Harem House Chapter 52 (Patreon)

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

Katelyn had kissed her. Kat kissed back. Katelyn, the tall, adorable young woman she’d known for three years. Her best friend, not counting Selene. It happened 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 might happen again. 

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

Her sexual relationships with women hadn’t been that intimate. She’d touched them before, sure, but her role and their role in whatever was happening were 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. The others were there, either as witnesses, which was hot, or aids for Arthur’s pleasure, not hers. Shared nudity and physical contact were inevitable, but the interplay was minimal. 

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. 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 regarding Katelyn. Kat loved her, but only because they were best friends, not because she imagined settling down with Katelyn, growing old, and opening a cafe/bookshop together. 

“Are you mad at me?” Katelyn whispered while they were on the bed together. They rested naked, on their backs, side by side, their chests still heaving from their play with Arthur. 

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. She rolled onto her side and cuddled Kat. “I couldn’t help myself.”

Kat sucked in a breath, trying to see if the skin-to-skin contact excited her the way it did with Arthur. She wasn’t sure. It felt more safe than thrilling. It reminded her of 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 not naked, and that was more for Katelyn than her. Katelyn 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 three, maybe four, hours at most. 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 her new mantra. 

“For what?” Kat asked.

“For kissing you,” Katelyn said. 

“Why did you?” Kat asked.

Katelyn blushed. Their faces pressed close in their cuddle, their arms wrapped 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 leaned in to do so. 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, is one thing, but kissing? Arthur couldn’t even see it.” 

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

“No, I don’t want to,” Kat said too quickly. The lack of coffee made her too blunt, and Kat’s sluggish brain didn’t register the hurt coloring Katelyn’s face 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 in the bed turned somber and silent until Katelyn spoke again. “I don’t know what to do! I can’t handle this many feelings at a time, okay?” 

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

“Everything,” Katelyn said. “Happiness, because kissing you felt good. It was thrilling, and I want to kiss you again. Fear, because what if you don’t feel the same? Anxiety, because I might lose your friendship because I did something stupid and impulsive. Comfort, because we’re cuddling. Satisfaction, because of Arthur and you. Guilt, because our first kiss should have been something private, and more romantic. You deserved something more romantic than that.” 

“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. The best thing to do was shut it down. They’d discuss it later, after coffee, showers, and time to think. “It was the heat of the moment. 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. “We need to talk.” 

“Right now?” Kat asked. “It can’t wait until I’ve had 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.” 

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

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

“A date?” Kat asked, half awake. “Don’t be gross.” She was joking, or trying to, but she didn’t see Katelyn’s reaction before Arthur cut into their conversation. 

“Right, girls?”

She didn’t know what he was asking. With Arthur, though, one response was always safe.  

“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. 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. 

“Is she okay?” Arthur asked Kelly. 

“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 across the soft carpet, then onto the chilly tile. She didn’t even bother to cover her nakedness. The shower water was warm and comforting. 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. 

~~~

Katelyn stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She stood, naked, with her hands on the faux-marble bathroom counter, staring into her reflection’s eyes. It stared back, blinking when she did. Her eyes lowered. The old, practiced evaluation of her body was a ritual she tried, and failed, to avoid. Tiny breasts, bony ribs, bony shoulders. Her eyes snagged on the henna tattoo in the center of her chest and stopped. 

The Lady of the Lake’s hand held Excalibur aloft, the words “Arthur’s Pet” written on the blade. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Arthur wasn’t here. He was in the other bathroom, providing Kat with her aftercare.

Familiar knuckles knocked on the bathroom door. 

“It’s unlocked,” Katelyn said. 

Kelly slipped into the bathroom and closed the door behind her, giving them privacy. The others were still making noise as they moved out of the hotel rooms. The bathroom door muffled the sounds into indistinct murmurs. 

“I fucked up,” Katelyn said. She wanted to cry, but she didn’t have the energy. “Oh, Kelly, I fucked up so badly. Everything was going so well, and I just couldn’t help myself. I fucked it all up! Everything! Everyone will hate me, and I’ll get thrown out of the harem and—” She turned, but Kelly was there, throwing her arms around Katelyn and hugging her close.

Few people would describe Kelly’s body as soft. The hard, muscled body Kelly forged in the gym and boxing ring didn’t look soft, but her curves were, and she was gentle whenever she held Katelyn. Her strength was soft when she needed it to be. 

“I’m sorry,” Katelyn said, letting the tears fall. “I’m sorry!” 

“Shh,” Kelly said, stroking Katelyn’s back. “Honey, it’s okay. What happened? Did something happen between you and Kat?” 

Katelyn nodded. She tried to speak, but the words choked in her throat, and she swallowed them down. Kelly gave her time to recover. 

“I kissed her,” Katelyn said, getting the words out after her third try. “And she kissed me.” 

Kelly stiffened in surprise, but she didn’t speak. She waited for Katelyn to continue. When she didn’t, Kelly had to ask. “When? Yesterday?” 

Katelyn shook her head. “No, this morning. When Arthur tied us up together on the bed.” 

“Oh,” Kelly said, distracted by the scenario. “And then what happened?” 

“I apologized!” Katelyn said, wiping her eyes. “Like a fucking coward!” 

Kelly squeezed her. 

“I’m sorry about the cursing,” Katelyn said. 

“Don’t even worry,” Kelly said. “This is aftercare. None of these will go into the jar.”

Katelyn nodded. “Thank you.” 

“Why did you apologize for kissing Kat?” Kelly asked. “Did you regret it?” 

“No,” Katelyn said. “It was… Kelly, it was perfect. Kissing Kat felt perfect, right, and simply everything. But the moment was so wrong! And I didn’t want her to get mad at me, because we were tied up together, and she couldn’t pull away.” 

“But she could turn her head, or tell you no. Did she try?” Kelly asked. “Or did she kiss you back?” 

“She kissed me back,” Katelyn said. “Is that a good sign? She said it felt weird, but she refused to talk to me! She says she needs time! What does that mean?” 

“It means she needs time,” Kelly said. “And knowing Kat, coffee. She’s not a morning person. Plus, everyone’s exhausted.”

Katelyn nodded. “I know, but I need her to tell me we’re okay! That she doesn’t hate me!” Katelyn cried, collapsing into Kelly’s embrace. Kelly held her, supporting her in more ways than one.  

“Oh, Pet,” Kelly said. She continued stroking Katelyn’s back. “It’s okay. Kat doesn’t hate you.”

“How can you tell?” Katelyn asked. 

Kelly laughed. “You’re kidding, right?” She pulled away to look Katelyn in the eyes. “We’re talking about Kat here. She was cuddling with you. If she hated you, everyone on three floors would’ve heard her screaming at you, and she’d have thrown you into next week.”

Katelyn’s chuckle interrupted her crying. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. 

Kelly produced a tissue and wiped Katelyn’s tears from her cheeks. “Shh,” Kelly whispered. “I’ve got you. It’s okay.” 

“It gets worse,” Katelyn said. “I said… I told her I loved her, but Arthur thought I was talking to him, and so did she, and… and…” She shuddered, curling into Kelly. “I’m so fucked. Kat’s going to hate me now, or want nothing to do with me, and I’ll lose my best friend, my boyfriend, and everyone I care about in one fell swoop!”  

“Shh,” Kelly said, holding her, stroking her. “Katelyn, no. That won’t happen. It’ll be okay. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.” 

Katelyn sobbed. “But if Arthur dumps me—” 

“Arthur’s not dumping you,” Kelly said. “Neither am I, for that matter. You’re stuck with us.” 

“But what if Kat leaves because of me? What if you have to choose between us?” Katelyn asked. “She has seniority.” 

Kelly rolled her eyes. She threw one tissue away and replaced it with another. Then she held a third against Katelyn’s nose and made her blow into it to stop her sniffles. 

“The harem doesn’t work that way,” Kelly said. “I can’t promise we’ll be together forever, or that everything will work out in the end. It’s life. Unexpected shit happens. But I can promise that neither you nor Kat is leaving this harem without a fight. I’ll fight for you. Arthur will fight for you. And whatever happens between you two, every single one of us will do our best to help you. Both of you.” 

Katelyn shuddered as she exhaled, clinging to Kelly as her tears stopped coming. 

“Kat hasn’t even rejected you, right? She asked for time to wake up and consider what happened?” Kelly asked. 

Katelyn nodded. 

“So she’s at least considering that her sexuality might be more complex than she thought?” Kelly asked. “She had an experience, and now she’s figuring out what it means?” 

Katelyn hesitated, then nodded. 

“That’s a good sign,” Kelly said, stroking Katelyn. “If she can overcome her prejudices and broaden her horizons, then everything might work out after all.” 

“Do you think she likes me the way I like her?” Katelyn asked. “Do you have any gay insights? Should I ask Rani?” 

Kelly blinked, then scoffed. “I thought you were both straight, to be honest. At least, before the harem. I know you’re more willing to do things with women, but I wasn’t sure if you were bisexual, pan, or just performative.” 

Katelyn smiled at that. “I’m demisexual. Yvonne helped me figure it out.” 

“Oh,” Kelly said, holding Katelyn in her arms and considering her. “That makes sense! I love that for you.” 

Katelyn smiled, or tried to. Her smile was weak and brittle. It flashed away as soon as it appeared. “But I don’t know where Kat’s head is at.” 

“Well, it’s no use worrying right now,” Kelly said. “Let’s let her wake up, and when she’s ready, I’m sure she’ll approach you. Until then, the best course is to give her space and be her friend. Don’t hound or pester her. Let her come to you.” 

“What about breakfast?” Katelyn asked. 

“We’ll eat breakfast as a group, and we’ll be together on the bus,” Kelly said. “I’m sure she’ll talk to you before we leave for the cabin. And hey, if you want to take her to the cabin instead of me, I’ll understand.” 

Katelyn smirked. “Don’t give me false hope. I couldn’t bear it if Kat swung the other way. It’d be bad enough staying friends, but what if she hates me now?” 

“She doesn’t,” Kelly said. “No one hates you, Pet. We love you. You’re one of us, and we’ll take care of you.” 

Katelyn nodded, not trusting her voice to keep discussing Kat. “Thanks, Kelly.” 

Kelly smiled. “You’re welcome.” She held Katelyn a minute longer until Katelyn’s stomach growled loud enough to make them both laugh. “Come on. Let’s get you showered and washed. Then we’ll head downstairs.” 

“Okay,” Katelyn said. “Can you help me wash my hair? My shoulder is still achy.” 

“Of course,” Kelly said, unwrapping her arms from Katelyn and turning on the shower. 

“Thanks,” Katelyn said, stepping into the tub. 

~~~

“Are you okay?” Arthur asked as he dried Kat 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, but wondered if grabbing his dick or bratting would make him bend her over the counter and fuck her until they both came. A moment between them might be nice, but she was too tired to suggest it. 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 Kat didn’t want to do that. 

“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 meant to Katelyn, or Kat, it was between them. It wasn’t any of Mindy’s, Rani’s, Selene’s, or even Arthur’s business. 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 thoughts and feelings. 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. 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 whispered. “But I’m here if you need me. We all are.” 

Kat softened at that. He was 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. He was the perfect boyfriend, which was why she tried to be a better girlfriend. 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, clean and ready for the day, they discovered the others had cleaned the room and taken the luggage. Two sets of clothes 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 Selene had pulled them from her luggage. A pink thong, a matching bra, and gray and white relay shorts that covered most of her ass and none of her legs. It must have been Rani who left them. Over it all, she pulled on an oversized gray-and-blue Pendleton Wolves hoodie that covered more of her legs than her shorts. 

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 downstairs with the others.” 

Kat sighed. “Does our 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, revealing 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. 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. Kat guessed she wasn’t wearing panties either. 

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

Selene beamed at him. “Ready for breakfast? Or do you want more time with Brat 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 and stepped out of their way. She followed them as they left the room. “The others are downstairs. We’ve packed the luggage. Kelly and Rani did final room checks. 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 gestured for Selene to join them, and she slipped under his other arm after she pulled on a black knit cardigan. It covered her arms, chest, and collar, 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 too conspicuous in everyday clothes.” 

Selene stuck her tongue out at Kat. “It looks good. It’s pretty!” 

“Yes,” Arthur agreed. “But Kat’s right, too. We should get 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 closed behind them. 

“Good morning!”

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

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

“No, we’re on our way out. 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 of 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, crossed with Selene, who had hers around him as well. Iris and Dave cuddled on the other side of the elevator. 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 had bags under their eyes. The blonde woman had pink and blue dye in her hair. The other’s hair was from-a-bottle red. 

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

“I swear the room above us was watching porn at max volume,” the blonde said. 

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

Both women stared at him, then looked at Kat and Selene, taking in how they stood beside Arthur, their arms around him. Instead of getting 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 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. As soon as the doors slid apart, the women fled, propelling themselves into the breakfast area next to the lobby. The dining room bustled with people. Many still wore pajamas. Kat walked with Arthur and Selene, seeing that the others in their party had pushed multiple 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. A drink dispenser for water and juice sat to the left. It was a miniature cafeteria, with apples, oranges, and bananas 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 she had better options.  

“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’ way. It did things to Kat’s brain that she still couldn’t describe. 

“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 added me. She said the next time you guys host a ‘party,’ 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 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 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 communicated 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 discuss 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 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. 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 there, with Kat, Arthur, and Selene arriving last. 

Kelly sat at the head of the table. Katelyn and Rani sat on either side of her. 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 along the long column of faces toward Kelly. 

Everyone wore casual clothes for the road. Jeans, T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatpants were the most common. Rani looked like a kindred spirit to Kat, sleepy as fuck and in baggy sweats. She looked nothing like the queen from the night before. 

Kat glanced at Katelyn, who held one of Kelly’s hands. Katelyn looked adorable in a white tank top and pink Victoria’s Secret sweatpants with the waistband rolled low. Kat looked at her and Kelly’s hands resting on the table, then back at Katelyn. Katelyn didn’t look at her. She pointedly looked everywhere but at Kat. Great, Katelyn was mad. Kat drank her coffee out of spite. 

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

“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?

“We’re not the last ones,” Selene said.

“Yes, you are,” Cynthia said. 

“Where are Ana and Kari?” Selene asked. 

“Oh, they left. Ana said she had to get back to the Faire, and Kari had her kid’s soccer game,” Rani said. “They send their love.” 

“Well, how’s everyone doing this morning?” Arthur asked. 

Hallie smiled at him, and the others did too. They answered in mutual good spirits. Everyone appeared 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 were too many? Seven had to be the limit. 

It was fine for them. They enjoyed women as much as they did men. 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. A few others had picked up farther down the table. The constant murmurs of other hotel guests having breakfast had become a dull ambiance as she fell into the abyss of 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 took a sip of 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.” 

“You’re confusing being dominant with being an asshole,” Arthur said. “A dominant should care about the people under them. Outside of a session, it’s our job to take care of them, not treat them like shit.” 

“But they enjoy 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, I don’t care. Arthur is a great Dom! Without him, 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 was its own world, but plenty of ears sat within earshot. “Cynthia, you’re entitled to your opinions, but if you threaten any of my girls, 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 dictate your bullshit to other people. I’m not a sub,” Cynthia said. 

“What you and Hallie do, and your relationship, is your business, between you and her. 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. I know what I’m doing. I’ll shut up now.” 

“Arthur teaching others isn’t a bad idea,” Brad said, looking down at Arthur. “Bro, if you gave lessons, there'd be a bunch of people who’d sign up.” 

Cynthia glowered at Brad. 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 told a joke that didn’t land. 

“Yeah,” Jen said. “You’ve got years of experience. If you started a club on campus, there’d be a ton of people interested in learning how to engage with this stuff safely.” 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 it with the others if I had more formal education in it.” 

“We’re already in his club,” Rani said. “But formal 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 when she teased 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 prefer to 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. It’d be more like a lecture or a workshop. Maybe once a month?” 

“We do those for the Theater Club,” Yvonne said. “Workshops, I mean. 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 learn from you anytime.”

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

“What’s unfair?” Kelly asked. Her tone was girlish and coy, and Kat grew annoyed as Katelyn blushed at Kelly’s schoolgirl act. “What do you mean, Professor?”

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

“You should do it,” Selene said. “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. She leaned back in her chair. Most of the girls had finished their food. No one hurried away, though. They waited for everyone to finish. 

“Where’s Manasa?” Selene asked, looking around. 

“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. Otherwise, we’d waste the whole day in bed.” 

“A day in bed with everyone doesn’t sound terrible 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, 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 that morning, but she hadn’t read it or checked her phone since she woke up. With her food gone and a cup of coffee left, she caught up on her phone as conversations wafted around her. 

She had several missed messages in the group chats. Most messages were people keeping tabs on each other. 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 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 consider the Ren Faire a worthwhile 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. Who’s that boy?

Again, she wasn’t wrong. The costumes were risqué, and with everyone around the breakfast table in comfortable, casual clothes, she’d have a hard time imagining them in yesterday’s sexy outfits. 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 an actor at the Faire? I hope he didn’t make a pass at you. We’ve been over this. You can worry about finding a husband after graduation. One step at a time. 

Kat closed her eyes. She hoped her mother would forget these pictures by the time she introduced her to Arthur. She’d have to introduce them, 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!

Those messages bore yesterday’s date. 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 heading back and packing up the apartment. At least, that’s the plan today. 

Mom: You’re not at the apartment? 

Kat grimaced at her slip.

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

Mom: Okay, do you need help packing? I can be there in a few hours. 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 suggested 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, Arthur, and the others. She much preferred having Thanksgiving with her boyfriend and their group. However, the holidays were a time for traditions. 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. Plans could change, especially since she had a few weeks to figure out how to approach the subject. She didn’t need to deal with it now. First, she had to handle Katelyn’s refusal to look at her. 

“Well, is everyone 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. “I’ll do a sweep of the rooms when we’re done and meet you on the bus!” 

Kat stood with the others, clearing her things away.

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 to join and find 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. Yvonne did too, but Arthur left for the bus. Kat didn’t need to use the bathroom, but she wasn’t ready to board 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 Katelyn’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, 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, 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, but waited. She said nothing, and the bright lobby fell silent as she stared at Kat. “Is that all you wanted to tell me?” 

“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 at 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 wait until you come back?” 

“What would you prefer?” Katelyn asked. 

“Well, sooner is better,” Kat said. “But waiting 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 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 moment. 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. 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 their small audience. The two people behind the desk were staring wide-eyed at Kat. Guests leaving breakfast 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 and leaving them in her wake. 

