When I first started “coming out” as a romance writer to my family and friends, I often got some wry looks, and comments like “that must be the sexiest job ever.” I love what I do, but let me tell you: writing smut is not always as glamorous as it sounds. Reality, as we all know, has a tendency to be a lot more clumsy, messy, funny and sometimes not-at-all-sexy as romance books are. Case in point: several months ago, I asked hubs to help me block out a scene for my upcoming release, The Hierarchy of Needs, which comes out tomorrow! It went something like this:

Me: Honey, are you busy?

Hubs: Why?

Me: I need you to tie me to the bed.

Hubs: *drops everything* Not busy!

(At this point, hubs followed me into the bedroom, where I told him I needed to see how easy it would be to use a belt to tie someone to a headboard. Hubs then proceeded to dig into the dirty laundry basket to find his belt, which was still attached to his jeans. He, of course, was wearing a hoodie and flannel pjs bottoms. Sexy, right?!)

Me: *settles onto my back on the bed* *grins salaciously* Tie me up, baby.

Hubs: *climbs on top of me* *stares at headboard* *tries to figure out the logistics* Okay, hold on.

Me: *winces as hubs’ sweatshirt ties start batting me in the face* You need some help there, honey?

Hubs: *huffs* No, I’ve got it. There! *belt slips free* Okay, wait, let me try it again.

Me: *ducks head down as sweatshirt ties go in my mouth* Babe, you’re kinda choking me here.

Cat: *jumps on bed* Meow. *bats at sweatshirt ties* Meow?

Hubs: I think I’ve got it. *belt loosens again and falls down behind the bed* Please don’t put this in one of your books.

See? Not as sexy as it sounds! (But a good story, though!)

Here’s a little snippet from the scene in The Hierarchy of Needs that I ended up writing. Thankfully, Jamie and Dean’s experience with a headboard and a belt was a lot sexier than reality!

***

Stripping away the last of her clothes, Dean walked her to the bed. He kissed her again and pressed her down onto it, fingers weaving through hers, clasping their hands together and drawing them once more over her head.

“Hands on the headboard,” he ordered softly. “Around the slats.”

She did as she was told, hooking them onto the wooden poles. Dean stepped away,

returning a moment later with a condom, and his belt. Her eyes widened.

“To keep you still and help you let go.” Dean knelt beside her and waited for her answer. “Yes?”

She paused, glancing at the belt, then back at him. She’d felt so liberated when it was Dean’s hands holding her down. Nothing would help her let go as much as being fully restrained.

She wanted this. Fuck yes, she wanted this.

Jamie offered him her hands. “Yes.”

He placed the condom on the nightstand, then carefully wrapped the belt around her wrists and slid the leather through the buckle. She closed her eyes when he brought her bound hands back above her head, feeling the pull as he looped the belt through the rungs, tugging once to remove any slack.

The backs of his knuckles stroked over her cheek. Jamie opened her eyes.

“You can pull free pretty easy if you get scared,” he said.

It felt snug enough. It was all the illusion she needed. “I trust you.”

***

Giveaway: For a chance to win a free e-copy of The Hierarchy of Needs from the retailer of your choice, tell me: what’s your sexiest moment that became unfortunately un-sexy? You have until Friday, July 10^th to tell me your tale!

The Hierarchy of Needs

The Portland Rebels, Book # 2
Samhain Publishing, 7/7/15

Once you figure out what you want, it’s impossible to ignore what you need.

Jamie Matthews is stuck in a rut. After hitting a wall with her dream career, she’s back in her hometown, living a life as monotonous as swimming laps in the neighborhood pool.

Being surrounded by her perfect brothers is a painful reminder of her failure to launch. The last bonfire of the summer is an ideal way to let off steam, especially when she runs into Dean Trescott, the playboy friend she had one hot-as-hell night with back in high school.

Since the day Dean met Jamie, he’s loved her beauty, talent, and smile that lit up the whole damn block. But dating isn’t an option. She has a bright future ahead of her, and he refuses to chain her to his—helping run the family business that’s barely staying afloat.

A “what-happens-in-Vegas” weekend was supposed to get their craving for each other out of their systems. But neither counted on the past repeating itself, drawing them together in even hotter and dirtier ways and dangling the possibility they might both be able to get exactly what they need…

Warning: A friends-to-lovers twice over story that contains some hot ’n’ heavy kissing in the waves, hair pulling, and a man who knows how to use his hands. It may also feature a few practical jokes—only the fun kind, of course. 

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Samhain Publishing

Rebecca Grace Allen writes kinky new adult and contemporary BDSM romance. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a double concentration in Creative Writing and Literary Comparison, as well as a Master of Science in Elementary Education, both of which seemed like good ideas at the time. After stumbling through careers in entertainment, publishing, law and teaching, she’s returned to her first love: writing. A self-admitted caffeine addict and gym rat, she currently lives in upstate New York with her husband, two parakeets, and a cat with a very unusual foot fetish.

You can find Rebecca at:

Website: www.RebeccaGraceAllen.com
Twitter: @RGraceAllen
Facebook: RebeccaGrace.Allen
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomRebeccaGraceAllen