Harem House Chapter 24 - Early Access (Patreon)

Kelly woke in the morning without remembering where she was. She took a second to get her bearings, but the familiar scent of Arthur’s shampoo on the pillowcase helped her realize she was in Arthur’s bed. The curtains blocked the morning light from entering the room, so she didn’t know what time it was until she checked her phone. Seven o’clock. They weren’t due to meet the others on campus until nine. She reached for Arthur beside her but touched only the blanket instead. Groggy, she sat up and looked around.

“Arthur?” Kelly whispered. There was no answer. “He must be in the bathroom.”

She sighed but climbed out of bed. Kelly staggered around, using her phone for light but not worrying about getting dressed. She was entirely naked, but she wanted to see Arthur’s reaction to her early morning nudity. Perhaps they could shower together before preparing for the day.

Last night hadn’t gone as she’d hoped, given Katelyn’s emergency, but they’d still had fun. Not enough, but some.

She cracked open the bedroom door and blinked at the light. The gray light of early morning was shining through the windows. It wasn’t bright but strong in contrast to the bedroom. Kelly blinked through the discomfort and observed the living room.

Someone occupied the couch, but not Arthur. Kat slept, a blanket over her curled form. She only covered two of the three couch cushions. Her blonde curls lay on the armrest, and she appeared peaceful. There were muddy pink cowgirl boots at the foot of the sofa by the door.

The bathroom door was open. The rope was gone, and the bathroom was unoccupied. The second bedroom was likewise empty of Arthur, though full of bundled rope, so Kelly continued to look for him by walking around the corner. Her naked feet made no noise as she padded toward him on the tile.

Arthur stood before the stove, wearing a fresh pair of boxers and cooking a spinach omelet. He raised his eyebrows at Kelly as she stepped over to him. She leaned up and kissed him. He kissed her back.

“Good morning.” Kelly whispered.

“Good morning, Gorgeous.” Arthur whispered back.

“When did Katerine get here?” Kelly asked.

Arthur shrugged. “No idea. She came in while we were sleeping.”

That surprised Kelly. “She has a key?” She didn’t have a key, but Selene did, so maybe Kat had Selene’s key.

Arthur shrugged again. “Selene has one for emergencies. I guess she used that? Or made a copy?” He disapproved of Selene making copies of his apartment key without permission, but whatever Kat was doing on his sofa, he assumed she had a reason. She was welcome there. She had as much right to his sofa as his other girlfriends. Though technically, this was still Kelly’s time.

“What are you doing?” Kelly asked, gesturing to the food.

“Hula dancing.” Arthur responded. The sarcasm in his tone was unmistakable.

Kelly slapped his arm.

“I’m making you breakfast in bed.” Arthur said. He gestured to the stove. “So go get in bed, or it’s just breakfast.”

Kelly smirked up at him and kissed his cheek. “You’re sweet.” She glanced down, and her smile grew. “But it looks like you’d rather use the bed for something else.”

Arthur smirked back at her. “Can you blame me? Seeing you naked? You’re lucky I don’t drag you by the hair back to the bedroom right now.”

Kelly’s nude body was enticing. Her mussed, wavy red hair fell to her large, freckled, bell-shaped breasts. Her taut abs traveled down and narrowed into her ginger landing strip. Her pink pussy lips, her toned thighs, her peach-shaped ass, and her long calves stoked his lust. Her body was a fit gym dream, and she knew how to tease Arthur. She pretended as though she only just realized she was naked, covering her nipples with one hand and her crotch with the other.

Arthur grinned, and his other physical reaction to seeing her hand push her breasts up was unmissable.

Kelly hugged him, which didn’t help matters.

Arthur sighed but hugged her back. “Do you want breakfast or not?”

“I do.” She said. “But I want to take care of you.” She reached down and started stroking him while he stood in front of the stove. “Maybe when the eggs are done, you can season them with your… special sauce?”

Arthur snorted, then looked around her as if expecting to hear Kat stir, but he only heard gentle snoring.

“On second thought. Perhaps an appetizer.” Kelly said. She sank to the floor and moved between him and the stove.

Arthur stepped back, but Kelly beckoned him forward until he stood a step away from the stove. Kelly sat with her bum on the floor with her legs straight and Arthur with a foot on either side of her legs.

She took his hard, bouncing cock into her mouth and sucked as he cooked. Her mouth was bliss. She sucked slowly since it was early, but Arthur was in heaven the entire time he cooked. He prepared three omelets for the three people in the apartment. Arthur folded each nearly perfectly, though the second was almost burnt. He took that one for himself.

Arthur plated the best one for Kelly, took the worst, and gave the mid-grade one to Kat. He felt terrible waking her, but he was waking her for food. Otherwise, she’d wake up to him fucking Kelly over the kitchen table. He nearly lost control and was seconds away from doing so.

Cooking distracted him, so he wasn’t able to focus and cum from the excellent blowjob Kelly gave him as he stood at the stove. The eggs would be cold if he waited until he was ready to blow.

“Better get to the table, Misses.” Arthur whispered. “The eggs will get cold otherwise.”

Kelly raised an eyebrow and tried to take him into her throat, but Arthur stepped away. She frowned and pouted at him.

“Eggs up.” Arthur said. “You sit. I’ll wake Miss B&E.”

Kelly made a ‘what the hell’ shrug from her seat on the floor.

Arthur, laughing silently, put her and Kat’s plates on the kitchen table and helped her.

“I appreciate the effort.” He said. He spoke as quietly as possible. “Trust me, I want relief, but I can wait until we’re in the shower.” He gave her a wink.

Kelly rolled her eyes but obediently moved to the table, where Arthur gestured for her to sit. He pulled out her chair, and she sat, watching as he woke Katerine, still asleep on the sofa.

Arthur crouched next to the sofa and gently laid his hand on Kat’s shoulder. “Good morning, little Miss.”

Kat stirred, her gentle snoring turning into the cutest snort before her eyes blinked open.

She was curled on his sofa, lying on her side as though hugging herself to sleep. She’d been in that position since Arthur exited his bedroom, found her on the couch wearing nothing but a faded pink robe, and threw an extra blanket over her.

Kat’s sleepy expression blinked as she took in the world around her, and her brain worked to calibrate reality. Arthur was close; the room was dim, but this room was neither his bedroom nor her bedroom. Over his shoulder, Kat saw Kelly sitting at the kitchen table, looking at them.

Arthur leaned in, and Kat backed away, unsure what he was doing, until his lips landed on her forehead. He kissed her on the forehead, and Kat started to cry. This was not the reaction he or Kelly expected.

“What happened?” Arthur asked. “What’s the matter?” He had more questions, but they could fill in the specifics later.

Where were her clothes? Did she come here after dropping off Katelyn? Did she go home and decide against sleeping in an empty apartment? She had complained of that before, so her being here made sense, but where was Selene? Did something else happen last night, and why didn’t she wake him or Kelly?

“I’m okay.” Kat said, still crying.

“Uh…” Arthur didn’t always know what was going on regarding his women. He tried, bless him, but Kat was always the most difficult to decipher. If Selene cried, he could usually work out why. He knew her well enough to recognize her moods and predictable actions through her patterns. Kat’s patterns were only starting to make sense, and so far, none involved hugging him and crying.

“What’s wrong?” Kelly asked, already on her way over from the table.

“I’m okay.” Kat repeated, but the sniffle following the words didn’t bear them out.

“Okay.” Arthur said, accepting her declaration as fact. He hugged her as she hugged him and wished he could make eye contact with Kelly, but his back was to her.

“Is everyone okay? You and Katelyn got home safe last night? Selene and Rani are okay? Nothing happened after we left you?” Kelly asked.

“As far as I know, Selene’s fine. She told me she was staying at Rani’s last night. They’re probably still asleep. Rani doesn’t strike me as an early riser.” By Arthur or Kelly's standards, Kat wasn’t an early riser either. She was still an earlier riser than she imagined Rani was, so she felt confident enough to be judgmental. “Katelyn’s fine. She’s home safe. I just didn’t want to sleep in an empty apartment last night.” She glanced up behind Arthur’s shoulder, and Arthur turned to see Kelly standing nearby, concern across her face.

“But you’re okay?” Kelly asked.

“I’m okay.” Kat nodded. “I just… had a bad dream. Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Arthur said. “If you’re hungry, I made you an omelet.”

“They’re good.” Kelly added, trying to be helpful.

“Any chance you made coffee?” Kat asked.

“I still don’t have a coffee pot.” Arthur reminded her.

“UGH!” Kat shoved him away and fell back onto the couch. “Mister health-nut over here. Not drinking coffee doesn’t make you special. Embrace the bean.” She wiped her face with the robe’s sleeve, trying to laugh.

Arthur nearly laughed, but the tears on Kat’s face, which she wiped away after pushing him, left him reeling from empathy whiplash.

“She’s kinda right.” Kelly piped up. “I understand why you don’t drink coffee, but plain black coffee won’t hurt your gains or nutrition.”

“Adding creamer isn’t a cardinal sin.” Kat said defensively.

Arthur held up his hands in surrender. “I just don’t like the taste. I’m sorry. I can run to Starbucks, though.”

“I’ve heard morning sex is better than a cup of coffee.” Kelly suggested. “Exercising is always a great way to raise the heart rate.”

“Morning sex is great, but have you tried a good cup of coffee?” Kat countered.

Kelly laughed. “Come on. Your omelet’s getting cold, and Arthur made them especially for us.”

“Alright, alright.” Kat sighed and sat up. “Where did this blanket come from?” She asked.

Arthur stood. “Oh, you looked chilly when I came out here this morning, so I–”

Kat stood and hugged him. “Thanks.”

“Not a problem.” Arthur shrugged. “We did laundry last night, so there were clean blankets nearby.”

Kat nodded and followed them over to the table. “Wait, you did laundry last night?”

“My idea.” Kelly admitted. She sat at the table opposite Kat, with Arthur at the head near the kitchen. “I wanted to do a French Maid roleplay, so we did laundry.”

Kat half-smiled. “I’m not complaining.” She shrugged. “To each their own.”

“And thank you for cooking the meal for us last night.” Kelly returned the gratitude. “Arthur said you did most of the cooking while he got ready.”

“Yeah.” Kat admitted after a glance at Arthur. “You’re welcome.”

Breakfast flowed comfortably after that. The three ate in relative silence, though they didn’t take long. Just as Kat was finishing her omelet, she got a text. The phone buzzed in her purse, and she excused herself from the table to check her messages. Arthur and Kelly’s phones buzzed, too, as the House Chat lit up with a new notification, but their phones were in the bedroom.

Slut: So, slight change of plans. Rani and I are on campus. Just woke up. Rani’s going to fetch coffee for us. Master, can you pick out clothes for me and bring them to campus with you?

“It’s for you.” Kat held up her phone.

“What is it?” Arthur asked, and Kat told him. “Tell her I’ll pick out something for her, but I want her to wear the plug she wore last night. Not the vibe, just the plug.”

Brat: Master says he’ll bring some clothes for you, and he wants you to wear the plug from last night. Not the vibe.

Slut: You’re with him right now?

Brat: Yeah.

Slut: Remember, no hanky panky before tonight!

Brat: I’ll do what I want!

Whore: You’ll do what the Boss wants, you mean.

Slut: Mindyyyy! We missed you last night!

Whore: I missed you too! What did I miss?

Slut: So much. I’m in Rani’s room. Are you in the dorm?

Whore: Yeah. You want me to come up?

Slut: Plz?

Whore: Be right there.

Kat put the phone away, shaking her head. “While you’re picking out clothes for your slut, do you mind picking some out for me? I’m uh…” She flashed the robe open and closed. “Reluctant to go outside like this.” The brief show of pale flesh and pink nipples shouldn’t have been that tantalizing, but Arthur couldn’t help his arousal at the sight.

Arthur scoffed. “I’ve half a mind to slap a collar and leash on you and take you with me for a morning jog.”

Kelly and Kat raised their eyebrows, intrigued and aroused by the idea. Kelly thought the prospect sounded risque and fun. Kat thought the idea sounded embarrassing. Either way, too many people were out and about this time of the morning to do that.

“I brought running clothes.” Kelly offered.

“I didn’t.” Kat said. Her voice was flat. “So please don’t.”

Arthur considered his options but recognized the distinction between ‘please don’t’ and ‘you can’t make me’ when Kat said them. ‘Please don’t’ meant she wasn’t in the mood and would safeword out. She would have been defiant if she’d wanted him to force her. At least, he thought that was how she worked. He was theorizing. Begging meant she didn’t want to do something. Angry defiance meant she wanted him to make her do the thing. Honestly, Arthur thought women were confusing enough without adding BDSM power dynamics to the equation, but he couldn’t complain.

“Why don’t you have any clothes?” Kelly asked. “What happened to the outfit you wore last night?”

“Katelyn threw my clothes in the wash since they had so much, uh need, to be laundered.” She said. She had caught none of the vomit flying around, but she’d stewed near it.

Kelly nodded. “And she kicked you out with nothing but a bathrobe?” Kelly asked. She attempted to avoid prying, yet the puzzle pieces remained incomplete.

Kat sighed and retook her seat at the table. “Can I talk to you when Arthur gets his shower?” She asked.

“I’m right here.” Arthur said. He took the last bite of his eggs, chewed, and swallowed. “You can talk to me. What happened?”

“It uh…” Kat looked at Arthur and shook her head.

“Kat.” Arthur spoke her name in a steady, pleading tone. “You promised to talk to me when things upset you, remember? We can talk problems out, whatever they are.”

Kat sighed. “I’m not caffeinated enough for this, but fine. This involves you anyway.” And she told them the story. “Last night, Katelyn and I talked, and we had a good time up to a point. She was asking me questions about the harem and what it’s like sharing a boyfriend, which is weird, admittedly, but kinda cool, I guess.”

“It’s alright.” Kelly gave Arthur a wink.

“Then she mentioned she didn’t think Arthur liked her, and I asked why, and she…” Kat couldn’t bring herself to look at Arthur, but she looked at Kelly across the table. “She told me about trying to take the towel from Arthur. Trying to force herself on him while you were in the shower.” Her tone darkened on her last sentence, as though every syllable added a death by patient wrath.

Kelly was quiet but nodded for Kat to continue.

Arthur looked at the two women. “It wasn’t as serious as you made it sound.” Arthur assured her. “I mean, it wasn’t great, but she apologized and–”

“And nothing.” Kat snapped. “She’s lucky you didn’t press charges.”

“I think that’s blowing things way out of–” Arthur started but stopped when Kelly raised her hand to silence him.

“So what happened?” Kelly asked.

