The limo took us to an airfield. A White House helicopter was waiting and airlifted us on the short ride to our destination. Nicole was looking around in concern as the city disappeared behind us. My reassuring smile did not ease it.
"Where, where are we going, Lawrence? I cannot see the monuments anymore."
"I think we are headed to Camp David. The President was reported to be staying there this week."
"A camp? Mon Dieu! I have overdressed."
"My darling Nicole, there is no way anyone could accuse you of being overdressed in that gown!"
I laughed at her. She did not appreciate the humor.
The helicopter settled down on a wide expanse of lawn. In deference to Nicole's perfect hair, the marine corporal let the blades spin down completely before he opened the door. She favored the corporal with an enticing view of her assets. I received an undeserved crisp salute as I exited the helicopter.
"At ease, corporal."
"That would be difficult at the moment, sir. I'm at attention all over," he quipped back.
I shot him an amazed look.
He grinned and finished with an emphatic, "Thank you, sir!" I had the feeling he really was thankful. Maybe this sharing thing could work out after all.
It proved to be a night of predictability as well as one of many surprises. It was predictable in that Nicole wowed the other guests with her charm and her beauty. It was almost comical when one of them, a French physicist who had won the Nobel Prize a few years back, recognized and remembered Nicole from her time at the University. Apparently her admirers had long memories.
"Mademoiselle Nicole! What an honor to see you again!" came an accented shout across the room.
Nicole stiffened in recognition and muttered "Merde" under her breath before slipping a charming smile on her face and going out to meet the man. I was dragged along as an insurance policy, her arm tightly linked in mine.
"Mon Dieu, how you have grown! And what a beauty you have become! Gaston!" he called to his colleague, "come and meet Nicole Le Brech, a student of mine from the University."
Loudly the two old distinguished gentlemen reminisced with Nicole, much of the time in French. Lusting after her young body had not stopped the professors from encouraging her academically, it seems. The physicist had actually followed her career and knew she held several patents from her work with the American company.
I was highly entertained; on several fronts. First, it became obvious that the people who had vetted Nicole had no idea who she really was. They must have cleared her based on my relationship with her, which was a huge no-no. It felt good they were so confident in my abilities, but heads were going to roll on this one.
Second, the President and First Lady were left floundering like us common folk as they found their information on her was sorely inadequate. They didn't know she spoke French, they didn't even know she was French, they didn't know she was a Ph.D., they didn't know she knew the guests of honor, they didn't know shit. I could see their eyes glaze over as the tightly scripted evening they had planned went out the window.
Third, Nicole was begging me, pleading to me with her eyes to rescue her. She would glance over and I would give her the most 'I'm not jealous' look I could manage. She finally caught on that I was teasing her and started to glare at me in anger. I simply reached up and touched a finger to my neck, reminding her of her collar. Her eyes widened as I nodded at the two scientists. She understood. She had been too worried to charm them.
That changed almost immediately. She deftly took charge and began directing the conversation down less technical paths and doing it in English. Finally, she had them relating ribald anecdotes of French University politics that had everybody in stitches. I noticed it was she that had initially mentioned a particularly memorable tale from her time at the University and had asked her professor to relate the story, as she couldn't quite remember all of it.
She slipped away from the enthralled crowd gathered around the two storytellers and came back to my side. Looking up at me she said, "Thank you, Master, for reminding me of my place."
The First Lady, a notorious champion of women's rights, had been standing directly behind Nicole as she had addressed me. She had come over to speak with Nicole and had heard Nicole refer to me as 'Master.' From her thunderous countenance, I couldn't tell which direction this was going to go. The First Lady gave me a murderous glance, which I ignored. I understood it was at my own peril to do so.
"That was nicely done, Miss Le Brech. Nicely done."
I think she meant it as a compliment.
Nicole, back in her element, turned on her charm. The First Lady gave me another black glance as she took Nicole with her into her own private area of influence. I wandered the room, mingling with the guests.
So far, like I said, it had been pretty predictable. The first surprise of the evening came when Gertie showed up at my side.
"Gertie! I didn't know you came to these things."
"I don't. This is the first time I've been here in 10 years. They always ask me to the scientific and medical shindigs, but I never come. When they called to chat about you, for me to clear you, well, I mentioned it might be a good idea if I was here, too, just in case. They were more than happy to let me come along."
