Here's My Heart

By Chrissy

"I've just seen a huge rat in the scullery!" Julia cried in alarm to Bessie the next day. Luis was at the theatre and Julia had just arose from bed and gone to the scullery to fetch some hot tea to drink.

Bessie regarded her skeptically. "A rat? I've seen plenty of mice in this house but no rats."

Julia glared at her. "Well, it was a rat. I know a rat when I see one."

"Are you sure?"

Julia stamped her foot. How dare the servants question her? "Of course I'm sure, you stupid girl. I want you to go to the chemist right this minute and get some rat poison."

Bessie stopped her sweeping. "My sister's cat has just had a litter of kittens, mam. I'll pop around there and pick up a couple. Rats don't like cats."

Fury swelled inside Julia. "I've no time to wait for kittens to grow up. I want the rat dead now. Go to the chemists and get a tin of rat poison. Tell them to put it on my bill."

Bessie hesitated. "I'm not much taken with poisons, mam. They can be dangerous if used inside the house. Maybe my sister will let us borrow her tabby cat."

Julia's eyes glittered. "I'm not interested in what you are 'taken with', Bessie. This is my house, not yours. I'm not going to spend all day arguing with you. Get to the chemist this minute and don't come back unless you have the rat poison in your possession."

Cursing hotly under her breath Bessie pulled on her shawl and left the house. She disliked Julia immensely and would have left this position if it were not for the master. She loved Luis with all the passionate intensity of adolescence youth. He was the most handsome beautiful man she had ever seen, and yet he was always kind and friendly. A real gentleman. Not like that mean bitch of a wife, Julia. "What a cow!" Bessie muttered under her breath as she headed for the corner chemist shop. "What a bloody cow!"

***

"Luis, darling, guess what I have for us?" Julia cried that night as Luis returned from the theatre.

"What?"

"Coffee! Real Cuban coffee! It cost a fortune, but I thought we could treat ourselves now that you will be a fancy movie star."

Luis smiled; he sensed an inner excitement about her. Two bright spots of pink glowed from each cheek and her eyes sparkled unnaturally.

"Coffee? Well, I'm damned. I was beginning to think I'd never taste the stuff again. I was even starting to cultivate an attachment to tea."

Julia laughed. "Taken at four o'clock in the afternoon?" she joked. "What a blue blood you have become, Luis!"

He came toward her and pulled her into a long wild kiss that she returned with fervor. For one moment, her passion rising quickly, Julia wondered if she could carry out her deadly plan.

When they broke apart, he winked at her, an evil gleam in his eye. "There's nothing blue blooded in what I'm about to do to you, sweetheart. In fact, what I have in mind is quite unrefined and debauched."

She loved playing their sensual games. "Will I scream?" she pretended fear, "Will you make me scream? Oh, I hope so!"

"Like a banshee," he returned. Both hands came up to her bodice and he ripped the gauze material in one movement. Her breasts suddenly hung free and untethered.

"Luis! You devil!" she fluttered her eyelashes with feigned embarrassment. "I will have to purchase bodices by the dozen if you keep ripping them from my body!"

"I have a better idea," his voice was muffled as his lips tasted her nipples. "Don't wear them at all. "

"And have my breasts bounce about all over the place like a common street prostitute?" She threw back her head. Luis's lips on her nipples were sending electric currents of pleasure down to her groin. She felt herself growing hot and wet between her legs.

"I like the idea, don't you?" he was laughing into the flushed skin of her breasts.

"Only if you will allow yourself to also hang free and untethered."

"What do you mean?"

"That lovely big beautiful cock of yours. I'd like to see it waving about as you walk. As unrestrained as my breasts. For me to touch and lick any time I wanted."

He pulled his head away and grinned. "Such lewd behaviour would put us into a jail cell, surely"

His words caused her hot blood to suddenly run cold. Oh God! She couldn't kill him! He was too beautiful, too exceptional a lover, too valuable. Unconsciously her fingers went around her neck. And she had too much to loose.

She decided to put her deadly plan on hold.

***

It was two weeks later when John Marshall came to the house to speak with Luis and to make arrangements for his travel to California. Luis had finished his triumphant run with the Strand Theatre. On his last night the audience had stood and cheered for a full ten minutes. Reggie Beaumont had cried real tears and had actually put his lace handkerchief to work drying wet cheeks.

A farewell party had taken place in the banquet room of the Strand Hotel. Crowds had formed and brawny men had been stationed at the door to keep the herds of people under control. Women swooned and fainted and declared their love for Luis and begged him not to leave England. His popularity knew no bounds.

