Harem House Chapter 36 Part 3

Arthur descended the stairs in his apartment building from the third-floor landing to the mid-floor landing ahead. Behind him, shoulder-to-shoulder, Kelly and Kat followed in their coats with their hands in their pockets. The thin golden chains started in Arthur’s right hand and ended at the collars around their throats.

Kelly’s costume collar was broad and gold, matching the slave bikini bottoms she wore under her coat. Above it, her three-strand pearl choker looked regal and polished under the fluorescent lights. Kat wore her pink BDSM collar, which seemed a bolder declaration, in addition to her being totally nude under her coat. The leashes bore an arch of slack as they kept pace with their Master, who went ahead and checked around the corner before proceeding.

Step by step, they descended the stairs, landing by landing, with special swiftness at the second floor to avoid Arthur’s downstairs neighbors. They wouldn’t be a problem much longer, but the last thing Arthur wanted was for them to appear and holler at him for the noise they might have made while having their conversations above or the fun before that.

It wasn’t until they were on the ground floor that Kat’s shoulders relaxed, even though their leashed walk was far from over.

Arthur kept his pace slow and even so as not to tug them by their leashes on the stairs. Kelly walked with her shoulders back, her hands in her pockets, her stride steady despite her heels. Kat’s gate was more halting, with rapid steps to compensate as she kept beside Kelly.

Arthur opened the door and pulled it aside, passing it to Kelly as he stepped through. The October night had chilled to crisp and blustering in the absence of the sun. The clouds overhead blocked the stars and moon, but the artificial lights buzzed their illumination over the asphalt parking lot, dividing the apartment buildings bordered by cars. Nearly every spot was filled at this time of night, and the people were indoors.

The windows behind them were a menagerie of life and slumber. A handful of windows were dark, others were lit behind their blinds, and few had their blinds open to show the dioramas of apartment furniture and people. Still, others flickered with the lights of a television broadcasting its images into a dim or dark room as inhabitants watched their evening shows or movies.

Arthur turned his gaze to his apartment windows and saw Selene and Mindy waving down at them, both crouched slightly so that they didn’t expose their toplessness to the world. That was, until Mindy stood, followed by Selene, both of them flashing Arthur, Kat, and Kelly below before dipping down again. They squeezed their breasts in their hands from either side, rubbed them against the windows, realized the glass was cold, and dropped down again, laughing.

Arthur shrugged his laugh, jostling the chain leashes in his hand, which caught Kat and Kelly’s attention. They turned to see what he saw and chuckled with him. Kat raised her eyes as if trying to roll them into the back of her head. Kelly smiled a tight, restrained smile that seemed more resigned than cheerful. Arthur understood she was more focused on their walk, and their exposure, than the girls safe in the apartment.

Their walk through the parking lot was direct. Arthur kept them on the sidewalk between the cars and the building until it was time to cross. They watched his heels to match his pace, and they crossed quickly.

The parking lot was quiet, but they would have precious little warning if someone pulled in from the road. If someone exited their building or looked out their window, they’d have no warning at all. They might not even know. Not that they’d see anything except a man leading two women on thin golden leashes. Strange, sure, but not as embarrassing as if they weren’t wearing their coats.

Kat quickened her steps behind Arthur, keeping closer to him as they moved between the cars and buildings once more. They approached her building’s door, and Arthur opened it for them again. They descended the steps to Kat’s apartment, and Kat pulled her keys from her coat pocket. She turned them quickly in the handle and deadbolt before opening her door and slipping inside.

Arthur unhooked their leashes, and Kelly gave him a quick kiss on the lips. She hadn’t been here before but quickly got her bearings as the apartment layout mirrored Arthur’s. While his apartment was on the left of the landing, Kat and Selene’s was on the right. The bedrooms were the same, but the smaller second bedroom was on the left instead of the right. Selene’s bedroom door was unmistakable with its glow-in-the-dark stars scattered on it. Kat’s was blank.

Arthur stepped into Selene’s room, ignoring the strange feeling of being in her room without her there. The mixture of heavy metal, anime, and nerdy posters always made him smile. The standing thrift-store mirror on the other side of the room reflected him as he cleared her bed, pulling the mattress off and carrying it under his arm into the room. It wasn’t heavy so much as unwieldy but light enough to move easily.

Kat and Kelly met him in the living room with Kat’s mattress carried by the two women, who had to give the mattress more attention than their buttoned coats. Kat’s coat lifted behind her like a short skirt but didn’t show more than ample thigh. Still, it made Arthur’s eyes linger, and he bit his lip.

He paused at the exit and put his mattress against the wall. Kelly, confused, motioned with her head for her and Kat to do the same. Kat lowered her corner first, followed by Kelly as they leaned the queen-sized mattress against the double.

Arthur hooked his finger through the O-ring on Kat’s collar and pulled her to him. Surprised, she gave a soft squeak as he kissed her but wrapped her arms around him.