This would be the most awkward bus ride ever.

~~~

Arthur was the first person at the bus, besides Manasa. She stood outside it in her chauffeur uniform, rigid and professional. The soft, submissive, curious, and cautious woman from last night was gone. Arthur couldn’t help but remember her panting and cumming yesterday and last night. The black business suit jacket, tie, and slacks contrasted with her naked, creamy brown skin. He practically had X-ray vision, looking at her now and placing the details of her naked body beneath.  

“Good morning,” Arthur said, a tad more awkwardly than he meant to. The chilly October air had taken a dive since yesterday and was still warming up. He almost wished he were the one in a jacket, but his flannel overshirt kept the chill from biting his arms. His nose, ears, and cheeks were a different story, and his breath hung in the air as he rubbed his hands together to keep them warm. 

“Good morning, sir,” Manasa said. She opened the door for him, but he didn’t step inside just yet. “I take it the others will join you soon?” 

“Yeah, they’re hitting the bathrooms, and then we’re off,” Arthur said. 

“Good. What’s the headcount this morning? Are Cynthia and Hallie joining us?” Manasa asked. 

“No, they drove separately from wherever they live. Evie and Katie drove themselves, too. Ana and Kari ditched early. Dave, Iris, and Faith left when we came down for breakfast. It’ll just be us: me, Rani, Mindy, Kelly, Katelyn, Kat, Selene, Yvonne, Mark, Maria, Brad, and Jen.” Arthur listed off the names. “And of course, you.” 

Manasa nodded. “Very good, sir.” 

“Will you be hanging out for a while? Rani doesn’t drive, so she needs a driver, right?” Arthur asked. 

“No, sir, I’ll be heading back after I drop Rani off at the campus,” she said. “But I’ll be back again soon. Diwali, Thanksgiving, and at the end of the semester.”

“Right,” Arthur said, nodding. They’d mentioned Diwali, and Arthur had done a quick read, but he needed to do more research. Thanksgiving was the bigger concern. He’d imagined a big Thanksgiving dinner with his girlfriends and his parents this year, but the more he considered it, the less realistic it became. It’d be difficult to explain to parents unaware of their relationship. “Rani usually goes home for Thanksgiving. That makes sense.” 

Manasa nodded. “I don’t think her father would let her stay.” 

Arthur nodded. “Is he strict?” 

“Oh, no,” Manasa said. “Well, at least from what I understand. Rani is his favorite. From what her uncle says, he dotes on her too much. But he wouldn’t want her to stay here over a break alone because he misses her and wants her home.” 

“Aw, that’s sweet,” Arthur said. “My parents live closer, so I can visit them more often than Rani can.” 

Manasa nodded. 

“What about your parents?” Arthur asked. 

Manasa smiled. “I appreciate the effort, sir, but you don’t have to do that.” 

That sentence made no sense to Arthur in the context of their conversation. He looked at his hands, but he wasn’t doing anything. They stood a pace apart by the bus door, talking. 

“You don’t have to pretend to be interested in me,” Manasa said. “I had fun yesterday. Now, it’s time to get back to reality. Hopefully, we can do it again soon, but there’s no need to do this.” She gestured between them.

“To get to know you, you mean?” Arthur asked, trying to stifle his confusion. 

“Yes, sir,” Manasa said. “It’s sweet of you, but unnecessary.” 

Arthur looked at her for a long moment. “I’m sorry. Did I bring up something unpleasant for you?” 

“No, not at all, sir,” Manasa said. She shook her head and adjusted her jacket. “I’d just prefer to keep things professional. Until the next time I visit, of course.” 

“Oh,” Arthur said. He supposed he understood wanting to keep professional and personal life separate, even if it never seemed to work out for him. 

“Hey!” 

Arthur turned to see Evie waving at him as she trotted over from where she and Katie had parked a black Kia Forte. Katie stood on the driver’s side. She waved but didn’t bother to come over. Evie wore her school hoodie and thick, warm leggings. 

“We’re heading back to campus,” Evie said. “But I wanted to say I had fun last night and to say thank you.” 

“Oh,” Arthur said, unsure what to say. “Uh, you’re welcome. Thanks for coming.” 

Evie burst into laughter, bright, loud, and more forceful than Arthur had expected. She steadied herself by holding onto his arm and smiled at him as she stopped. “That was hilarious.” 

Arthur’s confused face must’ve asked for him. 

“The pun?” Evie said. “Coming? Cumming?” 

Arthur laughed. “Oh, heh, yeah, that was unintentional, but heh, you’re right, it’s funny.” 

Evie grinned, shaking her head. “Well, you have my number if you ever want a third blonde. Not that I’m looking to join your harem, obvs, but I wouldn’t decline a booty call with you or your cuties if you call. And let me know about that club idea, Professor.”

“Heh, thanks, and yeah, I’m sure we’ll be in touch. Let’s, uh, keep it professional at work, though, right? No flirting?”

“Oh, of course,” Evie said, sobering. “Are you kidding? Those girls would eat me alive, and not in a fun way, if they thought we’d fucked. And Beth, Jesus, can you imagine what she’d do if she caught us flirting, or worse, in the office? She’d fire us so fast, or at least me. She likes you, but I need that job.” 

Arthur nodded, uncomfortable at the mention of Beth. He needed to reach out to her, but he knew how she reacted when she found him and Mindy, and no one got fired. But if Evie found out about Beth, the university would fire her. He and Mindy were both her subordinates, even if she sometimes submitted to Arthur. 

“Yeah,” Arthur agreed. “That’d be the worst-case scenario.”

Evie nodded and turned to see the rest of the girls, along with Mark, Maria, Brad, and Jen, exiting the hotel. “Well, goodbye for now.” She hugged him, putting her arms around his neck and leaning against him. 

“Have a safe trip back to campus,” Arthur said. 

“You too,” Evie said, glancing at the bus. “Looks like you’ll have more fun than me. Enjoy! See ya.” 

Arthur nodded and waved as she trotted to the car. Katie was in the driver’s seat and had started the engine. 

“Why are you standing outside?” Maria asked, approaching the bus. “It’s cold!” She passed Arthur, and Mark, Brad, and Jen followed her inside. Then the others came. 

Rani, Mindy, Yvonne, and Selene stopped at the door. 

“You can head in,” Arthur said. “I just want to make sure everyone makes it onto the bus.” 

Mindy grinned. She hugged Arthur and kissed him on the lips before she stepped onto the bus. Her Sunday dress was demure and modest, but she stuck her butt out for a swat before she climbed the steps. Arthur chuckled, gave her one, and she climbed onto the bus with a squeak. 

“I’ll take what she’s having,” Rani said, hugging Arthur and kissing him. “Mm, good morning, my King. I’ll see you inside.” She waited too, looking at Arthur. He swatted her butt, and she blew him a kiss before heading inside. 

“Do you want me to wait out here with you, Master?” Selene asked. 

“No, you can head inside and keep warm for me,” Arthur said. 

“Always, Master,” Selene said. She hugged him, kissed him, and did the same motion with her butt as the others, waiting for a swat. Arthur obliged. 

“Um, can I, uh, do that?” Yvonne asked, gesturing at Arthur. “Not the swat. I’m still red from last night, or earlier this morning, I guess, but the hug thing?”

Arthur hugged and kissed her, surprising and dazing her as she stepped toward the entrance. She stopped and looked over her shoulder. “You can swat me if you want to, but be gentle, please.” 

Arthur grabbed her ass rather than swat it, and Yvonne turned bright red. “Get on the bus before I drag you behind it and make you show me just how red that ass is.” Arthur kept his voice low, whispering in her ear. He wanted to see if it’d throw Yvonne off or piss her off. He hadn’t prepared for her to turn bright red, dart her eyes to his lips, face away, and flash her red ass at him. She must have borrowed the pale blue sweatpants from someone, since she wasn’t planning on spending the night. They hung loosely on her and slid down with no effort. She pulled them up just as fast, winked at him, and entered the bus. 

“You’re not the only one who can tease,” she said, and climbed into the bus. 

Arthur chuckled, checking their surroundings. No one else was in the parking lot, but still. He’d need to check Yvonne’s list again to see where she fell with public play. They needed to figure out whether she was joining the harem or existing outside it. Arthur wasn’t sure which he wanted, but knowing Yvonne and her infatuation with him, she’d probably want to join. 

Kelly was next to join them, and she kissed Arthur as she arrived. “Kat and Katelyn are having a chat,” she said. “I hope it goes well, but things are tense between them after that kiss they shared this morning. Katelyn’s is head-over-heels, but Kat…” 

“Kat’s complicated,” Arthur said. He grimaced. Kat had a rigid view of sexuality, especially her own. She made it clear to everyone that she was straight, and while she tolerated a certain amount of participation from the others, she wasn’t into them that way. If Katelyn had genuine, romantic feelings for her, that could be a problem. What was the best course of action for the polycule in that situation? Arthur didn’t know. “I offered to help, but she told me to keep out of it, that it was between her and Katelyn.” 

“Yeah,” Kelly agreed. “We should give them space and give Kat time to sort things out. Impulsive experimentation and struggling through changes in sexuality can be intense and confusing.” 

Arthur agreed, but he didn’t have Kelly’s personal experience. He was more like Kat. His sexuality was narrow compared to that of his girlfriends, but broad in other ways. He desired women, but he’d learned to appreciate variety over a strict definition of beauty. 

“Should you talk to her?” Arthur asked. “Share your experience?” 

Kelly shook her head. “You know Kat. If I broach the subject, she’ll think I’m pushing, and if I push, she’ll reject everything. This is a journey she has to take on her own. If she reaches out, I’ll help her however I can. She’s part of our relationship, so even if I sometimes want to strangle her, I love her. For now, the best we can do is to be there for her and not pressure her. I told Katelyn the same, but I hope they figure it out. They’re so freaking cute.” 

Arthur smiled slightly. He thought so too, but didn’t know how likely Kat was to think so. As friends, sure, she and Katelyn were close, but Kat fought every suggestion that there might be more to her sexuality than Arthur. He wanted to convince her it was okay for her to have feelings for Katelyn, but if she wasn’t bi or pan, then he couldn’t pressure her either. He needed to be there for her and Katelyn without forcing an outcome. Preferably, while making sure that whatever happened didn’t break up the harem. 

“Katelyn and I will chat at the cabin,” Kelly said. “If Kat rejects her, I can help her work through it. It’ll be tough, though. It’s not like they can avoid each other between the harem, their volleyball team, and the rest.”

“Yeah,” Arthur said. “Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll stay close to Kat, which was the plan for today. Can we keep each other updated? We’ll have to work on this together. I’ll be counting on you, especially with you and Katelyn at the cabin.” 

“Of course.” Kelly smiled. She kissed him, keeping the kiss slow and tender. Her lips tasted like cherries, and Arthur held her close in sweet bliss that chased away the October chill.  

Manasa cleared her throat, not to stop their kissing, but to draw their attention to the hotel. Katelyn ran toward the bus, tears in her eyes. 

Kelly patted Arthur’s chest. “I’ve got her.” She met Katelyn, hugging her. 

Katelyn was a mess, but she didn’t want to stop. She kept moving, and they passed Arthur. As they climbed onto the bus, Katelyn tried to explain what had happened, Kelly’s arm around her, but she crumbled into tears. 

Kat trudged out of the hotel next, walking toward him with an annoyed expression. She wasn’t crying, and she didn’t look angry. Her resting bitch face was grim, her jaw tense, a look Arthur recognized as her thinking face. 

Arthur waited for her at the bus. “Are you okay?” he asked as she approached. 

“Do I look okay?” Kat snapped. 

“You look annoyed,” Arthur said. “But that’s normal for you.” 

Kat grimaced. 

“Do you want to talk about it?” Arthur asked. “I can help if you—” 

“I told you to stay out of it,” Kat said. “I’m figuring it out.” 

“Okay,” Arthur said, raising his hands in surrender. “I’m just worried, Kat. I love you, and I hate to see you going through something alone when you don’t have to. You have a boyfriend now; that means you have someone you can vent to, talk to, sometimes even listen to, if you need him.” 

Kat stopped and looked up at Arthur, a softness in her expression she rarely let slip. Her lip quivered, and she shoved her face into Arthur’s abdomen as she threw her arms around him and cried. Arthur hugged her, surprised by her reaction, but not surprised. She was going through a lot, and as much as he loved her, she struggled to regulate her emotions. Her heart swung to extremes the moment it abandoned stoicism. 

“I fucked it up,” Kat said through her tears. “Because of course I did.”

“Shh,” Arthur said, hugging her close and stroking her hair. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not,” Kat said. “I fucked it up.” 

“Not permanently,” Arthur said. “I’m sure we can work something out.” He wasn’t sure what, but he clung to hope. If Katelyn wanted a romantic relationship with Kat, but Kat didn’t, then Katelyn had to respect that. It’d be hard, though, and it didn’t sound as if ‌it’d be a good foundation for a long-term polyamorous relationship. Not unless something changed soon. 

Kat clung to him, refusing to let go. “We have to go, right? Can we just, um, I guess we can’t ride separately, can we? I don’t want to sit and stare at the others the whole time.” 

“You can ride up front with me,” Manasa said. 

“Yes!” Kat said, jumping from Arthur’s arms to Manasa. “Yes, please. I can’t face everyone right now.” 

“They won’t judge you, Kat. They care about you,” Arthur said. 

Kat shook her head. “I can’t, but we have to go.” 

“Is there room for me?” Arthur asked, looking at Manasa. 

Manasa shook her head. “I’m sorry, but there are only two seatbelts.” 

“I’ll be fine,” Kat said, patting Arthur. “I could use the time to think. That way I won’t crash the party back there.” 

Arthur frowned. “If you’re sure.” 

“I’m sure,” Kat said. 

“Okay,” Arthur agreed. “But you can’t avoid everyone forever.” 

“I know,” Kat said. “And I won’t, but I need time to think, Arthur.” 

“Okay,” Arthur said, sighing. He hugged her again and kissed her forehead. 

Manasa opened the other door, and Kat climbed inside. 

Arthur sagged, but knew better than to push Kat. She’d open up when she was ready. He looked at Manasa as she returned. 

“Is that everyone?” Manasa asked. 

Arthur ran through the list in his head. “Yup, that’s everyone.” 

Manasa nodded. “Better get in then,” she said. “It’ll be a shorter drive since we’re closer, but it’s time we left if we want to stay on schedule.” 

Arthur nodded. “Okay,” he said. He climbed aboard and joined the others in the lounge cabin.

The mood was far from yesterday’s party atmosphere. Katelyn and Kelly sat in the back corner by the bathroom. The others looked at Arthur as he came in. 

“Where’s Kat?” Selene asked. 

“She’s riding up front with Manasa,” Arthur said. “Kat’s okay, but she’s got thinking to do. She didn’t want to bring down the mood.” 

Selene relaxed at that. 

“Should I talk to her?” Rani asked. “We’re not close, but I could—” 

“No,” Selene said. “Give her time. She’ll come around. If you rush her, she might bite you or something.” 

“The best we can do is to be there for them when they need us,” Arthur said. He looked at Katelyn, and her teary eyes broke his heart. “Do you need anything?” he asked. 

“Cuddles?” 

Arthur checked with the others, nodded, and moved to Katelyn’s other side. She and Kelly scooted over, letting Arthur take the back corner. He opened his arms, and Katelyn curled against him, using his chest as a pillow as he rested his arm over her. Kelly held his hand, and Katelyn quieted against him.

Mark and Maria cuddled, as did Brad and Jen. Everyone was in a more subdued mood, relaxing, or unsure of what to say. The bus rumbled to life and started moving. With the curtains drawn and the blinds closed, everyone remained oblivious to the world outside. The bus ride was awkward, but Arthur found the seat and position comfortable. Silence reigned, broken by hushed chatter at irregular intervals. 

Katelyn’s tears ceased, and her breathing changed as she fell asleep. Other people dozed, too. Mindy was using Rani’s shoulder as a pillow. Yvonne was awake and on her phone, but otherwise everyone seemed sleepy, including Arthur.

Arthur rested his head on the back cushion and closed his eyes. He let Katelyn’s sleepy breathing set the pace for his own, and his heartbeat joined hers. His sleep was light and dreamless, but restful. When Kelly woke him with a kiss, he smiled. 

“We’re here, Sir,” Kelly said. “It’s time to unload and say goodbye.” 

Arthur shifted, and Katelyn woke. She blinked and pushed herself up, her hand on Arthur’s stomach. 

“Good morning, sleepy kitty,” Arthur said, squeezing Katelyn’s thigh. “We’re at the apartments.” 

“Oh,” Katelyn said, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. “Okay. Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you. Did I drool?” 

“It’s okay if you did,” Arthur said. He didn’t care. 

Kelly gave them both a soft, kind smile, and Arthur realized the rest of the bus was empty. “The others are outside, waiting for us,” she explained. “Come along.” 

“Yes, dear,” Arthur said, helping Katelyn stand before he did. 

“Is Kat out there?” Katelyn asked. “I don’t know if I can face her.” 

“She went to her apartment,” Kelly said. “She said to tell you she’s not mad, and she’s sorry that she couldn’t figure out what to say, but she’s working on it, and please don’t hate her.” 

“I don’t hate her,” Katelyn said. “That’s the problem.” 

“She’s still working through whatever she has to work through,” Kelly said. “That’s a good sign.” 

“Or she’s figuring out how to reject me without breaking up the group,” Katelyn said. 

“Hey,” Arthur said, his tone soft. “Every time I try to predict Kat, I’m wrong, so don’t jump to conclusions yet, okay? Take your time off, enjoy the cabin, and I’ll be a call away if you need me. When you come back, we’ll go on our date and talk, okay?” 

Katelyn nodded. “Okay.” 

“Chin up,” Arthur said. “You’re lovable, and even if Kat isn’t into you sexually, she still loves you very much, even if she has the most confusing ways of showing it.” 

Katelyn gave a low, dry laugh. “Yeah, I guess. I should be glad that I have you, and Kelly, and the others. Maybe I’m being too greedy in wanting to love Kat, too, but… I can’t help the way I feel.” 

Arthur had to restrain the impulse to say that he understood, but he did. He hugged Katelyn instead, expressing love instead of sympathy. “I’ll see you Tuesday night?” 

“Tuesday night,” Katelyn said. “I’ll wear something cute.” 

“I’m not worried about that.” Arthur chuckled. “You’re always cute.” 

Katelyn didn’t smile, but her frown softened as Kelly led them off the bus and into the daylight. Arthur followed. The others were busy unloading the suitcases and luggage from the storage beneath the bus, and Arthur joined in, helping people carry everything to their cars. The chilly weather hadn’t warmed much, but the exercise warmed him. 

Kelly and Katelyn left after saying their goodbyes. Hugs and kisses went around the group. Katelyn seemed in better spirits as she and Kelly drove away. Arthur waved after them, then returned to helping people with their luggage. 

“Hey,” Jen said after he helped her and Maria pack her car. “I just wanted to say thanks for inviting us along this weekend. It was an amazing experience.” 

“Oh, you’re welcome,” Arthur said. 

“I hope we continue to get to have experiences?” Maria asked. “It was a lot of fun, and not just the Faire, even if you didn’t grant my particular fantasies.” 

Arthur chuckled. “I’m sure you’re on Rani’s invite list, but don’t worry. I’ll let you know if we throw any more, uh, parties.”

“Thanks,” Maria said. “We’ll see you!” 

She and Jen were the second car to leave. Brad and Mark followed suit. 

“Gym tomorrow?” Brad asked, offering a fist. 

Arthur bumped it. “Always.” 

Mark and Brad left for their apartment, and Mindy came trotting over to Arthur. She grabbed Arthur’s arm, hugging it to her between her breasts. 

“I’ll see you tomorrow, right? We’re still doing the office thing?” Mindy asked, giving Arthur puppy-dog eyes. 

“Yeah,” Arthur said. 

“What office thing?” Rani asked. 

“Oh, everything’s closed tomorrow, so we’re going into the office while no one else is there for playtime,” Mindy said. “Want to join?” 

“Yeah, I’m down,” Rani said. 

“I’m in,” Selene added. 

“I can’t wait,” Mindy said, beaming at Arthur before turning to the others. “It’ll be so hot! Wear business clothing with fancy lingerie under your outfits. I’ll message you guys.” 

Arthur chuckled. “Okay, well, have fun at church, I guess?” 

Mindy smiled, then kissed him. “I’ve still got your cum inside me,” she whispered into his ear and winked at him as she pulled away. She hopped into her car, and Arthur and the others waved goodbye as she left the parking lot. 

“Well, did you have fun?” Rani asked Arthur. 

“Oh, yeah,” Arthur said. “I’m exhausted and dehydrated, but it was great, Rani, especially last night.” 

“Good,” Rani said, grinning. “Yvonne, do you need a ride?” 

“Oh, yeah, that’d be great,” Yvonne said. “If it’s not too much trouble.” 

“Nah, we’re dorm mates, remember?” Rani said. “And Manasa has to drop me off there.” 

“Oh, okay,” Yvonne said. 

“Bye,” Rani said, kissing Arthur again. 

“Have fun,” Arthur said, letting go of Rani. 

“Oh, well, if you insist,” she said, chuckling. “I have homework to do, but I’ll try to squeeze in fun. I can play with Yvonne, right? You’re okay with that?” 

“Um,” Yvonne said. “Play with me?” 

“Shh,” Rani said, pressing her finger against Yvonne’s lips. “The tops are talking.” 

Yvonne’s ears turned red. Her mouth hung open as Rani removed her finger until Selene reached under her chin and closed it. 

“Don’t pressure her,” Arthur said. 

“Never,” Rani said. 

“I thought I was supposed to be there if it was someone outside the harem,” Arthur said. 

