Harem House Chapter 50 Part 2 (Patreon)

Arthur surveyed the conference room, waiting for the remaining guests. Kelly patted his arm and strode over to Katelyn, who was sitting beside Yvonne. She passed something to her, but Arthur didn’t see what. 

The conference room was of a moderate size, but it filled quickly. Plastic folding chairs in the center of the room formed a circle. They made the room look like a support group meeting. A table against the wall had water bottles, sodas, and snacks. 

Dave and Iris had broken into them. They probably needed the fuel after a long day’s work. Their guest surprised him. It took him a moment to recognize her, but her eyes latched onto his as soon as he entered the room. She approached him, offering a hand with painted black nails. 

“Hi, I’m Faith,” she said. “I played Nicneven, the Unseelie Queen at the Faire.” 

“Oh!” Arthur said, recognition dawning. “I thought you looked familiar. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Arthur.” He uncrossed his arms and shook her hand. 

She smiled. “Is this something you guys do often?” 

“No, it’s our first time,” Arthur said. “Rani talked us into it.” 

Faith raised an eyebrow. “Was it that tough a sell for you?” 

“Not really, no, just, it’s a lot,” Arthur said, chuckling. “It’s been a long day.” 

“Yeah, I get that,” Faith said. “I guess we should take our seats?” 

“Yeah,” Arthur nodded. “Or grab a snack if you’re peckish.” 

Faith smiled. Her eyes wandered over his body when he said the word “snack” in a way that reminded him why everyone was here. Right. 

There were other people in the room, obviously, and Faith had other options, but he was the one she was talking to. 

“Are you and Dave, uh…” Arthur hesitated, curious but not wanting to overstep. 

“Oh,” Faith said, looking over at Dave and Iris. “No, Dave and Iris are my ride, but I’m not part of their relationship or anything. Not that I have anything against poly or open relationships,” she clarified. “But I prefer my men more… masculine.” 

“Ah,” Arthur said, nodding, but what she meant didn’t click with him. 

“Hey, Mister,” Kelly said, kissing his cheek. “I saved you a seat between Kat and Katelyn. I’m sure we’ll do introductions once everyone’s here, but hi, I’m Kelly.” She offered Faith a handshake, which the woman accepted. Their handshake was polite but firm, with a weird energy coming from Kelly. He expected jealousy, but then he realized it wasn't that. It was an attraction between the two of them. Arthur rubbed her upper back as he put his arm around her, and she relaxed against him.

“I’ll let you grab your seats,” Faith said, smiling at Arthur. “Can’t wait to see what icebreakers we have.” She turned away, sitting in an empty chair where Iris and Dave joined her. 

“Are you okay?” Arthur asked, looking at Kelly. 

She blushed, but nodded. “Yeah, sorry, just in my head, I’ll be okay.” 

“Do you need anything?” Arthur asked. “I can get you water or snacks?” 

“No,” Kelly said. “It’s nothing major, and we can talk about it tomorrow on the way home. For now, sit with the Kats. I’ll make the rounds. I know it’s Rani’s shindig, but I want to help her where I can.” 

“Okay,” Arthur said, kissing the side of her head. She patted his butt as he released her to sit between the Kats. Kat and Katelyn stuck close to him after winning the harem’s tournament at the Faire, so the others let them steal him tonight. 

Evie and Katie arrived with no trepidation. They entered with eager smiles and waved hello to everyone who looked their way. The hot college girls both wore costumes that showed every inch of their shapely legs, and everyone remembered their performance at the wet chemise contest. They sat between Mindy and Jen, with Evie and Mindy chatting while Jen and Katie discussed Marvel cosplays.

Hallie and Cynthia arrived next, greeting Kelly at the door. She was there, playing hostess, guiding everyone to their seats and telling them they’d get started once everyone arrived. 

Ana and a new person entered next, a surprise to Arthur. Ana and her friend had changed out of their Ren Faire garb and into baggy sweatpants and zip-up hoodies. They looked as if they’d prioritized comfort over fashion, with Ana in red and her friend in blue. 

They sat beside each other, chatting away with their new neighbors. Arthur kept scanning the room, looking at the women who’d arrived. Was it hubris to think they were here for him? He was sure it wasn’t solely that. The novelty of the experience was a draw, and the plethora of options, of which he was one. 

Arthur had to remind himself that he was allowed to find other women attractive. It was a change between his last relationship and his current one. Untraining that part of his brain was a process. 

Arthur glanced at Yvonne, wondering whether she planned to join the orgy or was only there because everyone else was. He’d told her he didn’t want her taking part, but had no say over what she did. If she wanted to join someone else’s room, she could. He didn’t want her to, though. Was it wrong of him to tell her that if he wasn’t inviting her to his room? He closed his eyes and released a slow breath. 

