Harem House Chapter 42 Part 1

Saturday morning arrived with the soft buzz of Selene’s phone alarm in the darkness. Her screen lit the room like a beacon from Arthur’s nightstand behind her. She rubbed Arthur’s chest to wake him, untangling her limbs from Kat's beneath the blankets. Kat hugged him from the other side, their arms hugging his torso until Selene slipped hers away. Arthur was on his back with his arms around them, the cradle of his shoulder a firm but comforting pillow. 

After the movie last night, everyone helped with the cleanup. They said their goodbyes, hugging farewell in the driveway as they split into their separate cars. No one in the harem wanted to leave Arthur’s side, but not everyone brought their luggage for the weekend. So, with reluctance, they parted ways. 

Mindy and Rani returned to campus for the evening. Katelyn and Kelly drove to their apartment. Mark, Maria, Brad, and Jen went to Mark and Brad’s apartment. Kat and Selene offered to sleep in their apartment, but Arthur invited them to crash at his place, though they hadn't done more than kiss him goodnight and fall asleep cuddling. 

Still, that was nice in its own way. He and Kat had started making out while Selene used the bathroom to wash her face and prepare for bed. Then she and Kat switched places, and finally Arthur was allowed to brush his teeth and prepare for sleep. The nighttime routine was a surprising comfort.

They undressed and slept naked. The skin-to-skin contact with Arthur left Selene feeling electric, warm, and incredibly aroused as she fell asleep. Her dreams had been pleasant imaginings of Arthur taking her, having his way with her, and letting her recover as she watched him with the others. Her arousal grew in the night, making her hot enough to roast Arthur’s thigh between her legs. She’d been just about to orgasm in her dream. 

Then, four o’clock in the morning arrived. 

The plan was for everyone to meet at five-thirty in the parking lot at Arthur, Kat, and Selene's apartment complex. Everyone included Arthur, his harem (Selene, Kat, Kelly, Katelyn, Rani, and Mindy), and their theater friends (Mark, Maria, Brad, and Jen), as well as Caleb and Logan. Kelly wanted to depart by six and caravan to the Ren Faire. A late night and an early morning made for a sleepy Selene, who wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and hold Arthur until someone forced her from the bed. 

Unfortunately, Arthur stirred beneath her. The alarm and/or its light woke him. 

Selene twisted beneath the covers and pressed the ‘off’ button on the alarm to silence her phone. She twisted back toward Arthur, stroking his chest again as she stretched to bring her lips as close to his ear as she could. She kissed his cheek, unable to resist the urge as his peaceful, handsome face lifted into view. 

“Arthur, it’s time to get up,” Selene said, whispering. She didn’t think they could, or should, avoid waking Kat, but she had every intention of letting Arthur be the one to disturb her. If Selene woke Kat, she’d be grumpy and miserable. If Arthur woke her, Kat would probably thank him. 

She kissed his cheek again, shifting slightly when he moved his arm beneath her. He inhaled a deep breath and opened his eyes. 

“What time is it?” Arthur asked, whispering on the same instinct of letting Kat sleep. 

“Four o’clock,” Selene said. “Kelly wants to leave by six.” 

Arthur nodded. “Think I have time for a run?” 

The question surprised Selene, though she wasn’t sure why. It seemed so routine for Arthur to run in the early mornings when he wasn’t going to the gym. She knew he found it meditative, but she’d hoped for a different kind of physical exertion before the others arrived. 

“If you want to,” Selene said softly. There was nothing so dependable as Arthur and his habits. “I can cook breakfast while you run, and Kat can get ready. My costume pieces for the Faire are in our apartment, so she or I will have to grab those before we leave.” 

“That would be great,” Arthur said, stretching his arm behind her, then hugging her with it. He kissed her forehead, and Selene blushed, nestling into him. “Thanks, Slut.” 

Selene’s smile erupted onto her face as she looked up at him. “Are we back to master and slave?” She asked, unable to hide the hope in her voice. “I can wear a different choker until we get my new collar.” 

The memory of Lynn breaking her old one was still fresh, but she’d cried her tears over the violation the night before. She was looking forward to her new official collar, but she was more eager about the possibility of submitting to Arthur again. They were supposed to be 24/7 master/slave until the end of fall break, but they’d taken a brief reprieve to recover from the melodrama of last night’s confrontation. 

Lynn was officially moving out of the house. They’d won, but it had been a rough evening, even after they settled in to watch a romantic musical and recover. 

“I’m okay to go back to it, so long as you listen to me when I talk, okay? If I break character and check in with you, don’t get angry. Be patient with me,” Arthur said. 

Selene nodded. “Of course, Master.” 

“Are you okay to go back to it?” Arthur asked. “Or do you want to wait until you get a new collar?” 

“I’m ready when you are,” Selene said, stroking his chest. “Master.” 

“Kneel, Slut.” Arthur whispered. 

Selene bit her bottom lip and slid away from him beneath the covers. She slipped from the bed, kneeling beside it on the soft bedroom carpet. The heated air in the apartment was still colder than the thermal bath of their bodies beneath the blankets, so a chill swept over her and goosepimpled her flesh, stiffening her nipples at the peaks of her round B-cup breasts. 

Arthur followed her, slipping from Kat’s embrace. Kat grumbled and rolled over as he lifted the covers and sat on the edge of the bed with his feet on either side of Selene. Even in the darkness, she could make out the silhouette of his stiff morning wood. It bobbed before her, but she waited patiently as Arthur unplugged his phone and used its screen light to illuminate her. 

