Reconciliation A few weeks later, Beth and I were playing with red silk scarves. They didn't impose a true physical restraint, but Beth loved them. Since the symbolism was far more important than the actual physical binding, I had purchased a few in various colors. I hadn't gotten tired of Beth; although we had almost a purely physical relationship, she and I were still experimenting with various positions and combinations of mental and physical stimulation. I had just finished tying Beth to the bedpost when the doorbell rang. I ignored it and slowly continued to undress Beth. The bell continued to ring. I finally stopped after I unfastened her garter belt, and dressed hurriedly. I kissed her, loud and sucking, at her already-wet, very sweet portal. I playfully stroked her clit and said, "Don't go 'way now." I shut the bedroom door. "Who is it?" I asked the intercom, with a _strong_ current of annoyance in my voice. "Crystal. I _have_ to talk to you." What? No matter what it was about, I wouldn't be able to deal with it until later. "Now is _not_ a good time." I paused. "Have you been drinking?" Given my experience with Crystal and Beth, I figured that a county girl's courage came from the bottom of several bottles of Bud Light. "No, I have not," came the peeved answer. I could even hear the insulted overtone through the distortion of the intercom. "It's very important that I talk with you _now_." I told her to call me Saturday morning, and that I'd be glad to discuss whatever it was. The doorbell (beep, actually -- it's much more annoying than a bell) began to sound insistently. I sighed, erection gone, and let her in with smoke coming out of my ears. The first thing she did was look tentatively around the living room for the other female. The smoke started coming from a different location when I saw her. Cryssie had again let her hair grow and tied it into the long ponytail that I found attractive. She was dressed to thrill in tight black pants and a low, _low_ cut top that exposed a lot of her modest cleavage. I briefly wondered how Beth would look in the same outfit. With her chest, Beth would probably be illegal in at least forty states were she ever to dress like that. "What's so fucking important?" It took me a few seconds of staring at her to remember that I really should be pissed off. "Iknowyou'remadatmeandyoushouldbebut..." Crystal gasped to catch her breath. Some things never change. She looked at me evenly, her black eyes full of pride. Whatever she was going to say, she was going to say as my equal, not as some scared county girl. "I miss you," was all she said, in a factual tone of voice. Great. Just what I fucking needed. Not that I wasn't extremely pleased by the statement or the reappearance of my girlfriend Crystal, as opposed to the county girl who had broken up with me. However, I _did_ have Beth, Crystal's roommate, tied up about twenty-five feet away. My silence caused her to glance around the living room nervously. "Am I too late?" "Actually, I'm sort of -- occupied -- tonight," I started, trying to be tactful. "I'd like to discuss this tomorrow, if you don't mind." Crystal sat down and pulled out a cigarette. Lighting it, she said, "Yes, I _do_ mind." Her assertiveness almost knocked me down. "I've been going out with parent-approved fucking boring morons for the last six months. The guys whose idea of a good time is dinner, drinking and fucking." She paused. "In that order, in the dark, on top of you pounding away, saying, 'Oh baby, is it good?' Then they get up and _leave_ in the damn morning," Crys complained. "I enjoyed what we had, and I want it back. Sex is incredibly more complicated than fucking, and these morons don't care beyond which hole they get to use." I gaped at her, amazed that she had learned those lessons that well from me. She put her cigarette in the ashtray, and studied it for a moment. "I see she smokes the same kind I do." Logically, there was no way Crys could tie the butts in the ashtray to her roommate, but my composure slipped a notch nonetheless. Crystal stood up, sensuously wiggled her way to me and put her arms loosely around my neck. "What is it with you and women who smoke skinny cigarettes? Do we suck cock better or something?" she kidded. Her eyes turned serious again a second later, and we kissed slowly. I started to get an erection. "So you _do_ miss me," Crys cooed. I stepped back reluctantly and cleared my throat. "Ummm... Crys... This really isn't for you." I whispered, "I've got someone in the