Harem House Chapter 35 Part 2

Master: Hey, what time do you take lunch today? 

Slut: When would you like me to take lunch today, Master? 

Master: Without adjusting your schedule, when would you eat lunch? 

Slut: I got scheduled for some extra hours at work, so I planned to grab a salad from the cafe and munch through my non-western lit class. 

Master: Okay. 

Slut: But I can leave work early and eat at 12 or 1, whenever works best for you. 

Master: No, it’s okay. We’ll schedule something for another day. 

Slut: Are you sure? I don’t mind skipping work or class for you. I’m here and ready, Master. 

Master: It’s okay, really. I have an errand to run anyway. 

Slut: Are you mad at me?

Master: Not even a little bit. I love you. 

Slut: I love u 2. 

“Texting at work?” Maria asked, eying the phone in Selene’s hands. 

Selene winced and put her phone away, slipping it into the pocket of her dress. Yes, her black dress had pockets. The long, flowy skirt reached her ankles. She cinched the flowy material at her waist with a looped brown belt that draped against her thigh. The top buttons opened to reveal her pale skin beneath, and the short sleeves were covered by a long brown cardigan sweater that fell to her hips. She wore it open, like a jacket, and accentuated the look with black boots. For jewelry, she wore her ever-present brown leather choker, a bangle of beaded bracelets on both wrists, a diamond nose stud, silver eyebrow piercing, long feather earrings, and rings on her fingers. 

“Oh, uh… just Ma–my boyfriend.” Selene said, correcting herself. They were alone in the Campus Bookstore for the moment, but people came and went depending on their needs. The shelves needed straightening, so they worked in view of the door, fixing things up. There wasn’t much to do, but they made a show of it so they didn’t have to wipe down the registers and counters again. 

Maria snorted. “You really need to watch that.” 

“Calling him that by accident?” Selene asked. “I’m getting better.” 

Maria shook her head and pointed to the security camera in the corner that supervised them. “Well, yes, but also no. I meant texting on the clock. Jake’s been on a rampage recently. He fired Carla for texting, and her mom was in the hospital.” 

“I think he fired Carla because she stopped flirting with him when she got a boyfriend.” Selene said, lowering her voice slightly. 

“She flirted with him?” Maria asked, surprised. She never flirted with Jake, he was the resident neckbeard. A man in his thirties who worked as the bookstore manager. He wasn’t particularly in or out of shape, but his sense of style and personal hygiene teetered toward the tragic. He wore a fedora and shaved his neckbeard once a week, on Sundays, so there was always a little bit of stubble. Still, she was nice to him. He was an okay guy, just awkward. 

Selene shrugged. “She needed the hours. Jake’s always accommodating if you flirt or have–” She gestured to Maria’s large chest. 

Maria rolled her eyes. 

“When did that happen, anyway?” Selene asked. “Carla being fired, I mean.” 

“Yesterday. He called her into the office at the end of her shift, and she left crying. He shredded her lanyard.” Maria said. She straightened a notebook on the shelf and stepped out of the aisle. 

Selene sighed. “That explains the extra hours he asked me to work.”

The front of the bookstore was all University paraphernalia. The front counter sat on the right of the automatic door entrance. On the left, the clothing racks of various university logo-imprinted and sports-team-printed clothing took up roughly a third of the store. 

Then, as if a barrier to the books students might buy, there was the paraphernalia. Cups, mugs, teddy bears, notebooks, pens, sketchbooks, supplies, snacks, popular novels, and more stocked the shelves. Finally, the last third of the shop floor was a winding path through the aisles of textbooks in neat piles. Quantity was decimated and restocked in waves based on syllabi. “Used” and “New” stickers dotted the books like flowers blooming in the brush. 

Behind the textbooks, the final wall held a series of doors. The clearly marked doors led to the office, the breakroom, a bare closet they called the changing room, the unisex bathroom, and a storage room that led out to the rear loading dock. 

Jake typically disappeared into the office at the start of his shift, left his chair to visit the restroom, and sometimes helped at the register if things were busy. Unless there was a problem, he kept to himself. Selene assumed he played games on his phone since it rarely left his hand, making his anti-texting policies hypocritical.

“He refuses to hire anyone full-time because he’d have to pay benefits, but he keeps mumbling about the budget and how we shouldn’t need so many employees with so little availability.” Maria said. 

“Speaking of availability.” Selene segued. “What are you doing on Saturday?” 

Maria looked back and shrugged. “Homework, I guess? Why? What’s up?” 

“Well, Arthur mentioned it to Brad this morning at the gym, but would you and Mark be interested in joining us at the Ren Faire on Saturday?” Selene asked. 

Maria perked up. She’d gone to the Faire before, but it had been a while. “I’ll ask Mark.” 

“Perfect.” Selene said, slipping out of the aisle and following Maria to the next one. They straightened stock as they went, making everything more presentable. “Oh, and Brad mentioned a guys’ night?” 

“Did he?” Maria asked. “Mark hasn’t said anything.” 

“It sounded informal, but… I had a thought. What if we got Brad, Mark, and Arthur together, and you, me, and Jen dressed up and did something special for them?” Selene asked. 

“Well, that’s an easy sell. Jen loves dressing up, and I love going out somewhere fancy.” Maria said, smiling at the thought. 

“No, I was thinking more like surprising them by serving them for the night. We’d wear as little as possible or something sexy and treat them. Let them play video games, drink beer, have a guys’ night, but we’d be there to…” 

“To what? Be ignored?” Maria asked. 

“To give them whatever they need.” Selene said, smiling. 

Maria scoffed. “I don’t know how you do it. Arthur is one lucky man.” 

“I’m the lucky one.” Selene said. 

“Would this be the whole group of you plus us, or…” Maria hadn’t said no, but she hadn’t agreed either. 

“Just you, Mark, Jen, Brad, me, and Arthur.” Selene said. “And we can make it a surprise for them. If you’re up for it.” 

