Harem House Chapter 37 Part 4 (Patreon)

Yvonne couldn’t look at him, but looked down at her hands neatly folded on the table before her. Her eyes flicked to his briefly, but she blushed and looked away. Her eyes scanned the crowd, but they didn’t linger on anyone before they returned to her coffee cup. 

“You uh… You look nice today. I like your suit.” Yvonne said. 

“Oh, uh… thanks.” Arthur said, not sure how to respond to the compliment. He suspected Kelly picked this one out for him and laid it on his bed, but she had good taste. It was one of his nicer suits. The olive green shirt and gray suit jacket worked well together. “You look nice, too.” 

The compliment wasn’t a total lie. Her makeup was lighter than usual, but the tight, purple V-neck sweater looked good on her busty figure, and her tight jeans showed off her curves below the waist. She’d left her hair down, but it looked pretty enough as it fell behind her shoulders. She looked much more put together for lunch than last night, waiting for him in the parking lot. 

She might even look a little too nice, as if she’d dressed up for this like it was a date. Arthur didn’t want to presume, though. After all, he wore a suit because he dressed for work, not romance. It hadn’t occurred to him that wearing something nice to lunch might send a mixed message. Anxiety flared over the realization, but it was too late to go home and change. 

“Thanks.” Yvonne said. “I know you don’t mean it, but thanks.”  

Arthur wasn’t sure why she thought he was being insincere, but he didn’t push it. She’d said some illuminating things last night. Rani’s tale of Monday night and her conversation with Yvonne helped make her desires clear to Arthur. He still didn’t necessarily believe that Yvonne was in love with him, but he knew she cared about him as a friend, like he did her. He had to let her down gently. He hoped he’d made himself clear that their being together wasn’t an option, but it was time to formally address it. 

Arthur took a deep breath. “I–” 

“Why aren’t I good enough to be in your harem?” Yvonne asked, cutting him off and diving to a point he hadn’t realized she’d wanted to discuss. 

His exhale caught in his chest, and his words died on his lips as he let his breath out and blew them away. 

She’d obviously thought about the question multiple times, and it burst from her like she’d been holding it back since he stepped into the cafe. 

“What?” Arthur asked, genuinely confused. She had never seemed like she’d wanted to join the harem. She’d expressed interest in him, but after the harem formed. After he’d gotten together with Selene and the others. Besides that, Yvonne had made her disdain for their polyamory clear to everyone who would listen. 

“You never even asked me to join.” Yvonne said. “Why, after all our flirting, when you were thinking of girls you wanted to collect into your twisted little…” Yvonne cut herself off. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that. I meant… Why didn’t you give me a chance? Why don’t you think of me that way?” 

“Okay, let’s take it back a step.” Arthur said, gesturing to reel things in. “I’m still confused about you even being romantically interested in me, much less interested in joining the others.” 

Yvonne stared at him. 

“Maybe that’s presumptuous, but from what you said, it sounds like you’re interested in me as more than a friend.” Arthur said, addressing the situation without betraying Rani’s confidence. She’d told him, in no uncertain terms, how Yvonne felt. Selene had confirmed it. But neither of them was Yvonne, and if she felt something more than friendship for him, he had to hear it from her lips. 

“Oh my god, are you kidding?” Yvonne asked, confused. “Are you really so dumb you haven’t noticed? Arthur, I’ve flirted with you for years! Even before Lori left. She yelled at me for it once.” 

Arthur blinked. The only time he could think of Yvonne flirting with him was on stage, in character. It was always part of the script. Had she flirted with him off stage? He knew the girls said he was oblivious sometimes, but was he really that ignorant? 

Maybe it was a byproduct of his trauma from high school, but he didn’t live his life thinking that every woman who smiled at him or treated him well wanted to jump on his dick. 

Why hadn’t Lori mentioned something to him about it if she was worried Yvonne might make a move on him? Maybe she knew and trusted Arthur well enough to know he’d be oblivious. She’d trusted him to never betray her that way, and she’d been right to. If Yvonne had suggested he cheat on his girlfriend, she’d have been disappointed and cut off as a friend.  

“You’ve always been friendly.” Arthur admitted. “But I didn’t think you were ever flirting with me. I was with Lori, and you knew that. Everyone did.” 

Yvonne stared at him in disbelief. “Are you kidding? All the looks? All the times I touched your arms, shoulders, or back?” 

It didn’t occur to him that women who felt comfortable enough to touch his arm or smile at him might even be interested in him as more than a friend. In high school, no one wanted anything to do with him. Through most of college, he’d been dating Lori, so he was the safe guy friend for many of her friends.

College was the first time he had a lot of female friends, and they’d all been pretty hands-on so far. He assumed that’s how girls acted when they knew he wasn’t a creep and wouldn’t get the wrong idea. He walked them places, or talked to guys for them, all the time. He never suspected any of them had ulterior motives or designs on him.

“I thought you were just one of those handsy people.” Arthur said, speaking honestly. Lots of people touched his arms and shoulders for various reasons. Some were more legitimate than others, but he’d never thought much of it once he got used to people invading his personal space. Lori had probably desensitized him to it. 

“I’ve crushed on you since I first saw you.” Yvonne said. “When you were auditioning for Prince Charming.” 

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella had been the theater club’s spring musical his sophomore year. They’d had auditions early in the fall semester, when he and Lori met Selene and Yvonne. 

“But you met me and Lori at the same time.” Arthur said, confused. “You knew I had a girlfriend.” 

“Sure, but…” Yvonne sighed. “I don’t know. She was your girlfriend, not your wife. I always thought if you two broke up, I’d be your next choice. Then you broke up, and I tried to be respectful and give you space, but I waited for you. I dropped a lot of hints that I wanted you to ask me out. Only, you never did.” 

Arthur blinked at her the way she’d blinked at him before. Shock, surprise, and disbelief mingled across his expression as he tried to reconcile her words into reality. Whatever hints she’d dropped, he hadn’t picked them up.

“But you never even thought of me that way?” Yvonne asked. “Not even a little? Is that a thing with guys? You’ve never thought of me in the shower, or wanted to fuck me at all?” 

Arthur swallowed. He couldn’t say he’d never thought about her in any of his fleeting sexual daydreams over the years. Still, he’d never seriously considered her, especially once he got to know her. She wasn’t a sexual prospect or a woman waiting to be conquered. She was Yvonne. A person and a friend. 

“Don’t all guys like boobs?” Yvonne asked, almost laughing. “Except for every guy I try to date.” 

“Depends on the guy, I guess.” Arthur said, more able to respond to that than the previous statement. “I can’t say I’ve never thought you were attractive. You’re very pretty.” 

“So why weren’t you ever into me?” Yvonne asked, annoyed. 

