Den of Desire (13 page)

So, she knew he was here.

He shifted, his erection stiffening.

To hell with this.

He got out of the car, making his way up to her apartment. He raised his hand, hesitating for a moment, before knocking. He listened as she moved around inside. Finally, the door opened. Her hair glinted in the light as her mouth tilted up on a smile.

“Hey,” she said, her tone breathless.

Before she could say another word, he pulled her into his arms, his hand delving through her soft curls as his mouth took possession. Moving her inside, he shut the door behind them. God, he missed her, missed her taste. He spun her around, imprisoning her against the door. His hands moved over her body, memorizing every line, every detail. His fingers traced the swell of her breasts through her shirt. He caught her moan in his mouth. Still, he needed more. He pushed her shirt and bra up in one fluid motion. Her breasts filled his hands perfectly. His thumbs brushed across her nipples.

Still, it wasn't enough.

Bending down, he took the straining bud into his mouth. His tongue swirled over the tip, grazing it with his teeth. Deftly, his fingers undid the button on her pants before sliding them down her legs. He got down on his knees, his mouth blazing a trail across her abdomen. Hooking his thumbs into the waistband of her panties, he eased them down. Her legs automatically parted in invitation as her head fell back against the door.

He buried his face in her, inhaling the scent of her arousal. His tongue slid through her slit as he tasted her sweet honey. He pulled her clit into his mouth, his tongue flicking it gently as his finger plunged inside of her. She arched against him, her pussy pressing against his mouth. He felt her muscles contract around his finger. When she was on the brink, he got up, hastily pulling his shirt over his head. Next he slid his jeans and boxers down.

Bending his knees, his hands slid around to grip her buttocks, his fingers digging into the soft flesh. Then he lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist. He plunged deep, unable to stop himself. Her pussy gripped him, pulling him inside, wanting him inside. He let out a groan at how good it felt to be inside of her. She was so tight and wet that he felt like the top of his head was going to come off.

He moved inside of her as his mouth covered hers. His tongue drove into her mouth in rhythm with his cock. She moaned, and he felt her body convulse around him. It was all the encouragement he needed to let go. He exploded inside of her, pressing his face into the curve of her neck, inhaling her scent.

In that moment, he knew.

It was too late to run.

He had been caught a long time ago.

* * * *

Mara awoke, her eyes adjusting to the darkness of the apartment. Her gaze traveled around the room until it focused on the man sleeping at her side. Even in sleep, his arm tightened around her waist. She smiled.

Last night, he had come to her, and that meant more than he would ever know. They had come together with a ferocity that spoke of how much their time apart had taken a toll. If she had ever doubted how much he wanted her, her questions had been answered. He might not have said the words, but the tenderness with which he held her afterwards said everything she needed to hear. She snuggled against his chest, inhaling his scent.

Suddenly, a noise outside made her lift her head. She stared through the doorway.

There!

There it was again.

She looked down at Joe, ready to wake him, but his eyes were already open. He sat up, reaching down to grab his pants. In mere seconds, he had pulled them over his hips and was heading into the living room.

She grabbed her robe, sliding it over her shoulders as she got up. Following behind him, she watched as he looked out the peephole. He turned around, motioning for her to stay back. She hid behind the wall as she listened to him open the door.

“Goddamn son of a bitch!”

Her pulse leapt. Hesitantly, she peeked around the corner. What she saw made her understand his anger. The word ‘slut’ had been painted across her front door in bright red. Her eyes widened, and all the air rushed out of her lungs in a startled gasp.

When he heard her, he shut the door, crossing the room to pull her against him.

“Who?” She barely got the word out.

She felt him shake his head. “I don't know, but I'm damned sure going to find out. Until I do, you're staying with me.”

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Chapter 20

Joe glanced down at his watch. After what had happened, he hated leaving her alone, even if it was for only a few hours. When he looked up, he realized that Cal was staring at him.

“You with me here?” he asked expectantly.

