The late-night hour had cast an eerie stillness over the apartment building. Julia was lying in her bed, feeling her eyelids grow heavy as she drifted off into a deep slumber. All of a sudden, the silence was shattered by a persistent banging noise that echoed through the walls, jolting Julia awake. She grumbled under her breath, her voice still rough with sleep, “Not again.”
As the noise continued to pound relentlessly against the wall, Julia’s frustration grew with each passing moment. She was determined to put an end to the disturbance, so she slipped on her slippers and marched into the living room.
Despite stepping into the living room, the aggressive rhythm of the noise continued to assault her senses. She shot a sharp glance towards Gerald, who was lounging in his armchair, deeply engrossed in a book.
“What are we going to do about this?” she demanded, gesturing towards the ceiling. He looked up over his glasses, his brow furrowed in confusion.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
Julia’s patience was wearing thin.
“Are you kidding me?” she snapped. “It’s so loud!” Gerald shook his head apologetically.
“I don’t know. Is there anything we can do?”
Julia’s jaw dropped in disbelief, and her annoyance began to simmer. “What are we going to do? Do you really want me to explain this to you?” she asked.
Gerald let out a sigh, and his expression shifted to one of concern. “I’m sorry, Juls. I don’t know what to say. Maybe it’s a one-time thing?” he suggested.
She crossed her arms over her chest, and her irritation mounted. “Goddamn it, Gerald. It’s not a one-time thing. It’s been happening every night! I can’t ignore it any longer.”
He put down his book, and his eyes locked onto hers. “I don’t know what you want me to do,” he said.
As Gerald spoke, Julia felt her anger boil within her. Her mind wandered back to the day when the new neighbor had moved in and caused the noise they were hearing. She remembered how her heart had skipped a beat as she saw him carrying boxes, looking rugged and dangerous. He had a chiseled jawline, piercing dark brown eyes, and a three-day beard and mustache that only added to his masculine and alluring appearance. She couldn’t resist gazing at his incredible, bulging biceps, feeling a flush of heat rising in her cheeks.
Julia’s gaze pierced Gerald’s with an icy glare, her expression unyielding and fierce. Her silence was a powerful force that suffocated the air between them, and he could sense the frustration emanating from her like an electric charge. He knew he had to tread carefully, choosing his words with great caution if he hoped to soothe the tension that gripped them both.
As she stood there in her nightgown, the relentless, rhythmic sound pounded against their ears like the beat of a fierce drum. Suddenly, the unmistakable sound of a woman’s passionate cries echoed through the walls, sending shivers down their spines.
Gerald’s heart sank as he realized the source of their disturbance. He stole a quick glance at Julia, captivated by her beauty even in her moment of anger, but her features remained stoic and unyielding. They were both intimately familiar with the new neighbor’s nocturnal activities, but the boldness of his audacity was pushing their limits to the edge.
Julia’s mind swirled with memories, but one stood out in sharp relief. It was the day she and Gerald had stepped into the lift, only to find their repugnant neighbor walking in with a stunning woman in his arms. The woman was barely wearing any clothes, her skimpy outfit leaving little to the imagination. Despite having the woman with him, the neighbor couldn’t help but ogle Julia’s form, his gaze lingering on her curves. Then he proceeded to indulge in a steamy make-out session with the woman, his hands reaching for her body inappropriately, causing her to giggle.
The neighbor had a sport bag slung over his shoulder with boxing gloves dangling from it, and his disheveled appearance and bruised face suggested he had just come from a boxing match. In the cramped confines of the lift, he continued to fondle the woman, whose moans filled the air as he ran his hands over her breasts.
The elevator ride seemed to last an eternity, but finally, Julia and Gerald breathed a sigh of relief when the doors opened, allowing them to escape the indecent and awkward situation.
“How dare you pretend to be clueless!” Julia’s voice boomed with anger. “Why do I have to explain it to you like you’re a child? It’s not rocket science, for God’s sake! They’re screwing like rabbits in there! It’s so obvious!” Her irritation was tangible as she stressed the last few words. “Sure, they have every right to do whatever they please, but he could at least try to fix the damn bed so it stops hitting the wall!”
