What Purpose Did I Serve in Your Life
Marie Calloway - 2013
Her debut work of fiction, what purpose did i serve in your life, examines the nature of sex and the possibility of real connection in the face of degradation and blankness. Its interlocking stories follow a chronological arc from innocence to sexual experience, taking in the humiliations of one night stands with male strangers, the perils of sex work, and the caustic reception that greets a woman working and writing in public. It is a brave and pitiless examination of yearning in an era of hyper-exposure and a riveting account of the moments of transcendence seized from an otherwise blank world."Marie Calloway has a very specific literary personality that the reader is intrigued by: she's masochistic, loves to experiment, is quickly bored and intermittently self-hating, very hip, rebellious. Figuring her out is a gripping adventure." -Edmund WhiteI have never read a book like this before. It’s painful, shocking, and compellingly written, composed with great sensitivity to which details should be revealed and which must stay concealed. Its genre-muddle and formal complexity make for a completely unforgettable, profoundly contemporary, and plainly great work of courage and art. Here’s a terrifying proposal: could this be The Great American Novel for the twilight of �'Great' America?" - Sheila Heti (author of "How Should a Person Be?")"'�This society hates feelings,' Kathy Acker said about a million times. A chain of regulation controls us by making us fear that we will be expelled from the human club for being the wrong kind of person. Marie Calloway breaks that chain of regulation by displaying her body like a beggar displays her wounds, by asserting awkwardness and shame (for the body, for ambition). Her book should be called, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Woman Who Can’t Be Controlled. Or is she the fiction, Holden Caulfield, Lolita, or Mme. Merteuil? How does a questing intelligence live inside the commodity?—searching for identity or personal branding? And if she is an attention whore, am I the attention john? Yes--but Calloway wonders as strongly as I do about what she might be, and she invites misunderstanding into her work. One thing is certain, though—She can really write about sex!" - Robert Glück"what purpose did i serve in your life is moving, unprecedented, threatening, and surreal—the exciting, rare work of someone with nothing to lose. It's intuitive and overpowering, concise and extreme. And, like a plant or a comet, it doesn't pause to explain what it's doing, defend or rationalize its existence, or attempt to obscure or distort its intentions. If you're attentive toward it—and earnest and open-minded and non-malicious in your attention—you will likely question and examine what you yourself are doing and why, and how to change." — Tao Lin"'Adrien Brody' is riveting, fresh, and written with a distinctive new voice." — Stephen Elliott"That's the most incredible thing I've ever seen.""What is?" I asked, though I knew."Your face right now."I was vaguely aware my eyes were open very wide.Marie Calloway's fiction debut, what purpose did i serve in your life, is both a portrait of American youth and a gamble, a chance taken, in answer to the following: for a young woman, is there such a thing as the soul, a life more than the organs, or is she forever recalled to her body? Marie does not answer this question but instead acts it out through a series of intertwined stories. The result is a fusillade of brutally self-aware and insightful pieces that take on the meaning of sex, art, and, most of all, survival in the age of Internet-based sex work and love that can flame and turn to ash in the space of a tweet.Marie Calloway (b. 1990) is interested in sexuality and gender. She rose to prominence in 2011 with her controversial story, "Adrien Brody," which was published by Muumuu House.