His hard cock throbbed, and he pulled her closer to him by the top of her head, letting his cockhead press against her soft, parted lips. She inhaled through her nose, taking in his scent and closing her eyes in bliss. She wanted to take him into her mouth, to suck him until she drained him dry of all latent desire, but she waited for his permission or command.

Arthur slid his dick along her cheek, and she rubbed her face against it. First on one side, then the other. She stroked him with the outside of her cheek, then her forehead as he pressed his balls to her lips. She couldn’t help herself and kissed them. 

“Are you waiting for permission before sucking my cock?” Arthur asked, whispering in the darkness. 

“Yes, Master,” Selene answered, her lips barely parted from his balls. 

“Good girl,” Arthur said, sliding back so that her lips were less than an inch from his tip. “Nadu.” 

Selene shifted into her Nadu pose, spreading her legs as she knelt, sitting on her heels with her toes on the floor. She rested her hands atop her thighs, turning her palms toward the ceiling. She straightened her spine and bowed her head, putting the tip of his dick directly between her eyes. 

“Recite your mantra,” Arthur said, sliding his dick against her forehead. 

Selene licked her lips. “I am your slave, and you are my Master.” 

Arthur placed his hand on her head, pinning his cock to her forehead with his thumb as he slid his hips in gentle motions, using her face to masturbate while she recited the words he’d taught her to say when they started. 

“I am yours to play with and yours to control,” Selene tilted her head, trying to nuzzle his cock as she spoke, but he kept her in place. 

“I will eagerly see to your needs and serve you with my whole heart.”

Arthur released her head and slid his cock away despite her trying to chase it until she realized what he was doing. 

“I eagerly give you my body and want you to use it, me, as you see fit.” 

Arthur reached down, clasping his hand around her throat and squeezing, not hard enough to choke her, but hugging her neck with his hand in an embrace that flooded her core with love and warmth for him. His strong arm flexed, and she broke the pose to hold his wrist, not pulling him away or denying his grip, but embracing him, returning the gesture of love as she recited the next part of the mantra. 

“I will wear the signs of my submission with pride.” 

Arthur’s hand acted as her collar, and she closed her eyes in bliss as he kept his hold on her firm and unyielding. 

“I eagerly obey you in all things, and I know that you will always care for me, as my Master.” Selene recited, her eyes watering, but holding herself together as her breathing grew heavy. 

“I am your slave, Master. Your plaything. Your fucktoy. Your pet. I am whatever you need me to be to please you in all things.” 

She swallowed, flexing her throat muscles against Arthur’s hand, and he loosened his grip. 

“I am owned. I am cared for. I am safe with you, Master. Please, Master, use your slut.” 

“Good girl, Slut,” he said, stroking her cheek as he released her neck. 

“Thank you, Master,” Selene’s eyes fluttered. There was so much she wanted to thank him for, but now was not the time. Now it was time to embrace her role as his slave and prove she meant what she said. At least, she hoped he’d use her, and his imminent command made her smile when it left his lips. 

“Now, suck,” Arthur commanded, and Selene obeyed. 

She tilted her eyes toward his face, but found he was ignoring her, reading his phone as she sealed her lips around his shaft, sucked, and used her tongue to pleasure him. The pressure in her grew at his ignoring her. This blowjob wasn’t a tender moment between a boyfriend and girlfriend, nor was it an intimate act between two lovers. Selene was his slave, his slut, and this was her new routine. Her Master gave her exactly what she wanted, the treatment a slave deserved, and prioritized his curiosities as she went to work. Selene swirled her tongue around his tip, lapping at the underside and moving her head back and forth along his cock. 

Meanwhile, he continued reading, the light from his screen illuminating him in the darkness with a ghostly glow. She didn’t know what he was looking at, whether it was important or not. He could be chatting with one of the other girls in his harem. Rani wasn’t a morning person, like Kat, but Kelly was. Wifey, the Mistress of the harem, was an early riser and a gym rat like Arthur. She could be chatting him up about the morning plans. 

Or maybe Mindy had woken up early, and he was answering questions about coordinating the day's schedules with his personal assistant/secretary. Was Katelyn an early riser? She didn’t know, but she’d learn. They’d be sharing a house soon enough. 

In reality, it didn’t matter who he was texting or what he was reading. He was her master, and it was perfectly natural for him to use her this way. She was his slave, his slut, and it was her job to give him the release he so desperately needed. His attention being elsewhere wasn’t an insult; it was a challenge. She had to up her game if she wanted him to cum. She sucked him in slow, steady strokes, wagging her tongue against him with every pull, and flicking the tip of her tongue against him at the end of every push. 

The warmth between her legs bloomed as she watched him struggle to maintain his composure as he pressed against the entrance to her throat. This was what she wanted every morning: to know that she was his to have, hold, love, fuck, and use. She readied herself, making sure to gather enough spit, and swallowed as she pushed forward, fucking him with her throat. 

The blush of pleasure on his face as he closed his eyes and enjoyed her throat sheathing his cock made her drip. She brought him that pleasure, and that made her powerful in ways far beyond ordinary life. The best feeling in the world, apart from her own orgasm, was the assurance of his cum filling her throat, pussy, ass, or splashing against her bare skin wherever he designated worthy. 