Julia stormed off to the bedroom, her golden locks cascading down her back without a single word or glance at Gerald. He stood motionless, uncertain of what to do, but eventually, he followed her.
As he entered the room, he saw her lying on the bed, her face buried in the pillow. After hesitating for a moment, he gently touched her arm and said, “Julia, I’m sorry. I should have done something about the noise, but I didn’t want to escalate the situation.”
Julia stayed silent, and Gerald sensed that something else was bothering her. He waited patiently, unsure of what was coming.
At last, she took a deep breath and turned to face him. “Gerald, we need to talk about something else,” she said, her voice quivering.
Gerald felt his stomach knot up as he waited for her to continue. He knew this discussion was going to be difficult.
Julia’s voice brimmed with conviction. “The reality is, Gerald, that you’re lacking in the bedroom department. We’ve talked about this before, yet you’ve shown no initiative to improve things. It’s time to face up to your shortcomings and take action like a real man should. Your problem with premature ejaculation is not just about sex, but it reflects your approach to life – avoiding anything that may cause discomfort or inconvenience.”
He felt a jolt of shock and horror as her words sank in. “I’m so sorry, Julia,” he said, feeling utterly helpless. “You’re right, and I’ll do better. I’ll make an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible.”
Julia’s frustration was palpable as she let out a deep sigh. “Gerald, this isn’t the first time we’ve had this conversation. I don’t want to hear any more excuses,” she said firmly.
He knew that he had a lot of work to do to make things right between them, but he was determined to do whatever it took to fulfill Julia’s desires and bring happiness back to their relationship. He knew he needed to step up and take charge of his life, not just in the bedroom but in every aspect.
Gerald lay on the bed, feeling a lump rise in his throat. Julia’s striking appearance had always intimidated him since they met at the office. He knew that many of his colleagues had made advances towards her, and he couldn’t shake off the knowledge of her previous sexual experiences. Yet, he was grateful for being in a relationship with her, despite feeling insecure about his sexual performance.
While the whispers around the office suggested that Julia had a varied sexual history, Gerald couldn’t understand why she had chosen him over the arrogant CEOs and lewd coworkers. He knew they were known for their shameless behavior and he couldn’t help but feel inadequate. Nevertheless, he was determined to try his best to meet Julia’s expectations in bed, even if it meant living in constant fear.
She heaved another deep sigh and made a valiant attempt to distract herself. But the truth could not be denied, she had been fantasizing about her neighbor ever since she laid eyes on him. It wasn’t that she was a stranger to such thoughts, as she had often entertained similar fantasies about different men. There were guys from work with whom she had slept before she got together with Gerald, but the obsession she had with her neighbor was on a whole different level.
It was his overpowering appearance that ensnared her attention. The sexual energy he radiated was palpable, and his gigantic body seemed to exude a primal appeal that she found irresistible. Despite her best efforts to quell these feelings, she was powerless to resist the allure of her neighbor’s masculine presence.
The cacophony from upstairs had finally ceased, and Julia could now hear Gerald’s rhythmic breathing beside her in bed. Her mind wandered back to a time when she returned from work, still adorned in her high heels, black pencil skirt, and white blouse, and entered the building to see her neighbor just arriving with shopping bags.
They boarded the elevator together, and Julia tried her best to exude confidence and aloofness, but she could feel her neighbor’s gaze scanning her body. The thrill of arousal and danger coursed through her veins, and that chance encounter became the foundation for her go-to fantasy in the coming weeks. She imagined various scenarios, each more titillating than the last.
She had a vivid imagination, filled with steamy scenarios revolving around her mysterious neighbor. One of her favorites was the elevator suddenly stopping, leading to a passionate encounter with her neighbor after they stripped down in the cramped space.
In another fantasy, she imagined herself silently following him into his apartment, where he would ravish her with such intensity that she would be unable to resist his touch.
But the boldest of all her fantasies involved her neighbor walking into her and Gerald’s apartment while Gerald was at work, and making love to her in their bed. She didn’t feel guilty about her desire to be unfaithful to Gerald. In fact, she was even more thrilled by the thought of him coming home to find his partner being taken like a wild and untamed animal.
As the sun crept through the curtains…
