Harem House Chapter 52 Part 1 (Patreon)

Kat’s Sunday morning had been strange so far. She appreciated the games the others wanted to play and getting Arthur’s focus, even if she had to share it with Katelyn, but Katelyn was where most of the strangeness lay. She would have called it queerness if she wanted to make a pun. 

Katelyn had kissed her. She kissed back. Katelyn, the tall, adorable young woman she’d known for three years. Her best friend, not counting Selene. It had been in the heat of the moment, but still. Katelyn kissed her. She imagined she could still taste the other woman’s lips. Her own lips tingled in their absence, and she wondered if it would happen again. 

She didn’t want it to happen again, did she? 

Her sexual relationships with women hadn’t been that. She’d touched them before, sure, but her role and their role in whatever was happening was usually part of Arthur’s bondage scenarios. She wasn’t having sex with Selene, Kelly, Katelyn, Rani, Mindy, Beth, or any of the women. Kat had sex with Arthur, and the others were there, either as witnesses, which was hot, or for Arthur’s pleasure, not hers. 

Yet when Arthur tied them face-to-face in a scene together, Katelyn kissed her. She kissed back. What did that mean? Did it have to mean anything? 

Kat couldn’t be gay. She was straight, and she knew it without a doubt. Of course she loved Katelyn, but as a friend, not as a lover. The woman’s long, sleek legs didn’t arouse Kat as they did others. Her cheerfulness and cuteness didn’t make Kat feel what she felt with Arthur. Even calling her adorable or sexy wasn’t because she awoke lust within Kat, but because they were objective facts about Katelyn.

“Are you mad at me?” Katelyn whispered while they were on the bed together. 

Arthur and Mindy were in the other bed, and Kat watched the patterns in Arthur’s back muscles contract and release as they went about their business. 

“No,” Kat whispered back. “I’m just trying to sort through things in my head.” 

“I’m sorry,” Katelyn said, cuddling close to Kat. “I couldn’t help myself.”

Kat sucked in a breath, trying to see if the skin-to-skin contact excited her, as it did with Arthur. She wasn’t sure. It was more safe than thrilling, like coming home, but something was off now, as if someone had moved the furniture while she was away. Kat and Katelyn cuddled all the time, but that was more Katelyn’s thing than hers. She was a very touchy-feely person with everyone she cared about, and she and Kat were closer than most. 

So why was this morning different? 

“I’m not mad,” Kat said. She wasn’t. She was too tired. Yesterday had been a long day, and she’d gotten a pittance of sleep. Everyone had, so no one was firing on all cylinders. Add to that a sizable early-morning orgasm from her boyfriend, and Kat should’ve been unconscious. Instead, her brain was trying to sort its way through a puzzle when she couldn’t see the shape of the pieces.  

“What are you thinking?” Katelyn asked. “Talk to me, Kat. I’m spiraling here.” 

“I’m not sure what I’m thinking,” Kat said. “It’s early. I need coffee and time.”

“I’m sorry,” Katelyn said again, as if it were a new mantra. 

“For what?” Kat asked. Had it been more intentional than Kat thought?

“For kissing you,” Katelyn said. 

“Why did you?” Kat asked.

Katelyn blushed. Their faces were close in their cuddle, their arms around each other, and they didn’t need to do more than whisper to hear each other. If either of them wanted, they could kiss again without moving. Yet neither of them leaned in to do that again. As close as they were, an invisible wall stood between them. 

“I don’t know,” Katelyn answered. “It felt right, right? Did kissing me feel right to you? Was it good?” 

“I don’t know,” Kat said. “It was weird.” 

“Good weird or bad weird?” Katelyn asked. 

“Just weird,” Kat said. “Cuddling you, even naked like this, is one thing, but kissing? Arthur couldn’t even see it.” 

“Do you want to do it again? Could we kiss or make out while Arthur and Mindy do their thing? You could see how you feel about it.” Katelyn offered. 

“No, I don’t want to do it again,” Kat said too quickly. The lack of coffee made her too blunt, and the hurt coloring Katelyn’s face didn’t register in Kat’s sluggish brain until it was too late. 

“Okay,” Katelyn said. “You’re right, that was dumb of me to suggest it. I’m sorry.” 

“Stop apologizing!” Kat said, unable to hide her annoyance. “You don’t mean that you’re sorry for it. You’re just trying to keep me from getting angry, and it’s pissing me off.” 

“Sorry,” Katelyn said reflexively. She winced, but Kat didn’t berate her. Neither did she smile nor laugh. The mood on the bed turned somber and silent until Katelyn spoke again. “I don’t know what to do, Kat. I can’t handle this many feelings at a time, okay?” 

“What?” Kat asked, confused. “What are you feeling?” 

“Everything,” Katelyn said. “Happy because kissing you felt good and right to me. It was thrilling, and I want to do it again. Fearful, because what if you don’t feel the same way? Anxiety, because I don’t want to lose you as my best friend because I did something stupid. Comfortable because we’re cuddling. Satisfied because of Arthur and you. Guilt for our first kiss being like that, when it should have been something you were more prepared for.” 

