“She isn’t in her right mind. You can’t get her high on drugs and then say she’s enjoying that. She’s too high to make a choice.”
“I don’t give a fuck if she’s consenting or not, Anna. Neither do they. She’s a crackhead. She gets what she needs and she pays for it. I gave her a choice— she could go home with Ziggy or stay at the whorehouse and work for me. Guess what she chose.”
“That’s unfair,” I sob. “Of course, she’d choose drugs, she’s an addict. You preyed on her weakness.”
Reggie rolls his eyes and loosens his tie. “Enough of the dramatics. Get naked.” I ignore his request, and instead, I stare at him blankly through the mirror. The sex doesn’t bother me. I willingly slept with him for many years. We’re married, so I don’t feel violated even though I don’t want to have sex with him. But he’s got peculiar tastes, tastes that he acquired later in our marriage.
He smirks, probably delighting in my lack of response. He grips the silk dress at the shoulders and tugs it down my body. I stare at myself in the mirror. Bite marks cover my breasts and stomach. Bruises where he’s restrained my ankles and wrists too tightly are visible.
“Gorgeous,” he whispers to himself. He turns me to face him, pushing me against the washbasin. He sucks a nipple into his mouth as he unfastens his shirt, and as he shrugs out of it, he bites the soft skin of my breast hard. I hiss and grip the unit behind me. He smiles, his eyes alight with lust. He sinks to his knees and runs his hand down my leg before gently kissing my inner thigh. I grip the unit again when he sinks his teeth there and sucks hard enough to draw blood. He leans back to admire his handy work and I wonder for the hundredth time what possible pleasure he gets out of this. He pushes his face between my legs, and I scream out loud when his teeth scrape against my sensitive area.
I manage a few hours of unsettled sleep. Reggie didn’t ease up for hours last night and my body is feeling the after-effects of that as I stretch out. The bedroom door opens, and Crystal comes in carrying a tray full of breakfast. Reggie’s new cruel thing is to have her serve me. She avoids my eye and places the tray on the bedside table. “Crystal,” I whisper. “Please stay and eat.”
She shakes her head. “He’ll never know. He’ll be in his office now for hours.” She stares longingly at the croissant. “Please,” I beg. I hold it out and she takes it carefully. “I don’t know why Reggie is doing this to you,” I say.
“Because you’re back,” she mutters.
“But he doesn’t want me. I don’t get it.”
“He’s obsessed with you,” she adds. “He told me that. He needs you nearby, and he doesn’t know why, but he can’t be without you.”
“That makes no sense,” I mutter. “He treats me like crap. How did you end up here?” I ask.
“We met in one of his clubs.” She shrugs, nibbling at the pastry. “I fell for him.”
“Even after everything he’s done these last few days?” I ask, and she nods her head. I feel like I’m looking at my eighteen-year-old self. I was infatuated with Reggie and how powerful he seemed to be. No one could touch me with Reggie by my side. “There are other men out there who will protect you and not treat you badly,” I sigh. “Reggie will never treat you good.”
“You’re wrong,” she mumbles. “He did before you came back. He’s testing my loyalty. We’ll get back to how we were,” she nods.
“Breakfast for two?” comes Reggie’s voice and Crystal drops the croissant to the floor and spins to face him. He lingers in the doorway, looking back and forth between us.
“She was helping me eat,” I say. “My arms hurt.”
“Is that true, Crystal?” he asks.
She shakes her head. “Sorry,” she mumbles.
“You’re hungry?” he asks, and she nods. “Why didn’t you just say?” he asks. He steps into the room and closes the door.
“I have to sort Malia,” I mutter, not liking the uneasy feeling spreading through the room. I throw my legs over the side of the bed.
He points a finger at me as he saunters towards Crystal. “Stay,” he growls. I grit my teeth, knowing whatever he’s about to do will be cruel. He wraps his hand into her hair and pushes her to her knees while he unfastens his trousers.
“Please, Reggie,” I groan. “I can’t watch this.” I cover my face with my hands.
“If you don’t, then I’ll make it worse for her,” he says. He wants to humiliate her and make her feel worthless. “Every protest, every sob, and I’ll make it worse. Am I clear?” he asks. I nod my head.
Crystal takes his cock eagerly and I hold back my tears. She’s so in love with him that she’ll do anything to be close to him. He fucks her mouth so hard that she gags several times. Tears stream from her eyes and as he gets closer to release, he chokes her until she passes out and then slaps her to bring her around. I clench my fists so hard, my nails cut into my palms. I want so badly to stab him and to make it all stop. When he finally releases into her mouth, it’s with such force that she chokes. He places his hand over her mouth, forcing her to swallow. He pulls her to her feet and brings her face close to his. “Next time you are hungry, you come to me. Understand?” She nods her head and he shoves her away from him. “Get out of my sight.”
“Why are you treating her so badly when I know you love
