Harem Master Chapter 49 (Patreon)

--- Ava Black ---

Ava was sitting in the library. She was supposed to be studying, but her mind kept drifting to the date she was going to have with Asher. Why the fuck couldn’t she get it out of her mind? It was just a stupid date…

But her thoughts were so occupied with it that she wasn’t able to focus on anything else. She really wanted to make an impression on him, and soon she found herself doing something she would’ve laughed at if anyone had told her she’d ever do it - watching a makeup tutorial, hoping that this time it would turn out better than the last.

It was all interrupted when someone suddenly snatched the phone out of her hands.

“Makeup tutorials?” Thomas asked, stepping away from her and glancing at the screen.

Ava jumped to her feet and ran after her brother.

“Give it back!” she gasped.

“Seriously?” Thomas scoffed. “Getting all girly now? Watching makeup stuff?”

“Thomas, give it back!” Ava groaned, chasing him. Just as she was about to catch him, the phone turned into a lightning ball and flew straight to the bracelet on his wrist.

“Oops,” Thomas said with a chuckle. “Why would you even want to learn stuff like that?”

“None of your business!”

“Please. With that face, nothing’s going to help you.”

“Fuck you! Give me my phone back.”

“Or what?”

“Do you have to be such a jerk?”

“I’ll give it back if you tell me who you’re getting all dressed up for.”

“No one!” Ava snapped.

“Sure. I’ve never seen you put on makeup before. Who’s the unlucky guy who has to deal with you?”

“Just give me the fucking phone!” Ava growled, stepping right into his face.

“Nope,” Thomas replied, trying to move away.

But Ava had enough. She threw a punch at him. He leaned back, avoiding her fist, but she immediately summoned a fireball in her other hand and hurled it at him, hitting his chest.

Thomas tried to punch her, but this time she moved out of the way, just before her hand slammed into his chin. A second later, pain shot through her stomach as a fireball hit her.

He tried to kick her, but she sent a fireball into his leg, forcing it back, then struck him in the face again, summoning another burst of fire in her palm at the same time. He stumbled back against the wall, but Ava rushed him.

Just in time, he pushed off the wall and avoided her front kick, swinging at her, his fist brushing against her face, hitting her lower lip. She drove her shoulder into him, knocking him back.

He started summoning another fireball, but she kicked his hand as it formed. Something cracked - probably his fingers - and he screamed. She threw herself at him, punching him in the stomach while already summoning brass knuckles onto her other hand from her explorer bag.

“Enough!” someone shouted from their left.

That didn’t stop Thomas from trying to punch Ava in the stomach again, but she twisted her body, slamming her elbow into his head, and immediately summoned another fireball, blasting it into his face while he was bent forward.

Out of the corner of her eye, Ava caught something flying toward them. She grabbed Thomas by the shoulders and spun them both around, using him as a shield just as a purple skill struck his back. He froze, caught in some kind of stunning spell.

Ava couldn’t help herself - she punched him once more with the hand without the brass knuckles, and he dropped to the ground like a cut tree.

“Ava!” the female teacher who had cast the spell gasped.

“He started it!” the Latina protested.

Teresa, one of the mage teachers, approached them. Thomas gasped as the stun wore off and he began to move again.

“What are you doing?” Teresa demanded.

“She attacked me!” Thomas said, pushing himself up and wiping blood from his face.

“He stole my phone!” Ava shot back.

“I just wanted to borrow it, and she started throwing punches.”

“I would never lend you anything, idiot!”

“Fuck you, bitch!”

“Enough!” Teresa said firmly. “Where’s the phone?”

“In his explorer bag,” Ava replied.

“Thomas,” Teresa said, reaching her hand toward him, and with a grimace he summoned the phone from his bag and placed it in their teacher’s hand.

“Are you going to tell our father about this?” Thomas asked.

Ava clenched her teeth. That asshole wanted their father to hear about it, because she would be the only one to get in trouble.

“No,” Teresa replied. “Thomas, go to the medics. You’re wounded. We’ll talk later.”

“I’m okay,” he protested.

Ava snorted. “I kicked your ass.”

“Only because she stunned me!”

“Thomas!” Teresa snapped. “Show some respect to your teachers.”

“I’m sorry, miss,” he muttered, lowering his head.

“To the medics. Now,” the teacher ordered, and this time, with a frown, he obeyed, leaving the room and casting a hateful glance at Ava just before he stepped out.

Teresa waited until he disappeared before sighing and turning toward Ava, remaining silent.

Ava wanted to excuse herself again, but then… what was the point? No one ever believed her anyway.

“You really did kick his ass,” Teresa said with a faint smile.

“What?” Ava asked.

“If I hadn’t interfered, he would’ve ended up much worse than he already did. But pulling out weapons was a bit too much, don’t you think?”

“I just wanted my phone back,” Ava said.

“Actually, it’s good we have a chance to talk. Maybe you’ll tell me how it is that I keep hearing about this talented and hardworking student who got first place in the rankings, and yet in my classes she seems to train half-heartedly.”

“I don’t,” Ava protested. “I train hard.”

“Not hard enough.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“When I offered last time to stay after class for those who wanted individual guidance, I was hoping that this ambitious student I’d heard so much about would stay.”

“I had something important to do,” Ava replied. “Really. We were heading into a dungeon that day right after classes.”

“So if I offered you private tutoring, you’d be eager to accept?” Teresa asked.

Ava hesitated, unsure if she had time for that. It sounded amazing, but… Teresa was a teacher of close combat mages, which wasn’t what Ava had planned to focus on. But she had gotten the elementals skill from Asher, and those needed to fight at close range.

“You’re offering because of my elemental skill,” Ava said.

“Yes. Or rather, because of how early you got it. And with two elementals already. Almost every year some student gains some variation of that skill, but usually it happens halfway through the year. You getting it now gives us much more time to train fighting with them, if you’re interested.”

“I am,” Ava replied.

“Okay. Are you exploring today?”