“First kiss?” Kat asked, confused. She was still trying to parse what Katelyn was saying, but she was talking too fast, and Kat couldn’t keep up. She didn’t want to have this conversation right now. The best thing to do was shut it down and discuss it later, after coffee, showers, and time to think. “It was just a heat-of-the-moment kiss. It’s not like we’re dating or anything. We’re not gay or queer or whatever.” 

Katelyn fell quiet. “Kat, I—” 

“Don’t worry, you’re my best friend,” Kat said, hugging Katelyn. “You got carried away. It happens. Just don’t do it again. We’re fine. We’ll figure it out later, but I’m not mad at you, Katelyn. So, just relax.” 

“Kat,” Katelyn said, her voice small and quiet. “I–need to talk about this.” 

“Right now?” Kat asked. “It can’t wait until I’ve had some coffee or a chance to wake up and get my thoughts in order? I need time.” 

Katelyn hesitated, but she yielded to Kat, as always. “Okay,” she said. “If that’s what you want.” 

They were quiet, letting Arthur and Mindy finish their play before Kelly emerged from the bathroom. Kat’s chance to go back to sleep vanished as the room filled with conversation. She didn’t listen to everything, but Katelyn whispered back. 

“When can we talk about it? Can we set a date?” Katelyn asked.

“A date?” Kat asked, half awake. “Don’t be gross.” She was making a joke, or trying to, but she didn’t see Katelyn’s reaction to it before Arthur cut in. 

“Right, girls?”

She didn’t know what he was asking, but with Arthur there was always one safe response.  

“Yes, Sir,” Kat said. 

“You got it, Big D,” Katelyn said. She sat up, moving out of Kat’s reach as she slid off the bed. “Is it okay if I use the other room instead? I’m not sure there’s enough space for three of us.” 

“I’d rather see to your aftercare myself,” Arthur said. 

Oh, so that was what he’d been saying. It was time for aftercare, even though cuddling with Katelyn had been a good start. It always helped her relax and ground herself.  

“Oh, that wasn’t that bad, right? It was just fucking,” Katelyn said. “Can Kelly take care of my aftercare? In the other bathroom?” 

Arthur looked at Kelly.

“I can do that,” Kelly answered. “If it’s okay with you, Arthur.” 

“See if the other bathroom’s available,” Arthur said. “But yes, it’s okay with me.” 

“Ask Rani,” Kelly said, appraising Katelyn. 

“Okay,” Katelyn said. She kissed Arthur and Kelly, put her fuzzy cat ears on the counter, and left them for the other room. 

Arthur looked at Kelly. “Is she okay?” 

“I’ll check,” Kelly said. “You shower.” 

“Yes, Ma’am,” Arthur said. “Kat, let’s go. Wakey-wakey eggs and bakey.” 

Kat grumbled, still half-awake. She pushed herself off the bed and followed Arthur into the bathroom. Her feet plodded against the carpet, and then the tile. She didn’t even bother to cover her nakedness. The shower water was warm and comfortable. She relaxed under the barrage as Arthur washed her, rinsed her, and guided her through the steps with plenty of touches, hugs, and cuddles. The attention was nice. She could get used to this pampering. 

“Are you okay?” Arthur asked as he dried her off. 

“Yeah,” Kat said, her eyes tracing the lines of his muscles. Her body reacted the way it always did when he was nearby, heat blooming in her as lust grew. She was too relaxed and tired to act on it, but she wondered if grabbing his dick or bratting to him would make him bend her over the counter and fuck her until he came inside her. A moment between them might be nice, but she was too tired to suggest it, and if she tried to push his buttons now, she’d be too clumsy and ruin the mood. “I just need coffee. Lots of it. A gallon.” 

“We’ll get you coffee,” Arthur said. “But what’s up between you and Katelyn? Is it something you need me to talk to her about?” 

How much had he noticed or overheard? And what would Arthur say to her? He’d shut Katelyn down, which she’d take as an order from their Dom, and that’d hurt her. She’d think Kat asked him to step in and order her to stop whatever she’d done, or was doing, and that wasn’t something Kat wanted to do. 

“No,” Kat said. “Don’t meddle. It’s between her and me.”

“Okay, but if it’s something that affects the harem, our relationships, then it’s something we should discuss,” Arthur said. 

Not everything was about the harem. Whatever the kiss had meant to Katelyn, or Kat, it was between the two of them. It wasn’t any of Mindy’s business, or Rani’s, or Selene’s, or even Arthur’s. It was private. Not everything had to be dragged before a tribunal. 

“No,” Kat said. “This isn’t a harem meeting agenda item. It’s just a misunderstanding between her and me. Let me figure it out. Okay?” 

She still needed time to consider everything and work through her own thoughts and feelings on the matter. She needed time. Why was everyone pressing her to discuss it now? 

“I can help—” 

“Arthur, please,” Kat snapped. “Please, just let me handle it. I swear I’m not being a brat or anything. This is Kat talking. You are my sir, but this isn’t a polycule issue, harem issue, or boyfriend issue. It’s a Kats issue. Okay?” 