She swallowed again, stroking him with her throat muscles tight against his cock. Selene pushed forward, holding her breath for as long as she could until her face burned bright red. She pulled back enough to let him slip from her throat. Not enough to release him, but enough to breathe before she sheathed his girthy length once more. 

As quiet as she tried to be, the deep-throat blowjob wasn’t silent, and the regular noises drifted through the room in a slow but steady rhythm. 

Arthur released a moan of pleasure and leaned back with his hands behind him on the mattress to support his torso. Behind him, Kat stirred and wiped the sleep from her eyes with her forearm as she rolled toward them to see what was happening. 

“The fuck?” Kat asked, blinking awake as she took in the scene. The words almost made Selene giggle while she choked on Arthur’s cock. The situation and Kat’s words reminded her of the first time Kat had walked in on Selene giving Arthur a blowjob. She’d reacted poorly then, but now they’d come to a much better arrangement.  

“Well, good morning, Sir,” Kat said, her voice low and husky. 

“Good morning, Brat,” Arthur said, using her harem name. 

Kat pouted, moving the covers to expose her round breasts to Arthur’s view, teasing him as she leaned to keep them out of reach. “I’m barely awake, how can I have been a brat already? I have not yet begun to brat!” she protested, slurring her speech with the universal accent of sleep clinging to her words. “I was going to ask if you wanted my help, but now I don’t think I will.” She rolled away, turning her back toward Arthur and Selene. 

Selene continued the blowjob, making no effort to silence herself since Kat had woken. She moaned with Arthur’s cock deep inside her, and gagged as she pulled off him, glugging as she plunged onto him again. 

“That’s fine,” Arthur said, his words a challenge. “Slut’s doing a fantastic job on her own, I can’t imagine you’d add anything.” 

Kat rolled to face them again, lifting her head off the pillow to glare at them through the darkness. Her slumber had turned her blonde curls into wavy locks that fell to her neck and grazed her shoulders. She frowned and peered over him to see Selene’s lips locked around his shaft, fucking him with her face. 

“I can do that just as well as she can,” Kat said, poking Arthur in the side. “I’ve been working on relaxing my throat.” 

“I’m sure between the two of you I’d cum in no time, but you said you didn’t want to help. That means Slut will have to do it on her own and reap all the rewards on her own.” Arthur said. 

Kat shuffled, crawling toward him on the bed until she was beside him. She threw her arms over his neck, hugging him, and he put his arm around her middle. Their naked bodies melded perfectly together, with Arthur’s rugged muscles pressed firmly against Kat’s softer flesh. 

Kat kissed him, letting her hand drift to Selene’s head. Once she had a good grip on Selene’s loose hair, she set the pace of Selene’s blowjob, changing to an irregular rhythm as she pressed Selene’s face against his pelvis and held it there. 

Kat and Arthur made out as Selene’s face turned red, their tongues danced as she stretched hers to lick his balls. Her body burned with arousal so desperate she knew there’d be a stain on the carpet when she moved. If she were lucky, which she was, Arthur would punish her for it. She pulsed for him, wanting his cock to fill her other holes, to drive into her until her release seized her, tossed her, and shattered her against the floor. 

Kat pulled Selene off of Arthur’s cock, entirely. Taking him away from her. She shifted, then pushed Arthur back so he was lying down on the mattress with his feet on the floor, encasing Selene. Kat climbed on top of him, facing Selene. 

Arthur grabbed Kat’s curvy hips and round ass with both hands as she sat on his face. The smell of her arousal permeated the room to compete with Selene’s. She glistened with anticipation, and Kat’s expression shifted from one of competent challenge to sudden pleasure as his tongue cut along her folds. 

Kat kissed his shaft from the base to the tip, open-mouthed, swirling her tongue in spots along the journey until she came to the tip. Selene did the same to the underside, the two of them moving together as best they could. 

When she reached the top, Kat sucked on him, going no further than the tip as she swirled and flicked her tongue, but coming at it from the opposite angle as Selene. 

With Kat and Arthur in a six-nine position, Selene sat back on her heels to evaluate the best way to contribute to her master’s pleasure. With his dick vertically inclined into Kat’s mouth, there were really only two options. Selene leaned forward, pressing her face against the underside of his shaft as she sucked his balls into her mouth and massaged them with her tongue. 

Kat moaned as Arthur slipped a finger into her from behind while his tongue circled, lapped, and flicked her clit. She gripped Arthur’s shaft, pumping him with one hand while Selene tilted her head. 

Arthur’s balls tightened, and his leg muscles tensed as they closed gently around Selene’s face. She moaned, sliding her tongue behind his balls and dragging it forward as she sucked. Lifting her head, she made eye contact with Kat above her, who smiled around Arthur’s cock, and pressed her face forward. She sealed her lips around the base of Arthur’s girth and held herself there. She and Selene were practically nose to nose, with their eyes locked on one another. Kat’s eyes widened as Arthur’s release struck. 

His hips thrust gently upward as his pulsing cock surged with release. Kat gave a soft, happy noise as she swallowed, but she wasn’t fast enough to swallow it all. Strands of cum dripped from her lips, and Selene caught them, lapping them up and holding her mouth open to receive the last bits of whatever Kat left for her. 

They shared their reward, the result of their hard work, skill, and pleasure. Kat shifted, releasing his dick, and Selene swallowed it, cleaning every last drop of cum and saliva from him. She was nothing if not a dutiful slave. 

