Harem House Chapter 31 (Patreon)

~Sunday Afternoon. After Arthur and Rani left the house.~

Deb found what she sought in an office cabinet. 

The Sunday brunch with her son’s girlfriends had been a success. She’d met them at homecoming and some before then. Today, she’d gotten time to know them better. After searching, she found something for Arthur to like in each of them. Still, she was unsure of Arthur’s intentions. This wasn’t the bachelor. From what she could tell, her son wasn’t dating these girls to choose between them. Their relationship was strange to her. Yet, Deb found it easier to be supportive than she’d predicted when she realized how much each of them cared for her son. 

Selene’s shy nature made her quiet, but Deb was confident that with time, she’d come out of her shell. Shy wasn’t the correct word, but intimidated? Deb wasn’t sure if she’d intimidated Selene or if one of the other girls had. Whatever the reason, her duty was to relax the young blonde and set her at ease. Deb liked her, and she saw how Selene looked at Arthur as if he was her universe. Anyone with that much love for her son wouldn't hurt him. 

Selene’s sister Kat, short for Katerine, was more reserved with her affection but had a good head on her shoulders. Even when Lynn sniped at them, she hadn’t lost her temper like the others, and she’d played peacekeeper more than once. She looked out for Selene, and Deb hoped that protective instinct extended to her son. Arthur needed people to look out for him. He was too selfless for his own good. 

Mindy was adorable and excitable and had way more energy than Deb thought possible. Ah, youth. Quiet, giggling, and quick made an odd combination, but Deb supposed being quick to laugh was better than quick to anger. Mindy didn’t appear mean. Even when laughing at Lynn’s misunderstanding of their polyamorous relationship her reaction had been amusement, not malice. 

Katelyn, the tall and skinny one, hadn’t talked much but didn’t have much opportunity. Deb suspected her arm-sling carried a story, but she didn’t want to pry. With their group, it might be a sex injury, though she doubted it. Arthur knew better than to mistreat anyone with whom he shared a bed. If one of his partners had gotten hurt, he would have been more upset by it, doting and hovering whenever he saw her. Then again, Katelyn was a frail slip of a woman, and Arthur was likely stronger than he realized. None of them had mentioned or explained it, so Deb played it safe. Still, curiosity brushed against her mind every time she spotted the sling.

Rani, the brash one, was fun. Deb enjoyed her refreshing honesty, especially since she delivered it without malice. Lynn might have been the exception to that rule, but after she’d antagonized the group, Deb expected retaliation. She wasn’t here any longer, having gone with Arthur to their homework date, which Deb assumed was code like ‘studying’ had been in her day. 

Then there was Kelly, whom Deb enjoyed. She said less than she thought but had a good heart. Deb felt she must have earned the respect the other girls showed her. She took care of those around her and proved open to the idea of having children, so in Deb’s opinion, that meant grandbabies, and that idea made her happy. Arthur making her a grandmother in the next decade would be fantastic. Once he graduated and earned enough to support his family. One day, Deb could have the fun of having a child without the responsibilities. 

Smiling, Deb took the small disk she’d found from its clear plastic case and set it on her finger. She walked from the office to the family room with a wide smile. Arthur had told her to choose one home movie to show the girls, and she’d found the best one. 

Kelly, Mindy, Selene, Katelyn, and Kat sat on the sofa, each on their phones, laptops, or textbooks as the pregame show played between commercials. The girls looked charming, dressed for the fall day in dresses, jeans, and sweaters. Each had put effort into their hair, makeup, and nails, but none cared about the TV. Even Mindy ignored the pregame show. Statistics and predictions only held their attention for so long, and college kids were addicted to their phones these days. 

“Mindy, do you mind if I put something else on the TV?” Deb asked, holding up the disk. 

“Oh, I guess not.” Mindy said, drawing her legs under her on the overstuffed sofa. “We’ve got time before the game.”

Deb smiled. “You’ll want to watch this, but it’s not quite feature-length. It should be over before kickoff.” 

“What is it?” Mindy asked, cocking her head. The others showed interest, too. Katelyn, Kat, and Selene glanced between each other, then at the disk. 

“It’s Peter Pan!” Deb squealed. 

The girls’ confused faces turned toward each other as they tried to determine the cause of Deb’s excitement. Everyone enjoyed a good Disney movie, but Peter Pan didn’t age well. At least not as well as others. Kelly caught on first. 

“Starring one Arthur Clarke?” Kelly asked with excitement in her voice. 

Deb’s smile answered her, and Kelly’s excitement spread through the others. 

Mindy clapped, and the girls squealed. They sat up straight and huddled close together on the sofa. The interior square was still forward, leaving the rest in a U shape. Kelly sat on Mindy’s left, with Katelyn on Kelly’s left. Selene sat on Mindy’s right, with Kat on Selene’s right. Deb stood on Katelyn’s left, nearest to the television. She put the disk into the player beneath the monstrous screen. She took the remote from Mindy and changed the input. The old camcorder video flickered to life as Deb took her seat. 

The video presented a stage in an unfamiliar living room with a sky-blue bed sheet hung between two tall floor lamps. The camera zoom adjusted until small spaces beside the stage became visible. Behind the sheet, two small voices argued whether a human girl or a flashlight should play Tinkerbell. 

“I want to play Tinkerbell!” 

“You will! You’ll just do the voice! Tinkerbell is supposed to be played by a light on stage!” 

“But I want to play her for real! She’s way better than dumb Wendy.” 

“We’re ready!” Deb’s voice called over the video, silencing the voices. 

And the play began. 

A ten-year-old Wendy in a blue dress stood alone in the nursery except for her brothers (played by a teddy bear and a stuffed raccoon). Nana the Dog (a stuffed dog), ushered her to bed while Wendy bemoaned her bedtime. 

“Is that Lynn?” Selene asked, surprised. 

Deb nodded. Wendy fell asleep, often cracking one eye open, and a light appeared from behind the curtain. The light danced across the sheet. The tinkle of a small jingle bell accompanied the dancing light. 

“I thought I was doing the voice!” A not-sleeping Wendy hissed. 

“You are! Say your lines!” A voice behind the stage answered. 

“Tinkerbell doesn’t have any lines for this part, remember? You’re supposed to find the shadow!” 

“Oh, right!” 

The flashlight blinked out, blanketed by a larger shadow projected onto the sheet from behind in a proud hands-on-hips stance. The shadow formed, then dashed away. 

A ten-year-old Arthur landed on stage as if stepping from the window, dressed in full Peter Pan costume. 

“Oh-my-god!” Mindy squealed. “Look at how cute he is!” 

“Adorable.” Kelly agreed. 

“My little actor.” Deb said, hand on her heart. 

Arthur acted his heart out as his father set up the light behind him toward the front of the stage. The light projected his shadow on the sheet from the camera side. George gave the camera a quick wave to the laughter of the adults as Arthur sat and tried to put his shadow on. Unable to make it stick, he cried, waking Wendy and the play continued. The girls tensed when mention of a kiss occurred, but the exchanged thimble relaxed them.

Arthur, Wendy, and her stuffed animal brothers left for Neverland, exiting stage right.  

“One of them would play a single role. The other would play the other parts. They’d use stuffed animals or parents to fill in other roles when necessary.” Deb gestured to the screen, where Arthur and Lynn held onto her ‘brothers.’ Then the Lost Boys entered, played by stuffed toys of various woodland creatures, voiced by Arthur and Lynn in turns. 

“Oh, my god.” Mindy said, squealing into her hands and kicking her feet. 

Everyone got a big kick out of Captain Hook’s appearance, played by none other than Arthur’s father, George. He used a metal coat hanger inside his coat sleeve to play the fearsome pirate. He and Arthur dueled, with George wielding a wrapping-paper cardboard tube and Arthur a paper-towel cardboard tube. 

“This is my new favorite movie.” Kat said, watching Arthur give Lynn a kite. 

“Can I get a copy?” Selene asked. 

Deb shook her head. “Arthur wouldn’t appreciate that. I had to beg, promise, and swindle him to get him to agree to let you watch one of these. If you want permission to watch another, you’ll have to ask him.”

“Oh, I am definitely asking permission.” Kat said. “I want to watch all of these a hundred times.”  

The girls smiled, enthralled by the performances on the screen. Occasionally, an adult behind the camera would comment or whisper to another. Deb, Gabe, and Mari sounded happy to see their children’s performance, amused and impressed by their creativity. 

“Did he memorize these lines?” Katelyn asked, impressed. 

“He wrote and memorized the entire thing. If you listen, you can hear him feeding George his lines in a scene or two.” Deb said, her hand covering her heart. 

“He’s good at memorizing.” Selene said.

“Why isn’t he a theater major?” Mindy asked. 

Deb shrugged. “I think he wants to run a theater one day, but otherwise, I guess he sees it as a hobby.”

“He could be a professional.” Selene said. Deb had watched her leaning further and further forward as the movie continued. Her reactions became more and more animated.   

“I’m sure he could.” Deb nodded. “We had some conversations about it, but in the end, he went for business like his father and I did.”  

Mindy nodded. It made sense. Her parents discouraged thinking of the arts as a valid career path. Her family, friends, and even strangers always complimented her drawings, sketches, and paintings. Yet, when deciding on her college major, she’d chosen Business. 

Business majors made good money after college. Art majors made good art, but rarely found money in the endeavor. Mindy imagined Kat was the other harem member who’d be most sympathetic to that reality. As an English major, Kat had to understand. Making a living as a writer or an artist was winning the lottery. Sure, others could do it, but for every success story, hundreds of artists struggled and starved. 

Her parents would never let her change her major. She had to be practical, they said. 

Mindy sighed, and Kelly and Selene cuddled into her from either side. The squish became a firm hug, and she couldn’t restrain her smile. Especially as little Arthur on screen drew his cardboard tube short-sword, pointed it skyward, and crowed like a rooster. That little actor hid somewhere inside the businessman she knew. 

Unlike Peter Pan, Arthur had become a grown man. In the office, he was a strict professional. For a while, Mindy thought that might be all there was to him. She was glad to discover her beginning-of-semester assumptions were incorrect. Hanging out with him outside the office? He became a different person in the best way, like taking off his suit jacket dropped the weight from his shoulders. And those moments when he loosened his tie and let himself go in either play or passion engraved the most vivid memories of him in her head. 

She loved learning about him. She wondered what else she could glean from Deb while they hung out here. 

~~~

“That was amazing.” Mindy said, clapping with the girls as the video ended. 

Deb bowed gracefully after she pulled the disk from the player. “On behalf of Arthur, thank you. I’m sure he’ll appreciate that you enjoyed it. Try not to tease him too much.” 

The girls laughed. Kelly, Katelyn, Kat, Selene, and Mindy relaxed on the sofa and spread out. The sheer size of the family room lent comfort to the space and helped Mindy feel at home. 

“Now, I’m afraid this is the only one I have here.” Deb said, holding up the disk. “However, I have several family albums in the office if you’d like to see some childhood photos.” 

“Yes, please!” Mindy hopped from the sofa with a bounce that made the others giggle. Selene also rose to her feet, and one by one, the girls followed Deb to the office. She took a large leather binder from the shelf and opened it flat on the desk. 

The first picture was of a much younger Deb holding a newborn in a hospital bed. She was a mess, and her eyes were tired, but she was still beautiful. She held the baby in her arms, swaddled in a blue blanket with his face visible, eyes closed, and pink nose freshly scrubbed.  

“Oh my god, look at him!” Mindy squealed. “He was so cute!” 

Deb laughed. “I thought so.” She turned the page, and their visual tour through Arthur’s childhood began. 

Deb and George stood in front of a Christmas tree. Bundled in his mother’s arms, Arthur was only a few months old at his first Christmas. Too young to appreciate the sheer volume of toys under the bright tree. The evergreen behind them was fat and tall, its ornaments classy and in order, its lights bright and clear. White garland wrapped around it from base to tip, giving it a snow fallen appearance. 

In the photo beneath it, little Arthur looked at the tree in wonder. He reached for a candy cane he was far too young to enjoy. 

In another photo, an old woman in a New Year’s cone hat held the bundled infant on a sofa. The same old woman held him in another photograph taken while she sat in a wooden rocking chair on a porch no one but Deb recognized. 

“My mother.” Deb explained. “She passed away shortly after.” 

“I’m sorry.” Kelly said, her hand on Deb’s arm. 

Deb smiled softly. “At least she got to meet him.” She said and continued turning the pages. 

The girls watched as the distilled moments from Arthur’s life turned before them. They watched him grow in frozen moments. He grew from a bundle to a crawling baby, a waddling toddler, to a young child playing tag with a dark-haired girl at a city playground. 

“Is that-?” Kat asked and looked at Deb. 

“That’s Lynn.” Deb said. “She’s in most of these. Those two were inseparable.” 

Silence settled over the room. 

The children continued to grow as the photographs progressed. The camera captured moments of joyful play and smiling gatherings at every birthday, vacation, and holiday. Arthur’s Halloween costumes progressed in quality as he grew, and his gifts beneath the Christmas tree dwindled in number as they became more expensive individually. His clothes became less toy-themed, and their vacations at the ski cabin and beach house showed Arthur changing while the world around him stood still. 

Those frozen moments sat between a smattering of post-performance stage bows like the one they watched. Then, there were candid shots that held no historical significance other than Deb’s personal favoritism. A young Arthur reading Treasure Island at the beach while wearing a pirate hat and eye patch. Some moments might have embarrassed him, but Mindy found each one endearing. 

The only regret she had was that while looking through the book, Lynn was there, smiling beside Arthur. She was at his side, smiling with him in every photo until they reached the book’s last section. 

A pudgy, dark-haired, brooding young man glared at the camera from the other side of a rectangular ice cream cake. The fifteen-year-old Arthur didn’t look as happy as he should have. His face was half-hidden behind long, unkempt hair. Then the photos ended, and Deb closed the book. 

“Do you have any more?” Mindy asked. 

“I have albums of specific trips.” Deb said, gesturing to the shelf. “And his shows from high school, but he’s not in them much. He didn’t enjoy having his picture taken once he started high school. You know how teenagers are.” She laughed as if she were speaking to a group of women who were much farther removed from their youth. 

In fact, for Mindy, it was the opposite of her experience. With Instagram and Tik-Tok, she’d grown up taking pictures of herself to display to family and friends. Curated moments, like those in the photo album, though she supposed she hadn’t posted everything her mother might have. That last photo. Mindy wouldn’t have posted that one or saved it. 

Mindy frowned. She’d known Arthur wasn’t always as handsome and put together as he was now, but the stark contrast between the two figures was unsettling. The brooding young man was Arthur. Yet, there was no similarity between the two. Sure, the weight and hygiene were different, but so were the posture and the light behind his eyes. 

Arthur was bright-eyed and caring, overflowing with life and vitality that invited personal connection. High school Arthur was dead inside, beaten, so far removed from both the ten-year-old Arthur in the video and the college Arthur she knew. 

The handsome, superhero-looking Arthur bore a face and body she’d memorized over the semester. She’d dreamed of him almost every night. She’d fantasized about him every day. In none of those fantasies had she imagined him as anything other than a strong, confident, and happy young man. At worst, she thought he might be too stiff and professional, but he’d put those fears to rest. Even his style was different. He wore sharp suits and tight shirts, not baggy jeans and hoodies. 

The other Arthur in the photographs spurred her pity. Mindy wanted to hug him, to tell him everything would be okay and he’d get through his awkward phase one day. It was silly, but she saw the same expression on the other’s faces. 

The mood in the room grew more somber as the album progressed. They knew something had happened between that awkward-looking teenager and the Arthur they knew to prompt his change and hatred of Lynn. Only Kelly knew what it was, but she wasn’t sharing the information. Mindy understood why. It was Arthur’s secret and his story to tell, not hers. Still, it grated on Mindy, knowing that Kelly knew while everyone else was in the dark. 

“Sorry, there were so many pictures of Lynn.” Deb said, misinterpreting the cause of Mindy’s frown. 

“It’s okay.” Selene said, but her tone couldn’t support the lie. 

“Let’s get back to the family room.” Deb suggested. “I think the game’s about to start. I’ll make the popcorn and join you girls in a minute, okay?” 

“Can I help?” Kelly asked. 

“Oh, that’s sweet.” Deb said. “Thank you for offering, but it’s a one-woman job. We’ve got a stove-top popper with a crank, and we can’t both crank it!” 

Kelly smiled. “Well, can I help clean up?” She asked. “I can wash the dishes while you make popcorn?” 

“It goes against my duties as hostess, but I’m not about to turn down help with my least favorite chore.” Deb said, laughing.

She led the way out of the office, and the girls followed into the kitchen. They refilled their coffee mugs from earlier and sat around the island. Deb gathered the popcorn, butter, and popper, standing by the stove as she threw it together. Kelly stood by the sink, enjoying herself by rinsing the dishes and loading the dishwasher. She wiggled happily when she pulled out the detachable faucet. Her blue dress’ skirt swished with the movement, making Mindy smile.  

“So, how do you girls think you’ll divvy up the chores once you move into the house?” Deb asked as she tossed a slice of butter into the pan. 

“I hadn’t thought about that.” Mindy admitted. “I guess we’ll each do our own dishes, food, and laundry, right?” 

“And the housekeeping service can take care of vacuuming and dusting the common areas.” Deb said. 

“We’ll have a housekeeping service?” Katelyn asked. 

“I can’t expect you to dust the chandeliers.” Deb said. “They come on Wednesday mornings.” 

“Oh, cool.” Katelyn said, nodding. “I guess that makes the chore wheel easier.” 

“We’ll have to work out a schedule for common chores.” Kelly said. “We should start a shared calendar.”

“That’s a great idea.” Deb said, smiling at Kelly’s suggestion. 

“I can do it!” Mindy volunteered. “Send me your class and work schedules, and I’ll try to map out our chore availability.” 

“And schedule some boyfriend availability while you’re at it.” Kat said. “I don’t even know when my next date with him is. I haven’t even gotten a lesson plan.” 

“A lesson plan?” Deb asked, confused. 

“Oh, uh…” Kat stared at Deb like the deer had stared at her car Friday night. Deb blinked, and Kat blinked herself out of the freeze. “It’s what I call it when Arthur makes plans for our dates.” She said, obviously lying to anyone who knew her. “He lets me know the itinerary ahead of time.” 

“He’s very conscientious.” Kelly added, distracting from the panic on Kat’s face. 

Selene smiled, amused at Kat’s distress. “You can have my spot in his schedule.”

“Are you mad at Arthur for something?” Deb asked, concerned. 

Selene spun to face her, holding her hands out and shaking her head. “No, no, no. I didn’t mean it that way. I definitely want my one-on-one time, but I hang out with him all the time. Plus, Kat prefers to hang out with just the two of them, and I don’t mind hanging out in a group.”

“Well, that’s very nice of you.” Deb said, smiling. 

Selene blushed and looked away, stepping behind Kat. “I’m gonna go use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll come with you.” Katelyn said, slipping from her stool to follow. 

“You know where they are.” Deb said. She gestured to the doorway. 

