This evening's leading soprano was unfamiliar to him. He had been to several performances in this opera house and more or less he was familiar with the singers. But this girl, because that was the best word to describe her as she was only around her thirties, she was a new face. A new and a really pretty face. She was playing Gilda from Verdi's Rigoletto. Her voice was promisingly beautiful, but she was too young to sound at her best. But definitely she was promising. First he was only observing her voice but when the play arrived to her first aria he realised that he was looking at her as a middle aged man looks at a beautiful, attractive and young woman. Her lips were red and as far he could see from where he was sitting, it wasn't red because she wore lipstick. This natural colour was so inviting that first he couldn't pay attention to anything else. He would have given anything on Earth to feel those red, charming lips. Later he examined her body. She was slim but not skinny. Her breasts were like two juicy apples ready to be tasted. He imagined her wearing only a veil, wrapped tightly around her flexible body. The thought of seeing her naked excited him. It was a long time ago he felt this in connection with a woman. He could hardly wait for the end of the performance.

And in the meantime he wanted her not to stop singing.

When Gilda finally died in her father's arms and the play was over he knew he had to find her and speak to her. He must. Luckily there was a little reception after the performance as to welcome the new soprano and he managed to mingle with the singers. But he couldn't see her anywhere although this whole party was organised for her. He looked for nearly 20 minutes when he decided to have a drink before he continued his search. As he was approaching the bar and was about to order suddenly the woman standing in front of him turned around and crashed into him. The drink she was holding spilt all over her black dress.

" Cosa fai? Perché non guardi prima?"

"Mi dispiace ma non parlo italiano molto bene. Can we continue it in English?" It was her.

"Of course. Look at my dress you idiot!" The anger in her eyes was clearly detectable. He liked that. She had fire in her.

"I'm terribly sorry. I couldn't see you coming."

"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have got so angry. It was my fault as well."

"May I order you another one, Miss…?"

"Charlotte Rosellini. Yes, I would like a dry martini."

When he was holding the drinks he guided her to a free table.

"I think I should introduce myself too. Dr. Thomas Fell."

"How come you are here, if you are a doctor and not a singer?"

"Well, I sneaked in. I wanted to meet you."

"Really? Why?"

"I loved your voice. It's remarkable at your age."

"Thank you. But you came here and made my dress to swim in dry martini to tell me that?"

"No. I wanted to tell you that I want to spend the night with you."

"That's a straight answer."

"And what would your answer be?"

"That I'm looking forward to have sex with you, Thomas." And she smiled at him. "Do you live nearby?"

"At the Biblioteca Capponi."

"So you are not a real doctor then, Doctor."

"No, I'm a scholar to be exact. I study the medieval Italian literature, especially Dante."

"How interesting. So shall we go, that's a long walk."

He helped her with her coat and put his hand around her waist. She leaned against him with her attractive body. When they got into a cab she sat tightly beside him and when the cab was in motion again, she turned to him and kissed him. Her lips were naturally red just as he thought and they tasted sweet. She unbuttoned his shirt and the next time he felt her hand on his chest. He pulled her closer and continued kissing her. As they arrived he gave the driver twice as much as he should have. The driver saw them climbing the stairs to the door. He wasn't surprised as in Florence many men had younger lovers. He was sure that this guy was married and had at least two children. But he wanted to have some excitement. He couldn't blame him for that. After all, that young little thing was really attractive. He himself would spend a night in her arms.

" This place is a mess. How can you live in such disorder?"

"Easily."

She smiled at him.

"Maybe I'm too fussy. I'm not a charwoman after all."

"I used to have one but she resigned after a month."

"Shall I say that I'm not surprised. So… Doctor. Where were we?" She sat on a table with her legs crossed and tossed down a few books on the floor.

"You should be more careful with those. They're antique." He went to her.

"Sorry. Next time I would be more careful."

"So there would be a next time?"

"That depends."

"On what?"

"I think you know."

She put her legs around his body and she kicked her shoes off meanwhile. Then she returned to his shirt and unbuttoned it totally. She dropped it on the floor. A few minutes later her dress joined it. Her body was just as attractive as he imagined it to be.

"D' you know that I felt you watching me?"

"Really?"

"Yeah. And I knew right at that very moment that I'm going to go home with you."

"Next time I'm watching a beautiful woman I will be more careful."

"No, you shouldn't. That excites the woman in question just as much as it excites you. And it felt so good. I really hoped that you would come after me. Do I look like as you imagined me to be?"

"Without doubt."

He wanted to take her right on that table but he changed his mind. Maybe another occasion but this first one should be different. So he lifted her and took her to the bedroom. Laid her on the bed but she sat up to get off his belt along with the trousers. Then she laid back. He got in the bed too and pulled her naked body against his. Her hands were tightly around him, as if she never wanted to let him go. Her perfume remained on her body even after getting rid off her dress. The fragnance of it matched her. It was young, powerful and sexy. As he touched her breasts she let out a little sigh. Then he couldn't resist longer.

Later, as they lay side by side in bed he felt a bit of guilt. This girl knew nothing of his past and he had sex with her nevertheless, knowing that the whole F.B.I. was right behind his back. 'Maybe I should have told her.' But right after this ridiculous thought a smile appeared around his lips. After all, what should have he tell her? That he killed 14 people and ate them. No, it was better to her remain in the dark. After all, tonight she let Thomas Fell into her body and not Hannibal Lecter.