Gilded Lily (20 page)

from one minute to another! However, I’ve got back to my

right size: the next thing is, to get into that beautiful garden—

how is that to be done, I wonder?

Poppet…follow the rabbit!”

Lily grinned as she looked to the dress hanging on the back of the bathroom door. The light blue dress was a stark contrast to the crisp white apron. She stepped out of the tub and wrapped a fluffy towel around her wet body.

She pulled the blonde wig from the white box and set it on the dressing table. The black satin ribbon felt silky as she carefully laid it next to the wig. She looked into the mirror and studied her reflection. The vision of Adam’s taut expression as he came inside her body flooded her mind, and her pale face turned crimson. He could affect her even when he wasn’t in the room. She giggled at the thought of what costume he’d be wearing. He better let her know who he was!

Everyone dressed so creatively it was difficult to recognize anyone. Lily shrugged. Anonymity: that was why the guests were coming in the first place. Sex without remorse. Pleasure for the sake of pleasure. Lily rubbed her legs together with the notion.

She fastened her hair into a loose bun and sat down on the small stool. She pulled the white, thigh-high stockings from the box. They were thicker than the ones she was used to. The garter belt was also white and fastened the stockings snugly to her thighs. The patent-leather Mary Jane sandals fit comfortably. She stood and turned around in front of the mirror to admire what Tony had picked out for her.

The dress was fitted, with the hidden side zipper easily manipulated. The apron flaunted her curves, which, until Tony taught her to embrace her figure, would have been embarrassing. Tony hadn’t packed any panties, so she was thankful the skirt reached below her knees. The wig was easy to situate, and the last touch was the black bow.

Lily was amazed when she stared at the reflection. The Lily she knew was gone, and a little lost girl had taken her place.
How true it is.
She took a deep breath and walked into the bedroom. After shutting the door behind her, she headed down the hall. She gasped when she realized she’d forgotten the most important part of her costume.

She hurried back inside the bedroom and opened the top drawer of the large antique bureau. The white mask was neatly tucked into its red, satin-lined box. She pulled the box from the drawer and set it on the bed. Tony had gotten it for her when she’d held the first ball. He’d had it made especially for her from a specialty shop in New Orleans. The delicate curves of the mask covered only a small portion of her forehead and nose, but it did the job. She fastened the thin silk ties and replaced the box in the drawer. Now she was ready.

Lily walked out onto the front veranda. The floral honeysuckle and hyacinth filled her senses like a drug. All of the lights in the house had been turned out except for a few small lamps, and many candelabra had been lit. The glow emanating from the windows was one of enticement and mystery. She was very pleased with how everything had turned out.

“Miss, are you here for the ball?” A deep voice floated from behind her. Lily turned to find a wonderfully handsome young man, no older than nineteen, standing just outside the set of stained-glass French doors. He was wearing satiny black breeches with white stockings and a red jacket. The white cravat was tied perfectly around his slender neck. Lily smiled at the sight. She knew the servants had been handpicked as well.

She ran her hand through his tousled blond hair. “Oh, my young stallion, I sure am.” His eyes widened. “Is everything ready?”

Lily cornered his lean frame against the brick wall of the house. His eyes melted closed when she threaded her fingers through his silky hair. She gave a smart tug, loving the way his body leaned into her touch. “Yes, miss,” he said with a quick breath. “It is.”

“Good.” Lily pulled on his hair one more time, then released him. The young man sighed, staring at her hand. She leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek before skipping down the wide set of steps. “I’m going to look for my rabbit,” she said over her shoulder. “Tend to everyone and make sure they’re well taken care of.”

Lily was at the edge of the woods by the time the first flicker of headlights approached. She roamed through the many paths until she came upon a row of Victorian roses and honeysuckle. The path was heavily lined with the fragrant blooms on one side and powerful oaks, laden with moss, on the other. The torches sparingly lit the walkway, casting eerie shadows among the brush. Lily couldn’t control the tickling butterflies in her belly. Partly due to the fear of what lay in those shadows and partly because of her excitement for what might be there to snatch her into the night.

With each cautious step, her Mary Jane shoes moved soundlessly on the tamped dirt pathway. A rustle echoed from the tree line. She stopped to listen. There it was again.

