BOUND & GAGGED IN A SLEEPING BAG (M+/M+) *UPDATE APR 04*

[GoBucks]

Yes rimming!!! I am very much in favor of this development. And rimming Kyle? Yes please. Hope he's still got some sweat from the gym!

[Sniffmyfeet]

Bondagefreak, this chapter is amazing. The way Steven tells Joshua about his relationship with Nick is at a really high level. Not that it's difficult to read, but high level because it summarises the progress their relationship has made, from chapter 1 all the way to where Steven and Nick are now. I have no doubt that this conversation with Joshua will be a boost for Steven's confidence in his relationship with Nick. The things Nick does to Steven may at times seem repulsive or strange, but they're driven by a profound love for Steven that goes deeper than Steven initially understands and only afterwards do these things get sorted out in Steven's head and does he realise how much Nick loves him.

Steven is inexperienced when it comes to sex. It's something I can relate to. I'm still learning a lot of my boyfriend. It can be awkward at times, but he's helping me make progress. Contrary to Steven, though, I know at least what most words mean, at least with regards to the things that get shown in gay porn.

[bondagefreak]

THANKS FOR THE COMMENTS SO FAR, GUYS!
HOPE TO SEE MORE OF YOU COMMENTING SOON!


THE M/M HANDGAG SURVEY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED!
GET YOUR ANSWERS IN, GUYS. THE MORE, THE MERRIER!

M/M HANDGAG SURVEY

[mention]Arizian[/mention] [mention]sniffingyoursocks[/mention] [mention]GoBucks[/mention] [mention]that1kid13[/mention] [mention]socjuc[/mention] [mention]Msueta@2[/mention] [mention]DeeperThanRed[/mention] [mention]MountainMan_91[/mention] [mention]squirrel[/mention] [mention]Volobond[/mention] [mention]OrdinaryWorld[/mention] [mention]LK3869[/mention] [mention]dahanband[/mention] [mention]NeedControl[/mention] [mention]sws91[/mention] [mention]Windrunner[/mention] [mention]TiedNW[/mention] [mention]ShadowHusky[/mention] [mention]blackbound[/mention] [mention]harsim[/mention] [mention]Mitchelaiden[/mention] [mention]lengban[/mention] [mention]Tsuhaya[/mention] [mention]Johnsnow[/mention] [mention]Trainedsub[/mention] [mention]gaggedup[/mention] [mention]Whitestorm[/mention] [mention]jammer212[/mention] [mention]zzzz12333211[/mention] [mention]george_bound[/mention] [mention]cherryboy[/mention] [mention]Ossassin[/mention] [mention]beserkade12[/mention] [mention]puffalover[/mention] [mention]ziptiedboy[/mention] [mention]hb54[/mention] [mention]Harlequinn22[/mention] [mention]NotRowan[/mention] [mention]Valimure[/mention] [mention]Sockbound1234[/mention] [mention]Michael-Colin[/mention] [mention]Itsuki Hoga[/mention] [mention]Noidilop[/mention] [mention]sami200456boyfriend[/mention] [mention]5T3V3N[/mention] [mention]Mummyboi[/mention] [mention]Shadesflirty[/mention] [mention]JayMoe[/mention] [mention]Charmides[/mention] [mention]StealthAlex[/mention] [mention]Phoenix[/mention] [mention]Havok978[/mention] [mention]Tickler1079[/mention] [mention]handovermouth[/mention] [mention]Sockboy84GER[/mention] [mention]Kratos[/mention] [mention]Blakenome1999[/mention] [mention]Yellow[/mention] [mention]harveygasson[/mention] [mention]Ayu[/mention] [mention]AF1snffr[/mention] [mention]BlueZephyr[/mention] [mention]bluemoon27[/mention] [mention]Jason07[/mention]
[mention]njr[/mention] [mention]CorbD91[/mention] [mention]The WinterShuffle[/mention] [mention]Gagman[/mention]
[mention]tugdreamer421[/mention] [mention]kiwi[/mention] [mention]EJTied22[/mention] [mention]Johnny[/mention] [mention]Pup[/mention] [mention]KidnappedCowboy[/mention] [mention]KidnappedCowboy[/mention] [mention]privateandrews[/mention] [mention]superbound[/mention] [mention]Sniffmyfeet[/mention] [mention]Batsox[/mention] [mention]wataru14[/mention] [mention]RopingRingers[/mention] [mention]tapegagged08[/mention] [mention]tugfan[/mention] [mention]YourCaptor75[/mention]

[Harlequinn22]

Very interesting. I wonder how Josh will affect the narrative as it progresses

[Msueta@2]

The last few chapters have been really good

[bondagefreak]

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

After the success of the last story extract I posted a few weeks ago (TICKLED BY HUNKS) I've decided to extract another fan-favourite scene and post it as a standalone story.

