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How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 01

By: totallyatease



Copyright2012©totallyatease

**I've been told that this story is terribly corny, and I have to admit that it is in places; however I do hope that you enjoy it - faults and all. :-)

Also it is very much a romance rather than an erotic story and so I have been hesitant to post it on this site.

On the plus side this is a finished story of about 11 chapters and so if people do like it, then I'll be able to post on a regular 3 - 4 day basis.**

She only agreed to do it as a favour to her sister -- but he more than made up for the inconvenience...

Chapter One

"Come with us!" her sister asked her for the third time. "You know that you're not fit for work just yet, and the change will do you good."

"Yes I know." Izzy said reluctantly. "But as I've already said, I really don't fancy the idea of playing third wheel to you and Richard."

"Oh bother that!" Jessie sighed, "Richard's going to be working with his brother Daniel all day; and I'm going to be on my own an awful lot." She smiled in a wheedling fashion, which Izzy knew only too well. "Please, please say that you'll come."

She sighed in exasperation. "Where will we be staying exactly?"

"It's his brother -- Daniel's place... apparently it's a big country house, with huge gardens! You'll love it; it's just your kind of thing." She paused and looked pleadingly at her little sister. "So will you come? Pleeease!"

Izzy gave another sigh and said. "Oh well... all right then -- I'll come."

"Excellent!" Jessie positively smirked with satisfaction. "We're leaving first thing in the morning." She raised her brows in query. "You can be packed and ready by then?"

"I'm not a complete vegetable." Izzy glowered at her older sister, as she flicked back her shoulder length dark blond curls; and her blue eyes wrinkled in offence.

"Great! I'll love you, and leave you to it then..." She jumped up off Izzy's bed. "I'll give you a call a bit later; to let you know exactly what time to expect us in the morning," she promised as she opened the bedroom door.

*

Izzy was lying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling when there was a soft tap on the door. It opened and her mum poked her head around. "I gather she talked you into it then?" she asked as she entered the room. 

Izzy groaned. "Yes! She just wouldn't leave me alone until I agreed." 

"Perhaps it'll do you some good?" Mrs Parkinson suggested hesitantly.

"Oh well it'll only be for a week or two..." She got up of her bed and started to pull clothes out of her wardrobe, she stopped suddenly to glare down at the small pile of clothing. "What on earth am I supposed to take with me?" she ground out in disgust. 

"Well... jeans and trousers are always a safe bet... and you know that you're more comfortable in them," her mum suggested. "And maybe something pretty in case you go out at all?"

Izzy laughed bitterly. "Me and pretty just don't go together -- I'm afraid..." she looked up at the ceiling and her features took on a slightly tragic look. "Oh joy!" she sighed dramatically; "I always did want to play the green prickly fruit!"

Her mother gave a little laugh before giving a little sigh herself, and looked worriedly at her. "Are you sure you're feeling better?" she asked anxiously. "You're still awfully pale -- and thin."

"I'm fine mum -- honestly." Izzy smiled tiredly. "The doctor did say it would take me a little while to build up my strength again... that's why they call it convalescing I guess!" 

Her mum's eyes filled with sudden tears. "We were so worried when you got so sick, and when the doctor said pneumonia!" She whispered, her lips trembling. "We thought we were going to lose you!"

Izzy felt her chest tighten, at her mum's distress. "Well I'm all better now." She said cheerfully which changed rapidly into a frown. "I'm afraid that I pretty much ruined Christmas for all of you though!" she said apologetically -- for the hundredth time. She gave her mum a kind of pathetic smile as she sank tiredly down on the bed.

"Don't be so daft!" Her mum begged her as she opened the bedroom door. She was just about to leave when she suddenly remembered why she had come up in the first place.

"Oh, by the way," she said taking an envelope out of her cardigan pocket. "This letter came for you not long ago."

"Uh oh." Izzy sighed as she recognised the senders stamp on the envelope.

"What is it?" her mum asked anxiously.

"I've been expecting this." She felt a little twinge of regret as a chapter of her life seemed to be closing on her. "It's work... or rather it's the sack."

"Oh love no!" her mum seemed to be more upset for her, than Izzy was herself.

"Well I have been off for nearly six weeks now mum, and there's not much sign of me going back any time soon. It's not fair for Sheila to be doing her work -- and mine indefinitely."

"But what will you do?"

Izzy gave another little sigh. "I've got quite a bit of money saved what with one thing and another. With this illness going on for so long I've not had a chance to spend anything in ages... And work will owe me some holiday pay." She gave her mum a smile full of a confidence she didn't actually feel. "Maybe this little break is exactly what I need right now. I'll come back refreshed and I'll go out and get another job. Arthur will give me a reference... I'm sure of it." She had quickly scanned the letter as she spoke to her mum. "He's asking me to give him a call so that we can sort something out, but I think it best if I just resign."

"Well while you go and give them a ring; I'll dig out that suitcase for you."

Izzy sat talking to Arthur for a little while. He was a good man and she had been an excellent worker for his accounting firm. "We'll all miss you my dear, but we've just had a young woman come in on a government grant and she's very interested in the book keeping side that you and Sheila have been covering."

"I know Arthur and I really appreciate how long you've kept the position open for me. I'm only sorry that it's taken me so long to realise, that I just won't be fit for work any time soon."

"Don't you worry about it my dear, Sheila was adamant that you be given every opportunity to come back to us."

Izzy gave a watery smile as she replaced the receiver. She picked up a notebook and pen and wrote a brief note to Sheila; which she shoved in an envelope and quickly scribbled the address on the front. She stood it up on the shelf; confident that someone would see it and realise that it needed posting.

She was just finishing her packing, when her mum came back into her bedroom, carrying a small tray with a mug of coffee and a plate of sandwiches on it.

"I thought that you might like these," she told her daughter. "And then you must lie down and rest for a bit!"

Izzy leaned across to hug her mum. "You're brilliant!" she told her gratefully. "I just keep on making work for you though, don't I?" she gave a bitter little laugh.

"You've left a space?" her mum questioned pointing at a place in the otherwise crammed full suitcase.

Izzy laughed. "You bet!" she said. "I may be playing gooseberry all week, but I fully intend to have plenty of books to hide behind."

"Oh you and your books!" her mum exclaimed. "You should read less and live more." 

"Hey I have been ill you know!" Izzy protested.

"Yes you have," her mum allowed. "But you weren't always sick... and apart from work and family, you hardly ever go out!" Her mum was fretting and Izzy felt another pang of guilt at the worry she seemed to keep causing her parent. 

She suddenly felt a shot of relief that she was going away for a bit. She and her mum seriously needed a break from each other!

"I'm just not that sociable mum, you know that I find it difficult talking to people I don't know very well. Give me my books any day they are so much less complicated and lots more fun."

**

Seven o'clock the next morning and Izzy was crammed into the back of Richard's fancy sports car. He dumped her suitcase in the boot and climbed behind the wheel. "So how is the little invalid today?" he asked mockingly, although he wasn't being unkind.

"Oh I've been better..." Izzy said dryly "But I promise to try and not throw up all over you nice shiny new car."

Richard gave a little shudder. "Yes please do try to control yourself!" he begged dramatically; and Izzy laughed.

Jessie giggled and looked back at her with her eyebrows raised questioningly. "Are you ok?" that look asked worriedly. 

Izzy gave a little nod, and a smile to indicate that she really was fine, and her sister sighed with relief.

She sank back and relaxed against the leather seat, with a soft murmur of contentment; the motion and the warmth of the car lulling her into a light doze. She could hear the murmur of the two in front, but she was just so relaxed that she couldn't have spoken, even if she'd tried.

"I think she's asleep," she heard Jessie say softly.

"Are you sure that she'll be alright?" Richard asked.

"She needed to get away from home for a bit, she was in serious danger of vegetating. Have you explained anything to your brother about her?"

Richard gave an abrupt laugh. "He wasn't too happy about her coming in the first place! He didn't like the idea of having his home invaded by all and sundry... and creating more work for Mrs Coats; without the fact that she's convalescing as well. Besides he'll be working a lot and she'll be resting a lot; so the two of them should barely meet up, it's certainly a big enough house to lose yourself in!"

Izzy felt that she should feel concerned about her lack of welcome in brother Daniel's home, but for the life of her she just couldn't seem to drum up the energy for it.

"Nearly there now." Richard's satisfied voice sometime later, disturbed Izzy from her lethargy. She felt the car turn and crunch down a gravel driveway and then pull to a stop.

"Izzy." Jessie's voice sounded close. "Wake up love, we're here."

The car door was pulled open and Izzy was blasted by the cold air. She peeped up to find Richard grinning down at her. "Come on you," he said good naturedly. "Or do I need to carry you inside?"

Izzy gave him a lazy smile. "Somehow I don't think that brother Daniel would approve," she said sweetly.

Richard winced. "I thought you were asleep!" he said wryly.

"It's amazing how looks can be so deceiving isn't it?" she asked. "I always thought that you looked like a good guy."

Richard laughed and leaned in to help her out. Izzy's feet touched the gravel, and she straightened up with her hand still held by Richard, just as the double front door of this massive house was suddenly thrust open.

"Richard!" the deep gravelly voice sent shivers down Izzy's spine. She looked to her sister briefly, as Richard left her side to join Jessie; and then turned to see the owner of that wonderful voice. "Oh my!" she murmured softly. 

The man in the door way fitted this house perfectly, he was huge well over six feet, Izzy thought hazily. His thick dark hair streaked with silver highlights to give him a kind of austere dignity. As he walked towards them, the lines fanned around his eyes, as he squinted slightly in the glare of the winter sun. 

Easy strides brought him effortlessly to them and Izzy envied him his obvious strength and energy. Izzy had always thought that Richard at six foot two was on the big size if a little thin. 

But Daniel dwarfed his brother in every way possible. Richard's open friendly attitude and bright blue eyes against Daniel's closed guarded expression and dark serious eyes. The brothers were like mirror images -- one positive the other in the negative. Both handsome and sure of themselves, both in their mid thirties, but where Richard hinted at sex appeal, Daniel just oozed it. Richard looked like the perfect catalogue model, with his groomed smooth look; whilst Daniel looked weather beaten, and well... sex on legs! Izzy could feel herself almost drooling and hastily pulled herself together.

"Daniel this is Jessie." Richard was saying as he put his arm around her sister possessively.

Izzy rested her hand on the still open car door as she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.

"And this is Jessie's little sister Izzy." She heard Richard as they all turned towards her.

"Welcome to my home ladies, I hope you'll both be comfortable here," Daniel said politely. His cold disinterested gaze ran over her.

"I'm sure we will." Izzy nodded from a pale face.

His eyes narrowed on her and for a moment there was a small questioning look there, but all he did was turn around and stride back to the door.

"Well come on inside then all of you." He said a little impatiently just as he disappeared inside the huge building.

Jessie came and looped her arm through Izzy's to offer her some discrete assistance.

"Dare we face the dragon in his lair?" Izzy asked dramatically and Jessie giggled. "Maybe we can tame him a little." She whispered back.

"I doubt that." Izzy grunted with a little shiver. She squared her shoulders and the sisters marched boldly towards the house. They stalked defiantly through the double doors to come to an abrupt halt just inside.

"Oh wow!" Izzy exclaimed in delight.

They stood in the large hallway with a marble tiled floor. There was a massive stairway that rose up majestically to a small landing and then forked left and right to continue on upwards. There were several doors leading off in the hall way and Daniel was standing in the first watching them with a cynical eye.

"I'm glad that you approve." He said with a wry twist to his lips.

Izzy's head came up and her eyes flashed blue lasers at him.

"It's a little flamboyant." She said pompously. "But what is that old saying?" she paused as if to think. "Oh yes that's it... If you've got it then flaunt it." She grinned naughtily at him.

"Izzy!" Jessie exclaimed in rebuke.

As Daniel turned away though Izzy could have sworn she saw his lips twitch into a semblance of a smile.

"I'll show you the rooms you'll be using." Richard offered as he came in with their luggage.

They both looked at him and grinned, looking so much alike that Richard blinked in confusion. Izzy was the plain one of the family whilst his Jessie was the beauty.

Her long golden hair streaming down her back shone with health and life, whilst Izzy's frizzy mop looked dull and lifeless after her illness. She looked pale and underweight her skin dull and her blue eyes which could have been beautiful were listless, whereas Jessie's green sparkled at him. Izzy's face had always been small and heart shaped almost too small for her features. But again her illness had thinned it out to make it look longer and gaunt. Her eyes were huge and the only colour in her pale face. Jessie in contrast glowed with health.

They followed Richard up the stairs and across the landing. The first door he came to he pushed open with his foot. "This is your room Izzy." He said as they followed him. The room was large and airy with a double bed in the centre. It was decorated in soft lilacs and peach colours with pale curtains at the window and a matching bedspread. The deep burgundy carpet sunk beneath her feet as she looked around the room with a sigh of content. There was an armchair just behind the door with a beautiful thick red throw draped across it. Across the side wall was a massive double wardrobe and next to this was a dressing table. 

Richard put her suitcase down and pointed towards a door at the far end. That's your en suite bathroom; you'll be the only one using it so don't you worry about anyone walking in on you." He grinned. "Jessie's in the room opposite." He didn't add the 'with me' so Izzy assumed that they would be playing musical rooms at night. 

She smirked at him. "Course she is." She said knowingly.

Richard grinned sheepishly but refused to meet her eye, as he led Jessie from the room. "Meet you downstairs for lunch in a bit Izzy." Jessie called over her shoulder.

She sank down on the bed tiredly for a minute before deciding to explore her temporary accommodation. She opened the door to the bathroom and let out another sigh of pure delight. The bathroom was tiled pink with fluffy towels folded neatly to one side. On the counter where the sink was, was a tray of shampoos and soaps and baths salts. Izzy took the tops off some of the bottles and sniffed delicately at the contents. Oh she was going to be living in the lap of luxury for a bit she thought happily.

She pulled a brush rapidly through her hair and tied it back out of her face to hang limply down her back.

She looked at her reflection with dissatisfaction before poking her tongue out and deliberately turning her back and walking out of the room. She looked at her watch to see that it was nearly mid day and figured she'd better hustle or she'd keep everyone waiting.

She went uncertainly down the stairs and headed for the first door where Daniel had stood when they had first arrived. She opened the door and poked her head inside. The room was yet another large one with sofa and chairs scattered haphazardly around. With large windows and a double patio door there was a large amount of natural light to give the room an airy feel. Sitting in an armchair by the roaring fire, sat brother Daniel reading some letters, Izzy gave a little snort that fire was totally unnecessary, there were warm radiators scattered discreetly all over this house. She shuddered as she thought about the expense in keeping this place warm.

Daniel looked up suddenly to see her hovering in the doorway staring at him.

He stood up and looked questioningly at her. "Please don't wait on ceremony." He told her quietly, "feel free to treat this place as your home while you here."

