Part 37 (1/2)

I want to fill her body

With my soul

And become one

With her heart.

I wander incomplete

Through the deserts of life,

Desperately wanting her

By my side.

She quenches my thirst,

My longing and ache.

As she fills me with her love

And rescues my soul.”

Ca.s.s finished reading the poem, then fell silent, terribly embarra.s.sed.

Rox fell silent too, but for a very different reason. She had totally lost control of her emotions, as she sat there with tears streaming down her cheeks, too choked up to speak.

Taking Rox's silence as dislike for the poem, Ca.s.s began to apologize. ”Ah ... I told you it wasn't very good,” she began.

”Stop it!” Rox demanded, almost angrily through her tears. ”Please ... Ca.s.s, I loved it. By the G.o.ds ... your words have a way of touching me like none others ever have,” she said, sniffing loudly. ”Ca.s.s, your poem is filled with such depth of emotion ... I ... I don't know what to say. It's beautiful. Thank you so much. I have never received such a wonderful gift. I will cherish it forever,” she finished.

”You really liked it?” Ca.s.s asked unbelievingly.

”I loved it, Ca.s.s. Thank you again,” Rox replied.

”You're welcome! I meant every word, Rox,” Ca.s.s responded, a smile plastered to her face from ear to ear.

”I know you did,” Rox answered, yawning loudly.

”Look, honey ... you're tired. I'm going to let you go to bed. I'll be out of town tomorrow, but back Tuesday afternoon. Can I call you then?” Ca.s.s asked.

”I'd like that, Ca.s.s ... I really would,” Rox answered.

”Okay then ... until Tuesday. Good night. I love you Rox. Sleep well.” Ca.s.s said.

”I will ... you too. Have a nice flight, Ca.s.s. I'll talk to you on Tuesday,” replied Rox.

Moments later, both women had hung up and had retreated into their own private thoughts of the other.

Get a grip, Rox, the red head thought to herself. Your heart is beating a mile a minute! You really need to decide what it is you're feeling for this woman ... your entire future depends on it.

Rox yawned loudly once more as she powered down her computer and rose from her chair. Stretching like a cat brought back distinct reminders that she was not yet totally healed from the abuse wielded on her by Chris just a few days earlier. Deciding to take a hot shower to chase away some of the soreness, she descended one flight of stairs to the bathroom and stood there in front of the mirror, looking at herself. As she stood there, she imagined Ca.s.s walking up behind her and wrapping her arms around her waist, pulling her tightly against her chest. Her eyes closed involuntarily at the image as pangs of desire spread through her abdomen. Grabbing onto the edge of the sink for support, she dropped her chin to her chest, and took a deep breath to compose herself. Finally, after several minutes, she stripped off her clothes and quickly showered, then climbed naked between fresh sheets, where within minutes, she drifted off to dreams of dark hair and blue eyes.

Ca.s.s was so elated Rox liked the poem, that her adrenaline level skyrocketed. It was only 8:00 p.m. and she was nowhere near ready to sleep, so she powered up the computer with the intention of surfing the net for an hour or so, showering, then calling it a night.

If anyone had asked which sites she had visited, she would not have been able to tell them. She was so distracted by thoughts of red-gold hair and green eyes, that she was merely going through the motions of surfing. Finally, after losing patience she decided to send Rox a short e-mail to thank her for the phone call and to send along the poem she had been forced to read over the phone.

What started out as a quick two or three lines, turned into a full blown note.

”Hi my love,