Bounty Hunter

Furtively she looked around, eyes searching every nook, cranny and shadow of the woods surrounding the log cabin and the hills beyond. Her breasts heaved with nervousness as she reached above the door, fingers searching for, and eventually finding, the key hidden above.

The key scratched against the lock, missing target again and again. She took a breath, deeply in then slowly out, eyes closed, brow creased in a frown.

Trying again, she slowly, carefully, slid the key into the lock. The lock clicked open and she dashed inside, slamming the door behind her.

Lowering the high-powered binoculars, Mark leant back against his Harley and stroked a thoughtful hand over his chin. Night was starting to draw in and he was tired from the chase she'd led him on. There'd be plenty of time to get her later when he was rested up. But there was also no time like the present and she looked nervous, probably thinking of moving on again.

?Not this time.? He'd spent too long tracking her, watching her from a distance, to let her slip from his grasp this time. Straightening up he shrugged his shoulders, pulling his jacket back into place. Rubbing his hands against the bitter cold, he looked back down at the cabin, even without the binoculars he could see that it was still in darkness. She'd probably gone straight to bed.

Climbing astride his bike he let the black and chrome beast coast silently down the dirt path, not starting the engine until he was sure she wouldn't hear. Not that it would do her any good if she did. Ten minutes was all it would take. Ten minutes on the only road in or out of the woods. Ten minutes until he finally had her in his grasp.

The distant purr of an engine made Kat jump away from the door. Laughing at her own nervousness she backed away from the door. Her laughter faded, sounding forced and false in her own ears. Nighttime didn't normally bother her, nor did living alone in the woods, but something had her spooked and no matter how often she told herself not to be silly she couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming. Something dangerous.

Kat flipped the switch, hoping that putting on the lights would calm her nerves. Nothing. She flipped them again. Still nothing. The generator was out again. Grabbing a torch she reached for the handle and froze. She couldn't go out there but if she didn't she'd probably freeze to death. By the look of the sky the snow that had been threatening for weeks was about to be dumped pretty soon.

Kat placed the old kettle over the burner, striking a match she straightened up as she heard the engine again, closer this time. It was probably just someone making a wrong turning, it happened, not often but Closer it came then stopped. Not turned around to fade into the distance, a wrong turn realized just stopped.

With a yelp of pain Kat dropped the match and sucked at her burnt finger. She waited and waited to hear the engine again but the only thing she could hear was her own heart pounding in her breast.

Mark circled the cabin, checking all the windows both for a way in for him and a way out for her. Satisfied that there was no way out he headed for the door. A huge flake of snow drifted down and brushed the tip of his nose, impatiently he knocked it aside and carried on. It was locked but that didn't stop him for long. Expertly he picked the lock, making as little noise as possible, didn't want to wake her before he was ready.

There were no cries of alarm as he opened the door and slipped inside. Gun in hand he kept as low to the ground as possible, making himself a harder target.

"No lights I thought it was deserted. Look I didn't mean to trouble ya none, so I'll just be on ma way. The gun jabbed into the small of his back in warning as he started to move. I said it was a mistake he started to protest.

And I said, don't move. The hunched over figure straightened up to a very imposing height. Her eyes drifted up and up over his back to the long braid of hair. Up until she nearly toppled back trying to take in all of the near seven-foot mountain of a man.

Turning his head, very slowly, Mark peered over his shoulder at the nervous figure behind him. Her picture, and his memory, didn't do her justice. The features were the same but she seemed softer.

Hair a soft honey blond and not the dirty blond he remembered. Her lips were fuller, devoid of the bright fire engine red lipstick she normally wore.

But it was her eyes that made him do a double take; a brown so dark they looked almost black. The color was the same but is was what he saw in them that was different. Even with the fear in her eyes he could see that she cared. Where as before her eyes had been filled with nothing but revulsion for everyone and everything around her.

With his head turned she could make out the stubble along his jaw. Finding it way too fascinating for her own peace of mind she looked up towards his eyes. Sunglasses It was dark out, why in the hell did he need sunglasses

"Are we just gonna stand here all night?". Once again Mark made to turn but she just poked him in the back with her gun again. His patients was starting to wear a little thin but with how nervous she was, he didn't want to set her off. "Look I said I was sorry".

"That means dick, you didn't just happen along". She tapped his right hand, letting him know that she'd seen the gun. Taking it from his hand she clicked the safety on and slipped it into the waistband of her trousers. "Now, who the hell are you?"

Reluctantly Mark did as she ordered. Letting the long leather coat slide from his shoulders, tugging at the sleeves he took it off and held it out for her to take. He smiled as she huffed at the weight of it. It was more than just a coat, but he wasn't going to tell her that.

With relief she put down his coat and gave him more instructions until he was leaning against the door in a classic search position. Kicking at a foot she made him spread his legs further apart.

She was thorough, he had to give her that. She moved slowly, left hand patting him down while with the right she kept the gun trained on him. There was the slightest of clicks; metal against wood. She'd put the gun down. Both hands were now moving up his leg, feeling more like a caress than a search. He decided to use his knowledge of her to his own advantage, no matter how galling he found it.

What Kat froze with her hands at the top of his left leg. With a groan he flexed his hips, forcing her fingers to brush the large bulge between his legs. "Stop that". She squeaked out as he repeated the motion.

"Come on higher. Never know, you might find something you like". There was a muffled thump, glancing down he found that she was sitting on the floor, such a look of utter shock on her face that he might have laughed if it hadn't been such a strange reaction from her. Where was the woman that had tried to seduce her way out of a prison sentence?

Scrambling back up she started her search of his body again. Quicker this time, not lingering in any one place for too long and certainly going nowhere near that part of him. She'd been without a man for too long, that was all. Who was she kidding? She'd never been with a man, never found one that could break past all her barriers enough for her to trust him with her body, let alone her heart.

Skimming over the soft fabric of the faded blue jeans covering the disconcertingly taut, well-toned muscles of his rear, she found his wallet in a back pocket. Flipping it open she found his ID.

Her hand bunched the fabric of his shirt as she swore softly under her breath. Resting her forehead against his back she let out a ragged breath, warming his skin as it past through his shirt.

A bounty hunter Her world started crashing down around her. Why now? She'd finally started getting her life back on track and now he'd turned up to ruin everything. I'm not going back! I'm not!!?

"What the?". Mark jumped as the metal band closed over his wrist with a click. The gun touched his temple, keeping him from struggling as she pulled his arm back.

Put your other hand back. As she clicked the other band shut everything snapped back into focus. That part of her life was over; all the running away and hiding all the time. She reached for the cuffs, intending to release him and try to talk to him. Instead she jumped back as he wheeled around and glared at her, his handsome face twisted into a mask of fury.

You wait til I get out of these! I'm gonna love handing you over to the local police and exposing you for the murderous bitch that you are!? Not caring that she was still holding a gun, Mark advanced on her, backing her up until she toppled backwards over the arm of a chair, coming to rest sprawled amongst the cushions.

Kat pushed against his broad shoulders as he leaned into her. His breath puffed warm against her face as he told her in no uncertain terms what he intended to do to her. And she believed every single threat.

The gun brushed his chin, bringing his attention back to it. Pulling back he stood there muttering obscenities under his breath. He should have held off, played the lost biker for a little longer. Now? he was going to die. She'd done it before, too many times for one more death to mean anything to her.

Scrambling from the chair, Kat backed away from the angry man. Finding a corner she sank down into it and curled into a ball, wrapping her arms around her knees as she tried to stifle her sobs. A shadow fell over her, black boots coming into view before her tear filled eyes. She was unable to stop herself going back. Back to a time she thought she'd left behind. A time of beatings for the slightest thing she did.

Mark hated himself for caring but her tears broke through his resolve. What had happened to the woman that killed without remorse? The woman that had smiled in triumph at him in court when her bail had been set? He couldn't believe that with all the crimes she'd committed they'd actually let her out on bail.

Even knowing all she'd done he was having trouble reconciling the teary eyed woman before him with the woman with the cold eyes that he'd seen before.

Kat's eyes traveled up over Mark's body. Even with his arms secure behind his back he looked dangerous. She scrambled away from him, still locked firmly in the past. His lips moved but the roaring in her ears blocked him out.

Before Mark could protest, not that he was in the position to object, he found himself sitting on the floor, his back to a big old cabinet. She'd wrapped a rope tight around his waist, looping it through the handcuffs before securely fastening it around the cabinet. Then she'd left, grabbing a coat before setting off into the night.

Every minute since then he'd tried everything he could think of to free himself but even with his strength he found himself helpless. Damn it!

Kat paced around barely even aware of the bitterly cold air around her, too dead inside to feel it. Snow drifted down around her, large flakes falling against her face, melting to mix with the tears streaming down her cheeks.

Fists clenched at her sides to stop the tremor running through them, Kat looked up at the sky. The huge flakes of snow blinded her as they coated her lashes. Amongst the chaos of the fluttering flakes she found calm.

There'd been a mistake, there was no other explanation. Someone, somewhere had screwed up with the paperwork. For what had happened all those years ago she'd more than paid her dues. But how could she persuade him of that? She'd pointed a gun at him and tied him up, would he even listen to her?

Kat looked back at what had once been her home, her sanctuary. Sherd have to leave of course. Once it got out what had happened no one would look at her the same again. Just like everyone else, they would all wonder if it was true, had she killed her Father? And in a small community they would never forget, it would hang over her head long after she left.

