Shelter in Place: Quarantine Romance Collection Includes New Novella

by Jamie Knight

  “Good.”

  “Now, I’m licking after your shaft, from bottom to top, swilling my tongue round your head in figure eights.”

  “Feels good, honey,” he said, stroking even faster.

  “Now I’m sucking the head, lightly, taking it all the way into my hot little mouth,” I said, really getting into it.

  “Good,” he groaned, continuing to stroke.

  “Now I’m sucking more, moving my mouth down little by little.”

  “Harder,” he implored.

  “I’m sucking harder. As hard as I can, I’m almost all the way down your gorgeous cock. Gagging on it as I suck. Tears in my eyes as I look at you, wanting you to fill me up with your hot cum.”

  I gasped when it happened. A bunch of thick white cum blasted out of his cock onto the floor. It was beautiful, but seemed like such a waste. I wanted to actually be able to swallow it as it came out of him. Fresh from the source.

  “I’m kissing you gently,” he said, tucking away his still-hard cock and zipping up his spotless suit pants.

  “I can feel it.”

  I could, too.

  “I’m stroking your pussy gently.”

  “Feels really nice.”

  “I am asking you out for a picnic tomorrow.”

  “How would that work?” I asked, breaking character.

  “Leave that to me, my pet.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Chapter Four - Leif

  It took some doing, but I had said I could and indeed I did. I had some help from a tape measure, using it to mark the distance we’d need between us. Twice.

  The most difficult part of the whole setup was finding the picnic baskets. Double-lidded wicker with big, arching handles. Like something out of Yogi Bear.

  The blankets were eight-foot squares and brightly checkered. All we were missing were the ants, and it could have been a cartoon.

  “Liff!” Polly cheered.

  “Lie to me and tell me my name was her first word,” I joke.

  “No, but it was one of her first human names,” Brigid chuckled, looking down at the little girl.

  She sat on the other blanket, exactly six feet from mine, set up with its own basket. I didn’t really think Polly would be into fondue or goat cheese, so I improvised, mostly using the blender.

  My date kept her legs crossed at the ankles as she put Polly down beside her. Those legs were beautiful and on full display as she dug through the basket like a kid at Christmas.

  “Baby shakes?” Brigid asked, taking out one of the juice bottles of thick liquid.

  “I was thinking smoothies but yeah, pretty much,” I confessed with a humble shrug.

  “That’s brilliant!”

  “Thanks.”

  “I could kiss you,” Brigid smiled.

  “No, you can’t, but I appreciate the sentiment.”

  She blushed furiously, no doubt remembering what we had done the night before. Both of us had clearly wanted so much more. We would just have to wait a while longer. Still, that didn’t mean we couldn’t have fun in the meantime.

  Giving Polly one of the specially made baby shakes - it really was a better term - Brigid busied herself with the plate of deviled eggs, acting like she was trying not to meet my eye. As though if she so much as gazed up at me, she would jump my bones, or at least one bone in particular, right then and there.

  Not that I didn’t feel the same about her. I was keeping my emotions in check, though, difficult as it was.

  Thoroughly energized by my concoction, Polly took on a new spark of life. She turned from the sedate, content baby I had seen before into a pint-sized dynamo, running over to my blanket as fast as her little legs would carry her.

  Brigid barely got to her in time, swooping Polly up off her feet for several seconds, playing an impromptu game of airplane. Polly giggled as her feet left the ground.

  “Sorry, she has a mind of her own,” Brigid apologized, taking Polly back over to their side of the picnic.

  “As should be expected.”

  Apparently, Polly took my words as permission and as soon as her feet touched grass, she was back over, trying to hug me. I was too fast for her and was up off the blanket and taking a slow lap around the perimeter of our island in the sea of green before she was within arm’s reach.

  Brigid was too busy laughing to even attempt to collect her spawn. No matter though. I didn’t figure a toddler could outlast me, particularly at that speed.