“I’m not sure how to say it–” Arthur said, hesitating and trying but failing to discover a way to say it that wouldn’t offend her. 

“Just say it.” Yvonne said. “Be blunt.” 

Arthur sighed. He wished he could be more like Rani sometimes, so now was the time to try. “It’s your personality.” 

Then again, maybe now wasn’t the right time for bluntness, judging by how red with rage Yvonne’s face became. 

“Excuse me?!” Yvonne asked, clearly angry. 

“You have a volatile personality.” Arthur said, as if her outrage proved the point for him. “I don’t handle that well. So we never really clicked outside of the theater club or off stage. I tend to keep my head down, be friendly, and live and let live.” 

“But what about all our flirty banter?” Yvonne asked. 

Arthur looked side to side, not sure what she was talking about. They’d had disagreements in the past, butted heads, but he wouldn’t have considered any of it flirtatious. Friendly, sure, he kept things light and didn’t get heated when she expressed an obviously wrong opinion, but he’d never intended to flirt with her. He’d end arguments with her by laughing them off, conceding, or treating it like it didn’t matter. Had she thought that was his way of flirting?

“Like the spring musical that you want to be a play.” Yvonne said. “We bantered back and forth on that a lot.” 

“That was just me arguing with you.” Arthur said. 

Yvonne frowned. “No, it was banter. Right? You never raised your voice or got upset.” 

“Is that what you think a disagreement is?” Arthur asked, now more worried for her than before. “Yelling doesn’t make it an argument. You and I argue all the time. We butt heads constantly, and while we have a lot in common regarding theater, we have very different opinions on what makes a good show and performance.” 

Yvonne scrunched her face in confusion, sorting through memories like Arthur did. “No, but… I mean… You’d always just laugh and smile, run your hand through your hair, flirting with me whenever I disagreed with you. You never got mad, raised your voice,  or anything.” 

“Of course not.” Arthur said. “You’re allowed to disagree with me and have other opinions. I wouldn’t get mad at you just because you think West Side Story is better than In The Heights.” 

“West Side Story is a classic.” Yvonne said, frowning. 

“It’s yet another rendition of Romeo and Juliet.” Arthur said. “While I appreciate Sondheim, I think In The Heights is the better musical.” 

“You’re proving my point! This is our thing! How we flirt.” Yvonne said, gesturing between them. “Right?” 

Arthur shook his head. “If it was, I didn’t know it.” He said. “I just thought you liked winding me up about things, which is why I didn’t think we’d be a good match personality-wise.” 

“So you went for the slut who just agrees with everything you say.” Yvonne said. 

Arthur almost didn’t catch the name calling in Yvonne’s words because of Selene’s nickname, but he realized she didn’t mean it with the same endearment he and the others did. “There’s no need to take things out on Selene or me.” 

Yvonne frowned and fell quiet. “Sorry.” She said. “I shouldn’t have called her that.” She put her head in her hands and exhaled. “God, I’m fucking this up so bad.” 

Arthur was surprised that Yvonne backed down so quickly, but he didn’t want to jinx anything by pointing it out. She was typically much more argumentative, though if she thought arguing with him was the same as flirting, that might explain why. Their different communication styles were at odds, but didn’t have to be. He supposed she might remind him of Kat with her argumentativeness in some ways, but without the prior agreement of her role as a brat. She certainly had some bratty behavior. 

“It’s okay.” Arthur said, calming himself with a sip of his tea. “It’s not like I’ve always said the right thing either. We can disagree, but let’s try to keep things respectful. We don’t need to be mean to each other or our mutual friends, right?” 

Yvonne moved her hands to her lap, kept her eyes low, and nodded. She acted like a scolded child, but Arthur knew better than to say that. They ate in the passing of silent moments, until Yvonne started speaking again.

“I’m sorry for… a lot of things.” Yvonne said, sniffling. She wiped her nose immediately, trying to hide her tears from Arthur. He glanced around, but if anyone in the busy cafe saw her crying, they didn’t seem worried about her. “I’m sorry about those rumors, and trying to get you kicked out of the Theater Club.” 

“Thank you.” Arthur said. He couldn’t absolve her of everything, but could at least thank her for owning her mistakes.

“I told everyone I was mistaken.” Yvonne said. “That I didn’t see what I thought I saw, and I apologized to everyone I told, so hopefully no one thinks you’re a kidnapper.” 

Arthur grimaced slightly but nodded. “Thank you. I know it’s tough to own our mistakes sometimes.” Speaking of which, he had to own his mistakes in leading her on when he didn’t mean to. “I’m sorry I didn’t make myself clearer, and led you on. It was unintentional, but the miscommunication was my fault.” He didn’t want to say ‘sorry I made you feel that way’ but wanted to apologize for his part in her feeling misled. He’d never considered their arguing as flirting, but she had, and he hadn’t noticed. He could have been more attentive. 

“Yeah.” Yvonne sniffled. “A guy like you wouldn’t be interested in a girl like me. I know that. Now.” 

Arthur didn’t know what she meant by that and wasn’t sure if he should press it, but he decided to ask anyway. “A guy like me? A girl like you?” 

“I mean, I’m not skinny like Selene. I’ve got these singer’s ribs that make my waist look big, and I’m fat and–” 

Arthur raised his hand to cut her off. “You’re not.” He said, shaking his head. “Yvonne, you’re a very sexy woman, and very pretty on top of that. I wasn’t lying about that.” 

Yvonne rolled her eyes. “Even if that were true, you’re out of my league. I’m Broadway pretty. You’re Hollywood hot. There’s something primally masculine about you. I just… I look at you, and instinct takes over. You have this effect on people and don’t even realize it. Maybe it’s your jawline, or something. It’s dumb, and I know it’s dumb, but I can’t help that I’m attracted to you on a biological level. Plus, you love theater, and you’re so talented at it, and you can always make me laugh and ugh…” Yvonne cried into her napkin. “And even if you were attracted to me, you hate me for my personality.” She sniffled. “That’s so much worse!” 

Arthur sighed. “I don’t hate you.” He had no idea how to respond to the rest of her monologue, but embarrassment at the barrage of compliments crept along his face until his cheeks blushed scarlet red. 

“Couldn’t you give me a chance?” Yvonne asked. “What if we went on a date, like an actual date, together?” 

Arthur frowned. “Yvonne, I’m in a relationship.” 

“You’re allowed to date whoever you want, though, right? You’re in an open relationship, Arthur.” Yvonne said, as if reminding him and calling out his lie. She switched tracks to angry again, and Arthur bit the inside of his cheek to keep his temper from rising with hers. He had to remain calm and almost professional, given their surroundings and who he was dealing with. Then again, his lack of temper in disagreeing with her before had led her to believe he was flirting with her. 