"Just in case of what?" I asked suspiciously.
"Oh, nothing. Well, nothing much. Oh, Hell, you know how it is. You say this and then you say that and suddenly they think that maybe some of those drugs we gave you way back then might flare up at any moment, especially in times of stress..."
"Gertie, you didn't! Is that why I have a shadow?"
I nodded to my right, indicating a husky fellow who had been ghosting me all evening.
"Yep. Him, too," she grinned, indicating the other one I had pegged as security on me. "The little guy has a tranquilizer gun full of some of the most amazing stuff. You'd love it! Sure you don't want to flip out? Just a little? I've been dying for a chance to try this new mixture out on a human. The rats we tested just kind of lay there and flopped around. It's most entertaining."
Her eyes glittered in glee and she was enjoying herself way too much. Careful not to show too much emotion, I shook my head.
"So why are you here, really?"
"Honestly? I wouldn't have missed this for the world. You are a very important man to me. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you now, after all I have invested in you. By the way, there were some interesting results on your physical. You haven't had any, uh, unreported surgery or, uh, um, implants have you?"
I blushed and the guy went for the tranquilizer gun. Not wanting to get carted out of the room, I immediately went into my relaxation techniques I had learned to control my special senses. My breathing slowed and my heart rate moderated as I sought the quiet of that inner place. Instinctively I thought of the beach and the sandcastles. It worked better than it ever had before.
"Most impressive, Mr. Sampson. Most impressive! You may have to come and teach us your technique for that. I have never seen you exhibit such self control so quickly."
Gertie's eyes were like flashing diamonds, she was so excited.
Reluctantly, I told her about Dr. Wang. She was pissed I had omitted it in the reports but said, given the circumstances, she understood. She was very interested in the Rosens' work and not just from a scientific perspective I gathered.
"Oh, Gertie. By the way, I met an interesting young woman this morning."
Gertie rolled her eyes. In her opinion, I was always meeting 'interesting' young women.
"Seriously, Gertie. I think you'd like her for the program."
That got her attention. Mostly she held the opinion that I recruited the women for my own little programs. It wasn't true, but it always seemed that there was at least one broken heart after one of my missions.
"She's bright, recovers from shock fairly fast, has a sense of humor ... You'd like her."
"What exactly was the shock she recovered from?"
"Oh, well, uh, I opened the door a little too widely."
"How wide?"
"I threw it all the way open. She was knocking on it. It was 6:00 in the morning. I was pissed. And naked."
"And she saw... ?"
"Everything."
"Everything?"
"Yep."
"She didn't run screaming from the hotel? She didn't faint?"
I shook my head.
"She even made a joke about the situation."
"Damn. I like her all ready. Where can I find her?"
Even though I didn't know her name, I described the young White House intern to her. I could tell that Gertie would make sure they would meet. Accidentally, of course. Gertie would want to make her own assessment of the girl.
I looked up just as the second surprise of the evening came walking over. I had never seen Marion looking so lovely. She greeted Gertie warmly then turned to me.
"Finally made it to the big time, huh, little brother?"
"You're a regular here, too, I take it?"
"Oh, no! This is the first time I've been here in about 5 years."
Where had I heard that line before?
"Let me guess. When they called to ask you about me, you suggested it might be a good idea if you were here to ease the way, lessen the stress?"
She looked at me in astonishment that I had guessed it right the first time. I simply pointed at Gertie. "You two should talk." I walked away with my two shadows, shaking my head.
The evening went late. Nicole had never been allowed to leave the First Lady's side since she had first retrieved her from mine. Nicole had captivated her and her collection of ass-kissing old biddies with whom she surrounded herself. I saw her touch the collar occasionally, look over at me for reassurance and then smile inwardly. I saw the First Lady observe these silent communications between us. She didn't like them, but was clearly puzzled by our relationship and Nicole's obvious intelligence.
With the reputation I had with security and with a guy with the loaded tranquilizer gun watching my back, I avoided any movement towards the President, so he and I didn't speak at all that evening. I really didn't want to try out that happy juice Gertie had so thoughtfully supplied to them. I'm sure they were greatly distressed when the First Lady announced to security and to us simultaneously that she had invited Nicole and me to spend the night at Camp David. It was much too late to return to the city.
