Illeanna (5 page)

* * * *

She was insistent that she could get dressed on her own without their assistance, and they were insistent that she needed help gathering the things she needed to get dressed. They filtered through her drawers, which made her a nervous wreck especially when Johnny was near inches away from where she stored her vibrator and that special cream she bought at a naughty party that supposedly guaranteed to make a woman orgasm. She felt her cheeks warm as Johnny gave her an inquisitive look as he moved closer to the drawer she was spying.

“Not that one but in the bottom drawer. Just grab the black pair of shorts and the purple T-shirt,” she told him as he released his hold on the forbidden drawer and she silently sighed in relief.

“You’ll need these, honey, unless you opt for nothing,” Gustave stated, interrupting the locked gazes between her and Johnny. She turned to look at what Gustave had set down on the bed next to her and immediately blushed. Of course he picked out one of her sexiest sets of bra and thong panties. And why did his actions make her pussy react?

“Okay, that’s enough. I can handle this even if I have to hop on one foot. You both get out now,” she stated, and both men looked at one another then at her. They stared a moment, and immediately her heart began to pound inside of her chest and for crying out loud she wanted to throw all inhibition to the wind, yank off the towel, and get on with it. They were two very tall, large men standing in her quaint, little bedroom eyeing her like a meal, and she was beginning to imagine being their meal.

Would Gustave’s taut lips, the ones he held in such a firm line the entire time, feel hard or tender against her breast? Johnny with his big, brown eyes and authoritative expression made her toes curl and her mind imagine things she shouldn’t be imagining. Suddenly feeling sexy and feminine but also gullible to their interested expressions, she froze and let her apprehension lead her.

“Go on and get. You’re embarrassing me,” she barely got out before Johnny eyed the set of undergarments Gustave had chosen for her to wear. He looked at them and then back at her, letting his eyes roam over her body. Despite the fact that the large, thick towel covered most of her, she felt exposed by his intense look. Oh yeah, the man definitely knew how to look at a woman and make her feel desirable.

“You’re a beautiful woman, Illeanna, there’s no need to feel embarrassed. We’ll be right outside that door,” Johnny stated, pointing at her as if he could open the door back up at any sign that she was in need of their assistance. Great. How was she supposed to get dressed now? What did he think, that she was going to escape out the sliders and stumble down the flight of stairs to the woods surrounding her home? Flustered, she squinted her eyes at him and tilted her chin toward the door, indicating once again silently for him to get out. With a look of reluctance both he and Gustave left the room.

Illeanna sighed then fell back onto the bed. She raised a hand to cover her eyes and hit the cut on her forehead and temple. She cringed but silently, thank goodness, or her bodyguards would surely storm through the door. She felt another wave of moisture hit her pussy, and her belly tightened with the thought of such sexy, strapping, hot men guarding her body. Damn, she needed to get them out of her house, or she was going to make a fool of herself.

Angelina arrived at the house just in time to assist with Illeanna’s argument that she didn’t need the men to hover over her. Angelina was bringing over another floral arrangement from one of the neighbors. Mrs. Lively had also made some cookies for Illeanna as well.

“See. I’m fine and now my sister is here so there’s no need to worry,” Illeanna stated.

Angelina smiled. “I’ll take good care of her, plus Angelique, Ellena, and Mikayla are stopping by. They should be here any minute,” Angelina informed them. She could tell by her sister Illeanna’s expression that she needed some space.

“Fine. But you call me, Angelina, immediately if she needs anything and when you leave. I don’t want her here alone,” Johnny stated firmly.

“I promise,” Angelina responded, making an imaginary
X
across her heart. He gave her a firm look and she swallowed hard. He and his brothers were intimidating to say the least.

Johnny kissed Illeanna on the cheek and then Angelina before he left.

“My God, woman, he is in such a huff. He must really care about you,” Angelina stated as Illeanna exhaled then leaned back into the couch cushion she was sitting on. Angelina walked closer.

“So you should see how good the construction is coming along for Secret Pleasures. It looks great and Armand and Remi said they’re making great progress.”

