The latter wasn’t smart, so she hoped it was the former.

“Shh,” Salem said. “No one here wants to humiliate you. That’s not our kink.”

“I wouldn’t feel at all comfortable doing that,” Roman said with certainty. “I’d much rather praise you.”

She nodded, knowing that about Roman already.

“I like to tell the truth,” Alexei said. “And the truth is that you’re beautiful, smart, and courageous. I mean, if you wantedto be called a dirty little slut, I’m sure I could have done that. But I’m more than happy to praise you.”

Yikes. Okay.

“Anything more?” Salem asked.

“I don’t mind being tied down but only my hands or my feet, not both at the same time. And I don’t want to be blindfolded while my hands are tied.”

“All right,” Salem replied. “What about punishments? You okay with spankings with our hands, belts, paddles?”

“Yes.”

“What about things like corner time? Writing lines?” Alexei asked.

“Those are fine.”

They would be a breeze compared to all of the punishments she’d experienced in her life.

Being waterboarded, starved, shut in a dark room on her own where there wasn’t enough room to stand . . .

Calm down.

Don’t get upset.

In truth, knife play didn’t actually scare her at all. But she wasn’t sure how she would react if she saw someone coming at her with a knife.

“Good. Then you’re going to sit and write a hundred times that you are beautiful, smart, and courageous,” Salem announced. “Roman, could you get a pad and a pen? Alexei, could you get a stool and cushion for her foot? We’ll sit her at the desk in the corner so we can keep an eye on her while we clean up the room.”

They all started to move and Salem stood with her in his arms.

“Wait, wait, wait!” she cried out.

They all stopped and turned to stare at her.

“What is it, Little one?” Salem asked. “Are you saying your safeword?”

What? No.

“No, I’m not using my safeword. I just . . . are you serious? That’s my punishment?”

“Yes,” Salem replied as he set her down at a writing desk. “You’re ours now. We take care of you in all ways. Physically and emotionally.” He kissed the top of her head and she swore she started to melt.

Alexei walked over and grasped hold of her chin, tilting her head back. “You aren’t allowed to talk badly about yourself. You break a rule, you get punished. Simple.”

Simple.

Uh-huh.

Sure.

Roman just sent her a small smile before he left the room.