I lean back in my seat, now unable to keep the smile off my face. “You asked me for many other things before. No, I’m serious. This amount of money, it was always unreal. I know Addison isn’t happy right now, but she can’t actually sue me for expenses, can she? If I remember correctly, the contract says that everyone who leaves early will get a small sum of money for their efforts, and a letter of recommendation to make up for the gap in the CV. It had better not say ‘performed excellently in every position.’”
Elizabeth is quiet, and I realize it’s a little too early for that joke. It’s too early for me.
“Please understand that I’m making silly jokes because I’m still trying to adjust. This, us, it’s real.”
“Yes it is. Don’t worry, she’s not going to send you a bill.” She keeps her eyes on the road, but there’s a smile playing over her lips.
“I’ve been, sort of…I don’t know, lost? That sounds weird. I thought this was the answer, do something that’s completely out of the norm, something highly taboo…I thought I’d find my way somehow. Well, in a way I did, just not in the harem.”
“You could say the same about me.”
I look at her, surprised. She seems to take every step with such confidence.
“I had no idea what the hell I was doing until you came along. And then I had to let you go.”
“Not anymore,” I tell her. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Elizabeth
Finally home, I run a bath for Robin, the way I did on the first day of her training. The goal of week one is to test an applicant, to see if they can take themselves back, have a handle on their own impulses—and tease them mercilessly.
That’s not going to happen tonight. There are new rules for us now. Technically, I’m not in control anymore, though it’s doubtful if I ever was.
Robin admires the bathroom with the huge window and the soaker tub, but I can tell she’s tired.
“Take your time,” I say, kiss her and straighten. “I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”
“You’re not coming in with me?” The hopeful expression on her face almost changes my mind, but there’s something I need to do first.
“Depending on how long you want to spend in here. I’ll be right back.”
Addison picks up right away—so she’s not consoling herself yet.
“You have something to say for yourself?” she asks coolly.
“I’m sorry. I handled this the wrong way. If I had been honest with myself sooner…”
“Yeah, water under the bridge. What do you want?”
“I’ll come get Robin’s things tomorrow morning, if that’s okay.”
There’s a pause, long enough for both of us to be confronted with uncomfortable realizations. All of a sudden it makes sense why Addison, who is always about freedom and consent, would try to persuade Robin to stay. Not for the money.
“I’m really sorry,” I say again.
“I’m aware of that. I’ll have everything ready.”
“Her check and letter of recommendation?”
“I said everything. Now leave me alone for a few hours, will you?”
“Good night,” I say, but she has hung up already.
I go back to the bathroom, deep in thought. It’s ironic. Addison and I designed a beautiful illusion, because we were tired and jaded, of the dating game, the restrictions society puts on women, lastly—the pain. Maybe we were fooling ourselves, or Addison will go back to falling in love with one woman after the other.
I have stopped running. I am home.
* * * *
By the time I join Robin in the tub, she’s almost asleep. We don’t stay long, eager to end this day that has been complicated and exhausting, and curl up in bed.
It’s wonderful. It’s terrifying as well, because I’m still afraid it could be too good to be true. Robin, dressed in a pair of my PJs, snuggles into my arms.
“Is there something I can do for you, for rescuing me?” She yawns. “Actually, whatever you had in mind, will have to wait until tomorrow.”
“It can wait a little longer,” I say. “And I didn’t do much. It’s not like Addison could have forced you to stay.”
“Is she mad?” Robin asks, well aware of the phone call I made earlier. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, her or you. I just couldn’t pretend any longer.”
“She’ll get over it. We will all be okay.”
It’s actually a possibility, I think, later that night when Robin has fallen asleep. Once the last steps are taken, we can focus on our own lives…and maybe we’ll go on that trip after all.
* * * *
Last night I dreamed I left the harem, and Elizabeth was there to take me away.
That part was real. There were some vague images about sun-filled places, and other, more intimate ones that came with incredible, real sensations, but we’re not quite there yet.
It’s Addison’s secretary who has my personal things ready for us, including the promised paperwork and the check—not a million, but enough to tide me over until I can figure out what to do next.
Elizabeth and I stop at a coffee shop, both of us fairly relieved to have avoided a confrontation today.
“Don’t worry about anything now. You have all the time you need.”
I still feel somewhat restless, and I imagine I will until one last question is answered—but maybe she needs time, too. The parameters of our relationship have changed completely.
“Whenever we’re in public like this, it reminds me of when you first took me to see Addison,” I admit.
Elizabeth gives me a wry smile. “We’re going to talk about her for a while to come.”
“Probably…but I was more thinking about your…personal fetish.”
Her eyes darken ever so slightly at the reminder. I can’t be sure about any other reaction, but if it’s the same as mine, there’s an unmistakable promise.
“It was for you, not for her. I would do it again.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Robin
“Robin.” Her tone is breathless, longing, when one night, I slip under the covers naked. The past few days have been odd, and also the happiest of my life so far. Something has been a constant source of frustration. We hug and kiss, often, but we haven’t gone beyond that. I realize that Elizabeth is worried about the dynamics of what our relationship used to be, when she was writing reports on my sexual conduct and evolving skills. It’s not like that anymore, and I need her to understand that.
