and pushed her curly auburn hair away from her face. "Marita, you are the most intelligent, beautiful and chaste woman I have ever had the privilege to share what we experienced together tonight with. I know I've violated you, but I do realize that I can't go on like this without having you to myself, and I swear to you on this night that I will marry you and make what happened between us honorable, no matter what I have to do, even if it means we have to leave Lexington."
"Was that a proposal Sean Logan?" Marita asked, somewhat consoled by his loving words to her.
Sean smiled at her realizing that his proposal was more of a promise than a request and their intimacy had given him the impetus to find a way to be with her no matter what the cost. Now he was not going to hide behind societal attitudes against interracial love because to him their love was colorless even though their skins were not. Despite how he felt, he also knew he had to protect her and their future children from the possibility of violence and retaliation against their love. So, this became his sole conviction.
1998
Greenwich, CT
When he arrived at his parents' house early Friday evening, Sean looked around and found that no one seemed to be home. He decided to go in and say hello to his grandfather. He walked down the hallway and turned the corner to his grandfather's side of the house. When Sean entered grandpa William's room he saw that the old man was sitting in his favorite chair with the remote in his hand chuckling to a Bob Hope movie on the classic movie channel.
"Hey, grandpa. Want some company?"
Grandpa William was happy to see his grandson "Hey, boy come sit over here and look at this with me."
Sean sat down on the small love seat and gazed at the television while thinking of how he could get out of his date with Sheridan. He just did not feel like pretending with her tonight. None of the excuses he thought of seemed feasible, so he just sat back and watched the TV with his grandfather; waiting for the time when he had to go pick Sheriden up for their date. Suddenly grandpa spit out some tobacco in his can and the sound startled Sean.
"Granpa, why do you keep dipping that tobacco. Don't you know that stuff is probably the cause of your emphysema? "
"Don't tell me about tobacco, boy. Your great, great grandfather made his living on tobacco, you know?"
" I thought the family was into breeding thoroughbreds back then?"
"Well, they were, but your grandpa had his own thing going on the side for a while. Before long he helped the family run the horse farm, but a lot of his money was made in tobacco. And that's where your trust fund originated."
"Humph, I didn't know that." Sean said becoming interested in his ancestor. He folded his arms behind his head and relaxed waiting to hear grandpa tell him more. "What else can you tell me about your grandfather."
"Well, boy, it's a lot of things you don't know about him and I don't think I'll live long enough to tell it all to you."
"Awe come on grandpa, don't wuss out on me with the old, tired and dying excuse. You're living right now, so tell me what kind of man he was. Do I really look like him as much as you always say I do?"
"Well, first of all, you do look a lot like him, 'cept you're a little taller and thicker. He had crystal blue eyes like ours. His hair was almost cut like yours and he was just a great man all around."
"Why was he so great?"
"Well, he loved the land, the people and most of all he loved his family. He didn't take to well to what everybody else did or expected him to do. He left home when he had a fight with his father over financial matters and my great grandfather, Ned, accused the woman who would become grandfather's wife of messing up his books."
"It must have been a big argument for him to move out? Did his father not like great, great grandmother."
"Well, it wasn't like that, she actually worked for him as his secretary and bookkeeper."
"Really. Well if he trusted her with his books, why would he accuse her?"
"Well there were other issues that he was dealing with that he refused to see at the time, but eventually it all worked out."
Not wanting to uncover the past that he had hidden for so many years, Grandpa William scathed the real issue "Things were different then, son. Men couldn't do what they wanted, and if they tried, it would sometimes result in harm to everybody else, in the form of loss of business, hiked up prices or a slew of other things that men could think of to punish each other for the things they didn't agree with. There were even certain standards about who you could marry back then which would also affect the family."
"So, I guess, because great, great grandmother's family didn't have a lot of money, then people would have really looked down on that?"
"Yeah, something like that, son."
"So, obviously he married her anyway. How did everybody take it?"