Women were complicated. It’d help if even two of them that Arthur met were the same. Every time he figured one out, another showed up, and they never seemed to be assembled with the same instruction manual. People were complicated. 

“It’s complicated.” Arthur said. “Technically, the polycule is closed. We’re not accepting new members right now.” 

Yvonne narrowed her eyes, glaring at Arthur as if to judge whether he was telling the truth. “What do you mean, technically?” 

Arthur sighed and took another sip of his tea. He swallowed before answering, letting the heat from the drink dissipate. “Rani, Mindy, Kelly, Katelyn, Selene, Kat, and I are in a committed relationship.” 

Yvonne blinked. “Who’s Katelyn? I thought you had five girlfriends.” 

“Six. Katelyn is Kat’s best friend.” Arthur answered. “And Kelly’s roommate. She’s uh… she’s a recent addition.”  

“So you are taking new girlfriends, just not me.” Yvonne said, angry again, as if she’d caught him in a lie. 

“No.” Arthur said, shaking his head. “Would you just listen for a minute?” 

Yvonne shut up, but her mouth formed a thin line. She was angry, but listening as she glared at him. Her eyes were tinged with red at the edges, the veins showing from her tears. He had to be firm but careful. The last thing he wanted was for her to flip the table, or make a huge dramatic scene that would make people think worse things about him than the rumors she’d spread and quelled. 

“I have six girlfriends.” Arthur said with patience dripping from every word. “Those girlfriends have all agreed to date me with the knowledge and participation of the others. We’re all in this together, a seven-person unit, if you want to think of it that way.” 

Yvonne seemed more confused than angry now, but her grimace slowly turned toward curiosity. 

“We’re all moving in together, eventually. And we each have our relationships in different places, at different levels of intimacy and closeness, but in mutual respect to the others. Each woman is equally my girlfriend, just as I’m equally their boyfriend.” Arthur explained, and hoped he was making sense. When he thought about how to explain the harem to other people, it made less sense the more he tried. “We’re committed to each other that way, and we’ve agreed that the only way a new person gets added to the polycule is if we all agree on them unanimously. I don’t get to start a relationship with whoever I want.” 

Yvonne’s curiosity fell as she realized what that meant. He was rejecting her, but from that explanation, he was rejecting her because his girlfriends would tell him no, not because he didn’t want her. So he wasn’t surprised when she asked. 

“Would you want to date me, if your girlfriends were okay with it?” Yvonne asked. 

“You realize Selene is one of those girlfriends, and she’s pretty pissed at you right now, right?” Arthur asked. 

“Answer the question, Arthur.” Yvonne said. 

Arthur contemplated the question first. He imagined what going on a date with Yvonne would be like. Dinner and a show were the most likely scenario. Dinner could be pleasant enough, if Yvonne could refrain from being a total Karen. He’d been out with her before after performances, and she often made a scene or got pushy with the waiters. Often enough, she had reason to be; their service could often be terrible, but she didn’t let go of things Arthur would have considered not worth fighting about. Who cared if the order was wrong, or a mistake was made? Waiters were people who made mistakes too, and it could be a very demanding job. 

Then, whatever show they saw, they’d probably argue about it. That was Yvonne’s favorite pastime. She had an opinion on every performance, costume, prop, and set piece. If you disagreed with that opinion, you were wrong. She was exhausting to be around, sometimes. 

She had her good moments, too, though. She fought for him when the waiter brought him the wrong meal before. Yes, waiters made mistakes, but if you paid for one meal and received another, you needed to correct the discrepancy. And some mistakes were worse than others. She’d torn into one poor server who forgot Caleb’s shellfish allergy and probably saved his life. Yvonne was the type to storm any castle for her friends, no matter how fortified. She was a fighter, and sometimes it was good to have someone like that on your side. Beyond that, she was beautiful and sexy, though he had no idea if her sexual preferences aligned with his. He had no way of knowing if they’d be compatible in the bedroom. 

“I don’t know.” Arthur said, answering honestly. 

“It’s a yes or no question.” Yvonne protested. “You can’t say ‘I don’t know’ to whether or not you want someone.” 

“Sure, I can.” Arthur said, lifting his chin in defiance. “We’re friends, Yvonne. At least, I consider you a friend. Yes, we argue, and your volatility makes me uncomfortable sometimes, but we work well together. You’re a talented actress and singer, and I greatly admire your talent. Your aggressive attitude is the very thing that makes you a good leader. You get shit done, and you don’t make excuses, even for yourself. Like today, you took accountability for what you apologized for, and I mean it when I say that is huge to me. Not everyone can do that, and it speaks to your character that you didn’t just dig your heels in and insist that you did nothing wrong. I respect the hell out of you for it.” 

Yvonne blushed, caught by surprise at his reasoning. 

“And again, I wasn’t lying when I said you’re attractive and pretty.” Arthur said. 

“Sure, but you’re the hottest guy on campus.” Yvonne said. 

“Thank you.” Arthur said, though he wasn’t sure what else to say. His girlfriends thought he was hot, and he worked hard for his body, but he wasn’t used to people telling him that. 

“So why isn’t it a yes?” Yvonne asked. “Why are you hesitating about wanting me?” 

“Because we don’t get along.” Arthur said, being as honest as he could. “And from what you’ve said, you’re not interested in a hookup. You want all or nothing, right?” Rani’s advice had led him to believe that as well, but he was leaving Rani out of it for now. 

“Well, admittedly, I wasn’t thinking that I’d have to compete with a bunch of other girls, but what if I was willing to share?” Yvonne asked. “Like the others?” 

And that was the issue. The harem didn’t compete. They supported one another. If Yvonne came into it, she’d turn it into a competition. She’d want to end up with Arthur and have the others go their separate ways. The others were in this together. 

“My relationships aren’t a competition.” Arthur explained. “But even if you were willing to share, it still wouldn’t stop us from butting heads. With everything going on in my life, I don’t need another source of conflict. I need partners who make my life easier, not harder. And as much as you might be my type physically, I don’t think you’re my type personality-wise. I think we’d clash, and even if I didn’t have the polycule, if it was just you and me dating as two single people, I think we’d break up pretty quickly.” 

“Why?” Yvonne asked, confused. 

“Because…” Arthur said, trailing off and hesitating to speak as he glanced around. 

“Do you think I won’t put out?” Yvonne asked. “Is that the issue? Because I’d–” 

“You’re not listening.” Arthur said, shaking his head. “The potential frequency of sex doesn’t really factor into it, but… the nature of sex might. Yeah.” 

“Huh?” Yvonne asked, confused. 

Arthur leaned forward, quieting his voice to a much more hushed tone so as not to be overheard by anyone. 

Yvonne leaned forward, turning her head so that he could say it softly into her ear.

