Harem House Chapter 45 Part 4

“Mm,” Rani moaned against Arthur’s lips as she pressed him backward. Her hand against his chest guided him. She couldn’t force him if she tried. His thick muscles, sinews, and thews could withstand her efforts without trying. 

Still, he sat, spreading his arms over the bench in the lounge cabin of the party bus, facing the opposite bench just ahead of the stripper pole. Manasa stood nearby in her driver’s uniform, watching them, waiting for her moment to interrupt. Rani’s lips left his, and she remained standing as he took his seat. 

“My king,” Rani said as she sank to her knees between his thighs. “I’ve brought you a present. A new concubine for you to fuck. Her name is Manasa, and she’s eager to serve you.”

Manasa lowered her head, still standing nearby, unsure of how to get involved with the game they were playing: Queen Rani offering King Arthur a new toy. She removed her blazer and vest and set them on the bench toward the entrance. 

“Shall I present her to you?” Rani asked. 

“Yes,” Arthur said. He stretched out and made himself comfortable on the bench, still wearing nothing but his sandals, bracers, and loincloth. “Let me see how she looks without those drab clothes. Strip her. Present her to me, and then I’ll decide how best to pleasure her.” 

Rani rose from her knees, using Arthur’s thighs to balance her ascent. She swayed as she approached Manasa, swinging her hips. The skirt of two strips of red veils that overlaid her bikini hid nothing. The red silk bikini she wore beneath the veils preserved her modesty, but only just. Arthur received a generous view of her backside as she stood before Manasa, unbuttoning her black collar shirt.

She started with the collar, pulling it toward her to draw Manasa’s attention. Manasa looked into Rani’s eyes and smiled. The heat in her eyes met its match in Manasa’s gaze. Rani unclipped the clip-on tie and tossed it onto the bench. A pity. If it had been a real tie, she’d have left it. Manasa’s new master enjoyed a collar and leash. 

Rani paused at the first button, her fingers against Manasa’s throat, waiting for her signal. Manasa nodded, and Rani opened the first button on her blouse. It opened to show Manasa’s smooth, delicious neck. Rani pulled the collar aside and kissed her neck, drawing a gasp from Manasa’s lips that sent a shiver along Rani’s spine. 

The second and third buttons revealed Manasa’s light-brown skin across her chest. Her skin tone was lighter than Rani’s and seemed lighter still as Rani’s fingers traced over her cleavage. Her dark digit hooked and curled between the soft, warm flesh of Manasa’s round, heavy breasts. Breasts that rose as Manasa drew in a deep breath and held it in anticipation. Rani straightened her finger as she slid it along the slope of Manasa’s chest, coming to the next button. 

The fourth button unfastened, allowing her shirt to fall open enough to reveal the cups of her black bra. Half of each cup was black floral lace, from the curve of her cleavage to the supportive, solid bottom half. 

The fifth and sixth buttons revealed her soft stomach. It wasn’t as flat as a Rani’s, but showed a healthy tone. Manasa’s embarrassment caused her to turn her head away from Arthur. 

“Eyes on me, Concubine,” Arthur said. His voice was deep and commanding, causing both women to turn their eyes to him. He laughed. “I suppose I should call Manasa something else.” 

Manasa looked confused. 

“Concubine is my harem name, sometimes,” Rani said. “See?” She turned her hip toward Manasa, showing her the tattoo where “Arthur’s Concubine” was on the blade in a Hindi script. 

“Oh,” Manasa said, her lips parting. “That’s hot?” She didn’t sound sure. 

“Right?” Rani grinned as she tugged Manasa’s shirt out of her pants. “But for now, I’m Arthur’s queen. That makes you his concubine. Understand?” 

“Yes,” Manasa whispered. 

“You may refer to me as your queen, and Arthur as your king. Understand?” Rani asked. 

Manasa nodded. “Yes, my queen.” 

“Mm,” Rani hummed. “I do so enjoy that.”

Arthur grinned and cracked his neck, watching as Rani unfastened the remaining buttons on Manasa’s shirt. She’d been a concubine more than a queen in the harem, but today she felt like a queen. Her garb was slutty and concubine-ish, but the bridal red and ornate gold elevated her above the lowly, unadorned woman before her. And Arthur? Arthur was always her king. 

Rani opened Manasa’s shirt and pushed it over her shoulders. Manasa moved her arms behind her, letting the shirt slide along her arms. The cuffs caught around her wrists, but Rani didn’t tug the shirt free. She left it there, keeping Manasa’s arms behind her as if cuffed. Rani turned, sliding past her and pushing Manasa so she was standing sideways to let Rani move behind her. 

“Look, my King. Your new concubine was thoughtful enough to wear lingerie for you,” Rani said. She groped Manasa’s breasts through her bra, sliding her finger over the lacy material. The cups hid Manasa’s nipples, but the top of her areola hid under the lace. The dark circles against her light skin stood out when naked, but the lace obscured them. Still, that didn’t stop Manasa’s nipples from stiffening and tenting the smooth satin of her bra’s cups. 

“He enjoys lingerie,” Rani whispered in Manasa’s ear. “If only it were front-clasping.”