“When you say wear something sexy… what do you mean? Like lingerie?” Maria asked. “You want me to wear lingerie in front of Arthur?” 

“If you’re comfortable with it.” Selene said. “I’m willing to wear lingerie if you and Jen are okay with it, but I’d prefer to wear nothing but my collar and maybe some bondage gear.” 

“Every guy’s fantasy.” Maria said, still laughing at the idea. 

“Exactly.” Selene said. “Don’t you want to make Mark’s dreams come true? It’ll be fun. Plus, imagine their faces when the three of us step out in nothing but heels and collars, holding trays of snacks, drinks, and video games, each of us there for our man.” 

Maria hesitated, imagining it. She bit her lip. “What if I don’t want Mark seeing you?” She asked.

Selene shrugged. “Who cares if he does? If it excites him, you’ll be there to relieve him. Seeing me naked isn't a big deal, and it's not like we'll do anything with each other's boyfriends unless everyone's in agreement. We're big on consent. So, I'm fine with a no-touch rule. Think of it like going to a strip club together.” 

Maria considered it for several silent minutes. “I’ll ask Jen.” She said. “She’s adventurous, but I can’t promise anything. She doesn’t know Arthur well. She might not be comfortable being in lingerie or less in front of you or him.” 

They’d met but hadn't connected beyond a few passing conversations. Maria had known Arthur for years and was comfortable changing in front of him backstage, but being naked in front of him? Selene wasn’t sure if she’d go for it. Selling Maria on doing it for Mark was the easier bid. She could sell Jen on doing it for Brad, too. 

“Tell Jen to text me.” Selene said. “I’ll convince her.” 

“Okay.” Maria said. “I’ll tell her. Should I ask her about the Ren Faire, too?” 

“Of course!” Selene smiled. “The Ren Faire is on Saturday. The guys’ night can be Friday.” 

“Ren Faire?” Jake’s voice made them both jump. He was walking as if he’d just come from the back of the store, obviously having heard Selene’s last statement but hopefully missing the rest of their conversation. He wore his half-a-week-old neckbeard, a grubby mustache, a black fedora, a University blue polo shirt, black slacks, and shiny black shoes. 

“Yeah.” Selene said, nodding. “My friends and I are going, so I thought Maria and her boyfriend might want to join us.” 

“You have a boyfriend?” Jake asked Maria. 

Maria nodded. “Yeah.” She glanced at Selene, frowning. “It’s still pretty new. He’s… okay.” 

Selene looked confused. Things between Mark and Maria had been bliss by every report. Separating them in the lunch room took Herculean efforts. Was something wrong? Why was she downplaying their relationship? They’d been friends for years and started dating at the beginning of the semester, just like her and Arthur a few weeks later. They were meant to be. She was still wondering when the bell above the door chimed. 

“Holy shit.” Jake’s eyes went wide. 

Selene followed his starry-eyed gaze to the door, expecting to see a movie star, judging by how he reacted. Close enough. The hottest woman Selene had ever seen in real life stood in the doorway, looking around like a lost puppy. Selene’s eyes narrowed. 

“Hello?” Lynn called out. “Can someone help me?” 

Jake left Maria and Selene standing in the dust, rushing forward and nearly knocking over a shelf to get to her. 

Lynn’s evaluating eyes swept past him and stopped when she spotted Selene. She smiled, which only faltered slightly when Jake entered her space, stepping close enough for her nostrils to flare in annoyance at his pungent cologne. He believed deodorant was a scam and disguised his lack of it with cologne. Cheap cologne since he used so much of it. 

“I can help you!” Jake said. “What can I get for you today, Miss…” 

“Lynn.” Her eyes dipped to the lanyard on Jake’s stomach with a picture that made him look even worse than his hat. She put her manicured hand on his chest, conveniently keeping him at arm’s length since he seemed so keen on invading her personal space. “It’s nice to meet you… Jacob.” 

“You can call me Jake.” Jake said. “Everyone does.” 

Selene and Maria watched from their place in the aisleway. 

“Isn’t that–?” Maria asked, and Selene nodded. Maria had seen Lynn at the football game last weekend. 

Selene’s mind sped through her options. Running and drop-kicking her would get her arrested. Clawing her eyes out? She didn’t have the right accessories for that. Punching her with the rings on? It’d hurt both of them. 

No. Arthur told her to live and let live. She’d promised Kelly, too, but that was before Lynn outed Mindy to her parents. It might have worked out okay in the end, but Selene would rather shred her collar into tiny pieces than let Lynn get away with that. Throat punch? It’d hurt worse than a boob punch, but her breasts were the bigger target. 

“You okay?” Maria asked. 

Selene shook her head. 

Maria looked between her and Lynn and took Selene’s hand. “Come on. We’re going on break.” 

Lynn watched them and glanced at the racks of clothing. 

“Do you have any women working here? And do you have a changing room? I wanted to buy some school swag, but I need to try it on since my chest is hard to fit, and I need a woman’s opinion.” Lynn said, spreading her fingers and flattening her palm against Jake’s chest in a gesture that made his breathing shift and his heart race. 

Selene scoffed. It was like watching a snake cuddle a mouse. Poor Jake mistook the contact for pleasure rather than the warning it was. He wouldn’t realize anything was wrong until it was too late. God, she hated Lynn. Jake wouldn’t win Person of the Year anytime soon, but Lynn was worse. She shook her head, turned her back on them, and followed Maria toward the break room. 

“Yes, of course.” Jake said, raising his voice slightly. “Girls! Selene!” 

Maria and Selene stopped, looking at each other. “I’ve got this.” Maria said, putting her hand on Selene’s arm. “You go on break.” 

Selene nodded and disappeared into the office as Maria approached Lynn and Jake. She watched on the monitors as Lynn pointed to the office, and Maria shook her head, apologetically wringing her hands. Maria gestured and said something about homecoming, to which Lynn nodded and gestured at the clothing racks. 