“Okay,” Arthur said, keeping his voice soft. “But I’m here if you need me. We all are.” 

Kat softened at that. He was just trying to help, looking out for her the way a boyfriend should. God, he was good at that. Arthur handled her mood swings, temper, and affection better than anyone she’d ever known, including family. He was too perfect, and she shouldn’t take her frustrations out on him. 

“Thank you,” she said. “I love you.” She hugged him. 

“I love you, too,” Arthur said. She kept hugging him, and he let her do it for as long as she needed. The perfect boyfriend, which was why she tried to be a better girlfriend to him. She didn’t mind playing with the others watching, or helping him, because even if they did nothing for her but fulfill her exhibitionist fantasies, he enjoyed it. 

When they emerged from the bathroom, clean and ready for the day, the others had cleaned the room and taken the luggage. A set of clothes for each of them remained on the bed, and voices from the hallway suggested they should hurry. 

Kat donned the clothes someone had left for her. She assumed Rani or Kelly had pulled them from her luggage. A pink thong panty from her bag, a matching bra, gray and white relay shorts that covered most of her ass and none of her legs, and an oversized gray and blue Pendleton Wolves hoodie that covered more of her legs than her shorts did. 

She slipped on her ankle socks and sneakers and watched Arthur finish dressing. He wore a simple, tight gray T-shirt, an open orange-and-brown flannel over it, and blue jeans. 

“You look like a hot lumberjack, especially with your scruff,” she said, scratching his chin. The prickly hairs lining his jaw and face scratched back. 

“I’ll shave at home,” Arthur said. 

“No, leave it,” Kat said. “It looks hot.” 

Arthur chuckled. “Come on, let’s head down with the others.” 

Kat sighed. “Does the us time have to end so soon? Are you sure you wouldn’t rather bend me over the bed and give me a good plowing?” 

Arthur’s stomach grumbled, protesting the idea even as he bit his lip and considered her offer. Then he laughed, dashing Kat’s hopes. 

“Sorry, Brat,” Arthur said. “We need food for fuel, and you need coffee, right?” 

Kat sighed. “I guess.” 

Arthur opened the hallway door to reveal Selene waiting for them. She wasn’t kneeling, as Kat half-expected, but stood, smiling, twice as awake as Kat on any given morning. 

“Good morning, Master!” Selene said, keeping her hands behind her. She wore a brown maxi dress with embroidered tiers and a cinched waist. Vertical strips of embroidery under her bust teased her skin, and the horizontal tier of embroidery at her knees and ankles did the same; otherwise, the dress was modest below the bust. The spaghetti straps and scrunched, scooped neckline bared most of her skin above the cups of her round breasts, which the dress emphasized because she wasn’t wearing a bra. She probably wasn’t wearing panties either, Kat guessed. 

“Good morning, Slut,” Arthur said, patting her on the head. 

Selene beamed at him. “Ready for breakfast? Or do you want some more time with Kat in the room?” 

“I offered, but someone’s hungry,” Kat said, patting his stomach.

“And someone needs coffee,” Arthur said, patting Kat’s ass. 

Selene chuckled. “The others are downstairs. We’ve packed up the luggage, and Kelly and Rani did final room checks, so the plan is to have breakfast, use the bathrooms if anyone needs them, and then head out.” 

“Perfect,” Arthur said. 

He led the procession, keeping his arm around Kat’s shoulders as they walked. He put his other arm around Selene’s waist after she pulled on a black knit cardigan. It obscured her arms, chest, and collar area, though she still wore her new chainmail collar with the rest of her jewelry. 

“We should get you a more casual collar,” Kat said. “That one’s a little conspicuous in everyday clothes.” 

Selene stuck her tongue out at Kat. “I think it looks good.” 

“It does,” Arthur agreed. “But Kat’s right, too. We should get you one for everyday wear and keep that one for special occasions.” 

Kat stuck her tongue out at Selene. Arthur pressed the elevator button, summoning it from the ground floor. As he did so, a door opened and closed behind them. 

“Good morning!”

Faith, Iris, and Dave approached to wait for the elevator. 

“Hey! Joining us for breakfast?” Arthur asked. 

“We’re on our way out, actually. We ate,” Faith said. “Work beckons. Sunday is another Faire day, after all.”

“Oh, right!” Selene said. “Break a leg.” 

Faith smiled. “Thanks. My legs are sore, but last night was worth it.” She patted Arthur’s back. 

“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Arthur said. “Did you two have fun?” he asked Dave and Iris. 

“Oh, we had a blast,” Iris said. “Right, honey?” 

“It was fantastic,” Dave said. “Ten out of ten.” 

Iris chuckled. “Good boy.”   

“I still can’t believe you guys do this. Have you done this before?” Dave asked. “Did you and Lori go to these kinds of things?”  

Arthur shook his head. “No. Well, we were members at a BDSM club in Crofton, but this was my first orgy.”  

“Yeah, this was our first time,” Selene said. “Well, not—well, you know what I mean. This was our first big event.” 

Iris chuckled. “Well, it was great.” 