Kat tightened her fist, and her expression turned grim. “We fought.” Kat said. “We argued. I lost my temper. She lost her temper. I don’t remember who started, but we started throwing things. At first, we threw just popcorn, then whatever we could reach. Pillows and cushions mostly.”

“Popcorn?” Arthur asked, missing the point.

“We had a girls’ night in after I took her home. She made popcorn. She was already injured from the mechanical bull last night.” Kat continued. “And I-” She grimaced. “I might have made the situation worse.”

“Is she okay?” Kelly asked. She couldn’t hide the concern in her voice and didn’t try.

“Physically?” Kat asked. “Yeah. I don’t think I hit her with anything hard.”

Kelly sighed in relief.

“But I don’t think we’re friends anymore.” Kat shook her head.

“What?” Arthur asked, surprised. “But you two are best friends, right?”

“We were.” Kat nodded. Her expression turned dark as though the admission shamed her.

Kelly’s gaze met Arthur’s, but he wasn’t sure what she was trying to communicate. He looked at Kat, but she stared at her empty plate.

“But it’s okay.” Arthur assured her. He reached for her hand and put his hand over hers. “I’m okay. She didn’t assault me or anything.” He said.

“She tried.” Kat’s mouth was a thin line. “The only reason she failed was because you stopped her. Because you’re so much stronger than she is. Don’t you understand?” Kat turned on Arthur like she was pissed at him. There were tears in the corner of her eyes now. “She knew we were together!” Kat yelled.

“Katelyn knew you and Kelly were together, too!” Her voice wavered as the tears escaped her eyes. “And she tried to- to- against your will! And, of course, you’re trying not to make it a big deal. You’re sexy, and you don’t mind the attention, but that doesn’t make what she did okay! You told her, no, and she tried anyway! Not in a ‘you had a prior arrangement, and it was part of a game way!’ In a very real, ‘she didn’t care that you told her no and she wanted your dick’ way! And you call me a brat? You’re my boyfriend! She tried to fuck my boyfriend after you told her no!”

Kat slammed her fists on the table. The plates rattled.

“Kat.” Arthur’s voice trembled as he touched her shoulder. “Kat.” He said again, more clearly. Then he said nothing. He stood up, pulled her from her chair, and hugged her. “It’s okay.” He stroked her head. “I’m okay.”

Kat shook her head against his chest. The hot, wet tears she’d been holding in warmed his skin as they fell.

“You have every right to be angry.” Kelly agreed. “I was angry with her too. I would have punched her if I didn’t care so much about her. But Kat, it’s Katelyn. You know her. You love her. She wasn’t in her right mind.”

“She wasn’t drunk or high.” Kat snapped. “I know she was upset over Sean, but that doesn’t excuse her. That doesn’t let her treat Arthur like… like…” She didn’t find the words she wanted to say, and Arthur squeezed her in his arms. The hug had a calming effect on her. His steady embrace was secure and safe, even if he was the one she wanted to feel safe. “You’re my boyfriend. Our boyfriend. Not hers.”

Kat’s reaction to the scenario was valid but was much more substantial than his. Arthur knew he should have been more upset, but it was different for him. He hadn’t feared Katelyn. Katelyn posed a negative physical threat to him.

His biggest fear at the time was hurting her if he had to repel her. Events could have gone sour if Katelyn had lied or tried to manipulate Kelly against him, but she’d told Kelly and Kat the truth. Kelly was the only one who could threaten him physically, and he could still overpower her. Being overpowered wasn’t Arthur’s fear. Falling victim to lies, false testimony, and other evils that could rob him of his entire life and well-being were his fears. Katelyn hadn’t threatened that.

The girls in the harem were gorgeous young women. Arthur was attracted to each of them. Others shared that attraction, and some didn’t react well to rejection. Sanjay even attempted to hurt Mindy. Rani’s knee to his nuts made him consider fighting Arthur in a parking lot a better idea than facing Rani again.

Had someone once tried to push Kat the way Katelyn pushed Arthur? Was that the reason for her intense response? Was there a significant contrast in Arthur’s storytelling for Kelly and Katelyn's of the same event? Had she vilified herself to Kat?

“Kat, did she say something that made it sound worse than it was?” Arthur asked. “Why are you reacting so strongly? Your feelings are valid, but you’re making a huge issue out of something that wasn’t that bad. I get hit on sometimes. It’s fine.”

Both women’s expressions hardened at Arthur’s question.

“I’m not blowing anything out of proportion.” Kat answered. “This isn’t about me. This is about you and Katelyn, and I don’t want that bitch coming anywhere near you. Or me.”

“Kat.” Arthur said in his most soothing voice.

“I mean it.” Kat glared defiantly into Arthur’s face, but the softness she saw there, directed her way, made her soften. “I mean it.” Kat repeated softer. “She doesn’t get to touch you.”

“Katelyn apologized.” Arthur said. “We-”

“No.” Kat shook her head. “I don’t care. It was wrong, and there are consequences. You don’t get to try to molest someone’s boyfriend and then go out drinking with them later, pretending nothing happened.”

“Nothing happened.” Arthur said.

Kelly’s hand on his arm and the wince on her face told him he’d fucked up.

“She didn’t succeed!” Kat shouted. “There’s a difference!”

A dull, rhythmic thumping from below let them know the neighbors were awake and annoyed to hear more shouting from Arthur’s apartment.

The noise snapped Kat’s patience. Kat stamped her foot and bent in half to yell at the floor. “OH GO FUCK EACH OTHER AND LEAVE US THE FUCK ALONE!”

Arthur flinched away as Kat broke the embrace, and Kelly stifled a giggle. The broomstick-on-the-ceiling thumping stopped. They were silent, expecting to hear a door slam and footsteps on the stairs, but there was only silence.

Kat, breathing heavily, stomped over to the couch and plopped, jamming her robe closed when the flaps attempted to fly open.

Arthur held up his hands. “Okay.” He walked up to her, knelt before her with his hands on her knees, and looked her in the eye. “Thank you for looking out for me. I’m sorry that Katelyn hurt you when she tried to–”

Kat was tearing up before, and more tears came. “I’m sorry she–” Kat couldn’t get the rest of the words out.

Arthur squeezed her in his arms.

Kelly, unsure of what to do, started clearing away the dishes. She had thoughts to contemplate and did her thinking as she cleaned. She’d always done her best thinking while doing mindless work.

Arthur and Kat hugged for a few minutes. Kat got the rest of her cry out, and Arthur held her and stroked her hair until confident the time for them to rally had arrived.

“We’ll need to talk to Katelyn again, but not right now.” Arthur said. “Today is just me and my girls.” He assured her. “Now, why don’t you get a nice hot shower?” Arthur gestured to the bathroom. “When you get out, there will be something sexy, bordering on inappropriate, for you to wear.”

Kat scoffed. “I wouldn’t mind comfortable jeans and a nice baggy hoodie today.” She admitted. “I don’t feel particularly sexy right now.”

“Well, I don’t know what to tell you.” Arthur shrugged. “You’re sexy, and you’ve left me in complete control of your clothing options for today, so you’ll be lucky to get more than lingerie.”

Kat laughed. “Please, Sir?” She batted her eyelashes at him, though her red and puffy eyes hampered the effect. “Please let me wear clothes today?”

Arthur shrugged. “How about a bikini?”

Kat slapped his shoulder. “I don’t own one. I’m a one-piece swimsuit girl.”

“Really?” Arthur asked, surprised. “I suspect that to be a lie of sorts. Well, you can wear one of Selene’s then.” He stood up and offered Kat his hand for her to stand.

“They’re too small.” Kat protested. She stood and followed his lead as he brought her to the bathroom door.

“No such thing.” Arthur shook his head. “A too-small bikini is just an even sexier bikini.” He shrugged. “I don’t make the rules.”

“You literally make the rules.” Kat protested. “You’re our Master, remember?”

“Hey, you’re right.” Arthur booped her nose. “I make the rules.” He kissed her forehead. “Now shower and prepare to wear whatever I pick out for you, like a good girl. And if you’re well-behaved today, you’ll get a special reward tonight.”

Kat smiled, showing off her dimples. “Alright, alright.” She stepped toward the bathroom and took Arthur’s playful swat on her ass. She hesitated at the bathroom threshold and met Arthur’s expectant gaze. Kat returned to him, threw her arms around him, and gave him the tightest hug they’d ever shared. She leaned onto her tiptoes, and Arthur kissed her. Then she fled into the bathroom and shut the door.

Arthur found Kelly in his bedroom, laying two dresses on the bed as if deciding between them.

“That was very sweet of you.” She said.

Arthur chuckled. “It would be nice to have a drama-free day.”

Kelly laughed. “Oh honey, you have five girlfriends. Your drama-free days are gone.”

Arthur sighed as if remembering the blissful days of being single. “What should we do about the Kats?”

Kelly glanced up from her task and shifted her gaze to Arthur. She was beautifully and distractingly naked. “What do you mean?”

Arthur sympathized with Kat but didn’t think Katelyn’s mistake was worth losing her close friend. He knew the plan was for Katelyn to move into the house with them when Kelly did.

Katerine and Katelyn, the Kats. They played volleyball together, and they loved each other. Arthur believed their friendship shouldn’t end because of him when nothing occurred. Katelyn had apologized, and she wouldn’t assault him again. They were awkward, sure, but good.

Kelly was miffed, but she and Katelyn were good friends; they’d worked it out. Their friendship couldn’t break up anyway; they were roommates. Kat was far less prone to forgive. Arthur wondered what Mindy, Rani, and Selene would think when they found out.

Arthur hadn’t thought to involve the whole harem because it wasn’t a big deal to him, but it was a bigger deal to some. And Kat was right. Perhaps he enjoyed the attention. Between his harem, Beth, and Katelyn, he sometimes thought every woman in his life was waiting to fuck him. Maybe they always had considered him sexually, and he was oblivious? That sounded too good to be true. He tried not to let the spotlight go to his head, but his ego was difficult to control when he had five women willing to share him. He contemplated the most effective way to handle the situation.

“I mean, Kat is really upset. She’s ready to beat Katelyn up, and we’ll see her again tomorrow at the latest. Aren’t you all having brunch with my mom tomorrow?” Arthur asked.

Kelly’s expression turned thoughtful for a moment. “I’m not sure what to do.” She admitted. “I don’t know Kat very well, but I know Katelyn. When she gets upset, she isolates and spirals. She’ll probably spend today crying her feelings out. Maybe she’ll be ready and prepared to talk with Kat by tomorrow?”

“Should we try to get them to reconcile before brunch?” Arthur asked. He sat at the foot of the bed.

“We shouldn’t force their reconciliation.” Kelly advised. “And you shouldn’t stress over this. Let me talk with them, and I’ll mediate. I think Kat will only be defensive if you get involved. She seems…” Kelly looked at the bathroom door and back to Arthur. “Not jealous, but defensive. She wanted to close the harem, and now this? And some things she said were…”

“Possessive?” Arthur suggested.

Kelly shook her head. “No. I mean, she was right. Everything she said was right. I was upset, too, when you told me. I didn’t get as aggressive as she did, but you weren’t there to calm her down like you did for me.”

“So what should I do?” Arthur asked.

Kelly gave him a pitying expression. “Let them feel their feelings. Then, I’ll discuss it with them when they’re thinking clearly again. First one-on-one, then together. We’ll get them to be at least cordial before we move in together.” Kelly said.

“And for brunch tomorrow?” Arthur asked.

“Brunch might be awkward, but they’ll either be civil, or one of them will miss out.” Kelly predicted. “We can probably convince Kat to skip since she’s seen the house before.”

Sitting on the bed, Arthur buried his head in his hands.

“Don’t stress.” Kelly came over and rubbed his back.

“It’s stressful.” Arthur admitted. “I want everyone to get along, and I don’t want to be the reason Kat loses a friend. She doesn’t have very many.”

“Well, she has the harem, you, and her volleyball team.” Kelly said. “I’m sure she has work friends too. But stressing out won’t help. If you’d like, I know some great stress-relief techniques.” Kelly winked. “Just don’t tell Selene. She’s adamant that none of us mess around before tonight. She wants you ready to blow.”

Arthur laughed. “Hey, I make the rules here, don’t I?”

Kelly dropped to her knees in front of him, still naked. “You absolutely do, Sir.” Kelly got into character quickly. “You’re the head of the household, so you make the rules. It’s my job to take care of you. Would you prefer my mouth, hands, breasts, ass, or pussy to relieve this stress for you?”

Arthur groaned. Watching Kelly kneel and listening to the husky tone in her voice stiffened him. He was rock hard now, and the tip of his dick hung an inch away from Kelly’s face. She made direct eye contact with him and didn’t break away, even as she exhaled on his cockhead.

He glanced at the bedroom door, but the shower water was still running. Arthur didn’t know if Kat would shower long enough for him to do this and grab her clothes, but with a nude, kneeling Kelly, he didn’t care.

He’d denied himself once this morning, but tonight, he’d have five women to please. If he didn’t save himself up, he wouldn’t be able to enjoy tonight as much.

Arthur fell back onto the mattress, splaying his arms out as he covered the dresses.

“Do you want me to climb on top?” Kelly asked.

Arthur groaned again. “No.” He shook his head and propped himself on his elbows to look at her. “I mean, yes, obviously, but no. I’ll have to deal with blue balls for now.” He sighed. “I need to get dressed, run over to Kat and Selene’s, grab clothes, and get back before Kat’s out of the shower.” He rolled his eyes as though this were a Herculean task.

Kelly patted his thigh and stood. She offered him a hand, and he took her help. She pulled him to his feet and slapped his butt when he turned toward his dresser. “You’ve got more self-control than I do.” She winked at him and scampered away before he could return the swat.

Arthur laughed. He pulled on boxers, socks, jeans, a t-shirt, and his school hoodie. He grabbed his phone, wallet, and keys and kissed Kelly goodbye with a passionate kiss. She waited for him by his apartment door, hiding behind the door as she opened it for him since she was still nude.

“Hurry back, Mister.” She gave him another wink, and Arthur winked, knowing he’d do his best to be fast for once.

When Arthur returned, he had a bag of clothing under his arm. Kat was sitting on the edge of his bed where Kelly had been, scrunching her curls with a towel. The shower was quiet. The bathroom door was closed.

“What did you bring me?” Kat asked with more cheer than Arthur expected. The shower appeared to have done her mood some good.

Arthur got distracted, watching her round C-cup breasts as she stood and threw the towel around her shoulders.

Kat cleared her throat, which brought Arthur back to reality. She’d asked him a question, and he answered.

“I told you.” Arthur said. “A bikini.”

Kat rolled her eyes. “Seriously?”

“Would you wear it if I did?” Arthur asked.

