Den Of Desire Read online

  “You okay?” Lexi inquired.

  “What?” she asked, completely lost in thought. “Oh, yeah. I'm fine.”

  Lexi's eyes narrowed. “You know, you don't have to do this. It's cool if you want to go home.”

  “Why would you think I want to go home?” she challenged.

  Lexi laughed. “I don't know. Maybe it's because you look like a scared rabbit?”

  Mara let out a huff of irritation. “I do not!”

  Lexi's smile deepened. “No, you look completely at ease standing outside a known sex club,” she chided.

  She turned to stare at the door in front of her, her unease growing. If Lexi could see how nervous she was, everyone else might, too.

  At her silence, Lexi slipped an arm around her shoulder. She leaned in to whisper. “Look, he said that you didn't have to participate, right?”

  Mara sighed heavily. “Right,” she replied, her gaze never leaving the door.

  “So, what are you worried about?”

  At Lexi's reassurance, the tension in her shoulders eased. “You're right,” she said. “Lexi, you and Joe haven't...”

  “What? Slept together?” she quickly supplied.

  Leave it to Lexi to dive right to the heart of the matter.

  “Yeah,” Mara managed.

  She shook her head. “No. Joe doesn't do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “Joe doesn't mix business with pleasure. He has a no-members rule. And believe me, it's not like I haven't tried to change his mind.”

  Before Mara could reply, the door swung open. She wasn't sure why Lexi's answer made her feel better, but it did. Once inside, they stood by the door for a minute. Mara stared down the hallway, the flickering light at the end a definite tease.

  A large bald man with several piercings, or Sasquatch as she like to think of him, came over to stand before her. “Miss Templeton, Mr. Gates will be with you momentarily,” he relayed, his voice as harsh as he looked.

  When he walked away, Mara turned to face Lexi. “How did he know who I am?” she asked.

  Lexi's eyebrows rose as she leaned in. “They know everything here,” she whispered.

  That's the truth.

  Despite Lexi's constant prodding on the way over, Mara hadn't told her everything about her conversation with Joe. It wasn't that she was trying to hide things from Lexi. The truth was she was embarrassed. Joe had seen through her carefully perfected exterior and called her out for the novice that she truly was.

  He had seen too much.

  More than she ever let anyone see.

  And she couldn't help but wonder why.

  A young man with dark hair came in, his eyes straying to Lexi. As he walked past, Lexi's gaze ate him up like good chocolate.

  “Well, girlfriend, it looks like that's my cue to get out of here,” she explained. She turned back to face Mara, her eyebrows arched. “You gonna be okay?”

  “Of course,” Mara replied a little too quickly.

  When Lexi looked like she would argue, Mara rallied. “You better catch him quick,” she prodded with a wink.

  Lexi pulled her into a quick hug before disappearing around the corner. Mara glanced around, realizing that Sasquatch was staring at her. His eyes drifted over her body, his interest clear. Her stomach rolled.

  Suddenly, she felt an arm curl around her waist. She jumped, spinning around to see Joe standing in a hidden doorway.

  “Are you ready, Mara?” he asked, his voice sinfully low.

  She hadn't thought it was possible for him to look more delicious, but somehow he'd found a way. She thought about his question. Was she ready to follow a man she didn't know into a doorway that didn't exist to see things she had only written about?

  She wasn't sure.

  But she was about to find out.

  Joe held out a hand to her, helping her into the darkened corridor. As she stepped around him, she could see that the wall was lit up with private rooms. She heard the door snap shut behind her and jumped. She had to get a grip fast before she made an even bigger fool of herself than she had earlier. She would have to be a much better actress unless she wanted him to think she was a complete idiot.

  He walked around her to lead her further into the darkened hall. As she walked by a room, her eyes widened. A woman lay on a round bed, her body naked. Her wrists and ankles were cuffed to the sides, leaving her completely spread open for all to see. As Mara looked closer, she could see people milling about in front of the window on the other side.

  “Can they see us?” she asked, her voice husky.

  Joe came up to stand beside her, the heat from his body making her arm tingle. “No,” he replied, his gaze firmly set on the woman in front of them. “I had it designed so that the participants and the members can't see anything in the corridor.”

  She turned to stare at him. “Why?”

  His eyes met hers. “I wanted to be able to observe without being intrusive.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. “So, you watch ... often?” she inquired.

  The side of his mouth quirked up as he tilted his head to the side. “I observe, Mara. I want to make sure that nothing is happening that isn't wanted. It's a precautionary measure.”

  She pulled her lip beneath her teeth. “You never watch for other reasons?” she dared.

  For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer.

  “Sometimes,” he admitted.

  Her gaze returned to the woman in the room. Suddenly, a man entered from a side door, his chest bare. His legs were clad in black leather pants that were so tight they left little to the imagination. He walked across the room, his gaze never leaving the woman on the bed. She could tell that he was speaking to her, but she couldn't make out the words.

