Page 186 of Masters of Control

Well, she was wrong.

Trying not to feel put out—this wasn’t about her, it was about him—Morgan went to the dresser where she’d put her things, and took out her nightgown. It was a silky, lacy little thing with a matching robe that she’d brought but hadn’t been planning on wearing. Now it felt like maybe she should put it on, so she did, tucking her dirty clothes neatly away in another drawer.

Then she looked at the closed bathroom door. Should she knock? She needed to take off her makeup and do her skincare routine, especially if she wasn’t getting a spanking tonight. Her routines helped soothe her, the very act of putting makeup on and taking it off always calming her. But if Asad needed some more time and privacy, she didn’t want to interrupt him.

She supposed he wasn’t feeling all that amorous after the dinner with his parents, which she could understand. Maybe sex wouldn’t be the same kind of relief for him it would be for her. He was a Dom, after all. Taking control might not be something he wanted right now. Maybe he wanted to relax and not have to deal with a needy sub.

Going over to the bed, Morgan pulled out her phone. She’d had it on silent, so it didn’t interrupt the dinner, and there were several missed texts. She answered the one from her friend Freddy first, letting him know she was doing fine and that she hoped he had a good week. Then she checked in on her group chat.

Amy: How did dinner go?

Sam: They’re probably still eating.

Noelle: I’m sure you’re doing great!

Neither Carolyn nor Marissa had texted, probably because there wasn’t anything new to say.

It went well. His family is nice. We just got back to the hotel.

That wasn’t the total truth, but she didn’t think Asad would want her sharing everything he’d told her. If it was all public knowledge, she was pretty sure she would have already heard about it. Like her with her past, he probably wanted to be able to choose who he talked to about it.

Noelle: You just got back, and you’re talking to us instead of banging that hottie? Girl, get off the phone!

He’s in the bathroom.

She didn’t know how to say that she didn’t think he was going to be up for sex after the dinner since she’d told them it had gone well. Which was too bad because she would have liked their advice about it, but she couldn’t ask for it without explaining that she’d just lied.

This was why she didn’t like lying, but she couldn’t regret respecting Asad’s privacy.

Marissa: Ew, hope he didn’t eat something that disagreed with him. How’s your stomach?

Carolyn: Maybe he’s man-scaping for her.

Amy: Um… aren’t they supposed to not be having sex?

Noelle: Wait, what? Who said that? I thought that was the point of this trip.

Amy: Zach told me they were doing this week platonically. I think he heard it from Kincaid.

Marissa: I hadn’t heard anything about that. But no one tells me anything.

Sam: Yeah, I overheard some of the guys giving Asad a talking-to about it. They’re worried about Morgan’s emotions getting confused.

Morgan stared at her phone in shock, then shook her head. The door to the bathroom opened, and she automatically hit the off button on the screen, pressing the phone to her lap. Feeling oddly vulnerable, she was very glad she’d put on the robe.

People were making choices about her life without her again.

Pressing her lips together, she swallowed back the emotions, putting her usual practiced smile on her lips.

“All done?” she asked as Asad emerged.

It wasn’t just pajama pants. He also had on a t-shirt she hadn’t seen him pick up. His gorgeous body was basically completely covered from bicep to ankle. The Persian Excursion was wearing more clothing than she was.

“It’s all yours,” he said, gesturing back at the bathroom. Then his hand came up to cover his mouth as he yawned, his other arm stretching out. The expression on his face was one of exhaustion.

Hm. Maybe he really was just tired. It had been a long day with the drive, then dinner with his family. An emotional day for him, though not for her. Maybe Sam had heard wrong. And just because someone had told Asad to keep his hands to himself didn’t mean he would. It wasn’t like they hadn’t scened before.

She would give him the benefit of the doubt tonight.