  Sure enough, before long she started huffing and puffing, then took the most adorable belly flop, her little legs no longer cooperating with the rest of her body. This necessitated another bout of heartfelt giggling, Polly able to see the humor of her own situation.

  “Nice bit of self-awareness,” I said, as Brigid scooped up her very amused daughter.

  “I do my best with her.”

  Lunch finished, Brigid and I set into dessert with the ferocity of an avenging army. Brigid got a dabble of whipped cream at the corner of her sweet mouth, and I wanted so much to clean it away for her. With my tongue, if possible. I chained the wolf howling within, remembering my civilized side.

  “I would like to show you something,” I said, as we cleared up our respective spots.

  “On your bike? I don’t think we’ll all fit.”

  “It’s within walking distance.”

  “Won’t it look, well, odd? Walking down the street with ‘pick-ah-nick’ baskets?”

  “Afraid Ranger Smith will catch us?”

  “Among other things.”

  “Trust me, love. Wicker baskets are far from the weirdest things people have seen me with.”

  “Oh, do tell.”

  “Let’s just say the boys in blue tend to look askew at a Norse longbow and full quiver of arrows. Even if you are only taking them in for storage at your range. Revolvers, fine, but the weapon used to fell King Harold at the Battle of Hastings? Far too deadly.”

  We made sure to keep our six feet apart as I led her to the Crow’s Nest. I descended to the lower level first, maintaining social distancing as well as showing Brigid the best way to tackle the riddle of the stairs.

  There really was a trick to it; you just had to know where to put your feet. All safe at the bottom of the chasm, I held the door for Brigid as she got gloves and a mask.

  “Letting the ghosts in?” Ola asked.

  “Not quite.”

  “This is amazing!” Brigid marveled, gazing about the deceptively large shop.

  “Bigger on the inside, jellybean,” Ola said.

  “Why do you call me that?” Briged asked.

  “Your hair,” Ola said.

  “My hair?”

  “Bright red. Look like strawberry jellybean.”

  “Or raspberry,” I pointed out.

  “Jelly-been!” Polly exclaimed, clapping.

  “I thought I would try something new.”

  “It looks really good,” I said.

  “Agreed,” Ola opined.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, and you are?”

  “Ola Hallegrim, Brigid McHaggis. Brigid, this is Ola, my dear friend and the best music vendor in the state.”

  “Stop, you make me blush.”

  “I speak only the truth.”

  “Which can be biggest problem.”

  “Agreed,” Brigid concurred.

  Splitting up, and staying at least six feet away from each other, we perused the finely crafted racks. Brigid was mostly just amazed that such places still existed.

  “I would like to play some of these if I had a record player.”

  “That’s always useful.”

  “Yuth-ful,” Polly parroted.

  “She learns fast,” Ola called from behind the counter.

  “Oh, you have no idea. I have my own narration when going through the park. She knows lots of words but her favorite is ‘birdie.’”

  “Birdie?” Polly asked, looking up at the ceiling.

  “Not here, honey.”

  “Oh,” P
olly said, sounding genuinely disappointed.

  The scene was somewhat sullied by the arrival of the Death Bringers. My own term for people who recklessly went out, taking no notice of the social distancing measures, and didn’t seem to even consider any protective measures, such as masks or gloves, like those Ola insisted on.

  “Get on mask and glove or get out,” Ola ordered.

  “Says who, Helga?” the lead prick demanded.

  “Me and Louis,” Ola said, putting a Louisville Slugger down on the counter.

  They were clearly shaken but not about to back down. The “bro code” forbade it. She was just a girl, to them, after all.

  “Who are you going to get to swing it?”

  “Me.”

  All heads turned as one as Ola tossed me the bat. The Death Bringers held their ground as I approached, machismo and stupidity gluing them in place.

  The lead Death Bringer tried his best, even turning slightly before he swung his punch. I barely felt it. It would take a lot more than that to bring me down.