She caught sight of something white skipping out onto the path, then back again. She giggled and clapped her hands. It was no intruder. The partially shadowed figure was indeed in costume.
My rabbit!
The slender white figure hopped out from behind one of the trees, then darted back yet again. Lily jumped up and down. The tickle in her belly rolled as she continued to laugh.

The rabbit popped out again. This time Lily chased after it, giggling all the way. She stopped when she reached the tree. No one was there.

“Oh, Rabbit!” she yelled. “Oh, Rabbit, where have you gone?” She walked off the path into the woods. There, again, she spotted the white streak. Lily ran after it.

Soon she was deeper into the woods. Up ahead she could see the faint glow of a torch. “Rabbit! Come here!” No answer. She walked toward the area where the light was shining. Lily laughed when she saw her rabbit standing next to one of the chaise lounges Tony had ordered. The white silk damask fabric looked simply angelic in the torches’ reflection. “Oh, Rabbit. It seems I’ve lost my way.”

Lily’s rabbit was in fact Renee. Her slender brown legs were covered with white stockings. She was wearing white ballet slippers with a blue velvet jacket overtop a brushed gold vest. And there Renee stood with pocket watch in hand, checking the time. “I’m late,” her silky voice purred, “for a very important date.”

Lily giggled. “Rabbit, you look good enough to eat.”

Renee smiled, causing her whiskers to move. “Now, Alice, either you can drink me or eat me. Which shall it be?” Renee’s sultry voice floated across Lily’s senses, forcing her to move closer. Renee slowly drew her hand across one of her furry bunny ears.

“Let me see, Rabbit. I think I shall drink you first…then eat you!”

Renee smiled and reclined onto the lounger. Lily skipped over and sat down next to her. And there they were, encapsulated in the protective luminance of the torch, alone, barely able to hear the music coming from the back lawn of the house.

Lily leaned over and cupped her mouth to whisper in Renee’s ear. “Now, Rabbit, I want to kiss you. Would that be to your liking?”

Renee nodded, her head bouncing the large, fuzzy bunny ears.

“Good.”

Renee turned to Lily and closed her eyes. Lily slid the tip of her tongue over the soft, plump flesh of Renee’s lips. Renee sighed. “Open for me, Rabbit,” Lily whispered before darting her tongue into Renee’s inviting mouth. Lily ran her finger along the rim of Renee’s white half mask. “I love the way you taste,” she said as she played with the pink cravat loosely tied around Renee’s slender neck. Again she plunged into Renee’s mouth. Slowly, seductively, Lily slid her hand down the front of Renee’s white satin panties.

Lily sneaked her fingers under the thin waistband to find the tightly coiled feminine curls already wet and ready for her. Renee spread her thighs, pumping her hips to meet Lily’s working fingers. Lily tilted her head, plunging her tongue deep into Renee’s mouth, tasting fresh mint and sweet sugar. Lily savored the tenderness, the warmth that spread through her languid arms, making her body feel hot and achy.

ADAM GOT INTO the black Mercedes parked on the gravel path at the back of the stable house. Tony had sent one of the guests to take him to the party. The gentleman dropped him off at the end of the drive leading to the house. As he walked down the dark lane, he adjusted the long black cloak Tony had picked out. He straightened the white bow tie around his neck for the third time and pulled his white half mask into place. When he arrived, many of the guests were already walking around, talking and laughing. Tony was standing on the front veranda. As Adam approached, he studied Tony, who was leaning against one of the huge white pillars. He looked stunning. The slightly tilted greenery wreath sitting on his head was laced with small grapes. Beige fabric trimmed in gold was draped across his powerful body, hiding only what needed to be hidden.

The rational side of Adam wanted to be appalled that he’d looked over a man’s body with such admiration. There was another side, deep inside, that scanned Tony’s muscular physique with more than sheer admiration, and that lingering voice needed to see more of Tony, more of what was hiding behind the loose robe. The war within was a losing battle for rationality. Adam’s cock responded with grand enthusiasm. He tried to will the damn thing back down, but it was no use. There was something fucking sexy about the man, and he needed to explore this feeling. If not for himself, then for Lily.