Izzy felt that she should enter the room but still felt like she was intruding. 

"Jessie said she'd meet me down here for lunch." She said defensively, as she perched on the edge of the sofa he'd guided her to. "I wasn't sure where to go so I went for the first door I came to."

He gave a little smirk. "It is rather a big place." He murmured with satisfaction.

Izzy felt discomforted by his apparent gloating and she withdrew into herself. 

Daniel frowned across at this pale mouse of a girl sitting so still and quiet. He was used to dealing with women who twittered on in high pitched tones and fluttering lashes at him in an effort to keep his interest. Izzy looked like she was trying to be invisible. He looked at her pale complexion and wondered again, there was just something he couldn't quite put his finger on. He leaned forward to speak just as the door opened and Richard and Jessie entered laughing quietly together. He looked at the beautiful Jessie and then at the dull Izzy and saw her face shining with relief and affection for her sister. Her eyes shone softly and he thought how fragile she looked. 

He shook off the surprising feel of protectiveness towards her and stood up abruptly.

"I'm sure that Mrs Coats has already put lunch on the table so can I suggest that we go and eat it." He said briskly

They ate there lunch in the dining room which could have easily seated a couple of dozen people. Izzy kept her head down and munched her way through salads and soups and heaven only knew what. She was opposite Daniel and was conscious of his puzzled gaze on her a few times.

Mrs Coats brought in the coffee while a girl cleared the plates away. Izzy caught the plump little woman's eye as she handed her the coffee and they smiled at each other. 

Again she was aware of Daniel watching and she ducked her head back down.

It was a huge relief to Izzy when lunch was over and she could escape that brooding presence across from her.

She looked briefly at Jessie and her sister understood the message in her eyes. She frowned but nodded slightly that she understood Izzy was going to rest.


How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 01



Jessie caught Daniels attention as they went back to the living room so that it wasn't until they were all seated that he realised Izzy was missing. 

He frowned across at Jessie. "Is your sister alright?" he demanded suspiciously.

Jessie gave an uncomfortable little laugh. "Izzy?" she shrugged. "She fine she's just a bit of a recluse, you'll find that you'll hardly see her while we're here, she'll find some quiet corner to curl up in and read one of the books that I'm sure she bought with her." She gave a fond little laugh as she pictured her little sister doing just that.

It was Izzy right down to her toes.

Upstairs Izzy curled up on her bed and fell into a light doze. Lunch had been an emotionally draining experience and she felt washed out. 

There was a light knock on her door and it opened slightly. Mrs Coats poked her head round. "I thought you might like this miss." She said quietly as she came in with a tea tray. 

Izzy looked at her watch and was shocked to see she had slept for a couple of hours. She sat up and smiled from a pale face at the little lady.

"Thank you Mrs Coats. You are very kind." She said quietly. 

"Not at all miss, I saw you come up here looking pale after lunch and when you weren't with the others for afternoon tea I thought you might like it up here." She fussed gently. "Are you ill miss?" 

Izzy winced at the concern from the little lady. "No Mrs Coats I promise I am quite well thank you." She told her quietly.

"Getting over something then?" she observed shrewdly.

"Something like that." Izzy admitted and then smiled brightly at the little housekeeper. "I'm sorry to make extra work for you, I really didn't mean to."

"Don't you worry about it my dear that's what I get paid for." She grinned and then left the room.

Izzy sat up and sipped at her tea; it flooded through her and warmed her cold insides nicely.

She thought that she should see about sorting out her clothes and changing for dinner but couldn't quite find the energy. Jessie knocked on the door and walked in. "Hello love how are you feeling?" she asked a little worried at Izzy's paleness. 

"I'm fine Jessie that nap did me good and I feel a lot better." Izzy began to picture her head stone. 'Here lies Izzy she was fine really.' It was all very depressing!

Jessie closed the door and picked up Izzy's suitcase. She opened the lid and began to fold her clothes neatly away. "You didn't bring much did you?" her sister frowned

"I don't own much sis." She grinned cheekily. "Besides I'm sure you've got one or two things that you won't mind lending me."

Jessie laughed "I've certainly brought enough so I'm sure I can find something for you."

She slammed the lid down on the suitcase and wandered over to the door. "I'll go and have a look now." She promised.

"Thanks Jessie you really are a good sister." Izzy called softly.

Jessie's eyes misted over but she sniffed and left the room without further comment.

Izzy sighed and headed for the bathroom to have a warm invigorating shower. She was wrapped in a bathrobe and towelling her hair when Jessie marched back in with an arm full of clothes. She hung them up in Izzy's wardrobe and then turned her attention to her stunned sister. "Right then," she said purposefully "let's sort you out" 

She brushed Izzy's hair out and started to pin it up in a complicated style, she brushed, looped and pulled pins out of her pocket in a professional manner. By the time she was finished Izzy felt like a hedgehog stuffed full of spikes. She grabbed Izzy's makeup bag off the dressing table and peered inside. "Is that it!" she exclaimed in disgust. "Honestly Izz I wonder why you even bother." 

Izzy closed her eyes as a wave of fatigue washed over her. "Don't start on me Jess. Please." She begged quietly. 

Jessie hugged her from behind. "I'm sorry." She said softly. "I just thought if we could make you feel like a million dollars you wouldn't be so intimidated by Daniel." 

Izzy gave a little laugh. "How can you not feel daunted by brother Daniel and his 'lord of all I survey' thing he's got going on." Izzy protested. "Tell me honestly Jess doesn't he intimidate you?" 

"Actually I think that he's rather a dear once you get to know him." Jessie said as she started to brush makeup onto Izzy's face.

"Now then don't you move." Jessie ordered as she went to the wardrobe and pulled out one of the dresses she'd brought in with her. It was a deep blue with a deep cleavage which would show off Izzy's full bust, and then narrowed at the waist to flare out from the hips and flow down around her knees. Jessie had purchased it because she'd loved the deep blue colour but had never worn it because it didn't sit right on her slender figure.

She opened the zip and helped Izzy to step into it.

Izzy felt the zip run up her back and finally Jessie said with a touch of satisfaction. "Right now you can look." 

Izzy turned towards the full length mirror and gasped at the elegant young woman looking back at her. Jessie really was a master at the use of cosmetics. She'd been so subtle with the colours and the blending of shades and her eyes looked huge and dark and mysterious, in her glowing face.

"Is that really me?" Izzy gasped. "I actually look quite pretty don't I?"

"You're beautiful Izzy," Jessie said quietly. "And don't let anyone ever tell you different."

Jessie came and took Izzy's arm again. "So are we ready to go and face 'the lord of all he surveys' again?"

Izzy giggled. "Maybe we can even tame him a little."

They squared their shoulders as if for battle and marched from the room.



How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 02



She only agreed to do it as a favour to her sister -- but he more than made up for the inconvenience... 

*

Daniel studied Izzy discreetly as she ate the evening meal. He'd thought her quite plain when he's first seen her, but then she had smiled and her face had lit up. Now though she looked stunning... but for some reason, he did find himself preferring the other, understated Izzy. He'd always been a sucker for a pretty face... but Izzy was beyond pretty, and she bought out all kinds of strange almost protective urges in him.

Richard couldn't seem to keep his eyes off her either, and Daniel glanced across at Jessie expecting her to be furious. He was surprised to see the smirk on her face and a look of such satisfaction that he thought she might start purring at any moment.

Everyone around Izzy seemed to favour her. Even his own Mrs Coats was extra careful when she put food in front of Izzy, extra careful that everything was in easy reach for her, so that she wouldn't have to stretch for anything. Izzy would look up at his housekeeper with a little smile and it was as if the two ladies were communicating.

He began to feel frustrated that although she sat opposite him, her head was always down. He could never get a proper look at her face, and more importantly he couldn't see her eyes.

They finished their meal without a single word spoken between Daniel and Izzy; and Izzy began to feel more confident. She walked into the living room with Jessie and they sat together on the sofa. Jessie was talking quietly to her, so that the two men couldn't hear their discussion.

Daniel found himself straining to catch a soft word from either of the girls, wanting to know what they were talking about. Izzy giggled suddenly and Daniel felt it tingle down his spine.

When Jessie rose to get her and Izzy another glass of wine, Daniel saw his opportunity and moved in. He sat down next to Izzy on the sofa, and began an easy rambling sort of conversation with her. She looked like a rabbit caught in a headlight, and Daniel wanted to grind his teeth in frustration. Jessie came back with their glasses and after a quick glance at her sister, she somehow managed to insinuate herself between the two of them.

She engaged Daniel in a sparkling conversation, where manners told him he must reply, and there was nothing he could do when Izzy moved away to talk to Richard. Again Daniel strained to catch a word or two, but she just seemed to elude him. On one occasion Richard threw back his head and laugh delightedly. Jessie looked fondly at her sister as Izzy joined in with Richard's laughter.

She caught Daniels eye and leaned forward to speak to him. "You frighten my little sister," she told him accusingly, "and it's important that she doesn't get too stressed... So I think it would be a good idea if you gave her a bit of space, while she's here." She'd spoken quietly to him, making sure that there was no chance of the other two overhearing.

Daniel frowned at her. "I have no intention of harming your sister in any way," he told her feeling offended.

"You may not mean too but, Izzy is very vulnerable right now and she doesn't need big domineering men walking all over her."

Again he thought that there was something that he wasn't being told and he opened his mouth to speak.

"Time for bed I think," Jessie said standing and hiding a dramatic yawn behind her hand. "Goodnight Daniel goodnight Richard." She held her hand out to Izzy who walked over to her with a small smile.

"Goodnight," she said quietly to the room in general and the two girls left the men.

Daniel narrowed his eyes at his brother who took one look at him and put his glass down on the table. "I think I'm for bed as well... goodnight Daniel!" and he'd left the room before Daniel had even realised his intentions.

Daniel spent the next few days wandering around his home and finding Izzy in the strangest of places. She'd be curled up on a sofa or in a window seat and every time he came across her, she would either be deep into some novel or fast asleep. There was always a tray at her side with an empty cup and half eaten food. And Daniel noticed how the hollows in her cheeks; and under her eyes started to fill out. Jessie had not tried to make her over the way she obviously had on that first evening, but Daniel always found his eyes drawn to her, trying to capture her gaze; so that he could look into her eyes. It became a bit of an obsession with him, and as though Izzy had noticed it, they began a game of cat and mouse with him trying to get her attention, and her deliberately blanking him.

Any time he managed to capture her gaze even though it would be for a split second he would feel a flash of triumphant excitement flood through him, even as her eyes skittered nervously away.

Jessie had noticed something too and in typical big sister protectiveness she would continually be forcing him into conversations that neither of them wanted. They skirted around each other with little Izzy in the middle as the prize.

Izzy pottered around in the kitchen under the eagle eye of Mrs Coats. "So what was the nature of your illness?" that lady asked suddenly.

Izzy flushed uncomfortably. "I'm better now honest!" she began evasively; but as Mrs Coats continued to look questioningly at her, "it was just a bad dose of flu... followed by minor complications," she finished vaguely.

"Complications?"

Izzy sighed realising that Mrs Coats wasn't going to give up until she knew. "A slight case of bronchial pneumonia," she said lamely.

"Nasty!" Mrs Coats was all sympathy.

"It was for a while," Izzy conceded, "and of course my recovery has been a bit slower than anyone would have liked!"

"And Mr Daniel? How much does he know?"

Izzy gave a short uncomfortable laugh. "I'm here on sufferance as it is," she said stiffly, "without him feeling that he should worry, every time I so much as cough or sneeze."

Mrs Coats gave a little grunt. "I suppose..." she said uncertainly.

Izzy was looking out of the window. "Is that a summer house I can see just behind those trees?" she suddenly asked.

Mrs Coats joined her at the window. "Yes Miss Izzy, that's Mr Daniel's summer house."

"Will it be locked up do you think?" Izzy asked hopefully.

"I've got the key right here..." Mrs Coats began, "but I'm not sure it's such a good idea for you to go out there."

"Nonsense." Izzy laughed. "It's time I started getting out a bit... The fresh air will do me good, and it doesn't look that far." Izzy went and put her jacket on and held out her hand for the key; and with a little sigh Mrs Coats handed it over.

Izzy gave her a cheeky grin and marched confidently out of the back door. It was a cloudy cool day, and the air felt sharp on her chest; as she headed for the trees, taking it slow and careful. 

By the time she reached the summer house, her breathing was laboured and she was shaking with fatigue. It hadn't been that far but it really showed her how out of condition she was. She fumbled with the lock and finally managed to open the door. She banged it too behind her and sank thankfully on to the bench.

Mrs Coats watched with concern as the weather closed in, she made up a flask and folded a blanket and placed them both into a small back pack. She fetched her coat and with one last look out of the window started to pull it on. 

Daniel wandered in to the kitchen. "Going somewhere?" he asked surprised.

"It's Miss Izzy!" she blurted worriedly. "She went out to the summer house just before the weather turned, and she's not back yet."

Daniel frowned at her obvious concern. "I'm sure that she'll be fine and not want any fuss."

"Yes, but, she was only wearing a little jacket. And the weather is starting to look real bad." Mrs Coats was on the verge of wringing her hands in her distress.

Daniel gave a sigh and pulled on the coat, that he'd been taking off when he had entered the kitchen. "If it'll make you feel better I'll go and fetch her for you."

Mrs Coats flashed him a look of relief and handed him the bag. "Just in case..." she murmured not quite meeting his questioning look.

Daniel marched purposely over to the summer house. The rain was getting quite heavy by the time he reached it, and he pulled open the door and looked inside. Izzy was curled up on the bench -- fast asleep.

Daniel started to curse just as the heavens opened and heavy rain came pouring down. He dove inside and pulled the door too behind him.

The sound of the door slamming snapped Izzy out of her nap.

"What in god's name do you think you are doing?" he snarled at her, as she sat up; her face white with fatigue. His eyes narrowed. "Are you ill?" his tone was accusing and she flushed guiltily, bringing a sparkle back to her dull eyes. 

"No! I'm just a little tired -- that's all."

Daniel came and sat next to her, just as she gave a cold little shiver. He turned her to face him and started to rub her arms briskly, until she could feel them tingling. "Better?" he asked after a bit and Izzy nodded.

"Much better thank you," she smiled wanly.

"Now let's see what Mrs Coats sent you," he murmured looking into the small bag. He pulled out the blanket and wrapped it around her, and Izzy snuggled thankfully into its warmth, as Daniel pulled out the flask. He unscrewed the top and poured some of the fragrant brew. Izzy cupped her hands around the small mug and gulped some of the hot liquid. Her eyes widened and filled with moisture and she almost choked it back out, but she managed to swallow it down, and sighed as she felt it warm her belly.