Lynn’s current outfit was a killer ensemble of a white dress and jewelry. The dress was made to look like a men’s button-down shirt, but strings on the side scrunched the fabric on each curvy hip, just barely covering her ass. The front parted slightly in an upside-down V, with its tip coming together just below her crotch. Every movement she made appeared to present the danger of exposing her underwear to the world, but she never did. She’d mastered how to walk and move to tease without ever exposing herself. 

A gold cross necklace drew attention to the top of her breasts. The V-cut neckline with its lapels in the form of a flattened dress shirt collar framed a deep valley of cleavage between two voluptuous breasts that hung high on her chest and stretched the fabric to the breaking point. Her flat stomach, tiny waist, and curvaceous hips added heat to the fire. The long sleeves covered her arms, ending in gold cuff-linked cuffs high on each wrist. She hugged her sparkling black and gold designer purse and pointed toward the changing room as Maria grabbed pajama sets from the racks and shelves. 

Jake nodded, leading the way and peering into the room until the door drifted closed. He beelined to the office faster than Selene had ever seen him walk. 

“What are you doing here?” Jake snapped. He sounded pissed off, but Selene and the others had been in here plenty of times. The safe was closed, and the computer locked, so the only risk to her being in here alone was that she wasn’t out there working. “Get out.” 

“I know that girl.” Selene said, nodding toward the changing room. “I wanted to watch her on the cameras to ensure she didn’t steal anything.” 

Jake rolled his eyes. “Her Louboutin heels cost more than the most expensive item in stock.” He sighed. “And that includes the textbooks. Now get out.” 

Selene rolled her eyes and left. She found Maria rolling her eyes and putting clothes back on the racks. 

“I’m going to hide in the break room.” Selene said. 

Maria nodded. “Good choice.” 

Selene nodded and disappeared into the breakroom. She put her boots on the table and reclined in her chair, pulling her phone out again. She texted the harem chat. 

Slut: Lynn is here, in the bookstore. 

Wifey: Can you leave? 

Slut: I’m hiding in the break room, but if she’s still here in fifteen minutes, I’ll have to deal with her or quit. 

Queenie: Want me to pull the fire alarm? 

Wifey: Don’t do that. 

Queenie: Is there a sprinkler system? It would ruin her makeup and, knowing her, whatever designer shit she’s wearing. 

Whore: Should I run over to say thank you? I can skip class. 

Queenie: Fuck that. You’re not thanking her for what she did. 

Wifey: What’d she do? 

Slut: She outed Mindy to her parents. 

Wifey: ?!?!?!? When the fuck did that happen? 

Whore: Yesterday. It’s okay! It all worked out in the end. Kinda. My parents are okay with me being bi. My umma’s bi! 

Kelly sent a hug reaction emoji to Mindy’s message, and the rest of the girls added theirs. 

Brat: Is avoiding her still the order from on high? 

Wifey: Unless anyone heard from Arthur otherwise? @Master? 

Whore: He’s at work, there’s no signal. 

Slut: He just texted me not long ago. 

Whore: He made a storage closet run.

Queenie: Get it, get it. 

Whore: He didn’t let me join. He’s worried about T&S whistleblowing on us.

Wifey: Great, that's another thing to worry about. 

Slut: I’m not worried about Lynn, I just want to slash her tires. 

Queenie: Don’t get caught on camera. 

Wifey: No, don’t do it at all. We’ve talked about this. 

Selene sent a frown emoji. 

Slut: Fine. 

Slut: I mean, yes, Mistress.

Slut: In other news, we’re still good for tonight, right? I want to pass some things by the group, particularly about Friday night and Saturday. 

Wifey: What’s Friday night? 

Slut: You remember Brad asking Master for a guys’ night? I thought we could give him a night off to hang with the guys.

Queenie: I think that’s sweet. 

Brat: Yeah. I love it. It gives us a night off for homework. I know Selene and I can use one. 

Slut: I was actually thinking I might plan a surprise for him. 

Whore: lol, and there it is. 

Wifey: Would you be willing for that to count as your date night? 

Slut: Absolutely. 

Wifey: Then I’m fine with it. 

Queenie: Me too. 

Whore: Me 3!

Brat: If you do homework with me on Thursday, you can have Arthur to yourself on Friday. 

Queenie: I have homework projects to finish before losing the weekend to crazy medieval sexy times. Homework-based girls' night?

“What are you doing in here?” Jake’s voice caused Selene to look up from her phone. He stood in the doorway, arms crossed like he’d caught her in the act of stealing time. 

“I’m on break.” Selene said.

“There’s a customer asking for you.” Jake said, pointing with a thumb over her shoulder. “She said you helped her last time she was here?” 

“That’s a lie.” Selene said. “Tell her I went home.” 

“That’s a lie.” Jake said, confused. “What’s the goss?” 

“She’s a bully who hates my boyfriend. I don’t want to talk to her.” Selene said. 

“You have a boyfriend again?” Jake asked. “When did that happen?” 

“A few weeks ago.” Selene said, glancing at Jake. She realized his view gave him a scandalous sight of the back of her legs up her skirt with her butt in the chair and her heels on the table. He hadn’t said anything, but his eyes were poking the line between her legs. She picked her feet off the table and placed them on the floor, letting the dress cover her. He hadn’t seen anything, but he’d gotten a good look at her thighs. 

Jake frowned. “How come you haven’t mentioned a boyfriend before?” 

Confused as to why he was asking, Selene stared at him. The red blush on the edges of his face and tip of his nose faded, like he’d been running and was now standing still. 

She shrugged. “We don’t talk much? I wasn’t hiding him from anyone.” 

Jake frowned. “Whatever, get out there and help that customer.” He said. “She’s been adamant about talking with you.” 

“She can fuck off.” Selene said, shrugging. “I’m on break.” 

