While we were relatively new to the peer rope group, I was thrilled to be back at another meeting. My husband and I had been exploring our kinky side...he was the top to my role as a rope bottom, and we were learning new things and meeting new people together.
We're a poly couple, meaning we have romantic relationships with people, but our marriage is primary. He's straight and I'm bisexual. And while I'm a bottom for some things, I'm not a submissive and he's not a dominant.
Today was particularly big for us because it would be our first time attending a rope play party after the rope group. We noticed that the group was already larger than previous meetings have been, but people were friendly and we were welcomed easily.
I suddenly felt someone's eyes on me and turned towards the door, shock freezing me in place. Josh stood there, my shock mirrored on his face. After a moment, I felt Paul touch my arm gently.
"Ree?"
"It's Josh," I replied, hoarsely, my gaze from Josh's never wavering.
Josh and I had been lovers a year prior, with him introducing me to my kinky side. He'd been the only lover that I developed extremely strong feelings for before he dropped the bomb on me that he was moving out of the area. But then I found out he'd lied about being single and I came to the realization that I was just another plaything to him. By that time he'd disappeared out of the area. And so, while I suspected he was involved in the scene in this area when he was here, I had no reason to fear running into him. And since we hadn't seen him around, I relaxed into the groups, and forgot about it.
Until now.
Josh was making his way toward us, and I took a breath, steeling myself for the confrontation.
Josh nodded, "Hey Ree. Hey Paul."
Paul nodded. "Josh. Didn't know you were still in the area."
"I'm back," he replied.
I inhaled deeply, looking away.
"But I'm happy to see you guys found this group," Josh continued. "It's a good group."
"Yeah," I replied softly. "It is." I still couldn't look at Josh. "Except if you're back, then we probably shouldn't be here."
"Why's that, Ree?" The tone of Josh's voice had me looking at him, but I couldn't answer. When I remained silent, he continued. "Do you hate me that much?"
I shook my head. "Just the opposite," I replied, finding my voice. I started to turn away and he touched my arm.
"Ree, we should talk," he said quietly to me. "The last thing I want to do is push you away from the community. I never wanted to hurt you."
I shook my head. "I don't want to leave the community, but I don't think I can handle watching you play with someone else," I admitted, not meeting his gaze. "Especially when I know you don't want me anymore."
Josh opened his mouth to reply just as the group was called to sit for the month's discussion, and I shook my head. "It's good to see you, Josh," I said as I followed Paul to find a seat, and promptly did everything in my power to forget he was there for a little while.
Later, as Paul was struggling with practicing a particularly complicated knotted piece on my wrist and I was watching the demonstration, I heard Josh offer help to Paul to show him how to do it. Both guys looked at me for my permission for Josh to touch me.
I nodded. "It's fine." But it wasn't. Not really. I feared what feelings would be brought up the minute Josh's fingers were touching me, even though it was only my wrist. But at the same time, I trusted Josh with my body like no one else. Even after everything, I instinctively knew Josh wouldn't hurt me. Not physically, anyway. And if Paul could learn something new that we could use, this was a good thing.
I passively watched the guys tying my wrists together, finding the comfort that I've begun to associate with rope. I allowed them to manipulate my body in the ways that they needed feeling the hug of the rope slipping around my skin and settled into the relaxation.
The lesson went way too quickly and soon, I was being untied and jerked myself back to reality and the buzz of conversation around me. I was vaguely aware of Josh asking me something and asked him to repeat himself.
He was rubbing my bare wrist gently. "I just wanted to know that you were okay."
I nodded. "Yeah. Thanks."
Josh continued to hold onto my wrist. "Can we talk?" He asked, jerking his head over to a quiet corner. I glanced at Paul and he nodded his assent.
I felt the absence of Josh's touch acutely as I followed him to the corner. Taking seats in chairs facing each other, he leaned forward to me.
"Ree, I really don't want to keep you from being a part of this community."
I wrapped my arms around myself and looked at the floor. "I know, Josh."
"And just so you know, I want you, too. Back there, just the little bit with teaching Paul those knots..." His voice trailed off, and he cleared his throat. "I want more."
I shook my head," Josh...with the way I feel about you..." I closed my eyes. "It's too intense for me sometimes."
I felt his light touch on my arm. "I can relate. I feel the same about you." He sighed. "I want you so badly."
I studied him in silence.
"But you're someone else's," he finished, removing his hand from my arm. "Just know that I never wanted to hurt you. I think about you all of the time. I...I never stopped having feelings for you."
"Joshβ", I started, but he cut me off.
"I want to play with you. Here. Tonight. But it's up to you. If you want to play, you'll have to be the one to tell me." Josh started to stand and I stopped him, placing a hand on his arm.
"I can't just do a one-time thing with you," I replied, softly.