“No,” Ava said with a slight grimace. “But I have something important to do.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

“Great. After classes, come to the square. Now, you should probably get some treatment too. But maybe wait a moment before your brother comes back from the medics,” Teresa added, her gaze flicking to Ava’s lower lip, which stung a little.

“I can handle it,” Ava replied. Sisi could heal her, and she wouldn’t have to risk running into her brother again.

“Okay. See you tomorrow then,” Teresa said, and they went their separate ways.

--- Asher Montgomery ---

After their classes, Asher and Madelyn headed to his home to study together, but then Naomi joined them, and they ended up in her room, all sitting on the bed going over the material when the front door suddenly slammed. Loud footsteps echoed through the house, someone entering before stopping abruptly, and a moment later it sounded like they opened the door opposite Naomi’s room.

Asher glanced in confusion at Nami and Maddy, then slid off the bed and opened the door. Ava had her back to him, but when she turned toward him, he immediately spotted her cut lower lip.

“What happened?” he gasped, stepping closer.

“I got into a fight with my brother,” Ava replied. “Is Sisi in there?” she asked, peeking over his shoulder into the room. “I need her to heal me.”

“Maddy is,” Asher replied, glancing at the blonde, who also got up from the bed.

“Ugh… sure,” she muttered with a frown.

Ava stepped inside, approaching the shorter blonde, who raised her hand to the Latina’s face.

“What happened?” Asher asked again.

“I already told you. I got into a fight with that idiot,” Ava replied.

“But why?”

“Is it important?” Ava groaned. “Thanks,” she added when Madelyn cast her skill and healed the damage.

“No problem,” the blonde muttered.

Ava turned, brushed past Asher, and walked out of the room. He could tell she was pissed. He glanced at Naomi and Maddy, then said quietly, “I’ll be back in a moment.”

He followed Ava upstairs to the bathroom, where she hadn’t bothered closing the door and was already washing her face. He watched her for a moment, wondering whether he should push to find out what had happened or just let it go.

“What?” Ava asked, speaking first.

“Are you okay?” Asher asked, stepping closer and gently turning her toward him, his hands settling on her hips.

“Yeah. I kicked his ass,” Ava replied.

“I don’t doubt it,” Asher said with a small smile. “But I didn’t mean it like that.”

Ava sighed, watching him from up close for a moment. Then instead of answering, she stepped into him and wrapped her arms around his back. He was a bit surprised by the hug, but he wrapped his arms around her too, holding her close.

“I don’t know why he’s such a jerk,” Ava murmured after a moment. “I’d be happy to ignore him. Especially now that he’s so much weaker than me. But he couldn’t fucking last a week without finding a way to get on my nerves.”

“What did he do?” Asher asked, slowly brushing her back.

“I was watching… something on my phone, and he stole it from me, laughing at what I was watching. Then he put it in his explorer bag and didn’t want to give it back.”

Asher didn’t have any siblings himself, but that sounded like something siblings might do to each other as a joke. Still, Thomas and Ava weren’t exactly on friendly terms, so it was probably more malicious than playful.

“And how did that turn into a fight?” Asher asked.

“I punched him,” Ava replied calmly. “We started fighting, and one of the teachers stopped us.”

“Are you in trouble?” Asher asked, concerned.

“No, not really. Actually, she offered me private lessons. She teaches mage close combat and wants to help me train with my elementals.”

“That’s great,” Asher said.

“Yeah,” Ava replied, then added, “I kicked his ass.”

“You sound proud of that.”

“Of course I am,” Ava said. “He thinks he’s so much better, and yet he lost again. He had to go to the medics, and I broke his finger. Maybe even more.”

Asher sighed, at least relieved that Thomas was the one with broken bones and not Ava, though it would probably be better if they avoided fighting at all.

“Do you think I shouldn’t attack him?” Ava asked, but her tone didn’t suggest doubt.

“I think he shouldn’t bother you and laugh at you. He started it,” Asher replied with a shrug.

Ava pulled back from the hug and pressed her lips into a short kiss with Asher before slipping out of his embrace and taking off her shirt, which had a hole burned through it. She was left standing in front of him wearing only a sports bra.

“What were you watching that he was laughing at?” Asher asked.

Ava glanced at him, thinking it over for a moment before averting her gaze. “It’s stupid.”

“What’s stupid?”

She sighed deeply before answering. “I was watching a tutorial on how to put on makeup. Last time I spent so much fucking time and tried so many times to do it right, and then you didn’t even show up to class. And when you did see me, you didn’t say a word about it, you were more focused on my clothes instead.”

“You don’t really need makeup, Ava. You’re gorgeous just the way you are. Back then… you looked great, but maybe you put on a bit too much. Especially when you don’t really need it.”

“So I shouldn’t wear makeup?” Ava asked, looking at him.

“I don’t really care,” Asher shrugged. “I see you most of the time without it, and I really like what I see.”

“But it’s a date. Women normally wear makeup,” Ava replied.

“If you really want to, maybe you could ask Lucy for help? I’m sure she has a lot of cosmetics and would love to help you.”

“Sure,” Ava snorted. “If only I let her do some lewd stuff to my elementals.”

“You like when she does lewd stuff to your elementals. Or to you,” Asher replied with a smile.

Her brown eyes stayed locked on his face for a moment before she asked, “Is Lucy home?”

“No, she’s training with Elara right now, but it probably won’t take long,” Asher replied. “Where are we going on a date?”

“It’s a surprise. Put on something comfortable and sporty. We’re leaving at six.”

“I can’t wait,” Asher said.

“Really?” Ava asked.

“Why are you surprised?” he asked back.

Ava shrugged, looking at him with a bit of hesitation. “Can we hug again?”

“Of course,” Asher replied with a soft laugh, opening his arms and pulling her against him. They stood there, her in only her sports bra, as he brushed her bare lower back. After a moment, Ava groaned.

“What?” Asher asked.

“He’s right.”

“Who?”

“Thomas. He was laughing at me for doing girly stuff, and he’s right. I’d never touched makeup before I met you. Or wondered what clothes I’d look good in. Or bought lingerie. Or hugged a boy. Or gone on a date.”