Kelly stepped into his embrace, holding onto his left side while Kat stood to his right. He left his hands on the small of their backs and alternated between kissing Kelly and kissing Kat. No one spoke, but they enjoyed the shared tender moment of kissing in silent seconds between them. Kat and Kelly wrapped their arms around him, layering their forearms behind him as each spread their fingers over his opposite hip.

Arthur stirred and seriously considered removing their coats. He wanted to push further, but they had others waiting for them, and as blissful as the connections felt after the heavy emotions of the evening, now wasn’t the time.

Kelly kissed his neck, and Kat followed her Mistress’ lead and kissed his neck on the other side, moving to her toes and pulling his shoulder down to reach.

Arthur laughed, the height differences between them making him lopsided. He squeezed them both and stopped their kisses with a hug. He held them, they held him, and silence embraced them in the empty apartment.

Arthur released his hug, and both turned their faces to him. Kelly’s expression was checking to make sure he was alright. Kat’s face spoke to her confusion over whether they were going to do something here or return to his apartment.

Arthur assured Kelly with a kiss on her forehead, then kissed Kat’s forehead and flexed his arms to give them a quick squeeze signal to end the embrace. He dropped his arms, and the girls stepped away. They tucked their leashes into their coats, putting the ends in the inside pockets. Their collars were still visible, and so was part of the chain, but they were no longer attached to Arthur or held them in their hands. Arthur’s eyes followed the chains as they disappeared into hidden cleavage.

Arthur nodded toward the mattresses, and they nodded with him. Arthur gestured for Kat to take the smaller mattress, but she shook her head. Kat and Kelly took up the queen-sized mattress, and Arthur took the double by himself.

They paused at the landing so Kat could lock the apartment behind them, and Arthur led the way up the stairs.

Carrying the mattresses out of Kat’s building was the easy part. One turn, ascending one flight of stairs, and they stood in the parking lot once more. Traveling through the parking lot with their bounty was slightly more difficult, but they had an easier time once they entered the lot between the cars. No more hiding between the cars and the buildings. Arthur became an ant carrying a crumb, holding the mattress above his head with both hands. The girls followed suit and found that it protected them from view and was easier to manage, even if theirs was far more lopsided than Arthur’s.

The door to Arthur’s apartment building proved difficult to open while Arthur carried a mattress, but he managed it and propped it open so the girls could go ahead of him on the stairs. They did so, grunting slightly at having to turn around on the first landing. Luckily, the mattress was bendable. It was much more difficult with a box spring or frame.

Arthur remembered how arduous moving the sofa in had been and seriously contemplated leaving it behind when he moved out, but there was probably a fee attached to that. The house they were moving into was furnished, after all. Would they even need these beds? Should they throw them away? Would they have to pay for storage? He made a mental note to speak to his mother about that. She had a storage unit somewhere nearby. Maybe he could stash his furniture there. He’d need it one day, right?

He hadn’t thought that far ahead. Moving into the house with his girlfriends was a reality now, and soon, they’d be living there together. Then, in the spring, Kelly would graduate. Would she get a job nearby? Would she drop the facade of being together casually and want more? Surely, she wouldn’t want him to give up the harem, would she? No. She enjoyed the others too. But what would she do after graduation? If she left, they could break up or try long distance.

Lori hadn’t wanted to try long distance. Would Kelly? Arthur didn’t know what he would do if she didn’t want a geographically distanced relationship. Distance wouldn’t help her fear of missing out with the others or help her sense of being left behind. The rift would only grow as she missed out on daily experiences and life.

Arthur watched her as she led the haul of the mattress, lifting and doing most of the work while Kat helped in the ascent. Kelly smiled at him and winked. His heart skipped as she puckered her lips at him in a kiss, and his fears for the future fluttered away. They had more immediate concerns, like Lynn. She was probing for weaknesses, showing up at Selene’s job. What if she appeared at Kelly’s?

He wasn’t worried about Lynn getting Kelly fired. He worried Kelly would beat the living shit out of Lynn and consequently lose her job for it.

Anyone going after Kelly had to be stopped. Lynn had already gone after Mindy, and it worked out okay, but Arthur never should have let it get that far in the first place. Lynn had to be stopped. Rani wanted him to tell his mother about what he and Lynn had done. Though, the easiest way to stop her was something he hadn’t suggested to the harem. Lynn would leave them alone if Arthur gave her what she wanted. She'd back off if he promised to help her pass her classes. She’d keep her leverage, gather more, and use it frequently, but she wouldn’t cost them their jobs, parents, or social lives if he kept in line. He could make that deal. He could offer his help in exchange for leaving the others alone.

Or, he could take the nuclear option and tell his mother the truth. Rani’s frequent suggestion for the direct mother-ex-machina route made it seem simple, but there would be heavy collateral damage from such a course. It would rid the house of Lynn, but she’d still be in their lives on campus next semester. She’d take as much from them as she could when she went. He had to figure out a way to minimize that damage. To protect his girls.

