Quarantine and Chill (AMBW standalone Romance) Read online

  “Because that’s boring as fuck and nobody wants to see that.”

  “I don’t want to see this.” He gestured to the screen.

  Ace passionately gazed at Brooke. He’d just saved her from getting a bullet in her shoulder. “I think I’m falling in love with you.”

  Emotion covered Brooke’s face. “I think I’m falling in love with you too.”

  “Bullshit.” Kamal tossed popcorn in his mouth.

  I laughed. “Leave them alone. They’re so damn cute. I’ve been waiting an hour for this kiss.”

  “You knew they would kiss?”

  “The chemistry was boiling hot. How could you not see it? All of the sly glances Ace gave her. And the way they had to change in the bathroom into disguises. They both were checking each other out.”

  Ace leaned forward and captured Brooke into a heartwarming kiss.

  I sighed in pure happiness.

  Kamal grabbed his beer. “This is absurd. They’re being chased by—”

  “Shush. Don’t ruin this kiss for me.”

  On the screen, bullets shot above Ace’s head. He left Brooke’s lips, but I could tell that he had never experienced a connection like that before. There would definitely be another kiss coming Brooke’s way.

  “Let’s go!” Ace picked her up and raced them both away.

  “Yes!” I clapped, almost dumping my bowl of popcorn over.

  “Why are you happy? They still haven’t figured out where Formula 41 is. If they don’t get it, the whole world will explode—”

  “Oh, they’ll find it.” I waved his comment away. “Ace and Brooke are finally one, now they’ll be unstoppable.”

  “Because of their love?”

  “Yes.”

  He laughed.

  “That’s not funny.”

  “I think the addition of the romantic plotline is unnecessary.”

  “No way. They’re too hot to not kiss each other. I just can’t wait for the sex scene.”

  “Wow.” He took a swig of his beer. “There won’t be a sex scene.”

  “Trust me. A sex scene is coming.”

  Chuckling, he shook his head.

  “What?”

  “I’m getting a look into the woman’s mind right now.”

  “One woman at least.”

  On the screen, Brooke and Ace made it to their car, jumped in, and raced away. The camera panned out, showing cops and bad guys scattering around the area.

  Kamal grinned. “I had no idea women loved sex scenes as much as men.”

  “Ah ha! So you don’t mind seeing two characters hook up?”

  “Not at all. Sex is different.”

  “Yeah, but the sex scene is better when there is emotion involved.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe.”

  “Definitely.”

  He shook his head. “If the actress has a nice pair of breasts then there’s no need for heightened emotion.”

  I scowled at him.

  “It’s the truth.” He drank more of his beer. “But back to our original debate.”

  “Which was what?”

  “Why does a man-woman team have to fall in love in a tv show or movie?”

  “Because the man and woman are forced to be together for whatever reason. The longer they’re solving things and learning more about each other, the more a sort of intimacy is built. Think X-files—Scully and Mulder. Sleepy Hollow with Ichabod and Abbie—”

  “Did they ever hook up? I stopped watching around the second season.”

  “Yep.”

  He smirked. “Well, I’m glad I stopped them.”

  “There’s Sydney and Vaughn from Alias, Booth and Brennan from Bones. Castle and Kate from Castle.” I swooned at all the memories of those great romances.

  “Ha!” He raised one finger in the air. “What about Law and Order? They kept the romance out.”

  “Nope. On Law and Order: SVU, Stable and Benson had a thing.”

  “Do you keep a chart of this?”

  “Yes.” I tapped the center of my forehead. “I keep my chart right here.”

  “I’m surprised it’s not deep in your heart.”

  “No, that’s where I keep my log of perfect kiss scenes.”

  “Wow.” He laughed.

  “Don’t laugh at me because I know how to embrace love.”

  “Again, some stories should keep romance out of it, especially mysteries and science fiction. Both people should be able to execute a mission or solve a case without falling for each other.”

  “That’s not life, Kamal.” I took more popcorn. “We’re human.”