The elevator arrived, and they stepped into it. Arthur pressed the lobby button, but they only made it a floor before the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Arthur stood with his arms around both Kat and Selene, not moving away as the doors opened. Kat had her arm around his waist, crossing with Selene, who had hers more or less the same from the other side. Iris and Dave stood like them on the other side of the elevator, and Faith stood between the two groups, leaning against the back wall.

Two bleary-eyed women stepped into the elevator, giving the six of them side-eye. Both were very attractive, but they had bags under their eyes. The blonde woman had pink and blue dye in her hair, and the other’s hair was from-a-bottle red. 

“I don’t suppose you got any sleep either, with that ruckus going on last night?” the red-headed woman asked. 

“Oh, uh, we might have been part of that ruckus. Sorry about that,” Arthur said. 

Both women stared at him, then looked at Kat and Selene, taking in how they stood beside him, their arms around him. Rather than get angry, as Kat expected based on her experience with Arthur’s downstairs neighbors, they both blushed and turned away. The blonde hit the lobby button even though Arthur had already pressed it. 

The doors closed, and the elevator descended. Awkwardness filled the cramped room like jelly, and no one moved until the elevator doors opened. The women fled and propelled themselves into the breakfast area adjacent to the lobby. It bustled with people, many still wearing pajamas. Kat walked with Arthur and Selene, seeing that the others in their party had already pushed a few four-person tables together. 

The breakfast station had a few covered dishes of scrambled eggs, sausage, and bacon. A bagel station and a waffle station stood on either side, with a drink dispenser for water and juice to the left. It was a miniature cafeteria, with a few fruits offered in baskets on an island counter. It wasn’t as fancy as the hotel they went to for homecoming, but it was fancier than the ‘continental’ breakfast she’d expected. Pity. She’d been looking forward to a bagel, but now better options were available.  

“I suppose this is goodbye,” Faith said, turning toward Arthur as Kat and Selene released him to join the line for food. 

“Yeah,” Arthur agreed, scratching the back of his neck. He meant nothing by it, but that nervous habit of his always showed off his muscles, even in long sleeves. Plus, it was cute as heck in an ‘aw, shucks’ kind of way and did things to Kat’s brain that she still didn’t have words for. 

“Yeah,” Dave said. “We’re still friends on social media, though, so we can keep in touch.” 

“Oh, yeah, can you add me?” Faith asked. “I sent you a friend request.” 

“Sure,” Arthur said. 

“And Rani’s added me, so the next time you guys host something like this, she said I’m on the invite list if you’re cool with it,” Faith said, smiling at him. “You’re cool with it, right?” 

“Yeah, of course,” Arthur said, nodding. “It was nice, um, meeting you.” 

Kat almost laughed as the mental image of him fucking Fatih last night played in her mind. She supposed that was another con of orgies: the awkward morning goodbyes. 

Faith opened her arms for a hug, and Arthur hugged her. She kissed him on the lips, which surprised him, but the kiss was brief enough that Kat didn’t pry them apart or yell at Faith. She wasn’t trying to steal Kat’s man and was just saying goodbye. 

“I’m sorry we missed you guys for breakfast,” Arthur said. “But I’m glad you had fun last night. Break a leg with your performance today!”

Faith smiled. “If you ever want to audition for the Faire, let me know,” she said. “You’d make a great fae prince.” 

“Or Elizabethan noble,” Iris said. 

“Or anything,” Dave said. “This guy’s a great actor. He’d be great for any storyline.” 

“Aw, thanks, Dave,” Arthur said. 

“You’re welcome to audition,” Iris said. 

Arthur chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.” 

“We’ll see you guys around,” Iris said. “Come on, Faith, we have to go. You know how long I take to get into that costume.” 

Faith chuckled, and she, Dave, and Iris headed toward the lobby exit. They waved to the others they’d already said farewell to and left. Faith blew Yvonne a kiss before she made it through the door, and Yvonne blushed. 

Arthur joined Selene and Kat in line, standing behind the two women from upstairs who were communicating through eye contact. They’d seen Faith kiss Arthur goodbye, and their eyes nearly bugged out of their heads as he slid back into Kat and Selene’s arms. Fuck them, Kat decided to have her fun.  

“Great, now the busty goth chick is going to harass you in your DMs,” Kat said, her bored tone conveying her annoyance. “How many women will be enough for you? Are we not enough?” 

“You’re more than enough,” Arthur said. “I was just being polite. Faith’s nice, but I don’t think she’s interested in a relationship.” 

“She just likes his dick,” Selene said, squeezing her arms around Arthur’s waist. “We can’t blame her.” 

A woman ahead of them coughed. Kat thought it was the redhead. 

“We can talk about this later,” Arthur said. “For now, let’s just enjoy breakfast.”

“I’m making a waffle,” Selene said. “What are you eating?” 

“Eggs,” Arthur said. “Maybe some bacon, but definitely eggs.” 

“Coffee,” Kat said, seeing the small industrial vat coffeemaker in the corner. “And a bagel.” 

Arthur laughed, but Kat was dead serious. The mugs were tiny, so she took three. She toasted an everything bagel, slapped peanut butter on it, then joined the others at the tables Kelly had set up. Everyone else was already there, with Kat, Arthur, and Selene arriving last. 