  “My turn,” I said, leaning down several inches so we were eye to eye, the slugger resting casually on my shoulder.

  They nearly crawled over each other trying to get back to the rickety old stairs and up into the empty sun-dappled streets.

  “Was it something I said?”

  Chapter Five - Brigid

  I could have fucked him right there on the floor of the record store. I really thought he was going to be a fling, just a bit of fun, but my feelings were telling me something quite different.

  He was so funny and sexy I could already barely stand it. The fact that he was also protective and really good with Polly was the absolute clincher. I hadn’t even managed to go on a date since my ex walked out, most guys running a mile when they found out I was a single mom. It was as if some of them thought I was wearing a sign saying “damaged goods” from that point on.

  I was still buzzing when I got home, Polly already fast asleep from all the excitement. I still didn’t know exactly what Leif’s intentions were, but I certainly knew what I wanted them to be if I had any say in it. Preferably to go straight into the bedroom when the lockdown was over. His or mine, it really made no difference.

  “Liff?” Polly asked, as I put her in her crib.

  “He’s gone, honey.”

  “Oh,” she said, taking it better than I might have expected.

  She really was quite mature for her age.

  Singing Polly to sleep with folk songs so old no one knows who wrote them originally, I slipped out of the nursery and went into the kitchen, feeling the urge to strip down to nothing. Suddenly I knew what the poets were talking about when they described ‘fire on her skin.’

  Forgoing water or even juice, I went straight for the wine again, promising myself I would pay Meegan back, not even caring if she gave me shit for drinking it. I had nerves to quell, and in that moment, it wasn’t important in my eyes.

  The sweet fermented grapes hit the back of my throat with a burn, almost making me moan with pleasure and relief. I wanted so much to play with myself, but somehow it didn’t feel right doing it without Leif’s permission and guidance. After all, he was the one who made me feel this way.

  Not that I really thought he would care. He didn’t strike me as the controlling type. He just seemed to understand me so well, given that what happened on video chat was as far as I had ever really gone with indulging my submissive nature. At least, with a partner that actually knew what it was that I was doing. Leif was gentle and had known what I wanted.

  Meegan was gone by the next morning, even though she had come in late the night before. I often wondered when she even slept.

  I had heard rumors of medical professionals crashing in break rooms, or even in empty ward beds between shifts. One of the many reasons I would never be heard complaining about being in lockdown. I knew that it could be so much worse.

  Polly was calling for me. Quiet but clear, even through the door that separated us. I went to get her up.

  “What would you like for breakfast?” I asked, getting Polly into her highchair.

  “Baby thakths!”

  Realizing she had said “baby shakes” and not “baby cakes,” I tried to fathom how I could whip up such a concoction. Meegan had a blender, of course. She basically subsisted on a liquid diet, cooked food taking time and energy she just didn’t have.

  What Leif had actually put into his special smoothie to get her to drink it down so fast, I hadn’t the foggiest. I decided to wing it, grabbing bananas and whatever fruits I could find and shoving them in the blender, hoping the result would pass Polly’s taste test.

  “Yummy!” she exclaimed, declaring her approval. Rarely had I ever been so relieved.

  Bellies full, we went for a walk. It was healthy for both of us - exercise for me and additions to her vocabulary for Polly. Most of the urban wildlife was pretty tame. I could only hope it would be a good long while before she had occasion to learn the word “skunk.”

  I thought I was dreaming. There was no way he was actually there. Riding his bike. Dressed much the same as he had been before, except with a much less scary shirt. He smiled at us almost as though he had been expecting to see us.

  “Liff!” Polly rejoiced with all her little soul.

  “Fancy meeting you here,” Leif said, hopping down off his bike, remaining a good six feet back.

  I had only known him for a few days, but I wanted to run to him. To hold him and kiss him and feel his warmth against me. But I didn’t.

  I knew it would be a bad idea to throw myself at a guy like that in general, and it could also get us a citation from one of the patrols that had recently taken to prowling the park like lions on the savannah, pouncing on the unruly or unwary.