“No.” Kat declared. “I’d make you go back and get me something real to wear. I’m not stepping out of this apartment to run into your neighbors wearing nothing but an outfit that screams slut.”

Arthur brushed her neck with his fingers. “Could always wear your brat collar so people don’t get confused.”

“Har har.” Kat said. She stood, still nude, stuck out a hip, put a hand on it, and looked at Arthur like she was challenging him. The pose was distracting and sexy.

“I’d stop looking so sexy if I were you.” Arthur warned. “Or I’m going to push you onto that bed and fuck your brains into the mattress.”

Kat smiled. “Kelly’s waiting for you to shower.” She said. “And it’s still her time with you. I intruded. Something else I need to apologize for, I guess.” She stopped sticking her hip out. “Just give me the clothes, and I’ll stop being sexy.”

“How about something cute?” Arthur asked. “A dress?”

“I knew I shouldn’t have given you the chance to pick out my clothes. You’re hopeless.”

“You’re ten seconds away from being bent over that bed.” Arthur warned.

Kat scoffed. “Stop trying to make me feel better by threatening me with a good time.”

Arthur stepped forward. Kat stepped back. Arthur stepped forward again. Kat leaned back, looking up at him. Arthur grabbed her by the arms and pushed her sideways to the bed. Kat fell over, spinning to catch herself on her hands, leaving her bent over. Arthur put his hand on her back, holding her in place. She reached back to slap him but hit only empty air.

Arthur spanked her. Once, twice, and he kept going. They were light, playful spanks, and Kat twisted and protested with a smile and all the sincerity of a politician promising they cared about the middle class.

After the first few, she closed her eyes, enjoyed the warmth from his blows, and the effect she saw she had on Arthur, already hard. She knew that was Kelly’s, but she’d be lying if she claimed the sight didn’t tempt her to let Arthur follow through on his threats. She could use a good fuck.

“Now, thank me for what I brought you.” Arthur said. “Or you’ll go to homecoming in nothing but body paint.”

Kat glared at him. “Thank you.” She said, equally insincere.

“Good enough.” Arthur scoffed. “Now get dressed.” He reached into the bag, pulled out a pink maxi dress, and tossed it over Kat’s blushing ass.

Kat picked up the dress and stood to examine it. She held the dress against herself. “This old thing?” She raised an eyebrow. “You couldn’t find anything uglier?”

“Another word outta you, and I’ll take a pair of scissors to the skirt, and you’ll be baring those legs of yours.” Arthur warned.

Kat sighed. “Fine. What underwear did you pick?” She asked. “Something skimpy, I’m assuming?”

“Oh no.” Arthur assured her. “Your lack of gratitude means you’re not wearing underwear today. No bra. No panties.”

“But-” Kat started but stopped when she saw Arthur’s unyielding expression. “Fine.”

“The words you’re looking for are…” Arthur prompted.

Kat sighed. “Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.”

“Good girl.” Arthur kissed her forehead. The bathroom door opened, and Arthur started taking off his clothes. “Message the others. Let them know we’ll be there as soon as I’m out.”

Kat put the dress on first. She pulled the top down and adjusted the waist until the skirt fell into place. There wasn’t much to the dress; a spaghetti strap scoop neck tank top continued from an empire waistline in sweeping folds of the soft, stretchy material to near the ground. The top made her upper half look good but the skirt hid the rest of her body.

“It’s a church dress.” Kat explained. “I’d wear this with a sweater over it and obviously underwear.” She pressed her nipples down as they tried to poke through the thin material. She glanced up at Arthur, who smiled at her.

“It looks good.” He assured her. He stepped forward and slid his hand between her legs. “You’ll have to be careful not to get wet spots on it.”

Kat’s nipples poked through the material again, standing at attention. She clutched at Arthur’s wrist but didn’t push him away or stop him.

“Wear heels or your boots from last night. They were cute.” He kissed her forehead and left her there as he headed toward the bathroom, where Kelly waited.

Kelly kissed Arthur at the bathroom door and took him by the wrist to pull him inside. Arthur sighed, reveling in how hot his girlfriends were. Naked, Kelly started the shower water and let Arthur decide its heat, which she found colder than she would have liked.

“Kneel, please, Sir.” Kelly said as she took the showerhead from the hook and started rinsing his body.

Arthur wondered why, but he knelt in the tub, facing Kelly. She rinsed his hair, put the showerhead back so the water fell against her back, and massaged his scalp with shampoo. Arthur closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensation, overcome by the pleasure of her nails scraping across his scalp. His fingertips curled over her hips to hold himself steady.

“Oh, fuck.” Arthur groaned.

“Sex is great, but have you ever gotten a scalp massage?” Kelly joked.

“Exactly.” Arthur said. “Look at you. My gorgeous, sexy wife who knows how to please me in the bedroom, in the kitchen, and now even in the bath.”

Kelly shivered in a way that had nothing to do with the steam. “You’re the one who made me breakfast.” Kelly protested. “I should have been the one bringing you breakfast in bed.”

Arthur gave her a half-smile. “Maybe next time.”

“Next time.” Kelly agreed. “How did you enjoy that maid I hired? Did she serve you well?”

“Megan?” Arthur asked as Kelly rinsed his scalp. He waited for the water to stop cascading over his face before he answered. “She was excellent. Inexperienced, but we’ll work on educating her the next time she’s over.”

Kelly smiled. “Stand up, Mister.”

Arthur stood.

“You’re hard again?” Kelly asked. “You’re incorrigible.”

“Are you kidding?” Arthur asked. “I defy anyone to kneel in front of your wet, naked body and not get turned on. All I can think about is tasting you.”

Kelly kissed him, and Arthur kissed her. They embraced each other, and Kelly cooed as she felt Arthur slide his cock between her thighs. She squeezed her legs, and he groaned into the kiss.

“My ass and back are sore from last night, and my pussy is still sore from that pounding.” Kelly warned him. “But you could still have whichever you want. Or would you like me to suck you off?”

Arthur wilted. “I can’t believe I’m thinking of turning you down, but I need to conserve my energy. I think we should save it for tonight.”

Kelly groaned but didn’t defy him or disagree. She soaped up his body, washed him, and rinsed him. Then she smacked his ass again to prompt him to step out and let her finish.

“Go on, dry off, shave, whatever you need to do.” Kelly said. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Okay.” Arthur agreed, but he kissed her before he left and groped her breast. She moaned, and he stepped away. “Let’s see how you enjoy being turned on but denied.” He said.

“That’s every time I watch you work out. Evil, evil Master.” Kelly protested but didn’t stop him from leaving the shower.

She finished while he dried off, shaved, and washed his face. She shut off the water, and he let her dry her hair while he dried her body.

“What dress should I wear?” Kelly asked, thinking of getting dressed.

“The gray one.” Arthur said. “With the white lingerie.” He’d seen her dresses and lingerie options on the bed.

“Yes, Sir.” Kelly nodded and took off her towel. “Where should I put my towel?”

“Leave it for the maid.” Arthur shrugged.

Kelly blew him a kiss as they headed into the bedroom.

“You look cute.” Kelly said as Kat finished putting on her socks. Kat looked ready to face the day.

“Thanks.” Kat frowned. “Arthur picked out the dress, so.”

Kelly nodded. “I love it when he does that. It’s something so simple, but every time I look down, it reminds me of him.” She started putting on her lingerie, a white set that was sheer but supportive. Her bra did its job, but the thong was tiny. The gray dress was a long-sleeve lounge dress, tight and form-fitting everywhere, from the deep V-neck to the skirt hem just above the knees. The dress was sexy and slinky, which wasn’t Kelly’s usual style, but it looked good on her, and the soft material was comfortable.

“I think that’s why Selene does it, too. Every piece of clothing she’s wearing, or not wearing, reminds her she’s got a Master.” Kat said.

“And you?” Kelly asked. “Arthur seems to have graduated from fuck buddy in your eyes.”

Kat paused as she put on her boot. “I guess he has.” She admitted. “That was the point of the harem, right? We’re all his girlfriends? We’re all on equal footing?” She looked to Arthur for reassurance, and he reassured her with a nod as he stepped into a fresh pair of boxer briefs.

Kelly nodded. “Until Selene decides she wants me to play Mistress, I suppose.”

Kat laughed. “Master should really put her in her place, but I think she’d enjoy it too much to learn anything.”

Kelly pulled on her gray dress. “Can you-?” She turned and showed Kat her back.

“Of course, Mistress.” Kat teased her as she zipped up the back of Kelly’s dress. “Do you want your choker?”

Kelly considered the question. “Do you think I should wear the pearl collar?” She asked without looking at Arthur, but she was asking him. There was a choker with the front half made of three faux-pearl strands Arthur gave her.

Kat nodded. “Selene wants us to wear our collars tonight, at least. No harm in wearing it during the day, I suppose. Though I’d rather go without mine unless Arthur demands it.”

“Wear it.” Arthur said to both.

“We should get you a choker instead of a collar so you can wear something in public.” Kelly said to Kat. “One without the word brat spelled across your throat.”

“Well, I wore my pink bondage collar last night.” Kat admitted. “But the bar scene is more accepting of punky college fashions.” She shrugged.

“Does Selene have a choker you could use?” Kelly asked. “Or Mindy or Rani?”

“I’ll ask.” Kat shrugged. “Though, I’d prefer to wear one Arthur got for me.”

Kelly smiled. “Can we hug?” She asked. The question took Kat by surprise. “I know you and Arthur discussed what happened, but are you and I okay? Are you mad at me for what happened with Katelyn?”

Kat hugged her. “No, of course, I’m not mad at you. Are you mad at me?”

“No.” Kelly assured Kat as the pair hugged. “Katelyn made her decisions, even after I warned her not to drink too much. And I’m sorry I wasn’t there to stop what happened with her and Arthur.”

“Not your fault, and I’m sure you did what you could. I just… I got so angry when Katelyn told me what happened. After everything we did for her last night, I need time to calm down. We’ll patch things up, but for now, I need space.” Kat said.

Kelly nodded. “Well, you’ll have to, right? You play volleyball together?”

“She’s benched after that injury.” Kat explained. There wasn’t much season remaining. “No need to worry over that today. Today is about us having fun on our group date with Arthur, right?”

“Right.” Kelly said. She gave Kat a squeeze and ended the hug. “Now, let’s pick out Arthur’s clothes.”

“Wait, what?” Arthur asked, already sliding on a pair of comfortable jeans.

Kat giggled, but together, they picked out a simple outfit that was out of character for Arthur’s weekday wear. They chose the blue jeans he was pulling on and added a sleeveless University t-shirt a size smaller than his usual t-shirts. He wore that shirt for workouts more than day wear, but they both liked it on him.

Arthur dressed without complaint.

When they were dressed and Kelly’s makeup was done, Arthur complimented the girls on their outfits as though he hadn’t chosen them. The three were downstairs and in the car in no time. Kat especially rushed down the stairs.

They took Kelly’s car to campus, with Kelly driving, Kat in the passenger seat, and Arthur in the back. Commuting took them longer than expected because Kelly stopped for coffee at a drive-through. Arthur got a tea, but Kelly and Kat enjoyed their pumpkin spice lattes.

On campus, parking was a circus, which fit the fairground carnival the University had set up in lots and the lesser-used athletic fields. The visitor lot was full. Several lots were visitor overflow, alumni parking, commandeered by the festivities, or full. Kelly dropped Arthur off at Mindy and Rani’s dorm, and she and Kat drove to find a place to park.

Arthur messaged Selene to figure out where to go, but Mindy met him in the lobby and hugged him. She bounced up to him as soon as she saw him.

“I missed you, Boss.” Mindy smiled up at him.

“I missed you too.”

They kissed, and Mindy bounced away, leading him toward Rani’s room. He admired her pigtails as he followed her, and Arthur swallowed thickly. Mindy wore the red plaid schoolgirl skirt with attached suspenders they’d bought at the mall. She had a white cami and a tan bra. The straps and the edges of her bra cups peeked out from her cami when she moved.

Arthur found the ensemble distracting when combined with how short the skirt was. Calling the pleated skirt mid-thigh was generous. He could see under the pleats as she led the way up the stairs because she did her best to flash him. He could see her lacy red thong. She also wore a white choker that matched her top, though it wasn’t one Arthur had given her.

When they reached Rani’s floor, she took his hand and dragged him to Rani’s room. He was half expecting the three of them might have worked up a surprise, but finding everyone dressed disappointed him. Selene wore an oversized t-shirt with her toned legs bare. Rani wore school gear to support the team, baggy jeans, and an oversized hoodie in her incognito engineering student way. Rani was unrecognizable from the jewelry-wearing slutty beauty she’d been the night before. The only similarity was she still wore the black and steel O-ring collar.

Selene sank to her knees as soon as the door shut. Mindy and Rani joined her. “Welcome to my room.” Rani said, her head bowed.

Arthur laughed. “Thank you for having me.”

He dropped the bookbag he’d brought between Selene’s knees. “You’d better get dressed. Kat and Kelly are parking and then waiting for us downstairs.”

Mindy pouted. “You don’t want a three-way blow job?”

Arthur sighed. Selene gave him a wicked smirk. “No hanky panky.” She reminded them. “We want him to save his energy for us tonight.”

Arthur nodded. “Once we get to that hotel room, I’m fucking all of you so hard you’ll regret making me wait.”

Rani chuckled. “Promises, promises. I, for one, don’t feel guilty after what you did to us last night.”

Rani stood first, followed by Mindy, and Selene reached into the bag. Selene withdrew a pair of tiny white panties and an oversized school zip-up hoodie. She searched the bag to ensure there was nothing else and found a coil of rope.

“Get that ridiculous t-shirt off.” Arthur instructed in a dark tone. “I didn’t tell you to wear anything yet.”

Selene stood and tore off the shirt. “Sorry, Master.” She blurted. “It won’t happen again.” She was naked beneath, and seeing her tight body in the nude made him regret giving the order since he couldn’t act on the desires her body gave him. Yet.

“Oh, don’t worry. You’ll get what’s coming to you tonight for wearing something without permission.” He said. “In the meantime, stand with your hands behind your head so I can tie your harness.”

Selene took up the position. Mindy and Rani watched as Arthur stepped around her and turned the rope he’d brought into a chest harness. By the time he finished, she had a rope bra with her breasts encased and supported by two strands of rope gently pressing each nipple. There was a length of rope left. He gave her a belt, then a knotted rope looped between her legs, which he brought back up to the chest harness and tied off on her left side. Then he fastened the end into a bowline knot, forming a leash that continued just past the length of Selene’s arm. He slipped the hoop at the end over Selene’s wrist. The loop was loose, but the slack rope stayed put.