“I’m sorry, my queen,” Manasa said, hanging her head. 

“I expect better of you next time,” Rani said, tracing her fingers over the curves of Manasa’s cleavage from behind her. She tightened her grip, squeezing the soft flesh in her palms and drawing another gasp from between Manasa’s lips. 

“Yes, my queen.” 

Rani slid her hands over her bra, then against her stomach, smoothing the flesh there until she came to Manasa’s belt. Rani’s fingers unbuckled her belt, pulling it free from its loops. 

Manasa looked away from Arthur, but Rani grabbed her chin and turned her head in his direction. “Look at our king. See how handsome he is? You’ll be his concubine, my dear, his fuck toy. I envy and pity you. He’s going to ruin you in ways you don’t understand. Other men won’t satisfy you after he fucks you. You’ll belong to him, and long for him, long after he sends you away.” 

Manasa gulped. 

Arthur blushed at the praise, but didn’t protest. He played into Rani’s words and embraced the role of king in this drama. 

Rani unbuckled Manasa’s pants and lowered her zipper. “Did you wear lingerie below as well?” 

“Yes, my queen, as you instructed,” Manasa said. 

Rani smiled, peeling Manasa’s slacks over her hips and pulling them over her thighs until they fell free and pooled around her feet. It left Manasa in a pair of black lace panties. The floral-pattern lace stretched over each cheek, narrowed into a two-finger-wide band, and disappeared between her thighs in the front. A small patch of opaque black material covered her private parts, but hid nothing else. Her shaved mound had short stubble in a landing strip above her pussy lips. Arthur’s eyes dipped low, tracing the patterns in the lace as they wound over Manasa’s curves. 

Rani slid her hand over Manasa’s ass, groping her cheek and making Manasa stiffen. She enjoyed Manasa’s body. Her slacks hadn’t done her curves justice, nor had her blazer and uniform. She was top-heavy and couldn’t match Rani’s width or roundness below the waist, but her butt was a healthy apple shape and well worth a squeeze. 

“You’re teasing that poor woman,” Arthur said. His voice lacked any reprimanding tone, though. “Leave the panties on for now, but remove everything else. Then remove the bikini beneath your veils. I want you in nothing but your jewelry, my queen.” 

“Yes, my king,” Rani said, obeying him as she expected Manasa to obey both of them. She tugged the shirt free from Manasa’s wrists and tossed it toward the bench. Then she knelt behind Manasa and unfastened her squeaky leather dress shoes. She moved Manasa’s thigh from behind, lifting her leg out of the slacks one socked foot at a time. 

“May I keep my socks, my king?” Manasa asked as Rani hooked her finger over them. 

Arthur considered the request, stroking his chin to show he was thinking. “No.” 

Rani grinned. Arthur wasn’t into foot stuff, so it wasn’t that. He was testing Manasa’s comfort level and submission, seeing if she’d push back or utter her safeword over the first tug of war with his dominance. Would she play along and be his concubine? Or would she only do that so long as he gave her what she wanted? 

She yielded. “As you wish, my king.” 

Rani removed her sock, then the other, after letting Manasa stand on her bare foot. She stood, still hiding behind Manasa, but hooked her fingers behind the hooks of Manasa’s bra. Rani cinched and pulled, releasing the three clasps that kept Manasa’s breasts hidden from their king. She slid the straps over Manasa’s shoulders and moved her hands forward. The bra slid over her arms and fell to the floor before them to join the heap of her slacks, shoes, and socks. 

“Very fine indeed,” Arthur said, adjusting himself on the bench. “You’ve delivered a lovely, busty concubine.” 

“Mm,” Rani moaned her approval and groped Manasa’s tits from below. 

Manasa gasped with pleasure, standing rigid as Rani weighed her breasts in her hands, toyed with them, and pushed them together. Her nipples were rigid, unpierced, and natural, with her heavy breasts colliding under Rani’s guidance. 

“Would you like to fuck her tits, my king?” Rani asked. “How are you at blowjobs, Manasa? Have you trained yourself in the arts of male pleasure?” 

“I uh, have training, yes,” Manasa said, playing along. “I’m not sure how good I am. That’s for my king to decide.” 

“Good answer,” Rani said, smacking Manasa’s rear end. 

Manasa jumped at the sudden impact, but she didn’t complain at the light swat. It was far from a real spank. She blushed instead and nodded her gratitude. “Thank you, my queen.” 

“Don’t spank my concubine without my permission, my queen,” Arthur said. “If you damage her, I’ll have to whip you.” 

Rani swallowed and bowed her head. “Yes, my king.” 

Arthur stood, but only to drop his loincloth and set it beneath him, sitting on it and letting his dick swing free. 

Manasa’s eyes widened as Arthur stroked himself, bringing himself to full-mast as he watched them. She stared at his dick. “Fuck.” 

Rani giggled. “You’re going to swallow that sword, even if I have to hold your head still as he fucks your throat, understood?” 

Manasa gulped. “You said he was big, but–” 

Rani squeezed Manasa’s breast, drawing a yelp from the woman. 

“I mean, yes, my queen,” Manasa said. 