  “Where Liff go?”

  “Huh?”

  I looked around, realizing Leif had disappeared. His bike was still on the grass. Only when I saw him waving from a nearby tree did I realize what was going on. My heartbeat slowed to a more regular rate.

  “You’d better go find him.”

  “Liff!” Polly called, toddling off in pursuit.

  She was nearly around the tree before he scooted back to the front. They repeated the process, Leif always seconds ahead, before popping out and making himself known. Much to Polly’s delight; her gleeful giggling followed each reveal.

  “Find Liff!” Polly declared, toddling back to me at full speed.

  “Good job, baby.”

  “Where are you headed?” Leif asked.

  “From the park or in life?”

  “Both, if you like.”

  I was silent for a second, not really expecting that to be his answer, despite my flippant question. He actually seemed to be interested, which was a refreshing change.

  “We were headed home. Just needed some fresh air, you know?”

  “Yeah, actually. It was pretty much the same for me. I’m working from home these days, but I just needed to get out before I started climbing the walls. I love my job but there’s only so much one can take. I am but flesh and blood.”

  “Can we see you again?” I asked, a bit of desperation seeping out.

  “Yeah, of course. Will you be here tomorrow?” he asked.

  “Yes, and at home tonight.”

  “In your robe?”

  He had lowered his tone so only I could hear.

  “If you like.”

  “I would, my pet.”

  “Yes, sir,” I whispered, feeling a familiar thrill.

  He grinned at me, something in his smile promising new and exciting pleasures later. I hurried home in a daze, only to realize that Polly and I weren’t alone after I had unburdened myself of the stroller and my shoes.

  Meegan.

  The reckoning was fast and intense. She wielded the empty wine bottle in her hand like a weapon. The fury of a raging fire glowed in her eyes. She was actually growling a little.

  “Mommy!” Polly cried, hiding behind me.


  “Who is he?”

  “Who is who?” I blinked innocently.

  “Don’t give me that crap! You downed the entire bottle! You only do that when there's a guy. Do you have a secret boyfriend?”

  “Not exactly,” I said, not sure precisely what was going on with Leif. Other than that I might be starting to love him, of course.

  “Give me some details,” Meegan said, calming down.

  “I met a guy in the park the other day. I was walking with Polly and he passed by on his bike and we kind of just hit it off.”

  I felt like her eyes were melting me into the ground. I never wished I had the money to move out more than right then. Alas, I was an unemployed single mom and that just wasn’t realistic.

  “His bike,” Meegan said flatly, arching her eyebrow.

  “Yeah. A really nice one, actually. We went on a picnic yesterday. He had two blankets and two baskets set six feet apart. It was really neat.”

  “If only he wasn’t a bum,” Meegan snarled.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, come on. He rides a bike, in New York?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Is he carrying packages while he does it?”

  “Not that I saw.”

  “Then he’s a bum who can’t afford a car.”

  There was no point in trying to argue with her. She would always dig in deep and wouldn’t let it go until I relented.

  “I guess.”

  “Guess nothing. Don’t let things get too serious with this loser. You’ve already been hurt by one asshole who disappeared as soon as Polly was born.”

  Ouch. She never missed an opportunity to remind me.

  “I know. We’re not really in a relationship. We just talk, is all. The picnic was a fun date but there is nothing more to it.”

  It wasn’t really a lie. While it was mostly due to the lockdown, we hadn’t even touched each other yet.

  But still - how intense and fulfilling that video-call had been, giving me more pleasure than any previous guy had ever managed to. Even though it only really came down to a very sexy conversation. I had intentionally left this part out, along with what had happened at the underground record store, with him introducing me to his friend and protecting us from the risk-takers.

  “Good, it’s best if you keep your distance, and not just because of the lockdown either. You do have a daughter to think about.” She sniffed for emphasis and slammed back into her bedroom.