~~~

Selene led the way, walking a pace ahead. She and Katelyn walked in silence until they reached the stairs. 

“Everything okay?” Katelyn asked. 

“Yeah, I just wanted the focus off me, and I had a thought earlier that I wanted to verify about the bears.” Selene said. “It’s been bothering me since Lynn gave them to us.” She finished speaking as they reached the top of the stairs, and she went to the bedroom where they’d left the bears. 

“What about the bears?” Katelyn asked. 

“Just… bear with me.” Selene said, smiling as she said it. 

Katelyn groaned but followed her. “That pun hurt worse than my shoulder.” 

Selene chuckled. “I have ibuprofen if you need it.” 

“No, I’m good. I do actually have to use the bathroom.” Katelyn said, gesturing to the open bathroom door across the hall. “But I wanted to say thank you.” 

Selene looked confused, raising her eyebrows to show it as Katelyn gave her a one-arm hug. Surprised, Selene returned the hug and patted her on the back. 

“For what?” Selene asked. 

“For Friday night and last night. Forgiving and welcoming me when you would have been in your rights to treat me as hostile as you guys treat Lynn.” Katelyn explained. “It wasn’t just you, but it wouldn’t have happened without you. I’m more your sister’s friend, but I hope you and I can grow to be friends, too, with or without kink.” 

Selene smiled softly. “Of course.” She said. “We’re gonna be housemates after all, and I enjoy watching Arthur fuck you.” She winked, and Katelyn blushed. 

Katelyn tried to laugh off the awkward compliment, but neither was insincere. They pulled away from each other, and Katelyn traipsed to the restroom. Selene returned her attention to the bears. She rubbed her hands together and trekked across the hallway. 

Selene entered the former craft room, finding the box cutter she sought. She carried it into the other bedroom, slid its razor open, and sliced the head off the bear she took from Lynn. She pulled the stuffing out of its head and stomach and dug through, emptying its innards onto the bed as if she were gutting a fish. 

White cotton fluff tore in chunks of teddy bear viscera as its body deflated with every tuft removed until the faux fur was a hollow cloth with beads for eyes. Selene frowned. She’d expected to find something, but there was nothing inside the bear besides fluff. She went after the next one and then the next one, cutting them open one by one while sitting on the bed. 

“What the hell?” Katelyn asked when she returned to see Selene sitting in the center of a mattress overflowing with fluffy white tufts of teddy bear gore. Their discarded skins surrounded her in a half-circle. 

“I thought for sure they were nanny cams.” Selene said, frustrated. 

“What?” Katelyn asked. “Did you find any?”

“No.” Selene said, frowning. 

“Maybe they really were gifts?” Katelyn suggested. “I mean, now that you say it, nanny cams make sense if she was trying to get dirt on you, but you were pretty open about everything.” 

Selene frowned. “Something Master said last night bothered me. Don’t take poison apples from witches.” 

“The witch, in this case, being Lynn?” Katelyn asked. 

Selene nodded. “She keeps trying to give us things. And she said something that makes me think she tried to call the cops on us last night.”

“She what?” Katelyn asked.

“Nicki must have handled it.” Selene said. “With Mindy being under twenty-one, she can’t drink. So, Lynn left the beer and then called the cops on us for having it. Master was right. Don’t take poison apples.”

“It’s good advice.” Katelyn gestured to the fluff on the mattress. “You need help cleaning this stuff?” 

“Where’s the bear she had for Master?” Selene asked. 

“What?” Katelyn asked. 

“The bear Lynn had for Master. She said she put one aside for him.” Selene said. 

“In the basement, I guess? I think the box is on the kitchen table, but I’m pretty sure it was empty before we came upstairs.” Katelyn said, gesturing behind her to the stairs. “The bear for Arthur must be in the basement. In Lynn’s apartment.” 

“Come on.” Selene said, and she led the way downstairs, box cutter still in hand. 

Katelyn followed dutifully behind her, glancing back only once. “We should clean that up so Deb doesn’t find it.” 

“Fair point.” Selene said, descending the stairs. “After I gut the last bear.” 

Katelyn didn’t answer but followed her to the bottom of the stairs, the foyer, the hallway, and the locked basement door.

Selene jiggled the handle. “Fuck. It’s locked.” 

“Makes sense.” Katelyn said. “It’s an in-law suite. Shame we can’t lock it from this side, though.” 

Selene sighed and looked over her shoulder. Voices trailed through the hallway. Most of the girls were in the family room. Humming came from the kitchen, letting them know Kelly was still cleaning. 

Master told her to leave Lynn alone, but that was just him being protective of her. Well, who would protect him if not his girlfriends? Lynn was a bitch, and if she thought she could hurt Master, she had another surprise coming. Selene would use the box cutter on her before she let her harm him. Sure, he’d been upset when she pranked Lynn, and he’d be upset if he learned what she was doing now. Still, weighing someone hurting him against his being upset? She’d prefer he be mad at her. Their love could survive that. 

She looked at the tool in her hand and the doorknob blocking her entrance. Selene flipped the box cutter in her hand, taking the dull edge and sliding it between the door and frame from above the latch. 

“What are you doing?” Katelyn asked. 

“Something Kelly would yell at me for.” Selene said. “So shh.” 

Katelyn glanced toward the kitchen but remained silent as Selene worked her witchcraft on the latch. 

The door popped open with a click, and Selene pulled it open slowly, cautious of any creaks. 

Selene gestured for Katelyn to follow her, but Katelyn stopped her by putting her hand on Selene’s shoulder just as Kelly exited the kitchen. Her sock-clad feet against the floor had only given so much warning. 

“What are you doing?” Kelly asked, staring open-mouthed at Selene, her hand on the knob. Kelly shifted her stance, hand on her hip, and dove into disapproving maternal figure mode too quickly for Selene or Katelyn to react. 

Selene lifted her finger to her lips and glanced down the hallway. Deb’s voice floated to them, discussing the home team’s chances with Mindy. Selene didn’t mind Kelly catching them, but she didn’t want Deb to know. 

“Checking on a hunch.” Selene whispered. “You coming?”

Kelly looked toward the family room, then the open basement door. She looked as though she were considering it. Her eyes darted between Selene, the door, and Katelyn. Then she sighed. “No. And if you do, I’ll have to tell Arthur.”

“What?” Selene asked, pausing.

“Arthur has told us repeatedly to stay away from Lynn. And this is the second time you’ve broken his trust over it.” Kelly said. “You told him you wouldn’t prank her, you promised him, but you did. And you didn’t let me stop you. Now you’re doing it again, and I’m telling you no.”

“But–” 

“No buts!” Kelly whispered. “You either respect me as Mistress, as team captain, or whatever you want to call it, or you don’t, but you respect Arthur. So either listen to me or deal with the consequences the next time we see him.” 

Katelyn giggled. 

Kelly and Selene turned to stare at her. 

Katelyn raised her index finger at Selene and shook it. “You wait till your father gets home, young lady! Ooo, you’re gonna get such a spanking!” She broke into laughter. 

Kelly frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. Katelyn’s mocking words weren’t pointed, but they were true. Kelly’s words were valid, too. Selene had broken Master’s trust once and twice was too far. Trust was their foundation, and Selene trusted him with everything: her body, mind, and soul. But what if he couldn’t trust her? What if she couldn’t trust him to handle Lynn on his own? What if she was too obsessed with Lynn to let it go? 

Selene sagged, releasing the door so it closed with a soft click. “I’m sorry, Mistress.” Selene said. “You’re right. Master doesn’t want me snooping or going through Lynn’s things. But I swear, I only had his interests at heart. I’m worried Lynn will try to hurt him. I’m confident, like bet you money confident, that Lynn has a spy cam in the bear she held back for him.”

A dark cloud crossed Kelly’s face. She glanced at the stairs and the box cutter. “Did the other bears have cameras?” 

“No.” Selene said. “But they might have been red herrings. Decoys.”

Kelly frowned. Selene could see her thoughts in her sparkling green eyes. She had the same worries about Lynn and the same protective instinct over Master. 

“Maybe.” Kelly said. “But there’s no way Arthur accepts a gift from her. We’re fine. We’ll wait until she gives it, then expose her. Okay? If there’s a camera, we have her dead to rights; if Deb’s there, it would be even better. She can’t worm her way out of that one. If not, we apologize and have egg on our faces. But if you’re right, we’ll win the war. If you’re wrong, we’ll lose a battle. It’s a good plan.”

“Yes, Mistress.” Selene said, sagging more. Kelly’s plan was good, but it involved waiting, and patience was not a virtue Selene enjoyed unless it was waiting for her next orgasm at Master’s command. She glanced toward the basement door and sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disrespect you. Or disobey Master.” 

“He’s the one you should apologize to.” Kelly said. 

“No.” Selene said. She shook her head and fumbled with her braid, moving it over her shoulder. “You were right. I disobeyed you at the hotel. You tried to tell me while I had Lynn at the door. I didn’t listen to you, and I was a disobedient slave. I’m sorry.” 

“It’s okay.” Kelly said out of reflex. “You and I don’t have the same level of trust and friendship. I’m not your Master, Arthur is.”

“True.” Selene said. “But… you’re Wifey.” She looked up at Kelly, shrinking between the two taller girls. “You’re my mistress, and I agreed to follow your lead, especially when Master isn’t around.” She swallowed and folded her hands in front of her, lowering her gaze to Kelly’s knees. “I didn’t. So, I’m sorry. And you should hold me accountable for that.”

Kelly looked confused, but she followed the logic well enough that she understood Selene apologized. She nodded again and hugged Selene, holding the petite ballerina against her. 

Kelly’s hug surprised Selene, who snaked her arms around Kelly’s middle, holding her. 

Katelyn joined the hug, her slung arm pressing against Kelly and her right arm wrapping behind Selene.

“Do you want to spank me now or later?” Selene asked. The words hushed with her lips beside Kelly’s ear.

Kelly looked at her. Katelyn laughed as she left the hug. Selene blinked up at Kelly, smiling shyly. “I deserve a spanking, right? So…” 

Kelly almost laughed, but she saw the severe expression in Selene’s eyes.

“Spank me, Mistress.” Selene suggested. 

“But…” Kelly hesitated, looking at the family room. “Arthur isn’t here. Shouldn’t he do that?”

“That’s not my decision.” Selene said. “As Mistress, it’s up to you.”

Kelly looked at Katelyn for help, but Katelyn was no help. Her cute little cheeks blushed pink, and she refused to look Kelly in the eye. She was giggling quietly but more at the circumstances than at Selene. 

“Deb is right there.” Kelly pointed to the family room. “We’re guests here. This isn’t the time or place.” 

“I think I saw a wooden spoon in the kitchen. Want me to get it for you?” Katelyn asked, raising her eyebrows at Kelly and biting her lip to keep from giggling. 

Kelly blushed at the mention of a wooden spoon. “What? Did you know–?” 

Katelyn nodded. “I noticed it was missing, then heard you guys…” 

Selene looked back and forth at them. “Was this today? Did I miss something?” 

“No, back at our place.” Katelyn said. “Listening to Arthur spank Kelly with a wooden spoon got me worked up, honestly. I’d hoped I’d enjoy spanking way more than I did.” 

“Well, you can always try it again with Master or Kelly instead of Kat.” Selene said, shrugging. “I’m sure it’s different depending on who delivers it.” 

Kelly blushed and looked away at that.

“Yeah. Maybe something private, but not here and now, anyway.” Katelyn said, smiling at Selene and nodding toward the kitchen. 

“We can go upstairs! I have to clean up the teddy bear viscera anyway.” Selene said. 

“The–” Kelly let the phrase die on her tongue. It was self-explanatory. Kelly pinched the bridge of her nose. “There are trash bags in the kitchen. Under the sink.” 