Sighing, Kat went to check on the generator, dealing with what she could. After an hour of futile tinkering she threw down the screwdriver and sighed. She'd tried everything she could think of and had got absolutely nowhere with the antiquated piece of junk that supplied her home with vital electricity.

A glance around showed that the snow had settled in for the night. A blanket of crispy flakes carpeted the ground making everywhere treacherous under foot. Slipping and sliding she collected her axe from the small shed and chopped more wood for the fire.

The monotonous thud of the axe on wood stirred Mark from the slumber he'd slipped into. He listened to her work; a click of wood been placed down, the strike of the axe splintering the wood, click of wood, strike of axe. On and on it went at the same rhythm, lulling him back to sleep.

Gathering up the wood, Kat carried it inside to dry. Her hands were so stiff from the cold it was an effort to light the fire but finally there was fair sized flame licking at the wood, adding light and warmth to the room.

Kat looked over at her guest, she didn't want to think of him as a prisoner. He was asleep, thick red-gold lashes rested against his cheeks. Kat picked his glasses up from where they landed in his struggles to escape. Folding them up she placed them on the sideboard.

He started to toss around in his sleep, groans of pain and anger bursting forth from his lips. Kat moved towards him to wake him up before he hurt himself.

Mark opened his eyes as a shadow fell over him. It was her, the murderer of his wife. She leant over him, laughing at his anguish. He lashed out, hoping to cause her some pain for a change.

Kat flew across the room, propelled by his foot landing with a mule like kick to her stomach. There was too much pain for her to even cry out. There was too much pain for her to even consider breathing. She took an experimental breath, pain seared through her body. At least one rib was broken, she recognized the pain all too well.

Breaking free of his dream, Mark called her name but she didn't respond. Cradling her stomach she struggled to her feet, gasping in pain with every move. Giving him a wide berth, she ignored him as she staggered from the room, her body hunched over in agony.

Mark sighed deeply. He hadn't meant to hurt her like that, that wasn't his way. He sighed again. Given her reputation he wondered what form her revenge would take. Not that he could do anything to stop her in the position he was in. He jiggled the handcuffs but they hadn't loosened any since the last time he'd tried. She came back in the room, laden down with blankets and pillows.

"You didn't mean to hurt me I understand that" Tucking another blanket around him, Kat climbed back to her feet, stifling a sob as pain shot through her ribs. "Goodnight"

"Damn it, Zo" The door clicking shut was her response. She hadn't even looked at him and, he realized, when she had earlier there had been no recognition in her eyes. Granted, he'd been shouting at her at the time but surely there should have been something.

By the poor light of a flickering candle, Kat looked in the bathroom mirror at the bruise spreading across her ribs. It was painful, but she'd had worse. She bandaged herself up and went to bed. Crawling under the covers she gingerly found a comfortable position and stared out of the window at the falling snow.

Ribs hurting even more than the night before, Kat walked over the freezing wooden floor and looked out of the window. The snow had really fallen overnight, she knew because she'd witnessed most of it. Along with the snow there'd been a hard frost, leaving the two-foot of snow that had fallen hard packed and impenetrable.

Wrapping up extra warm she staggered from the bedroom to the relative warmth of the living room to throw more wood on the fire. She could feel his eyes on her, making her more aware of her stilted movements but she chose to ignore him.

Mark looked at her in amazement as she went into the kitchen. For a brief moment he wondered at his own sanity. Had he broken into some innocent woman's home? She had to be kidding him. Obviously it was some ruse to throw him off guard. And it had nearly worked, but he'd seen through her tricks. It's not going to work! I know who you are!

"I've seen your picture. I've seen you. I know exactly who you are, what you've done and I'm going to make sure you pay for those crimes?"

"I've already done my time!" She banged the kettle down on the stove. "I've already paid for what I did and I'll be damned if I'll pay for something someone else did."

"If not you then who else Are you saying there's some twin waiting conveniently in the shadows?" he snorted derisively. "You would think your parents would have mentioned that"

"You obviously don't know me that well then. I was found on the doorstep of a church and spent my life moving from home to home? cliché? But true.?

"How am I supposed to eat with my hands tied?" She stared at the dishes she was carrying looking genuinely puzzled. "If you untie me I can feed myself." He coxed softly. "Come on Zo let me go"

With a snort, Kat shook her head. "You don't believe me, why should anyone else. It took me ten years, ten years to get back this much of my life. So you'll excuse me if I don't believe in happy endings. They'll take one look at me, see what you see and that'll be that." She swung the front door open, letting him see the enormity of the snowstorm raging outside. "Once it's clear enough I'm gone. I'm not sticking around to see them change"

"The whispers behind your back, the looks, old gossip dragged from the gutter, speculated on, expanded on until everyone believes it. I won't go through that again! I won't !"

It was said so matter-of-factly that he opened his mouth to accept the spoonful of porridge without realizing what he was doing. "I'm sorry about your ribs. I didn't mean to hurt you like that"

"No you just want to expose me for the murdering bitch that I am" Kat placed another spoonful in his mouth as he made to protest. Keeping up a steady supply she kept him from saying anything.

Even with the position he was tied up in and with her spoon-feeding him, he still managed to look noble. He didn't deserve to by tied up but to let him go would be disastrous.

Forgetting her ribs under his obvious pleasure, Kat pushed up off the floor. Something gave in her chest with a sickening crunch and tear. Unable to breathe through the pain she collapsed back down, sprawling across his body.

"I was wrong, they weren't broken before They are now." With open arms Kat embraced the darkness as it rushed up to greet her, letting it swallow the pain.

Mark struggled against his bonds as she continued to lie unmoving. She was breathing, which was something, but each breath was ragged with pain.

She might take him to be a fool, or maybe she was delusional, but he didn't want it to end like this. He wanted her locked away to wish she were dead, not actually dead.

"Damn it Zo wake up!" Mark kept calling her name but she remained unresponsive. Huffing in a sigh he tried again. "Kat!" She moaned, wincing with pain as she moved around. He didn't want to play his game but if it made her get up he was willing to do it for a while. "That's it girl Come on Kat, open your eyes for me"

Kat followed the voice. It led towards pain but she followed, needing to hear the seductive voice more. The gruff tones wrapped around her senses, pulling her ever onwards.

Blinking open her eyes, Kat looked at the expanse of blue before her. Pale blue with a brass button Confused, she shifted a hand that was nearby and stroked a finger from the button down.

Kat felt her cheeks blaze with color as she realized what she was looking at. She'd touched him there again. Her embarrassment was forgotten as she tried to move away. Oh God. Pain, much worse than before.

"Relax, don't try to move" Her body went limp again but at least she hadn't passed out. "Okay" She gave a grunt. "Yeah, stupid question. Can you reach your pocket?" Her brown eyes looked up at him in query. "If you let me go"

"I'm not giving you the key" He was persistent. Slowly, a painful inch at a time, Kat made it back upright until she was sitting at his side, her head resting against his solid shoulder. Sweat beaded her forehead with the effort.

"You'll have to think of something soon real soon.?He emphasized. All he needed was a couple of seconds with his hands free and he'd soon have her sitting around in chains.

Gaining her feet, Kat left the room, returning with the gun. Mark's face fell in obvious disappointment. Undoing the ropes she stood back while he stood up. She could swear he was even bigger than she remembered. Gesturing with the gun she pointed him in the right directed, following close, but not too close.

With a click the handcuff was unlocked but before he could get his hands free she was out of reach, gun raised to cover him. Grumbling under his breath he went into the bathroom. While he went about his business he tried to figure a way out of his predicament.

"That's good but as soon as you leave I'll follow" There was a sigh from outside the door and the sound of bedsprings creaking as she sat down. Opening the door he leant against the jamb, watching while she rubbed her face in frustration. "Well?"

With that he held his hands out in front of him a smile of anticipation on his face. Kat wasn't fooled, closer was not a place she wanted to be with him. "Do as I said" Kat waved the gun in what she hoped was a threatening manner.

"Cuff me like this. I still can't escape and you won't have to feed me by hand. But I'll be damned if Ill get on that floor and let ya tie me up again"

His smile made her heart do a strange flip. He was so sure of who he was and what he wanted. But what he wanted conflicted with what was best for her. "For a prisoner you're an insufferably bossy man. I'm the one with the gun I make the rules" Kat leveled the gun at him.

"Kill me then, that's the only way you'll get my hands behind my back again" He was pushing, he knew he was, a dangerous game to play with a known murderer, but he found that he was enjoying himself. Pushing her to see how far she was willing to take the whole Ka? charade was exhilarating.

Kat felt like pulling her hair out in frustration. She could see it in those beautiful green eyes that he wasn't going to give and pointing the gun wasn't doing a thing to change his mind as he knew she wasn't going to kill him.

"Let's call a truce." Her eyes shot to his in query and hope. "Oh, I'm still gonna hand you in" her eyes dropped in disappointment. "But until the snow clears let's work together" Mark took a step closer. She watched him move but didn't threaten with the gun. "Come on Kat, keep me loose and I'll behave, tie me up and I'll fight you tooth and nail"

Mark stopped right before her. So close that it would be easy to take the gun from her. Crouching down he put himself level with her eyes. Those brown orbs were filled with confusion. She wanted to do as he said. "You're hurt" Mark stroked his fingers over her ribs, tracing the edge of the bandage she'd wrapped around them, "Let me help"

Mark briefly looked up from his stew before going back to the task of demolishing the plateful before him. She was a good cook, better than his wife had been, and he wanted to hate her for that. Mopping up the last of the juices with a hunk of bread, Mark sat back in the chair with a happy sigh.

