Lit-Watch

To anyone that writes on Literotica, Lit Watch is a familiar phenomenon. You submit your story, and you sit back and wait...

And wait...

And wait some more. 

My last wait was 8 days. I think I was checking multiple times a day by the end. "What the hell!" I'd wonder. "What's taking so long?" "Why isn't it up yet?"

And many variations of the same theme. I'm sure my boyfriend thinks I'm nuts. (Well, that's not just because of Lit-Watch, though, is it?)

Anyway - the next chapter of my current story, House of Pain, finally went up yesterday, right now, I've Chapters 1, 2 and 3 up. 

It was awesome when I woke up yesterday; not only was the story up, but some of my favourite readers had left me comments! I love comments! 

For those finding their way from Literotica to my blog, welcome! And here's the state of my current Literotica queue... 

• House of Pain Chapter 4: Submitted Oct 24/25, should go up tomorrow, maybe? (Fingers crossed?)
• Magic Everywhere, which was once available as a Kindle Short Story, but is now one of three stories in Chronicles of Raan. I'd love some feedback; I had a lot of fun writing this story. (Plus, if it compels you to buy the book, that'd be pretty awesome too, don't you think?)
• House of Pain Chapters 5 & 6: Submitted Oct 31. In deference to my lovely readers, who were rightly complaining about the short chapters, I've posted two of them together in one 2-page Literotica story. 

I tell myself I must not click refresh on the Lit queue, to see if it has moved again. And yet, I'm probably going to do that after I hit Publish!

If you want to find me on Literotica, click here (NSFW, but neither is this blog, I guess.) I tend to post a lot of my work on Literotica, the readers there see a lot of erotica, and I find their comments/advice/ratings incredibly useful as I grow as a writer. (My story Awakening on Literotica is really Teaching Maya - so if you want to read the first 10 chapters, that's a good place to find it!) 

Thoughts on Dominant men (with a bit of an excerpt from the Chronicles of Raan)

I've read a fair bit of BDSM erotica in my life.* And a fair bit of bodice-ripper romance.

One of the things I never understand though, is that a lot of the guys in these books are kind of jerks. For example, and to pick on Christian Grey (50 Shades of Grey) - basically, the guy has an opinion on how often his girl eats, he gets into a possessive rage if she's talking to a guy; he cuts short evenings with her friends; and basically, narrows her life down to just him.

In real life, that would be borderline abuse.

In fact, one of my best friends in college had a boyfriend who did just this. It wasn't at all pretty. He didn't hit her, but he slowly drained away every little bit of her personality, till what was left was this scared, timid shell of a person who was afraid of breaking the rules her boyfriend laid down; rules that were arbitrary, and always changing.

When I write BDSM erotica, I'm creating a very specific kind of guy instead. One who wants control in the bedroom, but outside? One who treats his woman with respect for her ability to make her own choices.

This holds true even in my fantasy world of Raan. Salif is the Mage King of Argentia; Raina is his bride-to-be.

Here's an excerpt from Raina's Wedding - actually, one of my favorite bits in the book:

***

I was alone in my chambers. It was a week to go to the wedding. I was reliving an argument Salif and I had had two days ago.

It had started with the Harem Master. Salif had surveyed his old harem with pain in his eyes. “Raze it to the ground…” he had said, his voice toneless. “I will have no memory of this place.”

“Your will, Mage King.” There was deference in the Harem Master’s voice. “The harem will be destroyed. A new site will be chosen; and then, the King may select new pleasure slaves to serve him.”

I had cut in, my voice icy. “The king will have no pleasure slaves.”

Salif turned to look at me. His gaze was expressionless. “Leave us…” he ordered. The Harem Master bowed his way out; I could hear the bodyguards leave. It was just the two of us in the room.

“No pleasure slaves, Salif. I will be enough for you.” My voice was flat, uncompromising.

“My Raina. You are always enough for me. But I have needs that it does not befit my queen to meet.” His voice was mild.

“I was trained as a pleasure slave, Salif. I will meet all your needs.” There was no yielding in my voice. “I will not share you, my king.” My eyes were possessive. I’d have no pleasure slave touch my love.

His eyes had blazed in response to the look of possession in my eyes. But he tried once more. “Sweet Raina. I will use you in all the forbidden ways; this does not befit one of your station.”

“I will not share you, my king.” I repeated, but my voice had softened.

“So be it.” He said, a royal decree. His voice was a silken caress. “But Raina, remember this. As the flogger swings against your tender skin, as it bites you in all the hidden places, as your skin comes afire with its strokes, remember, you asked for this.”  The words were a threat and a promise. My eyes were ablaze with lust and longing, as my body was responding to the heat in his words. It had been fifteen years since I felt his touch on my body, and I needed him very badly.

Our eyes met silently, the lust building, the very air a crackle of electricity between us. The Harem Master was just outside the door, as were the bodyguards. If he took me now, the whole court would know. I found I didn’t care. 