bedroom now, and she's been listening to everything we've said." My eyes pleaded with her to respect the fragility of the situation. "Is she your girlfriend?" Crys whispered hesitantly. I shook my head. "No, not really. It's pretty much physical, animal sexual attraction," I whispered in reply. "Then she can leave and find another animal to be physical with," Cryssie shot back, still being quiet. "I'll wait. Or she can watch. Y'know, we're very erotic and fun to watch when we fuck. I like being watched." I couldn't believe this was my little county girl talking. "She can't be very good if you stopped to answer the door on her. Does she swallow like me? Does she take it up the ass like me?" Her aggression secretly pleased me. On the other hand, Beth had probably pissed the sheets. "Crystal, _please_. Leave. You should at least respect my trying to defuse the situation," I begged. "I want to meet her," Crystal complained. I pointed at the door. She looked at me as she backed out of the apartment. "Please tell me it's not Pam, 'cause I didn't see her at the club tonight, and I know how close you two are," she said. There was fear in her voice. "I wanna know who my boyfriend's been makin' it with since I stupidly walked away from him," she said softly, her voice full of regret. "I'll see you for lunch tomorrow," I said. "Call me when you want me to come pick you up, and dress for a day in the country." Crystal smiled weakly, then kissed me on the cheek. She turned to leave, then pivoted and brushed the front of my pants with a mischievous smile before leaving. I exhaled in relief as I watched her leave. I returned to my bedroom and untied a _very_ panicked Beth, who was too upset and nervous to be able to dress. She had forgotten that she could have freed herself. I spent about an hour calming her down, then helped her put her clothes on. Beth ran out the door without so much as a kiss or goodbye. I shook my head, all alone in my apartment, wondering what had happened, and how it had happened so fast. The doorbell rang, interrupting my musings. "Who is it?" I sighed, fatigued by all the shuffling and rushing and hiding. "Crystal. Can I come in again?" I buzzed her in, wondering what else was about to go wrong. She gave me a warm kiss. "You didn't tell me that you were boppin' my roommate," she said. It was not an accusation. I heard amazement, and some amusement in her voice. "I saw her leave, I was watchin'. I hadn't even noticed her car. I shoulda known that something strange was going on these past few months. I just thought that she was still having trouble dealing with the Scott thing," she continued. Crys sat on the sofa and waved me over. "C'mere silly, I won't bite. After all, you weren't my boyfriend anymore. After my parents, I'm surprised that you want me back. Besides, it's kinda my fault she came after you." "How is it your fault?" I asked. "Did you know that Beth watched us that night she had passed out earlier?" Crys' startled reaction told me she hadn't. "Yeah, she did. She had -- hopes that I could turn her into the sexually dynamic, irresistible woman you are." That drew a warm smile from Crystal. "Well, it's kinda my fault because we got drunk on wine at home one night right after you n'me broke up, see? Beth asked me all kindsa questions, a lot of 'em rude and none of her business, but I was drunk and she was drunk and we were girlfriends..." Her voice trailed off. I agitatedly waved my hands for her to go on. "I talked about some of the things we did," Crys finished, hanging her head. "S'OK. I asked Beth about it right from jump, so I knew she had talked to you about _some_ stuff." Very quickly I added, "I don't need to know details, please." A guy should never be privy to his girlfriend's discussions of the two of them among her female friends; it can be a little -- disconcerting. "Anyway, like I said, it wound up being purely physical." "She pretty good?" Crystal asked, curious. I shook my head, waving my finger to indicate that I wasn't going to answer that question. Shrugging in her best "it was worth a shot" gesture, she resumed, "She _did_ fantasize about you. Beth's even got a nice black dildo. I heard her masturbate a coupla times with it." My eyes bugged out. "Don't be too shocked. After all, _you_ knew that she watched us," Crys pouted. "And you didn't tell me. You _know_ how much I like to be watched." She paused, and the room was silent. "Don... did she..." Crystal hesitated, clearly unsure of how to bring the subject up. "I'm _not_ going to tell you what went on between us, Crys. You should _know_ better than that," I warned. "Oh, I wasn't going to ask you about that. It's just that... well... ummm..." I waited, bobbing my head rhythmically to urge Crystal on. "Did she, like, _say_ anything about me? Like, I mean, ummm... _being_ with me?" I blinked, and wondered aloud why she had asked. "Well, y'see, I bought some adult movies after we broke up, 'cause it was a while before I thought I had found somebody worth going to bed with, and I used to find -- don't laugh at this -- the tapes partially watched sometimes, but it was like, always stopped right after the lesbian scenes. For the longest time, I was afraid Beth was turning gay on me. I never heard her talk about any interesting guys except when I heard her beat off with the dildo and call your name. Now I know why she was so damn secretive about her weekends, but I -- ummm... really thought that Beth had a _girl friend_." I saw no need to reveal the Phil and Heather story. Beth and Crystal's long relationship was about to come to a crashing halt. Maybe they'd be able to patch it up later, once I was out of the picture. I put a tentative arm around Crys and she leaned against me quickly, with a happy sigh. It might be a long time before I'm out of this picture, I thought happily. "No sex tonight, Don, OK? I just wanna _be_ with you," she purred. I kissed her on the cheek. "Let's go to bed," I softly replied, not letting go of her as we walked. I had to stop at the bathroom first, so I reluctantly let go of Crystal as she continued to the bedroom. "Don!!! Red silk scarves????" Oh shit, I thought as I tried to piss faster, you forgot to put the damn scarves away. I hurried into the bedroom, positive that I was in for it now. Crystal was sitting on the bed, arms and legs folded, and she was rubbing one of the scarves between her fingers. "I'm curious," she said with a smartassed grin. "Exactly what did you and Beth do with silk scarves?" Crys pouted mockingly. "And _why_ didn't you ever do it with me?" She giggled and hit me in the face with the scarf she was holding. "Because I didn't think you'd be into being tied up," I replied honestly. No sense in trying to hide anything now. It would only waste time. "You're into -- bondage?" Crys asked, incredulous. "Noooo, _I'm_ not. Neither is Beth, really. She just likes to think she's not in control, and not responsible for her actions. She wasn't ever tied up so tight that she couldn't get away, but the symbolic gesture really let her let go." I paused briefly, then said, "_You_ let go quite nicely on your own. Beth needed the illusion of being powerless to stop it." The bedroom became quiet. "So, did it get _you_ off harder?" Crystal's question shattered the silence and my inner calm. I paused, thinking for a moment. "I -- enjoyed it," I admitted. Crystal would have to accept that things had happened since we'd been apart. As would I, since neither one of us was inclined to celibacy. She hummed noncommittally. "Well, I hate to disappoint you, but that tying up thing is just a little out of my range. Is that going to be a problem?" A year ago, right after we had met, Crystal would have been incapable of having this discussion. I had helped create a monster. She waited patiently for my reply. "Noo-o-o-o," I drawled, drawing out the word. "I don't think so. I mean, you're much more confident and self-assured than Beth. I can't see any reason to indulge in that particular fantasy of mine if it's going to be a sore point. I can live without it 'cause my curiosity has been satisfied." I tugged gently on her ponytail, and Crys smiled. "Remember what you told me? _'Everything_ is negotiable between two mutually involved parties,' right?" I nodded. Damn, she had been an excellent student. "And, I like my hair like this too, Don. My parents can't stand it, but there's a lot they've had to get used to recently," she stated with a gleam in her eye. "But -- no sex tonight," she cautioned, turning out the light, then rolling over against me. Crystal nestled herself comfortably into the contours of my body. "Don?" she said, pausing for a second. "I'm glad to be back," she finished. We went to Crys' place the next morning. Beth was not there, but there were signs that she had spent the night in her own bed. Crystal changed clothes, and we went to the country for the rest of the day. We talked about our last date during the ride. I told her how I had felt, and what emotion her eventual reaction had evoked in me. "I