Making sure not touch him, Kat removed his plate, taking it to the sink. "There's some fruit if you want" Turning she found herself faced with a wide expanse of denim covered chest. Damn, he was quiet for such a large man.

"Want me to dry?" He knew the effect he was having on her nerves. Knew she regretted that he wasn't tied up. But that option was lost to her, along with the handcuffs and guns, when she'd thrown them into the woods. Nothing but a thaw would uncover them now.

To all intents and purposes they were on equal terms. But they both knew he was in charge. He was bigger, stronger and healthy. He'd insisted on checking her ribs, asserting his control over her and the situation as he did so. The bruise was huge, covering most of her stomach and spreading up over her ribs. She'd been lucky that she'd been wearing thick clothes and that his kick had landed low on her stomach. Any higher and a rib could have punctured a lung.

"Welcome to look if you want but I think it's past it" Trying to take her mind off Mark and the danger he posed, Kat tried to loose herself in the repetitive job of washing up. But it was as if he knew what she was trying to do. He stood close, closer than needed, hand brushing hers to take dishes from her. By the time the last item was washed her nerves were raw. And damn it he knew, it was there in the smile on his face, a curve of lips that came nowhere near too touching his eyes.

"It's in the shed over there" Kat pointed through the window. Mark's eyes flickered slightly in the direction of her gesturing finger but his attention stayed on her.

With a grumble of frustration, Kat pulled on her coat, wincing at the pain from her moves made jerky by him. As she stomped across the snowy ground Kat glanced across at Mark. There was a predatory gleam in his eyes that made her nerves shatter just a little bit more. He was waiting, looking, for a reason to confront her. And if that happened She knew she didn't stand a chance.

Mark snagged the back of Kat's jacket, preventing her certain tumble, as she stumbled on the slippery ground. Holding her steady, he waited until she was steady on her feet, before releasing his hold.

"Thanks" His lip curled slightly, more grimace than smile. Biting her lip, Kat fought against the urge to let him know what she thought about him. Don't let him get to you, don't give him a reason.

Mark eyed the old generator up. It was a miracle that she'd kept it working as long as she had. "Looks like it should be in a museum" She chuckled in agreement as he poked at a piece of wiring. He liked her laugh and her smile far more than he ought to. The way her whole face lit up made some deep part of him want to see it more often. With more force that was necessary he threw down a screwdriver he was holding. Her smile was wiped instantly away to be replaced with fear. "Damn it!"

Kat hiked herself up onto a workbench out of the way as he stripped off his coat. Undoing the cuffs of his soft blue cotton shirt he rolled his sleeves up. Arms bristling with hard muscle came into view along with the most impressive display of tattoos Kat had ever seen. Wow! Mesmerized she slid from her perch and moved close to him.

Mark watched as Kat?s slender fingers traced over his tattoos. Her nails were just how he liked; free off varnish; long without been talons. His tattoos were part of who he was, a glimpse at his soul, and it scared most people away before they even got to know him.

An involuntary shiver shot down his spine as her nails teased the delicate skin at the crook of his elbow. He stared intently at her face, checking for deliberate seduction, all he found was a woman fascinated by what she was looking at.

Pushing up his sleeve, Kat was further mesmerized by the demon on his right bicep. The work was so detailed, so beautiful. I love them. Put mine to shame.

"You've got some?" Wracking his brain he couldn't remember reading about them on any police reports. But that could just be because they were new. "Can I look?"

Mark watched with interest as a blush stole across her cheeks. His interest was most definitely piqued. Just where did she have her tattoo. "Come on, fairs fair"

"I'm not falling for that. But, if you want your deal, ya got it". A smirk of triumph spread across his lips as he rocked back and forth on his heels. But, I've worked with this Antiquated heap of junk for some time now and basically it's dead.

While she talked, Mark fiddled, seemingly idly with a couple of wires. Dead Then you won't mind if I do this. Picking up a large hammer Mark whacked the generator with it as hard as possible.

As if it had been waiting for his rough treatment the generator purred to life with more strength and vigor than it had shown in a long time. Kat's jaw dropped in shock. How in the hell Mark was smirking in triumph again.

She couldn't back out. That was what he wanted. Back out and she would just be proving him right about everything he believed true about Zo I always keep my word Mark, always.

Mark watched on with interest as she unzipped her trousers and eased them down to expose her right hip. He didn't know quite what he'd been expecting; a heart, maybe a rose or some other generic piece of flash art.

Kat tried desperately to ignore the feeling of his warm breath against her hip. Instead she concentrated on the top of his head and the way the sun played with the long red strands atop his head and flitted across the stubble lining his jaw. The same thought as before came back again and this time she let it form. What would it feel like Bristly and harsh or would it be as soft as it looked

A figure of a man, shrouded in a blue trimmed purple cloak and swirling mist. And a woman crouched at his side carrying a scythe. The faces of both figures couldn't be seen, both just masks of darkness. Only their eyes shone through, his green, hers brown.

'You sound surprised" A callused finger traced the outline of the woman, lingering on her barely covered breasts. Kat slapped at his hand. "Do you mind?"

"When things weren't good I used to dream of him, Death. His green eyes used to glow as he came for me at night. There were many nights I wished him more than a dream but each morning would arrive bringing more"She'd revealed too much, said things she'd never said to anyone else. "It's just a tattoo, okay, doesn't mean anything"

Mark knew from his own experiences that tattoos, for some, meant far more than just a pretty picture. Pointing to one on his left arm he told her the story behind it. She listened to every word, understanding in her eyes. "Did you dream of the woman too?"

"They made up" Kat blushed furiously at the memory. Oh the dreams she'd had. And how jealous she'd been of the brown-eyed woman for her freedom and the passion they'd shared. That it came from her own mind was no solace, in fact it was more of a torment.

Kat met Mark's gaze, drowning into the green eyes of her tormentor, her own real life Death. Reality blurred slightly, mixing with old dreams. Before she could realize what she was doing, her fingers were touching his beard. It was neither scratchy nor soft, rather a combination of both.

Frigid air cooled his body as Kat rushed from the shed as though the hounds of hell were on her trail. Stroking fingers over his beard, Mark watched as she stumbled along the path back towards the house.

Her actions confused him and his responses confused him even more. The look of wonder in her eyes as she'd touched his face. The desire for her to continue. "Damn it !"

Grabbing up his coat he fished two photos from a hidden pocket. One was of his wife. He touched the face of the woman he'd loved. The woman who'd been snatched from his life by the woman in the other picture.

He stared at her picture, letting the hatred in her eyes remind him of what she was really like. 'She's playin you for a fool. Don't let this story she's weaving fool ya'

Pep talk over, Mark returned the pictures to their hiding place. His fingers touched upon the other hidden items, reassuring himself that he was ready for anything she tried.

Kat looked up from the book she was pretending to read and glanced over at Mark. Since he'd returned from the shed his eyes had been shooting daggers at her and conversation had been reduced to grunts. Not that she'd gone out of her way to ask him anything, she was too embarrassed at what she'd done for that.

Kat glanced towards the window. Snow was falling again, had been for hours. Blown by the wind the dancing, twirling flakes were steadily piling up against the sides of the house, marching up the frost covering the windows. Any hopes of a quick escape were vanishing right before her eyes.

Hearing her troubled sigh, Mark followed her gaze. Looks like we'll be here a little longer. He'd been hoping it would clear during the day, then he could get her out of his life and back behind bars where she belonged. But his hopes had been dashed by the weather.

She nearly retook her seat at his growl. "Well, now the generators working again I thought Id have a shower. If that's okay with you?". Not waiting for, or wanting, a response, Kat left the room to do exactly as she'd said.

Vigorously washing her hair until it squeaked with cleanliness, Kat swore under her breath, making up a few words along the way, to disperse some of the frustration she was feeling. How in the hell was she going to survive the night with him, let alone the weeks they might have to share if the weather didn't change. She'd be nervous wreck.

Should have just left him tied up instead of believing his words!? Who was she trying to fool. Before he'd kicked her she'd been ready to release him even with the threat he'd posed.

"You know what I mean !" With a frustrating, to her, smile on his face he picked up the discarded bandages, straightening them as he advanced on her. "I can do that myself".

Ignoring her protests and slapping hands Mark persisted until she relented with a frustrated sigh. He tried to be quick and detached about what he was doing but he was very aware of her as a woman. Just like he'd been in the she'd.

Her skin was silky soft under his fingers as he wrapped the bandage around her body. As he passed the length of fabric around her back his nose brushed against her and he was assailed by her scent.

"There's nowhere to go Mark". Kat smiled up at him, trying to make light of a bad situation. All she got for her efforts was a frown. "I'll behave".

With a quick nod of his head he left her alone. Normally going to bed so early would be impossible, but the combination of the pain in her ribs and been in his presence had taken its toll. Stifling a yawn, Kat folded back the quilt ready to hop in once he'd finished his shower. Then she realized that they'd got a problem.

Rubbing his hair dry, Mark left the steamy bathroom and found Kat wringing her hands together, a look of concern on her face. "Something wrong?". She leapt into the air with a guilty squeak of alarm.

"Nothing !" Trying not to look at the bed, Kat rushed to a cupboard and grabbed the spare pillows and blankets she'd put back earlier. "I- ER- I'll take the living room".

"I thought we had a truce?" His grip stayed tight around her arm, a band of immovable steel. With a sigh she stopped trying to move away. "Look there's only one bed and one two seater settee. And of the two of us, I think I'm more suited to the settee, don't you?".

