The lamp on the side table cast a low amber pool that didn’t quite reach the corners of the room. The fire had burned down to embers, a soft orange glow pulsing in the grate, and the air carried the faint smell of woodsmoke and the dinner they’d finished an hour ago.
Elara sank deeper into the worn leather couch and let the silence settle around them.
Holly moved between the kitchen and the living room without asking, collecting glasses, topping up the wine, setting a bowl of nuts on the low table. She didn’t check with anyone or hesitate at the threshold between rooms. She just moved, and Luke and Erin shifted around her without thought.
Bryce sat beside Elara, his hands resting motionless on his thighs.
Empty hands.
No rope coiled in his palm. No control pendant. No plan.
Luke sat in the armchair opposite, one hand draped over the armrest, the other resting on Erin’s knee where she sat on the floor beside him, leaning back against his legs. Holly returned with the wine and passed Bryce a glass.
Their fingers brushed.
“You’ve got a good setup here,” Bryce said.
Holly glanced around. “It’s home.”
Erin tilted her head back against Luke’s knee. “He means the house.”
“Both, maybe.”
Luke’s hand moved slowly over Erin’s knee.
“They’re not really separate.”
Elara looked between the three of them.
“It’s different here.”
“Not yours,” Holly said.
“No.”
“That’s why you came.”
Bryce took a drink.
Holly watched him over the rim of her glass.
“You’re thinking too hard.”
“I’m sitting on a couch.”
“With the same look you get when you’re trying to work out how something is put together.”
Bryce’s mouth twitched.
“This isn’t the barn,” Holly said. “You don’t have to run it.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
Bryce looked at her.
Holly smiled.
“Relax. Nothing needs fixing.”
Beside Elara, Bryce shifted deeper into the couch.
Erin reached up and took Luke’s hand from her knee, lacing their fingers together.
“Holly’s right. You’re guests.”
Bryce looked at Luke.
“You find that easy?”
“Being a guest?”
“Letting somebody else decide what happens.”
Luke laughed softly.
“Sometimes.”
Holly perched on the arm of his chair.
“Luke and I have had that argument.”
“Several times,” Erin said.
“I wasn’t arguing.”
“You were explaining why everyone else was wrong.”
Holly grinned.
Elara laughed.
After a moment, Bryce did too.
The fire settled lower.
Holly moved to the floor in front of the couch, leaning back against it.
“So,” she said. “What are you two looking for tonight?”
Bryce’s attention shifted to Elara.
He didn’t answer.
Elara rested her glass against her knee.
“I don’t want to recreate the barn here.”
“Good,” Holly said. “We couldn’t if we tried.”
“I want to know what it feels like when it isn’t ours.”
Holly waited.
“When I don’t know where everything is. When Bryce doesn’t know where everything is.”
Bryce raised an eyebrow.
“You enjoying this?”
“A little.”
Holly smiled.
Elara looked at her.
“I want to stop being the one who knows exactly what happens next. Just for a night.”
Holly nodded.
“And you?” she asked Bryce.
Bryce looked around the room.
“I’m still working that out.”
“That’s allowed.”
He glanced at Elara.
She could see the answer taking shape before he gave it.
“I want to see what happens when neither of us is running it.”
Holly stood.
“Come on.”
“Where?” Bryce asked.
“You’ll see.”
The room was only a few doors down the hallway.
Holly opened an ordinary door and switched on the light.
The space beyond was simple.
Bare timber floor. A low cabinet against one wall. A padded kneeling bench near the centre, its dark leather softened by use. Above it, a single steel ring was fixed into a reinforced ceiling point.
Several coils of rope hung neatly from hooks beside the cabinet.
That was almost everything.
Bryce stopped just inside.
His eyes went immediately to the ceiling.
Luke laughed behind them.
“There he goes.”
“What?”
“Checking the anchor.”
Bryce looked at him.
Luke came forward and took down one of the ropes.
“I’d be offended if you didn’t.”
Bryce glanced upward again.