“Yes, Mistress.” Selene said, skipping past her. Kelly took a swat at her butt when Selene shook it at her, but she missed, and Selene giggled and continued on her way. 

~~~

Kelly shook her head at Selene’s antics and waved for Katelyn to follow her into the family room. The others were on the sofa. Their books, computers, snacks, and drinks spread around them. Mindy watched the game on the big screen. Deb scrolled on her phone. Kat worked on homework, typing on her Chromebook. 

Selene joined them half a quarter later and knelt behind the sofa. She threw her arms around Kat, who turned her head to see her. Selene nommed her arm as Kat reached for her. Kat laughed and stuck her tongue out at Selene, who returned the expression. 

“Stop being feral and sit.” Kat said. “Everybody’s doing homework. Don’t you have any to do?” 

Selene rolled her eyes. 

“Do I need to tell Arthur you’re falling behind?” Kat asked. “I’m sure he’ll set you on a proper homework path.” 

Deb smiled at that. 

Selene stuck her tongue out again at Kat but retrieved her bag and started reading her homework with the game playing in the background. 

“You put a lot of stock in Arthur’s leadership, don’t you?” Deb asked. 

The girls looked at each other, and embarrassment colored their faces. Without Rani, no one would have stepped up without shame, but Kat did her best since Deb was looking at her. 

“I mean, yeah. We’ve agreed to follow his lead.” Kat said. “And we respect him. We care about him, but more than that, we know he cares about us. Right?” She looked to the others for support as Deb’s smile grew, and the weight of her gaze became too much for Kat to bear alone. 

“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Kelly said, smiling. 

“We love him.” Selene said softly. “And he loves us.” 

Deb nodded. “Well, I’m glad for that. That’ll help when things get tough.” 

“Tough?” Mindy asked, confused. 

“Well, yeah. When there are arguments and disagreements? Love might cover a multitude of sins, but they still add up.” Deb said, laughing at her own joke. A blanket might cover a messy floor full of Arthur’s legos, but that didn’t make it safe to step on. “I’m sure he’ll snore or get on your nerves one day. Leave his socks where he shouldn’t, or listen to his show tunes too loud. Love will help.” 

“Yeah.” Kat said. “I get that. Like, it’s a good thing I love Selene, or I would have murdered her years ago. She’s a terrible roommate.” 

Katelyn giggled, covering her mouth. 

Kelly smiled and shook her head. The others laughed when Kat and Selene stuck their tongues out at each other. 

Deb settled in her happiness, enjoying the atmosphere with the girls and their banter and comradery. 

“I always wanted a large family.” Deb said. “You girls remind me of my sorority sisters from my college years.” 

“You were in a sorority?” Mindy asked. 

“Sure!” Deb said. “Alpha Theta Epsilon. Of course, the organization wasn’t so wild back then. We did more than party; it was a very studious environment.” 

“Oh.” Mindy said, nodding. That made sense, of course. 

Deb laughed. “I’m just kidding. I was quite wild back in my day. You know how it is.” She winked. 

Mindy giggled. 

“I think I have photos from then…” Deb said, tapping her chin. “Would you girls like to see some photos from the good old college days? Mindy, your father might even be in them!” 

Mindy nodded. “Yes, please!” 

“I’ll go see if I can find the albums.” Deb said and disappeared. 

“This is fun.” Katelyn said, looking around. “I can see the appeal of a sorority or sisterhood like yours.” 

“Ours.” Selene corrected. 

“Well, yeah, but I’m not a full member of the sex club.” Katelyn said, teasing. 

“Yet.” Kat said. “But you might as well be. You rode him, right? That makes us dick sisters.” 

“Dicksters!” Mindy said, clapping her hands and bouncing in her seat.  

The girls erupted into laughter. They were still laughing when Deb reappeared with a yearbook and a binder in her arms. 

“What did I miss?” Deb asked, confused. 

“Just a joke Mindy made.” Kelly said. “Nothing much.” 

“Aw.” Deb said, stepping over to sit between Mindy and Selene on the sofa, who crowded her. The others gathered around her, sitting beside or standing behind her as she opened the photo album. 

“Freshman Year, long ago in the year nineteen ninety-one.” Deb said, opening the album to show a photo of two gorgeous women hugging each other in a 4x5 photograph developed from film. 

“Wow.” Mindy said, examining the two women. One looked like she could be Deb’s daughter, but it was Deb. The gray strands of her hair were auburn then, and her hair had more curl to it. Her skin was tighter and less lined. Her body was different too, her hips and breasts smaller, and her waist narrower. She wore denim shorts, a horizontally striped shirt, and a denim jacket, hugging a woman dressed almost the same. 

“My college roommate.” Deb explained. “Molly. She was great. To everyone's surprise, we were maids of honor at each other’s weddings.” 

“Surprise?” Kelly asked. 

“Different times.” Deb said, somewhat bashfully. “We felt we had to choose between being career women or wives and mothers. So we made a pact: No men. No matter what happened, we wouldn’t get involved with any guys at college. We would study, work hard, graduate with honors, and take over the corporate world.” 

“So what happened?” Kat asked. 

“There were a lot of hot guys in college.” Deb said, laughing, and the girls laughed with her. “Our solemn oaths lasted part of a semester. Then Molly met Walter, and they’re still together. They live in Virginia now and have four kids. We keep in touch on Facebook.”

“Wow.” Mindy said. “What about you and George?” 

“Oh, well, I didn’t meet George until Junior year, but there were… there were guys.” Deb giggled. 

“Way to go, Missus Clarke.” Katelyn said, offering her a high five. Deb took it. 

“Rani can never see this album.” Kat said, mumbling as Deb turned the page to reveal a photo of her and a group of other college kids at a pool party. Her bikini was something out of a swimsuit issue. Although the hair and fashions were laughable now, they couldn’t deny the people in the photos were hot. 

“Oh, look!” Deb said, jamming her finger onto the photograph. “There’s Chang!” 

Mindy’s eyes snapped to the photo, searching for her father’s face. She didn’t see him until Deb moved her finger. The picture revealed a young, muscled Korean man in a speedo so tiny it did more than suggest the shape and size of his bulge. 

Mindy gagged, planting her hand over the offending picture and shaking her head. “Gross!” 

Deb laughed. “Your dad was a hottie. All the girls liked him. Tae Kwon Do, Karate, and Kung Fu were all the rage, and he was the school champion. He was very popular.” 

“My Appa?” Mindy asked, shocked. 

Deb turned the page, and Mindy relaxed. 

“If that means father, then yes.” Deb said, laughing as the others giggled at Mindy’s reaction. 

“Now it’s a really good thing Rani’s not here. She’d definitely try to fuck your dad.” Kat said, more amused than serious. 

Mindy gagged again as if coughing up a hairball. “That is the grossest thing I’ve ever heard. No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!” 

The girls giggled, more at Mindy’s reaction than at the possibility of Rani seducing a parent. They didn’t believe she would, but they didn’t mind teasing each other. Rani started it, after all, by hitting on Deb. 

“What about your mom?” Katelyn asked Mindy. “Is your mom in any of these?” 

“I don’t think so.” Deb said, turning the page. “They didn’t meet until Chang-Hoon attended culinary school in Europe. France, I think.” 

“What?” Mindy asked. “Appa graduated from Pendleton.” 

“Oh, he did.” Deb said. “But only because his father taught there. Your dad got his Bachelor’s in Linguistics to appease his father, then moved to Europe to study to become a chef.” 

Mindy blinked at Deb. “My Appa?”

“Has your dad never told you any of this?” Deb asked, surprised. 

“No!” She said. “I mean, I’ve heard how my parents met and stories… but they never mentioned it was in France! I thought he lived here his whole life!” 

Deb shook her head. “No. As far as I recall, Chang-Hoon was always eager to leave and never return. At least until his dad got sick. Look, there he is again.” 

This time, the picture showed Chang-Hoon in a black dobok, teaching Deb and a few other women martial arts. He stood in a fighting stance, his guard raised and his leg straight out in a side-ways kick. The women beside him attempted to imitate his form but made poor comparisons. 

“I remember this! He taught the self-defense seminar that year. I used to be able to kick over my head.” Deb said as if fondly remembering the ability. 

Mindy stared at the picture, still not convinced it was her father. There had to be a misunderstanding. It might be him if you stripped away years of food and life. But this guy? This guy sounded and looked cool. He’d styled his hair, and his clothes were fashionable. This Chang-Hoon looked like he belonged in those old nineties movies and the way Deb talked? He sounded nothing like the dull, work-obsessed, religious, overprotective father she knew. Maybe Deb was confused. This had to be a different person. 

“I think we broke Mindy.” Selene said, putting her hand on Mindy’s shoulder. 

Deb laughed. “Sorry.” She said. “I didn’t mean to disillusion you, but he had a whole life before you came along!” 

Mindy sat shocked and missed the next couple of pages. 

The other girls enjoyed the glimpses into the past. Crystalized moments showed them their school from a different era. The colors were different, but many buildings were the same. The fashions were odd, but they got a kick out of them. 

“Okay, I swear Doctor Andersen is a vampire. He looks the same.” Katelyn said, pressing her finger to a photograph of a professor smiling with a friend of Deb’s. 

“The exact same.” Kelly agreed. “So either he was already old or has some kind of magic.” 

Kat giggled. “Oh my god, Professor Wilkins.” She pointed to a buff, hot young professor in a suit that looked as if he stepped out of GQ magazine. 

“Wow.” Selene gasped. “He has not aged well.” 

And so it continued until they reached the album’s end, and Deb left them to return it and the yearbook to the shelves she’d taken them from. The game continued, and the afternoon went on. 

~~~

“I wonder what Rani and Arthur are up to.” Selene said. “Do you think they’re fucking yet?” 

The girls sitting on the sofa shrugged. Deb was absent from the room, having gone to the bathroom. 

“Probably.” Kelly said, looking up from her homework. 

“If Rani started it.” Kat said, rolling her eyes. “Sometimes that man can be too thick for his own good.” 

“He’s definitely too thick.” Katelyn said. “But in, like, the best way.” 

The others looked at her, confusion plain on their faces. 

“Oh, you meant his brain.” Katelyn said. “Never mind.” 

The girls erupted into laughter just as Deb returned from the bathroom, and she sighed and rolled her eyes. 

“What did I miss this time?” She asked. “I demand you tell me the joke!” 

This, for reasons unknown to Deb, made the girls absolutely lose their shit. Even Kelly had to wipe her eyes from tears of laughter as she shook her head. “Deb, I promise you, you don’t want to know.” 

“I want to.” Deb said. 

“It was a sex joke.” Kelly said. “About Arthur.” 

“Oh.” Deb said, surprised. She blushed and seemed to change her mind. “I hope he’s… doing well in that arena? If that’s not weird to say.” 

Kelly blushed, but Katelyn took that one. 

“He’s doing well.” Katelyn said. “Too well, considering there’s only one of him to go around.” She gestured between herself and the other girls with a circling finger. 

“Good.” Deb said, nodding. “Well…” She looked at the game. It was almost half-time. “Should we get dinner?” 

“Sure.” Kelly said. “Or I could cook something?” She did a quick headcount but was unsure of what she could cook. 

“Well, except for the brunch leftovers, there’s no food here since we’re moving. Let’s order something. I’ll fetch the menus.” Deb left for the kitchen again, and Kelly’s phone rang.

She had difficulty fishing it out of her purse, but once she checked the caller ID, she answered in a panic. 

“Hey, what’s wrong? What happened?” Kelly asked. 

“No, nothing’s wrong. I just had a quick favor to ask!” Rani’s voice shot into the ceiling.

“Are you okay? What was that?” Kelly asked. 

“No, I’m still okay.” Rani said to Kelly through gritted teeth. “Master just thinks it’s funny to spike the vibrator while I’m trying to talk to you.”

Kelly sagged with relief. The remote control vibrators seemed to be Arthur’s favorite. “I’m jealous. I wouldn’t mind having one of those right now. Tell him I want one for myself.” Kelly said. 

“Yes, Mistress. I’ll tell him.” Rani said. “Mistress wants you to know she’s jealous and wants one of these for herself.” Rani sounded like she was talking away from the phone, but Kelly heard her. She heard Arthur’s response as well. 

“Tell her I’ll consider it.” Arthur said. “But for now, be a good girl and behave.” 

“He says he’ll consider it, but he needs you to be a good girl and behave.” 

Kelly groaned. “Did you call just to tease me?” She rolled her eyes and looked at the girls. They stared at her with curious expressions. She mouthed “Rani” to them, and they understood. 

“No, we didn’t call to tease you, sorry.” Rani said. “I wanted to ask a favor.” She hesitated. “I have a life photography midterm project and need a female model. I wanted to do something contrasting the masculine with the feminine. It’d be nude, and you’d need to sign a release, but is that something you’d be willing to do?” 

Kelly stopped, considering Rani’s words and forming them into sentences in her head. Was she willing to model? 

“Nude?” Kelly asked. She frowned. “I don’t know. It’s one thing to be naked in front of you girls, but pictures for a school project are different. Can I think about it?” 

“Oh.” Rani said. “No, it’s okay, I understand. No pressure. I can ask someone else. You’re just the first person I considered. You’d be perfect.” 

“I’m not saying no.” Kelly said quickly. 

“No, Kelly, listen to me.” Rani paused. “Anything short of an enthusiastic yes is a no, and that’s okay. Your consent matters, and your comfort matters to me. I can find another model.”

“I appreciate that, but—” Kelly said, but Rani cut her off. 

“Of course. Don’t worry about it.” Rani said. 

“I want to help you out, but I need to think about it first.” Kelly finished her sentence. 

“It’s my fault for not asking sooner.” Rani said. “You can take time if you’d like, but the deadline is soon. I’ll look for another model while you think it over, okay?” 

“Okay.” Kelly said, sounding defeated. She tried to think of anyone else who would do it. Only one person sprang to mind.

“What is she asking for? Pictures?” Selene asked. “She wants you to model nude?” 

Kelly nodded. 

“I’ll do it!” Selene said. 

“Okay.” Rani said. “No worries. Take your time; if it’s a no, that’s one-thousand percent okay. If you’re uncomfortable, you don’t have to do it.” 

“Selene said she’d be willing.” Kelly said. “Could we talk about it at the harem meeting on Wednesday?” 

Rani was quiet. “Yeah, we could do that.” Rani said. “While I’m considering backups, do you know anyone with your level of fitness that might be willing? I appreciate Selene’s willingness, but I was hoping to use a female model with muscles.” 

“Maybe.” Kelly said. “I think my friend Thalia has done some modeling.” 

“Perfect. Text me her number, and I’ll send her a message. Thank you, Mistress.” Rani said. 

“Sure.” Kelly said. “You’re–” She was about to say ‘you’re welcome,’ but Rani had ended the call. She hoped Rani wasn’t angry with her for not jumping at the chance, but Rani wasn’t like that. She took a deep breath and texted her friend. 

Kelly: Hey. I know it’s been a while, but are you still doing that nude modeling sometimes? I have a friend who needs a model for a photography class. Not sure what it pays, but if you’re interested, I can give her your number? 

Thalia didn’t answer at once, and Kelly tucked her phone away. She didn’t know if Rani planned on paying a model, but Kelly could chip in money. That would help assuage her guilt over saying maybe instead of yes. 

Her phone dinged after Deb returned with the menus, and she checked it. 

Thalia: Sure. I work cheap. How have you been doing, anyway? It’s been a while. 

Kelly: Thank you so much! 

Kelly: And I’ve been good. Crazy busy this semester. You? 

Thalia: Same. We should hang soon. Jill said you’re dating your gym husband now? 

Kelly: Arthur, yeah. 

Thalia: You still into girls too? 