“Is she still outside it?” Rani asked. 

“I mean, yeah,” Arthur said. 

Rani frowned. “Can I get special permission? If I’m the queen of your concubines, I should be able to make sure they’re well-trained. I wanted to test her holes with my bag of toys.” 

Arthur groaned. “Well, great, now I’m picturing that.” 

Rani grinned. “You could always come to campus.” 

Arthur shook his head. “As tempting as that is, I need to pack up my apartment and Kat and Selene’s, get homework done, and keep an eye on Kat. We’re supposed to have a date tonight, if she’s still up for it.” 

Rani nodded. “I get it,” she said. “I’ll keep you updated then, and do my best to keep my hands to myself.” 

“Good girl,” Arthur said. 

“Mm,” Rani hummed. “I love it when you call me that, even if it’s a tad condescending.” 

Arthur kissed her again. “Go on, before I change my mind and make you help me pack my apartment.” 

“Manual labor? With this manicure? You brute,” Rani said, shaking her head. “Have fun packing everything.”

“I could stay and help,” Yvonne offered, stepping forward. “I’m on fall break, and I have nothing else to do except homework.”

Arthur considered it, looking between Yvonne and Rani. The plan for today didn’t include Yvonne, but he didn’t want to send her away either, as if he’d fucked her and forgotten her. 

“Want to help me pack Master’s apartment while he packs mine and Kat’s?” Selene asked. 

“Uh.” Arthur hesitated. “What?” 

“It doesn’t violate your bet with Kat,” Selene insisted. “I can’t help you pack our apartment, but I can pack yours while you pack ours.” 

“I’m not sure that’s right,” Arthur said, trying to remember the terms of Kat’s bet. 

“Well, if Kat gets pissy, she can spank me for it,” Selene said. “I take full responsibility, but there’s no way you’re packing both in a day, getting any homework done, and taking Kat on a date tonight, right?” 

“Right,” Arthur agreed. 

“Then it’s settled,” Selene said. “Yvonne and I will pack your apartment. You can pack ours while you and Kat do… whatever.” 

Arthur nodded. 

“Guess I’m heading back alone then?” Rani asked. 

“Sorry,” Yvonne said, looking at Rani sheepishly and glancing at Arthur. 

“No, you’re not,” Rani said. “Do you guys even have boxes to pack?” 

“Uh.” Arthur hesitated. “Not enough, no.” 

“Manasa!” Rani called, and Manasa appeared behind Arthur. 

“Yes, miss?” Manasa asked. 

“We have one more errand to run, but not with the bus. Arthur, are you okay with Manasa driving your car?” Rani asked. 

“Oh, of course,” Arthur said, pulling out his keys and wallet. He handed Manasa his keys and his credit card. 

“What’s this?” Rani asked, plucking the credit card from Manasa’s hand and handing it back to Arthur. 

“It’s for the boxes,” Arthur said, as if Rani should’ve known that. 

She laughed and pressed the card into his hand. “I’ve got it, don’t worry.” 

“Oh, no, I feel bad,” Arthur said. 

“Why?” Rani asked. “I’ll have to buy a fuck-ton of boxes to move my shit. They’re reusable, right? So, let’s have you use them first, then Katelyn and Kelly, and Mindy and me when we move into the house. It’s for the harem, not you personally.” 

“That’s fair,” Arthur said. “I hadn’t considered that.” 

“Well, you can’t think of everything,” Rani said, smiling. “Come on, let’s run our errands while they get their shit organized. We’ll be back with the boxes, and coffee, and lunch.” 

“Uh,” Arthur hesitated. “Doesn’t Manasa have to get back?” 

“It’s okay,” Manasa said. “I expected delays, and I’m on the clock either way until I get back, so it’s helping me make more money.” 

“Oh,” Arthur said. “Okay.” 

Rani smiled. She waved as she and Manasa dropped into Arthur’s old Ford. 

That left him, Yvonne, and Selene. Manasa parked the bus in a stretch of empty spots along the lot’s wooded side. She’d locked the bus with their luggage resting beside it. He looked at Yvonne, then Selene, and shrugged. 

“I can help with the bags,” Yvonne said as Arthur lifted them. 

“We can take your stuff and my stuff to your apartment,” Selene said. “You take Kat’s stuff to our apartment and check on her.” 

“That’s a good idea,” Arthur said, nodding. “But what about the trunk?” 

“I’ll take it,” Yvonne said, giving it a test lift. It had wheels on one end, but it was heavy enough that she struggled to lift it. 

Arthur took it from her with no difficulty. “I’ll take it upstairs. You stay here with the luggage, and I’ll be right back.” 

“Yes, Master,” Selene said, handing him her keys. 

Arthur took the trunk to his apartment. It felt good but strange to enter it alone for the first time in a while. With packing on the horizon, moving out made his place seem less like home and more like a dorm room—a temporary arrangement that was ending. He set the trunk against the empty living room wall beside the door, then returned to the parking lot. 

“Okay, you two can head into my apartment. I’ll head over to yours. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll keep my phone on.” 

Selene nodded. “Same, of course. Any time you want relief, just call us or come over, Master.” 

Arthur chuckled. “Thanks, Slut.” 

Yvonne blushed, glancing around them. “It’s still weird to hear you refer to each other that way in the open.” 

Arthur nodded. “I won’t spank her for it since there’s no one around. It’s when she forgets that we’re in public that we have a problem.” 

Selene smiled. “I’ll be a good girl, don’t worry, Master.” 

Arthur kissed her forehead, then hesitated. 

Yvonne stepped forward and presented her forehead for a kiss. “You don’t have to, but if you want to, you can.”  

Arthur kissed her forehead. 

“Thank you, my prince,” Yvonne said, with a light red blush flushing against her cheeks.

Arthur nodded, and they carried his suitcase into his apartment, while he took Kat’s luggage and Selene’s backpack into Selene and Kat’s apartment. Kat had left the door unlocked. He locked the deadbolt behind him as he set the bags by the door. They’d be living out of suitcases for the week after they packed everything. 

He searched for Kat and found her face-down on her bed, her head under her pillow.

“You’re still breathing, right?” Arthur asked. 

Kat gave him a thumbs-up without removing the pillow from over her head. 

“Do you want anything? I can make coffee.” 

Another thumbs-up. 

“I’ll start organizing everything and packing it up. I’ll start in Selene’s room, okay?” 

A third thumbs-up. 

“If you need anything, let me know.” 

No thumbs-up. Arthur left her bedroom door open and made coffee. It hadn’t been so long since Lori took the coffee maker that he’d forgotten how to do it. He didn’t drink it himself, but Lori had wanted it on occasion. He bought her the coffee pot last Christmas. 

Those thoughts made him check his phone, only to remember that Kelly had blocked Lori on it. He had a few texts, though. 

Slut: Master, can I change my clothes into something more comfortable for packing?

Master: Of course. 

Slut: Thank you!

Mindy’s text was a selfie of her in front of her church building. She smiled and made a peace sign next to her face. He sent her a heart reaction. 

Queenie: Do we need anything besides boxes? Tape? Bubble wrap?

King: Yes, please. 

Queenie: Now I wish I had taken your credit card. Oh well. 

King: lol.

The last one was from his mom. 

Mom: I hope you got home safe and everyone had fun yesterday! 

Arthur: Yeah, everyone’s safe and home. It was such a long day! I feel like I’ve been away for months. 

His mom heart-reacted to his text, and he decided to call her. He put in his Bluetooth earpiece and started organizing. He couldn’t pack things into boxes yet, but he could pile them up to put into boxes, so he started with Selene’s decorations, knick-knacks, and clothes. 

Once he started, he called his mother to catch her up on yesterday’s activities, minus the sexy details. He stuck to the Faire’s events: the storyline, his chess match, the food, drinks, and fun. Her mood lightened once they got talking, and she started asking questions. He mentioned running into Caleb, Logan, and Yvonne, and that she hung out with them after Caleb and Logan left early.  

“So this Yvonne girl,” his mom said. “She’s the one who played Cinderella, right?” 

“Yeah,” Arthur said. “And she dressed up as Cinderella yesterday.” 

“Oh, I liked her,” Deb said. “She was talented.” 

“Yeah,” Arthur said. “She’s amazing on stage. You’d think she’d been doing this for decades.” 

“And pretty,” Deb said. “Are you thinking of dating her, too?” 

“Uh, well, it’s complicated.” Thank God she wasn’t there to see the red blush on his face, or he might’ve had to admit he was imagining tying her and Selene up on Selene’s bed. “She got pretty nasty a few weeks back, but apologized, and now everything’s in a weird limbo. Plus, it’s not just my decision. The others have to sign off. So, we’re figuring it out,” Arthur said. 

“When you say ‘we,’ you mean you and your girlfriends?” Deb asked. “They have to approve any new girlfriends?” 

“Well, yeah,” Arthur said. “Sorry, I know it’s weird.” 

“No, no, it’s fine,” Deb said. “It makes sense, too. Those girls are like a sorority. Of course they’d want to vet any new members.” 

“Yeah,” Arthur said. “Exactly. They got matching henna tattoos at the Faire. They call themselves the Sisterhood of Excalibur.”

“Why the Sisterhood of—” His mom cut herself off. “Oh, that’s hilarious.” She hummed more than laughed, but it was a familiar, cheerful note. 

Silence fell, and Arthur wasn’t sure what to say to restart the conversation. 

“I’m sorry,” Deb apologized. “I’m not trying to make it weird, but I’m happy for you and your girls. How’s Kelly doing? Is she there, by any chance?” 

“Uh, no, she and Katelyn went to Katelyn’s parents’ cabin for the rest of fall break. They’ll be back Tuesday night,” Arthur said. “Why?” 

“I wanted to talk to her,” Deb said. “Do you think she’d mind if I called her? I got a phone call from someone and wanted to hear her side of the story.” 

Arthur’s brow furrowed, though his mother couldn’t see it. Who called his mother? Kelly’s family wouldn’t have had her information. So, was it someone else? Was it Lynn? A lawyer Lynn hired? That’d been quick if so. 

“Her side of the story?” Arthur asked. “Is this about Lynn?” 

“No,” Deb answered immediately. “Don’t worry. Lynn isn’t coming anywhere near you or your girls. It’s, um, well, it’s–I don’t know how to say this, but it’s, uh–” 

“Lori?” Arthur asked, realizing why his mother hesitated to say the name. “It’s okay, Mom. You can say her name.” 

“Oh,” his mother said. “I wasn’t sure. You’ve had a rough few days. I didn’t want to mention anyone painful.” 

“No, it’s okay,” Arthur said. “Yesterday was cathartic, running into Angie and everything. And last night was, well, refreshing.” 

“Angie?” his mom asked. “That girl from your and Lynn’s class? What happened? You ran into her at the Faire?” 

Oh, right, he hadn’t gotten that far. He told her the story, recounting his blow-up, Yvonne helping him through it, and his decision to let it go. His mom was quiet. 

“I’m so sorry, Arthur,” Deb said. “I’m sorry you had to deal with yet another trauma this weekend.” 

“It’s okay, Mom,” Arthur said. “I’ll talk to my therapist, but it was cathartic, and well, it was for the best. I’ll contact her if I can, just to square things away, but I’m okay. Lori and Kelly argued last night, and she blocked her on my phone, but I’m not mad at Kelly for it. Lori texted me a few times out of the blue, and I’ve been ignoring her.” 

“Oh,” his mom said. “Okay, well, I have something I need to confess. I’ve been reaching out to Lori for the last few months. She’s only responded once or twice.” 

That sounded typical of Lori. 

“Well,” Deb said. “Last summer, I suggested she could come back here for Thanksgiving. You’d said you ended amicably, and I thought, well, maybe you’d get back together! But she’s family, in a way, and she doesn’t have anyone else.” 

“You invited her to Thanksgiving?” Arthur asked. 

“Sort of,” Deb said. “She never responded to that voicemail. I didn’t think she was coming, but she reached out to me last night and asked if the invitation was still open. Apparently, she talked to Kelly, and Kelly shot down the idea, which surprised me. I thought Lori and Kelly were friends, but Lori said Kelly uninvited her, so she wasn’t sure if she could come.” 

“Honestly, it’d be a bad idea for her to come, Mom,” Arthur said. “It’d be more drama, which we don’t need. I’m not even sure why she’d want to. It’d just be painful for both of us.” 

Silence reigned on the other side of the call. “Well, it’s possible she misses you and regrets her choices.” 

“Sure,” Arthur said. “It’s possible, but she still made her choices, Mom, and I’ve moved on. I’m in a relationship, remember?” 

“More than one,” Deb said. “Which takes winning the breakup to a whole new level.” 

Arthur chuckled. 

“Is Lori aware that you’re poly, by the way?” Deb asked. “You’ve posted nothing about it outside of a few group photos on social media. So I wasn’t sure if it was public knowledge. She seemed to think Kelly was your girlfriend. Your only girlfriend, I mean.” 

“Uh, I guess she doesn’t know, then,” Arthur said. “I haven’t told her. We haven’t spoken since she left. That was her decision.” 

“Okay,” Deb said. “Well, I told her I’d talk to you and see what you thought. Should I tell her not to come then?” 

“Yeah,” Arthur said, without pause. “She wanted a fresh start and no ties, right? So, she needs to realize that she got what she requested.” 

“That’s harsh,” Deb said. “If we let her cut ties with us, she’ll have no one.” 

“She wants no one, so she can focus on her studies, Mom,” Arthur said. 

“That’s callous, Arthur,” his mom said. 

“That’s what she wanted, Mom,” Arthur said, more frustrated than he should have been. 

Deb sighed. “Harsh, but fair, I guess. I’ll tell her not to come.” 

Arthur sighed. It might be callous, but if he had calluses, Lori had put them there. Either way, Thanksgiving would be a better time without Lori’s interference. If she regretted breaking his heart, well, maybe she deserved her sorrow.

“Thanks, Mom,” Arthur said, filling the silence.  

“Of course, honey,” Deb said. “You know I’m on your side, right? I love you.” 

“I love you, too,” Arthur said. 

“Okay, I should let you go. Your father brought brunch home from that place we like, and if I don’t get out there soon, he’ll eat my home fries.” 

Arthur chuckled. “Okay, enjoy. Love you!”

“And we love you. Your father sends his love,” Deb said. 

“Is that Arthur? Tell him I said hi,” George said. 

“Your father says hi,” Deb said. 

“Hi, Dad!” Arthur said. 

“Do you two want to talk?” Deb asked, her voice faint, as if she were offering George the phone. 

“Later,” George said. “Brunch is getting cold!” 

“Go on,” Arthur said, not sure if they could hear him. “We’ll talk later!” 

“Okay, dear, no need to shout,” Deb said. “Love you.” Deb ended the call. 

“You know, I’m envious of your relationship with your parents,” Kat said. 

Her sudden presence startled Arthur. He had his back to the door, where she stood. He didn’t know how long she’d been listening. Not that it mattered. He’d said nothing she couldn’t overhear. 

“Oh?” Arthur asked. 

Kat entered, climbed onto Selene’s bed, holding her coffee, and sat with her back to the wall. She watched Arthur organize Selene’s possessions. 

“Yeah,” Kat said. “Your dad loves you, and your mom doesn’t judge everything you do, condemn you, or try to control your life. She loves and supports you, even when you do something insane like date six or seven girls at once.” 

Arthur nodded. “She guides me sometimes. She wouldn’t support me if I were doing something immoral or anything.” 

“Well, your mom has a much broader sense of morality than mine,” Kat chuckled. “Forget the harem. If she knew I were moving in with my boyfriend, she’d have a fit.” 

“Really?” Arthur asked. “But you’re old enough to make that decision.” 

“I’m older than you,” Kat reminded him. “And yeah, but she doesn’t care. We’re not married, so it’s immoral to her, and she’s my mom, which in her mind means her morality is the only one that matters.” 

“Ah,” Arthur said. He understood, even if he didn’t agree with that morality. “Are you worried she’ll discover your morals don’t align with hers?” 

Kat sipped her coffee. “Of course,” Kat said. “If she stops covering a third of our rent, well, we’re screwed.” 

“Well, your rent at the house is cheaper, and my parents wouldn’t kick you out. You know that,” Arthur said.

“Sure,” Kat said. “It’s one of the many ways they’re better than my mom.” She chuckled. “My mother made it clear if I ever got pregnant out of wedlock, or slept with a guy, she’d kick me out on the street.” 

“But you had an ex, right?” Arthur asked. “Before you came to college?” 

“Yeah,” Kat said. “My secret rebellion.”

“So how did you come to have a different opinion than your mom?” Arthur asked, not changing the subject so much as steering it toward something more cheerful. 

“Life,” Kat said. “It’s different. The world isn’t what she told me it’d be. It doesn’t work the way it used to, if it ever worked the way she thought.”

“Yeah,” Arthur agreed. “Sometimes, people confuse personal experience with standard reality. They believe everyone experiences the world the same way they do, but that’s not the case.”  

“You said your parents go to church, right?” Kat asked. 

“Yeah,” Arthur said, nodding. “They’re not strict about it, but they go. It’s a tradition for them, and a social outing. They have friends there.” 

“But you don’t attend?” Kat asked. 

Arthur shook his head. “Never saw the need.” He pointed to the door, and Kat followed him out of Selene’s room and into the living room. Kat sat on the sofa and watched him organize their things into packable piles.

“They didn’t take you?” Kat asked. 

“They did,” Arthur said. “When I was four or five, they told me I recited the prayer and let Jesus into my heart, but I don’t remember it. Then, when I was around twelve, the pastor started talking about getting more involved. I realized I didn’t want to. I read the bible, but I read history books, too. Theater and the arts interested me, and most of my church friends condemned them, so we didn’t get along. Between my life experiences and reading philosophers and science textbooks, I realized I didn’t need to belong to that club. If I wanted to do good in the world, I did it. I didn’t need a deity’s encouragement to give to charities or help others. And I found the people at church so two-faced; I guess that’s the right word. I had a long talk with my parents. I made a PowerPoint presentation and everything. They thought that was hilarious, but they agreed I didn’t have to go, so I stopped.” 

“My mom would’ve spanked me if I suggested not going,” Kat said. “Church attendance is her measure for morality.” 

Arthur shrugged. “But you don’t go to church now?” 

“No. But she doesn’t know that,” Kat said. “She thinks Selene and I go to a local church, at least more often than not.”

Arthur struggled to imagine Selene in a church. Not that she’d melt, but she’d be uncomfortable. If he took her to a service, she’d want to run off to the basement for sex. Though that was true of most places he’d take her.

“Besides religion, have you ever had to wrestle with a belief being more complicated, or even untrue?” Kat asked. 

“Besides the entire concept of religion?” Arthur asked. He shrugged. “Monogamy, I guess.” 

Kat chuckled, but Arthur meant it. Monogamy had been the default assumption, along with notions of romance that he discovered didn’t have to be true. It was a shift in his sexuality, in its own way. 

“I used to believe monogamy was the only way to have a romantic relationship,” Arthur said. “But in my defense, that’s the example my parents set, and the default expectation. Selene, Kelly, and everyone else made very persuasive arguments against it. Even you’ve opened up your heart, inviting Katelyn to join us because she needed us, and you, and I, and Kelly liked her.” 

Kat’s smile vanished as soon as he mentioned Katelyn, and he worried that he’d undone the goodwill she’d shown. Yet, Kat didn’t explode, yell at him, or cry. 

“You’re right,” Kat said. “But we can’t uproot everything, right? Some truths have to be true.” 

“I suppose,” Arthur said. “We just have to pick what truths are important to us from what does everyone the most good. I might have been happy dating Kelly, Selene, or you monogamously, but dating everyone together has brought me more happiness than any one person could have. It’s helped me heal in ways I didn’t think possible, and benefited me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. That’s not just true of me, either. We’ve pursued everyone’s happiness and everyone’s benefit as a unit. A family. I’m glad I abandoned the default and tried polyamory, aren’t you?” 

Kat stared into space, as if weighing her answer against its consequences. She nodded slowly, as if realizing it for the first time. “Yeah,” she said. “Despite the drama, and even ignoring the sex with you, which is amazing, and counting the things that have pissed me off, I’m glad we abandoned monogamy. I’m happier with the harem and feel safer with them, more secure, than any friends I’ve had in the past. We’re a sisterhood, you know?”

“Yeah,” Arthur said, and pointed to her collarbone despite her hoodie covering the tattoo. “You’ve got the tattoo to prove it.” 

Kat chuckled. She stepped forward and hugged him. Sensing her approach, he opened his arms to welcome her, and she pressed her face into his chest. “You give great hugs,” she said after a minute, turning her face to the side. 

“If you think my hugs are great, just wait until you see what else I can do,” Arthur said. 

Kat laughed, smacking his arm. “Behave, Sir. You have work to do.” She gestured at the piles. “Where is Rani, anyway?” 

A three-tap knock at the door made her roll her eyes. “Speak of the devil, and she shall appear.” 

“Lynn’s here?” Arthur joked, and Kat gave him a strange look. “Too soon?” 

“No, it was funny. I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” Kat said. 

“I’m okay,” Arthur said. “Pretty happy. You’re a good hugger.” 

Kat rolled her eyes. “Okay, now go get the door.” 

Arthur didn’t argue. He kissed Kat’s forehead as he passed her, and she giggled. She sipped her coffee after he passed, but he wasn’t sure if it was to hide her smile. He trotted into the living room, tossing his flannel onto the sofa after moving around the apartment and getting warm. He opened the door in his T-shirt and stared at the woman on the other side. 

“Oh, good, this was the right apartment,” Rani said. “Come help me unload the boxes from the car.” 

Arthur chuckled, calling into the apartment as he followed Rani. “The boxes are here!” 