“You shouldn’t use such disrespectful language to me or the customers. Get out there.” Jake said. “That’s an order.” He straightened his shoulders, like that might help him appear taller and more intimidating to the half-his-weight ballerina. 

“I’m on break.” Selene repeated herself and pointed to the clock. 

“Seriously?” Jake asked. “You’ve had a terrible attitude recently. I just caught you texting, and you’re refusing to do your job?” 

“Caught me texting?” Selene asked. “I’m on break! I’m allowed to text on my break!”

“Were you texting your boyfriend?” Jake asked. 

“My girlfriends.” Selene said. “We’re poly. Not that it matters.” 

“Oh. Really?” Jake asked, evaluating her expression and determining if it was true. “That’s totally cool. I’m poly, too, actually. I believe love is–” 

“Can I go back to my break now?” Selene asked. 

Jake scowled at her. “Get out there.” He said, repeating himself. 

“Why?” Selene asked. “Why is it so important to you that I talk to that bitch?” 

“She said she wanted your opinion, in particular on her swimsuit choices.” Jake said. “She won’t try them on without you there to give your honest opinion.” 

“What the fuck?” Selene asked. “Why?” 

Jake shrugged. “She thinks Maria’s being a kiss ass, and you’ll tell her the truth.” 

“Bullshit.” Selene sighed. “We only have the two swimsuits anyway. It’s not like we have a huge selection. She’s acting like this is some kind of designer store. It’s a campus bookstore. It’s all the same thing in style A or style B. That’s it.” 

“A campus bookstore where you work. You should show a little gratitude for the job you have. I let you get away with a lot because I have a soft spot for the females.” Jake said. “Now it’s time for you to listen to me as your supervisor and do what you’re told.” 

Selene glared at Jake. The temptation to quit raged within her, but she needed the job. Without this minimum wage income, she’d have nothing and couldn’t pitch in her part of the rent. She’d miss out on moving into the house and have to move into the dorms as everyone else moved off campus. She needed a new job. Fuck this asshole. She’d get one, and her resignation would be legendary. 

She stood, stashed her phone, and marched past him. 

“Good girl.” Jake said, falling in step behind her. 

Selene froze mid-step and spun toward Jake with wild eyes. Her expression made him shift away from her mid-step, stepping back. “What?” She asked. 

“Nothing.” Jake said. 

“What did you just say to me?” She asked again. 

“I didn’t say anything.” He held his hands up in surrender as if to show they weren’t anywhere near her. 

She pointed her finger at him and glared. “If you ever say any sexual harassment shit like that to me again, I will garotte your fuckin’ balls off with the wire from the brim of your fuckin’ fedora. Understand?” 

Standing not too far away, Maria appeared from between the shelves with a bundle of clothes in her hands. She handed them to Selene, who turned into them and took them in her arms. “Put these away.” Maria whispered while Jake tried to stammer out a response. 

His face turned red in rage, but Maria gestured toward the office, and he took her advice and went in without saying anything. 

Lynn emerged from the changing room, dressed in a school football jersey and nothing else. The top clearly wasn’t a dress, but she wore it like one. It hung high on her thighs and loose around her middle despite being designed for women. “Oh, there you are! Selene, what do you think?” She turned, showing off the jersey and how it barely reached the top of her legs. “Do you think Arty will like it? I like how it hugs my curves, and I know he likes women with a bit more oomph.” She stared at Selene when she said it. 

Maria’s eyes snapped open. She half-expected Selene to throw the clothes in her arms at the woman, but nothing happened. Selene merely glared at Lynn as if staring her down. 

“Are you mad at me for something?” Lynn asked, feigning innocence. “Is everything okay with your little harem?” 

Selene laughed. It wasn’t her usual laugh, but it sounded genuine. 

“Oh, are you worried that outing Mindy to her parents caused problems?” Selene asked. 

Lynn’s smile turned absolutely devious. Recognition of evil dawned on Maria’s face, and her disgusted expression turned toward Lynn with all the enmity she deserved. 

“Don’t worry.” Selene said. “Everything’s fine. Mindy actually wanted me to pass along a thank you. Turns out it brought her and her parents closer together. So thank you for trying to get Mindy kicked out of the house, or the school, or whatever you were trying to do.” 

“I wasn’t–” Lynn had a prepared lie ready on her lips, but Selene didn’t give her the chance to say it. 

“Arthur has warned us all to stay away from you.” Selene interrupted her. 

“Because he doesn’t want me to–” Lynn said, but Selene didn’t let her finish. 

“Because he doesn’t want ME to hurt YOU.” Selene said. “But you should know something about me if you’re going to keep trying things like this.” 

“And what’s that?” Lynn asked. “I already know a lot about you.” 

Selene smiled, ignoring Lynn’s insinuation. “Every now and again, I enjoy a bit of disobedience.” She glared Lynn down. “It gives Arthur an excuse to punish me, lets him blow off steam, and makes the sex amazing.” 

Lynn frowned. Her eyes hardened as she glared back at Selene, but her wet, parted lips didn’t appear angry. She looked aroused as if she’d imagined Arthur in that exact scenario before. A scenario Selene had no intention of ever letting her experience first-hand. 

“Maybe he’ll show me a really good time if I disobey enough.” Selene passed the pile of clothes back to Maria, who took them robotically. “The kind you’ll never, ever enjoy. Even if you were the last woman on Earth, he’d rather fuck a cactus than use your mouth for the toilet it is.”

“What the fuck?” Maria whispered to Selene.  

“Slut.” Lynn spat. 

“Cunt.” Selene spat back. 

“Is there a problem here?” Jake asked, appearing from the aisle.

Lynn smiled. Selene could see her confidence in her eyes. She held Selene’s job in her teeth, a morsel she could drop or chomp. Selene, Maria, and Lynn glanced between each other, each confirming that fact with their eyes, but Selene’s eyes weren’t frantic or desperate. They were determined. 

