February | 2020 | Josie Baker EXPOSED

I’ve just been editing the short story that won the 2018 RWA Spicy Bites comp for erotic romance, Daisy, Chained about a girl who embraces her feminine nature after a chance encounter with a sexy martial arts instructor and his whip chain. It got me thinking about the relationship between pain and pleasure and why a taste of pain at just the right moment can increase or prolong sexual pleasure.

So, you guessed it, I did some digging…

Pain for pleasure has long been a sexual practice and, as well as dominance and submission, is an important element in BDSM. Like a drug, the pleasure experienced with pain can be addictive and lead to a choice of lifestyle that leaves ‘vanilla’ sex in the past.

“… love, sex, pain and violence all stimulate the release of similar chemicals and hormones in the human body. Endorphins that are released in painful experiences are often perceived as pleasurable. Stress and pain can also stimulate the serotonin and melatonin production in the brain, which transforms painful experiences into pleasure. The release of epinephrine and norepinephrine in pain can also cause a pleasurable ‘rush’. Normal human biological response actually supports the complex and mysterious link between pain and pleasure, which we see in the runner’s high and the facial expressions during orgasmic release.” Wendy Strgar
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-connection-between-se_b_913420?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANrWxqe6UKxWMxl9ivezDOdXbY1vfyccHjLS1XAJ6kxtdm0FsB7JukDtK6hsawLmR_E0feP8jZ8u5bEICM_e80ky-TFh7MCSbCrEnFh7jIqSTCIJ9LgOgiL0PJ4_AlZDR1yTmI0FAt8EjujkEueanW9kmrNGlSLIiPvIhdPqXQtS&guccounter=2

Possibly in Daisy’s case, she receives some psychological healing with the experience of ‘good pain’ as explained by Dr. Jess O’Reilly:
‘If you’ve experienced pain in your past, you likely consider it a bad form of pain; by using pain as a source of pleasure, you can create a new type of pain — good pain.’
https://www.sexwithdrjess.com/podcast-2/#.Xlng05Mzb6d

Recently two studies found that ‘participants who engaged in consensual sadomasochistic acts as part of erotic play experienced a heightened sense of bonding with their partners and an increase in emotional trust.’
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-008-9374-5

For the first time – the first of a series of free story giveaways I have planned – I’m sending Daisy out into the wide world. If you’d like to read the juicy details of Daisy’s discovery of the pleasure/pain relationship in sex, and be notified of other free stories when they’re available, sign up:

and enjoy 😉

I’m so excited to announce the release of my second Girls on Film novella, I can’t resist sharing a tiny taste with you. As with Little Blond Lies, Body Double is a stand alone read.

Set on an exclusive tropical island resort, the heat soars to ‘sizzle’ when celebrity ex-cricketer Aryan hires actor Kira to stand in for his elusive fiance for a romantic weekend. There are so many reasons they must resist the powerful sexual chemistry that makes acting passion – without acting on it – so hard… and its so much fun to watch them struggle.

Luxury beach house with sea view swimming pool and terrace in modern design, Lounge chairs on wooden floor deck at vacation home or hotel - 3d illustration of contemporary holiday villa exterior

Here’s a sneak peek, with a link to the book at the bottom…

He was so close the significant heat of his body seared through the fabric of Kira’s dress, his bicep against hers, his chest millimeters from her breasts. Aryan’s scent invaded her nostrils, a mixture of active man, leather and a cologne she’d never smelt before but was instantly addicted to. She tore her gaze from his mouth, turned up in an approximation of a smile, his full lips stretched thin with annoyance, and glanced upward. At that proximity, she could see his eyes didn’t echo the smile on his lips.

Not impressed with my performance? I’ll show you one even you’ll believe.

“Hello sweetheart.” Kira stretched her body so she stood almost as tall, swaying close so her breasts brushed his chest, her smile teasing as she parted her lips slightly, just as she’d seen his fiance do in a photo.

“Actually its Bunny,” Aryan corrected in a monotone as he slanted his head like a predator intent on the kill. His gaze dropped to her mouth and he pulled her torso against his.

Kira stopped breathing. He was going to kiss her.

Time slowed as his mouth dipped to hers, and Kira had to fight the urge to meet his lips with passion. The force of his mouth as it captured hers tipped her head back, opening her mouth to his and pulling her into his vortex. She gasped, inhaling his breath, sweet with real mint.

Suddenly, her body was molten, every nerve end tingling where he pressed against her and she melted against him, her tongue seeking his. This man was no soft rabbit. He was solid as granite, his ribs and chest rock-hard.

Dangerous.