Illeanna sat up and smiled. That seemed to put some happiness back into her sister’s demeanor.

“Really? I’d love to go see it. It would be great to take a visit into town and see the others. Are they really coming over tonight because I’m kind of feeling tired?”

“No, they’re not coming over unless you want me to call them. I figured it looked like you needed a break from your bodyguard.”

“Bodyguards! They are all relentless. Maybe tomorrow you can come pick me up and we can go into town together?” Illeanna asked.

“Sure. That will be fun. We can stop into Aubert’s for lunch or something.”

“Yeah, I need some normalcy back into my life. I just want to forget about what happened at the restaurant.”

“That’s understandable, but maybe you can take this time to entertain your attraction to the Boudoux brothers.”

“What? Are you insane? I don’t have time for that. I’m out of a job, my ankle hurts so I can’t look for another job right now, and sitting around doing nothing is not my thing.”

“Illeanna, you need a break. You’ve been working so hard and putting up with so much nonsense at the restaurant. Maybe you should take this time to think about changing things up a bit.”

That seemed to quiet Illeanna down. Angelina hoped that she would consider entertaining her attraction to Louis, Julien, Johnny, Gustave, and Franco. They really seemed to care about Illeanna.

“We’ll see. I’m too tired to think about it. That’s why tomorrow might be a great time to get out of here and head to Aubert’s for lunch then check out the construction. I’d love to see everyone and thank some of our neighbors for their cards and well wishes they sent.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll pick you up at twelve.”

Illeanna smiled and Angelina felt good about visiting her today.

* * * *

“She’s pissed. That’s for sure,” Johnny told Louis as they all stood outside of the sheriff’s department in town.

“Of course she’s pissed, she’s an active woman, her ankle hurts, and I’m sure she has other bruises she’s not telling us about,” Louis stated.

“What do you mean?” Johnny asked.

“Franco, Julien, and I saw the surveillance video from the back of the restaurant. The gunman landed on top of her, and they went tumbling down concrete steps with her on the bottom. He wasn’t a small guy either,” Louis informed them.

“Fuck!” Johnny stated.

“Damn, she could have been seriously injured,” Gustave added.

“She could have been killed,” Louis corrected then ran a hand through his hair.

“I don’t even want to think about that anymore. Right now we’re working with the Feds to figure out who these guys were working for and why they went after Jean Phillips and also shot the chef,” Franco added.

“I think the chef was just caught in the middle. The gunman shot Phillips just as the chef emerged yelling about his arrival. The gunman reacted and shot him.” Julien stated.

“Why were you two following this Jean Phillips guy?” Johnny asked Louis and Julien.

“We were hired by Mrs. Phillips to investigate her husband’s infidelity. As we conducted out investigation, we found out that he was involved with multiple women and some other illegal activity. We didn’t have proof of what, but apparently the Feds think it may have to do with why Phillips was killed,” Louis told them.

“So what’s the next step? How can we use this situation to convince Illeanna that we mean business and that we want a relationship with her?” Johnny asked, and his brothers all looked at him as if they hadn’t a clue.

“We’re all a bunch of law enforcement officers, detectives, bounty hunters, and private investigators, and we can’t figure out how to win the heart of one sexy, green-eyed woman?” Johnny asked with annoyance. They chuckled at that and agreed that they couldn’t. They had tried everything.

“Well I know she’s interested, but she’s scared. I can tell when a woman is attracted to me,” Franco stated.

“You damn near made her pass out she’s so scared of you, Franco,” Julien told his brother.

“Scared of me? What the hell did I do to make her scared?” Franco challenged.

“The way you entered the crime scene and approached the ambulance making people move out of your way as you made your demands.”

“Oh, give me a break. If that’s the case, then she’s no good for any of us because we all have intense personalities and demand respect. When I’m in detective mode, I’m conducting an investigation, and I want answers. I don’t get answers if I’m all cuddly and whispering shit to people. Fuck that!” Franco stated in annoyance, and his brothers chuckled.