And he had to do that without giving in to Lynn. As much as they loved or cared about him, they’d never forgive him for giving in to her. Besides, she wasn’t telling the truth anyway. Her remorse wasn’t genuine. It couldn’t be. She didn’t want to be a better person or want his help and tutoring. She could go to a tutoring center if she wanted to put the work in. No, she wanted the easy way out by making Arthur do the work for her. And honestly? Even if he wanted to, he didn’t have the time. He barely had the time to do his own homework nowadays.

Kelly stopped at the top floor landing and shifted aside. Arthur rested Selene’s mattress against the railing to pull out his keys, but his door opened before he could. Kelly and Kat carried the queen inside first, and Arthur followed with the double. The girls had pushed the coffee table aside and turned it so it rested against the wall beneath the windows on the left outer wall.

A bottoms-clad Selene closed the door behind them and locked it. Rani lounged on the sofa, and Mindy stood between the living room and dining room, waiting for instructions. They’d closed the blinds. Arthur looked confused momentarily, but the flush told him where Katelyn was. They’d pulled his mattress out of the bedroom and set it in the empty section of the living room. Between it and the wall with the exit, they’d set Selene’s “slave-bed” blankets.

Kat and Kelly placed her mattress beside Arthur’s, directly in front of the door. They pushed them together, so they made one large bed. Arthur set Selene’s double beside that, growing the length of the bed to take up the entire space of his apartment.

“We need pillows.” Arthur said, surveying the scene. He had some extras, but not enough. The harem had officially grown beyond his limits. “I’ll be right back. Kat, give me your keys?”

She tossed her keys to him, and he caught the flying bundle of metal death with quicker reflexes than he thought he had. It wasn’t because he wanted to be flashy but because he genuinely feared for his safety as the mass of keys and keyrings hurtled across the room.

“Sorry!” Kat said, blushing. “I didn’t mean to throw it so hard.”

“How many keys do you have?” Arthur asked in disbelief. He’d noticed the size before, but the weight in his hand surprised him.

“Really? You’re gonna give me guff over my keys?” Kat asked, annoyed.

“That’s not a keyring. That’s a collection. Girl, you’re a hoarder.” Rani said, eyeing the mass. “You’re like a dragon that collects small shiny keys.”

“I just never throw any away.” Kat said, frowning.

“She hoards books, too.” Selene said. “Boxes and boxes of them under her bed.”

“Library dragon.” Rani said, nodding.

“Shut up.” Kat said, rolling her eyes in her mock annoyance.

Arthur smiled. The heaviness had shifted to an undercurrent rather than a dominant atmosphere, and their banter brought a semblance of normalcy that no longer felt forced. He relaxed slightly.

“I’ll be right back.” He said, holding up Kat’s keys.

“I’ll come with you.” Kelly said, trotting over. She’d ditched her costume collar and leash, but her three-strand pearl choker was tight against her throat. Arthur expected Kat or Selene to volunteer, but Kat shed her coat and kicked off her shoes instead.

“Pillows are in our rooms. Don’t go through my stuff.” Kat said, not expecting them to but making the declaration based on Rani’s earlier threats.

“Oh, wait, can I come?” Rani asked, sitting up.

“We got it.” Kelly said, gesturing for Rani to remain. Whatever silent conversation happened between them, Rani didn’t protest. She fell back against the sofa and kicked her toes toward Arthur and Kelly at the foot of the couch as if shooing them away. Arthur didn’t mind the view she gave him up her purple panel skirt, which caused Rani to wink at him.

Kelly slipped her hand into his and squeezed. He followed her onto the landing, holding her hand as he shut the door behind them. They descended the stairs together, comfortable in each other’s presence. She stopped as they approached the ground floor, and voices drifted from the mailboxes.

The girl Arthur had spoken to before was holding hands with a young man as they came in from outside. They’d stopped at the mailboxes while she opened hers, and the pair turned to spot Kelly and Arthur in their descent.

The purple fabric of Kelly’s panel skirt was visible below the trench coat, which otherwise covered her from shoulders to calves. She’d ditched the cuffs on her wrists and ankles before they left to retrieve the mattresses.

When she spotted Kelly, the girl froze but smiled and waved to Arthur. “Hey, neighbor.”

The guy with her bucked his chin in a greeting, as one does while passing others in a hallway.

Arthur returned the gesture. “Hey.”

“On your way out? It’s pretty late.” The girl said, noticing their coats, but whatever dress or skirt Kelly wore didn’t match Arthur’s sweatpants and hoodie ensemble.

Kelly shrugged. “Do we… know you?”

“Oh, sorry, I guess I never introduced myself. I’m Olivia. This is my boyfriend, Ricky.” She said, gesturing to herself and the young man beside her.