Lynn’s phone buzzed in her purse. She held up her finger at Jake and reached into her designer bag as he admired how the jersey exposed her bent leg. “Hey! Auntie Deb!” Lynn said, her voice suddenly sweet as sin as she stared at Selene with absolute malice. “What’s up?” 

“What?” Lynn asked, her smile fading. “Oh my god, I didn’t mean to! I totally thought–” She stopped, the voice on the other end cutting her off. 

Selene glanced at her phone. It was lunchtime. Auntie Deb was on her lunch break and taking care of business. 

“I must have forgotten. I swear, I thought Mindy was out and proud the way she and Rani were–” Lynn rambled on, her malicious expression shifting into a frown. 

“Well, yeah, you gave me the key, so–” Lynn’s frown deepened. “Auntie Deb–” 

Selene’s smile widened. 

“Okay.” Lynn said. “No, I understand. That’s okay.” She nodded as if Deb were there. “Can I apologize? Maybe I should take Mindy out to dinner? Do you think she’d like that? I could explain and try to mend things?” 

Selene’s smile faltered. Even in failure, Lynn was adapting her plans and working out new ways to terrorize them. 

“Oh, we could make a girls’ night of it!” Lynn said. “You, me, and Mindy. I can apologize properly. We’ll go to Frenchy’s, my treat.” Lynn giggled, but her laugh died almost immediately. “What do you mean? I have money.” 

Selene raised an eyebrow. What did Lynn do for work? How did she afford sports cars, fashionable clothes, and designer handbags? Selene assumed it was a trust fund. That made the most sense. Her parents financed her, right? 

“My mom didn’t say anything about that to me.” Lynn said. “Are you sure?” 

Selene’s smile returned. 

“Well… I’ll think of something. Maybe a girls’ night in the in-law suite, then. I’ll invite the whole house, minus Arty, obviously. I can cook those pies you taught me to make, and we can talk over wine if they’re willing to listen.” Lynn said. “I’ll try, Auntie Deb. I promise. I want you there too, obviously. I miss our coffee dates.” 

Lynn smiled again. “I know. I’d love to do one as soon as you’re around. I could really use your advice, Auntie Deb. I don’t know what I’m going to do about this crush.” 

“I know.” Lynn said. “I know he’s taken. I just–I wish I hadn’t gotten off on such a bad foot with his girlfriends.” 

She sniffled. Selene didn’t know how she made it sound like she was holding back tears without a single tear in her eye. She’d be a great voice actress. 

“They don’t like me, but I think they’re just jealous of the connection Arty and I have.” Lynn said, her voice still sad but her arrogant expression returning. 

Selene narrowed her eyes at Lynn. 

“I know.” Lynn said, smiling. “Don’t worry. I’m giving him his space just like you asked, but I can’t help it if he comes to me. We’re special to each other, you know that. Being each other’s firsts and all.” 

Selene’s eyes snapped open. 

Maria squeaked and carried the clothes she was holding into the aisle, disappearing from any crossfire. 

“Oh, did he never tell you that?” Lynn asked. “Yeah, Senior year. Do you remember spring break? It was right before he got into that fight.” 

Selene curled her fingers, giving her hands the appearance of claws. She hadn’t heard this story and didn’t know what Lynn was referencing. But it couldn’t be true. She could claim an expired friendship with Master all she wanted. She could claim they knew each other all their lives. But to lay any kind of sexual claim on him? No. Absolutely not. He wasn’t hers. He was Selene’s. He was the harem’s. And Lynn? Lynn was an outsider, an enemy, and she always would be. 

Maria grabbed Selene’s wrist and pulled her away, leaving Lynn speaking into the phone with a confused Jake still waiting for her to talk to him. 

“I don’t know why he told you it was Lori.” Lynn said. “Maybe he was just embarrassed. You know how guys are their first time. It might not have been impressive, but it was special.” Lynn turned her gaze to Jake and tilted her head as if she was considering how he’d compare and whether she might give him the chance to try. “But that’s ancient history.” She said. “Don’t worry. I’ll apologize to Mindy. First chance I get, we’ll set up that girl’s night. Sorry again, Auntie Deb. Okay. Okay. Love you! Kisses!” 

Lynn ended the call and shoved the phone into her purse. She smiled at Jake, her angelic beauty hiding her devilish bite. “I’m going to change out of this.” She said, gesturing to the room behind her. She backed into the changing room, and Jake swiftly returned to his office. 

Maria rubbed Selene’s arms like she was at risk of hypothermia, trying to soothe and calm her friend. Selene glowered at the changing room door. 

“You look like you’re about to murder her.” Maria said. “Calm down. You can’t do anything to her here. You’ll lose your job, or get arrested, or…” 

“I know.” Selene ground out the words between her teeth. “But God, I want to rip out her throat with my teeth.” 

“I get it. She seems like… a lot.” Maria said, glancing at the closet. “But you can’t. Get out of here. Hide in the storage room, or leave, I’ll cover for you with Jake.” 

Selene sighed but hid in the storage room. The cold smell of concrete and the woody pulp of cardboard kept her company until Maria fished her out again. Breathing and stretching into some yoga calmed her, slowing her heart rate from a hummingbird’s to a human’s. She raised her gaze from her prayer pose when the storage room door creaked open. 

“Girl, your life is like a soap opera.” Maria said, shaking her head as she entered. “What the fuck was all of that?” 

“Long story.” Selene said. “The highlights: Lynn and Arthur used to be friends growing up. She’s a bitch and turned on him in high school. Now, she’s coming here next semester to make his life hell. She’s also living in the in-law suite of the house we’re moving into, but we’re trying to prevent that.” 

“And we hate her?” Maria asked. 

“Oh, we hate her.” Selene nodded. “She is the worst human being on this planet, and I’m including politicians, pedophiles, and people who play games on their phones at the movie theater.” 

“Oh good.” Maria sighed, visibly relaxing. “I’m a fantastic actress, but even I couldn’t pretend to like that bitch for one more minute.” 

