Okay, she was not panicking.
Absolutely not panicking.
Because panicking involved screaming and crying, and she really didn't have the room, or the air, for that.
“Safeword,” she said. Then a bit louder, “Safeword.”
Odd, how sometimes you could say something and not really hear your own voice. Must have been the blood pounding in her ears.
(
Just keep thinking that, dear. )