Alexa: The Ties That Bind
Ellie Masters - 2020
Daniel Greyson, their affair is as illicit as it is steamy. She's ready to take their sexy D/s school girl game to the next level, but he doesn't think it's the right time.She's determined to prove him wrong and The Ties that Bind's annual Auction Night is the perfect place to push the limits of what they can become. Alexa doesn’t care if her forbidden workplace romance is a ticking time bomb, or that it has the potential to destroy both their careers.She's ready to take their sexy-school-girl bedtime game to the next level with cuffs, collars, and chains. Oh my!Dr. Greyson doesn't think it's the right time.Her chance to convince him otherwise presents itself in the form of Auction Night, the annual charity event at The Ties that Bind.It’s the perfect place to test their limits. She'll give up one night, one week, one month, or one year of her life for the right price.Daniel decides how deep they'll explore their fantasies.The Auction decides for how long.Alexa is ready for more, but will Daniel bid on a chance to see if his intern is ready to surrender control? Can she be the submissive he craves?Devour this forbidden love story. Scroll up and one-click your copy today.__________________________________The Ties that BindIndulge your fantasies.The Masters at The Ties that Bind are waiting."If you enjoy sizzling chemistry, simmering kisses, and a walk on the wild side, you'll fall in love with The Auction Series."Alexa is the first standalone book in The Ties that Bind: Auction Night series by bestselling author Ellie Masters which features Off the Charts chemistry, steamy romance, HOT Alphas, and passionate women. Let these stories sweep you away. They're fun, flirty, deliciously dirty reads you can devour in an afternoon.Let yourself go. Enter the sensual world of The Ties that Bind: Auction Night and one-click your copy today.
At the Dungeon Master's Hand
Jennifer Cole - 2008
Determined to enjoy a rare weekend off, she winds up at the mysterious Le Club d'Esclavage.Natalie had read about the bondage club, and although she'd been mildly curious about submissive pleasures, she never imagined she'd set foot inside. And now that she has, the erotic atmosphere of domination and submission sends her scrambling for the exit.Before she can escape, she's approached by a leather-hooded, bare-chested man who whispers a deep, sultry, "You are mine..."Warning: this title contains the following, explicit sex, graphic language, bondage, BDSM, use of sex toys, anal sex.
Wicked End
Bella Jeanisse - 2013
Definitely not suitable for all readers. Proceed with caution. ;)A Rockstar Romance set in the World of Triple Threat.Brandon Knight plays lead guitar for the world-famous rock band, Wicked End. His life is chaotic 90% of the time. The only time he feels content is when he meets up with his longtime friend and lover, Mackenzie. It was never supposed to turn into a romance.Mackenzie Winters has a career in the stressful realm of Wall Street. She lives on the edge in every aspect of her life. However, something is missing. Something she thought she never wanted, and only Brandon can give it to her.A devastating hurricane forces them to spend every waking minute together for two weeks, while Wicked End is on tour. The pull becomes stronger every day. They both yearn to admit their feelings beyond their friends with benefits arrangement. Can they find a way before it’s too late? See how it turns out in the first book in the Wicked End series.
Little Cat
Tamara Faith Berger - 2013
They were scandalous when they were first published; substantially revised and returned to print, they're just as titillating and troubling now."Treading a line between sublime experimentation and unsettling honesty, Little Cat rides a wave of female sexual energy. . . . 'Please, I want you to stay with me till it's over,' the narrator of 'Lie With Me' begs. With writing this good, it's hard not to.' – Quill & Quire"Berger's writing is significant, poignant and consciously uncomfortable. Her portrait of female sexuality is daring, original and troubling. Berger's language is crass; this isn't missionary-style 'love-making.' This is dirty, animalistic sex. This is pornography rubbing up against the literary establishment." – Telegraph-JournalPraise for Tamara Faith Berger's Maidenhead (winner of the 2012 Believer Book Award):"Myra's confusion, her passion, her need for possession and to be possessed, make this novel an incredible read, finding its place, as Sheila Heti (who should know) wrote, 'somewhere between the wilds of Judy Blume, Girls Gone Wild and Michel Foucault.'" – Flavorwire"There are no easy moments, no comfort to be found in the searing prose. . . . When writers get young female sexuality right, stories become a revelation and such is the case with Maidenhead. The writing pulls the reader desperately close." – Roxane Gay, The RumpusTamara Faith Berger was born in Toronto. She wrote porn stories for a living and attempted to make dirty films before publishing her first book, Lie With Me, in 1999. It was made into a film in 2004. In 2001, A Woman Alone at Night was published. Her third book, Maidenhead, won the 2012 Believer Book Award.
