Chapter 42

CHAPTER 42

J ackson

In the dawn light, I want to dally with the man in my arms. To slowly awaken his arousal and bring him to release. But the tree surgeon is due to arrive in thirty minutes, and I'm still covered in the effects of the previous night. It surprises me that Luca has never been a top before, and I'm angry that he's only been with partners who never gave him the chance. I get it. With his quiet and withdrawn manner, pretty looks and lack of self confidence, it would be easy to take advantage of him. But I think there's another Luca in there ready to emerge, and I'm looking forward to meeting him. I run a hand along his hip and nuzzle into his neck until he stirs.

"Sorry baby," I whisper. "Harlen will be here soon. I'll bring you a coffee."

"No, I'll get up." He rises and beats me to the shower. I join him anyway. As it is, we only make it to the kitchen and get the coffee machine going a minute before Harlen's jeep pulls up.

"Morning," I call. "Can I get you a coffee?"

"That'd be lovely, thanks," he answers. I like the older man. Maybe it's the connection, that he's spent his life outdoors the same as I have. He previously did work for Frances, so he knows the gardens well.

After coffee, we take a walk around the grounds, and Harlen points out the jobs that need doing. Some of them I knew about, but others, like the old chestnut tree, I didn't realise were in need of some attention until Harlen mentions them.

"Can you save it?" Luca asks. I understand his concern. It's a magnificent old tree.

"Sure, it just needs a few limbs on this side removed, where that split is. That'll stop it from deteriorating any further."

Harlen says that the work will take a week, so we leave him to it and head back to the house.