Den of Desire Read Online Free PDF Page B

practical purposes only. He had to sate his passion and sate it well, before this thing between them got out of control. Commitment was not in the cards for him. Maybe it never had been. He had tried it once and failed miserably. He would see Mara until he tired of her, which he hoped would be soon. As intriguing as she was, he couldn't have her forming any romantic notions about him.
    It was better this way.
    He would fuck her until he had his fill, and then he would move on. The thought should have made him feel relieved, but it didn't. He felt a presence in the room and knew instantly who it was.
    “Cal. How are you?”
    “As well as I can be,” he answered, walking across the room to take a seat in front of Joe's desk. His gaze latched onto the screens to the right. “You?”
    “I can't complain.”
    “How's business?”
    Joe's gaze returned to the television screen. “Good, as you can see.”
    Cal stood up, walking over to get a closer look. His eyes fastened on the pretty blonde in the hall. Her blue dress clung to her curves lovingly. Her gaze darted back and forth as if she was searching for someone.
    Searching for him.
    Joe tensed as he watched Cal study her.
    Cal turned to look at him. “New member?” he inquired, his interest clearly piqued.
    His jaw clenched. “No, she's just here for research.”
    Cal's head snapped around to pin him with an arctic stare. “And you offered the club?” he demanded.
    Joe shifted in his chair. “It was a favor to Lexi,” he explained.
    Cal shook his head. “Joe, we don't need this now. You, of all people, should know that,” he reasoned. “After everything that happened, I don't need this.”
    His lips formed a thin line. “Your investment is safe, Cal. You don't have to worry. She won't be here long. Besides, she writes erotic romance, not articles for a newspaper,” he chided.
    Cal sighed heavily as he returned to his chair. “After everything that happened, we can't afford any more trouble. If anyone ever found out...”
    “They won't. We dodged them then. We'll dodge them now.”
    Cal nodded. “Still, two dead members and one in jail isn't exactly a great advertisement. Right now, more than anything, we need to lay low.”
    Joe's gaze traveled to Mara. Jesus! Even now, he could feel his cock getting hard. It was a good thing he was sitting down. “I know. She won't be a problem,” he said, hoping it wasn't a lie.
    “Good. Because trouble is the last thing I need right now.”
    He leaned back in his chair to study his friend. “How is the family?” he inquired.
    Cal's look gave him the answer he sought. “The family is the same pain in the ass that they've always been. Dad is worried about reelection. Sarah is out of college and already giving my parents ulcers. As if that wasn't enough, Matthew finally knocked up his girlfriend, so now they're staying with me until he gets the balls up to tell the old man. If my parents ever found out that I'm an owner...”
    Before he could finish the sentence, Joe cut in. “They won't. I promise.”
    Cal smiled. “Thanks, man. I guess I'm wound a little tight right now,” he admitted ruefully.
    Joe motioned with his hand to the television screen. “You know, you could always work off some of that tension here,” he suggested.
    Cal glanced over at the screen. Joe felt his gut tighten as he watched his friend's gaze center on Mara. “Maybe you're right. I mean, you did say she was here for research, right?”
    Joe's grip tightened on the arms of the chair. “She's naïve. She doesn't know what she wants,” he answered in a dismissive tone.
    Cal turned back to face him, his grin widening. “Maybe I can help her figure it out,” he prodded.
    Joe gritted his teeth in an attempt to keep his mouth shut, but deep down he wanted to tell Cal to back the hell off. The tension radiated off his body. He opened his mouth to answer, but Cal held up a hand to stop him.
    “Relax, dude. I'm not going to step into your