Illeanna Read online

  She tightened up when she felt his fingers trace along her jaw to her lips. She felt him lean closer.

  “That back there meant something to me, whether you want to hear or believe it or not. I thought we were making progress and then you explode like that. What happened?” he asked, and she heard the sincerity in his voice. She felt guilty, but then she reminded herself that he was an experienced man, used to seduction and games. He was also a private eye and bounty hunter. He had to be slick.

  “Please, Julien, just leave it alone.”

  “Fine, but I’m not leaving you alone. I’m staying right here, maybe you can get some rest if you know that one of us is right here holding you.”

  She looked at him, and her eyeballs throbbed with pain.

  “Whatever. It hurts too much to argue.”

  She rolled to her right, and Julien snuggled up next to her, pulling her into his arms. She tried to resist his hold and the feel of his muscles against her body, but it was no use. He was determined, and she was susceptible to his assets.

  Chapter 4

  “So you didn’t finish the job?” Bennitto Flores asked Mickey as Mickey stood in the doorway to the main office at Bennitto’s estate.

  “No. The place was swarming with Feds and then some private investigators. It was amazing that the shooter was able to get the hell out of there alive.”

  Bennitto looked up, and his facial expression made Mickey uncomfortable. Mickey knew he’d get paid a lot of money for doing this hit but not if he left loose strings.

  “They were identified. Someone saw you and the other shooter that escaped and gave a description. Now what are your plans?”

  “I’m working on eliminating that problem.”

  “The woman you mean? She’s friends with those two PIs that Phillips’s wife hired. Man, what an asshole he turned out to be. To think that his wife could bring down this entire operation is absurd.”

  “She didn’t have a clue about our business dealings with Phillips, and this woman who saw me can be eliminated as well. It’s the two PIs that we need to worry about. While they were investigating Phillips, they could have seen him doing some things that looked suspicious. I’m going to get a closer look at them and find out where they were in their investigation, and then I am going to look into this woman to determine if she’s a threat. I’m also going to take care of the other ones involved so there’s no chance of a snitch.”

  “Don’t make any moves without my okay. I don’t want the Feds breathing down my neck and investigating my business. Oh and I took care of Allen.”

  Mickey raised his eyebrow in question.

  “He never made it to his holding cell. The poor guy was stabbed before he could be questioned by the Feds,” Bennitto stated then smirked before he looked down at his desk and some paperwork.

  Mickey chuckled then left the room. He knew Flores wouldn’t hesitate to get rid of him just as easily. He pulled out his cell phone and made a call.

  “You watching her place?”

  “Got it covered but it’s a real close-knit community. I’ve been dodging any people whatsoever but I’m not confident in remaining unnoticed in any position close to the house. She hasn’t left but the two PIs and three other men—all cops—keep coming in and out. I think a sister or two came around, too.”

  “Okay, I don’t want you taking any chances. If you think it’s too hot and you might blow your cover, get the fuck out now. The last thing we need is you, Mark, one of my top guys, getting picked up by the locals and eventually the Feds. Use your head and keep me posted.”

  Mickey hung up and thought about what his guy said. Why were there so many cops around her? Could she be under some kind of law enforcement protection because they were onto his business dealings? They couldn’t be. The majority of the shit was taking place thousands of miles away from New Orleans in a piece-of-shit village filled with terrorists. But despite his own precautions that he took as well as the ones he knew Bennitto took, he was still uneasy. He began to get concerned as he exited the building. He immediately put on his sunglasses and got into his black BMW. Mickey couldn’t understand why Bennitto didn’t just have him kill the senator, too. Why did he want to frame him so badly? He wondered and then reminded himself that he was a hit man, a guy who did the dirty work firsthand and for the right price. He could do whatever he wanted as long as Bennitto paid him.

  Before he put the car in gear he logged on to his account through his cell phone and saw that the money transfer went through. Fifty thousand to get rid of Phillips and plant the evidence at his office.

  * * * *

  Illeanna awoke with a jolt, clutching the blanket and wondering where she was. She felt as if her cheek was against a solid wall as her eyes fluttered open.

  She was shocked to find Julien smiling down at her and caressing her back.

  “Hey, you’re all right. You’re home in bed and I’m right here,” he whispered, and she realized that she was clutching his shirt against his belly. She had fallen asleep against his chest and saw the wet spot on his blue shirt. Damn, she must have been drooling in her sleep. She tried to shake the fog from her brain as Julien placed his hand against the back of her head and told her to lie back and rest a little longer.

  “Franco, Johnny, and Gustave will bring supper over.”

  “That’s really not necessary. You’ve all done enough.”

  He squeezed her by her rear, pulling her closer against him.

  “Now, now, sugar, don’t you fret over such things. We like taking care of you.”

  She had to admit that it felt good in his arms and she had slept well, but somehow was still tired.

  “What time is it?” she asked him, and he glanced at the military watch on his wrist.

  “Just about seven.”

  “Seven? I’ve been asleep for three hours?”

