by Londyn Skye
Maya’s unapologetic hunger for Levi remained evident by the way she then quickly pulled him over to the bed and mounted him. Being manhandled in such a way had a certain part of Levi standing as stiff as steel; he nearly erupted in tears of pleasure as Maya’s heated abyss slid down over it. Pleasantly overwhelmed by the feeling of having him buried inside her, Maya erotically exhaled and her eyes fluttered closed. She slowly opened them and felt a surge of butterflies rush through her stomach after seeing the loving way that Levi was gazing up at her. He continued to gaze at her in awe as he gracefully slid his hands down her sides. His eyes then began following the path of his fingertips as he feathered them across Maya’s soft brown skin. With such a vivid memory of her body, he immediately noticed her breasts were larger, her buttocks was rounder, and her hips were slightly wider. Levi immediately fell in love with the beautiful natural enhancements that childbirth had given her; he felt as though her new voluptuous curves made her look even more like a Nubian goddess.
Maya was most certainly feeling like a goddess, one who was sitting atop her Adonis. Her eyes surveyed Levi’s brick hard body as she slid her hands lovingly along the ripples of his abdomen. His gentle touch had brought her back to serenity, and she was, once again, in no rush to end their passionate connection. Slowly, she began rocking her hips, her hands continuing to peruse Levi’s muscles as she rode. Levi was absolutely and utterly entranced by the smooth erotic way that Maya danced on top of him, her eyes closed, and her lips parted, letting soft moans escape. He, too, continued gracefully sliding his hands along her curves, inhaling sharply every time she suddenly thrust hard and buried him deep inside her warmth. He could not fathom that there was any more heavenly sight, nor any more magical feeling, than what he was experiencing with this woman at this very moment.
That magical feeling was quickly becoming too much for Levi to bear, though. But after depriving himself of Maya for so long, he was nowhere near ready for this experience to end. He suddenly sat up to stop Maya’s movements before he erupted too soon. He then glided his hands from her hips, to her breasts, and onto her face. He froze and just gazed at her in the most loving way before satisfying an intense need to taste the sweetness of her lips again. He then gathered his arms tightly around her, pulled her close, and put all his emotions into the passion of his kiss. The way Levi’s lips danced with hers brought forth a sudden surge of tears to Maya’s eyes.
With their lips still locked together, Levi slowly laid back down and brought Maya with him. He wanted her soft skin to melt into his. He slid his hands down her back and gripped each of her rounded cheeks, prompting her hips back into motion. Levi then began slowly thrusting upward into her. The sudden intensity of pleasure caused Maya to break free from their kiss. The strength of his strokes then suddenly escalated into powerful pounding, catapulting Maya into a pleasurable bliss. She kept her hips frozen in place, roaring like a lioness as Levi filled her over and over again, until there was no stopping the rain of hot orgasmic liquids that spilled out of her onto his abdomen. The heat of her juices glistening on his body, the tightness of her insides repeatedly constricting around him, and the sound of her elated cries, brought Levi to an end just seconds after Maya. He howled her name from the pit of his stomach as he exploded deep inside of her.
Quickly succumbing to the lightning bolts of pleasure, Maya immediately collapsed down on Levi. The aftershocks of ecstasy were revealed in their shaky breaths, sweaty bodies, and quivering legs. Levi laid there silently with Maya pressed close to him, stroking her back. His eyes were closed, imagining that this was his normal, that at any time he could make love to the woman he was now holding onto for dear life. He held Maya tight and pretended as though the life he had dreamed of had finally come true.
Just like the night he had helped conceive Lily, Levi did not feel an ounce of regret for his actions. His sudden confession to Maya further proved that. “I felt this way the last time we were togetha’,” he said as he continued softly caressing Maya’s back with his fingertips.
“Felt what?” Maya asked, enjoying the way he was touching her.
“This sense ‘a peace that I ain’t neva’ known before. Feels like it ain’t nothin’ missin’ in my life when I’m holdin’ onto you like this. I feel it even stronga’ this time around now that we have Lily.” Levi kissed Maya’s forehead. “It honestly scares me to think that I might live the rest ‘a my life and neva’ know this sort ‘a peace again … not without you and Lily.”
