She had made up her mind to arrange a marriage between Claire and Pedro, to make them her heirs, and she was therefore extremely surprised when, one evening. Pedro suddenly knelt in front of her and kissing her hands, reminded her shyly of that promise given a long, long time ago.
Julia deliberated. “I have,” she thought to herself, “not done wrong when I promised him, after that punishment… And young or old, it's the only way for a woman to get things done… I will keep my word. I shall teach him what my poor Michael understood so well. That ecstasy only reaches its highest peaks when the body is guided by the combination of spirit and heart. The tender expression of love, and all that goes with it, depends upon the first woman a young man possesses. She alone has it in her power to make his love-life beautiful, or a never ending obscenity. But what am I thinking of? He is only expressing his gratitude. He does not really remember what I promised. But, if he does,” she continued to herself, “I will guard and guide him to make sure that my little Claire will be happy with a perfect husband.”
That night, when Dorothy helped her mistress prepare for bed, she told her maid that she wanted the nightgown with silk and lace, the one with the embroidered butterflies which Michael had liked so much. Under it, she wore nothing.
When Dorothy had left, Julia opened the windows of her bedroom, and leaning upon the sill, she stared up at the pale moon and the sparkling stars.
She heard a sound behind her and suddenly she was caught by two strong, young arms. She turned around slowly, not in the least surprised to see Pedro.
“Mama,” he stammered, barely able to suppress his excitement, “I love you!”
“I love you, too, my dear child. But we have time enough to say that to one another. This hour is hardly fitting to come to me.”
“I love you, Mama,” repeated the young man, “please tell me, what other hour could be more fitting for telling you this. Look at the beautiful moon and stars, listen to the rustling of the brook and wind through the treetops. We are alone, completely alone. I was a poor little gypsy when you found me starving in the bushes. You took me into your home and, I know, also into your heart. You have made me what I am today. But, if you extinguish the flame in my heart which has kept me going through all these years, I wish that you would have left me to die in those bushes. And you know… Mama… what flame I mean!”
Julia knew, but she wanted to hear it.
“Have you forgotten? You promised me! When you found me again after I had run away… you promised me severely, but when you talked to me, I knew that you loved me. Though I was a mere child then, I knew that I deserved the punishment. But we were alone then, and there was nobody to laugh at me. And you took me on your lap, and you said things to me which I have never forgotten. I was naked, and your hands caressed me, giving me a feeling I had never felt before or since. You cradled me in your arms, Mama, without bothering about my nakedness. And it was then that you promised me, if I would behave and do as I was told, that once more I would feel your tender caresses; this time not the pain of punishment, but the secrets of love between man and woman. And that is what I beg of you now!”
“You have really never…”
“No! To have a woman in a boy's college… it's impossible.”
“And other things…”
“Not that, either! The temptation was great, but you had told me that I would become a miserable man without backbone if I were not capable of containing myself. And I have won!
And tonight, dear Mama, tonight, please teach me-not how to love; that is not necessary, because my heart is brimming over. But how to express it, Please, Mama, teach me!”
Julia had always felt some regret that there was no chapter in her memory like that of Florentine and her little Cherub. Long, long ago it seemed, Florentine had told her about the young man she called Cherub. The boy had been a virgin and Florentine, who, had been stranded with the boy in bad weather, had spent the night with him in a little town near Paris, named La Loupe. Nine months later, her sister had been delivered of her beautiful blond boy, a face which had made her husband, George Vaudrez, deliriously happy. George had gone to his rewards, firmly believing that he had fathered a son.
Julia had often dreamed about a virginal Cherub and Pedro's pure words did not fall on deaf ears. She threw her arms around him and looked him deep in the eyes.
“That is your greatest desire?” she asked softly. “Are you very, very sure of that?”
“Oh yes, yes,” Pedro exclaimed with a passion that knew no bounds.
“But my dearest child, do you realize that this heart at whose gates you are pounding, died a long time ago?”
“Please, no… don't talk about that… I know… the other one… that you have lost him… I don't hate him any longer… and the fire of my love for you will make you forget him… forever! Please, I beg of you… be mine. Be mine in the way you used to belong to him. Give me the same caresses… the same kisses… the same little cries of your love and lust… be mine… be mine!!!”
And Pedro kissed Julia, covering her with hot passionate kisses.
“Come here…”
Julia squirmed out of his passionate embrace and pulled him toward the couch. Her heart was pounding. And though she did not exactly feel a deep love for the boy in that sense, her body had become excited for the first time in years. And she was afraid that she would destroy Pedro's trusting heart if she were too reserved.
“What do you want to do? Let's go into your bedroom!”
“No my child… here.” And Julia reclined upon the pillows.
Pedro kissed her hair, her forehead, her hands. The child had become a man. A chaste man, but the blood in his veins had reached the boiling point. Julia knew that she could not postpone the crisis, lest it would end in a miserable failure of premature ejaculation.
She motioned for him to undress himself and this time there was no punishment forthcoming. Pedro did not have to be asked twice. In no time he stood before Julia in all his glorious nakedness. Slowly she got up and walked toward him.
“You are beautiful,” she said simply.
The silken negligee which covered her body was soon loosened by Pedro's feverish hands. Despite her sufferings, Julia's body was still as gorgeous as ever. Pedro had soon cupped one of her breasts, covering it with wild, passionate kisses.
“Lie down here, close to me, my darling,” Julia said. Passion had her in its grip now. “Put your chest upon my bosom, your lips against mine. Our breath should mix… let your tongue search for mine… put your hands around my hips and move wherever your feeling tell you to do so… and here, here… deep inside me… let my love juices baptize you… flood me with those of your loins and let us enjoy together the rites of love!”
Pedro fumbled a little, but Julia was very understanding and she guided his throbbing spear toward her love grotto so that Pedro might enjoy his initiation, and he soon found his spear firmly imbedded in Julia's warm sheath. He had never been so happy. His entire nervous system vibrated from the tip of his toes to the top of his head, and he shook as if he had been hit by lightning.
Julia had stretched herself upon the wide bed, receiving Pedro with wide open thighs, taking his libation deep inside her belly. She had, without the boy's knowledge, played with her clitoris to augment her feelings. She wanted to be able to come at the same moment Pedro did.
The moment came quickly. For the first time in his life, a groan escaped Pedro's panting chest which announced the highest ecstasy of carnal pleasure. Because of its enormous intensity, it had almost been painful.
For a long time afterward he remained motionless in Julia's tender embrace. It seemed indescribably delicious to him to smell this undefined, intoxicating woman smell.