“I’m Arthur.” Arthur said, taking up the introductions. “This is Kelly.”

“Nice to meet you.” The young man said.

Kelly looked confused but nodded at the introductions.

“We had a brief run-in in the laundry room last Friday?” Olivia said, reminding Kelly of where she might have seen her before. “And Arthur and I ran into each other earlier tonight.” She said, then turned to her boyfriend. “They’re the ones I told you about.”

“Oh.” Ricky said as if understanding. Then, understanding dawned, and he gave them an open-mouthed expression. “Oh!”

Arthur didn’t like how his eyes lingered on Kelly and shifted his stance slightly.

“Hey, uh…” The guy, Ricky, looked over his shoulder at Olivia, who nodded toward Arthur. “Can I uh… talk to you sometime? When you get a chance?”

Now, it was Arthur’s turn to look confused. “Sure.”

“Soon.” Olivia said, nodding her encouragement.

“Maybe tonight?” Ricky asked. “We were about to go downstairs, but we could put on some coffee and–”

“I’m a little busy tonight.” Arthur said, shaking his head.

“Oh, of course.” Ricky said, his demeanor apologetic. “You guys are probably off to a rave or something.”

Arthur didn’t know many Wednesday night raves, though the local munch at the adult store popped into his mind. It was probably well over by now, though. Not that it was any of Ricky’s business.

“Here, uh…” Ricky pulled his phone from his pocket, pulled up a contact page, and passed it to Arthur. “Just throw your number in there. We’ll set something up. Maybe a double date or some shit.”

Arthur wasn’t sure what to say, but he put his number in to be polite. In the worst-case scenario, he would be moving away next week. He could always block the number and never see this guy again.

“Cool.” Ricky said as he took his phone back. “Have a good night!”

“You too…” Arthur said, still confused as he retook Kelly’s hand. He and Kelly left through the door while Olivia and Ricky traipsed downstairs to her apartment.

“That was weird.” Kelly said, frowning.

“Yeah.” Arthur said, nodding. “They didn’t give off creeper vibes or anything, right?”

“No, they seemed normal. Just… it was weird that he got your number. Usually, it’s the girls trading contact info to set up double dates.” Kelly said, shrugging. “Oh well.”

Arthur shrugged it off and returned his attention to the task at hand. Kat’s keys were heavy in his hoodie pocket, and crossing the parking lot was a slower experience without the rush of the leashes to hurry them. Kelly and Arthur crossed hand-in-hand, with Kelly keeping his arm close beside and before her, her free hand hooked above his elbow, curling her fingers around his bicep.

“Think she wants to bang you?” Kelly asked, startling Arthur with the question as they approached Kat and Selene’s apartment building door.

“God, I hope not.” Arthur said, surprising himself with the response.

Kelly looked at him quizzically. “She wasn’t ugly or anything.”

Arthur shook his head. No, Olivia wasn’t ugly. She was pretty average-looking if he were being honest. Not particularly curvy, but not gym fit or even busty. She was college-age, but Arthur didn’t recognize her from campus, so she might not go to college or might attend the community college instead of Pendleton. She probably didn’t live alone in the downstairs apartment, not that it mattered. Her oak-colored hair was a rich brown, and her eyes were a dark green hazel. Nothing about her was particularly striking or alluring. She might as well be the female protagonist of a young adult novel. Yet, unlike every guy in her sphere if she were that protagonist, Arthur wasn’t interested.

“It’s not that.” Arthur said, shaking his head. “Honestly? I’m at capacity as far as girlfriends are concerned.”

He had a genuine embarrassment of riches when it came to his love life, but he was glad this was it. No more long-term girlfriends. Discussing date nights and lunch dates was enough to show him that he could barely give each one of them once-a-week time together, and that was without making time for himself.

“What about one-night stands, like Thalia?” Kelly asked as she followed Arthur inside.

Arthur shrugged. “I don’t mind if you, Rani, or the others want to bring a girl in for a night or something. But honestly? I don’t think I’m going to seek out casual partners. I prefer caring about the people I’m with, and you’re enough for me.”

“So you don’t want to be casual?” Kelly asked as they came to the bottom of the stairs.

“It’s…” Arthur hesitated as he withdrew Kat’s keys. “Are you talking about you and me?” He asked, flipping through Kat’s keys to find the one that looked the most like his apartment key in the hopes it was her apartment key.

“Yeah.” Kelly said, not elaborating further.

“That was your stipulation, remember?” Arthur said, trying the first key and failing.

“Yeah.” Kelly said as if admitting defeat. “I was worried about scaring you away, and I tried to rush things with Thalia last semester and scared her away before we even started dating.”

That was news to Arthur, but he didn’t push for the whole story. It didn’t matter. What mattered was why Kelly was bringing this up. He tried the second key and managed to unlock the door handle. The fourth key unlocked the deadbolt, and he let them inside.

