Page 36 of Masters of Control

Sam

“Want to come inside for some coffee or something to drink?”

It was the most cliché question in the history of dating, but who cared? Sam didn’t even care that it was their first date instead of their third, fifth, or whatever arbitrary number she was supposedly supposed to make him wait for. They’d known each other long enough, she didn’t feel like playing that game.

Besides, he’d already spanked her and gotten her off at Stronghold. They’d also be doing much more intimate things in class.

Why not invite him in? They’d kicked ass at trivia, had the best first date ever, and she wasn’t ready for the night to end.

Q flashed her a smile, his dark eyes sparkling with amusement as if he could read her thoughts.

“I’d love to come in.”

It didn’t escape her notice that he didn’t say a thing about getting a drink. Pressing her lips together to hide her smile, she tried to ignore the way her heart had started pitter-pattering in her chest at high speed and unlocked the door. Thankfully, she usually kept things pretty neat in her apartment, and she’d straightened up a little more before Morgan and Noelle had come over to help her get ready, so she didn’t have to worry about that.

Shrugging off her coat, she turned to take his as well, hanging them up on the hook beside the door. By the time she turned back, he was well into her apartment and looking around, making her wonder if he was searching for something specific.

The little studio wasn’t anything special. The main room was shaped like an L with her bed tucked into the shorter branch so that it wasn’t immediately visible from the door. She was lucky enough to have a very small galley kitchen that was separate from the main room, making it feel a little less cramped and less like a regular efficiency. The bathroom and closet were tucked between where her bed was and the kitchen. Getting to the bathroom meant walking through her closet—which was currently in pretty good shape since Noelle had put all of Sam’s clothes back in place while Morgan was doing her makeup.

Most of her furniture were freebies she’d picked up from online or things she’d found at yard sales. The queen bed was a hand-me-down that she’d gotten from her aunt, and she’d saved up to buy the new mattress after moving in. The most expensive thing in the whole apartment was her loveseat, which she had instead of a regular couch, and she’d gotten it on sale from a discount store for a couple hundred bucks.

It was the perfect size for two people, not that she ever had much of an opportunity to share it with anyone. Her diploma hung in a place of honor above the love seat. Her dad had been so proud, he’d gone and gotten it professionally framed, despite the expense.

“Nice.” Q turned slowly in a circle taking in the whole room. “It’s like a studio but with a kitchen.”

“It is a studio, just shaped a little different,” she said. “And, like you said, the kitchen.”

“Kind of convenient having the bed in the same room as everyone else.” He turned back to face her, the glint in his eye sparkling brighter than ever. Sam felt a rush of heat flow through her, her anticipation ratcheting higher as her instincts kicked into high gear.

“Yes, I suppose it is. Can I get you some water or start making some coffee?” she asked, though she didn’t make a move toward the kitchen. Her feet were firmly rooted to the floor just beyond her closed door.

She didn’t really want to get him a drink and chat and wait to see what happened next.

She wanted to get right to the good stuff. She wanted to celebrate their win. She wanted him to take her to bed, or her to take him, she wasn’t sure it really mattered.

“I’m not particularly thirsty.” Q took a step toward her as she took one toward him, leaving them less than a foot away from each other.

Sam tilted her head.

“Then why did you come in for a drink?” Her words came out more breathlessly than she intended, making her sound extra flirtatious, which was more than fine.

His smile widened, and he reached for her. Sam stepped into his arms, pressing her hands against his chest, her curves flattening against hard muscles. One of his hands flattened against her lower back and the other slid up to the back of her neck. Fingers curved around her neck, his thumb gently sweeping the side, lips hovering just over hers.

“I didn’t. I came in for you.”

Yes, please.

Their lips met and parted in a rush of need, their tongues tangling with passionate fervor. Sam’s body tingled all over, the ache between her thighs tightening her inner muscles. The kiss deepened as Q’s fingers tightened slightly on the back of her neck while his hand slipped between her sweater and her jeans, caressing the skin and making all the littles hairs on her arms stand up.

Heat and need coiled through her, her nipples tightening as her breasts were pressed flat against his hard chest. Rocking her hips as one of his legs wedged between hers, Sam moaned, but the sound was muffled by his kiss. She ran her hands up his chest to his shoulders, wrapping them around him, and kissing him back fiercely as pleasure pulsed through her.

She rocked against his leg, rubbing herself on his thigh, the thick fabric of their jeans keeping them apart yet stimulating her clit, thanks to the seam’s ridge against her pussy.

“Fuck.” He tore his mouth away from hers, his eyes wild as their gazes met. Sam’s lips felt swollen from his kiss, and she shuddered, her thighs squeezing his, holding herself still from pure willpower. Staring back at her, he tilted his chin up challengingly. “Who’s going to be in charge?”

Licking her lips, she stared back at him, and something inside her rose like a cobra that had been challenged. She wasn’t feeling particularly submissive right now.

“I guess we’re going to find out.”