Indulging in a little bit of spicy reading material is one of life’s simple pleasures. And now that erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey (the first in a racy trilogy) has gone mainstream, there’s no time like the present to take what’s between the pages between the sheets with your man.
Check out our tips below for bringing the tale of business tycoon Christian Grey and submissive student Anastasia Steele to life — except better, because you get to participate.
Invest in the Good Vibrations “Shades of Grey” kit
Why traipse from store to store (or website to website) when you can get all the props you need in one easy package? San Francisco sex shop Good Vibrations stocks a Grey-inspired kit that comes stocked with your very own copy of the book (great for Fifty Shades “virgins”), stretchy ribbon cuffs attached with a delicate chain to restrain your partner, a blindfold and a soy Ignite Me candle to add some light hot-wax play into your routine.
The good news for non-West Coasters: You can order it online ($46; goodvibes.com).
Ask him to spank you
No question, spanking factors prominently into the book — you’ll never know if you like it until you try it. With him behind you, ask him to pat your rear lightly at first, and then instruct him to increase the intensity depending on how you like it. Says Anastasia in the book: “I surrender myself to the rhythm of blows, absorbing each one, savoring each one…” Best part: This sort of kink is totally free. If you want to up the ante, have him use a ruler, like Christian does.
See the sexy site for yourself
The book is set in Seattle for the most part, but some steamy scenes are set in the historic Heathman Hotel in downtown Portland. The inn offers several packages based on the book, including the Charlie Tango package (that’s the name of Christian’s helicopter). Throw down $2,700, and you get a whirlybird ride plus a dinner for six at the hotel. More intimate: For $40, the Heathman will gift you a bottle of pouilly fume wine (which Christian and Anastasia share in the novel) and a gray tie.
If you have a spare $400,000 or more lying around, consider going all in and buying a condo in downtown Seattle’s Escala building, mentioned repeatedly in the novel as the location of Grey’s luxe penthouse. Condos are selling like hotcakes — and for 99 percent of their asking price — though the developers aren’t admitting why. Playing coy, eh, boys?
Dress him up
Feeling skittish about getting tied up (or tying him up)? No worries! Add an element of a sexy power struggle to your boudoir by asking him to don a sharp suit and crisp button-down shirt, modeled after high-powered businessman Christian Grey. After the clothes come off, for fun, try wearing his tie… and nothing else. He’ll love it.
Shop where the moneyed executives do for a perfectly pressed look: Brooks Brothers. Their white shirt is classic. ($88; brooksbrothers.com)
Use a smooth-and-sweet prop
Sex and ice cream? Sounds like the perfect evening. In the book, Grey does some wicked things with a spoon: “[Christian] trails a spoonful of ice cream down the center of my body, across my stomach, and into my navel…” We can’t go into much more detail, but let’s just say it ends well.
This is one sex toy that won’t break the bank: Get yourself a pint of Häagen-Dazs and go nuts… or classic vanilla.
More on Fifty Shades of Grey
Can Fifty Shades of Grey just go away?
Fifty Shades of Yuck : Stomping Happy Meals and other things I learned in an S&M dungeon
Stephenie Meyer: Fifty Shades of Grey is “not my thing”
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