Kelly glanced at Selene, Mindy, Kat, and Katelyn. Their feminine clothes, Selene’s graceful movements, Mindy’s cute smile, Kat’s laughing and rolling her eyes, and Katelyn’s cute blush when she glanced at Kelly. Kelly bit her lip and smiled. 

Kelly: Yeah. 

Thalia: Nice. We should chat soon. Smoothie date? 

Kelly: That sounds great. Friday after the gym? 

Thalia: Perfect. I like you all hot and sweaty. [winky-face]. 

Kelly: lol. See you then. I’ll pass the photographer your number. Her name is Rani. She’s great. A little forward, and uh… says what’s on her mind. 

Thalia: Can’t wait. It should be a fun shoot, then. [winky-face]. 

Kelly didn’t respond but texted Rani her number and left the rest in her hands. 

~~~

With the food ordered and the game past half-time, Deb and the girls were reading or homeworking, except for Mindy and Kelly. The close nature of the game sucked them in. They jumped to their feet half the time, cheering on their team or yelling at the other team for having the audacity to score. Their skirts swished, and their arms shook with the feminine urge to choke out a referee.  

“That ref is blind! The momentum was stopped at the thirty-five-yard line! This should not be the first down! It should be the fourth!” Mindy said, squeezing Kelly’s arm. 

“Yeah!” Kelly agreed with her. “You said it, Whore!” 

Deb lifted her gaze from her phone with a startled expression. The others didn’t act as if anything was amiss. She looked at Mindy and Kelly as if Kelly had just struck Mindy.

“Oh, uh… she didn’t mean it like that.” Katelyn stepped in, realizing what Deb was thinking. “It’s a term of endearment for Mindy that they use. I… never asked why. It’s an inside joke?” 

“Please don’t tell my Appa.” Mindy said, desperate but distracted. 

“Oh, I won’t tell your father.” Deb said, shaking her head. “My friends and I used to call each other names like that. All in good fun.” 

Mindy nodded and returned her attention to the game. “Yeah. It’s like that. Like Kat’s Brat nickname.”

Selene smiled, shaking her head as she pulled out her phone. Rani texted her, so she sent a message back. 

Queenie: Hey, when do you think you’ll be home? I was hoping you and I could show Arthur that video we made tonight. Brat’s welcome to join us if she wants. Might be hot to make her watch Arthur and I spit-roasting you to our porn playing in the background.

Slut: I’m in. We can be home in forty minutes if we Uber. 

Queenie: No rush. We’re eating dinner soon, then digesting. 

Slut: Okay. We’ll eat dinner here then and be there as soon as we can. I’ll keep you updated. 

Selene leaned to her right, showing Kat the phone and the conversation. 

“Hot.” Kat said, in what was supposed to be an imitation of Rani. She looked at the others to see if anyone laughed. Katelyn stared at her. Mindy and Kelly were too busy with the game to notice. She frowned as her imitation fell flat with the group. 

Katelyn patted Kat on her shoulder and shook her head no. 

“I’ll work on it.” Kat rolled her eyes, huffed, and went back to reading. 

“What are you looking at?” Deb asked. “What’s hot?” 

“Oh, just texts from Rani. She says ‘hot’ sometimes to be funny, that’s all. Sort of an inside joke.” Selene explained. 

“Oh, okay.” Deb said, nodding. “You certainly have a lot of those.” 

Selene smiled awkwardly. “It’s, uh… a very explicit text from Rani.” 

“Oh.” Deb said, sighing. “I expect anyone hanging out with the bunch of you is going to feel left out. Though, in my case, especially, that might be a good thing.” 

Kat shrugged. “Unless you want to hear about Selene’s sex life?” 

“With Arthur? No, thank you.” Deb laughed. “Not without a few more mimosas. Relationship advice, I’m here for you. General discussions, that kind of thing… but spicy details are best left out.” 

Selene laughed awkwardly and disappeared into her phone. 

Slut: I showed Brat your text. She said “Hot” in what I think was supposed to be an impression of you. 

Queenie: Was it any good? 

Slut: It sounded more like Eeyore than you, but she says she’ll work on it. 

Queenie: lol. See you soon, slut. Tell Brat I said [stuck-out tongue emoji]. 

Selene sent a wink emoji, a fire emoji, two eggplant emojis, and a sweating emoji. 

Rani sent a 100 emoji. 

“How’s her date going with Arthur?” Kelly asked. “She sounded like everything was good when she called.” 

“So far, so good. She’s trying to plan something special for him, so that’s a good sign.” Selene said, nodding. 

“What’s she planning?” Kelly asked. 

“Oh uh…” Selene glanced at Deb, and Kelly took her meaning. So did Deb. 

“Well, I’m sure he’ll enjoy it! Rani is a lovely young woman.” Deb said. “But isn’t it weird to think about her… being with Arthur?” 

Selene shrugged. “Not really? It’s normal for us.” 

“It’s weird.” Katelyn said. “But I guess they get used to it?” 

“I just focus on the fact that my turn is coming. Sure, tonight might be Rani’s turn, but I’ll get him to myself soon. We all do.” Kat said. “That’s how I get past it.” 

Deb nodded, having no experience with their way of life but accepting their answers. 

“And we’re happy for her.” Selene said. “She’s our friend and gets to spend a nice romantic evening with her boyfriend. Same for Arthur. We’re happy for them, and they’re having fun.” 

“Yeah, No evening with Rani would be a cry fest.” Kat scoffed. “That girl doesn’t have a serious bone in her body.” 

“Unless Arthur puts it there.” Mindy said, still distracted by the game. 

The girls chuckled, and even Deb joined. They laughed at the innuendo and Mindy’s lack of focus on anything but the very close game. 

“Besides, they might have fun, but we do too.” Kelly said, squeezing Selene’s hand when Selene reached over to her. “If anything, I feel terrible that Rani missed Peter Pan.” 

“And hanging out with us.” Katelyn added. “We’re awesome.”

The laughter continued, then faded. Deb smiled, content. She watched the game with the rest of them. 

The teams on the screen had kept the score close during the game, falling behind and surpassing as they traded touchdowns and field goals. Whenever they came close to scoring, Mindy reached for Kelly’s hand and squeezed it in her squealing excitement, amusing the others. The excitement and pressure only increased as the clock ticked closer to zero. 

Dinner arrived, and Deb distributed plates, pizza, and boneless wings with Kelly’s help. Selene stuck to the pizza, and Kelly added leftover greens from brunch. For Mindy, the food was secondary to the game. She perched on the edge of the sofa in anticipation as the final quarter neared its end with their team two points behind. 

The others watched while they ate but weren’t as invested. Mindy’s enthusiasm amused rather than infected them, but they were having a good time. 

“Looks like homecoming got you hooked on a new obsession.” Kelly said, rubbing Mindy’s back. “You know it’s okay if they don’t win this game, right? There’s plenty of games left in the season.” 

“Yeah.” Mindy said. “But they’re so close! They can still–INTERCEPTION!!!!” Mindy screamed, jumping to her feet and causing Kelly to flinch before she looked at the screen and joined Mindy. 

The two girls jumped beside each other, cheering as the interceptor broke through the offensive line. He made a mad dash, running yard after yard until the opposing team was a distant memory. He crossed into the touchdown zone, and Mindy and Kelly clutched each other and jumped. 

“TOUCHDOWN!!!!” Mindy squealed. 

She and Kelly looked at each other. The taller, hourglass-shaped Kelly smiled at the dark-eyed beauty in her arms, and before anyone knew it, Mindy was kissing her. Mindy moved to her toes, and her soft lips opened against Kelly’s. They kissed, venting the excitement and passion from the game as the momentum knocked Kelly to the sofa. She wrapped her arms around Mindy, holding her close as they fell with a squeal, but not breaking their kiss. 

Kelly would have laughed, but Mindy’s passion was contagious, and she didn’t let the fall stop her from tasting Mindy’s tongue. Mindy's legs parted over Kelly’s thigh, and Mindy pushed her knee against Kelly's crotch. They made out, oblivious to their audience in their rapture, until Kelly heard Deb’s voice. 

“Oh my.” Deb said. 

Kelly blushed, and Mindy giggled. “Sorry, Mistress. I just got excited.” 

Deb raised her eyebrows. 

“It’s okay.” Kelly said, patting Mindy’s back. “I didn’t mind. You just took me by surprise.” 

Mindy kissed her again, more chaste this time. A peck on her lips. 

“Sorry, Missus Clarke.” Mindy said, sitting up and removing herself from Kelly, who remained on her back. 

“Oh, don’t apologize to me.” Deb said. “And call me Deb. I know it’s one thing to hear that you’re… involved with each other. Another to see it.” She said. “I guess that helps with the jealousy, too. That you have each other.” 

“Are you okay I kissed you? After last night, it seems like… we’ve done so much together… is it okay?” Mindy asked. 

“It’s fine. It was… nice.” Kelly said, licking her lips as she sat up. “I like your chapstick.” 

“Thanks!” Mindy said. “I like your face.” 

Kelly chuckled. “I like your face too.” 

“Mindy’s a great kisser.” Selene said, nodding. 

Kat rolled her eyes. 

“Do you all uh…” Deb started pointing between them but shook her hands and changed her mind. “Never mind, it’s not my business. I’m happy for all of you. And I apologize in advance if you do that in front of my husband. He will probably stare and maybe have a heart attack.” 

Mindy giggled. “Mister Clarke is nice. I wouldn’t want to cause him any heart problems.” 

“Oh, you’re his favorite.” Deb said, smiling. “He loves talking business. I was worried he’d talk your ears off at homecoming.” 

“Oh, no. I didn’t mind.” Mindy said, settling in and having a pizza slice. “It was nice to get a more experienced perspective. I’m still learning about business and the corporate world, and he was super helpful.” 

“Well, if he ever gets annoying and you need an out, wave me down. I’ll rescue you.” Deb said, smiling. “I love my husband, but he can drone on. If you can survive his lecturing, you’ll do just fine in the corporate world.” 

“Deal.” Mindy smiled. She enjoyed her pizza, and Kelly enjoyed hers. Mindy cuddled into Kelly’s side, and the girls enjoyed a nice dinner. 

~~~

After dinner, Deb and Kelly handled the cleanup, which was completed too soon. A few were still working on homework but wrapping up. 

“Did you get lots of homework done?” Deb asked. 

“Some.” Kat said. “Thanks for letting us hang here.” 

“Oh, this was a blast.” Deb said. “We should make it a regular event. I want to get to know you girls if you’re dating my son.” 

“I’d love that.” Kelly said. 

“Me too.” Mindy said, chiming in as she packed up her things. 

The others nodded. 

“What about you, Kelly? Did you get any homework done?” Deb asked. “I feel guilty having you help with the dishes and cleanup.” 

“Oh, don’t worry. Homework is my life.” Kelly said, laughing. “I just need to find a volunteer for my personal training class.” 

“Volunteer?” Deb asked. 

“Someone willing to let me tailor a workout program to them and do it for thirty days.” Kelly said. “I’m coming up on the deadline. I need to get it done. I planned to ask Arthur but didn’t get a chance.” 

“I’d volunteer, but I’m terrible at remembering to hit the gym.” Deb said. 

“I volunteer!” Selene said. “I could use the gym time.” 

“And she loves watching Arthur work out.” Kat said, ignoring Selene when she elbowed her. 

“Count me in!” Mindy said. “I’ve been meaning to get hot like you.” 

Kelly laughed. “Well, if you’re serious, meet me at the gym tomorrow. We’ll figure out a program for you.” 

Selene nodded, and Mindy joined her. 

“I’m sleeping for as long as possible tomorrow. I’m exhausted from last night.” Kat said, yawning as if to punctuate her point. 

“Lots of partying last night?” Deb asked, remembering the homecoming parties she used to attend. 

The girls fell quiet, and a few of them blushed. 

“Oh.” Deb giggled. “Well, so long as you had fun.” 

“Thank you so much for this, Deb. For brunch, letting us rent from you, and hanging out today. I seriously had a wonderful time.” Kelly said. 

“Oh, come on.” Deb said, offering her a hug, which Kelly took. She hugged each of them one by one as they reiterated Kelly’s general expression of gratitude. 

“Drive safe.” Deb said. “Text me when you’re home safe?” 

“Sure thing.” Kelly said. They did another round of hugs as she and the others left. They waved to Deb from the driveway. 

When they parted ways in the driveway, Kelly kissed Mindy goodnight. The others gave her hugs and piled into Kelly’s car. 

Mindy slid into her car with a wave goodbye to Deb, and Kelly climbed into her driver’s seat. 

Kelly smiled the entire drive home. She drove Selene and Kat to their apartment, dropped them off, and took Katelyn home to her and Katelyn’s apartment. 