"Well, it took some time for them to marry. They were in love with each other since they were teenagers and when they got to be young adults, the attraction was too strong for them to deny it. They would sneak around and steal kisses with each other throughout the day. My grandfather would make up special projects that grammy Marita would have to help him with so that they could be alone."
"So grandpa , what are you saying, they messed around, back then?" Sean asked half laughing at the notion of people fooling around in the late 1800's.
"I guess that's what you could call it at least for back in those days. Yeah I guess they fooled around."
"Tell me about it grandpa. I know they told you the story or at least your father did."
Grandpa knew all too well the story of his grandparents. As a young boy, he always had questions about his colored grandmother, so his grandparents' love story had been reiterated so many times that it was engraved in his memory for eternity, locked away intentionally to avoid the indignation his grandfather had to withstand just to be with his grandmother. Grandpa started to tell Sean some of the story, again leaving out the true identity of his grandmother. "Well the last straw for them occurred during a Masquerade party that my great grandfather, Ned had hosted. After that incident they both knew that they had to get married or risk disgracing themselves and their family in other ways...
______________________________________________________________________
1883
At The Masquerade Party
Lexington, KY
"I'm glad to see you could make it." Marita said to Sean as she eased up next to the masked stranger who had just walked in.
"How'd you know it was me?" Sean asked removing his mask.
" I just knew." She replied looking back into the crowd of dancing marauders. She longed to be able to go out on the dance floor with Sean, but quickly dispelled the notion, knowing it would not happen.
"You make a beautiful Cleopatra." Sean whispered as he admired Marita's soft silken brown skin under the blunt wig that adorned her head and he remembered the kiss they had shared when she came by his office a few days before to convince him to come home. He would not concede, but he did agree to come to the party to see everyone.
"Thank you kind sir and you must be one of the handsomest --- well who are you supposed to be?" She asked studying his costume.
"Can't you tell? I'm a court jester. See these things here..." Sean continued to point out the different aspects of his costume and how he could be identified. They stood together for a while and talked about Sean coming back home, but he would not back down and Marita grew tired of trying to convince him.
As the night went along Marita realized that if they continued to stand on the sidelines together people would become suspicious.
"Well, I think I'm going to go home."
"And leave me here by myself?" Sean became saddened that he would be left to deal with the family about his leaving. He also wasn't ready for Marita to leave because he enjoyed being with her so much. Noticing Isaac's absence he asked, "Where's your father?"
"He went to Louisville to see his cousin. You know he usually doesn't take part in these functions."
Sean had quickly surmised that if Isaac were in Louisville the earliest he would be back, if he had left that day, would be tomorrow afternoon. "Yeah, you're right, he doesn't. When is he coming back? "
"Probably day after tomorrow, he just left after work today."
Silently elated at the possibilities Isaac's absence presented, Sean saw this as an opportunity to spend some time alone with Marita. Since he left home their encounters were brief, leaving him empty and unfulfilled.
"Let's get outta here. I'll meet you at the field." He said leaving the room knowing she would soon follow. He made his way to the clearing and waited against the fence, staring out at the clearing until Marita would join him.
As he waited he thought about Marita's visit to his office during the middle of the week. He had been washing up preparing to go to the field that Vivian had leased to him and start plowing for his next tobacco crop. When he saw MArita that day, all he wanted was to fuse his lips with hers. He had been so amused a few days before, when she spoke of looking for a friend who was 'short, bald, and fat with no teeth' and he knew she had missed their afternoon rendezvousing at the lakeside where they would share their kisses before he walked her home. Her excuse was that she was on a mission to get him back home, but what she really wanted was to see him herself. When they locked their mouths together he prayed that she would stop talking about everybody else and share a little intimacy with him on the twin sized bed that he had set up in his office. Unfortunately, she wouldn't relent, and he had become irritated with the subject and suddenly was not in the mood anymore for intimacy, so he got up and finished buttoning his shirt. Eventually he found that she had talked him into going to the Masquerade party his father was hosting for his new wife, Charlotte.
