Cora turned and smiled. "Really? Where?"

She leaned back against the tiled wall. The shower was an older porcelain, tub-shower number with a blue and white checked shower curtain.

"I heard Kyle leave earlier," he said, leaning in to kiss her neck.

She shivered.

"We should have waited to play those food games," he muttered, trailing hot kisses over her skin, to her ear. "Then you could scream as loudly as you want and not worry about who might be listening."

She pulled back. "He might not be here, but I'm still not screaming."

"You did the other night."

She felt a blush creep up her chest, to stain her cheeks. "We were outside."

A devil-may-care smile lifted his lips. "We'll see."

She squirmed as he set his hands to her, his mouth clamping over hers.

This wasn't a playful kiss, a teasing kiss.

His mouth was hard, hot and demanding on hers.

His hands, long fingered and wicked, rough and calloused, raked her body.

"I could make love to you, over and over and over and never get tired of it," he told her between bites.

She hissed as his hands found her breasts, tweaking, pulling, speeding her along the path he'd chosen.

He licked a path down her neck. "I love the taste of you all hot and wet."

She chuckled. "I seem to remember you saying that earlier this evening." She tried to reach between them to wrap her hand around him, but he grabbed her wrists.

"No touching."

"But-"

He looked at her, his gaze heated and direct. "No touching, Cora."

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.

He played her body like a well tuned instrument until she was arching against him. And still he only played.

"Rogan," she begged.

"What do you want, Cora?" He parted her slick folds, sliding first a lone finger, then another along her, into her.

She closed her eyes.

"What do you want?" he whispered.

"You." She opened her eyes. "Just you."

He clasped her bottom and lifted her. Cora wrapped her legs around his waist and held onto his shoulders.

Then he was sliding into her, hard, hot and thick.

His dark eyes closed, a muscle bunched in his cheek.

"Why can't I get enough of you?" he hissed as he thrust into her.

Cora could only moan, as he stroked her higher and higher.

Water beat down on them, steaming the air. Their moans, whispers filled the air.

Then he changed the angle and every thought flew from her head.

All she could feel was him, all she could taste was Rogan, all she could hear was the thunder of her own heart as he pushed into her faster and faster.

She arched her neck and yelled as she shattered around him.

"Yes," he groaned, and pumped into her. Then he stilled, his hands tightening on her hips even as she felt his release pulsing through him.

Cora sighed, her heart still hammering, her vision still blurred. She leaned up and bit the side of his neck. "I didn't scream."

She giggled as he only shook his head. "Next time. I don't care who's around."

"Promise?"

He slapped her bottom. "I'd cross my heart, but then I'd drop you and that wouldn't be good."

They carefully climbed out, laughing at the other's unsteadiness. Wrapped in towels, they made their way back to bed.

As she drifted off to sleep, Cora knew that this man could really, really hurt her more than some deranged killer ever could. With Rogan's heart beneath her hand, she hoped he wouldn't break her own. She hoped he wouldn't, but only time would tell what the future brought them.

Chapter Twenty.

He waited, staring at the photo he had of her. God, she was beautiful. So close now. He'd been so damn close. He wondered if the cops were finding anything out. He'd doubt it. If they had, they'd already be at his door. But he knew his time wouldn't last forever. He'd have to act quickly, or all might be lost.

Something about Cora O'Donnell left him hard. More than her eyes. More than the chase itself. He loved the chase, the hunt, the victory-in and of itself. But, it had been a long time since any of his prey held his attention past the point that they simply filled a need within him. An instant gratification as it were.

Her eyes called to him and he'd tried to ignore her. She was what he considered trouble. Too close to him. Too easily accessible. Too...available. The hunt of it was out, the chase...but the victory?

The victory, he knew would be even better.

Sweeter...

More fulfilling.

Maybe like the fist time?

He sighed as he remembered the first time. The way her eyes had bulged, the way she'd struggled against him, the way he hadn't thought or planned ahead. He hadn't taken her eyes.

He tapped his fingers on the tabletop and picked up his wine, sipping it. More's the pity. She should have been a part of his collection. After all, the woman had been his first. But mistakes lead to learning.

And because he kept dreaming of those icy blue eyes watching him in his dreams. Always watching, he'd started to take them. Several years ago, he realized they weren't watching in condemnation over what he'd done, but because she wasn't truly one of his. He hadn't taken her eyes.

