Free Playing Knotty by Elia Winters

pressing against her ass. She would not squirm. She would not squirm. She would not, absolutely not, press her hips up against his and imagine this position with substantially less clothing. Her eyes were closed; when had she closed them? It didn’t matter. She wanted to sink into this sensation, especially as he pulled the last rope tight, leaving her completely immobile.
    â€œYou okay for a minute, Emma?”
    Emma opened her eyes, blinking in the suddenly bright light at Ian’s face smiling down at her. She nodded and forced a smile in return. Then he left her field of vision, and she could hear him walking around the room, surveying, supervising, offering pointers as he had done before. She closed her eyes again and tried to move, just enough to have the feeling that she couldn’t move. The ropes felt smooth and snug against her skin, abrading only a bit as she twisted her hands back and forth. She had apparently become the type of person with a favorite bondage position . . . and it was this one.
    â€œAre you all right?”
    Ian’s voice was so close that she jumped, her eyes flying open. He was kneeling next to her, leaning over her slightly, looking down into her eyes. “Don’t fall asleep on me.” He looked down her bound form, his gaze lingering on her body as if he were imagining her naked, and she would have crossed her arms or covered herself—if she could move. She felt his touch on her hands, then her feet, fingertips gliding over her skin. “No numbness, right?”
    â€œNo, I’m . . . fine.” His eyes were dark and deep, and she couldn’t look away from them. She could still feel the warmth of his hand on the top of her foot.
    He held eye contact longer than was necessary. “This position is more effective when I tie your legs off to the side, like to the table legs. It helps keep them spread so you can’t close them on me.” His hand tightened on her foot before he moved it away.
    â€œOh.” Her mouth formed the word, but she wasn’t sure any sound came out. How was she supposed to respond? Why was he even telling her that? She felt shivery and warm at the same time; the press of the hard floor through the thin rubbery mat didn’t distract her from the arousal pooling low in her belly. “Maybe you should tell the class that.”
    â€œI already did, while I was walking around. I just thought you might like to know, too.” He rested his hand on her leg again. “You ready to get untied?”
    He was asking her, as if she would want to stay bound any longer than was absolutely necessary. “Sure, whatever.” She affected a disinterested tone and tried to shrug but couldn’t move her arms. Ian pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose and began untying her. Finally free, Emma sat up, a bit too quickly. She got dizzy and pressed a hand to her head, steadying herself.
    â€œLet’s take a break.” Ian got to his feet as the other people in the room were getting untied. “I’ve got water and snacks.”
    The group began eating and chatting, the tone of the room light, but Emma felt too shaken up to really engage. She sipped her own water, keeping her hands steady by supreme effort, standing off to the side of the room while everyone schmoozed.
    â€œHey.”
    Ian’s voice behind her made her turn. She hadn’t heard him approach, and now he was standing so close she could feel his body heat.
    â€œHey.” She sipped from her water again. It was ridiculous for her to feel nervous next to him. Maybe if she kept telling herself that, she could logic herself out of her emotions. Sure, like that had always worked so well in the past.
    â€œHow are you feeling?” He unscrewed the lid on his water and drank half of it, his throat moving as he swallowed mesmerized her with the bob of his Adam’s apple. “Will you be able to make it through the