We were shown to a comfortable room in one of the buildings scattered around the grounds. I hadn't been at Camp David before and it was dark, so I had no accurate sense of distance between the buildings or who was staying where. I think it was a compromise the First Lady had made with security that we were kept distant from all the other guests and the First Family.
That was fine with me. It was the right time. I was going try to make the wheels fall off of Nicole, so to speak. Nicole opened the door to our cabin and entered in front of me. I thanked our guide/guard and closed and locked the door. I noticed a distressed looking housekeeping staff member hurrying in our direction as I closed the door. I heard the guard and housekeeping talking outside and then it was quiet.
I pulled Nicole to me and kissed her. Urgently. Passionately. I think she knew. It was time. I had sent her that message over the link earlier this evening and kept repeating it. It was time. It was time. She bowed her head to let me undo her collar. Even in her excitement she remained a submissive. I could feel her trembling.
"You may take me with my collar or without, Master. It makes no difference to me, wearing the collar. You are my Master. You will take me as my Master. Not because you want to, but because I want you to, because that is who you are." She looked up at me, not defiantly but with respect and love. It was a true statement from her. She wanted me to know.
I found the magic button that kept her dress on and she was naked. She had not been able to wear even panties with that dress, it was so revealing.
I took her standing the first time, her back to the wall. I discovered Nicole was very vocal and very loud when she came. She did so often that first time together, many times in French. I was glad we were so far away from the others. She screamed "Master, my Master" over and over, along with the usual incoherent noises, begging for it harder, deeper, now, now, now, damn it, NOW!!!!
We eventually made it to the bed, but it took a while. There was the time in the chair, then once on the desk, twice on the sofa, and several times in front of the fireplace on the bearskin rug. It was a great rug. I was using Dr. Wang's gadgetry to stay hard for her. She was insatiable, as well and delirious, and loudly and repeatedly grateful for each and every time I made her thunder inside.
We collapsed face to face in a sated heap but only after she had me take her from behind, spoon-fashion. It really was her favorite position, but there were several others that were close runners up. We tried as many of them as we could before slipping off to dreamland together.
A quiet persistent knocking woke me. At first I wondered who would be getting us up this early. It was barely daylight. Then it occurred to me that it was a woodpecker outside the cabin window. I got up and shut it and went back to sleep and thought nothing more of it.
We were eating breakfast alone in the common area of the main lodge when the First Lady came in. Her open hostility towards me was missing this morning but there was still an odd look from her in my direction. If I didn't know better, I would say it was one of awe or admiration. She neatly hustled Nicole off on a personal tour of the First Family's quarters.
I figured I needed more coffee to get the ol' heart pumping and started to get up.
"Sit down, Son, I'll get you a refill."
I knew that voice. Every American knew that voice. I jumped up to attention as the President came over to the table carrying a couple of steaming mugs with him. I wasn't particularly standing because I respected him. I did respect the Office, and it was a Hell of a tough job, but, in my opinion, this President's policies had not proven to be the most prudent course for the nation. I was standing at attention because I wanted to make an easy target for security. Maybe they would only wound me if they had a body shot. I waited for the visceral sound of a bullet hitting my flesh. I had heard it before. It was not something you forget.
"Relax, Son. I sent them away."
"Uh, sure, Mr. President." Brilliant.
He sat there toying with his mug for a while.
"I don't know where to begin, Son, but the First Lady has given me my instructions. Best just to jump in, right?"
Sure. When you're the President, I suppose whatever you want is best. I hadn't the foggiest notion what was going on.
"That was some performance you gave last night, you and the Missus."
This was getting weirder and weirder.
"Uh, I'm not sure what you mean. Last night?"
"Sure. In the cabin. You must have, er, pardon the crudeness, um, thrown the meat to your friend for, what? Two? Two and a half hours?"
"Huh?"
"Come on, Son. The entire camp heard you and her doing the nasty."
"What? Was the room bugged?"
The President suddenly realized I was totally clueless as to what he was talking about. Just then an aide hustled in quietly and gave him an update, whispering in his ear. Again that disconcerting look of awe at me before the aide left.