~~~

Selene led the way into Arthur’s apartment, held the door open for Yvonne, and closed it behind her. Yvonne looked around, taking in her surroundings as Selene carried Arthur’s suitcase into his bedroom and returned. The apartment was well organized and clean, but it had fewer decorations than Yvonne expected. She’d half-imagined framed playbills or posters, and a record player with a collection of vinyl records. Instead, the apartment was bare of decor except for the furniture. 

“So this is Arthur’s apartment, huh?” Yvonne asked, looking around. “It’s what I expected. More or less.”

She sniffed, taking in the aroma of a scented candle with a vague vanilla scent. Something salty with a hint of pine and what she classified as Arthur-smell lay beneath it. She wondered how often Arthur and his girlfriends had sex in this apartment, and in which rooms and positions. If her experience with him last night was any indication, she imagined every surface remembered someone’s naked back. 

The trunk sat against the wall where Arthur had left it. It reminded her of last night, not that she’d ever forget it. Yvonne shivered as she imagined doing it again in a more intimate setting. Her, Arthur, and Selene playing with ropes and toys from the trunk for the rest of Fall Break sounded like a good idea to Yvonne. But she couldn’t bring herself to suggest it. Besides, she knew it was unrealistic, given how much homework she had. Even sacrificing her Sunday afternoon to help Arthur pack was a stretch.   

Selene gestured around the apartment, giving Yvonne a tour without moving from her spot in the center of the rectangular living room. “That’s the kitchen and dining area, the bathroom, Arthur’s bedroom, the second bedroom he turned into an office, and that nook leads to the hall closet and the back door.” 

“He has a back door?” Yvonne asked. She peered into the nook, which had a door on either side. 

“It leads to the back stairs. They lead outside and to the laundry room in the basement,” Selene said. 

“Oh, cool,” Yvonne said. She checked her surroundings again. The others had mentioned packing up the apartments, but she still lacked context. “So, Arthur’s moving?” 

Selene chuckled. “Yeah, the rent here is month-to-month. His parents have a house on the other side of campus that we’re moving into.” 

Yvonne didn’t miss the ‘we.’ “You and Arthur are moving in together?” Yvonne asked. 

“Well, me, Master, Brat, Wifey, Queenie, Whore, and Pet,” Selene said. She listed the nicknames as if they were the most normal names in the world. “We’re moving into the same house.” 

Yvonne swallowed. “Right, that, uh, sounds romantic.” 

“Would you want to leave the dorms?” Selene asked. “I’m sure no one would argue that you shouldn’t move in if you join the harem. The basement apartment is available, and there’s still a room upstairs if we don’t turn it into a home gym or playroom.” 

“Moving in with everyone sounds like a big step,” Yvonne said. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. I love Arthur, but moving in together? He’d have to ask me first. We’d have to be on more secure footing than we are now.” 

“To be fair, it’s not moving in together in the way you’re thinking. Or I guess it kind of is. We’ll be renting the house, and he’ll be living there,” Selene explained. “His parents are paying him to be the on-site maintenance guy and helping him save up so he doesn’t have to keep paying this two-bedroom rent on his own.” 

“Why did he get a two-bedroom apartment?” Yvonne asked. “Oh, right, Lori?” 

“Yeah,” Selene said. “They moved in last year, and then she left.” 

Yvonne nodded. “What a bitch, right?” 

Selene nodded, and Yvonne relaxed. 

“Is it assumed that if I join the harem, the polycule, whatever, that I’ll be moving into the house?” Yvonne asked. “Is that an expectation?”

Selene shrugged. “I don’t think so, but it’s a great bargain. The more people who move in, the lower the rent, so you’d be doing me a favor. Not to mention, it comes with the perks of living with the harem.” 

Yvonne didn’t want to reject the opportunity, but she didn’t want to invite herself to live with them either. That was moving too fast for her. Selene appeared excited to move in with the others. She supposed she would be too, if she were in a committed relationship, and not whatever limbo she was in now.

“I’ll have to think about it,” Yvonne said. “And see the house. Due diligence, and all that.” 

Selene nodded, looked at a notification on her phone, and put it away. 

Yvonne shifted her weight, unsure of what to do next.  

“Well, should we get comfortable?” Selene asked. 

Yvonne shrugged. “Uh, comfortable?” 

Selene dropped her cardigan onto the couch and unzipped her dress. She turned her back to Yvonne, but she had no clothes to replace her dress. Yvonne realized she was stripping.  

“Oh, you’re—” 

Selene let her dress fall, stepped out of it, and kicked off her shoes, leaving her in ankle socks, her chainmail collar, and nothing else. Then she kicked off the ankle socks, leaving her barefoot. Her butt jiggled with the motion. Yvonne’s mind flashed back to last night, when Selene knelt before the chair she and Rani sat in and used her tongue and fingers to rock Yvonne’s world. 

“You’re naked,” Yvonne said, surprised. She swallowed, trying to suppress the embarrassment that tinted her face and the arousal that warmed her. 

No embarrassment showed on Selene’s face as she turned around and smiled. She folded her dress and set it on the coffee table. “Master said I could.” 

That was the only explanation she offered. 

“Ah,” Yvonne said. 

“Does it bother you?” Selene asked. 

“I, uh, well, it makes me think of last night,” Yvonne said. “When you and I, when we, um, crossed that line.” 

“When I dropped to my knees and played with you at Queenie’s command until you soaked my face?” Selene asked, her voice sultry as she met Yvonne’s gaze. “Or when I served you with my tongue and made you cum until Master was ready to play with you?” 

Yvonne cleared her throat and squeezed her legs together, which didn’t help. “Yep. That.” 

Selene grinned. “Well, I don’t have permission to play with you,” she said. “But I can ask permission. I’m sure Master wouldn’t mind me helping you relax or getting you ready for him when he gets here. I’d love to keep you wet and ready, then watch him break you.” 

Yvonne didn’t know how to respond. The mental images Selene invoked overwhelmed her. She fantasized about Selene tying her down, only to toy with her, tease her, and arouse her until Arthur was ready to fuck her. Selene would use her tongue and whatever toys they had to make her gush, and Arthur would shove his cock into her and use her for his pleasure. She gulped but couldn’t find the words to say how much she wanted that. 

“Or we can treat it more like a locker room,” Selene said. She dropped her sultry tone and returned to normal while Yvonne stared at her like a deer in the headlights. “And be comfortable while we pack Master’s things for him.” 

“But you’re naked,” Yvonne said, as if that contradicted Selene. She snapped back to reality. 

“Well, yes,” Selene said. “Like I said, comfortable.” 

“How is being naked comfortable? We’ll be moving around, packing things,” Yvonne said. 

“You weren’t embarrassed to be naked last night, were you?” Selene asked. “Why be ashamed of your body now?” 

“I’m not embarrassed,” Yvonne said, though she was. The casual nudity was new, and while last night had been hot, it had been far from normal. The memories played through her head, wreaking havoc on her mind and body. She’d performed at a wet chemise contest, seduced her crush, gotten a spanking that left her ass still red, and fucked while tied up. Each moment was a Polaroid in her mind. She wished she had pictures of Arthur fucking her, or Evie, the way he had. She needed to masturbate. 

“Don’t worry, one of the first things you’ll learn about Master’s harem is that there’s no shame allowed,” Selene said. “We don’t shame each other, or our kinks.” 

“No, it’s not that,” Yvonne argued. “It’s just, well, if we’re cleaning, organizing, packing, or whatever, nudity isn’t comfortable. Not for moving stuff,” Yvonne said. “Going without a bra?” She pointed at Selene’s naked, perky breasts, then hugged her own as if sympathizing with someone in pain. 

“Well, your chest is a lot bigger than mine,” Selene said. “It doesn’t bother me to go without a bra.” 

Yvonne pouted. “And Arthur likes that? Us being nude?” 

Selene shrugged. “He’s into lingerie more than nudity. That, and costumes. He loves it when we wear sexy costumes. The collar and lingerie combo is his favorite, though.” 

Yvonne turned contemplative. She could get a sexy costume. She had a few costumes, but none were the typical ‘sexy’ versions. Yvonne’s purchases leaned more theatrical than stripper-ific. She didn’t even know if the boutique in Crofton that she bought her costumes from had slutty versions. Her Cinderella costume was a ball gown, not a lingerie set. As for the collar, she still had the black silk ribbon choker from her Cinderella costume, but she suspected she’d need something heavier-duty. 

She owned a few lingerie sets, but they were less for anyone else and more for her. Wearing them under her clothes made her feel confident and sexy. Modeling them for Arthur and/or the women in his polycule was more intimidating. 

“I don’t have any sexy costumes,” Yvonne said. 

“He bought a few from the adult store for me. Want to try one on?” Selene asked.

Yvonne laughed. 

Selene tilted her head, puzzled. 

“Oh, you’re serious?” Yvonne asked. 

Selene nodded. 

“Oh, Honey, no,” Yvonne said. “I appreciate the thought, but if he bought those costumes in your size, they won’t fit me.” 

“Want me to text Queenie?” Selene asked. “She’s out getting boxes, but I’m sure she and Manasa could stop at a Spirit Halloween for you, or the adult store.” 

“What would I even get?” Yvonne asked. 

“Well, we got Slave Leia costumes last week. They weren’t that expensive,” Selene said. “You could get one of those, or play to one of your fantasies? What lingerie have you imagined wearing to seduce Master?” 

Yvonne blushed and turned away.

“Tell me,” Selene said. She gestured to the sofa. “Tell me your fantasy, Songbird.” 

Yvonne took the opportunity and sat on the sofa. “Which one?” She had to laugh at herself. “I’ve had a few over the years. I mean, haven’t we all?” Hell, she’d had one just a few minutes ago, but in that daydream she wasn’t wearing anything but rope.  

Selene nodded. “Tell me about it,” she said. “I have a particular green room fantasy we still haven’t done, but Fall Break is an opportunity.” 

“Oh, I have one of those too, a changing room fantasy,” Yvonne said. “Asking him for help with a stuck zipper and letting things go from there.” 

Selene nodded. “Exactly. So, in your fantasies with Arthur, what do you wear?” 

Selene took the opposite corner of the couch. She was still naked and turned to look at Yvonne, who kept her eyes forward toward the TV. Not that it helped. She could still see Selene’s reflection in the dark screen, but that helped her gather her courage. 

“Well, the most common one: I wear one of his button-down shirts, his necktie, and my socks, and he takes it from there,” Yvonne said. “He rips the shirt open, ties me up with his tie, and…” 

Selene nodded. “And?” 

Yvonne looked at Selene and knocked her hands together. “And then we boink.” 

They both burst out laughing as Selene’s curious expression shattered into surprised joy. She clapped her hands and nearly fell sideways as Yvonne laughed with her. 

“Sorry,” Selene said, speaking through her laughter. “I’m not laughing at you.” 

Yvonne was still laughing, too. “No, I get it.” She steadied herself on the sofa and turned more toward Selene as her laughter died down. “Poor choice of words.” 

“Great choice of words,” Selene corrected her. “So, what are your other fantasies?” 

“Oh, well, uh, I get most of them from the books I read. Darker fantasy stories, stuff like that. So it’s a lot of me pushing Arthur’s buttons until he snaps, ties me up, and has his way with me,” Yvonne said.

“Hot.” Selene fanned herself. “I’m sure you’ll get to play a few of those, so long as you remember your safewords when he asks.” 

Yvonne blushed. She still wasn’t sure how Arthur felt about everything, and this morning had presented no opportunities to discuss it. He’d had enough on his hands with the Kats. She’d overheard snippets as the others discussed it, but hadn’t wanted to pry. Both Kats had her on their side if they needed her. Katelyn had helped her last night, and if it weren’t for her, Yvonne wouldn’t even be in Arthur’s apartment. Kat, however, reminded her of herself, and despite her prickly nature, Yvonne liked her. 

“I’ll need to talk to Arthur when he’s ready,” Yvonne said. “I’m still not sure where we stand. We teased each other this morning, but I’m not sure he understands my flirting. He grabbed my ass, which was a good sign, but the others have been taking his attention.” 

“Yeah, sharing the attention is tough sometimes,” Selene agreed. “But costume-wise, should I tell Rani to get you a Princess Leia? Is there any other costume you’d wear to surprise Master with something sexy? Schoolgirl? Nurse? Secretary? What about Christine’s slave costume from Phantom?”

“Would it be everyone? Or just him and me?” Yvonne asked. 

“Let’s go with him and you,” Selene said. “For now.” 

“I don’t know,” Yvonne said, unable to conjure a specific costume to mind on the spot. She tried to think of sexy costumes with more character than a sexy cat, a sexy nurse, or other generic sets. “Christine’s not a bad idea. Or Jessica Rabbit? She’s sexy. Does Arthur think she’s sexy?” 

“Oh, you’d look great in that dress, and you could sing the part, too,” Selene said. 

Yvonne chuckled. “Thanks.” 

“I’ll let Queenie know,” Selene said. She dashed from the sofa and grabbed her phone from her purse. 

“I can Venmo her,” Yvonne said. “What’s her number?” 

Selene paused, reading on her phone. “She says not to worry about it.” 

“Oh, no, I should pay for it,” Yvonne said. “I don’t want to take advantage. Plus, I’d want to keep the costume. I could use it for Halloween.” 

“She says she’s deducting it from your modeling fees,” Selene said, showing Yvonne her phone. “And that she might pick other stuff for you to model for her and Master if she sees something she thinks you’d look hot wearing.” 

Yvonne read the conversation. “Does Rani have good taste?” 

Selene nodded. “She’s got an expert eye.” 

“Okay.” Yvonne shrugged. “If it fits okay, I guess I’d be okay with her taking photos of me in it.” 

Selene nodded, took back her phone, and texted Rani. 

“So, now what do we do?” Yvonne asked, reclining on the sofa. 

“We wait for Queenie to return with the boxes,” Selene said. “Just hang out and talk?” 

“But you’re naked,” Yvonne said. 

“Does it make you uncomfortable?” Selene asked. She covered her breasts with her hands, cupping them and hiding her nipples. “Would you like me to put something on?”

“No, I guess not, if you’re comfy with it. I’m just still not used to seeing this side of you,” Yvonne said.

Selene grinned, dropping her hands. “It’s freeing.” She tugged at the O-ring on her collar. “Being Master’s slave and slut is, well, like taking a long hot bath and relaxing, letting your thoughts drift away until you’re blissed out.” 

“Even when he’s not here, and you’re not masturbating or having sex?” Yvonne asked. 

Selene chuckled. “Sex is an inevitable part of it, but it’s far from the only one. It’s the climax, the conclusion, but build-up and foreplay are essential, too. That’s the fun part. It’s like playing a game or a role, watching a movie, or reading a book and losing yourself in it.” 

“For a few hours at a time?” Yvonne asked. 

Selene shrugged. “For as long as Master allows.” 

Yvonne lowered her lashes, considering what she should say next. “That sounds fun.” 

Selene nodded‌. 

“How do you keep it from becoming addictive?” Yvonne asked. “I had an amazing time last night, but now I’m thinking of things to do to him as soon as he walks through the door.” 

Selene giggled. “Me too.” 

“So, what should we do while we wait?” Yvonne asked. “He doesn’t have much to pack, and we don’t have any boxes.” 

Selene waggled her eyebrows, then laughed. “Want to try on gear from the trunk? Or Arthur’s costume closet? You’re closer to Lori’s size than mine. I’m not sure what she left.” 

“Costume closet?” Yvonne asked, her interest piqued. 

“Follow me,” Selene said, trotting into the second bedroom. The running made her bubble butt jiggle, which drew Yvonne’s attention. 