  “We’ve been asleep for three hours. I can’t remember the last time I took a nap this long. But I’ll tell you something, sugar, I’d do this anytime with you in my arms. You’re so soft and like to cuddle in your sleep.” She felt her belly quiver. He sounded so damn sexy and in control. It was his military background. It had to be. He still kept his hair cut very short, and it showed off some tiny scars and evidence of his injuries from the war. Louis had told her Julien had been involved with multiple hand-to-hand combat situations. She swallowed hard, and he winked at her.

  She closed her eyes and felt embarrassed by his confidence versus her lack of confidence.

  Then she felt his fingers under her chin, tilting it up toward him.

  “Illeanna, you know I’m sweet on you. We all are,” he whispered then rolled her to her back, placing his thigh between her legs as he shifted his weight to one side.

  He cupped her face between his hands.

  “Please, Julien. I thought I made it clear,” she began to say, but then Julien hushed her by placing his finger over her lips as he stared into her eyes. She felt flushed and a bit nervous lying in her bed with Julien between her legs. She could feel his hard cock against her hip and belly. He was aroused and so was she.

  He leaned down closer to her lips.

  “Sugar, you’ve got the most beautiful light-green eyes I’ve ever seen. Your long black hair and deep-red, plump lips make them stand out even more. I love these lips,” he whispered then softly kissed them. He gently pecked at her lips, kissing her softly then deepening his caress. He trailed kisses along her chin, her neck, and then back up again, and she began to relax in his embrace.

  “You taste so sweet, sugar, I could make out with you all day long,” he admitted, and she blushed under his words. When he covered her mouth again, this time kissing her more deeply, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders best she could. He shifted his hips, causing her to straddle his waist. Her thighs shook as her heels hit his rear.

  In the midst of their kissing she felt him shift again and lightly thrust against her thin shorts, his jean-
covered cock hard against her pussy.

  “Oh God, Julien.” She panted when he released her lips and kissed along her neck again before leaning on his left arm so he could run his hand along her thigh then up her shirt.

  He cupped her breast and squeezed while he plunged his tongue into her mouth, destroying the fight to resist his abilities. She found herself rubbing her mound against him, countering his thrusts.

  “Oh damn, baby.” He released her lips and licked along her neck to the cleavage between her breasts.

  Illeanna grabbed ahold of his short hair, trying to pull him away yet loving the feel of his whiskers chafing her sensitive skin. She could only imagine what those whiskers would feel like against her pussy. She moaned at the thought, felt her clit tingle with anticipation, and Julien took it as a sign to explore her body more.

  He pushed the bra to the side and released her breast from confinement then nibbled on the tip. She grabbed him tighter and tilted her head back as he tried to swallow as much of her breast as he could. When he finally released it slowly, he blew warm air across her nipple, sending her into a frenzy of emotions.

  “Oh please, Julien, stop. I can’t take it,” she told him as they held gazes.

  He fixed her bra and shirt then placed his hand on her hipbone as he held her gaze.

  “You are one sexy, responsive woman, Illeanna. I’ll never get enough of you.” Before she could respond, he kissed her deeply then rolled to the side of the bed.

  He held out his hand to her, and she hesitated before taking it. When she got up, he pulled her to him and hugged her. It felt so good to be held in Julien’s arms, and the scariest part was that it felt so right.

  * * * *

  Julien walked out of the bedroom as Illeanna went into the bathroom to freshen up. He was adjusting his shirt as he walked into the living room knowing that one of his brothers was already there. He heard the front door creak open and then the movement around the room. He prayed that whichever brother it was they didn’t interrupt him and Illeanna. He was making progress and truly enjoying their intimate time together. Damn, his cock was throbbing as he adjusted it in his pants.

  “Nice nap?” Johnny asked with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Julien chuckled as he shook his head.

  “It was the best nap I ever had.”

  “Sounded like it when I came in.”

  Julien shot his brother a look then glanced over his shoulder as Gustave came to the front door.

  “Don’t say a word. Illeanna is shy and unsure about this. I was trying to calm her down from her upset with Louis. I don’t think either of them truly faced the truth about the night they shared,” Julien stated as he opened the door for Gustave. He was carrying a large box of takeout food.

  “Oh my God, who is going to eat all that food?” Illeanna asked as she emerged from the back room limping.

  “Damn, woman, let me help you. You shouldn’t be hobbling around. The doc said stay off it as much as possible,” Johnny said as he crossed the room in three strides and lifted Illeanna into the air. She squealed but held on to his shoulders.

  “Damn it, Johnny, enough with the caveman routine. I can handle it fine. You can’t be carrying me around everywhere,” she stated as he walked closer to the couch. Before he released her, he locked gazes with her.

  “Sugar, I’d carry you around sprained ankle or not just so I can feel ya in my arms.”

  She shook her head and harrumphed. “Please, Johnny, just let me down.”

  He complied but not before letting his hands caress her ass and thigh as she slid down his body. Her feet hit the carpeting, and his thigh stuck between her legs. He held one hand against her backside, and the other cupped her left cheek.

  “The cut by your temple and forehead is beginning to bruise. I don’t like the way that scratch looks. We should put some ointment on there.”

