Every Little Piece of Him Read online

  "Hunting season is the reason why I want you to stay inside the Lair." He wound a strand of her hair around his finger. "I want you safe."

  "It's so different here." She exhaled. "In Missoula, I've never had to worry about hunters or weather. In the mountains, it's raw and filled with danger but beautiful. I forget that there are wild animals outside the door and I need to pay attention to the weather."

  "Speaking of weather..." He pointed to the window.

  Outside, snowflakes fell. She shivered, cuddling closer.

  She looked up at him. "Normally, I don't look forward to winter because it makes it difficult to travel to the different gigs I have scheduled, but this year, I don't have to leave the Lair. I can stay here and enjoy the snow."

  "Now you can enjoy all the seasons here forever," he said, kissing her.

  Forever.

  Love.

  Commitment.

  She opened her mouth and stroked his tongue. Maybe he was telling her how he felt in the only way he could, and she needed to learn to listen more carefully to understand his language.

  He pulled his head back and cupped the side of her face. "This next week is going to be a busy one. I've got some business to take care of that'll have me away from the Lair for a few hours each day."

  She pressed her cheek into his palm. "I've told you not to worry about me. I know you have to work and I don't want to get in your way."

  "You'll be okay by yourself?" He frowned. "Do you want to invite your sister to stay here? We can make room in one of the cabins and—"

  "She'll never do that. She's married." She smiled, thinking of Sofia spending more than a half a day away from Tom. It would drive her sister nuts to be away from her husband. "I'll laze around here, practice my songs, and have time to try some new ones I've been thinking about doing."

  He leaned back on the couch and held her close. "Are you happy?"

  She jerked and looked at him. Did he doubt her feelings?

  "I've been happier with you than I've ever been," she said.

  "Until this morning." He studied her. "All I wanted to do was protect you."

  "I know, but I'm not that fragile, and while I love how you want to take care of me, I don't want you to protect me from you or what involves you." She hugged him, keeping her head against the front of his chest.

  His heart pounded harder than normal. She swallowed hard. He worried about her, and she couldn't ignore his good intentions, even if he handled the situation horribly.

  A shiver went through her.

  "Cold?" He rubbed her hip. "The snow is really coming down now."

  "It's not the weather." She moved her hand up to his chest. "The thought of a stray bullet hitting you somewhere vital instead of your arm...I could've lost you."

  His hand stilled on her. "I'm not going anywhere."

  "Promise me?"

  "I will never willingly leave you." He moved, coming closer to kiss her and his phone beeped. "Damnit."

  She extracted herself from around him as he stood and pulled his cell out of his pocket. He was a busy man, and she was used to him being pulled away at all hours. Though knowing he was downstairs in the bar or casino, he remained accessible to her.

  The next week would be tough. Despite her assurance she'd be okay while he was away handling business each day, he'd be away from Stone Lair. Away from her.

  Chapter 25

  A white panel van pulled into the parking lot behind Stone Lair. A burst of happiness exploded in Iliana, and she hurried to unlock the door and step outside onto the landing. Waving, she ran down the steps and met her dad getting out of the vehicle.

  "You made good time." She hugged her father. "The roads are okay?"

  "The state plows are keeping the interstate clear." Her dad peered up into the sky at the snow falling and then gazed around the parking lot. "Anders keeps things well plowed here, doesn't he?"

  "He hires some guys to keep the road out front and the parking lot plowed." She raised her shoulders against the cold and side stepped to the back of the van. "Do you know how long it's supposed to snow?"

  "Only through tonight, then the temperatures are going to drop lower." Her dad removed a Rubbermaid container. "Why don't you go inside before you're covered in snow and chilled. I'll carry everything in. No use both of us getting cold."

  "There are lots of steps. I'll help." She took the first of her belongings from him and turned, finding Mac walking toward her, shoving his arms in a thick coat.