“Good,” Rani said, pushing Manasa forward toward Arthur. 

Manasa took a step forward. Then another. Rani drove her forward from behind until they reached Arthur. She positioned Manasa between his legs, then pushed her down. She held her by the hair behind her head and brought her lips to the tip of Arthur’s dick. 

“Wet his cock, you slut. Get it nice and sloppy, then put it between your tits and fuck him with them while he watches me strip for him,” Rani said. “If you do well, I’m sure our king will reward you. If you displease him, I’ll have to think of something nasty.” 

Manasa nodded and opened her mouth. She surged forward for Arthur’s cock, but Rani pulled her hair back, keeping her from it by a matter of millimeters. Arthur’s dick twitched as her breath warmed his cock head, and Rani smiled. She gripped Arthur’s cock at the base and lined it up with Manasa’s mouth, aiming carefully. 

Manasa’s eyes remained fixed on Arthur’s cock, making her cross-eyed until she slid her eyes toward Rani. She stuck her tongue out, trying to lick Arthur’s cock, which earned her another yank on her hair. “She’s so eager, my king.” Rani moved her eyes to Arthur’s. “Are you ready for your concubine to suck and fuck you with her tits?” 

Arthur cupped Rani’s chin. “Yes.” 

Rani pushed Manasa’s head forward, slamming Arthur’s cock into her mouth and throat, making the woman gag. She slobbered over his dick and Rani’s hand, and Rani pulled her away, then repeated the process several times with ruthless efficiency. They’d discussed this, and Manasa said she could deep-throat, so Rani didn’t hold back. 

Manasa kept her hands on Arthur’s thighs, holding onto him for balance as she knelt between them and face-fucked his cock. 

Arthur pulled Rani’s face to his, making her release Manasa, who kept the pace on her own. He kissed Rani and moaned into the kiss to signal his pleasure. Rani’s tongue wrestled with his until she felt satisfied he was preoccupied with Manasa throating and gagging on his cock.

Rani pulled away, standing and reaching behind her. The red silk top wasn’t as slutty as her others, but it was easy enough to remove. She tossed it to the side, reached under her transparent skirt, and hooked her fingers over her briefs next. Rani lowered her bikini bottoms to the floor. She left the veils and the jewelry in place, showing off her dark skin, darker nipples, and gold piercings. Unlike the barbells she typically wore, she wore studded rings of gold on her nipples that hung well as she bent over, catching Arthur’s attention. 

She moved and stood behind Manasa, spreading her legs so she had a foot on either side of her. Then she put her hand on Manasa’s head and leaned on her. Manasa swallowed every inch of Arthur’s cock and kept her nose pressed against him, with Rani keeping her there. Rani leaned over her and kissed Arthur again, reveling in the pleasure as he met her passion, and Manasa gagged beneath her.

Arthur played with Rani’s breasts, groping her and sweeping his fingers around her piercings. He slid his hand further, reaching toward her, but unable to reach her pussy. 

Rani straightened and released Manasa’s head so she could breathe. She took several gulps of air, then eyed Arthur’s cock. It was slick with saliva, lubed and ready for sliding between Manasa’s massive tits. “Tit fuck him,” Rani said. “Keep going until I say stop.” 

“Yes, my queen,” Manasa said, her breath catching as she straightened and groped herself to squeeze her soft breasts around Arthur’s rigid cock. 

Arthur slid his hips forward on the seat, bringing himself closer to Manasa to help her. Manasa pillowed her breasts around him, letting him slide against her sternum as she rose and fell with the movement from her knees. She opened her mouth, letting the tip slide past her lips and over her tongue on every downstroke, and sucking him until he left her on the upstroke.

Arthur patted the seat beside him, and Rani sat on it, turning halfway toward Arthur and halfway toward Manasa so she had a good view of the titfuck. 

Rani moaned. “If only Slut were here, I’d make her eat out Manasa while you fucked her tits.” 

“There’s not much room,” Arthur said. The aisle wasn’t wide enough for too many clever arrangements. “But she’s doing a great job.”

“Yeah? Are you enjoying your new fuck toy?” Rani asked. “Would you like to try one of her other holes?”

Arthur swallowed as Manasa squeezed her tits together and moaned. Rani grinned. She’d said her breasts were sensitive, but Rani didn’t think they were that sensitive. She was just trying to do a good job. 

“Poor girl, she’s trying so hard to make you cum,” Rani whispered in his ear before kissing his cheek and moving to his neck. 

Arthur tilted his head, giving her access.

“Do you want to fuck her, my king? She can climb onto your lap and ride you, if that’s what you want.” Rani kissed his shoulder. 

“Mm,” Arthur took a deep breath. “Not yet. I don’t think she’s ready. Why don’t you check?” 

Rani raised an eyebrow. 

“Concubine, stand and put your hands behind you on the pole. Queenie, strip her panties off, and take a taste,” Arthur commanded. “Let me know if she’s wet enough for my cock.”  

Rani nodded and moved aside, helping Manasa to her feet as she outstretched her hand. She held Manasa’s hand, moving with her to the stripper pole. Manasa stood with the pool cleaving her backside and reached behind her to grasp it. 