Six girlfriends were enough for anyone. They were more than enough for Arthur. He didn't know if he could handle a seventh. Even if he hadn’t said no to other temporary partners. Hell, if anything, he’d added one more with Beth, though his relationship with her was different. He was supposed to be helping her find a dom of her own. Not that he’d made any progress. Did he want to offload Beth? Did it make him a terrible person if he wanted Beth, Yvonne, and his girlfriends? He was a glutton, a dragon, hoarding the women of the realm for himself. No Sanjays or Mikes allowed. 

Selene, Rani, and Manasa entered the room last, each carrying a box. Kelly took Rani’s, and they put them against the wall. Rani gestured, and Kelly and Manasa took their seats. Then Rani moved to the center of the circle of chairs so everyone could see her. 

Twenty-two people, including himself, Yvonne, and Rani, were waiting to start an orgy. Rani impressed him with how prepared she was for this. She even intimidated him with how many people she’d convinced and invited. 

“Hi everyone!” Rani said, raising her hand. She didn’t need to raise it to get anyone’s attention, though. Silence fell across the room as soon as she stepped into the ring. Every eye turned toward her. “My name’s Rani, and I’ll be your hostess this evening. Manasa, here, is my right hand. In my absence, anything she says goes, okay?” 

There was a mutual nod of approval as Rani gestured at Manasa, who waved. 

“Now, before we get started, Manasa has three forms for everyone to sign,” Rani continued. “She’s going to send that around as I explain the rules for tonight. Don’t let the legalese intimidate you. It’s three simple documents: a code of conduct, a consent form, and a non-disclosure agreement. One is you saying that you agree to abide by the rules. The second is saying you’re here of your own free will, that you want to be here, and understand you can leave at any time. If any of that’s not true for you, please leave. We’re not kidnapping anybody, even if that’s your kink.” She glared at Selene with perfect comedic timing. 

Selene stuck her tongue out at Rani as laughter rippled through the ring. Sure enough, Manasa produced a tablet from her bag, signed it with her finger, then did so two more times, and passed it to her right. 

“The third document is ensuring that what happens at the orgy stays at the orgy,” Rani said. “So no one has to be afraid that taking part tonight will cost them their job or have any social backlash. It’s protecting everyone here, not squashing your freedom of speech or pressuring you into staying silent if you’re uncomfortable.”

The others looked at each other. Arthur wasn’t expecting to read or sign anything, but no one bailed. Evie even appeared more relaxed and shot Arthur a wink as she signed on the dotted line. 

“An NDA means it’s nobody else’s business, right?” Evie asked, signing her name. “I’m all for that.” 

It shocked him that Rani had considered an NDA, but it was a fantastic idea. She’d covered her bases; that was for sure. However, he had to wonder why she had those legal documents at the ready. Was that common in her family at their social events? He supposed it made sense. Protecting themselves from frivolous lawsuits was something wealthy people had to do every day. A tweak or two, and she was ready for any situation.

“This is how it will work tonight,” Rani said. “We’ve booked an entire floor of the hotel, so that’s eight rooms available for our convenience. Each man participating will have his own room. We’ll keep one room for coats, clothes, purses, bags, and other belongings. One room is for a break room, where you can relax, hydrate, snack, and recover as necessary.” 

A slight giggle went around the room. 

“Trust me,” Rani said. “I can’t count the number of times I’ve wanted a break room when my partners and I get going. Thankfully, our Dom is great at check-ins and aftercare.” 

Arthur blushed as every face turned toward him. He swallowed and looked down. Still, a sense of pride, not embarrassment, crept over him.

Rani cleared her throat, bringing everyone’s attention back to her. “The other two rooms will be off-limits to guests, but they’ll have their doors closed, so don’t worry.” 

“Will the other doors be open?” Yvonne asked, tilting her head. 

“That’s the plan,” Rani said, nodding. “We’ve got extra robes to wear while in the hallway, or just to wear if you want to. They’re comfortable as fuck.” 

Another ripple of laughter moved them, lightening the mood as the tablet made its rounds. 

“Now, for the rules!” Rani said. “I know you glanced through them on the tablet, but to make sure everyone’s on the same page: Don’t break anything in the hotel if you can avoid it. Easy enough, right?” 

Everyone agreed. 

“We have a certified first responder if anything goes wrong. Manasa here has EMT training and will help in an emergency, but let’s try to keep the activities with risk of injury to a minimum, okay?” 

“Does that mean no choking?” Evie asked, raising her hand. 

“It means be careful and know what you’re doing if you try choking,” Rani said. “That’s between you and your partner. We’re not liable for any injuries.” 

“Got it,” Evie said, withdrawing her hand. 

“No drinking tonight, and no drugs,” Rani said. “Men, if you need a boost, we’ve got you. Do not mix any little blue pills with energy drinks, okay? Otherwise, everyone sticks to water and soda. Everyone looks sober to me, but we have a breathalyzer if there’s any doubt. If you register on the breathalyzer, you’ll be sobering up in the break room before rejoining the fun.” 

Arthur raised his eyebrows. He appreciated the rule, but he hadn’t expected a breathalyzer. His eyes slid over to Manasa of their own accord. The party bus life must get wild. He wondered if the little blue pills were the same ones they’d offered him after Homecoming. 

