Instead of answering, Crystal lowered her head and gave Nathan a soft kiss on the lips, and she spoke to him with her eyes, saying, I'm being gentle. Can you be gentle, too?
Nathan kissed her back slowly, and as he did, she opened her robe for him. She had just gotten out of the shower, so she was naked, and her breasts were like cupcake tops with pink cherries on top.
After a few minutes, Nathan pulled away, and he rolled Crystal over so that he was on top, and she was on the bottom. He placed his left hand on her right breast and then kissed her entire body. He started at her earlobe and worked his way down, but when he got to her neck, he was startled to discover the black leather collar she was wearing. He pulled away and gave Crystal a dirty look. "What the fuck is this?" he growled.
Crystal began to shake, and she burst into tears. She tried to cover her shame by covering the collar with her hands. "Eric Bush did this to me," she cried.
"I know where it came from!" Nathan roared. He pulled her hands away and asked, "Did he touch you?"
Crystal hurriedly shook her head. "No," she said. "I wouldn't let him."
Nathan: "I had better not hear otherwise!"
Crystal recognized the threat in his words. She frowned slightly and nodded. It was the first time that Nathan had given her such a firm order, and she suddenly recalled something that Eric had said - wear this necklace, and no one will dare to touch you. She wondered if that included Nathan. After all, he hadn't dared. She hated to think that she might be putting her husband in danger.
When Nathan saw the collar, he became another person. It was both strange and terrifying. And Crystal couldn't help but think that the two men had a history together.
Crystal lifted her head, but Nathan had lost his interest in having sex. Crystal scowled. Then she nodded and said, "I see."
Nathan had no idea whether she was serious or just being perfunctory. Ignoring her words, he got up irritably and said in a serious voice, "Go get dressed. I'm going to take a shower." Then Nathan stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Crystal groaned as she stood up. She felt like every inch of her body was on fire, and she was glad that they hadn't made love. Likely, it would have made the pain worse. She shrugged off her robe and walked over to her wardrobe. She frowned as she ran her fingers through the clothes inside. She had so many outfits that she never knew what to wear. Finally, she chose a light-yellow lace one-piece dress and applied a thin layer of make-up to her bruised face. I look like shit - she thought sadly - but the doctor was right. I am lucky... Typically, her skin was very good. She had a fair complexion, and she looked better without make-up - Not today, though...
Once Crystal was ready, she sat on the bed and waited for Nathan to return. When he didn't return right away, she pulled out her phone to check to see if there were any messages. There were none, so she entered a WhatsApp group she was in, composed of people she'd gone to High School with. There were a few people online, and they were all gossiping about their wealth.
The people in the group annoyed Crystal. They always had, but she was bored, and that was the only reason she'd signed on. There were about a hundred open threads, and she opened them one at a time as she looked for something interesting.
As Crystal read through the various messages, she realized that she was being mentioned in it, and many things people were saying were quite malicious. There were also videos and pictures, including ones that had been taken during her dispute with Cecelia at the purse store. And the video of her father begging her for mercy, one of her being egged and urinated on, and a series of photos taken at the police station. Along with each video and picture, there was a description of what was taking place, and in each instance, the description was either a distortion of the truth or an outright lie.
Crystal recognized the names of the people commenting, and none of the comments were positive. Emily Deerborn, for example, had written: "I am surprised by Crystal's behavior. I used to think she was self-righteous and arrogant but otherwise harmless. It turns out, though, that she's a high-class sugar-baby."
Carol Watson: "Who's her sugar daddy? I'm really curious..."
Jack Elfman: "He must be an old man. Old men always like young girls."
Missy Black: "Is it my imagination, or is she better looking than before? Has she had cosmetic surgery? If so, it's not surprising, not if she has a rich sugar daddy. It's too bad for her, though. No amount of money can fix the face she was born with!"
Carol Watson: "Too Funny! And too true!"
Jack Elfman: "She's a vicious cunt! I can't believe what she did to her father!"
Missy Black: "Don't worry. She'll get what's coming to her. Karma's a bitch. And it will befall to those who ill things against other people,"
Skater Deiter: "Careful with the language, you guys. You never know when the moderator might show up. Anyway, has anyone even asked Crystal for her side of the story? She was always nice to everyone she met. And all of you talked bad behind her back, sounds like a jealous people,"
Emily Deerborn: " How would it be? She is not even popular, no reason to get jealous of her. If she has a side of the story, it's probably a lie. And I'll say what I want. I'm not afraid of the moderator."
Carlos Foster: "I'm with Skater. I don't think these videos are as incriminating as they seem, and I would be interested in hearing her side of the story."