  “So?”

  “We have hearts and souls. We have hormones buzzing around us. Not to mention genitals that love to be touched constantly.”

  He choked a little on his beer.

  “It’s true though.” I munched on some more popcorn. “People like to have sex. Hot, sweaty sex. And the more they like the person, the better sex.”

  He stared off at the wall. “Hmmm.”

  “What?”

  “I’m trying to think if any of my favorite pairings of a man and woman kept a romantic plotline out of it.”

  “What’s one of your favorite shows?” I asked.

  “I’m a Whovian. I love Doctor Who. Now that’s a show that has kept—”

  “The Doctor and Rose. It wasn’t a happily ever after, but there was some romance.”

  He grumbled, “Good point, but I also like Game of Thrones which is full of violence, fantasy, and—”

  “Jon Snow and Ygritte. Grey Worm & Missandei. Robb & Talisa Stark.” I winked at him. “Should I stop? Because I can name off at least ten more romances in that show. I’m about that GOT life.”

  He frowned. “Damn it. Once again you’ve crushed my world.”

  “And you know that when certain people died on GOT, it hurt you more because your favorite character loved the person that died.”

  He nodded. “I still haven’t gotten over Khal Drago.”

  I pointed at him. “You have been immersed in romance and didn’t even know it.”

  “My whole world has been a lie.”

  I tipped my beer next to his and then drunk it. “So, buckle in and enjoy the lush love affair of Ace and Brooke. Let your heart be taken away by all the emotions that come with new love.”

  He gestured to the TV. “And here goes the sex scene. Damn it.”

  On the screen, Brooke walked out of the shower, drying her hair.

  Ace had been unbuttoning his shirt but paused when he saw her. “Are you hurt?”

  “No. I’m fine.”

  Ace closed the distance between them. “Let me see.”

  Instead of Ace doing any real examination, he undid her towel. It fell to the floor. Brooke rose on her toes and kissed him while undoing his pants.

  “Take it off!” I pumped my hands in the air. “Take it off!”

  Kamal laughed so much he coughed a little.

  “Sorry.” I feasted on the couple’s passion. “I just love when a good couple finally comes together.”

  “I see.”

  “And this is the most sex I’ve gotten all year. I’m savoring it.”

  On the screen, Ace lifted Brooke up and carried her over to the bed. Soft piano music played.

  “Excuse me?” Kamal said.

  I looked his way. “Huh?”

  “When’s the last time you had sex?”

  “Whoa, buddy. That’s pretty private, especially since you’ve been Mr. Tightlip all day.”

  He leaned his head to the side. “Mr. Tightlip?”

  “You haven’t said what’s up with Amber and you. I’ve been forced to imagine all types of crazy things.”

  “Like what?”

  “Maybe she kicked you out because you were—”

  “No. She can’t kick me out of my own condo.”

  “Then why aren’t you there?”

  “Because I want her gone, but it may take her a while to get back to California due to t
he state lockdown and airline cancellations.”

  “Hmmm.” Forgetting the sex scene in front of us, I gave him all my attention. “And you wanted her gone because?”

  He gritted his teeth. “When I came home early today, I found her in bed with another man.”

  “Holy shit.”

  “Yeah. Holy shit.”

  “Another man?”

  “Yes.”

  I held my hands out. “Why the hell would she cheat on you? You’re freaking perfect.”

  He quirked his brows. “Thank you.”

  “I’m just saying. You’re super-hot, rich, family-oriented, and a perfect gentleman.”

  Smirking, he set the beer down. “Damn. I should have told you this earlier. I probably would have felt better about everything.”

  “You’re joking, but I’m being serious.”

  “Me too.”

  “I mean.” I shrugged. “I have had a lot to drink so I may regret saying this, but if you were my man I would never cheat on you. Not that I would cheat on anybody either way, but with you, not happening.”

  “But, you’re a good woman.” He hit me with an intense gaze. “Gorgeous, highly intelligent, crazy talented, and your body. . .magnificently curvy.”