“We’re all like that,” Gustave added, and they looked at him, acknowledging his statement.

“I say we keep doing what we’re doing. We check up on her throughout the day and one of us should stay there with her at night,” Louis stated.

“Yeah like she’s gonna accept that,” Johnny replied.

“Her sister Angelina said Illeanna woke up numerous times scared and having nightmares last night,” Gustave told them. They all turned to him, surprised that he hadn’t shared the information sooner, but Gustave was the quiet one.

“She told you that?” Johnny asked him.

“I stopped by this morning, and Angelina had slept over. She said Illeanna had a bad night. I checked on her and she was sitting on the couch with ice on her ankle. She looked real tired, too.”

“She needs us there. We have to make her see that,” Julien stated.

“I’m going back over there right now. Angelina didn’t say anything to me this afternoon. To think of it, Illeanna did appear tired. Angelina showed up and said her sisters were on their way. Maybe that helped her? I’ll go check again, then you go in about an hour, Gustave. We can take turns until we meet up there for dinner tonight,” Johnny said and they all agreed.

* * * *

“I am going insane, Mikayla. They’ve been coming around every thirty minutes or so to check on me.”

“So you’re real horny and not willing to bed a Boudoux, why?” Mikayla asked. Illeanna gasped in shock as she felt her cheeks warm and her body awaken at the thought of having a fling with five hunky men.

“I don’t appreciate that comment, Mikayla.”

“You may not appreciate hearing the truth but get real, Illeanna. Those men were worried sick about you since the incident at Carlile’s. They have been hot for you for years and yet you blow them off. I don’t understand why because they are all perfect.”

“There’s a lot of reasons why, Mikayla.”

“Like what, Illeanna? They are fine specimens of men and could have their choice of any woman they want. Women drool over them and have fantasies about the Boudoux brothers. I just don’t get it.”

“That’s part of it right there. Other women want them and fantasize about them and they are way experienced because of that. I am not going to be used like that. I want a man to love me, to cherish only me, and be committed. Men like the Boudoux do not know a thing about commitment, respect, or equality when it comes to women. Now let’s stop this conversation. I’m tired, and I got little sleep last night as you know.”

“That’s because you’re sexually frustrated and so damn insecure. Did you happen to think that maybe with you they would be different? That perhaps you are exactly what they’re looking for in a woman?”

“Damn it, Mikayla, I’m going to hang up this phone now.”

“You need one of those men to spend the night there and hold you in their big muscular arms to keep you safe. Then you won’t have any of those damn nightmares about that asshole. I just can’t believe that happened to you. I’m so glad you’re safe and that Julien and Louis were there.”

“Me too, Mikayla. I love you.”

“I love you, too, and I’ll talk to you later. I’ll let the others know that if they see one of the Boudoux’s vehicles in your driveway that they should keep going and not interrupt something that may or may not be happening,” Mikayla teased.

“Bye, Mikayla,” Illeanna stated then disconnected the call.

A few seconds later the phone rang again, and she assumed it was her sister.

“What now?” she answered.

“Is this Illeanna Aubert?” the man on the other end of the phone asked.

“Yes and who is this?” She heard the click on the other end.

“What the heck?” she wondered then felt her headache getting worse. She took the ice off of her ankle and began to get up so she could get some painkillers.

An uneasy feeling filled her gut. She thought about the phone call and the silence on the other end then the click. Who could it have been? She swallowed hard as her mind began to wonder a series of unpleasant scenarios. Her lack of sleep seemed to be getting the better of her, and she suddenly didn’t like the feeling of being home alone in the house. She felt the ache in her heart then her heart begin to race. She wasn’t a chicken. She was a grown woman.
Get it together, Illeanna. You don’t need one of the men around to make you feel safe. This is probably typical behavior and feelings for a victim of a crime.

After her internal pep talk, she stood up when she heard a truck pull into the driveway and someone climb up the steps to her door.