Henry and June: From "A Journal of Love": The Unexpurgated Diary of Anaïs Nin, 1931-1932
Anaïs Nin - 1986
From late 1931 to the end of 1932, Nin falls in love with Henry Miller's writing and his wife June's striking beauty. When June leaves Paris for New York, Henry and Anaïs begin a fiery affair that liberates her sexually and morally, but also undermines her marriage and eventually leads her into psychoanalysis. As she grapples with her own conscience, a single question dominates her thoughts: What will happen when June returns to Paris? An intimate account of one woman's sexual awakening, Henry and June exposes the pain and pleasure felt by a single person trapped between two loves.
In the Land of Gods and Monsters, Part One (Gods and Monsters #1)
Carmen Jenner - 2018
A plaything. A pet. His pet. Taken, stolen, beaten, used. Pet remembers nothing before his touch, and afterward she craves nothing more. Sinful and merciless, Ares is her god now. He alone says when to beg, when to come, and when to kneel, but he never said anything about leaving. Warning: In the Land of Gods and Monsters is a dark romance novel. It contains strong sexual themes, dubious consent, graphic violence, and may contain triggers for some readers.
The Cure Hotel
Ashley S. Clancy - 2016
This is a hotel that not only boasts dampness, poor decoration and lighting, but also welcomes the most sinister type of overnight guest. Shady loners, men with prostitutes, bosses and their assistants - It all takes place under this roof, where although fornicating in this manner is frowned upon in the hotel industry, a blind eye is always turned at the Cure.This is receptionist Christina's story, just seven days before the grand re-opening of the newly refurbished building – In the single week it took an innocent act of voyeurism to turn the place into the murderous hell hole it was always destined to become. A gripping thriller, with a horrifying twist, where the dark sexual past of this tarnished building, can't be fixed by the new owner, who simply hasn't got the Cure in his blood.
Brie Learns the Art of Submission: Submissive Training Center
Red Phoenix - 2012
His invitation to the Submissive Training Center is about to rock this young woman's world. The renowned school is famous for its elite submissive instruction. She has no idea what will be asked of her or the boundaries that will be pushed. One thing is certain: Brie is about to learn more about herself in six weeks than she has over the previous twenty-two years.From formal classes, hands-on practicums and weekly auctions, Brie will confront her deepest fears and desires. In the process, she will also forge lifelong friendships with fellow submissives and fall for several of the Center's skilled Doms.As graduation day approaches things begin to unravel, forcing Brie to make an unexpected choice of Master. Which Dom will ultimately earn her devotion and capture Brie's courageous heart?1. Brie's First Day of Submissive Training2. Brie Learns to Obey3. Brie Learns Her Power as a Submissive4. Brie Lives Her Fantasy5. Brie Practices Her Oral Skills6. Brie Embraces Bondage7. Brie on Display8. Brie Surrenders to His Will9. Brie Bows to Her MasterAdult Material (18+)
Faking It: The Lies Women Tell about Sex--And the Truths They Reveal
Lux Alptraum - 2018
Women lie about orgasms. Women lie about being virgins. Women lie about who got them pregnant, about whether they were raped, about how many people they've had sex with and what sort of experiences they've had - the list goes on and on. Over and over we're reminded that, on dates, in relationships, and especially in the bedroom, women just aren't telling the truth. But where does this assumption come from? Are women actually lying about sex, or does society just think we are? In Faking It, Lux Alptraum tackles the topic of seemingly dishonest women; investigating whether women actually lie, and what social situations might encourage deceptions both great and small. Using her experience as a sex educator and former CEO of Fleshbot (the foremost blog on sexuality), first-hand interviews with sexuality experts and everyday women, Alptraum raises important questions: are lying women all that common - or is the idea of the dishonest woman a symptom of male paranoia? Are women trying to please men, or just avoid their anger? And what affect does all this dishonesty - whether real or imagined - have on women's self-images, social status, and safety? Through it all, Alptraum posits that even if women are lying, we're doing it for very good reason -- to protect ourselves ("My boyfriend will be here any minute," to a creep who won't go away, for one), and in situations where society has given us no other choice.
