ThumpThumpThump

I bolted upright, my brain instantly aware of the sound.

Fuck. Not again.

ThumpThumpThump

I turned to face the wall and scowled.

ThumpThumpThump

ThumpThumpThump

I frowned at the wall, confused. The sound wasn't coming from the other side of the wall, it was echoing down my hallway.

ThumpThumpThump.

My phone vibrated on my nightstand and a message flashed up with my son's name attached.

Open the door!

I flung back the covers and trudged down the hallway as the thumping continued, cursing at the door. I loved my only son, but why he was at my flat at this ungodly hour was baffling.

I yanked the door open, ready to ask that exact question, but was pleasantly surprised to see him standing there holding his own son, his wife at his side.

"Good morning, sunshine. Not interrupting anything are we?" Draco's eyes looked pointedly down and I followed his gaze.

Fuck. The tent in my boxers could have housed a circus.

"Ah… I wasn't aware you were coming over this early." I flicked my eyes quickly to Katie, my cheeks hotter than lava. Her lips were pursed, trying not to laugh.

"It's not early, Father," Draco pointed out. "It's almost eleven."

I glanced between them, startled that I had slept so late. The last few nights had been torture; my neighbour's nighttime activities hadn't slowed, and I had learned several new phrases I would have never associated with sex. And as such, my sofa had become less and less comfortable as the nights passed.

"Sorry, Lucius," Katie apologised. "We should have called, but we were out for brunch with my parents and thought we'd stop by. I certainly hope we're not interrupting."

"Ah, no. Of course not. Please come in." I stepped back, hiding myself behind the door and wishing the floor would open up and swallow me.

"You sure you're not hiding a secret someone in here?" Draco grinned and walked past me, lowering Scorpius to the floor. My grandson immediately raced into the living room to find the toy trains I kept in a basket for when he visited. "We can come back later."

"No, there's no one here," I repeated. "Make yourselves at home. I'll just…"

I pointed in the direction of the hallway and walked back towards my bedroom, feeling utterly horrified when they started to laugh.

Closing the bedroom door, I leaned against it and shut my eyes, willing my body to calm down.

In the three nights since I had seen her retreating figure in the hallway, I had dreamed of her. My unconscious mind was consumed with visions of a faceless woman in a pink hoodie and tight pants appearing in my bedroom, stripping naked, and having her way with me. And last night's dream had been especially explicit — a pink-hooded head between my legs, doing very dirty things — which explained the ridiculous predicament I was now trying to rectify.

And it was ridiculous. She was a phantom, a ghost, a spirit who had no name or face or any reason to be more than a passing vision in my periphery. But the woman I had seen for only three seconds had become a constant in my conscious thoughts and a sultry vixen in my unconscious ones.

It didn't matter how much I tried to push my thoughts of her aside, she was there. Always there. And I was at a complete loss as to why.

I was not one to usually dwell on a passing glimpse of a woman. I had been so committed to my ex-wife that I had rarely even looked at another woman. But if I had noticed another woman, she was forgotten in less time than it took to look at her.

Somehow, the hallway woman had changed everything.

Three seconds. Three tiny seconds and I knew. There was something about her presence, about her movement, about the quiet hum, about the way she bounced so carefreely down the stairs, that stirred the long dormant feelings, and trust, inside me. And that a woman who was merely a three second vision could have this effect on me was astounding.

Looking down at the front of my boxers, I shook my head; she had definitely changed everything.

"Christ," I swore under my breath and gripped my cock, squeezing hard. Three fucking seconds and my entire life had become centred around her.

I needed a shower, but the longer I took, the more shit my son would give me when I returned to the living room. Growling in frustration, I grabbed the jeans I'd discarded the previous night and a clean polo shirt. Then, glancing at the doorway, I shrugged and thought fuck it, they can wait. I was sure they had made themselves right at home anyway.