THIS ONE'S CALLED: BOYZ WILL BE BOYZ: A BATTLE OF TWO TWINKS (M/M)

Story Tags: bondage, duct tape, sockgags, smelly socks, tickling, semi-consensual, twinks, role reversal.


Much like it's predecessor (Tickled By Hunks) this story extract does NOT require previous knowledge of the characters. The purpose will be to entertain readers outside the Bound and Gagged audience base, and perhaps incite some of you to jump on board with us.


HAVE FUN, GUYS!

[mention]Arizian[/mention] [mention]sniffingyoursocks[/mention] [mention]GoBucks[/mention] [mention]that1kid13[/mention] [mention]socjuc[/mention] [mention]Msueta@2[/mention] [mention]DeeperThanRed[/mention] [mention]MountainMan_91[/mention] [mention]squirrel[/mention] [mention]Volobond[/mention] [mention]OrdinaryWorld[/mention] [mention]LK3869[/mention] [mention]dahanband[/mention] [mention]NeedControl[/mention] [mention]sws91[/mention] [mention]Windrunner[/mention] [mention]TiedNW[/mention] [mention]ShadowHusky[/mention] [mention]blackbound[/mention] [mention]harsim[/mention] [mention]Mitchelaiden[/mention] [mention]lengban[/mention] [mention]Tsuhaya[/mention] [mention]Johnsnow[/mention] [mention]Trainedsub[/mention] [mention]gaggedup[/mention] [mention]Whitestorm[/mention] [mention]jammer212[/mention] [mention]zzzz12333211[/mention] [mention]george_bound[/mention] [mention]cherryboy[/mention] [mention]Ossassin[/mention] [mention]beserkade12[/mention] [mention]puffalover[/mention] [mention]ziptiedboy[/mention] [mention]hb54[/mention] [mention]Harlequinn22[/mention] [mention]NotRowan[/mention] [mention]Valimure[/mention] [mention]Sockbound1234[/mention] [mention]Michael-Colin[/mention] [mention]Pup[/mention] [mention]Itsuki Hoga[/mention] [mention]Noidilop[/mention] [mention]Lily[/mention] [mention]sami200456boyfriend[/mention] [mention]5T3V3N[/mention] [mention]Mummyboi[/mention] [mention]Shadesflirty[/mention] [mention]JayMoe[/mention] [mention]Charmides[/mention] [mention]StealthAlex[/mention] [mention]Phoenix[/mention] [mention]Havok978[/mention] [mention]Tickler1079[/mention] [mention]handovermouth[/mention] [mention]hotgom[/mention] [mention]Sockboy84GER[/mention] [mention]Kratos[/mention] [mention]Blakenome1999[/mention] [mention]Yellow[/mention] [mention]harveygasson[/mention] [mention]Ayu[/mention] [mention]AF1snffr[/mention] [mention]BlueZephyr[/mention] [mention]bluemoon27[/mention] [mention]Jason07[/mention] [mention]njr[/mention] [mention]CorbD91[/mention] [mention]Gagman[/mention] [mention]tugdreamer421[/mention] [mention]kiwi[/mention] [mention]EJTied22[/mention] [mention]Johnny[/mention] [mention]KidnappedCowboy[/mention] [mention]privateandrews[/mention] [mention]Sniffmyfeet[/mention] [mention]Batsox[/mention] [mention]wataru14[/mention] [mention]tapegagged08[/mention] [mention]tugfan[/mention] [mention]YourCaptor75[/mention] [mention]boundsub[/mention] [mention]SoccerCleat[/mention] [mention]sock_gagged[/mention] [mention]TcklshSocks[/mention] [mention]The slave[/mention] [mention]CrazyAsianGuy[/mention] [mention]The WinterShuffle[/mention] [mention]RopedBud[/mention] [mention]JDT544[/mention] [mention]Ayu[/mention]

[NeedControl]

CHAPTER 207 - THE STRAW-HAIRED TEEN-DEVIL

This was such a fun chapter with Josh and Steven!! I really really enjoyed the playfulness, the excited "torturing", the honesty, and the helplessness of it all. Way to freaking go [mention]bondagefreak[/mention]!!!