Julia had gritted her teeth and forced a smile on her face throughout the whole affair. She had worn a low cut dress of scarlet silk that swung low over her generous breasts. Her skirts were lifted at the front showing her ankles and shapely calves. Her face was painted, her large generous lips as ruby red as her dress. She fluttered her long eyelashes; she twirled her fingers through the tendrils of glossy curls that hung down her back, yet still it was Luis who garnered all the attention. London loved him. He had proven himself on the most prestigious stage of all. London's West End.

Julia had refused to see Lord Rutherford since he had told her he could not marry her. He had besieged her with jewels and flowers, sending messenger boys to her door with love notes of poetry. It was a good thing Luis spent most of his time away from the house and did not see all the coming and going of gifts and notes. The fact that she was ignoring him seemed to fan Howie's passion to new heights. She knew she had him where she wanted him. Once Luis was gone she would have no trouble convincing Howie to marry her.

"I'll have the servant bring us some coffee," Julia said as she sat down next to John Marshall. He was a handsome man in his fifties with iron gray hair and penetrating blue eyes.

"Her name's Bessie, sweetheart. I don't think of her as a servant," Luis's eyes were surprising hard as they looked at Julia. "In fact I've asked her to accompany us to California."

Julia gasped. This was news to her. News she did not like at all. "I wish you would discuss these things with me," she snapped back, her lips tight with anger. "The girl is discourteous and slovenly."

Luis smiled. "Oh Julia - how can you say such a thing? Bessie works hard day and night and her kitchen is spotless."

John Marshall spent some time lighting his cigar, obviously feeling uncomfortable at the sudden argument between his two hosts. He turned to Julia, "Where are you from, Mrs. Vargas?" he asked pleasantly, obviously wanting to change the topic and lighten the uneasy tension in the room.

"Chicago, but I grew up in New York." Luis raised his eyebrows at Julia in surprise. He decided that the truth was something Julia disregarded on a regular basis.

Julia fluttered her long eyelashes and looked at John Marshall suggestively. "I hope there's a part in this film of yours for me. I've worked on the stage most of my life, you know."

Marshall shifted in his seat. "Well, my dear, all the female lead roles have been cast. But I'm sure we can find something for you. A belly dancer or slave - something like that." He paused and noticed her crestfallen features. "You are very comely," He added quickly "I am certain we'll find something for you."

Julia felt as if she had been slapped across the face. Hot tears filled her eyes and she looked away hiding her rage.

"Where is that damn coffee?!" she declared angrily, suddenly standing up. "I swear, that fool of a girl is as slow as molasses." She swept from the room.

Luis looked awkwardly at John Marshall. "Julia is highly strung," he said with a shrug. "She has been acting strangely lately."

John Marshal pulled at his cigar, "Please don't apologize, Vargas. It must be rough on her. All this upheaval."

They spoke for a while of plans for the movie. John Marshall had been enormously impressed with Luis from the moment he laid eyes on him. The man was not only exotically handsome, he had an easy charm and a compelling charisma. The new world of moving pictures was about to unfold and John Marshall intended to be at the forefront and he knew he had a surefire star in Luis. The camera was going to love this sensuous leading man.

After a few moments, Julia entered the room carrying a tray with a coffeepot and three cups. Carefully she poured the coffee into each cup. "It's Cuban coffee. The very best," she smiled, her eyes unnaturally bright.

She held the sugar bowl as John Marshall spooned sugar into his cup. Then she sat back and watched as he took several sips. His face twisted in distaste. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"This coffee is somewhat strange. Tastes astringent."

Julia took his cup and sniffed. "Smells like disinfectant," she said. Then she picked up the sugar bowl. "My God! That stupid girl! She's got disinfectant in the sugar bowl."

Julia stomped to the doorway. "Bessie! Bessie! Get in here!" she yelled.

Bessie came into the room, her pink cheeks even pinker as she looked shyly at Luis from beneath lowered eyes. "Were you washing the ceramic tiles with disinfectant?" Julia demanded, her voice harsh and angry.

Bessie raised her eyebrows in surprise and dragged her eyes from Luis. "You know I was," she said with a snap to her voice that made Julia even angrier. "You just ordered me to."

"Well, you've spilled disinfectant in the sugar bowl, you stupid girl. You've almost poisoned Mr. Marshall."

