Page 57 of Bourbon & Blood

La Croix…

Alina was draped over me, her head on my chest and the rest of her lithe body snug against my side. It felt damn good to have her there.

I’d slept some, but I was one of those guys that didn’t need much of it. Certainly not as much as she did. Three or four hours a night to every two nights was good enough for me. Still, I was content to just lie here under her and listen to her gentle breathing.

The sun was streaming through the windows and the single skylight I had up here and it shone like fire through her copper hair. I liked how long she kept it. Was surprised it had good texture; that it was shiny and soft. Most gingers I knew, their hair was a little rough and real thick. Herswasthick, a beautiful mane that complimented her skin and those beautiful luminous eyes of hers, but it felt shiny and soft, too. A treat for the senses, you know?

There was a whine coming from outside, a familiar one. I lifted my head from the pillow and Alina jerked against my side.

“What?” she asked sleepily but alarmed. “What is it?”

“Boat motor,” I said, and she pushed off me, sitting up.

“Should we be alarmed?” she asked, already alarmed if you asked me. I didn’t smile, though I wanted to. She was cute how she could get wound up over some of the littlest things sometimes.

I told her, “Don’t know, cher.” I sat up and pulled a gun from the bedside table, popped the magazine, and checked it was loaded out of habit more’n anything. Satisfied it was good to go, I rammed it back home.

I got up out of bed and went down the stairs to my front door. I glanced up to check on her, my girl looking around and pulling something up off floor by the side of the bed but my attention was pulled right back to the possible threat out there when the whine of the motor sounded close and then wound down. Which meant whoever it was, they was approaching my barge and lookin’ to dock outside my door.

I went out the front door, gun at the ready, and lowered it when I saw Cypress and Hex headin’ my way. Cy was drivin’ the boat while Hex? Hex looked none too happy about bein’ in it. He wasn’t a fan of the swamp.

“Ho!” Hex called. “You wanna put some damn pants on?”

I turned from my door and glanced up. Alina stood in one of my tee shirts, the sleeves ripped out all down the sides. She was covered, but ho boy, just something’ about her wearin’ my shirt was enough to get my cock to standin’ at attention.

“Who is it?” she asked nervously.

“Some of the boys,” I said. “Why don’t you go on an’ get dressed, cher.”

She nodded and set about gathering her things.

“Jesus Christ, he’s got a fuckin’ boner to boot,” I heard Hex grumble. I turned to give the boys a view of my ass instead, headin’ right on up the stairs and pulling on the first pair of shorts I could find. I left the door open for the boys, while Lina shut herself in the half bath up here to dress.

Tuckin’ my firearm in the back of my waistband, Cy and Hex made their way inside, shutting the front door behind them.

“Got any coffee?” Hex asked.

“Not yet,” I said, comin’ back down. “You just woke us up.”

“Yeah, we figured y’all was here when you don’t answer your phone,” Cypress said.

“Confirmed it when we found your bike at yo’ daddies,” Hex added.

“Make yourself at home, brothers,” I told them. Cy went over to the couch and dropped onto it. Hex followed me to the kitchen and leaned a shoulder up against the wall while I set to making coffee.

“So, how’d it go?” he asked with a wolfish grin. I glanced up toward the ceiling and then back to him and gave a nod. His grin widened, and he nodded enthusiastically. “Well, alright now! I’m glad to hear it.”

He hushed his tone halfway through when the bathroom door upstairs opened and Alina’s light tread could be heard on the stairs.

She came down with a gusty sigh. She stood a little away and gave a nod to Cy who she knew and turned to me an’ Hex, who she hadn’t had the pleasure of meetin’ just yet.

“Alina, Hex. Hex, this is Alina.” I made the introduction as I went through the motions of loading up the coffeemaker.

“Hello,” she said hesitantly.

“Well, hiya,” Hex said with a nod and a smile.

Her silvery eyes turned on me.

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