apologize for my folks' behavior. It's a very late apology, but it's something I never did, and I should have." Crystal became silent for a few seconds, then quietly said, "I'm also sorry that I let them intimidate me, and that I -- disappointed -- you." The hurt of rejection had subsided a long time ago, but I had never gotten over the disappointment of seeing Crystal revert to her former self. Her apology cast off that piece of mental baggage I had been carrying around for the past few months. We went horseback riding, stopping for lunch on a tree-filled ridge overlooking smaller, bright green rolling hills. The air was saturated with the intoxicating (especially for a city kid) scent of late spring, and the horses grazed quietly a few yards away. Crystal hadn't mentioned her roommate, and I was more than happy not to broach the subject. There was one question that I _had_ to have an answer for, though. If I didn't get an answer I liked, then our relationship was really finished. After lunch, Crys rolled over on her back, placed her head in my lap and peacefully closed her eyes. All the apologies had been made and there was no tension between us. "Crys?" She purred in acknowledgment. "Why did you come back? I _have_ to know. It's extremely important to me." Cryssie didn't move a bit. "Worried that I'm just back for the sex?" She had figured it out, so I didn't say anything. "I'd be lying if I said that it wasn't _one_ of the reasons," she replied, still comfortable using my lap as a pillow. "And it was one of the things that made me realize I missed you, but it wasn't _the_ reason I missed you." Eyes still closed, Crystal looked perfectly at peace with the universe. "It wasn't that sex was always unsatisfying after we broke up -- I just didn't always feel -- _comfortable_ -- expressing myself. I never met anybody I was completely at ease with." "Six months is hardly an eternity for an attractive, intelligent 25-year old woman," I interrupted. Crys opened her eyes, drawing me into her twin black pools. "No, but it was long enough for _this_ 25-year old to decide she didn't want to play the games any more. I don't wanna guy who thinks I'm a slut just 'cause I'm horny. I don't wanna guy who gets upset when I wanna be sexy for no apparent reason." She paused, then sat up lazily. "If you intimidate a guy in bed, then he's gonna take it out on you _out_ of bed, 'cause he's afraid of you." I nodded slowly in comprehension. "County guys can't handle getting dragged to the dance; they don't know what to do except it means they're gonna get laid as long as they don't fuck up. I'm tired of going out with guys who walk on egg shells around me just to get laid. "But the biggest thing is that everybody -- and I include my folks here -- wants me to be what _they_ want me to be, _when_ they want me to be it," she continued, frustration evident in her voice. Crys paused a moment to catch her breath, then resumed speaking, calmer and quieter. "Except you. You always wanted me to be Crystal, nothing more, and you wouldn't accept less. I -- appreciate that much more now, after going back to who I used to be and trying to fit that in with who I am now. "You do things for me and with me because you want to do them; I've learned to do that. I don't do things because I wanna get a guy or keep him. County guys only do things to get you and keep you until _they_ decide whether or not you're a permanent 'keeper'." She looked away, distressed. "Is any of this making sense?" I replied by running my finger very lightly down the entire length of her spine, making her tremble. "I guess I missed the freedom I felt with you. It was kinda like -- soooo different at first," Crys said, "bein' with a guy who like, didn't feel obligated, or didn't feel like you owed him somethin'. I really didn't mean to get so -- involved, and I don't think you did. It just sorta -- happened. We were boyfriend and girlfriend by our own decisions about ourselves. I finally understand what you meant that night about me considering myself your girlfriend." Crys took a deep breath and exhaled. We were surrounded by the sounds of the open country for an infinite period of time. "Izzat good enough?" she finally asked. We necked under that tree for at least an hour before we decided that we had better return the horses. Beth's white Fiero was in the driveway when I pulled up in front of Crystal's place. Our mood vanished instantly. "See ya soon," Cryssie said, easily, confidently as she slid out of the van with a kiss.