“Sorry,” he replied.

Cal shifted in his chair. “What's going on, Joe?”

Joe shook his head. “It's nothing.”

“If it was nothing, then we wouldn't be talking about it right now.”

He looked away, knowing that his friend could read him better than anyone.

Too well in this case.

“Is it the girl?”

When Joe didn't respond, he continued. “Look, I've never been one to pry, mainly because I hate it when people do it to me. But when it starts to affect business, I have to say something.”

Joe's eyes narrowed. “What are you trying to say? Business is fine.”

Cal tilted his head to the side. “Joe, even when you're here, you're not here. I'm not the only one who has noticed that your mind has been somewhere else. The staff are talking, and I can't have that.”

Joe let out a disgruntled sigh.

“Look, I get it. Really, I do. But now is not the time to lose focus. We have too much at stake right now.”

Joe pushed away from his desk to walk over to the monitors. He hated to admit that Cal was right, but deep down he knew that he couldn't deny it. Ever since he met Mara, he had been consumed. Whoever was following her was only making the situation worse. In truth, he couldn't blame Cal for being worried.

He was worried himself.

“I can handle it.”

Cal pinned him with a steely glare. “What about the person following her? Have you taken care of that yet?”

When Joe didn't reply, Cal let out a muttered curse. “Damn it, Joe. We can't afford this kind of trouble right now.”

“I know. I'm going to take care of it,” he replied.

Cal's lips formed a grim line. “I wish I could believe that.”

His jaw clenched at the unspoken accusation.

Cal scrubbed a hand over his face before leveling him with an intense stare. “Two weeks. I'll give you two weeks. If this problem isn't solved by then, I have to pull the plug. I'm sorry, buddy. I wish it could be different, but I can't jeopardize the old man's chance at the White House.”

Joe didn't look at him. He couldn't. He understood better than anyone else how much Cal's family meant to him.

Cal stood up, crossing the room to stand by the door. When he reached it, he turned to look at him. “Look, I'm sorry, buddy. I know what this place means to you.”

With that, he disappeared into the night like so many other patrons. Cal was right about one thing. This place did mean a lot to him. It had become a second home. It provided a freedom that he didn't feel anywhere else. But it was more than that. He had too much invested in this place to let it all slip away.

So, that meant he had no choice.

He had to find the bastard that was stalking Mara, and he only had two weeks to do it.

* * * *

He watched her from across the street.

Sitting at a table in the picture window of the restaurant, she chatted unsuspectingly. The bitch had no idea that he was watching her.

Good.

The more comfortable she got, the easier it would be.

He would have had her the other night, if it hadn't been for Gates. The bastard was hiding her away like she was his own private toy. And from the way things looked, that was exactly what she had become.

His fingers curled into his palms, his nails drawing blood.

She was his.

She would always be his, and it was time for her to realize it.

All he needed was one unguarded moment, and he would claim her.

He hated seeing her with Gates, hated the knowledge that the bastard was with her every night, touching her, fucking her.

Not for long.

A slow smile crept across his face. He would make her pay for letting Gates touch her.

And he had already begun to plan her penance.

* * * *

“So, you're staying with him?”

“Well, for now I am,” Mara admitted.

Lexi leaned back in her chair, her eyebrows arched.

At the look on Lexi's face, Mara let out a huff of exasperation. “It's just for now. Just until we find out who's doing this.”

“Funny, I don't remember Joe doing the same for any other girl,” she countered.

Mara pursed her lips in irritation. “He's just concerned,” she explained.

Lexi's eyes narrowed as she murmured, “Uh huh.”

Mara tried to ignore the look Lexi gave her, but it was becoming harder by the minute. She didn't want to talk about her feelings for Joe. She wasn't ready.

Lexi leaned across the table. “I want you to think about something. If all he wanted was sex, he didn't have to take you home with him. And he certainly doesn't have to try to find whoever is doing this. Just think about that when you try to kid yourself into believing that this is just a physical relationship.”

