“It is nice,” had been all I could say.
“Nice!?” had glared Jason. “That word nice again.”
I had placed the ring back on the counter.
“They are all nice, Jason, but I just don’t see myself wearing a big stone on my finger. I prefer restrained, unpretentious. I don’t want to worry about losing it all the time,” I had tried to speak quietly so not to embarrass the shop assistant.
“Look, Gem, it is your choice. I’m a bloke, it all goes over my head.”
I had smiled at his comment and looked over yet another tray of rings.
“This one,” I had pointed at a platinum ring with a three small diamonds set into it. Slipping it on, I held my hand out to show it to him.
Jason had lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it.
Gradually the news of our announcement seeped out. My best moment was when I went to Jason’s office on a Friday morning and revelled in my new status as the future wife of the boss. I had called into the office one Monday to meet Jason for a lunch break.
~
Gone was snappy Carla. Instead, the smiling PA quickly offered me a coffee and a selection of expensive biscuits. I declined. Arriving at the entrance of the building I had been waved in by the security desk, no pass required. I had made my way up in the lift to the top floor. The temptation to step out at my old floor had been strong, however, I did not wish to see Penny or Amanda, not after what Libby did to me. Jason had Andy moved to a different division, a sideways move for a fresh start in the company. Andy had felt guilty that he had not spotted Libby’s psychopathic tendencies. Nobody had though, including her heart-broken father.
When I entered Jason’s office for what was only the third time, I was neither nervous nor fearful. I was thrilled to be at the heart of his business. In the middle of a telephone conversation, he waved me into his office.
“I don’t care, get it sorted now and don’t come back to me with excuses. This should never have gotten out of hand. I want a full report in my inbox by nine tomorrow.” The handset was slammed down.
“Bad time?” My excitement was somewhat crushed.
Jason’s face immediately softened as he watched me edge my way forward. He came around the desk and took me in his arms, kissing me tenderly.
“Baby, never a bad time with you. Let’s go. I can only spare an hour.”
The final piece of our relationship jigsaw slotted into place a month after our engagement. I came home to Blythewood on a Friday to find Jason already there. He was washing his hands in the kitchen sink, dressed in jeans and t-shirt. He looked pleased with himself.
“Hi,” I had said with curiosity laced in my greeting.
“Come, I want to show you something,” he took my hand and led me to his lair. “It’s not what you think,” he opened the door and I immediately saw in the corner of the room a new piece of furniture. I walked up to it and admired its beautiful construction.
“I’ve been putting it together, not quite flat packed, but I had to make adjustments to height etc.,” Jason looked proud of his DIY skills. “What do you think?”
The apparatus was different, a long bench for me to lie on, like a gymnastics beam. Knee and arms rest, keeping me splayed out for him but supported. I touched the smooth leather top and felt the straps, their lined with soft velvet, they would never chafe me. I picked up a piece of ball-shaped rubber that was attached at the head end by a strap.
“A gag, but you choose when to use it and you can spit it out yourself.”
My insides were starting to do their somersaults.
“And this?” I asked.
I pointed to a raised smooth piece of wood at the lower end of the bench, right near the end of the leather. He was standing very close to me now and in my ear he whispered.
“For your stimulation, my love. An extra I had specially made for you.”
Oh God! I wanted to melt on the spot.
“What do you think, Gemma? Would you be able to use it?” he asked.
I looked up to the wall to where the canes used to hang. Jason took them away when I said I would not able to tolerate their touch. No canes, no head upside down. It would do.
“Perfect, Jason,” I beamed at him and we were quickly in each other’s arms, kissing hard and tongues deep in mouths.