He put the hoodie over her, pulling her arms through, and then he pulled the length of rope so the girls could see what he’d done. He’d made a harness and a leash, with the leash coming through her sleeve. When alone, the leash ended at her wrist. When holding her hand, the leash handle slipped over Arthur’s wrist.

“Now,” Arthur said. “Did you follow instructions? Are you wearing your plug?”

Rather than answer, Selene bent over and spread her cheeks, showing him the plug.

Arthur smiled. “Good girl.” He nodded. “Now put on the panties, zip the hoody, and let’s go.”

Mindy pouted. “I want a leash.”

Rani pouted with her. “Me too, Master.”

Arthur shrugged. “Well, I didn’t bring enough for everyone.”

“Poor planning on your part, really.” Rani teased him.

“We’ll see what we can do tonight.” Arthur said.

Mindy was still pouting, but Rani rolled her eyes and shrugged. “Plan better next time.” Rani said. “You’ve got five of us, you know? Not just one.”

“Lesson learned.” Arthur assured her, raising his hands in surrender. “Now come on.” He offered Selene his hand and Mindy the other one. “Let’s get downstairs. Kat and Kelly are waiting for us.”

They took the elevator, and the four entered the lobby. Kelly and Kat were by the doors, and Mindy bounced up to Kat and hugged her. She passed something onto her from her purse, and Kat put on a pink choker collar. Arthur noticed Kelly was wearing her pearl choker, and he smiled.

“All my girls in their collars.” He commented. “Very hot.”

Kelly smirked at him and nodded toward the doors. “Shall we head out to the fair? I heard there are prizes, and I want my Mister to win me one of those big stuffed bears.”

“Well, my Sir, will win me one for sure.” Kat said as they started out.

“Mine too!” Mindy echoed.

“They rig those games.” Rani shook her head. “But if he can win me something, I’ll make it worth his while.”

Arthur looked to Selene to finish the round of teasing, but she just smiled at him and held his hand, the loop of her leash over his wrist. She was oblivious to the rest of the world. The obliviousness only genuine joy could bring.

The huddle of girls, with Arthur in the middle, strolled from the dorm to the main causeway where the university had set up the fair for the festivities. Club tables, visitor guides, and various booths were on the walk for the alumni and any prospective students they brought with them. The fair games were just opening. Most of the student body hadn’t arrived yet. The alumni arrived with vigor for the mid-morning festivities that would culminate in the homecoming game that afternoon.

Chattering voices revealed the excitement as people discovered their choices. Some carried their programs and maps in front of them. Most followed the schedule and map on the school website.

Food trucks had gathered in one of the parking lots, but the signage pointing their way was unnecessary. Anyone with a nose could follow the aromas, with delicious scents lingering in the wind.

Arthur held Selene’s hand in his right. Mindy clutched his arm on his left. Kelly and Kat walked just ahead of the group, and Rani walked beside Mindy and slightly behind her.

Despite their fears, few strangers turned their way or gawked at them. Most barely clocked them as part of the larger crowds forming, and those that did assumed Arthur was gay or dating one girl, not five of them. They had no reason to think otherwise. Only a few of their peers recognized this was the poly group grinding through the campus rumor mill. Arthur hoped they were already old news.

The group stopped when they reached the Lacrosse field, trampled by booths in rows for the fair games and rides. Arthur stopped at the pitching booth first.

The game was simple: throw the ball, knock down the cans, win prizes. He’d need three consecutive wins to get the stuffed bear Kelly pointed out. So he pulled out his wallet and forked over the cash for his first attempt, which went poorly.

The first ball missed, passing over the can he aimed at. The second slipped between two of them. His third pitch knocked a can over, but by then, it was too late, and his point total was shit. Arthur’s fourth and fifth throws were okay but not great.

His girls cheered him on, but no moral support could improve his aim. Mindy’s hemline bouncing in the corner of his field of vision threw his aim off further.

Kelly stepped up to the board and bought a chance, and she showed him how it was done. She knocked down five in a row, to the glee of the other girls. Now they had a competition. Selene and Mindy cheered for Arthur. Kat and Rani cheered for Kelly.

Kelly and Arthur squared off, and although his second try was better, he didn’t have Kelly’s aim. She was more skilled at this contest and won the bear. Arthur won a smaller bear, which he gave to Kelly with grace.

His face flushed more than he wanted in his embarrassment. The girls laughed and admired Kelly’s bears.

Being upset that Kelly outperformed him was childish. He knew that. Convincing his heart was more difficult. Though Kelly’s good nature made it easier.

Kelly kissed him to show her gratitude and gave him a wink before they made their way to the basketball booth. This time, it was Rani’s time to shine.

Arthur tried. He was never an athlete, and if the contest had been one of musical theater auditions, he would have creamed the others. As it was, he was feeling emasculated when he missed his third basket in a row, and Rani had yet to miss one. The trick was the ball’s arc, which Arthur could not master, no matter how many times Rani demonstrated. He suspected he was too tall for the trajectory required to win at this booth. The only basket he sank was one he shot while squatting lower to match Rani’s height.

Rani picked a sizable red panda for her prize and gave the stuffed animal to Arthur with a kiss on his cheek and a grope of his butt.

The group laughed in their good-natured way, and Arthur gave Rani the red panda to hold as he stepped up to the ring toss booth. As he was about to throw, he noticed a familiar face standing next to him.

“Hey, Mark!” Arthur laughed. “Gonna try the ring toss?”

Mark, Arthur’s friend from Theater Club and a few different classes over the years, smiled at him and nodded. “Hey man, good to see you.” He glanced behind Arthur at the girls. “Hey, Selene!”

Selene waved. “Hey Mark!”

“Oh, let’s see… Kelly, Rani, Mindy, and Kat, this is Mark. Mark, this is Kelly, Rani, Mindy, and Kat, and you know Selene.” Arthur made the introductions, pointing to each of them. “What are you doing on your own?” Arthur asked Mark, looking around. “Where’s Maria?”

“She’s meeting me here. I was hoping to have a stuffed animal for her when she gets here.” He chuckled. “She’s supposed to be bringing a friend for Brad, too, so we can double.”

“Nice.” Arthur nodded. “You want to go first?”

Mark scoffed. “No, that’s okay. I’ll watch you to see how easy it is.”

Arthur laughed. “Luck has not been with me this morning.” He said.

“It’s not luck, it’s skill.” Kelly said, breaking into the conversation.

“Are you saying he’s got no skills?” Mark laughed.

“He has shown no talent for fair games yet.” Mindy teased him. “But he’s got skills.”

“Oh ho.” Mark chuckled. “Wait, I’m not interrupting, am I? Are you all…” He gestured to the group. “Are you all on a date at the same time right now?”

“Kinda.” Arthur admitted. “But you’re not interrupting.” He assured Mark. “We’re hanging out.”

“We’re spanking Arthur at these carnival games.” Kelly said. “Care to join us?”

Mark laughed. “Okay, sure. I dunno if I can beat him, though. He’s got that blessed by the gods thing going for him.”

Arthur scoffed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Mark pointed at the girls behind him, then at Arthur. “Dude, you always get the parts you want, you’ve got great grades, you look like that, and you’ve got five girlfriends who seem happy to share you. If that’s not a divine blessing, I’d hate to know what deal you struck with the devil.”

Arthur laughed. “Alright, alright. Let me try this.” He said. He tested the weight of the rings.

He had not excelled at pitching or basketball, but with ring-tossing, Arthur proved truly talentless.

“Have you never thrown a frisbee?” Mark teased him. “Like ever?”

Arthur could only laugh. Emasculated in front of his girls, he took solace in the knowledge he could, at any time, drag Selene or Mindy behind the booths and restore his manly pride by fucking them senseless. The women with him might enjoy the thought, but a quickie was risky with a crowd.

Arthur shrugged off their laughter. “Laugh if you want.” He said. “Let’s see how you do.”

Mark stepped up to take his turn and did better than Arthur, which was a low bar.

“Ha!” Mark said. He threw twice more and won one of the medium-sized prizes. He picked a stuffed bear wearing a university t-shirt and smirked at Arthur. “Want me to win one for one of your girlfriends too?”

Arthur sighed and rolled his eyes dramatically.

Selene stepped up and hugged Arthur’s arm. “It’s okay, Master. I don’t need a bear.”

Arthur, Mark, and everyone else there turned to look at Selene.

“What?” Selene asked, looking to make sure her hoodie hadn’t ridden up. She tugged the bottom just in case, but the hemline was already mid-thigh on her.

“You called him Master instead of Arthur.” Kat whispered in her ear. “I told you this would happen!”

“Did you just-” Mark raised a hand, but Mindy cut him off, running interference.

“She meant Master sarcastically because he’s so bad at ring toss!” Mindy tried, but even the booth worker didn’t believe that one, and he was getting paid to be nice. Though, he would’ve been nice to Mindy for free.

“Uh-huh.” Mark said, eyebrow still raised, though he’d lowered his hand.

Selene’s blush told everyone everything, and she hid behind Arthur, taking a step behind him, hiding from Mark, and holding his hand for dear life.

Mark raised his hands in a ‘it’s nothing’ gesture. “It’s okay. To each their own, right? It’s honestly weirder that you’re dating five women and are so terrible at winning them prizes.” Mark chuckled.

The booth worker looked up at that and tried but failed to not eye the five women with Arthur. He sighed and shook his head as the group walked away. Arthur and Mark led the way, with Selene holding Arthur’s hand and Mindy holding the other one but walking a step behind him.

Mark scoffed and looked over at Selene. “I’ll keep quiet, but geez, girl. Yvonne’s already convinced the group of you are sex addict freaks. You might want to watch what you call each other in public.”

Selene’s blush deepened.

“Hey, no shaming.” Mindy quipped at Mark.

“I’m not!” Mark raised his hands. “Whatever you’re into is cool by me, I swear.” He assured them. “Yvonne’s the one with hang-ups, and she’s been going off all week. It’s all she talks about now.”

Arthur sighed. “Thanks for the heads up.”

Mark nodded. “No problem man.” He offered Arthur a handshake, and Arthur took it. “I see my lady and her friend over there looking for me. I’m gonna go surprise her with my prize. You kids have fun.”

Before he could leave, however, Maria spotted the group. “Arthur, Selene!” Maria gave Selene a surprise hug, which Selene returned. When they pulled apart, Selene winked at Maria’s surprised expression.

Maria was a girl with a rack. She had thick thighs and huge breasts that made even Mindy’s look small in comparison. Hugging her, there was no avoiding her flesh pressing into Selene’s front and feeling the rope harness beneath her hoodie. Selene only hoped she was as relaxed about the revelation as Mark.

Maria’s eyes flicked to Arthur and back to Selene in understanding. She clocked the choker, the same one Selene wore on Monday, and noticed the other girls' chokers. Then her gaze returned to Arthur.

“Uh, hi.” Maria said, giving a weak wave to the others.

“Oh, Maria, this is Kelly, Rani, Mindy, and Kat.” Arthur made the introductions again. “Kelly, Rani, Mindy, and Kat, this is Maria, a friend of mine and Selene’s from Theater Club and Mark’s girlfriend.”

“Oh, and this is my friend Jen.” Maria gestured to the girl beside her with dark curly hair. Arthur and the girls recognized her as the one who’d asked them for an interview for the school paper.

“We’ve met briefly, but I don’t think we were properly introduced.” Jen stepped forward and waved to the group.

The girls looked to Arthur, who smiled and nodded at Jen. “We’re off the record, right?” He asked as a joke.

Jen laughed. “Don’t worry. I won’t start grilling you with questions, even though I want to, and the entire campus would love to read it. And if you change your mind, I’m right here.”

Arthur laughed.

“Jen’s a journalism major.” Maria explained to Mark. “She writes for the paper.”

Jen continued the explanation. “And I requested an interview, but they turned me down.”

“Ah.” Mark said. “Oh hey, there’s Brad!” He waved, and Brad made his way over to the group.

“Hey!” Brad said as he came up, excited to see Arthur, Selene, Maria, and Mark. “Are the love god and Selene joining us?” He asked, teasing Arthur again.

“We can.” Kelly answered. “It’s a group date, after all.”

Brad turned to look at Kelly, the gorgeous hourglass redhead in the slinky dress, and his eyebrows reached for the sky. He looked around between the girls and Maria, who smiled at him.

“Brad, this is Jen, Jen, this is Brad. The guy I was telling you about.” Maria patted Brad on the back, and he stepped forward and offered Jen his hand for a handshake.

Jen shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too.” Brad said.

“And in case we’ve missed anyone, this is Kelly, Rani, Mindy, Kat, and Selene.” Arthur said, rounding out the introductions. “Now that we’ve finished introductions…”

“Let’s play some games!” Mindy said. “Arthur has to win something now, right? Or he’ll look bad in front of his friends.”

“He’s horrible at carnival games.” Mark explained to the others.

“Oh, thank god.” Brad laughed. “My time to shine!”

A chuckle rippled through the group. The small crew shuffled through the larger crowd until they came to the dart-throwing game. Throw a dart, pop a balloon, and win prizes. At least, that was the theory. Naturally, the game looked simple, but winning was much more challenging. Brad, Mark, and Arthur threw, filling the booth to capacity. With ten darts, Brad came in first, with nine popped balloons. Mark was second, with six balloons. Arthur came in third place with three popped balloons. They played again, trying for the larger prizes, and the girls cheered them on. Even Rani looked like she was having fun and getting into it.

“Come on, Arthur!” Rani yelled.

“Yeah, you can do it, Boss!” A girl next to Rani yelled. To the harem’s surprise, it wasn’t Mindy. Though Mindy and Arthur recognized her from the office.

“Tara?” Mindy asked.

“Oh, hey Mindy!” Tara said with a smile. “I almost didn’t recognize you in your non-office clothes.” She said, glancing at Arthur’s bare arms.

Mindy giggled. “Yeah, this probably breaks the office dress code.”

“I wouldn’t worry.” Tara waved away her concern. “Somehow, I don’t think you’ll get in trouble with your boyfriend over there.”

Mindy’s smile fell, but only for a moment. She closed the distance with Tara, and Rani took a step closer to Tara as well.

“Oh, don’t worry.” Tara assured her. “I won’t tell Beth you two are dating, but…” She gestured a few booths down, where another girl, Sara, was hanging out with a few girls Mindy didn’t recognize. “But Sara is gonna lose her shit when she finds out.”

“Why?” Mindy asked. “She shouldn’t be mad that I got him first.”

Tara grinned. “Yeah, okay, you got him.”

Mindy looked confused.