Daniel watched her as she curled up against him and took little sips from the cup. He grunted and filled the second even smaller cup. Placing the flask on the floor next to his feet he took a large gulp, and almost spat it back out again. "Hell's teeth!" he swore savagely, as the very sweet liquid rushed down his throat. The hot coffee had been liberally laced with alcohol as well and he wondered what Mrs Coats had been thinking of. He turned to Izzy to say as much only to notice that she had some colour again and her eyes shone brightly if a little glazed from the alcohol. 

For one awful moment there!! When he had seen her curled up and looking so lifeless and drained...

He put both of the cups on the floor and pulled Izzy into his arms; and they sat snuggled up together on that bench and watched in silence as the rain lashed against the windows.

Izzy relaxed into the warmth and strength of Daniel, she felt like a leach slowly draining from him to revive her. 

Her eyes shone with life and her cheeks developed their first natural colour in a long time. Her breathing eased, and she felt... almost well.

She sighed into his chest and felt him tense beneath her fingers.

"The rain is letting off," he said gruffly. "We should think about heading back before it closes in again."

Izzy pulled regretfully away from him and rose to her feet. She kept the blanket wrapped around her as they walked and Daniel took her arm to assist her.

As they reached the house she could see Mrs Coats looking worriedly out of the window and Izzy groaned feeling guilty. Mrs Coats opened the back door and urged her inside. "There you go Miss Izzy." She fussed. "I was that worried about you, I was." She put another hot mug into her hand and sat her down at the kitchen table. "You just drink that up miss. It'll warm you from the inside." She urged Daniel to sit opposite Izzy and handed him a mug as well.

"If it's anything like that stuff from the flask, remember to sip slowly!" Daniel whispered to Izzy.

Izzy looked into his eyes with shared humour, and Daniel felt like he'd just been hit, by a sledgehammer. For the first time since he had met Izzy he was the first to look away.

His shoulders stiffened and his attitude changed suddenly; and Izzy frowned in confusion and retreated back into her protective shell. She drained the mug and placed it carefully on the table before rising to her feet. "Thank you Mrs Coats. I'm going to shower and change." She flashed a look at Daniel who seemed to have retreated into his own private world, before turning and leaving the kitchen.

After she'd showered and dressed, she curled up on her bed to rest. It was the thing she hated the most about her illness, this constant need to rest. She lay down but for once she didn't sleep, she could still feel a last residue of the strength from Daniel... She sighed at the little butterflies fluttering around in her stomach, as she remembered his strong arms around her. "Don't you be such a fool!" she warned herself softly. "He's not for you at all."

There was a knock on her door and Jessie poked her head around it. "Oh good you're awake!" she smiled as she came and sat on the bed. "Daniel took Richard off to the factory for some sort of meeting," she sighed, "and I'm just so bored on my own!"

Izzy smiled apologetically at her. "I'm afraid I've not been much company for you -- have I?"

"Oh bother that!" her sister dismissed with a wave of her hand. "You're my sister Izz and you are always good company..." She giggled suddenly. "We're too much alike for it to be anything else!"

Izzy laughed lightly. "When did you get to be so good with my ego?"

"Oh only since you needed it." Jessie jumped to her feet and held her hand out. "Come on you. Mrs Coats said something about tea and cream cakes as a special treat."

Izzy took her sister's hand and they left the bedroom. "Ooooh... now how can I say no to cream cakes?" She licked her lips dramatically and Jessie giggled. 

"It's probably a good thing the guys aren't here to see us making pigs of ourselves."

"It also means that we don't have to share." Izzy said dryly.

They entered the living room and stopped dead in their tracks. "Oh wow Mrs Coats you've really out done yourself!" Izzy said her eyes round as she looked at the table loaded with sandwiches and a variety of cakes.

"It was Mr Daniel's instructions miss Izzy... He said to give the two of you a very special tea while they were away."

"Well I'm certainly not going to argue." Jessie murmured as she moved towards the table.

"What about you and Rosie?" Izzy asked suddenly. "We couldn't possibly manage all this so you and Rosie simply have to join us."

"What a brilliant idea." Jessie concurred. "Where is Rosie?"

"She's just washing some pots in the kitchen." Mrs Coats said doubtfully.

"Shall I go and fetch her?" Izzy turned towards the door.

"Oh no miss I'll get her." Mrs Coats seemed to reach a decision. "Dinner is just about prepared and we were just about to have our tea break any way... so I suppose just this once it wouldn't hurt."

By the time Mrs Coats and her young assistant came back, Jessie had put on some music and pulled out a couple of bottles of wine, and the four of them sat around demolishing cakes and laughing hysterically at each other. Their little impromptu party developed into a little impromptu dancing and that was how Daniel and Richard found them.

They had come in through the front door to hear the music blaring out and Daniel had stormed in to stand in the door way absolutely stunned at his staid motherly little house keeper bopping away with Izzy. They were all giggling away and Daniel could feel himself grinding his teeth. He fixed his eyes on Izzy the look of thunder transmitting itself to her. The music came to a halt and they all looked across at Daniel at his most formidable. Jessie's grin faded to disappointment. Rosie looked like she was about to throw up. Mrs Coats looked frightened. But Izzy, Izzy lost her colour, her sparkle vanished; the animation she had showed stilled; and Daniel watched as she wilted like a dying flower before him.

"If you have all quite finished?" he bit out accusingly.

"Yes, yes of course, things to do you know," Mrs Coats mumbled as she and Rosie fled.

Jessie grabbed Izzy's hand. "And we really must get ready for this evening," she beamed at him as she dragged Izzy from the room.

"Well I've got to hand it to you brother," Richard laughed behind him. "You really know how to clear a room!"

"Shut up Richard." Daniel ground. "Just -- shut -- up!" and he turned and stormed off to his study.

He walked around muttering angrily to himself. "Just once," he swore, "I'd like to be around that girl when she is not about to pass out!"

Izzy and Jessie scuttled off to Izzy's room; they banged the door too and looked at each other guiltily. Jessie started it first; she gave a little chuckle and tried to restrain herself. She giggled helplessly and looked at Izzy. It wasn't long before both girls were bent double with laughter, tears streaming down their cheeks.

"This is all your fault Izzy!" Jessie gasped finally. "It was you who invited Mrs Coats and Rosie to join us."

"My fault!" Izzy protested. "I'm not the one who put the music on full blast. And I'm most certainly not the one who suggested we all have a dance to burn off all those calories; and I'm not even going to mention the wine at all."

"Ok, ok." Jessie held up her hand. "We'll face the dragon together and take equal responsibility."

"Agreed." Izzy nodded. She looked at her sister apprehensively. "Should we do it now do you think?"

"Now? Oh no I really must get changed..." She glanced at her watch. "We'll find the right time later I'm sure." She pulled open the bedroom door. "I'll see you in a bit for dinner."

And Izzy was left alone to mull over her next encounter with the lord and master.

She absolutely refused to be the first one down for dinner tonight. She just couldn't handle Daniel on her own; knowing that he was furious with her. She hung around her bedroom until long after they usually sat down to dinner. 

In the end Jessie had to come and drag her down. Izzy squared her shoulders and marched defiantly into the dining room. She glanced at Daniel with his glittering eyes and her head went down.

They ate there meal in silence and as soon as it was over Daniel excused himself politely and disappeared.

The three of them went in to living room and tried to start off a conversation but it kept trailing off. In the end Izzy had had enough. She picked up the novel she had left on the side earlier and said goodnight to the other two.

She closed the door and headed for the stairs. A noise... or... something caused her to look back and she saw Daniel watching her from a doorway. His eyes burned her and she flushed uncomfortably. "Good night Daniel!" she called out softly before scuttling up the stairs and slamming her door too.

She curled up on her bed to continue reading her book, but her eyes kept drifting to the door. In the end she threw the novel down in frustration. "What do think for heaven's sake!" she told herself angrily. "Do you think he's going to break down your door and have his wicked way with you?" she laughed at herself mockingly. "Dream on!"

She went through to the bathroom and decided to run herself a bath...

Outside her bedroom door, Daniel stood clenching and unclenching his fists. He'd followed her up here to have it out with Izzy once and for all. He'd reached for the door handle only to be assailed with images of Izzy in a state of undress. This was after all her bedroom. He stepped back and swore silently several times, before storming off to his own room and a cold shower to cool his temper.

He stepped shivering from the shower and began to dry himself vigorously with the towel.

"Calm down." He kept muttering to himself, as he felt the blood coursing through him. He stopped suddenly as he realised how irrational he was being. He felt no ill will to Jessie or Rosie or even Mrs Coats. His entire wrath seemed to be targeting Izzy, which to his sense of fair play, was just so wrong. He sat down to think through his feelings about what had happened. There had been no harm done. In fact his biggest feeling was of regret that he'd missed out on something which had looked like fun.




How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 02



So what exactly had he been going to have out with Izzy? He felt profound relief that common sense had prevented him from making a complete fool of himself. He really needed to get a grip where Izzy was concerned. After all she was only a girl and quite a plain one at that.

**

Jessie took Izzy out the following day. "The guys are doing work stuff again and I think it would be a good idea if we were -- to not be here for a bit."

"Yes but where will we go and how?" Izzy fretted as she pictured them walking for miles in a vain attempt at staying away.

Jessie grinned at her. "Daniel's got a mini parked out back and he said that I could borrow it if I wanted to..." she raised her brow in query. "So how do you fancy trundling down a few country lanes and getting hopelessly lost for a few hours?"

So that was how they spent the better part of the morning. Jessie finally came to a small village and in the centre there was a little coffee house. She looked across at Izzy who grinned back. "Ooooh toasted tea cakes;" She sighed.

Jessie laughed. "Honestly Izz; I'm amazed that you are still as thin as you are, what with the amount of food you eat."

"I'm convalescing," she sniffed. "I need all the food to keep my energy levels going." She peeped up at Jessie and grinned impishly. "And if you believe that you'll believe anything."

Jessie threw back her head and laughed delightedly. "Oh Izzy!" she exclaimed, "welcome back to the world of the living!"

They went arm in arm into the little coffee shop, and spent a delightful hour or more sipping coffee and munching on tea cakes and chatting and giggling quietly together.

When they finally left the coffee shop, the place seemed a little empty and forlorn without the warmth of the two sisters.

They climbed back into the mini and resumed their aimless exploration of the country side; and the hours seemed to just tick on by.

By the time they decided to head back, it was after three o'clock in the afternoon. Their light hearted chatter had reduced to an amicable silence, as Jessie parked the car round the back; and they walked in through the back door. Mrs Coats smiled at them and filled two cups with coffee and handed them over. Izzy reached over and kissed Mrs Coats on the cheek and Jessie not to be out done did likewise. "That's for being such a treasure." Izzy told her over her shoulder as she left the kitchen. 

She wandered through the house with her hot cup of coffee. She found one of her favourite spots a small padded window seat; where she curled up and watched the world below her. As she sat sipping her coffee, Richard and Daniel returned. 

Richard leapt out of the car and went straight inside, whereas Daniel walked around the car to take his brief case out of the boot. As he slammed the lid down, he suddenly looked up to where Izzy sat watching him. 

He stood staring at her for a long hypnotic moment, before striding deliberately into the house.

Izzy felt a surge of panic. She was absolutely convinced that he was going to come marching up to her. She slithered off the seat and scuttled off to her bedroom to close the door and lean against it. She could feel her heart going ten to the dozen and the blood coursed through her. 

She had to admit one thing she thought to herself; she'd certainly felt more alive since she had come to stay in brother Daniel's home. She shook her head laughing silently at herself and her fanciful imagination. 

She sighed a little regretfully and decided to go and take a shower...

Daniel knew that by the time he reached that window seat, Izzy would be long gone. He'd seen that look of alarm on her face, as he had turned away from her. It didn't stop him from marching up to it though. He didn't even know what he would have said to her had she still been there, he was actually relieved that she had managed to elude him yet again, leaving a half full cup of coffee as if to prove to him that she had actually been there, and that she hadn't been in his imagination. 

Grinding his teeth in frustration he stormed off to his own room. Izzy was really starting to get under his skin... and something would have to be done about that! 



How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 03



**So now it's old-fashioned as well as corny :-) Thank you to everyone who has been leaving feedback or voting on it -- it really is appreciated. **

Copyright2012©totallyatease

She only agreed to do it as a favour to her sister -- but he more than made up for the inconvenience... 

*

The four of them sat down to their evening meal that night and Izzy sat facing Daniel and next to Richard as usual; and as they ate their first two courses, Richard and Daniel discussed the factory. They were mulling over several problems and Izzy was fascinated as she listened in to their discussions. As she listened she found herself wanting to ask questions and on a couple of occasions actually had her mouth open to speak. She would then remember where she was, and who these people were and she would clamp down on her questions, and continue eating her food.

They finished their meal on more general topics which allowed the sisters to join in; and Mrs Coats brought in the coffee after Rosie had cleared the table. She wished everyone a cheerful good night, as she was going home and left them to it.

"Izzy," Richard said suddenly, "Jessie and I, are going out for the day tomorrow, and we wondered if you would like to join us?" his voice was bright and totally insincere, but Izzy could feel Daniel tensing in his chair as he waited for her response. 

'Probably doesn't want to get stuck with me!' she thought waspishly. "I'd love to join you," she said quietly.

"Excellent!" for such a positive word, Richard managed to make it sound totally negative. 

She grinned across at him and a cute little dimple appeared in her cheek. "Contain you're enthusiasm please Richard, or I might think you didn't mean it!" she said dryly.

Daniel leaned back in his chair as he sipped at his coffee and allowed his long legs to stretch out.

As Izzy felt the brush of his legs between hers she looked up at him in shock. His eyes were narrowed and gleaming at her over the rim of his coffee cup; but otherwise he looked totally indifferent to the discussion of the moment.

She hurriedly pulled her legs back and tucked her feet under her chair out of the way; and looked down at her coffee cup, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her blush.

Daniel continued to watch her, even though he couldn't see her face. He'd very quickly realised that she had been listening, as he and Richard talked about the factory, and he'd been sure on several occasions that she had been about to speak. But she would change her mind at the last minute, and he was sure at times, that he'd actually seen her bite down on her, lip as though to silence herself.

"I notice Izzy that you seem to enjoy reading..." Izzy jumped in surprise; this was the first time that Daniel had shown any interest in starting a genuine conversation with her. 

Jessie gave an abrupt laugh. "Izzy loves to read!" she said dryly, "she's usually got two or even three books on the go at any one time; and I dread to wonder how many she's brought with her on this trip!"

"Not that many!" Izzy protested indignantly, "Only four."

"Well then you've probably finished them by now..." Daniel observed in his gravelly voice, which did disturbing things to Izzy equilibrium. 

She flashed him a quick grin, which brought to life her hated dimples. "Not to worry," she told him happily. "I'll just read them again."

Daniels eyes narrowed on that brief dimple before saying slowly. "That shouldn't be necessary, there's a fairly good library in this house."