“No, put your hands above your head,” Rani said. “Should I cuff her, my king?” 

“Yes, I believe some light bondage might help her realize her position,” Arthur said. 

Rani grinned and fetched the leather restraints and a small steel clip from the trunk. The padded restraints fit over Manasa’s wrists. Arthur stood and checked the fit before giving Rani the okay. 

Manasa raised her hands, and Rani clipped her cuffs together so they were behind the pole and above her head, reaching toward the ceiling. 

Rani knelt, turning Manasa by her hips to face her. She hooked the waistband of Manasa’s panties from the front and dragged her fingertips and nails against Manasa’s soft, fleshy mound. The back of her finger slid between Manasa’s wet pussy lips as she pulled the panties away, and Rani grinned. 

“She’s wet, my king, but I don’t know if she’s ready.” 

Manasa blushed and looked away. 

“Look at me,” Arthur said, his tone commanding obedience from her as Manasa turned without hesitation and met his gaze. 

She stepped out of her panties, and Rani offered them to Arthur, who stood behind her and held them in his hand, using them to stroke himself. The texture of the lace didn’t seem to bother him. 

Rani lowered her lips to Manasa’s mound. She removed her half-face veil and set it aside, then kissed her pubes before she made her way in tender kisses to Manasa’s pussy. She let her tongue probe first, extending it to the base of Manasa’s slit and lapping upward, tasting the droplets of arousal coating her and relishing the taste. Mindy tasted sweeter, but Manasa’s flavor reminded Rani of their nights together, from before. 

“Oh,” Manasa said, shaking as her arms strained to pull themselves forward and clacked the clip against the pole. 

“That’s it,” Arthur said, standing behind Rani once more. “Get in there. Show her what a queen can do.” 

Rani licked and sucked, eating Manasa out. Arthur’s hand slid under her veil and gripped the back of her hair. She let him push her face into Manasa’s pussy and redoubled her efforts. Above her, Manasa’s heavy tits blocked Rani’s view of her face. The way they danced as Manasa twitched and bucked under her onslaught was all Rani needed to see. 

Arthur pulled Rani away roughly before kissing her from above. He licked his lips as he pulled away and grinned at Manasa. “My new toy is delicious. Make her cum, my queen. Then I’ll fuck her while she repays the favor to you.” 

Rani nodded and returned to work as Arthur shoved her into Manasa’s crotch. She held on to Manasa’s thighs, gripping her fleshy legs until her thumbs and fingers cleaved valleys. 

Manasa tilted her pelvis toward Rani to make it easier and spread her legs as far as she could, still using them as a base to support herself. She couldn’t hold herself in the position by the pole alone, especially since her hands couldn’t grip it. Instead, they stuck past it on either side, with a link between her wrist cuffs holding her in place. Rani worried Manasa might break the link or damage the pole if she came, but they held steady. Even Arthur probably couldn’t break steel.

Arthur took control, moving Rani’s head as she pursued Manasa’s orgasm with her lips and tongue. Manasa, meanwhile, moaned a sudden, loud moan of pleasure as Arthur clamped his mouth over her breast and sucked her nipple. Her toes curled and clenched against the floor. 

“Oh, I’m going to–” Manasa warned them, but that only made Rani redouble her efforts. She ate Manasa with every ounce of skill and practice she had, driving her to the edge as quickly as possible. The force came from Arthur, who used Rani like a toy against Manasa’s resistance. She writhed against the pole behind her, clenching her fists and squeezing her eyes shut. 

Rani sensed that Manasa was close, but there were many distractions on the bus. The chill of the pole, faint squeaks from the bus whenever Arthur stepped, cold tile flooring, growing humidity, and the clock marching ever onward competed for her attention. 

Rani had to counter each one with skill. Her tongue did most of the work, applying swirling pressure to Manasa’s clit. Her lips groped and massaged Manasa while she worked. 

“That’s it,” Arthur encouraged her. “Cum for me, Concubine.” He sucked on her nipple again, making Manasa’s back arch. 

She cried out, and Rani slipped her tongue into Manasa just in time to feel her orgasm tighten every muscle in her body. She shuddered with her release, moaning and slackening as her arms and legs lost their tension. Arthur caught her, holding her up against the pole as she came down from her climax. 

“Wow,” Manasa said. “You’ve gotten even better at that.” 

Rani grinned and wiped her mouth with her arm. She rocked to her feet and held herself steady on Arthur, who pulled her to him and kissed her. 

Manasa licked her lips as they kissed. 

Arthur stopped kissing Rani to kiss Manasa. 

Rani bit her lip as she watched them, admiring the way Manasa melted under Arthur’s rigid passion. 

Arthur unclipped Manasa’s cuffs, freeing her from the pole but leaving her restraints on her. He reattached them behind her back without the pole, leaving her free to move through the bus. 

“My queen, take a seat.” Arthur gestured to where he wanted Rani to sit. She sat, and Arthur sat across from her after a brief trip to the trunk. He sheathed his cock in a condom and gestured for Manasa to join them. 

She walked with her arms bound behind her. 

