She couldn’t take her eyes off the rope as he threaded it through his fingers while he talked. His voice was soothing, his tone matter of fact, like a teacher giving a lesson, and she was desperate to feel those knots and ropes on her body.

“Where are we at Poppet?” he asked.

“Green,” she husked out, licking her dry lips, unable to tear her eyes from the rope.

“Eyes on me, poppet,” he said gently and she raised them to him and he smiled at her. “Sometimes ...