“I don’t know him that well, but he would find any reason to laugh at you,” Asher said. “And there’s nothing wrong with doing those things.”

“I’m not saying there is. But I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing. Before, my goal was simple - I wanted to be stronger than Thomas. I knew what I needed to do to reach it. Now… you told me to find a new goal, and I did, but I feel like there’s no clear path to it.”

“And what is that goal?” Asher asked.

Ava leaned back just enough to look into his face from up close. “You. As my boyfriend.”

“I… uh…” Asher stammered, caught off guard.

“Should I not say that?” Ava asked with a frown. “You told me to find a goal I’d enjoy not only when I reach it but also along the way. And I like you, and spending time with you, and sex, so that’s the most logical choice.”

“No, I’m just… surprised. But I guess I should’ve expected that. I mean… aren’t we kind of already dating? We’re going on a date today, we live together, and we have sex pretty much every day.”

“So what? You’re already my boyfriend?” Ava asked, frowning.

“Uh…” Asher groaned. They were basically acting like a couple already, it just hadn’t been said out loud. Despite how weird Ava could be sometimes, or often, he liked her. It had crossed his mind that maybe he should talk to El first, but on the other hand, she had already told him this would probably happen.

“Do you want to be my girlfriend?” Asher finally asked.

“I already told you it’s my goal,” Ava replied.

Asher groaned, closing his eyes. He had expected a simple yes. “I’m asking if you want to make it official. Right now.”

“Yes,” Ava answered without hesitation.

Asher smiled, a warm excitement spreading through him. Even though he already had one girlfriend and was getting another, he still couldn’t stop the rush of emotion filling his chest. He leaned in, still holding Ava close, and kissed her, their lips brushing softly until she pulled back.

“What now?” she asked.

“Now? We’ll go on our date,” he replied. But when she didn’t seem satisfied with that answer, he realized she was asking about something else. “You mean a new goal?”

“Yeah. I got this one pretty quickly, but what am I supposed to do now? Find another?”

“You do realize relationships aren’t permanent? So maybe for now make your goal getting stronger and clearing more dungeon levels. And between the two of us… making this work...”

Ava nodded thoughtfully, then narrowed her eyes at him. “You want me to make my goal being a good girlfriend for you?”

“Uh… it’s not like that,” Asher said, then stopped himself. “Wait. Was that a joke?”

Ava smiled and pulled him in for a kiss, her lips teasing his as she ground her thigh against the bulge in his pants, her hands sliding to the back of his head and brushing through his hair. His hands moved on their own, drifting down to her ass and squeezing her cheeks as she stopped kissing his lips and lowered hers to his neck.

His cock throbbed against her thigh, and he realized that if they didn’t stop soon, they wouldn’t stop at all.

“We should wait until after the date,” Asher murmured, not actually stopping her from kissing his neck or rubbing against him.

But a second later she stopped on her own and shifted into another hug, this time without any more kissing or grinding.

“I don’t understand it,” she whispered. “But hugging you feels so good…”

Asher pulled her closer, enjoying holding her just as much. They stayed like that for another moment, neither of them wanting to pull away, but eventually they separated. Asher left her in the bathroom as she was about to wash up, knowing there was no chance he’d be able to control himself if she got naked in front of him.

When he entered Naomi’s room to return to his two friends, he noticed that Madelyn had taken off her hoodie and was sitting there in only a spaghetti-strap top - probably the most revealing piece of clothing he had ever seen her wear. Leaning slightly forward on the bed, she was showing quite a bit of cleavage.

He knew she had rather big beasts, but he was surprised by just how big they actually looked now that she wasn’t hiding them under layers of clothing. For a moment he even wondered if they might be bigger than Lucy’s.

“Asher,” Naomi grunted.

His gaze snapped to her, then to Madelyn’s face. He noticed the blush on her cheeks and realized he’d been staring at her tits, and that he had made it obvious enough for both of them to notice.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled, mentally kicking himself for being an idiot. He had just been surprised by the view and… well. He was a horny idiot. “Sorry,” he repeated.

Madelyn didn’t answer. She just chewed on her lower lip and averted her gaze… while at the same time not putting her hoodie back on or trying to cover herself, which only confused Asher more.

“Is Ava okay?” Naomi asked, coming to his rescue.

“Yeah. Her brother was bothering her, and she kind of snapped and attacked him,” Asher replied, sitting on the bed in a way that put Maddy more at his side so he wouldn’t keep staring at her tits. “Honestly, I don’t know how they lived together for nineteen years without killing each other.”

“Are you still going out on a date?” Nami asked.

“Yeah.”

“You’re taking her out?” Madelyn asked.

“Actually, she’s taking me. I don’t even know what we’re going to do,” Asher replied.

“And Elara knows?” Madelyn asked.

“You think I’d hide something like that from her?” he replied instead of answering.

“Right…” Madelyn muttered.

“Let’s finish studying,” Asher suggested.

They tried, but not long later someone entered the house again, clearly looking for them. Before he could even get up, Lucy opened the door.

“All my favorite people in one bed,” Lucy announced with a grin as she jumped onto it to join them.

“Thanks,” Elara replied, standing in the doorway, Sisi next to her looking at them, the three of them returning from training.

“Maybe if you stopped beating me so much, you’d improve your position in my ranking,” Lucy replied.

“Maybe you should get better,” El said.

Lucy just stuck her tongue out at the assassin before tackling Naomi in a hug.

“Eww, you’re all sweaty!” Nami gasped, trying to push her away, but Lucy wouldn’t relent.

“You should get used to it if you want to sleep with all of us in one bed,” the pink-haired girl replied, pressing herself against Naomi while giggling.

“Who said I’d want to sleep with you?” Nami shot back.

“Oh, you can’t lie to me,” Lucy said.

“Lucy!” Naomi gasped, finally managing to shove her off. Her whole face flushed as she grabbed her own chest, and Asher wondered what Lucy had done, since she kept giggling, but he hadn’t caught it.