Tara spoke to her like she was a child. “Honey. You’re one of his what…” She counted the girls, most of whom were watching Arthur play darts but listening to Tara and Mindy’s conversation. “Five women?” Tara scoffed. “He’s just using you for sex. You don’t have him. None of you do. He isn’t yours, he’s just fucking you in more ways than one.”

“Oh, he’s ours.” Rani piped up. “Back off bitch and stick your nose in someone else’s business.”

Tara looked shocked, but only momentarily. She shook off Rani’s scorn, scoffed, and walked away.

Mindy watched Tara walk over to Sara but didn’t comment when she arrived. Mindy returned her attention to the game and watched her boyfriend throw darts with his friends. Rani threw her arm around Mindy’s shoulders and squeezed a smile into her.

Brad was the first to qualify for a larger prize, offering Jen her stuffed animal choice. She chose the prominent stuffed Batman and explained that she was into comics, which captured Brad’s attention.

“You’re good at this whole matchmaking thing.” Selene commented to Maria as they walked to the next game. She held the small stuffed dog Arthur won under her arm and held Arthur’s with the other.

“Thanks.” Maria said as the group watched Jen and Brad walk ahead. “We should play too.” Maria pointed out.

“Where’s the fun in that?” Kelly asked with a hint of mischief, walking on the other side of Maria. “I’d rather watch my man win me prizes.”

“He’s not very good at it, though.” Maria giggled.

“You have a point.” Kelly said. “But it’s fun to watch him be awful at something for once, and maybe he’ll improve. I enjoy not having to do everything myself.”

Maria scoffed. “Well, true, I guess. Not very feminist, but-”

Kelly scoffed but let the subject drop as they approached the next game.

“So, how did you meet Arthur, anyway?” Jen asked Kelly. “You’re not in the Theater Club, are you?”

“No.” Kelly shook her head. “Arthur and I met at the gym. His girlfriend Lori was one of my suitemates Freshman year.”

“Wait, which one is Lori?” Jen asked. She looked around at the others, trying to match the name with the girls she’d met.

Kelly shook her head. “Sorry. I misspoke. Lori is his ex-girlfriend. They started dating Freshman year and broke up last semester. She’s not here.”

“Oh.” Jen said. “So he isn’t a big ladies’ man with a trail of broken hearts behind him?”

Kat snorted.

“What are you guys talking about?” Arthur asked, turning his attention to the Kelly/Maria/Jen huddle.

“You, Mister.” Kelly winked.

“And how you have no game.” Kat gestured to the booths.

Mindy giggled. “You’ve got plenty of game, Boss. You’re just terrible at games.”

“Ha.” Arthur laughed with theatrical bravado. “I’ll show you!” He stepped up with Mark and Brad to play the milk jug toss and immediately proved himself wrong.

Brad sank every shot he took. Mark was less lucky but still came in second. Arthur missed almost every shot. He hit the jug’s mouth with every toss, but the balls bounced and sprang away instead of rebounding in as he had hoped.

Mindy tried to cheer him on, but Arthur’s spirits sank with every miss, and not even her fingers playing dangerously with her neckline could make him smile. She leaned in and whispered in his ear before his last throw. “If you sink this one, I’ll let you fuck me somewhere in the stadium during the game.”

Mindy kissed him on the cheek.

Arthur took a deep breath as Mindy stepped away.

Selene stepped up. “If you sink this one, I’ll suck you off when you’re through with Mindy.” She kissed him on the opposite cheek from Mindy and stepped away.

Arthur scoffed and took another deep breath, willing himself to not get an erection in front of everyone. Kat stepped up to whisper something, and Arthur held his hand up to stop her. “Whatever it is, don’t tell me. I’m under enough pressure already.”

“Just toss the ball!” Brad jeered.

“I just wanted to give you a good luck kiss.” Kat said with all the innocence she could muster.

Arthur leaned in and offered her his cheek. She kissed him and stepped away.

Rani stepped forward.

“Jesus Christ, we’ll be here all day if they kiss him one by one.” Mark complained.

Rani kissed Arthur on the lips, a hot, passionate kiss, which distracted no one from her middle finger raised at Mark.

Kelly kissed him next, a quick peck. “You got this, Mister.”

Arthur shook his head, steadied himself with a breath, lowered his hand for the underhand toss, and let it fly. The ball arced through the air between him and the jug. Arthur thought he missed for a moment as the ball sank out of view. But no, he’d made it into the middle of the opening.

“Ha!” Selene cried. “See! You can do it! You just need the right motivation!”

“Hell of a cheer squad.” Brad muttered. He’d meant to say it under his breath, but everyone heard it.

Arthur laughed. “Maybe that should be our group Halloween costume. I’ll go as the worst jock ever, and you can be my cheerleaders.”

The group laughed. Mindy and Selene shared a look that only Arthur noticed. He had to be careful suggesting things like that. Selene had a way of making suggestions happen.

The next game was skee ball, which was five at a time. There wasn’t much of a line when Brad, Mark, and Arthur stepped up. Yet, as they reached the booth, a stranger stepped up beside them.

Arthur stepped back. He recognized the stranger as the bigger guy from the fight with Sanjay.

“Hey, Arthur.” The guy said. “I, uh, I wanted to apologize for yesterday, and…” He looked past Arthur to where the girls huddled together. Kelly stood between the girls across the small lane and the guys at the booth. Her expression stopped anyone from stepping closer to the girls.

Jen looked between the groups rapidly, her phone in her hand. Maria looked confused. Brad and Mark took up positions on Arthur’s flank. They didn’t have the context but were ready to support their friend.

Arthur turned to catch his attention. “For my part, I appreciate the apology, man. We’re cool so long as you don’t harass the girls.” He offered the guy his hand, and the guy shook it.

“It was cool of you not to narc on us to security.” The bigger guy rumbled. “Sorry for hitting you.”

“It’s okay. Nothing an ice pack couldn’t cure.” Arthur assured him.

Rani and Mindy stepped closer while they talked, not raising their voices across the lane. Rani spoke first. “Is this the guy that hit you?”

Kelly stepped up to join Rani and Mindy.

“Yeah.” Arthur nodded. “Not a big deal. He apologized.”

“And where’s your little friend?” Rani asked.

“Sanjay?” The big guy asked. “He’s still sulking, I guess. We kinda had it out after the fight, and I don’t think we’re friends anymore.”

“You’re better off without him.” Rani said.

“But it was nice of you to apologize.” Mindy said. “So, thank you. I hope you’ll treat people better in the future.”

The big guy nodded.

“So I don’t get to beat him up?” Kelly asked Arthur.

“No.” Arthur said with a half-smile.

“You can beat me up. I’m single. Name’s Jace.” The bigger guy introduced himself.

Kelly laughed. “I have a boyfriend.” Kelly patted Arthur on the chest. “But it’s nice to meet you, Jace.”

“Of course you do.” Jace sighed. “How many women are you dating anyway?” He asked Arthur. “I thought you were just dating Rani and Mindy?”

Arthur gestured to the girls, who were standing by Kelly. “These are my girlfriends. Maria and Mark are together. Brad and Jen are on a blind date.”

“Fuck.” Jace nodded a hello to the others as Arthur introduced the girls. “Five girlfriends? That’s uh…” They waited for him to say something awful, but he settled for “Cool.”

“We don’t have to hang out or anything.” Arthur said. “But do you want to play a game of skee ball?”

“We can play.” Brad spoke up. “But fair warning: Arthur has stunk at every game so far. I wouldn’t want Rani or Kelly to beat you up if you beat him too badly.”

Arthur rolled his eyes. He proved not to be the worst at skee ball. Brad took that honor. Mark won first place but had to play a few rounds before winning anything sizable. Jace was second, and Arthur placed third. Arthur got one of the smaller stuffed animals after a few rounds.

“See you around.” Jace waved farewell after three skee ball rounds and headed toward the athletic center.

Arthur waved goodbye and turned toward the next booth. After a brief wait in line, they arrived at the squirt gun race.

Arthur, Kelly, Brad, Jen, Mark, and Maria played. They sat on their stools, took aim, and fired off a steady stream of water. This time, Arthur came in first. Not just once, but five times. He gave Kat a pink stuffed bear nearly her size. Then, seizing on the one game he seemed to have any talent at, he played another five games. He won Mindy the giant stuffed blue Lemur she chose.

He would have kept playing if the others hadn’t threatened to leave him there while they tried other games.

Walking behind the guys with their prizes, the girls giggled and teased one another before deciding to split off. “We’re gonna go put these in my room.” Mindy explained.

“I’ll come with you.” Kelly said. “Meet us by the food trucks?” She suggested to Arthur. “I’m getting hungry for lunch.” It was forty minutes until noon, a little early for lunch, but not unreasonable.

“Me too.” Selene nodded, and the others agreed.

Kelly, Mindy, and Kat strode to Mindy’s dorm room with the stuffed animals. Maria and Jen disappeared to take theirs to their cars. That left Arthur, Rani, Selene, Brad, and Mark to meander toward the food trucks through the carnival stalls. Arthur held Selene’s hand in his right, her leash loop around his wrist from her sleeve. He held Rani’s hand in his left, walking together with his girls.

“So uh…” Brad started. “You’re Arthur’s girlfriend?” He asked Rani.

“One of them.” Rani nodded.

“And you’re okay with that?” Brad asked, still unsure.

Rani looked at him and smiled. “Yeah. I’m having fun.”

Brad nodded, unsure of what else to say.

“Jen’s cute.” Selene ventured. “Are you going to ask her out on a proper date?”

Brad shrugged. “I think so.” He said. “She seems to be into me.”

“She is.” Rani assured him. “If you play your cards right, you might even score tonight.”

Brad looked shocked.

“What?” Rani asked. “She’s clearly into you, very flirty, very touchy, and you two talked about superheroes for half an hour, and you could have kept going. You even listened more than you talked, and that’s an A-plus move. Invite her to your place for comic book reading and start fooling around.”

“Do you think that would work?” Brad asked.

“What are you, a virgin?” Rani asked.

Brad stammered.

“You’ll have to forgive Rani.” Arthur interjected. “She’s direct.”

“If you want something, go for it. If she says no, accept her rejection like a gentleman and move on to the next prospect.” Rani shrugged. “You’re cute, tall, in decent shape, and you seem a decent enough guy.” She looked at Arthur for confirmation.

Arthur nodded. “Brad’s alright. He’s one of the good ones.”

“And Maria’s willing to vouch for you.” Rani shrugged. “So, yeah. Take a shot.”

Brad considered her advice and looked at Mark, who shrugged as well.

“She does seem attracted to you.” Mark added. “Couldn’t hurt to try.”

“Or, if you don’t want to push your luck, just ask her out by the end of today.” Selene interjected. “Not everyone operates on Rani-speed.”

“You only say that because you took, what, three years to ask Arthur to fuck?” Rani teased Selene. “But you moved quickly once you started, didn’t you?”

Mark and Brad averted their eyes as if the surrounding carnival booths were the most intriguing they had ever encountered. Arthur squeezed Selene’s hand, and Selene smiled up at him.

“You’ve got me there.” She admitted to Rani, who smirked in triumph. “Queenie.”

“Come on, Slut.” Rani said to Selene. “Let’s go get Funnel cake.”

Mark and Brad shared a look, but didn’t comment. It was clear from her tone that Rani didn’t intend the nickname as an insult. Only Mark had more context than Brad for what the name meant for the group.

“Ooo, empty calories.” Arthur said. “I’m in.”

Together, the group made their way to the food truck lines. Rani, Selene, and Arthur stood in line for funnel cake and other deep-fried foods while Brad and Mark waited for Jen and Maria in the makeshift picnic area.

Selene sighed. “I can’t believe I called you Master in front of Mark. I’m so embarrassed.”

“It wasn’t that embarrassing, was it?” Arthur asked.

“It was pretty embarrassing.” Rani said. “Hilarious for us, but embarrassing for Selene.” Rani’s gaze turned toward Arthur. “She’s gotten way too comfortable calling you that.”

“You all call me that.” Arthur pointed out.

“Mmm…” Rani’s high-pitched hum indicated doubt. “Kind of. She constantly uses it. It’s like she’s dead named Arthur in her head and replaced it with Master. I think she gets off on only referring to you as that.” She looked at Selene for confirmation.

“Yeah.” Selene shrugged. “I haven’t called you Arthur in a while. Even when you’re not around.”

“Huh.” Arthur felt a pang of love for Selene.

“Oh, there’s Terry the Ape-Man.” Rani gestured toward a crowd of guys. “I’m gonna go play matchmaker.”

“Terry the Ape-Man?” Arthur asked Selene, who still held his hand.

Selene explained. “Someone she’s trying to set up with Katelyn. We met him and his friends last night at the bar. He’s a pretty nice guy.”

“I see.” Arthur said. The description was apt. He was tall and swole and had a gorilla quality to his build. His face wasn’t ugly, though. At least, Arthur didn’t think so. He’d leave the decision to Katelyn. He wondered what her preference in men was.

“Jealous?” Selene asked, observing Arthur’s eyes.

“Of Rani talking to another guy?” Arthur sounded confused. “Nah. I might not be great at carnival games, but I’m confident in my skills as a lover.”

The pair of them shuffled forward as the line moved.

Selene took his hand and leaned into him. “Good. Then give me attention before I act up to earn it.”

Arthur laughed and kissed Selene’s forehead as she cuddled his arm. He sighed a content little sigh, as did she. The line moved, and they separated to step forward.

“Yeah, what do you want?” The conversational skills of the food truck worker were astonishing.

“I’ll have an order of fried pickles.” Arthur said. “And you wanted the funnel cake?”

Selene nodded.

“And a funnel cake.” Arthur added.

The man nodded, took Arthur’s money, and told him to wait in the pickup line by gesturing to it.

Arthur shoved cash in the stuffed tip jar. He and Selene walked over to the pickup line when Rani came over, whispered something to Selene, and then joined the line for food.

“I can pay for her order, too.” Arthur told the man working the truck.

“Nah.” The guy working shook his head.

“What?” Arthur asked, surprised.

“I said, Nah.” The food truck worker shook his head again. “If you want to pay it forward or some shit, tip.”

“I did tip.” Arthur said.

“The whole pay it forward thing is just a hassle. You want to give money away? Give money to the people making the food and tip.” The guy nodded toward the tip jar.

“I… I’m not trying to give money away. I’m trying to buy my girlfriend’s food.” He gestured to Rani, who noticed and waved.

The man eyed Arthur and Selene, still holding hands. “Whatever.” The man shrugged and took Arthur’s card.

Rani ordered the deep-fried Oreos and joined Arthur and Selene, holding Arthur’s other hand again. The food truck worker either didn’t notice or didn’t care. Their food came. Selene’s funnel cake was first. A shiny white paper plate held the twisted stringy dough fried into place. A thick layer of powdered sugar covered it like a blanket. The aroma transported Selene to her childhood.