[NeedControl]

"I mean what if I could get you out of here? You could come sleep with me tonight!" he offered.
"I've got a large bed, and there's more than enough space for you. Plus my room is WAY cleaner than this mangy dump." he laughed, kicking a pair of Shawn's dirty boxers across the floor...

Oh HELL yes!!!!

[NeedControl]

STOP!
ARE YOU ENJOYING THIS DEVELOPMENT?
ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO PART 212?
DROP ME A NOTE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!

Well, since you asked so nicely...

I REALLY like Joshua. I already said something to that effect, but in the intervening chapters my fondness for him has increased tremendously. I predict that with a few more interactions, he will probably become my second-favorite character in this story. That's preliminary and predictive of course, so I may be wrong, but I see it going in that direction pretty strongly.

As for him helping Steven out, well, all I can say is

[gaggedfeety]

Hi!!! I've been a long-time reader and finally got an account!! But I just finished another full-read through and want to say that this is such an amazing story. It's been such a rollercoaster reading through, and it's just incredible writing. And it's really good because it makes me feel so much.

With everything so fresh, I have to say that Nick is somewhat tainted for me. I never got past the fact that he basically kidnapped and tormented Steven against his will and essentially broke Steven. I've never liked Brad, but I've always been so conflicted with Nick, especially when reading about the sweet moments between him and Steve. I think it bothers me more that Nick doesn't really apologize or even acknowledge that he went too far, because at the end of the day, the friendship or relationship Nick and Steven had before the camping trip is...they have a different relationship now, and I guess I'll always wonder if it came at the cost of their old one. It didn't fix/change things, but I think I remember a moment earlier in the old version when Steven kinda called Nick out for what he did when they were camping and Nick got flustered and sorta apologized. And even now, I know it's different, but in a way, Nick is subjecting Steven to what he and Brad subjected him to by leaving him with Shawn. Nick had no qualms with having his friends and family play with/torment Steven, and they pretty much recruited Shawn. So Nick wouldn't be surprised that Shawn would continue to do so, right? And that he'd get his own friends involved too, like Nick did?

This is by no means a criticism of your work! This is just showing how amazing it is!! This is me putting myself into the story and overanalyzing

Anyways, I'm loving the connection between Steven and Josh, I think it's great for Steven to have someone to talk to aside from Nick. I think we got a taste of that with Zack, but Josh might be a little more neutral compared to him. And I can't wait to see how the story unfolds!!!

P.S--Sorry for the mini rant, I just had so many emotions I wanted to share!!
P.P.S--Nick better put Shawn in his place for blackmailing and forcing himself on Steven

[FrenchGinger]

Ah this feels really weird for me! I've been following this story anonymously for a really long time! (Like Chapter 60 back on Tieupgames) but never had the courage to comment, until now that is.

Your writing is so well detailed and expressive, it manages to paint pictures so perfectly without feeling like I'm being held down by the sheer volume of words (Not that I don't mind being held down that is)

Thank you so much for writing a story that has brought so many people together and I hope that you continue to have as much success in the future with what you write!

[Xtc]

Thanks for posting this, [mention]FrenchGinger[/mention]. If more lurkers would break cover, our writers would feel more like writing for us.
Blessed be,
xtc

[george_bound]

Ah this feels really weird for me! I've been following this story anonymously for a really long time! (Like Chapter 60 back on Tieupgames) but never had the courage to comment, until now that is.

Your writing is so well detailed and expressive, it manages to paint pictures so perfectly without feeling like I'm being held down by the sheer volume of words (Not that I don't mind being held down that is)

[mention]FrenchGinger[/mention], I echo [mention]Xtc[/mention]'s post... I look forward to hearing more of your comments across the board and completely agree with you regarding [mention]bondagefreak[/mention]'s writing style, so captivating in detail it really draws you in!

BTW, as long as you keep your comments constructive and supportive in nature, you shouldn't feel concerned or intimidated

[Trainedsub]

YAYYY BIG SWEATY MUSCLE BOY RIMMING!!!! MY FAVORITE!!! I’m so insanely excited for this next chapter!!

[NeedControl]

With everything so fresh, I have to say that Nick is somewhat tainted for me. I never got past the fact that he basically kidnapped and tormented Steven against his will and essentially broke Steven. I've never liked Brad, but I've always been so conflicted with Nick, especially when reading about the sweet moments between him and Steve. ...
...they have a different relationship now, and I guess I'll always wonder if it came at the cost of their old one. ...
...in a way, Nick is subjecting Steven to what he and Brad subjected him to by leaving him with Shawn. ...

