Page 239 of Masters of Control

Ignoring everyone else, Asad whisked her away into the night. On their way out, the submissive behind the desk gave him a narrow-eyed look as she handed Morgan’s purse over. As soon as they’d turned around to leave, he could hear her picking up the phone. The gossip train was already at work.

Morgan

She was going home with Asad. To his home. As his real girlfriend. Well, his date. Was she his girlfriend? Maybe it was too soon to put that kind of label on things. But they had agreed to date and be exclusive, and that was close enough that she felt like a girlfriend.

She was his girlfriend. She felt giddy. Similar to how she’d felt when Jason had first started paying attention to her but different. She was no longer a teenager who didn’t understand what was happening. She was an adult who chose to be here, with the full knowledge of relationships and sex and all that. And while the Doms of Stronghold might take on a father figure role with her sometimes, especially Brian, none of them were like her actual father. Thankfully.

They knew exactly what was going on with her and Asad, and they’d stepped back and let her make her own decision about it.

Which made her feel giddy. And really good.

“Do you have your car here?” Asad asked as they walked out to the parking lot, pausing when they reached the curb.

“No, Brian drove us.”

“Okay.” He squeezed her hand. “We can go to my place, and I can give you a ride home later tonight or tomorrow morning. We’ll play it by ear.”

She nodded. Whatever he wanted to do was fine with her. Was that okay? Or should she know what she wanted to do?

Before she could decide, her phone rang with Freddy’s ringtone. Somehow, she wasn’t surprised. In fact, it almost felt like she’d been waiting for that to happen. He was always protective of her, as he was with all the submissives, and he was also a friend. She wouldn’t be surprised if Trish at the front desk had been calling him over at Marquis where he was working tonight as soon as she’d seen Morgan and Asad leaving together.

“I need to get this, it’s Freddy,” she said apologetically. Asad just chuckled and nodded, opening the car door for her as she picked up the phone. “Hello?”

“Hey, gorgeous, just wanted to check in and see what’s going on.” Freddy’s tone was warm, but he spoke briskly. Probably because he wasn’t supposed to be taking personal calls, especially since Mistress Olivia was here at Stronghold right now, which meant he was in charge at Marquis.

“I’m going home with Master Asad. We’re dating now.” She glanced over at Asad as he sat down in the car, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. She wasn’t sure what he found funny, but seeing his happiness made her smile.

“O-kay… I thought nothing happened between you two last week?” His voice lifted in question.

Morgan hesitated because she hadn’t actually said that. He’d assumed like everyone else, yet she wasn’t sure if she should keep trying to lie or if she should tell the truth. When she didn’t answer immediately, Freddy sighed.

“I see. You tell him he’d better be good to you, or he’s going to have to answer to me.”

“You’d have to get in line, Freddy,” Asad said, not bothering to pretend he couldn’t hear the conversation. “I’m pretty sure it will be out the door.” He didn’t sound bothered by the fact.

“I’ll be the first in it, and there won’t be anything left for anyone else!” Freddy’s voice was raised to make sure Asad could hear him. Morgan pulled the phone away from her ear, wincing.

“Or everyone could accept that I can make my own decisions, regardless of how they turn out.” She glared at the phone, even though Freddy couldn’t see her.

“Maybe she’ll break my heart. Did you ever think of that, Freddy?” Asad asked before Freddy could respond. “Yet no one’s threatening her.”

There was a long moment of silence. Morgan frowned at him. She certainly didn’t plan on breaking his heart. Then again, she supposed no one ever did. Asad winked at her. Ah. He was giving Freddy a hard time.

Freddy sighed again.

“You both make very good points. Take care of each other, okay? Your friends will be there for you. But seriously, Asad, the Persian Excursion better be closed.”

“Well, not closed so much as going private… exclusively available to one special rider.” Asad chuckled, coming to a stop at a red light. He didn’t let go of Morgan’s thigh. Instead, he reached over with the hand that had been on the wheel to pluck the phone out of hers. “Say goodnight, Freddy.”

“Goodnight, Freddy,” Morgan echoed.

“Good night, you two. Morgan, we’ll talk later? Maybe at lunch tomorrow?”

“Okay. I’ll see you then.”

Asad shook his head as she hung up the phone.

“It’s a good thing I know that you’re both subs and that Freddy is dedicated to Mistress Camille, or I’d be worried about you making a date right in front of me,” he teased.