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Chapter 19: Alexis
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2023-05-31 13:13:38
owlonmywristWill she go through with it?
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Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 20: Jonathan
I insisted that Lexi take the rest of the day off, and she didn’t fight me on it. I’d given every employee an extra “flex” day and told her to use hers. I had a few meetings this afternoon, so I still needed to work, but she didn’t need to be part of them. I could take my own notes. Honestly, I just needed her to tell me where to find a few things.I walk into the bedroom wearing nothing but my boxers and unzipped dress slacks. I’d gotten up to grab some water for both of us. By the time I return, Lexi’s nearly asleep, sprawled across the bed. I can’t help but chuckle, thinking about the workout I gave her this morning—and again over my lunch break.Unfortunately, I’ve got a meeting in twenty minutes, and I have questions for her.“Pet,” I murmur, setting the water bottles down on the bedside table. “Wake up for me. I’ve got a couple questions.”She groans, face half-buried in the sheets. I lean over her, and she reaches up to grab me, pulling me into bed. I lose my balance and land wi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2023-06-02Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 21: Alexis
***TRIGGER WARNING - Nonconsensual sex acts and acts of violence*** I wake up about two hours later to Jonathan ripping the sheets off of me. “Hey, babe. What’s going on?” I ask groggily. He flips me over and smacks my ass. Not hard. It’s not like he’s trying to hurt me or punish me or anything. But it’s definitely hard enough to wake me up. “What did you call me?” he asks and his voice is all domination and steel. So we’re in the mood for a scene, huh? This is somewhat unusual. Typically, Jonathan will tell me that he wants to do a scene, asking what my limits are or if I want to try anything new. It’s not like we’ve never done a scene out of the blue, just that it’s not the norm. “I’m sorry, sir,” I say over my shoulder. “What can I do to make it up to you?” “Starfish position. Face down on the bed. Head at the bottom of the bed,” he demands. “Yes, sir.” I immediately move to the center of the bed, throw the pillows and blankets to the floor, and spread my legs
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2023-06-06Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 22: Jonathan
I can’t believe I did that. I’ve never had a sub need to use their safeword with me unless they specifically asked me to push them to their limits. And for me to do that to Alexis?I was just so fucking angry. It was like I couldn’t control it.You know, one of the things that attracted me to being a Dom was the control—it forced me to keep a tight rein on my anger. Something that’s always been all-consuming ever since I realized my entire life had been planned out for me from the moment my family learned I was going to be a boy.Yeah, the anger eased a bit once I started taking control of my own life. And it eased more when my parents figured out I was going to do my own thing, no matter what they said.But it’s still a knee-jerk reaction whenever something really fucks with something—or someone—I care about. Like when I saw that resignation letter from Alexis in her inbox.How could she even be thinking about leaving me? How am I supposed to deal with that? I love her. And she said s
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2023-06-08Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 23: Alexis
It’s been two days since Jonathan and I had our fight. I’ve been getting up at the ass crack of dawn, showering, and leaving for the majority of the day. Today, I went downstairs to the ballroom. They set up tables, internet, coffee machines, and pre-packaged snacks. Everyone was spaced at least ten feet apart, though I kept my mask on the entire time.Before heading down, I moved the fax, printer, and Keurig over to the table where Jonathan works. I didn’t want him to have any reason to call me over. I was fairly certain he’d never been in the ballroom, so he wouldn’t recognize where I was. I just... I needed to be away from him.Funny thing is—he never asked where I was. It hurt. Almost like he didn’t care. Maybe he didn’t. Maybe all that sweet shit he said was just in the heat of the moment and didn’t mean a damn thing.But I meant it. I love him. So damn much.And yet... I can’t forgive what he did. Not yet. He hurt me. In any relationship, that would be a dealbreaker. In a dom
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2023-06-10Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 24: Jonathan
When I came back from the gym, Alexis wasn’t there. That wasn’t unusual—I’ve barely seen her over the last two days. I didn’t realize anything was wrong until I got into the shower.My hand reached out for the shampoo, eyes closed against the spray. I moved my fingers along the tops of the bottles, knowing Alexis’s shampoo and conditioner were always first—then mine.One bottle top.Two bottle tops.But where there should have been a third, there was nothing.I flailed my hand around, searching blindly for my bottle.Still nothing.I pulled back from under the spray and rubbed the water out of my eyes. And that’s when I noticed—all of her stuff was gone.Frantically, I scanned the stall again, like her things might magically appear behind me or in a corner I hadn’t seen. But no. Nothing.I stuck my head out of the shower, checking the bathroom counter. Her makeup, her hair products, her fucking toothbrush—gone.I stepped out of the shower, not even bothering to finish or shut off the w
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2023-06-13Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 25: Alexis