I peeled my boxers off, tossing them into the hamper as I strode into the bathroom and cranked the shower on hot, flinching as the water hit me. My cock was still screaming for attention, not even flagging when my son and his wife found my situation highly amusing. But it was as much a surprise to me as it was to them. Morning wood was normal, but full-blown arousal with a deep ache for immediate release? No. That feeling hadn't been a part of my mornings in quite some time.

I squeezed my eyes shut and ducked my head beneath the hot stream; I would not relieve myself while I had guests just outside the door.

Your balls will be blue, a small voice spoke inside my head. And blue balls equals pain.

Curling my hand into a fist, I ignored the ache for half a minute more before groaning, and giving into my desires. I finally wrapped my hand around my cock, trying to push the thoughts of her away as the hot water pounded against my shoulders.

This was what my life had become. Jerking off in the shower with only a complete fantasy in my mind. Her toned legs in those tight pants. The curve of her arse. The bounce in her step.

"Fuck," I swore quietly, squeezing harder and stroking myself faster. I raised my face to the spray, willing myself to come quickly; I couldn't keep dreaming and fantasising about a ghost. Maybe if I could just get myself off, the dreams would stop and I would be able to clear my mind. But the more I stroked, the more thoughts of exactly what I wanted to do to her filled my mind.

Glancing down, I scowled at my cock. I was too old for this. I rarely touched myself, even in my teen years, and even less since my divorce. It had always felt wrong. Not because of any immoral sense, but simply because I preferred the pleasure of a woman surrounding me.

But, right now, I needed this. Needed the release, needed to get the ghost woman out of my head.

I leaned my free hand on the wall, and tried to spark the long dormant writer section of my mind. I imagined her scent, her eyes watching me and slowly turning dark with need. Her lips were already kiss-swollen, her breaths coming in gasps as I slid into her core.

Groaning, my brain sparked again, and the feel of her nails digging into my shoulders was almost real. I could taste her skin, feel the softness of her beneath me, hear her cries of ecstasy in my ear instead of through the wall.

Warmth slowly slid down my spine, heating my balls and climbing into my cock. I pumped my fist harder, faster, gritting my teeth to stop the shout that would surely echo off the tiles and alert my company to exactly what was happening.

I shuddered, my stomach clenching, my cock throbbing, hot and heavy in my hand. I came with a low groan, my release rocketing out of me, and I wished desperately that I knew her name.

I finally emerged, dressed neatly in dark jeans and a polo shirt. My well-worn moccasin loafers covered my feet — bare feet being inappropriate, even for family.

The aroma of coffee filled the living room — two steaming mugs were on the coffee table — and I was glad they'd already made themselves at home. Draco was sitting on the sofa, watching Scorpius as he played on the floor, the colourful array of miniature toy trains had his complete attention. My son with his son; I wondered if my own father felt the same nostalgia when he'd seen me with Draco when he was a boy. I doubted it — the man was an unfeeling arse — but I could at least pretend he felt something.

"Sorry," I said. "I wasn't aware it was so late in the morning."

"It's fine, Lucius. We really should have called instead of surprising you." Katie replied. She was in the kitchen, pouring some kind of dried fruit into a bowl for Scorpius. "How's everything going?"

"It's mostly been pleasant," I replied, bending down to scoop up my grandson, who had crashed into my legs when he'd realised I was in the room.

"Gah-pa!" His two-and-a-half-year-old pronunciation made me smile. "Choo-Choo!"

"You have a new train?" I asked and he nodded enthusiastically. "Well, maybe Grandpa has a present for you too."

"Father." Draco gave me a look that said I didn't need to buy Scorpius a gift every time I saw him.

"It's just something small," I assured him and picked up the gift from the counter, handing another new toy train to Scorpius for his growing collection.

"Lucius, you need to stop spoiling him," Katie said, returning to the sofa to sit beside Draco and setting the bowl on the coffee table. "He has more trains than he knows what to do with."

I kissed his chubby cheek and ignored my daughter-in-law. "A boy can't ever have too many trains."

Scorpius squirmed in my arms at the sight of the snacks and raced back across the room, immediately sticking his hand into the bowl.