"Desperation will make people take stupid chances. There's no way I'm gonna take the chance of you skipping out so ya may as well get into bed Kat". He pressed a finger against her ribs, just hard enough to remind her of her injury. "Even if I trusted you to stay put, these ribs need more comfort than that settee can give".

Pulling back the quilt, Mark patted the mattress. Raking a hand through the length of her hair, Kat sighed and climbed in. Her eyes shot daggers at him as he tucked the covers up around her shoulders. "Won't be long". Leaving the room Mark made sure that every door and window was secure and locked. Taking a chair from around the kitchen table be placed it outside the bedroom door where it would be disturbed if she tried to leave the room.

Kat shifted around in the bed, desperately trying to find a comfortable position. Finally she found one, and just in time as she heard him moving back towards the room. His huge frame dwarfed the room as he entered, ducking his head to avoid the frame. Kat's breath caught in her throat as he neared the bed. Screwing her eyes tight shut she tried to pretend she was asleep. Anything to avoid another exchange of words with him.

Flipping back the covers Mark climbed into bed. His weight rocked Kat's body towards his. Brow creasing, her body stiffened as she fought to stay in place. Lying still he waited her out. Her eyes finally opened a cautious crack, shooting wide when she realized she'd been caught out.

Turned on his side, the wide expanse of his chest was inches from her nose. So close that she could see every individual strand of the light red-gold hair and the sprinkling of golden freckles beneath. Not, she assured herself, that she was interested in looking that close. "You're not wearing anything?"

Heat marched up Kat's body as her eyes automatically drifted down to fall upon his black silk boxers. There was a smirk teasing his lips again and an expectant look upon his face. "You won't be warm enough like that."

"You could keep me warm." Running a teasing finger over her cheek, Mark watched as Kat's face flushed bright red. Her mouth flapped open in shock. Hooking her chin he closed her mouth with a slight click of teeth.

"Oooo!!!" Too angry to think about her ribs, Kat turned over and presented Mark with her back. She didn't know what this `Zoë' was like but Kat had the feeling she was `night' to her `day'. To think, he actually expected her to… Oooo!!

The mattress shifted again as Mark scooted down in the bed. Gripping the edge of the mattress she held on for dear life. There was no way she wanted to anywhere near him.

Mark looked at the back of her head. It wasn't like Zoë to pass up on an opportunity. Hell he'd given her plenty of those. Maybe she was just trying to keep up the `Kat' charade? But why bother when he knew who she was? He squashed the brief thought that maybe, just maybe, he had got the wrong woman. No, she was just trying to fool him and that wasn't going to happen.

Minutes turned into hours before his breathing settled into a pattern that said he was asleep. Still gripping the mattress, Kat lay awake watching the snow falling outside. A lone tear escaped and splashed against the mattress. She felt so helpless. Something she'd sworn never to feel again. Yet here she was, trapped with a man that wanted her behind bars, no way to persuade him that she wasn't who he thought.

Easing back the covers Kat barely even managed to get a foot out before his arm fell around her waist like a band of steel. Yanking her back across the bed until her back was flush to his front.

"You're not trying." She was also lying through her pretty teeth. Tucking her firmly into the curve of his body, Mark held tight as she tried to scoot away. "Relax, not gonna hurt you none."

She was trapped again. But, as the warmth of his body seeped into hers and his arms held her secure, Kat found it was a trap she could get used to. His fingers danced against her neck, pressing and teasing until her body sagged against his.

"There now, that's better." Relaxing his hold, Mark smiled sleepily as Kat stayed put with a soft murmur. For the first time he let his eyes drift shut, lulled by the warmth of her body.

Cracking open her eyes, Kat looked blearily around the room, trying to put a finger on what seemed wrong. It was light out but it was hard to tell what time of day, or night, it was as it was all light reflected off the snow piled so high that it was halfway over the window. Just the sight of all the snow had a shiver running down her spine even though her body was warm.

A halfhearted glance at the old fashioned, but very reliable, wind up clock on the bedside table showed that it was still early. Only just turned three in the morning. Far too early to even consider getting up.

A huge tattoo adorned arm swam into focus where her pillow should have been. Gradually she became aware of other things. The long, muscular leg tucked intimately between hers. The arm resting around her waist, hand wormed up under her top. Every inch of her back was pressed against something solid and warm.

In fact she'd never felt so warm… and secure. That was apart from her nose. That was absolutely freezing from been above the covers. Turning into the warmth, Kat nuzzled her nose against it.

Mark's eyes shot wide open. Dragged from his sleep by the freezing cold flesh pressing into his chest. Looking down at the blond head tucked against his chest, Mark smiled in sleepy satisfaction. She hadn't escaped.

Parting the fragrant curtain of Kat's hair, Mark stroked the smooth skin along her jaw. Her brow creased into a frown as she stirred against him. Wiggling closer as though trying to crawl through him. With a soft moan she settled down against him again and drifted into a deep sleep. Mark watched her awhile, trying to see the woman he knew her to be in the face of the beauty sprawled across him.

It was still something of a shock, and he was afraid to admit, a disappointment that she hadn't tried to seduce him. He kept trying to tell himself it was because he wanted the chance to turn her down and destroy all her hopes. But, as he stroked the length of her spine, he had to admit he'd been fascinated with her since she'd touched him while they were in the shed.

He stroked his fingers through the soft length of her hair, tucking a strand back as he let his fingers roam over her sleep softened face. Drawing her warm body closer still Mark tucked his head down and let tiredness gently drag him down.

It felt like only a matter of seconds later to Kat when her world suddenly shook around her. Earthquake? Avalanche? Those were the things that flashed through her mind as her eyes snapped open.

Kat sat bolt upright in bed, nearly falling out in her haste to turn around. A thickly muscled arm adorned with a myriad of tattoos snaked around her waist and pulled her back across the bed. With a soft murmur he placed his head upon her breast.

A wave of tenderness washed over her as she looked down at the top of his head. His hair was so soft where it brushed against her throat. Picking up a strand Kat watched the light play with the red strands as she shifted them through her fingers.

His body shook against hers as his huge frame was wracked by a shiver. Fearing the worst Kat pushed his hair back and placed her hand against his forehead. "God, you're hot!"

"Huh?" It took her a couple of seconds to realize that he'd twisted her innocent words into an entirely different meaning. And by the time she did realize, he'd taken full advantage of her confusion. With a twist of his hips he had her flat on her back. He rolled with her, settling his body between her legs, pressing himself against her. Shocked to silence Kat stared up into the handsome face above her. His green eyes shone with the promise of all the wicked things he planned on doing to her.

"I-" her words and breath was stolen as his head lowered, mouth moving to cover her own. She'd been kissed before, but not often and certainly not so expertly. He crashed through all the barriers she'd placed around her heart as he parted her lips and plundered the soft interior of her mouth. A moan was wrung from deep within as his lips left hers. Tangling her fingers into the soft length of his hair, Kat held on for dear life as his lips started to trail down the side of her neck. Never had she expected to feel what he was making her feel. Not after…

"Mark… please-" with a groan his mouth covered hers again. Tugging on his hair Kat tried to create space between them but he was unlovable. In reprimand for her rough treatment his teeth nipped at her lips just hard enough to shock her into releasing her hold.

His head lifted again as he propped himself up on an elbow. He was so beautiful that it took her breath away again. Mesmerized, Kat reached up and cupped his jaw. He was so hot, in more ways than one. But it was the heat of his flesh that worried her. "Mark?" His green eyes touched hers, bright with fever.

Kat's heart crashed through the floor at the anguish in his voice. He was looking at a memory, not her. His hair fell forward in a fragrant curtain around them as his head lowered again. Tears glistened on his lashes and sweat beaded his forehead. With both hands Kat gently stroked his hair back from his face. "Shhh. It's okay." His fingers brushed her face in a touch as soft as butterfly wings. "Lie back Mark," pushing against his shoulder Kat managed to encourage him to lie back, but not to let go of her. He pulled her with him until she was spread across his body. Any attempt to move away distressed him so for the time been she had to resign herself to been a living blanket.

"It's okay." Over and over again she whispered softly to him until he settled back against the pillows. With a murmur he closed his eyes and drifted back off to sleep. Slowly, a careful inch at a time, Kat worked her way off the bed. Pulling up the quilt Kat tucked it around his broad shoulders.

She didn't know how bad his fever was, or was likely to get, but what she did know was that he'd hate her, more than he already did, for what had just happened if he remembered it. Hopefully he'd think it all a dream by the time he awoke.

As quietly as she'd left the bed Kat left the room… and very nearly fell backwards over a chair. "What the hell!" Only Mark could have put it there but she couldn't think why. Shrugging a shoulder she picked it up and put it back where it belonged.

The air was frigid in the cabin without the fire blazing. But it would have to wait… coffee came first. More precisely she needed the caffeine kick that came with it to get her started.

Sitting down at the kitchen table in the chair she'd just put back, Kat cradled the hot mug of black instant coffee between her hands and tried to think.

She was trapped in a snowbound cabin with a bounty hunter that thought she was someone called Zoë. Someone he hated with a passion that went far beyond his job. And now he was ill. "Told him he should have worn more," she grumbled. Even if the snow miraculously cleared she couldn't leave until she was sure he was well.

The clock on the mantel above the fireplace gently chimed eight times. Time was slowly ticking by. But she could have sat there for an eternity and have been no closer to working things out.

With a sigh, Kat finished her drink and started work on getting the fire going. The pain in her ribs had settled into a dull ache overnight but picking up the logs for the fire soon had them throbbing painfully with each breath. And by the time she got the fire burning brightly the sweat on her brow had very little to do with the warmth of the flames.