Bessie glared contemptuously at Julia, her eyes hard and direct. "I mixed the disinfectant in the scullery," she said her voice low, "I wasn't anywhere near the sugar or the sugar bowl."

"Well, how do you suggest it got there then?" Julia asked, her heart thumping.

Bessie's eyes returned Julia's stare with open contempt. "Maybe you did it! You were just in the kitchen. The disinfectant's right there on the counter top. You told me to stay in the scullery. You told me YOU would prepare the coffee and to stay out of your goddamn way."

"Why you insolent little bitch!" Julia stomped toward the girl and struck her hard across the face. Bessie crumpled into loud tears and fled from the room.

Luis looked at John Marshall in appalled confusion, then he crossed the room to Julia. "Why did you do that?" he demanded. "What's got into you?"

"Didn't you hear?" Julia shrieked at him. " Didn't you hear how the damn bitch spoke to me? Christ Almighty! I'll slit her goddamn nose!"

"Julia!" Luis's voice cracked in horror, "Govern your tongue! We have a guest!"

Julia was breathing hard; her chest rose and fell with overwhelming rage. Her plans to lay the blame on Bessie for Luis's eventual death from rat poisoning were all falling apart. She had intended to lay the seeds of doubt in the mind of John Marshall. He was supposed to have seen a slovenly servant who spilled disinfectant into the sugar bowl. When Luis died, John Marshall would remember. He would be her defense. But it was all going wrong. She hadn't expected Bessie to stick up for herself so adamantly.

John Marshall stood and pulled on his jacket. He took his hat into his hand and strode to the door. "I'm late for another appointment," he said awkwardly, his eyes on Luis. "I'll be in touch."

"I'll walk you to the door," With a swift glance at Julia, Luis followed John Marshall from the room. Julia could hear them talking in the hallway. She knew Luis was making excuses for her behaviour. When the front door closed Julia listened as Luis's footsteps headed for the kitchen. She moved to the door and opened it a fraction. She could hear Bessie's sobs and she could also hear Luis's soft words of apology. She had a quick vision of Luis holding the stupid girl in his arms and soothing her, brushing her hair with his hand, whispering words of comfort. It was something he was really good at.

Julia felt herself explode inside.

With a stifled scream, she snatched a porcelain statuette and hurled it at the wall where it shattered into a thousand pieces. Then, choking in fury, she stomped to the bedroom and threw herself onto the bed with a howl of rage. She thrashed about, banging her fists into the coverlet and pounding her head on the pillows until she grew dizzy. Finally, her anger spent, she undressed and climbed under the covers and waited for Luis.

Her heart thumped, he was going to be very angry with her. But then she smiled slyly - Luis was THE best lover when he was angry. He might have taken on the fancy British character for well-bred gentility, but between the covers Luis was a wild man with a cock so big and hard it drove her over the edge of pure pleasure. Licking her lips, her eyes watched the door expectantly.

It seemed a long time before Luis came into the bedroom. She had almost decided that he had joined Bessie in the servant quarters for the night. She could even visualize the two of them pumping away on the narrow iron bed in Bessie's small room at the back of the house.

With a sigh, Luis pulled off his tie and shirt and then removed his trousers. She watched as the moonlight played over the smooth muscular contours of his body. He was beautiful, she had to admit. Luis was the most incredibly beautiful man. Totally naked he climbed into the bed.

"Bessie is leaving in the morning," he said.

"What? For good?"

"Yes. She's asked for references."

"I'm sorry, darling," Julia whispered softly. "Are you mad at me?"

Luis sighed again. "Of course not," he returned softly. "But I am disappointed in the way you behaved. Cursing like a fishwife at Bessie and using language from the gutter. John Marshall was our guest, Julia. You embarrassed him. That's not the way to treat a guest, my dear."

She rolled over and grabbed his penis. "Oh, for heaven's sake Luis!" she wheedled, "You sound all stuffy and British. You curse just as much as me."

"Not in front of guests. And I treat servants with respect. I grew up with servants and I've never had occasion to treat them with anything but kindness."

Julia pouted in the darkness and snatched her massaging hand from him. "Maybe that's the difference between the two of us, Luis," she snapped. "I didn't have your fancy upbringing. I've never had experience ordering servants about. I thought they were supposed to treat ME with respect. Not answer back. I guess I've been mistaken all this time."

"You were accusing the girl!" Luis's voice rose. "You slapped her! She has a mark on her face."

