Before The Civil War

This is a collaboration with Lit author pissyprincess.

*****

January 12th, 1858

"Slavery is morally wrong," Ethan said, although in a calm voice.

After all, Ethan was a guest in his Uncle Jake's house on the outskirts of Atlanta. As family they would try to treat each other with civility. Ethan was there, however, as a reporter for Leslie's Illustrated Magazine, to write a story about conditions in one of the great cities of the South, and so it was not surprising that his Uncle Jake was suspicious, while at the same time going out of his way to be polite.

"Well, Ethan, from a certain point of view you are probably right," Jake said in his Southern drawl, clearly trying to be genial as they sipped their brandies after a fine supper.

Jake was a solid man of 45, handsome and well-groomed, with a mustache and fancy clothes that he wore even at home. Although his neck tie had been removed, he was in his patterned silk shirt with slacks and black leather shoes.

Ethan was two decades younger than his uncle, and he too was still formally dressed in a suit, and hadn't even removed his tie yet, although he had loosened it. Since it was in the dead of winter it was cool enough even inside that they weren't especially warm.

Jake went on, saying, "Yes, in the long view, you're probably right, but this is a question that's bigger than either of us. Bigger than any one man. And for the time being, the Supreme Court of the land has said--"

"The Dred Scott decision is an abomination!" Ethan said, this time more loudly.

Jake's beautiful house slave, Jessie, suddenly entered the room through the swinging doors of the kitchen, looking slightly startled by their guest's outburst.

So far Jake seemed quite considerate of Jessie, and this hadn't gone unnoticed by Ethan.

Jessie said, "Is there anything I can get for you gentlemen? May I refresh your brandies?"

"Actually, Jessie," Jake said, "please bring in a bottle of that Moët & Chandon Champagne that Ethan was so generous to bring us a case of--and all the way France too. Wasn't that just kindness and generosity itself?"

"Certainly," Jessie said, with a faint smile, "And should I bring in the chocolate sweets as well?"

"Yes, Jessie," Jake said with warmth, "That would be most fitting."

Jessie departed, leaving the two men to resume their conversation. Jake talked about how since Jessie was a house slave, and was expected to converse with company, he had educated her with fine tutors, and had allowed her free range of his extensive personal library.

Soon the woman being talked about returned with the bottle of Champagne, two crystal glasses, and a tray of assorted chocolates.

"Oh, Jessie!" Ethan said, "You've only brought two glasses. Please won't you join us too in enjoying this Champagne? It's bubbly, just a bit sweet, and entirely delightful."

Jessie smiled warmly at Ethan's suggestion, but looked to her master Jake for permission.

Jake smiled at her, nodded, and said to both of them, "Of course. Jessie, please sit down. I can see that nothing would please Ethan more than for you to join us, in something like equality."

Ethan smiled at Jessie and said, "Yes, please Jessie."

Ethan noticed that Jessie's beautiful low-cut dress displayed her cleavage in a pleasing way. He'd never seen a black woman's breasts, but suddenly he wanted to. And he noticed that Jessie was in fact a pleasing shade of light brown. He knew that the races mixed, even though it wasn't usually talked of in polite company, and as Jessie went to retrieve another glass Ethan wondered about her parentage.

Jessie was delighted she'd been asked to join the men, but she tried to keep those feelings subtle. Sometimes Master Jake asked her to sit with him, but it wasn't often she was invited to join when there was company. To think highly enough of a slave to have them join in the socialization of free men was an uncommon thing. Her Master, however, was kind to her, as least in his corrupt way, and had educated her and taught her how to talk like a proper girl. Her education by some tutors was actually quite good, and very unusual for an enslaved person.

Jessie didn't speak much, choosing to listen to the men's conversation as she sat with her Champagne glass. She was lucky her normal clothes were made out of cotton and not the linsey-woolsey fabric which was rough and much more common for slave clothing. Her master was of high enough standing that he could afford to dress her well. Never as well as a high-class free woman though. That night, however, Jessie wore the dress Jake had given her which was saved for special occasions. The dress was a light yellowish color and white lace on it, with long full sleeves gathered to a cuff, dropped shoulders, and full skirt. It buttoned at the front, which made it something of a temptation for wicked men.