“You know that I’m dominant with Selene and my partners.” He said, referencing their conversation from the night before. “I need to feel safe and in control in the bedroom. That’s a non-negotiable for me. And I enjoy dominating my partners and the kinks that come with it. From what I can tell, you and I are alike in those preferences, so we’d clash. You wouldn’t submit to me, and I wouldn’t submit to you. It wouldn’t work out.” 

Yvonne pulled away, blushing crimson as if he’d held a heating pad to her face. Arthur blushed too, but less so. It was something he’d let slip last night, and something Yvonne had witnessed herself, but she obviously hadn’t considered the implications. She was a fighter, and in the bedroom, Arthur could see her taking on the dominant role like himself. Not the way Kelly did. Kelly’s dominance was soft and reserved for the others. She dominated them in complete submission to Arthur and his desires. Yvonne? Yvonne would want to dominate Arthur, but he wasn’t interested. 

“But…” Yvonne said, stumbling over her words. “I know I’m a take-charge kinda girl, and I can be a bit of a monster as a director. But I don’t want to be that way all the time. It’s exhausting. In the bedroom, in private, I…” She hesitated. “Well, I’m not experienced with that kind of thing.” She said. “Not like you are.” She shook her head. “I prefer the guy to take the lead in romance and… sex. The way it should be.” 

Arthur wasn’t sure ‘the way it should be’ made sense to him, but the rest of it might. If he had a parallel to draw, it was to Beth. Beth was the boss in the office, and she could be a bit mean or domineering in that role. However, once the door was shut, she was a submissive at heart. It never occurred to him that Yvonne might be the same, but it made some of what she’d said last night make more sense. 

“That was why I kept pushing you to pursue me, rather than ask you out first.” Yvonne said. “I wanted you to make the first move after you and Lori split. But Selene threw herself at you before you got the hint.” 

Arthur wasn’t quite sure he’d put it that way, but Selene had made the first move in their relationship. So had Kat, Mindy, and pretty much everyone except Kelly. Arthur had been the one to ask her out. Though at the time, he hadn’t been considering polyamory. If Kelly had turned him down, would he have asked Yvonne? Maybe. It was impossible to know, and fruitless to contemplate. What might have been didn’t matter. What mattered was where they were and how they moved forward. 

“I see.” Arthur said, contemplating her words. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize what you were trying to do.” He said. “But, I still consider you a friend, Yvonne. And I’d like us to be friends and work together in the Theater Club without awkwardness or accusations.” 

The hope in Yvonne’s eyes died a slow death as she met Arthur’s gaze. What might have been, what could be, was on the other side of what was. He was with the polycule, and there was no room for Yvonne. She missed her chance, and screwed up more besides. For all their contemplating of what-ifs, they might have asked what if she hadn’t spread rumors about him, or if she’d presented herself as an option for the polycule sooner. She and Selene had been friends once, until their blow-up at homecoming. It wasn’t impossible to think that Selene would have welcomed her into Arthur’s bed. But now? It was too late now. 

“Right.” Yvonne said, swallowing her tears as her voice cracked. “Friends.” 

Arthur smiled, or tried to. It was brittle and uncertain, and Yvonne’s expression didn’t encourage his efforts. 

“Do you know how hard it is for me to be your friend?” Yvonne asked. “To see you with your girlfriends, knowing I might have been lucky enough to love you if I’d just asked you out first? That they hate me, and you don’t see me as anything but a friend when I want to be more to you than that?” 

Arthur frowned. Wasn’t the girl usually telling the guy she wanted to be just friends? The friend zone, they called it. When men believed friendship with the opposite sex could grow into something more, and women believed those feelings meant the men never considered them as friends in the first place? Yvonne had placed him in the romantic zone without his knowledge. 

Had he placed her in the friend zone? Maybe he was the one being inflexible. After all, he and Selene had grown from friends into lovers. It wasn’t like she’d always lusted after him since the day they’d met. Maybe such zones were myths. Simplifications people used to simplify life among complicated people. 

People were complicated. 

“I’m sorry.” Arthur said, not knowing how to respond to that confession. “I understand if you don’t want to be friends, or if it takes time to be comfortable around me again.” 

“No, you don’t.” Yvonne said. “Have you ever loved someone who didn’t see you the same way?” She scoffed, shaking her head as if in answer to her own question. “Look at you, of course you haven’t. You have six girlfriends willing to share just for a shot with you.” 

Arthur looked at her in shock and disbelief. She didn’t know about Lynn, so it made sense, but her comments reinforced how little she knew about him. He narrowed his eyes, cutting Yvonne’s disbelief short. “I know what it’s like to love someone who doesn’t love you back.” He admitted. “It’s hard, and painful, and if you’re not careful, it can make you do some idiotic things.” 

Yvonne’s tears traced her cheeks, sliding onto her sweater as they dropped from her chin. “So you know that if… if you just want to be friends, and I want more than that, then we need to cut contact. We need to take a break from each other, and the Theater Club has made its preference clear. They chose you over me.” 

Arthur shook his head. “It doesn’t have to be you or me. We can work together, we can be professional about this.” 

“Maybe you can.” Yvonne said, raising her voice slightly, then shrinking as eyes turned their way. “You can be just friends, or just co-workers in a play or on a committee, because you don’t feel what I feel whenever you look at me. I can’t do that. I’m a fantastic actress, but I’m not that good. Even if I hide it, it’ll hurt every time. I have feelings for you, Arthur. More than just attraction. You’re so fuckin’ perfect, and I know–” She cut off his protest with a wave. 

“I know that it’s my problem, not yours.” Yvonne continued. “But it hurts me to see you, and not have you. It hurts to see Selene or those other bitches make you happy, instead of me. And I don’t think I’m strong enough to push those feelings down and maintain a professional relationship or a friendship. Okay? I need time. I need to get over you and figure things out. Maybe I can rejoin next semester if the others will let me. But… I can’t be friends with you, Arthur. I don’t hate you. I won’t cause you any more trouble. I’ll apologize to Selene, your other girlfriends, and everyone in the theater club. But I can’t go on pretending like I’m not in love with you.” 

Yvonne’s tears fell freely now, and Arthur’s surprise mingled with his desire to comfort her. She was not someone he’d considered emotionally frail. Volatile, yes, frail, no. He’d seen her cry before, but usually that had been acting, angry-crying, or very restrained, and it was very different from what he was witnessing now. She wasn’t putting on a show or crying crocodile tears for the audience’s benefit. There was no lie in her words, or on her face. She expressed truths she would have normally kept guarded and hidden, and the vulnerability hurt her. She sobbed and full-on ugly cried at the table. 