Yvonne closed her eyes and took a breath. Everything had been so confusing since last night, but she rose and followed Selene.

~~~

“Thanks for grabbing these,” Arthur said. He carried in the last of the flattened boxes with Rani. The car had been full to bursting, but they split the contents as evenly as possible between his apartment and Kat and Selene’s. Manasa had taken the boxes to his apartment, and he’d taken them to the girls’ under Rani’s supervision. Manasa was making a second supply run. 

Rani sipped from the Starbucks cup in her hand, watching Arthur set the boxes down. Kat stood beside her behind the couch and sipped from her matching cup. 

“You must have worked up a sweat,” Rani said. “Do you want to take off your shirt? We don’t mind. Do you mind?” She checked with Kat. 

“I don’t,” Kat said. “You can take off your shirt if you need to.” 

“Thanks,” Arthur said, laughing at them as he shook his head. “But the temp is cooler than I expected today. It’s very refreshing.” 

Rani cleared her throat, holding her drink and arching an eyebrow in challenge. “Don’t make me spill this on your shirt. I’ll do it.” 

Arthur threw his hands up in surrender and closed the apartment door. “Oh, it’s so hot outside, and it’s like a furnace in here.” He tugged at his collar as if he were sweating. “I have to cool off.” He grabbed the hem of his shirt and tore it off in one quick motion. 

Rani wolf-whistled, and Kat laughed. It was good to see her in a better mood. 

“Better?” Arthur asked. 

“Yeah. Kat? Your opinion?” Rani asked, looking at Kat. 

“Much better,” Kat said. “Those jeans look good on him.” 

“They’d look better on the floor,” Rani said. “But if he strips, he isn’t getting any work done for at least another hour.” 

“I have to get this done,” Arthur said. “Then Kat and I have our date night.” She needed one-on-one attention. 

“Eh,” Kat said, shrugging. 

Arthur looked confused. “Eh?” 

“I mean, I feel shitty, I’m moody as fuck, and you never sent me a lesson plan, so what’s the point?” Kat asked. 

“We can make the lesson plan together, then do it. It’ll take your mind off things,” Arthur said. 

“Or it’ll make me overthink everything. It might piss me off that you’re half-assing our date because you couldn’t find time to prioritize it with your other girlfriends forcing a new one on you,” Kat argued. “You need to stop that, by the way.” She glared at Rani.  

“Oh, that’s not fair,” Rani said. “You’ve been taking up as much Arthur-time as any of us with your storming off yesterday. And Yvonne’s not my fault. Besides, have you seen her? She’s hot and pretty, with a rack that turns even your head, Brat. Can you blame me for wanting to fuck her? Besides, once you move into the house with Arthur, you’ll have more access to the hot handyman than the rest of us.” 

“Is that all I am to you? A tool belt?” Arthur teased. 

Rani examined his ‘belt’ area and grinned. 

“Kat, are you mad Yvonne might join the polycule?” Arthur asked. “Are you vetoing her? Or is something else bothering you?” 

“I’m just in a mood,” Kat said. She sighed and folded in on herself, focusing on her coffee. “Rani’s right. I’ve been hogging you, and I’m far too co-dependent. And I’m still trying to figure things out with Katelyn.” 

Rani and Arthur shared a look. 

“Besides,” Kat said, not seeing the exchange. “Everyone else is here. It’d be rude to fuck off on our own, and with the attention I got yesterday, it’d be selfish of me to keep you to myself.” 

Rani looked from Arthur to Kat and back, checking their expressions to decide whether to get involved. She stayed out of it, which Arthur considered wise. 

“Do you want a group date night?” Arthur asked. “With everyone but Kelly and um,” 

“Katelyn,” Kat said. 

“Yeah,” Arthur said. 

Kat shrugged. “We’ve had our group night. I need time alone. You can have fun, and I can catch up on my homework and sleep. At least one person in the polycule should be responsible.” 

“You don’t want a date night?” Arthur asked. The idea of changing the plan surprised him, but it hurt to think she’d rather be alone than with him. “Just us, a nice dinner, dancing, and then home? We don’t have to sleep together for it to be a date, and we don’t need to have a BDSM session either.” 

Kat sipped her coffee. “Can I think about it?” 

“Sure,” Arthur said, glancing at Rani, then Kat. “If you’re not up to it, I understand, but I want to spend time together, just the two of us. A proper date, with or without sex and kink. No pressure.”

“What if I want sex and kink?” Kat asked. “Want to push me into the bedroom and fuck my brains out, Mister Handyman?”  

“And that’s my cue,” Rani said, gesturing toward the door. “You two have fun.” 

“No, she’s just teasing me. We didn’t mean—” Arthur protested. 

“I know,” Rani said. She stopped in front of him, putting her hand on his bare chest and tracing her fingertips along his pecs. She kissed him. “I have homework to do. There are too many distractions over here. If I stick around, those jeans are coming off you. I’ll go to your apartment to hang out with Selene and Yvonne. If you need a break, stop by.” 

Arthur nodded. “Sure.”

Rani smiled and hugged Kat, keeping it platonic. “Go easy on him, Kat. He’s too worried about you to try anything, so if you want him to fix your attitude, you’re gonna have to initiate. The poor guy is doing his best, but he has no fucking clue how to help you.” 

Kat winked at Rani. “No promises.” 

Arthur chuckled, and Rani left, closing the door behind her. 

“You should get to work,” Kat said. She gestured at the piles Arthur had made. “Chop, chop. Those boxes won’t pack themselves.” 

Arthur nodded. “You got it. One packed apartment coming up.” 

Kat chuckled and retreated to her bedroom as Arthur boxed Selene’s things. He left Selene a suitcase packed with a week’s worth of outfits. Otherwise, he boxed her clothes, knick-knacks, and books (except her current textbooks, notebooks, and a set of lingerie). Everything else, except the furniture, went into a well-organized, well-packed box. He stacked those boxes against the living room wall. 

Packing the living room was swift, wrapping the breakables in the bubble wrap Rani had brought. He kept a torn-off sheet to pop every time the impulse hit, so he didn’t pop any of the packing wrap. It was a practical solution to a whimsical compulsion he was proud of having created. Manasa dropped off more flattened boxes, and then a third load of supplies as he worked before saying goodbye and shaking his hand. 

It was awkward to shake her hand after fucking her the day before, but that was his life now. He supposed there were worse lives to live. 

With music in his earbuds, time went quickly. Hours passed as he packed the living room, kitchen, and bathroom. He kept his playlist spooky and Halloween-themed: Beetlejuice, Addams Family, Sweeney Todd, and more played in his ears. He packed each room faster than he had planned. Kat and Selene didn’t have many possessions between them despite having more decorations than he did. Eventually, Kat’s bedroom was the only one left. He took out his earphones and knocked. 

“Who is it?” Kat asked. She was being funny, which Arthur took as a positive sign. 

“It’s the mover, Arthur, Miss,” Arthur said. “I’ve boxed up everything I can. This is the only room left.” 

Kat cracked open the door, lifting her eyes from his socked feet to his low-hanging jeans, over the lines of his abs and pecs. “Oh,” she said. “Have you eaten lunch? It’s getting late. It’ll be dinnertime soon.” 

“I had a big breakfast, Miss. So, I can hold out until dinner,” Arthur said. 

“I guess you’d better come inside.” She opened the door for him, revealing that she’d changed her clothes while he’d been working. She’d done her makeup and cleaned her room. Her homework was on her desk, but her laptop was closed, as if she’d been waiting for his knock. 

Kat’s bedroom reminded him of a dorm room. A bed, desk, and dresser waited in the room. Bookshelves lined the walls, filling any gaps that might have let paint show through. She didn’t have many knick-knacks, but she had plenty of books. Half of them were textbooks, and the other half covered a surprising array of genres. 

“Nice room.” Arthur stepped inside. He sniffed. She’d sprayed an air freshener he couldn’t place, but it smelled of apples and cinnamon. Or was that perfume? He turned to see her close the door. She locked it. He gulped. 

“Thanks,” she said, brushing her hair behind her ear. “I’m surprised you noticed it.” She tugged the silk ribbon tied around her waist. Her pink robe fell open, revealing a matching pink lace bra and panty set. Her eyes trailed his body again, this time from his shoulders to the crotch of his jeans, where they stopped. 

“Do you treat all your workmen this way?” Arthur asked, leaning into the role. This wasn’t their usual fare, but if Kat wanted to play a game, he’d oblige her. Not everything had to be a submissive and her sir. Yet he’d be as rough as she enjoyed. He was trying to decipher the lines between what she said she wanted, what she actually wanted, and what she needed. That wasn’t always easy with Kat.   

“No, I don’t treat every handyman this way,” Kat said. “I’ve never done this before, but you’re so… so… hot.” She stepped closer and raised her hand, letting it graze his abs. “Have you done this before?” 

“This?” Arthur asked, gesturing between them. “No, but don’t worry. I’ll take good care of you.” He cupped her cheek and swept his thumb over it. He kissed her, and she kissed him back, stretching to her tiptoes as he hovered over her. 

Kat grinned, glancing at the bed. “You know, if we break the bed, we can throw it away. We wouldn’t have to move it to the storage unit.” 

“One broken bed frame, coming right up, miss,” Arthur said. He grabbed Kat by the waist, and she squealed as he lifted her. She threw her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. He held her, kissing her until he felt the heat between them grow into something hot enough to melt her. 

“Well?” Kat asked, pulling away to breathe. “Are we breaking this bed or aren’t we?” 

“What’s the rush?” Arthur asked. 

“I’m paying you by the hour,” Kat said, adding another layer to the fantasy. 

“Fair enough,” Arthur said. He tossed her onto the bed from where they stood beside it. 

She landed on her butt with an “oof” but smiled as she stretched out before him on the mattress. Kat put her hands above her head, twining her wrists and arching her back to present her breasts to him. 

Arthur grinned, unbuckled his belt, and shoved his jeans and boxers to the floor. He stepped out of them and climbed over Kat as she shuffled back and rested her head on the pillow. She spread her legs as he put himself between them and moaned as he rubbed against her. His patience and her panties kept him from plunging into her. He kissed her, making her arch her back and press her body against his as he held himself over her. 

She was hot enough, but he wasn’t sure if she was wet enough yet, so he kept kissing her as he checked her with his hand. Her panties were dry, with the faintest beads of arousal glistening on her skin. He withdrew his hand, using his hips to press himself against her and rub her to full bloom as they made out. 

Kat enjoyed kissing, and she was good at it, yielding to his lips and tongue despite her brash start. She pushed him and yielded when he pushed back, submitting to him in action far more than she ever did in words. He had only two hesitations. First, he was sweaty, but she didn’t seem to mind. Second, he wondered if this replaced their date tonight. He hoped she didn’t see it as a concession she had to make to have the night alone. 

He wanted to ask her, but doing so would break the narrative she’d established. So, he’d ask her afterward and deal with the answer when it came. 

“Take off that robe,” Arthur said, holding it down so she could slide her arms out. 

Kat slid her arms out of it, reached behind her back, and unsnapped her bra. Arthur lifted it off her, tossing it aside and leaving her on her bed in nothing but her panties. He kissed his way down her body, trailing his lips from the nape of her neck to her panties’ waistline, one inch at a time. 

Arthur lifted her legs, moving her as if she weighed nothing. He held her ankles with one hand and pulled her panties with his other hand, removing them. He released her legs so she could part them around him once more. Arthur laid down, leaving his lips above where her panties had been. He resumed his kissing. 

She was wet when his lips reached her sex, and she moaned as his tongue found her clit. He sucked, nibbled, and tongued in alternate strokes, and Kat ran her fingers through his hair, holding on as if she were riding a bucking bronco. Yet she did the bucking as she held his face against her. 

Arthur curled his arms under her legs. He held her legs open with his arms wrapped around them and his palms against the inside of her thighs. She was delicious, and he devoured her for lunch instead of any other meal. 

“I’m about to–” she tried to warn him, but it was too late as she sucked in a breath, held it, and came. Her whole body shook as he held his tongue in place against her, waiting for it to subside. A flow of her arousal flooded from her and coated his face, making him grin as he waited out the intensity. 

As soon as she relaxed, he started again. 

“Oh, God—” she choked out. “Stop, Arthur, I can’t. You’ve done enough.” 

“Don’t be silly,” Arthur said, keeping his voice low. “I’m going to keep eating you until I’m satisfied that there’s not an ounce of tension left. Now be a good girl and let me finish my lunch.” 

She sighed, but she knew her safewords and remained silent. He continued, being gentle and caressing at first, building slowly until he was lashing her with his tongue and fucking her with his fingers. He ate and played with her that way for several minutes, until a rolling tremble signaled him to press his tongue and swipe up, trapping her clit against her. 

“Arthur—FUCK—GODDAMNIT!” Kat cried out as he tore a second orgasm out of her. She imploded, relaxed, and he began again. 

“How many—do you—expect me—to—take?” Kat asked. 

“A few more,” Arthur said. 

“A few?” Kat asked, surprised. 

“I’m hungry,” Arthur said. “Now, shh.” 

“I don’t know if I can—” Kat cut herself off as he started again. “Oh, fuck! What about the bed? You promised to break it.” 

“Don’t worry,” Arthur said. He kept his voice low and quiet as he fingered her, as if whispering to her pussy. “When you’re at your limit, and you’re so orgasmed-out you don’t know if you’ll ever have the energy for another one? When you can’t stand without your legs shaking like a faun? That’s when I’ll fuck you so hard it’ll break the bed, and that’s when I’ll fill you with cum and leave you to sleep it off.” 

“Fuuuuck,” Kat said, resting her head on her pillow. Her hair was a mess, and she shuddered with every breath as he played with her. “Arthur.” 

“Kat,” Arthur said. “Hold on to your headboard for me.” 

Kat raised her arms and held onto the headboard behind her. 

“That’s a good girl,” Arthur hummed, diving into her once more. 

“Oh—” Kat moaned, her eyes rolling back. “Oh!” 

Kat’s chest heaved with every breath she took as Arthur dove between her legs. He used his fingers and mouth to bring her to another orgasm. She was tired from yesterday’s constant walking. It had made her legs sore, and her activities after the Faire, this morning, and in bed with Arthur weren’t helping. 

Her third orgasm struck after another five minutes of his onslaught. Three orgasms and counting. She didn’t know if she could take another one. Her clit was sore, but Arthur seemed to recognize that. He focused more on the other sensitive parts of her body, letting his hands wander to her butt, breasts, thighs, hips, and waist. Each time he gripped her flesh, Kat took it as a miniature hug. Arthur shattered her, then rebuilt her piece by piece, only to shatter her again. 

Her brain slowly lost its thoughts. Anxiety over Katelyn faded to the background. Her worries left her head as she focused on Arthur. She lowered her eyes to see him looking at her with such an intense gaze that she almost came again. His bright eyes were fiery with lust, and to think that her body could evoke that in him made her smile. 

“Cum for me,” Arthur said, growling low. 

“I can’t,” Kat panted. “Please. I can’t, Arthur. I’m so tired.” 

“You can,” Arthur said. “Just relax. Stop trying to get there and let it come naturally.” 

Kat tried. She relaxed, obeying him without thinking. She didn’t have the energy to brat at him. Instead, she’d followed Rani’s advice and tried something new. Rather than baiting him into giving her the aggressive sex she wanted, she invited him in and gave him permission. That seemed to do the trick. 

It wasn’t as fun for her as the other way around, but it worked. Arthur was willing to play the handyman roleplay she’d set up, but their roleplay wasn’t the point. It was an excuse, and even though Kat was terrible at it, Arthur seemed to enjoy it enough to reward her. 

“That’s it,” Arthur said, sensing the building tension in her lower body. “Look at you, being such a good girl for me. I’ll take care of you.” 

Kat came, shivering as she erupted. Her fourth orgasm was weaker than its predecessors, but her soul left her body. The energy they’d built left her like lightning. Her fingers in his hair slackened with the rest of her muscle tension, and she sagged against the mattress as if she’d dissolve into it. 

She panted, and Arthur matched her breathing as he kissed her between her legs in gentle pecks of his lips against her mound and thigh. 

Kat closed her eyes, and her head lolled to the side. She tried to stay awake, to tell Arthur he could fuck her now because she wouldn’t survive more oral. The soreness and stimulation were too much. Her clit was tired, but she’d take her pounding and help him however she could.

Arthur shifted, climbing over her, but didn’t enter her like she’d thought he would. He lay beside her, wiped his face on one of her throw pillows, put an arm around her, and cuddled her. 

“Sleep tight,” Arthur said. He hugged her, kissed her forehead, and darkness overtook Kat’s world in the comfort of her boyfriend’s arms. Sleep took her into a gentle nap as she listened to his heartbeat.

~~~

“What do you think they’re doing over there?” Rani asked, looking out of Arthur’s apartment window onto the parking lot. It’d been a few hours since she left them. No one had heard a word or gotten a text.

“Kat’s doing her homework, and Arthur’s packing the apartment,” Selene said, entering Arthur’s dining area. “Knowing them, they won’t do anything fun until they’re done with their work.” 

“Pity,” Rani said, turning away from the window. “How are you and Yvonne progressing?” 

“We’ve packed the books in his office, except for his current textbooks, of course,” Selene said. “We got distracted in the bedroom, but we finished.” 

“That sounds promising,” Rani said, glancing over at Yvonne as she came into view. Her hair was up in a ponytail, but her makeup showed no signs of being mussed. 

“We were laughing at his old T-shirts,” Selene explained. “Not playing without permission.” 

“Damn,” Rani said. “And here I thought you were the fun one.” 

Selene chuckled. 

Mindy giggled. She’d come over after church and brought her homework, Rani’s homework, Yvonne’s homework, and a change of clothes for Yvonne, packed by her instructions. Manasa had left after a formal goodbye, as usual, to keep from getting emotional. 

Rani and Mindy sat at the kitchen table, doing homework. Selene and Yvonne were bringing supplies into the kitchen to pack his dishes and extras.

“Oh, wow, he keeps a full kitchen,” Yvonne said, admiring the spices in a cabinet above the stove. “Does he cook?” 

“Oh, yeah,” Selene said. “He’s good at it, too.” 

“Damn,” Yvonne said. “He just keeps getting hotter.” 

“Right?” Rani asked. “You should see him over at Kat’s, moving boxes in just his jeans.” 

Yvonne gulped. Selene licked her lips.

Mindy giggled. “Perverts!” 

Yvonne and Selene laughed it off and returned to work. Well, Yvonne worked. Selene popped a handful of bubble wrap first. 

“I thought you two were friends?” Mindy asked Yvonne. “How come you don’t know he can cook?” 

“It’s never come up,” Yvonne said. “I guess I knew he cooked because he made his own lunches, but that’s not the same as having a full spice cabinet. And most guys say they can cook, but they mean breakfast and grilled cheese, not something with more than three ingredients.” 

“Fair,” Mindy said.

“Is this your first time in his apartment?” Rani asked.

“Yeah,” Yvonne admitted. “I guess it’s old hat to you.”

“Hmm,” Rani said. “I guess so, but I haven’t gone snooping through his bedroom drawers before.”

Yvonne blushed. “I wasn’t snooping. We packed his stuff. That’s it.” 

“And his closet?” Mindy asked. “Did you snoop through his closet? How many of his clothes did you smell?”

Yvonne blushed and looked away, packing his kitchen as Selene knelt to pack one of the lower cabinets. 

“Okay, that’s one class done,” Rani said after minutes of silence. “How are you doing, Min?” 

“Oh, I’m good,” Mindy said. “Almost done with this paper, just distracted.” 

“Because Yvonne is looking so fuckable in those sweats?” Rani asked. “Yeah, I had that problem too.” 

Yvonne blushed, but Mindy only chuckled and shook her head. 

“I’m the one who’s naked,” Selene said, gesturing to herself. “Shouldn’t I distract you?” 

“Excellent point,” Rani said. “Slut, are you in the mood to play? I finished a chunk of my homework, so I deserve a treat.” 

“Oh, is she the reward for finishing homework sections?” Mindy asked. “I’d have focused more if I knew that.”

Selene grinned. She stepped over to the table, folded her hands in front of her, and bowed her head. “What is your wish, my queen?” 

Rani grinned. “Do you two mind if we play? Should we go to the bedroom?” 

“I don’t mind,” Mindy said, glancing at Yvonne, then back at Rani. “I’d prefer to watch, to be honest, at least until I finish this paper. Then I’m joining you.” 

“Am I allowed to take part without Arthur here?” Yvonne asked. “He made a point of that before. Are you allowed to play without him?” 

“We’re allowed to play with each other,” Rani said. She gestured between herself, Mindy, and Selene. “You can watch. Or listen, I guess. You can’t see the living room from the kitchen, anyway. You’d have to be at the table, and watching isn’t participating, right?”

“Is that a distinction Arthur’s likely to make?” Yvonne asked. “I don’t want you to get in trouble.” She moved her hand to cover her butt, remembering Arthur spanking her last night.