Wiping away the cold sweat, Kat sat back on her heels and held out her hands to the welcoming warmth and listened to the crackle and pop as the flames ate at the wood.

Leaning against the doorjamb, Mark intently watched her every pain filled move. "You shouldn't be doing that." With a startled cry she lost her balance and crashed to the floor.

"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Clenching a hand over her heart Kat fought to regain her breath. That man was far too quiet for his size.

"Ya shouldn't be lifting stuff with your ribs banged up." Pushing off from the door he took a staggering step forwards. What the hell was wrong with him? He felt as though someone had stolen his legs.

"Why? Ya do somethin' to me?" He eyed her suspiciously as she rushed to his side and foolishly placed her shoulder under his arms. Serve her right if he did let her take all his weight. Squish her like a bug.

"Do?" she huffed in an exasperated breath. "No! I didn't do anything! You did it all yourself." Her attempt to move him back towards the bedroom was thwarted by the simple fact that he refused to take a step.

"I bet you don't. No bug would ever dare attack you would it," Kat muttered sarcastically. "But… a cold is what you've got. Serves you right for not wearing more to bed. And if you don't rest you'll only get worse."

"Not sick! Just feel cold." Mark proclaimed, still easily resisting her attempts to move him. He'd die before he'd admit it but he was rather enjoying her wiggling against his body.

Her words set off alarm bells inside his head. He'd heard her say something like that before. And, he could remember his response… "'Bout time ya noticed."

Kat tried desperately to avoid meeting his eyes, but with ridiculous ease he tilted up her chin. She screwed her eyes tight close against the hatred that would surely be in his eyes.

Cupping her suddenly pale face between his hands, Mark ran a finger over her decidedly kiss swollen lips. "I thought I'd dreamt it," he whispered softly.

"Yeah!… I mean… dreaming about kissing me?" snorting at the idea, Kat took shameless advantage of his confusion and pushed him towards the bedroom. "Shows how i'll you are! Once you've had a bit of rest I'm sure you'll be back to hating me in no time!"

He was so confused by what she was saying that before Mark could realize what was happening he was back in bed. She tucked the covers back around him, smoothing them into place.

"Wait," snagging her hands before she could leave, Mark drew her back to the bed. "Don't leave." He kept tugging gently until she was sitting beside him on the bed. His desire to keep her close went beyond his distrust of her. He just needed her with him. "Don't leave."

Kat sat beside Mark as he drifted into a state close to sleep. She stroked his head, raking her fingers through the soft length of his red hair as bone-shaking shivers wracked his huge body. A sigh left him and he took the last step into sleep.

She was free to leave. But instead of doing the sensible thing she stayed right where she was. Watching over him. Enjoying the freedom to do so. If anything he was even more unbelievably handsome in his sleep. His hair drifted from her fingers; shining brightly as it fell to lie against his pillow in a swath of red.

Unable to help herself, Kat touched his strong handsome face. She lightly trailed the tips of her fingers over every millimeter. Cataloguing it all to memory. The fine arch of his eyebrows. The way his pale lashes lay across his cheeks. Tracing a line down the center of his nose Kat smoothed her fingers over the unique texture of his beard. The little flecks of gray within didn't distract from his looks; in fact it only seemed to make him even more handsome.

Flattening out her hands, Kat cupped his strong jaw, delighting in the brush of his beard against the palms of her hands. But as good as that was she had to return to his mouth.

As she touched the full curve of his lips, heat flooded her being as she remembered the feel of them against her own. She'd never expected to feel anything like that; believing the emotions he'd evoked to be the product of fancy and romantic fiction.

Her lips brushed his before she even realized she'd moved. Electricity shot through her from where they were joined; pulsing through her body in waves; pooling in a ball of heat low in her stomach and thighs.

With a low groan of need his lips parted beneath hers; encouraging her to explore the moist depths within. She accepted his offer. Tentatively exploring, learning from the tiny noises he made as to what pleased him the most.

Pacing around Kat called herself all kinds of fool. What did she think she was playing at? She just couldn't seem to do anything right. He'd broken into her home. Threatened her repeatedly. And what did she do? Kiss him. While he was i'll no less!

His lapse he had an excuse for; he had a temperature and he'd been dreaming of someone he loved. But she had absolutely no excuse for her actions. Just because he'd made her feel things, wondrous things that she hadn't dared dream of, was no reason for what she'd done.

Lips still tingling from the contact with Mark's, Kat threw herself down on the couch and buried her face in her hands. In a way she'd been better off not knowing what she'd been missing.

Kat checked on her guest regularly throughout the day. Apart from him changing position on the bed there was no change. Certainly none for the better. His temperature was still too high for her liking but she had no way of checking just how high it was.

Sitting beside him, Kat wiped the sweat from his brow and chest with a damp cloth. With a sigh he arched into the cooling touch of the cloth, seeking comfort.

She fought desperately to remain detached from it all but whenever she laid eyes upon him her heart started to beat frantically against her breast. Staying away didn't help as her mind just kept wandering back to him.

She wondered what type of woman it took to capture the heart of such a man? What would it be like to be loved by him… by anyone? Her mind kept chasing itself, asking the same questions over and over again. Always skirting past the same one… Who was Sara? The woman he spoke of with such love and loneliness in his voice. Who was she?

With a sigh, Kat left the bed and went to stand at the window. The snow had stopped, for the moment. Thick blankets of white covered everything as far as the eye could see. Higher where it lay covering something already there. Looking to the side she could just make out the roof of the shed just peeking above the snow, her beat up old car, the pile of uncut logs… and…

Kat kept staring at it, wracking her brain as to what she'd left there. But she kept coming up blank. Then she remembered the sound of an engine that had heralded the arrival of the man sprawled across her bed. It had to be his bike. Not that it mattered, it would be even more useless than her car in snow. But at least she could stop wondering. Which unfortunately left her mind free to focus on him again.

With a sigh, Kat settled herself back at his side. "Mark," she gently shook his shoulder until he reluctantly opened his eyes. "Sorry ta wake ya."

"Two thirty," tucking a strand of hair behind his ear Kat looked into his eyes, noting with relief that they were less glazed with fever than they had been. "I've got some soup on. Do you feel up to trying some?"

Nodding weakly, Mark murmured his consent as her hand stroked rhythmically through his hair and over his shoulder. "That'd be good." He tried to sit up, but flopped weakly back down to the mattress as his body betrayed him.

Mark watched as Kat left the room, his eyes hungrily eating up the seductive sway of her hips as she moved. He felt no closer to working out her behavior. Why was she helping him?

She quickly returned and placed a tray across his lap. Mark breathed in the wonderful scent of chicken soup and oven-warmed bread. But as he reached eagerly for the spoon he soon found that he was weaker than he could have believed possible. His hand shook so much that he couldn't hold the spoon let alone think of trying to feed himself. "Damn!"

"Here," Kat blew on a spoon full of soup and held it out to him. He looked at her for the longest time, then opened his mouth to accept the spoon.

"Hmmm, good." Her cheeks flushed pink at his compliment. "And at least I'm not tied down this time," he teased. A gentle burble of shocked laughter was his reward. And he lapped it up, feeling inordinately proud of himself.

She kept up a steady supply of soup and bread, knowing without been asked when he needed more and when to hold off for a second. Every now and again, Mark would look up and catch her watching him so intently that he couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking of. What was it that had a becoming blush stealing across her cheeks?

Kat mopped up the last dregs of soup with the last piece of bread and held it out to Mark. His mouth closed around the offering… and her fingers.

Eyes fixed on her shocked ones, Mark suckled deeply on her fingers. Her breathing was ragged as he ran his tongue over the pads of her fingers, diving between the invading digits to tease the sensitive flesh there.

Kat flung herself away from the temptation of his body once more and stumbled her way across the room muttering nonsensical excuses. Slamming the door shut, Kat leaned against it and tried to catch her breath. He was lethal for her peace of mind asleep. Awake, he was doubly so.

Arms folded behind his head, Mark smiled at Kat's antics. She wanted him. And not in the usual, `means to an end', way she used everyone else with the right equipment between the legs. But in a genuine, `he curls my toes', kind of way.

She'd taken advantage of him earlier; claiming that he'd dreamt of kissing her sweet lips. But how had she known what his dream had been. Not once had he mentioned kissing her.

And if that dream had been real… then what about the others? Fever induced hallucinations? Or had her hunger for him got the better of her?

It was another weapon against her and one that might serve him better than pushing until she snapped. Either way, he'd get what he wanted. And maybe a little more as well?

Lazily scratching at his chest and stomach, Mark settled down in the bed and pulled the covers back up around his shoulders. A cold drought whistled under the door, forcing him to hunker further down in the bed to escape its reach.

It was a whole fifteen minutes later by her clock when he suddenly thought to asked himself where the drought had come from. Until then it had been pretty warm.

Mark forced his weary body from the bed and tried to keep both his feet and lunch where they belonged. A glimpse of something had him moving towards the window rather than the door.

A well wrapped up figure struggled around the corner through the drifts of snow. "What the hell ya doing now?" Her progress was slow and laborious; each step fought for with determination against the near head height snow.

Arms flailing around, she vanished from sight; face first into the snow. Mark gripped the window ledge anxiously as seemingly endless seconds past without her reappearance. Then like a swimmer breaking the surface she appeared, coughing and spluttering. Snow sprayed out around her as she shook her head.