It was wonderful to sleep in her own bed. Sliding between her sheets in her silk pajamas felt like coming home. She hugged her pillow, cuddling the end of it in front of her with her head on the other. She fell asleep thinking over everything that happened. She would never forget this weekend. Arthur, Selene, Mindy, Katelyn, Rani, and even Kat were fantastic. Better than her dreams.

~~~Monday~~~

Arthur woke to movement at his feet before the sun rose on Monday morning. After the weekend and the fun but emotional day yesterday, Monday could go away for another week. 

He didn’t have to open his eyes to recognize the buzz of his phone alarm on the table beside him. He normally would swing his legs over the bed, sit up, then rise before turning off the alarm. That was the best practice to ensure he didn’t return to sleep. However, this time, someone weighed him down. 

Rani’s arm across his torso wrapped under his ribs on the other side as he laid on his back. Her curvy hip and thigh hooked over his, with her torso partially on top of him and his arm around her. She wasn’t heavy. Arthur could shift if he wanted to, but doing so would wake her, and she wasn’t a morning person. She needed her sleep. He could let the alarm go. 

The movement at his feet, however, was neither him nor Rani. 

Selene slid away from between his legs and slunk to the floor. When he opened his eyes, he saw her naked except for her collar, crawling beside the bed on her hands and knees until she reached his phone. She knelt, sitting her bubble butt on her heels and straightening her back. She turned off the alarm, then shifted herself with her palms on the floor so she was facing him. 

He closed his eyes so she might think he was still asleep. 

Her lips kissed against his bicep in a soft, tentative gesture. 

“Master?” Selene asked, her voice a husky whisper in the darkness. 

“Mm?” Arthur responded.

“Master, your alarm went off.” Selene said. 

“Thank you, slave.” Arthur said, whispering just as much. “But, I can’t get up…” 

“Would you like me to wake your concubine?” Selene asked. 

“No, it’s okay. Let Queenie sleep a while longer.” Arthur said. “She’s earned her rest.” 

“Yes, Master.” Selene said. “Can I prepare anything for you? Do you need anything? Breakfast? Your gym clothes?”

“My after gym clothes. Blue shirt, gray suit.” Arthur said, opening his eyes again. “And the toiletries bag from the bathroom closet… and that should be it. Oh, my water bottle, in the kitchen.” 

“Yes, Master.” Selene said, standing. 

“Oh, and slave?” Arthur asked. 

Selene folded her hands in front of her. “Yes, Master?” 

“Kiss me.” 

Selene bent over the bed and Arthur, putting one hand on the pec Rani wasn’t using for a pillow. Her lips parted as they pressed against his, and her tongue slid against his, submitting to him when he returned the favor. 

Arthur reached with his free hand and grasped the back of her thigh. He slid his hand along the rigid muscle of her hamstring until he found the soft flesh of her behind. He squeezed her, and she gave a whimpering “Mm.” of appreciation. 

Arthur’s body stirred in response, and hers warmed. Rani remained asleep against him, and he kept his left side still, but his cock was well-trained by this point and stuck straight toward the ceiling. 

Selene smiled as Arthur ended the kiss by lifting her from his face by the root of her waist-long braided ponytail and kissing her throat. He released her, and she remained where she was until it became clear he wasn’t going to restart the kiss. 

“I love you, Master.” Selene whispered, petting his hair. 

“I love you, Selene.” Arthur whispered back. 

Selene blushed, her pale face warming to ruddy as her hooded eyes followed the shadows across his torso to one of her favorite parts of Arthur’s body. 

“Would you like this slave to serve you, Master?” Selene asked. “May I help you with… that?” 

Arthur glanced at Rani, still sleeping, still curled and cuddling him, naked and gorgeous. Her midnight black hair cascaded across her body, covering her arms and pierced breast like a veil. Arthur thought the other piercing would have been uncomfortable against his ribs, but he didn’t feel it at this angle. Most of her jewelry was on the nightstand with her collar. 

“Can you do it without waking Rani?” Arthur asked. 

“I… think so, Master.” Selene said.

“Then do it. But if you wake her, I’ll let a grumpy, just-woken Rani decide your punishment.” 

Selene swallowed. If Rani’s morning temperament was like Kat’s, the punishment would be harsher than one Arthur might conjure. “Yes, Master.” 

She moved carefully, stepping sideways until she was beside his cock. Bending at the waist, she opened her mouth and pushed her tongue forward. She scraped the underside of his cock with her tongue, wrapping it and moving her head up and down. 

Arthur reached for her thigh but couldn’t reach it without shifting Rani. So he took her hand instead, holding her hand while she licked his cock. She squeezed his hand, then released it. A moment later, she put the end of her braid into his hand and closed his fingers around it. He took her meaning and wrapped her braid around his hand until it was taut. Not for his pleasure or hers but for a sense of connection without taking away her ability to stroke him. 

She caressed his balls in one hand and pumped his shaft with the other. Her lips sucked and kissed the tip, her tongue scraping and curling against him as she worked. 

Arthur closed his eyes again, but sleep was a distant dream now. His heart rate sped into the ‘awake now’ range despite the soft bed beneath him. 

Rani stirred, her ear above his heart. 

Selene froze with her face a quarter of the way down his shaft. 

Rani didn’t wake but snuggled in, squeezing Arthur tighter and settling against him even closer than before. 

Arthur held still, frozen until he was certain Rani wouldn’t wake. When her stillness assured him, he tugged Selene’s braid, and she pumped his length with her mouth, sucking as she rose and fell. She’d studied for this. A comment she’d made before made Arthur think of it. She hated homework and had an adamant disdain for studying. Yet she’d taken the time to research how to best give him a blow job because she wanted to pleasure him. To show him how much she loved him. 

For a moment, Arthur felt guilty cuddling Rani. The guilt bubbled in his chest at having confided in her but not Selene. It might be silly, but he still felt as though he owed Selene his confidence. Though, as he watched her, he couldn’t help but imagine what pain might fill her eyes if she knew. 

Arthur didn’t want her to stare at him that way. Pity in her eyes would be unbearable, and pain would kill him. He didn’t want to hurt her, and she cared about him too much to be unscathed by the revelation of Lynn’s sins. 

Rani seemed the least empathetic. Maybe that was why it was easier to confide in her. Selene might gaze at him with pain in her eyes, but Rani wouldn’t. In some ways, that made confessing trauma to her much easier. He knew hearing his trauma wouldn’t hurt her, even if she had teared up in solidarity. 

Arthur never wanted Selene to look at him with emotional pain behind her eyes. He preferred the way she was looking at him now, her lips suctioned to his cock and her eyes full of lust. 

“I love you,” Arthur said. He spoke softly to avoid waking Rani, but clearly enough so Selene heard him. 

Selene hummed something against his cock in her throat. Somehow, saying “I love you, too,” mid throat fuck was even more intimate and pleasurable for both of them. 

Rani’s arm tightened around Arthur’s middle, and she mumbled something incoherent against his chest, not waking. 

Selene hummed another moan as she retook Arthur to the root, and he nearly came from the vibration of her vocal cords against his cock. He gripped her braid and squeezed Rani, who mumbled something, patted his chest, and rolled over. She set her back to him, her ass against his thigh, but her head further away on the pillows now instead of his arm. 

Selene’s slow and tentative blow job became greedy, and she sucked him harder and faster with more quiet humming every time she touched her nose against his bush. 

Her hot, exhaled breath on his bare skin, her golden hair in his fist, and her smooth skin and pin-sharp nipples against his thigh made him arch his back.

Selene quickened her pace, sensing he was about to blow. He curled up, forcing his lower back into the mattress. With both hands, he held her head in place against him. His thick shaft forced her mouth open. Her hot, tight, wet throat milked his cock as she swallowed him. He erupted, emptying himself into her as she held still as stone, waiting for him to finish. She swallowed, and swallowed, and calmed him with her hand on his leg as he twitched and spasmed. 

Arthur released her head and fell back against his pillow.

Selene gasped for air, gulping and heaving in her breaths once she pulled free of his cock.

“Good girl.” Arthur said. The words came out as a relieved sigh. As awake as he’d been a moment ago, his energy fled with his orgasm. He wanted nothing more than to stay in bed beneath the weight of his two soft girlfriends sleeping on him. 

Selene was the responsible one. “Master, if you don’t get up, we’ll be late for the gym, and Mistress is expecting us. If we don’t get there on time, she’ll blame me and punish me for it.”

“She’ll what?” Arthur asked, awake again. That didn’t sound like the reasonable Kelly he knew. 

Selene giggled. “She won’t, but I’d be okay if she did. I saw how she was on Saturday... I trust her. If her punishing me is okay with you, it’s okay with me.” 

Arthur considered the question and nodded as he rose from his bed with a herculean effort. Selene slid to her knees and took the Nadu position. Arthur ruffled her hair. Selene scrunched her nose at him. 

Arthur pulled on his gym clothes, and Selene moved swiftly and silently. She gathered his after-gym clothes in a garment bag from his closet, gym supplies and toiletries going in a duffel, and grabbed the items from outside the room. By the time Arthur was ready to leave, she was waiting for him, his bag by the door, and her extra clothes on the sofa for his approval. 

He reviewed the clothes with a raised eyebrow. Calling them clothes was generous. He nodded for her to put them on, and she did so, pulling and adjusting them until she was comfortable. The sports bra was a pale blue color, faded with time rather than use. Its deep V-neck formed the material into two triangles that covered her breasts. Its strength faded years ago and did little to restrain the handfuls of her breasts as she moved. 

The shorts, another generous term, had more spring to them and covered three-quarters of her bubble butt. Their waist was low, giving the impression they were to be worn under a dance costume instead of in place of pants. 

“You’re sure you’re okay with wearing that to the gym?” Arthur asked. “You might turn heads.” 

Selene smiled. “Don’t be silly, Master. I’ll be working out with Kelly. No one will notice me.” 

Arthur held her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him. “Don’t compare. You’re every bit as sexy as Kelly.” 

“Only to you, Master.” 

“Especially to me, sure, but not only.” Arthur said. He could see her preparing to argue, but he squeezed her face, puckering her lips. “No, don’t argue with me. Say ‘Yes Sir’ and get ready to leave.” He released her. 

“Yes, Sir.” Selene said, smiling as she put on her shoes and socks. Arthur enjoyed the view of her bending over as she tied her sneakers. She straightened and turned to present herself. “Outfit approved?” 

“Outfit approved.” Arthur said after recovering. “Wait here. I’ll see if Rani wants to come with us or sleep in.” 

“Yes, Sir.” Selene said again, smiling as she touched the thin brown leather collar at her throat. 

Arthur peeked into his bedroom again and saw Rani, lying where he had left her, fast asleep. She grumbled something as he leaned on the bed, and he smiled. 

“Wakey, wakey, Queenie, Beanie.” Arthur said, speaking softly. 

Rani raised her hand and padded it along the mattress until she found his leg. She pushed against him as if shoving him away, though she had no oomph in it. His leg didn’t move. 

“Selene and I are going to the gym, then work. We won’t be back until tonight. Do you want a ride to campus? Or do you want to sleep here and get a ride back with Kat?” Arthur asked. 

Rani hummed something. 

“What?” 

“Pussy Kat.” Rani said, smiling through the sleep. 

“Okay.” Arthur said. “I’ll… text you. So at least you’ll have a note here when you wake up.” He didn’t know if she had any classes or alarms set, but he assumed she’d woken up before on Mondays. She’d be okay. There was food in the kitchen, a clean bathroom, and anything else she might need. In the worst-case scenario, she could get somebody in the harem to give her a ride, or she could Uber. She’d be okay. 

Rani waved goodbye, flapping her fingers at him before she pulled the blankets closer and snored before he shut the door behind him. 

Arthur shook his head, laughing at himself as he met Selene at the apartment door. “Let’s go.” 

Selene followed him out, and the drive to campus was quiet and relaxing. She texted Rani and Kat from his phone while Arthur dictated his messages so he was free to drive. Then she sat back, and they sang along to the Seussical soundtrack. For a moment, as he pulled onto campus, it was almost like the clock rewound, and they were just friends hanging out. 

Arthur’s smile widened at the thought. Not that he preferred their old dynamic, but he had missed it. Still, it wasn’t as if they’d tossed it away, but they’d built on it. Things were different now, sure, but better. Their friendship was still there underneath it all. They hadn’t replaced friendship with romance and sex, but friendship was the foundation for what they were building now. 

Selene returned his smile tenfold, and the moment between them passed as Arthur drove through campus, parking outside the Athletic Center. 

“I love you.” Selene said as he parked. 

“I love you too.” Arthur said, patting her bare thigh. “Ready to work up a sweat?” 

“With you? Always. Want me to climb in your lap now or in the backseat?” Selene asked, only half-joking as she gestured to the two options. “Or behind the dumpsters?” 

Arthur shook his head. “You know I meant in the gym.” He turned off the car and opened his door. 

“Oh.” Selene said, frowning. “Fiiiine.” 

Arthur laughed as he opened Selene’s car door for her, and she stepped out, ready for the gym in as little clothing as possible. Between that and her teasing, he worried about giving bystanders a show, but his lurking erection faded after a few steps. 

His gym shorts fell to just above his knee, but the soft blue material hid nothing if he got hard. His black t-shirt showed none of his torso off, but it was tight enough for Selene’s happiness. She hugged his arm as they walked, her body bared except for a narrow belt of shorts and her faded, risque sports bra. 

The huge University gym awoke as people came in for the day. The mingled aromas of cleaning solution, stainless steel, sweat, and foam swept under their nostrils as soon as Arthur opened the door. Silence was the order of the day, with headphones in every ear. The hour was too early for most, but Arthur enjoyed working out before it became busy. Besides, he had to get to the office early.

He moved to his usual spot in the treadmill lineup to warm up, and Selene took Brad’s usual machine beside him. Kelly arrived just as they were about to jog after their walking period. Selene left Arthur’s side to run and hug her. Brad came from the other direction and gave Arthur a fist bump. 

“How was your weekend after homecoming?” Brad asked. 

Arthur eyed Kelly and Selene as they glanced his way. Kelly blew him a kiss, and he blew one back to her. She and Selene hugged, then laughed and headed toward the exercise mats for their warm-up. He watched them go. Selene showed more skin, but Kelly was just as hot as ever in her sports bra, cut-off t-shirt, and yoga pants. 

“Looks like it went well?” Brad asked. 

Arthur laughed. “Yeah, it was, uh… pretty great.” 

“Where are the rest of your girlfriends?” Brad asked, looking around. 

“Well, Rani and Kat are sleeping in, recovering from brunch with my mom yesterday. If I know Mindy, she’s–oh, looks like she’s here too.” Arthur pointed to the locker room doors. 

Mindy entered from there and took a moment to scan the room to find him. Spotting him, she waved with far too much energy and walked briskly to Arthur. She turned heads in her outfit, a modest but still sizable sports bra squeezing her cleavage together. Beneath it, her midriff was bare to the low waist of the spandex shorts she wore, covering her to the middle of her thighs. She bounced as she walked, a spring in every step. 

Arthur slowed his walk and straddled the treadmill as she approached him. He had to bend to kiss her, and she had to hop up to the machine next to his, but she kissed him, throwing her arms around his neck. “Yuck. You’re all sweaty!” 

“I haven’t even started sweating.” Arthur laughed. 

“We have not even begun to sweat!” Brad echoed, laughing as he pumped his fist in the air. 

“I’m supposed to meet Kelly here, is she–” Mindy cut herself off as she spotted Selene and Kelly by the exercise mats. “There they are! Bye, Boss!” She kissed Arthur again, then hopped down and ran to Kelly, leaving Arthur laughing and shaking his head as he restarted the treadmill. 

“So that’s Mindy.” Arthur said, resuming his conversation with Brad. “And I have no idea about Katelyn.”  

“Who?” Brad asked, scrunching his forehead as he tried to remember the girls he’d seen Saturday at homecoming. 

“Oh, uh, Kelly’s roommate.” Arthur said. 

“Wait.” Brad said, counting on his fingers. “Another girlfriend? You had five already, and you added another girlfriend between homecoming and this morning? Geez man.” 

“Kinda.” Arthur said, not having considered it that way. “She’s not an official member, or girlfriend, or whatever yet, but she’s moving into the house with us.” 

“You’re moving?” Brad asked. 

Arthur laughed. “Tell you what, I’ll catch you up on my life if you tell me how your date with Jen went.”

“Deal, Bro.” Brad nodded, and the two of them chatted and caught up while they ran, pumped iron, and worked through their weekly Monday routine.

~~~

Meanwhile, Kelly, Selene, and Mindy started their workout. 

“Have you ever worked out before?” Kelly asked, looking between the two. 

“Yes and no.” Selene answered. “Not weight lifting, but I’ve done plenty of aerobics, yoga, stretching, cardio, and dance.” 

“I’ve done some before, too.” Mindy said. “Uh… cardio, mostly.” She said, eyeing the bigger machines. 

“Okay.” Kelly said. “Well, I start with leg day on Monday. Since you two are starting out, I want to do a full-body workout three days a week. We'll discuss goals after I see what you can do. Does that sound okay?” 

Selene and Mindy looked at each other, then back at Kelly. They nodded. 

Selene didn’t know why Kelly seemed so nervous, but once they started their warm-up, Kelly found her confidence. Watching her move through the exercises and demonstrate the proper form was enjoyable. Following her example and moving her body and the weights through those exercises repeatedly at a pulse-increasing pace was far less enjoyable. 

The upside was that she got to check out Arthur while she worked out. Also, while she waited for Kelly or Mindy to finish with a machine. She wasn’t staring at him, but she was eye-fucking him while he worked out. The dark sweat stain on his shirt cut a V on his torso, and then it happened. He and Brad had enough of the sweaty shirts and removed them to do pull-ups. 

“Selene?” Kelly asked. 

Selene hadn’t heard whatever she was talking about. She gestured in a zombie-fugue to Arthur in response. She couldn’t take her eyes away from his rippling muscles as his arms, back, chest, and shoulders flexed with each pull-up. He had his legs straight out, sitting as he lifted himself by the bars. His ripped core glistened with sweat.

“Oh.” Kelly said. She took the spot beside Selene with her hand on her hip. “Oh, my.” 

