Butterfly
We begin facing one another. Bend over, you say, so I do. Now you are looking at the top of my head. Your arms go around me and as my head slides into your armpit I taste the flavour of your sweat.
Bear Hug
You lock me in your arms and squeeze, rocking me from side to side. The aim is to cause as much pain as possible, especially around the heart.
Lady of the Lake
I sit quietly, folded like a fan. One hand lies open on the ground, as if to touch you.
Anaconda Vise
Your arm comes up and slowly encircles my head. You grab my wrist, bend till it hurts meanwhile the other arm snakes through the unseen hole and pulls me towards you.
Mounted
Now you are on top of me how do you like it? If I lie face down it's a back mount. You strike several times the inside of my head.
Electric Chair
Balanced on your shoulders like a ballerina, I smile and wave to the crowd, when suddenly I realise you are about to throw me across the room.
Skin the Cat
You nearly had me that time but I clung to the rope and landed on my feet.
Gutwrench Submission Hold
It begins with me doubled over as if in pain. You push my head to one side, lift me to your shoulder and now the aim is to break my back.
Bodyscissors
I wrap my legs around you and squeeze as hard as I can. The sound of your moans excites me.
Crucifix
I lie face up on the brittle table of your back. Gently you spread my arms and legs. The sound of bones cracking.
Straitjacket
Now you are lying motionless face down so I sit on your back and take hold of your wrists, cross them under your chin and pull hard. You turn your head and smile at me.
Tree of Woe
Hanging upside down I am completely unable to defend myself. So I say it. You say it. I love you.
Grace Andreacchi is an American-born novelist, poet and playwright. Works include the novels Scarabocchio and Poetry and Fear, Music for Glass Orchestra (Serpent's Tail), Give My Heart Ease (New American Writing Award) and the chapbook Berlin Elegies. Her work appears in Horizon Review, The Literateur, Cabinet des Fées and many other fine places. Grace is also managing editor at Andromache Books and writes the literary blog Amazing Grace. She lives in London.
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