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Chapter 3
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2022-11-05 05:26:03By the time Ashton wanders into the kitchen after his shower, I’ve already set my plan into motion. I’ve got a club playlist pumping through the speakers, and I’m swaying my hips in time with the beat. I’ve changed into a low-cut white tank top and cutoff jean shorts—what I normally wear when painting—so they’re worn, tight, and splattered with streaks of color. The tank is soaked down the front, making it practically see-through.
You wanna play, Ashton?
Game fucking on.
I hear him stop in the doorway. There's a sharp inhale as he takes me in.
I add a little more sway to my hips, singing along to the music like I have no idea he's watching.
As I put the dishes away, I run my hands slowly over my body, pretending to wipe water from my clothes—trailing from my stomach down to my hips. I keep dancing, letting the rhythm take over, fingers tangling in my hair as I pull the tie loose, letting it fall around my shoulders. I run my hands through it, over my body, into the air, completely in sync with the beat.
Then I feel him—his heat, his presence—right behind me.
I pause for a moment, glancing over my shoulder with a slow, sly smile. He’s standing there, eyes locked on me, a storm of emotions flickering across his face.
“What are you doing, Sam?” he asks, voice low and husky in my ear.
I press back into him, our bodies connecting—my back to his front, my ass grinding lightly against his crotch as I continue to sway.
He doesn’t move at first. His body is tense against mine. For a second, I wonder if I pushed too far. But then his fingers brush down my arm, a feather-light touch from shoulder to fingertips. He takes my hand and spins me around, pulling me to face him.
His eyes trail down my body, pausing at my chest—the soaked fabric clinging to every curve.
“Dance with me.”
I nod and step into him. My arms loop around his neck, his settle at my hips. Our bodies move as one, perfectly synced. One of my legs slips between his, and he pulls me tighter. He leans in until our foreheads touch, and we hold each other’s gaze as we move.
I roll my hips and he lets out a low groan, biting his bottom lip.
The sight makes my mouth go dry. I lick my lips without thinking.
His fingers dig into my hips, and his face lowers to mine. One hand cups the back of my head, and his lips trace along my jaw, up to my ear.
“What are you doing, Sam?” he whispers again, slower this time. Rougher.
I swallow hard, opening my mouth to answer—when the music cuts off and my alarm goes off.
I blink and slowly pull away, my gaze locked on his.
I turn to head for the oven, but his hands stay firm on my hips.
I glance back at him, arching an eyebrow. “What?”
His eyes blaze, his jaw tight. For a second, I think he’s going to drag me back into him and kiss the hell out of me.
Instead, he exhales sharply and steps away.
He moves to the counter, back turned, voice suddenly distant.
I grab the oven mitts, hiding my smile.
Point for me.
I set the lasagna on the table and take a seat across from Ashton. He avoids eye contact as he pours the wine, and I do my best not to smirk.
I serve the food, and we eat in silence for a few minutes. I refuse to be the one to speak first.
“So… was that payback?” he finally asks, eyes on me now, his face unreadable. “For the shower thing?”
I grin. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He stares at me for a second. Then he bursts out laughing—deep, genuine laughter that fills the kitchen. I just smile and keep eating.
When he finally settles down, he takes another bite and says, “Alright. I deserved that. But just so you know—payback’s a bitch.”
“Bring it, James. You’ve barely begun to see what I can do.”
His eyes darken, and his tongue drags across his bottom lip.
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Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 4
Conversation over dinner shifts to my year at school and the advertising companies Ashton is interviewing with.“So are you planning on staying here in New York?” I ask, taking a sip of wine.“If the job requires it. Most of these places have a short internship period here before it’s possible to transfer to other branches. All four companies I’m interviewing with have locations in Ohio, so I could go back home.” His eyes flick to mine. “If New York doesn’t work for me.”Genuinely curious, I ask, “What do you mean?”He hesitates, then shrugs. “Oh, you know. If I don’t adjust to city life.”I laugh. “Come on, Ashton. What’s not to love about the city? You can walk everywhere. The variety—food, experiences, people—all in one square block. That’s more than our entire hometown has in ten miles. Concerts, galleries, clubs, fashion, restaurants… New York’s got it all.” I stretch my arms wide to emphasize it.He grins. “You really love it here, don’t you?”“Of course!” I beam, stabbing anothe
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-05Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 5
I pull on sweatpants and a hoodie over the clothes I’m wearing, grab my purse, and say nothing as Ashton and I both get our shoes and coats. Together, we head downstairs and down the block to the bodega on the corner.When we get there, I stop in shock.“Jorge! Were you robbed?” I ask the cashier, someone I’ve gotten friendly with since I moved here.“Chile, don’t you know what’s going on?” Jorge says, voice muffled behind a bandana tied around his face. He looks genuinely scared. “It’s like fucking Armageddon out here. No fucking toilet paper. No milk. People lost they damn minds!”He eyes the door nervously.“Look, sweets, I’m about to close. Ain’t much left anyway. Get what you need and get the fuck home.”I look at Ashton. He looks just as stunned.We split up and rush down the aisles, grabbing detergent, canned food, paper towels—anything we can get our hands on. Jorge rings us up in a hurry, ushering us out and locking the door behind us.We walk back to the apartment in silence,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-05Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 6