“You’re going to sit on my cock, facing Rani. She’s going to scoot her legs forward, and you’re going to lean across the gap and eat her out while I fuck you. Understand?” Arthur asked. 

Manasa furrowed her brow as she pictured what he described. Rani had to admit it would be a challenging position, but she was up for it if they were. 

“Yes, my king,” Manasa said as she moved between them. 

Arthur guided her, holding her in his powerful arms as she lowered into a squat on his bench. She squatted over him until she was just about to impale herself on his dick. Arthur guided her onto it, holding her by the cuffs and guiding himself into her as she moved to her knees. 

“Oh, fuck,” Manasa gasped as he slid home. “FUCK that’s–He fucks your ass with this?” 

Rani chuckled. “Sometimes, yeah. Just wait. You know what’s even more impressive than my king’s dick?” 

“What?” Manasa asked, breathing heavily as she adjusted. 

“That he knows how to use it,” Rani said. “I warned you he’d ruin you. Get ready. You’re going to cum harder than you ever have.”

Manasa swallowed, and Arthur lowered her over the gap with his hands groping her breasts and holding her. She couldn’t put her arms forward to brace, but his hands guided her as Rani moved into position and let Manasa’s lips meet her pussy. 

“Oh, I see you’ve gotten better at this, too,” Rani said as Manasa’s tongue explored her wet slit from bottom to top. 

Arthur rolled his hips and interrupted Manasa’s efforts, plunging into her with a force that Manasa hadn’t expected. Meanwhile, his legs, Rani’s legs, and his arms held her in place. Manasa was nothing but a helpless toy, bound, fucked, and supposed to be fucking. The more Arthur did, the less Manasa could do. 

“Come on, Manasa, you’re supposed to bring me to orgasm,” Rani said, grabbing the woman’s bun and holding Manasa’s face against her crotch. 

Manasa redoubled her efforts, working hard to eat her out but still having difficulty. Arthur unclipped her wrists and let her brace herself against Rani. That made a significant improvement in Rani’s pleasure as she reclined and allowed Manasa’s tongue to drive her closer to the edge. 

Arthur, meanwhile, let his newfound freedom loose. He didn’t have to hold Manasa in place anymore, so he planted his feet and fucked her much harder than before. She let her cries of pleasure out against Rani, screaming her throaty vibrations against Rani’s clit as she held onto Rani’s hips for dear life. 

Rani held her head in place and ground herself against Manasa’s face while her tongue worked within her. Every stroke rocked Rani’s world, whether it came from Manasa’s tongue, Arthur’s hips, or Rani’s efforts. The three participants were racing toward the edge, but Rani knew Arthur would outlast them. His face bore a focused expression, his jaw set, his eyes blazing with lust. 

“Oh, FUCK,” Rani panted. “My king, I’m about to–” 

“Cum for me,” Arthur said, his voice low and rumbling through gritted teeth. “My queen.” 

Rani came. She couldn’t tell if she came before Manasa did, or if her orgasm had triggered Manasa’s, but she came. Her thighs clamped around Manasa, who slowed and then stopped her tongue-lashing as she sucked on Rani’s clit and held herself in place to ride out the orgasm. Meanwhile, Manasa’s entire body shook, shaking Rani’s hips as Manasa’s hands slid around her and gripped her ass cheeks, squeezing and holding on. 

Arthur gripped Manasa’s hips, holding her and stilling himself with a grunt. Rani couldn’t tell if he’d cum, but the lack of jizz in the condom when he slid out of Manasa told her he hadn’t. Instead, he helped her lie down on the bench beside Rani. 

Rani remained slumped against the bench, watching Arthur take care of Manasa, even as her heart raced from her orgasm. It muddled her brain, but pleasure washed through her as she caught her breath and moved to a proper sitting position. 

“Is Manasa okay?” Rani asked. 

“Yeah,” Arthur said, still attending to her. He stroked her side and moved stray, flyaway hairs out of her face.

Manasa gave Rani a thumbs-up. 

“Her orgasm was intense,” Arthur explained. “She didn’t get much air with your thighs clamped over her head.” 

“Bhagwan, I’m sorry, Manasa. Are you okay?” 

“I’m fine,” Manasa assured her. “Well, not fine, wrecked, but, yeah. Wow, that was intense. That was everything you said it’d be. You are so strong.” She patted Arthur’s arm.  

Rani chuckled. “Right?” 

Arthur smiled at both of them and retook his seat across from Rani. 

“What about you?” Rani asked, looking at Arthur. “You haven’t cum yet.” 

“He didn’t?!?” Manasa asked, not looking up as she rolled onto her back. “Holy shit.” 

Rani waited for him to order her to him, but Arthur closed his eyes as he caught his breath and his stiff rod softened. He removed the condom and threw it into the garbage bin. 

“We should get back to the others,” Arthur said. “We’ve got to finish the tournament.” 

Rani pouted. “Are you sure? Don’t you want to cum?” 

“I’m sure,” Arthur said, leaning forward with his elbows on his thighs. “I’ve had a busy day, so it’s okay if I hold off until later.” 

Rani pouted, but she wouldn’t push him either. She’d had her fun, and they had time. Manasa was down for the count after two orgasms. Rani couldn’t keep him on the bus for the rest of the day. 