The eyes of those surrounding them split between concern for Yvonne and hatred for Arthur. Any man who could make a woman cry that way was a cad, and with his neutral expression, people drew their own conclusions. None of those conclusions favored Arthur. He wanted to correct them and explain to the strangers what was happening, but it was none of their business. 

Rani was right. He should care less about what other people think. This wasn’t high school. 

“I’m sorry.” Arthur said, reaching out to hold her hand. She let him cover her hand with his, and he gently squeezed her hand. The contact wasn’t romantic. It was basic human comfort to know that whatever she was going through, she wasn’t alone. Arthur might not be going through the same ordeal, but he was with her. He was there. 

He didn’t say anything beyond that. He could explain that he didn’t feel the same way, but that was already said. Romance between them wasn’t an option, and while he wanted to be friends, he understood her decision and respected her ability to say no. A flower couldn’t un-grow, it could only wither, die, and bloom again in another season. Hopefully, after time, she’d be able to be friends again. He’d like that, but he wouldn’t pressure her for it. It was her heart, after all. She had to do what was best for her. 

“For what it’s worth.” Arthur said, knowing he probably shouldn’t. “I hope you find someone who can make you happy, and gives you what you want in a partner.” 

Yvonne sniffled, wiping her tears away on her sleeve. She chuckled slightly, as if Arthur had said something funny. 

“I’d say the same to you, but you have six of them.” Yvonne said. “You lucky fucking bastard.” 

Arthur chuckled slightly, not laughing too loudly or sincerely. He was a lucky bastard. That much was true. If she hadn’t been crying so hard, it would have been obvious she was saying it sarcastically, but there was nothing dry about her delivery. Still, he understood she hadn’t meant to insult him, so much as express her frustration. He could allow her that. 

As for what else to do, he couldn’t do much. He held her hand and let her cry until the atmosphere in the room made her uncomfortable enough to stop. She wiped the mascara that had run on her face, blew her nose, and formed a small mountain of tissues and napkins on her plate from the effort of pulling herself together. 

“Thanks for meeting me.” Yvonne said, cleaning up her plate as her tears ebbed. Her face was a mess of running makeup, and she was eager to get out of public view. 

“You don’t have to rush off.” Arthur said. 

“Yes, I do.” Yvonne said, shaking her head. “If I sit here, I’m just going to further embarrass myself and make a mess of things. It’s better if we part on good terms.” 

Arthur accepted her answer. “I’ll take your garbage to the cans, don’t worry about it. Leave it.” 

“Thanks.” Yvonne said, sniffling again and wiping her face. “And thanks for meeting me, and… letting me down gently, I guess.” 

Arthur smiled softly, not daring to say ‘you’re welcome’ for that. 

“Goodbye.” Yvonne said, swallowing as she looked at him. 

Arthur stood as she did. “Goodbye.” He said, not sure if he should offer her a handshake or a hug of some kind. She didn’t offer either, but took her purse and backpack and left the cafe while dabbing her face with tissues. 

The others in the cafe looked at him as he retook his seat, lowering their heads and gossiping about the breakup they’d just witnessed, and only partially overheard. Wasn’t that the guy with multiple girlfriends? Which girlfriend was that? Had they broken up? Was she pregnant? Had he cheated on her? Was the polycule already starting to fall apart after only a few weeks? 

Arthur sighed. The snippets of conversation he could overhear made him want to stand and address the room. He was a half second away from doing it when a familiar voice pierced his thoughts. 

“I’m gonna go after her.” Caleb’s voice made Arthur look up from the table. He and Selene stood side by side, facing Arthur beside Yvonne’s empty chair at their two-seater table. Arthur’s surprise must have registered on his face because Caleb laughed. “We were right here the whole time.” Caleb gestured to the table on the other side of the potted plant behind Yvonne’s empty seat. “We’re stealthy masters of disguise.” He gestured to himself and Selene, who looked very different than usual with her hair down and unbraided. 

Arthur hadn’t seen them because of the potted plant, not because of any disguises, but he didn’t argue the point as Caleb exited. 

Selene slid into Yvonne’s vacated seat and smiled softly at Arthur. 

“Sorry it wasn’t out of earshot, Master.” She said. “I tried, but the cafe was busy, and Caleb was already here when I arrived.” 

Arthur nodded. 

“Is there anything I can do to help you feel better?” She asked, reaching across the table to hold his hand. “The girls finished lunch in the cafeteria, but I can call them.” 

Arthur held her hand. The conversation had been rough, emotionally. He felt drained, and tired, and he didn’t feel even a little horny, until Selene bit the corner of her bottom lip while she looked at him. 

She leaned forward. “Want to punish me for sitting too close?” She whispered. 

Arthur rolled his eyes, laughing at himself more than her. “You’re exhausting sometimes. You know that?”  

Selene smiled, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “Would some sex help you feel better, Master?” She asked quietly. “I know somewhere quiet we can go… if you want me to service you while you finish lunch?” 

Arthur sighed. On the one hand, he was still processing and recovering from his conversation with Yvonne. A conversation Selene had clearly overheard. On the other hand, her suggestions seemed like pretty good ones, and he was only human. His girlfriend, with her gorgeous blonde hair down and natural, his collar around her throat, wanted him to whisk her away to some secluded place where she would suck his dick. She was very good at it. That shouldn’t annoy him. 

“We can walk to class together.” Arthur said. “But you’re not skipping, and I have my Management class.” 

“After class?” Selene asked, hope in her voice. “Or do you have work?” 

“I have an appointment at the health center.” Arthur said. 

Selene’s soft smile vanished in her concern. “Are you okay?” She asked. “Are you sick?” 

“Last night, and a run-in with Mindy's roommate, got me thinking.” Arthur said. “That’s all. So, I scheduled a meeting with my therapist.” 

“Oh.” Selene said, surprised. “Today?” 

“Yeah.” Arthur said. “And I’m skipping my night class tonight to have dinner with my mother and tell her about Lynn. Come on. I’ll tell you about it on the way.” 

Selene obeyed, taking his arm and walking with him out of the cafe and across campus toward their classes. Arthur started the conversation by recounting his morning and the run-in with Rachel. 

“That bitch.” Selene said, frowning. 

“She’s not.” Arthur said. “I feel bad for her. I think you would, too, if you saw her.” 

Selene frowned, but didn’t argue. 

“What did you think about that conversation with Yvonne?” Arthur asked as they walked. “Do you think you two can reconcile?” 

“I think so.” Selene said, growing serious. “But I think she needs some time. I’ll reach out to her after Fall Break, after she’s had a chance to recover, and she and Caleb have reconciled.” 

“Yeah, what was he doing there?” Arthur asked.

“I… texted him this morning.” Selene answered. “You wanted to help them reconcile, so I thought it might be beneficial for him to be nearby, but then he sat so close we could overhear almost everything you two said.” 