Jonathan blows up my phone for the rest of the weekend. He bangs on the door—asking, begging, demanding that I let him in. To talk to him. To let him apologize.I don’t.I have no idea what I should say. I feel like I should apologize for making him upset, but… what did I really do? I wrote a resignation letter I never sent. How is that such a horrible thing?It helped me get my thoughts out without exploding all over him. Because I was going to explode. If I hadn’t gotten those emotions out, it would have become a full-blown fight.So I spilled it onto an email. Yeah, I probably shouldn’t have saved it on my work email—it could have gotten sent by accident. But writing out my emotions and reviewing them later helps me process. Helps me figure out what’s real and what’s not.I never meant for Jonathan to see it. I never meant for anyone to see it. And I don’t think I should be apologizing for that.What Jonathan did though… that scared me. Who knows what would’ve happened if he hadn’t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2023-06-15Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 26: Jonathan
One month later...“Ms. Clark, do you know where the projections for the Kellerman project are?” I call to my assistant, feeling like I’m losing my damn mind. I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find the paperwork.“Sir, I believe you left it in your inbox,” Robin calls from the hall. She’s been working with me since I returned to the States. There are a few other people in the office, but I think we’re the only ones on this floor. It’s nice not having to wear a mask except when she’s in the room.Robin’s learning curve has been steep. Understandable, since I worked with Alexis for nearly five years. She knew me better than anyone—what I needed, what I was thinking—before I even said a word. I try to push the thought of her away, but it hits like a gut punch every time. That ache in my chest. The one that steals my breath.I glance at my inbox, stuffed to the brim with things I haven’t had the energy or focus to deal with. Since Alexis left, I’ve barely been holding it together.I mutter
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2023-06-17Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 27: Alexis
This month has been brutal.When I left London in a panic, I figured I’d get home, talk it out with friends, and eventually be ready to talk to Jonathan. I didn’t know if we’d still be together, or if I’d still be his secretary, but I knew he’d want to do what he could for the twins.Imagine my surprise when Rosalyn called the next morning to go over my severance package.Jonathan had fired me.After finding out I was pregnant with his twins… he fired me. And then had the gall to say I had submitted my resignation letter.Rosalyn was baffled. She fumbled through the call, trying to understand. She wasn’t going to call me a liar, but she couldn’t exactly accuse Jonathan of lying either. She thought we had broken up—or decided it was better for me to work elsewhere. She was mostly irritated that we’d executed the plan without looping her in, especially since she’d hoped I’d train Jonathan’s next assistant.But once I told her I knew nothing about the severance, there was a long, awkward
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2023-06-20
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Love in the Time of Quarantine Author's Note
Hey friends! Thank you so much for reading Love in the Time of Quarantine. I hope that you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Here are a couple of announcements/interesting information for you. 1. If you are interested in what I listen to while I’m writing, you can find my playlist “Creative Juices” on Spotify. I love all different kinds of music, so there's a little something for everyone. 2. Other books on GoodNovel: Trio of Mates Series: 4 werewolf books that take on the idea of what would happen if one of the leadership was gay and couldn’t produce an heir. Lots of very graphic smut. (completed) Trio Legacy Series: The stories of the children of the wolves introduced in the Trio of Mates Series. Completed: Hide and Seek, Ongoing: Red Rover Dissonance and Harmony: The story of a high school girl who has to face her rapist at his sentencing hearing and deal with her PTSD from that night. Graphic violence and rape scenes. (completed) 3. Follow me under the same name
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 30: Jorge
I’m standing outside the girls’ apartment—our old apartment—with a picnic basket of baked goods and a cooler full of drinks, fruit, and toppings. I brought muffins, cinnamon rolls, danishes, cinnamon raisin bread, and fresh bagels.Okay, I went a little overboard. I can admit that. I’m just so fucking anxious, I don’t know what to do with myself.I was already awake when Andie’s text came through last night, replaying everything Angel had said to me earlier. I’d been scrolling through old photos of Andie and Jaime, staring at all the joy I used to have. I miss them so damn much. It took losing them to understand exactly how badly I’d fucked up.I didn’t even hesitate. I texted back immediately that I’d bring breakfast.And for the first time in a while, I fell asleep without any trouble.Granted, it was only for a few hours—I had to make deliveries at the bakery this morning—but I got there early, dropped everything off, and grabbed the best of the morning’s offerings for them.Now I’v
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 29: Jaime
I’ve been tossing and turning in bed all night after listening to everything Angel and Maddie said tonight.“You three belong together.”“He loves you.”“He wants you back.”“What do you have to lose if you do call him?”I know what my heart wants. I also know what my heart is afraid is going to happen. How can I allow him to possibly hurt me—us—all over again?What’s the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result? Wouldn’t it be insane to let him back into our lives and hope it ends differently?Angel and Marta have both said he’s reduced his hours at the business. That they’ve hired new people. That he’s learned his lesson. Could it be true? Could he really have changed for us, even if he didn’t think we’d ever come back?I don’t know.We’ve been in bed since midnight, and it’s now 3 a.m. With a huge sigh, I get up and grab my robe, tying it tightly around me. I can’t lay here any longer. And if I keep shifting, I’m going to wake
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 28: Andie