Julia rolled toward him and took his penis in her hand once more. She squeezed hard. "Have you come to me from her bed?" she asked, her voice hard. "Did you comfort the poor darling?"

To her surprise Luis laughed. "Good Lord, no! I've been sitting and thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

"Well, I was thinking about the movie and traveling to California and I was thinking about the money they will pay me."

She began to rub his penis. "What about the money?"

"Well, it will be enough to buy back my father's coffee house."

"You want to return to Cuba?" She was surprised.

He sighed deeply. "Oh God, Julia. I miss it. I miss it so much. I want things to go back the way they were. The way they were before…" he hesitated.

"Before you met me?" she finished for him, her voice brittle. He did not reply and they lay in silence for a while.

"Well," she said, her fingers working on him again, a cold dread gripping her heart. "It seems your future plans might not include your wife. I cannot go back to Cuba, can I? I'm wanted for murder."

He covered her hand with his and raised his hips into her caress. His penis grew engorged with desire. "If you want to stay here in England, Julia. I'm not going to stop you," he breathed, his passion rising.

Her heart lurched strangely. Hot blood stilled in her veins. She continued to caress him, to knead him to rising desire, but a cold dread had descended upon her.

With a sigh she lowered her body below the covers and took him into her mouth. He was so huge and so smooth and so hard. She tasted the fluids beginning to spill from him. For many minutes she sucked and pulled at him, her tongue working its magic until he spurted into her, his noisy jerking gasps filling the bedroom. When things had quieted she moved back into his arms.

"See? We belong together," she whispered. "That good wasn't it?"

"It was for sure," he smiled. "But WE are not good for each other, Julia."

"Yes we are!" she insistent quickly.

He sighed, "Don't you understand? We consume each other. We devour each other. It's all too excessive, too obsessive. Oh God, Julia! I want peace. I want the serenity of the Cuban coffee fields where I grew up."

"You no longer love me?" she questioned softly. Her heart beat faster, her stomach twisted waiting for his answer.

He sighed again. "Whatever we had, Julia. Whatever that mad thing was - it's gone. It's gone."

"It's not gone for me! I still love you," she said quickly. "I'll always love you."

"What we had was lust. Mad passionate lust. Not love." His voice was hard. "Real love never fades."

"I love you!" she came up from the pillow and stared at him, her eyes very green in the moonlight. For one dreadful moment she realized what she was saying was true. She did love him. She loved him utterly and completely.

His eyes slid away from her insistent gaze. "Let's get some sleep, sweetheart. It's been a long night." He rolled over, away from her.

Julia chewed on her lip. Sleep was the last thing on her mind. She decided he must die in the morning. She had no other choice.

As the moon traveled across the night sky, Julia began plotting and scheming. Maybe it was a good thing that Bessie was leaving in the morning. A servant stomping off in a huff would have good reason to poison her employer. And John Marshall would have to admit to the police that Bessie had been rude and discourteous to her mistress in his presence. He had seen it with his own eyes.

She planned to put a small portion of the rat poison into her own cup. She would take a few sips and maybe suffer some discomfort. She would tell the police that she had drunk only a few mouthfuls, whereas Luis had swallowed his coffee down in one gulp.

Her heart thumping with apprehension, she watched as the dawn broke. The birds were chattering in the trees as she left the bed and headed toward the kitchen. She could hear Bessie moving about in the small room off the kitchen. She figured the girl was packing her belongings. "Good riddance to bad rubbish," she hissed under her breath.

Ten minutes later Julia carried a tray with two cups filled with coffee into the bedroom. It was eight o'clock exactly. One cup was spiked with a heaping spoonful of rat poison. It would kill him almost instantly. She didn't want Luis to suffer. Her own cup had but a few grains of the stuff, enough to make her vomit.

She would spoon the rat poison into the large silver coffeepot before calling for the doctor. Her story would be that Bessie had prepared the coffee. She would explain that the girl had just been dismissed because of impertinence and laziness. The culprit was obvious. The girl held a grudge against her employer and had taken matters into her own hand.

She entered the bedroom just as the sun's orange glory caressed Luis's awakening form. He rolled over and stretched luxuriously, his body outspread and beautiful. The sight was so physically striking that for a moment Julia stumbled and staggered and one cup rattled in its saucer causing hot coffee to spill onto her thumb. Quickly she placed the tray onto a side table. One last time. Surely she could have him one last time. One last thrill of hard, hard, throbbing cock inside, growing ever bigger, ever demanding.