***

Buy the Chronicles of Raan here!

Chronicles of Raan (Plus, hitting the Publish/Unpublish button)

I have a new book out - Chronicles of Raan.

Chronicles of Raan is three intertwined stories. The first of these stories is Magic Everywhere, which I've talked about before. But Chronicles of Raan has two additional stories; and I love these stories.

This is what I wrote in the Kindle description...

*** Fantasy; Bondage; Erotica; Magic.

In Raan, there is magic and dark fantasy; there's erotica; there's dungeons and whips and chains; there are strong men and strong women, and the connections that bind them; and hovering in the darkness, there are forces that control them all. Chronicles of Raan tells three interwoven stories from this world.

Magic Everywhere is the story of Salif Al-Hasn, the Mage-Prince of Argentia. Fifteen years ago, Salif fled his kingdom, leaving behind the girl he loved, in the face of a memory so toxic, he has buried it deep and never let it surface since... But one night, Salif comes back to his hotel room, and there's a girl waiting there, a pleasure slave of Argentia.

Raina's Wedding tells the story of Raina, Salif's betrothed. For fifteen years, Raina has waited for Salif. On the eve of their wedding, does Salif want more from Raina than she can give?

Leila's Training: Leila has trained for six years to be the best pleasure slave she can be. Now she faces her final examination, and the stakes have never been higher. But when her examiner turns out to be the same man who took her virginity, can Leila put aside her feelings and pass the test ahead?

Contains BDSM, flogging, anal sex, M-M-F sex, M-F-F sex, and so much more...

------------------------------------

Anyway, since Chronicles of Raan is out, I hit the Unpublish button on Magic Everywhere. The story is still available though - I strongly recommend Chronicles of Raan! 

Magic Everywhere - another longer excerpt

A gift for my readers - this ~700 word excerpt is only not available anywhere else, just on my blog. This is a little bit from Magic Everywhere. Enjoy! (And if you liked it, please do consider buying the story!)

***

He smiled at the girl, the smile reaching his eyes for the first time. “Straighten…” he muttered with a quick wave of his arm to heal her. The welts faded instantly, the red marks disappearing. Another bitter memory there. His father, in his harem. Whipping his slaves, healing them, whipping them again. Again and again, till the slaves were broken, left with nothing but the remembered memory of pain.

I am Salif Al-Hasn. I am the Mage Prince of Argentia. I am not my father.

Another quick gesture of his hand to remove the cuffs. She knelt again, her arms free.

Salif looked around the room, what did he have to work with? The cheap motel desk. That would do…

“Bend over the desk…” Salif said. His voice was now relaxed; his initial anger drained. Now was left only the man who would bring his pleasure slaves to repeated orgasm, spanking and cropping them till they were left teetering to the edge of arousal, so close, till his skillful tongue and fingers would push them over, and over, and over yet again.

She obeyed silently.

Salif watched her with desire in his eyes. Her skin was as soft and supple as silk. His dick twitched as he imagined the warm wetness of her pussy, of the way her buttocks would feel as he spanked them, of the muscles in her vagina clenching around his pumping cock.

“Spread your legs… wider…” His voice was hoarse.

She spread her legs wider, her hands tightening on the desk for balance. Gods, she was beautiful.

“Here,” he said, waving his hand. The magic leapt to his bidding; steel bands encircled her ankles, easing her struggles to hold her legs wide apart. “Thank you, my lord Prince,” she said softly, genuine gratitude in her voice.

Her pussy glistened with her juices; she was unmistakably aroused by his treatment of her. Salif found the cheap swivel chair, that constant fixture of budget motel rooms, and sat down, pulling the chair close to her. His hands reached out to stroke her clenched ass, kneading and pinching them.

She moaned softly.

Salif smiled, a smile of pure male satisfaction, as he read her body. The arousal was genuine.

He bent his head to inhale her sweet scent; his breath cool on her hot pussy. She smelt wonderful, of the sea, of incense and moonlight, and hot nights of pleasure. She was utterly irresistible. Salif’s tongue reached out, took a long, slow lick of her softness, savoring the taste of her arousal.

Every muscle in her body clenched, as she moaned helplessly.

“Do you like that, sweetness?”

Her answer, when it came, was ragged with desire. “Yes… Yes, my lord prince.”

Salif smiled again, bent his head into her warm, waiting softness. So wet, so tasty, so responsive. She sighed, the sound a whisper of longing in the still night, a sound sent Salif’s cock pushing almost painfully against his jeans.

His hands roamed all over her butt, as his mouth worked on her pussy. Tugging on her lips, flicking at her hard nub, causing her to start to push herself against him, only to catch herself just in time and hold still. Salif shook his head, amused and a little annoyed. That damn training.

“Let yourself feel, little one…” he chided softly. His own pleasure slaves had quickly learned that Salif loved watching them in the throes of pleasure, and had let themselves respond to him. Leila too would learn.