“Who’s enforcing these rules?” Iris asked. 

“I am,” Rani said. “And if I need to toss you out, well, then I’ve got a barbarian and a kick-ass pirate to help.” She gestured to Arthur and Kelly, who waved. 

Iris chuckled. “Not saying I want to break any; I just wanted to see if there was a plan in place if someone did.” 

“Oh, there is,” Rani said, nodding. “Hosting an orgy is a personal fantasy of mine that I’ve been contemplating for years. I’ve imagined how to do this for a while, and I want to make sure everyone has the best time possible. So, do your best not to worry.” 

Iris nodded. 

“The most important rule tonight, the one that will bring legal charges according to the forms you signed, is consent!” Rani said. “Always ask first before touching or doing anything sexual with another person. And operate under the assumption that anything other than an enthusiastic yes is a no!” 

The others nodded. 

“Take time to consider what you’re willing to do tonight. If you know you don’t want something, stick to it! For instance, I won’t be deep-throating tonight. My king enjoys it, but he’s huge, and I don’t want to risk it and end up ruining the moment if I puke.” 

Disgusted faces ran their way around the ring, mingled with glances at Arthur’s loincloth, but everyone took what she said into consideration. Arthur knew what his limits were, but his life was more sex-focused than the average person’s. He’d blame Selene for that, or any of his girlfriends, but he brought it on himself. He was here, after all, reviewing Rani’s rules for an orgy with the rest of them.

“Tonight’s universal safeword is red light! If anyone says this, stop everything and discuss what’s wrong and what needs to happen next,” Rani said, looking around her. “I need each of you to tell me you understand this rule. There will be no second chances. If you ignore someone’s safeword, I will forcibly remove you, and there will be legal consequences.” 

A few people gulped. Rani’s fun and flirty mood had vanished, replaced by the regal demand of a queen before her court. There was no room for argument or misinterpretation. They’d signed the forms and consented to more than just being here. The code of conduct was explicit, and she was reviewing it anyway. 

“I understand,” Arthur said, prompting a wave of people to say they understood. Once it made its way back to him, Rani continued. 

“The break word is yellow light! If you need to slow down or check in, say yellow light, and check in. Be vocal! Don’t worry about hurting anyone’s feelings tonight. We’re here to have a good time. You’re just as entitled to a good time as your partner, even if you’re worried it might disappoint them.”

A murmur of agreement went through the ring.  

“The rest is housekeeping,” Rani said. “Keep your phones in the break room. Keep track of your clothes. Men, wear your condoms, change them out between holes and partners. We’ve provided bowls of them in your rooms and more in the break room. No running in the hallways, as much fun as it would be to Scooby-Doo this thing.” 

Arthur laughed. The image of a hallway full of doors with people running back and forth in one of those ridiculous chase scenes with Benny Hill music cracked him up. 

Rani smiled as the laughter faded. “And lastly, keep an open mind! You’re going to see things tonight that might not be your cup of tea. That’s okay. Don’t yuck anybody else’s yum. If you have a problem with it, look away. Also, please remember, if you ask someone to do something and they say no, it isn’t personal. They’re not rejecting you; they’re just following their pleasure. It’s not about you, and you can follow your pleasure with someone else. Don’t interrupt others if you can help it. Read the room before you suggest something or ask to join someone or multiple someones, and give everyone else their chance.” 

Nods spread their way around the room. 

“Okay, questions about the rules?” Rani asked. 

No one asked any. She’d been thorough, much more thorough than Arthur had expected.

“Perfect, now let’s gear up,” Rani said, gesturing to Manasa, who handed her a strip of green bracelets from her bag. “We have three colors for wristbands: green, orange, and red. Green wristbands mean you’re comfortable with people approaching you during the orgy. Everyone will still ask first, but this lets them know you’re open to them asking. Orange means you’re more comfortable approaching others than being approached. So you’ll need to ask others first, not wait for them to approach you. And red means you’re an observer, not interested in getting involved with anyone else.”

Katie and Evie shared a look. 

“That’s an option?” Katie asked. 

“Of course,” Rani said. “No one here has to do anything to anyone. If that means you want to sit in the cuck chair and masturbate, that’s fine. You don’t have to fuck anyone to have fun.” 

A mixture of laughter and appreciation made the rounds. 

“There’s a case of water in the break room and energy drinks,” Rani said. “There’s also my bag of dicks. Don’t worry, they’re clean. Leave them on the bed when you’re done with them. Do not put them back in the bag.” 

A murmur of confusion came from the circle, but Arthur knew she meant her duffel bag full of vibrators, dildos, and toys. He wondered where she had put the trunk, but she didn’t mention it, so he hoped she had put it in one of the off-limits rooms. 

“Okay, now, something else to consider is that we’ve been at the Faire all day, walking around wearing these clothes that are starting to smell.” Rani sniffed her forearm and made a face behind her veil, making Mindy giggle. 