“Lucy, Ava wants to talk with you,” Asher said.

“Oh… am I in trouble?”

“Did you do something to get in trouble?” Asher asked, not liking that she actually seemed to consider it.

“No?” she said uncertainly.

“She needs your help with something,” Asher replied.

“Oh!” Lucy gasped. “Your date. She needs help getting ready? Oh my God! Yay!” she squeaked, then ran out of the room and upstairs.

“I’m gonna take a shower,” Elara said, and Asher wondered if that was an invitation, but she didn’t wait for a response before walking off. He could probably join her, but at the same time he was in the middle of something and didn’t want to leave Naomi and Madelyn like that just because he was a horny idiot.

“You want to join us?” Asher asked, looking at Sisi, who was still standing in the doorway.

“What are you doing?” she asked, sitting beside him on the bed.

They started studying again, including the dryad, until they covered everything they were supposed to. Madelyn was meant to meet her teammates afterward for some kind of team bonding.

That set off warning bells in Asher’s mind. He insisted on walking her back to the Academy. Only once they stepped outside he asked, “What are you going to do during this team bonding?”

“Oh, I’m not sure. Zoe made some plans,” Maddy replied.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea?” Asher asked, worried.

“Oh, it’s going to be a girls’ night at her place. No boys, so I think it should be fine,” she murmured, staring down at her feet.

“Okay,” he said, a little relieved that Zoe apparently wasn’t planning clubs or a big party. “If anything feels wrong, call me.”

“It’ll be okay,” Maddy replied. “Besides, you have your date.”

“Still. Don’t hesitate if you need me, okay?”

“Sure…” Madelyn mumbled.

They were almost at the Academy, and Asher wondered whether he should just ignore it and pretend nothing had happened earlier, but in the end he stopped her and gently turned her toward him.

“I’m sorry, Maddy… for earlier.”

“Oh, no, it’s my fault,” she replied immediately. “I-I shouldn’t have worn a top like that.”

“Oh God, no, Maddy. It’s completely not your fault. You wore a normal shirt. It’s my fault for making you uncomfortable. Really, don’t ever feel like you’re responsible just because someone stares or can’t behave normally.”

“You weren’t making me uncomfortable,” Madelyn said, lifting her gaze to his face, then chewing on her lower lip.

Asher frowned slightly, confused, but assumed she was just saying that so he wouldn’t feel bad. “Okay…” he sighed. “Have fun and see you tomorrow.”

“You too,” Madelyn replied, then headed into the Academy while he turned back toward home.

He had barely stepped inside when he saw Sam standing there, apparently waiting for him.

“Can we talk?” she asked. “In my room?”

Asher agreed and followed the redhead. She closed the door behind them and turned to face him.

“I want to apologize for yesterday,” Sam said. “I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Sam replied with a nod.

He watched her, feeling that she wasn’t. Sam was hiding something from him, and Naomi knew what it was too, but she hadn’t said anything because it was Sam’s thing to tell.

“We should farm experience, but if you’re not feeling well, we don’t have to,” Asher offered.

Sam groaned, closing her eyes in frustration.

“What?” Asher asked.

“I don’t want you to be like that,” she said. “Toward Naomi, I’d beat the shit out of you if you weren’t. But when you say things like that, it doesn’t matter anymore whether I feel good or not. I lose any desire to have sex. It feels like you don’t actually want it and you’re just looking for an excuse not to.”

“I-” Asher tried to speak, but she cut him off.

“Ideally, I’d want you to come in here so fucking horny for me you couldn’t control yourself. I’d want to feel like you actually want me, not because of your class, but because you find something attractive about me. I’d want you to push me to my knees and face fuck me. Tear my clothes off and fuck me bent over the bed, spanking my ass until you fill me!”

“But you have four hotter, prettier girlfriends you have sex with ten times a day, so it’s not going to happen. You’re not going to be that horny for me. You have better women. And honestly… it’s just not your nature.”

“We’re just not compatible in bed,” she continued. “I like it rough. I want to be used. Maybe we should just farm experience the fastest, most efficient way and act like normal teammates otherwise. Unless you can give me what I need.”

“I can try,” Asher said.

Sam covered her eyes with her hand and sighed. “Just sit down and pull your pants down. I’ll suck you until we hit the experience limit,” she added in a resigned tone.

Asher hesitated for a moment before stepping closer to her, staring into her green eyes. “Promise me you’ll tell me if I push things too far.”

Sam whimpered, grimacing. “Please, just sit down and-”

Asher interrupted her, grabbing the back of her head and kissing her, his lips pressing firmly against hers as his other hand caught her hip and pulled her closer. When Sam returned the kiss, he slid his hand higher, under her shirt, up to her chest, pushing her bra aside as he squeezed her breast gently. Then harder, realizing she didn’t want gentle.

A moan slipped from her throat, and when she broke the kiss, he asked again, “Promise me.”

Sam was breathing a little faster, her green eyes flicking across his face. “Only if you promise to stop asking stupid questions like that.”

He didn’t want to promise that. He already knew he’d want to ask again, just to be sure. But then… if she promised she’d speak up when she didn’t want something.

“Are you sure-” he started, but Sam pressed a finger to his lips.

“No.” She shook her head. “No more talking. Seriously, I’m done. I don’t have any desire to have sex with you anymore,” Sam said, stepping away from him.

“Are you hearing yourself?” Asher asked. “What do you want me to do? You tell me you want me to just fuck you, and at the same time you say you don’t want to have sex with me. That doesn’t make sense.”

“It does. You just don’t understand!”

“Then explain it to me.”

“I’m trying,” Sam groaned. “But you don’t get it!” she added, turning toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Asher asked, grabbing her hand to stop her.

Sam yanked it out of his grip and turned back to him, glaring. A frown crossed her face. “Nowhere!” she snapped. “Can’t you just fuck me?!” she demanded, shoving him in the chest.

“You just said you don’t want it,” Asher replied.

“Because I don’t if you’re like this,” she shot back.