  “Oh!” Brooke moaned, “Deeper, Ace. Go so much deeper.”

  Swallowing, I couldn’t turn back to the screen. “You. . .think I have a great body?”

  “That’s all you heard?”

  “People always tell me that I’m smart and talented, but not many tell me how hot I am. Excuse me, if I enjoy bathing in the compliments.”

  “Then, I’ll make sure to compliment you more on your body.” His gaze fell to my chest. “Or maybe I shouldn’t. That’s a pretty devilish game to fall into.”

  “Why?”

  “Like you said before, a man and woman together for a certain amount of time, learning about each other. . .they’re bound to take things further.”

  I cleared my throat. “True. I did say that.”

  “And we should keep things how it has always been.”

  “Of course.”

  “Even though you’re gorgeous, I’m in no place to start anything with anybody, especially not you.”

  I frowned. “Why did you say you that way?”

  “You’re Jade. The girl next door. My sister’s best friend.”

  “These are all romantic tropes.”

  “But I’m no romantic hero. Right now, I’m just an angry man with a broken heart.”

  “Of course. Not that I was. . .saying that we should. . .I was just saying.”

  He smirked. “I understand.”

  “So. . .” I took a sip of my beer to give myself something to do. “What did you do, when you found Amber and this guy in the bed?”

  “I beat the guy until blood covered my hands.”

  “Yikes. Is he still alive?”

  “Of course. You think I hid a body before I arrived here?”

  “Hey. With the way things are going in the world, anything is possible.”

  “No. The idiot is alive.” He set his bowl of popcorn on the table, picked up the remote, and paused the movie.

  I turned back to the screen.

  The sex scene must’ve been super short. On the screen, Brooke and Ace froze in mid-air. They both held guns and were jumping off a building.

  “Now, your turn.” Kamal put the remote down.

  “What do you mean?”

  “What happened between Jason and you?”

  “I can’t believe you remember him.”

  “You brought him to my mother’s birthday last year and Christmas dinner. And you stopped by after Thanksgiving to have dessert with us. He was there too. What happened to not get him in New York?”

  “After hearing your story, I will sound like I’m complaining.”

  “Try me.”

  “Jason was a great guy. Thoughtful. Best present giver. Did awesome massages and made the most romantic dinners.”

  He frowned. “Let’s get to the bad stuff.”

  “But.” I let out a long breath. “In our year of dating, he only would allow us to have sex once a week.”

  Shock hit his face. “Once a week?”

  “Yes. And it was some sort of ritual.”

  Smirking, he leaned back on the sofa. “Do tell.”

  I shook my head.

  “Come on, Jade. It’s confession time.”

  I ran my fingers through my hair. “He only liked having sex on Sunday morning, and it had to be after he made two caramel macchiatos in his favorite robe which was black with a red lining.”

  Kamal laughed.

  “This isn’t funny.”

  “I’m sorry.” He held his hand out. “Okay. I need to better understand this. So, first he put on his robe?”

  “Yes. He would get naked in the bedroom, put on the robe, go downstairs, and make the caramel macchiatos.”

  “Okay.”

  I scratched my head. “Then he brought them up to us and we would drink as he played this song.”

  “Was it always the same one?”

  “Yes.”

  Kamal’s smirk deepened. “You must tell me the name.”

  “It’s My Funny Valentine, but the Chet Baker version.”

  “Interesting.”

  “We would sip our macchiatos and then once we were done—”

  He grinned. “The action began?”

  “No. He had to go downstairs and clean the cups.”

  “Wow.”

  “While he was gone, he expected me to unclothe or he would be a little upset.”

  “Is that how he would say it?”

  “Yes.”

  Kamal did an impersonation. “Madam, please be unclothed when I return.”

  I rolled my eyes. “And I would put on a robe.”

  “Was it black with the red inside?”

  “Nope. It was red with a black inside.”

  “Oh my. He’s really about color coordination and symbolism.”

  “Yes.”