“There are eight showers upstairs, and I’m afraid I’m going to need to insist that everyone go through them. Be quick, but wash, because no one wants to be known as the gross one tonight. We’ll go in shifts, and we’re going to let the men go first, okay?” 

Everyone seemed to agree.

“Those with fresh henna, be sure to wrap plastic wrap over your tattoo!” Ana said, raising her voice so that everyone could hear her. 

“We have that, right?” Rani asked, looking at Manasa. 

“I have some,” Ana said. 

“Okay, now, before we split off to do that, let’s do a quick icebreaker!” Rani clapped her hands. “I want you to say your name and what your favorite sexual activity is, okay? No need for shame or embarrassment here; it’s outlawed tonight.” 

A few blushes crept onto faces around the room, but everyone overcame their shyness. Arthur wasn’t sure what he’d pick, though. If there were activities he did more with one girl than the others, it’d be favoritism. He enjoyed most things, though. 

“I’ll go first,” Rani offered. “My name is Rani, and my favorite sex act is anal.” She slapped her ass, which made a loud smack in the sudden silence of the room. “It’s good to put this thing to use for something.” 

Mindy giggled, prompting laughter throughout the room. “Me next!” Mindy said, raising her hand. “My name is Mindy, and my favorite thing is–” she hesitated, considering her options. “Degradation! I love when Arthur degrades me, calls me a pervert or a whore, and treats me like I’m a filthy degenerate.” 

Evie blinked in surprise. “Holy shit.” 

Mindy shrugged. “I like what I like.”

“Do I go next?” Evie asked, pointing at herself. 

Rani nodded her encouragement. 

“My name is Evie, or Evelyn, but everybody calls me Evie. My favorite sex act is sixty-nine,” she said. “I enjoy going down on someone while they’re eating me out. It’s the best kind of race.”

Katie nodded as Evie looked at her to prompt her to speak next. “Uh, my name is Katie, and my favorite sex thing is uh, when someone, uh, when someone sucks on my boobs.” 

“Oh, that’s fun,” Rani said, looking expectantly at Jen. 

“Hi everyone,” Jen said. “My name’s Jen, and my favorite thing is having sex in taboo locations, like changing rooms, movie theaters, or behind the trees at the Faire.” 

Dave and Iris exchanged a glance, but didn’t comment as Brad blushed scarlet from his eyes to his neck. 

“My name’s Brad, and I enjoy everything about sex. It’s great.” He gave it two thumbs up, which made everyone chuckle. 

“My name’s Mark, and I enjoy watching. I’m a cuckold,” Mark said, gesturing to Maria. 

“My name’s Maria, and I enjoy topping this guy.” She patted Mark’s shoulder. “And dirty talk. Dirty talk really does it for me.” 

“My name’s Ana,” Ana said, waving hello. “And I’m a masochist.” 

Her friend beside her snorted. “Don’t sell yourself short, Ana. You’re a total pain slut.” 

Ana blushed, but nodded.

“My name’s Kari, and I enjoy trying new things! Which is why I’m here,” Kari said, gesturing to herself. Then she gestured to the Red Sonja sitting next to her. 

“Oh, uh, hi. My name is Hallie, and uh, I enjoy when um, when strong women, like my girlfriend Cynthia, when she, um, dominates me.” Listening to Hallie get the words out was brutal, but Arthur was proud of her for not backing down. 

“Well, I guess that covers me, too,” Cynthia said. “Hi, my name’s Cynthia, and I enjoy pushing Hallie here up against the wall and making her go down on me as often as possible.” She squeezed Hallie’s hand, even as Hallie blushed so hard Arthur thought she might turn purple. 

“In the spirit of tops and bottoms, my name is Iris, and I’m this guy’s top.” She patted Dave’s shoulder. “My favorite thing to do is tie him down and ride him like a dildo.” 

Dave gulped, not looking at anyone in the room but staring at the carpet. 

“Dave, man, don’t worry,” Mark said. “Nobody in this room is judging you for being into your favorite flavor of sex. We’re all freaks here.” 

Dave still didn’t look up. “My name is Dave, and I enjoy, uh, well, what she said.” He patted Iris’ leg. 

“Babe, it’s okay,” Iris said, nudging him with her elbow. “Look up and tell the people here what you really enjoy.” 

Dave gulped again. Whatever it was, Arthur suspected it was embarrassing, even for this crowd. 

“You don’t have to tell us,” Arthur said. “Remember, we have safewords, and you can always substitute just something you enjoy and are comfortable sharing.” 

Iris pouted at Arthur but didn’t contradict him. “He’s right,” she said. “Would you like to say your safeword?” 

“No, I uh, I enjoy being berated and uh, degraded, I guess, for my anime obsessions and waifu memorabilia,” Dave admitted. “It’s not that weird, right?” 

“Not weird at all, comparatively,” Mindy said. Arthur wouldn’t have suspected it of Dave, but it made sense why he and Selene didn’t work out. He realized he was terrible at judging his friends’ sexual interests and kinks.