“Ah.” Arthur said, nodding. “Well… I hope it helps Caleb and Yvonne. I know they’re close.” 

Selene nodded. They halted at the crossroads where they should split up, and shared a kiss. Selene moved to her tiptoes, holding onto his shoulders as she kissed him. Arthur kept his hands on her waist, the buttons on the side of her overalls lining his palms. 

“Are you sure I can’t convince you to skip class, Master?” Selene asked, leaning to whisper in his ear. “I promise I’ll be a good girl if you say no, but you should know… I’m not wearing any panties under these overalls. Or a bra under this under-t-shirt.” 

Arthur coughed. Selene’s fit, naked body was enticing enough, but her high and sultry whisper, her desperation for him, broke his sense of responsibility. Not that it was a difficult decision. Would he rather sit through a boring lecture about Business Management, or fuck his sex slave girlfriend any way he wanted for as long as he wanted? 

“Where was this place you mentioned?” Arthur asked. 

Selene smiled. “Follow me.” 

She led him by the hand toward the edge of campus. He recognized the path and the theater building as their destination before they arrived. She smiled at him when he raised his eyebrow at her. People came in and out of the building for classes, rehearsals, and meetings all day. He wasn’t sure where Selene was taking him within the building, but he knew the building itself wouldn’t be empty. 

Selene took him through the doors, and they walked the hallway toward the back of the building. They strode past the entrances for the main auditorium without breaking stride. They passed the offices where professors ate their lunches. Turning again, they stopped at the doors to the conference room where they often met for Theater Club. Arthur checked the schedule hanging beside the room door. There was nothing scheduled there until the evening. 

“Naughty girl.” Arthur said, almost chuckling as Selene held the door open for him. 

He entered the room, and the door swung shut behind Arthur. Selene dropped his hand, stepped up to the conference table, and hopped onto it, spreading her legs. The baggy overalls looked adorable on her, and her top under the straps was sexy, showing off the bottom half of her lean torso. Her hair, down and natural, shone with a gorgeous golden hue as it swept over her. She shifted it, moving it beside her leg as she spread them. 

Arthur stepped between her thighs, lifted her chin with his finger, and kissed her. 

“Does this room suit your needs, Master?” Selene asked. 

Arthur smiled. There was a set of darkly tinted windows on the far wall. They could see out, but with the lights off, there was no chance of any passerbys seeing in unless they put their hands around their eyes and pressed their faces to the glass. The room itself was soundproofed to prevent orchestra rehearsals from disrupting any meetings that might take place. The doors behind them weren’t impossible to lock, but they were difficult, and blocking them was definitely against the fire code. 

There was a camera outside, in the hallway, but no camera in the room itself. No one would see or hear them here, so it was a good spot if he prevented anyone from walking in on them.

Arthur dropped his book bag to the floor, unzipped one of the outer compartments, and pulled out a narrow rope he’d been carrying around for a while. 

Selene raised her eyebrows, but silently lifted her wrists. She pressed them together in front of her and waited expectantly. 

Arthur shook his head and walked away from her, moving to the double doors instead. He looped the rope through the bar-handles, tying them together so that no one could open the doors. The knot was easy to untie with a pull if he and Selene needed to exit quickly, but he didn’t expect that to be an issue. It was enough to prevent anyone from opening the door from the outside. 

“Sorry, did you think it was for you? What a naughty idea.” Arthur said, smiling as he returned to Selene. 

“You could always use your belt.” Selene said, keeping her hands in front of her. “For tying, or whatever else you want to do to me, Master.” 

She smiled at him with a teasing grin and unhooked one suspender of her overalls. 

Arthur stopped her from undoing the second by doing it himself. He tossed the straps over her shoulders. They clacked against the table as they fell back, and the apron fell forward. Arthur dragged his hands down Selene’s sides until he reached the top of her high-waisted overalls. Each leg had a column of three buttons cinching the denim together. He unsnapped the top button, the middle, and the lowest. The pants split open, and Arthur enjoyed the view of her pale, naked hips without any indication of a strap or waistband. 

“Is it okay that I didn’t wear panties today?” Selene asked. “You never said to, or not to, so…” 

“It’s perfect.” Arthur said. “As sexy as a good thong or lingerie set is, I don’t mind having easy access to my Slut.” 

“I’m glad I’ve pleased you, Master.” Selene said, smiling happily. She presented her lips for a kiss, and Arthur kissed her hard. He grabbed the back of her head as he did so, and conquered her tongue with his. She moaned into the kiss, closing her eyes in bliss as Arthur gripped her hair and her hip. “Is there anything else I can do to please you, Master?” Selene asked breathlessly after their kiss. 

“Oh, you’re about to.” Arthur assured her. He stepped back, pulling her with him by the wrists as he did so. She slid forward, sliding off the table and onto her feet. The overalls fell to her ankles like dropped weights, leaving her naked from the top of her sneakers to the hem of her cropped t-shirt. Soft lines of her dance and yoga-toned body rose from her ankles to her thighs, to her stomach, disappearing under her shirt. Her bare, shaven pussy was pink and flushed with heat. 

Selene lifted off the t-shirt and tossed it aside, revealing her braless breasts. They hung against gravity, the smallish handfuls of flesh round and bulbous on her slender frame. Arthur smiled to see them, fondling her immediately. 

“Braless too?” Arthur asked as he lowered his face toward them. 

“Yes, Mas–” Selene gasped as Arthur sucked on her breast, bringing her nipple into his mouth and sucking hard on the tip. She moved to her toes. “AH!” She threw her arms over him, holding her wrists behind his neck for balance. “Oh!” 

Arthur released her nipple. “How did that feel?” Arthur asked. 

“It surprised me.” Selene said, answering honestly. “But it felt amazing, Master.” 

“Do you deserve to feel amazing, Slut?” Arthur asked, his voice dark and dangerous as he asked the question. 

Selene blushed. “No, Master.” She shook her head. “I disobeyed you. I sat too close to you and Yvonne.” 

Arthur’s frown flickered. He wasn’t mad at her. Disappointed, maybe, but not really. He was glad he didn’t have to relive the entire conversation again. If anything, her eavesdropping might help Selene and Yvonne reconcile sooner rather than later. None of that mattered, though. He had a part to play. 

“How should I punish you?” Arthur asked. “Should I tie you to this table and leave you here for whoever has this room booked in a few hours?” 

Selene gulped, shaking her head. 

“Or maybe I’ll bend you over the table where we sit with our friends every week, and spank you until your ass matches your sister’s?” He asked rhetorically. It’d been days since he’d spanked Kat and her ass was well on the mend, but she knew what he meant by the threat. “It’ll give you something to think about every Theater Club meeting for the rest of your life.”

“If it pleases you, Master.” Selene answered quietly. 

