Gary could feel the muscles in his neck tighten painfully.

His hand, at the nape of my neck, tightened painfully.

The man's other hand clamped onto her throat, tightening painfully.

His arms tightened painfully around her and she cried out, unable to help herself.

She didn't wince as his fingers tightened painfully in her hair.

His hands tightened painfully on her shoulders; he was already turning.

When I tried to turn, the hand painfully tightened its grip.

He reached out the window and took her hand, his grip tightening painfully.

The smiling mouth tightened painfully, but he received the check without complaint.

She couldn't even understand what he was saying at that point, the spells were tightening on her so painfully.