Maya opened her eyes and saw the way Levi was looking at her. It was that look of sincerity that always captivated her. As with his other bold confessions, there was not a thing she felt she could say in return that would rival his words. She tenderly kissed him instead.
When Maya laid her head back on his chest, Levi gathered her tighter in his arms and the feeling of completion immediately enveloped him again. “Tell me more about Lily.”
“What do you wanna know?” Maya asked, as she got comfortable on his chest.
“Any and everything. All the things I don’t get to hear or see.”
“My God, where do I start with that curious little ball ‘a energy?” Maya smiled. “First thing that comes to mind, as of late, is her natural love for animals … ’specially reptiles. Every time I turn around, that girl done dug up some filthy four-legged creature, from God knows where!”
“Now that I have noticed her doin’,” Levi laughed.
“I don’t know why she can’t eva’ find a cute furry little bunny or a puppy! It neva’ fails to be somethin’ hideous with scales, fangs, and claws!”
Levi burst out laughing. “Reminds me of me as a boy, actually. Those were always my favorites too! Guess it runs in the family.”
“So, I have you to blame for all the frogs, lizards, and turtles she drags into the cottage insistin’ we name and make pets out of, huh?”
“Guilty, your honor!”
“Well, I sentence you to life for passin’ on that skin-crawlin’, appallin’ trait to our child!”
Levi broke out in laughter again. “Well hopefully, she’ll get your love of the celestial skies to balance ’er out as a nice well-rounded, respectable young woman,” he teased.
“Lord, I hope so! I’d much prefer her to name the stars with me, ratha’ than those filthy little critta’s!”
“Name the stars?”
“Mm-hmm, it’s a little ritual I have wheneva’ I’m usin’ the magnificent telescope you gave me.”
Levi suddenly pulled Maya back and looked her in the eyes. “Really?” he asked, thoroughly intrigued.
Maya smiled and nodded. “And tonight would be such a perfect night to use it. It’s so crystal clear in the sky right now,” she said, gazing out the window. “I see my two favorite stars so clearly,” she pointed. “There’s Lily and Levi right ova’ there.”
Feeling honored that she had done such a thing, Levi replied with a gentle kiss.
Warmed by his affection, Maya snuggled closer to him. “I can’t wait until Lily’s old enough for me to take ’er on my secret excursions into the woods late at night.” She suddenly had a distant look in her eyes as she gazed out the window. “I look forward to seein’ the look on ’er face when she peers through that telescope for the first time and sees the moon, and all those beautiful stars up-close. I’m still in awe at the way it makes everything seem close enough to reach out and touch. I’d be curious to hear all the names Lily chooses, and the brilliant way she’d express the sheer amazement of our grand universe.”
Levi was nearly at a loss for words listening to Maya express her own brilliance. “Lily is so incredibly intelligent, isn’t she?” he replied.
“No doubt about it. That girl’s mind works in a way I ain’t neva’ seen at her age. That’s one ‘a the reasons I ain’t showed ’er that telescope yet. That girl talks circles around folks non-stop all day, every day. If I showed ’er that contraption, everybody from here to Georgia would know about it by sunrise.”
Levi broke ou
t laughing again. “She sho’ does talk like a grown woman,” he concurred. “Her conversations neva’ cease to amaze me.”
“You!” Maya laughed. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve foolishly found myself in full on grown folks’ conversations with ’er. I always have to pause and remind myself that I’m talkin’ to a toddla’! She’s like a word tornado, suckin’ up big words and spittin’ ‘em right back at me with ease.”
“Every word so clear and concise too! Makes ’er brotha’s seem like a bunch ‘a babblin’ morons.”
“Don’t say that!” Maya laughed, playfully hitting him.
“Just preachin’ the truth! She’s brilliant.” He kissed Maya’s forehead. “Just like ’er motha’.”
“Says the brilliant prodigal pianist,” Maya smiled.
Levi suddenly sighed. “That’s one thing I wish I could share with Lily. You wanna teach ’er about the stars, and I’d love to teach ’er about music. It’d be the ultimate dream come true for me to teach ’er how to play piano. Somethin’ tells me she’d love it. I’m convinced she’s brilliant enough to soak it up with ease, just like she does with words.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more.”