Selene laughed. “Did she buy anything?” 

Maria shrugged. “One pajama set.” 

Selene rolled her eyes. 

“I’ll be putting clothes back on the racks for an hour.” Maria groaned, leading the way out of the storage closet. 

“I’ll help.” Selene said. “Thanks for saving my job.” 

Maria threw her arm around Selene’s shoulders, and they returned to work. Jake remained in the office for the rest of her shift. 

After work, Non-Western Lit with Kat was almost fun. Selene hadn’t finished the reading, but Arrow of God had a certain inevitability to its conclusion. Did it really matter if Kat told her the ending versus reading it for herself? There were better ways to spend her time. 

The class was mostly discussion-based, which Selene considered lazy on the professor’s part, but she went with it. She and Kat tried to take an elective together for fun every semester. This semester, Kat’s preference had obviously won out. 

Foundations of Educational Media followed, but Kat had Lit Comp III, so they split up for the rest of their classes and reunited afterward. The plan was simple: go to Arthur’s apartment and wait for everyone else. 

Kat drove them and hiked the steps as quietly as possible to Arthur’s apartment on the third floor. Selene giggled quietly at Kat’s blatant attempt to avoid the neighbors she’d angered last week. 

~~~

Kelly and Katelyn carpooled to the harem meeting with Kelly driving her SUV. She pulled into the complex and parked. “Do you want to wait in the car or come up with me?” Kelly asked. 

Katelyn looked at Kelly, smiling slightly. Kelly had noticed the nervous hair-twirling and lip-biting for the entire drive. 

“Well… I don’t know.” Katelyn said. “Is it less awkward if I’m down here? They have to vote on me joining, right? Do you want to get them to vote first? What if someone says no? I drive home?” 

“No one’s going to say no.” Kelly said. She patted Katelyn’s thigh. “Your inclusion is a given, I think. Mindy and Rani even got a costume for you.” 

“Really?” Katelyn asked. 

“Yeah, we were going to do something special Saturday night at the hotel, but Arthur got impatient.” Kelly said. “So, we’re doing it tonight instead.” 

“What size did they get me?” Katelyn asked, distracted by the idea. “Do they even make that costume in my size?” Compared to Kelly, the boxing babe with her hourglass figure, she was a stick of a person.

“We’ll find out.” Kelly said. “Here, let me text the girl’s only chat.” She pulled out her phone and sent the text. Her phone dinged a second later, and she laughed. “Rani says if you don’t come upstairs, she’s making you wear a cat costume instead, and it’s just a tail and face paint.” 

Katelyn raised an eyebrow. “How would that even work? It comes with a belt?” 

Kelly’s phone dinged again. “Oh look, she sent a picture.” 

She showed Katelyn the picture of Selene holding a pink butt plug tail and laughed as Katelyn’s face paled. Katelyn clenched as she descended from Kelly’s SUV and walked stiffly into the apartment building. Kelly laughed harder until they reached the top of the stairs. 

“We’re ordering from the pizza place down the street.” Rani said, passing a phone into Kelly’s hands as soon as they entered. “Put your order in.”

“Oh.” Kelly said, surprised. “Okay…” She glanced at the menu. Last time, they’d all eaten before they came, but they were meeting earlier tonight. She hadn’t expected pizza, though. It looked like most of the girls ordered sandwiches already. Nothing on the menu seemed healthy, but the turkey club wasn’t too bad. She added bacon and passed the phone to Katelyn, who spent more time perusing it. Then, she gave the phone back to Rani. 

Arthur’s apartment had three seats on the sofa, four chairs from the kitchen, and a desk chair in the second bedroom. Selene had pulled the desk chair out and set it at the head of the coffee table. Three kitchen chairs sat opposite the sofa. The apartment was clean, which always surprised her even though she knew Arthur. The Spirit of Halloween bags stood ominously on the floor in the second bedroom. 

Rani lounged in the corner of the sofa closest to the door. Mindy cuddled against her in the middle. Kat sat across from them in a kitchen chair. Katelyn took the kitchen chair beside Kat.

Selene patted the back of the office chair. “Sit here, Mistress.” Selene said. 

Kelly laughed and sat down, putting her purse beside her. 

“We’re all here!” Selene squealed, excited as she hugged Katelyn. “Welcome to the club!” 

“A less exclusive club every day.” Kat said, laughing when Katelyn and Selene stuck their tongues out at her. “But welcome, hot stuff.” 

Rani tapped her forehead, then pointed at Kat’s. “I’m rubbing off on you.” 

“I’m still not bi.” Kat said. 

Mindy giggled. “I am! And I’m out now! Out and proud! My parents know! I can shout it from the rooftops if I want to!” 

Kelly smiled. She knew that feeling. Her sexuality hadn’t always been so inclusive, but she remembered coming out of the closet her senior year of high school. Her peers? Supportive. Her brothers? Three rocks she could shelter behind to weather any storm. Her parents? Well, they weren’t Mindy’s parents. Her father wasn’t even in the country, and her mother had always neglected her children in favor of work. At least her college friends, primarily Lori, supported her when she came out as bisexual and not strictly lesbian. 

“Kels, are you okay?” Katelyn squatted in front of Kelly, moving eye to eye with the sitting woman. 

“I’m okay.” Kelly said, smiling and taking a deep breath. She hadn’t realized the face she’d made had drawn any attention. The moisture in the corners of her eyes threatened to spill over, but she didn’t let it. “Just emotional today.” 

“Everything seems so intense when I’m on my monthly.” Mindy said, nodding as though she were wise. 

“Ugh, yeah. I get super horny when I’m on my period, for some reason.” Rani shrugged, ordering their dinner. 

“Gross.” Kat shook her head, bouncing her curls to and fro. 