I close my bedroom door quickly and lean my head against it, breathing hard. My chest aches. My eyes sting.No. I will not cry.Ashton never promised me anything. Up until tonight, he treated me like the annoying little sister my brother always did. We were comfortable. Familiar. More family than friends.Shit. What did I even think was going to happen?Sure, he touched me. And maybe we would’ve gone a lot further if my brother hadn’t called. But maybe it was for the best.Because if all this was just Ashton comforting me—if it was going to be a one-time thing—I didn’t want it.Yes, he’s hot. Yes, I’ve fantasized about him more times than I can count. Yes, I want his skin on mine, want to feel his hands all over me.But I don’t just want a body. I want Ashton James. I want him to be mine.And he just made it clear that he never will be.A single tear slips down my cheek. I swipe it away angrily—but another follows, then another. I wipe my face, frustrated and humiliated.Fine. I’m an
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-17Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 7
The second our lips meet, Ashton comes alive in my arms. One hand grips my ass, the other cradles the back of my head. He kisses me like he needs me to breathe—ravenous and wild.He sucks my bottom lip into his mouth, biting it lightly. I moan, melting into him. His tongue slides past my lips, deepening the kiss, staking a claim. It’s possessive. Intense. Like he’s marking me from the inside out.And I want it all.My hands trail down his chest, over his abs, until I reach the hem of his shirt. I slip my hands underneath, running them up his warm, toned stomach. When I lightly scratch at his skin, he groans into my mouth. I move higher, finding his nipples. I roll and pinch them gently between my fingers.He gasps, breath hitching, hands gripping me tighter. “Shit, baby,” he whispers, pulling back slightly. I nip his swollen bottom lip, and his cock twitches against me.I trail kisses along his jaw, then down his neck. At the curve where neck meets shoulder, I nip, lick, and suck—caref
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-22Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 8
Ashton collapses on top of me, gathering me into his arms and kissing me deeply. Our bodies are still connected, our sweat mingling where our skin touches.My mind spins.Did he… did he really say he loves me?When he pulls back, his eyes are bright with happiness. He kisses me again, a soft peck this time, before sliding out of me. He stands, ties off the condom, and heads to the bathroom. I go after him, still dazed, and return to find him stretched out on the bed.As soon as he sees me, he smiles—shy and boyish. He pats the space beside him. “Come here.”I bite my lip, anxiety creeping in. Still, I lie beside him, tense and wrapped up in my thoughts.“What’s wrong?” Ashton asks, brows furrowing. “You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”I shoot up, facing him. My hands press to his chest and cheek. “No! God, no. I’ve wanted this… you… since I was thirteen. I just…” My voice trails off, unsure how to say it.He gently takes my chin and lifts it so I have to look at him. “Talk to
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-22Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 9
I wake up to warm arms surrounding me, the tickle of stubble on my shoulder, and the scent of Ash wrapped around me. I stretch and smile, a soft moan slipping from my lips.“Mmm, baby. If you move like that, I’m not gonna be responsible for what I do.” Ash rubs his morning wood against me, his hands beginning to wander.Now I’m moaning for a whole different reason. “Ash…” My voice is a husky whisper, thick with desire.“What is it, baby?” he murmurs against my skin, his lips pressing into the spot where the base of my neck meets the top of my spine. One hand palms my breast, squeezing gently, while the other hooks my leg behind him, opening me up. His fingers skim my thigh, moving between my legs, rubbing my clit until the wet sounds echo in the quiet room.It doesn’t take long.His fingers press into me, and my eyes roll back. “Sam…” he breathes, his voice full of possessive need. “How are you still this tight after how much I’ve fucked you?”I can’t speak—I can only moan, reaching
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-24Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 10
“What the fuck have you been doing? Why the hell haven’t you answered your phone?” Matt’s yelling so loud I have to hold the phone away from my ear.“Jesus, Matt, calm your ass down! I was up all night painting—I passed out around six this morning. I just woke up,” I snap back. My mood had been amazing—waking up to Ash, getting thoroughly wrecked before breakfast—but now? Now I’m caffeine-deprived and under fire from my overprotective brother. Too early for this.“What about Ashton? Why wasn’t he answering?” Matt’s slightly calmer, but still buzzing like a pissed-off hornet.“I forgot my charger,” Ash chimes in. “Slept till about ten. I didn’t realize my phone was dead ‘til I went digging through my bags for the cord. Sam’s charger was in her room… and I wasn’t about to go in while she was sleeping.”Not a lie. Not exactly the whole truth either—but close enough. Still, it leaves a sour taste. I don’t want to start this thing with Ashton by hiding it from my family. But… baby steps,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-27Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 11
We elect to watch The Platform on N*****x while we eat breakfast, but things take a bit of a turn. Apparently, watching me lick syrup off my lips was “too sexy.” Ashton takes the plate and fork from my hands and pushes me back on the couch, tugging off my hoodie and booty shorts.“You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to be able to kiss you whenever I wanted to,” Ashton whispers against the skin of my neck, my upper body now completely bare to him. “To touch you when and how I wanted.” His hands slide up to cup my breasts, squeezing them before tweaking my nipples.I moan, pressing myself closer to him. He chuckles at the sound—a low, possessive noise. He loves the way I melt under his hands.“You are so sexy, baby,” he murmurs, mouth moving down to take one nipple into his mouth.“Ashton…” I sigh, shivering as his fingers skim the waistband of my panties.I try to flip us, craving more, faster—but he pins my wrists above my head and looks up at me with one nipple still in his mouth. H
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-29
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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’