Tony was holding a couple of bottles of wine. One had already been opened, and he freely drank from it. His white domino mask covered the greater portion of his handsome face. Adam caught his breath when he walked up the steps. Tony’s body was still bronzed from lying out in the sun the other day. Adam tried to avert his eyes, but the sight was mesmerizing.

Tony grabbed Adam’s elbow and pulled him close. Adam’s black cloak brushed against Tony’s bare legs. Adam couldn’t pull his attention away from the erotic picture of Tony’s muscled arm twitching as he lifted the bottle to take a long drink. Adam swallowed past the dry lump in his throat. “You look better than I imagined you would. Oh, hell, I’m lying. You look every bit as good as I imagined,” Adam said. He stared at Tony through his white domino mask.

“Flatboy cut that suit perfectly. You’re no phantom, that’s for sure. You’re true flesh and blood.”

Adam was confused. He was supposed to be the phantom? “But I’m supposed to be—”

“You’re too fucking handsome to be a phantom.” Tony raised his lips in a seductive grin and handed Adam the open bottle of wine. “Take a drink of Dionysus’s wine. It’ll make you want to do devilish things.”

Adam took a long drink and handed the bottle back to Tony. He leaned in close to whisper in Tony’s ear. “And what if I don’t need your wine to do those things?”

Tony winked before taking a swig from the bottle. “Come with me, then.”

As they made their way through the house, Tony stopped only briefly to kiss a few of the women on the cheek. One pulled on Tony’s arm, pleading with him to take her outside. Tony promised he’d tend to her later and kept walking. Several of the women winked at Adam as he passed by. A few of the men stared at him. Could they tell he was holding a secret? He couldn’t believe he had such a secret.
I want to touch Tony again.

The dining room table was laden with decadent treats and savory dishes. Adam snagged a small puffed pastry from one of the gold-plated trays. He turned to see the lighted garland strand that was twined up the tall staircase. Thank God, he thought. Otherwise the hall leading to the kitchen would have been pitched into darkness. The tiny lights cast eerie shadows on the walls, making the scene feel sinister and erotic. Adam ran his hand over the front of his suit jacket. A man had a woman pinned against the hallway wall with her arms held over her head. The woman moaned and leaned into the man’s greedy mouth.

The sensual music piping through the house was layered with notes of romantic guitars, mysterious synthesizers, and slow, primal drum beats. As couples passed by, many were sliding their hands over each other’s bodies, stealing kisses as they walked around the house, stopping briefly to talk to the other guests. There was plenty of laughter and a few growls, sighs, and moans coming from every corner of each room.

Adam stayed close to Tony as they walked through the kitchen doors and out onto the lawn, not stopping until they were heading down a path into the woods. When Tony stopped, Adam had been so close on his heels he almost ran right into the guy. Adam looked up, way up, at the twisted branches of an oak tree. Several thick limbs had tattered ropes randomly hanging from them.

“What are we doing here?” Adam asked, half scared shitless, half excited.

Tony leaned over and set the bottles of wine next to an exposed root. He stood up and rushed at Adam, pinning him against the tree with his strong arms.

“Are you serious?” Adam laughed and pushed Tony off. They stood in silence for only a moment before Adam, overwhelmed with a need he didn’t pretend to understand, came at Tony and took his mouth with a forceful kiss. Tony fisted the back of the cloak’s hood to keep Adam’s mouth pinned to his. Adam savored the sweet taste of wine and musty cigar.

Adam jerked away. “Fuck!” he yelled, taking a step back to get a better look at Tony. Both men were panting. Adam wiped the back of his hand over his wet lips. God, he wanted to touch Tony on every place of his body all at once. The sensation was overwhelming to the point that Adam couldn’t deny the lust anymore. “Now I want you to suck my cock. You made it this hard, now suck the fuck out of it.” Adam unzipped his black tuxedo pants and leaned back against the tree. He spread his thighs wide, waiting for Tony’s mouth.

Tony didn’t make him wait long. He plunged to his knees and dug his fingertips into Adam’s lean hips. Adam didn’t give Tony a moment to catch his breath. He couldn’t stand the torment or curiosity any longer. He took the back of Tony’s head and thrust his engorged cock down his throat. Adam moaned at the feel of Tony’s sweltering, slick mouth taking him in and out. The full length fit perfectly between his firm masculine lips.