Jonathan

"I don't want to hear about him," I clip. "I saw it all..."

After watching that guy make my Izzy uncomfortable it's a struggle to keep my temper in check. A person would have to be blind not to see how uncomfortable she was yet he kept pressing her.

"Are you okay?" I press, seeing her still upset.

Izzys eyes go wide in shock at my question. "I...umm...yeah, I'm fine," she mumbles, struggling for words.

"Don't lie to me Bella," I warn, not wanting to make things worse. Once again she's upset and bottling it up, afraid to upset me or look vulnerable, I'm unsure which. She only drops her gaze to the floor. A quick look back shows Anne watching us and she gives me an encouraging nod.

I take Izzy's hand and lead her away from the bar to a more private area. Whatever is going on her head needs to be dealt with now! She doesn't protest, instantly obeying and following me to Anne's office. The moment she steps through the door, I lock it behind us, not wanting to be interrupted.

She stands there, head lowered, shoulders slumped and tense with her hands clasped in front of her. I don't need to be a mind reader to know that her mind is racing, spiraling out of control. I take a deep breath and close the gap, gathering her trembling body in my arms.

"Tell me what's going on in your mind..." I murmur, trying to keep my voice soft. When she doesn't respond I lift her chin and see the emotions clashing in her eyes. "Talk to me..."

"I didn't... he just came over...minding my own business," she whimpers incoherently as her bottom lip begins to tremble.

"Shhh Izzy," I coo, shifting my hand from her chin to her cheek, caressing softly. "I don't care about him. I don't care that he came over and talked to you and that you have a history..."

Izzy's eyes go wide and she furrows her brows as she tenses once more. "But?"

"I care that he touched you and made you uncomfortable." I struggle to keep my voice even. "Talk to me Izzy..."

"I don't know why I'm so upset," she wails. Her eyes are full of unshed tears and her breathing hitches, warning she's on the verge of a melting down. Not waiting for her to break I scoop her up and shove crap off of the sofa before sitting down with her on my lap, tucked close to my chest.

"What are you doing?" she questions, her small, shaky voice is barely above a whisper as she locks her sapphire gaze on mine.

"Whatever you need, we can sit here all night if you need to," I say, pressing my lips to her forehead.

"You're not going to punish me?" she mumbles, furrowing her brows.

"Bella I won't hesitate to punish you when you deserve it, but not for other people's mistakes," I grumble, instantly sour, thinking back to the way he upset her.

"So you're not mad at me?" There's a vulnerable edge to her voice that just guts me. She takes on everything as her fault and automatically goes to the worst place possible.

"No Izzy, I'm not mad at you...This-" I say gesturing between us "-Is all about trust and communication. I will never lie to you or hold things back, but you need to do the same." Instantly her cheeks flush and she drops her gaze, knowing exactly what I'm talking about.

"I know you struggle, and I know you're trying, I can see it in your eyes," I whisper, lifting her chin once more. "It might not be easy but I want to know what runs through your mind sometimes." Izzy nods and goes to get up but I pull her back to me once more.

"Not yet, they'll survive without us for a while yet..." I wrap my arms around her grounding her in this moment as I run my thumb up and down her arm. Like a switch flips she melts into me, laying her head down on my chest. Slowly her whole body begins to relax and her breathing evens out, warning she's about to nod off.

"Not falling asleep on me are you?" I tease.

"Mmm?" She murmurs, lifting her head. The storm has settled in her ocean eyes and she's once again relaxed.

"Ready to go back?" I ask, smiling down at her. She returns my smile and nods before slipping off my lap and stretching. Before she can get too far I give her a sharp swat on her perfect ass, savouring her surprised squeak as she jumps and covers her butt.

"That's for lying and saying you're fine when you weren't," I chide with a crooked grin. I want her to realize I won't tolerate her lying to me but at the same time, I know she's trying. She opens her mouth as if to protest, but thinks it over and simply nods instead, accepting my words.

With just over an hour till close, the patrons seem not to notice as the bar section is more packed than before. Anne looks to the heavens saying a silent thank you and I give Izzy a final pat on her ass to send her off to work as I head for the bar.

"What was that about?" Anne asks as I start filling orders beside her.

"That guy was making her uncomfortable and when I stepped in I think her mind just dumped on her..." I reply frowning. My attention was completely on the guy but for whatever reason she thought I was blaming her.

"Jeremy?" Anne asks, nodding to the guy sitting on the far side talking with someone else. I don't miss how he looks over here, nor the attention he pays to Izzy who gives him a wide berth.

"Guess so," I grumble.

"Hmm, he's not usually a problem," she muses, sliding the next order to Becca. "He did take a special interest in Izzy, but she wouldn't commit... she was happy to learn but cautious she said..."

"But?" I prompt hearing the hesitation in her voice.

"He definitely took a special interest in her..." Anne trails off thoughtfully. "I never thought she was unsafe with him, but his level of interest wasn't reciprocated. Izzy played it very safe if I'm being honest. You're the first man that I've ever seen her completely at ease with, even Tyler... She was close enough with him but very formal, she always had a wall there."

The rest of the night I chew on her words, over and over again. It's stupid to think Izzy hadn't explored her submissive side with men in this community and yet, the irrational side of me is irritated. These men have shared things with MY Izzy... and yet, I know next to nothing about that side of her...

But if Anne's right then I've seen a side of Izzy that no one else has, the vulnerable side. She's let me get close when she's kept so many others at bay.

That has to mean something...Right?

I can't help but think about it on the way home. Of course I read her survey from when she first joined Bliss but a lot of it was left blank or neutral. Her main interests were listed as bondage with discipline and toys as a close second. At least originally she looked open minded on paper, willing to try most things, likes some pain though the level not specified, curious about exhibitionism, yes for voyeurism, and she specified a particular curiosity for primal play...

But how will she be now?

Primal can be incredibly intense by nature, given what happened to Izzy I'm leaving that off the table for now, already we've had a taste of discipline and it went incredibly well. The control bondage gives me is addictive. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't eager to test her, but part of me is afraid to rush her, for all her progress tonight is a good reminder that she's still fragile.

Patience... It's been working so far, she's opening up on her own. Hell I never expected her to dress like she did tonight but I'm not complaining, my eyes were glued all bloody night. I could see how nervous but excited she was, she felt sexy and confident and it showed.

I can't wait to see more of that!