Free Dusky Rose by Joanna Scott

table had several large pitchers of rich burgundy wine and everyone at the table filled his plastic glass with the robust beverage.
    Laura covered her glass when David started to pour some wine into it. "You know I can't drink wine."
    "Why not? You're not working now. This is purely a pleasure outing. I see no reason why you can't have at least
one
glass."
    David was speaking loudly enough for the other people at the table to hear what he was saying and they all began to agree with him. Laura was so embarrassed at the scene she seemed to be causing, she allowed David to fill her glass. Everyone at the table began talking to everyone else and Laura soon forgot her misgivings about the wine and began enjoying it as much as they were.
    When they had finished their food, David and Laura went to throw their trash into a huge oil drum in the middle of the field. Laura's feet buckled under her and she had to lean on him for support. His arms swiftly encircled her as he clasped her to his granite chest and placed an arm under her, lifting her wobbly feet off the ground. As Laura rested her head wearily against his shoulder, her arms went around his neck and she pulled his head toward hers, meeting his lips in a fiery kiss. She vaguely remembered the antihistamine she had taken just before meeting David. It must have combined with the wine to make her head spin so that she couldn't control the wild emotions unleashed by her demanding heart. She no longer cared that the sentiment David felt for her was passionate desire and not true love. Nothing mattered to her except the sweet touch of his lips joining hers. She felt suddenly giddy and devil-may-care, the real Laura hidden somewhere inside.
    David responded savagely to her kiss, pressing his lips against hers while his arms tensed around her body. Laura couldn't tell if it was the wine or David's touch that was sending the flames surging through her veins; she only knew that she was powerless to quench them.
    She was reveling in the glory of his kiss when David suddenly pulled his lips away from hers and, still carrying her, strode rapidly to the car. His face wore a deep scowl and his mood was one of inexplicably raging anger. Laura could feel the tension tightening the muscles in his body as he drew his eyes away from her and stared straight ahead. She was hurt and bewildered by his actions. When she spoke her voice was confused and drowsy.
    "What's wrong, don't you like me anymore? Why won't you kiss me?"
    David didn't even look at her, but Laura could feel the chill emanating from him as he opened the car door and flung her onto the seat. Then he rested his head in his arms, leaning against the roof of the car, while he studied Laura's beckoning eyes. He sighed deeply, closed her car door and walked around to the driver's side. Her head was reeling with confusion when he opened his door and got behind the wheel. Slamming the door, he placed the key in the ignition, racing the motor as he started up the engine.
    "Where are we going?" Laura asked, completely unnerved by his sudden emotional swing.
    "You'll see," he said, and the hostility in his voice frightened Laura.
    He left the parking lot, driving so fast that Laura was frozen with fright. What had she done to upset him so? She was too tired and confused to try to understand him, but she knew she had to calm him down and protect herself from his turbulent anger.
    "Please, I'm sorry if I did something to upset you. Just take me home and I won't ever bother you again."
    The car swerved as David turned to look at her, his dark eyes glistening with anger. "You'll never stop bothering me. Now just be quiet and don't make promises you can't keep. I'll take care of everything."
    "Just tell me where we're going. I only want to get home. I didn't know you could get so angry."
    "There's a lot you don't know about me; but I know all about you. Just what do you think you were trying to pull back there? Do you think you can start kissing a