“Through the structure?”
“Yeah.”
“Load tested?”
“Bryce.”
Elara laughed.
Luke shook his head.
“Yes.”
Bryce looked at the kneeling bench, then the rope in Luke’s hands.
“How long have you been doing this?”
“Years.”
Erin leaned against the doorframe.
“Long before Holly found us.”
Holly folded her arms.
“You’ve tied plenty of people.”
“Some.”
“You’ve tied Elara.”
“Many times.”
“Ever been tied properly yourself?”
Bryce looked at her.
“No.”
The room went quiet.
Holly didn’t move closer.
Luke didn’t lift the rope.
Bryce looked at the ceiling point again.
Elara stepped beside him.
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
“That wasn’t me telling you not to.”
“I know that too.”
Luke let the rope hang loosely from one hand.
“If you want to try it, we keep it simple.”
Bryce looked at him.
“No suspension?”
“Not unless you ask.”
Bryce’s eyes went upward again.
Holly groaned.
“Stop looking at the fucking ceiling.”
A laugh escaped him.
Then he looked at Elara.
She waited.
“Show me,” he said.
Bryce pulled his shirt over his head.
Holly pointed at the kneeling bench.
“Knees.”
He stared at her.
Her grin widened.
“You heard me.”
Elara bit back a laugh.
Bryce caught it anyway.
“You’re enjoying this far too much.”
“Absolutely.”
He lowered himself onto the bench.
The position looked wrong on him only because Elara had never seen him there.
Knees apart. Torso upright. Hands resting loose on his thighs.
Luke came behind him with the rope.
“Hands?”
Bryce brought them behind his back.
Luke stopped before touching him.
“Comfortable there?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me if that changes.”
The rope went around Bryce’s wrists.
Elara watched Luke work.
Not like Bryce.
Bryce built ties the way he built everything else: deliberate, measured, already knowing where the next line would go.
Luke’s hands moved more fluidly. He checked tension with his fingers, shifted the rope when Bryce moved, adjusted without stopping.
Bryce’s shoulders tightened when the first restraint settled.
Luke stopped immediately.
“Problem?”
“No.”
“Sure?”
“Yes.”
Luke continued.
A second line came around Bryce’s forearms, keeping his hands behind him without dragging his shoulders backwards.
Nothing elaborate.
Nothing decorative.
Just enough.
Luke stepped away.
Bryce tested the rope.
It held.
Holly came around in front of him.
“Well?”
Bryce flexed his fingers.
“I don’t like not being able to use my hands.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
He looked at her.
“It’s strange.”
Elara stepped closer.
“Bad?”
His eyes found hers.
“No.”
She touched his face.
Bryce leaned into her palm before catching himself.
Elara smiled.
“There.”
“What?”
“You couldn’t reach for me.”
His gaze dropped briefly.
Elara stroked her thumb along his jaw.
“You had to wait.”
Holly moved back toward Luke and Erin, leaving them space.
Elara bent and kissed Bryce.
His body shifted immediately. His hands tried to come forward.
The rope stopped him.
A frustrated sound escaped him against her mouth.
Elara pulled back.
“That’s new.”
“Don’t start.”
She kissed him again.
Slower.
This time he stayed still.
Elara ran her hands over his shoulders, down his chest, across his stomach. Every small movement of her fingers drew something from him—a change in his breathing, a tightening through his abdomen, the instinctive shift of his body toward her.
He couldn’t touch her back.
Couldn’t guide her.
Couldn’t pull her where he wanted her.
Elara found herself lingering because of it.
She kissed his throat.
Bryce exhaled sharply.
Her hand travelled lower.
His head tipped back.
Behind her, Holly laughed softly.
“There it is.”
Bryce opened his eyes.
“What?”
“You hate waiting.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Holly stepped closer but looked at Elara first.
Elara nodded.
Holly’s hand settled on Bryce’s shoulder.
His eyes flicked to the touch.
She let her fingers travel across his chest.
Slowly.
No rush.
