15

Shade moved quietly, shadowing his presence, and blocking bel for the second night of dream walking with the President. He wandered through the vast famous house tonight before heading to the President’s bedroom, taking a private tour. He looked at the portraits displayed throughout the house of each of the mortal men who’d lived here and stood before the portrait of Thomas Jefferson. He’d met Jefferson on several occasions, back in 1785, before Jefferson became President. He’d been the Ambassador to France, and the young emissary from America was looking to expand trade relations with Europe, in a deal that would exchange tobacco for wine. Shade remembered giving him several clippings from his Tuscan vineyards to be taken back to Jefferson’s native Virginia and planted at Monticello. Shade never saw the young statesman again, but he didn’t miss the irony of the fact his own estate now lay only a few miles from Monticello.

He sighed heavily as he returned to the task at hand. He felt sick about doing this. He’d used his dream-walking skills many times, usually to plant dreams of doubt and failure in combat in the minds of his enemies, undermining their efforts on the battlefield. He’d used dream-walking with Kate when he first met her, when he knew she was attracted to him, but was fearful of moving forward. He’d created dreams much worse than what he was producing for Ashton. But this assignment bothered him. Maybe it was because this wasn’t his objective but Alec’s. Or maybe because he knew Kate would object. He knew this little detour of the impromptu house tour was just a means to procrastinate.

When he entered the bedroom, he was a little surprised to see Ashton still awake. His pillows were propped against the headboard, as he read by the soft light on the nightstand. Shade hadn’t had to push his skills like this in quite some time. He concentrated and shut out all distraction, closing his eyes and going to a dark and quiet place inside his head. He let the powers of his gift send the President a sense of extreme fatigue.

Shade opened his eyes to see the man’s head lull back on the pillows, his hands relaxing as the book dropped to the bed. Putting Ashton into a deep dream state, Shade let Rissa waltz in. She started to immediately flirt with the President. Her fingers slid along his arm, her lashes batting flirtatiously, those big blues signaling she could make all his fantasies come true. In the dream, Shade had Rissa speak the words he knew would entice and seduce.

He walked to the bedside, laying his hand on the President’s head and intensified the dream, starring Larissa Benneteau Canton.

He let Rissa perform a slow, seductive striptease for him. She played and teased until the President moaned and issued her a command. Shade read his desire and had Rissa pinch and pull her nipples, moaning and licking her lips, just as Ashton had requested. She masturbated herself in a slow methodical dance, her fingers wet with her own juices, bringing herself to orgasm before she licked her fingers clean.

He had Rissa climb onto the bed and slide his pajama bottoms down as she straddled him and performed a delicious lap dance. Although he was orchestrating this dream, he felt a bit of revenge against the bitch that was forever causing him grief in his life. He owed her a few.

Just as the old boy was coming, Shade had her bite hard into his shoulder, drawing blood. Ashton’s own desires took over in the dream as he tossed her to the floor. He angrily climbed from the bed and grabbed her hair, dragging her across the room and bending her over a chair. He lashed her ass with his belt as she moaned and begged for more. The President obliged her well and fucked her until he was breathless and covered in sweat.

Shade stepped back from the bed, letting this and the other dream sequences from the prior night continue to stream constantly. He couldn’t imagine after a few more nights of this, Ashton could resist any flirtations from Rissa in real life. He’d set the stage, now the rest would be up to her.

The night was almost gone when he teleported out to the Dead House, at least making an appearance there, as if he’d been out on rounds. Theo thought nothing of the unexpected visit, and Shade could at least say to Kate he was at the Dead House. As daybreak neared, he teleported back to Bel Rosso with the rest of the warriors and had a quick smoke before going inside. He’d forgotten to unblock bel, so he quickly let his guard down. He walked inside, heading straight to his office and poured himself a huge Midnight. He had no doubt Rissa could make these scenes play out in reality. He’d done his part, and he had earned California.

He heard the electronic shutters go down, darkening the entire house, the lights automatically coming on. He could hear bel stirring upstairs. He was usually home, showered and in bed with her long before the shutters dropped for the impending daylight. He made his way to the shower. One more damn night and he was done with this bullshit.