Alternative Medicine: A His Harem Story

By AE Lister

FROM EXCITING AUTHOR OF LGBTQIA ROMANCE AE LISTER

A His Harem story

Prescription—a weekend at the cottage and a willing twink to go. What else can Scott, Jericho and Pascal ask for?

Scott Vernier is overburdened with his job as a professor and the logistics of maintaining two residences—his own and the home he shares with Jericho and Pascal. Is it time to consider making the final commitment and moving in?

Jericho suggests a getaway, and the trio borrow a friend's cottage for the Canada Day summer weekend. Being in a strange setting doesn't subdue Dr. Griffin's ability to attend to Scott's medical needs in the slightest. Then they meet Gerome, a young server at a local restaurant. Gerome seems intrigued by the three older men and agrees to return to the cottage to see where the evening takes them.

Let's just say they don't wind up playing board games.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Jul 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781839432156

AE Lister

Alison Lister is a Canadian non-binary author. They write graphic erotic romance (contemporary/historical/paranormal) as AE Lister, and sweet Young Adult LGBTQ+ romance as Alison Lister. She/he/they

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Pride Publishing books by AE Lister

Persuasions

Various Persuasions

Various Distractions

Northern Horizons

760 Miles

Collections

Dark and Deadly: Skeletal Equation

We Three Kings: A Spoonful of Sugar

His Harem

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

AE LISTER

Alternative Medicine

ISBN # 978-1-83943-215-6

©Copyright AE Lister 2022

Cover Art by Claire Siemaszkiewicz ©Copyright July 2022

Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

Pride Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

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Published in 2022 by Pride Publishing, United Kingdom.

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His Harem

Prescription—a weekend at the cottage and a willing twink to go. What else can Scott, Jericho and Pascal ask for?

Scott Vernier is overburdened with his job as a professor and the logistics of maintaining two residences—his own and the home he shares with Jericho and Pascal. Is it time to consider making the final commitment and moving in?

Jericho suggests a getaway, and the trio borrow a friend’s cottage for the Canada Day summer weekend. Being in a strange setting doesn’t subdue Dr. Griffin’s ability to attend to Scott’s medical needs in the slightest. Then they meet Gerome, a young server at a local restaurant. Gerome seems intrigued by the three older men and agrees to return to the cottage to see where the evening takes them.

Let’s just say they don’t wind up playing board games.

Dedication

To adventurous young men—and respectful older ones.

Trademark Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Blundstone: Blundstone Australia Pty Limited

Lay’s: Frito-Lay North America Inc.

Chupa Chups: Van Melle SPA Corporation

Fiesta: Ford Motor Company Corporation

The Fifth Element: Gaumont, Buena Vista Pictures International

Gravity: Warner Bros. Pictures

Coke: Coca-Cola Company Corporation

Chapter One

I Need to Get Away

An escape, that’s what you need, Jericho said, pointing his finger at me as we stood in the living room of the small townhome he shared with Pascal and, often, me.

What? I said, yawning and scratching at my head. Sorry?

You’re tired all the time and stressed. Thank God, I give you weekly examinations, which do help, but, honestly, Scott, you need to get out of this city for a few days… Maybe a week.

I mean, he had a point.

A vacation? In the middle of term? It didn’t seem feasible.

Why don’t we go camping? Pascal suggested from the couch, where he sat scrolling on his phone. He didn’t look up.

Now?

Maybe in the spring? Pascal said. That’s only a few weeks away.

Hmm. Maybe, I said. Term would be over at the end of April, but I’d already registered for a couple of classes in May and June to bump up my professional qualifications. How about July?

Sure. It would be an inexpensive way of getting a break, Jericho concurred. And being out in nature might be nice for a change.

I hadn’t gone camping in a very long time. My memories were…mixed. I quite enjoyed sleeping in a bed these days. A night on the hard ground would not bode well for my joints. Also, how could we get up to anything interesting in a tent? The idea might have appealed to me when I had been Jericho’s age, but I didn’t feel up to it now, even though it had been Pascal, who was closer to my age, who’d made the suggestion.

Duke and Julius have a cottage in Quebec, I said. They don’t use it every weekend.

Jericho and Pascal looked at each other and shrugged.

It’s near Wakefield, I continued. I’ve never actually been, but I’ve seen pictures. Looks pretty nice up there.