Arthur continued eating Kat out, staving off rest and relaxation with the exhilarating task before him. Selene rested her head against his thigh and watched as Kat’s face contorted into different expressions of pleasure. 

Kat rocked her hips back and forth as Arthur ate her pussy, letting his tongue do most of the work but using his lips effectively to massage her and suck on different parts of her as he enjoyed himself. 

“Fuck, Sir!” Kat said, tensing. “I’m… I’m so close.” 

Arthur smacked her ass, a loud spank reverberating through the room as Kat gasped. 

“Ah! Thank you, Sir!” Kat said. 

Arthur spanked her again, and again, repeating the strikes in a regular rhythm as Kat twitched, spasmed, and did her best to repeat her gratitude after every strike. Her voice grew louder and louder, building into a final crescendo that became a muffled shriek as she slammed a pillow onto her face and screamed into it, curling forward. 

Selene caught her, holding Kat’s shoulders as she leaned forward, clutching the pillow as she shook with her orgasm atop Arthur, still riding his face through the storm. 

Arthur slowed his efforts, holding Kat in a firm grip against her blooming ass cheeks. The soft pink glow wasn’t visible in the darkness, but her body flushed with heat as she relaxed and rolled to the side, spreading out as if she’d just run a marathon. 

Arthur chuckled and wiped his face, sitting up. He cupped Kat’s face with one hand, stroking her cheek with his thumb. The other hand caressed Selene, who nuzzled against his palm. “Good girls,” He said. “That has to be the best way to start the day.” 

Kat took a deep breath, which turned into a yawn partway through. 

Arthur patted her hip, and Kat shifted, crawling back beneath the blanket. 

“You should get up and get a shower,” Arthur told her. “I’m going to go for a quick run while Slut cooks breakfast.” 

Kat groaned, but rolled to the edge of the bed. She moved with reluctance, double-checking Arthur’s expression with every inch of progress to verify she had to obey. Arthur nodded his encouragement, and Kat pouted, but swung her legs over the side. She sat up and stretched, reaching both hands toward the ceiling and wiggling with happiness in a move Selene hadn’t seen her perform in years. Kat was happy, and her joy only multiplied Selene’s. 

The day had barely started, and already Selene was having a great day. 

Arthur turned on the light by the nightstand, and Selene waited patiently, sitting on her heels. 

“Wait, did Selene cum?” Kat asked, looking over her shoulder. 

Selene shook her head. “That’s okay. I enjoyed watching you two, and Master came, that’s what’s important.” 

“And she’s supposed to be in a chastity punishment anyway,” Arthur said, stretching as he stood and stepping beside Selene. “We’ll see how long that lasts. I have a chastity belt, but it might be a little big on you. It’s adjustable, so I’ll have to see how far it adjusts.” 

“Yes, Master,” Selene said, bowing her head and waiting for further instructions. 

Arthur knelt and hugged Selene, who hugged him in return. Kat joined the embrace, letting the rush of their time together wear itself down. It was time to start the day, and after that? They were ready for it. 

Arthur opened his dresser, pulling out a shirt, a pair of boxer briefs, and gym shorts. He dressed as Kat brought herself to her feet. 

“Are you seriously going for a run?” Kat asked, surprised. “We leave early, and we’ll be walking all day.” 

“I’ll be okay,” Arthur said, nodding. “I’ll take the shorter run, just a five-k instead of the five-mile.”

Kat huffed. “Oh sure, just an early morning five-k, no big deal.” 

Arthur kissed her forehead, shutting her up as she lowered her eyes and hugged him. 

“Get ready for the day. Shower, pack your things for the hotel tonight, and get into your Ren Faire costume,” Arthur said. “I’ll be back in no time.” 

“Are we wearing our costumes there?” Kat asked. 

“I don’t know if there’s a place to change there, but I don’t think so,” Arthur said, shaking his head. 

“Okay,” Kat said. She yawned again. “We’re stopping for coffee on the way, right, Sir?” 

“Sure,” Arthur said, shrugging. He kissed Kat farewell, then bent and kissed Selene, still on her hands and knees beside the bed, but turned to face him. “Be good.” 

“Yes, Master,” Selene said. 

“Make me,” Kat said at the same time Selene agreed. 

