Crystal smiled at Helen and said, "Helen, I will ask Aunt Susie to help you downstairs. You are not familiar with this place. After a few days, the room in the manor will be set up. You can live there." Having said that, she arranged her clothes and went downstairs.
As soon as Crystal reached the landing, a man grabbed her and pushed her up against the wall. There was a loud bang as the back of her head cracked the plaster, she screamed from the pain, and when she opened her eyes, her vision was hazy. "Wh-Wh-Who's th-there?" she stammered.
"It's Eric," said Eric.
Crystal: "What a coincidence that you should show up at the same time that I'm here…."
Eric: "It's not a coincidence. I came here deliberately."
"Are you looking for Nathan or Helen?" Crystal asked. She was about to tell him that they were both upstairs, but when she opened her mouth, he pressed his mouth against hers and forced his tongue into her mouth. Then, as he kissed her, he put his hands on either side of her head so that no matter how hard she tried to get away, she would be unable. Eventually, though, the kiss ended, and when he released her, he said, "Helen is pregnant with Nathan's child."
Crystal: "So what? Did you plan it?" When Crystal heard that, she lifted her knee and drove it into Eric's groin. Eric groaned as his hands found his aching testicles, and he bent over in pain. "Why did you do that?" he whined.
Crystal smirked and said, "You know why."
Eric glared at Crystal and said, "Fine. Punish me if I deserve it. Next time, though, you should hit me somewhere else."
Crystal shrugged and said, "We'll see."
As Eric straightened, he finally saw the marks on her neck, and he said, "I don't have the ability to plan all this, and neither do you! So, even if Helen is pregnant, are you still willing to give yourself to Nathan?"
Crystal had initially wanted to cover up the love bites. Now that he had seen them, though, it was unnecessary. She ran her finger across one of the larger bruises and said, "Have you seen enough. I can show you more if you'd like."
Eric frowned at Crystal and said, "You are such a stupid girl. It would be better for you to be with anyone other than Nathan. I don't know why you can't see that. Besides, nobody can enter the Davis Family without the old Davis' permission. He will recognize Helen now that she's pregnant with Nathan's child again."
Crystal: "So?"
Eric: "Leave with me. I will treat you well. I am the only one that will give you the love that you deserve."
Crystal: "What are the conditions?"
Eric: "My love is unconditional. I only want you."
Crystal pointed to the door and said, "Do you see that?"
Eric: "What?"
Crystal: "The door. And on the other side of that door, there are a lot of girls who would love to have your affection. They would be willing to listen to your "lovely" words, and they would do whatever you asked of them. Nathan and I will not take up any of your time."
Eric: "Withdraw your words. One day you will be willing to leave with me."
Crystal pushed him away and said, "In your dreams." Then she straightened up, pushed his hands away, and went to get a drink of water.
Not surprisingly, Eric followed her. He leaned against the counter and watched her with an arrogant expression on his face.
Crystal tried to ignore him, but he made her nervous, so nervous, in fact, that while she was drinking her water, her cup slipped out of her hand. She managed to catch it with her free hand before it could hit the ground and smash into a million pieces. But, unfortunately, the contents of the cup were spilled all over her, and her top was soaked.
Eric's eyes went wide as her shirt became translucent. Suddenly, her nipples were visible, and they stood out like two sore thumbs. He felt his manhood swell, and he longed to hold her and possess her.
There was still a little bit of water in the cup, and he waited for her to finish drinking. Then, he said, "The old Davis is going to find someone to invalidate your marriage. You know that, don't you? He is a stubborn old curmudgeon, and he always gets his way."
"Not this time." Crystal frowned and said, "If he wants to invalidate my marriage, that means that he hasn't done it yet. But so what? Even if it is invalidated, it means nothing. I don't have to have a legal relationship with Nathan to be with him, and we can always remarry if we want to!"
Eric had a hard time concentrating on what he wanted to say while her breasts were on display. "Why sh-sh-should I bel-l-leave you?" he stuttered. "I'm asking y-you this because I- care, I don't want to h-hurt you. You know that, right? When I h-hurt you, I h-hurt myself..."
Crystal crossed her arms beneath her breasts, and her knuckles blocked his view of her nipples. She glared at him for a minute, and then she said, "Fine."
Eric's face turned red, and his ire began to rise. He had expected more of a response from her, and he felt like she was trying to brush him off, and that made him feel like she was trying to make a fool out of him. "You can't talk to me like that!" he growled." Crystal Smith, you owe me better!"
"You are a real piece of work," Crystal growled. "I don't owe you diddly-squat. Not only do you steal other people's women, but you go into their homes to do it. You are a kidnapper and a cad!" As she spoke, she looked around him, and what she saw made her smile.
In response to Crystal's cold, sword-like voice, Eric looked up and smiled back at her. "It is better to steal another man's wife than to date two people at the same time. What do you think?"
Little did he know... Nathan was standing right behind him.
Suddenly, Nathan cleared his throat. Eric's face turned white.. He slowly turned around, and when he saw his old friend, his words caught in his throat.