E is for Erotic Pain on the A-Z challenge

Doing double blog duty today with both SatSpanks and the A-Z challenge.  As such, forgive my little overage to the 8 line rule, as I needed to make my point for both.  Onward...

Today, E is for Erotic pain.

The threshold for erotic pain can range from those who like a few swats at the height of pleasure, to those who need pain to "get off", often referred to as masochists, or "pain sluts". 

This phenomena has been researched extensively and wrongfully called deviant for centuries.  Despite the aberrant label, it is still pursued.  Why?  Let's look a bit at the science behind the pursuit of both pleasure and pain.  (Don't let your eyes glaze over, I swear its broken down to 5th grade newspaper level, and its short and sweet.)

Freud explained this in his pleasure-pain principle.  Ordinarily, we actively seek pleasure and strive diligently to avoid pain.  But what happens when pleasure and pain happen concurrently?   Nipple clamps with a little tongue-on-clit stimulation, for example.  Or, a few swats interspersed with delicious rubbing and touching between the thighs.  Mmmm.....

Um, wait.  Where was I?

Oh, yes, the basics.  LOL   

Basically, when we experience pain, our body chemistry gets involved and tries to ease or diminish the pain response, sometimes tricking us that it's not real.  That's because in times of stress and pain, or in response to pleasure, our body secretes endorphins which stimulate certain pleasure centers and receptors in the brain.  In regard to pain, the opiate receptors wake up and move to block the pain by producing our body's natural morphine. 

What happens then?  Euphoria!  Everyone experiences it differently, some with a mind-melting feeling of floating, others a pleasant tingling and warmth, still others a bliss so exhilarating they feel invincible.  Another thing happens, sex hormones are secreted, (imagine that) and we get aroused, or we get more aroused if we are already there.  Then, if we're lucky, with prolonged stimulation, subspace can happen which for a submissive, a bottom, or a spankee, is akin to the high runners get when they push their body's past the point of pain where they are flooded with natural morphine, the pain disappears and its as if they can run forever.  

This is also why we want more of this pleasurable experience and push ourselves farther, to seek out those wonderful sensations over and over and over again.   Whether a runner's high, great sex, an erotic spanking or erotic pain.  

A double edged sword to those who crave it because whether with running, spanking or BDSM play, it could lead to asking for more and more, to the point of injury that the runner, spankee or sub doesn't even notice until they come down from the high later.

That's where a good trainer, a good top, and caring HoH or a wonderful Dom, like those you'll find at Club Decadence, are essential.

Here's a little snippet to mildly illustrate my point (or as much as I can in the limited space).  From my new release:

Second Time Lucky

Club Decadence, Book 5

“I believe you’re enjoying our little basement dungeon.”

“This nice, quiet, dark corner helped, I think. Thank you.”

“I aim to please, as always.”

He winked at her as he tightened the rubber band on the clamp, intently observing her reaction. Just shy of the point of real pain, he stopped and moved to the other breast somehow knowing when enough was enough. Once he’d suckled the rosy bud into a taut achy point, he applied the second clamp.

After admiring his handy work a moment and tugging on the chain once or twice, which always made her squirm, he leaned in again and kissed her, his tongue delving deep, swirling and tasting. When he raised his head, he replaced his mouth with the nipple chain. “Hold this and don’t let go.”

As she closed her teeth around it, she felt the delicious tension the pull of the chain placed on her pinched nipples. Unable to help herself, she lifted her hips as far as she could, pressing the V of her thighs against the hard ridges of his muscled abdomen.

Sean stood, taking his warmth and weight away, leaving her to whimper in disappointment. Already, with a few touches, kisses and a little bite of erotic pain, she was aching for him to fill her, to drive inside and take her hard.

Amazon

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Blurb:

From an early age, Mara Westbrook has led a troubled life. With no one to trust or rely on, she meets a breathtakingly handsome soldier on her ward at Walter Reed. He captures her eye and makes her yearn for things she never thought possible, not for a girl like her. Can she move beyond the traumatic secrets of her past and risk giving love a try?

Injured and in pain, the only light in Master Sergeant Sean O'Brien's dark days is his night nurse, his blonde haired, green eyed, deliciously curvy, modern day nightingale. Seeing her in those tight scrubs, tending to him and his fellow soldiers with her sweet, yet sexy smile eases the pain in his throbbing leg. Unfortunately, it shifts the ache about six inches higher. He sets out to make her his own, to earn her trust, her love and in the end her ultimate submission.

They come together beautifully with Sean teaching her the wicked and wonderful ways of a D/s lifestyle. Mara blossoms under his sensual domination and his firm but loving discipline, but her past won’t let her be. Relentlessly pursuing her and threatening her idyllic life with Sean. To protect what she holds dear, she does unspeakable things leading to more secrets, lies and betrayal. She runs as she always does.

When Mara unwittingly becomes the key witness to events that will finally bring down the Mendoza Cartel, Sean and the Rossi team step in to keep her safe. As her handler, Sean must protect her with his life and Mara must obey him in order to survive. Thrown together under impossible circumstances, Sean learns the awful truth of her past and realizes that despite it all, he still loves her. But can he forgive the lies? And will Mara be able to live under Sean’s stringent rules, learning to trust and submit fully to the only man she’s ever loved?

As threats against the Decadence Masters become fierce, answers are at long last revealed. Come visit old friends and as always watch desire ignite, love simmer, while kink and sex burn blazing hot in Club Decadence, the best damn BDSM club in the southwest.

Don't stop here, visit the other wonderful bloggers and see what they have in store for you today on Saturday Spankings.