“Well, if he doesn’t like it, he’ll punish us for it,” Mindy said. “That’s fun, too. I love watching him spank the others, and Rani’s got a great ass for it. So it’s a win-win either way.”  

“Now who’s the pervert?” Rani asked, teasing Mindy. 

Mindy chuckled. “Hurry. I’m nearly finished with this, and when I’m done, I want my turn with Slut.” 

Rani gave her a sly look. “Join us if we aren’t finished. I’ll take care of you, Whore. Slut, let’s see how quickly you can make me cum. We’ll time it. You can see if you can’t beat your time with Mindy. Then, we’ll ask Arthur for permission and see if you can set a record with Songbird. I’m sure you can make her sing a few notes.”  

Selene grinned. “Yes, my queen.” She trotted to the living room and waited as Rani rose from her seat at the table and strode in. 

Rani stood by the door and gestured to her sweatpants. Selene took her cue, pulled them down, and knelt. She dragged Rani’s panties with her sweatpants, but Rani left her hoodie on. 

Rani sat in the center of the sofa and spread her legs, giving Mindy a clear view. 

Selene crawled over and kissed her way along Rani’s thigh, blocking Mindy’s view with the back of her head as she kissed Rani’s pussy. 

Rani started a stopwatch on her phone, set it aside, and smiled as she reclined into the sofa, enjoying Selene’s tongue. Selene kept her pace slow and steady, letting Rani’s arousal build as she teased her and slid her hands under Rani’s hoodie to squeeze a breast. 

“Oh,” Rani said, grinning. “Such a dirty girl, Slut.” 

“Is this usual for you guys?” Yvonne asked Mindy. She didn’t look at Selene and Rani as she stepped up to the kitchen table. “The constant sex?” 

“Constant?” Rani asked. “It’s been hours.” 

“Eh,” Mindy said. “We’re not always doing sexy stuff, but if Selene wants to be the harem’s free-use sex toy, and we’re in the mood, why not have fun with each other?” 

“It’s so weird seeing you this way, Selene,” Yvonne said, casting a furtive glance in her direction. 

Selene said something, but with her face buried between Rani’s legs, Yvonne couldn’t make out the words. Apparently, Rani had more practice. 

“She said to call her Slut,” Rani said. She pulled Selene’s hair and turned her head toward the kitchen table. “Isn’t that right?” 

“Yes, my queen,” Selene said. “Please, call me Slut. It helps the immersion.” 

Rani chuckled and put Selene’s face back into her crotch. She left her hand in Selene’s hair, holding her in place. “Good girl. Now get back to work, Slut.” 

“Fuck, that was hot,” Yvonne said. She looked at Mindy, who licked her lips. 

“Yeah,” Mindy agreed. “The harem names make it hotter, too.”  

“Is that what you call each other all the time?” Yvonne asked. 

“Usually,” Mindy said. “Slut’s rarely in ‘Selene-mode,’ but when we’re alone, we call her Slut. I’m Whore when it’s people in the harem hanging out. You know the others. When we’re out in the world, we call each other by our names or more appropriate pet names, but alone? It’s fun to remind each other of our play names.” 

“So Rani is the second-in-command as Queenie? Or is that Kelly because she’s Wifey?” Yvonne asked. 

“Neither,” Rani said. “Arthur’s in charge. I like to switch, and so does Kelly, so we Domme the others when we feel like it, if they’re into it. Queenie is just short for Queen of the Concubines, so sometimes I go by Concubine instead. I’m not strict about it.” Rani struggled to continue, as her talking prompted Selene to work harder to hold her attention.  

Yvonne nodded, taking that in. “Should I get something sexier than Songbird?” She asked. “And what do you mean she’s rarely in Selene-mode?” 

“Well, she prefers being Slut, so,” Mindy gestured. “She’s doing Rani instead of homework or packing. And let me guess: she took off her clothes as soon as the door shut?”

“Yeah,” Yvonne said. 

“No shame in knowing what you want and going for it,” Mindy said. “But I’m curious to see how she handles girlfriend week.” 

“Girlfriend week?” Yvonne asked. 

“After Fall break,” Mindy explained. “She has to spend an entire week as Selene, being Arthur’s girlfriend, not his slut or slave.”

“That doesn’t sound hard,” Yvonne said. 

“It will be for her,” Mindy said. 

“It’s just a break,” Rani said. “And she’s such a good slut.” She patted Selene’s head. “Our king is lucky to have a slave like her, and so are we. Mmm.” She moaned as Selene expressed her gratitude for the compliment. She’d been practicing, and Rani was wetter than Selene’s tongue as she licked, lapped, and sucked. “Fuck, you’re getting better at this.” 

“Don’t wear her out before I get a turn!” Mindy whined. 

Yvonne shook her head and returned to work. She hadn’t changed out of her borrowed clothes yet, but Mindy had brought her a backpack with clothes that waited for her on the chair nearest the kitchen. Rani wondered if she planned to change into them after having fun with Arthur, but Selene’s efforts distracted her from asking. 

She focused on Selene, holding her blonde hair in her hands as she clung to Selene’s scalp. 

Selene’s playful tongue searched for Rani’s most sensitive nerves and found them, teasing and pleasing until Rani was ready to burst. She lapped at Rani’s pussy, working her way inward, plunging her tongue into her and licking upward until she came to Rani’s clit. She sucked on it, clamping it between her lips and using her face to massage the sensitive spots around it. 

Rani rolled her hips, riding Selene’s face. She panted, her breathing hot and heavy as Selene increased her pace. She’d started slow, but her licks became more aggressive as Rani’s arousal made things easier for her. 

Mindy ignored them, typing with demonic speed on her computer. 

Yvonne hummed as she packed Arthur’s dishes, drowning out the wet sounds of Selene’s tongue, but they didn’t compare to Rani’s moans coming from the sofa. Her moans grew louder as Selene played with her. Rani grew more desperate for release with every stroke. 

Selene braced herself against Rani’s legs, using her thighs as armrests while she ate her out. Rani locked eyes with her. Something about looking into her bright blue eyes with the bottom half of her face buried in Rani’s pussy made Rani moan in delight. 

Selene took her volume as encouragement and pushed harder, becoming more forceful and applying more pressure.  

“Oh, fuck,” Rani said, pulling Selene further into her. “Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!” 

Selene slipped two long, slender fingers into Rani’s pussy and pumped. The unprompted act of lust made Rani clench, but she was too wet to offer more resistance. 

Selene curled her fingers, dragging them along Rani’s ceiling as she applied pressure from above against Rani’s clit. She kept it up, pumping her fingers in brief, powerful strokes until Rani’s gasps grew to a crescendo. She swirled her tongue around Rani’s clit and flicked it, driving her chin into the space between her tongue and her fingers. Her concentrated efforts pushed Rani over the edge into oblivion as she came, soaking Selene’s face, hair, and hand. 

Rani’s body trembled, then imploded, making her freeze in mid-curl with Selene’s face shoved between her clamping thighs. She rode the wave with everything she had, gritting her teeth and clamping her eyes shut as she trembled. 

Selene held still, waiting for Rani’s orgasm to pass. 

“Fuuuuuck,” Rani exhaled, relaxing on the sofa. She slapped her phone and ended the stopwatch. 

Selene shot up from between her legs, gasping for breath, and checked her time. She licked her lips. “May I wash my face, Mistress?” 

“I wouldn’t bother,” Rani said. “Looks like Mindy finished her paper.” 

“Yep!” Mindy shouted from the table. “My turn! Get over here, Slut!” She stayed in her chair, but pulled her panties down from under her Sunday dress and spread her legs. 

Selene pulled her hair back, adjusting it after Rani had loosened her ponytail. Her face glistened with Rani’s arousal, but other than licking her lips, she did nothing to wipe it off. “Coming,” she said, and crawled on her hands and knees from the living room sofa, around the coffee table, under the kitchen table, until her head disappeared under Mindy’s dress. 

“Tell me when to start the stopwatch,” Rani said, sitting up. 

“Go,” Mindy said, pointing at the phone. 

Rani pressed the button and enjoyed the show. 

“I’m just packing Arthur’s apartment on my own, now, aren’t I?” Yvonne asked no one in particular.

~~~

Mindy sat at Arthur’s kitchen table, her laptop closed as Selene crawled under it. Mindy’s Sunday dress fit her church’s dress code. It was modest, with long sleeves to her wrists. The bodice wasn’t too tight, which obscured her bust, and the long, straight skirt fell to her ankles. Still, it had plenty of fabric, so she didn’t have to pull it up to her waist to spread her legs. She did, however, lift it to the upper part of her thighs. 

Selene crawled forward and placed her hands on Mindy’s legs. Mindy scooted in the chair, sat on the edge, and leaned back, feet flat on the floor. She was barefoot, as usual. She always took off her shoes when entering a house or apartment. 

Mindy closed her eyes as Selene kissed the inside of her thigh. The thrill of her touch sent a pulse through her, and she looked over the table to see Rani meeting her gaze. 

“Tell me when to start the timer,” Rani said, grinning. 

Selene’s kisses traveled from beside her knee up her thigh to her mound. 

“Now!” Mindy said, pointing at Rani. 

Selene’s tongue slid between her pussy lips, making Mindy twitch. She grabbed the hem of her skirt, holding it against her thighs for support as Selene’s head stretched against the fabric. Under the table, it looked as if she were under a sheet. 

Yvonne sighed to Mindy’s left, in the kitchen, packing Arthur’s things. 

“Envious?” Rani asked as she walked into the kitchen, still bottomless but wearing her hoodie. She held up her phone and showed it to Yvonne. “Do you want me to text our king and beg him to let Selene go down on you? You enjoyed her last night, right? Or maybe Mindy and I should take turns. Then you can announce which of us you prefer going down on you.” 

Yvonne swallowed. 

“Don’t make it a competition,” Mindy said, shuddering. “That’s not fair. Selene will win.” 

“Excuse me?” Rani asked, offended. “Bitch, I’m the one who taught her how to eat pussy. No way she’s better than me.” 

Mindy glanced at Yvonne, who refused to look at her or Selene. “You’re making Yvonne uncomfortable.” 

Rani turned toward Yvonne. “Say the word, Songbird. I’ll ask him.” 

Yvonne nodded. “You can ask.” 

“I can,” Rani said, agreeing. “But do you want me to?” 

Yvonne glanced at Mindy, then back at Rani. She nodded. 

“Say the word,” Rani said. 

Confusion clouded Yvonne’s eyes, but it vanished as understanding dawned. “Please?” 

“Good girl,” Rani said. She turned away and sat in the kitchen chair next to Mindy. She put her feet up, resting them on Selene’s back.

Selene moaned, sending vibrations against Mindy’s pussy as she kissed it. 

Rani texted, turning her phone so that Mindy could read along. It wasn’t too distracting, but she closed her eyes when Arthur took too long to respond. Selene’s tongue and fingers distracted her‌.  

Queenie: Hey, how are things with Brat? Are you coming home tonight, or staying there? 

King: I’m staying here. We had fun, and she’s napping now. I’ll finish up packing, then cook dinner for a date night in.  

Queenie: Okay. If you’re staying over there, can Whore, Slut, and I have permission to play with Songbird?

King: I don’t want to pressure her into a BDSM scene until I’ve discussed her list with her. 

Queenie: Oh, don’t worry. We won’t do anything too BDSM heavy. The poor girl is begging for sex, and Slut is going between Whore and me, but we’ve been leaving Songbird out of it.

King: I don’t want Selene working overtime as Slut either. Make sure she gets some homework done. One assignment, whatever she has due first. That’s all I ask. If she gives you too much lip, you can threaten her with the chastity belt. If she doesn’t cave, put it on her until the morning. 

Queenie: As you wish, my king. Mindy, Yvonne, and I have homework too. We’ll get some done before playtime. 

King: Good girl. 

Queenie: So, if we do that, we can play with Yvonne? 

King: Yes, if she agrees. Do not pressure her into agreeing. 

Queenie: Of course not. Consent is the only king I respect more than you. 

King: Good girl. Have fun. Try to keep it to a reasonable volume at a reasonable hour, though. My downstairs neighbors are testy after last Wednesday. 

Queenie: lol. Don’t worry; if they call the cops, I’ll buy this apartment complex and evict them. 

King: lol. 

King: Wait, you couldn’t really do that, can you? 

Queenie: lol. 

“Good news,” Rani said, tucking her phone into her hoodie pocket. “Arthur says Yvonne can play, so long as she’s willing, of course, and so long as Selene does at least one homework assignment.” 

Mindy almost chuckled when Selene stopped what she was doing to protest. But it felt too good to let Selene stop. She caught Selene’s head and pushed her back into place. The three-tap system worked if Selene ‌wanted to stop, but she didn’t. She went back to work with enthusiasm. It might have been her frustration at having to do homework, but Mindy appreciated it either way.

“I have homework, too,” Yvonne said. “Once I’m finished, we can sit at the table with our books.” 

“Once I’m finished, you mean,” Mindy said. “Selene’s staying down there until the job’s done. Right Slut?” 

“Mmm-hmm!” Selene’s enthusiastic response came from under Mindy’s skirt. 

Rani chuckled. “I’m surprised you haven’t cum yet, Min.” 

Mindy smiled. “Well, I’ve had more distractions. Plus, this chair isn’t the comfiest.” 

Rani chuckled. “Anything I can do to help you squirt right in Slut’s face?” 

Mindy moaned. 

“Jiminy Cricket,” Yvonne muttered. 

“Still not a thing,” Rani said. She pointed at Yvonne. “Curse correctly in my fucking presence, or not at all.” 

Yvonne looked offended. “What do you mean?” 

“Jiminy Cricket isn’t a curse word! It’s a cricket guy from Pinocchio!” Rani said. 

“This isn’t helping,” Mindy said, shaking her head. “Rani, if you want to help, take off your hoodie and do that belly dance from yesterday?” 

“Pervert,” Rani said, lowering her lashes at Mindy. 

“You know I am,” Mindy giggled, but choked on her laughter halfway through as Selene’s tongue flicked her clit. “Oh, fuck.” 

“Right?” Rani asked, rising from her chair. She strode into the living room, closed the blinds, and took off her hoodie, letting it fall to the floor. She hadn’t worn a bra beneath it. The only thing on her torso was her navel and nipple piercings, connected by a thin gold chain, and a waist chain between them. 

Mindy wanted to wolf-whistle, but her breathing was too erratic with Selene going nuts between her legs. She panted and groped herself to relieve the tension. It did nothing but rebound on her, making her pleasure grow.

Rani raised her hands above her head, crossed her wrists, then lowered her hands. She caressed herself, putting on a show for Mindy. It wasn’t part of the belly dancer routine from the Ren Faire, but Mindy couldn’t take her eyes off Rani. 

“Do you enjoy making me do this, Whore?” Rani asked. “You’ll be a good girl for me later, right?” 

“Oh, shit,” Mindy said, panting as Rani struck the beginning pose. “Oh, fuck, Selene, don’t—” 

Selene’s tongue swirled around Mindy’s clit as two of her fingers slipped into Mindy’s hole. Her ring-finger knuckle pressed between Mindy’s holes, and her pinky explored the only remaining one. 

Mindy moaned, clenching her thighs together around Selene’s head and gripping her skirt. “Oh, fuck!” 

Rani wiggled her hips, stepping forward in a dance pose, and Yvonne stopped as she rounded the corner. Her face was fire-truck red, and she covered her eyes with her hand, then realized she wasn’t supposed to. She dropped her hand and made a noise somewhere between a moan and a ‘damn’ that sounded guttural, unintentional, and hot as fuck. 

Mindy wanted to hold off, to last longer against Selene’s onslaught. Instead, she came. Her stomach convulsed as Rani did an impressive body roll. Mindy missed the rest, slamming her eyes shut and curling forward, face down on the kitchen table. 

“Body rolls are really hard,” Yvonne said. “That’s impressive.” 

Rani laughed, but stopped when she realized why Mindy was curling forward and shuddering. 

“Oh, damn, someone stop the timer! My phone’s there on the table,” Rani said, pointing. 

~~~

Kat rolled over and realized the warm body next to her was gone. She blinked, confused, as she sat up in her bed. The lights were off, and boxes filled her room instead of books. Her decorations were gone, packed away, and the potted plant on her desk stood among textbooks and notebooks that Arthur must have set aside. He’d packed her room after she’d fallen asleep. That surprised her, but even more surprising was that she’d slept through it. She’d been more tired than she realized with last night’s lack of sleep.

The caffeine in her system hadn’t been enough to keep her awake, but it made the sex amazing, and when she woke, it was with an unusual clarity. She was refreshed and awake, not groggy at all. “Maybe I should start drinking coffee before bed,” she mused. 

Her empty room gave her no response. 

“Arthur?” she asked, searching for him. 

Of course, he’d left. Kat couldn’t have expected him to sleep through dinner with her and ignore the others who were waiting for him in his apartment. He had other women to satisfy his needs if or when she failed as a girlfriend. She’d left him with a dire case of blue balls after he spent so much energy taking care of her. 

Just like Katelyn. She had Kelly waiting for her when Kat failed to answer her about their kiss. She still felt Katelyn’s lips on hers as she pressed her fingers to her mouth and pulled them away. The afterimage of Katelyn turning away and crying in the hotel lobby haunted Kat in the dim room. 

Guilt clawed at her, and she deserved the pain. She was selfish, full of envy and jealousy, rigid, obnoxious, too much, and not cut out for polyamory. Hell, she wasn’t stable enough to handle a monogamous relationship. She’d known that going into the polycule, but facing it alone in the darkness of her disassembled bedroom was too stark a reality. If it were anything else, she’d call Katelyn or Selene, but she couldn’t talk to either of them about this. 

Kat fell back into her bed and curled onto her side. The tears came easily, as if they’d been waiting just behind her eyelids. She trembled as she cried, letting a sob rack her ribs as she clutched her pillow. Goddamnit. She was better than this, and she knew it. Still, sometimes the feelings overrode her attempts to hold them back, and she had to ride them out. Her lack of self-discipline and control over her emotions bothered her, but the release had been necessary. It’d been building throughout the day. 

“Hey, what’s wrong?” 

Arthur’s voice from the doorway startled her, and she pulled the blanket over herself until she realized it was him. He hadn’t left yet? What was he still doing here? He’d packed everything else, so there was no reason for him to stay after he’d tongued her to sleep. 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Arthur said softly as he entered. He wore his boxers again, but he’d left his shirt off and put on an apron. Kat shielded her eyes from the light spilling into the room behind him. Her eyes adjusted as he approached, and she recognized what covered his torso. That was her pink, frilly apron. Selene had bought it years ago for her as a joke. Seeing it on Arthur made her laugh, giving her emotional whiplash.

“Kat?” Arthur asked as he sat on the bed. “Are you okay?” 

“You look ridiculous,” she said, pointing at his apron. A wet drip escaped her nose, and she sniffled, covering her face with her arm. 

Arthur stretched, pulled a box of tissues from her desk, and offered her one. She took it. 

“Why are you in my apron?” Kat asked before she blew her nose. 

Arthur looked down, fluffed the apron in his lap, and chuckled. “Oh, well, I didn’t want to catch any strays from cooking.” 

Kat blinked, taking a second tissue to dab at her eyes. 

“I made dinner for us,” Arthur said. “But I can put it in the fridge if you’re not hungry. There’ll be leftovers either way. I wasn’t sure if you’d still want a date night, but I planned to my preference.” 

“What about the others?” Kat asked. 

“They’re in my apartment,” Arthur said, shrugging. “I checked in with them over text. Rani says that she, Selene, Yvonne, and Mindy are doing homework. Yvonne and Selene packed most of my stuff. So they’re good. Kelly checked in, too. She and Katelyn made it to the cabin okay. It’s colder than they’d hoped up there, but she got a fire going. They’re set to have a cozy night in.” 

