Mary Wine by Dream Specter Page A

sense of the night’s events.
    It was frustrating to discover she was back in the clearing. The only satisfaction she found was to notice the smoldering remains of the truck. Smoke rose from several spots in long thin tapers that dissipated into the night. The twisted metal that remained resembled nothing more than a heap.
    It was rather disturbing to think that she had been the cause of so much destruction. The sickening twist of her stomach seemed to indicate that she had escaped one group of predators only to encounter an animal that was further up on the food chain.
    Just what kind of animal he was, Roshelle didn’t know. But she knew exactly who held her. The joining of their flesh brought her memory into sharp focus, delivering up the images that she had searched for.
    He was far worse than any nightmare. Terror was rapidly attempting to renew its grasp on her mind.
    Roshelle desperately fought against it. This man would be capable of destroying more than just her flesh. He could take that destruction to the very bottom of her soul.
    An emotion was pushing its way through Jared’s anger. He found it an annoying interruption but it persisted in its fight for his attention. Securing her arms with their current amount of damage was going to be very painful. Finding a reluctance to inflict that pain on his prisoner caused him to snort with frustration.
    He didn’t have time for this!
    But the nagging need to ease her pain hooked into his brain, refusing to be disregarded. Jared ripped his hood from his head. The soft black fabric would have to do. Wrapping it over her wrists he knotted the rope on top to secure her hands behind her.
    A sharp whistle hit the night and Jared frowned. He didn’t need the reminder from Shane. He knew the need for a speedy departure and he wanted to get her back onto his land before any chance of escape came her way.
    A smile spread across his face as he contemplated securing his captive behind the borders of his home. There would be no escape.
    His family would remain safe!
    Roshelle felt her body leave the ground in a fluid motion. His strength was amazing. The motor was engaged almost in the same moment that her body settled onto the unyielding surface of a truck bed. With no road, the tires struggled among the stones and ruts. Without the use of her hands to stop her, she began to pitch and roll.
    Bruised flesh screamed in response to the treatment. A solid foot ended the suffering. One large booted foot propped itself against her rib cage, pressing her body into the opposite wall of the bed. Despite its crudeness, the action was still effective.
    Despite her need for relief, Roshelle found herself despising the blunt reminder of her position with this man. Finding herself literally held “under his boot heel” demanded a response that her pride was willing to give. Unfortunately, her body was completely helpless. His boot released her the second the motor once again went silent.
    Jumping down from his seat, Jared covered the distance separating him from Shane. Back on familiar ground, he felt his mind shifting into tight control. There was only one unknown factor present and Jared would deal with her directly.
     
    “You might as well save the act, Shane Jacobs! I’m not impressed!”
    “Just keep your paws off my person! I learned how to walk quite well when I was two!”
    As the angry retort reached his ears, Jared stopped. Shane was currently leading the blonde-haired woman into the house and she was making it a chore. The outcome of their struggle was never in question, but the man seemed to be loathe to hurt his charge.
    Shane let out a frustrated growl before extending an arm towards his front door. The blonde tossed her head before she moved forward on unhurried steps.
    The woman’s knowledge of even one of their names posed more problems. There was no way they would see the end of this tonight. Fatigue was wrapped around his body forcing Jared to consider just how to