What fantastic insight, and frank analysis! The conundrum presented by "this started off terribly, so even though there is so much good now, is it all ruined and ineligible for our support because of its bad beginnings" is one found in so many places in life, and I appreciate you pointing it out here in the context of this huge kink story! Can Nick be forgiven? Is his compassion and regret -- evident when he finds Steven at the end of his rope and takes him in -- enough? Does Steven really have free will concerning Nick, considering their history?

Such good questions, wrestled with in our minds and hearts here in a story that doesn't carry any risk, and perhaps helping us reconcile comparably-weighty issues in the rest of life where the risks associated with bad decisions can be huge.

P.P.S--Nick better put Shawn in his place for blackmailing and forcing himself on Steven

I.
100%.
Agree.



None of this "I don't want to get him in trouble because there may be consequences I wouldn't prefer" bullshit.

[gaggedfeety]

With everything so fresh, I have to say that Nick is somewhat tainted for me. I never got past the fact that he basically kidnapped and tormented Steven against his will and essentially broke Steven. I've never liked Brad, but I've always been so conflicted with Nick, especially when reading about the sweet moments between him and Steve. ...
...they have a different relationship now, and I guess I'll always wonder if it came at the cost of their old one. ...
...in a way, Nick is subjecting Steven to what he and Brad subjected him to by leaving him with Shawn. ...

What fantastic insight, and frank analysis! The conundrum presented by "this started off terribly, so even though there is so much good now, is it all ruined and ineligible for our support because of its bad beginnings" is one found in so many places in life, and I appreciate you pointing it out here in the context of this huge kink story! Can Nick be forgiven? Is his compassion and regret -- evident when he finds Steven at the end of his rope and takes him in -- enough? Does Steven really have free will concerning Nick, considering their history?

Such good questions, wrestled with in our minds and hearts here in a story that doesn't carry any risk, and perhaps helping us reconcile comparably-weighty issues in the rest of life where the risks associated with bad decisions can be huge.



I appreciate your response!! Those are the questions constantly going through my head as I read through the chapters!! This has become more than story about a camping trip gone wrong, it's a story of Steven's journey, so I do hope there's truly light at the tunnel. And I agree with your last statement. I think I've analyzed this story and the character decisions/actions so much in order to better understand what this would look like in the real world. What if I was Steven? What if I was his friend/family, or even Nick's friend/family? I honestly identify so much with Steven in his own "identity crisis" in the kink/fetish realm, so I can't help but do so much self-reflection.

P.P.S--Nick better put Shawn in his place for blackmailing and forcing himself on Steven

I.
100%.
Agree.



None of this "I don't want to get him in trouble because there may be consequences I wouldn't prefer" bullshit.

YESSSSS

[bondagefreak]

A special thank you to [mention]ShadowHusky[/mention], [mention]Volobond[/mention], [mention]GoBucks[/mention], [mention]Sniffmyfeet[/mention], [mention]Harlequinn22[/mention], [mention]Msueta@2[/mention], [mention]NeedControl[/mention], [mention]jammer212[/mention], [mention]OrdinaryWorld[/mention], [mention]blackbound[/mention], [mention]Ossassin[/mention], [mention]george_bound[/mention] and [mention]Trainedsub[/mention] for the generous support.

I'm glad so many of you are enjoying this latest development and looking forward to Steven's broadening horizons and adventures with Josh and Kyle.

The new features that were installed on the forum yesterday, give us a reading-time estimate for each thread.
I don't know if you guys realize this, but Bound and Gagged is rated as a 2000+ minute read.

While many of you will be quick to credit me for that, the ones who are really responsible for this tale's success are you guys and the other readers who regularly partake in commenting.

Thank you so much for being there and signaling your presence!
On a somewhat humorous note, the poll at the top of the thread is back to being a 50/50 split!

* * * * *

And a very special welcome to our newest friends [mention]gaggedfeety[/mention] and [mention]FrenchGinger[/mention].
WELCOME ONBOARD, GUYS!

It's nothing short of amazing that the both of you decided to break the ice within a few hours of each other.
I know of at least a dozen registered users who follow this story but who are too shy to post public reviews on it.
The fact that both of you worked up the courage to break out of your respective comfort zones may very well move some of the other silent readers to do the same.

That being said, I really hope the two of you will remain with us and become regular reviewers of Steven's tale.
* I've tagged the both of you on several posts that could use your attention.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on them.