Now as Sean waited for Marita, he again longed to share more intimate moments with her and realized that their brief encounters of stealing kisses could not go on forever without culminating into something more.
A few minutes later, Marita slipped up behind him and jiggled him at his waist. Sean jumped at the suddenness of her approach, but after realizing it was her, he quickly turned around and grabbed her; then began to tickle her mercilessly until she went to her knees in surrender screaming loudly, begging for him to stop.
"Now, THAT should teach you to try and scare me Ms. Peters." He said as he lifted her up to face him. Slightly smiling, admiring her choice of costume, he mused to himself, 'she certainly is a beautiful Cleopatra'. He stroked her cheek with the back of his forefinger. "I wish I had come as Antony." He said piercing precariously at her.
Marita giggled slightly embarrassed at his compliment and blushing from the way he looked at her. "Now what would the guests have said?"
"I guess we would have given them something else to talk about." Sean turned around and looked out at the field realizing that they were out in the wide open and any one of the guest might decide to venture out from the house to get some fresh air and possibly see them, so he asked "Where do you want to go?"
"I don't care, you lead the way. We can just walk together." She said admiring the smoothness of his chest under the open shirt that he wore as part of his costume.
Sean began to lead them toward her house right outside the edge of the Logan property. As they strolled along the familiar path to her house, he talked about the family as Marita listened intently. "I didn't get to speak to Lexy. She was so busy dancing with Pa that I didn't want to disturb her fun. I did speak to Alice, but she was so preoccupied with what Jeremy was doing that she forgot I hadn't been home in weeks. Jeremy and Clay were hovering around Charlotte like hawks. You know I don't think anyone was that concerned about my not being at home. It seems that they may even be getting used to it."
"Maybe your right Sean, but I know I'll never get used to you not being around so often. I miss you walking me home and --- and a few other things." She said shyly.
"Yeah, me too Marita."
They continued to walk until they came to her house and sat on the swing on the front porch. The moonlight was their only illumination amongst the dark shadows of the night...
"Um, Marita? " Holding up his hat and scratching his head, Sean was confused as to why they had to sit in the dark when there was no one in the house...
"Yes, what is it?"
"Um -Do you mind if we go inside? Don't you think it's a little dark out here? And besides someone might see us."
"Oh, yes, I'm sorry. I just thought that you would be leaving..." Marita spat out a few more excuses as she got up from the swing and opened the door. Sean followed closely behind her. When they came into the entryway, Marita turned around, looking at Sean... "Stay right here while I light the lanterns."
Sean removed his hat and stood in the doorway leaving the door ajar to allow some of the moonlight in to help Marita find her way around to get the matches and light the lanterns. When he saw the first flicker of light he closed the door behind him and walked into the kitchen. He recognized that Marita was visibly nervous; he assumed it was because they were in the house alone together without the threat of anyone interrupting them. So, to help alleviate her anxiety, Sean removed his cloak and sat down at the kitchen table, while Marita contemplated where to place the lanterns.
"OK, here we go." She said after returning from lighting up the other rooms and placing one lantern in the kitchen and another in the sitting area to allow an even stream of light throughout the front of the house. Trying to get a conversation going to remove the overriding tension she felt, Marita began looking through the cupboards as she wrestled to untie her cloak, which had become knotted. "Would you like some coffee or ---or tea?" She said while pacing from cupboard to cupboard. Frustrated with the knot, she abandoned it and removed the costume wig, which had become uncomfortable and shook her hair out until it lay wildly about her face and shoulders. She patted her hair down and tried to keep talking to avoid an awkward silence. Then she returned to grapple with the knotted strings of her cloak. "We also have a few biscuits or --or some, some bread..."