“As you wish,” Rani said, standing on shaky legs. 

Arthur rose to help her, steadied her, then they grabbed their clothes and began redressing. Both of them took turns doting on Manasa as she recovered from her ordeal. Arthur removed her cuffs, and Rani rubbed her down.

“I’ll clean everything,” Manasa said, sighing. “But first, I’m going to take a nap.” 

Arthur chuckled. “Okay,” he said as he slipped into his loincloth. 

~~~

Kelly grinned as she checked her reflection in the mirror. “What do you think?” she asked as she turned toward Angie and Kat. The bicorne hat was black velvet. Its large white feather stuck out of the side, and a bejeweled skull-and-crossbones rested on the front. Her red hair cascaded behind her, and she posed for them, showing off her regal look. 

“Cute!” Angie said, nodding. 

Selene turned from admiring herself in a tiara she was trying on. “Oh, pretty!” 

“Eh,” Kat shrugged. “If you want a pirate hat, it should be a tricorn hat. You look like a bedazzled Napoleon cosplay, and not a good one.” 

“Ouch,” Angie winced.

Kelly chuckled.

“What?” Kat asked. “I figured I should be honest.” 

“No, you’re right,” Kelly said, taking the hat off and returning it to its peg. 

The Blue Dragon Hat Shop offered a variety of hats made from different materials, with designs ranging from simple to intricate. Each hung from a peg, covering every inch of every wall in the wooden building. It had multiple rooms they could move through, each with more hats. The wood-carved dragon, wearing a dashing blue cap, gave the store its name and mascot. The owner, a thirty-something woman dressed like a bar wench, frowned at Kat.  

“We have a selection of tricorn hats available,” the proprietor offered. “I’ll bring you any that give pirate vibes.” 

“Thanks!” Kelly said, beaming as she fixed her hair in the mirror. Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it out of her purse to check the group chat. 

Arthur: Rani and I are about to leave the bus. Where is everyone?

Kelly: Shopping for hats! Well, some of us. Katelyn and Mindy are at the tattoo stall. MMBJ went to the cleavage contest.

Katelyn sent a photo of a smiling Mindy as Ana waved at the camera and pointed at the henna tattoo on Mindy’s left boob, just above the corset. The finished product looked amazing and drew the eye to Mindy’s pillowy breasts, which her black corset thrust into view. 

Rani responded with a fire emoji, then a water droplet emoji. 

Brad responded with a photo of Maria on stage with seven other women. Dave, Selene’s ex-boyfriend, stood gesturing to them. 

Mark: Maria’s a finalist in the cleavage competition! You should have seen Dave’s face when she volunteered, but otherwise, he hasn’t broken character! 

Arthur: lol. Okay. Kelly, where are you? Are Kat and Selene with you? 

Kelly: Yep! The Blue Dragon Hat Shop. It’s by the pirate ship. We can wait for you. 

Arthur: Yeah. That’s near the mermaid tank, and they have a show soon. We’ll swing by the tattoo stall, pick up Katelyn and Mindy, then swing your way for the mermaid show? We’re at the gates now.

Kelly: Sounds perfect! See you soon! 

Kelly returned her phone to her purse. “Arthur and Rani are on their way. They’re going to collect Katelyn and Mindy en route, and then we can go see the mermaids.” 

“Oh, good!” Selene put the tiara back onto the mannequin she’d borrowed it from.

“You didn’t like the tiara?” Angie asked. 

“I did, but it’s too expensive,” Selene said. 

“I’m sure Arthur will get it for you if you want it,” Kelly said. 

“It’s okay,” Selene said. “He bought me my collar and my waist chain.” She shimmied to show it off, and Kelly grinned. 

“Should I buy it for you then? Arthur shouldn’t be the only one to spoil you,” Kelly said. 

“Or she can buy it with her own money,” Kat said, though Kelly didn’t think Selene worked enough hours to produce large amounts of spending cash. “Besides, she has plenty of jewelry and tiaras and crap back home.”  

“Down, girl,” Kelly said, her tone gentle but her words firm. “No need to get defensive.” 

“I wasn’t being defensive, I–” Kat paused, mid-defense. “Shit. Sorry.” 

Kelly hugged Kat, stroking her back. “Don’t worry about it.” 

Kat stiffened at the hug, but returned it, then released Kelly as the shopkeeper returned. 

“Here we are,” the proprietor said as she presented three different hats to Kelly. The first was aged leather, made to imitate a well-worn sailor’s hat. It fit the pirate vibe, but it didn’t match Kelly’s outfit. Her black under-bust corset, flowy white off-the-shoulder peasant top, purple ruffled skirt, and black knee-high boots didn’t complement the dirty brown leather. It was oversized on her head as she tried it on. She passed it back, trading it for a black leather cap. 