Arthur chuckled and gave Kat a wink before he left, hitting the stairwell and locking the door behind him. 

~~~

The run wasn’t for his physical health, but his mental. Arthur needed a few moments alone, and running always let him process the developments of his life. 

The brisk October morning would warm with sunlight, but the pre-dawn chill clung to the grass, still damp with dew. The predicted high hung in the mid-seventies, but the fifty-degree morning was chilly enough that Arthur considered turning back to exchange his shorts for sweats. Instead, he warmed his body through exertion, setting a pace faster than his usual until he was comfortable. 

Last night had been a fiasco. There was no way around it. The upside was that everything looked brighter in the morning. The sun was just over the horizon, waiting to rise, and anything could happen. The doom of Lynn haunting his anxious thoughts about the future was gone. Her belongings remained in the basement, but Gabe and Mari planned to relocate her. She was out of his life, and she wouldn’t hurt any of his girls.

Arthur reflected on the events of the night before as he ran, replaying them in his mind as he navigated the neighborhood on autopilot. It was early enough that there were little to no signs of life. On a weekday, lights might turn on in the houses as people prepared for work, but on the weekend, the neighborhood slept for as long as possible. 

The most jarring element of last night’s drama was the violence between the women. He recalled Kelly pounding Lynn’s ribs, Lynn smacking him across the face, and the girls tussling with her to pull her away. The memories still seemed surreal to him, but he supposed he should be thankful that they’d made it out of the confrontation without any broken bones. He cringed from embarrassment at the idea of his father walking in on the scene. He and Gabe had to have seen the paddle and the belt on the carpet, not to mention Selene’s state when they arrived. 

The girls were less bothered about their disheveled nudity than he was. They’d covered themselves or had other priorities at the time. Rani didn’t give a fuck, as usual. She’d stood brazenly bottomless and conversed with his dad as if she were fully clothed. She was ecstatic that Lynn was gone, and everything else was merely collateral damage. Rani cared more about Arthur and Mindy’s well-being than she did about who saw her without her bikini bottoms. 

Selene seemed much better this morning than she had the night before. She’d taken it the worst and snapped after Lynn broke her choker. Apparently, Jen and Kat had helped her recover, which Arthur had thanked them for last night. 

Kat seemed less concerned as the night wore on, and her nose had stopped bleeding before they left the house. She spent most of the night on her phone, but was friendly enough to Mark, Maria, Brad, and Jen. 

Kelly was quiet for most of the movie, but she’d spent some of it making out with him. She’d cried, Arthur could tell, but she didn’t shed any tears in his presence. She was as anxious about him as he was about her, and they spent as much time assuring each other that they were okay as they did checking on each other. 

Katelyn seemed timid and nervous, but more concerned about Kat and Kelly than she was about herself. Despite having to dry off, she was relatively undamaged except for her prior injury. Her pulled shoulder was healing nicely, and the medication kept her from wanting to wear the sling until it wore off. 

Mindy and Rani were cuddly, passionate, and mostly normal by the time She Loves Me hit intermission. Mindy was empathetic, but quick to slide into happiness and joy. Her bright and bubbly personality lifted every spirit around her, and Arthur appreciated her giggle more with every laugh.

Mark and Maria seemed tentative around Arthur when they left, as if afraid of him, or for him. He wasn’t sure if it was the revelations of his trauma they witnessed, or the kinky experiences he exposed them to before the night truly flew off the rails. They were affectionate with each other, though, and Maria wanted Arthur to know their offer for him to fuck her stood if or when he wanted it. The proposition still unsettled Arthur, but he thanked them. Maria was hot with a mile of cleavage, but Arthur still had hangups and lines he drew around his sexual endeavors. He had no intention of crossing that line with Maria. As much fun as it might be to fantasize about fucking her, the reality was messy. 

Brad and Jen seemed okay after the drama of the evening. They took solace in each other, and Jen was especially affectionate with Brad. They were in that new-couple phase where their world barely allowed them to register the existence of others. So they spent most of the movie making out on the sofa. 

All in all, with the passage of the night, everyone left the past behind them and turned toward the bright new day with eager anticipation. He’d fallen asleep last night in the arms of two of his girlfriends, at peace with the world and enthusiastic for the next adventure now that he was free of Lynn’s burden. Not that the future was free of potential problems. 

He’d have to see how things went this morning to see if he’d share it with the girls, but the text from Caleb must have come through while he was sleeping. He’d read it while Selene had his cock in her mouth, and did his best not to let his worry show. 

Caleb: Hey, Logan and I are going to drive separately. We’re going with a different group, pushing early and all that, but maybe we’ll see you there! 

An hour later, he followed it up with another text. 

Caleb: Okay, fair warning and all, we’re bringing Yvonne with us. She’s still depressed, and I’m not leaving her alone all weekend. 

Caleb: We’ll keep her away from you, though. Don’t worry. 

Arthur wasn’t sure what to make of that. Yvonne wasn’t a bad person. She’d been his friend for years, and apparently wanted to be more than friends. Her methods for encouraging that idea were flawed, and she’d done and said some terrible things, but Arthur had never wanted to cut her from his life. 

He couldn’t deny drawing some parallels between the plot of She Loves Me and Yvonne’s idea of flirting. Antagonizing banter was apparently Yvonne’s preferred love language, but it’d gone straight over Arthur’s head. Most flirting did. He simply didn’t believe that any woman would want him, despite evidence to the contrary. He knew what his therapist would say about it. Still, he was learning to accept his new reality one day at a time. He was hot, women sometimes responded well to his looks and manners, and he’d figured out how to pick up on specific cues. 

