Page 2

Two

Tyler

Staring at the closed door, I considered knocking again. Ava was clearly struggling. But I knew that the more I pushed, the more she pushed me away. I wasn’t sure what she’d been through; I only knew that it was awful. She moved in four years ago, and I hadn’t talked to her about anything other than the basics before she retreated into herself and ran away.

When I heard the words ‘you have cancer,’ I truly thought my life was over. My long-term girlfriend and I broke up, and despite having an amazing family, I was alone. Fighting a battle I wasn’t even sure I could win. Ava moved in soon after I started chemo. One look at her and I wanted to live. To beat the fuck out of my cancer and somehow convince my neighbor to give me a shot. Chemo sucked, but one day I came home, and she was there . Unloading boxes while looking like a fucking angel.

Every day since, I wanted to know her more, know who she was, and know what she was running from. Why was she screaming and couldn’t sleep? It wasn’t my place then, and it isn’t my place now. I should have stayed home and listened through the wall we shared like I have for years. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t just listen anymore.

Years ago, I realized there was a reason I wanted to care for others. It took a lot of research and a couple of sex clubs to discover I was a pleasure Dom. The thought of Ava not being happy or being afraid triggered my dominant side. I’m not sure why I wanted to protect her, but I’d do anything to make sure she was. It made me want to take care of her, pleasure her, make her forget everything for a while, and trust me to carry her burden. She was my fixation, and she wasn’t going anywhere.

She confused the fuck out of me, my cock included. Seeing her in nothing but booty shorts and some type of tank top made me tent up in my shorts. Her nipples were pebbled, and the soft skin and stretch marks on her stomach were visible. It wasn’t the moment to ogle her, but I couldn’t stop myself. Her hair was still stuck to her face from the sweat the dream must have caused, and all I could think of was how much I could mess up her hair and be the cause of her flushed cheeks and sweat dripping down her body.

I’ve always been the person who wanted to save everyone and take care of them, and she seemed so alone. Who was looking out for her? There’s never anyone over; no one visits her. Something about her called to me, and damn, if I didn’t want to answer.

Instead, though, she was stuck in some kind of loop. I’ve heard the way she shouts during her dreams before. The screaming and whimpering. It happens almost every night. I don’t sleep very much, so I stay awake and wait for the cries to begin. Maybe that makes me a stalker, but it kills me that whatever she’s going through, she’s going through it alone.

Something about tonight seemed worse, though. Her cries were louder. She seemed so fucking helpless. I wanted to break down the door, sweep her into my arms, and promise her that no one would hurt her ever again.

Sighing, I took one last glance at the door and made my way across the small patch of grass to my part of the duplex. The house was too quiet. My siblings assumed I liked it that way. No women or animals. The truth, though? I hated it. I hated coming home to a house that would never be a home. My leg throbbed in pain, reminding me of why I was alone in the first place. There was no reason why my leg was still hurting. They caught the cancer early and thankfully took it all out. All that was left was a scar.

Rosa left me when she found out, and I didn’t blame her. It was expected. It wasn’t like I was planning to marry her or anything. Sure, I have needs, and I still fuck plenty of women, but none of them meet my criteria. Ava was the only person on my mind half of the time, and no matter how hard I tried to get to know her better, she closed me out every time.

Reaching for my phone, I pulled up Ava’s number. I’ve never texted her before. We only swapped in case of an emergency when I was on vacation. She might not even answer, but I guess I can be a masochist at times.

Are you sure you’re okay? I don’t mind talking if you’re not ready to go back to sleep.

Placing my phone down on the coffee table, I walked to the kitchen and got a glass of water. What I wasn’t expecting was my phone to be lit up when I returned.

I’m okay. It happens sometimes. She replied.

Sometimes? More like every night.

What causes them? I asked.

Three dots appeared right away.

Bad past.

Who the fuck hurt her?

Who? I typed and sent it before I could regret it.

???

Who hurt you?

How do you know someone hurt me? She answered.

I took a deep breath, trying to control my anger. My muscles tensed up just thinking about someone hurting her. She was 5’2 if I had to guess. Hardly tall enough to defend herself.

Did someone hurt you?

It was a long time ago.

I want a name, Ava.

Why do you care?

Before I could think about what I was doing, I pressed the call button.

“Hello?” The soft, feminine voice answered.

“Ava, you’re killing me.”

“I’m fine. It was a long time ago.”

“You’re not fine!” I shouted a little louder than I meant to. “You have nightmares every night!”

The other end went so quiet I had assumed she hung up. Who would blame her? I was nothing to her, and yet I was asking her to hand over her past and give me all her fears.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled. I’m not mad at you; I just can’t picture someone wanting to hurt you.” I spoke calmly.

“Tyler.” It was only my name, but she said it as if she were pleading with me to take away all of her pain. To make her forget everything for a while.

“Let me help you.” I whispered.

“You… could come back over?”

I was jumping from the couch before she could finish her sentence. I hurried over and knocked on her door. Still holding the phone to my ear.

“Then let me in, Precious.” I didn’t mean to call her that, and I thought I had fucked up again, but then the door slowly opened.

“Hi.” She said breathlessly.

“Hi.” I smiled.

“Um, come in.”

She backed up into the house to give me space to pass by. My arm touched hers as I went by, and I think I heard a slight gasp from her.

“I should have changed.” She mumbled, biting her lip.

I wanted to run my thumb on it and soothe the hurt. My eyes took a slow perusal of her body. She was still wearing the same thing, and fuck me if my cock didn’t love it. She was all curves. I wanted to sink my teeth into her. Watch her stomach jiggle slightly by the force of my thrust into her. Watch as her heavy breasts bounced. I was so fucked. Ava was the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen.

She cleared her throat, indicating that she had caught me. “Oh, sorry, um, what you have on is fine.” I assured her.

“Sure, if you like fat showing.”

“You’re not fat.” I growled.

“Agree to disagree.”

“You’re fucking perfect.”

Her cheeks flushed, right down to her breasts. I followed the path, only to remind myself to stop checking her out. I was acting like a teenager again, ready to cum in my pants at the sight of her in her tight, revealing clothes.

“I’m sorry again to have woken you up with my screaming.”

“I was already awake,” I admitted. “And please, stop apologizing for things you have no control over.”

“Sor-”

“Ava.”

“Yes?”

“Go sit down, and I’ll bring you some water.”

“I… um, okay.” She nodded.

I watched as she made her way from the entryway to the couch. The way she listened with no problem had my dick standing at attention again. What else would she listen to?