"Oh, dear. Son, it seems we owe you and Miss Le Brech an apology. Apparently housekeeping was airing your room out for you and you arrived too soon. The windows of your cabin were wide open all night last night. The position of that particular cabin is such that your open windows were facing the entire populated part of the camp. Being by itself down in the dell like it is, well, it's kind of like an amphitheater. Your voices carried clearly to the whole camp. We, uh, we thought you knew."
The awful realization of what had happened hit me. My tender moments with Nicole were gossip fodder. It suddenly became very important to find her.
The President seemed to anticipate my concern. He knew a lot about scandals
"Son, not one word of this will leave here. It never has, yet. You may find yourself a national hero in France, though."
He grinned at me as he relayed the humorous conversation he had had with the two Frenchmen as they had departed earlier that morning. They claimed more than partial credit on behalf of France for my performance, as Nicole had obviously inspired me to greater and greater heights of passion with her beauty. And she was French, after all...
I shook my head. I couldn't believe it.
"Uh, Son, I know this is a touchy subject. I'll admit I'm having a Hell of a time seeing your medical file, and I'm the fucking commander-in-chief. I know you worked for us for a while but it seems your entire career and medical file is beyond even my security clearance. I didn't think that was possible. But, seriously son, can you tell me, is this something we did to you? To make you be able to last so long?"
Suddenly it became clear. I started chuckling, then laughing outright. I fell on the floor. It didn't help my credibility with him at all but by this time it was pretty well shot anyway.
"You mean ... Are you trying to tell me that the First Lady sent you to find out how I can keep it up so long?"
I laughed from the floor.
"Son! Keep your voice down. But, yes, that's exactly the reason I'm here."
I calmed down. It took a while, but I climbed back into the chair I had fallen out of.
"Can I ask you a personal question, sir?"
He looked dubious. He nodded.
"Does the First Lady get there every time?"
"Get... ? Oh. Well, Son, no, I guess not. No one does every time, do they?"
He almost sounded wistful.
"Would you like her to?"
"Every time?"
He sounded almost wistful. Maybe the guy was human after all.
I nodded.
"God, yes! I'd give my left nut for that!"
"It won't cost you that. Let me tell you about a little private clinic I found. Does amazing things for couples. Men and women. I have a pretty good connection with them. I can set up a visit. Just name the date and time. I'll even pay for it."
He looked at me suspiciously.
"Is this place on the level?"
"You can check with Dr. Schwartz. I think she is going to inspect the clinic herself. You know her?"
I grinned when I thought of that meeting. Gertie would be squirming in her own juices as the President grilled her on the clinic. Especially if Gertie indulged in the procedure herself, which she would if I knew her. Scientific research, my ass. I wished I could be a fly on the wall for that conversation.
He nodded. He'd check.
"How come you'd pay for it. You don't like me or my politics. I checked you out."
At least they'd gotten that right.
I looked him straight in the eye.
"Well, Mr. President, speaking as a taxpayer, if I can get you to spend more time with your lovely First Lady flat on her back, maybe you'll get off ours."
He looked stunned, the burst out laughing.
Nicole and the First Lady came back in just then. Nicole came over and sat down next to me.
"Lawrence, the First Lady asked me if it was like last night with you every time we made love."
She looked me with an innocent face, her blue eyes twinkling.
"I told her it was like that every single time we did it. Wouldn't you agree?"
I could see the disbelief on their faces change to incredulous belief as I solemnly agreed with Nicole.
"Yes, dearest. It has been like that every single time."
I didn't bother to tell them there had only been a single time. Didn't seem important, somehow...
We finished our breakfasts in an awkward silence. I could tell they wanted to ask us more about our relationship, especially the First Lady. But it was too personal, too soon, and too public. It would have to wait for later. Or never, if I had my choice.
We received a standing ovation from the Camp David staff as we walked to the waiting helicopter. The entire staff had assembled to see us off, together with the President and First Lady. They had all either heard our performance the night before or heard of it from those who had. This tribute to us was just their way of letting us know we had been special guests, ones who would be long remembered. It was an honor kind of thing with them. The staff of Camp David never leaked a word of what went on out there in the woods, ever. This was all they would ever say or do.
The same marine corporal who had delivered us the night before greeted us as we strapped in our seats. I don't think he understood what was so funny that we were in hysterics all the way back to the airfield. It wasn't the normal response to an evening at Camp David.
Nicole got her other wish, too. We had been invited back.