She didn't reach for the chocolates until Ethan spoke directly to her again, and said, "Please, won't you try one?"

"Thank you, Master Ethan," she murmured, bowing her head a little before selecting one of the chocolates on the table.

"Mm, wonderful," she said after taking a bite.

Truthfully, the smooth and rich treat was one of the most delicious things she had ever experienced. Jessie also had the same feeling about the Champagne, but being her first time trying it, she did find the bubbly liquid slightly ticklish to her mouth, but in a good way.

She poured another round of Champagne when their first glassed were drained. Even with two glasses Jessie found herself feeling a little tipsy. She was glad the men weren't talking to her directly. Nonetheless, she had noticed Ethan glance at her a few times with admiration.

Jessie wasn't new to the ashamed lusts of white men. Her face was beautiful, and her shapely figure had tempted guests before. Jake welcomed it, proud his slave girl was so desired. Jessie often disliked this, while tolerating it. But sometimes, like tonight, she did somewhat enjoy the attention. And she admitted to herself that she was actually attracted to Ethan.

****

After dinner, Jake excused himself early to wash up and go to bed. During that time Jake met with Jessie in his bedroom, and as he undressed he gave her instructions.

Jake said, "I'd like you to show young Master Ethan the same hospitality you showed to Mayor Campbell."

"Yes, Master Jake," Jessie nodded obediently. Since turning 18 the year before, Jake had instructed her to be hospitable with a few guests of high standing, Mayor Campbell being the latest and most notable.

Once the Mayor was alone with Jessie in his guest room, she had, at Jake's orders, flirted with him. She soon made it clear to the Mayor that he could have his way with her--at least to a point. She let him unbutton her dress--the same one that she wore for Ethan--revealing her beautiful and perky breasts.

She knew the Mayor had already heard from Jake that Jessie was skilled with her mouth, and so she wasn't surprised when he gently but firmly pressed Jessie to her knees in front of him, and released his swollen manhood, which was fairly large. Jessie spoke with feigned awe and wonder at the gift she was being given, and immediately serviced the Mayor's cock with her mouth.

She massaged his shaft with one hand, while at the same time sucking on his cockhead. His gasps showed her that soon he was already close, and she decided to finish him quickly with a skill she'd learned from another enslaved woman. Jessie took hold of the Mayor's legs with both hands and forced his cockhead into her throat.

As she expected and hoped, the Mayor immediately started spilling his seed down her throat, while groaning, "Oh Jessie! Uhh!"

Choking slightly, she eased his cock back into her mouth, as he continued to thrust and empty all of his seed into her mouth in several spurts.

Swallowing it all in a few gulps as if it were a delicious treat, she soon smiled up at him and said, "Will that be all, Mr. Mayor? Would you like for me to visit you again in the morning?"

The Mayor smiled, put his man snake back in his pants, and said, "Yes, Jessie, I would like to to attend to me again in the morning. And you can tell your Master that I'll have for him that license for his new downtown clothing store quite soon."

Although the Mayor was several years older than Jake, he was still a fine-looking man. He had been most appreciative after releasing his seed into Jessie's mouth the next morning again, and the Mayor did indeed confer that favor on Ethan--which Jessie felt that she had really earned.

But Jessie confessed to herself that she actually often enjoyed servicing men in this way. They were so clearly desperate for her, and so grateful afterward. Although she still felt men's cocks, as she heard Jake call them, looked strange at times, she enjoyed the men's raw desire, and even usually the taste of their seed. She was saved by Ethan for only a few special men, and she came to realize that these men somehow knew that she was really Jake's daughter.

Jessie's mother had died giving birth to her, and Jessie knew very little about her. Jake spoke fondly of her, and said she was a beautiful and kind woman, but that was about all Jessie knew of her mother, and she felt the loss keenly.

Jake continued on, saying, "Ethan is family. He's really your family too, even though he doesn't know that yet, and so I want you to make him feel welcome. Tonight, Jessie, you are to give yourself to him fully."

"Tonight?" she repeated. "All the way?" She wasn't really trying to protest, but she had been taken off guard. He'd never asked her to give her body fully before.

Jessie wasn't a virgin, as her Master knew. Six months earlier she'd had sex once, which had hurt somewhat, with a fellow enslaved man named Toby, who after that had run away. That was in fact why she let Toby have his way with her, because she liked him, and knew she'd probably never see him again.

