[Spirit of Lust 2] Chapters 358 & 359. (Patreon)

Chapter 358: A hidden trait (part 1).

We were quiet for one or two minutes. It wasn’t out of a sense of awkwardness, but more like we were all trying to sort our own thoughts.

“I think I threw that question too out of the blue,” Grace said. “Let me ask again, this time more clearly. Oliver, would YOU like to meet more women? To have new lovers, sex friends or even new girlfriends?”

Ugh. She was mercilessly putting me on the spot, but that was just the question, wasn’t it? If I didn’t want it, there was nothing else to talk about. Problem was…

“I’m beyond satisfied with what we have now. In fact… I was already more than satisfied back when it was just the four of us,” I said, looking at Mila, Grace and Sarah. “But then you pushed me to follow my desire and I asked out Noelle and Alice. Now I can’t imagine not being with them.” I sighed, turning my gaze towards the floor. “When I think of it like that, then… M-Maybe… Maybe there are other women out there who I can… bond with, that can join this group and become important people to us all.”

A small smile crossed Noelle’s lips. “I suppose we wouldn’t be here right now if you hadn’t dared to try. Or if we hadn’t dared to take the risk.”

Sarah sighed. “My mom has always warned me about stuff like this. She says that when we’re this young, infatuation can be blinding. But it’s not just me, right? I’m not the only one who thinks this is a healthy relationship despite the debauchery.”

“I’d even call said debauchery another plus,” Grace said. “No one here is being forced into anything. We’re all freely letting ourselves enjoy the things we’re into.”

“It just so happens that our interests are very compatible,” Mila said, giggling.

“Oddly so,” Noelle agreed, laughing with her.

Beside me, Alice blinked, then stroked her chin in thought. “Oddly compatible…?”

“Alice?” I asked her.

“Hmm. Let me bring attention to the elephant in the room which we seem to be choosing to ignore,” Alice said. “The fact that Oliver, our boyfriend, is possessed by a lustful spirit capable of magic we still don’t quite understand. And before anyone starts jumping to conclusions,” she said, narrowing her eyes at me specifically, “I’m not suggesting we’re being brainwashed or something. If we were, I doubt we would even be capable of considering the possibility.”

“I’ve been thinking the same,” Noelle said. “If anything, everyone else is more affected than us. It’s others who believe it’s normal for Oliver to be dating us all at the same time.”

“While we remain aware that we’re a special case, niche polyamorous communities notwithstanding,” Grace said.

Alice nodded. “Now that we know a lot of the aspects of this relationship and some of the things Oliver is capable of come from Frey, the Spirit of Lust, it begins to make more sense.”

“Let’s see…” Mila began to count with her fingers. “The overwhelming sex is the most obvious one, right? Then there are the health and aesthetic benefits.”

“God, I swear being able to eat hamburgers and fries without feeling guilty is a blessing,” Sarah said, rubbing her own face like she couldn’t contain the emotion. “Those things don’t put a gram of fat in me anymore. It’s insane.”

There were unanimous nods of agreement.

“There’s also the mental connection we share,” Mila continued, raising her third finger. “You would think it would be disturbing, but being able to sense what he’s feeling makes things a lot easier.”

“I’ll attribute that to Oliver being so… pure,” Grace said, smirking. “Imagine he was actually just keeping us around as sex pets and we found out by reading his feelings. He would’ve gotten his ass dumped a long time ago.”

“Oh, for sure,” Sarah agreed, laughing.

Mila looked at her three raised fingers. “I think that’s about it, right? I say that, but a single one of these is already a huge deal. You could get rid of the sex and the mental connection and I’d still be happy with just being able to eat sweets without worry.”

“You’re forgetting a fourth one,” Alice said. “The magic enchantments.”

Noelle swallowed. “That we can walk around without the public and our families batting an eye at our… poly relationship is the most obvious one, but… Frey already put up her defenses, right?”