Kelly closed the door behind them.

“Do you regret being casual?” Arthur asked, pausing in Kat and Selene’s living room after Kelly flipped the lights on.

“No.” Kelly said, shaking her head. “Not really. If we hadn’t started that way, the harem would never have happened, right? And I love those girls.”

Arthur nodded, trying to catch Kelly’s eyes, but she wasn’t looking at him.

“I don’t want to rush things.” Kelly said. “And I don’t want you to feel obligated to say it to me just because you said it to them. But… I have feelings for you, Arthur. Feelings beyond sex. You know?”

“I know.” Arthur said, nodding. “I have them for you, too.”

“Is that enough?” Kelly asked. “Can you promise you won’t leave me behind or… I don’t know what I’m asking.”

Arthur stepped into Kelly’s space and lifted her chin so she had no choice but to look him in the eyes. Her bright green eyes were red and veiny from crying before. Her makeup was wiped away in the cleanup from her mascara tears, revealing fresh, pale skin that was more naked than her usual face. She was skilled with her makeup, constantly applying it in ways that made her look like she wasn’t wearing any. Her natural beauty was just as entrancing, though. The freckles on her cheeks were more prominent than ever, and Arthur’s eyes dipped as he followed the constellations of her face.

“I promise I won’t leave you behind.” Arthur said. “You mean so much to me, Kelly. We’re more than lovers and more than friends. We’ll be living together soon, and I imagine we’ll only grow closer and closer when that happens. I won’t leave you or abandon you. You’re mine. My wifey. Never forget that.”

Kelly threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. She squeezed his ribs, and he embraced her in return. She rested her head against his collarbone, and he lifted his chin to rest it on her head. She closed her eyes, and the pair swayed slightly as if dancing to slow, gentle music.

“I’m never leaving you.” Kelly said, holding him. “I’ll fight your fights, and you’ll fight mine. Lori really fucked up when she abandoned you, Mister.”

Arthur swallowed his emotions at the words. Lori’s departure, their breakup, and the end of their three-year-plus-long relationship was a harsh memory to layer onto tonight. Their supposedly mutual breakup was Lori’s idea. She wasn’t willing to deal with long distance. Her life was a series of cuts and runs, moving on from one location to the next. She preferred to cut ties. It was easier than dragging things out through a long-distance death. Those were her words bubbling in his mind.

Yet, without that pain, he wouldn’t have Kelly or the others. Every piece of pain made him who he was, and honestly? He had a pretty good life on this side of things, even if he didn’t know what pain might await him in the future. He couldn’t worry about tomorrow, not when he had Kelly in his arms tonight.

“Yeah.” Arthur said, agreeing with Kelly. “But… I’m glad she did. It brought us together, after all.”

Kelly lifted her head and brought her lips to his. They kissed, and Kelly’s soft lips broke apart as his lips pressed against hers. The open-mouthed kiss allowed her tongue to slide against his, and she licked with it, letting the gentle kiss blossom into something passionate. Words weren’t the only method of expression available to feelings. Whatever Kelly wasn’t ready to say with words, she could still express with her mouth.

Arthur held firm in the kiss, holding Kelly lightly in his arms. She shed her coat, dropping it to the floor behind her as the heat between them flushed their faces. She didn’t move to undress Arthur. They both knew sex was off the table, and they didn’t have time for much anyway, but kissing? Kissing they could do.

Arthur led her by the hand to the sofa and sat. She straddled him without question, kissing him but not grinding or rubbing herself on him the way she might have. Instead, they kissed until she lifted and slipped between his open legs. She knelt on the floor and reached for his waistband.

“We should–”

“Shh.” Kelly hushed him. “Let me take care of you, Mister. Let me show you how much I care about you, and I’ll help you feel so much better.”

Arthur stared into her pleading eyes. The others were waiting for them and their pillows in his apartment across the lot. This was Kat and Selene’s space. Kat would probably be pissed that she hadn’t come along. Selene would be hot and bothered when they told her.

Kelly’s fingertips lingered in his waistband, hooked and waiting for his answer.

“Okay.” Arthur said, knowing that his brain hadn’t made that decision. His body wanted what she was offering, and honestly, it was nice to share a moment alone with Kelly. He relaxed as she pulled his sweatpants down. She tugged, and he lifted his ass. His legs hugged her with help from the elastic waistband, but she didn’t pull his pants off or even lower them further than she needed to for access to his manhood.

It rose to meet her, and she stroked it gently, lovingly, nestling her nose and face against the underside. She licked and kissed the tip, pushing her red lips against it. She looked amazing in her costume, and her tongue widened and pressed flat against the bottom of his cockhead.

She licked, gently rocking her head with the motion as her wet tongue pleasured him. Her right hand grasped his cock, pumping him in slow, steady strokes. Her left hand trailed along his thigh, her fingers brushing his balls until she slid her forearm under his sweats and played with them in her hand. She squeezed his balls as she sucked the tip into her mouth, denting her cheeks with the suction but keeping her head movement to a minimum as her tongue swirled over him.

