What a wanton bitch she would have turned out to be if she hadn't married Mark! She blessed her decision to marry him quickly. But if he knew what had driven her to beg him to take her to the altar, he would be profoundly shocked. She was still shocked herself by what had been done to her by those three unprincipled males.

Mark was late coming home, but she was understanding when he walked through the door, his face tired and his clothing wrinkled. His aspect didn't deter her from throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him warmly.

"How's my darling tonight?" she purred. "Baby looks all done in."

Mark didn't meet her eyes. "I am, DesirЋe." He shook his head sadly and noticed the dinner table. His face looked sad. "Let me wash up."

DesirЋe waited for him at the table, her flesh steaming up with thoughts of getting into bed with him tonight. She was so keyed up with the day's activity and being indoors all day. He was what she needed to cool her energetic body.

Mark sat down, his gaze briefly touching her face, but in the shadows she couldn't read anything there.

"How'd it go, sweetheart?" she asked soothingly.

He shook his head. "There are drugs being sold around the high school and the disco and Clete seems unable to catch the culprits. I went out to the Pace ranch today to see if anyone out there would let slip any information."

"And?"

"No luck. Nancy knows nothing, but I've got a feeling Clete is involved with them, protecting them. If he is, the poor girl will be in for a heartbreaking shock when he gets caught. I don't trust him."

"I've never liked him," DesirЋe confessed. "He's always made me uncomfortable, the way he looks at a girl."

Mark gave a grunt. "Well, Nancy's getting all his looks now. The girl has changed – really changed, since her experience with that dog."