Jake continued on, saying, "Ethan is a good man. And I can see he is powerfully attracted to your beauty, as well as to your intelligence. He might make a good husband for you, if you can turn the trick of making him fall for you, not just in lust, but in love."

Jessie said quietly, looking at the carpeted floor, "Perhaps, Master Jake, but I don't really know. And I think it's cruel of you to play with our lives like this,".

But Ethan was handsome, well-spoken, and seemingly kind-hearted. She could have been given to far worse. But she couldn't quite believe that her Master would give her up.

Jake ignored her complaint, and said, "Stoke up the stove and fireplace so it's nice and warm in that bedroom. Then you won't need covers, and if you keep a lamp burning I can watch the two of you better."

She nodded. She wasn't surprised by the request. He had instructed her where to service his guests before--at the perfect angle for him to view them through the small holes in the walls of the room.

"Are you nervous, Jessie?" Jake asked, his voice softening slightly.

"A bit," she admitted. She was part nervous, part excited, and a little embarrassed about both feelings.

"Make him lick your pussy, Jessie. And if he doesn't know how, then teach him. Although being from New York, that perverted city, I imagine he knows how. The more your juices flow, the easier his entrance will be."

"Yes," Jessie said quietly, wondering already if she might somehow escape these men completely, or somehow earn her freedom.

Although part of her was almost horrified by his request, and hated her Master and father for it, she admitted to herself that she also found it arousing.

She remembered the lesson he'd given her previously. Jake had demonstrated on his slave Suzie, as he always did for those sorts of lessons. He'd had Jessie watch closely as he spread the older slave's legs and pressed his engorged member into her pussy. But he had made her aroused first with his tongue for several minutes, until Suzie had cried out with pleasure.

As Jake explained, this made her very wet, and then he could push his engorged member into her more easily. Jake used at least one of his slaves daily for his lustful pleasures. It was usually Suzie, but there were others as well.

Within this evil system, at least Jake hadn't taken his own daughter Jessie. But she knew when she looked at her father's large erect penis, which he seemed to take pleasure in showing to her, even if he had never used it on her, that this man who was her flesh and blood was more evil than good. Power corrupts, he had taught her, and he was very much the illustration of that.

"But what if--" Jessie started to say, but paused, bringing a hand to her stomach to indicate where her thoughts had gone. She had bled a little over week ago and knew from what Suzie had taught her that this was the most likely time she'd conceive.

Jake said, clearly having thought this over, "Perhaps you'll snare your cousin that way in a more permanent fashion. He may act pure, and high and mighty, but I think he's much less so than he imagines. He will probably give into you more easily than he thinks, but he will be shocked to his core when he finds out he's your cousin. But still, if he really believes in what he's said to me about equality, and even intermarriage of the races, then he might try to marry you anyway, and take you off to New York City-- not as a slave, but as his wife."

Jake went on, saying, "I know, Jessie, that I've been corrupted by slavery, and by my own weaknesses and lusts, for many years. You are the product of my sins, dear child. I'm a lost soul, and I know it. If there is a God and He is just, I will pay terribly at some point for my sins. But I'm not without wishes for a better life for you, Jessie, who are flesh of my flesh. If you succeed, Jessie, before you leave make Mr. Ethan come to me begging. I want Ethan to beg me for the papers for your freedom."

Jessie was shocked. Jake's plan for her leaving her Master and father's home was both scary and exciting. But she knew she shouldn't get ahead of herself. She had a lot of work to do, in terms of both emotions and sex with this man Ethan.

But even if Ethan took her away, Jessie wasn't sure she'd stay with him. Once she was in New York City, and a free woman, she suddenly imagined that she might become a writer for a newspaper, and even a novelist. Since she was a girl she'd had free range of the Master's large library, and had read many novels and histories, as well as his newspapers. She might someday be an independent and free black woman. But it was going to be the threading of several needles for that to happen.

***

A bit later, behind a closed and locked bedroom door, Ethan said, "Oh Jessie, thank you. But I feel uncomfortable with you as my personal..."

"Slave?" Jessie offered bluntly.

"Yes, I don't even like to use the word. As you know, I'm an Abolitionist, and..."

