11: I'm Shaving My Head

"Cora, (my dream). Wake up." Zola drew circles on Cora's back with her fingertips.

"Zola? Are you okay? What time is it?"

Zola grinned and sighed at Cora's first thought. ", I'm okay. It's early, 5:45, do you want to see the sun come up? We can come back to bed afterwards."

Cora stretched and moaned with pleasure. "That sounds wonderful. I don't want to miss a moment of today." Zola smiled, lacing her fingers into Cora's, pulling her gently from the bed.

----

Zola and Cora sat together in sweats and wrapped in a blanket, eyes trained on the horizon, enjoying the silence and the total immersion in the moment. As the sun rose over the water, Cora turned, smiling at the light bouncing off Zola's irises. When Zola returned her gaze, Cora grinned, Zola's breath caught and her eyes dilated.

Leaning in, Cora kissed Zola lightly. "This place is stunning."

"You also, ." Cora raised her eyebrow, asking for explanation. ". Dream. My dream."

Cora kissed her again, this time letting her lips linger. "I'm so happy to have this moment."

Zola leaned in, radiating joy. "Cora, do you live your life moment to moment? You seem to speak about experiences in a simple, deconstructed kind of way."

Cora looked back to the horizon, thinking deeply. "Well, yes. In a way, I think I do. Buddhist thought is very temporary in nature. Strong virtues guide one's actions, but 'we can never step in the same river twice.' Nothing is permanent because there is no time, no space, only now."

"Oh, no permanent. That sounds confusing."

Cora laughed lightly. "Yes, it is, and in many ways not an easy concept to apply in the modern world."

"But you try to follow that system of belief? Temporary?"

"Yes. In many ways." Cora turned and smiled, seeing the wheels turning in Zola's head. "Back to bed?"

Zola sighed, giving up for the moment on Buddhism. ", Cora, back to you, ." ----

Cora and Zola walked to the main house, both wearing island dresses and sandals. Both famished from a morning that was spent much like their evening. Both glowed with happiness. As they approached the house, Zola took Cora's hand, leading her up the stairs.

"Zo-Zo! Zia!" Cora heard first and then saw a beautiful young boy run over to Zola. His skin was already tanning and his hair was thick and wavy. Zola bent down and picked him up, spinning him in the air.

", Matteo! (darling)"

"! Zo-Zo! ! I'm sitting over there!"

Zola laughed as she was tugged to the table. "Okay, Matteo! Okay, tesoro!" Zola reached back for Cora's hand and pulled her along too. "Matteo, could you say hello to my friend?"

The boy looked back over his aunt's shoulder, just noticing the stranger. "Hello, my name is Matteo. I'm sitting by Zia."

"Hello, Matteo, I'm Cora. I wouldn't have it any other way."

", Cora! Welcome! I'm Dominic, this is my wife Marie, and you've met Matteo."

Cora took in the family. Dominic was a classically handsome man; tall, dark, angular features. His wife Marie was equally beautiful, she looked almost regal and could easily be mistaken for a sibling of Zola's. "Hello, Dominic." Cora grinned with sincerity. "You have a beautiful family."

"Thank you, Cora, I agree."

Marie smiled and stepped over to hug Cora in greeting. "! Come sit by me, will be here soon."

"Nonno is here!" Matteo squealed with joy and ran over to the patriarch who was walking in and jovially addressing Matteo. "! Matteo! Are you ready for the beach?!"

"! Nonno! Zia is here too!! !"

Cora stood back, watching the flurry of activity and greeting. The entire space swelled with palpable love. Cora watched in wonder and her heart felt full.

"Cora." Zola pulled her to her father. "Papa, this is Cora Sims. Cora, , Alberto."

"Hello, Mr. Basilio, thank you so much for sharing your family time with me."

Alberto kissed Cora's cheek, shaking her hand between both of his. "Of course, Cora, I'm happy my Zolina brought a friend."

"Grazie, Papa. Come on, I'm starving!" Zola led Cora to the table by the hand and kissed her on the cheek before she moved to sit by Matteo. Alberto did not miss the show of affection.

Alberto sat down and smiled at the sight of his family. The table was covered with fruit, Italian pastries, eggs, sausage, and coffee. The adults looked toward him and Cora followed suit. Alberto spoke sincerely, "Father, we thank thee for the night, and for the pleasant morning light." Everyone at the table except for Cora made the sign of the cross. Cora nodded in silent reflection.

Alberto opened up the conversation with, "So how is my Little Zola? How is Austin?" He spoke the words entirely in Italian. Zola, Dom, Marie, and Cora all exchanged glances. Matteo was working on spreading jam on his toast.

"Papa, I'm doing quite well. How about New York?"

"Oh you know, Zolina, busy." (English)

Zola held her breath. "I saw Ray at Perry's a few weeks ago. He sends his regards."

"Oh! How is he?!" Alberto smiled at the memory of his friend.

"He's doing great, business is good. Cora and I had a wonderful meal there."

Alberto glanced at Cora and smiled. "You have a beautiful friend, Little Zola." (Italian)

Zola grimaced. She made sure to repeat her father's questions and statements in her responses. ", thank you, Papa. I think she's quite beautiful too."

Marie interjected, "Cora, Zola told us you work at the hospital in Austin?"

"Yes, I'm one of the chaplains there."

"Oh! How wonderful!" The Basilios all looked at Cora in surprise. "What does that mean?"

"Oh, it just means that I listen to people. I'm there as a layer of comfort to patients who need a little extra compassion."