[mention]gaggedfeety[/mention] Your observations about Nick are quite honestly being tainted by nothing more than common sense.
I commend you for that.

I have a large chart with all sorts of character stats that I use to keep track of everything and keep the chapters consistent.
The charts detail everything from physical attributes, to personality traits, strengths and weaknesses.
One of the columns I have is a character alignment grid, very similar to the one used in Dungeons and Dragons.

For those who aren't familiar with the alignment charter:
The concept is that every human being falls into one of nine categories, ranging from Lawful Good to Chaotic Evil.

The nine alignements are:
Lawful Good, Neutral Good, Chaotic Good
Lawful Neutral, True Neutral, Chaotic Neutral
Lawful Evil, Neutral Evil, Chaotic Evil

Animals are always True Neutral.
Human beings are usually everything BUT True Neutral.
Our alignments change depending on our actions and are often a result of what we've been through.


Your ambiguity towards Nick is completely understandable.
Nick is, as you've described, a very grey character.
I'll let you guess about which alignment he falls into, but all I can say is that he is neither good, nor evil.

[gaggedfeety]

A special thank you to @ShadowHusky, @Volobond, @GoBucks, @Sniffmyfeet, @Harlequinn22, @Msueta@2, @NeedControl, @jammer212, @OrdinaryWorld, @blackbound, @Ossassin, @george_bound and @Trainedsub for the generous support.

I'm glad so many of you are enjoying this latest development and looking forward to Steven's broadening horizons and adventures with Josh and Kyle.

The new features that were installed on the forum yesterday, give us a reading-time estimate for each thread.
I don't know if you guys realize this, but Bound and Gagged is rated as a 2000+ minute read.

While many of you will be quick to credit me for that, the ones who are really responsible for this tale's success are you guys and the other readers who regularly partake in commenting.

Thank you so much for being there and signaling your presence!
On a somewhat humorous note, the poll at the top of the thread is back to being a 50/50 split!

* * * * *

And a very special welcome to our newest friends @gaggedfeety and @FrenchGinger.
WELCOME ONBOARD, GUYS!

It's nothing short of amazing that the both of you decided to break the ice within a few hours of each other.
I know of at least a dozen registered users who follow this story but who are too shy to post public reviews on it.
The fact that both of you worked up the courage to break out of your respective comfort zones may very well move some of the other silent readers to do the same.

That being said, I really hope the two of you will remain with us and become regular reviewers of Steven's tale.
* I've tagged the both of you on several posts that could use your attention.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on them.



@gaggedfeety Your observations about Nick are quite honestly being tainted by nothing more than common sense.
I commend you for that.

I have a large chart with all sorts of character stats that I use to keep track of everything and keep the chapters consistent.
The charts detail everything from physical attributes, to personality traits, strengths and weaknesses.
One of the columns I have is a character alignment grid, very similar to the one used in Dungeons and Dragons.

For those who aren't familiar with the alignment charter:
The concept is that every human being falls in one of the nine categories, ranging from Lawful Good to Chaotic Evil.

The nine alignements are:
Lawful Good, Neutral Good, Chaotic Good
Lawful Neutral, True Neutral, Chaotic Neutral
Lawful Evil, Neutral Evil, Chaotic Evil

Animals are always True Neutral.
Human beings are usually everything BUT True Neutral.
Our alignments change depending on our actions and are often a result of what we've been through.


Your ambiguity towards Nick is completely understandable.
Nick is, as you've described, a very grey character.
I'll let you guess about which alignment he falls into, but all I can say is that he is neither good, nor evil.

Thank you for welcoming me!! It definitely is out of my comfort zone, but that's what this is all about!

Anyways, I'm looking forward to being involved in these debates and discussions, and hopefully give writing a try!! And btw, I love the use of the character alignment!! I'll have to brush up on D&D and think about where your characters fall!!

[bondagefreak]

[mention]gaggedfeety[/mention] This (albeit a little too simplistic) grid may be of interest to you.

[gaggedfeety]

@gaggedfeety This (albeit a little too simplistic) grid may be of interest to you.

Thank you!!! I was just searching for something like this! Now I have a little project for myself!!

[FrenchGinger]

Wow you're all so nice? Thank you for accepting me with open arms and I hope that we can get to know each other and become closer as a result of that!

From what [mention]bondagefreak[/mention] tagged me in, the choice between Nick and Zack as well as views on Brad are hot topics to be discussed!