Jealousy reared its head in Kat’s heart and growled. “Great,” Kat said. “So glad that Katelyn and Kelly get to have a nice cozy night together.” Her tone was deadpan and far more sarcastic than she meant, but there was no point in hiding her emotions from Arthur. 

Arthur scooted closer to her. He didn’t speak, but he hugged Kat, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close. 

Kat cried again, unable to stop the tears. “I don’t know why I’m like this.” 

“Have you ever talked to anybody about your, uh, volatility?” Arthur asked. 

Kat sniffled. “What?” 

“Nothing,” Arthur said, shaking his head. “But if you think it’s causing problems for you, you might want to talk to a doctor. Or a therapist at the health center?” 

“I don’t need a shrink, Arthur,” Kat said. She sounded bitter, even to her. 

“Kat,” Arthur said, his voice so soft and comforting that she wanted to smack him for it. “Everybody needs a shrink, just like everybody needs a doctor. Even if it’s just for an occasional checkup.” 

Kat scoffed. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’ll get it together.” 

“There’s no reason to apologize,” Arthur said. “You’re allowed to cry and feel things. You’re an intense person, Kat, and you feel things with an intensity I can only admire, whether it’s anger, sorrow, lust, or jealousy.” 

“Jealousy?” Kat asked. 

“You’re jealous that Kelly and Katelyn are off at a cabin together, right?” Arthur asked. “Or is it envy? Did I use the wrong one again?” 

Kat frowned. “No. It’s fine.” 

“Kat,” Arthur said. “I’m your boyfriend. If we’re going to have a romantic relationship, we need open, honest communication. That’s true of every monogamous relationship, but it’s exponentially more important in a poly relationship, right?” 

Kat’s frown deepened. 

“Maybe I’m not cut out for Poly,” Kat said. “Or even a monogamous relationship.” 

Arthur fell silent, still hugging Kat, but giving her the space she needed to process what she’d just said. 

“I didn’t mean that,” Kat said. “I just think it sometimes.” 

“Everyone has doubts,” Arthur said. “Heck, do you know how many times today alone I’ve questioned if I’m able to do this? I fucked up having one girlfriend, and now I have six. Rani’s right. I don’t know how to help you, but I want to.” 

“Believe it or not, you are helping. You don’t need to fix this to help me. And you didn’t fuck up with Lori,” Kat said. “She was a bitch.” 

“That’s not very nice,” Arthur said. 

Kat shrugged. “She’s the one who fucked up, giving you up like that.” 

Arthur weighed his empty hands. “Do you know how many times I’ve gone over our entire relationship and wondered what I could have done differently or better? I do that with you and the others. I’m constantly trying my best and wondering if I’m enough when I have to be six different boyfriends sometimes.” 

“You don’t have to be six different people,” Kat said. “You’re enough.”

Arthur squeezed her. “So are you. Just because we’re in a polycule doesn’t mean any single one of us isn’t enough. We’re us, and we love each other, individually and as a polycule, a family.” 

“You clever bastard.” Kat smacked his rib. “Using my words against me.” 

“Ow,” Arthur said, playing up the pain. 

“Did you plan that?” Kat asked. 

“No,” Arthur admitted. “I’m just doing my best and making this up as I go. It’s not always easy to be the perfect boyfriend, you know? Sometimes I just have to wing it.” 

Kat chuckled. “Okay, perfect boyfriend, what should I do when I get jealous?” 

“Well, with me, you can remind yourself that my giving attention to others isn’t taking attention away from you. You’re part of my relationship with the others. Even when we’re not in the same room, you’re in my heart,” Arthur said. 

“Aw,” Kat said. “That was way too corny.” 

Arthur sighed. “The same is true for Katelyn. She might be with Kelly right now, but you’re not competing with Kelly for Katelyn’s affection, whether that’s platonic or romantic. She loves you, and you’re part of her.” 

“What should I do about Katelyn?” Kat asked. 

“Your jealousy, you mean?” Arthur asked. 

“No,” Kat said, shaking her head. “Our kiss.” 

“What do you want to do?” Arthur asked. 

“I’m not sure,” Kat said. “I tried to say we should forget it ever happened, but that didn’t help. Katelyn wants a romantic relationship with me.” 

“And what do you want?” Arthur asked. 

Kat shrugged. She held back the tears this time. “I love her, but I’m not sure that I’m in love with her. I’m straight, not bi, pan, or lesbian, and she knows that, but she kissed me.” 

“Did you kiss back?” Arthur asked. 

“That’s not the point,” Kat said. 

Arthur was silent. “Does it gross you out to see the others naked, or in sexual scenarios?” 

Kat shrugged. “No, it’s hot when I watch you fucking them. It’s like watching porn.” 

“Okay, so, you’re not disgusted by the idea of kissing a girl?” Arthur asked. 

Kat frowned. “I’m straight, Arthur.” 

“Answer the question, Brat,” Arthur said, ruffling her hair. 

Kat sighed. “It depends on the girl, I guess. Kissing Katelyn wasn’t gross, but it was weird. It felt different from kissing you and was spur-of-the-moment. I mean, you’d tied us up, and we were fucking, and it was hot, and we both got carried away.” 

“Did getting carried away give you the confidence you needed to try something new?” Arthur asked. “To get past whatever blocks you might have, and go for it?” 

Kat didn’t answer. She stared into space, pondering Arthur’s words while trying to appear as if she wasn’t. 

“I’m not the best person to coach you on this issue,” Arthur said. “Kelly, Rani, Mindy, hell, even Selene have more experience with expanding their sexualities than I do.” 

Kat nodded. “But I don’t want their opinions. I want yours.” 

“Well, I have experience with broadening my horizons,” Arthur said. “Like monogamy and polyamory. People might think that our relationship is immoral, or not the way things should be. There are plenty of comments online about how poly always fails, but monogamous relationships often fail, too. It’s not that any one sexuality is better or more natural than the others. It’s just a social distinction, a social rule or expectation. The trouble with most societal rules is that they’re imaginary, right? We decide what the rules are. They’re made up.” 

“The rules are made up, and the points don’t matter,” Kat said, chuckling. 

“What?” Arthur asked. 

“Nothing,” Kat said. “It’s from an old improv show that Selene and I used to watch. You’d love it‌.” 

“Oh, yeah, I’ve seen Who’s Line,” Arthur said. “I just wasn’t expecting you to quote Drew Carey in this conversation.” 

Kat nodded. “Sorry, go on. You were building up to something, right?” 

“Yeah,” Arthur said. “So, my point was that the rules are made up. We have to decide our own rules as we go. You keep saying that you’re straight and not gay, but does it have to be an unbendable rule? You can be sexuality-fluid, or somewhere on a spectrum of sexuality rather than a gay-or-straight dichotomy.” 

“Is there a term for that?” Kat asked. 

“Probably,” Arthur said, shrugging. “We can ask Rani.” 

Kat chuckled. “I’m not ready to redefine an entire part of myself. There’s still a lot to figure out. I don’t want the others harping on it. I kissed Katelyn, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to make out with Mindy or suck on her tits or something.” 

“And I’ll do my best not to mention how quick that example came to your mind,” Arthur said, hiding a smile. 

Kat smacked his arm. “Don’t be a jerk. You know how they are. I mean, look at Selene. A month ago she’d never even kissed a girl, and now she drops to her knees for anybody in the harem! She claims it’s because you enjoy watching her, but she wouldn’t volunteer for it if she didn’t want to. Now she says she’s had a crush on Yvonne? When did she decide that?” 

“You aren’t Selene,” Arthur said. “Her rules don’t apply to you, right? We each decide our rules for ourselves, so your sexuality won’t line up with everyone else’s, or even anyone else’s. It can be unique to you.” 

“And why does everything have to be sexual?” Kat asked. “Can’t two friends kiss and not have it be a big deal?”  

“This isn’t about sex,” Arthur said. He reached for her and held her hand. “This is about love. You can deny you love someone that way, if you want to. I think Selene might call that tsundere vibes? I’m probably mispronouncing that.” 

Kat rolled her eyes. “Selene will never let me live it down if I change my sexual orientation.” 

“You’re exploring your rules and the spectrum of possibilities that you enjoy,” Arthur said. “No one in the harem is going to give you a hard time. At worst, they’ll be happy and excited for you. Heck, if you admit to broadening your horizons, Rani might throw you a parade.” 

“Yeah,” Kat said. “And if I don’t, they’ll be disappointed in me until I do.” 

“No,” Arthur said. “They’ll love you, and support you for who you are, not who they want you to be.” 

Kat frowned. “Do we have to tell them if I want to explore?” 

Arthur hesitated. “Well, in the interest of open and honest communication, yes‌. But we don’t have to share every detail of our conversations with everyone. When you’re ready, they’ll support you. Even if you’re not into Katelyn that way.” 

“What if I’m not, and Katelyn breaks up with the harem because of me?” Kat asked. “What if the others resent me for it or take sides? They’ll choose her, and I’ll be out, and friendless.” 

“That won’t happen,” Arthur said. 

“How can you be so confident it won’t?” Kat asked. “You said earlier you question whether you’re enough, but you think you’re so good at leading the harem that you can keep us together through that?” 

“By myself?” Arthur asked. “Of course not.” 

“Then how are you so sure?” Kat asked. 

“Because, dummy, the whole harem will be there to help you through it,” Arthur said. “I’m not the only person in your corner, Kat. You have me, sure, but you have everyone else in the harem who loves and supports you. So does Katelyn. There are no sides in this polycule.”

“Well, if Yvonne joins, that’s seven women and one you, which makes eight. Our polycule becomes an infinity symbol,” Kat said. 

Arthur laughed. “We’re not making any decisions right now. I’m not deciding about Yvonne tonight either. For now, it’s just us.”

Kat sniffed. “I guess you’re right. I should ‌apologize to Rani again.” 

Arthur squeezed her, holding her in the silence. She cuddled against him, not speaking as time passed. After several minutes, her stomach protested her lack of movement toward the kitchen.  

“Wait, did you say you cooked dinner?” Kat asked. 

“Yeah,” Arthur said. “It’s in the oven now. I’m just waiting for the timer.” 

“What’s for dinner?” Kat asked. Her stomach growled, confirming her interest in whatever he’d made. 

Arthur chuckled. “You’ll see. Care to join me in the kitchen?” 

Kat nodded. “You go ahead. I’ll catch up. I have to wash my face and reapply my makeup. It’s bad enough you’re with me tonight. I can’t make you stare at my puffy eyes and ugly mug without makeup.” 

“None of that,” Arthur said, sliding from the bed and helping her stand. “Take whatever time you need to recover, but don’t disparage yourself, or I’ll throw you over my knee.”  

Kat hugged him, and he hugged her back. 

“Thanks for being such a wonderful boyfriend,” Kat said. 

“You’re welcome,” Arthur said, chuckling. “Thanks for being a fantastic girlfriend.” 

Kat shook her head. “I’m a terrible girlfriend. I’m more of a burden than a boon.” 

“Nonsense,” Arthur said, kissing her forehead. “You can be a brat sometimes, but deep down, you’re a good girl.” 

Kat squeezed him. “What should I wear to dinner? Are we going on a fancy date or casual?” 

“A mix,” Arthur said. “But I don’t have any extra clothes over here, so why don’t we eat in our underwear?” 

Kat raised an eyebrow. 

“It’ll be sexy,” Arthur said, shrugging. “Go on, put on your sexiest lingerie. I’ll wear my boxers and the apron. I think I pull it off.” 

Kat chuckled. “You and your lingerie fetish.” 

“I have a lot of fetishes,” Arthur said, grinning. “You should know that by now.” 

Kat chuckled, slapping at his ass as he scampered back into the living room. She missed, but Arthur blew her a kiss from the door. 

“You’ve got five minutes,” he said. 

“Yes, Sir,” Kat said, wiping her face with another tissue. She smiled as Arthur left, and she shook her head. She didn’t deserve him, but she was glad he was hers.

~~~

Selene grumbled, muttering under her breath as she typed. The Word document she stared at had to be three pages long. She had a paragraph typed. It wasn’t a good paragraph. She hated it, but it didn’t matter. The professor wouldn’t even read it. He’d skim and give her a grade based on whatever mood he was in when he read it. 

“I don’t see why I have to do this,” Selene complained. “It’s bullshit!” 

“Because Master said so,” Mindy said, sitting at the kitchen table next to her and working on her computer. “Come on, Selene. It’s homework. It’s not that bad!”

“Some people enjoy their homework,” Rani said.  

Selene glared at Rani, who sat across from her. Rani shrugged. 

“Arthur said you needed to do your homework, too,” Rani said. “So don’t blame me. He’s the one who said you should finish at least one assignment.”

“It’s good that he’s looking out for you,” Yvonne said, sitting across from Mindy with her laptop. “Otherwise, you’d still be crawling back and forth between Rani and Mindy every time they finished an assignment.” 

Selene groaned. “But I want to be Slut. I don’t care about this fucking paper. Why am I using my fingers for this when I could play with someone’s pussy?”

“Because Master said so,” Rani said, repeating Mindy’s answer.  

“What’s your paper on?” Yvonne asked, trying to change the subject as she blushed. Selene sympathized with her. Arthur had said they weren’t allowed to play with Yvonne without him, and he probably meant it to protect her. He didn’t want them pressuring her for sex if she wasn’t ready. He didn’t realize how eager Yvonne was to explore with the others now that she’d opened the floodgates last night.  

Selene returned her attention to her screen and kicked her feet in bratty impatience. “I’m supposed to write a comparative analysis of education models, and match each model with what stage of childhood development they match the best to,” Selene said. She stamped her foot. “I hate this.” 

“Don’t be a brat,” Rani said. “At least you’re not dealing with fluid dynamics. I enjoy this shit, but my hand is cramping from writing these equations.” 

“Yeah, at least it’s not calculus,” Yvonne said, rubbing her forehead as she put her head in her hands. “I’m only halfway done, and I’m going to cry.” 

“Do you need help?” Rani asked, looking over at Yvonne’s computer. “Wanna trade?” 

“I’m trying to use Wolfram Alpha,” Yvonne said, pointing at her screen. “But I must be entering it wrong. The answer they’re giving me makes no sense.” 

“Let me see,” Rani said, gesturing. 

Selene sighed. Frustrated in more than one way. She hadn’t gotten a release. Hours had passed after Rani had texted Arthur. They were fine to sleep in his apartment. He planned to spend the night with Kat, which was fine. She ‌needed him more than they did, but it still annoyed her to waste one of her slave nights doing homework. 

Yvonne had finished packing his kitchen, and piles of boxes sat in different rooms, waiting for moving day. They’d left a few necessities unpacked, but Arthur’s apartment was even more bare than before. Selene wondered if her apartment looked the same way, though Arthur probably packed faster and more efficiently than they had. His work ethic made Selene look like a lazy layabout by comparison.

Mindy still wore her white Sunday dress, though she’d left her panties in her purse. Rani still wore her hoodie but had left her sweatpants in the living room. Yvonne still wore Rani’s borrowed sweats. Selene was still naked, wearing her chainmail collar, but had to act like a college student instead of a slut, which was bullshit. She was supposed to be Slut until the end of Fall Break. That was their arrangement. She’d been a good girl, only to be saddled with the punishment of writing the paper due Wednesday. 

It was fine for them. Rani loved math and engineering. Mindy enjoyed learning about business, and everything about college still looked new and shiny to her freshman eyes. Selene was more jaded. Yvonne might not enjoy calculus, but she liked her major. Selene didn’t understand why a music education major had to take Calc II, but math electives were a pain in the ass. Selene had taken Math Theory, which helped with the rest, and Trig, but she dreaded taking another one next year. Math was not her strong suit. 

Was there a class on sex? She’d be good at that. 

Mm. The idea of Arthur leading a bondage workshop in a classroom crept into her mind. She’d be his model, demonstrating the ties to a crowd practicing the knots with their own partners. Her body responded to the idea. Her nipples hardened, and she rubbed her breast absentmindedly. Mindy giggled. 

“Focus, slut,” Mindy said. “If you get an assignment done, we get to reward you, remember?” 

Selene pouted and dropped her hand back to the keyboard. “Can’t we just play and have fun?” 

Yvonne blushed. “Selene, focus. Can’t you turn it off? Take a cold shower? You’d be halfway through your paper by now if you spent half as much time writing it as you did complaining.” 

“I can, but this wasn’t the deal,” Selene said. “Full slave mode was supposed to last until the end of fall break. That was the deal. I had to go off and on yesterday, but we’re home now!” 

“Okay, but you still have homework, right?” Mindy asked. “Arthur’s not asking for much, just one assignment.” 

“And what happens if I don’t get one done?” Selene asked. 

Rani raised an eyebrow. “If you fuck around much longer, you’ll find out, and you won’t enjoy it.” 

Selene frowned, meeting Rani’s stonewall stare. “It’s chastity, isn’t it?” 

Yvonne glanced between them. 

“I’m not wearing that belt again,” Selene said. She folded her arms over her chest and pouted. 

“Then get your assignment done,” Rani said. “Baghwan, is this what Kat has to deal with every day? No wonder she’s a cranky bitch. Finish your homework, and you can spend the night tied up with a vibrator between your legs.” 

“What was that?” Yvonne asked. 

“What was what?” Rani asked, looking behind her. 

“What you said. Bag-wan?” Yvonne asked. 

“Baghwan, it means, oh my god, or whatever,” Rani said. 

“Oh,” Yvonne said. “Okay.” 

“Can I ‌spend the rest of the night with a vibrator?” Selene asked, perking up. “Master said so?”  

“Jiminy Cricket,” Yvonne said, blushing. “You are too horny for someone who has constant sex. How do you do it? Are you on drugs?” 

Selene shrugged. “You’re not horny enough for someone who hasn’t gotten laid all day.” 

“No, Jiminy Cricket is still not a curse, but I’m with Yvonne on this one,” Rani said. “I’m all for sexual liberation. You know that. I’m as sex-obsessed as the next girl with a duffel bag of dicks, but Selene, you’re getting too hyper-focused again. Calm down, or it’ll cause a problem.” 

Selene frowned. She looked to Mindy for validation, but Mindy kept her eyes down, as if she agreed with Rani but worried Selene would be mad if she spoke up. 

“Fine,” Selene huffed. “I’ll be right back.” 

“Where are you going?” Rani asked as Selene stood from the table. 

“To put my clothes on,” she said, reaching behind her to unfasten her collar. “But after this assignment, I don’t want to hear anything about homework until after Fall Break. No homework, only fucking.” 

Rani shrugged. “I can’t promise that, but thank you.”

Selene hung her collar on the wall by the door. She pulled clothes from her backpack and put on a black cami and a pair of small, black panties. She didn’t dress beyond that, but it was enough to snap her out of it before she returned to the table. 

“I thought you were getting dressed?” Yvonne asked. 

Rani put her hand on Yvonne’s wrist. “It’s a good start and a great compromise, thank you, Selene. Good girl.” 

Selene stuck her tongue out at Rani.

“I take my good girl back,” Rani said.

“Too late! No takebacksies.” She plopped into her chair and turned her attention back to her homework. “Who even cares about comparative education models? Schools don’t let teachers vary from the approved curriculum, anyway.” 

“Well, public schools might follow a strict model,” Yvonne said. “But plenty of private schools use different models, especially with elementary education.” 

Selene shrugged. “Sure, I guess, but it’s not like I plan on being a teacher.” 

The others looked at each other. The question was plain on their faces, but Selene still waited for them to ask.

“What is your plan after graduation, then?” Yvonne asked. 

“I’ll be Arthur’s slave,” Selene said. “This degree is just a backup plan because Arthur wants me to have one.” 

She caught another exchange of glances between Yvonne, Rani, and Mindy. 

“What?” Selene asked. 

“We support you. You know that,” Rani said. “We’re not judging your kinks, but is that really your plan for the rest of your life? Be a twenty-four-seven stay-at-home sex doll for Arthur?” 

“And the harem,” Selene added. “That’ll be a full-time job.”

“It’s a hot fantasy,” Mindy said. “I wouldn’t mind being Arthur’s personal assistant at the office instead of Beth’s. Arthur and I work well together. He’s a great sunbae.”

“A what?” Yvonne asked.

“Her senior at the office,” Selene said. “And that’s perfect. You can be his secretary, Kelly can be the housewife, and I’ll be his slave.”

“I’m just not sure it’s realistic,” Rani said. “And you should aim higher than being a personal assistant,” she added. “You’re CEO material.” 

“Me?” Mindy asked, shocked. 

“You will be,” Rani said, nodding. “Co-owner of a business at least.” 

Yvonne nodded. “Yeah, your goals should ‌be higher than a secretary. Why did you want to be a business major in the first place? Before Arthur, I mean. Did you want to be a personal assistant before you met him?” 

Mindy shrugged. “I went into the business major because my parents wanted it,” she admitted. “I figured I could help Appa with the books.” 

“Appa?” Yvonne asked. “The buffalo from Avatar?” 

Mindy giggled. “No, Appa means dad in Korean.” 

“Oh,” Yvonne said, surprised. “Sorry, I didn’t know that. You’re Korean?” 

Mindy blinked and pointed to her face. “Um, yeah.” 

Rani laughed. 

“I knew you were Asian! I just didn’t know where your family was from,” Yvonne said. She blushed, embarrassed. 

“My dad’s from here,” Mindy said, pointing out the window. “His dad and my mom, my umma, are from South Korea.” 

“That’s cool,” Yvonne said. “I know nothing about Korean culture.” 

“Why would you?” Mindy asked. “It’d be creepy if you were an expert.” 

Yvonne shrugged. 

“What about you?” Rani asked Yvonne. “What’s your major, and why?” 

“Music education,” Yvonne said. “I had a great music teacher, and I realized in high school I wanted to do what she did.” 

“You didn’t want to go into performance?” Rani asked. 

Yvonne shrugged. “I can always audition and perform without having majored in it,” she said. “But I’d prefer to teach as my nine-to-five job than be a waitress.” 

“Smart,” Rani said, nodding. 

“Thanks,” Yvonne said, smiling. “Of course, this Calculus class is making me question my life choices, but I’ll get over it.” 

“You’ve got this,” Rani said. “Just remember what I showed you.” 

Yvonne smiled. “Thanks. What about you, Selene? Did one of your teachers inspire you to go into education?” 

Selene shook her head, half-listening and half-writing for her assignment. “My mother said there’s always a need for teachers, so it’ll be easy to find a job until I meet a nice guy and settle down.” 

Rani blinked. “Wow, there’s a lot to unpack in that.” 

Selene shrugged. “Why are you even studying engineering?” she asked Rani. “Aren’t you set for life?” 

Rani glanced at Yvonne, then frowned at Selene. “Because I enjoy engineering.” 

“And that’s what you want to go into after school?” Yvonne asked. 

“For sure.” Rani nodded. “I’ve loved it since I was a kid, and I’m fucking great at it.”

“What’s your plan, then?” Selene asked, turning the question on Rani. 

“Grad school,” Rani said. “The deal was I could do my undergrad wherever, so long as I kept my grades up, and then I’ll finish my grad courses at Princeton.”  

Selene glanced at Mindy, who didn’t appear bothered. “You have to move back to Princeton after graduation?” 

Rani shook her head. “Nah. I can do it remotely.” 

“Oh, cool,” Selene said. “What about after that, then? You’ll work for your dad?” 

“Not if I can help it,” Rani said. “Nothing against my family, but I plan to prove myself in the field. I’ll probably try to make my own engineering firm.” 

“You want to run your own engineering business?” Yvonne asked. “Shouldn’t you take some business classes for that?” 

“Or,” Rani said. “I can focus on what I’m good at and hire someone to handle the books.” She gestured to Mindy. “Are you in?” 

Mindy grinned. “Of course.” 

“Boom,” Rani said. “We’re set. Chief engineer.” She pointed at herself. “Chief executive officer.” She pointed at Mindy. “And Arthur can be CFO or something.”

Yvonne chuckled. “Another benefit of the harem, I suppose.” 

“Yeah,” Mindy agreed. “Though a surprising number are education majors. Maybe we should start a school instead?” 

“Me, Selene, and who else?” Yvonne asked. 

“Kelly and Katelyn,” Selene said. “But I might change my major.” 

Every eye turned in her direction. 

“What?” Selene asked. 

“What major were you thinking of taking?” Rani asked. 

“Well, if I can’t be a sex slave for a career, I might as well go into something I want, right?” Selene asked the group. They nodded. “I want to help people deal with their issues and traumas—specifically men. There are so few resources for male victims out there. It’s just a thought, but I’ve been considering becoming a therapist. Maybe a sex therapist for couples? Someone who could help people overcome their pasts to have healthy relationships.” 

“Aw,” Mindy said. “Like Arthur?” 

Selene nodded. “And others.”

“That’s a ‌sweet idea,” Yvonne said. “But changing majors halfway through your third year? Yikes.” 

Rani nodded. “It’d be tough, but you’d make a great therapist if you get yourself under control. You’d have to study hard and know your shit.” 

“I’m doing my homework, aren’t I?” Selene asked. 

Rani chuckled. “Good girl.” 

Selene wiggled in her seat. “Thank you.” 

Mindy’s stomach growled, interrupting the conversation. “Hey, what’s the plan for dinner?” 

“Take out?” Rani asked. “What are you bitches craving?”

“There’s a great Asian Fusion place right around the corner,” Yvonne said. 

Mindy stared at her. 

“What?” Yvonne asked. 

“Garden Wok?” Selene asked, trying to hold back a laugh. 

“Yeah,” Yvonne said. “What’s the matter?” She asked, looking at Mindy. “I wasn’t suggesting Asian food because you’re Asian. They have delicious dumplings!” 

Rani laughed so hard she had to hold her stomach. 

“Am I missing something?” Yvonne asked, looking at Rani. “What’s so funny?”

“My parents own that restaurant,” Mindy said, explaining. “They run it together. Appa does the cooking.”  

“Oh!” Yvonne said. “That’s awesome! I love your dad’s dumplings!” 

Rani fell out of her chair, and even Selene couldn’t hold back her laughter when Yvonne realized, from Mindy’s horrified expression, what she’d said. Her face turned fire-engine red.

“I didn’t mean—” 

“Let’s just order pizza,” Mindy said, cutting her off.  

“Yeah, you can have her dad’s dumplings another night,” Rani said, wheezing with laughter. 

“Gross!” Mindy said, throwing a pen at Rani and missing by a mile.

Selene laughed and winked at Yvonne, letting her know it was alright. They were just teasing her. She was practically one of them already.