Her blood hot and pounding, she climbed onto the bed. "I've brought coffee, " she said breathlessly, clutching at him. "But I want you first, Luis. I want you right now. I can't stand it. I can't wait. Take me, Luis. Take me now."

He stretched again. She could see he was becoming hard. "Christ, Julia. You're insatiable," he smiled lazily, his voice thick with morning huskiness. He turned his head and glanced at the coffee on the table next to the bed. "Mmmm - that coffee smells damn good."

Her movements quick and anxious Julia pulled the silk night robes from him. Then she yanked off her dressing gown. Naked, she lay back, looking up at him with urgent hunger in her eyes.

"We can't have coffee first?" he teased, one eyebrow raised as he looked down at her.

"No, no," she returned impatiently. "I want you now, Luis - then we can relax and enjoy our coffee."

He smiled and leaned forward to kiss her, his velvet lips sending shivers down her spine. "I'm sorry I was such a bastard last night" he whispered, his breath warm on her cheek. "A husband should stand by his wife. Don't worry, honey. We'll figure things out. I was wrong. I want you to come to California with me. We'll work through this."

Julia did not want his apologies. It only made things worse. She covered his lips with more kisses. "Stop talking, darling and take me. I'm going mad with craving."

He immediately rose above her, his ebony curls falling across his face, his amber eyes filled with amusement. "Open your legs, sweetheart," he drawled and within an instant he was inside.

Julia threw back her head. "Oh, Luis. Do it hard and fast. Hard and rough. You know how I like it."

He pumped into her, his buttocks heaving and jerking back and forth. Julia cried aloud. She realized that this would be the last time. The last time for unbelievable sex. Pleasure with no boundaries. Oh God! Luis was the best lover on the entire planet.

A hard orgasm hit them both simultaneously. Julia lay for several minutes savouring the pleasure and joy of Luis. She faltered for a few moments. Could she do it? Could she destroy something so beautiful? Something so perfect? Something so erotic? Someone that satisfied her so completely?

Then her heart hardened. No matter how much he apologized in the cold light of day, she knew he was planning to leave her. He was planning to return to his old life in Cuba. A life that he had enjoyed before she came on the scene. Slowly but surely, Luis was extricating himself from her. He didn't want her. He had to die.

With a kiss on the tip of her nose, Luis shifted up from the bed to a sitting position, his back against the pillows. Moving aside the silver coffee tray and cups, he took up a cigar and matches from the table next to the bed.

"Oh don't smoke, Luis," Julia beseeched, sitting up next to him. "Not now. It stinks up the air. And we have a special treat. Coffee first thing in the morning. Bessie has made it for us."

"Bessie? Good God! The child's never prepared coffee in her life," he laughed placing the cigar back into its box. "This is a nation of confirmed tea drinkers."

"Well, she probably did it just for you. A sort of going away gift. She's besotted with you, Luis. Surely you've noticed. Anyway, I found the coffee pot on the stove filled with freshly made coffee."

He picked up the cup nearest him and, putting it to his lips he took a quick sip. He placed the cup back onto its saucer with loud rattle. "Damn! The coffee has become cold," he remarked with a sigh. "And it has a strange, bitter taste."

Julia leaned across him and took up her own cup. "Shall I call Bessie and have her reheat the pot?" She knew she was safe. He would not want to disturb his precious Bessie.

"No, no," Luis took another sip. "Don't bother the girl, she must be busy. Her train leaves at 9:30."

Julia's heart was pounding so loudly she wondered if Luis could hear it. "Well, drink up then. Bessie will be disappointed if you don't."

Again Luis took the smallest of sips. "It really is bitter, though. Where did you get the beans?"

"Oh for heaven's sake, Luis! Just drink it! Drink it down." With an irritated sigh, Julia grabbed her own cup and swallowed the contents in one loud gulp.

As she turned to Luis her eyes widened in sudden ghastly horror. For one moment all time stood still and then a crushing blinding agony overtook her. Her stomach cramped and convulsed and she leaned forward and retched violently causing raw toxins to scorch their way up her gullet to her throat, burning and blistering. She shrieked as a wounded animal in bewildered distress and leaped from the bed where she doubled over, clutching ferociously at her stomach. Pink froth spilled from her nose and mouth. Her terrified eyes, glassy with pain, stared at the table by the bed and in a second of white-hot fury she realized what had happened. Luis must have moved the tray when he reached for his cigar box. The cups had been switched around. She had swallowed the coffee laced with rat poison that was meant for Luis. She had poisoned herself.