“Oh, come off it, blondie.” Rani said. “It’s not my fault the hormones ramp up to a hair trigger when the bleeding starts. I just want to start humping everything, but also kinda don’t want anybody to touch me.” 

“Do the rest of you get horny?” Mindy asked. 

“No.” Kat said, shaking her head. “When mine hits, I just want to crawl into a hole and die. I hide in my room as much as possible with a heating pad, dim the lights, and listen to audiobooks.” 

“So, a normal pre-harem weekend for you, then.” Selene said, teasing her sister. 

“Shut up.” Kat laughed. “Little miss, it’s-not-that-bad.” 

“It’s not that bad.” Selene said. 

“Yours isn’t that bad!” Kat said, for what was obviously not the first time. “You got lucky.” 

“Mine’s not that bad either.” Katelyn said, awkwardly raising her hand.

“I get cramps sometimes.” Mindy said, shrugging. “Not every time, though.” 

“Wait, am I seriously the only one that gets horny?” Rani asked.  

“She’s always horny.” Kat thumbed toward Selene. “So, how would we tell?” 

Kelly smiled, amused at the banter flying around. It was amazing the difference a week made. She remembered worrying about whether Arthur would be upset to find them in his apartment at the last meeting. After everything they’d done, though, she felt much more comfortable in his space and with each other. They all did. It was amazing to think one week had passed between meetings and not more. The calendar moved slowly, but so much happened that it was almost difficult to keep track of it all. That was the chaos of six or seven lives coming together. 

Rani had started the meeting last time, but now Kelly felt it was more her responsibility. She was the mistress of the harem. The team captain. Her job was to lead them when the coach wasn’t around. He should probably be sitting in this chair, but he wasn’t due for another few hours. 

“So, should I bring this harem meeting to order somehow?” Kelly asked no one in particular as the girls’ chatter continued. 

“You need a gavel.” Katelyn said, re-taking the kitchen chair beside Kat. 

“Oh, Selene, grab the wooden dildo out of the duffle bag.” Rani gestured behind Kelly, where the duffel bag rested against the wall where Kat’s collar hung on its hook. “And should we collar up? Or put on the costumes?” 

“Costumes after dinner.” Kelly said. “But wear the collars. They make everything seem more official.” She said, reaching into her purse. 

Selene brought a large wooden dildo and set it on the coffee table before Kelly. She passed Kat her collar from its hook by the door. 

Rani wore a gold chain looped through a large ring at one end with a smaller ring between her breasts. The slightest tug would tighten the chain around her throat. 

Mindy wore a narrow rubber choker with the words ‘WHORE’ in rhinestones. 

Kat put on her pink BDSM collar with its cushioned fit. Selene’s brown leather choker was ever-present. 

Kelly pulled her three-strand pearl necklace from her purse. The fake pearl beads decorated her neck in the choker. She smiled as she looked around the room, watching the girls adjust their outfits and collars. 

Mindy’s gray sweater dress, sheer black stockings, and high heels looked business chic. Rani’s sweatpants and hoodie weren’t particularly sexy, but she appeared as comfortable as Kelly wanted to be. Kelly had worn a knee-length dress and cardigan, with some shapewear helping compress what needed pressure. Selene was naked the next time she stepped into view, and Kelly chuckled softly. Kat wore a pair of gray slacks with a matching blazer over a pink blouse. 

Katelyn’s sneakers tapped a long stretch away from her white short shorts. Her pink tank top showed a lot of skin, but her sling and long black jacket covered her. She slipped from the jacket, letting it fall against the chair. Her throat was bare, without a collar. She looked down after glancing at everyone else’s. 

“Don’t worry.” Selene said. “Master has one for you, even if it’s just for tonight. He’ll get you a permanent one soon.” 

Katelyn smiled somewhat awkwardly, but Kelly could tell she appreciated the encouragement. 

“Okay, so–” Kelly reached for the wooden dildo and paused. “You’ve washed this recently, right?” 

Rani laughed. “Of course. I might not be a laundress, but I don’t put anything dirty anywhere near my puss.” 

Kat snickered. 

“I’m dirty.” Mindy said. “I go near your puss all the time.” 

“Har, har.” Rani said, not laughing but kissing Mindy. 

“Okay.” Kelly held the wooden dildo by the shaft and clacked the wooden balls against the coffee table. 

“Holy shit, it’s really wood?” Katelyn asked, shocked when everyone else fell silent at the sound. “I thought it just looked like wood.” 

“No, it’s really wood. One-hundred percent Morning Wood.” Rani said, giggling as Mindy and the others broke out into laughter. “Shined, polished, and waxed.” 

Kelly chuckled as she clacked it on the table again. “Okay. Order! Order! I hereby call this meeting of the harem to order! Whore, you’re ready to take notes?” 

Mindy sat straight and held up her notebook and pen, putting both into her lap. 

“What’s our agenda tonight?” Rani asked. 

Kelly gestured to Katelyn. “First things first, we have a new sister to discuss.” 

“Should she be here for this?” Kat asked, pointing at Katelyn sitting beside her. 

“You’re the one who invited me on Saturday!” Katelyn said. 

“I know!” Kat defended herself. “I didn’t mean here tonight. I mean for this part. When we talk about you.” 

“Always better to talk in front of someone’s face instead of behind their back.” Rani said. “But if you’d rather not hear what we have to say about you, we can always put you in noise-canceling headphones and a blindfold and lock you in the extra bedroom.” She gestured to the second door behind Kelly. “Might be fun to tie you up and leave you for Arthur like a present.” 

Selene nodded her approval at the idea. 

Katelyn looked at Kelly. “Which would you prefer?” 

“Does anyone intend to object to Katelyn joining?” Kelly asked. 