Is it rustic or something fancy? Jericho asked. I wouldn’t mind roughing it a bit.

It’s rustic. The view is incredible, but the house isn’t fancy, except for some windows on the back, which were upgraded to take advantage of the outdoors. It’s on the river, and there’s a firepit and a big deck.

I sincerely hoped Duke could rescue me from three days in a tent in God knows what kind of weather. There weren’t any other two people I’d rather camp with than Jericho and Pascal, but I would prefer walls and a roof to surround me.

Sounds cool, Pascal said. Sign me up.

Sure, Jericho responded, if it’s okay with Duke and Julius.

He moved closer and circled me with his arm, gazing at my lips and licking his own.

I wouldn’t mind a little R and R in a cozy little cottage in Quebec with my favorite professor.

I grinned, planting an eager kiss on his familiar lips. Mm-hmm. Me neither.

Same, Pascal murmured from the couch. I like the idea of a cottage over a tent if you can fix it, Scott.

I will do my very best, I said, kissing Jericho again then licking his ear before I backed up and nodded with satisfaction. Gotta go. Call you later?

You’d better, Jericho said, blowing me a kiss.

See ya, I said to Pascal, who waved absently as I stepped out of the townhouse, briefcase in hand, ready to face another day of teaching.

* * * *

It was my career and I loved it, but lately it had taken an unprecedented toll on me. The effort I put in every day, the care I took with my lesson plans and the after-hours support I gave my students was something I was proud of. I couldn’t imagine getting by with putting in the minimum amount of effort, although several of my colleagues managed. But those colleagues had kids and spouses to attend to and—

I stopped dead in the hallway near my office as I recalled that, although I didn’t have an official spouse, I had gained two partners over the course of the year and did not have as much free time as I’d had before I’d met Jericho and Pascal at the Halloween party at Sonny’s last October. It occurred to me as I resumed walking that perhaps I did need to make some adjustments, considering I had more demands on my time.

My students were important to me but so were my two boyfriends, and the relationship we had cultivated and nurtured was vital to my mental and physical health.

As I rounded the corner, I was greeted by a student waiting outside my office door, holding two coffees. Did I dare hope one of those coffees was for me?

Good morning, I said with a smile. Sorry I’m late. The traffic was crazy.

No worries, Professor Vernier. I got you a coffee.

I keyed us into the small, cluttered space and gave him a glance of gratitude. Thank you, Connor. I hope you’re not trying to get a better grade.

He laughed. "Not with coffee, sir."

He waggled his eyebrows and I laughed.

"Seriously, I would like some clarification on an assignment. I figured you’d be able to help me better if you were, you know, awake."

I took the paper cup from him and popped the lid as I sat in my comfy chair and gestured for him to take the other one.

Two milks and one sugar, right?

You got it. How did you know that?

He blushed. There’s a chart on the college Facebook page. It has all the profs’ coffee preferences. I have no idea where the information came from, but it’s a great reference.

I blinked. That’s…both alarming and ingenious. I took a sip. Ah. Thank you. This helps more than you know.

He nodded, adjusting his glasses. Are you okay, sir? You seem to be struggling lately—like, to stay awake while you’re teaching.

I put my head in my hand for a moment, embarrassed, then tilted my chin to look at him. Oh God. Is it that obvious?

He laughed. Well, it’s not like it isn’t something we’re all familiar with, as students. Normally our professors are more rested than us. I don’t mean to pry, but I wanted to make sure you’re okay.

I looked the kid up and down. Connor was about five foot six and had a helix piercing and a tattoo of a yin-yang symbol on the inside of his wrist. He was one of my best students and didn’t make a habit of asking for extra help.

That’s very kind of you, Connor. I appreciate your concern. The fact is, I, uh, used to be single—and now I’m not. Finding the time to do everything and get the rest I need, is, um, proving to be a challenge.

Oh. He grinned. Hard to get your rest. I get it.

I blushed. Well, you know, I—

He shook his head and held up a hand. You don’t have to explain, sir. I get it. We did wonder.

"We? What do you mean, we?" I said, taking another long sip of the delicious hot beverage.

Connor cleared his throat. Well, uh, me and Sarah and Justin. We saw you with a couple of cute guys downtown a week ago.

Oh, fuck.