Thank you Pride

I am so glad I volunteered for the Pride Parade here in Edmonton.
This was my first Pride Parade. Up north the city refuses a parade permit, and so far no one has fought it. I admit, it never occurred to me to take a role in this and help organize one anyway.
When I volunteered for the parade, I was still seeing myself as hetero, with a dose of being comfy with women and their bodies. I have, till now, been in long term, monogamous relationships with men. I did not volunteer for my own sexuality, but because I believe that sexual autonomy is a human right, that being able to take joy in your sexuality is part of being a healthy human being. I am passionate about sexuality.

The point was to support something that celebrates sexuality.
Then, I was there. Surrounded by people of ALL TYPES of sexuality. Working with people from all backgrounds, religions, lifestyles, genders, sexualities and oh my flipping gawd.. it was amazing.

I realized ... This parade is not just for those who identify as being part of the sexualities included in "quiltbag". This parade is for everyone.

It is for the very JOY of sexuality, that we each can walk our own path and find someone to walk with us. That we can express ourselves in a way that is fundamental to who we are, not in a prescribed way.
It is a celebration for the folk who have fought tooth and nail for the right to love in ways that fulfill them. It is pride in our bodies, pride in our relationships, pride in our gender, pride in our individual ways of expressing our sexuality.
This parade was for all of us. The parade advocates for public awareness that love, sexuality, gender-these things are fluid, they are personal and they are as varied as the colours of a rainbow, with the divisions between labels being a bit blurry. The parade advocates for honest and proud sexual education for children, for challenging societal views of 'normal', for creating space that is SAFE to stand up and say, "This is me. I love me.".
I was absolutely astounded by the church floats, the religious groups that came out to publicly support Pride. I was shocked to see TD, RBC, Home Depot, Winners and other large businesses not only taking part, but singing, dancing, and PROUD to be there.
There was close to a hundred thousand people there. It was a family friendly event with loot being handed out, people singing, laughing, smiling, cheering and demonstrating that sexuality is not something to be hidden, shamed, criminalized-it is part of humanity. That from whatever part of the spectrum you are on, be it highly sexual to asexual, be it from straight to gay, your sexuality is YOURS, unique to you and that is fantastic.

Thank you to the folk who made this event happen, to those who work so hard to ensure that it continues, year after year.

the Kinky Tree

The Tale of the Kinky Tree and a Helpless Maiden                                                                                          I walked through the woods, enjoying the soft rays of sun as they streamed delicately through the overhead branches.  Needles and leaves softly crunched underfoot as I walked.  Peaceful.  I inhaled deeply, wanting to smell the musk of the forest.  I froze, puzzling over a scent on the mild breeze.   Was it?  No.. surely not... I inhaled again, and smiled evilly.  Yes, indeed, that delightful scent was one I recognized:  arousal of a maiden.                                                                                                                                                                                           Softly I crept forward, searching out the source.  I moved gently through the trees, as soundlessly as possible, the scent drawing me, until I reached a clearing where I beheld a vision that momentarily robbed me of breath.                                                                                                                                                     In the clearing there was a Kinky tree.  At it's base a maiden slept, helplessly tied, waiting.

I gazed at her, the view pleasing me greatly, for some time before approaching.  Then with care I moved closer, breathing in the air that was sweetly perfumed with her scent, listening to the small sounds of contentment she made as she rested.  She was divine.  Her skin glowed, beckoning to be touched.  Her hair held the fire of the sun and gleamed as the breeze teased it to and fro.  Her body was dusted with the magic of the forest, stray bits of bark and leaf merely adding to her allure.  

My eyes roamed her body, taking in the soft curve of her legs, the adornment of her navel, the swell of her breasts, large enough to not be hidden by her graceful arms tied in front.  Her face, so delicate, the shell of her ear that begged for nibbling, the sweep of her neck... So inviting, so stunning she was.

I moved closer still, wanting badly to touch.. but first to wake this maiden, to enjoy the widening of her eyes, that sharp little intake of breath that comes with fear and anticipation.  So I leaned forward, my hand sweeping a stray hair fro her forehead and spoke softly.

"Hello beautiful"

Her eyes opened and met mine, but rather than a maiden filled with fear and surprise the eyes that met mine were filled with mischief and longing, a need that dropped me to my knees beside her.  Those eyes twinkled knowingly, a bit of mirth and a large amount of temptation peered at me between her dark lashes. 

"Hello beautiful, yourself" she said softly, laughter hidden in her voice, seducing me much more thoroughly than I could have ever hoped to seduce her.  I stared at her, enthralled, unable to help myself even as my lack of words amused her more.

Finally I gathered what little wits I had left, and breathing in her heady scent again I reached out until my hand was but a breath away from cupping her face.

"Would you permit me to touch you, sweet maiden?" I asked.  "My hand aches to know your skin."

She giggled, a musical sound that filled my heart and made things low down tighten with lust.  "I would permit you much" she said saucily "but helpless as I am why would you ask?"

I stared at her, bemused, and spoke the truth: "I have a need for you to desire the touch of my hand as much as I desire the feel of your skin".  My hand trembled as she smiled softly, her eyes darkening, and she whsipered "oh yes..."

My hand cupped her face, fingers caressing.  Her skin was soft and so very warm from the sun.  My hand slowly trailed to her neck, fingers tracing her features, then to the centre of her chest, fingers stroking the pulse in her neck.

"You are magic" I breathed.  My body began to thrum, desire for her filling me.  

My hands lightly caressed her arms a moment when suddenly I knew what I wanted.  I wanted magic.

I dropped my pack from my shoulders and grabbed rope, my quick motion eliciting the response I had originally sought-surprise and anticipation.  

I dumped rope out and began to make art of her, the tree and I.

I untied her legs, unwinding the rope and carressing her legs, kissing and licking the marks her rope had left.  My nails trailed along her skin, fingers moving upwards to her thigh, over her hip and resting on her waist as I admired her.  Leaning forward I kissed her, innocent enough a kiss, our breath mingled a moment as my hands pulled the rope around her waist.  

I leaned back slowly, the rope tightening, as I secured her waist and thigh.  

I let my fingers dance, sometimes lightly sometimes harsh, each motion eliciting small sounds from her that I echoed.

I used rope to lift her slightly, her head fell back with glee as she felt it, her body a mere breath from the ground.  I looped another rope to her free leg and secured that too, so that this forest maiden swung gently from the branch, leaves and bark falling to dust her skin. She lay there, peaceful and incredible, swaying.  I enjoyed the sight of her, held in place as she was, the beauty of her near overwhelming.  

As if she could feel me joy her eyes opened and she smiled.   Ahh that smile held mirth the way a glass does wine.  From the pads of her dirt covered toes to the ends of her fiery hair she was magic, laughter and light.  Helpless to resist I kissed her, both of us laughing as we kissed and she swayed.  "I am flying! She giggled breathlessly"                  "You are, dear maiden.  You are flying, held by my ropes, magic and the Kinky Tree.  Helpless is what you are now!" I teased layfully.                                                                                                     "Helpless am I?" She laughed.  "Kiss me.  Let me fly!"  As she lay in the embrace of ropes, tree and laughter I kissed her, explored her skin and her laughter and in those moments I fell in love with this forrest sprite, this maiden of the woods.  Her laughter, her scent, her knowing eyes spun their magic, leaving me as helpless as I had first imagined her to be.  It was glorious.

More Pictures and Videos of my adventure with this beautiful maiden:

 More videos of this on Fetlife