Chapter 5

I expected to see my life flashing in front of my eyes. My childhood in York and the summers spent with Nonna, or majoring in history and ending up selling insurance for the wealthy. That wasn't so bad, though. I took a couple of courses and put on my high heels at the right time to climb higher, landing an investigator position a year after. 

This mind of mine was full of mystery, for now, I found myself in the air on a ladder, thinking to myself, "I'm ready for this interview. Can't wait for my promotion." 

A lift waited with open doors at the top of the ladder. It was about to close, so I hurried up. 

"Wait for me, please," I shouted to the person inside it. He placed his foot between the closing gap and stepped aside when I rushed inside. 

In the reflection, I caught a glimpse of my glossy heels and fine silk stockings. Their darker shade accentuated my ankles and calves, making my legs look leaner. 

I turned around to thank the gentleman for his kindness only to gasp in shock. 

"You again," I exclaimed, staring at Cosimo di Maggio. 

"Again?" He stepped closer, narrowing his eyes. "I'm sure I'd remember una belezza (a beauty) like you if we met earlier." 

Hearing his playful voice and sexy accent, I softened. He grabbed my waist and I let out a sigh as he pulled me closer. My heart raced fiercely, just like in the previous hallucination. Only this time, I knew I was dreaming and I wasn't going to waste my time protesting. I might wake up any second, and I didn't want to be left with the memory of an 'almost' intercourse. 

"Which floor, signorina?" he asked in a husky, erotic whisper. 

Why am I seeing you again? Am I falling for you? I thought as our earlier encounter replayed in my mind. 

I was so close to him I could smell the slight hint of tobacco hiding under his fruity cologne with some bitter lemony undertones. He stared down at my white blouse and pulled his lips into a smile. 

"You're not wearing a bra," he said, lifting his gaze. 

"That's not the only thing I'm not wearing," slipped out of my mouth. 

He slid his jacket off his shoulders, then turned me around and started kissing the back of my neck. Shivers and goosebumps ran down my spine and my heart skipped a beat when he grabbed my blouse and ripped it open on my back. 

"Oh, you're so wild," I chuckled, as the tearing sound rippled in the tight space. 

Sigh after sigh evaded my lips as Cosimo laid siege on my body with his soft lips and firm grips. And as my blouse slipped down my shoulders he reached forward and played with my breasts underneath it. Then he pulled me back tightly, holding the front of my throat and scratching my neck with his teeth. 

I arched my back and placed my butt against his front, rubbing his penis. I felt the thing running down his right thigh. Good heavens, he packed a hard one. 

"How do you like to be teased?" he asked, pulling my skirt up. 

Oh, you're doing just great, I thought, feeling the gentle caress of his hand and breathing heavily in anticipation. 

He then grabbed my bare fruit and that very first touch between my legs made my gentle area throb and tingle with pleasure. The proof of my arousal gushed out between unrestrained reactions, my wetness soaking his fingers as he continued to play with me. 

"How I like to make you moan," Cosimo whispered, his warm breath falling onto my neck. And he held me up, left hand cupping my right boob, while he slowly inserted two fingers from behind, opening up my tightness. 

I grabbed onto the rails as I lost myself in this exhilarating state of pure lust; my knees almost giving out as he fingered me till I released myself. 

I could barely stand on my heels at this point. 

"Don't stop," I said, heaping for air, as he slowly pulled his fingers out. 

"I won't. I'll give you something better." 

He turned me around and started kissing me, slipping his tongue into my mouth as he slid my blouse down on my left arm, leaving half of it hanging on the other shoulder.  

I unbuckled his pants and pushed everything down. 

"I'm so hard for you it hurts," he said, then placed both my hands on his penis while kissing me wildly. 

Out of nowhere, sudden flashes of bright light started to blind me. First, in one eye, then in the other one, as familiar voices surfaced in the background. In a blink, Cosimo was gone and the elevator started vanishing as well. 

No. No. Please, don't. I pleaded as I realized what was going to happen. But it was all in vain. When the brightness faded away and my vision cleared I found myself in a hospital bed. 

To top things, Nonna stared at me with bulging red eyes. She sat on a chair and next to her stood Padre Matteo (Father Matthew). Dressed in his casual all-back clerical robes with his rosary hanging out of his pocket, he muttered the Our Heavenly Father prayer in Latin. Or at least that's what I hoped he was doing and not exorcising me for my lustful thoughts. 

"Signorina, can you hear me? How many fingers am I holding?" A tall, bronze-skinned man in blue scrubs asked while flashing his hand in front of me.  

"Two," I forced out. 

"Can you confirm your full name and date of birth, please?" 

"Tamira Banks, September fourth, '92." 

"Perfetto (perfect)," he said smiling. "She'll be alright, Signora Cavaldi," he looked at Nonna, then added, "I'll check up on you later." 

"Grazie, Dottore (thank you, doctor)," my granny shook his hand with grateful tears in her eyes, then stepped closer. 

"How many times I begged you go learn to swim, huh?" She scolded me, sobbing. "Ragazza testarda (stubborn girl). If it wasn't for that young man, I'd be crying over your corpse right now." 

"Calmati, Estella (calm down)." Padre Matteo cut in. "The Lord works in mysterious ways. By His grace, she survived this obstacle." 

Nonna nodded while blowing her nose. 

"Who saved me?" I asked. 

She turned to answer my question as her handkerchief slipped through her fingers and fell. A dark figure appeared behind the two. He leaned down and picked it up, then stepped to my bedside. 

"I did," Cosimo said, with an unhappy expression.