Suddenly she froze, her eyes flying wide. Doing a dance in the middle of the snow she fiddled frantically with the neck of her coat. Mark couldn't help the relieved laugh that broke past his lips at her futile attempts to stop the snow melting down her top.

A huge shiver wracked her slender frame as the icy snow marched down her spine. With a resigned shrug of her shoulders, Kat continued on her plodding journey.

Mark watched her every hard fought step, wincing at the strain each stumble placed upon her bruised body. "What are ya doing Kat? No escaping me."

Shaking his head at her foolishness, Mark pulled his jeans up over the long length of his legs. If he had to trudge after her and pull her back by her beautiful blond hair, then so be it. Fool would freeze to death before she got anywhere.

"Goddamn!! But that was cold!!" Closing the door behind her with numb fingers, Kat dropped the bags to the floor and sank down its wooden length to the floor. Her exposed flesh tingled painfully under the heat of the room, giving her no respite from her suffering.

"Mark!" Kat pressed her back against the door as Mark's long powerful legs quickly ate up the distance between them. Fists clenched at his side, he towered over her, his bare chest heaving magnificently with every breath, every muscle in his big beautiful body corded in anger.

"What were you doing?" Mark repeated slowly. He wasn't quite sure what the symptoms of exposure were, so he was putting that down to her inability to focus.

"Doing?" Kat dropped her gaze to the floor in an attempt to concentrate on something other than how good looking he was. Concentrate, she berated herself, once that snow you just fought through has gone, he'll be haulin' your ass straight to the nearest jail. "What was the question?" Kat asked his perfectly formed bare toes.

Throwing up his hands, Mark crouched down before her. Hooking her chin with a finger, he tilted up her face. "Why," he pronounced carefully, "did you go troopin' out there in this, to get my bags? What did you hope to find?"

She was drowning in his eyes. Falling willingly into their crystal clear depths, sucked under his strength of will. "Clothes," was all she managed to get out. After he gave her an insistent shake.

"Well what with your cold… Hey! You should be in bed!!" An eyebrow climbed a fraction, letting her know that his patients was fading fast. "You need something to wear at night and by the quality of your clothes you don't strike me as the type of person to go without. I also figured you normally planned things out. And as, for some reason, you thought you'd get me from here to a jail on the back of a bike instead of using a car-"

"You figured that instead of going to a motel and plotting my moves I let my desire to wrap my hands around your beautiful neck get the better of me?" Angry only because she'd got him pegged, Mark wrapped his long fingers around her slender throat to emphasize his point. "Think you know me do you?"

"Yes- No!… I- I only wanted to keep you warm, help you get better." She wanted him out of her bed and terrorizing her again. With that Mark, she knew where she stood.

"Open up the bag. Go on, won't bite none." While her fingers fumbled with the zips and straps holding the bag closed, Mark continued to hold her throat captive. Or was it holding him captive? Her skin was so unbelievably soft beneath his fingers. And he knew it would be just as soft beneath his lips. Soft and fragrant. Just right for kissing and nibbling on.

Mark pulled up on his confused thoughts, and his body before he could carry out his thoughts. It was his cold making him think such things, nothing more. He could feel a cold sweat breaking out across his body, confirming his cold theory.

She was supposed to be falling for him… not the other way around. Then once she was under his thrall he could keep her in check until it came time to lock the prison door on the beautiful murdering bitch once and for all.

"You okay?" Kat lightly touched the firm wall of Mark's chest. She could feel the sweat beading his too hot flesh. "You should be in bed."

"Care to join me? No? That bag open yet?" She fiddled with the last strap. "Now if you'll reach in… you'll find that you were right… clothes." It still galled him that she'd somehow figured part of him out. "But you'll also find that there's nothing for bed. I wore more last night than I have in years."

"But you only wore- Oh!!" That thought she didn't need in her head. "Surely there must be something," she plunged her hands desperately into the bag while trying to ignore the way his long nimble fingers kept stroking her throat. "Urgh… they're all wet!"

Mark dragged a handful of wet fabric from the bag. Once it had been a pair of black jeans. "Bag's waterproof but obviously not designed to be buried in snow for so long." Shrugging nonchalantly he threw the trousers down and turned returned his attention on Kat. "They'll dry… how about you?"

"Saw ya take a tumble out there," she flushed a becoming shade of red. "How wet did ya get?" he fingered the neck of her coat where the snow had slipped down. The neck of her jumper was soaked front and back. "Looks like ya as wet as my bag."

Rising to his feet, Mark guided Kat up with him. Her slight wince of pain wasn't lost to him. Parting the edges of her coat, Mark pushed it off her shoulders to the floor and gently rubbed her ribs. Even that far down her jumper was damp. Pushing it up and out of the way Mark continued to tenderly rub her bruised ribs. Her body froze in shock, brown eyes filled with confusion.

"Got any dry bandages?… I'll wrap these up again for ya." Loosening the edges of the damp bandages Mark started to unwind them from around her body, leaning into her rather than walk around her or make her turn for him. Her cold flesh touched his chest. Her breath puffed warm and moist against his neck; ragged with her breathing.

Catching the scent of his warm body, Kat closed her eyes and bit her lip to hold in the groan that threatened to spill past her lips. She wanted to rub herself against his, bathe in his warmth, flick at her tongue and taste him.

Numb? Her senses were on fire. Every nerve ending burning for the large man before her. But that wasn't what he was asking. "A little." And she was, especially where the biting wind or freezing snow had touched.

"Here?" Mark took her freezing hands between his and warmed them between his as she gave a tentative nod. Cupping her hands, Mark bent his head and blew on them. "That better?"

A lump caught in Kat's throat at the sight of the beautiful red headed giant bent over her hands, his long hair flowed down in a soft curtain to frame his strong face. Trying to remind herself of who he was, what he wanted to do, just didn't seem to work any more. If he'd kept treating her like he had, maybe she would have stood a chance.

Mark steered Kat deeper into the warmth of the cabin. Through the living area and into the bedroom. He gave her a gentle push towards the bathroom. "Go take a shower, that'll help warm ya up."

With a nod, Mark stripped off his trousers, which had Kat running for the bathroom, and settled back under the covers. It was more of a relief than he wanted to admit, to be off his feet again. Free to give into the aches that wracked his body.

Kat moaned as the hot water washed over her body; the first blast giving more pain than relief. Leaning against the wall of the shower Kat just stood there and let the water pound over her head and shoulders.

She spent so long under the water that her toes and fingers were all pruney before she emerged from the bathroom. She was just trying to give Mark time to drift back to sleep as she'd forgotten to take dry clothes with her into the bathroom. It didn't work. She could feel his green eyes raking over her body, seemingly in an attempt to strip the towel from her body, as she rummaged around in the dresser.

A drop of water rolled slowly down the center of her spine. Mark tracked its path to the edge of the white towel wrapped tightly around her body. One handed she sorted through the dresser drawers. The other hand had a death grip on the top of the towel. But what she didn't know, or at least he didn't think she knew, was that the towel had parted lower down, revealing her right hip and the long length of her leg to his eager gaze. "I really do like your tattoo."

Tattoo? With a startled cry Kat scrambled to draw the towel back together. Blushing to the tips of her ears, she threw him an embarrassed glare before grabbing her clothes and rushing back to the bathroom. His soft laugh following her retreat.

Her face still felt too warm by the time Kat gathered together the nerve to walk back out of the bedroom. He was sprawled out of his back, arms spread out in abandon across the width of her bed. Standing at the side of the bed Kat smoothed a strand of his long hair back off his sweat-dampened forehead. Not wanting to disturb his much needed sleep, and not wanting to face him right then, Kat crept slowly towards the door.

Single-minded. Stubborn. Bossy. They were the tamer words Kat muttered under her breath as she got the bandages he'd demanded. Handing them to him she sat down beside him where he gestured. Once more he wrapped the length around her, pulling them just tight enough to ease the ache in her ribs.

Gently, persistently, Mark tugged and cajoled until Kat was lying at his side and well on her way to falling asleep. Only then did he allow the waves of tiredness that had been washing over him pull him under.

Kat awoke, once again faced with the wide expanse of naked flesh that was Mark's chest. It seemed that no matter how much she tried to keep some distance between them she failed miserably.

During the day he was there, everywhere she was or looked. He'd refused to let his cold keep him in bed. Insisting instead on propping himself up on the couch until he was back on his feet. Even that didn't take long. One day in bed, one on the couch, the next back on his feet as though nothing had been wrong with him.

But come morning, she was back in his warm embrace. Spooned together front to back or facing each other, legs entwined, arms tenderly holding each other as though they'd been sleeping together for years.

The sleeping together so comfortably, Kat could live with, willingly so. It could be that they were just very grabby in bed. Not having slept with anyone before she had no way of knowing one way or the other what she was like.

Even his sudden insistence on touching her every chance he got she could live with. He would help her prepare meals, dry dishes while she washed, all the while brushing the full length of his body against hers. Idling along the day they would sit together on the couch having none threatening conversations or reading her limited supply of books. Waking some mornings she would find him lightly caressing her body. A look in his eyes that took her breath away.

She'd never had much in life. But the one thing she'd held onto despite everything was her self-respect and a strong moral code. And with every touch and look Mark bestowed upon her had her moral code flying through the nearest window.

She'd always wanted someone in her life she could give her heart to. Someone that could return all the love she was scared to give. And with her heart, went her body and soul. There was no way she could separate them. No way she wanted to.

Which was why Mark, or rather her response to him, had her so confused. With the lightest touch of his eyes her heart would soar, butterflies would flutter within her stomach and liquid heat pooled within her loins. All from a glance of those fathomless crystal green eyes.