She had a feeling that it was one of the guys. She ignored the celebratory feeling inside from her inner weakness she was so desperately trying to conquer. She limped toward the door when it flung open and Louis and Julien entered. In a snap her feelings changed and her temper got the better of her.

“Just storm right in. It’s not like this is my home or anything and that you need to knock.” She grabbed the edge of the counter before she lost her footing.

“Damn, Illeanna, you’re not supposed to be hobbling around on that ankle,” Julien reprimanded as he placed his arm around her waist and hoisted her against his side.

“I’m okay. I need some painkillers for this damn headache soon-to-be migraine.”

“I’ll get them for you. Bring her into the living room, Julien, and get that ice back onto her ankle,” Louis stated firmly.

Julien lifted Illeanna up and carried her back.

“This really isn’t necessary. My ankle is feeling much better than yesterday.”

“It’s only been a day, Illeanna,” Julien replied as he set her down onto the couch and propped her ankle up onto the pillow.

He stared at her a moment and they locked gazes.

On the other side of the couch Louis approached carrying a bottle of water and two painkillers.

“Take these.”

She took the pills and a sip of water, trying to swallow them and her annoyance at their controlling ways. She wouldn’t admit to herself that she was relieved to not be left alone.

Julien placed the ice on her ankle and held his hand on her knee. The warmth of his large hand penetrated her skin and made her feel self-conscious about the short shorts she wore and the tank top. She was hot and couldn’t seem to cool down. Little tremors shot up her thigh and straight to her mound. She was going to lose it. These men were just too appealing to resist. Maybe Mikayla was right and she was indeed hot and bothered. Her cheeks warmed, and she closed her eyes to avoid giving away her thoughts to Julien.

“How’s your head and your neck?” Louis asked as he squatted down by the couch and caressed her forehead. She opened her eyes to look at him and exhaled.

“Okay. I had Angelina help me apply ointment to the cuts this morning. Listen, I’m really tired and I appreciate that you and your brothers keep coming around to check up on me, but I’m fine really. I just need to rest up so I can get back to work.”

“Honey, Carlile’s will be closed for a bit. There’s a lot of cleaning up to do, and remaining closed for a spell will help people to forget what had happened there. A man was killed and the chef shot.”

“Oh crap! I need to work. I need the money for the bills, and I have to figure something out,” she exclaimed then began to sit up. Now her head really ached as she laid it back against the couch and held her hands against the temples. She felt that worrisome sensation as her gut clenched, and she feared using all her savings to live on until she found work. She could always take up her sisters’ offer to work with them but that wasn’t her original plan. The tears reached her eyes because she had just reached some financial freedom and was close to owning her home and some money saved in her bank account. But there were bills to pay, and that money would disappear quickly. Her head was beginning to pound.

“It’s going to be fine, Illeanna,” Julien told her as he sat down next to her and placed his hand on her knee. She felt the couch dip on her other side as Louis took position next to her there. He placed the palm of his hand on her belly, and she opened her eyes to find both men watching her.

“This is not your problem, it’s mine.” She felt Louis’s hand smooth up her belly, between her breasts, brushing along the mounds, infusing heat throughout her body and straight to her core, and then he cupped her chin and cheek.

She stared into his eyes, rich like chocolate, as the panic of his next move set in.

“We’re here for you, and we’re not leaving you on your own,” he stated, and she felt Julien squeeze her knee. She glanced toward Julien just as Louis placed his lips against her own and kissed her, keeping her facing him.

She was lost in that kiss a moment and the sensations running through her body. Louis kissed her deeply, making love to her mouth, exploring every inch with his tongue, as his hands held her firmly. She felt the rumble of a moan escape against his mouth then a set of fingers caress the waist of her shorts and the seam of her top. Julien glided his hands along her torso and straight to her breasts, igniting the fire within her and causing her to scoot lower onto the couch.

Her breasts swelled with excitement, the nipples hardened, and a need so deep caused her brain to malfunction and forget why she had resisted their moves in the past. But Louis kept kissing her, caressing her mouth with his tongue as his brother simultaneously felt her up. She felt her core tighten and tiny spasms of heat filter through her system.