Mindy had stopped, too. She licked her lips as she observed Arthur. Then, they changed their exercise to push-up burpees. Those looked insane but impressive when Arthur did them. 

“Kelly?” Selene asked. 

“Yeah?” Kelly asked without looking away. 

“How… practical would it be to sneak into the men’s locker room and meet Arthur in the showers?” Selene asked. “Asking for a friend.” 

Kelly laughed harder than she should have. Enough to snap Mindy out of her staring fugue. Not enough to warrant tearing her eyes away from the delightful scene of Arthur’s rippling muscles outperforming Brad in a burpee contest. 

“Sorry, but in your case, you might actually be asking for a friend.” Kelly said. “It’s funny.” 

Selene giggled. “Okay, but… seriously. Do you think I can get in there without getting expelled?” 

“At this time of day? You’d get caught.” Kelly said. “Arthur showers and leaves when most people arrive. Besides, he’s quick in the locker room. He has to get to work.” 

“Right.” Mindy nodded. “Work.” 

Kelly and Selene laughed. 

“Come on, Selene.” Kelly tugged. “You’re up on the pull-up machine.” 

“But…” Selene protested but fumbled along until she pulled herself up with the assisting machine. Unlike the bar Arthur used, this machine had a knee pad for the weights to make up the difference between her body weight and what her muscles could lift. She tried to hurry, but by the time she’d finished, Arthur and Brad had moved on to free-weight chest flies. 

“Man.” Selene pouted. 

“At least they’re still shirtless.” Kelly said, patting Selene’s shoulder and taking her place on the bar without the help of the machine. Mindy stood nearby, distracted by her phone for a moment. 

“Hey.” A strange voice interrupted Mindy’s attention as someone entered her field of vision from the right. 

“Oh, sorry, am I in your way?” Mindy asked, moving out of their path. 

“No, I uh… I just saw you standing there and wanted to say hi. I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.” 

Mindy turned her attention to the voice. She stared into the face of a young man who looked familiar but whose name she didn’t know. She must have seen him around but never crossed paths, a common occurrence at the University. He was jock-ish, with an athletic build and a haircut that he overpaid for, judging by the labels on his gym clothes. 

“Oh.” Mindy said, gesturing to Selene and Kelly. “Yeah, it’s my first time working out. My girlfriend Kelly is showing me the ropes.” 

“Your girlfriend?” The guy asked, lifting his eyes to Kelly. His gaze lingered longer than appropriate, taking in Kelly’s behind as it rose and fell without help from the machine. 

“Mmhm.” Mindy said, somewhat nervously, given it was the first time she’d used the term in connection with the other girls. She wasn’t ‘out’ on campus with anyone but the harem. This was a prime opportunity to stand confident in who she was with someone new. If he was a bigot, he didn’t matter. Mindy wouldn’t have to see him again. If he accepted her sexuality, then that was even better. She’d been honest about who she was. “I’m bisexual. So is she.” 

“Oh, really?” The man asked, returning his gaze to Mindy. Sudden excitement crept into his voice, and his smile widened, threatening to split the bottom half of his face. 

“Yeah.” Mindy said, distracted again as Arthur and Brad moved to a shoulder press she hadn’t seen before. Selene watched it too, though she’d seen the guy talking to Mindy and shifted closer. 

“Well, if you want, I can give you my number, and maybe you and your girlfriend can join me for a night out?” The guy held his hand out for Mindy’s phone as if expecting her answer to be an enthusiastic yes. 

The question struck Mindy as odd. She recognized the words, but her brain refused to process them into a complete sentence without rejecting them. Whatever his brain heard at Mindy’s proclamation wasn’t something she’d considered. Mindy looked at the guy. His body was in decent shape, face kinda handsome, but he leered at her in a way that made her want to cover her chest. Unfortunately, she had nothing to cover it with. She stepped back, and Kelly intervened. 

“Get lost.” Kelly said, having dismounted the machine she stepped between Mindy and the new guy. She met him eye-to-eye for the few seconds he kept his gaze eye-level. 

“Aw.” The guy’s smile remained for some reason Mindy couldn’t fathom. “Don’t be like that. I was just being nice. Your girlfriend told me you’re both bisexual?” 

“Just because we’re bi doesn’t mean we’re looking for others to join us.” Kelly said. “Besides, we have a boyfriend.”

“You…” The guy hesitated. Now, it was his turn to make the words make sense. 

“Have a boyfriend.” Kelly repeated. “So she, Selene, and I aren’t looking for anyone. We’re just here to work out. If you want to hit on people, go to the cafe after the gym.” She used her ‘teacher voice’ on him, making her words sound less like a suggestion and more like a reality that enclosed him. 

The guy still looked confused but left. He shook his head as he got to the machine he wanted and resumed his workout. He mumbled something, but when he looked over his shoulder, Kelly’s glare was enough to deter any interest. She rolled her eyes and put her hand on Mindy’s shoulder. 

“You okay, Babe?” Kelly asked. 

“Babe?” Mindy asked, surprised. 

“Yeah well… I can’t call you your nickname right now, can I?” Kelly teased, then pushed her gently toward the next machine. “Come on. Let’s not pay any more attention to douchebags.” 

“Eh, I get it.” Selene said. “I’d be pissed if I thought I had a shot with you two only to find out I didn’t.” 

“Why, Selene, is that your way of saying you’re into me?” Kelly asked, flirting with her and giving her a good-natured graze of her fingers on her arm. 

Selene laughed. “I’m not saying I’m bisexual.” She said. “But I might be bi-submissive. You know I’m down whenever Mast–” She swallowed the word before it left her lips and glanced around to ensure no one was listening. “Whenever Arthur gives permission.” 

Kelly smiled as they continued working out. “Well, we’re nearly done here. Why don’t you ask him if we can fool around in the showers?” 

Selene laughed. “Really?” 

“Go on. That’s an order, Babe.” Kelly nodded toward him again, and Selene skipped away without another word. She returned in a moment with an emphatic thumbs-up, and the girls continued their workout. Later, hot and exhausted, they cooled down with several distracting stretches. 

Arthur couldn’t help but admire them, but he wasn’t the only one sneaking glances between reps. They waved as they left the gym, and Arthur caught the kisses they blew him. 

It wasn’t until they were in the locker room getting ready for the showers that Selene mentioned whether Arthur had given her permission. 

She leaned over and whispered to Kelly. “Master gave us permission, and the three of us are allowed to cum. So long as we tell him about it the next time one of us jacks him off.” 

Mindy bit her lip. “That’ll be me.” She said, raising her hand. “We’re in the office alone together or with Beth while everyone else is at lunch.” 

“Get it.” Selene said, offering Mindy a fist bump. She bumped it. 

“This is the same Beth you two did things with last week?” Kelly asked, stripping off her yoga pants and panties as they talked. 

“Yeah.” Mindy said. “Arthur has dinner with her tonight, and they’ll figure out… whatever they need to figure out.” 

“I hope he fucks her.” Selene said, stripping out of everything but her collar. 

Mindy giggled. “It’s pretty hot to see them together. Though, honestly, I’m fine either way. Obviously, I enjoy playing with girls too, but I prefer you girls to Beth. She’s attractive, don’t get me wrong, but–” 

“It’s okay.” Kelly said, patting Mindy on the shoulder. “Just because you’re bisexual doesn’t mean everybody has to be your type.” 

“Oh, good.” Mindy sighed. “She’s so mean.” 

Selene giggled. “Like in a good way, or?” 

“In an ‘I’m the dictator of the office’ way.” Mindy said as the three started walking toward the showers. “Makes it even more satisfying when Arthur puts her in her place.” 

“I thought you enjoyed being bossed around?” Kelly asked, teasing her. 

“I do, but… I don’t know. It’s different. When she does it, it’s because she wants to be mean or bossy. When Arthur does it, he knows we enjoy it.” Mindy explained, following Kelly to the shower stall farthest into the room. 

Isolated, they crowded the shower stall, with the three squeezing into it. Still, they made do.

“Are you okay if I boss you around?” Kelly asked. 

“Of course, Mistress.” Mindy said, holding her hand until Kelly needed to turn the water on. 

The hot water simmered and sluiced the sweat off their bodies as the heat relaxed them. 

“Good.” Kelly said, smiling. “Because I wanted to try something.” She eyed Selene. “We have to be quiet, but now that we have Arthur’s permission, are you still good for that punishment from yesterday?” 

Selene nodded, then folded her hands before her and looked penitent. “Yes, Mistress.” 

“Good.” Kelly said. “Remember that permission you got from Arthur when he gave you permission to cum?” 

Selene nodded. “Yes, Mistress.” 

“Well, forget it.” Kelly said. 

Selene hissed in her breath. 

“If that’s okay?” 

Selene gave her a thumbs-up. 

“Good.” Kelly nodded. “Now I’m going to shower, and you’re going to get on your knees and eat Mindy out while she watches me. If she cums before I finish scrubbing, I might let you orgasm. If not, you’ll earn more punishment.” 

Selene was already on the tile, her knees on a washcloth she’d brought and her mouth open as she tilted her face toward Mindy. 

Mindy gulped but nodded with excitement as she moved into position. 

Kelly started high and washed the shampoo into her hair first. The fiery red hair with its splashes of ginger darkened when wet and lengthened, forming a heavy sheet of hair across her back and over her shoulders. When she moved the hair forward and washed it, it obscured her bell-shaped breasts. 

Mindy’s breathing shifted as she straddled Selene’s face, and Selene’s tongue tentatively slid against her pussy lips. 

Kelly pulled her hair behind her head. Both arms raised overhead as she leaned backward, exposing her entire front to Mindy and letting the water rinse the soap from her hair. Rivers of water droplets cascaded across her pale skin in tiny streams, flowing around islands of freckles through the canyons of her muscle lines. Her soft curves shifted as she moved, and her eyes looked heavy with lust as she blinked them open and met Mindy’s gaze. 

Mindy braced herself against the walls as Selene’s tongue pushed into her, then slid upward toward her heart-shaped bush and circled her clit. Her arousal from Kelly’s body made her wetter than the shower water. 

Kelly spread her hair out behind her, then pulled it up. She lifted both arms above her head again. Kelly twisted her body, showing off her hourglass figure with one bent leg blocking the view of her dark red bush drenched from the shower. 

“God, you’re so hot.” Mindy said, her eyes following the soft curves of Kelly’s muscular body to her abs, streaming with droplets of water from the showerhead. Tiny rivulets of water washed them away and trickled across her flesh as Kelly turned again, grabbing the body wash she used and spreading it on her loofa. 

She winked at Mindy and lathered herself with it, covering her body in suds and stepping into the stream to reveal parts of it piece by piece. The foamy white suds budded around her body, providing modesty where Mindy wanted none. Kelly granted her wish as the shower stripped the suds away piece by piece, revealing Kelly’s flesh inch by inch. 

Mindy’s eyes were half-open with lust as Kelly continued. Meanwhile, Selene worked overtime, grabbing Mindy’s butt to steady herself as she pleasured the young woman from below. 

By the time Kelly finished rinsing herself off, Mindy still hadn’t cum, but she was close. So close. She didn’t let Selene stop. She held Selene in place with both hands on her head and squatted, pushing Selene’s face into her. 

Mindy started to moan, but Kelly saw it coming and silenced her with a kiss, which made her erupt. Her entire body jolted, and she felt Kelly grip her by the breast, either to steady her or grope her. She wasn’t sure which, but it worked either way. Kelly’s fingers were long and slender, wrapping around the heavy curve and sweeping her thumb over the rigid nipple. 

Mindy’s entire body thrummed with pleasure at the stroke. She gasped in a high-pitched inhale when Kelly’s lips left hers. She shivered and vibrated, coming down from her high and releasing Selene, who took a deep breath and leaned back. The shower spray spattered her with water, dotting her pale and naked flesh from her collar bones, over her round breasts, to her toned and flat stomach. 

“Not quite before I finished showering.” Kelly said, but Selene didn’t argue. “Better luck next time, Slut.” 

Selene smiled. She was turned on, but she seemed to enjoy the arousal as much as any orgasm. 

Mindy and Kelly switched places, with Mindy washing under the spray while Kelly straddled Selene’s face and put her to work. “Come on, Slut. You know what I enjoy.” 

“Yes, Mistress.” Selene said. She kissed the inside of Kelly’s thighs before bringing her lips to Kelly’s pussy. 

Freshly washed, Kelly smelled and tasted vaguely of strawberries, which made Selene enjoy the task even more if her pace was anything to judge by. 

Mindy did her best to give Kelly the same ‘show’ Kelly had given, but she felt self-conscious as the older, hotter woman looked at her through hooded eyes. Mindy washed her hair, but it wasn’t as thick as Kelly’s and didn’t cooperate. It flattened and spread, sticking to her more than curtaining. Still, she liked the way it fell over her breasts, hanging off the ends. 

“You look gorgeous.” Kelly said. 

Mindy blushed at the ‘gorgeous’ compliment and did her best not to stammer. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Kelly breathed, almost closing her eyes as Mindy washed herself. “You’re so hot, Mindy.” 

Mindy moved the loofa across her stomach and lifted each breast, squeezing it before letting it drop after she ran the loofa under it. Her breasts were perky enough that she didn’t need the extra lift, but it helped and gave Kelly a show. She bent and turned so her backside faced Kelly as she washed it, scrubbing it and washing the soap away after she laid it. Before long, Mindy was almost finished washing. 

“You’re getting really good at this.” Kelly said to Selene, gasping and holding her head in place as she rolled her hips. Standing while Selene did that was awkward, but there wasn’t room for much else. Kelly braced against the wall behind her, turning but keeping her eyes on Mindy as she washed. 

“Fuck.” Kelly whimpered as Selene started using her fingers. 

Mindy smiled and took her opportunity to return Kelly’s favor. She pressed her hand flat against Kelly’s abs, then dragged it upward to her breast, squeezing it from below and pinching her tiny pink nipple between her thumb and forefinger. 

Kelly’s legs strained and stiffened, buckling and catching herself on Mindy, who helped her stand. She came, clenching her thighs around Selene’s head. Selene didn’t quit until Kelly’s orgasm faded, and she released her. 

Selene slid from between her legs, smiling and licking her lips. 

“Good girl.” Kelly said, catching her breath. 

“Thank you, Mistress.” Selene said. 

Selene washed and gave them a show, but Kelly and Mindy didn’t get each other off. They held each other, kissed, and fondled, but they’d already cum. Still, they enjoyed the show she put on for them. Her graceful legs and movements drew their eyes and appreciation. Mindy and Kelly kissed her when she finished. Kelly turned off the water, and they dried off. 

No one spotted them coming from the same shower. As they left, the locker room showers were full, and women filled the locker room. 

“I’m going to skip breakfast.” Mindy sighed, checking her phone. 

“Don’t.” Kelly said. “You’re going to need the energy. Grab a to-go box from the cafeteria and eat it at your desk.” 

“You can do that?” Mindy asked. 

“Of course!” Kelly said. “If Beth gives you any guff, just send her my way.” 

Selene smiled, and Mindy did just that. She kissed Kelly and Selene goodbye in the cafeteria before she left and ran across campus. Her boxed breakfast was still hot when she opened it, and she was only three minutes late to work, which worked well for her. 

Arthur nodded good morning to her as she came in and tapped his wrist. 

Mindy smiled. One spank for each second meant she’d earned one hundred and eighty workplace spankings. Not all at the same time. Spread out over a week or two? It’d make an excellent excuse for office playtime. 