Izzy looked at him, her eyes wide with wonder. "You have a library here -- in the house?" she asked.

"Well, in a house this size it would be criminal not to have some sort of a study area," Daniel stated a little discomforted by her look.

"Yes, yes, yes..." She waved her hand dismissively. "This house is big, but," again she looked at him with a kind of childish wonder and Jessie gave a little laugh. "Has it actually... got books in it?" Izzy finished lamely trying not to get false hopes up. 

Daniel frowned at her, wondering if she was mocking him. "Of course it's got books!" he nearly snapped, and feeling that he needed to add something more to that statement. "You are more than welcome to use it; while you stay here. I'll show it to you sometime..."

"Now?" Izzy asked eagerly and Jessie laughed again. 

"Well that's the last we'll see of her." Her sister sighed.

Daniel drained his cup wondering what an earth he had let himself in for; he put his cup down and stood up. "Of course it's just this way."

Izzy jumped to her feet and followed him to another door in the hallway; and Daniel pushed it open and they both entered the library. The door closed behind them as Izzy walked forward and spun around looking at the rows and rows of books. She clapped her hands in childish delight, and her eyes sparkled merrily. "Wonderful!" she declared at last. "This is just wonderful!" She looked across at him as he leaned against the door a half smile playing around his lips. Izzy blushed painfully at the spectacle she was making of herself and her eyes slid away from his awkwardly. "And you're sure you don't mind me using it?" she asked uncertainly. 

Daniel moved forward to place his hands on her arms as he looked down at her. "Izzy," he said quietly, "you are more than welcome in here, and please feel free to borrow any of the books you may wish to read."

Izzy looked up blankly at him for a moment. She could feel the strength in him as the little static charges shot down her arms. His hands warmed her in a way that she had not felt warm since before her illness. She licked her lips nervously, and Daniels eyes narrowed on that tiny movement. 

"You're very kind Daniel... Thank you," she whispered huskily. 

He stepped away from her, releasing her abruptly, and Izzy had to fight not to hug herself -- to hold on to some of his warmth and strength.

"So Izzy, what types of books do you like to read?" Daniel asked as he moved to a safe distance.

Izzy blushed and said a little wryly. "Modern romances mostly... Why?" she peeped up at him and blushed further at his obvious amusement. 

"I'm afraid I don't have anything like that," he half laughed. "There are some of the classical novels, Jane Austin, Elizabeth Gaskell, the Bronte sister's... books like that." He led her down one of the aisles. "This is where all the fictional books are kept." He could see that she still felt embarrassed; and he suddenly felt guilty. "I could always order some for you? I'm sure they could be here in just a few days," he found himself offering.

Izzy turned on him in surprise. "No, oh no!" she exclaimed. "Thank you, but that won't be necessary." She smiled shyly at him and he felt a strange tingling that started in his toes and gradually crept up the length of him. "I'm sure there is plenty here for me to read, if you don't mind me haunting this place a little." 

He gave a little self mocking smile. "Oh no you just spend as much time as you like here... It'll be nice that someone is using it again."

He stood looking down at her for a moment, before allowing his finger to gently run down her cheek. "Use it well Izzy, it deserves that much," he murmured huskily.

Izzy closed her eyes as a shudder ran through her, at his touch. When she opened them Daniel was looking down at her with glittering eyes.

"Izzy," he whispered hoarsely moving to take her into his arms.

"Izzy?" Jessie called. "Izzy where are you?"

She looked up at Daniel for a moment, with pure longing on her expressive features, before brushing past him.

"Here Jess... I'm just here." 

"What were you doing down there?" Jessie frowned at her.

"Oh that's just where the books are; that Daniel thought I might enjoy." She took Jessie's arm and led her from the room. "Why were you looking for me?" she asked as she pulled the door too behind them.

"Oh I was just wondering if you really wanted to go with us tomorrow," Jessie asked looking a bit uncomfortable. 

Izzy smirked at Jessie. "You should tell Richard that if he wants to have you to himself then he shouldn't invite other people along!" she advised her sister.

Jessie giggled and put her arm affectionately round Izzy's shoulders. "I told him to invite you. I felt sure that you would say no after all your protests, about playing gooseberry. You could have knocked me over with a feather, when you actually agreed to come."

Izzy laughed and then allowed her voice to drop so that no one could overhear them. "Actually if you don't mind I think that I would rather stay here," she said softly.

Jessie looked down at her with shrewd eyes. "You are almost well again -- aren't you?" 

Izzy gave a little smile. "Yes Jess... I feel stronger now than I've felt in absolutely ages."

Jessie hugged her to her. "I'm glad little sister," she told her quietly. "I was beginning to think that I had been totally selfish in dragging you out here."

"No... the change really has been good for me."

"Excellent!" Jessie said happily. 

They parted at the foot of the stairs and Izzy watched as Jessie disappeared into the living room. She looked up to the top of the stairs and then back at the library. She bit her lip hesitating for a moment, before turning and heading back to where she had left Daniel. Her heart thumping, she quietly allowed the door to close behind her, and walked back to that aisle. She peered cautiously around it to find it empty. 'Fool!' she told herself harshly, "did you really expect him to hang around waiting for you." She gave a little laugh and turned to find Daniel standing behind her leaning against the book shelves. "Oh!" she jumped and her hand moved to cover her racing heart.

He smiled at her and moved slowly towards her. "Was there something you came back for?" he asked softly, his hand reaching out to curl a lock of her hair around one of his fingers. Izzy felt his knuckles brush against her throat and another shudder ran through her. She closed her eyes and gave a little moan. 

When she opened them again Daniel was staring down hard into her face. His eyes glittered and the look he gave her frightened her. She pulled away her eyes huge in her flushed face. "I just came back to pick a book!" she whispered.

"Liar!" he growled hoarsely. He pulled her against him and she could feel the hard length of him pressing against her. 

"Please!" she whimpered. "Please don't"

Daniel looked down into her frightened eyes for a moment before bending to kiss her lightly on the cheek. "You really need to stay away from me, little girl," he snarled before turning and walking away.

Izzy stood watching him, her eyes like saucers and her hand to her cheek.

"Oh wow!" she finally whispered as she gave a dreamy little sigh.

She reached down and grabbed the first book she touched; and clutching it to her, she scuttled from the room.

*

Izzy went down to breakfast the next morning after a night filled with disturbing dreams about Daniel. She joined Jessie and Richard for breakfast; who both seemed to be in the best of spirits. 

"Good morning Izzy," Richard greeted her brightly, "how are you feeling this cold morning?"

Izzy looked up at him and just couldn't resist it. She gave him a bright chirpy smile and said "I feel great this morning. If you could just give me five minutes I'll be right with you."

The smile wobbled on his face and he looked at Jessie uncertainly. "I thought that Jessie said that you'd changed your mind about coming with us..." he began hesitantly.

Jessie giggled and Izzy laughed out right. "I'm sorry Richard but I just couldn't resist... That look on your face was just priceless!"

"Oh... ha ha ha!" Richard said dryly; but the humour returned to his face and they ate their breakfast on good terms.

"So you're sure you'll be alright here?" Richard asked at one point. "I mean Daniel is going to be gone all day, as well -- so you are going to be pretty much on your own." 

Izzy felt a shiver of relief, mixed with disappointment; that she wouldn't need to face Daniel alone.

"I'll be fine," she reassured the both of them. "Mrs Coats and Rosie will both be here; so it's not as if I'm going to be all by myself."

"Yes but they will be working in the kitchen and around the house, what will you do?"

Izzy gave him a dreamy look. "Your brother has very kindly loaned me the use of his library. So don't you worry about me!" 

Jessie laughed and Richard frowned. "What is it with you and books?" he asked clearly not understanding the running joke between the sisters.

Izzy shot him a look of sympathy. "They are a wonderful invention;" she told him quietly. "You read them and you can learn all kinds of things."

Jessie gave a little snort, "and what do you learn from the books that you read Izz?" 

Izzy looked her sister in the eye. "Why! I learn about how I want a man to treat me;" she told her seriously. "And you'd be really surprised at all the other little bits of facts and information that are in them."

"Good morning all!" Daniel said from the door way. He was clearly amused and the look he shot Izzy told her he had heard their discussion. She felt the colour rise in her cheeks and she looked away.

Jessie looped her arm through Izzy's and they left the room together to go and fetch Jessie's coat. "Are you sure that you are going to be alright?" Jessie asked again when they were in her bedroom. 

Izzy sighed, and rolled her eyes impatiently. "For heaven's sake Jess, I'm not a child; I can quite happily amuse myself for a few hours."

Jessie winced at her over protectiveness. "And Daniel?" she asked quietly. "Can you handle him?"

Izzy looked at her in surprise. "I shouldn't need to handle Daniel... should I?" she asked, "he's going to be gone all day as well."

"I know but I see how you are around him. I know that he makes you nervous and I don't like the idea of you being left on your own to deal with him."

"I'm a big girl now Jess," Izzy told her quietly. "The days where you stood in front of me and fought for me are long gone."

Jessie sighed and hugged her sister regretfully. "I know little sis, but old habits die hard -- you know."

"Well I'm sure we'll be able to retrain you at some point," Izzy laughed as they made their way down the stairs.

Richard was waiting impatiently in the hall, chatting with Daniel who was also wearing a coat. 

Izzy went outside to see her sister and Richard off with a final hug and a wave. She looked up at the thick clouds and held her hand out, palm upwards to the cold wind. "Drive carefully!" she called out suddenly, "it looks like it might snow!"

Richard drove away beeping his horn in farewell. So Izzy was left standing alone with Daniel. 

"Right I'll be off as well," he said dryly. "I guess it's too much to hope, for the same kind of send off you gave your sister and my brother?"

"Sorry?" she looked up in puzzlement at him.

"Never mind," he sighed before pulling her to him and kissing her hard on the mouth. "I'll see you later!" he grinned down at her before turning and walking over to his car. 

Izzy just stood in the driveway, with her hand to her mouth; totally stunned. 

Daniel gave a lazy wave of his hand, and drove away; leaving Izzy to go back inside alone.

As she pushed the front door too in a kind of a daze, Mrs Coats came bustling through. "There you are Miss Izzy!" she said happily. "I've just put a nice tray of coffee in the living room for you, so you just go and curl up by the fire." 

Izzy shot her a friendly smile. "Thank you Mrs Coats; it does look a little bit beastly outside; doesn't it?" she said wrinkling her nose slightly.

"Yes it does miss, and I am that glad that I don't need to go anywhere until later."

Izzy picked up the book she had left on the small table in the hall and went into the living room; to do exactly what Mrs Coats had advised her to do. She had no doubt that part of Mrs Coats's concern, was to keep her out of the way while they got on with the day's chores. She curled up in Daniels arm chair and opened up the book she had chosen from his library. She flicked through a few of the pages but found that she couldn't settle on it. Snapping it closed she stared into the fire lost in day dreams. 

When Daniel returned a couple of hours later, he found the house silent and empty; in a way it had never felt to him before. He went into the living room to find Izzy fast asleep in his chair. He pulled another chair to the fire and sat across from her, watching her as she slept. She slowly opened her eyes and smiled dreamily at him, and his heart jumped in his chest. "Welcome home Daniel," she said softly; her eyes still slightly unfocused.

He leaned forward to talk to her. "Izzy," he began urgently.

Mrs Coats came bustling in with another tea tray. "I thought I heard you come in Mr Daniel." 

Izzy sat up straight in her chair, and shook off the last remnants of sleep; and Daniel watched as her mask slipped back into place and she smiled politely at him.

They drank their tea in silence, and Daniel excused himself to disappear somewhere inside his house. 

'He'd been a fool to come back,' he told himself. 'Izzy was in no state to deal with him.' He knew that if he even let his guard down a little, then he'd scare the life out of her; he'd seen that last night in the library. He still wasn't sure why she had come back to him in there, but she very nearly had gotten more than she'd bargained for.

He ran his hands through his hair and decided to go and try to sort out his personal paperwork, something he'd been putting off for a few weeks now. 

Izzy sat in the living room, staring into the fire again; she felt restless but knew that the weather was not good enough for her to go out walking. Her mind which had been in a half sleep for a couple of months now, was gradually starting to kick start itself again. She was bored, she realised with a little smile. Reading was just not giving her the stimulation that her brain needed. She needed a challenge, something to get her interest going again.

She wandered around the room restlessly and decided to go and have a soak in a nice hot tub. Maybe that would relax her. She went up to her room and ran the bath pouring in liberal amounts of the fragrant oils, which had been so thoughtfully provided by her host. 

Izzy smiled naughtily to herself as she pictured brother Daniel striding in to find her soaking in the bath in the middle of the day. It made her feel positively decadent! She stripped off and sank down beneath the bubbles, to close her eyes and fantasise -- a girl's fantasies.

She stepped out some time later looking something like a lightly boiled lobster. Her hair curled in soft wisps around her face, and her eyes were still soft from her erotic thoughts of Daniel. She wrapped a fluffy towel around herself and wandered into the bed room. She lay on the bed reading for a little while, but just couldn't seem to relax. With a little sigh of exasperation she got up and got dressed. Glancing at her watch she saw that it was almost lunch time. She shivered deliciously as she thought of lunch -- with just her and Daniel.

Izzy walked down stairs and went into the dining room, her heart beating excitedly. Mrs Coats was just putting her dinner on the table. 

"Mr Daniel had to go out again Miss Izzy so it's just you today."

"Oh," Izzy swallowed her disappointment and smiled apologetically at the house keeper. "If it would help I could always join you and Rosie in the kitchen?"

"Oh no miss, that won't be necessary." Mrs Coats told her hurriedly.

"But, it's so lonely in here." Izzy felt her lip wobble pathetically.

Mrs Coats shot her a look of surprise before picking up her plate. "Come on then miss," she told her kindly, "let's go and eat."




How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 03



She joined the two ladies in the kitchen and they ate their dinner to a good deal of light hearted gossip. When Izzy offered to help Rosie with the washing up it was with an air of quiet desperation. Mrs Coats looked at her knowingly. "You're better now aren't you Miss Izzy? And I think that you're getting a little bit stir crazy." 

"I just need to feel useful again." She told the little lady.

"So what kind of thing did you do before you got sick?" She asked Izzy.

"I was a book keeper. But I can type and I can do filing, anything like that." She smiled wryly at Mrs Coats. "I don't supposed you need me to cook your books for you?" 

Mrs Coats laughed. "No miss I don't." She paused and shot her a look. "But, the man Mr Daniel employed to do that sort of thing... well he up and quit just before Christmas; and he's not been able to find anyone to replace him as yet."

"Ooh I don't think so!" Izzy laughed holding her hands up defensively, she was not confident enough in her ability, to approach Daniel for work.

"Pity." Mrs Coats sniffed. "It could have solved your problem and his." She looked again at Izzy who shook her head emphatically.