  He eased onto the bed between the woman's legs, and Mara felt her clit swell. His hands caressed her breasts, sliding lower to cover her stomach. They slid close to her bare pussy but swept past it to tease the outside of her thighs. She watched the woman's head thrash back and forth on the bed as she begged for more. His fingers returned to pinch her nipples, and Mara felt her own nipples tighten.

  She watched the man mold the woman's breasts, returning every now and then to tweak her nipples. Mara's nipples strained painfully against the dress she wore, begging for attention. When his hands slid lower on the girl, her pussy flooded with arousal. He teased her for a moment before sinking one long finger into her wet warmth. He reached around to pull something out from the side of the bed. When he brought it out, Mara barely contained her gasp.

  The man held the large dildo up in front of the woman. She wished that she could hear what he was saying. He rubbed it over the woman's clit, wetting it with her juices before sliding it lower. Reaching out to squeeze her nipple, he drove the dildo inside of her. Mara felt her pussy quake. She longed to be filled, longed to be taken so completely. She watched the woman writhe on the bed, her body enflamed. Her hips rose to meet each stroke, her body eager. Just as the woman was about to come, he removed the toy, laying it on the side of the bed.

  Mara couldn't take her eyes off of the pair as he rose on his knees. The man reached for the zipper on his pants and started to ease it down.

  “Ready to move on?” Joe asked, watching her intently.

  She turned, her face flushed. The look in his eyes made her all too aware that he knew how aroused she was. She fought the urge to look at the couple again as she met his gaze.

  “Sure,” she replied, her voice sounding breathless.

  Joe led her around the corner to several more rooms. He stopped in front of a barren room with chains suspended from the ceiling. She turned to see a brunette standing, her arms stretched high above her head. The only thing she wore was a red thong. A man stood in front of her, his body hidden by the woman's. He reached out to grab her breasts roughly, his mouth pressing against her ear. Instead of crying out in pain, the woman threw back her head in ecstasy.

  Mara bit the inside of her lip to keep from moanin
g. It had been so long since she had been with a man, so long since she was touched. She tried to look away, but her gaze seemed glued to the couple in front of her. When his hands lowered to her mound, she whimpered.

  As if answering her unspoken request, Joe moved to stand behind her. His hands came up to grasp her hips as he leaned in, his breath teasing the sensitive skin of her ear. When she started to turn to face him, he stopped her.

  “Watch her,” he commanded.

  She felt his hands move over her body. She knew she should stop him, but it felt too good.

  “Look at her face.”

  His hands moved to the underside of her breasts, and she let out the breath she had been holding. His lips blazed a trail of fire up her neck to her ear. His tongue came out to tease the lobe as his fingers found her nipples.

  “That is what coming to the club is about, Mara,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

  The man in the room grabbed the woman's hips, pulling her against him. He drove into her, causing her to cry out. Mara moved back against Joe, her buttocks moving against his erection. She felt him slide her skirt over her hips.

  “It's about letting go of everything and just taking what you want.”

  His hand covered her pussy, and she moaned. She was sure that he could feel how wet she was through her thong. She should have been embarrassed.

  But she wasn't.

  She just wanted more.

  His fingers slipped into her thong to rub lazy circles over her clit. She moved against him, her head falling back against his shoulder. When he slid his finger inside of her, she gasped at how good it felt. Her head turned, and she ached for his lips to touch hers.

  “Please,” she whimpered.

  He spun her around to press her back against the wall. His hands moved over her body, making every part of her ache for him. He rubbed his cheek against hers as she felt his body press into her. He was making her crazy. Her hands reached out to glide over his chest, but the barrier of his shirt prevented her from feeling his skin. She fumbled with the buttons until she pulled it open. Her fingertips slid over smooth skin, teasing his nipples. She heard his sharp intake of breath and felt triumph at the victory.

  He eased the straps of her dress down, baring her breasts. His head bent only moments before she felt his mouth close over her nipple. She cried out at the intensity of the sensation. His tongue swirled over the tip as his hands slid her thong down the length of her legs. His hands moved over her legs, her buttocks. She loved the way he touched her, loved the feel of his mouth on her breasts. But she wanted more. She wanted him inside her. She wanted his tongue in her mouth.

  And she wanted it now.

  Her fingers slid into his hair to pull his lips to hers. Her tongue boldly demanded entrance to his mouth before curling around his own. For a moment, he let her lead, let her set the pace. But then, as if he couldn't take anymore, he took control. He didn't just kiss her. He took possession of her mouth.

  He claimed it so fully that it left no room for indecision.

  He pulled away for a minute, his eyes searching hers. “What do you want, Mara?” he asked, his voice filled with arousal.

  Her entire life had been plagued by indecision, by never knowing which move to make. But in this moment with Joe, everything was clear.

  “I want you inside of me.”

  She heard his zipper lower, and she reached inside his pants to wrap her fingers around his cock. He groaned against her mouth. He was so much bigger than anything she had ever experienced.

  And he was hard.

  For her.

  She heard a ripping sound mere seconds before he pushed her hand away to put on the condom. Then, he grabbed her thighs, lifting her against him. He wrapped her legs around his waist. She clung to his shoulders, her back against the wall. She felt his erection press against her, and her eyes closed. When she came here tonight, she never imagined she would be in a darkened corridor having sex with Joe Gates.