Howls of pain and mad rage ripped from her as she thrashed on the floor, clutching her burning throat. Luis was on his knees by her side in an instant. "What's wrong? Julia! Oh my God, what is wrong with you?"

He yelled for Bessie, who raced into the room her eyes as big as saucers as she saw that both the master and Julia were stark naked.

"What did you put in the coffee?" Luis shouted above Julia's howling animalistic screams. Bessie looked down at the woman on the ground as she contorted and writhed, foam and blood spurting from her mouth.

"Coffee? I didn't make no coffee, sir. What's happened? What's wrong with the mistress?"

Julia tried to speak. She could feel her tongue and throat dissolving as corrosive acid burned into the flesh. "It was meant for you," she gasped, her blistering lips pulled back into a mocking grotesque grin. She laughed crazily. Life was so ironic. "Don't you understand?" she wheezed." It was meant for you Luis, dear. You were supposed to die. You disturbed the tray, you damn fool. Look what you've done. You've caused me to poison myself."

"Poison?" Bessie shrieked in horror. "She was going to poison you, sir?" She began wailing and crying, pacing the room wringing her hands in confusion. "Why would she do that to the master? Oh Lord. Oh my Lord!"

Luis grabbed Julia to her feet, but she flopped weakly, all her strength gone. "Don't die. Don't die," he cried in alarm. He tried to walk with her, his strong arms holding her against him. But Julia knew she was sinking towards death. She could feel parts of her body already shutting down. The pain was diminishing; her miserable existence was nearing its end. She almost laughed to herself. If only he hadn't stretched so seductively. If only she hadn't been greedy and demanded one more taste of him. If only. If only. Oh, well, maybe it was for the best. She smiled again. At least she would never grow old and wrinkled.

Her eyes opened for one last time and she gazed upon his handsome face, his amber eyes crazy with worry. "You're beautiful, Luis," she whispered, her breath haggard. "So beautiful." Her eyes glazed over. "I loved you. I always loved you, my darling."

The froth ceased its noisy bubbling at her lips as breath could no longer fill melting, lacerated lungs. Her head flopped forward and her body fell upon Luis, almost toppling him.

He began shaking her madly, his actions wild and crazy. "Julia! Julia! We'll get you to a doctor. You'll be fine," he cried over and over again. But the body in his arms dangled as lifeless as a puppet. "Get a doctor, she needs a doctor," he screamed madly at Bessie. "For Christ's sake, don't just stand there. Bring the doctor. She's dying. Oh Christ! She's dying."

"She's dead," Bessie, whispered back, her eyes huge. " I think the mistress is dead, sir."

***

It was two years later when Luis stood at the rail of the ship and watched as his beloved Cuba grew larger on the horizon. A green jewel in a turquoise sea. His homeland.

He had made three movies in Hollywood. All were wildly successful and Luis had become immensely famous and enormously rich. But he hated it all. He hated the phoniness of making movies. He hated the deals and the contracts and the insincerity of the people with whom he worked. He longed for a simple life. A good cigar, a good cup of coffee, a good woman in his bed.

At that moment someone took his hand, and he gazed into the face of Edwina, his wife. "Is that Cuba?" she asked, nodding toward the approaching island.

"Yes," he replied softy, the breeze caught his curls and he brushed them from his eyes. "We should arrive within the hour."

She lowered her head to his shoulder. "I cannot wait to see it. To see your house. Your family."

"Neither can I," he returned as he placed an arm around her shoulder.

"The voyage has not tired you?" he asked with concern. She smiled. "Oh no, darling. I've enjoyed every minute."

His hand caressed her stomach, "I hope it's a girl," he smiled.

"Oh no, I want a boy. I shall call him Luis after his father," she grinned happily.

Edwina had been a nineteen-year-old virgin from Connecticut when he fell in love and married her. He had been a tender and patient teacher, and now they pleased each other with wild and hungry abandon. But the passionate essence of Julia remained. Now it was Luis's turn to wake in the night, screaming and sweating in terror. Edwina would hold him while he sobbed, his body shaking, his breath gasping. He would never be free. Julia would haunt him for the rest of his life.

His amber eyes returned to the horizon. He couldn't turn back time but life had come full circle. He was back where he belonged and he had a good, decent woman by his side. It was all he had ever wanted when he first sent to America for a wife.

The island of Cuba grew larger and larger. A feeling of contentment filled him. He was home. He would never leave again.