BDSM practitioners can spend literally years learning the craft of their kink. Rope enthusiasts, for example, can get deep into studying knots and safe tying methods, or arguing the fine points of Japanese bondage. I should know—twice a year, my partner and I attend a rope bondage conference, where we spend an entire weekend getting schooled in these sorts of fine points.
Sometimes, all that complexity overwhelms me, and I start to feel like I can’t get kinky unless I do it perfectly. That’s actually a sign that it’s time to step away from the workshops and remember the fun.
In one of the best rope classes I’ve attended, the instructor asked everyone to think about what drew them to rope bondage in the first place. Then he pointed out that in many cases, creativity and connection to your partner matter more to getting what you’re looking for than knowing how to tie 70 different types of knots (though I do find rope geeks sexy).
In my most recent book, The Fugitive’s Sexy Brother, I wanted to keep this in mind. While some of the characters in the book are experienced at BDSM, the hero, Javier, is still learning. I’ll admit that he’s a bit of a natural, but I had fun writing scenes where he had to rely on creativity rather than skill to thrill his partner.
This book isn’t strictly about rope bondage—since it was written to a bounty hunter theme, I couldn’t resist making copious use of handcuffs. When I did write about rope, though, I tried to think about the fundamental appeal of the medium. The smell of hemp, the sensation of rope against skin, and the secure feeling of being wrapped up tight. I wanted to show that expertise is nice, but there’s fun to be had at all skill levels.
Excerpt:
Emily took a deep breath. “Wait here.”
At the bottom of her closet, she found fifty feet of rope. She’d never used it with a lover—she’d bought it foolishly in her early days of bounty hunting, thinking she’d be climbing into windows in pursuit of villains. Emily brought the rope out to Javier and set it on the couch.
“I trust you,” she told him. “In every way. About how you feel about me. About what you would do to me.” She paused, still barely able to believe herself. She had never asked to be tied up. She had never felt so relaxed by the idea of it. “Please,” she said. “Put the rope on me. I surrender.”
Javier looked from her to the rope and back. His lips parted. He cleared his throat. “I’d love to, Emily.” He stood and came to her. He picked up the rope slowly and deliberately, hauling it up hand over hand from the couch cushion. He stepped closer, kissing the top of her ear. He nibbled it lightly and whispered her name.
Taking the rope, Javier tucked one end into her waistband and wound it around her stomach, coil after coil, length after length. He gave her plenty of room to breathe, but kept the tension firm. He pulled her shirt up so the rope lay against her skin. Since she wasn’t struggling this time, the rope fibers felt soft against her skin, almost silky. She watched the rope build up around her middle and realized that her clit pulsed with anticipation. She didn’t feel fear—only excitement at the idea of being truly at his mercy in the way that only rope could symbolize.
Javier wrapped her from her hips to the bottoms of her breasts, then stopped, biting his lip. He fiddled with the rope a moment, then made a loop that secured it in place and dropped the free end to the floor. Emily cocked her head, confused. He’d left her arms and legs entirely free.
He smiled. “Since you’re surrendering, I don’t need to tie you up so you can’t move. The rope’s just a symbol. It’s just my arms around your waist.” His words created a coiling heat between her thighs. “You can be free to move however you want, Emily, and you’ll still be mine.” He kissed her hard, nipping her bottom lip before he pulled away.
Blurb:
Emily Boysen is sick of low-level bounty hunting jobs that don’t pay her rent, and sick to death of her ex-boyfriend taking credit for her work. Ready to claim her due, she takes on the quarry of a lifetime, the notorious Fernando Bonavita. But instead of the fugitive, she captures his sexy younger brother, Javier.
Javier Bonavita never wanted to know the truth about his older brother’s activities, instead protecting him out of loyalty. When he uses his hacking skills to pose as Fernando, he never expects to uncover crimes he can’t stomach. Beautiful Emily has no idea how glad he is to be in her custody—as long as he’s her prisoner, he doesn’t have to face his brother.
Passion flares between Emily and Javier, and soon he’s putting the handcuffs on her. Suspicion grows along with their feelings, though. A sinister plot centers around Fernando, and untangling it will test their loyalties to the limit.
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Annabeth’s Bio:
Annabeth Leong has written erotica of many flavors. She loves shoes, stockings, cooking and excellent bass lines. She always keeps a new e-book loaded on her phone and a paperback stashed in her purse, but her eyes are still bigger than her stomach whenever she visits a bookseller. She blogs at annabethleong.blogspot.com, and tweets @AnnabethLeong . Watch for her next contemporary erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave, Get Laid.
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