Isabella was in heaven and all the clouds made her unable to see beyond Diego’s face.  His hands on her shoulders, running up and down her spine and her arms, were driving her to distraction.  She continued clawing and pulling at his shirt until he helped her pull it out, then she quickly ran her hands under the front of it, feeling the tight, toned muscles of his chest, the heat that pleasantly warmed her hands, the subtle movements as he breathed in and out. She started to unbutton his shirt, needing more than that.  She wanted to drop little kisses all over his chest, then feel it pressed against her, touching the bare skin of her arms, her neck … her breasts, which were so hard and throbbing she thought they might hold the dress up on their own.<br/><br/>Just as she undid the last button and pushed his shirt aside to gaze at his magnificent body, the door opened.<br/><br/>If Belle had ever jumped higher in her life, she couldn’t remember it.  She yelped and grabbed Diego’s arms.  When she saw it was her father, her face turned beet red and she quickly pulled the straps of her dress back up on her shoulders.  She sensed that Diego was doing some rearranging himself, standing behind her, but she could not look away from her father’s face, afraid he would show disappointment in her.<br/><br/>“Daddy!,” her words rushed out.  “You’re early.  I thought it was going to be twenty minutes or more.  Why, it’s only been,” she looked at the mantel clock, “ten!”  She cleared her throat, ran her hands down the dress to make sure it was smooth and in place, then hung her head a little, but not enough not to see he was hurt.<br/><br/>“Oh, Daddy!,” her hand went to her mouth as she gasped.  “You’re really hurt!  Oh dear God, did someone stab you?” She went to him quickly, touching his hands lightly as she tried to hold his arms out and look at him better.  Her face had gone pale as a ghost.  She was having a little trouble breathing.<br/><br/>“Diego!  Come look what they’ve done to my father!”  Oh, Daddy, you’re hurt all over!  And your lip is bleeding! How did you make it home like this?  You should have gone straight to the hospital!”  She let go of his hands for a moment and ran into the hallway.  “Helen!  Helen!  Bring the first-aid kit and some extra band aids and gauze.  Be quick about it!  Daddy is bleeding to death!”  Then she ran back into the room.  “Daddy, lay down on the couch, please!  You need to be tended to.  I think I…I…oh, no, …” as she began to slump to the floor.<br/><br/>