Read Online Playing Knotty by Elia Winters - Free Book Online

through the layers of their pants. Ian had everyone start by tying a few knots, instructing them, going over the movements until everyone could tie a square knot, a lark’s head, a double coin knot, a double fisherman’s, and one or two others. Emma used his rope, not wanting to stand out as the person who wasn’t participating. At least it gave her something to do. Ian got up to supervise everyone’s basic knot-tying, giving Emma the opportunity to absolutely not check out his ass in those jeans. He finished his perusal of the room with her, crouching down to look at her lark’s head knot.
    â€œThat’s very good, Emma.” He squeezed her hands where they still held the rope, meeting her eyes, and she found it hard to look away. “Are you ready?” He asked the question quietly, so even the people next to them couldn’t hear, and she nodded, not trusting her voice enough to speak.
    He turned back to the group, kneeling down again next to Emma. “It looks great, everyone. Let’s move on to the good stuff.” He began uncoiling one loop of rope. “Emma has agreed to let me model all the ties on her. She’s a great sport.” He smiled at her in a completely nonsexual way, but when he brought her hands in front of her and turned her toward him, her heart fluttered in a way that was certainly not platonic.
    â€œI’m going to demonstrate the ties, then have you all try.” He brought the rope up to her hands, and she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. This was it.
    â€œWe’ll do a basic wrap first. Start with the hands about four or five inches apart and drape the middle of the rope over the wrists. Wrap one end over both wrists in several big loops, approaching the hands. Do the same with the other end of the rope, wrapping up toward the forearms. Be careful that the rope doesn’t overlap.” As he spoke, he created a series of loops around her wrists, which still had a four-inch space between them. “Now bring the ends of rope around the slack and cross them at the bottom, like you’re tying a package. Wrap each end around the slack rope, starting at the middle and moving toward each wrist in turn.” As he did so, the slack between her wrists dissolved, and he wrapped the loose rope until the ends reached her wrists. The coil between them kept her wrists firmly apart and unable to slide her hands out through the loops. He explained how to tuck the ends underneath and secure them with a simple knot. “Emma, show them your wrists.” Emma faced forward awkwardly and displayed her arms, her heart fluttering. In trying to move her arms, she couldn’t find any give in the bonds. Her hands were well and firmly bound in place.
    â€œNow I want you to try. I’ll come around and take a look.” He got to his feet, leaving Emma sitting there, her hands tied, feeling a bit helpless and unsure whether she liked that feeling. Then he turned back to her. “You good for a minute, Emma?”
    â€œSure, sure.” She smiled with a calmness she didn’t feel. Ian walked around the room, offering suggestions and pointers, correcting people who weren’t quite getting it. He really was a natural at this, a good teacher, casual and yet in command. At last, he returned to sit beside her.
    â€œGo ahead and untie them.” As he spoke, he began undoing the knots on Emma’s wrists. “Watch out for rope burn. Rope burn isn’t sexy.” When she was free, she rubbed her wrists, more out of reflex than anything else, because her wrists didn’t hurt at all.
    â€œLet’s try a single-wrist technique using a lark’s head knot.” He took her right hand over his leg and began wrapping it, starting with a loop and feeding the slack ends through that loop, pulling against it to tighten. Then he wrapped the rope the other way around and snugged it up again.