“I can only imagine how those beautiful curious eyes of hers would light up the moment she touched the keys.”
“It’d definitely be a moment to cherish.”
“Cherish is an unda’statement. I’d be ova’come with emotion if eva’ I could give ’er such a grand experience.”
“Impossible dreams,” Maya sighed.
“Many a man and woman have ova’come what seems impossible.”
“I can’t argue with that.”
“I pray every day that the impossible happens for Lily. Maybe I’m the one who’ll sound insane this time, but I’m convinced there’s somethin’ special about her … uniquely special. I don’t just say that because I’m her fatha’. I feel it in a way that I neva’ felt with my boys. I’ve felt it since the moment I held ’er as a baby and I looked into those big bright curious eyes of hers … she’s here for a reason. And now, seein’ how brilliant she truly is, that belief has embedded itself in my soul.”
Maya lifted her head and tenderly kissed Levi on the lips. “No strait-jacket needed, Mr. Collins. That doesn’t sound insane to me at all. I believe that about our baby girl with all my heart too,” she said. She then snuggled back into his embrace.
Levi felt like he was in heaven, lying there with Maya nude in his arms, as they talked and laughed until well after midnight. He did the best he could to live in the moment and enjoy living out his rare fantasy evening with Maya. But that proved difficult for him knowing that such a thing was very temporary. With the hours rolling by so quickly, it kept him bouncing back and forth between joy and sadness. The latter suddenly won the battle when Levi released Maya for a moment while he scooted over to retrieve a glass of water from the nightstand. For the few seconds his back was turned, Maya had gotten out of bed. Levi whipped his head around. “Where you goin’?” he asked.
“I betta’ get on back to the cottage,” Maya answered as she got dressed. “With my luck, this’ll be the first night Lily wakes up before sunrise, wonderin’ where she’s at. Or worse yet, wonderin’ where I’m at, and what I’m doin’. Lord! We certainly don’t need ’er to know that,” she laughed.
Levi suddenly hopped out of bed. “No, please don’t go,” he said, quickly putting on his pajama pants. He then took a hold of Maya’s hands. “I was hopin’ you and Lily would stay here with me for the weekend.”
“In this house? The whole weekend?” Maya shook her head. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea, Levi.”
“Maya please?” he begged, a sudden sorrowful look on his face. “I just wanna know what it feels like?”
“What, what feels like?” she asked, looking thoroughly confused.
“To be a husband to you. To be a fatha’ to Lily. To have you both as my family. I wanna know what it’s like to wake up next to you and make love to you in the mornin’. I wanna know what it’s like to lie down next to Lily in the mornin’ and let ’er tell me about ’er dreams. I wanna know what it’s like to eat breakfast with ’er … just once.”
“Absolutely not, Levi,” Maya replied, seriousness now having returned to her tone. She then turned and opened the door to leave.
Levi grabbed Maya gently by the arm and closed the door back. “Maya, I’m beggin’ you to stay. If not the whole weekend, then just stay until mornin’. Let me at least have breakfast with Lily and read ’er a story … just one. Please? She doesn’t have to know that I’m her fatha’. I just wanna spend the day with her … with both of you.”
“Levi, it’s beautiful that you wanna have that experience with our daughta’, but you know how I feel about that.” Maya placed her hand gently on his shoulder. “Maybe you can just have me in this way wheneva’ you need me.”
“BUT THAT AIN’T ALL I WANT!” Levi suddenly erupted.
“AND YOU THINK THIS IS ALL I WANT?!” Maya angrily snapped back.
Silence.
“DO YOU?!” she demanded.
Levi still just stood there, stunned into silence.
“Trust me, I want more than just remnants and scraps ‘a your love! I know I deserve more! Me and Lily both do, damn it! But you only come to me when it’s convenient for you! You give me these incredible gifts and make me feel loved to the core of my soul, just to turn around and rip my heart clean outta my chest the minute your wife sets foot back on this plantation! So how dare you have the audacity to get upset when you can’t have what you want for a change!”
Levi still stood there silently taking Maya’s verbal blows like a man.
“You’re sorely mistaken if you think I haven’t ached ova’ the things that I can’t have! But quietly and completely alone, I just deal with the emotional pain of havin’ those few incredible days with you years ago … and not a damn thing since!