The issue with the Nick and Zack debate is that they both display factors that I like and want, but for different situations, as such the nature of my choice depends almost entirely on the nature of my relationship with the dom. If I'm looking for a relationship like Steven's where we're dating then I would have to take the chance on Zack. Although I'm happy to watch Nick and Steven's relationship dynamic grow and I enjoy it as a reader, I know that I as a person am too independent to allow someone even as hot as Nick take control of my life isn't something that I think I could do. I understand why certain dom/sub relationships bleed out of the bedroom but for me it's something that I like to keep strictly within it. Outside of the bedroom, me and my partner have to be equals or it doesn't work for me - and even though we don't know just how Zack is in a relationship, he's got more chance of being like that than Nick!

But if I am just looking for a purely sexual relationship then it would have to be Nick, the control he exhibits in sexual situations is incredibly enticing and I see why Steven found himself giving in to the man because he does just exude this aura that draws you to him.

And then moving on to the Brad debate! It's one that I think requires a lot more information before we actually judge it! As stated, Brad's background is largely a mystery and although what he did was entirely reprehensible I think there are explanations for why he is the way he is. I believe Steven mentioned early on in the story that Brad was only slightly bigger than he was in high school, as they were both on the swim team, and that in the time between graduation and meeting him again with Nick, he had bulked up quite a lot. We also know that Brad was a part of Nick's jock posse which clearly at least to some degree, was led by our starring dom.

I feel like Brad is the kind of person who wants to take control and lead, but within a situation where Nick exists, that's almost impossible simply due to the sheer power that Nick as a person gives off. I imagine that if you're in a group of people where Nick is one of them, it can often feel like you're also just one of his bitches so to speak, which I think might have almost aggravated Brad. As a result, when we get further down the line and Brad finally gets power of his own (Over Steven or over Jeremy) he doesn't quite know how to handle it, he knows that he wants it but doesn't know how to channel it. This could potentially be what leads to his excessive displays of dominance - such as when he shoves anonymous used boxers in Steven's mouth during the camping trip or whatever it is that he did to Jeremy.

Like I've said, I don't think what Brad did was acceptable or appropriate in any way, but I do think these actions have come from his own places of feeling inadequate in the shadow of Nick and probably others which leads to him feeling that he has to assert himself even more when he is in control instead of letting his own aura and energy do it for him. I think what I'm trying to say is that I don't think Brad is one hundred percent an irredeemable person, he should be held accountable for his actions absolutely, but I think that once he addresses his own issues, he could actually become a very gentle but effective dom, once he realises that power and respect are things that you earn and not receive immediately.

I said far more on those than I was intending Either way, those are just my ideas of these topics, hope you all have a nice day!

[gaggedfeety]

Looking over the posts that @bondagefreak tagged me, I've had a long time to process my feelings towards Brad and Nick.

I definitely hold Nick mainly responsible for what Steven went through: Brad took advantage of it, and I don't excuse what he did (and I still despise him), but Nick was the one to kidnapped his friend and tormented him with a friend who he knew had a rough past with Steven. Whether it was intentional or not, he created a traumatizing and humiliating experience for Steven. And the fact that he, at least when going off Steven's perspective, hasn't truly ever acknowledged that make his subsequent actions all the more difficult to digest. Jeremy was young and naive, but he did choose this life; Steven was essentially broken down and then molded into what Nick wanted. And again, whether it was planned or not, Steven belongs to Nick now.

So regarding Brad being a redeemable character, I don't know. I know our understanding of Brad is biased since this is all from Steven's perspective, and to be honest, Brad has done what nearly all of Nick's friends, acquaintances, and cousin have done: they've taken advantage of having Steven at their mercy. I really draw the line at the abuse towards Jeremy, which wasn't too surprising considering we saw the sadistic nature that Brad had with Steven and the lake.--Side note: another reason for my disliking Nick is the fact that he's not just friends with Brad, but even after the things Brad did, Nick still goes out of his way to support and be with Brad.--If Brad has truly changed, then that's great, and it'd be interesting to see. I do think it's possible, but honestly he should seek out some therapy. Should he be with Jeremy? No, I think that relationship was ruined, and should be not be renewed. Could he find another sub? Maybe, but I really hope that Brad has a much better understanding about himself, as well as what the expectations and limits are from both parties.