Enemies or rivals to lovers was familiar enough, he supposed, and it was probably just a step past Kat’s bratty flirting. Still, he’d been oblivious and took her antagonism at face value. Would their fallout have ended differently if he’d known? Maybe, but it was too late for that now. Everything that had happened between them was behind them, and they had to move forward. Yvonne couldn’t handle being his friend, so she chose to move forward by cutting him and his friends from her life. 

He would have preferred them to be friends and for things to return to normal with the Theater Club. Unfortunately, Yvonne didn’t see that happening. She wanted space, and he gave it to her. So if she wanted to avoid him at the faire, that was her prerogative, but he couldn’t let her attendance prevent him from going when the girls had planned this whole trip. 

Besides, Yvonne’s drama was nothing compared to the trauma he’d confronted last night. A kitten had nothing on a tiger, even if one reminded him of the other. In the best-case scenario, maybe he and Yvonne could start patching things up now that it had been a few days. In a worst-case scenario, they’d have an awkward encounter and avoid each other, no big deal. 

He’d texted Caleb back from his room. 

Arthur: Okay, thanks for the heads up, I appreciate it. See you there! 

Short, sweet, to the point, and unanswered since Caleb was probably sleeping. He was the only exception to Yvonne’s purge of friends, but he was closer to her than Arthur. He’d have to be careful not to put Caleb in the middle as things played out. It wasn’t his job to referee anything, or even run interference. The Faire was big enough that there was a chance they wouldn’t even run into each other while there, so that was simple enough. 

Thinking things through without interruption helped, as did the run. The exercise purged his anxieties from his blood as it pumped, and his runner’s high kicked in. The exertion carried endorphins in its wake, and the crisp autumn air fueled his breath as leaves crunched beneath his sneakers. The world opened before him, and the open road urged him onward.

Half an hour later, he returned to the apartment complex and took a lap around the parking lot to cool down. He ended his jog in a brisk walk, bringing him to his building door. He had an hour before people started arriving. 

Arthur entered the building, holding the door for two women ascending from the downstairs apartment. One, Olivia, he’d met before. The other must be her roommate. She was young, probably around twenty, and wore a cute pair of track shorts with a white tank top, a sports bra visible beneath it, and her brunette hair tied into a high ponytail. She had her eyes on her phone as she climbed the stairs, her headphones in her ears. 

“Hey, Olivia. Head’s up, it’s a bit chilly out there,” Arthur said, greeting them with a wave. 

Olivia, dressed in leggings and a sports bra, smiled at him.

“Are you out for a run or headed toward the gym?” Arthur asked, remembering that Ricky, her boyfriend, told him they had a gym membership. 

“We’re trying a run,” Olivia said, nudging her friend. “This is my roommate, Britney.” 

The woman froze as she lifted her eyes from her phone, and they dragged their way along Arthur’s body from his legs to his eyes as if they were moving through molasses. Arthur tugged at his T-shirt, realizing that his sweat had darkened it and made it cling to his skin.

“Britney,” She said. 

Arthur laughed. “Pleasure to meet you,” He realized she was introducing herself, without realizing Olivia already had.

“This is that guy I told you about, who lives upstairs?” Olivia said, which prompted Britney to give him another thorough review. 

“Arthur,” He said, introducing himself in case Olivia forgot his name. 

Britney blushed. “You just got back from a run?” 

“Yeah,” Arthur said, nodding. “It’s chilly, feel the breeze?” 

The open door let the cold air in, and it met her as she stepped onto the landing. She shivered, rubbing her arms. 

“Well, thanks for the warning. Guess I’ll change into some leggings.” She glanced down at her bare legs, blushing as she turned around and shifted her stance. Her track shorts were short enough to show off a slice of each cheek peaking out beneath the hemline, but Arthur kept his eyes up, even when Britney swished her hip to the side. 

“And I should throw on a proper shirt or maybe a hoodie,” Olivia said, frowning. “Thanks, Arthur.” 

“Have a good run!” Arthur said, heading up the stairs as they headed down. 

Arthur was careful not to make too much noise around the second-floor apartment beneath his. He didn’t need them yelling at him for making any noise whatsoever while living above them. The third-floor landing was home, and he entered his apartment after unlocking the door. 

Selene ran around the corner from the kitchen as he entered, dropping into the Nadu position as he closed the door behind him. She remained completely nude, her hair tied into its long, thick braid that dangled to her butt behind her. She knelt with her thighs spread, toes on the floor, head bowed, her hands resting on her thighs with her palms toward the ceiling. 

“Welcome home, Master,” Selene said. “Kelly and Katelyn are on their way over, Kat is at our apartment gathering our luggage for the weekend, and no word from Mindy or Rani yet.” 

“Thanks for the update,” Arthur said, patting her on the head. He didn’t smell anything cooking, but he supposed Selene had shown some smarts by waiting until he returned from his run. “I’m going to hop into the shower. Are you cooking?” 

“Yes, Master, I have everything prepped, but didn’t want to start the stove until you were back from your run. Would you like to eat before your shower, or after?” Selene asked. 

He usually ate after, prioritizing his shower even over sex and relief after a decent run. “After,” Arthur confirmed. “I’ll be out in fifteen.” 

“Would you like for me to scrub you, or do you wish for more alone time?” Selene asked. 

“I want breakfast ready when I step out of the bathroom, since we have to prioritize our schedule this morning,” Arthur said. “Make enough food for the others, if we can, but especially for you and Kat.”

“Yes, Master,” Selene said, nodding her head in acceptance. 

Arthur patted her head on his way to the bathroom, and she waited until he closed the door to move. 

