AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Don’t,” said Andrea sharply. “Tell me how you met Jason. I mean, you said you didn’t fall in love with the others. Why him?”
“He helped me. I had lost my self-esteem, my confidence. The idea of sex terrified me. Jason was my fire lighter, instantly re-igniting my expired flames. Vanilla, meaning no kink, at first. A strange start to the relationship for both of us, but it was the right approach. It re-established trust. I was bowled over when he told me he was a practising Dominant. Like a dream come true. Not because he is wealthy and successful, but because it fitted his personality, and I liked his personality. I became his submissive and felt so good about myself.”
“He found you by accident?”
“No. He was searching for an experienced submissive partner. A more enduring relationship than the ones he had previously been engaged in. I don’t think he was seeking love or romance, not when he started out. No.” Gemma paused, remembering her first sessions with Jason. “He was very much a Dom with me at first. Never showed me his feelings or what he was thinking. How did you meet John?”
“He came to check our stock at the nursery. Wanting roses or something. I bent over to pull a weed out, and he told me later that he fell for my bum! Such a romantic person. What?!”
Gemma was beside herself with laughter. “It was a photocopier with me. I bent over to fix a fault. Jason told me that was enough for him. They’re all the same, these men, aren’t they?”
Once they recovered their composure, they sat in the Jacuzzi pool and talked about Andrea’s ivory wedding dress.
***
John turned slightly green as Lubinsky spun the boat around again. More sharp turns and arcs, ploughing the speedboat through the water. He clung to the rope line with white knuckles.
Jason, on the other hand, loved being tossed about, shooting across the waves with water splashing around them. Speed didn’t frighten him. He owned a high-powered sports car and would happily let Lubinsky test the limits of the boat’s powerful engine if it wasn’t for the presence of John.
“Do you want a go?” Jason shouted over the roar of the engine and the sound of the waves smashing against the boat.
John shook his head. “Um, you first.”
Jason grinned, took hold of the wheel, and cranked up the throttle. The boat surged forward, smashing into a wave.
“Not bad, John,” shouted Lubinsky as the boat bounced about.
John’s short stint at the controls, following Jason’s own, ended as he handed back the wheel to the experienced sailor. Jason patted his arm and chuckled at his exhilarated expression. “See, it is fun.” John gave a small nod of acknowledgement.
They searched the coastline for a suitable cove or beach area. Heading inland, south of Sublime, Lubinsky suggested a location for John and Jason to swim.
Jason dived into the cool seawater, whereas John slid in cautiously, gasping with the cold. They swam until they reached the shoreline and outcrop. Perched on the dry rocks in the sunshine, John s
at with his back to the sun.
“How is your business going, Jason?”
He kept his summary brief, not wanting to mar his day with intrusive thoughts about work. “Mixed fortunes at the moment. I’m awaiting further reports at the beginning of the week. One of those acquisitions that on paper looks straightforward but ends up being troublesome. Unfortunately, everything is happening while I’m on holiday.” Jason exhaled deeply. “The gardening business?”
“If it actually had anything to do with gardening, I would probably enjoy it more. The owner of the garden centre has encouraged me to branch out into other areas of retail. Homeware, giftware, and the dreaded arts and crafts. I know he is right, horticulture alone will not rake in enough money or punters. The cafe has helped draw in regulars. But I’m a gardening expert. The rest doesn’t inspire me.”
“What do you mean?”
“My limited floor space is increasingly squeezed. The plants, seeds, and bulbs occupy one quarter of the garden centre. Outdoor furniture takes up a huge space, as does the variety of flowerpots and containers. What I consider key requirements—trees and shrubs—relegated to the back of the outdoor display area. Can you believe it, dried and paper flowers are more popular than living plants? Christmas is one big headache. Everyone buys baubles rather than holly bushes and winter bulbs.”
“So, you adapt.”
John leant back on his elbows and groaned. “It’s not me. I’m not a manager. I loathe the responsibilities. I’m a horticulturalist who happens to have good organisation skills.”
“Have you thought more about setting up your own business, the landscape and garden design?” Jason searched among the rock pools for shells. Leaning forward, he picked up a limpet and ran his finger over the sharp edge.
“Yes. Andrea nags me about it—from time to time. I’ve spoken to others I know who have similar businesses. They’re surviving, but it doesn’t make a huge amount of money. I thought about approaching building companies and offering to help landscape new estates, not just the gardens but the surrounding green spaces. There are possibilities, especially in urban areas, where land is at a premium. Making an attractive urban garden pushes up property prices.”
More limpet shells, and he lined them up on a rock. “Have you done a business plan, investigated the finances?”
“No. To be blunt, I’m not sure how to go about it. I can’t imagine what the work would entail, nor how to make money out of the business. To be honest, I don’t think I’m cut out for going it alone.”
Seagulls squawked above their heads, and the breeze dried their swimwear. Jason stared across the small bay to where Lubinsky and Ted waited on the boat, watching the tide and currents. He weighed up John’s situation, deciding how best to help him.
