#marriedlife

♥️Live Laugh Love!♥️ This comic is in our new hardback comic collection, Treats! Available now on Kickstarter over at sarahgraley.com/treats !

Here’s to normalizing men who create safe spaces for their spouses 🥂

We met in 2006, became close friends, and finally started dating in 2011. But being her friend didn’t automatically prepare me to be her partner. That shift required more from me, and it showed in how guarded she was with vulnerability, intimacy, and trust.

The truth is, in those first few years, I didn’t fully understand what it meant to be a good partner.

What changed? My capacity.

I learned how to make more room in my heart for her. Sometimes love looks simple—turning my phone off at night to be fully present, leaving a sticky note on her pillow, or creating moments where she feels seen and safe.

Love isn’t forceful—it’s embodied. And when I started loving my wife like she was a part of me, everything changed 🖤🥂

POV: You married someone who loves your squishy belly 😏

beautymarkedilly

Married life. 💜

Pairing: Sylus x MC

Synopsis: Sylus’ Aethercore decides to act a fool in MC’s house

Warnings: implied smut

Sylus had just picked up his cufflinks when his Aethercore decided now was the perfect time to flare to life. He froze at the sudden heat that suffused his body before taking in a shaky breath. Closing his eyes, he frowned and clicked his tongue in irritation. He let out the breath he’d been holding before opening his eyes and looking down at the cufflinks in his hands. They were a gift from his wife. Despite the near all-encompassing hunger now gnawing at him, he couldn’t help a smile; she was his wife. Again. Finally. His entire being hummed in satisfaction as he thought about it.

            Nowadays, it was relatively easy to know what his Aethercore needed to be satisfied; there was rarely any guesswork anymore. His feet were moving before his mind could process what was happening. He slipped into the spacious closet that she jokingly referred to as a dressing room. He found her in front of the vanity he’d set up for her there, looking at herself in the mirror. She looked divine in the new dress he’d gotten her. He’d gotten it in a few colors; she was wearing the one in her favorite color. Wanting to coordinate, he was wearing the same color tonight for their date.

            He knew she found his penchant to color coordinate their outfits, especially for dates, amusing but he also knew she liked it, which was why she never really complained about it. He approached and slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her back so her back was pressed against his chest.

            “How’s our time? I’m done, just need to spritz real quick.” She asked distractedly as she finished putting her earrings on.

            He didn’t reply, instead burying his face into the side of her neck, making her squeal, “That tickles, Sly!”

            “No need for perfume, you already smell amazing.” He murmured into the neck between gently kisses.

            “Alright, alright.” She said, her voice laced with amusement, “Well, that means I’m ready!” She turned in his arms and tilted her head back to look at him. He watched as her focus flicked to his eye, which was no doubt glowing, making her smile fall right off her face.

            “Uh-uh.” She snapped, her tone low and flat, “You’re gonna need to get in line. This restaurant just opened and we got our reservation. Sylus promised to feed me and that’s what’s going to happen. I. Eat. First. And I don’t need you bothering him while we’re out, so you’re gonna need to wait your turn. You hear me?” She pointed at his eye with the Aethorcore as she spoke, her own mismatched eyes narrowing dangerously.

            She had in the past referred to his Aethercore as a separate entity before, sometimes speaking about it as if it were just another member of Onychinus, but this was the first time she’d directly addressed it and it was to tell it off, no less! He opened his mouth to tell her he was sure it didn’t work like that but ended up freezing for the second time this evening as he felt the heat and hunger subside greatly. It wasn’t gone completely; it was as if the Beast within him simply backed away and hunkered down to patiently wait.

            He blinked a few times, staring down at her in surprise as she nodded, pressing her lips together in satisfaction, “Mm-hm.”

            His own regular desire flared and he leaned forward, resting his hands on the vanity behind her, effectively caging her in before purring, “Are you sure we can’t be just a little late?” He could be quick, he thought to himself, just a little appetizer…

            Her glare was back and it was for him this time. Reaching up, she placed a hand on his chest and applied steady pressure, making him straighten as she pushed him back a few steps, her following.

            “Don’t you start now.” She warned, “I ain’t got time foreither of you getting in the way of the hot meal you promised. I’m hungry, let’s go.” She turned and headed out of the closet.

            “Yes, ma’am.” Sylus replied readily, following closely behind.

