Jude is a curious environmental engineering student fascinated by the man he knows as Farmers Market Hudson. He’s curious about the commune and living off the grid, he just didn’t realize Kaleidoscope Gardens’ slogan had a deeper meaning.
“Kaleidoscope Gardens is a place where we celebrate our sexuality by practicing sex out in the open.”
“Sex? In the open?” Jude’s eyes grew comically wide, but someone stepped up to the table, so the conversation had to be momentarily put on hold. Jude stood off to the side and sorted through his basket of reserved items while Hudson helped fill a woman’s canvas bag with her carefully chosen produce. Then a man came to buy kale. He also wanted some new ideas on how to prepare it, so Hudson took time to find a few recipes he kept for situations like this.
When Hudson stepped back over to Jude, he looked filled with more questions than ever before, which was saying a lot. In all his years working the market, no one had been as inquisitive as Jude, and consistently so.
Jude took a deep breath, as though preparing for a speech, but then he bit down on his lower lip as his dark blond brows drew together. Hudson laughed. It was about to begin. “I see a thousand cartoon bubbles above your head.”
Jude flushed, which showed off his chiseled cheekbones even more. “Was the commune founded because of… sex?” He whispered the last word as though it was scandalous.
Hudson released a slow breath and crossed his arms over his chest, preparing himself for any sort of blowback. “It was set up as a… sanctuary, if you will. The Gardens has always been about freely expressing our sexuality without fear of harm, retribution, or inhibition.”
“From all your branding on the truck and labels, I thought it was about organic farming, but I guess it’s more.”
Hudson nodded. “You mean the naked part?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Naked organics is a slogan that will sell more produce, unlike living freely, screwing openly, and farming organically would.”
This story is sex positive and views sex, in all its consensual forms, as a healthy part of life. Jude was raised in the “Purity Culture,” where sex was seen as something to be ashamed of unless it happened in the context of a marriage and with the intent of procreating. He knew he was gay from an early age but was able to keep that knowledge from his parents. Shame was burned into his very being, however.
Jude’s fight in this story is confronting his past. He thinks moving to Kaleidoscope Gardens will help him overcome his upbringing. Farmers Market Hudson is a huge bonus too. 😉
Jude Garrity visits the farmers market every Saturday. As an environmental engineering student, he’s curious about living off the grid and sustainable agriculture.
And one particular farmer.
Hudson Oliva has worked hard to support his commune, where queer people live without fear of harm or retribution. When Jude asks pointed questions about living there, Hudson realizes he needs to be honest about his home. Few people know what the farm is actually about, but Jude is insistent.
Jude moves to Kaleidoscope Gardens, however his sexual hang-ups make it hard to adjust. He’s an uptight virgin living among people who have sex freely and with multiple partners. When Jude finally loosens up, Hudson is flooded with emotions. Falling for Jude wasn’t part of Hudson’s life plan. But when vindictive rumors about the commune begin to spread, love might be all he has left.