"Well, suit yourself," she shrugged 

Izzy left the two ladies and wandered aimlessly around the house. She found herself in the library looking around dreamily. She ran her fingers lightly down this book and took that book of the shelf. She opened it, and flicked through some of the pages before putting it back in its place. She gave a happy little sigh as she looked around at all the books there. As she neared the back of the room the sound of grumbling caught her attention. She moved silently to the half open door there and peeped inside. 

Daniel was sitting at a desk with a pile of bills and receipts in front of him. He ran his fingers through his hair in a gesture of frustration. "What the hell am I supposed to do with this lot?" he grumbled to himself. He looked up to see Izzy hovering uncertainly in the door way. "Is there something I can help you with?" he asked every inch the polite host under sufferance.

Izzy wandered cautiously into the room. "Actually I think there might be something I can help you with..." she offered nervously.

"Oh?" Daniel raised a brow in cold impatient query.

Izzy indicated the pile of paperwork on his desk. "I could make sense of that lot for you," She told him quietly, she shrugged her shoulders. "It is after all what I did for a living... before I came here." 

"So you're unemployed at the moment then?" he sneered cruelly. 

Izzy shrugged her shoulders again, dismissively. "Staff cut backs," she said vaguely

Daniel looked at her speculatively for a moment before shoving the pile of paper work at her. "Be my guest -- if you think you can do something with it." He stood up. "I've a computer there in the corner if you think you can make use of it," he offered a bit more politely, when he realised that she was serious.

"That could be useful..." she nodded thoughtfully. "I'll need some other things as well," she told him calmly, "some stationary -- and other bits."

"Oh? Like what?" Daniel frowned. 

"Oh let's see, a stapler, hole puncher, some A4 paper, a couple of A4 file folders wouldn't go amiss either..." She was ticking the items off on her fingers and Daniel held his hands up defensively. 

"Alright, alright," he grinned at her, "all those things, you should be able to find in that cupboard over there." 

"Excellent!" Izzy walked over and started to take the items out. She laid them neatly on the desk and sat down rolling up her sleeves in a business like fashion. She'd left her hair hanging down her back, but now she tied it back, with the ever present bobble that she had on her wrist. 

Daniel stood watching her for a few minutes. Her eyes were alight with interest and there was real colour in her cheeks. She looked very pretty sitting there and he felt his interest stir. He pulled himself together and headed for the door. "I'll leave you to it for a bit then," he said over his shoulder. 

"Bye..." was her absent minded response, as he closed the door.

Daniel stood on the other side of the door grinning foolishly. If only half of his problems could be solved with that kind of ease... 

He wandered off whistling softly to himself. 



How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 04



She only agreed as a favour to her sister -- but he more than made up for the inconvenience... 

*

When Daniel went back a couple of hours later; it was to see that all of the receipts and bills had been placed neatly in the two folders, all excepting a small pile, which she had left out to one side.

Izzy was sitting back in the swivel chair with a look of happy satisfaction on her face.

"Hi," she smiled up at him. "I sorted out your bills into two lots..." she told him, "one for cash, and one for all the bank payments that you make. I set you up a simple spreadsheet, so that you can put them on it... like this." She spun around in the chair to show him on the computer what she was doing. "See? Then you can tick them off like this, from your bank statement when it comes."

"Thanks..." was about all he could manage, as he realised the thought and effort she must have put in to this job. "What about these here?" he asked indicating the pile she had left out.

"Oh these are the ones that need to be paid, still," she told him pushing them towards him.

Daniel shoved them back and leaned across the desk to open a drawer near her leg. The back of his hand brushed against her thigh as he did so, and Izzy sucked in a little breath. He pulled out a cheque book and some postage stamps and dropped them on the desk in front of her. He gave her a little knowing smile as he did so, and she suddenly just knew that that brush of his hand had been deliberate! 

"You write out the cheques, and I'll sign them," he ordered briskly.

Izzy shot him a dirty look, but wordlessly opened up the cheque book, and picked up a pen.

"I'll be back in a minute," he told her as he made for the door, "you just carry on."

"Yes sir, no sir... three bags full sir!" Izzy grumbled softly.

By the time Daniel came back -- carrying a tea tray, Izzy had written out all the cheques and paper clipped them to the bills they were made out to. She'd also written neatly on each bill to indicate which cheque number had been used to pay it. Daniel sat in the chair opposite, and began signing the cheques. As he handed them back to her, she would put the cheque and, the payment slip into a pre addressed envelope; and seal it before attaching a postage stamp. 

By the time they were finished she had a neat pile of envelopes in front of her all ready for the mail.

Izzy sat back with her cup and gave a happy sigh of satisfaction.

Daniel looked at her curiously. "I think you enjoyed doing that; didn't you?" he asked.

She smiled briefly at him. "It was good to feel useful again, and to bring a little order to your chaos." She gave him a cheeky little grin before hiding behind her cup again.

"Yes, well... the man who used to do all this for me... he fell ill just before Christmas and decided to retire. It'll take a little while to find someone to replace him I suppose."

"Well, if you file things away as you get them, and mark them on the spread sheet like I showed you, you should be able to keep on top of it, until someone can take over for you." Izzy told him quietly. She sank back in the chair as she felt the familiar lethargy creeping over her. 

Although she'd been sitting down all the time, her body was telling her how much energy she'd used up.

Daniel watched the colour gradually leaving her face. She looked absolutely washed out and he wondered about it again. He'd asked her a couple of times if she was ill, and she always denied it. Richard and her sister were always fussing about her -- and even his own Mrs Coats had gotten into a flap over her.

Not for the first time he felt that there was something about her that he wasn't being told. 

He stood up and picked up the tray. "Well, I thank you for your assistance Izzy," he told her abruptly as he turned and stalked out of the room. 

Izzy looked after him in surprise, 'what on earth?' she wondered a little dazed.

She dragged herself to her feet; the hot sweet coffee had given her a little boost, but she knew that it wouldn't last, and that she needed to rest.

She made it to her bedroom, to curl up on her bed and fall into a deep dreamless sleep.

*

Daniel walked past her bedroom, and noticing her door ajar, he glanced inside. He'd only left her five minutes ago, and now look at her! She was dead to the world. He frowned down at her for a moment before picking up the throw draped over a nearby chair and covering her with it. He pulled the curtains too and left closing the door quietly behind him.

Izzy woke hours later to peer groggily around her room. Something was different, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She snuggled under the throw before frowning at it. "Who?" she wondered, and she was sure that she'd left the curtains open when she came in.

She gave a little sigh as she realised that it was probably Mrs Coats checking in on her again.

She was just drifting off again, when there was a knock on her door and that little lady popped her head around. "Oh good you're awake!" she exclaimed. She came in, carrying a small tray with a mug on it. "Mr Daniel asked me to bring this up to you." She frowned as she put the tray down on the bedside table next to Izzy. "I must say I didn't even realise that you were up here... are you feeling alright?" she asked worriedly.

Izzy sat up and took a sip of the hot drink. She sighed as she felt it warming her insides and revitalising her. "I'm fine Mrs Coats -- honestly," she smiled, "it was just a bit of fatigue; and now that I've rested, I feel great."

"Well that's good then, because dinner will be ready in about an hour," she said leaving the room.

Izzy's eyes flew to her watch. She'd been asleep for nearly four hours! 

She gulped down the coffee, and dove under the shower. As she soaped herself down she worried about Daniel entering her room whilst she had slept. Her childish fantasies were one thing, but to actually have him in here without her realising! He'd been kind enough to cover her over, so that she wouldn't catch a chill, and he'd closed the curtains and the door. She wondered if he'd just been in the once, or if he'd come back to check on her before sending Mrs Coats. She stepped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around her, and towelled her hair dry. She was brushing through it as she walked back into her bedroom to find Daniel leaning against the other door.

"Oh!" Izzy exclaimed as she clutched the towel to herself.

"I just wanted to make sure, that you were alright," he told her gruffly, his eyes trailing down the length of her bare legs. There were drops of water running down her, here and there and he seemed fascinated by the routes they followed across her skin.

"I'm fine Daniel, so if you don't mind..." she asked feeling flustered. A drop of water trailed down from her hair and trickled slowly towards the hollow between her breasts. Daniel moved forward as if to stop its journey.

"Daniel!" Izzy protested in panic. 

He seemed to pull himself together suddenly, and went back to the door. "I'll see you down stairs," he said over his shoulder and closed the door behind him.

Izzy was just pulling a dress over her head, when there was another knock on the door. 

"Just a second!" she called out in panic. She heard the door open and frantically pulled the dress down to cover her. "I said, just a second!" she snapped as her sister came into view.

Jessie looked at her with her eyebrows raised questioningly. "Sorry, all I heard was a muffled something or other; and I wanted to make sure you were ok."

Izzy sighed and shot her sister an apologetic look. "Sorry," she sighed with a slight twist to her lips. "I'm just beginning to feel like my room is in the middle of the M1 or something!"

"What?" Jessie looked at her confused.

"Nothing Jess, it doesn't matter," Izzy sighed again. She shot her sister a bright smile, which didn't fool her in the least. "So did you and Richard have a good day out?"

"Fab!" Jessie smiled before giving a little giggle. "I brought you something... It's down stairs."

"Oh?" 

"Come and see," her sister invited holding her hand out to her.

Izzy shot her a suspicious look, before taking her hand and letting Jessie lead her down stairs.

They walked into the living room to find Daniel and Richard talking quietly together.

"Uh oh," Jessie murmured. "I think I'll give it to you later."

Richard however was already on his feet.

"Here you go Izzy! I don't know what the fuss is all about, but Jessie insisted that we buy this for you -- so here you are." He handed her a small framed picture. 

It was a cartoon with a little man sitting on top of a massive dragon, and they both had huge silly grins on their faces.

The caption underneath read: "I tamed the dragon!"

Izzy read it, and blushed bright red, as she looked quickly across at Daniel. 

Daniel frowned and wondered why she looked so uncomfortable. He walked across and took the picture off her, so that he might study it. His brow lifted in query but the two girls just looked back at him with innocent eyes.

He shrugged indifferently and handed it back to her, before walking away again.

'So what was one more mystery? They were piling up so much now; that his head was beginning to spin.'

Izzy felt sure that Daniel was sulking during dinner. He sat barely speaking, and when he did, it was surly one word answers, that killed the conversation dead.

"So Izz what did you do with your day?"

"You know it really is ridiculous how you two insist in shortening each other's names!" Daniel suddenly snapped. "The next thing you know you'll be 'I and J'," he said sarcastically.

Jessie looked at him in surprise, but Izzy had had enough of the big brother Daniel and his strop. "It's called affection!" she told him sharply, before giving him a naughty little smile. "I don't suppose there is much point in calling you Danny or Dan -- is there?"

Richard choked on the wine he was drinking, and Jessie gave a nervous little giggle. Izzy looked straight across at Daniel however. Her eyes angry and defiant refused to leave his. 

He returned her look with one of anger and offence... he didn't move, not a muscle but Izzy suddenly thought that something in his eyes changed.

Under the table Izzy felt his leg brush against hers. 

Her knee shot up thumping the bottom of the table making everyone jump.

"Is there a problem Izz?" Daniel drawled sarcastically.

She shot him a look that should have frozen him where he sat, but he just sat smirking at her.

"Cramp," she muttered standing up, and limping from the room rubbing her leg as she went.

She had just reached the bottom of the stairs when she felt Daniel's hand on her arm.

"Oh no you don't." he whispered in her ear. "You're not escaping that easily." 

He turned her around and led her to the living room. "Come and sit in here for a bit; you'll feel much better, sat in front of the warm fire," he said loudly enough, for the benefit of the other two.

"Another piece of pointless ostentation;" she hissed spitefully. 

Daniel smiled coldly at her. "But of course," he murmured, "didn't you know that that's all I'm good for?"

"And sneaking into a girl's bedroom, when she's either asleep or half undressed!"

Izzy watched in horror as the colour entered Daniel's cheeks.

"Oh Daniel!" she whispered, "Daniel I'm sorry... I didn't mean it!"

He gave a little sneer, "but it is true, isn't it my dear Izzy?" He gave a mocking little laugh. "Maybe you should think about locking your door at night?"

And without waiting for a reply he turned and stalked away.

Izzy sank down onto the sofa, her face pale and miserable looking.

Richard joined her there, shooting her a look of sympathy.

"I understand from Daniel, that you helped him out this afternoon... with his paperwork?" he began.

"Izzy you didn't!" Jessie just in the process of curling up in Daniel's chair, leapt back up again her face surprised, but delighted. "That's wonderful, it's great for you to have a challenge again!" she declared, a bit foggy about what it was that Izzy actually did.

"Yeh... much good that it did me!" Izzy grumbled sadly.

Richard glanced across at the door which Daniel had pulled too as he had stormed out.

"Izzy..." he said quietly. "I think that I should tell you something, but I'm not quite sure how to approach it..."

Izzy looked up at him curiously. "What are you talking about Richard?"

He gave a little sigh before fixing her with serious blue eyes. "It's about Daniel," he gave another little sigh, clearly not sure how to begin. "Did you know that he'd been married?" he suddenly asked.

Izzy looked at him in surprise. "No... how could I? Before I came here I didn't even know that Daniel existed!"

"Yes... I know," he said quietly.

"What happened?" she asked dying of curiosity. 

"Well... before I get to that; I wanted to tell you about how Claudia was, before Daniel married her." He paused as if thinking about how to phrase the next bit. "She was a tiny little thing; all big eyes, and tiny hands... she was..." he hesitated again, and gave a little laugh as he glanced at her. "Well... she was a lot like you actually," he finally finished. 

Izzy flushed, alarm screaming from every fibre of her. "What do you mean?"

Richard gave another laugh and his eyes slid away from hers. "She was tiny, and frail; she was pretty, and useless. She was all sweetness and light!" he finally finished with another little laugh.

Izzy looked at him with daggers. "I don't think I've ever felt more offended in my entire life!" she finally managed through gritted teeth.

"I don't mean to be offensive!" Richard looked her in the eyes, and continued quietly. "You see that's the problem... you both portrayed this image..." He shrugged his shoulders slightly. "and with both of you; it wasn't true."

"Now I'm really getting confused!" she wrinkled her nose at him. "And I think a little angry."

"It wasn't true for you," he hurried on, "because you'd been ill; so the girl he first met wasn't the real Izzy." 

"Okay..." she said slowly. "I'll buy that; but what about this Claudia? Why wasn't it true with her?"

He gave another sigh, and ran his fingers through his hair. "It wasn't true with Claudia because for her it was just an act," he said sadly. "The minute she got that ring on her finger she changed. One second the cute little kitten; and quite literally the next second she became this spiteful little cat!" He glanced at her again trying to make her understand. "Daniel didn't know what had hit him! I think that he really loved her, and it destroyed him that she couldn't or wouldn't love him back."

