Page 12 of When Shadows Dream: Shadow Hounds

With Ballzy distracted Jezzie took the chance to scan the surface of his desk. Three things jumped out at her, digging their way into her brain to be puzzled out later.

A message from G, something about going dark and the Praesidium.

A meeting was set up for the following week with someone named R.

The meeting had something to do with her. As evidenced by the swirly J in a circle that Ballzy had written next to it. This was the same sign he’d placed on her door to indicate her quarters.

By the time he looked back at her she’d schooled her features and gave away no indication that she’d been looking anywhere other than at him. She watched as his shoulders visibly relaxed and he indicated for her to take a seat on the other side of the large ostentatious desk.

Her mind flashed to the men of her dreams, she wished she had names for them other than Hottie One and Hottie Two, and what they could do both on and over a desk of that size. Not Ballzy’s though, that thing probably needed so much disinfectant to make it sanitary that it was probably easier to burn it and get a new one. She must have been staring at the desk for a while, cheeks getting warmer with each naughty thought and scenario that popped into her overactive imagination, because when she looked up, straight into his eyes, he was studying her with a smirk. The fucker even had the audacity to freaking wink at her. Which only made her squirm in her seat and turn a brighter shade of pink.

“Have a good sleep, luv?” His voice was off somehow, not quite as taunting as normal maybe, she couldn’t quite place it. Like he didn’t really have it in him at the moment to play his usual games with her.

“It was lovely, actually,” she sassed back. This different side of Ballzy scared her a little. She wouldn’t admit it to him, of course, but like this, she didn’t know what to expect from him, and it made her feel even more out of control. And she needed to control these interactions as much as she could.

“It sure as hell looked like fun from where I was standing, luv.” He twisted the little knife that was poking at her annoyance already, and she couldn’t help but rise to the bait, even as she knew he was deliberately distracting her from what she’d seen. Good thing she had an excellent memory.

“That’s another thing. I want fucking curtains for my window. It’s getting beyond creepy. Come on, dude, you really have to resort to getting your jollies off watching sleeping women enjoy a good dream fuck?” she bit out at him snarkily, her eyes flashing with ire.

“Ah, but that’s the thing, isn’t it, luv? We both know there’s more to it than just a dream, now isn’t there?” came his smooth reply. His gaze scanned her curiously, as though assessing what she knew.

“I don’t know what you mean, Balthazar,” she was quick to respond, but the flush on her cheeks gave her away.

“Hmm,” he drawled. “And I suppose the ropes of jizz I saw coating your torso were just figments of my deviant imagination? Or maybe the sight of your pussy gaping open, as though being plundered by an invisible force, as you undulated with desire and came so hard. I’ve already got maids changing your puddled sheets. Was that all in my head too, luv?” he sarcastically taunted.

Fuck, she hadn’t known about that part. Shit, he’d seen way more than she’d suspected. No wonder he’d been stroking himself behind the glass.

“Whoever it is you are meeting on the Astral Plane, he’s a lucky man, luv,” Ballzy interrupted her chaotic thoughts.

“They definitely seem to be, whoever they are,” she retorted. “What do you mean the Astral Plane?” She hated having to ask Balthazar for information. It was an admission that she didn’t know as much as him, and it stung like the dickens to allow him to know that too.

“It’s not common, and usually it’s a conscious choice to visit the Astral Plane, a meeting usually needs planning, precautions, and to enter a very deep sleep. You’ve had no opportunities to do those things. Unless you’re fucking some of my demons?” At the emphatic shaking of her head he continued, “Hmm, I didn’t think so. In that case, I reluctantly concede. Wooing you is no longer a priority, and given your complete and utter disgust with my advances, I’ve taken the liberty of changing tactics. Unfortunately, luv, as we’ve already discussed multiple times over the years, you entered my Den under suspicious circumstances and I have certain clandestine activities that I’d rather keep quiet. You, my dear, are too great a mystery to let loose, too great an unknown threat as it were. So tell me what I need to know and you might just walk out of here early. That’s not too hard, is it, luv?”

“You’ve got more luck getting a decent ride on a full blooded demon’s dick than getting any info that you could use against me, luv,” she tartly snapped out.

“You know, I was kind of hoping you’d say that. It’s always more fun to pull the answers out than to be handed them on a silver platter.” His smirk didn’t quite reach his eyes this time though. Ballzy was looking decidedly tired and something was obviously bothering him.

“As for your previous request, yes, you’ll get your ‘fucking curtains’, as you so eloquently put it. They will be installed as soon as they can be prepared.” With that he turned his back on her and once again gazed out over the purple haze of the meadow below.

Jezzie felt like a schoolgirl dismissed by the principal as she stood and huffed her way toward the door, her head spinning with her conflicting thoughts, and her emotions a rollercoaster of anger and confusion. Just as her hand touched the handle of one door his voice froze her to the spot. Turning, she saw he spoke without bothering to look back at her.

“Oh, and get some rest. We have a guest arriving next week. He has some very special talents and he’s going to help me get information from a very hard nut I’m having trouble cracking. By any means necessary. And he’ll be bringing along a friend for you. Someone to keep you company.” His tone was once again cold and hard. Jezzie inhaled sharply.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, Ballzy. And here I thought we’d made progress getting out the viper stuck up your ass.” She verbally tossed at him before striding out of the room, making sure to keep her stride calm and even until she reached the relative sanctuary of her room.

Chapter 9

---