A/N: Thanks for reading! (Apologies, I don't know how to do all that fancy formatting I see on here. It's so pretty!) This'll be posted on AO3 as well soon. Since it's so short, it'll be posted with a collection of things in Chapter 3 of Love and Deepmemes over there.

Everyone listens to MC in Onychinus...even Sylus' Aethercore

So much of D/s, specifically TPE, is about an emotional response to an activity. A dominant wants control over a situation and a submissive’s actions, as well as their feelings about what is happening to them. Location plays a big part of this. Doing a scene in a child’s bedroom can bring about different emotional responses from different subs. Some may take on a child-like persona; some may just be distracted by how uncomfortable they are around a bunch of toys (Can you guess which one I’d be?). Clean freak subs could be completely thrown from the dirty floor they are kneeling on. If that’s the response that the Dom wants, then great. If not, then it could ruin the scene.

We do not have a set dungeon space in our house. As much as Sir wants to have one eventually in a new place, I’m not holding my breath. So, when we play, we are not always in the same area, or even the same floor. And, I have found, that the various locations around our home bring out a strata of emotions, no matter what we are doing. Whatever the emotion, however, Sir has control over the space and what he wants me to feel throughout our play.

Bedroom

Because, obvious. I couldn’t really talk about BDSM scene locations without mentioning the bedroom. It is my favorite place to play. Most often the only place we have sex (unless the kids are not home or passed out). I just feel the most comfortable there. I find myself more willing to do anything and try anything because of how comfortable and safe I feel. Our room brings out my submissive pet nature and often my most sexual side. I have my little bed on the floor that I can see during our scenes.

I am always pulled into my submissive headspace when I am in the bedroom. Even if he is at work and I am just going in there to get laundry. I feel a wave of comfort and safety. It’s a gooey slavey place for me.

Sitting Room (First floor)

I generalized this as the first floor as we usually start in the sitting room, but I often end up crawling the entire space. Most of our scenes are played by the couch and coffee table.

This is a very high protocol space for me. I am often leashed when we play and there is more of a focus on service. I serve Sir drinks, often on trays. Sir wants me to be on my toes so that I can respond to his whims. And I feel that. I am comfortable, but always aware. I am rarely blindfolded, but often gagged, so that I can see his reactions and signals and react wordlessly.

This is a surprisingly comfortable space for me. I feel safe the strictness of it all. It’s not completely routine, but I am used to not being allowed to cum when we play in the sitting room. I don’t expect it anymore. I can focus on cock worship and general service. If I do get to cum, Sir usually takes me upstairs to the bedroom first (see why I like the bedroom).

Bathroom

This is a much more confusing area for me. I find I am able to transition my feelings when I am in the bathroom when he is not there with me (which is good). But I am very apprehensive in the bathroom with him.

Last night I had to squat next to him while he peed. Then he had me ‘clean off’ his penis with my tongue. It was hot. But there is always a sense of wondering what he is going to do. Was that it? Was there more?

This space holds a lot of dichotomy. Showering together (though we rarely get the chance), is a very sensual and calming experience. But when he uses me as a urinal I feel humiliated. Both can be positive, given the right context, but it is a little unnerving to not know which I will leave the bathroom feeling when he follows me in.

Basement

I hate our basement. I’m not sure I can clarify that enough for you. I hate it. It’s dirty, full of boxes, and we have to take a baby monitor down with us as it’s so far away from the sleeping kids.

I also hate it because Sir’s sadistic side comes out in the basement. He can string me up down there. He makes me walk along ropes with knots hitting my clit while hitting me with a crop. It sounds hot. In fact, I’m not sure I would have such a negative response if he did the same thing in our bedroom. But in this case, it is very much the location that brings about a specific feeling. Unease and dread.

The basement is cold. I’m naked, often gagged, and with way too much time to look at all the dirt on the floor and places where I need to organize. There is something about the space that puts me in a submissive, but almost kidnapped headspace. And I’m sure that is where Sir wants me to be. I am my most vulnerable down there. I’m uncomfortable and I will do anything to get out of there. Including take as much pain as humanly possible. Thankfully, he doesn’t take me down there often as he knows what an emotional drain it is.

~

As much as I would love to have a dungeon play space in our next home, I enjoy moving around our house when we play. The variety of emotions is helpful to me, and I think also to Sir, to enjoy our TPE in new ways. So check out all the rooms in your home to find the fun (and frightening) you can have.

*This is a look at how I feel in different spaces during specific play. Your results WILL vary. Play safe.*