“Wow.” Arthur gasped. “You make me feel amazing.”

Kelly pushed her face forward, sliding a quarter of his cock past her lips and putting him well into her mouth. She sucked, stroked, and played with him.

Arthur tightened his grip on the sofa cushions beside him and moaned. “Kelly…”

Kelly redoubled her efforts, bobbing her head in steady strokes along his cock as she moved her hand to support herself in the leaning position. Her left still played with his balls while her right hand’s fingers spread over his thigh, her manicured nails curling slightly to make soft white dents in his flesh.

“You’re so gorgeous.” Arthur said, smiling at her. He put his hand on the side of her face, brushing a stray wisp of hair behind her ear. It struck him that most of his girlfriends were good at giving him blowjobs, but they each had their different methods. Or maybe he just really enjoyed blowjobs. Rani was probably the worst at it, but even she was improving. Selene and Kat seemed to have a lot of practice. Kelly, though… out of all of them, probably had the least experience with it. “Where did you learn to do this?”

Kelly blushed, pulling off his cock slightly to answer. Still, she kept her lips close so that her warm breath washed over his pink mushroom head with every word. “I started watching blowjob porn.” She answered. She pitched her voice low and turned it sultry. The breathy voice added to the gust against his flesh, sending shivers along his spine. “The others seemed so good at it… I didn’t want to fall behind.”

There it was. Her fear of failure or being left behind again. He was amazed he hadn’t recognized it sooner, but he supposed he wouldn't have known if she hadn’t mentioned it. She always seemed so tough and confident. He couldn’t have known that was despite her fears rather than the absence of them. Her anxieties were unwarranted, but no one profited from being told their worries were silly. No, her concerns were valid, if not to Arthur than to her. That was all that mattered.

“You’re outpacing.” Arthur said, stroking her cheek.

She nuzzled into his hand. “I enjoy my wifely duties, Sir.” She said, smiling. “Do you think you have another load in you tonight?”

“It won’t be a big one, but probably.” Arthur answered. He didn’t sound particularly confident, but after multiple earlier orgasms, he knew if he came, it wouldn’t be anything spectacular.

“That’s okay.” Kelly said. “I just want you to finish.” She kissed his dick again, guided it to her mouth with her hand, and licked it. She moved her left hand, pulling his sweatpants away from his balls. She stroked him with her right and moved her face over his lap to suckle on his balls. She tongued them, licking and sucking as she played with them and pumping him. She tightened her grip on his cock as it hardened even further in his hand. Arthur felt his pleasure grow and contract, but he didn’t fight it or try to hold it off this time. They were in a hurry. There was no shame in cumming quickly when they needed to, and if she kept this smoke-show of a blow job up, he wouldn’t last much longer.

Arthur’s world blurred at the edges, and he took a deep breath to adjust to the sensations overloading his brain.

“Cum for me, Sir.” Kelly said, kissing his cock as she pumped it toward her mouth. “Be a good hubby and give me what I want.” Her low, sultry voice had a heavy weight to it, confident in her desire for his cum. She licked him again, stroking the tip of his cock with her tongue pushing out of her open mouth while her fist pumped him.

Arthur’s balls tightened against his body, and he felt the muscles in his legs clench as he approached the edge. “I’m about to–” His warning came too late. A shot of white hot jizz arched from the tip of his cock and overshot Kelly’s open and waiting mouth. It splashed against her cheek just beneath her eye and covered her freckles. The second shot lanced even farther, landing in the center of her forehead. The third fell short of the mark as she tried to adjust and landed on her upturned chin.

Kelly laughed, bright and melodic, as Arthur rested his head behind him and his body relaxed.

“Thank you, Sir.” Kelly said. Her sultry voice made Arthur’s dick twitch even as it relaxed in her hand. She closed her eyes but remained on her knees below him.

Arthur shifted, pulling his pants on. He'd fall asleep if he remained on the sofa, and they needed to return to his apartment.

“Do you want me to get you some tissues?” Arthur asked, noticing how Kelly wasn’t wiping her face or moving.

“No.” Kelly said. “I want to keep it.”

Arthur tilted his head. “What?”

“I want to walk into the apartment with your cum on my face.” Kelly said, explaining herself. “They’ll go nuts.” She winked at Arthur, then shifted as the cum glistened across her skin. She caught a trail of it with her finger as it slid away and sucked on her finger.

Arthur would have gone from zero to sixty at the sight if he hadn't just blown again so recently. Instead, he could only shrug and let her do as she wished. If nothing else, it would add some risque fun to the journey home.

She released her finger from her lips and shifted her stance so she rocked back to her heels and stood. Stepping aside, she allowed Arthur to rise from the sofa, and she waited while he fetched the pillows from the bedrooms. Two were in Kat’s room and one in Selene’s. He checked their linen closet but found only towels and sheets. No extra pillows.

