No One Heard Her Scream

As her eyes glistened with the start of tears, she whispered, 'It feels so incredible. Please don't stop. I've never wanted anything more in my entire life, Diego.'

To make her point, Rebecca moved her hips, grinding into him.

'Oh, yeah,' he groaned. 'You've convinced me.'

Slow and easy, Diego writhed to the rhythm of her body, letting her guide his every move. At her urging, he picked up the pace, sweat glistening off the skin of his tanned forearms. Her fevered groans drove him dangerously close to orgasm, but he resisted the driving urge. His hands grasped Rebecca's as he struggled to hold on, his release second to hers. He surged harder, faster.

Finally, Rebecca thrust her hips into him and convulsed deep inside. 'Yesss . . . Oh, yes.'

Her body clenched at him, a suckling embrace. He had nothing left to resist. Diego arched his back, veins jutting from his neck.

'Aarrgghh. Oh, God . . .' he cried as he spilled into her, wave after wave. 'Sweet Rebecca . . .' They climaxed as one, depleted and shuddering.

An overwhelming rush of emotion filled his heart as he gave himself to her, body and soul. No more holding back. Absolute and profound joy. And when he stared down at her face—made more beautiful by their love, if that was even possible—he smiled to see that tears streaked her cheeks. He pictured a velvet white rose under a pastel dawn, its petals covered in dew, and marveled at the sheen of her blushing skin.

Perfect. Simple. Complete.

Thoroughly spent, Diego buried his face in the warmth of her neck, his lips addicted to her. He rolled over and drew her into his arms, letting the stillness of the room settle upon them. Speaking aloud would only break the spell. But as he listened to her heart and felt her breaths against his chest, he finally let it all go. His own tears trickled down his face. And he was not ashamed.

Diego believed in second chances. And in Rebecca's arms, he had found his.

In the wake of Diego's leaving her place, an oppressive stillness lingered, a void where he had once been. He shared his life and his intimacy with her. And now, without him, the stillness had moved to her heart—nestled beside a euphoria she had never known.

'Diego.' She whispered his name to hear how it sounded on her lips.

Becca wiped away the steam from her bathroom mirror, unable to do the same with the smile on her face. She pulled a thick white robe around her and brushed her wet hair while images of him ran rampant in her mind.

She basked in the afterglow of Diego Galvan making love to her. Breathing in the last of the steam from her shower, she shut her eyes and replayed it all again—his lips on her body, his hands caressing her breasts, and the feel of him deep inside her. A gentle touch turned to a driving force, culminating with an all-consuming release. And all she wanted was to do it again.

Now, with eyes tight, she indulged herself. Becca reached under her robe and ran fingers over her breasts, imagining the feel of his hands. Heat rose from her belly and rushed to her face. Her heart throbbed at her eardrums from inside. And each breath awakened memories of him, stirring and unforgettable.

'Oh, God . . . this is insane,' she gasped. Becca stopped and opened her eyes. 'I can't—' Nothing would equal his raw yet undeniable capacity to caress her body.

Her new lover. Rare and extraordinary.

And what about her tears? She remembered being overwhelmed by the force of her orgasm, but the flood of emotion surrounding it surprised her. In hindsight, she dwelled on that single moment. Why had it affected her so profoundly? Becca knew the rush of feelings had little to do with the amazing sex, although most women would disagree . . . vehemently.

No, for the first time, she had made love to a man with her heart wrapped up in the gift. And shocker of shockers, she let him love her back the same way. No man made love like that without having more at stake than the fleeting gratification of toe-curling, nipple-raising, brain-expanding sex. And for once, the high stakes didn't scare her.

He had promised to meet her late tonight. The thought brought another smile to her face. 'This time, it'll be about you, Diego. But I've got a ton of things to do first.'

In the waning hours of the afternoon, Becca got ready for her late-night caller with plenty of errands. Now her kitchen was stocked with groceries for the meal she planned, a mix of aphrodisiacs and finger foods to draw attention to her mouth. And she splurged on a playful array of enticements, some old tried-and-trues, many new and different even to her. Things to try together. Becca had no idea what he would like or even if he had food allergies. She laughed at how frivolous her preparations made her feel, like a teenage girl with a heart-stopping crush.

'Oh, Beck. You've got it bad,' she chastised herself.

Becca had stocked her bathroom with scented oils and placed more candles around the tub and in the bedroom. It would take forever to light them all. And with a big grin plastered on her face, she concealed condom packets in decorative tins, arranging them throughout her condo within an arm's reach of an inspired moment. She even practiced maneuvering for them, picturing the surprised look on his face when she'd whip one out. Becca hadn't heard his laughter until today, but a girl could get addicted to the sound of it.

Saving the task for last, Becca remade her bed and tossed red rose petals over the comforter. The fragrance filled the room. With the stage set, she brushed a hand across the fresh white linens. She pictured Diego's muscular body under them with a wicked yet playful smile on his handsome face.

'This I gotta see in the flesh.'

Becca glanced at her watch. How late is late? she wondered. Now it would be a waiting game, and patience was not her gig. But her cell phone rang to bail her out.

'Hello?' Her voice coy, Becca thought it might be Diego asking to come over.

'Detective Montgomery? This is Sonja Garza.' Her timid voice was hard to hear over the traffic noise in the background. 'You said I should call. . . you gave me your card.'

'Yes, Sonja. I'm here. What's going on?' Becca narrowed her eyes.

Diego had been a brief oasis, an amazing and consuming distraction. He'd been a glimmer of light piercing the shroud of Danielle's abduction and murder. But at the sound of Sonja's voice, the weight of her life and the Marquez murder case came back in a rush like a harsh slap to her face. The cold reality of it sent a chill scurrying across her skin.

Right before Diego called, Becca had spent the afternoon in search of Father Victor Marquez. A visit to the family home only met with Isabel's mother unable to help. The woman didn't speak enough English to answer Becca's questions on the whereabouts of the priest. And Rudy's red truck wasn't parked out front. Neither of the brothers was home. Retracing her steps in the investigation had given legs to her case. And Sonja had been next on her list of follow-ups. She'd been a witness to the argument Rudy had with Isabel around the time the girl went missing. Becca needed her take on the fight and the details of the time line she was building of Isabel's last hours. But the sound of Sonja's voice on the line stirred a twist in her gut. What now?

'I want ... I have to t-tell you something.' Sonja sobbed, her words garbled.

'Slow down, Sonja. I can barely hear you.' Becca sat on the edge of her mattress, the phone pressed to her ear. She plugged a finger in the other one. 'What do you need to tell me?'

'Not on the phone . . . please. You won't understand,' she cried. 'Can you meet me?'

Sonja had reached out and contacted her. Normally, a good sign. But something tugged at Becca's instincts. Despite her misgivings, she had no choice but to hear the girl out.

'Yeah. Just tell me where and when.' Becca listened to the girl's instructions. And again, she glanced at her watch, one thought on her mind.

Late better be late, my love. Duty calls.

Cavanauch Estate

8:00 P.M.

Dressed in an Armani suit, Diego looked at himself in a hallway mirror to straighten his tie. He knew his outward appearance was the same, but inside he had changed. He fought hard to hide the smile emerging from