  "I'll bring your things up, Ms. Iliana." Mac took the container from her. "Steve is also coming to help. You and your father can go inside and visit while we do the heavy work."

  "Oh, that would be wonderful. Thank you, Mac." She smiled at him and raised her brows at her dad. "Do you have a few minutes for your daughter?"

  "I have all the time in the world for the next half hour." Her dad put his arm around Iliana to keep her warm and walked with her upstairs.

  Inside Anders' private quarters, her dad whistled. "Nice."

  "It kind of takes me by surprise every time I walk in here, too." She smiled, looking around the living room at the high windows and thick timber lining the walls and ceiling. "It's like living at a large ski lodge."

  "Or, above a casino and bar." Her dad's mouth tightened. "Is this what you want?"

  "What's wrong with where I live now?" She spread her arms out to her sides. "It's beautiful."

  "It is." Her dad looked around. "But, you're living with a man who obviously never gets away from his business, and he's at least twenty years older than you."

  She laughed, trying to diffuse the direction her dad was going. "You're going to have to explain how those two things go together.

  "Can he give you enough of his attention when he lives and breathes his job?"

  "Of course." She shook her head over her dad's worry. "He has at least a hundred employees to take care of everything from managing the service workers to the cleaning crew."

  "He's older than you and in a different stage of his life." Her dad held up his hand. "Before you try to convince me otherwise, remember I'm only five years older than Anders. I know what I'm talking about."

  "But, you've been married and had children," she said.

  "He doesn't have a past?"

  "He's never been married, and he has no children." Glad she'd asked Anders early on in their relationship about his status, she felt prepared for anything her dad threw at her.

  "I don't know," he muttered, exhaling harshly. "He's lived a different lifestyle than you. There are all kinds of people drinking and gambling downstairs, and with that kind of atmosphere, there are women who will—"

  "Whoa...whoa...slow down, pops." She approached her dad and held his arms. "You can't get down on him because he might've had a bigger or wilder past than me. All that matters is how he's treated me, and he's a good guy, Dad. He cares about me. When he's working, he welcomes me downstairs at his side. He's not hiding me away up here, and he's not hiding anything from me."

  Her dad hugged her. "As long as he treats you like a princess and you're happy, then I'll lay off on the questions. But, your mom and I are only a phone call away if you need us."

  She looked up at him. "Are you worried about me, Dad?"

  "I'll always worry." He grunted, trying to distract her from the quiver in his voice. "I love you."

  "I know that, and I love you, too." She kissed his cheek when a knock came, and she pulled away to let Mac and Steve in with her belongings.

  For the next five minutes, she directed them where to put the dozen or so containers. Her dad kissed her goodbye and left, needing to get back on the road to Missoula. When she was alone, she looked at all her things she had her father bring over and wondered where she was going to put everything.

  Most of the containers held her winter wardrobe. Anders closet was already full with both his clothes and the ones she had with her from the motorhome. Remembering that she was going to talk with her sister about buyin
g the RV from her, she shot off a text to Sofia.

  The door opened down the hallway. She stepped around the couch and found Anders strolling in.

  His hair hung wet past his shoulders and dampness darkened the shoulders of his coat. She met him outside the kitchen entryway.

  "You must be freezing." She unzipped his heavy coat. "Let me get this off you, and then I'll pour you a coffee."

  He shrugged out of the sleeves. "Put some whiskey and sugar in the coffee, Il."

  She carried his coat away, looking over her shoulder. "Hard day?"

  "Long." He combed his hands through this hair, pushing the strands off his forehead.

  He sat down on the bar stool at the kitchen island. She grabbed a mug and poured him a steaming cup of coffee, adding the extra to warm him up.

  "Careful, it's hot. I just made it thinking my dad would want a cup before he left but he wanted to get back while the roads were clear." She stepped between his thighs and cupped his whiskered jaw when he swiveled on the stool. "Brr...why are you so cold?"

