All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors.

However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.

Myboyfriend, John*, and I have been engaged in a weird power struggle lately.

Beautiful detailed white eye mask

Courtesy of Desire Resorts

I’m simply wired faster, and because of that, I get impatient easily.

Not that it makes it right.

And, no, I’m not proud of it.

View of Desire Resorts at sunset

Courtesy of Desire Resorts

That’s where our trip toDesire Riviera Maya Resortcame in.

It’s a lot of work being in charge all the time.

John and I are not swingers.

Box of sex toys

Courtesy of Carrie Borzillo

(Though there’s nothing wrong with swinging.)

Or, at least, to attempt to dive in.

A good flogging is nice.

Sex swing

Courtesy of Carrie Borzillo

Feather tickling always gets me going.

Unable to control myself, I barked out the following orders:

Rule No.

1 ofbondage:There is no giggling.

The author wearing a decorated eye mask

Courtesy of Eric Pritchard

2 of bondage:No smiling!

Happy-go-lucky John has a great smile, but it’s not right in this scenario.

“Christian Grey doesn’t smile as he spanks.

I need you to put your best fuck-face on, hey,” I said.

3 of bondage:He would be in charge.

He would be the dominant.

He would be Christian Grey.

I would be the submissive.

I would be Anastasia Steele.

Realizing I’d already broken Rule No.

Don’t correct him.

Be more like Ana.

Enjoy taking the backseat for once.

Before we left, I even had a dream that a bartender called me the C-word.

What’s worse, dream-John agreed with himand so did I.

Balance is the key here.

If Ana could do it, I could, too.

It was hard not to.

They included a leather flogger, restraints, and a ball gag so I could shut up for once.

There was also abutt plug, which John instantly vetoed.

I acquiescedone small step toward letting go of control.

(Watching was very hot, by the way!

Might need to explore voyeurism a bit more.)

“Tie me tighter,” I told John.

He is Christian Grey."

I tried to focus on what Amber said and let myself be Anastasia.

John even put the ball gag on me so I couldn’t say another word.

Sure, he was clumsy at bondage at first.

But then he surprised me and ended up getting in a good flogging.

He even figured out how to use thesexswing without me helping him out.

Discussing my struggle with control was one of thoserelationshipconversations I wanted to avoid.

But when I told John, his reaction wasn’t what I expected.

“You think I think you’re a c*nt?

I said, surprised.

Upon further reflection, I think I know what’s going on.

We’re nine months into our relationship and planning on moving in together in a month.

It’s been several years since I lived with anyone.

Naturally, a little bit of anxiety comes with that.

It’s scary, but I know it’s doable.

“I’m glad we’re working this out before I move in,” he said.

“Me, too.”

When we returned home, I found myself starting to take charge again.

This time it was a bottle of cabernet and one of those old-school corkscrew wine openers.

We get a little cork in our cab.

*Names have been changed to protect the kinky.