Bryce watched her, then looked back at Elara.
Elara stayed where he could see her.
Holly kissed him.
Briefly at first.
Bryce froze for half a heartbeat.
Then kissed her back.
The familiarity was there immediately, but not unchanged. Years sat between the last time Holly had touched him like this and now.
When she pulled away, Bryce looked at Elara.
“You alright?”
Elara smiled.
“You’re the one tied up.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“I’m good.”
Holly touched his cheek.
“So am I.”
Luke loosened one of the ropes and shifted Bryce’s arms.
Bryce glanced back.
“What are you doing?”
“Giving you another position.”
“I thought we were keeping it simple.”
“We are.”
Luke ran a longer line up from the restraint and through the ceiling ring.
Bryce looked at him.
“You said no suspension.”
“I said not unless you asked.”
“I didn’t.”
“You’re not leaving the bench.”
Luke took up only enough slack to support Bryce’s arms and shoulders.
The effect was immediate.
Bryce stopped holding himself as rigidly.
The rope carried part of the tension.
He tested it once.
Then let it.
Elara watched his face.
“That better?”
“Different.”
She moved between his knees.
Bryce looked up at her.
Elara rested both hands on his shoulders, then slid them down his chest again.
His breathing changed.
Holly came beside her.
“You want me to?”
Elara knew exactly what she meant.
She looked at Bryce.
He swallowed.
Then nodded.
Holly knelt.
Elara stayed in front of him.
Bryce’s eyes followed Holly for a moment, then returned to Elara when she took his face between her hands.
“Look at me.”
He did.
Holly’s touch drew a sharp breath from him.
Elara felt the reaction through his jaw beneath her palms.
His eyes closed.
“No.”
They opened again.
“Stay with me.”
He nodded.
Holly continued.
Bryce’s breathing became rougher, the rope above him shifting faintly whenever his body moved against the restraint.
His hands clenched behind him.
Then relaxed.
Clenched again.
Elara had never seen him unable to reach for whatever he wanted.
Never seen him have to accept whatever someone else chose to give.
She kissed him.
His mouth opened against hers.
The sound he made was low and broken enough that it startled her.
Elara pulled back just enough to see him.
Bryce’s eyes were unfocused.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
Holly stopped anyway.
Bryce breathed.
Then looked down at her.
“Keep going.”
Holly smiled faintly.
Elara stroked his cheek.
“Still strange?”
“Yes.”
“Still bad?”
“No.”
Holly resumed.
This time Bryce stopped fighting the rope.
The change was small.
His shoulders dropped.
His hands opened.
His weight settled more fully into the bench and the line above.
Elara saw it happen.
She didn’t tell him what it meant.
She simply stayed in front of him.
When he came, his body tightened hard enough to pull the rope taut.
His head dropped forward against Elara’s shoulder.
She wrapped her arms around him as far as she could without interfering with the restraint.
For several moments he did nothing but breathe.
Holly sat back on her heels.
Luke moved closer but didn’t touch the rope yet.
Elara felt Bryce’s face against her neck.
“You alright?”
He nodded.
“Words.”
“Yeah.”
She kissed his temple.
Bryce gave a shaky laugh.
“I didn’t know.”
“What?”
He lifted his head.
“What it felt like when you can’t reach for anything.”
Elara smiled.
“Annoying?”
“Very.”
Holly laughed.
Bryce looked at her.
“But good.”
She nodded.
“I know.”
Luke began releasing the rope.
Bryce’s hands came free gradually.
When the last wrap loosened, he brought his arms forward and flexed his fingers.
Elara expected him to immediately grab her.
He didn’t.
He sat there for a moment instead.
Then reached for her slowly.
She stepped into his arms.
Later, when Bryce had dressed again and the wine had been topped up, Elara found herself back in the smaller room.
Luke was recoiling the rope.
She watched his hands.
“You tie differently.”
He looked up.
“From Bryce?”
“Yes.”
“Everyone does.”
Elara glanced at Bryce.
He stood near the wall with Holly beside him.