Faith gave Dave an appraising look, but turned her attention to the crowd at large. “My name’s Faith, and my favorite sex act is biting.” 

“Biting?” Rani asked. 

“Oh, yeah,” Faith nodded. “A good bite in the right spot at the right time? Instant orgasm.” 

“Giving or receiving?” Mindy asked with curiosity in her voice. 

“Receiving, but giving is fun, too. I bite back.” Faith winked at Arthur, eyeing his bared collarbone and licking her lips, communicating at least one expectation for the evening. So long as it didn’t draw blood, he didn’t see the harm. 

After Faith, it was Manasa’s turn, but she was looking at Kelly beside her, expecting Kelly would go next. 

“Your turn,” Kelly said, nudging Manasa. 

“Oh!” Manasa said, as if surprised to be included. She looked at Rani and blushed. “Uh, my name is Manasa, and my favorite thing is,” she glanced at Arthur. “Threesomes. Being dominated by a couple, specifically. Very hot.”

“Yeah, it is!” Rani agreed, giving Manasa a high-five and then blowing a kiss to Kelly. “Your turn, Mistress.” 

“My name is Kelly,” Kelly said, straightening her spine and pulling her shoulders back. “And my favorite is domestic roleplay.” She paused, then nodded. “Yeah, I think that’s my favorite.” 

Arthur nodded his appreciation and approval. They’d tried many things together, but it was always good to hear what his ladies enjoyed the most. Domesticity had been a recurring theme in his and Kelly’s date-night roleplays, so it made sense that she enjoyed that the most. 

“My name is Selene, but you can call me Slut. My favorite sex act is sucking Master’s dick after he’s fucked someone else. Or eating someone out after he’s cum in them. Or being his sex slave,” Selene said, touching her chainmail collar when she said it. “I’m a slut for my Master.” She grinned at Arthur, and he grinned back at her. 

“I’m–well, jeez, that’s a tough one to follow–but I’m Yvonne,” Yvonne said, looking around the room as she introduced herself. “I enjoy roleplay and manhandling, and I’ve always wanted to get tied up, but I don’t think that’s going to happen tonight.” 

“Aw, you've gotta believe in yourself, girlie!” Evie said. “I’m sure we can find rope. Do the robes have sashes?” 

Yvonne sank back into her chair, as if trying to let it swallow her. It didn’t work, but Katelyn cut in to spare her any further embarrassment.

“My name’s Katelyn! And, so far, my favorite thing is getting fingered.” She lifted Arthur’s hand in hers. “Seriously, if you have the chance, this guy is Mozart but with girl-parts instead of piano.”

Arthur blushed, not expecting the praise. 

“How much do you pay them to hype you up?” Kari asked, looking at Arthur’s crotch. “That’s like the fourth girl to slip a compliment your way.” 

Ana whispered something in her ear, and Kari’s face lit up in recognition. “Oh! That makes sense.” 

Arthur chuckled. “Well, uh, I don’t pay anyone, but my name is Arthur, and my favorite thing to do is dominate my girlfriends when we’re all in a group. Lining them up and going down the line is fun, and it’s a huge sense of accomplishment when I make them orgasm before I do.”

“And how many times has that happened?” Katie asked, scoffing. 

“At least twice?” Selene asked, looking at the others for confirmation, who nodded. “Going down the line, I mean.” 

“I’ve lost track, honestly,” Kelly said. “What can we say? Our man has stamina. He’d have more if he joined me for cardio more often, though.” 

“Please,” Rani said, cutting Kelly off. “The last thing this man needs is more stamina.” She looked at Kat. “Go ahead; it’s your turn.” 

Kat sighed. “My name is Kat, and my least favorite thing to do is public speaking.” Kat glanced at Rani, but her usual glare wasn’t there. “My favorite thing is pushing his buttons.” She pointed at Arthur, then poked him in the side. “It’s fun to make him lose his temper, watch him lose control, and come at me with everything he’s got.” She smiled up at Arthur, then rested her head against his arm. 

“Wait,” Yvonne said. Her tone was one of pure shock and incredulity. She even looked surprised that she’d spoken. Then her mouth closed, and she hid her face. “Never mind.” 

“Are you okay?” Rani asked. 

“Sorry,” Yvonne said, shaking her head and waving her hands in front of her. “Just ignore me. Sorry.” 

“Okay,” Rani said, looking around the room. “With that being said, everyone, it’s time to hit the showers. Boys, you’re up first, and you can each take one partner with you. The showers are big enough for two, but not three.” She glanced at Manasa for confirmation, who nodded. “Hallie and Cynthia can take another one, and Evie and Katie, do you want to shower together or separately?” 

They looked at each other, then nodded. “Let’s go together!” Evie said. 

“Are we getting started in the showers or…” Katie let the question dangle.  

The girls giggled. 

“Just get in and out as quickly as you can. Don your robes when you’re done. The fun starts after everybody’s clean,” Rani said. “Manasa and Yvonne can take the last two since those will be your rooms tonight.” She handed out the keycards as people stood and left the conference room. 

