Jonathan

"Bella?" I whisper, laying my head on the pillow next to hers. Her sapphire eyelids flutter open but her gaze is still unfocused. My thumb traces circles over her cheek as I try to draw her back to me with gentle caresses.

"Hi," Izzy mumbles, flashing me a sheepish smile.

"Hey," I chuckle. "How do you feel?"

I struggle to keep my tone light and the guilt out of it. Deep down I'm worried I pushed her too far too fast. We shouldn't have played so soon after her run in with Jeremy but seeing her interest in my play trunk, one thing led to the next.

When she was so flustered after I came home, startling her from her harmless curiosity I wanted to make it clear that she did nothing wrong. I thought we would just take a quick look and then be done for today, but the moment I slipped that collar in place... I was done for.

The excitement and lust swirling in her eyes as we went over the trunk's contents had me hook, line and sinker and her reaction when I took control of her with the collar had my body screaming for more. I could see she wanted it too, but I should have waited for another day when she wasn't recovering from an emotionally draining night.

I knew better... And yet I gave in anyway.

"Fuzzy... and cold," she replies, furrowing her brows and slipping her chilled legs against mine.

"That was pretty intense for you hmm?" I ask, trailing my fingertips down her bare neck, setting off goosebumps in my wake.

"Yeah," she admits. Her cheeks flush and she tucks in against my chest, trying to hide.

"Hey," I coo, slipping my fingers under her chin to lift her gaze back to mine. "Don't hide from me Izzy, what's wrong?"

She shrugs, and I watch my worst fears come to fruition in front of me. Izzy shuts down, her body tensing up as her big blue eyes start to water and she struggles to keep from breaking down. Instantly I pull her flush against my body, wrapping my arms around her tightly.

"You're okay," I whisper, rubbing her bare back and pausing her melt down. "I've got you."

"I-I don't...Why?" She stammer, struggling to put her thoughts into words as confusion mars her angelic features.

With a soft kiss on her forehead I continue to rub her back, but for all my heat Izzy starts to shiver, despite the added blanket I pulled over us a moment ago. Wordlessly I flip the blankets back and scoop her up bridal style and whisk her off to the bathroom.

She says nothing, just simply tucks against my chest as I turn on the shower and walk in with her still in my arms. After a few minutes she stops shivering so I set her down, facing me and never breaking our skin contact.

Izzy doesn't take her eyes off of me. She looks so vulnerable and worried but says nothing still. Avoiding any quick movements, I pour her favourite berry scented body wash on a luffa and start to wash her gently, beginning on her shoulders and back. Her head tilts to the side slightly, confusion clear as she looks up at me.

I flash her a reassuring smile and kiss her on the forehead as I continue to run the foam filled luffa over her smooth skin while the fruity scent surrounds us. Izzy lays a tentative hand on my chest before bringing the other up then lays her cheek against me. In an instant the tension starts to melt from her body as she sags against me.

She looks almost sleepy again as she lets me take care of her, washing her long raven locks last before giving her a final rinse and wrapping her up in a fluffy towel. After the shower she's recovered some and I leave her for a moment to grab something for her to change into. When I get back she's finishing braiding her hair and smiles in the mirror at me.

"Feeling better?" I ask, passing her the fluffy purple sleep pants and oversized sweater I grabbed from her room.

"Much, thank you," she whispers, dropping her gaze to the clothes I hold out for her.

"Any time Angel. I'm always here for you... highs and lows, I've got you. You know that right?" I ask, lifting her chin to raise her gaze to mine.

"Yes Sir... I don't even know what happened," she responds with a frown.

"We can talk about it in a bit, let's grab something to eat and watch a movie, hmm?"

"I'd like that," Izzy says with a smile, and I see my girl is back, letting me relax a bit.

I cleanup the towels and throw them in the hamper while Izzy gets dressed before slipping against my side and happily walking down stairs together. She curls up on the couch and I leave her with the remote to find something as I grab some snacks for us.

She pulls the quilt back for me when I show up and drop the snacks off on the coffee table before settling in next to her. A care free giggle slips past her lips as I pull her on my lap and nuzzle her neck. Izzy positively lights up seeing the bowl of sweet black cherries I brought back with me.

"Loki?" I ask, hitting play while she's busy with the cherries.

"I haven't seen it yet, but we can watch something else if you want?" she asks, looking over her shoulder at me.

"I'm good with it," I chuckle, shifting us a little lower so I'm mostly laying down. Izzy twists onto her side, laying her head against my chest as the opening credits play. She doesn't get halfway through the bowl of cherries in the first ten minutes before she's sleeping soundly.

Watching her sleep so relaxed on my chest lifts a weight from my shoulders. Drop aside this afternoon was unexpected and informative. I wasn't sure how to broach the topic of toy and gear limits, but going through the chest together was perfect. Her reactions are clear as day. The way she shrank back from those gags made it obvious she was afraid of them, but over all although it sounds like she doesn't have much first hand experience, she is very curious and open minded.

Her wary response to the plugs is understandable, particularly if she had only tried the smallest one briefly with little to no follow through. This experiment today gives me more confidence with my choice in costume for the party this weekend as well as insight for future encounters.

Izzy is everything I could want in a submissive. Her body is so responsive and we've fallen into an easy dynamic, both complementing each other perfectly, though she is far more sensitive than any other submissive I've had before. Our connection is deepening daily. The entire thing has happened so fast I feel like I should be worried but it all just feels so right, if anything I just want more.

I didn't know what I wanted until she fell into my lap and showed me.

As the second episode plays I stretch, swapping the half eaten bowl of cherries for a handful of chocolate covered almonds, setting them on my chest before tossing a couple in my mouth. Izzy stirs in her sleep, wrinkling her nose and sniffing lightly, making me chuckle.

Her sapphire eyes flutter open and find mine briefly before dropping to the almonds a few inches from her. I pick up one and bring it to her lips. Izzy looks up through her dark lashes as if to ask 'really?' but takes it from me, brushing her silky lips across my finger tips.

"Did I wake you?" I ask, brushing her hair back. Izzy stretches and reaches up for another almond, and shakes her head no.

"I'm good, just needed a little nap I guess," she replies, relaxing against me once more.

"Good. Any thoughts on what you might like for dinner?" I ask after kissing the top of her head. "I can order whatever you like, and we can do whatever you like to do when you unwind?"

Izzy furrows her brows and chews on her lip as she thinks about what I've said. "I don't really do anything to unwind?" she counters.

"Nothing?" I ask, raising a brow. She just shakes her head at me. "When you've had a bad day or get stressed out you don't do anything to feel better?" My meaning finally dawns on her and she draws her lips into a perfect 'O' shape as she catches on.

"I cook," she mumbles and it's my turn to say 'hmm'. "Like if I'm feeling off or whatever, I'll make something from scratch... creating... I don't know, baking and cooking I'm good at. No matter what is going on, I know that when I'm in the kitchen I can make something great."

"Would you like to order in or make something?" I ask, leaving the ball in her court.

Izzy rolls her bottom lip between her teeth and nibbles it lightly while she considers my question. "I'd like to make something... what about pizza?" Her blue eyes are locked on mine and akin to puppy eyes.

"Pizza sounds great, what can I do to help?" The words leave my mouth without thought, clearly catching her off guard by the wide eyed look she offers me.

"You're gonna cook with me?" The awe in her voice coupled with the hope swimming in her eyes sealed the deal.

"Only if you want me to?" I counter.

"I'd like that Sir," she says with a giant grin