  “Later, I’m starving,” Julien stated as he and Gustave pulled the coffee table closer to the couch and Johnny released Illeanna so that he could help add a few more chairs. Illeanna sat in the middle of the couch, and Julien and Gustave sat on either side of her. As they began to open the well-wrapped po’boy sandwiches, most likely from her sisters’ restaurant, Franco arrived and everyone greeted him.

  “Hey, honey, did you have a good nap?” he asked as he placed his hands on her shoulders from behind the couch.

  Illeanna snuck a peek at Julien, who winked then took a bite of his sandwich.

  “I did. I’m sure I will sleep fine tonight.”

  “One of us will stay here with you,” he informed her then walked around to the kitchen to wash his hands.

  * * * *

  Illeanna felt as if her nerves were about to snap. She barely could keep her hands off of Julien when he napped with her, and now one of them was going to spend the night? She would never get any sleep. Were they purposely trying to make her lose her mind? She was panicking. Think, Illeanna.

  She looked at Gustave, and he smiled softly at her as if knowing what was going on and sympathizing with her. But she also knew that as quiet as Gustave was, he also was a Boudoux and they were all in this together. She glanced at Franco as she took a bite of the oyster po’boy sandwich realizing just how hungry she was. But she also missed cooking. Getting up every day to head to Carlile’s was fulfilling despite having to stand second to Jacque. She wondered how he was doing and whether she should call her boss to find out about him. The nervous feeling and almost-anxious feeling began to come back again at the thought of one of these men remaining here for the night. She swallowed hard and almost choked.

  “Hey, sugar, you got awfully quiet over there, something wrong?” Johnny asked.

  They heard a car door, and she wondered if it were Louis. She knew he was pissed at her, but so be it. Then of course she was a hypocrite since she had her little rendezvous with Julien after all that “I ain’t interested” spiel she gave earlier in the living room. She released a sigh as Louis opened the front door and entered the room. He looked a little disheveled but in a sexy, “I don’t give a shit” kind of way. His shoulder-length black hair was messy, and his shirt had a few buttons open in the front, revealing his tan skin. His face showed his need for a shave. The room was silent, and she quickly peeled her eyes from Louis and focused on the group in the living room.

  “I was just thinking about work. I was wondering how Jacque was doing.” She took a sip of beer the men offered. She was trying hard not to stare at Louis.

  “He’s fine. It was just a flesh wound,” Louis stated as he washed his hands in the kitchen then took a piece of sandwich and sat down by the island instead of near the rest of them.

  She felt a bit uneasy and, yes, guilty as Louis exchanged glances with his brothers. She could have sworn she saw daggers in Louis’s eyes as he stared at her. She sucked it up, knowing that perhaps she was a bit tough on him, but she felt out of control between Louis and Julien before and had lost almost all self-control. She wasn’t used to that, and it scared her. She just wasn’t ready to admit that quite yet.

  They talked about their day of work and the investigation over what took place at Carlile’s. She remained quiet as she watched them and tried to eat half a sandwich. The remoulade sauce was delicious as she licked her finger then took a napkin to wipe her mouth. The sight of all five men in her small home was odd. She hated to admit that in the past she wondered about ménage relationships and whether she could handle one. Her main concerns were about commitment, loyalty, and respect. Was it all about sex and being dominated in the bedroom? Not that she saw herself as aggressive in the bedroom, but her one and only time with Louis had been sensational despite the alcohol that initiated the union that night.

  The five minutes she was with Louis and Julien challenged her control and weakened her to their charms. They were just too appealing. All of them.

  She swallowed hard as she thought about that night with Louis. It had been amazing, and she knew a lo
t of that interpretation had to do with him being her first. She never had sex ever again. Not that the opportunities didn’t present themselves, but she just wasn’t into it when it came to that moment. Sure she fooled around a bit, but she always compared other men to Louis and to his brothers. Then of course she had her career to worry about and focus on and was trying to make a name for herself. She had hopes and dreams of her own, and she didn’t want others dictating her future. Her sisters depended on her just like she depended on them. Now that they were getting older and establishing themselves, she wondered what was holding her back from these men. Shaking the thoughts from her head, she heard her cell phone ring and snapped out of her daydreaming.

  “Welcome back,” Julien stated then handed her the cell phone.

  She shyly lowered her head then answered the phone as she placed a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, honey, them boys get ya in the sack yet?” Mikayla asked, and Illeanna knew that the men heard her sister. They chuckled but kept their eyes glued on her as she spoke.

  “Very funny. So are ya still sleeping over tonight?” Illeanna asked, hoping that her sister got the hint.

  “Ya still need me to with those five big, strong, sexy Boudoux men hanging around? Damn it, Illeanna was going to wring Mikayla’s neck when she saw her. Illeanna looked at the men, and they pretended as if they hadn’t heard her. Did they have sonic hearing or what?

  “Yeah, come on over. I’m going to pick out a movie, so be sure to bring over the praline ice cream from the restaurant.”

  “Oh, honey, I can bring over all the dessert ya like, but it ain’t gonna get those men off your mind.”

  “Mikayla, I’ll see ya soon,” Illeanna stated then hung up the phone.

  “When did you make plans for Mikayla to stay here with ya?” Johnny asked.