Aphrodite: A Memoir of the Senses
Isabel Allende - 1997
Under the aegis of the Goddess of Love, Isabel Allende uses her storytelling skills brilliantly in Aphrodite to evoke the delights of food and sex. After considerable research and study, she has become an authority on aphrodisiacs, which include everything from food and drink to stories and, of course, love. Readers will find here recipes from Allende's mother, poems, stories from ancient and foreign literatures, paintings, personal anecdotes, fascinating tidbits on the sensual art of foodand its effects on amorous performance, tips on how to attract your mate and revive flagging virility, passages on the effect of smell on libido, a history of alcoholic beverages, and much more.An ode to sensuality that is an irresistible blend of memory, imagination and the senses, Aphrodite is familiar territory for readers who know her fiction.
His Acquisition
Ava Lore - 2012
Despite her scattershot creative nature, she's a whiz at organizing, planning, and ordering people around. But her sweet gig turns sour at a charity art auction she's organized when she bumps into a stage lackey and sends a 17th century Qing Dynasty vase crashing to the ground. Electing to take the fall, Sadie attempts to arrange payment of the vase to its owner, eccentric billionaire and (extremely) amateur artist Malcolm Ward. But Malcolm doesn't care about the money or the vase; inspired by Sadie, he decides he only wants her, any way he can have her. In front of his camera, under his brush... or in his bed.His Acquisition is a 16,300 word novelette. Part one of five in The Billionaire's Muse series.
Hearts Under Fire
Kelly Wyre - 2011
But his world turned into a nightmare when a suicide bomber destroyed Clark's career. It's been a long road to recovery, littered with surgery, alcohol, and secrets, but Clark finally has peace. His bar, Glow, is the place to be in the city of New Amsterdam, the son of the mayor employs Clark as a confidential information man, and Clark's side venture as part-owner of a BDSM club is quite the profitable release. Clark's life is a good one, so long as no one gets too close.Then a man walks into Glow who will forever change Clark's rules and reality. Thinking Professor Daniel Germain is just another handsome face ripe for Clark's kind of good time, Clark puts on his smoothest moves. When the professor turns him down, Clark goes on the hunt, and what he discovers shows him that even the deepest wounds can be healed by submitting to love.
Turning His Life Around
Grace R. Duncan - 2015
Years ago, Ian Kelly accepted Kane would never return his love, since he knows Kane believes he’s incapable of it. Ian is willing to settle for what he can get—a best friend, sometimes casual lover, and occasional submissive. He's learned he can’t live without Kane, but he can’t let Kane know. Because when, not if, Kane confirms that Ian’s love will never be returned, Ian won’t be able to take it. But when Kane loses his job and asks Ian to step up their play to help him deal, Ian’s ability to hide his feelings falters. Then Kane starts his own computer security firm and asks Ian to join him, and Ian struggles further. It’s not until they visit the exclusive BDSM club the Iron Door that things come to a head. Kane screws up big time, and he’s afraid he can’t fix it. He’s sure he’ll lose his best friend, his Dom, his everything… forever.
Footsucker
Geoff Nicholson - 1995
Nicholson's unnamed narrator is a serious man with a full life. He reads newspapers, follows politics, and holds down a steady job. But one thing is missing--a woman with a great pair of feet; silky smooth skin, perfect arches, delicate curvature of the nails. . . It's hard to meet the right woman, if you're a foot fetishist. Some slap your face. Some call the police. And then the narrator finds Catherine, who has just the feet he's been looking for his entire life. She leads him, wearing a staggering assortment of all the best shoes, on a foot fetishist's dream caper, combining the props from a Helmut Newton photo shoot and the twists of Antonioni's Blow-Up. Sexy, blackly funny, Footsucker is a novel of fetishism, murder and, ultimately, love.