Kelly sat at the head of the table with Katelyn and Rani on her left and right. Mindy and Yvonne sat across from one another, then Jen and Maria, Brad and Mark, Katie and Evie, and Cynthia and Hallie. Selene and Kat slid into the seats beside them, with Arthur taking the foot of the table, looking down the long column of faces toward Kelly. 

Everyone had dressed for the road in casual clothes. Jeans, T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatpants were the most common. Rani looked like a kindred spirit to Kat, sleepy as fuck, wearing baggy sweats and looking nothing like the queen from the night before with her hair tied back into a ponytail. 

Kat glanced at Katelyn, who held one of Kelly’s hands. Katelyn looked adorable in a white tank top and rolled-down pink sweatpants from Victoria’s Secret. Kat looked at her and Kelly’s hands, resting atop the table, and back at Katelyn, who didn’t look at her. She pointedly looked at anything and anyone else, but never at Kat. Great, Katelyn was mad. Kat drank her coffee out of spite. 

“What took you three so long?” Cynthia asked, as if she knew the answer. 

“Can’t rush aftercare,” Arthur said. The pile of scrambled eggs on his plate was a surprising amount of food for him, but it told Kat how hungry he was. The water in his glass was no surprise, though. His refusal to drink coffee was something they’d have to work on. 

Cynthia laughed as if Arthur had made a joke. God, Kat hated that bitch. Why was she even here? Free breakfast, sure, but did she have to sit at their table?

“How’s everyone doing this morning?” Arthur asked, looking down the line of people. 

Hallie smiled at him, as did the others. They answered in mutual good spirits. Everyone seemed sleepy but satisfied, enjoying their food and the good company at the breakfast table. 

Yvonne blushed as she met Arthur’s eyes, but she didn’t turn away. Kat huffed. Another new member she’d have to deal with. She could see the writing on the wall. The others liked Yvonne, as if what she’d done didn’t matter. Kat didn’t hate her, but she’d like her more if she wasn’t trying to worm her way into the harem. She’d helped Kat enough yesterday that she couldn’t oppose Yvonne joining them, but still. It bothered her that everyone seemed fine with adding women to their polycule. Who was next? How many was too many? Seven had to be the limit. 

It was fine for them. They enjoyed women as much as they did men, so a new relationship meant more fun for everyone. For Kat, it meant less of Arthur’s time and attention, and she was already splitting him with too many. Though for one, she had only herself to blame. 

She looked Katelyn’s way again over the lip of her coffee mug as she drank. The memory of Katelyn’s lips against hers pressed itself into her mind, and she looked away. Her insides rumbled, not with lust or warmth, but in turmoil, as if she were on a rocky boat. Or so she imagined. She’d never been on a boat. Before this morning, she’d never kissed a girl either. It differed from kissing Arthur, but did that make it bad? No, it’d been a wonderful kiss, full of passion, warmth, and affection, but it’d been with Katelyn. That made it weird.

“Are you okay?” Arthur asked, looking at Kat. She didn’t realize the conversation had stopped, since a few others had picked up farther down the table and the constant murmurs of the other hotel guests having breakfast had become a dull ambiance as she fell into her thoughts. 

“Hm?” Kat asked. “Yeah, I’m good.” 

“Jesus. For a Dom, you’re way too soft,” Cynthia said. “You need to toughen up.” 

“What?” Arthur asked, confused. He sipped his water and returned to his eggs. 

“You’re too nice to be a Dom. Constantly checking on your sub’s emotions that way, you’re going to spoil them,” Cynthia said. “You need to be tough.” 

“I think you’re confusing being dominant with being an asshole,” Arthur said. “A Dom should care about the people under him, take care of them, not treat them like shit.” 

“But they like it,” Cynthia said, looking across the table to prove her point. “Tell him I’m right, Hallie. Would you enjoy my checking in on you every five minutes?” 

Hallie hesitated, glancing between them. 

Cynthia cleared her throat. 

“Okay,” Selene said, straightening her spine. “Cynthia, I don’t know where you’ve gotten your ideas, but you are the worst Domme I’ve ever witnessed. That includes inept assholes from porn. I don’t know what your problem is, whether it’s with Arthur or men in general, but if it weren’t for Arthur, none of us would be here, so back off. You’ve been nothing but rude to him, and said nothing but rude things about him. Whatever your problem is, you need to stop. I promised Arthur that I wouldn’t get violent in his defense, but you are testing me, I swear to God.” 

Cynthia glanced at Arthur, then at Selene. The entire table froze, and Kat half-expected Cynthia to say something rude and Selene to lunge across the table or fling her food, but nothing violent happened. Selene returned to eating the waffle she’d made. 

Cynthia scoffed. “Oh, look who’s a switch.”  

“Apologize,” Selene repeated. 

“I don’t apologize to subs,” Cynthia said. “But if you want, I can teach you your place.” 