He still remembered the first pair of angel eyes that graced his shelf.

Safe and forever his. Forever watching over him. Keeping him safe.

His gaze shifted again to Cora's photograph.

Her blue eyes stared at him from behind the framed glass. "Won't be long now, Angel Eyes."

Cora, dressed and feeling like she was late, grabbed the juice glass Kyle handed her as he kissed her cheek. "Where are you going again?"

"I'm gonna let the road take me." He turned to Rogan behind her. "I'm thinking of renting a bike and driving where the road takes me."

Rogan nodded. "Works for me. I think you'd like it."

Cora rolled her eyes. Dramatic didn't begin to describe her oldest friend. "Kyle. You'd get tired of it. There's not an air conditioner. You'd get hot, sweaty and then what? No shower? And then just as you're driving along and thinking the guys think you're hot and you might find a weekend fling, a giant bug is going to slap you in the face and bug guts will fill your mouth, be splattered all over your forehead."

He frowned and thought for a minute. "You have a point. I think I'll stick to my Jeep. Doesn't matter the sex. Jeeps are unisex. Everyone loves them. I can pick up dicks or chicks, whatever mood strikes me."

"You're not bi."

"I'm thinking of trying it out."

Laughing she leaned over and kissed him. "Let me know what the drunken orgy is like and call me when you get wherever so I know you got there safely and when your mother calls I'll have a better bullshit story to feed her when you don't call her for four days."

"Okay, okay, I get it. I'll call her and tell her something so you don't have to fend off her calls." Then he motioned to the two of them. "Go, you will be late. Then Cora will have a nervous breakdown because she's anal about her schedules. Likes things just so."

Rogan looked at her, his brow raised. "Is that right?"

She shrugged. "I might look like a flake, but I do like organization."

He glanced around the apartment. "I got that. Everything has its place. You hang your clothes up when you take them off."

"Yes, even when they're going to the cleaners or she's about to wash them. They're always hanging. It's just not normal."

"Wrinkles aren't normal."

"Schedules should go out the window." Kyle leaned over and whispered, "You want to know how to really mess her up? Take away her black book."

Rogan's brows danced. "You have a black book? I will have to find this and investigate."

"Touch my planner and you die." She grabbed her tote and opened the door.

Two detectives stood on the other side, their expressions grim. They looked past her to someone behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Rogan standing there with a rueful tilt of his lips.

"Miss O'Donnell, Mr. Duran. Maybe you'd both like to come down to the station with us?" Palacios asked.

"Is that a question or a statement?" Cora asked.

Palacios tilted his head and studied her. "Does it matter?"

She crossed her arms. "I think it does. I like to know what I'm walking into."

"You don't already know?"

"Sarcasm this early in the morning, is about par," Cora muttered. Then she looked over her shoulder at Kyle. "Won't this be fun."

"I'll call your lawyer," Kyle said, already grabbing the phone.

"Cora," Rogan said behind her. "Does she really need to come?" He asked them, his hands on her shoulders.

"Well, considering we found you both together and you've both been seen numerous times in each other's company, yes."

Rogan opened his mouth as if to say something else. She patted his hand. "Such a waste of time. But let's play along." She huffed out a breath. "Now I'll be late opening and that just pisses me off, but can't be helped."

The police officers stepped back.

"Why is it, I thought you might listen? I wasted my time coming to you. You should know by now, I'm what I claim to be. And someone is out there killing innocent women and disposing of their bodies. Probably out in the desert. And," she continued, her heart thrumming, "it's not Rogan."

Palacios took her arm. Rogan walked behind. Once they got to the curb, she jerked her arm free. "Can I take my bicycle? Or are we supposed to ride with you?

His dark brow cocked. "It'll be easier if you ride with us."

Rogan opened his cell phone and dialed a number. Neither one moved. "It's me. Where are you?" Pause. "Good. Glad you decided to fly in last night after all. I need you at the station as I'm being asked to come down now. Thanks."

He hung up. "My lawyer. I like to cover all bases."

Mesler shook her head and nodded to the car. "Yes, we just bet you do."

Cora tried to remain calm. She turned and cupped his face. "It's going to be all right, Rogan. Don't worry."