The girls looked at each other, everyone checking for a raised hand. No one raised their hands. A few shrugs, a few non-committal noises of agreement. 

“But, to play devil’s advocate for consent, it’d be easier for someone to say no if Katelyn wasn’t sitting there making pitiful puppy eyes at everyone. Like, if Kat wanted to say no, there’d be too much pressure with Katelyn sitting right there. She’d be risking her closest friend, besides us. She should go in the other room while we talk about it.” Rani pointed at Katelyn’s face. Her saucer-sized eyes were pleading. She pursed her lip in a proper pout.  

“See? She’s too adorable.” Rani said.

Katelyn laughed, stood, and walked into the second bedroom. “Better?” She asked, calling through the doorway. 

“Can you shut the door?” Rani called. 

Katelyn shut the door behind her. 

“Thank you, sweetie!” Kelly said as the door shut. 

“Okay. Any objections to Katelyn joining the harem?” Kat asked. “Rani?” 

“Of course not. She’s cute.” Rani said. “Not sure where she falls in the sexuality spectrum, but she was open to trying things Saturday. You care about her, Kat gets along with her, which is a rarity we shouldn’t let escape.” She winked at Kat, who stuck her tongue out. “And Arthur likes her.” 

“I like her okay. She had my back at brunch.” Mindy said. “She’s not my type, sexually, but she’s cute! She can take the cute title, and I’ll graduate to sexy.” 

“I love her, obviously.” Kat said, which made Rani gasp and ‘clutch her pearls, ’ which was her O-ring collar. “Not that way. I love her like a sister. Like you guys.” She gestured. 

Rani clutched Mindy’s arm. “Oh my god, you guys. Kat loves us.” 

“Shut up.” Kat said. She rolled her eyes, crossed her arms, and crossed her legs. 

“We love you too, Brat.” Rani winked at her. 

Selene scooted over and patted Kat’s knee. 

“I can’t wait to watch Master fuck her again.” Selene said. “What about you?” She asked Kelly. 

“I have no objections.” Kelly said. The eyes of the harem hung on her. “Katelyn can be a lot, but she needs this sisterhood, and Arthur will be good for her. We all will be.” 

“I agree.” Selene said. 

“Though, Babygirl kind of overlaps with Brat territory.” Rani said, gesturing toward Kat. “The pink, the cute–” 

“But without the attitude.” Kat finished her sentence. “Katelyn’s a doormat, like Selene. No offense.” 

“None taken.” Selene said. “Master can step on me whenever he wants.” 

Rani chuckled. 

“So we’re good to welcome her into the sisterhood?” Kat asked. “Can we add her to the chats?” 

“Sure! What’s her official harem name?” Selene asked. 

“She gets to choose it like we did.” Kelly said. “That’s between her and Arthur. Let’s do an official vote. Do you want a secret ballot? Or should we just raise our hands?” 

“You decide, Mistress.” Selene said. The others shrugged or nodded in agreement. 

“Okay, a show of hands it is.” Kelly said. “Remember, it has to be unanimous, but all in favor of adding Katelyn officially to the harem.” 

Everyone raised their hands. 

“All opposed?” Kelly asked as everyone lowered their hands. Rani took the opportunity to put her arm around Mindy as her hand dropped. The others kept their hands in their laps. “Great! Katelyn is officially welcomed into the harem.” 

“Pending Arthur’s confirmation?” Rani asked.

“Arthur approved her already.” Kelly said. “From what Katelyn told me of their lunch date yesterday.”  

“Can we call him Master while we’re in the meeting?” Selene asked. “And use our harem names? It’s more…” 

“Deviant?” Kat asked. 

“I was going to say respectful.” Selene said. “It helps put me in the right frame of mind. But both work.” 

“I don’t mind.” Mindy said, giggling. “It turns me on to call him boss.” 

“We can try.” Kelly said, her voice somewhat more stern than before. “But you can’t force that on people, Selene.” 

“Yes, Mistress.” Selene said, bowing her head. 

“Now go tell Katelyn the good news!” Kelly said, gesturing to the second bedroom door behind her. 

Selene trotted over to the door and knocked before opening it. Rani and Mindy had placed the Spirit of Halloween bags in there, but she was sure Katelyn had been listening at the door rather than going through their stuff. Instead, she was perusing what remained of the titles on the bookshelves. Arthur’s collection appeared to interest her. 

“One of us! One of us!” Rani started the chant, and the others joined in, clapping along with the chant as Selene led Katelyn by the hand to the chairs. Katelyn curtseyed before she sat, and the beat of the chant turned to applause. 

“Welcome to the harem, officially.” Kelly said, smiling at her roommate and blowing her a kiss. “Master will affirm it when he gets here.” 

“We should present her to him. All bound and waiting for her collar.” Selene said. 

Katelyn chuckled. “Sounds kind of hot, but I’m not sure how much tying we can do with this sling.” 

“We’ll see.” Kelly said. She stood, stepped in front of Katelyn, and kissed her forehead. “Welcome to the harem.” 

Katelyn blushed. “Thank you, Mistress.” 

Kelly blushed a little and retook her seat. 

Selene slid from her seat and knelt before Katelyn. “Welcome to the harem.” She said. Katelyn patted her on the head, and Selene retook her seat. 

“I’m not getting up.” Rani declared. “But welcome to the harem.” 

“Yeah! Welcome!” Mindy said. 

Kat reached over and squeezed Katelyn’s hand. Katelyn returned the squeeze. 

“Our newest dickster!” Mindy clapped. 

“Dickster?” Katelyn asked. 

“Dick sister.” Rani explained. “Cause we share a dick.” 

“Oh.” Katelyn laughed. “You mean like tunnel sisters?” 

“Gross.” Kelly shook her head. “Sharing is weird enough when you think about it. We don’t need vulgar terms like that thrown around.” 

“Wouldn’t tunnel sisters be if you shared a tunnel?” Selene asked. “Like, Rani and I have both had sex with Mindy, so we’re tunnel sisters?” 

“That’s not how it’s used.” Katelyn said, shaking her head. “I don’t make the rules.” 

“Master does.” Selene said, smiling. “I’ll ask him.” 

“I like dicksters.” Mindy said, pouting. “Can we vote on this?” 

The girls laughed.