“Her position as submissive is active: she is the altar as well as the sacrifice. Two seemingly antagonistic images rise in my mind as Guillaume and I tighten the fetters, fasten the buckles, arrange her lovely copper hair, and acquaint myself with the grain of her pale skin: Iphigenia at Aulis… and a Maenad. Quiet surrender and commitment to martyrdom on the one hand, and a ferocious, visceral craving to be taken by a mighty force on the other. To be at one, perhaps? To be transformed beyond her humanity by experiencing the extremes of her own frailty?”

“Let’s be candid — for most of us, our initial entry into this fascinating world of unequal relationships and BDSM, is through the lens of fantasy. The irresistible allure of hierarchical structures, the intricate choreography of high protocol, and the intoxicating dynamics associated with power—whether it be in submission or control—are undeniably compelling and captivating. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that initial attraction. “