Unfortunately, the morning work shift had to happen first. Mindy not only had to wait for her playtime, but she also had to work. Beth had locked herself away for the morning in her office. When Mindy arrived, she was already gone. So, after messaging her and receiving her instructions to “go about her normal work routine,” Mindy set to work. 

Classes were boring. Work was tedious, too, but at least Arthur would distract her. As usual, his suit looked good on him today, and Mindy hoped he appreciated her after-gym outfit, too. 

She wore dark pantyhose that went from her black heels to just below the waistband of her high-waisted pleated mini-skirt. The gray and black plaid skirt’s flared hem came to just above the middle of her thighs. The length showed off the shape of her legs. The flared pleats added the illusion of hips, while the opaque hose covered her skin. 

Matching the skirt’s pattern, she wore a plaid button-up sleeveless vest closed over her stomach, with its deep V-neck showing off her chest. Beneath the vest, she wore a white cotton blouse with ruched material clinging to her torso. The baggy sleeves felt breezy while offering warmth. The ruffled cuffs and lace trim made it look cute, even as her cleavage peeked over the squared neckline. 

Above her blouse, she wore a simple black fishline choker. It wasn’t one that Arthur had given her, and it wasn’t a collar. Still, she enjoyed wearing it and assigned it the significance of being a private, personal symbol of her submission to Arthur. 

She was his personal assistant, his office secretary fuck toy, and that knowledge made her smile as she looked around the office. 

Their office workstations formed an L against two of the four rectangular walls in the office, with Arthur’s desk at the top of the L overlooking their stations. The rectangular worktable in the center and the printer against the far wall sat unused for the moment. Shelves and cubbies of marketing materials on the wall opposite Beth’s office door were well-stocked, giving the room the starchy smell of cardstock. Industrial patterned carpet beneath them held untold quantities of paper dust within its fibers. 

Sara and Tara worked at their stations with their backs to Arthur as usual, while Mindy sat so that Arthur was on her right, a few monitors away. They were quieter than normal, and neither said a word to Mindy, which was unusual. Typically, they acted as though she were in their confidence, making comments about Arthur and his body. Yet they remained silent when he took a trip to the storage closet. They still watched him leave, though. 

“Is everything okay?” Mindy asked. “You two are awfully quiet this morning.” 

Sara and Tara shared a look as if confirming what they’d previously discussed with each other. Mindy imagined it was related to what Tara said at homecoming. 

“Are you okay?” Sara asked. “I heard you’re dating Arthur now, but he’s making you share him with other girls?” 

Mindy took a deep breath, glancing toward both doors, but they were alone for the moment. “It’s not like that.” Mindy said. “He’s not like that. You know that.” 

“So what’s it like?” Tara asked. “We saw you at homecoming. Everyone seemed to get along?” 

Mindy nodded. “We’re together. The six of us.” 

“Um…” Tara and Sara exchanged another look. Mindy recognized the telltale signs of confusion, alarm, and, if she had to guess, disgust. “What?” 

“Well… we’re all dating Arthur.” Mindy said. “At the same time. Consensually. I don’t know. Arthur’s better at explaining it than I am.” 

Tara shook her head. “He’s taking advantage of you because he’s your boss, and you’re a freshman.” She said. “You don’t know better, but you deserve better. He shouldn’t treat you like that. One guy dating multiple women without committing? It’s gross.” 

“Thanks?” Mindy said, though her uncertainty made it a question. It sounded as if Tara suggested her self-esteem was lower than Mindy thought possible. “I’m not sure what you mean. He has committed. We’ve committed to the group, and he treats me wonderfully. He treats us well. That’s why we’re with him. Well, that and he’s–” 

Arthur re-entered the room at that moment. The girls snapped back to their screens on reflex. Mindy could tell by their glances that Tara and Sara were curious about what she’d meant to say next. They watched Arthur lower the box he carried on his shoulder. 

Mindy smiled and went back to work. 

After classes interrupted the morning work, Mindy returned to cover the lunch break and found she’d gotten there before Arthur. She opened Beth’s door and saw Beth had left for lunch. Alone, Mindy’s smile grew. She closed Beth’s door, then strode to Arthur’s desk. She moved his chair aside, then slid under his desk and waited. 

Arthur entered the office less than a minute later and stood by his desk. Mindy could only see his lower half, from the shine of his black dress shoes to the gray slacks he wore with a black belt that matched his shoes. He shifted, looked around, and sighed. 

Mindy stifled her giggle as he pulled his chair away from the desk and sat. He pulled himself to the desk, and Mindy raised her hands to catch his knees before they collided with her face. The sudden touch of her hands, her fingers grabbing his thigh muscles, startled him, and Arthur lurched in his chair. 

“Jesus!” Arthur said, scooting back. 

“Nope!” Mindy said, laughing. “Just me, Boss.” 

“You startled me.” Arthur said, getting up from his chair. He motioned for Mindy to stay where she was and locked the office door behind him. He walked away, checking Beth’s office. Finding her away for lunch, he locked the door. 

“I’m not even a little sorry for it.” Mindy said, her eyes sparkling. 

“You will be.” Arthur picked up the ruler on his way back to his desk and set it beside his keyboard. He retook his chair and scooted forward, parting his legs. He lowered his chair, and Mindy surged forward, her hands on his lap before he’d finished waking his computer. “But first, I’ll let you apologize. Get to work.” 

“Yes, Boss.” Mindy said. She lowered his zipper and found him straining for release. Mindy pulled him out and stroked him, admiring his girth. 

She heard Arthur’s keyboard clack and his mouse click. Mindy couldn’t tell if he was working, but the idea warmed her insides. She was his office whore, paid to see to his needs. She was his professional woman and knew how to please him. Mindy stroked him with her thumb sweeping beneath his cock while her fingers struggled to wrap around him. The tip of his cock was so close. She lowered it to her lips and exhaled. 

He twitched in her hand, but she held him steady and extended her tongue. Her lick lifted his mushroom head with a firm stroke of the wet tip against his cock. 

Arthur slouched in his chair, giving her more room. 

Mindy couldn’t bob her head vertically without hitting his desk’s underside. Instead, she pushed her head forward. She took his tip past her lips and swirled her tongue, swishing back and forth against the small fold of skin on the underside of his cockhead. She sucked, focusing on the strength of her efforts and the swirl of her tongue instead of the depth of his cock in her mouth. 

Arthur gripped his slacks in his hand beneath the desk. Mindy took his hand in hers with her free hand, interlacing their fingers as he squeezed his appreciation for her work. Her other hand stroked the base of his cock with a slow pumping motion and a firm grip. Her thumb played gently with the spot where his balls met his cock, and he groaned from above. 

“God, Mindy. Just… keep doing that. Don’t stop.” 

She kept at it. The ‘Yes, Boss’ she wanted to say stuck in her throat, and she swallowed the unspoken words rather than remove her lips or break their seal around his shaft. 

Arthur grunted, squeezing her hand again. There was no point pretending to work. He licked his lips and looked down, meeting Mindy’s gaze as her dark brown eyes looked up at him from the shadows beneath his desk. Her lips stretched over his cock as she sucked and tongued him, making a pretty picture. 

“I’m going to snap your picture, Whore. Just for me.” Arthur said. 

Mindy squeezed his hand. 

“Ready for your close-up?” Arthur asked. 

Mindy batted her long, full eyelashes at him. 

He took the picture and smiled. He moved to put his phone down, and she squeezed his hand again. 

“You want me to take another?” Arthur asked. 

Mindy squeezed his hand once more. 

He raised the phone, and she drove her face forward, swallowing his cock into her throat. The picture he snapped was tilted. He captured Mindy’s eyes looking up at the camera with all but the last half inch of Arthur’s cock swallowed past her sealed lips, her cheeks dimpled with suction. She hummed, and he felt her vibrate against his throbbing cock. 

“FUCK.” Arthur said louder than he meant to speak. He threw his head back and rolled his neck. He straightened his phone and took another photo before Mindy pulled away, letting his cock slide out of her mouth. 

“Time me.” Mindy said. “I want to beat my personal best.” 

“That’s going to ruin your makeup.” Arthur warned. “Just keep doing what you were doing.” 

Mindy pouted, but when Arthur didn’t relent, she said, “Yes, Boss,” and returned to sucking and stroking his cock. 

Arthur reclined in his chair, scooting his hips closer to her, and moved both hands to his thighs, spreading them apart to grant her easier access.

Mindy took it, swallowing more of him until his dick pressed against the back of her mouth. She swallowed, sucked, and tongued his cock while she pumped with one hand and held his hand with the other. After a few minutes, she started pumping him with her mouth. Not taking him into her throat but moving her head back and forth as she sucked. 

Then she started making noises. Little chirps and happy hums as she sucked. 

Arthur groaned, panting as she panted through her nose. 

“Fuck.” Arthur said. “Okay, enough. I’ve had enough.” 

Mindy shook her head, determined to taste his seed before she released his cock. 

Arthur had other plans. 

He scooted back, withdrawing from her mouth with a wet, audible pop. 

She braced herself, waiting for the spray of his hot white jizz to cover her face, but he didn’t cum. Instead, he grabbed her by her wrist and hauled her out from under the desk. She fell forward, catching herself with one hand. Arthur’s much stronger frame lifted her under her arms, making her squeal in surprise and delight. 

Heat flushed through Mindy as he set her ass on his desk and pushed her back. She fell back to her elbows, reclining as he parted her legs. 

He didn’t ask before tearing her pantyhose. His fingers pulled her white lace thong to the side in a fierce effort. The back of his fingers scraped her puffy slick pussy and parted her folds to find her hot, wet, and waiting for him. 

He stepped forward, pushed her back against the desk, and spread her legs with his as he stepped between them. Mindy ground herself against his dick, rolling her clit against his length. 

“Fuck me, Boss.” Mindy said, her ordinarily high and sweet voice desperate and sultry. “Fuck me like a whore.” 

Arthur slid his dick against her again, her skirt covering his view of their grinding parts, but feeling every inch of his cock soaked and warmed by her furnace. “Let me see those tits, Whore.” 

Mindy fumbled with the buttons on her vest, and Arthur helped her. She started at the top, and he started at the bottom, and between them, they had her vest open and parted in moments. Arthur pulled her top down, revealing the cups of her lacy white bra that matched her thong. 

Mindy scooped her breasts out of her bra, showing her dark almond-colored nipples and her tan, round double D breasts. They plumped as she laid back and reached her hands over her head to brace and grip the edge of his desk. With her elbows on either side of her face, her breasts exposed, and her body waiting for him, Mindy moaned and whined. 

“You were late again this morning.” Arthur said, his voice a growl. “And you need to be punished for startling me, too.” 

“I’m sorry, Boss.” Mindy said, pouting, but her voice wasn’t mournful. “How do you want me for my punishment?” 

Arthur smiled and moved her legs. He lifted them, putting her ankles in his left hand and raising them so her legs were straight with her toes pointed to the ceiling. Her pantyhose-clad ass bared to the room, and her slick pussy was ready for him if he chose. 

He hefted the ruler in his right hand and stood beside his desk. Mindy rested atop it, her hands folded below her knees, helping him hold her legs out of the way. 

He pressed the flat of the ruler against her ass, giving the round bottom part of her cheeks a firm press and watching them squish. 

“Count.” Arthur said. 

“Yes, Boss.” Mindy said, panting. 

He smacked the ruler across both cheeks, pressing the fine netting of her pantyhose into her skin with the harsh wooden ruler. 

Mindy squealed, delighted. “One.”

Arthur struck both cheeks again, spanking her with the ruler until she reached “Ten!” 

He pressed the ruler against her thighs, smiling to himself. 

“Those were for startling me.” Arthur said. 

“Now we’ll start your punishment for tardiness. Let’s see… One hundred and twenty seconds this week. -tsk- We’ll have to do forty today.” 

“Yes, Boss. Thank you.” Mindy said. 

Arthur chuckled. “It’s almost like you want this spanking.” He said. “Is this what you want? You want me to spank you like a naughty girl?” 

“Yes!” Mindy said, swallowing. “Please! I want you to spank me! I want you to spank me like your filthy office whore, who was late this morning when I should have been here early to suck your cock.” 

Arthur smiled and obliged. He spanked her, alternating between each ass cheek and thigh, giving him a quartet of locations to smack as he laid into her. The dark hose hid the darkening marks on her already tan skin. Her hands clenched around her knees. She curled with his blows, lifting her shoulders off the desk to gasp and moan at the pleasurable pain aching through her, destroying her. 

“Oh, god, I’m sorry, Sir. I won’t be late again. I’ll get here extra early every morning to suck your cock before those office prudes get here. You’ll see, Sir. I’ll be the best dirty little whore you’ve ever fucked!” Mindy said rapidly, gasping between breaths. 

Arthur chuckled. “That must have been ten or fifteen strikes so far.” 

Mindy breathed, trying to catch her breath, which heaved her pillowy breasts. “Only… twenty-five to go?” She asked hopefully. 

“Oh, no. We still have the full forty. Once you start counting.” Arthur said, a wicked smile slashing across his face at Mindy’s eyes flaring open. 

“Oh god!” Mindy whined. “I’m sorry, Sir! I’ll count! I’ll count!” 

Arthur struck her again with the ruler. 

“One!” Mindy knew better than to start at sixteen or twenty-six if she counted the ten from before her tardiness spanking. 

Starting from one again, Arthur raised and lowered the ruler against her backside with fierce smacks. The pantyhose dampened the noise somewhat, but that only made Arthur strike harder. Soon, he had to let Mindy hold her legs in place while he moved his hand from her ankles to her mouth. He covered her lips so she could squeal and moan into his muffling palm without the noise passing through the locked office doors. 

She kept counting, though no one could understand the words she spoke into his hand. Instead, Arthur verified his count with her number of syllables, letting her count from one to forty. When she counted forty, he released her face and placed the ruler beside her. 

Mindy gasped, swallowing in great lungfuls of air. “Thank you, Sir. Thank you for punishing this dirty whore.” 

Arthur let Mindy drop her legs so her heels hit the floor again, her back still across his desk. Her sore ass pressed into the wood and made her wince, but she moaned her appreciation for the pain in a low, cheerful noise. 

Arthur moved in front of her, parting her legs with his once more. 

She mumbled something, and Arthur leaned over her to hear it. 

“What was that?” Arthur asked, raising his hand to his ear and cupping it. 

“Please, Boss?” She asked. “Fuck your whore?” 

“Beg for it.” Arthur said, lifting her thighs in his hands and holding them, pulling her against him so the base of his cock ground against her slick lips. 

“Please?” Mindy whined. “Please, Boss. Please, please, please, please fuck me. Fuck me hard. Use me. Fill me. Take me. Ruin me.” Her gasping whines drove goosebumps along Arthur’s spine, and he rocked his hips back and forth, grinding his cock against her the entire time. “Please?” 

Arthur rocked back, lined the tip of his dick against her folds, parted her lips, and pressed forward. He entered her, lifting her skirt to watch as he buried his cock in her inch by inch. 

Mindy writhed on the desk, holding herself steady with her hands above her head but wriggling, her breasts wagging and her nipples hard as diamonds. “Fuck.” She whispered, her voice ratcheting up an octave into a high-pitched whine. “Fuuuuuuuck.” She breathed. “Oh, god. Oh, god!” 

Arthur pumped into her, slow at first but gaining speed and power until he was fucking her hard and fast. He held her by her thighs with her back against his desk. Her cries of “Oh, god!” had to stop, so he moved the ruler to her mouth, and she bit down, pressing teeth marks into the wood. 