~~~

Kat let the hot shower water wash over her. She enjoyed taking showers in Arthur’s apartment, but she preferred he be there; otherwise, what was the point? If she couldn’t shower with her boyfriend, then she preferred to shower in her apartment, where she had everything she needed in easy reach. 

Rinsing the soap from her body, she remembered Arthur’s hand on her hip, firm and possessive. She’d thought Selene was teasing, crazy, or at the very least naive, when she suggested they share Arthur. Yet things had worked out wonderfully. Despite her earlier protests, sex of that caliber was a fantastic way to wake up, and it put her in a good mood despite the limited sleep, morning chill, and the lack of coffee at Arthur’s. 

Drying off, she had to decide what to do with her hair for the day. Curling it was an option, but it didn’t quite fit with the Jane & Tarzan costume she and Arthur had today. Perhaps a more natural look, wavy, instead of curled or straight. She might not have her sister’s braiding options anymore, but she still played with her hairstyle when she could. 

After her shower routine, packing for the weekend involved throwing together a variety of outfits for any temperature they might encounter. She had her costume from Arthur’s in a bag with her, but Rani had told everyone she had something in mind for changing on the way as part of a surprise. So instead of wearing it, Katerine stepped into a pair of pink sweatpants from Victoria's Secret and a school sweater. University of Pendleton’s Wolf-head logo was in gray on the front of a faded pink hoodie that lost its drawstrings years ago. 

Beneath it, she wore the underwear she planned to wear with her costume: a strapless bra and a pair of black low-waisted boyshort panties. Once she had packed her suitcase, she grabbed Selene’s costume, put it into a bag, and packed a suitcase for her sister. Not that she was particularly skilled at navigating her sister’s clothes. 

Selene built her outfits from pieces and layers, dancing between hippie and punkish styles with relative ease, or blending them to create something new. Kat didn’t have that skill. She preferred simpler styles that she didn’t have to build from scratch. The result was that Selene always appeared underdressed if Kat picked her clothing. Still, she did her best, putting outfits together from things she remembered Selene wearing, and dumping all of her lingerie into the suitcase. 

With two larger suitcases, two costume bags, and their backpacks and purses, Kat realized she’d have to make multiple trips to the car. She rolled her eyes. The least Selene could have done was come over and help her, but no. She had her orders, prepping breakfast while Arthur was on his run. He’d be back any minute now, but she didn’t need him to load the car. 

She made the trek to the car three times, missing Arthur’s return while she fetched the second load of luggage. She also missed Katelyn and Kelly’s arrival as she fetched the third. She loaded the trunk with their suitcases and backpacks, but kept the costume bags with her, along with her purse. She wasn’t sure what Rani’s surprise was, but she didn’t want her costume in the trunk if she was supposed to change en route, or once they got there. 

Whatever the surprise was, Kat hoped Arthur was okay with it. She also hoped it wasn’t expensive. Today was going to be enough of a drain, and things were tight enough as it was. It was fortunate that they were moving. Arthur’s parents cut them a better deal than whatever soulless corporate entity owned this complex. Arthur’s parents might be awkward at times, like last night, but they had souls, and they were good people. 

Kat smiled at the thought as she entered Arthur’s building once more. She’d recognized Kelly’s SUV outside, so she knew Kelly and Katelyn had arrived. They were waiting for her upstairs, along with Selene, and hopefully Arthur. 

“Excuse me, do you live here?” 

A voice caught Kat’s attention as she turned to see two young women roughly her age looking at her from the landing toward the basement apartment. They looked like they were dressed pretty similarly to Kat, but they were clearly preparing to go out for a run while Kat was moving more toward the stairs. 

“Hm?” Kat asked. “Oh, no, I live across the parking lot. My boyfriend lives in this building,” She gestured upstairs. “Third floor.” 

“Are you talking about Arthur?” Olivia asked, giving Britney a worried expression. 

“That’s him,” Kat nodded. 

Olivia bit her lip and appeared to be in something of a crisis. 

“Are you okay?” Kat asked. 

“Wait, is this the girl from the laundry room?” One girl asked the other. 

Olivia shook her head. “No. God, I knew he was too good to be true. That bastard!” 

Kat looked confused. “Laundry room?” 

“Look, I’m not sure how to tell you this, but I think your boyfriend might be a no-good two-timing piece of scum,” Olivia said, straightening as she said it, ripping the band-aid off. “I met another woman that he introduced as his girlfriend, Kelly, she’s a redhead that I caught him going down on in the laundry room.” 

The shock faded from Kat’s face as she processed the words. Britney looked between Kat and Olivia as if waiting to see if Kat would explode, faint, or cry. 

“Oh,” Kat chuckled. “Yeah, that’s Kelly, she’s the leader of our little harem.” 

Now it was Olivia’s turn to look shocked. 

“What are you talking about?” Olivia asked. 

“Uh, sorry, I know there’s a technical term… polycule! Yeah, we’re a polycule. Arthur and I are boyfriend and girlfriend, but so are he and Kelly, and Rani, Mindy, Selene, and Katelyn.” 

“Oh my god,” Britney said, shock plain on her face. “Wait, are there no other men in the polycule? That’s not a true polycule, that’s like…” 

“A harem, yeah,” Kat said, shrugging. “That’s why we call it that, but it’s more of a nickname.” 

“That’s so gross,” Olivia said, shaking her head. 

“Disgusting.” Britney agreed, echoing Olivia’s distaste for the idea. 

“If he’s fucking other women, you should be allowed to fuck other men, at the very least, but like, you shouldn’t even be doing that! Right? If he truly loved you, you’d be enough for him.” Olivia said. 

Kat shrugged. “Eh, I’ve met plenty of other men. I’ll pass. I found the one I like.” 

“But you’re not enough for him?” Britney asked. 

“Fuck you,” Kat said, shifting her stance, her good mood evaporating with every word out of their mouths. “What’s enough even mean?! You’re afraid we’re going to suffer from too much love?! I get it’s unorthodox, and it might seem weird to other people, but it works for us! So don’t judge us just because you don’t get it!” Kat’s anger boiled her words and splashed them onto Olivia and Britney, making them step back as Kat shifted toward the stairs. 