“That’s enough,” Arthur said. “Red light. We’re not doing any play or scene work out here in the open.” He glanced around at other parties eating their breakfasts together. Each table seemed absorbed in its own world, but plenty of ears were still within earshot. “Cynthia, you’re entitled to your opinions, but if you threaten any of my subs, I will remove you from this hotel.” 

“It wasn’t a threat,” Cynthia said. “It was an offer. If she’s being a brat to me, I can give her what she wants.” 

“She’s not being a brat,” Arthur said. “Now stop.” 

“You can’t just dictate to other people like that. I’m not a sub,” Cynthia said. 

“What you and Hallie do, and your relationship, is your business, between you and her. Though for Hallie’s sake I hope you do better. Whatever your dynamic is, you can’t project it onto others. I appreciate that you’re enjoying the rush from last night, but if you ask me, you have a lot to learn about dominating anyone,” Arthur said.

“And who’s going to teach me?” Cynthia asked, scoffing at him. “You? I don’t need you mansplaining anything to me.” 

“He’s not mansplaining,” Rani said. “Now shut the fuck up or get your crusty cunt out of this hotel.” 

Cynthia frowned. “Fine, but I don’t need him teaching me anything. I know what I’m doing. I’ll shut up now.” 

“That’s not a bad idea,” Brad said, looking down at Arthur. “If you were to give lessons, I’m sure there are a bunch of people who’d sign up.” 

The change of subject was masterful, and cut off whatever chain was starting between Cynthia and everything else. Kat wished she wasn’t there, but breakfast would end soon enough, and they’d go home and never see Cynthia again. 

Arthur looked confused, as if Brad were making a joke that didn’t land. 

“Yeah,” Jen agreed. “You’ve got years more experience than any of us. If you were to start a club on campus, there’d be a ton of people interested in learning how to safely engage with this stuff.” She pointed at Selene’s collar to make her point. “It’d help people, not just us.” 

“Didn’t that girl and her boyfriend in your apartment building ask you for advice?” Kelly asked. “And I’d join your club, of course. I’d feel better doing any of that with the others if I had more formal education in it.” 

“We’re already in his club,” Rani said. “But some lessons might be nice.” She winked at Mindy, who giggled. 

“Whoa, whoa,” Arthur said, holding up his hands as if trying to stop the idea. “I have too much on my plate already.” 

“Yeah,” Kat interrupted. “And he’s already delinquent in delivering lesson plans.” She glared at him, and Arthur looked abashed, which wasn’t what she’d hoped for in teasing him. She’d never mastered the line between teasing and being mean.

“Just consider it,” Brad said. “I’d be willing to learn how to do things right, and I’d rather learn from someone we trust than an online tutorial.” 

“Right?” Jen asked, looking at the others. “It wouldn’t have to be a play session in itself, more like a lecture or a workshop. Maybe once a month?” 

“We do those for the Theater Club,” Yvonne said. “It’d be the same thing. Except you’d be the expert teaching everyone. Each month could be a different topic.” 

“I’d join,” Evie said. “I’m not interested in being a Domme, but knowing what to expect from a partner, being able to spot the red flags of a bad Domme—” she pointed with her thumb at Cynthia “—would be good for me.” 

“Me too,” Katie said, hopping on the bandwagon with Evie.

“Guys,” Arthur said, “Er, girls?” Since there were more girls than guys. 

“Just consider it, Professor,” Kelly purred. “I’d be willing to learn from you anytime.”

“Okay, that’s unfair,” Arthur said, pointing at Kelly. 

“What’s unfair?” Kelly asked. Her tone of voice was girlish and coy, and Kat grew annoyed at Katelyn’s blush in response to Kelly’s schoolgirl act. “I don’t know what you mean, Professor.”

Arthur grumbled something about putting her over his knee and ate his eggs. 

“You should do it,” Selene said. “I said last night that anyone would be lucky to learn from you. If you want my advice, Professor.” 

“I’ll consider it,” Arthur said. “Is that fair enough?” 

“Fair enough,” Rani answered for everyone. Most of the girls had finished their food, and no one seemed to be in a hurry. 

“Where’s Manasa?” Selene asked, looking down the line. 

“She was showering,” Rani said. “She ate breakfast and helped us load the bus, so we’re ready to go as soon as we’re done here.” 

“Sorry to make everyone check out early,” Mindy said. 

“It’s okay,” Maria said. “Sometimes we need the motivation to get up and out. Otherwise, we’d waste the whole day in bed.” 

“A day in bed with everyone doesn’t sound bad to me,” Rani said. “We should add that to the list.” 

“The list?” Arthur asked. 

“Sh,” Rani said. “Don’t worry your pretty little head about it, my king.” 

“Somehow, that makes me more worried, not less,” Arthur said, taking a deep breath. 

The girls laughed, and Arthur chuckled, letting it go. Kat glanced between them. The girls-only chat had been busy in the morning, but she hadn’t read it or checked her phone since she woke. With her food done and a cup of coffee left, she caught up with the world as conversations wafted around her. 

She had several missed messages in the group chats. Most messages were people keeping tabs on each other as they got ready and made plans for what they’d do after making it home. Katelyn hadn’t joined the chats either, and Kelly’s input had been minimal. She wondered what their shower was like, but took comfort in the fact that it seemed quicker than hers and Arthur’s. 