I nodded. It was one of the few dreams in which Frey spoke to me and I could remember. She had said she used all her reserves of energy to place a ward on the girls to protect them from illusions and mind-altering effects from magic. This way, we shouldn’t have to worry about encounters like the one with Julian and the other spirit. It wasn’t… exciting, but it was practical and necessary. I know I’d be feeling paranoid if Frey hadn’t done this for us.

“Right,” Alice said. “But something just came to mind when you and Milla said we were all ‘oddly compatible’.” Alice turned to look at me. “Oliver, if you don’t mind. Why did you… choose us?”

I blinked at the question, then pondered it. “Did I? At Thomas’ birthday party, Mila, Grace and Sarah came up to ME and dragged me into the rollercoaster of emotions that were our first two months together. After that, they were the ones who suggested I approach you and Noelle, though… I was already starting to have feelings for you before they did.”

“But it’s not like you couldn’t have said no, right?” Mila said. “Or are you going to claim Grace, Sarah and I did things to you against your will?” she asked, pouting.

I chuckled. “No. Yeah, I guess I did choose you, at least every bit as much as you chose me. But as to why you…? I felt like… I could trust you, I think. Like… you wouldn’t hurt me, that I didn’t need to be afraid of you like I did others.”

“Yes,” Mila said. “I felt like that, too. It was like ‘if it’s Oliver, I’m sure it’ll be fine’.”

“What do you have in mind, Alice?” Noelle asked her.

“I think that, maybe subconsciously… Frey’s powers could be bringing us together. People who just… naturally click, maybe mainly during sex but perhaps even beyond it.”

That… sounded very, very possible to me. God, it was at times like these I wished I could talk to Frey directly.

************

Chapter 359: A hidden trait (part 2).

“Now that you say that,” Mila said, thinking. “I did feel more eager to talk to Oliver that day at Thomas’ house. I normally just looked at him from afar, but…”

“And Grace and I almost tried to steal him from her,” Sarah said. She chuckled. “She got scared that we really would, so she grabbed him and kissed him in front of everyone. Next thing we know we’re having a foursome.”

“We were more than a few drinks in, though,” Grace said. “But yeah, if we follow Alice’s theory, it makes more sense. An unseen force that guides compatible women to him…”

“...Which is why we’ve all come to accept sharing him,” Noelle said, nodding along. “It’s his biggest, secret wish, so compatible women would be those who were already into the idea or could… come to accept it in time.”

“Are you sure it’s not just because you like my body?” I asked them half-jokingly, but they took it seriously.

“Wait, that’s another thing!” Sarah said. “Oliver, I’ve said it before, but you’re just my type! Exactly my type! The figure, the muscles, the wavy black hair, the long eyelashes, the innocent, cute look… You’re not just hot and attractive. You’re perfect for ME.”

“Oh God, same here!” Mila said. “I thought you were cute before, but too skinny. Then I saw you had gotten super fit and… I couldn't stop looking at you.”

“I think it works the other way around, too,” Alice said. “Oliver, how many of the girls who flirt with you all the time have you actually found yourself wishing you could… be with?”

Again, I blinked and gave it some thought. “...Honestly, none. I think some are cute, but that’s about it.”

“You never did get interested in Amanda, did you?” Sarah said. “She was totally into you.”

“So other women can be naturally attracted to him, too…” Noelle said.

“Of course!” Mila said, gesturing at me with both hands. “I mean, look at that sexy piece of a man!”

“Alright, then… How about women who haven’t flirted with you?” Grace asked. “Have you seen anyone who REALLY tickles your fancy like we do?”

I flinched and bit my lip. “I… think so.”

“Someone we know?” Alice asked teasingly, poking my shoulder and kissing my neck.

It got a chuckle out of me, and I think that helped further clean the air. At least, it helped me relax. This conversation was looking like it would shed some light on some of the mysteries around me.

“Well… There is this regular at the coffee shop…”

The girls all gasped. “The stalker!” Noelle said, laughing.

“That uni student with black hair and darkish skin, right? I bet it’s her!” Sarah said.

“H-How did you know!?” I asked.