"So, mostly pleasant?" Draco asked.

"These last few days have been an adjustment," I said, moving into the kitchen and pouring myself some coffee before joining them.

Draco eyed me suspiciously. "I'm sensing something's up."

"I have a very interesting neighbour."

"Ooh, you've finally met him?" Katie curled her legs beneath her, settling in for the story. "What does he do that's so interesting?"

"I've not met him yet," I explained. "I've only… heard him."

"Heard?" Draco asked, suddenly as interested as Katie.

"The floor plan design of these flats was given a surprising lack of thought."

"Meaning…" Katie looked to be almost bursting with anticipation making me laugh.

"It would appear that I share a bedroom wall with my neighbour." I glanced between them. "A very thin wall and he is quite vocal."

"Oh no," Katie said sympathetically. "Loud music and singing? Or the TV?"

"Neither." I gave them both a pointed look.

Draco frowned. "Neither? Then what—" He began to laugh. "Oh, bedroom wall… Just how vocal?"

"Very," I replied, chuckling as Katie finally caught up. Her eyes were wide and she joined in with Draco's laughter.

"What exactly have you heard?"

"Everything." I pinched the bridge of my nose then added, "Plus the encore."

They shared a quick glance then burst out laughing. Scorpius looked up and grinned, giggling along with them.

"Also, there's the thumping." I nodded at their questioning expressions. "He's quite enthusiastic; the bed against the wall has been like a bass drum. And the very feminine voice that accompanies thumping is also extremely enthusiastic."

"And this has been every night?" Katie asked.

"No, just the last three," I answered. "I've been sleeping on the sofa."

"Couldn't you have just slept in the guest bedroom?" Draco suggested.

I looked at the hallway that led to my empty guestroom and shook my head. Katie laughed as the realisation dawned on me.

"I didn't even think…"

"You're a special kind of stupid, you know that?" Draco chuckled and held his hand out, thanking Scorpius as he handed him a toy train, babbling happily then grabbing another tiny locomotive.

"I wasn't really thinking straight with all the thumping and groaning."

"They were really that loud?" Katie asked, laughing when I rolled my eyes and nodded. "I'm so sorry, Lucius. You've finally found the perfect flat and your neighbour is a sex maniac."

"Maybe he's not a maniac. I mean, you haven't heard him until now. Maybe he's just met someone, and this is the honeymoon stage," Draco suggested.

I cringed at the thought and shook my head. "Surely the universe isn't that cruel."

"I'm not sure what the problem is here," Draco said. "You've got free porn."

"Excuse me?"

"It might only be vocals, but it's free. Enjoy it." He winked at me. "Use it."

"Draco, that's highly inappropriate." I glanced quickly at Katie, who didn't seem bothered at all.

I hated to think.

"Father, come on. When was the last time you even looked at a woman?"

"The day I met your mother," I answered. "And look how well that worked out."

"It's been over a year, Lucius," Katie said carefully. "Have you even entertained the idea…?"

Scorpius toddled over and rolled a train along my leg. "Choo-Choo! Gah-pa, red!"

I ruffled his blond hair, grateful that his innocent gesture saved me from responding. They didn't need to know about the way I'd been lusting after a pink-hooded phantom. "That's right, it's red. Can you find me a green one?"

"Gree!" he shouted and picked up a bright green train with a smiling face on it. He threw himself on the floor and began pushing the trains around once more, instantly forgetting my request.

"Father? The ladies?"

"Draco, I'm not interested."

"Oh, sorry. The men?"

"Draco… I don't need this from you." I gripped the arm of my chair tightly. "Antonin and Corban have been dropping hints like confetti."

"And none of those hints have hit you yet?" Katie asked.

"All the hints in the world won't make a difference. It's not as simple as everyone seems to think it is. I can't just brush aside twenty-five years of marriage."

"Why not?" Draco snipped. "Mother did."

I smiled at my son; his disgust at his mother's actions was still as raw as my own. He'd been with Katie since they were teenagers and his views on loyalty to the ones you loved were exactly like mine; black and white. If you made a promise to someone, you stuck with it. You didn't lie and you certainly didn't cheat.

