22: I Love The Way You Taste

Zola woke slowly. She didn't have to reach to find Cora. She could feel her warm body pressed against hers. The sound of her breathing was blissful. Zola laid in the bed, listening to Cora and reeling from the thoughts of her confessions.

"Zo?" Cora stirred.

Zola rolled to face Cora in the bed. ". I woke up and I still see my dream." Zola kissed Cora, pulling lightly on her lips, drawing her tongue across them. " I am in love with you, Cora. You are the one I've been waiting for."

"I love you. You are the first one." Zola raised her eyebrow, asking for an explanation. "You are the first one, since my family. You are the first person I have given myself to entirely. You are my new permanent. I'm a little scared."

"Don't be scared." Zola shifted and rolled into Cora, kissing her, making a deep connection. Drowning in Cora's presence, gasping for air, Zola began to pull Cora's clothes from her body. "Say it again, please."

Cora smiled into Zola's mouth as she reached up, letting her hand swim in Zola's soft sea of hair. "I love you, I love you, Baby."

Zola whimpered with need and unadulterated joy. ", Cora." She rolled with Cora in the linens as they shed clothing. "."

"I love your lips, Zo. They're perfect. Full, soft, so kissable." Cora outlined Zola's lips with her thumb, gently pulling down on her bottom lip. Cora wrapped her mouth around Zola's, folding her perfect lips up in her mouth, rolling her tongue over them and sucking on them softly.

When Cora broke for air, she heard Zola cry out softly, "More ..."

"I love your skin. So smooth, warm, and inviting. It feels like pure euphoria. I have never felt anything like it, so wonderful against my body." Cora moved her entire body along Zola's, creating friction, letting their chests and cores meet, electrifying them both with desire and intense need.

Zola gasped. "More Cora moaned at the sound of Zola's requests, feeling a wave of power and control.

"I love the way you taste, Baby. The salt on your sweet skin." Cora moved her mouth and tongue over Zola's skin, slipping closer to her core.

"Cora!" Zola felt her hips rise, chasing Cora's touch. Zola's eyes watered with tension and bliss."More, (please)!"

"Zola," Cora murmured, letting her lips brush against Zola's skin as she spoke. "Baby, I love the taste of you. I love the feel of you, hot and silky over my tongue." She hooked Zola's leg, opening up her hips. She pulled the flat of her tongue across Zola's delicate, wet flesh, tasting her, sucking, pulling with her lips, nipping gently with her teeth, drinking Zola in.

"!" Zola felt like she was lit on fire with need. It burned through her body, leaving her gasping for relief.

Cora pressed her tongue deep into Zola, sucking and pulling in a rhythm that drove Zola mad. She moved inside Zola and within moments, Cora felt Zola's walls tighten and she tasted Zola as she seized and released.

When Zola's body relaxed from the rapture and she fell back into the bed, Cora sighed with pleasure. She rested her head on Zola's belly, listening to the woman murmur in Italian words she didn't recognize.

----

Cora drifted into a light restful state. She would have stayed there with Zola for hours but she heard a soft rumbling vibrating across Zola's stomach. "Zola, you're hungry. Have you had anything to eat today?"

"Mmmmm? No, . only for you. I'm hungry only for you. I don't ever want to wake from you."

Cora chuckled. "Baby, your stomach is telling me something different." Cora rose up and glanced at the clock. "5:30. We should get ready for dinner, right?"

Zola sat straight up. "Oh no!"

"What?! What is it?"

"Matteo!"

Cora laughed as Zola moved quickly from the bed to the shower. She was out and changing within 15 minutes. Cora moved a little slower and as she started the water in the shower, she heard Zola's voice float up from down below. "Matteo, !"

----

Zola, Matteo, and Cora all made their way back over to the main house. "Look who I found!" Zola laughed as Matteo trotted into the house looking for his cars and toys.

"You asked for it, Zo!" Dominic laughed at this sister.

", I didn't know I would also find. Well played, Dom." Dominic shrugged, grinning at his little sister.

Dominic, Marie, and Alberto all moved over in time to greet Cora. "! (welcome)!"

"Thank you, Dominic. Thank you for sharing your home with me."

", Cora! You look amazing!"

"Thank you, Marie, you as well."

", Cora! It's nice to see you again."

"Thank you, Mr. Basilio. This is truly a gift."