~~~

Arthur grabbed the oven mitts and pulled out the casserole dish, setting it on the stove beside the veggies. Everything appeared set, so he put the finishing touches on the dining space. He’d moved the sofa, hoping Kat wouldn’t mind, and set a blanket between the sofa and the coffee table, which he’d moved closer to the TV. They could use it as a counter to rest their food and wine, but it gave them a space to sit for the picnic. 

“What did you make?” Kat called from the other room. “It smells amazing!” 

“Buffalo chicken mac and cheese, with extra veggies as a stir-fry side!” Arthur answered. Carby, yes, but he was working with what they had in their kitchens. Besides, this dish always cheered him up on a bad day. So he hoped it did the same for Kat. From what he remembered last night, she liked mac and cheese. “It’s not my mom’s truffle mac, and I didn’t make a grocery run.” 

He didn’t hear Kat respond, so he portioned the homemade buffalo chicken mac and cheese into two bowls and put the veggie stir-fry into smaller bowls. 

“You made mac and cheese?” Kat asked as she stepped into the kitchen. 

“Kraft?” Kat asked. 

“No, you had elbow pasta in the cupboard,” Arthur said. “Mindy was kind enough to run over a few ingredients from my place.” He turned, saw her, and smiled. She’d cleaned up her makeup, though she’d gone minimalist. Her lingerie choice was prime, too. It was a frilly pink lace set that looked more like a one-piece bathing suit than underwear. The outer edge of the panties cut high on her round hips, showing lots of skin there that drew his eyes to her crotch, ‌veiled in the pink lace. 

The one-piece opened just below her waist into a sharp V that became two lengths of material. Lace strips covered each breast before rising over her shoulders and meeting at the back. Hooks and straps joined the two sides across her back, with gaps that revealed more skin. She twirled slowly so he could see the back, showing off the thong backside and the frills that danced along the outer seams. 

She lowered her eyes and brushed a strand of her short, blonde hair behind her ear. “Do you like my outfit?” 

“I do,” Arthur said. “When did you get that?” 

“Selene and I went on a lingerie haul when this whole thing started,” Kat explained. “I like this one. It’s cute, right? It’s more modest, or at least it has more material.” The sheer lace wasn’t very modest, but it was pretty, and Arthur admired the intricate patterns that covered Kat’s skin. 

“It’s gorgeous. It suits you,” Arthur said. He glanced behind him. “Do we have to eat dinner?” 

“Yes,” Kat said. “It smells delicious, and I’m starving. But don’t worry. After dinner, I’ll return the favor from this afternoon.” 

“You don’t owe me anything,” Arthur said, dishing out the food. “I ‌enjoyed ravishing you until you passed out from exhaustion.” 

“I know,” Kat said. “But you look good in that apron. Plus, I’m in the mood to be naughty.” 

Arthur glanced down at himself and chuckled. The pink, frilly apron was far from his usual fare, and Kat was teasing him, but he didn’t mind so long as it made her smile. “Do you eat your mac and cheese with a fork or a spoon?” 

“Fork, please, a small one,” Kat said, pointing to the drawer. He knew where her silverware was; he’d packed most of it. 

“I’ve left a few things unpacked, but most of it’s in boxes. So, you might have to do the dishes more often than usual until we move everything into the house,” Arthur explained as he handed her the food. 

“That’s Thursday, right?” Kat asked. “What time?” 

“I’ll check,” Arthur said. “But yes, the movers will be here on Thursday. Boxes to the house, furniture to storage.” 

Kat nodded. “Are we sitting at the table?” 

“No, the living room,” Arthur said. “I hope you don’t mind that I logged into my streaming account.” 

“I don’t mind.” Kat shrugged. “Free movie, yay,” she said, sounding sarcastic. “Porn, I’m assuming?” 

“Oh, that would have been a good idea,” Arthur said, as if he hadn’t thought of it. He carried his food while Kat carried hers and followed her to the sofa. The screen was dark, but only because he’d paused the film. 

“What did you stream then?” Kat asked. 

“Have you seen the new version of Emma? The one that came out in February?” Arthur asked. 

Kat turned to look at him. “You rented an Austin flick for me?” 

“For us to watch together,” Arthur said. “I wanted to see it, too, and I didn’t see it among your DVDs.” 

“I was hoping to get it soon, but there’s been other things,” Kat said. 

“Well, now you have it. Have you seen it?” Arthur asked. 

“I didn’t make it to the theater to see it,” Kat said. “No one wanted to go with me.” 

“Well, that’s not a problem anymore.” 

Kat set her food on the coffee table and waited for him to do the same before she hugged him. “Tackled him” might be more accurate, but she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed. “Thank you.” 

“Don’t thank me yet,” Arthur said. “Neither of us has seen it. It might be a terrible adaptation.” 

Kat chuckled. “And for the food, too.” 

“Well, you haven’t tasted it yet,” Arthur said. 

“If it tastes half as good as it smells, it’ll be delicious,” Kat said. 

“You’re just saying that because you’re hungry,” Arthur said. “Now sit, eat, and be quiet. The movie’s starting.” 

Kat chuckled. “Yes, Sir.” She kissed his cheek after he settled. 

Arthur started the movie. They were only a quarter of the way through the film when they finished dinner. Kat seemed to enjoy herself. She pressed herself against his side, and when she finished eating, he put his arm around her. They used the sofa cushions as pillows and reclined on the floor. 

“Can we move to the sofa?” Kat whispered as Mister Knightley and Emma bickered on screen. 

“Oh, sure,” Arthur said. He paused the movie and put the sofa cushions back into place. Then he pulled the sofa forward and gestured for Kat to sit. 

“Sit on the end,” Kat said, pointing. 

“Okay,” Arthur said. He sat in the corner seat and put his arm behind her so she could cuddle up to him. 

Kat rested on her side instead of sitting beside him. She used his thigh as a pillow, laying her head on his lap. Her breast spilled out into the deep V-neck of her lingerie, but she didn’t fix it. Arthur groped her, squeezing her breast and teasing her nipple with his fingers as they relaxed. 

Kat moaned. 

The movie wasn’t erotic, but it was cute and romantic. They’d both read the book, though it’d been a while for Arthur. He recognized the plot and a few polished lines, though, and enjoyed the movie. Emma’s confidence that the world was as she saw it, regardless of evidence to the contrary, seemed applicable to other people and situations. Kat, however, had other ideas for what to contemplate while they watched. 

Kat grabbed his dick, making him jump, but he relaxed into the sofa as she shushed him. She squeezed it, playing with him as he toyed with her breast. Kat groped his balls, gentle in her touch, and as the minutes passed, he grew hard enough that his boxer briefs did nothing. She fished him out of his underwear and stroked him. 

“You don’t have to,” Arthur said. 

Kat nodded. “I want to. You’re my dessert.” 

“Okay,” Arthur said, letting her play with him. They were still watching the movie, so it wasn’t passionate, erotic, or brutal the way she often was with him. Kat enjoyed hot, hard, and passionate sex. The spanking, biting, domination, and fun of wrestling her into submission were absent from the atmosphere. A peaceful connection replaced it, a tender moment passing between them as she sucked and tongued the head of his cock. 

Arthur sucked in a deep breath through his nose. He kept one hand on her breast and moved the other to her head, running his fingers along her scalp and playing with her hair. She moaned, still playing with him in her mouth, and Arthur could tell he’d found a winning combo. He hadn’t even touched her below the waist. But the squeeze of her thighs and the way she rubbed them together made him realize she had more than his pleasure on her mind. 

“You can touch yourself,” Arthur whispered, keeping his voice quiet under the movie’s soundtrack. “Just spread your legs and show off for me as you do.” 

Kat spread her knees, keeping one to the back of the sofa, and the other on the seat cushion. Her hand slid between her legs, and she rubbed herself, then showed her slick fingers to Arthur as if for his approval. He grabbed her wrist, brought her fingers to his lips, and sucked on them as she continued sucking his cock. 

Arthur released her fingers, and she returned them between her legs, rubbing and fingering herself more fervently as she sucked him. He rolled his hips, gently thrusting into her mouth and throat. She took him with practiced ease, ready for him in more ways than one. 

He’d have to watch the movie again later. He enjoyed it and wanted to see the rest, but Kat had stolen his attention. Her eyes were still on the screen, giving her plausible deniability that she was still watching the film, but she was sucking him. The back of her head pressed against his abs, her breast rested in his palm, and her fingers stroked against her pussy. If she could tell him a single line of dialogue later, it was only because she was obsessed with the books. Not because she remembered it from the film. 

“I’m going to stay the night,” Arthur said. “We can wait until after the movie.” 

Kat didn’t answer him. She kept sucking him, putting more effort into the suction than before as if to argue that she didn’t care. She wanted his cock now, and she’d have it now. That was fair, as far as Arthur was concerned. Hell, if it came to it, he’d give it to her again later, if she could handle it. He noticed she was being gentle with herself, avoiding her clit and rubbing herself only indirectly. He might have been too rough with his tongue earlier, but offering to kiss it to make it better wouldn’t help. 

She lifted her fingers to his lips again, and he sucked them clean, enjoying the taste of her pussy. Each of his girls tasted different, but he appreciated their flavors every time he got the opportunity. When he let her hand fall away, she moved it to his balls, then his cock as she popped off it. 

“You’re spending the night?” Kat asked. “Are you sure?” 

“Yeah,” Arthur said. “We had our group night last night. Tonight is just you and me.” 

“What if I tell you to go home?” Kat asked. “So I can do homework or whatever.” 

“You can do your homework tomorrow,” Arthur said. 

“Fair enough,” Kat said. She pushed his cock into her mouth, and he pushed her head onto it, letting his eyes cross as she took him deep. 

“Hm,” Arthur hummed as satisfaction settled deep in his chest. This was nice. He wouldn’t push her for anything tonight, but he appreciated her wanting to pleasure him. Kat grinned more than before and looked more at peace with herself. 

He wanted to ask if she’d decided what to do with Katelyn, but he didn’t want to ruin the mood if she hadn’t. Still, curiosity warred with contentment until Kat silenced them both with her tongue. She flicked it forward, playing with his cock. She swallowed every inch and held herself on him. Kat bobbed up and down for several quick strokes, then returned to the tip. She caught her breath and dove again. 

“Oh, shit,” Arthur said, squeezing her breast in his hand. 

Kat moaned with cock lodged in her throat, sending vibrations through the core of his soul. 

“Fuck,” Arthur gasped. 

Kat smiled, lifting off him once more. “Now you sound like I did this afternoon.” She chuckled. 

“Be a good girl,” Arthur said, tightening his grip on her hair against her scalp. “And suck.” 

Kat sucked him again as he thrust upward to meet her. He held her there, then stroked himself with her, then pulled her back to the tip to let her breathe, but he didn’t let her off his dick. She panted through her nostrils, and dove again, letting him set the pace as he face-fucked her. Kat signaled when she needed to breathe with a single tap against his thigh. 

“That’s my good girl,” Arthur said, complimenting her. He moved his hand from her breast to her ass, squeezing her cheek in his hand. 

Kat moaned, and Arthur threw his head back as he came, erupting into her mouth with a sudden burst of pleasure he couldn’t restrain. Kat swallowed, then swallowed again, and a third time, milking his cock with her throat until every drop disappeared. She licked her lips after she pulled off his softening member and wiped the corner of her mouth with her thumb. 

“Tasty dessert,” she said. “Thank you, Sir.” 

“Thank you,” Arthur said, chuckling. He patted her hip. “Should I rewind the movie?” 

“Is that okay?” Kat asked. “I know you put it on for me.” 

“Kat, I know I’m a guy, but this is my favorite of the Austen novels I’ve read,” Arthur said. “I don’t mind rewinding so we can watch the whole thing. I’d ‌prefer it.” 

Kat nestled into him, resting her head in his lap and sniffing his thigh as if it were a bouquet. “Yes, please,” Kat said. “I missed parts of it, I think.” 

“Me too,” Arthur said, grinning ear to ear. 

“Worth it,” Kat said. “I love you, Arthur.” 

“I love you, too,” Arthur said. He squeezed her, and she squeezed him. 

“Any chance you’ll be ready again tonight?” Kat asked. “I have a bed in my room that’s still not broken.” 

Arthur laughed as he rewound the movie. “If not tonight, then before we move‌.” 

“Promise?” Kat asked, holding up her pinky. 

“I promise,” Arthur said, hooking his pinky around hers. 

“You can’t break a pinky promise,” Kat said. “You know that, right?” 

“Yeah,” Arthur agreed. “They’re sacred.” 

“That’s right,” Kat said, nodding. “Sacred.” 

Arthur smiled, his hand in Kat’s hair as he traced small patterns against her scalp while they watched the movie. It was too early for either of them to fall asleep, but they were comfy, enjoying the closeness more than the movie.