Page 240 of Masters of Control

“I’m pretty sure it’s the dates you don’t know about that are the problem in that scenario,” Morgan replied. After all, if he knew about them, then they weren’t really dates. If she was hiding them, that would be the problem.

“Okay, well, don’t do any of those, for sure.” He glanced at her in the darkness, the passing streetlights revealing a pensive expression on his face before he had to refocus on the road. “I really want to give this a real go. Like dating exclusively. I want us to be like we were in Pittsburgh.”

Morgan covered his hand on her thigh with her own, giving it a little squeeze.

“That’s what I want, too.”

“Good.” He flipped his hand around, so it was no longer palm against her thigh, lacing her fingers through his. “Just so long as we’re on the same page.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Morgan

“It’s like the fake relationship, but better because it’s real.” Morgan couldn’t keep the silly smile off her lips as she answered Mistress Julie’s question about how things had been going the past few days. The first few days of being Asad’s girlfriend. She’d overheard him calling her that when talking to a co-worker on the phone, and she was still giddy about it.

She felt giddy all the time now, like happy butterflies had taken up permanent residence in her stomach.

“Is there anything different?” Mistress Julie asked, looking Morgan over. Sitting comfortably in her chair, wearing a pantsuit and her hair pulled back into a neat bun, the Dominatrix therapist looked professional and put together. Morgan was… not. She had on her makeup, but she’d only had time to throw her hair into a messy bun before running out the door to get to her appointment, wearing yoga pants and one of Asad’s t-shirts because they were the only clean clothes she’d had at his place.

“I’m becoming more comfortable going out of the house in very casual clothing,” she said ruefully, tugging at the hem of the t-shirt. She was sure that was what Mistress Julie was noticing. Going by the size and that it was a Star Wars t-shirt, it was pretty clear it wasn’t hers. Though Asad had shown her the first movie last night, and she’d liked it, graphic t-shirts weren’t really her thing, even in her downtime.

“That’s one thing. Are you okay with that, or was it out of necessity?”

Morgan hesitated a moment before answering.

“Both. It was out of necessity, but I don’t feel uncomfortable.” She tugged on the hem of the shirt again. “It’s not something I’d ever choose for myself, but I do like wearing Asad’s clothes when I’m not going out out.” And he seemed to like seeing her in them. Something about her walking around in his clothes turned him on. She often didn’t get to wear them long unless they’d already had sex. “I think I would be uncomfortable if I was going out to eat at a restaurant or with my friends.”

“That’s good to know. How is everything going with them? Is everyone being supportive?” Mistress Julie’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Or at least accepting?”

“Accepting.” Morgan sighed. “Sometimes, I wish there was more support.”

“It’s only been a few days,” Mistress Julie pointed out. “You’ll get more acceptance as people see that things are going well and start to relax. They’re not used to you being in a relationship, and they’re definitely not used to seeing Asad in a relationship.”

“Right.” It felt natural to her, as if it had been going on for far longer, but she needed to remember that no one else had seen what they’d been like in Pittsburgh. For all of them, it had only been a matter of days, and they were getting a very incomplete picture. “My friends feel cautious but mostly supportive. Except Noelle. She keeps telling me to be careful and doesn’t think I should trust Asad’s turnaround.”

“How does that make you feel?”

“Annoyed.” Morgan knew that question would be coming as soon as she mentioned Noelle, so she’d already thought a lot about it. “I talked to Amy about it, and she said she thinks Noelle is just worried about me, and that sometimes she can be a little overbearing without realizing it.”

“What do you think?”

“I think Amy likes to think the best of everyone. I understand what she’s saying, but I don’t understand why Noelle would be that worried or why she can’t accept my decisions. We haven’t been friends that long, and she’s not as close to me as the others are.” They all accepted her decisions. Carolyn was the most supportive, acting as if she’d achieved some kind of accomplishment. Other than Noelle, Sam was the most cautious, but she wasn’t constantly bringing it up the way Noelle was.

“Have you asked Noelle about it?”

“No. Do you think I should? I don’t think she likes direct questions.” That was another reason Morgan couldn’t entirely relax around Noelle. Carolyn and Marissa found her bluntness entertaining, Sam encouraged her to say what she meant, and Amy thought she was wonderful just the way she was. Noelle always acted like there was some deeper meaning behind what Morgan said or something she wasn’t saying, which Morgan didn’t understand. Why bother saying something she didn’t mean?

“I think it matters what you want to do.”

She should have expected that answer. Mistress Julie smiled when Morgan sighed again.

“I don’t know what I want to do about Noelle. I just try not to spend too much time with her. Which I think will be harder as Amy’s wedding gets closer. I’m excited about being a bridesmaid, so I think that will help. We’ll be able to talk about wedding things instead of Asad or my relationship.”

“That should help, having a neutral conversation topic. How are things going with that?” Mistress Julie shifted in her chair, uncrossing and recrossing her legs, settling into a new comfortable position.

Morgan found herself doing the same, mimicking her and only noticing it once she was doing it. Well, her foot had been starting to fall asleep, anyway.

“Good.” She tugged at the hem of her shirt again. “Amy got her results back from the doctor. Her thyroid isn’t working the way it’s supposed to, so she just started medication. She said she’s already feeling like she has more energy, and she’s hoping it’ll mean she starts losing weight again.”