Mark fought to hold onto the groan that was threatening to break forth from his lips. One of Kat's hands was trapped between their bodies; pinned by their hips. The other was roaming over the expanse of his back. Up and down, fingers pressing lightly but firmly into the muscles as she dipped ever lower towards the waistband of his boxers.

Cracking open his eyes, he looked down at the top of her head. What little sun there was, played with the spun gold of her silky hair where her head rested against his chest, her breath stirring against his flesh. He wanted to run his fingers through it. But to move would alert her to the fact that he was awake.

And if that happened, he knew from experience that she would stop, blush furiously, and run away. It was almost as though she wasn't aware that she was even doing anything. Just innocently following her bodies desires to touch and be touched.

Innocent? That was a word he'd never thought he could put together in the same sentence as Zoë's name. Kat, on the other hand, was completely different. With her the two words seemed to go hand in hand.

With a languorously groan, Mark arched his body into hers as Kat's fingers finally moved beneath the edge of his boxers, pressing into the small of his back. He gathered her closer, moving as though still sleeping to keep her from bolting.

Their bodies fit together perfectly, the softness of hers yielding willingly to the hardness of his. She stiffened slightly then melted into his embrace.

He wanted to feast his gaze upon what was hidden, feel her naked flesh against his. Instead he felt the brush of her pyjamas against him as she moved against him. Continuing with his slow moves, Mark eased his fingers under the hem of her top, stroking the silky soft skin beneath.

Surely she'd been possessed? That was the only thing that could account for her actions, reasoned Kat. Following a line up the centre of his broad muscular chest, Kat let her slightly parted lips brush against his flesh, teasing herself.

Opening his eyes, Mark watched Kat's bent head move over his body while her fingers continued to stroke and probe over his back. Reaching the hollow at the base of his throat she nuzzled gently with her nose and lips, tongue darting out to taste his flesh. Her moan of pleasure had Mark screwing his eyes tight shut against the surge of desire that flooded his already overwhelmed system.

Kat pushed herself closer to his body as Mark started rocking against her. The slow languorous thrust of his hips against hers with each breath he took. His hand hooked her leg, draping it over his hip, pulling her into greater contact with the throbbing length of his barely contained arousal, rubbing it against the centre of her desire.

Kat tore herself away from his body and threw herself from the bed. She stood there, heart pounding against her ribs, sucking in ragged breaths of air, as Mark reached across the bed for her. His hand fell limply back to the mattress as his sleep continued undisturbed.

Shame should have been her new companion for the way she'd behaved. Damn near jumping the bones of a man while he slept. A man that, despite his resent behaviour that said otherwise, hated her with a passion. But there was no shame… only the desire to climb back under the covers and continue where she'd left off.

"What have you done to me?" Kat whispered to the sleeping giant. Giving the bed a wide berth she headed towards the bathroom and a shower… the coldest she could stand.

As the door closed behind her Mark cracked open his eyes and made sure that he was alone. Looking down the length of his body he smiled ruefully at the fair sized tent in the covers. "What have I done to her?"

There were two things Mark was very certain of as he lay back against the pillows and listened to the sounds of Kat splashing around in the shower. The sweet innocent Kat had managed to succeed in seducing him where Zoë would most definitely have failed. He wanted her… and he was prepared to wait no longer for what she was offering.

Realising that the cold water wasn't putting a dampener on her arousal Kat turned the water over to hot. The way she felt, sitting outside in the snow probably wouldn't even calm down the heat blazing inside her.

Kat slowly turned around as a cool draught blew across her back. "Mark!" He stepped closer, pressing her back against the wall of the shower with his magnificently naked body.

A thick arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her hips into close contact with his arousal, grinding the hard thick length into the softness of her abdomen.

Bending her back over his arm, Mark ran a possessive hand down the right side of her body from the top of her head to her hip. Cupping the delicious swell of her rear he pulled her even closer, delighting in the feelings that finally been in contact with her naked flesh evoked within him.

Kat's breasts swelled under his hungry gaze, the rose coloured tips rising to beg his attention. And he gave it. Capturing a pert bud between his lips, Mark suckled hungrily until she was nearly sobbing in joy. Each cry of joy was music to his ears.

Her hands fell from where they'd been tangled in his hair to clutch at his shoulders as he lifted his head very reluctantly from his feast. Her heavily lidded eyes were black with desire. Arousal had the upper curve of her breasts, neck and face suffused with blood. Her whole body screamed her need.

Zoë… the one word, that name, had Kat's world crashing down around her, tearing through all the feeling that had been building inside her. Tearing herself violently from his arms she sank down into a corner of the shower and hugged her knees. "Get out!!"

Mark struggled, and failed, to make sense of what had happened. One second they were so very close to making love that he could taste it, the next she was pushing him away. "Kat?" she lashed out again, forcing him to take a hasty step back. Her hunched body shook violently with silent tears, tarring at his heart.

Long after Mark gave up and left, Kat stayed where she was. The water pounding against her body grew cool but the hot tears rolling down her face more than made up for the loss of heat.

He didn't know her, still thought her to be Zoë… a woman he hated with every fibre of his being. Obviously good enough for a quick roll in the hay, or shower, but not someone he would ever love. And with his fierce pride she was sure he was still after locking her up behind bars.

Yet, somehow, despite everything…she'd fallen in love with Mark. Finally realised it at soon as he'd walked into the shower. She was his, mind, body and soul. And the only thing he was interested in… was her body.

Mark paced around the cabin in frustration, and concern. The shower had stopped hours ago yet Kat still hadn't come out of the bathroom. Looking at the closed door Mark raked his hand through his hair and growled softly in frustration before continuing with his pacing.

On one of his many trips around the house Mark picked up the plate of pancakes he'd made for her breakfast and scraped the cold contents out into the bin.

Just thinking about her was enough to have the familiar throb of hunger pulsing through his body again. But hand in hand with his desire went confusion. She'd been right there with him, as hungry for him as he was for her and then… she was pushing him away as though he'd mortally wounded her.

For what felt like the tenth millionth time he went through what had happened. Churning it over and over to find when it had all fallen apart.

She'd been so responsive, ripe for the taking, up until he'd as begged her to let him make love to her. That was when she'd pushed him away. Maybe that was what she'd been waiting for. Him to beg. Then after she'd got what she wanted she didn't want to play any more.

Mark felt a surge of righteous anger at figuring out her scheme. Storming over to the bathroom door he raised a fist ready to pound down the wood panelling. A tiny sob of pain, barely heard above the pounding of his heart, stilled his hand. "Kat?"

Trying something he hadn't thought to before, Mark reached down and tried the handle. As the door opened he cursed himself for not thinking to try earlier. She was where he'd left her, a tiny bundle of soaking wet misery huddled in the corner of the shower. Picking up a thick towel he wrapped it around her shivering body and carried her through to the warmth of the living room. Cradling her on his lap, he rocked her back and forth as her hot tears soaked through the fabric of his shirt.

Mark easily kept her in place despite her half heated attempts to remove herself as far from him as possible. "Shhh… let me take care of you Kat." Taking a corner of the towel he wiped her face dry of tears and water. Patting the soft towel against her neck and the exposed skin of her chest and shoulders he dried there to. Where the towel covered he stroked over with his large hands, warming her through the fabric. Any desire he would have felt at any other time was kept firmly in check by his desire to comfort.

"There, that's better." Kissing her still damp hair, Mark tucked her head down under his chin. Settling back against the cushions he continued to hold her close, running his hand over her head and down her back over and over again until she was fully relaxed against his body.

That she could still find comfort in his arms when he was so obviously the cause of her pain gave him some degree of hope. But how could he stop it happening again when he had no idea what he'd done wrong? "Kat," tilting up her chin he forced her pain filled brown eyes to meet his steady green gaze. "What did I do, or say, that upset you?"

Kat stared deep into the beautiful green eyes staring intently down into hers and saw that he had no idea what he'd done wrong. But if she told him would he even see it as a wrong? After all, to him, she was Zoë. "If you don't know… it doesn't matter."

"No, it doesn't." With a weary sigh Kat climbed from the false comfort of his arms and made her way back to the bedroom. Each step was slow and laborious. Made in a body that felt mortally wounded.

He was there almost before she was, stripping off her towel without care as he rewrapped her bandages around her ribs. No longer caring Kat let him do as he wanted. See to her bandages, dress her, feed her… what did it matter?

The man she loved didn't know, want or love her. He may have temporarily desired her body but what she wanted would never he hers. That was all reserved for the woman in his dreams.

"Mark, who's Sara?" His beautiful head lifted from the book he was reading. His finger clenched, crushing the spine of the book. Just before he crushed her heart into a million pieces.

God, it still hurt days after he'd said it. But how long would it take for the pain to go away? Weeks, months, years… never? She was betting on never.

Trying to ignore him, a task she still found impossible, Kat moved over to the living room window and stared at the changing scene outside. The thaw was finally upon them. Slowly, but surely, the level of the snow had dropped one infinitesimal infinite inch at a time. Most of the shed was exposed, only a foot or two still hidden.

Mark moved to stand at Kat's side, breathing in the unique scent of her perfume as he watched the steady drip of water from the roof. "It's still thawing well." Her body tensed up slightly, quivering with nervous energy.

From the corner of her eye she could see that the dangerous predator was back. No more pretending. "Couple more days… tops." Edging away she busied herself by straightening a cushion. Mark moved away, heading for his coat. Metal clattered against metal.