“Good answer.” Arthur said, smiling, and kissing her neck. “A good suggestion, even. Maybe I’ll just do that, then.” 

“Do what, Master?” Selene asked. “The spanking?” 

“No, Slut.” Arthur nibbled her ear, and Selene’s knees buckled. He caught her, holding her in his arms as he laid her back against the table. Her bare ass pressed against the shiny wooden polish, and her pink and white skin flushed as he lowered his lips to her breasts once more. “I think I’ll just do whatever pleases me.” 

He sucked her nipple into his mouth again, and Selene moaned in response, running her fingers through his hair. He switched breasts, playing between her nipples as he sucked on them a half minute at a time. Selene’s arousal grew as he played, slickening the folds between her legs. 

“Master…” Selene panted, reaching her hands behind her and pressing them against the table as if she were going to move into a bridge. 

“Yes, Slut?” Arthur asked, pausing in his sucking but sliding his fingers along the inside of her thigh. 

“Would you really tie me and leave me here for someone else?” She asked. “Do you want to share me with someone else?” 

Arthur raised an eyebrow. “Why do you ask?” 

Selene blushed, then shivered as his finger reached the end of its trail against her thigh and met her pussy. It curled against her, playing with her and pressing against her to find her insides. She moaned again. 

“Do you remember… that time you… tied me to the chair… and left me for the security guard?” She asked. “Was that really… a security guard? Or was that… you?” 

Arthur tilted his head slightly but smiled. “Do you want me to tell you the answer? Or do you want to believe whatever you prefer?” 

“I want to know the truth, Master.” Selene said, her breath high and panting as he slipped a finger into her, toying with her as she lay on the table with her feet in the air. The baggy overalls had slipped over her sneakers, and Arthur kicked them aside as his body pushed her legs apart. She squeezed him with her knees, hugging his thighs. 

“It was me.” Arthur answered. “I wanted to give you the fantasy of being a total slave, a worthless fuck toy, but you were new to the play. I would never leave you tied up and alone like that. Much less let someone else play with you. You’re mine, Slut. The only people permitted to play with you are other members of my harem, remember?” 

Selene nodded. “I’d hoped so, Master.” She said, taking a deep breath. “Thank you.” 

“You’re welcome, Slut.” Arthur said, smiling. “Why the sudden curiosity?” 

“Your threat brought it to mind, that’s all.” Selene said, smiling softly. “Now… use me, Master. Use your slut. Use me for your pleasure.” 

Arthur smiled. He stepped away from her, leaving her panting on the table. He pulled his fingers from her and pressed them to her mouth. She opened for the intrusion, and sucked her juices from his fingers like an eager slave. 

“You need to hydrate more.” Arthur said, almost laughing. “You’re a thirsty slut.” 

“Yes, Master.” Selene said when his fingers were free from her mouth. He wiped them on her face, and her arousal grew. He took off his suit jacket, hanging it over the back of one of the chairs. He stepped out of his shoes next, then unbuckled his pants. He folded them over his suit jacket and took his place between Selene’s thighs once more. He pulled her slightly, bringing her groin to the edge of the table. 

“Master…” Selene said quietly. “If it pleases you, would you like to watch some porn while this slut sucks your cock under the conference table?” 

Arthur considered her suggestion. “Do you have a porno you’d like me to watch?” 

Selene nodded. “Remember the other day, when you told your slut to masturbate herself to completion, and film it for you?” 

Arthur remembered it. “Yes.” 

“I obeyed you.” Selene said, pointing to her phone. “If it pleases you, can you please let me cum again today?” Selene asked. “Please? Master?” 

“If it pleases me.” Arthur agreed. He took the seat where he usually sat during the theater club meetings, a few down from the head of the table. Selene hopped off the table, grabbed her phone, and pulled it up. She gave Arthur her earphones, and he put one in his ear. He left the other ear open, toward the door, just in case. 

Selene practically dove beneath the table after handing him the phone, and Arthur started watching as Selene placed her mouth over his cock. She sucked, working her mouth and tongue over his length in strokes that brought him deeper with every thrust of her head. 

In the video, a clothed Selene started to dance for him. He recognized the green room downstairs as the location and was surprised she’d been brave enough to do this alone. Hopefully, she’d been smart enough to have one of the harem members with her, in case someone walked in or approached. They could look out for each other. 

The Britney Spears song she’d chosen to dance to for him made him smile. It was a little on the nose, but “I’m a Slave 4 U” was a classic oldie. The strip dance Selene choreographed to it was exquisite. She was a dancer, and she used her body to tease and please visually and physically. Her lips around his shaft while he watched her graceful movements made him want to blow his load early, but he kept his breathing steady and focused on the show. 

Her insatiable lust and 24/7 devotion to her slave role might be unfortunately timed on occasion, but today? Today, he was enjoying every minute. 

Arthur paused the video and shifted the chair back, pulling himself from Selene’s mouth. 

“Master?” Selene asked, confused. She hesitantly took his hand when he thrust it under the table for her and pulled her out. He put his hand on the back of her head as he pulled her from beneath the table and brought her to her feet. 

He spun her around, facing the table, pushed her against it, and shoved her torso forward, bending her over the table. Selene moved to her toes and spread her legs. He placed the phone on the large of her back, between her shoulders. 

“Brace yourself.” Arthur instructed. “I don’t want the screen to jostle too much.” 

Selene obeyed, pressing her hands flat against the table as Arthur notched himself against her from behind. He shoved forward, and Selene silently opened her mouth to gasp at the pleasure of his intrusion. Arthur smiled and tapped the earphones to unpause the video. Selene’s naked body on the screen writhed as she masturbated. In the real world, she moaned as Arthur’s length sank into her inch by inch. His thick girth spread her apart, and she lifted one leg so her knee was on the table beside her hip, opening herself for him as her bubble butt pressed against his hips. 

He slid out and in, back and forth, sawing and pumping his cock into her tight pussy while he watched her video. She moaned, using her left arm in front of her to muffle her sounds of pleasure and hold herself steady against his thrusting. Her forearm was a brace against the movement, and her elbow became her silencer. Her other hand pressed flat slightly ahead of her head, holding herself as steady as she could, along with her knee. She kept her hips low, her legs spread, and Arthur gripped her for control of her rhythm. His thumbs spread over the top of her ass cheeks giving him a good grip to pull her with as he pumped. He did his best to hold her steady against his onslaught. 

“Master…” Selene moaned. “Do I have permission?” Selene begged. 

“No.” Arthur said, shaking his head. “You disobeyed me, remember? This isn’t for you. This is for my pleasure. If you cum from me fucking you like the slut you are, there’ll be an even worse punishment later.” 

“Oh-guh–” Selene whined as he pounded her from behind. “Please, Master?” 