“Like what? Like me?”

“Yes!”

“So you just don’t want to have sex with me?”

“No! So go fuck one of your girlfriends and leave me alone!”

Asher wanted to say more, to figure out what she actually needed, but in the end she’d made it clear what she wanted from him, so he left her room.

Out in the corridor, he groaned, wondering what he was supposed to do about Sam. She wasn’t making any sense. He’d tried talking about it with Naomi, but that hadn’t worked, and Elara didn’t feel like the right person for this. Rachel, though… maybe.

He checked the time. He still had enough before his date with Ava, so he headed downstairs, left the house, and started toward the Academy, texting Rachel to ask if she was busy.

The walk helped calm his nerves, but it didn’t help him understand Sam any better.

Rachel was in her room, and when she let him in, he dropped into one of her chairs with a sigh.

“What happened?” Rachel asked, sitting on the bed and looking at him with a worried frown.

“I don’t understand Sam,” Asher sighed. “One moment she says she wants me to fuck her, and a minute later she says she doesn’t want to have sex with me. What am I supposed to do?”

“Okay,” Rachel said slowly. “What happened in that minute between those two things? Try to repeat everything. Preferably word for word.”

“She asked me to come to her room to apologize for snapping at me yesterday. Something’s going on with her, she didn’t feel well, so I told her that if she still wasn’t okay, we don’t have to have sex to farm experience. And she was already frustrated at me. Like, what did I even do wrong?”

“What did she say?” Rachel asked calmly.

“That when I ask if she wants to have sex, she loses the desire to do it,” Asher said with a shrug. “And that I’m looking for excuses not to. I just don’t want her to feel forced to do it because of my stupid class when she doesn’t want to.”

“And what did you say to her?”

Asher frowned, thinking back. “She didn’t let me say anything. She said she wanted me to push her to her knees and face fuck her, before I rip her clothes off and fuck her bent over the bed. But that I have hotter, prettier girlfriends I sleep with all the time, so I’m not horny enough to want her. And that we’re not compatible in bed. She likes it rough. Wants to be used. I told her I could try, but then suddenly she didn’t want to anymore and said we should just farm experience. I guess offering to try wasn’t what she wanted. But I wanted her to promise that if I went too far, she’d tell me. And that pissed her off. She told me she didn’t actually want to have sex with me and that I should go fuck one of my girlfriends.”

“And you came to me,” Rachel said.

“To talk,” Asher groaned. “I tried talking about Sam with Naomi, but she won’t say anything. And they’re both hiding something about her.”

Rachel nodded slowly, leaning back as she thought it over.

“So what am I supposed to do?” Asher asked. “She says she wants me, then says she doesn’t. Like… what the hell does she actually want?”

“Do you find her attractive?” Rachel asked. “When you look at her, do you actually want to have sex with her? Or is sex with her just another item on your daily list?”

“It’s not that she’s unattractive,” Asher sighed.

“But you have prettier and hotter girlfriends?” Rachel asked, using Sam’s exact words.

Asher groaned. “Yes, they are. But that’s not my fault. What am I supposed to do about that? I’m not going to break up with Elara just to find someone less attractive.”

“It’s not about breaking up with Elara,” Rachel said. “It’s about whether you might have done something that made Sam feel like you’re not interested in her.”

“She thinks that when I ask if she wants to have sex, it means I’m not interested.”

“Do you ask Elara that before you have sex with her?”

“It’s different with her,” Asher protested.

Rachel sighed softly, thinking for a moment before replying, “You avoided the question. When you think about Sam, do you want to have sex with her? Simple answer. Yes or no?”

“Yes,” Asher said.

“If you wanted Lucy, would you ask her? Or would you just kiss her?”

“Probably just kiss her.”

“So why do you initiate with Lucy, but with Sam you ask?”

“I don’t know…” Asher muttered. “With Sam it’s just different. Lucy’s eager, anytime, anywhere, no matter what. Sam sometimes doesn’t want to.”

“I’m taking a guess here,” Rachel said. “But it’s clear Sam thinks she’s less attractive than the others, and when you ask her if she wants to have sex, she might take it as you not really being interested, like you’d only do it if she insisted. Almost like you’d be doing it out of obligation.”

“It does feel like that sometimes,” Asher admitted.

“You see?” Rachel said. “Even if you don’t say it to her, she might still feel it. And that could kill the mood for her.”

“So what am I supposed to do?” Asher asked.

Rachel sighed. “This is really not the kind of problem I expected to be helping my students solve.”

“I’m sorry for bothering you with this, but I honestly didn’t know what to do,” Asher said with a frown.

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t ask me. I’m just saying I’m not an oracle with answers to everything. I only know your side. I don’t know what’s going on with Sam. I don’t know if she actually wants those things she said. That would be concerning, but she could also have exaggerated to provoke a reaction from you.”

“So if she exaggerated, how am I supposed to know what to do?”

“I have an idea, but I’m not even sure it’s a good one,” Rachel admitted. “You still haven’t had sex with Naomi?”

“No,” Asher shook his head, confused about where she was going with this.

“But you farm experience with her, which means afterward you’re probably pent up?”

“Yeah.”

“And then you go to Lucy, Elara, or Ava?”

“Yeah.”

“Does Sam even cross your mind in moments like that?”

“No…” Asher sighed.

“Maybe next time you feel like that, don’t go to any of them. Go to Sam instead. I’m not saying you should be rough just because she mentioned it, but also don’t ask her if she wants to have sex. You can be more subtle. Ask if she’s busy or don’t ask at all. Kiss her and see how she reacts. It’s not like you’re strangers. You had sex already before.”

“And what if she doesn’t want to at that moment?” Asher asked.

“What if you would want to have sex with Elara, kiss her without asking, but she didn't want to do it?”

“She’d tell me,” Asher snorted.

“Sam sounds like someone who would tell you too,” Rachel replied.

“I asked her to promise she would, and she got pissed.”

“Maybe it wasn’t the right moment to ask, since she was already frustrated,” Rachel said.