Arthur stood, taking his cue, and Kat kept hold of his arm. 

“Can I come with you?” Kat asked. 

Arthur nodded. “We’ll need to be quick, though.” 

Kat rolled her eyes. “Please, you’re the one who doesn’t know the meaning of the word.” 

Arthur laughed. “Okay, come on,” he said, pulling her along with him. “Do you have the key to the room?” 

Rani raised her hand, holding a keycard, and gave it to him. 

“And who has my phone?” He asked, looking at Katelyn. 

“Oh, I, um,” Katelyn looked around, but it was Yvonne who produced it and offered it back to Arthur. 

Arthur wasn’t sure why Yvonne had it. She must have found it when Katelyn lost it. He’d have to ask her not to do that again if she had his stuff. He slid his gaze to Katelyn, who smiled at him. 

“There’s a surprise in the spreadsheet,” Katelyn said. “But what you do with the information is up to you. No pressure.”  

“Thanks,” Arthur said, unsure how to respond to that. He wondered what the surprise was. Had he not discussed something with Katelyn at the lake that she’d added? Or had she changed her mind about something? He’d check it after he showered. 

“Not a problem,” Katelyn said. 

“I, uh, I hope you have a good shower,” Yvonne said, her eyes flicking between Kat and Arthur. 

“Thanks,” Arthur said, not sure how to respond. He was currently doing his best not to picture Yvonne in the shower, which only made him recall the wet chemise contest. 

Kat tugged him toward the door, and they left the room hand-in-hand, riding the elevator with Dave, Iris, Jen, Brad, Mark, and Maria. The others had to wait. 

The elevator ride was silent, but not as awkward as Arthur had expected. It was more abuzz with anticipation. Everyone was hyping themselves up and looking forward to it. Even Arthur’s apprehension had fallen by the wayside, and he couldn’t understand why. It had to be Rani’s enthusiasm infecting him. Even Kat squeezed him and looked at him like she couldn’t wait to get him naked.

The pairs split off when they reached the top floor. The elevator descended to collect Hallie, Cynthia, Evie, Katie, Yvonne, and Manasa. 

They’d finish in two waves if they were quick in the showers, and then the main event would start. 

The icebreaker had been a great idea, but it drew out surprises. Now he knew things about Dave and Yvonne he hadn’t expected to learn. Yvonne was the most surprising. He’d always considered her prudish. When he tried to remember why, the only memories that came to mind were times when Yvonne stopped Lori from making her saucier jokes.

It wasn’t something his ex had done often, but she wasn’t as shy about sex as Arthur had been. Then it turned out that Yvonne enjoyed that stuff? 