“I said no.” Arthur spanked her ass from above. 

Selene grunted at the slap, and her fingers clenched against the top of the table as if trying to scratch it but finding no purchase. This wasn’t a mattress or a sheet. There was nothing to grip or grab. The hard, polished wood offered no comfort or relief. Its hard, flat surface squashed her breasts without mercy. Slightly sore from his aggressive sucking, and her late night flogging, the press only filled her with more pleasure as his length filled and fucked her without mercy. All the while, the small weight of her phone on her back let her know he wasn’t even looking at her. He was using her as a sex toy while he jacked off to porn. 

Selene came. She shook her head as she did it, sweeping her hair from the side, over her back and phone. Arthur pulled the blanket of golden hair into his fist at the base of her skull and slid his hand toward himself, gathering it into a ponytail that revealed her phone. Then he rolled his wrist, looping her hair over and under his hand. He took a firm grip and pulled it, making her turn her head so her cheek pressed against the table. She could barely see him out of the corner of her eye.

He spanked her with his other hand, shaking his head. “You came.” 

“Yes, Master.” Selene panted. 

“I told you not to.” Arthur reminded her. 

“I know.” Selene moaned. “I’m sorry, Master, but your cock is–” 

“You’re blaming me for your disobedience?” Arthur asked, cutting her off in mock outrage. 

Selene bit her lip and closed her eyes, savoring every moment as he fucked her through her subsiding orgasm. Arthur kept pumping, growing closer to his release with every thrust. Selene kept squeezing, closing herself around him and clenching when he tried to withdraw. He groaned. 

“Please, Master.” Selene grunted on the table, her breath ghosting a spot on the polished wood and causing it to lighten several shades before it faded to its natural color on her inhale. “Please, cum in your slut.” 

She squeezed him, lowering her leg and clenching her insides with every ounce of muscle she had. Her stomach sucked in, her dancer muscles clenching with her pelvic floor and grinding him to a stop as he exploded within her. 

Wave after wave of pleasure coursed through him with every beat of his pulse. His legs felt weak, and he braced himself on the table on either side of her as he leaned over her. She smiled at him, her eyes hazy with pleasure and relief. Her blink was slow, and her breaths came heavy and far apart. He matched her, calming himself as his release drained him and the initial explosion faded into aftershocks. 

His clenched muscles slackened, relaxing to the point that they felt they might fall away from his bones. He chuckled slightly at the thought. For all the stress he’d had before and during lunch, he had none left to feel. Selene was always there for him emotionally and sexually. 

He withdrew and shuddered as he stepped back from her. The air in the room struck his cock, making him shiver slightly. 

Selene’s solution was simple, and she slid to her knees with her legs closed, taking him into her mouth without hesitation. She didn’t try to keep him hard or go for round two, but she sucked him with love and gentle strokes, cleaning him with her tongue. 

She rocked back to sit on her heels when she finished, her toes on the floor, and her hands in her lap. The ‘kneel’ pose. 

Arthur patted her on the head. “Good girl.” He said. “You earned a spanking for cumming without permission, but we’ll see to that later.” 

“Thank you, Master.” Selene said, her head bowed. “Should I get dressed?” 

Arthur considered it. He could tell her to wait here, and make her wait naked for one of the harem members to come and collect her. Maybe next time, if he’d had more planning. He needed to get ahead of the curve and plan these interludes and sessions better. The last few, he felt like the girls were initiating the sessions instead of him, which led to him running things on improv rather than planning ahead. He wasn’t complaining about spontaneous, much-desired sex, but he wanted to be a better dom for his girlfriends than he had been the last few days. 

“Yes.” Arthur said. “Get dressed, and… don’t you have class?” 

Selene blushed. “Yes, Sir. But I can skip it–” 

“No.” Arthur shook his head. “Go to class, Slut. Come to think of it… what are your midterm grades so far?” 

Selene frowned. “Wasn’t this good for you, Sir? Do you really need to ruin it by discussing grades?” 

“You need to graduate.” Arthur said, frowning. “More than that, if you want to be certified, you have to make a certain GPA. You want to be a teacher, right?” 

“Not really.” Selene said, shaking her head. “I wanted to be a dance major, but my mom refused to help cover costs unless I went for something I could use, like education.” 

“But Kat’s getting an English degree?” Arthur asked. 

“Kat gave a whole presentation on how she could get a publishing job. And she has one lined up. Plus, she’s mom’s favorite. I–” Selene pointed to herself after she put her crop top on. “I am the black sheep of the family. If Kat wanted to be a dance major, she’d think it was the best idea ever. I want to be a dance major, and I’m throwing my life away on silly fantasies because I’ll never be good enough to get a job dancing that doesn’t involve a stripper pole. Not that there’s anything wrong with stripping, but try explaining that to my mom.” 

“You’re an excellent dancer, Selene.” Arthur said, trying to be encouraging. 

“Oh, I agree.” Selene said, pulling her overalls up after she stepped into them. “But those were my mom’s exact words.” 

Arthur winced. He was lucky when it came to parents. His dad might not be the most involved and always busy with work, but his mother was supportive if nothing else. They hadn’t thought being a theater major was wise, but they’d guided him toward his business degree much more gently than that. Even so, it was his choice, and he’d put himself toward his goals with the same diligence he approached everything else. He still intended to be involved in theater after graduating, but he didn’t need a theater degree to do that. Meanwhile, he needed a business degree to enter the business sector. 

“I’m sorry.” Arthur said, giving her a hug after they were both dressed. “For what it’s worth, you’d make a great teacher.” 

Selene smiled softly. “Thanks. Honestly, though, if I could just major in sucking your dick I’d be happy. Any chance there’s a University out there I could earn a degree in sexual slavery?” 

Arthur laughed. Selene giggled. 

“Would you want to go for your master’s degree?” Arthur asked. 

They both laughed so hard they had to pause getting dressed. Selene nearly fell over and had to brace herself against a chair and the table. Arthur couldn’t stop smiling, even as the laughter subsided. 

“I’m glad to see you smiling again.” Selene said. “If you need me, just call.” 

“I know.” Arthur said. He kissed her forehead. “Thanks. I love you, Selene.” 

“I love you, Master.” Selene said, hugging him and nuzzling into his chest. 

“Come on.” Arthur said, smacking her butt. “Let’s rejoin the real world.” 

Selene rolled her eyes. “If we must, but only because you order it, Master.” 

Arthur chuckled. They dressed, and Arthur untied the door, stashed the rope, and checked to verify the coast was clear before they left. It was, and they made it down the hall before they spotted anyone else. From there, it was a straight shot into the real world, splitting off at the doors after another hug and kiss goodbye. Selene headed toward class, and Arthur headed toward his appointment at the health center.