Jaime and I go about making dinner in silence. We’re a well-oiled machine at this point, moving easily around each other in our kitchen. Angel and her partner Maddie are coming over tonight for dinner and to play cards.It’s something we started back in college with Angel—a weekly card game. Each week, someone picks the game we play, and once a year, each of us is supposed to introduce a new card game. We use candy and snack foods for any games that require betting. It’s more about hanging out and having fun than anything else.Maddie and Angel have been very careful about who they let into their circle, as have we, so we all feel comfortable being around each other, even with COVID still going on.Unfortunately, this is how much of our life has been since Jorge left: a silent orbit around each other. We hold each other through the tears and the pain, but we don’t really talk.I mean, what’s there to say?We’re enough for each other—but not for the man we love.It hurts. And we’re grie
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 27: Jorge
“Angel, do you have tomorrow’s shipment of bread all packaged? Carmello’s needs the delivery an hour early. I’d like to be able to have everything on rolling carts so I can just load up the trucks the second I get here,” I call to Angel.When she first started working with me, I had brought Angel on just as a delivery driver. But over the last two months, I have consciously tried to pull myself back from the business, and I’ve made Angel a partner. We have three drivers, a part-time baker, and two part-time packagers. I’ve cut my hours back so that I’m working nine-hour days, as opposed to the sixteen-hour days I was working before.The only reason that I’m driving tomorrow is because our early morning guy took the day off. Otherwise, I’ve even built in Wednesdays and Sundays as days off.“Yes, everything’s all ready. Just waiting for the last batch to finish cooling before we get it packaged. I’ll get that done in the next hour,” Angel tells me.I let out a huge sigh. “Ok. I’m heading
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 26: Jaime
It’s been a week since our last interaction with Jorge. We’ve been communicating via text and notes left at the apartment. The morning after our breakup, Jorge was gone before Andie and I even woke up. He’d packed a bag and left a note saying he’d be in and out while we were at work over the coming week.He’s moving into an apartment over his parents’ restaurant. It used to be his dad’s office, and over the years, various family members have crashed there when they were in the doghouse with their wives or girlfriends.Not a bad place—but not exactly the kind of space you’d expect someone with a thriving business to live in. Still, with COVID still bad, Jorge decided to stay somewhere only family had been. Said it was safer.Trying to decide what belongs to who over text is awful.I’d honestly thought Jorge was the one. The guy I’d spend the rest of my life with. When we added Andie into our lives, it felt perfect. For a while.So we bought everything together—TV, couch, microwave. Even
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 25: Andie
In that way that grief between people who love each other will sometimes turn sexual, when Jorge turns to Jaime and kisses her, she kisses him back.I lean in and kiss the side of his face. He turns toward me and—God—it feels good to kiss him. I’ve missed him so damn much. It’s been too damn long.Jaime brings his mouth back to hers, their kiss hungry and desperate. My hands go to the bottom of the hoodie he’s wearing and I rip it off of him.Jaime finds his mouth again, and I lean down, licking his nipples. He groans into Jaime’s mouth, his body tensing in arousal. He loves having his nipples played with. At the same time, I rake my nails down his abs.Jorge pulls back from Jaime’s mouth to look down at me. “Please. I need you both.” His voice is so full of need.I look at Jaime, asking if she’s okay with this. Because this is going to be an end, not a reconciliation. But I want this. I need him.Jaime nods, both of us catching the motion.Jorge surges from the chair, knocking it to t
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 24: Jorge
Andie looks between Jaime and me, and I can tell she immediately understands what’s going on. She’s always had that ability—to take in a situation at a glance and know exactly what’s happening. I guess that’s what makes her such a good programmer.And an expert at calling me on my bullshit.Ever since the day I triggered Jaime’s meltdown, Andie’s been more distant with me. I think she realized that, even though the promises I made to her and Jaime were heartfelt, they weren’t ones I could keep.The time I managed to get after that? It felt more like it was for Jaime’s benefit than for Andie’s. As introverted and quiet as she appears, Andie doesn’t take shit from anyone.She gave me more rope than I deserved. And I guess I finally used it to hang myself.“How far are we into this conversation?” Andie asks calmly.I blink at her, caught off guard by how level her voice is.Jaime answers instead. “I told him he’s not treating us like priorities. That the last chance we gave him was the la
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 23: Jaime
I’m sitting on the couch flipping through TV channels when Jorge walks in. It’s been two days since our failed date night, and this is the first time I’ve seen him for more than a passing second. He’s dressed in sweats and a tank top, hair wet from a shower—he must’ve just come back from a run.Andie and I have been sleeping in her old room ever since that night. With the hours he’s been keeping, I don’t really know what he’s up to anymore.Honestly? I don’t know if I can even muster the energy to care. Every time I try, it just ends up hurting.“Hey…” Jorge says tentatively, sitting on the arm of the couch.I glance over. “Hey,” I reply, then turn my attention back to the TV.“Um… where’s Andie?” he asks, like he’s not sure what to say.“Doctor’s appointment and then grocery shopping.” My responses aren’t angry—just short. I give the remote a voice command to switch to N*****x and start scrolling through options, skipping past the show I actually want to watch.Shadow and Bone. Can’