As to whether I would choose Zack or Nick, I think I'm thinking similarly to [mention]FrenchGinger[/mention]. I wrote earlier that I identified with Steven's internal conflict as the story progressed, discovering what I liked and didn't like in less than ideal situations. Part of me wants what Steven has with Nick, but part of me agrees with Josh when he discussed Steven's relationship with Nick. I think I would have a hard time living that life, as I valued my freedom as he did. I'm so submissive, and it comes so naturally, but I've learned my limits. I know with Nick that the life doesn't just stay in the bedroom: it follows to all settings and with whoever he wants to include. Again, that sounds so hot, but I don't know if I could commit to that. So even though we don't really know what to expect from Zack, I would prefer to be with him and take my chances. Also, I feel like I'd have a better chance to create a more balanced relationship with Zack than with Nick. But again, part of my attraction to Nick is the fact that there is a history between him and Steven. It's so honestly so hard to choose...

[CorbD91]

After lurking for what feels like forever, and restarting a read through, I'm here to share some thoughts on Part 1.

Characters are greatly written. Hard to decide where I stand with Nick. On one hand what he's done is glorified kidnapping, but on the other he actually seems to care for Steven's safety, noting that he didn't want him gagged specific ways while unattended for risk of choking.

Brad is a dick, plain and simple. He isn't dominating, he is abusive. There is a clear difference between the two, and Brad is on the cusp of being a psychopath. Threatening and almost drowning Steven for his own enjoyment was sadistic and worrying, Steven needs to grow some balls and own up to Nick what happened.

Speaking of Steven, I can't put a finger on how I feel about him. Stockholm Syndrome is how I would best describe his situation, but at the end of part 1, him finally taking charge and doing something may be a good thing.

The tickling and edging session the two guys gave Steven had me tending to my own tent. Being handgagged and jerked off is a huge fantasy of mine, and I'm lucky enough to have experienced it a number of times.

[mention]bondagefreak[/mention] , you've created a cast of complex characters and made my imagination go wild with this tale. /clap

[bondagefreak]

[mention]FrenchGinger[/mention] [mention]gaggedfeety[/mention] Guys, you don't ever have to apologize or feel bad about writing lengthy observations and reviews. As you've no doubt seen in your respective read-throughs, many of my readers have shared their in-depth thoughts and ruminations about Nick, Brad, Shawn and other characters.


While Brad's motivations and objectives remain unknown, his actions make it easier for us to label him a villain.
As you guys (and now [mention]CorbD91[/mention]) have so eloquently explained, we have no similar luxury with Nick.
The fact that you guys have all expressed ambiguity towards his character is probably the biggest compliment you could've given me.

Had Nick been collectively painted as a hero or as a villain by my readers, it would've signified my failure to portray him the way I originally intended to. But the fact that the overwhelming majority of this story's reviewers respect and revere Nick in a slightly cautious, semi-uncertain manner is a huge mark of success for me.


His alignment has changed from what it was in the first two parts of the adventure, but the man remains a somewhat grey presence nevertheless.

He's been an instrument of evil and a force for good so often that it's become increasingly hard to hate him or adore him.
His alignment remains grey, and even though he's matured a lot and proven himself reliable, caring and protective of Steven, his track record has us remaining somewhat cautious and perhaps even a little wary.

The man exudes control, confidence and stability, but even so, he hasn't been able to fully persuade us (or Steven for that matter) that the dangerous wild flame inside of him has been completely extinguished. That much can be confirmed by Steven's own testimony of thrill and exhilaration whenever he's being eyed up by Nick's feral-like blue orbs. Has the beast truly been tamed? We're not sure.
I think that's part of the excitement for a lot of Nick's fans on here.
There's still that sense of danger to him that makes him appear a little bit...carnal, for lack of a better work.





On the subject of grey characters, Nick's kin does a fairly good job at incarnating what it's like to deal with a chaotic-aligned, wild card.
I don't like interfering too much with your perceptions of the characters from a non-Steven point of view, but none of what I'm stating here should come as a surprise or prove to be a spoiler to any of you.

I think Shawn really stands out as being the greyest (at least to me) most morally ambiguous character of the cast right now.
And as such, he doesn't get many friends or foes from the readership-audience.


Much like Steven, a lot of you guys are still trying to make heads or tails of this guy.

Steven has shared with us his loathing of the man, while also flaunting his qualities and apparent lack of malice.
Steven also goes out of his way to tell us that he doesn't feel in danger with Shawn and that the hunk's reprehensible moves seem to have stemmed from foolishness, curiosity and carelessness rather than pure evil.

Shawn doesn't strike Steven as a force for good, but he doesn't strike him as a force for bad either.
Perhaps unbeknownst to himself, Shawn has been useful to some degree in securing Jeremy's current fate.