"So what happened?" she asked again quietly her mind in pieces.

"She divorced him, and took him to the cleaners!" he finished bitterly. "Everything... she took almost everything; except for the factory, and this house," Richard told her looking around him as he said it. "I think that when she went after the house, that was when he started to fight back."

He looked down at her again "So you see Izzy, it's not you that he's lashing out at. It's something that you remind him of... or rather someone."

Izzy sighed. "Well thank you for telling me Richard. I'm not sure what to do with it though." She shrugged her shoulders and gave a bitter little laugh. "I can't pretend to be something that I'm not." 

Richard smiled sympathetically at her. "I know Izzy. You are who you are; but maybe the next time Daniel has a go at you, you'll realise that it's not actually you that he lashing out at, and you won't take it so personally."

Izzy sat quietly. It wasn't the odd time that Daniel snapped at her that she was thinking of. She was remembering the times when he'd treated her as a desirable woman. Was he just thinking of Claudia when he had touched her? And that time he'd kissed her? Had he been thinking of Claudia then as well?

Izzy didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The first man who'd ever showed any interest in her, and it wasn't even her he'd been interested in!

"Probably the story of my life!" she muttered bitterly.

Izzy retreated into her own little world to try and rebuild her defences. After a quick look at Jessie who silently shook her head at him, Richard moved away to pour them all a drink. 

Izzy gradually became aware of soft music playing, and Daniel sat down next to her. She turned and looked blankly at him for a moment, before bending her head and allowing her hair to fall as a protective curtain.

"I'm sorry Izzy," softly spoken, but to Izzy it should have caused the earth to shake with its intensity.

She looked back at him and her eyes filled with tears. "Oh Daniel, I didn't mean it! I swear I didn't mean it!"

Daniel winced slightly as he realised just how upset she was. "I know Izz, it was all my fault, I goaded you -- and you hit out."

She gave him a watery kind of smile and he grinned back through a face lined with stress. "Friends again?" he asked with a twisted kind of smile.

Her face lit up, her eyes shone and she threw herself at him. "Oh yes please Daniel!"

Daniel tensed his arms flying out wide in shock; before curling around her in a huge hug.

Jessie and Richard had been talking quietly at the other side of the room. Now though, Jessie came sailing down the room, full of the wrath of the avenging angel, all prepared to kill or maim for her little sister. 

She stumbled to a halt as Izzy threw herself into Daniels arms. She watched in amazement as Daniel returned her affection, the two of them laughing softly together.

"Izzy? Izzy is everything alright?" Jessie asked hesitantly.

The couple on the sofa looked up at her and smiled pathetically at her. "I'm okay Jess... honestly," Izzy said softly.

Jessie stood there uncertainly, not wanting to intrude, but unwilling to leave Izzy when she was so obviously upset. In the end it was Richard who solved her dilemma by coming up to them and handing drinks all round and then sitting in one of the arm chair by the fire. Jessie gave a sigh of relief and sat in Daniel's chair.

The evening which had begun so badly, ended wonderfully for Izzy. Daniel sat next to her, holding her hand all evening, absently stroking the back of it with his thumb, as he talked with Richard or either of the sisters.

Jessie would often look speculatively at them, but she managed to refrain from commenting.

As the evening grew late, Jessie suddenly gave a huge yawn and stood up. "Time for bed I think," she said a little dramatically. "Izzy?" she looked pointedly at her little sister.

Izzy felt a flash of annoyance at her sibling, for her interference. Supposing that she didn't want to go to bed? Which in point of fact, she didn't! Jessie had made it impossible for Izzy to stay with Daniel, without creating a fuss.

Shooting her sister a look of daggers; she rose and bid the two men a quiet goodnight.

Jessie ignored her sister's glare, and followed her from the room.

She shadowed Izzy right to her bedroom door where Izzy stopped with her hand on the handle and turned to her sister. "I really am tired Jess, so I think I'll say goodnight now." She smiled sweetly at her sister who merely snorted, and pushed the door open to bundle her inside. 

"Oh no you don't!" Jessie hissed, closing the door behind them and leaning against it. "I want to know when you and Daniel got so cosy."

"I don't know what you mean Jess," Izzy said innocently, turning her back on her sister so that she wouldn't have to look her in the eye. She took her night gown out of a drawer and laid it deliberately out on the bed.

"He's out of your league Izz! He'll hurt you, and not even realise that he's doing it." Jessie said softly.

Izzy did look at her sister then, a little flash of pain in her eyes, before she smiled at her in reassurance. 




How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 04



"Don't worry big sis... I have no intention of fooling around in any way with Daniel." She gave a bitter little laugh, "I don't even think he looks at me in that way!" 

She gave a little defeated shrug of her shoulders. "I think I'm doomed to play the role of everyone's little sister!" 

Jessie hugged her tight for a minute. "You are my little sister," she whispered softly. "And I would hate to have to damage Daniel in any way, for having done you harm."

Izzy gave a tearful little laugh. "I'll make sure that you don't then," she promised her quietly.

After Jessie had said goodnight, and left her room Izzy sat for a long time on the edge of her bed. She was oh so tempted to go back down and seek out Daniel. The trouble was she was afraid of finding him. 

In the end she opted for the boringly safe option of retiring for the night and was asleep seconds after her head touched her pillow.

Izzy had breakfast with just Jessie the next morning, since the two brothers had gone off early -- to some meeting or other.

Jessie was restless, and wanted to go out for a drive again but Izzy just wanted to potter around the house. She left Jessie in the living room, painting her finger nails; and Izzy wandered into the hall with one of her books heading for one of her bolt holes. She had just reached the foot of the stairs when Daniel came storming in, and slammed the door too with a heavy hand. She shrank back into the shadows trying to be invisible but it was too late he'd already spotted her. The thunderous look turned into a charming smile so fast that it took Izzy's breath away.

"Izzy?" Her eyes opened wide in surprise at the wheedling tone. "I don't suppose you're any good at typing?" he asked cautiously.

"Adequate I suppose..." she shrugged. "Why?" 

He held up a hand full of hand written notes to show her. "Mrs Wright my secretary is of with the flu, and I urgently need these typing up." He raised his brow hopefully.

"Alright," Izzy sighed. "Let me have a look, and I'll see what I can do." She held her hand out for the papers.

Daniel put his hand on the back of her shoulder and led her to his study. "If you can input them onto my computer; that would be great!" he half begged her.

Izzy sat down at his desk and started to read quickly through, to get an idea of what she was dealing with. His handwriting was terrible! A spider dipped in ink would have been more legible. 

"So how long do you think it will take you?" he asked her impatiently.

"I'm not sure yet... come back in an hour, and I might have a better idea then."

"An hour?" he asked disappointed for a moment, but then he suddenly grinned at her. "Can't I just sit here? You might need me to make sense of some of my writing." He was wheedling again, and she bit back a smile. 

"No Daniel."

"I'll be very quiet."

"Go away Daniel."

Muttering and mumbling, her left her in peace.

When he returned an hour later -- on the dot, she had managed to type up quite a bit. It had been slow going at first, but then she had started to understand a little about the things he was talking about, and she had adapted to his writing fairly well. Any words that she hadn't been sure off she had been able to make intelligent guesses on; and she was feeling quite pleased with herself.

She had been saving the files and printing them off as she went, so that when he came back she was able to hand him the printouts. 

"You go and sit over there with them and read through them to make sure that I didn't make any mistakes," she told him bossily. "I'm almost done here, so you won't need to wait much longer."

Daniel grinned at her tone, but did as he was told. There were a couple of mistakes on some of the technical stuff, but on the whole he couldn't fault her.

He gave them back to her, with the corrections neatly marked out; and she redid them and printed them off again.

"Thank you Izzy," Daniel said quietly. "I really do appreciate you doing this for me."

She smiled at him, her eyes lighting up with pleasure. "You're welcome Daniel," she said softly.

He glanced at his watch and then cursing softly swept out the room, calling goodbye as he went.

Izzy sighed happily, before picking up her book again; and heading for her favourite hiding space, the upstairs window seat. She curled up with her book but found that she couldn't concentrate. 

She closed it and sat staring dreamily out of the window. The weather had turned cold again, the winter not quite ready to concede to spring just yet. She sat watching the nasty grey clouds scudding across the sky, totally obliterating any blue at all. She rested her head against the windowpane and allowed her eyes to close...

* 

Daniel found her there a couple of hours later. He picked her up and gently carried her to her bed; where he covered her with the blanket and left again. 

He so badly wanted to stay with her for a little while; but he knew that it would be a mistake. He had stroked her hair briefly, and she had moved and murmured to him, shifting and arching restlessly, his body's response had shocked him!



How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 05



She only agreed to do it as a favour to her sister -- but HE more than made up for the inconvenience...

*

Izzy didn't stir until Mrs Coats shook her gently awake. "Come on now love it'll soon be time for dinner," she said softly.

Izzy's eyes fluttered open, and she smiled up at the little woman, who was hovering over her so anxiously.

"Hello Mrs Coats... how are you today?" she said dreamily.

"I'm good my dear and I've bought you a nice cup of tea just like Mr Daniel asked me to," she told her.

Izzy sat up and started to sip the drink. "I could really get used to this tea in bed thing," she laughed lightly.

"Dinner's in an hour or so love," Mrs Coats said as she left her in peace.

Izzy sat sipping the tea, and thinking about what she would wear that evening. She mulled over her wardrobe thinking that she would like to wear something pretty tonight. She went for a shower, and then settled down in front of her mirror to apply a little more make up than she usually bothered with. She pulled out a long gypsy style skirt and a loosely woven white jumper which fell off her shoulders and flared out into wide bat wings. She teamed this with high heeled shoes, to try to kill the illusion of, 'tiny and useless', which Richard had referred to. 

She hooked long dangling earrings into her lobes, and then picked up the matching necklace. She rarely bothered with it because the clasp was so awkward but she'd always thought it to be so pretty.

She sat fiddling with it for about five minutes before rising with a grunt of frustration. Izzy walked from her bedroom straight into her sisters. "Jess could you just..." she began still fiddling with the thing.

Jessie's room was empty.

"Richard decided to take your sister out for the evening," Daniel said from behind her.

Izzy spun around in surprise. "What?"

"Jessie was feeling restless, so Richard told her to doll herself up -- and then he took her down to London to see a show." He raised his brow. "What's the problem?" he asked indicating the necklace she was still fiddling with. 

"Oh I was just going to ask her to fasten my necklace for me."

Daniel moved into the room. "Turn around" he ordered huskily. Izzy turned and allowed him to take the two ends of the chain. "Move your hair for me." 

Mutely Izzy did as she was told. She lifted her arms and raised her hair exposing her neck to him.

She felt Daniel's knuckles brush the back of her neck and a shudder ran through her.

"Izz?" Daniel said softly turning her to face him.

She looked up at him with huge eyes; as Daniel gazed down at her, searching. 

"Oh Daniel!" Izzy whispered.

His head lowered, his mouth moving towards hers, and Izzy allowed her eyelids to drift down, as his lips touched hers. Softly, oh so softly!

"If someone doesn't eat this food soon it's going to spoil!" Mrs Coats could be heard saying loudly in the hall.

Daniel swore softly and pushed Izzy gently away from him. He rested his forehead against hers and looked at her with regret.

"Later Izzy," he promised quietly, before leading her from Jessie's bedroom and down the stairs.

Izzy sat opposite Daniel, eating whatever was put in front of her. Her mind was blank, empty of any thought -- other than Daniel, and what his eyes promised her.

Rosie cleared the table and disappeared to go home for the night, and shortly after, Mrs Coats brought their coffee in and stood hovering uncertainly.

"Is there a problem Mrs Coats?" Daniel asked, as he became aware of her still standing behind him.

"I just wanted to say goodnight sir... and I thought you might like to know that it's started to snow."

They both looked at her in surprise for a moment, before Izzy ran to the window.

"It doesn't look too bad," she said turning to Mrs Coats.

"They've said it might get worse."

"Well then you should get home, don't you think Mrs Coats?" Daniel told her impatiently

"Good night Miss Izzy. Good night Mr Daniel." She left the room clearly not happy -- but not feeling able to say anything more.

A few moments later they heard the front door slam, and Izzy suddenly realised that she was all alone in the house with Daniel. She licked her lips nervously, and realised that his gaze was fixed on her.

"Shall we settle in the living room Izzy?" he asked her lazily, although his eyes bright... a little too bright for her comfort. 

She looked at him as though he had just said something outrageous to her, and something in Daniels eyes seemed to die.

"It's alright Izzy..." he said mockingly, "I'm not going to force myself on you."

"I didn't... I never said..." she flushed painfully, looking away miserably.

Daniel watched her in silence for a moment, before taking pity on her.

"It really is alright," his tone was more reassuring that mocking this time. "I just thought that since it's such a terrible night outside... that it would be nice to curl up in front of my nice, 'piece of pointless ostentation.'"

Izzy looked up at him sharply, to see that he was laughing quietly and inviting her to join him in the joke.

She grinned sheepishly. "It is a perfect night for that sort of thing, isn't it?"

"Indeed it is Izzy," Daniel said quietly, his face open and friendly, said one thing; while his voice and his tone said something very different; and Izzy wasn't sure which one to believe... indeed she wasn't certain which one she wanted to believe!

"Come on." He stood and held his hand out to her as she still hesitated.

In the drawing room Izzy was surprised again, when instead of sitting in his chair he joined her on the sofa, he sat side on so the he could look at her, and draped his arm across the back so that it snaked behind her.

He spent the next hour or so making light conversation; and making her smile a good deal.

He would occasionally run a finger down her arm, or as he would try to emphasise a point he would tap her on the wrist, or the back of her hand. 

On one occasion he reached across to touch the ear ring that dangled down. "These are pretty," he murmured, allowing the back of his hand to brush against her ear and her cheek.

Every time he touched her, Izzy felt a little tremor run through her. 

And Daniel...Daniel knew exactly the effect he was having on her. She could tell that he knew, because every time she reacted; he would give a little smirk of satisfaction. By about ten o'clock, her nerves were in shreds, and she had had enough. She leapt up suddenly taking him by surprise. "Right then... I think I'll turn in for the night... Goodnight Daniel!" And she bolted for the door. 

She was little, but she was fast. Daniel was big, and he was faster -- when he wanted to be. His hand stopped the door from opening as she tugged on the handle. She froze to the spot her head bent, as Daniel's arm stretched over and past her.

"Look at me Izzy," he demanded huskily.

"I'm afraid," she whispered.

"Don't be... turn around and look at me." 

Izzy had never thought of herself as a meek kind of person, but every time that Daniel issued a command; she felt powerless to resist. 

This was the case now.

She turned slowly and looked up at him. 

His eyes were blazing down at her and she blinked several time.

"Now shall we try that again?" he asked softly, his arm still holding her firmly in place. "Say 'goodnight' to me Izzy."