She looked away, unable to face the truth in her friend's eyes. As much as she wanted to deny it, it was more than physical. To her. The problem was that she didn't know if it was more to Joe. When they'd started this thing, it had been an unspoken agreement that things would be casual. But living with him, being with him day and night, had changed that.

She couldn't deny it.

As much as she wanted to know how he felt, asking him was out of the question. There was too much potential for a bad situation to get worse. She wanted answers, yes. But she wanted them to be the right ones. Because the wrong one would break her heart and risk what little time they had left. And she just wasn't ready for it to end. Her feelings for Joe were far more intense than anything she had ever felt before. Looking back, she couldn't believe that she'd actually thought she was in love with Dan. What she'd felt for him was nothing compared to what she felt for Joe.

That was what made her guard it so fiercely.

That was why she couldn't risk it just yet.

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Chapter 21

“Hey,” Mara said as she entered Joe's office.

He stood up, coming around the desk to kiss her deeply. When he pulled back, they were both breathless.

“Hey back,” he replied. “I just have to finish a few things and we're out of here. Shouldn't take more than an hour.”

“That works perfectly. I'm supposed to meet Lexi at my place,” she explained.

She started toward the door, but he grabbed her arm, effectively halting her progress.

“I don't like the idea of you going alone. I'll come with you,” he suggested.

She offered him a reassuring smile. “I won't be alone. Lexi will be there. Besides, you have work to do.”

He gave her a cocky grin. “I'm sure they can handle it without me,” he lied.

She tilted her head to the side. “Joe, you can't watch me twenty-four hours a day,” she chided.

“Why not?” he challenged playfully. “I like watching you.”

Just as she was about to agree, Sasquatch poked his head in the door. “Sorry to bug you, boss. But one of the members wanted to see you.”

Mara turned back to raise an eyebrow. “See?” Leaning in, she said in a low voice, “I'll be fine. Don't worry.”

His lips formed a grim line of surrender. “Have Lexi stay with you until I get there,” he instructed.

“I will. I promise,” she agreed.

* * * *

Joe crossed the hall to the back door. Closing would start soon. Then he could be with Mara. As much as he wanted to deny that the thought sounded good, he couldn't. In fact, it sounded too good. The thought of her waiting for him, staying with him, made him feel something he hadn't felt in years.

Something he'd never thought he would feel again.

When he suggested that she stay with him, it had been her safety that he was considering. But now, it was more. He wanted her there, and it scared the hell out of him. He had learned a long time ago that trusting women was something he couldn't do.

So, why was he breaking the rules for Mara?

Before he could ponder the question any further, he headed toward the door to the back. As he was reaching for the handle, Andrea stepped in front of him, blocking his way.

She bit the inside of her lip as she stared up at him. “I haven't seen much of you lately,” she observed.

He greeted her with an easy smile. “I've been here.”

She tilted her head to the side. “Not where I could see you,” she challenged.

“It's been a busy month,” he conceded.

Her eyebrows arched. “I'll bet. That blonde keeping you tied up?”

He sighed heavily. “It's just been busy,” he answered, trying to push past her.

She blocked his progress by putting herself between him and the door. Her fingers trailed across his chest as her eyes met his. “You know, we could have a lot of fun together,” she offered, her tongue snaking out to wet her lips.

He grabbed her hands, stilling their progress. “Andrea, you know the rules,” he reminded her.

“What, they apply to me and not to her? And don't tell me she's not a member, because she's here way too often not to be.”

His jaw clenched. He didn't want to stand here and explain himself to Andrea, especially because he knew she was right. He was breaking the rules with Mara.

In more ways than one.

She reached out to caress his jaw. “I just don't understand why we can't have some fun together, Joe,” she cajoled, pressing her body against his. “After all, we both have the same likes...” she said, before pressing her lips to his cheek.

She pulled his arm around her waist, holding it there. “We could slip away right now. A private room where no one would know,” she offered, her tongue tracing the line of his jaw.