The notification she didn’t want to look at, but had to, was a series of texts from her mother.

Mom: I guess you’re not coming home for Fall Break? That’s fine, I hope you use your time well.

Kat sighed. Her mother wouldn’t think the Ren Faire was a good use of her time or money. 

Mom: I saw some posts on Facebook. What the heck are you wearing? Why are you going to a Ren Faire? There’s too much drinking at those. It’s a terrible environment. 

Well, she wasn’t wrong, but Kat was a grown woman and past drinking age. She could drink if she wanted to. 

Mom: Who even are those girls? Their costumes are inappropriate, and yours is scandalous. I thought I raised you better than that. And who is that boy you’re with in those photos?

Again, she wasn’t wrong. The costumes were risqué, and with everyone in comfortable, casual clothes around the breakfast table, she’d have a hard time imagining them in their sexy outfits from yesterday. Still, it wasn’t her mother’s business to police everyone’s hemlines. Her mention of Arthur, though, made Kat remember taking a picture together at the bus the day before. That must be the photo her mom mentioned. 

Mom: Is he someone famous? It looks like he took a photo with everyone. Is he an influencer or something, or was he just an actor at the Faire? I hope he didn’t make a pass at you. 

Kat closed her eyes. She hoped her mother would forget about these pictures by the time she introduced her to Arthur. She’d have to, but she hoped to put it off until the end of the semester.  

Mom: Is Selene getting you into trouble again? I hope you’re keeping each other accountable! I love you!

So far, the messages had been from yesterday. Today, another message came through. 

Mom: I hope you’re safe. Please message me when you get this. I’m on my way to church. 

Kat sighed and texted her mother. 

Kat: I’m fine, Mom. We went to the Ren Faire yesterday. It was fun! I’m eating breakfast, and then we’re packing up the apartment. At least, I think that’s the plan today. 

Mom: You’re not at the apartment? 

Kat grimaced.

Kat: No, we got a hotel after the Faire since we were there late. 

Mom: Okay, do you need help packing? I can drive over and be there in a few hours after the early service. We can spend your fall break together! 

Kat: No, we’re good. The rest of Fall break is going to be me sitting with my textbooks and getting homework done. I want to get ahead. 

Not a lie, but she had hoped Arthur would suggest an alternative before the day ended.

Mom: Okay. Maybe next weekend? We need to catch up soon. 

Kat’s eye twitched at her mother’s insistence and her wording. Translation: (I want to keep tabs on what’s going on in your life). 

Kat: Next weekend is Halloween. Campus will be crazy, and I want to hand out candy at the new place so we don’t get egged. But we can schedule something! My November is wide open. 

Mom: Well, you’re coming home for Thanksgiving, right? 

Kat looked at Selene, then at Arthur, and the others. She much preferred having Thanksgiving with her boyfriend and their group. However, the holidays were a time for traditions, and tradition dictated that Kat and Selene go home for Thanksgiving. She sighed. They’d have to figure that out. 

Kat: That’s the plan. 

Again, not a lie, but an answer that wouldn’t start an argument right now. Plans could change, though, especially since she had a few weeks to figure out how to approach the subject. It wasn’t something she needed to deal with now, though. The first thing she had to handle was Katelyn’s refusal to look at her. 

“Well, if everyone’s finished?” Arthur asked, looking around.

Everyone had finished their breakfast and drinks, except Kat. She downed the last of her coffee and set the cup on her tray. “I’m good,” she said. 

“Okay, everyone, last call for bathroom visits!” Rani said, standing up. “I’ll do a sweep of the rooms when we’re done and meet you at the bus!” 

Kat stood with the others, clearing away her things.

Cynthia and Hallie stopped by Kelly and Arthur on their way toward the lobby. 

“Look, I’m sorry if I was being a bitch,” Cynthia said. “We have different styles, and I get defensive when guys act like they know my shit better than me.” 

“Wow,” Yvonne said, standing beside Kat as they watched. She kept her voice low, so she didn’t interrupt Arthur, Kelly, Cynthia, and Hallie as others flowed around them toward the elevator. “What a bitchy way to apologize.” 

“You’d know,” Kat said. 

Yvonne looked hurt. 

“Sorry,” Kat said. “I was trying to be funny.” 

“Oh,” Yvonne said. “You know, you have a very dry delivery, and your stone face is solid. You’d be great at comedy.” 

“Thanks,” Kat said after a pause. “I’m not into theater. Not the way Selene is.” She turned her attention back to the other conversation. 

“I hope you guys find a group or community out here to participate in and find some support,” Arthur said. 

“Thanks,” Hallie said. “And thanks for letting us have breakfast with you guys.” 

“Of course,” Kelly said. “We’ll keep in touch, Hallie, okay?” 

Hallie nodded. 

Cynthia cleared her throat, annoyed, because even from where Kat stood, it seemed like Kelly was hitting on Hallie right in front of her. Cynthia was hot, sure, but she was no Kelly. 

Kelly smiled at Cynthia. “Drive safe.” 