“Jesus,” Olivia said, “I was just trying to help.” 

“You were trying to put me down or make Arthur out to be some kind of philanderer,” Kat said. “Maybe ask questions first, jump to judgments later,” Kat said, shaking her head as she climbed the stairs, leaving Olivia and Britney alone by the mailboxes. 

Kat opened the door to Arthur’s apartment and dropped the costume bags against the sofa. Katelyn startled her with a hug as the door swung shut, and then Kelly came around the corner from the kitchen, smiled to see her, and hugged her next, holding her for longer than a typical hug. 

“I just wanted to say, thanks again for last night, for standing up to me,” Kelly said, squeezing her arms around Kat’s middle as Kat relaxed and returned the hug. She patted Kelly’s back, and the taller woman leaned away to check her expression. “You okay?” 

Kat smiled briefly, not sure how to explain her recent encounter. “Yeah, I just… have a bad track record with Arthur’s downstairs neighbors.” 

Kelly looked concerned. “Did they give you trouble again? Should we get Arthur?” She glanced toward the bathroom, where the roar of shower water poured through the closed door. 

“No, it’s okay,” Kat said. “Thanks, though, but honestly, I feel much better now.” 

Kelly smiled and hugged her again, Katelyn patted her back, and Kat squeezed them both in return. The gentle, much-needed hug reset the world, and eagerness goaded Kat to get on the road.  

~~~

His shower was quick without company, even though the warm water invited him to linger in the steamy embrace of disassociation. His routine was simple enough, even with his skin care, shaving, waxing, and grooming after his shower. The Tarzan costume he’d be wearing today didn’t leave much to the imagination, and as hairy as a real-life Tarzan would be, body hair wasn’t in fashion. 

He slapped on deodorant and combed his hair back, instead of his usual part. With luck, it’d fall open into a more natural, messy hairdo than his usual clean-cut appearance. Hopefully, that’d offset his otherwise pristine features to sell the ‘wild man’ outfit. 

Arthur hung his towel on the hook and stepped out of the bathroom, totally naked. He flinched when he realized he wasn’t alone in his apartment, but Kat and Katelyn sat on his sofa and looked up from their phones. Katelyn’s mouth fell open. 

“Damn,” Katelyn said, licking her lips. “Sometimes I forget how hot you are, and then it’s like, bam.” 

Arthur chuckled. “You’re pretty hot yourself.” He said, closing the distance and kissing her good morning. “Good morning.” 

“Minty fresh,” Katelyn remarked on his toothpaste. “Good morning to you, too, Sir.” 

Kat pushed her face forward, and Arthur kissed her as well, satisfying her. 

“Breakfast is almost ready, Mister,” Kelly said, poking her head around the corner. “And I brought a cooler of food, in case we need it.” 

Arthur smiled and walked over to Kelly to kiss her good morning. She met him in the open space between the living room and kitchen table, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him with a passion that took him by surprise. 

“Well, good morning.” He said when she let him come up for air. 

Kelly blushed. “Sorry, I just… I’m glad you’re okay.” 

Arthur pecked her lips and patted her hip. “I’m glad you’re okay,” He said, checking her over. Neither she nor Katelyn wore their costumes. Katelyn wore a pair of leggings, jean shorts, a tank top, and a baggy sweater. Kelly wore a brown sweater dress with a flared skirt and a double row of buttons below the scooped neckline. The knit material was soft and looked warm and inviting. 

“Decided against costumes after all?” He asked.

“Oh, no, we have our costumes, but Rani told everyone to wait to change. Something about a surprise she rigged up for us.” Kelly said, smiling softly. 

“Hopefully it’s not too expensive,” Kat chimed in. 

Arthur sighed. “We might need to impose a ‘no surprise’ rule,” he said, chuckling slightly. “It’ll hopefully avoid misunderstandings in the future.” 

“I’m sure she’d tell you what it is if you asked,” Kelly said, glancing to her left where Selene presumably stood at the stove. “But not all surprises are bad. We’ve given you a thrill or two before, haven’t we? Last Wednesday? All the Slave Leia outfits?” 

Arthur kissed her nose, making her blush beneath her freckles. 

“We’ll find out together when she gets here, anyway,” Kelly said. “It’s a surprise for us too.” 

“I guess I’ll wear my costume and throw a bag together for tonight,” Arthur said, scratching the back of his neck. 

“Can we bring the trunk as well, Master?” Selene asked from around the corner. 

The traveler’s trunk with all of his BDSM gear was heavy, but ultimately transportable. They’d be spending the night at the hotel, so it made sense to bring it. 

“Better safe than sorry,” He said, shrugging. Not having it if he needed it later would be annoying. “I’m sure we can fit it in with the luggage somewhere. How many cars are we taking?” 

“I can drive,” Kelly answered. “And Kat volunteered. Two cars should be enough for seven of us, and Slut wants you in the back seat. I assume Mark, Maria, Brad, and Jen can ride together?” 

That made sense to Arthur. He nodded his approval and gave her a thumbs-up. “I’m going to get dressed before Slut gets any ideas about an orgy before we leave.” 

“Aw.” Katelyn pouted. “No time for a quickie? I’ve been staring at your butt this whole time for nothing?” 

Arthur chuckled, shaking his head as he headed into the second bedroom with the costume closet. 

~~~