His blackmail attempt really dragged our (and Steven's) perceptions of him to an all time low. But his ensuing lack of motivation to do anything to hurt his hostage helps to halt (but not reverse) our downward spiraling perceptions of him, at least to some degree.


The small acts of kindness and the signs of intelligence that Shawn gives his ward may have helped him win a few points back.
Combine that with Steven's natural submissiveness, his natural attraction to guys like Shawn, and the common blood the hunk shares with his lover, and you have a perfect recipe for ambiguity.

Steven's willingness to consider forgiving the man for his reprehensible actions, if a sincere apology and suitable reparations are made, paints a somewhat clearer picture of Steven's perceptions regarding Shawn. If I had to sum it up with three words, I'd chose: "grey", "uncertainty" and "in-between".


The overall feedback I get about Shawn from you guys, borders somewhere between general discontent and begrudging acceptance.
Somewhat fitting for a person of his alignment.


Like Steven said though, the ball is in Shawn's court right now.
He has the potential to improve his standing in your eyes and Steven's, but that might take some doing.

Unlike the Steven vs Brad conflict in the earlier parts of the adventure though, Steven's perception of Shawn is not being coloured up by the "love to hate" aspect.




That being said, I wanna give a great big special welcome to our newest reviewer: [mention]CorbD91[/mention]

Welcome onboard, buddy!


Three new faces joining this already fantastic choir of reviewers is a welcome surprise, and one that greatly motives me to continue my work!



About your mention of Stockholm Syndrome, that will undoubtedly be the title of this saga once the e-book/kindle version of this sees the day of light.

I don't know if many of you will find this interesting or not, but Bound and Gagged in a Sleeping Bag was only intended to be a short one-off and was actually my first foray into writing an English language text, back in 2010.


The forum demographics were very different from what they are today, and there were very few mature themed stories being published on the board. Scent-play was also practically unheard of on here, so the material I was presenting felt very new and refreshing to the readers back then.

A sizeable amount of support came my way after I'd published the first chapter of the story, and I quickly found myself being motived to write a second, and later on a third chapter.

The title of the story "Bound and Gagged in a Sleeping Bag" seemed entirely fitting at the time.
Today, not so much


As a young Dom and someone who was known by coworkers, friends and acquaintances as being incredibly level-headed, down to earth and balanced, I found myself increasingly frustrated at the prominence of Cash Masters gouging money from naïve, vulnerable and/or psychologically unstable subs on communities like Tumblr. I was also greatly disappointed at the lack of realistic, down to earth, everyday life BDSM-themed material on the web.

There are tens of thousands of BDSM-themed stories floating around.
But the vast majority of them deal only with Master/sub relations during play sessions and/or sexual interactions.
The few that do make mention of BDSM as a lifestyle, merely brush the subject and never give any detailing about how such a thing could actually work in real life. Even today, almost everything out there features whips, chains, pain and artificial penetration.
Sadism and Masochism are portrayed in a literal sense, and are given no freedom to include a broader meaning.
This makes BDSM seem incredibly shallow and artificial. At least, to me it did.


My growing dissatisfaction towards the lack of substantial BDSM-themed stories eventually pushed me to transform Bound and Gagged into something more substantial. And as the story grew, so too did support from the readership.

This story is still very much the black sheep of this board, and the majority of the more active M/M members on here give it a wide berth.
My audience mainly stems from readers outside this forum, who begrudgingly, yet courageously jumped onboard to express their support (like you just did ) and became regular supporters.



The fact that Bound and Gagged explores an untapped niche pretty much accounts for it's level of success.

I've been wanting to change the title of Steven's adventure for a very long time, but it's become something of a trademark.
And on a sidenote, it's also been fairly amusing to learn that many readers who were lured into this, initially expected Steven's tale to be about sleeping bag bondage.
Misleading title indeed!


In any case, I'm really looking forward to hearing more from each of you and reading your thoughts as you continue to make your respective ways through the story.


Cheers, guys!

[Sniffmyfeet]

I'm really moved by your in-depth analysis of your own story. There is such a depth to be explored in this story that it retains its initial freshness and doesn't become dull. The way in which you think out the characters is exceptional. It's consistent throughout the story. I agree that your story was rather unique on the old board and it still is here on this board. I cannot think of any other story that covers such a wide range of fetishes and bondage possibilities and so many heartfelt emotions that bring the characters to life. It has certainly broadened my horizon.