Cynthia frowned, but she and Hallie left through the lobby. 

Kelly kissed Arthur’s cheek. “I feel so bad for Hallie. You don’t think Cynthia would do anything to hurt her, do you? Like, really hurt her?” 

“Hallie said that Cynthia respects her safewords, so I don’t think she’ll do anything that Hallie doesn’t want. At least, not that way,” Yvonne said. 

“But yikes,” Kat said. “I’m glad she’s not my Domme.”

“Same,” Kelly said, squeezing Arthur again. “I’ll meet you on the bus?” 

“Yeah,” Arthur said, kissing her goodbye.  

Kelly took the stairwell upstairs, as did Yvonne, but Arthur left for the bus. Kat didn’t need to use the bathroom, but she didn’t want to get onto the bus yet. Katelyn had gone upstairs, and it might be a good idea to talk to her before they joined the others. 

She was standing there, waiting as Katelyn and Kelly arrived hand in hand. Her eyes dipped to where their hands joined, and a pain she couldn’t describe woke in her gut. Envy? Jealousy? She wasn’t sure, but it hurt. 

“Katelyn, can we talk?” Kat asked. 

Katelyn and Kelly shared a look. Kelly gave her an encouraging nod and pushed her toward Kat. Her hand lingered on Kat’s back, patted her twice, and withdrew. 

Kat wasn’t sure what that meant. Had Katelyn shared something with Kelly about what had happened? Of course she had, but what did Kelly’s smile mean? She looked smug, as if she knew a secret, and it bothered Kat. 

“What did you want to talk about?” Katelyn asked, as if she didn’t know. She still wouldn’t meet Kat’s eyes, and that prickled Kat’s nerves. 

“Why won’t you even look at me?” Kat asked. “Why are you mad at me?” 

“I’m giving you time,” Katelyn said. “You said you wanted time to figure things out, so I’m trying to respect that. I’m trying really, really hard, Kat.” 

Kat nodded. “Thanks, but don’t be weird about it.” 

Katelyn frowned. “Is that all you wanted to talk about?” 

“Well,” Kat said, stopping and looking past Kelly to see the others arriving. “No, but I guess now isn’t the best time either. You’re still going to the cabin today, right?”

“Yeah, that’s the plan,” Katelyn said, glancing behind her. The others acted as if they were going to greet them, but Kelly ran interference, moving everyone past the Kats and pushing them outside. She followed and gave Katelyn a thumbs-up. 

“We’ll wait for you on the bus,” Kelly said, poking into the conversation. “Are you okay without me?” she asked Katelyn. 

Katelyn nodded, then continued answering Kat’s question as Kelly left. “We’re heading to the cabin as soon as we get back to Arthur’s apartment.” 

“Right,” Kat said, nodding. “So, should we talk before then, or do you want to wait until you come back?” 

“What would you prefer?” Katelyn asked. 

“Well, sooner is better than later,” Kat said. “But waiting until Tuesday night or Wednesday would give us both a chance to get our thoughts in order.” 

“Yeah,” Katelyn agreed. “But do you know what you want to say?” 

“No,” Kat said. “It’s still weird. We should just forget it ever happened and go back to the way things were.” 

Katelyn swallowed, stepping back. Her lips quivered, and she hugged her arm as if it hurt. “Oh. Is that what you want?” 

“Don’t you?” Kat asked. “It’s not a big deal, right? You got caught up in the heat of the moment, and you crossed a line you didn’t mean to cross. I didn’t call a red light, and that’s on me, but I’m not angry with you or anything. I know it was an accident, and you won’t do it again.” 

Katelyn swallowed, holding both arms in front of her and clasping her elbows. 

“So you felt nothing?” Katelyn asked. “Nothing for me?” 

“What are you talking about?” Kat asked. “You’re my best friend. I love you.” 

“I love you, too,” Katelyn said. “But I think we mean different things when we say it.” 

Kat furrowed her brow. 

“I love you,” Katelyn said. “I wasn’t saying it to Arthur, Kat; I was telling you I love you. Romantically, sexually, however you want to describe it. I have more than friendly feelings toward you, and I need to know if there’s even an ounce of the same feelings in you for me.” 

“Well, but Katelyn, you know I’m straight. I’m not—I can’t be—I don’t,” she stuttered, tripping over her words as her mind raced with realizations and potential consequences. Her words fled Kat’s mind, and her tongue tried restarting the sentence several times, but continuing meant slamming into a brick wall again and again.  

Tears flowed from Katelyn’s eyes, and Kat hadn’t even answered her. Katelyn sobbed, hugging herself, and instead of saying anything or giving Kat time to think, she ran. She pushed past Kat and ran out of the doors toward the bus. 

Kat stood in the lobby, looking around to see that they had a small audience. The two people behind the desk were staring wide-eyed at Kat. Guests leaving breakfast or entering watched Katelyn run away. Kat blushed with embarrassment. 

“Well, fuck,” Kat said. “Of course I fucked that up. Goddamnit!” She stomped out of the lobby, ignoring the people around her as she left them in her wake. 

This would be the most awkward bus ride ever.