Page 238 of Masters of Control

“It’s not the worst idea,” Connor said, sliding into his own seat next to Rae.

She shrugged at Asad. She was looking a little… off. A little sad, maybe.

“No, thank you,” Asad replied dryly. “And no, I’m not in trouble, and no one is punishing me. The other Masters wanted to talk a little about me and Morgan now that we’re dating.”

“You are?” Domi looked as shocked as the other two subs, but that didn’t stop her from asking. Oddly, Rae looked a bit cheerier at the news than she had before or at least less sad. “Like, you’re dating-dating?”

“Yes.”

“Exclusively?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my God. She magic vaginaed you!” Domi pointed at him as she squealed loudly enough that if everyone around them hadn’t already been listening to their conversation, they probably would be now.

“That is not a thing!”

All three subs exchanged a look that made it clear they not only thought it was a thing, they also thought it had happened to him. Asad groaned and looked around, trying to find some kind of escape from this ridiculousness.

“What happened to Law?”

The other Dom had been right behind them, and he needed some more Domly backup.

“Talking to Mistress Julie,” Iris said easily, nodding in the direction behind Asad. He turned to look and saw Law frowning, his arms crossed over his chest, while Mistress Julie was shaking her head at him. “She got a delivery of chocolate-covered strawberries at the office today, and Law is freaking out again. He’s been waiting all day to talk to her.”

Connor rolled his eyes while Rae and Domi giggled. None of them seemed disturbed by the secret admirer who kept sending gifts to Mistress Julie at Marquis, but it was driving Law up the wall not to know who was sending them. Asad was also unbothered but not as entertained by Law’s reactions as the subs were.

Not that it mattered. Just past Law and Julie, the door to the women’s locker room opened, and Morgan’s friends started coming out, followed by Morgan herself. She looked up, and from across the entire room, their eyes met. It was something out of a cheesy movie, yet it made his heart beat a little faster.

Just keep it up, and you’ll be fine.

Mistress Julie’s advice echoed in his head.

If this was last week and he was with his family, and Morgan had just come out of the bathroom at the end of the night, what would he do? He’d take her back to the hotel room and have sex. Okay, barring that, he would go over to her and see what she wanted to do.

That seemed like a solid plan.

“In case I don’t come back, have a good night, everyone,” he said, peeling away from the table before any of them could protest, ask him anymore questions, or make references to magic genitalia again. Several shouted goodbyes followed him as he made his way over to Morgan.

Passing by him, Sam pointed two fingers at her eyes and then both of those fingers at him, letting him know that she was keeping her eye on him. Inwardly, he sighed. It was probably going to be a bit before everyone trusted him with Morgan. At least his friends had had his back, even if they were a little uncertain. Both Carolyn and Marissa smiled at him as they passed, turning away from where Sam was headed to go into the Lounge area rather than following her to the bar table. Noelle followed them, but instead of a smile, she gave him a hard glare, which he ignored.

Of all their opinions, he cared about hers the least. Maybe because he knew Morgan did, too. Whatever problem Noelle had with him was not his concern.

He looked right over her to Morgan, who was smiling up at him, though she looked a little nervous.

“Hey, Red,” he said, smiling as he reached for her. Her shoulders relaxed, her hand sliding into his, fingers curling around each other. “Wanna get out of here?”

He had no desire to be here with everyone watching them.

“Yes, Sir.” She leaned into him, looking at him as though he was the only person in the room. “Together?”

“Hell, yeah. My place?” Because Brian would be at hers.

Morgan nodded.

Asad wanted some privacy. He wanted to be able to talk to her without worrying about interruptions. And… well, he wanted some goddamn sleep, which he was pretty sure would be best with her in his bed, either in his arms or wrapped around him like the big spoon she seemed to enjoy being. The position didn’t matter as long as she was with him.

“Yes, please, Sir.”