Alberto nodded in appreciation. "Come, sit!" Cora sat next to Alberto who was at the head of the table, across from Zola. The dining room table chatter and banter quietened and all eyes turned to Alberto. The patriarch sat for a moment in contemplation, his eyes passing over his family and stopping to rest on Cora. Cora returned Alberto's gaze, curious and confident.

"Papa?" There was concern in Zola's voice. Zola's voice broke

Alberto's moment of thought. "I'm sorry, I was just wondering. Cora, would you say a blessing?"

"Papa?" Zola's eyes widened with alarm at the request. "You bless our meals."

", Zolina, I just thought our guest might want to say ... something?" Zola looked at Cora, her eyes a little panicky.

"Of course, Mr. Basilio, my pleasure." Cora's gaze moved around the table, making contact with everyone before they reached, holding hands and bowing their heads slightly as they looked at Cora.

Cora's eyes remained open and she looked across to Zola who watched her intently. Cora took a breath and spoke the words clearly and slowly.

Cora shifted her gaze and looked at Alberto. He was pleasantly surprised by the mantra but was very aware that there was no mention of God or the divine.

", Cora, ."

"Of course, Mr. Basilio, my pleasure. Thank you for including me."

"'Alberto,' please, you may call me 'Alberto.'"

Cora smiled and the table soon fell into the rhythm of the meal. Zola explained that usually it's the lunch meal that is larger in Italy, but the first night back they have a traditional 8 or 9 course meal. Cora smiled and focused on completely immersing herself in the food and experience.

Marie asked Cora shortly into the slow meal, "Cora, what is the meaning of your prayer?"

"It's a Buddhist mantra to help one focus on the present moment. A bell ringer to remind us to enjoy an experience, like this one.

"Basically, 'Peace, We are here', , with each other. At this moment, we are both 'grounded and free.'" We are all things at once, . Peace brings infinite, timeless joy."

"Wow, that's quite beautiful." Alberto drew Cora's attention. "Cora, does your family share your religious beliefs?"

"Oh, no Alberto." Cora glanced toward Matteo who was eating and watching the adult interaction.

"That must be very challenging. I know we share deeply in our religion."

"Papa, please." Zola begged her father with her eyes to stop the line of discussion.

"Oh, I completely understand Alberto. Religion binds us together. It can strengthen us and comfort us in our times of need.Family is built around religion."

", Cora." Alberto looked at Zola as if to say "see it's okay." "But we do not just build our family around religion. We are family because we share in our beliefs. So your family, they are ...?"

Cora lowered her voice and smiled softly. She glanced again toward Matteo. "They were in a very bad car accident, many years ago, my parents and my brother." Zola looked to Cora, shaking her head in apology.

Marie responded first, "Oh no. Cora."

Dominic looked to Zola, trying to imagine a life without her. "So tragic, Cora."

Alberto sputtered at his mistake, "Cora ... I ... am sorry to hear that."

"Papa, please." Zola winced.

"It's no problem, Zola, really. But, Alberto, I'd love to hear about Paris and Milan. Do you mind?"

Alberto smiled softly, regret in his eyes. "Of course not, Cora."

The rest of the meal was spent sharing stories and describing Fashion Week. Cora's head was spinning from the stories and the food. She nodded often, smiled, laughed, and genuinely lost herself in the memories and perspectives from the three Basilios.

After the meal, Zola and Cora spent some serious floor time with Matteo. He brought along a smattering of cars and blocks and TMNT. Zola rolled with laughter at his imaginary play.

Cora looked up at the table. Alberto, Dominic, and Marie were enjoying coffee and getting Marie caught up on the family business. Alberto caught her eye and nodded toward her, his eyes flooded with contemplation.

"Cora?" Cora turned to see Zola looking at her.

"Yes, Baby?"

Zola audibly sighed. "My , I need sleep."

Cora chuckled. "Me too. I don't even know what time it is, my body clock is completely confused." Cora groaned lightly as she lifted herself from the floor. "Thank you again, Alberto, for your hospitality. I'll see you tomorrow." Cora slipped out while Zola went through the long process of the Italian goodbye custom which was essentially 15 to 20 minutes of conversation after you announce your departure.

"Papa, please no more with Cora." Zola smiled softly. "I know you mean well. Let me enjoy this time with her."

"Okay, Zolina, I'm sorry. You're right this is meant to be a restful time. I'm sorry to hear about her family."

"Si, it's so sad.She was only 17, her brother a twin."

Marie winced audibly. "Poor girl."

"."

"Goodnight Papa, Dom, Marie."