She wasn’t in pain, but ecstasy filled her cunt to the brim with every thrust, and she ached for release before long. The ache built in her core. Her muscles tightened and flexed as she rocked her hips to increase her pleasure. She arched her lower back off the desk and drove her shoulders into it. The firm body between her thighs was warm as she clamped her legs around him, hooking her ankles behind him. She pulled him forward with her calves, driving him even deeper into her, and she had to stifle the scream that wanted to escape her lips. 

This was the office. They couldn’t be loud here. The cost of their at-work playtime was secrecy and silence, but Mindy yearned to scream his name to the heavens. She wanted to let the entire world know how much she enjoyed his mighty, thick, and unyielding cock as he pummeled her insides. Mindy reached for him, and Arthur released his grip on her thigh to hold her hand. She squeezed, and he squeezed in return, grunting with the effort of fucking her. 

“Please.” Mindy whined, mangling the word with the ruler in her mouth. “Please?” 

“Cum for me, little whore.” Arthur didn’t slow but growled his assent and grunted with the effort. 

The low, rumbling words and grunt of desire broke Mindy. Her body shattered on his desk beneath his onslaught. Her entire body shook, and she twisted her head back and forth. Each twist smacked the ruler’s end against the desk and jarred her, but she held on. Her bite threatened to break the thick wooden ruler. She scrunched her face and whined out her orgasm in a high-pitched squeal as her soul left her body, and she sagged against the desk, limp and exhausted. 

Arthur pulled out of her and lowered her legs so she could press her feet to the floor. Her low heels found the floor steady but her legs shaky. 

“You didn’t cum?” Mindy gasped in a breath, her voice quiet and whispering now from exhaustion. 

“Not yet.” Arthur answered. 

“Fuuuuuck.” Mindy whispered. “This is why more than one girl is good for you.” She smiled. “If Beth were here, you could fuck her and fill that bitch with your cum.” 

Arthur’s dick twitched. He looked toward Beth’s door, but there had been no change. 

Arthur was still hard, but he took a moment to let him and Mindy recover. He pulled out a water bottle, and Mindy slid off his desk to her knees. He drank from the bottle and then offered it to Mindy. She opened her mouth and looked at him, waiting. He tilted the bottle, careful to be gentle, and poured the water into her mouth. She swallowed and drank the rest of the bottle. 

“Thanks, Boss.” Mindy said, wiping her mouth. “Now, I’m sore, but which hole do you want to cum in?” 

Arthur checked the clock on the wall. They had time, but more than half the lunch break had passed since they’d started. They needed to wrap up sooner rather than later. 

“Well, we don’t have a stash of lube here.” Arthur said. “So I shouldn’t fuck your ass.” 

“I don’t mind.” Mindy said. “Your cock is slick enough now. And… a little pain makes it good.” 

“Tempting…” Arthur stroked his chin, then decided against it. He hadn’t seriously considered it anyway. Mindy’s offer came from a place of sex-fueled optimism and fantasy.

Mindy was on her knees before him, her tits out, her skirt over her legs covering her ripped pantyhose; she was cute and hot, and he wanted to cum all over her. He couldn’t because they were in the office. She couldn’t sit there with his cum on her face and clothes when the others returned. Still, her outfit was modest enough that if he got her torso, her vest would hide it. 

“Take off your clothes.” Arthur said, stepping back. “All of them.” 

Mindy didn’t hesitate. She started with her shoes. Once they were off, she stood and lowered her thong with her hose, leaving them both around her ankles before she knelt again. She unzipped her skirt, tossing it aside. Mindy pulled open the vest, pulling it behind her, and tossed it onto the skirt. She lifted her shirt off from the hem and added it to the pile. Unhooking her bra, she thrust her chest toward him, and she yanked the straps from her arms with haste and tossed the bra aside. This left her in her choker, her feet still clad in her hose, and her ankles bound by it and the straps of her thong. 

Arthur stood before her kneeling form and smiled. He stroked himself. She looked up at him from the other side of his cock. His length was longer than her head was tall, the tip of his cock passing the crown of her head when he put the base against her chin. The girth covered everything but the edges of her smile and the corners of her sparkling eyes. She kissed his cock and stroked it with her cheek. 

“Do you want me to suck you, Sir?” Mindy asked. 

“No.” Arthur shook his head. “Kneel there for a moment. Hands on your ankles.” 

Mindy leaned back, grasping her ankles with her hands in the kneeling position, presenting her entire body to him in a reclined pose. She spread her knees, and the inside of her thighs shimmered with her slick arousal. Her damp heart-shaped bush looked cute from above, but Arthur’s eyes focused on the two massive breasts above her flat stomach. 

He gripped his cock with one hand and pumped. His arm flexed, and Mindy cooed, licking her lips in anticipation. 

“How did things go in the showers?” Arthur asked as if making conversation. 

Mindy beamed at him. “Kelly took charge. She’s getting good at playing Mistress, Boss. Mistress made Slut get on her knees and tongue my cute little pussy until I came. She watched us while she showered, and I watched her as she washed and rubbed herself under the water.” 

Arthur groaned, continuing to masturbate above Mindy. 

“I came when Mistress kissed me.” Mindy said. “And it was a good thing we were in the shower because I soaked Slut’s face with how deep she tongue-fucked me.” 

Arthur closed his eyes, imagining it for a moment. When he opened them, the reality of a naked, lusty Mindy waiting with an open-mouthed smile for him to cum on her was just as hot. 

“Then we switched places, and Mistress rode Slut’s face while I showered, and she came. Then the two of us made out while Slut washed herself.” Mindy ended her story but added a postscript, hoping to make Arthur cum. “I’m pretty sure I saw her sucking her fingers, too, after fucking Mistress with them.” 

Arthur groaned, panting now. 

“Cum on me.” Mindy begged, her voice soft and pleading. “Cum on me, Boss. Paint your whore.” 

Arthur’s breathing shifted into a higher gear, and his pulse spiked. His thighs clenched, tightening into sturdy trunks of muscle. 

Mindy rolled her head back, letting her raven hair cascade behind her. “Please, Boss?” 

Arthur pumped, breathing hard with the effort as his distant explosion drew closer. Mindy’s face was so cute, and her expression was innocent and beautiful. The contrast of her innocent air and filthy desires almost made him laugh. Still, as he pumped his cock over her face, he appreciated her attitude. 

Looking at her, he knew he’d have to tell her the truth about Lynn. Not now, but soon. The dark eyes looking at him reflected admiration and respect, as if he could do nothing wrong and was a god above her. The truth would destroy her image of him. She always commented on how strong he was, a superhero, her superhero. Would she look at him the same way after learning what happened?

His erection flagged despite his furious pumping, so Mindy took it upon herself to help. 

Mindy smiled. “Please, Boss? Cum on your little Asian whore.” 

Arthur’s confusion touched his face, but he ignored the momentary flare in favor of Mindy’s heavy breathing and whining pleas. 

“I’ve been a good girl, haven’t I? I deserve my reward. Show me my place is here, on my knees before you, Sir.” 

Arthur pumped faster, his erection back to its steel hardness. He moved his gaze from her face to her tits. 

Mindy gasped, chirping a wordless noise as if he’d put his cock into her again. He hadn’t, but she’d moved her hands to grope her breasts and lift them toward him. She pinched her nipples and squealed with delight. 

“Please? Sunbae? I’ll be your good girl.” 

Arthur grunted and shook as his orgasm overtook him. He unleashed a jet of hot, white cum that sped through the air faster than either of them could see. It splashed against Mindy’s breasts with enough force to make her close her eyes in appreciation. 

The second blast arced toward her face, and the third landed in her open mouth as she moved to catch it. She took his tip into her mouth, gulping the rest with a cheerful hum. 

“Fuck.” Arthur said, shaking as he regained his balance with the help of his office chair. 

Mindy giggled. “My favorite kind of bonus. Thank you, Sir.” She licked her lips, cleaning her face. Mindy picked up her shirt, cleaning the rest of her on the bottom, hidden by her vest. She did the same with her breasts, mopping her sternum after she wicked it away with her fingers, scooping and suckling to clean herself. 

Arthur sat in his chair, slowing his breath as he softened and tucked himself back into his pants. He took a deep breath, exhaling with a surge of wind from his lungs as he let himself rest in his office chair. 

“Was that your first one today?” Mindy asked. “That was a lot.” 

Arthur chuckled. “No, Selene woke me up with a BJ this morning.” 

“Lucky Slut.” Mindy frowned, but she didn’t mean it. “What about Rani? Wasn’t she with you?” 

“She slept through it.” Arthur said. 

“She slept next to you while Selene blew you?” Mindy asked. “Hot.” 

“Yeah, but so was this.” Arthur said.

Mindy smiled, smug at his praise. 

He checked the clock. “Ah, damn it. You should get dressed.” 

“Yes, Sir.” Mindy said. She stood and pulled up her thong and pantyhose. The rip over her crotch had spread, but it wouldn’t be noticeable with her skirt. She put her bra on first, letting her chest bounce as she fastened the straps behind her. Then she put on her blouse and skirt. She put her vest on, covering the wet cum stains on her shirt. Except for her shoes, she dressed inside a minute. 

“Come here.” Arthur said, patting his lap. 

Mindy glanced at the clock but obeyed. She brushed her skirt, placing her partially hose-covered ass on the thigh of his pants. Mindy hissed in a breath at the flush of her spanked ass, reminding her to be punctual. She sat sideways, her legs over his, sitting in his lap with one arm around him. He hugged her close to him and squeezed her. She squeezed back. 

“Mmm.” Mindy cooed, enjoying the embrace and closing her eyes. She put her head on his shoulder, and he held her as their breathing settled into slow and steady breaths. He rubbed her, soothing her ass and thighs from the spanking. 

Mindy kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Boss.” Mindy said. “I needed that.” 

“Me too.” Arthur said, kissing her. 

The kiss wasn’t the hot and passionate affair of most of their kisses, but a slow and steady embrace of lips. Mindy’s soft lips slowed against his, and their tongues slowly danced together. Breathing through their noses, they held each other close, and Mindy broke the kiss with her smile. 

Arthur booped her nose, and Mindy giggled. 

“You’re so cute.” Arthur said, smiling. 

“But sexy, too, right?” Mindy asked as if unsure of his answer. 

“Hot as fire.” Arthur said without hesitation. “You’re the perfect mix of cute and sexy. I’ll never understand how you were single before we started dating.” 

“I’ll never understand how I had to ask you out instead of the other way around.” Mindy said, patting his chest. “You should be more of a go-getter. You just have to figure out what you want and go for it. It’s easy.” She kissed his cheek again, rubbing her nose against his face as if trying to bury her face in his. 

Arthur laughed. “Alright.” He agreed as he patted her upper back, signaling her to get up. “I’ll work on that.” 

Mindy stood from his lap and straightened her skirt, tugging at her clothes as she slipped back into the role of an office worker. “How do I look?” 

“Like I should drag you to the storage closet for another hour or two of fucking.” Arthur answered. 

Mindy lowered her eyelids. “I mean…” 

“We can’t.” Arthur said. “You have class, remember?” 

Mindy huffed and stamped her foot, crossing her arms over her chest. The tantrum was cute as fuck, but not enough to convince Arthur. Mindy giggled and rolled her eyes. “I meant my clothes, anyway. Am I put together, or can you tell I got destroyed on my boss’s desk like a dirty little whore?” 

Arthur swallowed. “Uh… your hair is a mess, but your clothes are fine.” 

Mindy smiled. She strode to her purse and pulled a scrunchie out, pulling her hair into a ponytail. She checked her makeup in a compact, but she still looked okay. If she were going out, her eyeliner might need a touch-up, but she was fine for now. Mindy slipped her low-heeled shoes back on, finalizing the return to business casual.

Arthur unlocked the office doors, and with five minutes left on the clock, they hung out, talking and chatting without worrying about their work. 

They heard Beth return from lunch. The other office girls came in, too, and it was time for their lunch. Arthur offered Mindy his arm, and they walked arm-in-arm to the cafeteria. As soon as Arthur’s phone was out of office range, it dinged, showing he had several messages. He glanced at Mindy, who nodded, and he checked them. 

Queenie: Thanks for letting me sleep this morning. Kat gave me a ride back to campus. She said you’d want to know I got here safe and didn’t miss any classes. So… I got here safe and didn’t miss any classes. 

Queenie: Oh, and I worked things out for the shoot. 

Queenie: Deb said you have a key to the house, and she’s cool. We can use it for the shoot tomorrow. 

Queenie: Tomorrow (Tuesday) around four. We’ll do the outdoor shots first, then the interior shots.

Queenie: Kelly’s friend Thalia will be your scene partner. She seems nice (and hot af from Insta) but very professional. 

Queenie: Okay, just let me know when you get this. Selene said you rarely have a phone signal in the office. 

Arthur showed the conversation to Mindy and messaged her back. 

King: Okay. I’ll leave work early, but that shouldn’t be a problem. Is there anything you need me to bring? 

Queenie: A toolbox or a tool belt, if you have it. 

King: I have a toolbox. I’ll see if I can find a tool belt. 

She didn’t respond for a while, but his phone got another notification once Arthur sat for lunch with Mindy in the mostly empty cafeteria. 

Queenie: You are amazing. Thank you. I really appreciate this, and you. 

King: I appreciate you too. 

Queenie: Gross. lol. 

King: <3 

Queenie: <===3

King: lol. 

Arthur put his phone away and returned his attention to Mindy for most of their lunch. Their topic of conversation covered his texts with Rani but shifted to his morning class. Intermediate Macroeconomics was something Mindy had to look forward to one day. Arthur gave her the sympathy only an upperclassman could provide for the fate she would endure. 

Arthur’s phone dinged again. This time, however, it wasn’t one of his girls, and it dinged several times as messages flooded his phone. 

Mz Derby: That’s great news! 

It appeared Diane had received his text the day before, offering to work part-time as a stripper for her. 

Mz Derby: Oh, this is great. 

Mz Derby: Send me headshots and SFW photos for the booking catalog when you can. 

Mz Derby: I have a job coming up next weekend if you’re available on such short notice. 

Mz Derby: It’s Friday, the night before Halloween night, something of an annual hen night party a customer throws every year. 

Mz Derby: The job would take most of the night. 

Mz Derby: And they tip very well.

Mz Derby: Let me know if you’re available! 

Mindy looked curious, and Arthur showed her the conversation. 

“Oh, she’s one of those. My Umma does that.” Mindy said, reading the messages. 

“Does what?” Arthur asked. 

“Sends a million short messages quickly instead of one long one.” Mindy said, sliding her finger along the text conversation. “But… you’re stripping? And next weekend? I thought you, Rani, and I were going to Greek Street for the parties? Remember? My first college Halloween? We got special costumes and everything.” 

Arthur’s smile fell, but he replaced it soon enough. “Of course, I remember. It’s the night before, but I’ll tell her I can’t do that one on short notice if it conflicts. If she lets me know of the next one, I’ll do that.” 

Mindy smiled. “Thanks, Boss. I’ll make it up to you, I promise!” 

“Oh, I don’t doubt it.” Arthur laughed. “You, me, and Rani out for a night on the town? We’ll paint the town red if we can make it out of the dorms.” He winked, and Mindy collapsed into a fit of giggles. 

Arthur smiled for the rest of the afternoon, even when he returned to the office and while sitting through his Regression Analysis course. Soon enough, work ended, and Arthur returned to his apartment to change, shave, and prepare. It was nearly time for his dinner with Beth.