  But here she was.

  And it was so good.

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  * * *

  Chapter 3

  What was he doing?

  He was breaking every rule.

  And they were his rules.

  But he couldn't seem to stop himself. She felt so good. Too good. Jesus, just getting inside of her was going to make him come. She was so tight and wet, he wanted to sink inside of her and stay there forever. Her pussy was squeezing him like a fist. He pushed another inch inside, and she whimpered. He fought for a control that he wasn't sure he still possessed.

  He had to do something before she closed off completely. Sliding his hand between their bodies, he rubbed lazy circles over her clit. She moaned, and he caught the sound in his mouth. He felt her body stretch to allow him entrance. After a moment, he ventured further. When she sucked at his tongue, he felt like the top of his head was going to come off. She wriggled her hips against him, and he slid the rest of the way in.

  For a moment, he didn't move, wanting to savor the silken heat of her. He devoured her mouth. She tasted like honeyed sugar. When she moved against him, her patience clearly thinning, his hands lowered to clasp her buttocks. Her nails dug into his shoulders, her head falling back against the wall as he began to move inside of her. Her legs tightened around his waist to draw him further inside, and she let out a breathy sigh.

  His control snapped.

  He began pounding into her, driving them both closer and closer to the frenzied peak they were striving for. She cried out, and her muscles clamped down on him. He was only able to last a few more minutes before he joined her, his body going rigid. The sound of his groan was muffled against her throat. He held her there immobile as he tried to come to grips with what just happened.

  Hell.

  He hadn't come that hard in years.

  He wasn't sure what it was about her that got to him.

  Maybe it was her innocence?

  Or her fiery spirit?

  All he knew was that standing beside her, watching her eyes flare with hunger as the scent of her arousal drifted up to taunt him, he wanted her more than he had wanted anything in a long time.

  It wasn't that he hadn't had his fair share of women. Hell, he had probably had his share plus another poor bastard's. But they weren't like Mara. The women who came to the club came for different reasons. Some came for the novelty of it. Others came for the thrill of the exotic. But all of them knew exactly what they were doing.

  Mara was different.

  She was an innate seductress, and she didn't even know it. That tempted him more than anything. Still, he hadn't planned on fucking her tonight. He'd thought he would ease her in, tease her with the possibilities before he actually had sex with her. Instead, he had all but stripped her down and shoved his cock inside of her right here in the staff entrance.

  It wasn't exactly chocolate and roses.

  And it was something he never did.

  No, usually, he enjoyed controlled situations.

  This situation was definitely not controlled or planned.

  That was what worried him.

  Mara Templeton had the ability to make him throw out the rule book. Even now, feeling her wet heat, he was growing hard again. He pulled out, allowing her body to slide down his so that she could stand on her own two feet. His eyes met hers briefly before he looked away. As she struggled to right her clothing, he disposed of the condom before readjusting himself to zip his pants.

  He wasn't sure what to say.

  What do you say to a woman you just took standing up in the middle of a club?

  That was fun.

  Somehow, the words, though honest, didn't seem appropriate.

  “Let's go back to my office,” he suggested softly.

  * * * *

  Mara stared up at him, her knees still a little bit weak. She couldn't believe what she had just done. She had just had sex with Joe Gates, in the middle of his club, like some whore off the street.
The most mortifying fact was that it was wonderful. In all of her life, she had never had an orgasm so ... satisfying. Sure, she had been with other guys. But it was nothing like being with Joe. With one touch, he had been able to turn her body inside out.

  And that scared her.

  “Is there a restroom that I could use?” she asked.

  “It's just down there,” he replied, pointing to the end of the hall. “My office is through that door. I'll wait for you.”

  She gave him her best fake smile as she hurried to the end of the hall. Once she reached the end, she pushed through the door to escape into the club. In five seconds flat, she was back in the real world. All the way home, she called herself the worst coward. To run from him only confirmed what he thought of her already. She was a naïve fool who wasn't prepared for what she was getting herself into.

  Deep down, she knew he was right.

  After she had safely closed herself inside of her apartment, she stripped off her clothes. She could still smell him on her body. The scent was intoxicating. It made her want to run to him even now. Her nipples tightened as she thought of his hands roaming over her body, controlling her, taking her to places she had never been before.

  She wanted it.

  She wanted him.

  She looked at herself in the mirror. Her lips parted, her nipples peaked, her body flushed with passion. Never in her life had she been so tempted to say goodbye to the good girl she was and become the bad girl she wanted to be.

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  * * *

  Chapter 4

  Mara couldn't believe it.

  She had only been writing for three hours, and she had already finished four chapters. It was unprecedented. In all the time she had been writing, it had never come so ... effortlessly. Still, she refused to believe that it had anything to do with what happened last night. She couldn't believe how brazen she had been. Never in her life had she had sex standing up, let alone in the middle of the hallway where anyone could walk by.

  But last night she had.

  Last night she had let go.

  She hadn't been thinking. She was just feeling. And it felt good.