The wide-brimmed second hat wasn’t a tricorn, but an oval rose in the center, with the right half of the brim pinned to the central hub above it. It reminded Kelly of a Stetson, and while it looked good, the crossbones pin on the black leather had a pirate motif; it didn’t fit her vibe either. So she tried the third one. 

The third hat drew an “Ooo” from Kat and Selene. They seemed to appreciate it as much as Kelly did. The black tricorn hat was simple, but silver embroidery ran along its rising and curling brim. A large purple plume stuck out of its side, and Kelly angled it on her head and turned to see the girls’ opinions before looking in the mirror. 

“I thought that one might fit your outfit. Though it doesn’t have a skull or crossbones,” the proprietor said. 

“I love it,” Kat said. “It’s not pirate-themed in itself, but it’s perfect.” 

“I agree,” Angie said, nodding her approval. “With a different outfit, it doesn’t scream pirate, but with yours? It’s the exact vibe you’re going for, and very rakish.” 

Selene nodded. “What they said.” 

Kelly chuckled and spun to check her reflection. She posed and adjusted the hat as she admired her appearance. She lifted the hat and brushed her hair over her shoulder, letting it fall behind her. Then she re-donned the hat and set it to hold everything in place. 

“It’s perfect,” Kelly said. “I’ll take it.”

“Great!” the shopkeeper said. She trotted away with the other two hats, and Kelly admired her new hat in the mirror. 

“It looks terrific on you,” Angie said. “But everything does. You’re gorgeous.” 

“Aw, thank you,” Kelly said.

“Are you hitting on my boyfriend’s girlfriend now?” Kat asked, grinning as though she were making a joke. Kelly could never tell when she was kidding or serious. Kat was a challenging read. She relied on Katelyn, but Katelyn wasn’t there.

“What?” Angie asked, surprised. “Oh, no, sorry. I’m straight. I wasn’t flirting with you or anything. It’s just, damn. You’re a ten. You could model if your breasts were smaller.” 

Kelly chuckled. “Thanks.” 

Kat rolled her eyes. 

“You’re hot too,” Kelly said to Kat, patting her on the shoulder. “Even if you’re only into guys.” 

Selene giggled. 

“And you’re pretty hot yourself in that getup,” Kelly said, gesturing to Angie’s dress. 

Angie scoffed. “Thanks, but I know I’m out of shape. I used to be a nine. A ten on a good day.” 

Kelly chuckled. “Well, you had a baby.” 

“And ate my feelings after Danny died,” Angie said. 

Kelly nodded. “You’ll get back into shape in no time once Leo learns to walk and you have to chase him around. And I can send you my tips and tricks.” 

Angie laughed, hanging back as Kelly went to the counter to pay. 

Kelly paid for her hat and rejoined them at the edge of the building. She gestured toward the door. “We’ll wait for the others outside.” 

“I should rejoin my family,” Angie said. “I, uh, need to visit the car soon.” 

“Your car?” Selene asked, confused. 

“I have to pump every two-and-a-half hours,” Angie said, gesturing to her breasts. “It’s a whole thing.” 

Kelly nodded her understanding right away. “Of course.” She said. “Oh, add me on socials before you go, that way we can keep in touch.” 

“Oh, I don’t have those,” Angie said, shaking her head. “I deleted my social media during my sophomore year in college.” 

Kelly raised both eyebrows. “Wow, really?” 

“Yeah. I couldn’t handle it,” Angie said, shrugging. “I was addicted to it. My grades started dropping, and I had these toxic friendships in high school that I needed to escape. Danny convinced me to give it up, but it wasn’t easy.” 

“I imagine not,” Kelly said, surprised. “I couldn’t live without Instagram, I mean, I guess I could, but I follow a lot of instructional people, and I’d lose half my recipes.” 

Angie nodded her understanding. “You can have my number, though. We can chat the old-fashioned way: texting! Not that I’m hitting on you, just to be clear.” 

Kelly chuckled. “I get it, don’t worry.” 

“Sorry,” Kat said, again. “I’m just having a weird day.” 

Angie gave Kelly her phone so Kelly could enter her number. Angie smiled at Kat. “Honestly, I’m not upset or anything. I can put your mind at ease. I’m not interested in your boyfriend or your friends. Other than for friends, I mean. My nonna might miss her free-spirited youth, but I’m over it.” 

“You might be the only woman not interested in the orgy they’re planning,” Kat said, crossing her arms as she stood by the blue dragon statue. 

“You’re planning an orgy?” Angie asked, surprised. 

“No,” Kelly said, denying it. 

“Well, maybe,” Selene said. “If we can convince our boyfriend.” 

Kat sighed. 

“He didn’t say no!” Selene said. 

“He didn’t say yes, either,” Kat reminded her. 

“That’s a no, then,” Angie said. 

“See? She gets it.” Kat pointed at Angie. 

Selene rolled her eyes, and Kelly chuckled. 