“That’s it, Illeanna, don’t fight what you feel, what your body knows is right,” Julien stated.

She kept her legs crossed and hoped that she didn’t come from their touch alone yet knew that she could easily explode right now. She adjusted her hips, trying to get Louis to release her lips so she could regain some composure, when she felt Julien press his hand away from her breast down her torso to her shorts. She uncrossed her legs. She was consumed by the sensations. His fingers scraped along her mound, eliciting a moan as her legs parted on their own free will, helping Julien gain better access to her now-sopping-wet pussy.

“That’s it, sugar, oh yeah you feel so wet for us, Illeanna,” Julien stated then began to inch his way down to the rug. He began to pull her shorts down and lift her rear so he could pull her shorts off of her when she panicked.

Louis released her lips but kept her face between his hands as he panted for breath. His lips were red and swollen, and she was certain hers appeared the same way. “Please, Julien,” she pleaded but held Louis’s gaze.

“Let us pleasure you, Illeanna. Let us show you how good it will be with us,” Louis stated. She hesitated a moment as Julien removed her shorts and panties then pulled her lower to the edge of the couch.

She squealed a moment, and Louis covered her mouth in another lethal kiss just as Julien placed his mouth against her pussy lips.

Illeanna moaned against Louis’s mouth as Julien ate at her pussy, nibbling, licking, and sucking her clit as she thrust her pussy toward his face.

When she felt a digit press between her pussy lips and enter her vagina, she screamed her release into Louis’s mouth as he devoured her cries of pleasure. Julien continued to lick and suck away her cream as he added a second digit and pressed in and out of her pussy. She was on fire and felt the urge to orgasm again when Julien bit lightly on her clit, and she pulled her mouth away from Louis so she could gasp for lost breath.

“Oh God, Julien! Oh my God, what are you doing to me?” she asked as she looked down, now chin-to-chest to watch Julien continue to feast on her pussy. His face was red, the veins by his eyes raised, as he ate at her wildly between thrusting his fingers in and out of her pussy.

Louis took that moment to push the material of her tank to the side and cup a breast, releasing it slightly from her bra so he could taste her flesh as well. They made a feast of her, and all she could do was sink deeper into the couch and succumb to their sexual tactics.

“That’s it, sugar, just lie back and feel what we do to you. Feel how much we want you, Illeanna. We’ve always wanted you,” Louis stated before he licked her breast then pulled a nipple between his teeth.

His words echoed in her foggy mind.
Lie back and feel what we do to you. We’ve always wanted you.

She repeated Louis’s words and the panic set in. She’d had sex and lost her virginity with Louis a year ago, and she never took another lover since. He had branded her back then. He had manipulated her mind to believe that she was special to him. But it had been a mistake. She knew if she accepted Louis as her lover, then she was accepting all the Boudoux men to share her. She snuck out that night and never spoke to him about it again. Yet he continued to see women. She knew he was sleeping with the women he took out on dates or to the movies. All his brothers were never alone on a Friday or Saturday night like she was. He ruined her for other men, and she wasn’t going to go down that lonely path again.

They must have sensed her uneasiness as Julien pressed a soft kiss against her pussy before pulling her panties back into place.

“Thank you, Illeanna,” he whispered then leaned up and kissed her softly.

Louis adjusted her breast back into place and touched a finger to her chin.

“Sweet as ever, Illeanna,” he whispered, and when he went to kiss her, she turned her cheek.

“Illeanna?” Louis said her name, and she scooted back up and tried to rise from the couch, but Julien held her legs.

“Baby, what’s wrong? Did we do something you didn’t like?” he asked, filled with concern. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but she couldn’t ignore the nagging thoughts running through her head that she was just another pussy to add a notch to their belts.

“That was nice, Julien,” she whispered, and he smiled as he rose up and sat beside her on the couch. She looked down and clutched her hands together.

“It just can’t happen again. I’m sorry, but you both need to go.”