  "Been outside." He sipped from the mug, put it down on the counter, and slid his hands over her hips.

  She caught his wrists, giggling. "Don't you dare put your cold hands under my shirt.

  "Come on," he muttered, teasingly. "Let me warm up."

  She kissed him softly and against his lips, said, "That's what the coffee is for, baby."

  He groaned, reaching for his drink. She stayed close to him and rubbed his thighs. His hard body solid under her palms.

  She trailed her hands down his outer thighs. "Were you outside the whole time you were gone?"

  He nodded, taking another drink. "Just checking out some property."

  "Are you looking to expand the Lair?"

  "Just checking things out." He drained his coffee. "I'm going to jump in the shower and warm up. Get undressed and hop in with me."

  "Yeah?" She bit her lip to keep from smiling.

  His gaze turned predatory, and he used his body to force her to walk backward.

  God, she loved it when he came at her hot and demanding. As soon as she hit the bedroom, she slipped off her shirt.

  Anders passed her and went straight to the bathroom. The drone of water splashed against the tile. She removed her shoes and the rest of her clothes. Standing naked, she shivered.

  He'd come back to the Lair to her, seeking comfort.

  She walked across the room to join him and found Anders already standing in the door-less shower. Without a barrier to block her view of him, she slowed and enjoyed the sight of him in all his glory under the shower spray.

  His head tilted back. She bit her lip taking in the sight of him with his eyes closed and the light above him on the ceiling gloriously illuminating his body. She’d never seen such a beautiful sight. To her, the scars, the ruggedness, the intenseness that radiated from Anders was the perfect combination.

  Not even singing in front of a loving crowd or managing her own career compared to how she felt about her man.

  She stepped in front of him, got down on her knees and took the head of his cock in her mouth. The splash of water trickling off his body landed on her, warming and exciting. Her nipples hardened.

  She flicked the end of his hardness with her tongue.

  Anders caressed her cheek with his hand before grasping the base of his cock and removing it from her mouth. She leaned forward to suck him again, but he rubbed the bulbous head around her lips, teasing her. Sticking her lower lip into a pout, she sat back on her heels.

  "I want you." He held his hand out to help her up.

  Her pussy spasmed. She braced her hands on his chest and gazed up at him. "Can I tell you something?"

  He nodded.

  "I've never had sex in the shower before." She waited for him to laugh.

  His hands on her hips tightened. He turned her, switching places. She stood under the water and rubbed her thighs together. Her body begged for attention.

  "How does this work with a condom?" she asked. "Does the water make—"

  "It works." He reached up onto the tile wall and passed her the protection. "I want to tongue you first."

  Anders dropped to his knees. His hands roamed the length of her thighs, her hips, and urged her to spread her legs. He leaned forward and licked her lower lips. Her hips bucked against his mouth.

  He sucked, nibbled, licked, and warmed her core with every swipe of his tongue over her swollen clit. Her breasts throbbed underneath the assault of the water. She braced her hand on the wall. A secret thrill flowed through her veins.

  Anders pressed his mouth around her nub, drawing the bundle of nerves between his lips. Her leg came up and wrapped around the back of his neck. The new position sent powerful sensations through her, she wasn’t sure she could keep herself in a standing position. He slid a finger along her pussy.

  "Oh...," she moaned.

  Over and over he thrust until he finally added a second digit inside her. She lurched at the added pressure. Her body exploded out of control. Her limbs shook with the orgasm moving through her lower body and spreading through her limbs.

  Anders gave her pussy a final kiss and stood. Her brain was mush. Somewhere in one of her elusive thoughts, she wondered if she had enough strength left in her to bring him to release.

  She needn't worry.

  He took the condom from her and opened the package, rolling it on his cock. She hummed in pleasure watching his broad hands and his thick cock.

  Then, he lifted his gaze. She swallowed hard.

