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    Chapter 5
    The next morning, Mara made the lonely walk back to the club. She wasn't very good at saying she was sorry, but she owed him that much after running out. A part of her secretly hoped that he wouldn't be there, so she wouldn't have to face her humiliation just yet. She knocked on the door, crossing her fingers behind her back.
    In a few seconds, it opened, and she was face to face with the man she had run from. The harsh scowl on his face was quickly replaced with surprise. His broad chest was covered by a black t-shirt that stretched across his muscles.
    Damn, he looked good.
    “Mara?”
    She offered him a tentative smile. “Hi,” she replied.
    His eyes bore into hers, and she knew that he was waiting for an explanation.
    “I'm sorry,” she admitted, pulling her lower lip beneath her teeth. “Can we talk?”
    He stared at her for a minute before pulling the door wide to allow her entrance. She followed him into the corridor. Mara couldn't help but glance at the spot where they made love the night before as she tried to keep up. Once inside his office, he shut the door behind her, coming around to stand behind his desk. The rich mahogany wood was deep and lush. Bookcases lined the walls, and it appeared every space was filled with a hardback book. A couch with plump pillows sat to the right of the desk.
    His gaze told her that he wasn't going to help her out.
    It was up to her now.
    “I'm sorry I ran out that way the other night,” she confessed.
    His lips formed a grim line. “I have to admit that it was a surprise.”
    She took a deep breath before plunging ahead. “I know. I'm sorry. I just didn't...” she stumbled.
    He walked around the desk to lean a hip against the side of it. “Didn't what?” he asked, his voice sinfully low.
    She sighed heavily. “I don't usually do things like that. I mean, I don't even know you.”
    Reaching out to grab her hand, he pulled her closer. He stood, his hands sliding up her arms. “What do you want to know?” he asked, his mouth dangerously close to her ear.
    A delicious shiver crept up her spine at his nearness. She tried to focus, but at the moment, rational thought was slipping away. She struggled to find a question. “Um, where do you live?”
    “Garden District,” he replied, his voice husky.
    His lips trailed over her neck. When she felt his tongue snake out to taste her, she leaned into him. She felt his mouth open over her ear, his breath teasing the sensitive skin. Her eyes fluttered closed.
    She was losing this battle ... quick.
    “What else, Mara?” he prodded against her ear.
    “What?” she asked, her tone breathless.
    She felt his chuckle against her skin. Her nipples puckered under her shirt, silently demanding attention. He answered their silent request by pulling her shirt over her head. He teased her nipples through the lacy material of her bra.
    “What else do you want to know?”
    Dear God, he still wants to talk?
    “Oh. Have you ever been married?” she managed.
    His hands came up to frame her face as his mouth took possession of her ear. Her clit swelled, and she felt her arousal dampen her panties. She bit her lower lip in an attempt to contain the moan that was sure to come out soon.
    “Not yet.”
    His hands glided over her breasts, his fingers tweaking her nipples through her bra.
    “How old are you?”
    “Thirty-four.”
    His hands slid into her pants, molding her buttocks into the palms of his hands. She barely contained her sigh of pleasure when his fingers curled under, coming dangerously close to her pussy. Unable to think clearly, she asked the first thing that came to mind.
    “What do you want from me, Joe?”
    He eased back so that he could look into her eyes. “I think you know. And you want it too.”
    Her lips parted on a sigh, and his head descended. His mouth covered hers, his tongue exploring. She joined him, her tongue tangling with his in a sensuous dance. Her hands delved into his