This is the final part of Quarantined. Thank you to those who followed along. I also finished A New Beginning on Saturday. I will be sharing some new fiction either this Friday or next, depending on how things go with moving to a new house and internet hookup when we get there.

To find the other parts of Quarantine:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

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It was yet another morning since the quarantine had started that Liam woke up disoriented, but this time there was a woman in his bed and he was relieved to see that the woman was his wife.

After gently sliding himself away from Maddie, making sure her head shifted softly onto the pillow, he sat up, rubbing his hands over his face. Glancing behind him he looked at Maddie still asleep, her hair splayed out around her on the pillow, somewhat like a halo. He couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips as he watched her sleep. They may not have been in love like they used to be, but she was still beautiful.

The ringtone from his phone startled him and he snatched it up quickly so it wouldn’t wake Maddie. He walked into the living room before answering it.

“Mr. Grant?”

“Yes?”

“Sorry to call so early, but this is Dr. Robinson from St. Joseph’s and I wanted to call you personally to let you know that your test for the virus came up negative. You were positive for it’s cousin, I guess you would say: the common cold.”

“So, I’m clear?” Liam asked.

“Clear from the virus everyone is worried about,” the doctor said. “But it’s possible you could still develop symptoms of a cold or give that cold to someone else.”

“So, I’m free from quarantine?”

The doctor laughed. “Well, since the government is shutting down everything and restricting travel, you’re as free as your particular city or state will allow you to be.”

After thanking the doctor and saying goodbye, Liam pumped his fist in the air and tossed his phone to the couch.

He was free. To do what he wasn’t sure since the rest of his brother’s staff, and even his brother, were still in quarantine, still awaiting test results. Not too mention Congress and most of Washington was shut down. He needed coffee before he could decide what his next step would be. And he should probably tell Maddie.

He started the coffee and walked quietly to the spare room to see if she was still sleeping. The bed was empty and he could hear the shower running in the bathroom at the end of the hall. He looked at the empty bed again, an ache in the center of his chest as he remembered the feel of her against him the night before.

Back in the kitchen he started breakfast and poured himself a cup of coffee. He was plating the eggs and bacon and putting another slice of toast in the toaster for Maddie when he heard the bathroom door open and her bare feet in the hallway. Leaning back against the counter he sipped his coffee and thought about how much he would miss the sound of Maddie’s feet in the hallway when the divorce was final.

He noticed a tremble in his hand as he set the mug on the counter. His heart was pounding faster, his breath quickening as he thought about the divorce, pictured himself signing the papers. He closed his eyes tight against the image, rubbing his hand through his hair as if he could rub it from his mind. Dear God, the idea of divorcing her sent a cold chill and a panicked buzz cutting straight through him.

When the door to Maddie’s bedroom flew open she screamed, snatching the towel off the bed and clutching it against her.

“Liam! What are you —”

Her words were cut short by him walking briskly toward her, cupping the back of her head gently, yet firmly, with his hand and covering her mouth fiercely with his.

Pulsating need coursed through him as he opened her mouth under his and clutched at her damp hair.

She pulled away slowly a few moments later, pressing into him as if her legs were about to give way underneath her.

She looked up at him with wide eyes, breathless.

“Should you be kissing me this way? I mean, we don’t know yet if —”

He shook his head. “No, probably not. But I don’t have the virus. The doctor just called. I have the common cold. He said symptoms could still develop so, yes, I could still give you a cold. Do you want to take that risk?”

Maddie searched his eyes. She knew he was asking her more than if she wanted to risk getting sick with a cold.

She let the towel fall to the floor and he pulled her hard against him. Hooking her arms behind his neck, she hungrily grabbed his mouth with hers and he felt every tense muscle in his body relax with pleasure.

“Maddie,” he gasped, pulling his mouth away. She tipped her head back to look at him. “Please don’t leave me.”

A smile flicked across her lips. “I won’t.”

He kissed her hard, gently pushing her back toward the bed at the same time. Lowering her slowly, kissing her, he heard his phone ringing in the living room.

“Should you get that?” she asked softly.

He nodded. “I should. Hold on.”

Laying on the bed, feeling ridiculous and exposed, Maddie sat up and looked for the towel. She knew if it was work, Liam probably wouldn’t be back anytime soon. If ever.

When she looked up, though, he was standing in the doorway with the phone in his hand, against his ear.

 “No, Matt. I’m not going to be in for a few more days. Yeah. Just to be sure. I’ll keep in touch, but I have some things I need to work on at home first. . .” He laughed, looking at her. “Yeah, you could say that. Okay. Bye.”

She leaned back on her elbows, watching as he held his thumb down on the off button of the phone and tossed it down the hallway toward the living room. She saw the desire in his eyes as he walked toward her, lifting his shirt over his head and tossing it across the room.

“I believe we have some catching up to do,” he said when he was next to her, his arms pulling her gently into the curve of his body, his mouth lowering to hers.