"Why this? Why now? Why me?" Sandra wondered.
First the doctor said it was tendonitis. Maybe a few days rest, better ergonomic arrangement of her computer, avoid strain, don't overdo it for a few weeks. That was disruption enough.
But lack of progress healing, more pain, further tests, more waiting at the doctor, and now the diagnosis was a full bloom case of tendinosis. "How could my body betray me like this?" Sandra complained to her understanding boyfriend Paul. There was too much work to do. First, there was her work as a graduate instructor at the university. She had lecture notes to prepare, discussion sessions to lead, papers & lab reports to grade. Second she had deadlines for the papers she was editing for a couple of department professors. She didn't want to jeopardize her standing in the highly competitive biophysics department by not keeping up with the publishing schedule. And finally there was her own research. She was already a little behind the calendar on her dissertation, but if she could get through the current research tasks, analyze and write up the results, and review it with her advisors, she might be able to get caught up, take a break and even do some traveling in January.
It would be great for the two of them to get out of the Queensland capital for a change at the time of year when it's usually hot and sticky, and the tropical rains can be at their worst. Sandra shuddered recalling the tremendous Brisbane River floods of last January. It seemed like the entire city of more than a million was underwater. But the recent floods were now the least of Sandra's worries. She needed a break from the pain, and a break from the boredom.
"I know this is rough on you San," said Paul, adopting his fatherly voice. She loved it when he got all protective and parental on her. "We'll get through it. Maybe this is your body's way of telling you that you need a break," he continued. "You know how hard you've been pushing yourself for months. You can't keep this pace up forever you know."
Sandra heaved a sigh, and narrowed her eyes, trying to look at least a little defiant. Not quite suppressing an appreciative smile, she stuck her tongue out at him, and drew a raised eyebrow in return. Sandra loved his reassurance and his calm confidence. But she needed something more right now. She needed him to give her something that she couldn't quite bring herself to ask for, and at the moment, wasn't even sure how to express it. She had a feeling if she pushed him, just a bit, he would get the hint.
Ever since the doctors said she had tendinosis, in addition to not being able to work, Sandra wasn't able to take part in one of her favorite activities -- getting tied up by her boyfriend Paul. And to make things worse, she couldn't even write stories about her past adventures either. Sometimes these tie up games were with friends, which Sandra loved reliving by sharing with her (appreciative) TUG community. But sometimes Sandra just needed to be tied up and kept by her beloved Paul.
Fortunately for Sandra, Paul knew her well, and could read her like a blog. Not to be deterred in loving his girl, he found a creative way to meet Sandra's deep need to be bound, despite her injury.
After dinner, which Paul cooked, he cleared the table, washed the dishes, and let Sandra watch TV. Normally she'd help with cleanup, but her injured arms needed to rest. The cooking part wasn't due to Sandra's arms, but rather because of her somewhat unfortunate culinary skills. Which were famous. And dangerous. At least that was her reputation, and she conveniently never tried too hard to refute it. ;-P
"Thanks for a scrumptious dinner, Love," she told him with a hug when the dishes were clean and put away. "You know how much j'adore votre Thai cuisine, mon amour."
Paul chuckled at her out-rrageous French accent, and returned her hug. "You ready for some pampering Hon?"
Sandra nodded hopefully. "What exactly do you have in mind, you wonderful man, you?" she flirted.
"That's on a need to know basis Love. And at this point, you don't need to know. All you need to do is enjoy it," he flirted back with a warm smile.
Paul led Sandra to the bathroom, undressed her, and gave her the most loving shower imaginable. She sighed, feeling the tension fall away with the steaming water and Paul's soothing soaping touch that flowed over every inch of her skin. When she was completely clean, and utterly relaxed, he turned off the water, dried her with a clean fluffy towel, and gently brushed her short blonde hair, making her generally feel like a princess. He dressed her in clean knickers, put a robe on her and led her to their bedroom.
Once in the room, Paul turned her to face him, and pulled her into a warm embrace. He looked in her sparkly blue eyes, smiled reassuringly, and gave her an affectionate kiss on the forehead. "You know it's going to be ok, don't you." It wasn't a question, and she somehow knew he was right. And she also knew she wanted him.
Paul removed the robe from her shoulders. Sandra shivered at the cool air and his soft touch that grazed her arms as she now stood nearly naked, gently pressed against him.
"I've figured out a good way to tie you up and protect your arms. Are you ready to be ravished, Lover?" He smiled.
"You've no idea how ready," she exhaled.
He bent over, and pulled a scarf from the waist pocket of her robe on the floor. She flashed her eyes at him, pleased, but somewhat surprised. "When did you sneak that in there?" she asked. "Hush girl," he admonished lovingly, and put a gentle fingertip on her now quieted lips. Paul lifted the scarf to her smiling face, tied it behind her head tightly, leaving her in darkness, feeling even less clothed than before. She adored how removing perception of one of the senses increased the remaining ones. Take away sight, and suddenly scent, sound, and touch become heightened. Right now, touch particularly.
Sandra listened attentively as he rummaged in a bag nearby, and came back. Without further delay, Paul bandaged Sandra's arms across her chest with wide, soft cloth strips. His looping criss-cross pattern winding around her several times formed a snug and warm coccoon which left Sandra hugging herself in a warm, safe, soothing embrace. Rather than place any strain on her arms, it actually removed all strain and weight, and made her feel as if a gentle, natural heat pack were being applied, just where it was needed most. Who knew that TUGs could feel healing to injured limbs?
Next Paul put Sandra's ankles in a wide spreader bar, laying her back on the bed, and leaving her as exposed as possible in her bare legs, still wearing only her thin cotton knickers. He took a soft thick nylon rope, looped it around her waist, and pulled it tightly up into her crotch, forcing her panties to nestle well up into the personal space between her widely spread thighs. She uummphed at the tight tug Paul gave the rope, and positively purred at the sensation it sent from her middle up her spine.
Paul lay on the bed next to her, and began kissing Sandra's lips and neck gently, giving teasing pulls on the crotch rope, causing shivers to run through Sandra's body, which was steadily heating up with need.
Need. She definitely needed this. The helpless, safe, tightly bound feeling she got when her lover tied her up. His warm embrace and sensuous touching and kissing. And the adrenaline that was rushing through her body, causing her heart to pound, and breath to deepen into moans of pleasure. Oh yes, she needed to be tied tightly. She needed to be helpless, teased, and taken. She needed to be loved like this. Paul knew just how to give her what she needed.
Sandra began thrusting upward against the rope, trying to make it take her where Paul's hand would not, at least not quickly enough. She pressed against his fingers whenever they got near her pleasure spots, begging him with her body. Please. Please. Oh god, please.
He continued for many minutes, taking her up and down through pleasures and sensations. She hovered between warm loving delight, and raw animal need. She couldn't control it. Couldn't stop it. Couldn't take it higher. She just rode and rode, rising and falling with his loving and teasing touch.
If she could just get to the edge and fall. If she could just reach the peak. Just get him to touch her there, and get a full release. The healing, the pleasure, the euphoria it would bring. Almost there. Almost there. Just out of reach. She felt so close. So loved. So warm. So close. So close. And so deliciously helpless.