As she paced back and forth, Sean suddenly noticed how exquisitely she looked in the lantern lit room. Her auburn hair highlighted the smoothness of her copper brown skin and her large brown eyes exuded the essence of seduction. He wanted her, but he tried to quickly dismiss his vivid thoughts. Noticing the difficulty she was having with the knot and that her nervousness had not subsided, Sean got up from his seat, walked over to Marita and stood behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders to calm her then to help her with the knot. He could feel her soft round derriere against his groin and he could smell the faint perfumed scent that lingered about her. Her body being this close to his suddenly caused him to relinquish his self-control. Marita was stunned at the effects of their closeness and stood motionless.
Sean brought his hands around to her neck and he hovered directly above her ear as he barely whispered, "No, Ms. Peters, I don't want any coffee..." loosening the knot, "...or tea," gently pulling the cloak from her shoulders, "...or biscuits..." As he moves her hair back and leaned down to take possession of her neck, the cloak falls to the floor and he continued his taunting whispers while planting long soft kisses on the side of her bare neck "...or bread..."
Marita is instantly hypnotized by his touch and held captive by his kisses. "Well, I'm afraid that's all I have to offer."
Sean turns her around to face him and she wraps her arms around his neck. Then he returns to kissing her, now on her chin and face, while slowly massaging her arms. "There is one more thing you can offer, Marita"
Marita could not think clearly, feeling herself being drawn deeper and deeper into the certain trap that Sean was weaving for her. "And what would that be..."
His response was to capture her lips with his own, sweep her up off of her feet and slowly walked to her bedroom while they continued to lose themselves in their kisses. As he carried her into her room, Marita felt as if she were being transported into another realm, which she knew nothing of. She became frightened from her ignorance, but safe as she relented to the man that held her in his arms.
Inside the bedroom, Sean gently placed Marita's feet on the floor in front of her bed and looked into her eyes as he loosened the roped belt around her waist, causing the linen dress to fall slightly open. Sean next removed the scarf from around his neck and rid himself of his shirt. Seeing his chiseled torso, Marita went beyond herself and moved in closer to him, putting her hands on his chest, she looked up at him relaying that she was offering herself without rebuttal. Sean, understanding the gesture and unable to contain the passion burning within him any longer, pulled her dress open and slid it off her shoulders exposing her bloomers and corset, which tightly hugged her body and boosted her full chest above the fringes of the garment. Sean reached around her back and began rapidly untying the corset as he planted vigorous kisses on her neck.
Frustrated with the tight knotting, Sean turns Marita around with her back facing him and he quickly rips the remaining strings that stubbornly bound her body. Shocked by the veracity of his actions, Marita grabs hold of the corset and wraps her arms around it to prevent it from falling to the floor and completely exposing her upper nakedness. Again Sean returns to ravaging the side of her neck and shoulders, and now holding her waist between his strong hands, and pressing her backside into his erection, he gently moves his hands under the loosely hanging article and gently glides upward trying to get Marita to relax and let go of this one obstacle to their ultimate pleasure and fulfillment.
Sean knowing he'd startled her with ripping the strings from her clothing sought to sooth her tension. He softly croons behind her ear and his warm, moist breath weakens Marita's will. "Relax, sweetheart. I'm sorry. I'm not going to hurt you, just let me feel how beautiful you are?" Feeling her grip on the corset loosen, he inches his way up and reaches the boundaries her hands had created outside of the corset to hold it up. Still feeling resistance, he pleads with her "Please, Marita. Please, honey. Please" he continued to beg her as his kisses became more fervent all over her neck and shoulders.
Breathless with passion and fear Marita tried a frail attempt at protest, but couldn't find her words. "Sean, I don't know if I... if we..."
"Shhhhh. You can honey, you can... and we should." He coerces her as he gently forces his hands beyond her weakening barrier and cups both of her erect breast as the corset falls to the recesses below. Looking over her shoulder, he moans with pleasure upon finally visualizing what he had only dreamed about for years and now they were within his grip. As he uses his thumbs to gently but quickly massage her nipples, Marita feels a flow moistness between her legs and tightens her thighs hoping it will cease. Sean now turns her around again to face him and he captures her mouth as he moves his hands to her hips to discard her of the bloomers. Wrapping her hands around his neck, Marita begins returning his passionate kisses as she weaves her hands through Sean's hair.
Sean is relieved that the bloomers are not as challenging as the corset and relishes in his accomplishment as he expertly slides them down her hips and they quickly fall to the floor. 'I've got to be with her, I can't wait any longer' he thinks to himself as he moves slightly away from her and seeks to become free of his own pants, undergarments and shoes before he explodes. As they stand bearing their nakedness to each other, Marita steps out of the bloomers and Sean gently places her on the bed, removes her shoes and settles himself above her, resting his weight on his knees and hands. Marita is outside of herself and wreathing back and forth underneath him waiting for the longing in her to be satiated. Sean, intoxicated with the wiggling of her firm breasts devours one with long hungry motions and then the other awakening Marita to an overflow of feelings she had never experienced and yet another level of pleasure the she never thought any human could feel. And at that moment her fear overtakes her.
As Sean continues his pursuit she feels his raw, hard, bulging manhood on her thigh and knows what is about to happen as Sean inches closer to the silent pulsing that calls for him to possess her. He can feel the warmth and moisture of her femininity with his male sex and just as he prepares to claim this woman as his own, binding himself to her for life, she cries out...
"NOOOOOOOOO!!! STOP IT!!! STOP IT, NOW, PLEASE SEAN NO!!!"
"WHAT??" Sean is jolted up from his position, initially not recognizing the reasons for her outburst.
Marita begins to howl uncontrollably as she wraps herself in a fetal position and buries her head in the covers, trying to hide herself from him.
Sean recovering from his own ebbing passion realizes what he has done to her. He feels a deep anger welling up inside him for his attempted violation, but at the same time he moves to console her. He gently wraps her in the covers and puts his pants on. Then he sits down next to her and pulls her up to his chest and holds her as she sobs. Rubbing her hair and rocking her back and forth he tries to console her as his own tears break forth and fall streaming into her hair...
"Shhhhh sweetheart, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Marita. Please forgive me. I didn't plan this, believe me I didn't -- I didn't, honey. I love you."
They both sat together slowly rocking and being consoled in each other's arms. Marita had calmed down and was comforted by the fact that Sean was not trying to take advantage of her. She realized that she had played along at first even though she knew that they had crossed over the forbidden threshold. She wanted him as much as he wanted her, but she just could not bring herself to completely release her body to the passion Sean was promising her. All of the conversations she had heard her Aunt Nana and the women on the farm have about women who gave their bodies freely to a man without the privilege and security of marriage had rushed through her head at the height of the moment she and Sean shared and she could not help, but think that now they would speak of her that way if she continued in her bed with Sean.
"Sean, I'm sorry for scaring you, I just ---I just couldn't go on with..."
"You don't have to explain. I understand. I should have never let it get that far." Holding her upright, he looked into her brown eyes with all the emotion and fervor of a man in love and pushed her curly auburn hair away from her face. "Marita, you are the most intelligent, beautiful and chaste woman I have ever had the privilege to share what we experienced together tonight with. I know I've violated you, but I do realize that I can't go on like this without having you to myself, and I swear to you on this night that I will marry you and make what happened between us honorable, no matter what I have to do, even if it means we have to leave Lexington."
"Was that a proposal Sean Logan?" Marita asked, somewhat consoled by his loving words to her.
Sean smiled at her realizing that his proposal was more of a promise than a request and their intimacy had given him the impetus to find a way to be with her no matter what the cost. Now he was not going to hide behind societal attitudes against interracial love because to him their love was colorless even though their skins were not. Despite how he felt, he also knew he had to protect her and their future children from the possibility of violence and retaliation against their love. So, this became his sole conviction.