His relationship with his mother had been non-existent in the months following our separation. I knew that he had refused to see her, or even speak to her, such was his disgust. I had no idea if that had changed and had no desire to know. She deserved his anger, and my own fury allowed me to justify the pettiness I felt when it came to Scorpius. It would be killing her to not see her grandson.

"What your mother did doesn't change my feelings. I can't forgive her, nor do I wish to, but I also can't just wipe away those years and pretend they never existed. And the thought of doing all of that again — finding someone, dating, falling in love — it's just all too much."

"I've not forgiven her either. She doesn't deserve it." His voice rose slightly and Katie touched his arm. A silent conversation occurred between them and I marveled at how in tune they were with each other. My daughter-in-law was such an incredible woman. I adored her, and had long considered her the daughter I never had. She was completely in love with him, as he was with her. My son could have become a spoiled brat — had his mother gotten her way, he would have been — but with Katie's influence and my reluctance to hand him everything on a silver platter, he'd turned into a man I was so incredibly proud of. And she'd seen him through our divorce with a calmness and patience that had endeared me to her even more.

"And it's your choice to not see her, Draco, but I certainly hope she doesn't blame me for your actions."

"She can think what she likes," he responded testily. "But, you don't have to look at every woman like she's Mother. And you certainly don't have to fall in love again. You just have to ask a woman out, take her to dinner, and see where it goes. That's all I'm saying."

"And as I said, it's not that easy." I held my palms up. "Besides, I'm actually enjoying the solitude and quiet here. I never thought I would, but I like being on my own."

They exchanged a concerned glance, making me smile once more.

"You've nothing to worry about." I assured them. "I'm not going to become one of those reclusive writers who puts on two hundred pounds, grows dreadlocks, and hides in a cave. I spend most days out in the gardens, and there are several cafes in the neighbourhood that serve wonderful coffee."

"Lucius, we're not worried about you becoming a recluse, not an insane one in any case," Katie said. "We're just worried that you'll get caught in a rut and forget to live."

"And I appreciate that, but aside from the last few sleepless nights, I'm comfortable here. I find it suits me well. The space is enough and it feels like home."

"And that's great, but how many people aside from us, Antonin, and Corban have you seen?"

"I've seen their wives, and believe me, Regina and Lana have been worse than you two when it comes to harassing me about the opposite sex. It's been like a pack of wolves hunting me whenever they're around."

"Glad to hear they've not changed," Draco said with a grin. "And aside from them, I'm guessing no one else?"

I shook my head, hoping this conversation would end. I didn't understand why everyone wanted me to 'get back out there.' I had explained numerous times I wasn't interested, or ready, but apparently everyone else knew best.

"Father—" Draco began but Katie stopped him.

"Lucius, we're sorry. You don't need us hassling you like this. You'll do this when you're ready… if you're ready. But please, just don't waste your days brooding over what Narcissa did. That's not good for you. She's the bad guy in all of this, not you."

"I know that."

"Do you though?" Draco asked. "I know you, Father, and you would have given her the moon had she asked for it. You were so in love with her and, like you said, that's not easy to let go of. And honestly, I don't think you've truly let her go yet."

"Oh, no. I've definitely let her go. You don't walk in on your wife fu—" I glanced down at Scorpius, he was laying with his head on the floor, babbling quietly and taking no notice of the adults in the room. "You don't walk in on your wife... in flagrante... and still love her."

"No, I don't imagine you would," Katie agreed. "But, Lucius, I don't think loving her is the problem. I think hating her is."

"Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?"

She laughed. "Maybe, but not like you are. You're letting the memory of her stop you from doing anything fun. You don't have to go out and meet someone, but you don't have to hole up in here either."

"We're just concerned about you," Draco added, lifting Scorpius to his lap when he held his arms out.

"He's getting tired." Katie brushed her hand lightly over his crown as he curled into Draco's chest, a train still firmly grasped in his little fist.

