Page 88 of Masters of Control

“Seven.”

Master Eric had his eyes trained on Steve and was moving like a man on a mission.

“Six!”

Stepping back, Freddy pivoted and pulled Steve with him so that he was facing the right way.

“Five!”

“Freddy, wha⁠—?

“Four!”

Master Eric was in front of them, hands coming up to cup Steve’s face.

“Three!”

“Say no if you don’t want me to kiss you.” Master Eric’s voice was low, rough.

Freddy sighed out loud. It was like a moment straight out of a movie.

“Two!”

“Yes,” Steve whispered.

“One! Happy New Year!”

Okay, well if he wasn’t getting a kiss of his own, at least Freddy was getting a front-row seat to some of the juiciest gossip—and one of the hottest kisses of the night. Damn. Master Eric looked like he was going to devour Steve, and Steve seemed inclined to let him.

Apparently, last year’s midnight did predict this year’s. He’d be sharing a kiss with his champagne again. He brought it to his lips while he watched Steve rub himself all over Master Eric.

Envy pulsed through Freddy, which he hated, but he knew it was normal. Seeing so many of his friends pairing off made him more and more aware of what he ultimately wanted, what he wasn’t getting, and what he didn’t know how to get. He’d played with just about every Dominant at Stronghold and Marquis, yet he’d never sparked with anyone.

Not the way Eric and Steve were sparking with each other right in front of him.

Considering he wasn’t picky about what gender he ended up with, he should have more chances than the heteros, yet here he was.

Someone tapped his shoulder, and he turned, holding back his sigh, expecting to see another of his friends there, someone who would want the gossip. But it was a woman he’d never seen before. Freddy blinked, his mind automatically running through his mental catalog of members, but no, he had definitely never seen her before.

He would have remembered.

She was about an inch shorter than him, but a quick glance confirmed she was wearing high heels, putting her another couple of inches shorter. Curvy as hell and currently packed into a light green corset dress that barely contained her breasts, which were threatening to spill over at any moment. Medium brown skin, dark brown eyes, and black curly hair that was styled naturally in a riot of springy coils that stood out around her head.

She looked like a goddess, and Freddy locked his knees against the instinct to drop and worship her.

“Hello, I’m so sorry, do I know you?” The urge to keep babbling about how he knew everyone at the club was strong, but he held it back.

Her lips curved in a stunning smile, and Freddy’s knees trembled.

“I’m Mistress Camille, Mistress Julie’s friend.”

That’s right. She’d been on the guest list, but Julie hadn’t been sure she’d actually come. Freddy assumed she must have just arrived because he would have definitely noticed her walking around earlier.

“I’m Freddy, I help run the front desk here and well, all sorts of other things.” Do not babble. Do not babble. Do not babble. He couldn’t remember the last time a Dominant had had this kind of effect on him.

Mistress Camille’s smile widened.

“So, I was told. I was hoping you could help me out with something.”

“Yes, of course.” Anything.

She leaned in, and he bent his head forward to make sure he’d be able to hear her, his heart thumping faster in his chest as she shifted closer to him so that they were almost touching.

“I don’t have anyone to kiss for New Year’s. Can you help me with that?”