I don’t need advice from a mentor.
I need her.
“It is okay,” I say. “We both were a bit slow to understand what happened, but it’s all right now.” I can see the conflicting emotions in her expression, until they all give way to one—undisguised lust. “I want you so much,” I whisper against her chest while my fingers, eager to touch and to please, wander between her thighs. It’s not that long since I left the main house, but it feels like it’s been a long time that I’ve been with someone like this.
Addison never forces anyone to do anything. She’s in love with everyone under her roof, and that lifestyle works for her and many others. Sophia and Quinn were quite happy with it, but I wasn’t, because there was one woman I could never get off my mind. I gasp in sheer pleasure when I find myself on my back, Elizabeth on top of me. She holds my wrists over my head, her other hand warm and confident on my hip, the caress soon becoming more intimate. My body has been aching for her touch, soft and welcoming to her fingertips.
“I missed you.” The words come out in a moan, and I raise my hips slightly, desperate to feel her inside of me. I’m filled with gratitude at this second chance, that all our hopes and plans did not deter us from this moment.
“I missed you too. I love you,” she says, kissing me deeply.
Some things are not so complicated after all, only if we make them. We met in an attempt to teach and learn perfect bliss.
That part worked out. It is the most amazing
experience I’ve ever had, fantasy replaced with reality once more, and all I can do is give in. I love every second of it.
I push the sheets aside, uncaring that they fall on the floor, smiling down at the woman who has taught me so much about how much pleasure I am able to receive, and give. She knows it too, that I will apply every single lesson.
* * * *
They don’t call it a honeymoon phase for nothing. We drink wine on the balcony of Elizabeth’s condo, make love until we fall asleep and sneak in another time before breakfast. We plan our future. Elizabeth has a few options, favors she can call in. Thanks to the years of employment with Addison, she isn’t in a rush either, but looking at part time opportunities. I browse the job sections as well—just because we’re doing okay right now, it doesn’t mean we can’t look ahead.
We book the trip, not a month, but twenty days in Greece and Italy.
A week before we leave, Addison calls.
I pick up the phone, and there’s a bit of an awkward silence, before she says, “Hi, Robin.”
Elizabeth has promised she won’t ask, unless there’s something I want to talk about. I don’t see the need. I assume she knows anyway, Addison’s romantic evenings for two or three, toys, props. I didn’t hate it. I didn’t feel like the earth shook, not like those incredible sensations Elizabeth can create for me…Even now, I blush as if Addison is aware of my thoughts. Maybe she is.
“Um, hello…You want to talk to Elizabeth?”
“Actually, I want to talk to the two of you. I’d like to see you.”
At least, if there’s any sort of trouble, we’ll be on the other side of the ocean next week.
“There’s no small print in the contract that I overlooked, right? I don’t have to give you money?”
“No, of course not.” She laughs ruefully. “I’m not sure what happened, and I’m sorry. I feel like we left things on a strange note, and I want to make it up to you.”
“It’s all good.” I have reason to feel forgiving.
“Let me do something for you anyway. Are you and Elizabeth free tomorrow night?”
“Tomorrow night?” I send a questioning look to Elizabeth who has followed the exchange. She shrugs.
“I guess that’s okay…”
“I swear you’ll be safe. I’ll text you the address.”
She’s not going to summon us to the main house—I suppose that’s a show of trust that can go both ways.
“We’ll be there,” I say.
“Wonderful. Thank you for hearing me out, Robin. Give my best to Elizabeth.”
On the other hand, there’s a pun in there I’m sure was fully intended.
* * * *
I give everything I have to Elizabeth, and she takes it all. I guess we’re both a bit nervous about Addison’s proposal. There’s one quick and easy way to ease the tension. I ease two fingers into her velvet heat, her body welcoming me, and I lean forward to pleasure her with my tongue, overwhelm her with sensation. It’s not the most comfortable position, but her immediate reactions are a delightful reward.
She whimpers with each brush of my tongue, her body tightening around my fingers with the rhythm of her heartbeat. All those training sessions, even the fantasies I had while fulfilling Addison’s, paid off, for Elizabeth and me.
I have never felt this much in sync with any partner, so close along with her, as I do now. As I feel her inch closer to her climax, so do I, and I know it won’t take much, just a quick touch, a casual caress…She shivers, says my name in that urgent, unmistakable way.
“Yes,” I whisper before resuming my task. Her hips rise, and then, for a glorious moment, I can’t tell where she ends and I begin, her wordless sounds a trigger I can’t resist, pulling me with her.
When I sit back, Elizabeth smiles at my baffled expression.
“I taught you that,” she says with unveiled pride.
“Yes,” I gasp. “You sure did.”
