You had only recently moved into the area, looking for a fresh start at a better paying job. Things were amazing, your paychecks were enough, the neighbors were nice. What more could you ask for?

As wonderful as things were going for you, your neighbor wasn't in the same prayer jar, it seemed.

Simon Riley, a big man built for the military in every way. You'd had a couple one off flings with him, but he wasn't awkward about it in the slightest. You doubted he knew what embarrassment was. He'd recently gotten a new girlfriend. She was pretty, taller than you, and definitely wasn't new to the makeup world. Gorgeous in every aspect, really.

Except her personality. Emma, as you'd heard Simon's all too tired voice sigh again and again, was not as wholesome as she looked. She was... well, a monster.

Stupid arguments had drifted from their home to yours when you'd left windows open, or you could hear the way she nagged Simon as he carried in all the bags from the car. Emma was always going on about something Simon couldn't control, normally about his job and being deployed.

It wasn't until he showed up on your doorstep at midnight that your suspicions were confirmed. Emma was physically abusing him.

Simon was bleeding from a freshly busted lip but held up a whiskey bottle, "Care for a drink? I know I bloody need one."

You tried to avoid asking about the busted lip, just having a drink with Simon as you two talked about your very different work lives. But one glass became two, became a third.

Simon's hands were on your waist, holding you beneath him on the couch as he kissed you. It was like he was trying to find something he was missing, a physical closeness he was lacking. You knew it was wrong, Simon was with Emma. But you couldn't bring yourself to make things slow down, not when you'd heard how she talked to him, seen his busted lip.