  “And?”

  “That’s the main part.” I reached for my bowl of popcorn.

  Kamal moved the bowl out of the way. “Oh no. We’re not done yet. I must hear the rest.”

  “And then he would take off his robe and ask me to take off mine. Once I did that, I put myself at the center of the bed. He didn’t want me any other place.”

  Kamal widened his eyes. “This is blowing my mind.”

  “And then. . .we had sex. . .missionary style to My Funny Valentine playing over and over. I can’t even hear that song anymore without thinking of the bad sex.”

  “I can’t even hear that song anymore without thinking of your bad sex.” Kamal chuckled.

  “Sex would last two or three minutes. He liked to clean me afterward.” I covered my face with both hands. “God, I can’t believe I’m telling you this.”

  “Oh no. This is perfectly fine for a Friday evening at. . .” He checked his watch. “Well, it’s actually Saturday morning now. But this is fine.”

  “So, that’s it. We had sex once a week. I stayed with him for a year, which is embarrassing.”

  “It shouldn’t be.”

  “It was weird.”

  “But in all the other places he made you happy?”

  “Yes. He was a great listener. He was super thoughtful. I could mention a play in casual conversation or a picture that I liked, the next thing I know he had tickets for the play, or he bought the picture for me and framed it.”

  “But the sex sucked?”

  “Yes. Zora would give me advice because she liked Jason so much.”

  “Hmmm.” Kamal scrunched his face up in horror. “Do I want to hear my sister’s advice on sex?”

  “Nope. It’s pretty kinky.”

  “No!” He pushed his hand forward in a ‘stop’ motion. “You’ve already said too much.”

  I laughed. “I tried so many things last year to get Jason to divert from his ritual. Lingerie. Feeling him up
in the car or the living room. Once I went down on my knees and. . .”

  Kamal bit his bottom lip.

  “Well. . .never mind.”

  “No, let’s talk about it.” He licked his lips. “You were on your knees.”

  I smirked. “Either way, Jason always stopped me. I could kiss him during the week, but not too much. And he definitely hated blow jobs which I love to. . .”

  Kamal leaned forward.

  “Anyway.” I hid my face. “A week before New Year’s Eve, we had our caramel macchiatos in our robes, and he handed me a ring box.”

  Kamal raised his brows. “He was proposing?”

  “Yes.” I let out a long breath. “Jason lowered on his knees and told me that he wanted to be with me forever. And the whole time, I’m holding that macchiato and watching him talk in that same black and red robe. In my head, I kept thinking, ‘Is this going to be my life forever? Sex on Sunday with a caramel macchiato.’”

  “Absolutely not.” He licked his lips. “You deserve sex on every day of the week.”

  “That’s what I was thinking.” I shrugged. “The whole thing freaked me out, so I sadly told him no, put on my clothes, and left him in the bedroom.”

  “Wow.”

  “It’s fucked up.”

  “You were being real with yourself.”

  “But many women would be happy to be with Jason.”

  “That’s good for them, but you deserve more and it’s okay to understand that.” He picked up my bowl of popcorn and handed it to me.

  I grabbed it. Our fingers touched. For a moment, it felt as if an electrifying jolt passed through me. His eyes gazed into mine. I swallowed. A warm tingling moved up my spine.

  I parted my lips. “Thank you.”

  Not letting go of the bowl, Kamal watched me with a piercing gaze. “We have one life. Go for what you want. What you desire. Don’t settle for good or nice. Give yourself to the man that takes care of your heart and sets your panties on fire.”

  I blinked. “You’re right.”

  He studied my face.

  A comfortable silence moved between us.

  My phone rang.

  “Who could that be?” He let go of the bowl and glanced in that direction. “It’s pretty late.”

  “Probably Zora. It’s a nine-hour time difference from here and the Maldives. She calls at the craziest hours, not remembering that I might be passed out.”

  “That makes sense.”

  I rose. “I should answer. Um. . .I’m going to take it in the bedroom.”