Her favorite things were what she’d gotten so angry at him for doing to Selene. He’d known she’d envied their relationship, but their kinks, too? Dammit. He had six girlfriends. When did women stop being confusing?

~~~

Selene hung back, waiting in the conference room with the others. She considered sticking by Master’s side, but Kat needed alone time with him. She’d been good, sharing him at the bonfire dance, so she deserved a treat. 

Kelly, Mindy, Katelyn, Ana, Kari, Rani, and Faith remained as well. Faith was the most awkward. The people she came with, Dave and Iris, had gone upstairs. 

Man, no wonder Selene had been so pissed off at Dave’s constant lack of imagination. She kept trying to get him to be more like Arthur. He couldn’t be more opposite. She was glad things had worked out for both of them: her with Arthur, and Dave with Iris. They were good together. 

Kelly started chatting with Faith to get to know her, which sparked off a series of simultaneous conversations throughout the room. 

Katelyn and Mindy were looking at filters on Mindy’s phone, taking selfies. The two of them were adorable, but they acted like total airheads when left alone together. They embodied “no thoughts, only vibes.” Selene wasn’t sure that was a good thing. It was cute, though. 

Ana and Kari were checking in with each other, discussing what they wanted to do once everything got started. It sounded as if Ana intended to go to Arthur’s room, but Kari was more interested in Brad’s or Dave’s. To each their own, she supposed. 

Come to think of it, it surprised her that Jen had suggested starting a harem of their own. Jen was pro-poly, but Selene expected Mark, Maria, Brad, and Jen to make a foursome before another harem. Then again, Brad wasn’t into guys, so it made sense for them to form their own harem-based polycule. It made her laugh to think that they had started a trend. She wondered how many other boyfriends might suggest it to their girlfriends at Pendleton, and how many breakups would result. 

Selene grabbed a water bottle from the table and stood against the wall while drinking it. Arthur had been checking her hydration, so she was overcompensating for her earlier dehydration. Not that it was terrible; she’d just have to pee before the orgy. The last thing she wanted was to be tied up and have to call a red light.

She checked her phone, and her eyes widened in surprise. She had six missed calls from Lori and a dozen texts. Not all of them were from the last few minutes. Selene couldn’t remember the last time she’d checked her phone. It’d been before the adults-only event at least. 

Lori: Hey, are you still at the Ren Faire with Arthur? 

Lori: Is the whole theater club there? The pics look good.

Lori: I miss you guys. I wish they had a theater club out here. I didn’t go to the local Ren Faire. Not that I have time for it. Work and classes are killing me. Sorry, I’ve been no-contact for a while.

Lori: I get it if you’re busy, but if you have the time, I’d love to catch up. Are you doing okay? 

Lori: Whatever happened with you and Arthur, anyway? You told me you went for it, but did you and Arthur break up or something? 

Lori: It’s okay if you chickened out. I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on over there. 

Then the tone of her texts changed, a full 180 degrees from her calm inquiries. 

Lori: Okay, what the fuck is going on? 

Lori: Kelly and Arthur are dating now? Like, boyfriend/girlfriend? Exclusive?

Lori: Why the hell was Katelyn pretending to be his girlfriend? What happened to you going for it with Arthur?

Lori: And why did Yvonne have Arthur’s phone? 

Lori: Are you guys at a karaoke bar or something? I heard him singing. 

Lori: Selene, message me back, or call me, or something! I’m spiraling over here. Kelly blocked me on Arthur’s phone. I can’t get in touch with him at all now. 

Lori: Please, Selene. Please. Call me. Text me. Anything. Don’t shut me out. 

Lori: Pick up the phone! Please? Call me back. I’m in full-blown panic mode right now! 

Selene looked up at Kelly, then back at her phone. So that was who she was on the phone with in the bathroom? They’d heard indistinct arguing, but the bus muffled the sounds too much to make out the words. The mood bled through the walls, though. Kelly had been angry, but she was smiling and even flirtatious with Faith. Was that a facade? Or a distraction? 

Selene swallowed. What would Arthur say? Did he want to talk to Lori? No, he wanted to let her go. She touched the collar on her throat, the solid chainmail links connecting her to Arthur. Spontaneous telepathy had yet to occur, but when she closed her eyes, a sense of peace settled over her, as if she were kneeling before her master. No thoughts, no burdens, no responsibilities; only pleasure and joy remained with the tight grip of the collar against her neck. She loved making Arthur happy. So how could she best serve him in this? 

Lori was upset, spiraling, and panicking over whatever she and Kelly had discussed. Selene could call her, try to help her sort through it, but it might not be her place to tell Lori about the harem. They were out as a polycule on campus, but not on social media. Could she trust Lori to stay quiet? Should she suggest they video-conference with Lori at the next harem meeting? 

Selene needed more information before she called Lori, and she needed to talk to the harem first. At the very least, she’d talk to Kelly and discover what they had discussed. Plus, there was context there that Selene was missing. Kelly was much more cross with Lori than anyone else. Why? What did she know that the others didn’t? That Selene didn’t even know? 

She walked forward, catching Faith’s attention as she approached. The Goth woman smiled, her eyes raking over Selene’s chainmail bikini in a predatory fashion. The thought of bringing Faith before Arthur, bringing her to her knees, and pushing her face onto Arthur’s cock made Selene tingle with heat. Oh, how Selene wished she’d shown patience earlier. Master wouldn’t let her have any orgasms tonight, but she hoped she could still play with his new toys. 

“Well, hello,” Faith said. “Selene, right?” 

Selene nodded. “Yes, or Slut. I prefer Slut at times like these.” 

Surprise overtook Faith’s face, but Kelly nodded and explained for her. 

“Slut is her nickname with the polycule,” Kelly said. “It helps her get into the headspace, I think, for the dynamic she wants with Arthur and the others. It’s like when the girls call me Mistress or when Arthur calls me Wifey. The names help define expectations, at least for me.” 