Asher sighed, wondering if Rachel’s idea was actually good, and whether he could really do it. Or if he even wanted to.

“Actually, we haven’t farmed experience today yet,” Rachel added. “Are you in the mood, or do you want to skip because of all this?”

Asher hesitated, but didn't manage to answer, before Rachel stood up. She grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it off, revealing her large tits covered by a black bra that looked like it was barely holding everything in, and her nipples were going to pop out any moment. She walked toward him slowly, her hips swaying, then gently pushed his arms back and straddled him.

Her crotch pressed against his as her hands slid over his shoulders and up to the back of his neck, fingers tangling in his hair as she tilted his head back and leaned in. Her lips hovered just an inch from his.

Asher leaned up to close the distance, but Rachel pulled his head back with a smirk.

“What?” he asked.

“You see the difference? Between asking if you want to skip farming experience and actually showing desire?” she said. “You need to show Sam that you want her. That you desire her. That you dream about fucking her. That it’s not just an obligation for you. And I didn’t really need to ask you this time, did I?”

Thinking back, Rachel asking whether he wanted to skip earlier really had sounded like she didn’t want it herself. Like she was hoping he would agree to not do it. And he’d basically asked Sam the same thing. “I see it,” Asher admitted, finally starting to understand Sam’s problem. Or at least he hoped so.

“Did I help?” Rachel asked.

“Yeah. I think so.”

Rachel smiled, then, still holding his head, leaned down and kissed him. Her lips pressed to his, and he returned the kiss, his hands resting on her thighs before slowly sliding higher. She began grinding her crotch against the bulge in his pants, and he didn't endure for long, before he lifted her and carried to the bed.

Kissing turned into groping, and eventually into sex. When they finished and Asher collapsed beside her, catching his breath, the peaceful silence only lasted a moment.

“I have a question,” Rachel said, propping herself up with a smile he didn’t entirely like.

“Yeah?”

“When you’re turned on after Naomi teases you, do I ever cross your mind?” she asked.

“Really?” Asher groaned.

“What? I’m a woman too. But I promise I won’t get mad if I don’t.”

Rachel was usually more of a passing thought in moments like that rather than a real plan, but despite her words, he wasn’t about to say that out loud.

“You do,” he said. “I just don’t want to bother you that late. It’s usually right before sleep.”

“Good answer,” Rachel said, pecking him. “But a handsome fit horny eighteen year old guy is never going to be a bother for a lonely woman like me. So maybe next time I cross your mind, you could come see me. And I promise that if I didn’t want to have sex with you, I’d say it very clearly.”

“That’s not funny,” Asher groaned as she giggled and lay back down.

He turned his head to look at her, and she caught him staring.

“What?” she asked.

“You’re gorgeous when you laugh,” he said.

“You don’t need to sweet-talk me,” Rachel replied, rolling her eyes. “We already had sex.”

Asher shifted closer and pulled her into a gentle kiss. “Thanks again for listening and giving me advice.”

“Sure. Anytime,” Rachel replied. “Especially if I get good sex out of it,” she added, pulling him into another kiss.

They kept making out for a while, rolling across the bed, but eventually Asher had to head home to get ready for his date with Ava.

After a quick shower and changing into fresh clothes, he joined Elara, who was lying on the couch in the living room.

“What are you planning to do?” he asked as she lifted her head and rested it in his lap.

“Laze around and rest,” El replied, looking up at him.

“Sounds nice,” Asher said with a smile.

“You can always stay with me and do the same.”

“Tempting,” Asher replied, leaning down to kiss her. She raised her head to meet him, and soon shifted to sit in his lap for a more comfortable position as they kept kissing.

They would’ve continued if Lucy hadn’t interrupted them.

“If you guys keep going like that, Ava’s going to get all worked up from watching and there won’t be any date,” Lucy said.

Elara pulled away, and both of them looked toward Lucy and Ava, who was standing next to her.

The Latina was wearing a black shirt that clung tightly to her body and shorts that showed off her long legs.

Elara slid off Asher’s lap, and he stood up, walking over to Ava.

“It’s the best I could do,” Lucy said. “Do you know she doesn’t own a single piece of clothing that isn’t black?”

“You look gorgeous,” Asher said, pulling the fire mage into his arms and kissing her.

She had makeup on, done with Lucy’s help, but just like he had suggested, much more delicate this time, subtly emphasizing her beauty.

He brushed his lips down to her neck and up to her ear. “Maybe we should forget the date and just stay in bed instead,” he whispered half-joking, before lightly nibbling her earlobe.

“I already made reservations,” Ava replied, still in his arms.

“Then we can’t let them go to waste,” Asher said, though he began wondering where exactly she was taking him if reservations were involved.

Then another of those strange moments of his new life happened - he kissed Elara goodbye, then Lucy, Sisi, and even Naomi, before leaving for his date with Ava.

She had ordered a cab, and he tried to get her to tell him where they were going, but she refused to spoil the surprise. In the end, though, she couldn’t keep it secret forever as she led him to the place.

“Laser tag?” Asher asked.

“Yeah.”

“Isn’t that usually played in teams?”

“One team,” she said, pointing at him. “Second team,” she added, pointing at herself.

“I meant bigger teams.”

“They don’t care as long as you pay,” Ava shrugged. “And I’m paying for everything today,” she added quickly.

“We can split it.”

“No,” she said firmly.

“Is it at least cheap?”

“This part is.”

“This part?”

“That’s only the first half of the date. Don’t worry. I’m covering everything. Just have fun,” Ava said.

Asher couldn’t say anything more, as Ava approached someone from the staff, and they were led to a separate arena. A young woman working there explained the rules and how to use the guns, before letting them start.

Asher had played paintball once before and quickly realized the advantage of playing one-on-one, if you got hit early, you didn’t have to wait around watching others. You just started the next round.

The game quickly turned competitive with Ava trying really hard to win every point. Despite that the score was close all the time. Only near the end, Ava managed to pull ahead by three points, and he didn’t have enough time to catch up before their time was over.