  He picked up her wet body, and she hooked her arms around his neck. She wrapped her legs around his waist and felt herself sliding. He hitched her up higher. She slithered down his wet, hot body until his cock was fully engulfed inside her. She leaned forward laying her head against the side of his. His hips gyrated back and forth, a slow, sensual move. Her pussy, so sensitive, made every pulse of his cock seem enormous.

  “Come inside me, baby," she said, turning her head and biting his earlobe.

  Anders pulled her tight against him, his fingers digging into her ass. His legs shook beneath him, and she held on as his body rocked with his release.

  Long after his cock relaxed and before the threat of the condom coming off inside her, he held her.

  Only when the water turned cooler did he let her go.

  Chapter 26

  Over the soundtrack playing in the bar. Over the loud conversations going on between the customers. Over Mac speaking beside him at the door of his private quarters. Anders heard Iliana scream.

  His body stiffened seconds before he ran up the stairs. He burst through the door at the top of the landing and found Iliana standing with a towel wrapped around her body surrounded by Two-crow, Will, Mark, and Quint.

  "What the hell is going on?" He strode across the room and stood in front of her, blocking the others from her. "How the fuck did you guys get in here?"

  "One of my talents." Will held up a silver pick before pocketing the tool. "We need to talk."

  "Now?" He glared.

  "It can't wait," said Mark.

  He turned and escorted Iliana out of the room. In the bedroom, he closed the door and held her shaking body. When he'd heard her scream in fright, the worst thing imaginable went through his head. He thought his enemies had hurt her.

  Finding the others with her wasn't any better. Iliana was his. He wanted to keep his past from touching her.

  "Are you okay?" he whispered, stroking her back.

  "I thought it was you coming in and went out to surprise you." She sniffed. "Who are they?"

  Not wanting to give her any information, he kissed her forehead. "I'm going to take them into my office. Go ahead and get in bed. I'll be back with you as soon as I finish talking to the others."

  "Baby, that one guy with the long hair had a...a knife on his hip and pulled it when he saw me." A frown marred her skin between her brows. "One of the others—wearing the jean jacket— pulled a pistol from his pocket when I walked
in on them."

  "They're friends. They wouldn't hurt someone who belongs to me. I'll get rid of them, and then you won't have to worry about them walking in on your again." He kissed her one more time and walked out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

  Standing in the hallway, he gritted his teeth. There would be questions later. Iliana wouldn't let tonight be forgotten.

  He stepped into the living room and motioned the others to follow him. In the office, he shut the door and barely kept reign of his temper. They knew from the moment he brought Iliana into his life, she was off limits to everything surrounding the five of them, their past in Mexico, and their survival.

  "We knew Iliana was singing tonight and didn't want any unwanted attention brought into Stone Lair." Mark went to the window and peeked out the drapes. "There are ten dogs running around the parking lot."

  "What the fuck?" Anders stalked over to the glass and looked for himself.

  In the darkness, he relied on the lighting around the parking lot to see outside. Sweat broke out on his forehead. Just the mention of dogs had him imagining the barks, the teeth, the fear.

  "You're going to have to trust us. They're there." Two-crow paused until Anders turned around and faced the room. "There are dogs around each of our houses."

  "If they wanted to send a message, they picked one that would make us all listen." Quint rubbed his chest. "I don't get it. We've given them four straight days to come at us, and they're standing back, fucking with us."

  "I need to get the dogs out of here." Anders pulled out his phone.

  "Wait." Two-crow gathered his hair at the back of his neck and straightened. "Any mention of dogs and you'll have every do-gooder around trying to save them."

  "Then, they can save them somewhere else as long as they're gone." Anders waited for the others to tell him what they'd done with the dogs left at their places and when no answers came, he said, "You all ran here."

  Understanding passed between them all. He sat down in his chair and braced his elbows on the desk. He had no hope that in the morning, the dogs would be gone. As long as people were coming in and out of the Lair, the dogs would stay around humans.