~~~

Arthur walked with his right arm around Rani’s shoulders and Katelyn’s hand in his left as she walked beside him. Mindy walked on Rani’s other side, holding her hand and testing the limits of Rani’s limbs as she exclaimed over the displays, booths, character actors, and shows they passed. Each one was a shiny distraction for her to chase, but Rani kept her on the path as they walked through the Faire to meet with Kelly, Selene, and Kat. 

“I have to admit, it’s nice to see your collar on,” Arthur said, glancing at the gold chain around Rani’s neck. It was one of many necklaces she wore, having pulled a bag of them from the bus. The gold and ruby decorations complemented the other jewelry she wore, and Arthur had to wonder how expensive her outfit was. If they held a costume contest, she would certainly win in that category. 

“Just wait until tonight,” Rani whispered. “When I take everything else off.” 

Arthur grinned and kissed her head. 

“How do you like my tattoo?” Mindy asked, turning as she walked to face Arthur. 

To say they drew looks from the surrounding patrons and workers was an understatement. Rani had put her opaque costume pieces on, as had Arthur, but each of them showed a lot of flesh. Mindy showed less flesh with the tattoo on her breast, but it drew eyes, and Arthur could only grin to see the Korean lettering on the blade of Mindy’s tattoo. ‘Arthur’s Whore’ wasn’t something she could display in English. 

“It’s very sexy,” Arthur said. “I’m eager to see how it looks without the corset.” 

Mindy grinned. “Hm. Well, there are a few alleys we can duck into on the way.” 

“Not if you want to make it to the mermaid show,” Arthur reminded her. “Besides, you and Rani still have to do your bracket in the tournament. And there’s the fire dancing show, and whatever else we want to see. The day’s moving on without us.” 

“Well, someone keeps taking breaks to go back to the bus,” Katelyn said, patting Arthur’s rigid stomach with playful swats of her fingertips that lingered against him. “If you could swear it off for a few hours, we’d be fine.” 

“It’s not my fault if you’re sexy,” Arthur said, shrugging, and making Rani, Mindy, and Katelyn smile. 

“Look! There they are!” Mindy said, abandoning Rani’s hand to run and cross the distance between herself, Kelly, Kat, Selene, and someone Arthur didn’t expect to see with them. 

His blood boiled. 

“What the fuck is she doing here?” Arthur asked, his voice angry enough to stop Rani and Katelyn in their tracks. 

“Arthur?” Rani asked, eyeing him. “What’s wrong? Are you talking about that woman with Kelly?” 

“I think I saw her at lunch. Wasn’t she sitting with that old lady?” Katelyn asked. 

“Angie,” Arthur said, as if the name itself were a curse word. He had to calm down. Somewhere, deep down, he knew that. It reminded him of how he lost control the first time he’d seen Lynn again. He was an evolved human being, he didn’t believe in violence, and yet there was a primal part of him screaming to go and punch that woman in the face.

He’d stopped walking, and Rani and Katelyn had stopped with him. Since they weren’t approaching, Mindy, Kelly, Kat, Selene, and Angie left the dragon statue they were hanging around and walked toward them. Rani took his hand in hers, squeezing and rubbing her thumb over the back of his hand.

“Arthur?” Rani asked, her tone serious. “You’re scaring me. What’s going on?” 

“Hey!” Kelly said, waving. “I hope you don’t mind, we made a friend!” 

The girls stopped, and concern spread over Kelly, Kat, and Selene’s faces as they saw Arthur’s expression. 

“Hi, I’m Angie!” Angie stepped forward from behind them. She offered Arthur a handshake, but froze when she saw his angry expression. 

Arthur didn’t shake her hand, but squeezed Rani’s and Katelyn’s instead. He kept them from moving their hands away when Rani tried to release him so he could shake Angie’s hand.  

“Um, yeah, I’m… Angie.” 

“Yeah, I know,” Arthur said, glaring at her with no conscious effort. The hatred and fury in his eyes made his girlfriends exchange worried expressions.

“She’s Angela’s granddaughter. Did Angela introduce you?” Kelly asked, trying to determine what was wrong. “What happened? Did we miss something?” 

“Did Lori text you again?” Selene asked, concerned.

“Again?” Kelly asked, looking at Selene. 

“No,” Arthur said, shaking his head. He gestured back and forth between himself and Angie. “We’ve met. We went to high school together.” 

Angie’s eyebrows rose. She chuckled, dry and low in disbelief. “Are you sure? I’m pretty sure I’d remember you. No offense, and I’m not hitting on you or anything, but you’re mega-hot, and my age. If we’d gone to the same high school, I’d have known you, for sure.” 

“You did,” Arthur said, clenching his jaw as looks of horror spread across Kelly’s and Selene’s faces. “You’re Angie Marino.” 

Angie startled at the use of her last name. 

“We spent four years together at Montgomery Academy in Crofton,” Arthur said. “You had decent grades and graduated with the class of 2017. I ran into you and your friends every day. We had several classes together once. You threatened to jump out the window if you got partnered with me in Chem. You were Lynn’s BFF. And you–I don’t even have words for how much I hate you.”

He didn’t know if it was more or less than he hated Lynn, probably less, but four years of her abuse had been the foundation of his resentment for years. Now, it had a chance to come pouring out.  

Angela furrowed her brow and lifted her eyes from his abs and pecs to his face, studying his furious features despite the bravery it took to hold his wrathful gaze as he spoke. She put the pieces together as he gave her the information, and each word shoved her closer to realization. 

“Oh, my god!” Angela’s mouth fell open, and she covered it with her hand in a gasp. She stepped back as her eyes flared with shock. “Arty? Farty Arty?”