Kelly waited for him by the door, and Arthur returned within moments. He set the pillows aside, helped her put her coat on, and grabbed them again. Meanwhile, Kelly kept her head tilted, letting his seed dry.

“How does it look?” Kelly asked. “Do you like me this way?”

“Eh, you were sexier on your knees.” Arthur shrugged.

Kelly laughed as she punched for his arm and missed. He stepped aside and swatted her butt with a pillow. “I’ll get on my knees for you again later, Mister. Just you wait.”

“I look forward to it.” Arthur said. “Are you sure you’re okay to walk back like that? What if we run into Olivia and Ricky again?”

Kelly shrugged. “I’m covered up in a coat and everything… Olivia’s already seen me in the maid outfit with your face up my skirt… worst case scenario, she learns that I returned the favor.”

Arthur laughed. “Okay.” He said. “But if you want, just say your safeword, and I can cover your face with something.”

Kelly let that sentence hang in the air for a moment, then laughed.

Arthur laughed with her, and they left the apartment for the landing. Arthur locked up with the pillows tucked under his arms, then scooted ahead of Kelly. She followed, keeping her face gently tilted upward to stop anything from running off.

He didn’t know why she wanted to do this. Maybe the evidence or declaration of their being together was some kind of ‘marking her territory’ with the girls. Or, she just wanted to try something risky and fun with low stakes. It wasn’t as if she were returning without her coat or strolling naked through the parking lot. She was covered, but the cum on her face was definitely a mark of her slutty nature, even more than her pearl choker. Selene or Mindy would probably want to do this, but Kelly was doing it first.

Maybe that had more to do with it than anything else. Whatever her reasons, Arthur didn’t protest. He held the door for her and carried the pillows. He walked ahead of her, keeping an eye out since she couldn’t turn her head quickly. She kept her eyes and ears open, though. Most people were home for the night, and the number of lit apartments grew fewer every time they made this trip. Even Arthur’s apartment looked dimly lit with the blinds closed.

Olivia and Ricky weren’t waiting for them in the apartment building. Arthur held Kelly’s hand in his left and guided her up the stairs. He clutched the three pillows under his right arm, holding them against himself as they climbed. They reached landing, and the door opened for them as they approached.

Selene locked it behind them before rejoining Mindy on the mattresses. “Welcome back, Master and Mistress.”

The others were in the living room. Selene and Mindy were on their stomachs on the mattresses, huddled over Mindy’s phone, watching a video. Rani sat on the far end of the sofa, her laptop on her lap. Katelyn sat on the nearby corner, near Kat. Kat was on her back on the mattress, her legs crossed, and a book in her hand hovered over her face. Kelly turned toward the sofa.

“What’s on your–” Katelyn’s question was interrupted by realization, and she flinched. “Ew!” Her reaction was more automatic than genuine disgust, and it made Rani laugh.

“What did he unload on you in the bushes or something?” Rani asked, getting a good look.

“Can I lick it off?” Mindy asked, rising from the mattress and running over to see.

“You two were gone a while, but it wasn’t that long.” Kat observed before returning her attention to her book. “Did he cum that quickly?”

“I’ll lick it off if you want, Mistress.” Selene said, moving into the Nadu position behind them.

Arthur tossed the pillows to the mattresses and noticed the girls had set most of their phones charging to different outlets throughout the apartment.

“I’m going to wash it off and get ready for bed.” Kelly said. “Is the bathroom free?”

“Yes, Mistress.” Selene said, her head still bowed. “The rest of us have already prepared ourselves for bed.”

Arthur noticed she spoke the truth. They’d removed their makeup and spruced up the place. They still wore the bottoms of their costumes and the cuffs, but otherwise, they seemed ready for bed. With no second bathroom, he had to wait his turn. He found his phone in the bedroom and checked his messages.

Unknown: Hey! This is Ricky!

Unknown: I know this is a weird ask, but my girl says that your girl told her you really know what you’re doing with oral.

Unknown: Do you have a book you learned from or something? Or any tips? I think it’s super gross, but now Olivia is refusing BJs until I learn.

Unknown: It’s okay if not, and we’re still up for a double date and shit, but honestly, this is the real reason I asked for your number.

Unknown: If this is the wrong number, please ignore.

Arthur chuckled and shook his head. He wasn’t sure what to make of Ricky and Olivia. They were weird, but as a proud member of the glass house community, he couldn’t give them any grief for that. Still, asking a stranger for tips on how to please his girlfriend? Did this guy not know how to Google? Olivia’s report must have been something impressive, even though she’d only seen a few seconds of his and Kelly’s activities.

It had only been a few seconds, right?

Arthur sighed and texted him back. He was still doing that when he noticed another, older notification on his phone. He jumped into his messages to see a new one from a chat he’d closed months ago. “No contact” was her request, after all.