“You want to try?”
Luke asked.
Elara looked at him.
“Being tied by you?”
“If you want.”
She felt the answer before she spoke.
“Yes.”
Bryce straightened.
Elara saw it.
“You alright?”
His mouth shifted.
“You’re asking me now?”
“Yes.”
He came closer.
“I’m alright.”
Elara took off her shoes and knelt on the bench.
Luke selected another rope.
Bryce stood in front of her this time.
Watching.
Luke touched her wrist.
“Behind?”
“Low.”
He guided her hands into place.
“Shoulders?”
“Fine.”
The rope closed around her wrists.
Immediately different.
The fibres were familiar.
The hands weren’t.
Luke checked every change in tension before moving upward. He crossed the line around her arms, then around her torso, firm enough that she could feel it without restricting her breathing.
Bryce stayed where she could see him.
Elara smiled.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit.”
His mouth moved.
“You like it.”
“Watching you?”
“Yes.”
“Very much.”
Holly came beside him.
“Now you know how we felt.”
Luke finished the upper tie and stepped back.
Elara tested it.
Secure.
Comfortable.
Different.
She looked up at the ceiling ring.
“Can we use that?”
Luke followed her gaze.
“For support?”
“Yes.”
He considered the tie.
“Yeah.”
The line went upward.
Luke drew it through the ring until Elara felt the rope take part of her weight.
Her knees remained on the padded bench.
When she leaned forward, the line caught her.
Held her.
Elara breathed out.
Bryce’s expression changed.
She closed her eyes for a moment.
The room was smaller than the barn.
No hoist hummed above her.
No stockade waited nearby.
No familiar equipment surrounded them.
Just rope, the bench beneath her knees and four people close enough to hear her breathe.
Bryce touched her face.
Elara leaned into his palm.
Holly moved behind him, watching.
Erin came closer to Luke.
Nobody hurried.
Bryce kissed Elara slowly.
She felt the pull of the rope when she tried to follow him as he moved away.
He noticed.
“Annoying?”
Elara laughed softly.
“Very.”
“That’s what I thought.”
She kissed him again.
Luke untied her before the position became tiring.
Elara flexed her hands as the last rope came away.
Bryce rubbed her shoulders.
“Alright?”
“Yes.”
Holly handed her a glass of water.
Elara drank half of it.
“That’s it?” she asked.
Luke looked at her.
“You wanted to try my rope.”
“I did.”
“And?”
Elara looked at the coils hanging on the wall.
“Different.”
He smiled.
“Good.”
She looked at Bryce.
He was watching her with the same quiet expression he had worn while Luke tied her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit.”
Bryce smiled.
“Later.”
They returned to the living room.
Bryce sat on the floor with his back against the couch. Elara settled between his legs, leaning against his chest.
Holly reclaimed the armchair.
Erin stretched across the couch with her feet in Luke’s lap.
Nobody seemed interested in moving.
Elara turned Bryce’s hand over and looked at his wrists.
No marks.
“You survived.”
“Barely.”
“Liar.”
His arm tightened around her waist.
Holly lifted her wine.
“So?”
Bryce looked at her.
“You were right.”
Holly nearly spilled the glass.
“Everybody remember this.”
“Don’t get excited.”
“Too late.”
Luke looked at Bryce.
“Would you do it again?”
Bryce thought about it.
“Yes.”
Elara tilted her head back against him.
“That was faster than I expected.”
“I didn’t say tomorrow.”
“You were thinking it.”
Bryce kissed the side of her head.
Across the room, Holly smiled.
Erin stretched her legs farther across Luke.
“Breakfast?”
Holly groaned.
“We just ate dinner.”
“I’m planning ahead.”
Bryce looked down at Elara.
She smiled.
“Apparently we’re staying.”
Holly raised her glass.
“You brought bags.”
Elara looked toward the hallway where they had left them.
“Fair point.”
Bryce settled more comfortably behind her.
For once, when the conversation drifted somewhere else, he let it.