Amber, you fucked up, when you cheated on him. Now, I’ll never leave him alone. He’s mine.
He smirked. “I love the way you’re looking at me.”
“I can’t help it. You make me feel so good.”
“I’m glad, but you still haven’t given me an answer.”
I bit my bottom lip.“Just say yes, Jade. I wouldn’t take no for an answer anyway. Apparently, neither will my mother or sister.”
I gazed into his eyes. This man had already seized my heart in such a short time. “Yes, Kamal. I’ll stay with you.”
“Yes?” Leaning my way, he captured my mouth. He dipped his tongue in my mouth and swirled it around mine.
I groaned.
He moved away. “This is going to work. Trust me.”
“I do.”
“This world is crazy right now, but I’m grateful that I quarantined with you.”
“Me too. Without you, Kamal, I would have been sitting in this apartment, scared and alone.”
“And we’ll sit this out together, fucking and surviving.”
I giggled. “Fucking and surviving?”
“Is there any other way to quarantine?”
“I guess not.”
“Let’s eat.”
Getting a little chilly, Kamal put on his shirt. I needed that because I might not have been able to finish the meal.
That night, we sat by candlelight, nibbling on pizza and catching each other up on the news of the day.Kamal shook his head. “Hot spot is not a public health term.”
“Okay, but it describes areas with a large cluster of Covid-19 cases.”
“No. The coronavirus will not take hot spot from me. It’s too sexy of a term.”
I giggled. “Okay. So, we’ll stick with the epicenter.”
“Yes. You’re in New York right in America’s epicenter.”
“Yep.” I took a sip of my wine. “What a time to come visit. Right?”
“Correct.” He tossed a slice to Ganesha.
“Ooo.” I shook my head. “I’m telling Zora.”
“That’s how you’re going to start our relationship off?”
“That’s against his diet.”
“Dogs like pizza.”
I laughed. “You’re so naughty.”
He nipped at my mouth. “So. . .make a list of your supplies for sculpting. I’ll have them sent to my place.”
My nerves frazzled a little. Never had I been treated like this before. Already, Kamal liked taking care of me. I was slowly forcing myself to get used to it. “Okay.”
“Thanks for not countering me on that.”
“Well. . .I can afford to pay for my own stuff, but—”
“You know I want to take care of that.”
“Yes.”
“And I would love to watch you do what you do.”
I grinned. “That would be fun.”
“With this series of art pieces are you going to work with metal again?”
“Actually, this time I want to play with clay.”
“What’s your inspiration right now?”
“This virus. Artists are always affected by the world around them. I think that we will find more and more writers, singers, and all other artists around the world tapping into their creativity to help find new ways to deal with the global pandemic.”
He nodded. “While waiting for my mother to get off of the phone with you, I saw news coverage on artists recreating classic paintings to fit the pandemic.”
“Like what?”
“The Mona Lisa with a mask on.”
“No way.”
“Yes. You know American Gothic? The two old white people standing next to each other with the pitchfork?”
“Yep.”
“Now they’re six feet apart with masks on.”
“Hilarious.”
“There’s been several murals popping up too around New York.”
Excitement filled me. “Oh yes. There’s some in Italy. I saw one online. It was a doctor cradling the globe in his arms like a baby.”
“There’s a Paris one showing a nurse with the Superman uniform on. The graffiti and mural artists are making some incredible coronavirus-inspired works on walls and buildings across the globe.”
“It’s an interesting time to live in.”
“And now musicians are performing online as well as DJs.”
“In some ways, we’re lucky to have the internet. If we didn’t have it, the world would be losing their minds even more.”
“Yes.”
He studied me. “Damn.”
“What?”
“This is so fucking refreshing.”
“What is?”
“Calm and enjoyable conversation.” He let out a long breath. “A peaceful evening. Your gorgeous face in the candlelight.”
I gestured to the floor. “And Ganesha whimpering for more pizza?”
Kamal tossed another one to him.
“Oooo. I’m telling Zora.”
“He deserves it. Ganesha guards us well.” He slipped his fingers down my arm. “I’ll clean up. You want to find a good movie? Or do you want me to show off some more of my dance skills?”
“Hmmm.” I gave him a wicked smile.
“You look devilish.”
“After you’re done, you should come into the bedroom and get naked.”
He touched his chest. “Princess, are you suggesting that I fornicate with you this evening?”
“Yes, sir.”
He groaned. “Get your sexy ass in that bedroom. Give me a few minutes. I’ll be in there with you.”
Excitement filled me. My skin heated. I rose from my seat.
He stood too with lust blazing in his eyes. “In fact, get nude and go out on the balcony.”
“What?”
“We’re fucking on the balcony. My sister had a great idea. We must go with it.”
“I think she was asking you not to.”