As she watched with wide eyes, Mark pulled a pair of fabric wrapped handcuffs from the lining of his coat. "No…" she whispered, backing away.

"Give it up Kat. Don't make this any more difficult than it has to be." Opening a cuff he gestured for her to come to him. Eyes wide with panic she disappeared further into the cabin at a dead run. "Kat!"

Cautiously he moved forward, leaving nothing to chance. He'd be dammed if he'd get so close to what he wanted to loose it all now. Easing open the bedroom door Mark slipped inside and checked every nook and cranny.

Looking around he tried to work out how she could have slipped past him. "Come on Kat, there's no way out and I'm not leaving empty handed!"

From her hiding place above the closet, Kat listened for him to leave the room but her heart was pounding like a drum in her ears, making it impossible to hear anything. Chewing nervously on her lip she waited. Then, to be sure, waited some more.

Unable to take any more she slid back the panel, been as quiet as possible, expecting him to drag her out at any second. Her body was shaking so badly that she nearly fell from her hiding place as she ducked her head out to check around.

The open door beckoned. If she made a dash for it she might be able to catch him off guard and escape. Better still she could open the bedroom window and make her escape that way. It was a vain hope but it was all she had.

Dropping silently down into the closet, Kat paused and sucked in a breath. Poised for her dash for freedom she slid open the door and crept across the room.

He'd been in the room the entire time, hiding at the side of the closet out of her sight. Her brain shuttered but luckily her feet seemed to know what was needed.

Barely had she taken two stumbling strides before he was upon her. His body crashed into hers, carrying them both onto the bed. With a thunderous crack the legs splintered, pitching them both towards the bottom of the now slanted bed.

Straddling her waist, Mark fumbled with the handcuffs while Kat tried to remember how to breathe. He managed to lock a cuff into place before she recovered.

The cold metal band closed over her wrist with a click, reminding her of the freedom she was about to loose. His hand tried to snag her free hand. Kat let him have it… but not in the way he was expecting. Gathering all her strength she gave him an open-handed slap around the side of his head.

Her fingers felt as though they'd had an argument with a brick wall. But, while he was busy trying to get rid of the ringing in his ears, Kat got busy trying to wiggle out from under his body.

"Ow! Damn it!" Leaning forward Mark managed to counter the force of her push to his chest and kept his balance. Unfortunately his new position put his hair within reach and she took full advantage of it. Tangling her hands in his hair she yanked hard and kneed him in the side at the same time, pitching him forward.

Grabbing her chained hand Mark held it down to the bed above her head. Moving his hand down the length of her other arm he grabbed her wrist and pinned her hand up above her head with the other. Kat's body thrashed around frantically under his but he'd finally got her trapped.

He shifted slightly, settling his body more comfortably against hers. "Let me go!" Wiggling her hips she tried desperately to pitch him off. All she managed to do was make herself aware of their position and in particular the body of the man above her.

His lean hips pressed hers deep into the mattress, the hard bulge nestled within the soft fabric of his jeans was pressed intimately against the suddenly needy centre of her desire. Something inside her rolled and shifted to make willing room for his invasion.

Mark's chest brushed against her breasts with each ragged breath they took. The sensitive tips sprang to sudden hardness, seeking his attention and further contact with his hard body. And she could tell by the sudden blaze of fire in his eyes that he was as aware of her body's greedy responses to him as she was.

Desire soared through Mark's body in pounding waves as he looked into Kat's eyes and the answering desire that blazed there. She shifted restlessly beneath him with a barely stifled moan. Her breasts brushed against his chest, the layers of fabric that separated them not enough to prevent him from feeling the twin peaks atop their lush softness, evidence of her arousal. As was the blush staining her face and neck.

She moved again, forcing a moan from his lips as she tilted up her hips, brushing tantalizingly against the hard evidence of his arousal. He thrust back, her greedy moan music to his ears. He wanted her, had since he'd first turned to look at her that night. His need to claim her as his, growing with each conversation, each brush of their bodies and with each look they shared. Now he was long past the point of holding back.

Kat's head came up to meet his as Mark lowered his head and claimed her mouth. He ravaged the soft interior brutally, taking all that she offered, demanding and receiving more.

Their hands didn't remain idle for long, ripping and tearing at each other's clothing to seek out the flesh beneath. Gathering together the taut swells of her breast, Mark buried his face amongst them, turning his head to take teasing nips of her flesh before suckling hungrily on the straining peaks.

All Kat could do was hold on and enjoy the ride as Mark moved over her. He swept aside all her natural fears of the unknown by paying absolutely no attention to her halfhearted protests.

Gripping huge handfuls of his long hair, Kat cried out at the unbelievable pleasure that wracked her body as he buried his head between her thighs. His mouth did things to her that she'd heard of, even read about, but she'd never imagined the feelings he created within her.

Forgoing his own pleasure, Mark concentrated on giving her as much as he possibly could. The impossibly tight walls fluttered in climax against his invading tongue as he lapped up her sweet nectar, each taste making him hunger for more. Hooking a finger within her writhing body he teased the tight bundle of nerves above with his mouth. Lashing his tongue around and around before sucking urgently upon it, he sent her tumbling over the edge once more.

Kat felt completely drained, yet strangely more energized than she ever had in her life. For the first time in what felt like hours, her back came into contact with the mattress again as Mark finally stopped his loving torture. Her fingers relaxed, falling from where they'd been gripping his hair to land limply against the covers.

Unable to move her head, Kat shifted her eyes and watched as Mark moved up towards her with all the grace and beauty of a jungle cat. She could taste herself upon his lips and tongue as his mouth covered hers in a breath takingly gentle and loving kiss.

Mark brushed the damp hair back off her forehead as he levered himself reluctantly away from her soft lips. His body ached unbearably with every beat of his heart, especially the aching length that was throbbing against her thigh but he still had to be sure.

Not trusting that her voice would work, Kat hooked the back of his head with a shaking hand and pulled him back down for a kiss. Her other hand snaked down to seek out and caress the thick, hard length of his manhood. The sheer size of it had a small quiver of fear tingling down her spine.

Reaching down he guided himself to her slick entrance, easing himself into her welcoming heat. He wanted to take it slowly, savor the moment. But her body was so tight, his desire too great. With a thrust of his hips he buried himself to the hilt into her tightness, swallowing her cry of pain with his mouth.

Kat slowly became aware of things other than the pain of his forceful invasion; the soft brush of his lips over her face and the tickle of his beard. She could feel the beat of his heart and the rise and fall of his chest where they touched. And further down she could feel the pulse and throb of the thick invader lodged within her body.

Just the thought of it, the realization that she'd given herself to the man she loved above all else, set her body quivering. A thick, guttural moan rumbled through his body as her tender walls contracted around his buried length, increasing the pleasure for both of them.

Mark slowly withdrew until only the head of his erection remained lodged within her body. Body shaking with restraint he took her lips in a gentle kiss. Her sigh erupted into his mouth as he slid back into her welcoming heat as slowly as he'd left.

Their tongues slid against each other, moving to the same sensual rhythm of their bodies. Mark kept up the slow pace for as long as he dared, which with his state wasn't long at all. Faster and faster he moved, circling his hips on the in stroke to bring her up to the same plateaux he was clinging tenaciously to.

With one last snap of his hips, Mark flew from the edge of the world. Releasing himself in an agonizing rush deep within her welcoming body. His name was wrung from her lips as she tumbled right along with him.

Mark reached across the mattress for the familiar warmth of Kat's body, something he'd grown very used to feeling pressed intimately against his. But he came up empty.

With a groan he opened his eyes and searched the room as he stretched his weary body. She was over by the window, her back to him as she fiddled with something in her hands.

Nothing unusual in that. But the fact that, for the first time in days she was wearing more than just his T-shirt, or her usual nothing, made him do a double take.

"I wish we could stay here. Just lock out the rest of the world." She gave an abortive attempt of a laugh, very nearly choking on it. "Guess that'll never happen"

It was an absurd dream. He had a wife to go home to someone he loved. While all she had was hopeless dreams. Only one thing left to do then.

Mark watched intently as Kat turned around and approached the bed with her head downcast. She stopped before him and held out the handcuffs he'd removed from her wrist right after they'd made love days before. As he made no move to take them from her she let them drop to the covers between his legs.

Sitting down on the edge of the mattress with a sigh Kat held out her hands to be cuffed. She couldn't look at him, didn't want to see the look of triumph on his face. That she'd never see him again was already more than she could stand.

Mark looked at Kat's offered hands and the handcuffs lying upon the bed. An ache settled over his heart, tightening like a band of steel around the muscle beating in his chest.

He couldn't do it. All he'd fought for, for so very long he no longer wanted. But neither could he forget who she was and what she'd done.

She tensed at the jingle of metal as he picked them up off the bed. Expecting to feel the cold bands close around her wrists she jumped and looked at him with hope blazing in her heart as he tossed them over the other side of the bed.

Taking her face between his hands he forced her to meet his surprisingly steady gaze. "If I see you again hear of you again all bets are off. Do you understand me?"

She could feel what was left of her heart shatter into tiny fragments at his cold words, cutting her soul to pieces. The pain traveling so deep that she was left numb from it.

Under his watchful gaze Kat gathered together some clothes and anything that might be of some use to her, packing them with the ease of practice into a rucksack. It didn't take long as she hadn't anything in the cabin that really meant anything to her other than the memories of her time with Mark. And those she would carry with her always.

Keeping a tight grip of the window frame to stop himself from chasing after Kat and begging her to stay with him, Mark watched as her small car disappeared down the small dirt track, carrying her out of his life forever.