Cuck's Closet: Watch and Weep by Tori Cooper Read Free Book Online Page B

silent stand off, as they each quenched their thirst.
    While he waited, Jack wondered a million things. Who was this cad barging into his marriage proposal? And when would this brute finally leave?
    Usually he was so meticulous with his plans Jack should have anticipated this might happen. Ashley was so social as opposed to him. In Chicago, Ashley’s many theater friends would throw lively parties and he always felt like the biggest bore in the room with no interesting stories to tell. When he did talk, his audience drifted away and Ashley always seemed a bit embarrassed. She tried to instruct him that a good story typically started with a set-back of some kind, so that the characters involved could undergo an arc from darkness into light or vice versa. It was with this surprise marriage proposal that Jack wanted to give his Ashley a fantastic story that they both could tell at any party, perhaps even a story that Ashley could work into one of her routines with her Hollywood performing arts troupe.
    “Listen, it’s not like I haven’t thought about it but…,” she chewed her lower lip, “You’re my neighbor.”
    “I can move if that’s what it’ll take to make this happen.”
    “No!” She blurted and grabbed hold of one of his enormous biceps. “I love the fact that you live right down the hall. You make me feel safe. And you were helpful that day when you gave me a ride on your motorcycle. But we’re neighbors, ok? Let’s just be neighbors.”
    Jack realized that this man must be Dante, the neighbor that Ashley had talked about in their iChats. At first she described the guy as a total meathead who threw loud parties and seemed to have frequent promiscuous sex. The girls she saw traipsing in and out of his pad could be Asian, Spanish, white or black depending on the day but they all did have one thing in common, Ashley would admit, they were always incredibly attractive. Ashley would talk of Dante dismissively, describing him as a player but still Jack had become concerned with the frequency this man was mentioned. It was the first trigger that made Jack realize he needed to propose to Ashley. She needed to know that he was a good man, that he was devoted to her and not some amoral uncaring player.
    Jack yearned to tell Ashley that he loved her forever and that he always wanted her in his life no matter what. If only this obnoxious heathen would leave so that Jack could get on with it. 
    “Okay ,” Dante said looking down at Ashley who stood only inches away, backed up against her kitchen counter.
    “Ok? Just neighbors ?” Ashley confirmed, her voice wavering ever so slightly, imbued with a subtle note of disappointment.
    “Yeah ,” the stud smiled, “Neighbors with benefits!”
    I n a flash his hand shot out and grabbed her ass and pulled her body into his. Ashley gasped, her eyes widening in surprise.
    “ Dante! You’re so bad!” She threw up her tiny hands onto his broad chest. Resisting. Weakly. “Dante stop! You’re being silly!”
    His dark hand enveloped her white one and drew her arm down to ward the waistband of his gym shorts.
    “ Dante,” she said sharply, the nervous laughter gone. “No. Stop!”
    But he didn’t stop. He continued to force her hand down. She looked up into his eyes in panic, taking short quick breaths .
    Jack suddenly realized this was turning into a rape. The girl of his dreams was about to be forcefully taken before his very eyes. He couldn’t breath. He couldn’t move. Should he jump out in his top hat and tuxedo? Could he fight this man wearing formal attire without looking ridiculous? Could he even fight this man if he was wearing a suit of armor? Jack had to admit, this was a remarkable specimen of a man and he was a bit intimidated by his towering mass of rippling muscle and athletic agility. But Ashley was out th ere alone, fending off this hulk all by herself. She was no match to his physical prowess. Jack had to do something but what?
    So he watched