"Goodnight... Daniel."

"Goodnight Izzy." His mouth came down on hers, to move and explore as he held her firmly. His lips massaged her lips until she responded hesitantly. His fingers tugged lightly on her chin, encouraging her mouth to open slightly, and when she complied, his tongue dipped in to lightly taste and tease. 

His lips became a little harder against hers, a little more demanding. "Izzy!" he growled as he draped her hands over his shoulders, and placed his on her waist to pull her against him; where he then let his hands begin a light exploration of her body.

How long they stood there, kissing and embracing; Izzy couldn't have said but, it was Daniel who finally stopped it, and pulled back.

"Now then don't you think that that was a little nicer?" he asked lightly; although Izzy saw that his hands shook. He reached past her again, to open the door for her and Izzy slipped through it to walk in a daze up to her bedroom.

She closed her door and hesitated with the key; she shrugged and went and got ready for bed.

Her dreams that night were of course of Daniel, following her to her bedroom and finishing what he'd started downstairs...

*

Izzy woke to the sound of knocking on her door.

"Izzy! Izzy are you awake?" Daniel called through the door.

She sat up rubbing her eyes, and looked at her watch; it wasn't even six yet!

"What is it Daniel?"

"Open the door I need to talk to you." 

Izzy frowned. "It's not locked!" she called sitting up and pulling the cover up to her chin.

The door opened and Daniel poked his head around it.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, but I need to go to the factory and Mrs Coats hasn't made it in this morning... and neither has Rosie."

"What about Jess and Richard?" she asked quickly.

"They didn't make it out of London." 

Izzy frowned at him. "What's going on Daniel?"

"I think you need to look out of your window."

Izzy scrambled out of bed and rushed to the window. "Oh my!" she exclaimed in horror. 

"Exactly!" Daniel came and stood behind her to look out as well.

The world was covered in a thick white carpet of snow more than several inches in depth. The clouds were heavy with it and as Izzy watched more and more flakes drifted down from the sky.

She looked up at Daniel her mind blank.

"I have to go to the factory," he told her again, "and I don't like to leave you here on your own..."

'Don't!' she wanted to cry. 'Don't leave me! Please! Take me with you!'

She didn't speak, just stood staring up at him with her huge blue eyes.

"Get dressed!" he growled suddenly. "And wear something warm, we may have to walk."

He strode from the room and pulled the door too.

Izzy didn't waste any time. The minute the door closed she dove under the shower and washed briskly.

She dressed in jeans, t shirt and a thick sweater. Pulling on thick socks and flat heeled boots, she brushed through her hair and tied it back to hang down her back in soft damp curls.

Daniel was in the kitchen, frying eggs and bacon; and Izzy could smell the coffee brewing.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked hesitantly.

Daniel glanced at her briefly, before turning back to the stove.

"Set the table and sit down?" he suggested absently.

She pulled out plates and cutlery and did as he had ordered.

"You know your way around Mrs. Coats's kitchen -- I see!" He was dishing up breakfast as he spoke, and Izzy flashed him a little grin; a dimple showing briefly in her cheek.

"She sometimes lets me help her," she told him softly.

They ate breakfast in silence, but every so often; Izzy would glance up to see Daniel regarding her with a slightly puzzled expression.

"I need to go and see if I can move the car in all this," Daniel said pointing out at the snow. "It's a good heavy car so it should be able to handle it." 

Izzy washed the pots and put them away while Daniel was outside. She was just wiping down the table when he walked back in. 

"All ready?" he asked quietly.

She smiled up at him. "Yes... I just need my coat."

"That's no good!" Daniel told her looking at the long wool coat, which was the warmest thing she had with her.

"I've nothing else with me," she whispered sadly; 'he was going to leave her behind', she thought 'it was the perfect excuse', and she knew that he hadn't been happy about taking her with him, in the first place.

"Wait here," he ordered briskly, striding from the room.

Izzy sat down at the kitchen table her head bent in defeat.

"Here try this on!" Daniel came marching back holding a huge parker.

She leaped to her feet, her eyes shining 'he wasn't going to abandon her!'

Daniel looked at her for a moment and then swept the coat around her shoulders.

Izzy pushed her arms into the sleeves and Daniel pulled the zip up. "Give me your hands." he demanded holding out some woolly gloves.

She tried but the coat sleeves were too long and her hands were buried somewhere deep inside. She held her arms up helplessly letting him see the extra sleeve length hanging over.

Daniel gave a little sigh of impatience, before slowly folding the length up to reveal her hands. He grabbed her wrist and started to roll the glove on over her hand. "So tiny..." he murmured softly, before dropping it and turning his attention to the other one.

He bundled her outside and half lifted her into the car, where he'd left the engine running and the heater on full so that it was warm inside; and she was relieved to see that it had stopped snowing for the moment.

"It won't last," Daniel told her, when she said as much.

"The weather forecast has given it out for the next couple of days... they're warning that it's going to get worse, and advised that people stay where they are; if possible."

"Should we be going out at all then?" Izzy asked uncertainly.

"The factory isn't far," he told her quietly. "And I want to make sure that everything is shut off properly, and locked up tight before the weather closes in again."

"Will it take us long?"

"Half an hour round trip, and half an hour -- at the very most, there... we should be back for about half eight." he grunted keeping his attention on the road.

The factory when they reached it looked cold, empty and lifeless. 

Izzy had thought that it was cold outside but it was nothing compared to this barren place. She shivered, deep in her oversized coat as she followed Daniel around. He would reach up and pull at this lever or check that window, before grabbing her hand and leading her onwards... deeper inside.

By the time he was satisfied, and led her outside into the cold sunshine; Izzy felt frozen. She blinked in the brightness of the sun reflecting off the snow, and gave a sigh of relief. "What a horrible place," she whispered softly.

Daniel looked at her sharply before looking back at the empty factory. "I suppose... like this it is..." he murmured distantly; but he looked down at her suddenly with bright shining eyes;

"But Izzy! You should see it when it's in action! The people, moving around doing their job, laughing and calling to one another over the noise. The machines churning out the merchandise!" he stopped talking suddenly, he even looked a little embarrassed by his outburst. His eyes turned back to that forlorn place a slight bitter twist to his lips.

Izzy reached out to touch his arm and he looked down into her clear eyes. "Will you show me?" she asked quietly. "Will you bring me back... when it's all working again?"

He smiled down at her. "That's a promise!"

* 

It was starting to snow again by the time they got back to the house; and Daniel parked the car and hurried Izzy back inside. He took her coat of and hung it with his, just as the telephone started to ring, and he turned to answer it.

"It's Jessie for you," he told her, handing her the receiver and leaving her to it.

"Izzy? Izzy is that you?" Jessie sounded frantic, and Izzy winced.

"It's me Jess... where are you?"

"We're stuck in London," Jessie's worried voice crackled down the line. "We're okay, Richard's got a flat here, and we're staying there..." she paused for a moment, and Izzy wondered briefly if they'd lost the connection. "What about you Izz?" Jessie suddenly asked. "You're all on your own with Daniel... will you be ok?" Jessie was working herself into a state.

"Jess I'm fine!" she said sharply. "Why can't I be alone with Daniel? What's he going to do, eat me?" Izzy laughed a little as she said this, as she tried to calm her sister, but a movement out of the corner of her eye caused her to turn quickly. 

Daniel was standing leaning against the door, his expression unreadable.

The line crackled ominously again, and Izzy said quickly to Jessie. "Jess I think we're going to lose the connection any second... I'm okay so worry about yourselves."

"But..." Jessie began just before the line went dead.

Izzy slowly replaced the receiver, not quite sure how to face Daniel. He'd heard her joking about him; she knew that he'd heard. And he so wasn't impressed.

"Are you going to yell at me again?" she finally asked shooting him a nervous look.

"No, but I'm seriously thinking about the eating you bit though." 

She looked at him sharply to see a fiendish grin on his face.

"Daniel!" she whispered apprehensively.

"Relax Izzy!" he finally took pity on her, he frowned though; "why is it that everyone thinks that I can't be trusted with you?" he suddenly asked.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, I certainly don't think that!"

"Well that's a good thing because we're likely to be stuck here on our own for at least a couple of days," Daniel told her quietly.

"That long? You really think this snow is going to last that long?"

"Yep, and before it's gone we'll probably lose power and heating and maybe even water."

"Oh Daniel!" Izzy groaned in despair, "do you really think that it's going to get that bad? What will we do? We'll freeze!" she could feel the panic rising up in her and her face paled alarmingly.

Daniel strode forward and grabbed her by the arms. "Relax Izzy!" he snapped again, but he pulled her into his arms and held her tight. "We'll be fine," he promised her softly. "There's plenty of wood for the fire in the living room... we've got lots of candles, and bottled water. Cooking food is going to be tricky but Mrs Coats always stocks up on soups and she froze some stew for when she has her days off... And I've a little camping gas stove..." Daniel was rambling, trying to soothe her and he felt her relax against him. "We will be ok Izzy," he told her firmly.

"So what you're saying is; that we should move down into the living room and camp it out. We'll need some pillows, and blankets." She was thinking as she stood secure in his arms and Daniel grinned down into her hair.

"Sweet, practical Izzy," he murmured, laughing gently.

She pulled away from him. "I'll go and get the bedding and put it in the living room, you can dig out the candles and things..." 

His grin widened at her bossy tone; "Yes miss, no miss, three bags full miss!" he chanted mockingly.

"Oh you heard that!" she whispered her hands up to her flaming cheeks.

Daniel laughed. "I don't blame you Izzy; I was an ungrateful pig to you, and all you did was to help me."

"I'll go and get those things," she laughed awkwardly, as she backed away from him, her hands up in defence.

Daniel made his way to the kitchen whistling. Whistling for crying out loud, he couldn't remember that last time he's felt like whistling.

By the time Izzy came back down with the blankets, Daniel had stacked a nice pile of wood in the far corner of the living room. She put the blankets and pillows on one of the sofas further away from the fire place; and then she went to the kitchen, searching for Daniel.

There were four boxes of a dozen candles stacked on the table along with several candle holders and a large box of matches. There was a carton of six bottles of water and there was some sort of stew bubbling merrily on the stove.

"Daniel? Daniel?" Izzy called softly. There was no reply. "Daniel!" her voice rose in alarm, as a sudden sense of isolation swept over her.

"I'm here Izzy!" Daniel suddenly spoke from behind her. He was coming out of another door which had steps leading down; and he was holding a box with several rather dusty bottles in it. "I just thought that a bit of brandy might help to keep us warm."

"Oh Daniel!" she sighed; the relief unmistakable in her voice.




How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 05



Daniel looked at her curiously as he put the box on the table. "You really do need to calm down Izzy!" he frowned. "I'm not about to go out anywhere in that." 

She looked out of the window and saw that there was a blizzard happening outside. "Oh my!" she murmured. 

Daniel laughed. "You do seem to say that an awful lot!" he teased.

"I do seem to have a lot of reason to say it!" she snapped back. 

"Yes I suppose, but I think I prefer it when you say 'Oh Daniel' in the way that you do." He stood half smiling; and his eyes bright, as he watched the colour come to her cheeks.

"You don't have to be so mocking!" she accused quietly, as she looked away in embarrassment.

Daniel laughed and pulled her to him. "And don't you dare try and play that little miss innocent routine, I've seen the real hell and brimstone Izzy now, and you'll never fool me again!"

He looped his arms loosely around her hips, and leaned slightly away so that their mid sections were pressing tightly together. 

She looked up in alarm as she felt the hardness of him. "You see Izzy?" he asked her quietly. "You see what you do to me?"

Izzy blushed. "I don't mean to," she whispered miserably. 

Daniel bent and kissed her lightly on the cheek, before pushing her gently away. "I know you don't Izzy," he sighed. "But every time you 'oh Daniel' me; that's what it does to me," he smiled a twisted sort of smile. "And I have to warn you Izzy that it's getting more and more difficult not to act on it!"

"Oh!" she backed away her hands to her cheeks biting back the last instinctive bit of that exclamation.

Daniel grinned wickedly at her. "I can see that the next couple of days are going to be fun!" he said almost rubbing his hands together with relish.

"Don't you think we should finish moving the things we're likely to need?" she tried to change the subject but could not quite meet his eye.

Daniel grinned again. "Yes, by all means let's finish what we started."

"Are we talking about the same thing?" she asked suspiciously. 

"Moving the water and the candles and things?" he queried innocently.

"Mmm!" she murmured as she turned towards the kitchen table.

Daniel leaned past her to retrieve the water; the trouble was that in order to reach it he had to press hard against Izzy. That action told her he was still aroused; and making sure that she was aware of it too.

She pushed back trying to move him away from her, Daniel groaned into her hair. "That was such a bad idea Izzy!" he growled softly, thrusting his hips to rub against her again. 

"Daniel please!" Izzy whispered in anguish.

"Please? Please what Izzy? Please don't stop? Please hold me? Please kiss me? Please make love to me?" the last came out as a tortured groan, as he started to nuzzle on her neck.

The waves of pleasure, that rippled through Izzy; caused her knees to buckle. Had Daniel not caught her, and held her tight against him she would have been a heap on the floor.

"Oh god Daniel!" Izzy's head went back in ecstasy, and her eyes closed as she surrendered to him.

Daniel grunted in triumph as he turned her to face him. "I warned you" he whispered gloating. His mouth came crushing down over hers, as his hips continued to move against her -- keeping both of their excitement going strong...

The light shining down over them flickered and died. All over the house the humming and vibrating of the electricity, clicked and stilled. Daniel pulled back as the house fell into a dead silence.

"There goes the power," he sighed. He moved away from her abruptly. "One of these days Izzy; we will not be interrupted, and then we'll find out exactly where we are -- won't we?"

Izzy looked at him with wide smoky eyes.

"Stop it Izzy!" he growled. "Very soon now this house is going to feel like an ice block so we need to move everything into the living room; and I can't think straight with you looking at me like that!"

She blushed and allowed her eyes to drop to the table. "Yes Daniel," she whispered meekly.

Daniel looked at her sharply but said nothing, merely reached for the water to carry it through to the living room. Izzy shakily picked up the candles and matches; and followed him through. 

It was warm in the living room, but when they returned to the kitchen, to collect the other items; Izzy noticed how fast the rest of the house was cooling down. She shivered as she picked up the candle holders. "Go and sit by the fire Izzy," Daniel ordered quietly as he picked up a tray and placed two bowls on it. "I'll pour us this stew and bring it in." 

"When did you have time to prepare a stew?" she asked waiting for him.

"Mrs Coats made it the other day and froze it. I got it out to thaw as soon as I saw the weather forecast, this morning." He tipped the saucepan and filled the two bowls to brimming. He put some thickly cut chunks of bread on a plate; and picked up the tray. "If you could just get the door Izzy?" he requested politely.

"Yes Daniel," she said again meekly. Daniel felt his hands shake and some of the stew spilt over. 