“Ha, easy win,” Ava gasped when the lights turned on and their guns stopped working.

“You won by three points,” Asher snorted.

“Three points is a lot.”

“It was forty-seven to forty-four.”

“Excuses,” Ava replied. “I won.”

“And what do you want as your reward?” Asher asked.

“I’ll think of something,” she murmured before leaning in to kiss him.

Someone cleared their throat. “I’d appreciate it if you could move that somewhere else,” the young woman who had explained the rules earlier said, looking slightly flustered.

“Sorry,” Asher muttered, blushing.

“Not really,” Ava replied smugly, clearly still riding the high of her win, before they left the arena and stepped outside.

She grabbed his hand and led him across the street. Directly opposite stood an Italian restaurant.

“Shouldn’t we be dressed more elegantly for a place like that?” Asher asked.

“No,” Ava replied only.

Inside, it wasn’t as formal as he’d feared. The place looked classy, but most people were dressed casually enough that they didn’t stand out.

They were led to their reserved table, not in the main dining area, but in a slightly secluded corner separated by a large column that gave them a bit of privacy.

For a moment, Asher thought they’d just gotten lucky. Then he wondered whether Ava had specifically paid for that spot.

Those thoughts disappeared when he opened the menu.

“Ava,” he said quietly, glancing at her. “It’s really expensive here.”

“I told you I’m paying,” Ava replied calmly, scanning the menu.

“But it’s too expensive,” Asher protested.

“Don’t look at the prices. Just enjoy the date, okay?”

Asher grimaced but relented. He still felt uncomfortable letting her spend that much, especially when he’d never pay that kind of money for himself. He chose spaghetti, one of the cheaper options, even though it still cost forty-nine dollars.

“Did you like the laser tag?” Ava asked.

“Yeah, it was fun,” he said, trying to relax and stop obsessing over the prices. “We should do it again with the whole team. Take Maddy and split into two teams.”

“I can make another reservation,” Ava offered.

“Later,” Asher replied when she looked like she wanted to do it right away. “How did it go with Lucy’s help?”

“I was right,” Ava said.

Asher snorted. “What does she want?”

“To join us after the date today,” the fire mage replied.

“And you agreed?” Asher asked, not having thought about it before. Was he supposed to sleep only with Ava after their date?

“Do I have makeup?” Ava asked.

That answered his question. Lucy would be joining them, but he wasn’t sure whether the others might want to as well, but that was a problem for later.

“You look really good with subtle makeup like that,” he said.

“Better than without it?” Ava asked.

Asher felt like it was one of those questions where there was no right answer if you said yes or no. “You look gorgeous at any time of day or night, no matter what.”

Ava smiled. A moment of silence passed before Asher asked whether she’d been to that restaurant before, and they drifted into talking about places she’d eaten in the city and where else they might go in the future.

They kept chatting even after their food arrived, the topics shifting but staying mostly light, mostly school stories from both of them. The food was really good, though he couldn’t stop thinking about how expensive it was the whole time.

After they ordered dessert, Ava summoned something from her explorer bag and set a small box on the table.

“I bought you a gift,” she said, sliding it toward him.

“Ava… you didn’t have to,” Asher replied.

“You haven’t even opened it yet.”

He had a bad feeling it wouldn’t be something cheap or simple. When he opened the box, he saw a black metallic bracelet inside, a piece of jewelry that already seemed like too much. But that wasn’t all. A small black stone was embedded in it, and even though he’d never owned one before, it wasn’t hard to guess what it was.

An explorer bag.

“I can’t accept it,” Asher said, looking at her.

“Why?” she asked, her smile fading into a frown. “It has a lot of space, it’s practical, and the black metal fits your ring. If the size is wrong, they can adjust it. You haven’t even tried it.”

“No, Ava, it’s amazing. Really. But it’s too expensive for a gift like that,” he said carefully. “Not when we’re just starting. It’s officially our first date.”

“Maybe it’s the first, but you’re already my boyfriend.”

“You bought it before we agreed on that.”

“Maybe. Does that matter?”

“It’s expensive,” he repeated.

“Not for me.”

Asher sighed, trying to figure out how to explain without offending her, though judging by her expression, he might’ve already done that by refusing.

“It’s practical,” Ava repeated. “You don’t have one, and you need it. It has a lot of space, enough that you won’t have to worry about it. I thought you’d like it.”

“I do like it, Ava, it’s just…” He sighed again. He didn’t even want to guess how much it had cost, probably thousands. “I can’t afford to give you something of similar value.”

“I don’t need you to buy me anything. If I needed something, I’d buy it myself.”

“And you didn’t need to buy me this.”

“But I wanted to,” Ava shrugged, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. “It’s not like I’m going to starve or miss rent because of it. If you hate it that much, you can sell it or throw it away, but I’m not taking it back. You don’t return gifts.”

The waiter brought their desserts, interrupting them. They ate in silence. Asher really didn’t want to argue with yet another woman in his life, especially Ava, not on their first date, not on the same day they’d decided to be boyfriend and girlfriend.

At the same time, he didn’t know how to explain that the gift simply felt too expensive. And knowing how stubborn she was, he knew she’d never take it back. She’d rather let him throw it away than accept it back.

And that would be stupid.

So while eating dessert, he relented. He picked up the bracelet and slipped it onto his wrist.

Ava watched closely but didn’t comment. The silence lasted until she paid the bill, which was also far bigger than he liked, but he didn’t say anything as they walked out of the restaurant.

“I’ll order a cab,” Ava offered.

“Let’s take a walk,” Asher said, holding out his hand.

She hesitated a moment before taking it. He led them quietly down the street until they turned into a small park. There he stopped and turned her toward him.

“Thank you for the gift,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around her.

“So you like it?”

“Of course I like it. It’s amazing. Everything you said about it is true. It’s just… people don’t usually buy something that expensive for someone on a first date.”

“Our first date isn’t typical,” Ava said. “Neither is our situation.”

“It’s just… I’m not with you because of your money.”