* * * *
The address Addison has given us is an upscale restaurant in town. She expects us at 7:00 p.m. It feels both odd and exciting to dress up for a night out. I haven’t done that in some time—first moving in with Elizabeth for the training, then into the main house, there weren’t many occasions. Since I’ve been back with Elizabeth, frankly, we haven’t gone out much.
“She likes that kind of suspense,” Elizabeth says, shaking her head as she parks in front of the building. I can hear the affection in her tone. It’s true, we both have history with her now, and that’s okay—if it wasn’t for Addison and her fantasies, we never would have met.
We have a lot to be grateful for.
When we enter the restaurant, the owner, Maria, introduces herself to us and leads us to a private room. Inside, the table is set for two.
Elizabeth and I share a surprised look.
“There must be a mistake. We were supposed to meet—”
“Ms. Belmont, yes, I’m aware. She told me to give her apologies, as she can’t make it tonight, but please, enjoy. She left something for you as well.”
She hands me a gift box. Elizabeth smiles and shrugs. In all the years working for her, she hasn’t managed to figure out her boss completely. I have to admit, it’s not easy.
“Would you like something to drink?” Maria asks. She recommends a wine for the appetizer course, and we quickly agree.
“What do you think this is?” I ask when Elizabeth and I are alone.
“I have no clue. Let’s find out.”
Inside the box, there’s a miniature version of the Acropolis, and a letter. Something falls out when I unfold it, and when I bend to retrieve it, I nearly faint.
It’s a check. The number says $1,000.000.
A few seconds tick by before I can breathe normally again, and Elizabeth’s hand on my back and her concerned expression is an indication of how close I came to fainting for real. Sure, at some point this was a realistic expectation, but it always stayed fairly vague on my mind. In the end, when it came to love or money, I chose the former. I can’t go back now.
We read the letter together.
Robin, Elizabeth, I know that your first impulse is to give it back, because you don’t want to owe me, and because I haven’t been a particularly good friend to either of you recently. For that, I am sorry. I let my ego get in the way. However, I recognize beauty when I see it. The two of you together epitomize it. Go do whatever job you’d like, start a foundation if you want, but don’t bring me back that check. I would consider it a personal insult.
Maria and her team will be at your service tonight. Please enjoy this little preview of Greece. And let me host your wedding.
Best, A.
I sink back into my chair, still speechless.
“She really likes you,” Elizabeth says, her tone somewhat melancholic.
“I liked her too.” I put the card down. “I’m so happy I signed that contract, so I got to love you.”
Maria returns with the wine, before the moment can get any more emotional.
* * * *
I thought I was done with dreams and romantic delusions. I wanted the distance, sex just for pleasure with no further attachment…and I got it all wrong. Elizabeth made all my dreams come true, every sexual fantasy I ever had, and there was a swing in there somewhere—the only scenario from Addison’s house we ever talked about.
Whenever we open a new door, I know we’ll do it together, and it’s safe.
We see the Acropolis together, discover Athens, then travel to Capri, just as I imagined.
In a restaurant by the water, late at night, we talk about marriage, and Elizabeth tells me about her first, and why it didn’t work out.
“I didn’t even know I could be something other than straight. And when I found out, I thought it might be too late. Not just too late to be with a woman, but the way I wanted to.”
“Addison gave you an opportunity.”
Elizabeth smiles wistfully. “I don’t know if it was exactly what I wanted, but it
served me at the time. I had limited myself so much, she had big plans. And then you came along.”
“That’s fast forward. I came along after eleven women.” I’m teasing her, and she knows it. At this point in our relationship, our respective past with the woman who keeps a harem, isn’t a reason for jealousy. We take from it what serves us. What made us.
We gave half of the million to a woman’s organization, in Addison’s name—so other women can live free, and make their own choices.
“I never wanted to marry any of them,” Elizabeth says, and in an instant, my vision blurs, leaving me barely able to see the ring she’s slips on my finger.
“To your question, yes!”
I repeat it with even more enthusiasm later tonight, but that may be unrelated to the ring.
* * * *
We had the honeymoon before the actual wedding—which suits us, because when have we ever done anything like everyone else?
Both Elizabeth and I have had long talks with Addison, and our friendship became stronger, a threesome more unlikely.
Quinn and Sophia are still with her, and have already indicated that they wish to stay beyond their six months contracts.
Addison truly is serious about her relationship concept, and she has found women who are happy to fit themselves into it.
I, on the other hand, get to say I do to Elizabeth in the incredibly spacious backyard, the scent of the many rosebushes intoxicating. We are surrounded by women who wish us well—for the occasion, everyone is wearing a bit more fabric than usual. We’ve enjoyed an elaborate gourmet meal, and now there’s cake and champagne—no rules or exercise today.
After the first dance, Kimberly joins Elizabeth on the dance floor, and Addison pulls me to her.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” she asks.
“Oh my God, yes,” I blurt out. “This is the best day of my life, and it means a lot to us that we are celebrating it here. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad the experience worked out to your satisfaction.”
“It did.”
With a smile, she steps back. “Good. Go enjoy your wife. You both have waited for this day long enough.”
Harem Page 9