Jessie said with a flirtatious smile, "Yes, but Master Jake ordered me to get your bath ready and help you in any way I can, and it's really my pleasure. And you wouldn't want to get me in trouble, would you?"

"I assure you," said Ethan. "I'll tell my uncle that you fulfilled all your duties."

She frowned and looked worried, and said "Oh, Master Jake would know..."

Ethan suddenly looked worried too, and replied, "He wouldn't punish you, would he?"

The truth was, Jessie was rarely punished by her Master, although her whole punishing situation in life was the result of his evil, and the evil ways of the world. Her very life was sometimes a torment, but she probably couldn't say that and achieve her aim.

Jessie instead said simply, "Yes, he might. His temper can be fierce. Please, Master Ethan, it would be so much easier if you were simply to let me serve you."

Ethan smiled, but still looked worried, and said, "Well then, I'll accept your help. I would like a bath. Let us work together to set that up."

Jessie smiled, "Yes, Master Ethan. I already started the wood burning stove in our room a while ago, with some pots of water heating. I'll need to put those in the brass bath, and then stoke up the fire and heat two more pans, then that should be enough for your bath."

Ethan was puzzled, and said, "Our room?"

Jessie said, matter-of-factly, "Well, this is my room except when there are guests in the house. And then I move into the small room connected to it. I'll be there at your beck and call, day or night, for anything you might desire, Master Ethan."

Ethan looked guilty, and said, "Oh, I feel badly now that I know I've kicked you out of your room. Why don't I go in the adjoining room, so that you can keep your bed, which looks quite comfortable."

Jessie now made herself look very worried again, and as she poured more hot water into the bath, said, "Oh no, I couldn't let you do that."

Ethan wasn't sure what to do, but said, "Well, I won't be able to sleep knowing I've kicked you from you own bed."

"Don't worry yourself, Master Ethan. That's my task. You must take your bath while the water is still warm," Jessie distracted him. "We can discuss the sleeping arrangement when you're more relaxed."

Ethan then said, with a note of discomfort, since he was about to undress for his bath, "Well then, that will be all for now. Thank you, Jessie."

Jessie smiled, and said, "Oh no, Master Ethan, I won't leave. It's not just the hot water I'll help you with."

Ethan said, "Pardon me? I don't understand your meaning."

Jessie replied with a winsome smile, "Please, let me help you get your clothes off."

Jessie started to reach for Ethan, but stopped when he said, "Wait. Is this what you do for your other houseguests?"

Jessie said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, "Yes, sir, I do. Well, for the special ones, that is. And if you don't let me help you I'll be punished!"

Ethan looked shocked, but said, "No, I wouldn't want that. Very well. I..."

Jessie right away started undressing Ethan. Somewhat humorously, she said, "You may think on this experience as part of your research into slavery, Master Ethan."

Ethan laughed and said, "Must you call me Master?"

Jessie continued, "Not always. Not when we're in private, if you have something you'd rather I call you. But in public Master Jake would prefer it, to help make clear that I'll do anything for you that you desire."

Ethan said, his head still swimming somewhat with the brandy and champagne, "Please just call me Ethan. But do you mean as your temporary 'Master,' I could undress you as well if wanted? That would be absurd."

Jessie said with a sly smile, knowing that he was weakening, "Yes, Master, if you desire it, I'd be powerless to stop you. And actually, I would like you to see my breasts, since I know already of your desires for me. You've looked at what you could see of me often during the Champagne."

And then Jessie lied, by adding, "And I would keep it a secret, just between the two of us."

Ethan knew it was wrong, but he suddenly said, "Let me see if you jest," and as she unbuttoned his clothes, he began unbuttoning her dress down the front.

When she didn't stop him, but smiled encouragingly, he continued, and soon her free breasts came into view, which were very beautiful. She hadn't worn a corset or even a brassiere, in hopes that her seduction would be easier and faster.

Ethan then whispered loudly, "Your breasts are so lovely, Jessie. If were to order you to bathe with me, would you?"

Jessie said, with her pert light brown breasts with their hard nipples proudly in the air, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "I would happily share your bath with you, Ethan. I like a hot bath very much."

Jessie was a little more nervous than she had been with other guests in the past, because of the stakes. But none of the other guests had needed as much convincing. But she was sure Ethan was snared now.