Bliss in Bordeaux

By Dolly Watt

A solo holiday in rural France improves dramatically when artist Harriet Sommers meets Jean-Jacques, a gorgeous gardener with a passion for spanking.

A relaxing break in rural France becomes a working holiday when artist Harriet Sommers accepts a last-minute commission to illustrate a new edition of the Kama Sutra. Unfortunately, Harriet's love life is so empty she can scarcely remember what naked people do together, and she's fresh out of creative juice.

Help arrives when a mysterious, muscular Frenchman appears in the garden of her holiday home, offering to remove his clothes. Before long, Harriet and Jean-Jacques are showing the Kama Sutra a thing or two. But is this just a holiday fling? Or can a French fancy last longer?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
• Release date: Jun 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781784305901

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A Totally Bound Publication

Bliss in Bordeaux

ISBN # 978-1-78430-590-1

©Copyright Dolly Watt 2015

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright May 2015

Edited by Jennifer Douglas

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2015 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Burning and a Sexometer of 2.

BLISS IN BORDEAUX

Dolly Watt

A solo holiday in rural France improves dramatically when artist Harriet Sommers meets Jean-Jacques, a gorgeous gardener with a passion for spanking.

A relaxing break in rural France becomes a working holiday when artist Harriet Sommers accepts a last-minute commission to illustrate a new edition of the Kama Sutra. Unfortunately, Harriet’s love life is so empty she can scarcely remember what naked people do together, and she’s fresh out of creative juice.

Help arrives when a mysterious, muscular Frenchman appears in the garden of her holiday home, offering to remove his clothes. Before long, Harriet and Jean-Jacques are showing the Kama Sutra a thing or two. But is this just a holiday fling? Or can a French fancy last longer?

Dedication

To Sheila and Matt, for such generous hospitality!

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Mac: Apple, Inc.

Derwent: Acco UK Limited

Macbook: Apple, Inc.

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi Alliance

Chapter One

Harriet’s holiday was already going wrong, and her plane hadn’t even left the tarmac.

Sweetie, said Cressida into her ear. "Try and see it as a working holiday."

Harriet cursed herself for having answered her phone. But it’s meant to be a rural retreat, she said. I’m stressed, remember?

Darling, think of your career! enthused Cressida. "And mine. The agency hasn’t had a lucky break for years. If we win this tender, we’ll be the talk of the town. The commissions will come pouring in and everyone will be wanting you! Your work! Your talent, and your perfect, perfect illustrations. Please say yes."

Harriet gazed out of the little rain-streaked window to the gray runway ahead and choked back a sob. All the pressures of work were racing back to her, just as she was on the brink of escaping. Would she ever get any peace? But my holiday, she said wearily.

Sweets, said Cressida. After this, you’ll be able to afford dozens of holidays. Proper holidays taken twice a year in five star hotels, not some random DIY affair in the arse-end of France.

A lump ached in Harriet’s throat. It’s in the Bordeaux region, she replied. A beautiful gîte in a picturesque village.

Ah, whatevs.

Harriet drew a deep breath, determined not to crumble. Isn’t there someone else who can take it on?

Oh, Harry, I’ve racked my brains and I can’t think of anyone else who’s as…brave as you.

As stupid as, more like, thought Harriet.

I can arrange to have anything sent out to you, continued Cressida. Or if you’re inspired and want to get cracking as soon as you arrive, you can buy supplies from the local art shop and invoice me.

I have to end this call, said Harriet, not trusting herself to stay strong and decline the work in the face of Cressida’s notorious persistence. We’re about to take off. The flight attendant’s giving me funny looks.

Is he cute?

Harriet repressed a sigh of exasperation. I imagine, she said through clenched teeth, he bats for the other side.

Don’t give up, hun! said Cressida. He might have a normal brother. You’ll find someone one day! Is this a weight-loss holiday?

Harriet wrapped her cardigan around her phone, hunching over to speak into it. You’ve gone faint, Cress. Can you hear me? Hello? Cressida?

I’ll email you the deets, yelled Cressida. "The Kama Sutra. Just a few drawings of people…doing it."

Hello? said Harriet into her cardigan. Can’t hear—

Fucking! came Cressida’s voice through the lambswool. "People fucking!"

Harriet glanced nervously at the elderly woman in the next seat. Crrrrghh! Line’s breaking up. You there, Cress? Can’t hear you.

You should get a pet! hollered Cressida. They’re good for stress! Very calming!

Harriet pressed off her phone and sank back into her seat, her body slumping in relief as she exhaled.

The flight attendant leaned toward her with a dazzling white smile. Seatbelt, please.

Harriet tugged and clicked the belt into place. The man nodded in appreciation and leaned a little closer.

You’re right, darling, he said. You’re not my type at all. But they say there’s someone for everyone, don’t they? Good luck. Bon voyage!

* * * *

By the time Harriet arrived at her aunt’s empty gîte, the night was pitch black and her jaw was tense from the stress of having driven a hire car from the airport on the wrong side of the road. The gîte stood alone at the end of a dirt track, surrounded by a fortress of neat, whitewashed walls. The car bounced over rubble, its headlights casting yellow beams across fields of tall, rough grasses as Harriet approached. At the gate to the property, Harriet left the engine running and stepped out, breathing in the night’s soft, warm air as she scanned her surroundings, crickets chirruping everywhere.

Far away, pinpricks of light marked a country road but in the immediate vicinity, save for occasional house lights, darkness ruled. Luckily, there was enough starlight to allow Harriet to discern the shapes of other properties in the middle distance, each one isolated from the next and bordered by walls, although none of the walls were as high as those enclosing Aunt Miriam’s place. Clearly, privacy was important to Miriam.

Harriet unlocked an enormous polished gate, parked the hire car inside the property then secured the gate, deciding to leave exploration of the area until the next day. For now, all she wanted was to unpack, unwind and check out the house that would be her home for the next few weeks.

When Miriam had offered Harriet use of the gîte while she holidayed in Spain with her toy boy, Harriet’s first response had been, I can’t afford the time off work.