"You don't have to concern yourselves over me," I told them. "I'm doing well here. And I'm sure the thing with my neighbour was a one time event."

"For the sake of your sanity, I hope so," Draco said. "But, best you make up the guest room in case."

After saying farewell to Draco and Katie — Scorpius was asleep by the time they left — I stood by the window, staring out over the gardens and contemplating what my daughter-in-law had said.

I don't think loving her is the problem. I think hating her is.

I hadn't been truly aware of just how much hatred I had been carrying around. Yes, I hated what my ex-wife had done. I considered that day the worst of my life. The image of her naked, of her expression of pure ecstasy, of her with another man, would be forever in my mind. I couldn't just simply wish it away.

And as horrific as it was to catch her with another man, it was that expression, the one of ecstasy in the second before she saw me, that I hated the most. Not everything was about sex, but in that one second, I questioned what I had done wrong. What I had done — or hadn't done — to drive her to find someone else.

It had been deflating, to say the least.

The hatred and mistrust my wife had caused had stopped me from even looking at another woman. As much as I thought she wasn't, my ex-wife was still a major part of my life. She was still subconsciously in every fibre of my being, and as much as I told myself she wasn't, she clearly was.

But Katie's words made sense; I didn't have to forgive her, I just had to stop hating her.

Standing beside my desk I felt hopeful, that maybe now, maybe since I'd lifted some more of the weight that had unknowingly been holding me down, I could filter through the crap and finally write something decent.

Leaning down to turn my laptop on, I paused, hearing laughter outside my door, and then the distinct sounds of female chatter moving down the hallway.

All the enthusiasm left me in an instant and I groaned.

Who the fuck was this guy? Three women? Was he serious? I couldn't even begin to imagine the mechanics of three women at once.

Then the writer side of my brain sparked again. Three women at once? What would that feel like? Three willing bodies. Soft skin. Warm feminine scents. All those hands. Those lips. The heat of their—

I shook my head, admonishing myself. I didn't need three women. Only one. And she was a phantom.

And there was no evidence that these women were visiting my neighbour to engage in wall-thumping acts. I was doing little more than jumping to conclusions. They could have been his sisters, or just his friends. They could have been there to clean his flat for all I knew.

Unsure of exactly what I was doing, I grabbed my key from the table and I opened the front door, peering out into the hallway. The three women who belonged to the voices were outside the door of my neighbour. Three young women, no older than my son, still laughing.

"Are you planning on opening the door, Granger?" the dark-haired woman said and held up two take-away bags. "Or are we eating lunch in the hallway?"

"Let me…" The curly haired woman spoke while fumbling inside the giant satchel she was carrying. "Where are my fucking keys!?"

"Maybe if you had a smaller bag," the redhead pointed out and was met with a glare.

"And where would she put all her unnecessary shit?" Dark-hair asked.

"My bag is fine," Curls snarked, then cried in triumph. "Got 'em! Right in the bottom."

"Fucking finally," Red drawled. "I'm starving."

Curls unlocked the door and motioned for the other women to enter, then glanced up seeing me for the first time. She frowned slightly, then her face broke out in a gorgeous smile.

"You must be my new neighbour," she said.

"Yes." I nodded, suddenly tongue-tied.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Hermione. Feel free to say hello any time."

"Thanks," I replied with another nod, feeling stupider by the second. I locked my door and walked down the hallway towards the stairs. I hadn't intended to go outside, but she probably thought me a fool already and I didn't need to add stalker to the list by just standing outside my flat and staring at her

"Well… um…" she pointed inside her flat. "My friends are here. We'll try to be quiet."

I almost laughed but simply nodded again, feeling ridiculous as she frowned again then held her hand up in a friendly wave and disappeared inside the doorway.

The dull thud of the door closing seemed to dislodge something in my brain. My son was right; I was a special kind of stupid.

She was my neighbour. My pink-hooded phantom was my neighbour. Not some Casanova shagging random women.

And I wasn't sure what was worse.