Arthur’s pickles came up second. Seven crisp, dark wedges of pickle spears in a paper basket with a plaid print. They were the healthiest choice on the menu. The thick breading promised all the crisp crunch he could ask for but with none of the nutritional value of the salty, sweet pickles beneath.

Rani’s Oreos followed, with seven large puffs of beer-battered dough surrounding each cookie. The powdered sugar was optional, but Rani added it. She didn’t care about the nutritional value of her food today. Few did.

“Those smell amazing.” Selene commented on Rani’s order.

“You want one?” Rani offered as she, Arthur, and Selene walked to the tables to join Brad and Mark. “I’ll trade you for a piece of your funnel cake.”

“Absolutely.” Selene nodded. She tore off a piece of funnel cake the approximate size of an Oreo puff with her thumb and forefinger, wrenching the chunk loose. She offered the piece to Rani as they stopped by the entrance to the picnic area.

Rani dipped her head, and rather than take the piece from Selene with her hand, she opened her mouth and took a bite.

Selene fed Rani as she rose, shifting the wad into her mouth. Rani started chewing. She pressed her fingertips to Rani’s lips, pushing in the last bite. Rani chewed and swallowed, then licked the powdered sugar off Selene’s fingertips.

Arthur coughed.

Selene looked at him and past him, where Mark, Brad, and everyone nearby watched Rani sucking on Selene’s fingers. Selene blushed but didn’t stop. She glanced at Arthur, wiped the white sugar off the corner of Rani’s mouth, then sucked on her own finger.

Rani smiled and offered Selene an Oreo puff in the same fashion.

Selene ate the Oreo puff the same way, surprising most by taking the entire puff into her mouth before chewing. She didn’t surprise Arthur and Rani, who knew how well she fit Arthur’s cock into her mouth.

Once their show ended, Rani and Selene held hands as they approached the table where Mark and Brad watched them. Arthur followed and sat between them.

The picnic tables could fit six people, maybe eight if you didn’t enjoy personal space. Mark and Brad were on one side. Arthur, Selene, and Rani were on the other.

“Fuck.” Mark said first. “That was…”

“I fucking hate you.” Brad said, looking at Arthur. He sat, leaving Mark standing as he looked for Jen and Maria on their return from the cars.

Rani giggled and ate another Oreo puff.

“Me?” Arthur asked. He protested his innocence. “I had nothing to do with that. Hate Rani. She’s the one who enjoys putting on a show.”

“You want to put on a show?” Rani asked Arthur, an eyebrow raised in challenge. “I’m sure Selene would suck your dick right now if you told her to.”

Arthur scoffed. “Behave.” His tone was full of warning.

Mark glanced in Selene’s direction and noticed she didn’t protest. Brad had the decency not to look at either girl. He kept his eyes on Arthur for fear of being unable to stand up without embarrassment.

“You can spank me later.” Rani nudged Arthur with her elbow, and Arthur laughed before he took a bite of his first pickle spear. The deep-fried pickle was hotter than he had expected in the middle but was exquisite. Saltier than expected, but that was the bread seasoning with the brined pickle flavor.

“Speaking of spanking.” Mark changed the subject, directing his question to Arthur. “You up for more carnival games after our lunch?”

“I can win prizes for your girls if you’re not up to it.” Brad offered. “Wouldn’t want them to go home unsatisfied.”

Selene did her best to eat her funnel cake with her left hand while she put her right on Arthur’s thigh, reassuring him.

“None of my women leave unsatisfied.” Arthur said. There was a bravado in his voice clearly intended for comedic effect, made dirty by Rani’s contribution.

“You got that right.” Rani said. She popped another Oreo into her mouth.

Arthur chuckled, but Brad and Mark looked uncomfortable.

“Sorry. We’ll tone it down.” Selene said, noticing their embarrassment.

“Like hell, we will.” Rani argued. “We’re young, hot, we fuck, and we don’t need to be embarrassed.” She declared. “You’re gonna fuck Maria later, right?” She asked Mark. “Are you embarrassed? Or are you proud of it?”

“Uh…” Mark considered the question. “Proud of it, I guess?”

“And you want to fuck that cute little reporter, right? Have her play Lois to your Clark for a night? Or for the foreseeable future?” Rani asked Brad. “You shouldn’t be embarrassed. We’re not.”

Arthur squeezed Rani’s thigh and gave her a gentle, affectionate smile. Arthur squeezed Selene’s thigh simultaneously. “Let’s discuss something other than sex or carnival games.” He offered. “What else do you guys have going on? What are your Halloween plans?”

Mark and Brad were grateful for the topic change but never got the chance to answer as Mark spotted a small crowd of women coming their way. Arthur turned to see Kelly leading as Jen, Maria, Katerine, and Mindy returned. They must have met up and walked back together.

“We should push the tables together.” Brad suggested, looking at the empty table beside them. Plenty of people were in the picnic area, but they’d done their best to spread out between the tables, leaving a few empty ones scattered throughout.

As they approached, Maria gestured to the food trucks, signaling they would get food first. Mark and Brad left to join the others, leaving Arthur and Rani to move the tables together, which they did.

Kelly joined first, sitting opposite Selene at the far end. She carried a mega-gulp-sized cup filled with french fries in one hand and a coffee in the other.

Maria and Mark rejoined the group next, sitting next to Kelly after Maria asked if it was okay. They had Tacos from the Taco truck, and filled the air with a mouth-watering spiced scent as the sauces mingled with the meat and crispy corn flour shells. Maria added a running pool of Tabasco to hers, while Mark preferred his smothered by cheese.

Jen arrived next, sitting beside Rani with a hot dog covered in sauerkraut and spicy mustard and a giant soft pretzel glistening with flecks of stone-white salt.

“Hey.” Jen said. “You’re Rani, right?” She asked as she sat.

“That’s me.” Rani said. “The one and only. If you don’t count thousands of other people.”

Jen laughed and nodded to Brad, who sat across from her beside Mark. He had two slices of pizza, which overflowed the two joint paper plates he had beneath them. Both were sliced from an oversized pizza with large, thick circles of pepperoni scattered over the thick, molten mozzarella. He reached for the napkins in the middle of the table and blotted the pizza before he tried to eat a slice.

“You’re the one who kneed that guy in the cafeteria, right?” Jen asked.

Rani nodded as Mindy came over and pouted at being unable to sit beside Arthur. Nearly finished with her food, Selene offered Mindy her seat on Arthur’s side. She moved across from Kat, who sat beside Mark, putting Selene beside Jen.

Mindy gave her a thankful look and kissed Arthur’s cheek before she sat and cuddled beside him. She had a plate of grilled salmon that made Arthur do a double-take. Its aroma made Arthur’s mouth water, and the recipe smothered the pink meat in a sauce Arthur didn’t recognize.

Mindy noticed Arthur’s interest and considered his food. “I’ll trade you… two bites. For a pickle?”

“Deal.” Arthur offered her a pickle spear. She took it, then took a fork and stabbed the salmon. She offered the morsel to him, fork-feeding Arthur, whose eyes rolled back.

“Where did you get that?” Arthur asked.

Mindy pointed to a truck on the far side of the lot. “This is all they make, but I love seafood.”

“I might get some too.” Arthur nodded. The pickles were excellent, but they weren’t a full meal. The salmon, however, looked much more filling.

Mindy offered him the second bite, and he chewed and swallowed. She leaned toward him, and he kissed her. They made out for a second before he pulled away.

The conversations around the table started popping off like popcorn, with Arthur catching snippets as he listened while he ate. Rani was recounting Monday night’s argument and the brief fight with Sanjay from her perspective. Brad and Jen listened, asking questions and glancing at Arthur and Mindy.

Maria and Kelly discussed Kelly’s style preferences and where she did her shopping. Like Arthur, Mark listened to the conversations around him. Selene and Kat, Arthur noticed, were quiet, talking with one another in whispers and looks but otherwise distracted by their phones.

He checked his phone, but none of the group chats were popping off. Everyone was here, after all. He messaged the two of them.

Master: Everything okay?

Slut: Yeah. We’re just getting a lot of texts from our Mom.

Brat: Nothing to worry about.

He watched Selene share a look with Kat.

Brat: sucks we’re not all sitting together.

Arthur recognized the topic change but didn’t address her evasion.

Master: I’ll make it up to you.

He sent a winky face to both of them, and Selene returned with a kissy face, followed by Kat’s kissy face.

Mindy looked over to see Arthur’s phone and saw him texting with Selene and Kat. She cleared her throat. “Everyone else got to spend time with you last night, Boss.” Mindy said. She took his hand from his phone and brought his palm to her thigh, sliding his fingertips under the folds of her skirt. The way they were sitting, the others could tell he had his hand on her leg, but they couldn’t see she’d slid his hand under her skirt.

Arthur squeezed her thigh and put his phone away, eating with his free right hand.

“Have you ever played D&D?” Mark asked Arthur. Arthur wasn’t sure where the question came from, but Rani had finished her story. She and Mark were discussing hobbies.

“Nah.” Arthur shook his head. “I’m aware of it, but I’ve never played.”

“You’d enjoy it.” Mark offered. “You’d get into acting things out and the roleplay.”

“I could run a game for you and the others if you’d be interested.” Rani offered Arthur. “I could be your dungeon master for a change.”

Mark looked confused, then made the BDSM connection but pushed through it. “It would be great to be a player for once. I’m always stuck DMing.”

Rani considered Mark’s comment and nodded. “I don’t often DM, but it would be nice to play with a group of people who aren’t quite so… stereotypical D&D nerds. Playing with engineering majors and being ‘the girl’ is uncomfortable sometimes.”

“I’ll play!” Mindy volunteered. “I’ve seen clips and stuff online and enjoy roleplay.”

“What are we talking about?” Kelly asked, looking away from Maria at Mindy’s eager volunteerism. The word roleplay might have also caught her attention.

“Dungeons and Dragons.” Rani said, her voice dramatic. “Satan’s game.”

Mark laughed.

Kelly looked confused.

Arthur explained. “It’s a roleplaying game.” He said.

“Like a medieval video game.” Mark said. “But you play with your friends, and someone narrates, with the dice determining success or failure instead of a computer.”

“Sounds interesting.” Kelly said. She sounded hesitant, trying to be complimentary while picturing it.

“You don’t have to play if you don’t want to.” Maria insisted.

“I’m not sure I have time.” Kelly said. “My boyfriend has been taking up so much of my free time, and there’s the move coming up, and my classwork…”

“That boyfriend of yours.” Mindy -tsked- and shook her head. “So demanding.”

Arthur chuckled. “It’s okay.” He assured Kelly. “You don’t have to play.”

“I’d play, though.” Maria offered. “I enjoy playing in Mark’s games, but we might have fun playing together rather than having him DM.”

“What about the rest of you?” Rani asked those on her right. Brad and Jen looked at each other and shrugged. Selene raised her hand, but Kat shook her head.

“I’d be down.” Selene offered.

“I think I’m out.” Brad said. “I’ve played in one of Mark’s games before, but tabletop wasn’t my cup of tea.”

“I wouldn’t mind watching to get an idea of it.” Jen offered. “But I’m not into the whole medieval fantasy genre. I prefer science fiction.”

“I love fantasy, but D&D isn’t my thing.” Kat shrugged. “I’d hang out and get homework done while you play, though.”

“Okay, so that’s…” Rani counted them off as she looked around the table. “Mindy, Arthur, Maria, Mark, and Selene as players, with whoever wants to hang out watching. Five players. I can do that.”

“Is there a number of players that’s too many?” Arthur asked.

“If six or more wanted to play, it’d be easier to split into two games.” Rani said. “But five players isn’t too tough. I’ll just add monsters.”

“Do you want a session zero to see what type of game we want to play?” Mark asked.

“Not a terrible idea.” Rani nodded. “Also, we need to figure out availability.” She looked at the group.

Mindy sighed and glanced at Arthur. “He’s the busiest.”

“Yeah uh…” Arthur looked around the table. “Figure out a date. If I can make the date work, great, and if I can’t, you guys play without me.”

Mindy pouted but didn’t protest. Selene did the same.

“I promise I’ll try and make it work.” He assured them.

“Yay!” Mindy exclaimed and hugged Arthur tight. Arthur laughed and hugged her back with one arm.

“So, how did you meet Arthur?” Jen asked Selene as the conversation at the other end of the table died down.

“Auditions.” Selene shrugged. “I met him and his ex, and we became friends.”

“So, when did you start dating him?” Jen asked.

“After Kelly, before the others.” Selene gestured.

“And you?” Jen asked Kat.

Kat frowned. “I thought we said we didn’t want an interview.”

Jen looked apologetic. “Sorry.” She said. “It’s off the record, I swear. I’m just curious. I’m trying to get to know you guys.”

“Yeah.” Brad said, sticking up for Jen. “If you were dating different dudes, and we were hanging out, she’d ask the same get-to-know-you questions.”

“Exactly.” Jen gestured to Brad. “Thank you.”

Brad nodded his ‘you’re welcome.’

Kat shrugged. “I met him my Sophomore year.”

Arthur looked over, confused. “No, that was last year, remember?” Their junior year was when Arthur first remembered meeting Kat.

Kat shook her head. “You shooed off that guy bothering my friends and me after volleyball tryouts. My hair was different, and you couldn’t stay because of work.”

Arthur looked confused as if trying to remember.

Rani shrugged. “He doesn’t remember meeting me last spring, either.” She informed Kat. “I tried everything to lure him to my room other than strip, and he was oblivious the entire time.”

Mindy giggled. “He is so oblivious sometimes.”

“I am right here.” Arthur said. His tone was one of mock defiance.

Mindy giggled at him. “Fine. You’re so oblivious sometimes, Boss.” She said. “I tried to get you interested in me for weeks. I ended up asking you out because you didn’t notice.”

“Well, that’s different.” Arthur shook his head. “In the office, it’s…” He glanced at Kat. “It’s not something I think about. I don’t check out the girls at the office. That’s just basic workplace ethics.”

Jen nodded. “It makes sense.” She said. “But what about Rani?”

“I was a mess for a few weeks after Lori dumped me.” Arthur said, and Kelly, Selene, Maria, Mark, and Brad looked on with somber recollection. “You could have shown up naked, dragged me into your room, and I would have just been a zombie.”

Rani shrugged. “I considered it. You were smoking hot.” She took the last bite of her last Oreo. “But the sex was worth the wait.”

Mindy smiled.

Arthur reached over and squeezed Rani’s hand. She looked confused for a second, then squeezed back.

“You’re very cute together.” Jen assured them. “Well, you two are hot together.” She gestured to Kelly and Arthur. “But you know what I mean.”

