I was cleaning the BDSM shelves at Babeland when they caught my eye. I stood. The pair of Kookie Cuffs and I were in a stare down, my own wide eyes meeting the ?OO? of their gaze.I?m going to buy my cuffs today, I thought.My first foray into BDSM was when I tied up a former boyfriend with silk hair scarves and blindfolded him with a particularly opaque padded bra. These were pre-Babeland employment days, so I used whatever tools were in my then-meager arsenal: My fingernails, my open palm, and a well-placed bullet vibrator. I remember feeling so thankful that he couldn?t see the occasional panicked expression that passed across my face. I don?t know what to do! And everything that I think about doing seems so silly!He stirred. Mm, that feels great."Shut the fuck up," I offered, wanting to add, "And let me think!" Better yet, let me run into the bathroom with my laptop so I can Google ?how to be a good domme +blindfold ?anxiety." Who put me in charge of this?Oh. Right. I did. Me and the naked man in my bed. We had discussed this night in advance over Vietnamese food, had come up with a safe word, planned and prepped. And there I was, standing over him with a bottle of lube and a bucket of nerves.That night, when all was said and (un)done, he rolled over to face me and thanked me, his eyes earnest. I had been so worried about doing everything the right way that I didn?t even see how much he had enjoyed himself. We never did manage a repeat performance, and less than two weeks later, we had broken up. That look on his face is something I still cherish.I bought the Kookie Cuffs because they are hot. Black leather, soft inside, a nice weight to them. I bought them because they are supremely comfortable, not tight or difficult to undo like my silk scarves. But most of all, I bought them because I deserve them, and I want to have them at the ready the next time they come in handy.Interested in having your own foray into some light bondage or some other fantasy play? Babeland NYC and Babeland Seattle have some great events coming up this weekend to explore just that. This Sunday, Babeland Soho will host a Spanking and Role Play workshop at 7:30 pm, taught by Babeland's amazing sexuality educators. Also at 7:30 pm on Sunday, at Babeland Seattle, Max of Max's Bondage Lessons will be presenting a workshop called "Bondage for Lovers." For more details, contact the Soho and Seattle locations.