“For me, too,” Selene said, agreeing. “I haven’t had to explain it before, but that’s spot on, Mistress. It helps keep me focused on what we’re doing, not bring the outside world into it.” 

Kelly smiled. “Would you like to pull up a chair, Slut? Faith and I were discussing gluten-free recipes.” 

Selene blinked. The topic surprised her. “You were discussing recipes at an orgy?” 

“Well, we haven’t started yet,” Kelly said. “And we were discussing breakfast plans for tomorrow. Faith mentioned she had a gluten-free waffle mix recipe, which I thought Arthur might appreciate.” 

Selene considered that. She agreed with eating healthy, but Arthur and Kelly went to extremes. The breakfast gods never intended for people to make waffles from rice or almonds.

“I take it that’s not why you came over?” Kelly asked. 

“No, Mistress,” Selene said. “I was wondering if I could talk to you? Maybe somewhere private?” 

Faith waggled her eyebrows. “Getting started without us? I thought the whole point was to show off with everyone around.” 

Kelly arched an eyebrow at Selene. 

Selene smiled. “No, this is personal business. Nothing sexy.” 

Kelly frowned as she lowered her eyebrow. “We’ll be a minute,” she told Faith. She looked around her and gestured to Rani. “Is it okay if Selene and I step outside for a second?” 

“Sure,” Rani said. “But don’t wander too far. We need to be quick with these showers. As soon as Manasa texts me, the rest of us can head upstairs.” 

“We’ll be in the hallway, or the pool area, if it’s empty,” Kelly said, nodding to Rani, who took her seat after Kelly stood. Kelly took Selene’s hand, and the two of them left the conference room. 

Selene remained quiet, shooting furtive glances at Kelly as they walked. The lobby was empty, but it wasn’t the best place for a conversation. The pool was outside, but no one else was there. It was closed. The ‘gym’ at the hotel was in the same hallway, a small room with one treadmill, one Nautilus machine, and a rack of dumbbells. 

Kelly texted Rani, likely to tell her where they were, put her phone away, and looked at Selene. 

“Is this regarding Lori?” Kelly asked, as if she’d been expecting someone to ask about her. 

Selene nodded. “Yes, Mistress, she’s blowing up my phone. I don’t know what to do.” 

“Block her,” Kelly said. “It’s best for everyone to cut her out of our lives. We don’t need more drama, not after Lynn, Angie, and everything else.” 

Selene agreed, but Lori wasn’t Lynn, Angie, or anyone else. Not even Yvonne. Lori was her friend, and she was important to Master, even if she’d hurt him with her decision to leave. Pendleton didn’t have a med school, even if they offered Pre-Med, and the college she’d picked specialized in the program she wanted. Not every med school had a specialized program for addiction medicine.

“Why are you so angry with her?” Selene asked. “I mean, I get it. I’m mad at her too for leaving, cutting everyone out, and hurting Master, but you’ve always been especially angry where she’s concerned. You have another reason for hating her. What is it? What did she do? Is it something that would hurt Arthur?” 

Kelly frowned, turning away, which did nothing because she was now facing the wall-length mirror. Selene kept her posture submissive, but she let her eyes meet Kelly’s. 

“Can we put this on hold?” Kelly asked. “We’re trying to have fun, right? One night of cutting loose and not getting caught up in anything upsetting? I was going to talk to Arthur about her tomorrow on the ride home.” 

Selene frowned. Curiosity bubbled up in her head, but it had to fight her desire to kneel before Kelly and submit to her the way she would her master. If he were here saying this, she’d accept his mandate; should she do the same for Kelly?  

“Are you asking as Kelly, my co-girlfriend, or as my mistress?” Selene asked. 

Kelly chuckled. “I suppose I could order you to drop it until morning?” 

Selene said nothing, waiting for Kelly’s decision. She’d abide by it, she realized. Kelly was the team captain, the mistress of the harem. If their master wasn’t here, then Kelly was in charge. The chain of command was something Selene respected because she wanted it. 

Yet Lori wasn’t part of their world. She had no context, and she needed Selene’s help. She was spiraling, hurting, and Selene wanted to help her friend. Was this one of those moments where she should stop being a slave, put the moniker of Slut aside, and just be Selene? 

“Red light,” Selene said, just as surprised that she’d said it as Kelly was. 

“Are you okay?” Kelly asked, looking at her, making sure her eyes hadn’t deceived her and that something had happened. 

“No,” Selene said, shaking her head. “I mean, I am, but Lori’s not. She’s my friend, and I thought she was yours, too, but she’s hurting and confused. I don’t know what’s going on between you two. I can’t help her, you, or Arthur unless you talk to me. So, let’s put aside the harem for a moment. We’re not Mistress and Slut right now. We’re Kelly and Selene. Okay?” 

Kelly blinked, staring at Selene in shock. 

“Okay?” Selene asked, repeating the question. 

Kelly sighed. “Okay.” 

“Okay,” Selene said. “So tell me what’s going on. What was your call with Lori about?” 

“She wanted to talk to Arthur about coming to Thanksgiving,” Kelly said. “Deb invited her. I guess she’s been flip-flopping on it and wanted to see if Arthur would be okay with her coming.” 

Selene hadn’t expected that answer. She blinked, trying to sort through it. Would Lori want to return for a weekend? What would that do to Arthur? Nothing good. It’d hurt him to see her again. She didn’t doubt that. 

“What did you tell her?” Selene asked. 

“That she’s uninvited,” Kelly said. “I don’t want her there for a lot of reasons. It’ll hurt Arthur, and Lori doesn’t deserve him.” 

Selene fell quiet at that. Did any of them ‘deserve’ Arthur? No. Not really. But it was fair to say Lori had her chance and made her choice. She’d chosen to leave Arthur and refused to consider a long-distance relationship. She’d cut ties and burned the bridges behind her. Lori had a lot of experience in leaving friends behind. 

“What happened between you and Lori that makes you so mad at her, madder than everyone else?” Selene asked.

Kelly checked her phone, and Selene checked the clock on the wall. They didn’t have long, but Selene hoped she’d tell her what she could. If Rani called, she could join Kelly in the shower, and they’d finish the conversation there. 

“It was the week before Lori broke up with Arthur,” Kelly said, sitting on the weight bench as she began her tale. “When I got the text from Lori.”