“The absence of your love has left a void in my heart that you can’t possibly measure! It took me two damn years to stop yearnin’ for you to hug me and kiss me wheneva’ you walk in that damn barn!” she yelled, her anger escalating. “Two years to stop gettin’ mad as hell wheneva’ I saw you on the porch with your wife, feelin’ like that’s s’pposed to be me you’s kissin’ goodbye! Two years to let go of my envy every time I saw you through the window sittin’ down to eat dinna’ with your boys, laughin’ and talkin’. Two years to stop wishin’ that I’s the one makin’ meals for y’all every evenin’ and sittin’ there along with you! Two years to stop wishin’ you’d make love to me and hold me in your arms every night! Just a few beautiful days with you, and I was left dreamin’, and cravin’, and achin … for two! damn! years!”
Levi still could not bring himself to utter a word in response.
Maya angrily wiped away an escaping tear. “You don’t think I’m crushed by the fact that my daughta’ can’t call you daddy? Or that I’m not angry ova’ the fact that Lily don’t even know it’s her own brotha’s she’s playin’ with some days?! Hell, I’ve lost count ‘a how many times I’ve cried watchin’ you roll outta here with your boys on the way to church, wishin’ that me and Lily could get dressed up and go with you!” Maya suddenly broke down sobbing. “It should be me and Lily sittin’ there with her brotha’s in the front row of the church watchin’ you play piano. I should be your wife! It should be you and me buildin’ a life … togetha’! Your sons should be my boys! Lord knows I love ’em more than their own damn mama! This should be our home, our traditions, our family! But it ain’t!” She held up two fingers. “And it took me two painful years to accept the fact that it neva’ will be!” she sobbed.
Levi tried to gently touch her, but she stepped back and evaded his hand. She shook her head and let out a brief sarcastic laugh. “I swear I’m goin’ mad on the inside, wonderin’ what the hell kind ‘a woman I am to feel this way about anotha’ woman’s husband?!”
“A woman who loves me just
as much as I love her,” Levi quickly replied. “You may not eva’ say it, but that’s what I feel when I’m with you,” he whispered. “It’s what I wish I could hear,” he admitted.
“It doesn’t matta’ how I feel, Levi!”
“Of course it does!”
“No! It doesn’t! My feelin’s will neva’ change anything about our circumstances! Not a damn thing!”
“Yes, it will!”
“Oh really?” Maya said, throwing her hands on her hips. “Will my feelin’s change the fact that you’ll go right back to barely lookin’ at me when your family returns?”
Levi lowered his head.
“Will it change the fact that I’ll spend anotha’ two years hurtin’ and yearnin’ for you afta’ tonight?” Maya paused and waited for his reply. “Will it?!”
Still, Levi could not bring himself to look at her.
“When you subject me to these fleetin’ beautiful moments and go back to ignorin’ me, it’s the worst kind ‘a bitta’ sweet torture in the world,” Maya confessed. “Especially when the source of all the beautiful moments is right there in front ‘a you every single day, pretendin’ that you don’t even exist.
“If I’m bein’ honest, I’d only eva’ made baby steps in gettin’ ova’ you,” Maya admitted. “The longin’ and the pain was still there, but I’d finally numbed myself to it. But now, here you are subjectin’ me to anotha’ sweet moment with you. And I can assure you that it’s already revitalized all the feelin’s I’d managed to numb. In a few days, the bitta’ness will set in, and I’ll have to fight to crawl my way back to numbness. Afta’ tonight, it’ll be anotha’ two years of fightin’ to suppress my pain and envy all ova’ again. For anotha’ two years, I’ll be cryin’ wheneva’ I see you rollin’ away to church, knowin’ that me and Lily will neva’ see you play piano. For anotha’ two years, I’ll be lyin’ in my bed all alone, cravin’ to feel your arms wrapped around me and the warmth of your bare skin next to mine. I’ll spend anotha’ two years dreamin’ and achin’, tryna accept that this ain’t our house, that your sons ain’t mine, and that I can’t be your wife … and that we’ll neva’ be a family, no matta’ how hard I wish, and I pray, and I cry for it to be that way.