Lori: Hey.

Arthur stared at his screen. That was it. A single message of a single word, and far too complicated to contemplate. An imaginary scream boiled in him. He wanted to freak out or crumble under the pressure. He did neither. He had no spoons remaining, and was running on empty. He took a breath.

It was too much. Between his girlfriends, work, school, the Theater Club drama with Yvonne, and all the pressures of life with Lynn sitting on top, he had no energy remaining to deal with his ex-girlfriend and whatever she wanted.

Arthur backed out of the chat and his messages app, removing the notification. He’d think of something and text her back later. Maybe. It was probably best if he didn’t. He wasn’t sure what circumstances made Lori reach out, but she’d asked him not to contact her. She requested space to let them heal after their breakup. She’d made her choice. He wasn’t going to answer a generic greeting. If she wanted something specific, she could damn well ask him.

Arthur heard the bathroom door open, returned his phone to the charger, and took Kelly’s place. His nightly skincare routine, teeth brushing, and general wind down relaxed him for bed. The sight that greeted him when he stepped out of the bathroom woke him up again.

Kelly, Rani, Mindy, Selene, Kat, and Katelyn knelt in a semi-circle facing the door, waiting for him. They each did their best to hold the Nadu pose, which was slightly more difficult on their mattresses.

“We wanted to get ready for bed, Master, but we thought you might want to undress us.” Kelly said, explaining herself. She wasn’t wearing much, but the idea of taking off what she had on appealed to him. He supposed she could keep the shorts, but those costumes weren’t for sleeping.

“And we had one last idea for play, if you’re willing and able, my King.” Rani said.

Arthur sighed. “Girls, I’m… I’m beat. I have to be up early tomorrow for cardio, and it’s been a long night. I’ve got nothing left in the tank for another session or more play.”

Rani accepted his answer, but Mindy and Selene shared a frown. “You wouldn’t need to do anything, Master.” Mindy said. “Just lie back and enjoy.”

That sounded promising. He could use another pick-me-up after the emotions of the evening, and while he had no expectation of another release, he could at least let them try. Besides, it might be fun and take his mind off things. At the very worst, it would make Mindy and Selene happy. “Tell me the idea.” Arthur said.

“We want you to wear this, Master.” Selene said, lifting her hands to present a leather blindfold.

Arthur raised an eyebrow, waiting for someone to explain. Usually, he was the one putting them in blindfolds.

“Then we’ll take turns sucking your uh… giving you blowjobs.” Katelyn said. “Sir.”

“And you tell us who you think it is.” Kat explained. Though her expression turned sharp as she continued. “If you can.”

“And… what do I get if I guess correctly?” Arthur asked. The offer of the game intrigued him, but he had to know the stakes.

“A point?” Mindy asked though it sounded more like a cautious suggestion.

“You get blowjobs and uh… whatever you want?” Rani shrugged. “We just wanna see if you can do it.”

Arthur looked between them and shook his head. “And what happens if I get it wrong?”

“We didn’t really think this through.” Mindy admitted. “We thought it’d be fun.”

“Last girl standing, or kneeling, I suppose, gets to sleep next to you.” Rani said, seizing on a thought that entered her mind.

“I’ll take it.” Arthur said, nodding.

“Oh, and if you get it right, that person is eliminated from the game!” Katelyn said, adding a suggestion. “Like blind man’s bluff?”

“I haven’t played that since I was a kid.” Selene said, giggling.

“I’m okay with those rules.” Kelly said, looking at the others. “Is everyone?”

They all nodded, except for Arthur. His distracted attention had zoned out, imagining a game of naked blind man’s bluff. Maybe they’d have a harem-only housewarming party after they moved in.

“Master?” Selene asked, catching his attention. “Do those rules work for you?”

Arthur looked at her as though he hadn’t heard anything they’d just said.

Kat rolled her eyes. “Just put the mask on and let us blow you.”

Arthur sighed with exaggerated weariness and shuffled forward. “Fiiiiine.” He groaned and flopped onto the mattress.

Selene and Kat gave cries of surprise and jumped as he landed between them. He rolled over. “See? I can be a brat, too.” Arthur said, poking Kat in the rib.

Selene giggled, but Kat didn’t look nearly so amused. “Such a dick.” Kat said.

“That’s ‘you’re such a dick, Sir’.” Katelyn corrected her.

That made Kat laugh, and the others joined in. Arthur took the blindfold from Selene, grabbed a pillow for his head, and relaxed.

“If I fall asleep, don’t take it personally.” Arthur said. “I’m kinda spent.”

“I won’t take it personally if you fall asleep on someone else’s turn.” Rani assured him. “But if you fall asleep on my turn, I’m biting you awake, my King.”

“Fine, fine.” Arthur waved away her concern and pulled the blindfold over his eyes. “Just be gentle.”