Alberto asked,"Are you Catholic?"

"No, Mr. Basilio. There are eight of us on staff from all types of religious backgrounds. I'm a Secular Humanist and I practice Engaged Buddhism."

Alberto just blinked. He truly was not sure what he just heard. He leaned back, taking in the young woman and looking her over critically. "But, you cannot be Buddhist. You are beautiful."

"Papa!" Zola gasped and silence fell over the table.

Cora returned Alberto's gaze. He was still staring, processing and trying to see Cora as a female Buddhist monk. She responded in the most sincere tone she could muster. "Don't worry, Mr. Basilio. I'm shaving my head when we return."

Zola's jaw dropped. Alberto looked at his daughter's face and burst into laughter, followed by Marie, Dominic, and Cora. Matteo was unfazed. Zola made eye contact with Cora, and it was all she could do to refrain from moving over to her and wrapping her up in her arms.

The rest of breakfast Alberto spoke English with the occasional loving reference in Italian. By 10:00AM, the entire family found themselves on the beach ready to put in a long day of sun and fun.

Cora spent most of the day at a relative distance, watching the family spend time together, listening to the family express their love of each other, and dote over Matteo. In mid-afternoon, Cora found herself sitting with Dominic under a cabana, watching Marie and Zola help Matteo build an "epic" castle.

"Zo seems different." Dominic was thoughtful. "Is it you?"

"Oh, I'm sure that we are both a little different. But no, it's not me entirely. She's been on this path for a long time."

"I didn't put it together right away but at breakfast, when you said 'chaplain.' We've spoken before, right?"

"Yes, a couple of years ago, Dominic."

Dominic nodded, the memories flooding back. "You were there for her that night?"

"Yes." Cora smiled softly at Dominic. She could see him weighing and measuring her carefully. "She needed a little compassion from a stranger that night."

"She needed safety, Cora. I remember. And now?" Dominic's eyes were filled with curiosity.

"And now we are enjoying each other's company. Getting to know each other and spending time together."

Dominic nodded. He stood and kissed Cora lightly on the cheek before he stepped out to join in the castle making. Cora watched him take over the engineering and Zola moved toward Cora. "What did you say to Dom?" Zola was grinning softly.

"Nothing, just small talk.Why?"

"I don't know. He seems to be your biggest fan. He thinks we should spend some time together before dinner. Matteo has got to nap, he's about to hit the 'wall.' Papa is somewhere relaxing, and by that, I mean working. So, what do you think?"

"Absolutely, what do you have in mind?"

"Massages? At our place?"

Cora's smile spread slowly across her face and she watched Zola mirror her expression but also raise an eyebrow. "What?"

"Shower before right? You're covered in sand."

"Let's go, my Sogno."

----

Zola made the call to the main house while Cora started the water in the shower. Within minutes, they were wet and soapy. Zola was barely able to contain herself.

The drenching shower head, Cora's hands moving over her body, Zola vibrated with delight and growing want. She turned in the water and began kissing Cora. Her hands slipped through the soap to Cora's hips and she pulled their bodies together. Zola gasped with pleasure and spoke to Cora in a broken pattern between consuming tongue kisses that were driving Cora quickly into madness.

"Cora, I would be a Buddhist."

"Mmmmm? You're incredible."

"No, I'm full of ... lust ... right now." Zola pressed Cora into the wall with urgency. "I need you. I want all of you." She hooked Cora's leg and wrapped it around her waist. ", my dream."

Zola was breathing hard and her hand rested on Cora's hip. The proximity drew out a whimper from Cora. Zola sucked on Cora's neck as she confessed into her wet hair and ear. "I want you to scream my name. I want to make you let go. I want this moment with you. me, , this is . I want you to call my name when you cum."

Zola's emotion and need was raw and honest. Cora's body responded. She strained to hold onto a thought. Cora lifted her hands to Zola's face, guiding her gently so she would meet her eyes. When she spoke, her voice was heavy with stimulation.

"Zola, your heart is full with both desire compassion? For me?"

" (My God), ." Strain and urgency caused Zola's voice crack.

"Then ... please ... don't stop, I'm filled with those things too."

Zola pushed against Cora, her mouth kissing aggressively, with urgency, walking the line of pleasure and pain. Biting into Cora's lips and neck, Zola pressed into Cora's now hot, slicked flesh, driving in deeply, using her hips to pin her closer to the wall, rocking into her.

Zola's fingers spread and pulled deliberately, moving inside Cora with pressure and force. Every one of Cora's moans an encouragement, every one of her whimpers a plea. The sounds focused Zola's determination. When Zola felt Cora's muscles begin to quiver and tighten, she slowed the rhythm, torturing the woman.

"Zola." Cora begged softly and Zola began to drive her toward the sexual abyss again only to slow and pull back. The tension in Cora's voice was thick and she felt hot tears building. She could barely get the words out, "Zola ... ... I'll cum ... I'll scream ... for you."

Zola's mind spun at Cora's words, her body shaking with pleasure. ", Cora." She fell back into the blinding rhythm and within moments, she felt that Cora would unravel. Zola came to a complete stop in her movements and needed to wait for only a split second before she heard her name pass over Cora's lips with desperation. "Zola ... please. Zola!"

Zola pushed in and drew down in long strokes, moving her fingers inside Cora with determination. When Cora's body broke in ecstasy, she cried out again and shook in Zola's arms. Cora's body melted into Zola's and she was barely hanging on as she stood under the water. Zola pulled her in and steadied Cora until her breathing returned to normal.