“Hey, I’m hot too!” Mindy protested. “Not just cute.”

“You’re stunning.” Arthur assured Mindy, who blushed but smiled as she returned to her food.

“You guys mind if we split off?” Mark asked the group at large as he took Maria’s hand. They’d finished their food, and Mark seemed eager to return to the fun of the homecoming festival. “I want to walk this food off.” He patted his stomach, and Maria laughed.

The group consensus was that no one minded. Most had finished their food and had the same idea. With their prizes won, there wasn’t any pressure to play the games, but walking around and seeing the sights sounded fun.

Mark and Maria left first, walking ahead, arm-in-arm. Selene and Kat stood next, and the others followed their pattern of taking their trash to the trash can and returning to the table to wait.

Arthur waited for Mindy to finish her salmon and helped her with the last few bites with her encouragement. She enjoyed feeding him and told him so in a whisper only Kelly overheard.

Eventually, the group was up and walking through the main campus walk to tour the booths lining the paved walkway, narrowing it. Mark and Maria were far off but sauntering to ultimately rejoin the group. Brad and Jen split off to peruse student art for sale at a booth. Selene split off to get her face painted, and Mindy joined her, leaving Arthur, Rani, Kelly, and Kat.

Arthur and Kat walked side by side while Rani and Kelly walked behind them. The foursome checked out the booths and lingered at the ones that held their interest.

Arthur looked over his shoulder to talk to Rani. “Oh, how did your conversation go with your ape-man guy?” Arthur asked Rani.

“It went fine. I gave him Katelyn’s number. Told him she was embarrassed, so to proceed carefully. Give her a day, but call her if he is still interested.” Rani said.

“And was he?” Kat asked.

Rani nodded. “He said he’d call her, so… good for her, I guess.”

“Good. Maybe they’ll get together.” Kat crossed her fingers. “Sorry you didn’t get laid last night.” She shrugged.

“I did okay.” Rani winked at Kat, confusing her with the gesture. Rani stepped closer to Arthur. “Speaking of which, we’ve got something to show you later, my King.” She whispered the last part in Arthur’s ear, and he shivered despite the warm October day around them.

Rani then split off to check out an internship booth that caught her interest. They were looking for engineering majors. Kelly got distracted by the caricaturist, who was offering affordable paintings.

“Hey, this is awkward…” Kat raised her eyes toward Arthur’s face. “Could I interest you in ditching?”

Arthur looked around. “Ditching our friends?” He asked to clarify.

Kat smiled. She looked shy for once instead of defiant. “I know you’re trying to save up for tonight, but I’ve been turned on all day and most of last night. And… I… never mind. It’s stupid.”

Arthur shook his head. “It’s not stupid. Say what’s on your mind.”

“No.” Kat shook her head. “It’s okay.”

“That’s an order, Brat.” Arthur’s tone informed her there would be consequences long before he made his threat. “Or I will pull your dress up and spank your naked ass right here.”

Kat looked mortified, but Arthur noticed her nipples poking through her cotton dress. She tried to cross her arms and shook her head at him. He growled.

“This is awkward.” She protested, pulling off to the side and away from anyone who might overhear. “Since my boyfriend wouldn’t let me wear any underwear this morning.”

“Sounds like he had his reasons.” Arthur assured her. “What did you want to say?”

“I want…” Kat hesitated as she looked up at him. “I want to feel close to you, reassurance, a connection. I want to fuck.”

Arthur coughed and looked around. Kat spoke soft enough that no one overheard her, but he wanted to ensure no one heard his response.

“We’d have to ditch the girls too.” Arthur felt obliged to point out the obvious.

“Think they’d forgive me?” Kat asked.

Arthur glanced back over his shoulder again. “I could make it up to them. The girls would forgive you. Selene?” His tone made Kat think Selene wouldn’t be as forgiving as the rest.

“Fair.” Kat nodded. She took Arthur’s arm in hers, and they started walking again.

“Besides, this is kind of nice.” He patted her hand, which was in the crook of his elbow. “We haven’t talked like this for a while.”

“Yeah. You still owe me my next lesson plan, by the way.” Kat reminded him.

“I’ll try to get you the lesson plan tomorrow. I’ll spend most of the day getting my homework done, and then Rani and I are supposed to hang out.”

“And who is scheduled for Monday? Selene again?” Kat asked.

“Actually, no.” Arthur admitted. “I’ve got a theater club meeting with Selene, but I’m supposed to have dinner with my boss. She wants to talk to me.”

“Should I be jealous?” Kat was teasing, but her question was enough to make Arthur hesitate.

“No, you shouldn’t be jealous of anyone.” Arthur said with confidence. “You’re my girlfriend. We don’t judge our relationship by our relationships with others. It’s personal best, not a competition.” He put the concept in terms that made sense to him. They only made some sense to Kat.

Kat was silent for a moment. “Are you… Is your boss one of your relationships? Are you fucking your boss?”

“I haven’t.” Arthur said. “Though—”

“You want to.” Kat guessed.

Arthur tried his best to explain. “It’s more than that. She walked in on Mindy and me, and I couldn’t think of a way out. So I rolled the dice and involved her.”

Kat’s grip on his arm tightened. “How exactly?”

“I spanked and fingered her.” Arthur admitted.

“Are you telling me this now because we’re in public, and you think I won’t cause a scene?” Kat asked. Anger tinged her voice.

“No.” Arthur said. “I’m telling you because I wanted to. It’s the right thing to do. Mindy and I agreed not to tell anyone because it’s against the rules. Even if the Harem was open, Beth couldn’t join it. I can’t date my boss. We could get into trouble for doing what we did. So we’ve been keeping quiet. But I told you I would tell you before I fucked anyone else, and I wanted to keep that promise.”

Kat lowered her voice to a harsh whisper. “But you spanked and fingered her already.”

“Well, yes. But there wasn’t time to tell you beforehand. Beth walked in, and I had to think fast.”

“So you thought, gee, I’ll just make my boss orgasm and get out of trouble that way?” Kat hissed.

“Not exactly. But you’ve got the broad strokes.” Arthur was trying to be funny. One day, for both their sakes, Kat hoped he would learn she didn’t share his sense of humor.

“Well, at least you told me before you fucked her.” Kat said after a silent pause. “It’s not what I was hoping for, but, well, fuck. I don’t know how you could have done anything differently except tell me sooner. But I can see where this would have been an in-person conversation. And this was your first chance when there wasn’t another crisis. Even if the timing is not ideal.”

“Thank you.” Arthur said.

“Oh, I’m still not happy. I am furious at you, but I understand.” Kat said. Her words still sounded sharp and annoyed.

“What can I do?” Arthur asked.

“Two or three things.” Kat leaned in. “First, we go to the library. Second, we find a moderately soundproofed spot and have angry sex.”

Arthur nodded. “And third?”

“Don’t fuck Beth. Don’t even finger Beth or anyone outside the Harem without the Harem’s permission.” Kat glared up at Arthur, expecting a protest.

“Deal.” Arthur said. “I know I could put my foot down and fight you on it, but the open part of this arrangement makes things way too complicated for me. I’d prefer to close the polycule than lose it.”

“Me too.” Kat nodded. “I think the only one who might need convincing is Rani. Let us girls deal with that.”

Arthur nodded. “So, how do we ditch without upsetting the others?”

Kat smiled upon finding a solution. “Give me a moment.” She pulled out her phone and sent something to the girls only group chat.

Arthur watched as the others checked their phones and messaged something back. Mindy messaged more than the others.

Kat looked up from her phone and smiled at Arthur. She tugged him toward the library. By the time Mark, Maria, Brad, or Jen noticed any of them were gone, they had all been gone for several minutes.

“I feel a little guilty ditching our friends.” Arthur admitted as Kat guided him toward the library building. His mother had raised him to behave with a certain amount of etiquette, and abandoning friends without warning violated that.

“I’ll make it up to you.” Kat said. “And don’t feel guilty. Mark and Maria split off first, remember?”

Arthur nodded. “Good point. Plus, I really want to fuck you.”

Kat’s face turned a beautiful shade of crimson. For a moment, he thought she was angry. She was blushing, and then the tug on his arm became more insistent.

Arthur followed her lead. The library was open, but most people were outside. The university scheduled events there for later. Arthur only saw three people now, even in the computer lounge. Kat dragged him through to the rear stairwell, then, to his surprise, went downstairs instead of up.

“What is this place?” Arthur asked as she opened a door for him with a passcode. “Storage.” Kat said. “But it’s still the library, so it counts.”

“Still counts for what?” Arthur asked.

“Fucking my boyfriend in the library.” Kat explained. She turned on the lights. There were hundreds of old books in bins instead of the shelves.

“Been fantasizing over that for a while, have you?” Arthur asked.

Kat smiled. “A while, I guess.”

Arthur stepped over to her and slid the straps of her dress off her shoulders. The soft, stretchy top still clung to her but bared her collarbone and the top of her chest. He rolled those straps down her arms and pulled her top with it. Kat drew her arms up, freeing them from the straps, and left them overhead as Arthur grabbed her wrists with one hand.

Kat glared at him with defiance and gave him a brief, unenthusiastic struggle. Arthur smirked and kissed her. The kiss turned passionate until Kat shoved him away.

“How dare you.” Kat spat, a gleam in her eye washed away Arthur’s confusion. She’d said she wanted angry sex, so…

“Shut up.” Arthur snapped. He stepped forward again and grabbed her wrist as she moved to slap him. She moved to hit him with her free hand, and he grabbed that, too, holding them to either side of her head. Her torso was bare, her breasts heaved, and she tried to wriggle out of his grip but couldn’t. She gasped at his dark expression. “You’ve been teasing me all day long.” He whispered in her ear. “And now, I’ll make you pay.”

“Asshole.” Kat spat. “You’ve teased me just as much. Your frustration is your fault.”

Arthur brought her hands behind her back. Kat arched her back in response, pushing her naked chest against him.

“Shh. This is a library.” He reminded her. “If you aren’t quiet, I’ll have to rip that dress off and gag you.”

Kat’s chest heaved in a breath. “Asshole.” She repeated. “I’ll scream.”

“Probably.” Arthur nipped her neck, and she gasped. Her legs almost gave out, but Arthur held her upright, his thigh between her legs, his arms firm. “But you’ll be screaming in pleasure.”

“Ha.” Kat’s laughter was dry. “Big words.”

Arthur shut her up with another kiss, and Kat bent backward as he took her mouth. She grunted and moved away. Arthur shifted and bit the other side of her neck.

“Don’t— don’t leave any marks.” Kat said quickly. “Or—”

“I’ll do what I want.” Arthur said darkly. “And you’ll enjoy every fucking minute.”

Kat squeezed her thighs together as Arthur let go of her wrists and thrust his hand between her legs to emphasize his point. She was wet. As soon as his finger touched her lips, she parted for him. He felt the viscous arousal between his fingers and smirked, dipping his middle finger into her hole while his thumb trapped her clit.

Kat clung to Arthur to stay standing, kissing his shoulder. “Take this shirt off.” She demanded. “Now!”

Arthur had to release her, but he ripped his shirt off and tossed it aside. She nearly tackled him. He caught her, lifted her up, and made out with her as she wrapped her legs around his abdomen and squeezed him between her thighs.

“God, you’re so fucking strong.” Kat panted.

“And you’re so fucking sexy.” Arthur said in return.

Kat blushed. She was still wearing her dress, but gravity lowered the top, and their position lifted her skirt in the front. She wrapped her arms over his shoulders and behind his head. Her legs hooked over each other behind him, and she was at a comfortable height for making out. His hands held her up by holding her ass. Her soft flesh pressed against his hard body in an electric exchange of pressure.

He moved his hands and unbuckled his belt, lowering his pants in a moment of awkward movement, but only a moment. He found a bare spot and trapped her against the wall, lowering her and shifting his stance to impale her on his cock. She moaned as he slid into her, and Arthur started pounding her as though trying to drive her through the wall.

“Wait— Ah!” She gasped and panted, discomfort giving way to an overwhelming sense of pleasure. The pressure of everything, the wall, and Arthur’s hard body squeezing hers. Her breasts smashed by his chest, her mouth occupied with his, her cunt so full she felt him slide against her cervix with every thrust.

She screamed through clenched lips, clutched him, clawed, bit, and lost herself in the pleasure until she lost her senses. Kat bucked and writhed as much as she could, but her body went nowhere. Arthur was in complete control, plowing through her like tissue paper. She screamed quietly again, tears in her eyes, but they were tears and screams of pleasure. She wanted this to last but was unsure she could endure.

As it turned out, she couldn’t. Arthur pounded her, and to protect his ears, he covered her mouth with his hand just as she was about to scream again. She let out her muffled primal cry and clenched her entire body against his. Arthur felt like she was sucking his cock into her. He grunted, and the deep animalistic noise triggered something in Kat. She exploded, her entire body shaking in his arms and thrashing as she screamed into his hand. Arthur felt as though she were attempting to rip his cock off by squeezing him with her body, and he grunted again.

Kat’s orgasm tore through her in explosive waves that shook her and forced her to twist her head against his hand until she went limp.

Arthur panted, still inside her, and moved his hand away from her mouth.

“Kat?” Arthur asked.

Kat didn’t respond.

“Oh shit.” Arthur pulled her up from under her arms and lifted her off his cock. She was ragdoll limp and didn’t open her eyes until after he laid her on the floor.

“Hm?” She made a noise, and Arthur breathed a sigh of relief.

“I thought you’d passed out or something.” Arthur said. His tone was worried. “Are you okay?”

“I think I did, briefly.” Kat admitted. “Fuck.”

“Are you okay?” Arthur asked. His voice and expression showed concern, but Kat paid him no attention. She gazed at the ceiling, off in her own world.

“Are you kidding?” Kat asked. She flopped her arms. “I’m ruined. I can’t walk anymore, can’t do anything. I’m just going to sleep here for a year or two until I get my strength back.” She closed her eyes.

Arthur chuckled. “Well, at least I didn’t kill you.”

“I think you did a little bit.” Kat admitted. She giggled. “Le Petite Morte.”

Arthur smirked, still possessing his faculties. “Well, not to ruin your recovery.” He squeezed her hand. “But we should get back to the others. They’ll be wondering where we are.”

“I texted the harem the plan before we ditched.” Kat explained. “I think they’re scattered throughout the library, running interference.”

“Damn.” Arthur looked surprised. “I should have thought of that.”

Kat scoffed. “The girls have started calling dibs on different places. So you’ll get to fuck all of us somewhere while the others play defense and keep a lookout.” Her breath was coming back to her, and Arthur watched her breasts hungrily as they rose and fell.