Another soft sigh from Leila. Another lyrical murmur. “Thank you, my lord prince.”

His tongue now steadied into a rhythm, flicking her nub, sucking her lips into his mouth, three fingers of one hand entering her lush wetness. She groaned. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her fingers grip the edge of the desk so tightly her fingers were starting to whiten. She pushed back slightly against him; hesitation in the gesture, as if fearing punishment. “That’s a good girl…” Salif murmured, his voice approving. She moaned and pushed back harder, grinding her pussy in Salif’s face.

Salif could tell that she was very close to orgasm; the tremors were running all through her body, he could feel the desperation in the clenched muscles of her butt, of the tightening grip of her pussy on his fingers. But she knew she would need his permission to orgasm, and by his initial order, she wasn’t allowed to plead for his permission.

***

Have a fun Monday!

Let me tell you about Raan...

If what you write is what you read, then my short stories about the world of Raan is the truest representation of what I read.

In Raan, there is magic and dark fantasy; there's erotica; there's dungeons and whips and chains; there are strong men and strong women, and the connections that bind them; and hovering in the darkness, there are forces that control them all.

Magic Everywhere is the story of Salif Al-Hasn, the Mage-Prince of Argentia. Fifteen years ago, Salif fled his kingdom, leaving behind the girl he loved, in the face of a memory so toxic, he has buried it deep and never let it surface since... But one night, Salif comes back to his hotel room, and there's a girl waiting there, a pleasure slave of Argentia.

An excerpt:

“Do you have a name?” His voice was steel. How quickly it all returned, the arrogance, the pride, the belief that he had the absolute right to do whatever struck his fancy to this girl.

“Leila, my lord prince.”

I am Salif Al-Hasn. I am the Mage Prince of Argentia. You think to mock me with your gift, Father, but I see what you do. You will not best me again, Father.

Salif straightened, his decision made. There was now arrogance to the way he carried his head, his gaze was cold. There was ice in his voice as he spoke the next words. “You may try to anticipate my requirements. When you fail, as you undoubtedly will, I will whip you. You may moan. You may not speak, except to thank me.” Salif didn’t bother telling her she needed to obey his commands. She was a pleasure slave. Obeying was what she was trained to do.

The girl nodded very slightly, and kept her head lowered. She didn’t speak to indicate her understanding of his instructions.

Well-trained indeed. 

------------------------------------

A short story - this is ~8,000 words, and is $0.99 at the Kindle store.

There should be 3 more stories of Raan up before the end of the month; I hope. I just have one story left to write, and the elements of that story have been running through my brain, actually interfering with sleep. I'd like to bundle them into one book that costs $2.99. (Kindle royalty rates are significantly higher if you set your minimum price at 2.99 and that makes a considerable difference.)

Teaching Maya

Have you read Teaching Maya?

Teaching Maya is my first full-length BDSM romance novel. I'm really proud of it - I've written a story that not only serves the 'erotica' portion - but also makes me feel warm and fuzzy. I would date my imaginary Ryan - he's kind, caring and thoughtful, but is also completely in control in the bedroom. Hot!

The first 10 chapters are available on Literotica. If you are thinking about buying it on Kindle, here's some information that will hopefully convince you to click and buy...

- There's 16 chapters in total - the 10 already available for free on Literotica, and 6 additional chapters that finish the story.
- Maya uses her safeword in Chapter 11; we find out in Chapter 16 all about the mysterious Patricia
- Best of all, there is a happy ending.

Happy reading!

Well, hello world!

Hello. I'm Tara Crescent.

Actually, I'm not. Tara's my pseudonym. Let's just say I'd like to avoid telling my parents I wrote a 45,000 word BDSM novel. With spankings, whippings, and more.

Okay. About me: I live in Toronto. I just turned 40. (Ouch!) I have a cat. (I was going to write that I owned a cat, but as anyone who lives with a cat knows, they actually own you.)

I've been a voracious reader all my life. Mostly science fiction and fantasy - I've got Harry Potter on my bookshelves, mixed in with Frank Herbert's Dune, Asimov's Foundation series, Lord of the Rings, and almost everything Guy Gavriel Kay has written.

Romance novels have always been a bit of a guilty pleasure, and I've been reading erotica since the Internet happened, and it was possible to read smut in the privacy of one's home. Love it! I'm pretty sure I've been reading at Literotica for over ten years (gulp!).

I'm strongly attracted to BDSM themes, and most of my stories will explore this, but in a real-life kind of way, not in a fantasy I'm-going-to-be-shared-with-homeless-people way. (A fantasy which does absolutely nothing for me.)

I've also been writing bits and pieces, off and on, for most of my life. Never much more than a few thousand words though; I think 8000 words might be the most I've ever written of a story. But then, a couple of months ago, I put up a chapter of a story on Literotica, got some encouraging "Keep Writing!" feedback, put up a few more chapters, got more encouraging feedback, and voila! A novel was born. Teaching Maya. 45,000 words. Available on Kindle.