Page 16 of Masters of Control

Q was a lot less sure about Noelle, but he would try not to judge without reason. He still didn’t know the full story about what went down between her and Iris. He did notice that both Caroline and Noelle sat up a little straighter as he approached, Caroline smiling with interest while Noelle eyed him curiously. Like he’d ever scene with Caroline. That hadn’t stopped her from trying.

He gave everyone else a noncommittal nod, focusing his attention on Sam. The confusion on her face was adorable.

“Hey, Sam, I was wondering if you’d be interested in scening tonight?”

She blinked as if she wasn’t sure she’d heard what she thought she’d heard. Morgan elbowed her in the side when she didn’t answer.

“Oh, um… now? Who’s in charge?”

He grinned wider.

“I am.”

6

An Unexpected Invitation

Sam

Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap.

It wasn’t like no one had ever asked her to scene before, but she’d never had someone she was actually interested in ask her to scene. All her other scenes had been platonic, or they’d agreed to use toys or whatever. From the heat in Q’s eyes as he looked down at her, she didn’t doubt for one moment that he was asking her because he wanted her. Not just someone to scene with, but her specifically.

As if coming up to ask her when she was surrounded by a bunch of willing, attractive, single subs hadn’t indicated that already. He’d chosen her. It was a little like being singled out from the herd by a predator, except she actually wanted it.

Especially with the authoritative way he said he would be in charge tonight.

Being honest, as much as she was looking forward to having Q on his knees for her in class, she’d also fantasized about having him take control ever since she’d walked into Marquis and seen him for the first time.

“Say yes,” Morgan hissed in her ear, nudging her with her elbow.

Sam glanced at Noelle. She didn’t want to just ditch the other woman, but Noelle grinned and nodded.

Well, okay then.

“If you’ll excuse me,” she said, glancing around at the others. Caroline had a pinched expression as she nodded back, but Marissa gave her a thumbs up, and Amy made a little shooing motion, her eyes alight with encouragement. No one but Caroline seemed to mind, and, well… Caroline wasn’t Sam’s problem.

Taking Q’s hand, she let him help her up from her chair. To her surprise, he didn’t let go once she was standing, holding onto it as he led them toward the stairs.

“Upstairs or downstairs?” he asked, glancing at her.

“Can we even get a room upstairs?” she asked, bemused. It was a Saturday night after all. If you wanted a room, you had to plan ahead. Wait… had he planned ahead for this?

“No. Downstairs it is.” Q grimaced, but Sam didn’t mind.

If he’d planned ahead, she might not have felt as special since he could have just been looking to use the room and not necessarily with her. The spontaneity of his invitation made her feel on top of the world. He wasn’t just looking for a sub to fill a slot.

He wanted her.

Even after everything they’d talked about on Monday, even hearing the reason she’d changed her mind about prom. Even after he hadn’t kissed her goodbye when she’d thought he was going to. Maybe he’d just needed a little more time to think about everything.

Regardless, tonight, he was asking her to scene with him.

Yes, that made her feel giddy.

“Any hard limits I should know about?” he asked, giving her fingers a small squeeze as they went down the steps, drawing her attention back to the present.

“I’ve seen your list, and all of mine are covered by it,” she replied, giving him a sideways smile. “When it comes to humiliation, I don’t mind being called a naughty, bad girl, or a toy, but I’ve got way more of a praise kink.”