Graduation and Gifts (Untouchable Book 8) by Heather Long (best books to read for beginners TXT) 📕

coiling the rope. Once you began tying, you wanted the rope to stay smooth and the motion to be even, as it was better for the rope bunny and easier for the knotmaster.

I had three knots I was comfortable with, two that were quick release. For suspension work, the third knot would be better for when we were securing to something higher.

That made sense.

Periodically, I glanced over to find Frankie leaned forward and watching. She had no phone or notepad or pen. But I swear, you could see her mentally taking notes on everything

Only after I’d coiled and recoiled the ropes twice and selected the type I was most comfortable with, and the least likely to cause friction burns, did Lyssa join us. Her smile was open and affable.

“Don’t be nervous,” she teased. “I’ll be gentle.”

“That’s one,” Richard warned, and Lyssa winked at me. I probably shouldn’t have laughed, but her teasing coupled with his sternness did make this a bit easier. I did not want to screw this up. “As for you, breathe. If you’re tense, you convey that tension to your sub. They’re trusting you to take care of them, so you have to be in the right headspace to do that.”

He had a point, and it was why he was a good teacher. I concentrated on evening out my breathing then focusing on the rope I had coiled. Richard directed Lyssa to kneel, and then he began looping the rope around her wrists and then binding them together. It was simple but elegant, the knots were more decorative, but still offering a semblance of binding.

Then it was my turn. Richard loosened his ties and removed it, and I worked the rope around her wrists, wrapping slowly. Then setting the knot. I’d actually practiced this one, so it was pretty straightforward.

“You don’t want to go too loose,” Richard said. “If she relaxes, which they will over time because the ropes offer that soothing effect, this might slip off. So if you adjust the knot, you can tighten and loosen as needed.”

Three more times, we repeated this set. He would do her wrists and tie them off, then remove it and then I would. The goal wasn’t to do the exact same set of knots, but to get a feel for the tension and setting it. Soon, we were binding up to her elbows, and Lyssa just knelt there, her eyes a little glassy and her breathing slowing.

When Richard lifted her so she wasn’t kneeling anymore but allowed her to sit, I waited while he rubbed her feet. Gradually, awareness bled back into her face as she winced.

“In the beginning, you have to check frequently, you’ll learn their cues. Lyssa, for example, can go so still, she forgets that her limbs will start to go to sleep, and since part of taking care of them is making sure they don’t hurt themselves, this is where you have to make the call. So now, we can continue with some more light work or we can end it. What do you think?”

He was giving me the choice?

I frowned and then glanced at Lyssa, studying her. Her breathing was far more normal, her pupils not so glassy or blown, and there was the barest hint of a smile on her face. “I’d be game to continue if you think she’s up for it,” I offered.

“Tell me what you see,” Richard instructed, and I sighed.

“You can do it.” Frankie’s voice was so soft that I barely heard it. I hadn’t forgotten she was there, but the encouragement skirted the reluctance. She was right—I could do this, and I needed to do this.

So I described Lyssa’s physical responses. “If she were Frankie, I’d know what this meant. I feel like I’m guessing because I don’t know her as well.”

“Fair,” Richard told me. “But that’s part of what you’re learning, so think back to what her responses were when we began.” Good point.

“Lyssa, are you comfortable with a little more practice?” I’d say her physiological responses all pointed toward yes, so that just left consent.

The nod and quiet smile from Richard told me I’d chosen correctly, and Lyssa gave me an even wider grin. “I’m definitely game for more.”

Every part of this was a test, but that was the point of the lessons, right? We spent the next couple of hours going over more knots and ties and different ways to start. By the time we finished, I’d bound her wrists, her ankles, her wrists to her ankles, and her hands in front as well as in back. We’d bound them up, then down.

We alternated the ropes with silk ties, sometimes with leather straps, and once with the handcuffs. While we were learning ropes, he wanted me to understand the different reasons to use different bindings. Sensation was chief among them, but also purpose. For suspension, for example, the metal cuffs were always a no. In fact, the metal should only be used for stimulation play and then traded for something gentler on the skin.

Each time, Richard pointed out different things to watch for, and when Lyssa seemed almost drowsy, he called it. I loosened all the ties and coiled the ropes as he picked her up to cuddle. Aftercare was something I was already familiar with. “Go ahead and set that all down, and I’ll take care of it after I take care of her.”

“Thank you, Lyssa,” I murmured to her, and she gave me a sleepy smile. Over her head, I caught Frankie watching me in absolute fascination. She’d sat there for hours during this, and outside of the occasional encouragement, she’d been so quiet. I put up the ropes and nodded to Richard. “Thank you both.”

“We’ll talk soon,” he said, carrying Lyssa over to the chairs to sit with her a while, and I held out a hand to Frankie. She was quiet as we made our way out. We passed a few other scenes in the outer room, but neither of