“We’ve seen her, of course,” Grace said. “Big chest, pretty face, nice figure… Yep, totally your type.”

Alice hummed. “She goes to the coffee shop to look at you, and you find her attractive in return. What do you think?”

“I don’t know. She makes me uncomfortable with all the staring, but I still end up paying attention to her.”

Mila nodded. “Okay, okay… I can see it. If Alice’s theory is right, then she’s probably not a stalker and she just… doesn’t know how to start a conversation. unless you LIKE being stalked, Oliver.”

“I assure you, I don’t.”

“Anyone else?” Sarah asked. “It’s no understatement that hot women flock to you. There has to be someone else.”

My head went exactly to one other place, to one other person. It was crazy, but if we were talking about women who made an impression, then… “The… The receptionist at this hotel.”

“W-What!? HER!?” Noelle gasped and shouted.

“W-What? You know her?” I asked, worried at her reaction.

“Well, no, but… she was…” Noelle shivered.

“She was scary as hell,” Mila said, shivering. “She looked like she was pissed at us. I had to look down at my shoes to make sure I hadn’t stepped on mud or poop and had dirtied the floor she was cleaning.”

“Yeah, it surprised me,” Grace said. “That’s not the kind of person you’d leave as a receptionist. Though the place IS understaffed right now. I bet she’s there as an interim.”

“Huh. First news we get that you’re into older women, baby,” Sarah said. “Hm. Busty, voluptuous, curves in all the right places, great ass, beautiful… Yeah, she fits the bill, too, I suppose. But with that personality…”

“I… don’t think she meant to glare,” I said. “At least that’s what my sixth sense makes me believe.”

“Oh, you even felt something from her?” Alice asked, surprised and intrigued. “This theory might have firmer footing than I thought.”

“So… W-What do we do about this?” Noelle asked. “Will we let Oliver… pursue other relationships?”

Alice sighed. “Frey told us that, if Oliver fulfilled his heart’s desires, she would become stronger and would be able to perform stronger magic. I admit, I’m… curious about that. I’d like to see what she can do for us.”

“You and me both,” Grace agreed. “And if your theory is correct, then I’m less nervous about who Oliver might choose. Anyone who wouldn’t fit in this group would not be ‘compatible’ with him.”

“That’s what I was thinking, too,” Mila said, giggling. “Yeah, it’ll be fine.”

Sarah laughed and let out a resigned sigh. “Fuck me, I’m already getting kind of excited.”

“Hold on,” I said. “I’m happy you girls trust me so much, but if Noelle is not fully on board, I’m not doing it.”

“Oh, of course!” Alice immediately agreed. “Either we all agree or nothing happens. That's a given.”

I turned to the redhead, who now seemed uncomfortable. “I’m not trying to put you on the spot, Noelle. I just want you to know that I won’t do anything to make you uncomfortable. I’m happy with how things are, and if you don’t want it to change, it can remain like this.”

“Yeah,” Sarah said, shaking her head. “Sorry, I got ahead of myself. It’s just as they say.”

“If it’s not unanimous, none of us will be happy, so there’s no point in making it a majority vote,” Mila said.

“At the end of the day, keeping it to the six of us means more of him for us,” Grace said. “So there are benefits to keeping things as they are, too. He may have unlimited stamina and a crazy libido, but the day still only has 24 hours.”

“And he only has two arms,” Mila added.

“I…” Noelle took a deep breath. “I’ll give you my answer tomorrow. Before we leave this place. Is that okay?”

“You can take more time if you need to,” I told her.

She shook her head. “I would just be delaying it for no reason. I… think I already have my answer, but I want to think about it a bit more.”

I nodded, then smiled at her and offered her my hand. “Come here.”

Noelle giggled. “Nope! It was Alice’s turn, in case you forgot.”

“How DARE you try to skip me!” Alice said, laughing as she pushed me down on the couch and startled me. “This corrupt king needs to be punished!”

Just like that, we went back to normal, like that conversation never happened. It had happened, however, and now it was clear where we stood.