“I know,” Ava replied. “If you were, I wouldn’t have given you that.”

“And I can’t give you a gift like that either.”

“I already told you. I don’t need anything money can buy.”

“And I don’t need you buying things like that for me.”

“Why does it bother you so much?” she asked.

“I… don’t know…” Asher sighed, unsure how to explain to her that getting a gift like that felt wrong. “I’m grateful. But can you promise not to buy me more gifts that expensive?”

Ava pouted, making an expression so similar to Lucy’s that he almost laughed.

“Okay,” she said. “But only if you wear this one all the time.”

“Deal,” Asher replied.

He pulled her closer and kissed her. They stood there in the park, making out for a moment before their lips parted.

“That’s what I need from you,” Ava murmured.

“Only that?” Asher asked with a smile.

“Maybe add some sex and cuddling,” she replied.

Asher smiled and leaned in again, but his phone rang, interrupting them. For a moment he hesitated, staring into Ava’s brown eyes, wondering whether to ignore it. With everyone knowing he was on a date, they would call only if it was important. Then Madelyn crossed his mind.

“I should check,” he murmured, pulling out his phone. He frowned when he saw that it was Naomi calling him. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Asher,” Sisi’s voice came from the other side. “Lucy was arrested.”

“What?!” he gasped.

“You need to come pick me up, because I don’t know where I am.”

“Lucy got arrested?” he asked, wanting to make sure he’d heard her right.

“Yes. And I’m hiding.”

“Why are you hiding? From whom? And what happened?” he asked. Ava frowned beside him, hearing only his side of the conversation, but he was just as confused. He turned the phone to speaker so both of them could hear it.

“Lucy told me to hide from the police. Because I don’t have any documents and it would be suspicious or something like that. And some girls were bothering Naomi, so Lucy beat them. And apparently you can’t do that here.”

“Where’s Naomi?” Asher asked.

“She went with the police and Lucy.”

“Okay…” Asher sighed. “Where are you?”

“In a shopping mall,” the dryad replied.

“Which one?”

“A big one.”

“Sisi, did you see a fountain near the entrance?” Ava asked.

“Yes. I think I can go there.”

“Okay,” Asher said. “Don’t hang up, and ignore other people. Just go to the fountain and wait.”

“Sure,” the dryad replied.

“I’m ordering a cab,” Ava said. “It’s ten minutes.”

“What exactly happened?” Asher asked Sisi.

“We were shopping, and they have so many amazing clothes here. In all sizes and colors and-”

“Sisi, tell me about that later. What happened with Lucy, Naomi, and those girls?”

“Right. We were going to another shop when those girls showed up and started insulting Naomi, calling her all sorts of things. Naomi tried to tell them to go away, but they didn’t listen, so Lucy told them to fuck off, but they still didn’t listen. We tried to walk past them, but one pushed Naomi, so Lucy punched her. Then another jumped at Lucy, but she punched that one too. They were crying from the pain on the ground, and a lot of people started gathering. Lucy gave me Naomi’s phone and told me to hide from the police because I don’t exist and don’t have documents and that could get me in trouble, so I ran away. I saw some men, and Lucy and Naomi went with them. I wondered if I should fight them, but Lucy and Naomi didn’t.”

“God, no, it’s good you hid and didn’t fight,” Asher said. By then he and Ava were already in the cab while Sisi was explaining everything. Inside he turned his phone back to normal mode, while Ava leaned close, pressing her ear to the phone from the other side, listening too.

“Are they going to be okay?” Sisi asked.

“Yeah. Naomi didn’t do anything, and Lucy should be okay too,” Asher said, though he wondered what charges Lucy might face for assault. Still, it sounded like the other girls had pushed Naomi first. He suspected it might be the same girl he and Naomi had met at the roller rink. Last time it had only been insults. This time it had escalated.

“Are you at the fountain?” Asher asked.

“Yeah,” Sisi replied. “The water is cold.”

“You got into the water?!”

“Only my feet.”

“Please get out of it,” he sighed, really not wanting her to get into trouble too.

“I can hide again,” the dryad offered.

“We’ll be there soon. Like two minutes,” Asher said after Ava showed him with her fingers.

“Okay,” Sisi replied, though he could hear movement on her end.

“Sisi, where are you going?” he asked. “You were supposed to stay by the fountain.”

“I’m hiding. But I can see the fountain,” she said.

“Okay…” Asher sighed. “Ava, can you try calling Lucy?” he asked, realizing he should’ve thought of that sooner. But when Ava tried, Lucy didn’t pick up.

When they arrived at the mall, there was a large fountain in front. They got out and walked toward it, looking around.

“We’re here,” he said into the phone.

He didn’t see Sisi at first, but then she ran out from behind some nearby bushes, holding a phone in one hand and her shoes in the other.

“Thanks for coming,” she said as she reached them.

Asher pulled her into a hug, slipping his phone into his pocket. “Of course…” he murmured, already wondering what to do next.

“How many police stations are in the city?” he asked Ava.

“Three. But they probably took them to the closest one,” she replied.

“Will you take Sisi home while I go there?” he asked. “She probably shouldn’t show up.”

“Sure.”

Asher let go of Sisi and pulled Ava into a hug instead. “Sorry the date got interrupted.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“It’s not Lucy’s fault either,” he said.

“That’s debatable.”

“Ava,” Asher groaned.

“Don’t worry. My revenge won’t be that bad,” she replied. “Did you like the date?” she asked with a slight frown.

“Yes. I loved it. And your gift,” Asher said, pulling her in for a short kiss.

“Then don’t put your phone in your pocket anymore,” Ava said.

“Right, that’s a habit,” he replied.

“Come on, Sisi,” Ava said as she stepped back from him. “Let’s go home.”

The dryad looked at her, then glanced at Asher, waiting. He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss too, and only then did she follow Ava toward the cab stand while Asher returned to the same cab they’d used earlier, which was still waiting nearby.

As he rode toward the nearest police station, he wondered how much trouble Lucy might actually be in, hoping it wouldn’t be too bad.