“Hot.” Arthur admitted. “Maybe I should start deciding where to fuck you.” He smirked. “I’m the Master, after all.”

“Yes, Sir.” Kat smirked. Then, rubbing her legs together. “Wait, did you cum?”

“No.” Arthur admitted. “But that’s okay. This was for you, and it’s more fuel for tonight.”

“Fuck.” Kat pointed toward her purse. “Can you? I have tissues in there.”

Arthur handed her the purse, and Kat pulled out what she needed. “You win all the prizes for sex.” Kat assured him.

“You are my prize.” Arthur said and kissed her forehead.

“Stop, or I’ll never let you leave.” Kat shuddered. “God.” She took another deep breath. “I’m exhausted. Are you not exhausted?”

“Nah.” Arthur shook his head. “I’m pumped. It’s taking a lot of willpower not to roll you over, mount you from behind, and fuck you until I cum. Or back you up against that wall, push you to your knees, and fuck your throat.”

Kat glanced at his cock, which was still hard when he tucked himself back inside his jeans. The bulge didn’t dwindle until after she fixed her dress. Arthur breathed deeply the entire time, distracting his thoughts by examining the spines of the old books in their bins.

“Come on. We need to drink water, and I could do with more than a few bites of food. I’m starving.” Arthur nodded toward the door. He’d already burned through the fried pickle fuel.

“Me too.” Kat realized.

“Well, come on then. Let’s see what the others are up to.” Arthur said, his hand on the door handle.

“Yes, Sir.” After double-checking her dress, Kat opened the door to find Kelly standing with her back to the door. Her ass looked fantastic in her slinky gray dress.

Kelly smiled. “Looks like you two had fun.” She reached up and fixed Arthur’s hair with her fingers.

Kat smirked. “Sorry. I should have let you have him.”

Kelly shook her head. “I had him last night. But Selene might be annoyed you didn’t make him wait until tonight.”

“Oh, he didn’t cum.” Kat assured her. “So we’re still on track.”

“Really?” Kelly asked. “Well, well, Mister. You continue to impress.” She started leading the way upstairs, and Arthur and Kat followed.

“I try my best.” Arthur smirked and followed.

Mindy met them at the top of the stairs, just outside the stairwell door. “I call next.” She said. “I’ve missed you, Boss.”

Rani joined them a few rows later by the reference section. Selene was waiting for them at the library entrance, where she’d been ready to act as a decoy in case their friends found them.

“Have a good time?” Selene asked Kat, who gave her a shy smile.

“A great time.” Kat answered. “You should try it sometime.”

“Oh, I intend to.” Selene smirked. “I’ve always wanted to try a lecture hall, personally.”

“Really?” Arthur asked.

“It’s a recurring dream thing. In my dream, though, the seats are filled. I’m in the class watching Arthur fuck, and then I get called down to help.” Selene shrugged.

“We’ll see what we can do.” Kelly laughed. “Now, come on, there’s a whole festival to explore.”

“We could always try our luck with the tailgaters.” Rani suggested. “Do we know any alumni who are coming today?”

As if on cue, Arthur checked his phone to see several missed messages. The archives had poor cell signal. “My folks are here.” Arthur announced, holding up the phone.

The picture was of his father, bedecked in university paraphernalia, manning a large black grill armed with a spatula in one hand and tongs in the other.

Mom: Hey honey! I forgot to talk to you but assumed you’d be around. It’s homecoming! We’re not doing the whole parents thing this year (it was old hat after Freshman year), but we’re here for the game! Stop by! Bring your girlfriends! We’ve got plenty of food!

She ended with a heart emoji.

Mom: Your father refuses to wear the apron I got him, so if you have a manlier apron than ‘kiss than cook,’ please bring it.

Mom: Are you getting any of these messages? My phone still says unread.

Mom: And they just sent all at once. This parking lot needs better signal. We’re by the lacrosse field!

Arthur laughed and looked at the others. “Uh, do you want to have lunch with my parents before the game?”

“Sure!” Kelly said. The smile she gave Arthur was bright. “It’ll take the pressure off brunch with your mother tomorrow.” She added. “Do I look okay?” She flattened out her skirt.

“You are perfect.” Arthur assured her and kissed her. She accepted the kiss with gentle grace and smiled as she stepped away.

“What about me?” Mindy piped up. “You haven’t complimented my outfit.”

“I love your outfit.” Arthur assured her. “I bought that skirt for you, and it looks incredibly sexy on you.”

“Thanks, Boss.” Mindy kissed him and stepped away.

“I’m not wearing ‘meet the parents’ clothes, but I don’t give a fuck.” Rani shrugged. “They either like me or don’t, and the second impression doesn’t matter as much.”

“Fair.” Arthur shrugged. “But you’re still beautiful.” He surprised Rani by kissing her, and Selene could have sworn Rani was blushing when they started walking again.

“Is it okay that I’m in this?” Selene gestured to herself. “Would you prefer I wear something nicer for meeting your parents again?”

“You and Kat are wearing what I want you to wear today, not a stitch more.” He assured Selene, kissing her and then Kat. “You’re beautiful and sexy, and you’ve already met my parents, so you don’t need to worry.”

Selene smiled, but Kat looked nervous.

They passed the food trucks on their way to where everyone was tailgating, but there was no sign of Mark, Brad, Maria, or Jen on their walk. Arthur took that as a good sign. As they walked, he held Kat’s hand in his left and Selene’s in his right. Her leash looped around his wrist once more through her sleeve.

Mindy and Rani walked arm in arm ahead of them, and Kelly walked ahead of Mindy and Rani, leading the way through the crowd.

The tailgater parking lot was chaos in columns. Rows of cars parked by the lot closest to the stadium, and almost everyone had a grill setup. Loud music clashed with neighbors’ loud music and different genres battled for auditory dominance. The parking lots were one sprawling party made up of dozens of micro-parties. Foods whose smells should never mix were grilled beside each other. People from every walk of life were chatting, tossing footballs around, and doing their best to show their pride in their school.

“Wow.” Mindy said as she clung to Arthur. “There’s a lot of people here.”

Arthur only had so many hands, but Kat didn’t begrudge Mindy’s taking her place after she felt she’d monopolized his time and had her library fantasy fulfilled. Well, her archives fantasy.

“There he is!” A female voice shouted over the din. Arthur and the others reflexively turned to see who was calling. A woman in her late twenties pointed straight at Arthur, an older woman standing behind her, following her finger.

“Uh…” Arthur started. “Well, shit.” There was nowhere to hide. He looked up just in time to see Beth turn to glance his way.

Beth stood beside the other woman. She wore a sweater dress similar to the one she’d worn before, but this one was blue and more modest. The skirt was slightly flared and knee-length, and the knit material appeared comfortable. She smiled with an expression of defeat and nodded at her sister’s remark.

“That’s Beth’s sister.” Arthur whispered to Mindy. “They don’t know we work with Beth.”

“Got it, Boss.” Mindy said.

The others overheard, but only Kat’s expression bore annoyance. “Another woman I have to worry about? Fuck.”

“You don’t need to worry about anyone.” Arthur reminded her. “Her aunt is the one that hired me as a stripper. I was supposed to call her. She wants to keep hiring me.”

“I’ll bet she does.” Kelly laughed.

The aunt and the sister waved and maneuvered through the intervening parties of two other groups before they met Arthur’s small bustle in the crowd. Beth stayed behind, doing her best to appear nonchalant.

“I don’t know if you remember me.” The sister said cheerfully. “My name’s Krissy.” She offered Arthur her hand. “And you know my aunt Diane already, of course. She’s the one who hired you last week.”

“Diane Derby.” The older woman introduced herself to Arthur and the gaggle of girls surrounding him. If their presence surprised her, she made no sign. On the contrary, it confirmed something in her mind. “My other niece, Elizabeth, said she’s seen you around campus. I was hoping to run into you. Did she give you my card?”

“She did, yes.” Arthur admitted. “I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to call, I’ve been pretty busy.”

“Are we interrupting you on duty?” Krissy asked with a conspiratorial wink at Kelly, who looked confused.

Arthur shook his head no. “Uh, no. Girls, this is Krissy and Diane. Krissy was the bride-to-be at that bachelorette party I told you about.”

And everything clicked into place for the girls.

Krissy's face showed disappointment as if the presence of the girls indicated she should be disappointed. “Come and join our tailgating party!” She invited Arthur. “Not professionally. Obviously.” She said quickly.

Arthur laughed. Rani snorted somewhere behind him.

Arthur gestured further into the parking lot. “No, but thank you. We’re on our way to join another party.”

“Of course.” Diane interjected. “Well, here.” She pulled a card out of her purse and handed it to Arthur. “Just in case something happens to the older one.” She explained. “Please call me. I have several upcoming events that could use someone of your talents.”

Rani snorted again, and Mindy giggled.

Arthur glanced behind him to see them trying not to look at him.

“And give me your phone.” Krissy said, holding out her hand.

“Uh…” Arthur started to comply, but Kat grabbed his arm.

“Hi.” She said, introducing herself to Krissy. “My name’s Kat. I’m Arthur’s girlfriend.”

“Oh.” Krissy looked startled. “Right. I didn’t mean like that.” She said. “Obviously.” She pointed to her engagement ring. “I have girlfriends who are interested in hiring him, that’s all. One of them’s getting married soon.”

“Do you have a card?” Diane asked. “Or a real name? Tommy Sins didn’t pull up any results in Google that looked like you.”

If she’d been stifling laughter before, Rani lost control now and had to hide her face behind Mindy’s shoulder. Mindy, who, on her own, gazed at the ground and shook with silent laughter. Even Selene had to stare at her feet and tried to press her smile into non-existence.

“I should get a card.” He admitted. “Here.” He held out his hand, and Krissy got her phone into his hand before Diane could. Krissy pointedly refused to notice Kat, who glared at her as Arthur punched in his number. Then he returned the phone to Krissy and did the same to Diane’s. “Shoot me a text or call, and we can set something up.”

“Absolutely.” Krissy agreed and gave Kat a triumphant smile that made Kat want to step forward and take a swing.

“See you around.” Krissy smirked at Arthur, and she and Diane made their way back toward Beth, who refused to acknowledge Arthur’s existence even as Krissy pointed back at him.

“Wow, that girl is thirsty.” Rani said through her laughter.

“She has a fiance!” Kat spat. “That slut!”

“Hey!” Selene piped up, offended that someone used her name as an insult.

“I didn’t mean—” Kat groaned in frustration.

“It’s kinda cute when you’re jealous.” Arthur admitted, and Kat glared at him. “You have nothing to worry about.” He assured Kat and gave her a quick kiss.

“Yeah.” Kelly chimed in. “Good luck to any bitch who wants to steal him away from us.” She linked her arm with Kat’s.

“Wanna give her something to think about?” Rani asked, not waiting for an answer before she laid a searing kiss on Arthur’s lips.

Mindy followed next, holding his hand as Kelly gave him another one. Then Selene kissed him. Finally, Kat made sure Krissy was watching, confused and blushing, before Kat laid the last kiss on Arthur. She wasn’t the only one watching in the small crowd of tailgaters nearby. Kat pulled him along as she walked away.

“Come on.” Kat said. “Boyfriend.”

They were a few paces further when Kelly caught Arthur’s eye. “Are you going to strip for money now?” She asked.

“I’ve been considering it.” He admitted. “Having five girlfriends is expensive.”

“We’re worth it.” Rani said in a flat, matter-of-fact tone.

“Yes, you are.” Arthur agreed. “Would you guys have any issues with me dancing for money? I had fun.”

“Someone liked the attention.” Rani smirked.

“Yeah.” Arthur shrugged.

“Can I think about it?” Mindy asked, surprising everyone. “I’m not opposed to you dancing. But if it will be a regular thing, we need time to consider. We should list the pros and cons and set rules. Like if you fuck people you dance for, you could get arrested, right? So maybe don’t do that.”

“I’ve been meaning to talk to the rest of you about the open part of the whole ‘open relationship’ thing.” Arthur admitted. “I was wondering if—”

“There he is!” His mother’s familiar voice cut through the chatter. Arthur smiled despite being cut off mid-sentence.

Kat and Mindy released him as Deb approached, hugged him, then held him away at arm’s length and inspected him. “Look at you, all muscles nowadays. No wonder you’re fighting the girls off with a stick.”

“And what a stick.” Rani said before she could stop herself. The other girlfriends looked mortified as Deb blinked at Rani. Rani laughed at the awkwardness. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Hi, I’m Rani, we met before at the restaurant last Sunday?”

Deb took a moment to look her over, not quite recognizing her. Rani's jewelry and clothes on her date were much nicer than her current clothes. Her eyes, however, were just as sharp, and Deb recognized those. However, seeing Rani with Mindy and Arthur without the young man she’d been on her date with struck her as odd.

Deb’s smile closed as she nodded. “Of course.” She said to Rani. “And you’re Ji-Min, but you go by something else, right?” She asked Mindy.

“Mindy.” Mindy volunteered with a smile.

Deb returned the smile and turned to the only young woman she hadn’t met yet. “So you must be Kelly. We’ve texted.” She said to Kelly. “It’s nice to meet you. You can call me Deb.”

“It’s so nice to meet you.” Kelly said after smoothing out her dress.

“Did you get my texts?” Deb asked Arthur. “I just sent you another one a few minutes ago. We didn’t know if they were coming, but we invited–” She paused and noticed the others standing close to her son. Kelly, Mindy, Rani, Selene, and Kat stood close to Arthur and watched him for their cues with affectionate expressions.

“Young man.” Deb eyed Arthur with suspicion. “Are you dating all these young women or just the sisters and Mindy?” She asked, turning her eyes from Selene to Kat, Mindy, Rani, and Kelly.

“Um…” Arthur hesitated but saw no reason to lie to his mother. “It’s complicated, but yeah.”

“Yes.” Kelly confirmed. “We’re uh, we’re all dating your son.”

Deb’s eyebrows rose, and she examined each girl more critically than before. “Well, well. You are one lucky man.” She chuckled at her son then looked past him. “He treats you well?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Mindy said quickly.

Deb laughed. “Oh, we’ll have none of that. I’m not so old I need someone in college to call me ma’am. You can call me Deb, remember?”

“Okay.” Mindy nodded and then experimentally tried out the name. “Deb.”

Deb nodded gracefully. “Thank you.” She said. “Your father and I haven’t discussed your relationships, of course, and I doubt he’ll care. As far as he knows, you’re just bringing everyone to meet me because they want to rent the house together. Speaking of, if you haven’t gotten my last text, I should warn you—”

But her warning came too late.

“Arty?” Lynn’s voice called out from somewhere behind Deb. “There you are!”