"Stop it Izzy!" he growled, frowning heavily at her.

Izzy looked at him with wide innocent eyes; but there was the tiniest hint of a glitter in them. She had never felt this power over a man before; and it was going to her head a little.

They sat side by side on the sofa in front of the blazing fire; with the bowls of stew on their laps, and dunking thick chunks of bread. It was probably one of the best meals that Izzy had ever had.

They scuttled into the kitchen to wash the dishes and hurried back to the living room. "God it's cold out there!" Daniel shivered as they pushed the living room door closed; and dashed back to the warmth of the sofa in front of the fire.

Izzy curled up into the corner of the sofa but found that she couldn't seem to stop shivering. Her chest was starting to tighten on her, and she was beginning to develop a wheeze. 

Daniel looked at her, pale and cold and swore softly. He pulled her to him and rapped her into the warmth and strength of his arms. 

She snuggled down thankfully and her breathing gradually started to ease.

"Is that better?" he asked softly as he felt her relax against him. 

She nodded dumbly, concentrating on her breathing.

"Izzy do you suffer from asthma?" Daniel asked quietly.

Again she mutely shook her head.

"But you are ill?" 

Another silent shake. 

"There is something though, isn't there Izzy?" he asked her.

She looked up at him with slightly shadowed eyes. "I had a bit of a bad dose of the flu just before Christmas, and I seem to be struggling to get over it completely," she told him softly. "I'm not ill... and I haven't been for quite some time now, but I get these odd waves of tiredness every so often. I'm always quite well once I've rested, but I can't not rest, when the attack comes... and it doesn't matter where I am."

Daniel thought back to the summer house when he'd found her asleep there on the cold hard bench. And all those other times that he'd come across her sleeping in the oddest of places. He frowned, a little offended. "So why the secrecy? It seems like everyone was told except for me?"

Izzy shrugged defensively. "That wasn't my decision... It's not the sort of thing you do though, hello my name is Izzy and I was once sick!" she argued quietly.

"I suppose..." Daniel sighed. "I just wish that I had been told though."

They sat curled up together as the afternoon drew to a close.

"I think we need to establish something Izzy..." Daniel finally said quietly. "You do realise that the warmest... and most comfortable place in this house; is right here on this sofa?" he asked quietly.

Izzy nodded, slightly worried about where he was going with this.

"Well for tonight at least... I think that we are both going to be sleeping on it."



How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 06



Copyright2012©totallyatease

She only agreed to do it as a favour to her sister -- but he more than made up for the inconvenience... 

*

Izzy swivelled around to look at him, the panic burning bright in her eyes.

"But Daniel we can't!" she all but wailed at him.

"I'm not suggesting that we get naked and cuddle up together Izzy!" he aimed for exasperated but only managed to achieve regretful.

"Then what are you suggesting?" she whispered.

"That we both need to stay warm, and that this is the warmest spot in the house, so we are going to have to share... for tonight at least." He looked at her with dark serious eyes. "I give you my word Izzy; that I will not try to take advantage of this situation."

Izzy stared into those eyes for long minutes before nodding. "Thank you Daniel," she said softly.

Izzy's next awkward moment came when Daniel handed her a pair of thick towelling pyjamas. "These should help keep you warm," he murmured with a slight twist to his lips. "And it'd be a good idea to keep your socks on." 

Izzy walked over to a more shadowy part of the room. She undressed quickly, shivering as she did so; as soon as she had moved from the warmth of the fire, she felt the chill of the house. She pulled on the pyjamas and looked down in dismay. These could only belong to Daniel! She pulled on the jacket and folded up the sleeves as far as she could and then bent to fold up the excess length in the legs. 

Daniel had changed into a matching pair of pyjamas, and had pulled the pillows and blankets onto the sofa; and then he lay down as for back into the cushions as he could get. 

Izzy came back into the circle of light and he grinned; she looked like a little cute teddy bear. He pulled back the blanket, and held his hand out inviting. "Come and lie down Izzy," he ordered huskily.

She hesitated before curling up in front of him, and Daniel tugged the blanket over her and pulled her back into him, his arm lying heavy across her waist.

"Goodnight Izzy," he whispered softly into her hair.

Izzy lay for a long time, just listening to Daniel's even breathing. She lay staring at the flames flickering in the fire place, and gradually her eyes grew heavy and she drifted off to sleep.

*

Daniel woke to the feel of Izzy pressed up tight against him. His arm tensed around her for a second before relaxing again. She was still asleep, and as he moved slightly she whimpered softly; she stretched out suddenly and then turned to snuggle into him. 

His reaction was swift and violent in its urgency! 

He lay breathing, one, two, three and in, one two, three and out... he slowly restored himself to normality and was able to relax again... 

Izzy stirred again and moved against him. 

Daniel let out a soft groan as the blood rushed through him to thunder in his veins. "Ah Izzy!" he sighed into her hair. 

Izzy stretched again and opened sleepy eyes. "Good morning Daniel," she murmured with a dreamy little smile. Her lashes drifted down to fan her cheeks and she seemed to be asleep again.

It was torture for Daniel lying there with Izzy, every time she moved it was like a bolt going straight through him. 'I give you my word Izzy; that I will not try to take advantage of this situation.' God how those words haunted him! 

She had believed him, and trusted him when he had told her that; and now he had to keep on repeating it to himself, to stop him doing what he so desperately wanted to do.

The next time Izzy showed signs of stirring Daniel seized the opportunity to gently move her away a little, so that he could rise from the sofa; where he stood tall and proud in front of the fire. 

Turning suddenly he surprised Izzy who was lying staring at him; her eyes bright with...

**

Half way through the morning, the power suddenly returned. One moment it was deathly quiet; and the next there was the faintest of clicks and the house was humming with life again. Gradually the chill left, and slowly it warmed up.

"Back to our own beds tonight!" Izzy said lightly, swallowing down the knot of disappointment in her gut.

Daniel looked across at her speculatively for a moment, before turning to finish stoking up the fire, which was what he'd been doing when Izzy had spoken. 

She had tried to sound uncaring but he'd caught that slight wistfulness in her tone, and he remembered that look in her eyes this morning... just before he fled from her, and the temptation she represented. He gave a little grunt but didn't comment.

Izzy sat looking at him as he squatted down in front of the fire. He really was a good man, he'd promised not to take advantage and he hadn't. 

Izzy was pretty naive when it came to men and relationships; her experience to date rated at a bit fat zero. It didn't however mean that she had been unaware of the effect she had had on Daniel, as they had lain together. Again she felt a little surge go through her that she could affect a man like Daniel in that way. 

They sat facing each other at the kitchen table as they sipped the hot coffee she had brewed. "One more day I think and then everything should start getting back to normal," Daniel suddenly said.

"Tomorrow then?" Izzy asked quietly; she grinned suddenly at him. "I'd imagine that you'll be glad to get rid of me," she said only half joking.

Daniel looked at her sharply. "You'll be leaving?"

She shrugged. "I think it's time for me to go home, and start looking for another job," she said without much enthusiasm.

"Ah yes..." he murmured, "something about staff cutbacks?" he looked at her questioningly and she blushed guiltily. 

"Okay... I admit it! I was a little bit less than truthful about that."

Daniel grinned at her discomfort. "Try -- out and out lied about it."

She looked away from him. "I'm sorry Daniel... for lying to you," she said softly.

He laughed, but didn't comment any further. 

*

As the day wore on; the snow which had been coming down lazily on and off -- stopped, and showed no sign of wanting to start up again.

Izzy went to her bed that night feeling more than a little bit depressed. 

There really was no reason for her to trespass on Daniel's hospitality any longer. She'd come to keep Jess company and Jess wasn't even here! Her convalescence seemed to have finally come to an end, and she felt almost normal again.

She curled up in her bed with a regretful sigh, and drifted off to sleep where she dreamt of course of Daniel...

** 

When she got out of bed the next morning she went straight to her window.

The snow had completely gone, leaving everywhere looking very wet and clean.

She was just coming out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her when Daniel knocked and entered. 

"Good morning Daniel," Izzy said calmly. She marvelled that a couple of days ago this exact situation had caused her panic attacks, whereas now she didn't even flinch from him.

"I'm sorry for intruding Izzy," Daniel said quietly, turning his back to her discreetly, "but I wanted to have a word with you; without Mrs Coats eavesdropping."

"Oh? Has she made it in today then?" 

"Yes, she and Rosie are downstairs in the kitchen..." he paused as if unsure of how to proceed. "The thing is... I think it might be a good idea -- not to mention our night on the sofa." 

"If you think that that's the best thing; then I'm certainly not going to go around advertising the fact... However neither of us did anything we need to feel ashamed of; so I don't understand what your problem is?" she finished with a question.

Daniel gave a little sigh. "I'm thinking of making you a proposition; and I don't want people to get the wrong idea about it."

"Daniel! This is all so sudden! I don't know what to say... or think!" she said in a high pitched, squeaky voice; and her hand went to her heart in a dramatic fashion.

Daniel spun around to look at her, his face a picture of panic. "I didn't mean... I wasn't proposing marriage...I...!" he began in a strangled voice; before he saw the mischievous twinkle in her eye and the dimple in her cheek. "You bitch!" he half laughed in relief. 

"Daniel!" she exclaimed in shock; but she gave a little chuckle, and Daniel backed away to the door. 

"Maybe having this discussion here is not such a good idea..." he murmured. "I'll see you downstairs for breakfast in a bit." 

He left her room closing the door quietly as he went.

*

Izzy shrugged still grinning to herself while she dressed. The morning suddenly seemed just full of possibilities and she hummed softly to herself as she moved around her bedroom.

They shared breakfast in an amicable fashion; and after a friendly good morning to Mrs Coats, refused to meet that lady's suspicious looks.

When Daniel left the table, Izzy deliberately remained to finish her coffee in a more leisurely manner.

"Alright Mrs Coats." She finally murmured "I can see that something is bothering you, so why don't you just say it?"

Mrs Coats dropped into the chair that Daniel had just vacated.

"I'm sorry miss, I don't like to intrude, but I have to ask... was everything alright? Mr Daniel didn't... he didn't...?" she trailed off.

"Mrs Coats!" Izzy exclaimed appalled that she could think of Daniel in that way. "You know Mr Daniel better than that!" 

Mrs Coats looked away uncomfortably, "I don't mean no offence miss, but he is just a man and well..." she trailed off uncertain how to finish.

"He's not just a man! He's a very good man! And he would never take advantage in the way you seem to be implying!" Izzy said vehemently.

Daniel standing outside the dining room grinned to himself. 'Poor little Izzy! If only she knew how close she had to come to danger.' He shook his head wryly and went back the way he had come

*

Izzy left the dining room and wandered aimlessly around the downstairs. Daniel had wanted to talk to her, but he hadn't said where or when. She wasn't sure whether to seek him out, or wait for him to find her. In the end she opted for her favourite room in the house and went and hung out in the library.

** 

Daniel found her there later that morning. He stood quietly watching, as she curled up in one of the chairs in his library, reading one of his books. He didn't move or speak, but something must have alerted her to his presence, because she looked up suddenly, and their eyes met in one unguarded moment. 

"Daniel," she said softly, dreamily. 

It coursed through him leaving him breathless. "Izzy, I need to talk to you," he finally managed brusquely. 

Izzy blinked once and snapped the book shut. "That sounds a bit ominous?" she said cautiously. 

Daniel looked at her quickly as he sat down facing her. She really was turning into a cheeky young woman. He thought with a touch of fondness, of the timid little girl perched on the edge of his sofa; trying her best to be invisible...

She grinned at him displaying that dimple, and he buried that other Izzy as a thing who would never come again. 

He sighed regretfully, but found that deep down -- if he was honest with himself; that he preferred this Izzy -- who challenged and teased him.

"When are you planning on going home?" he had no idea where to start with this and picked that as an opener. 

Bad choice!

Izzy blinked again. The colour came into her cheeks briefly and left taking all the other colour with it. 

She was a pale figure full of stress with two sapphires for her eyes as the only colour left. 'Maybe Mrs Coats had said something to Daniel... accused him outright -- and now he was blaming Izzy for the attack on his character... after all she wasn't the first person to doubt him when it came to Izzy...?' 

"I was thinking of waiting for Jess to get back..." she began huskily. "But if you want me to leave sooner I'm sure I could be packed in the next, twenty minutes?" she asked hesitantly.

Daniel shook his head violently in frustration; and she leapt to her feet her eyes bright. "Give me five minutes!" she begged, "and then I'll be gone."

Daniel stood too, and pulled her to him. "Damn it Izzy... that's not what I meant!" he growled, lowering his mouth to hers. At the last moment he pulled back and pushed her away from him. "Izzy!" he ground out. "Please! Just sit down," he tried to moderate his voice lowering it to a more reasonable voice... and it seemed work.

Izzy sighed, and dropped back into her chair. 

"The thing is Izzy..." Daniel tried again. "You have no job to go back to... and we here in this community... well we need someone with your skills..." he looked across at her, to see he had her full attention. "There are several small businesses around here; that are too small to employ a full time administrator/book keeper. Mr Reynolds, the man who used to do it before he got sick and subsequently left, well he left a lot of people in the lurch... including me." 

She leaned forward, her interest sparked. "And you think that I could step in... and take over?" 

"Yes I do," he told her quietly. "Mr Reynolds was a book keeper, and only a book keeper, anything else was... beneath him! But you Izzy!" his voice warmed. "These last few days you've done book keeping, filing, and even some typing for me." He smiled at her with gratitude. "If you were to offer those services out to the local businesses, they'd snatch you up, I guarantee it."

"And you think that I could do enough to get a living out of it?"

Daniel grinned; she could be incredibly practical at times. "Mr Reynolds did very well for himself; and he did very little for it."

"Ok... where would I live?"

This was where it had gotten a bit hazy for Daniel. "Here?" he tried cautiously. 

"What here in this house?" she asked her eyes wide.

"No, no of course not," he hastily rethought it. "But... I do have a little cottage; just inside the grounds..." he said slowly, slanting a quick look to see her response.

"Furniture?" she asked, thinking.

"Furnished," he smirked.

"I'd have to pay you rent," she told him firmly.

"Of course... but I think that you should, not start to pay that, until the end of the second month. Just to give you time to see if you can make it work," he finished hurriedly.

"But that's not fair to you!" she argued.

"The house is standing empty as it is. And this was my idea after all," he retaliated.

"The beginning of the second month," she countered. "I would know by then and hopefully would have started to generate an income -- of some sort."

Daniel grinned again. "Deal!!" he exclaimed holding his hand out to shake on it.

"Is this where we spit in our palms to seal the deal?" Izzy murmured wryly.

"If I'm going to exchange saliva with you Izzy; I can think of better ways of doing it," Daniel offered huskily.

She blushed and chuckled nervously, as she looked away from him. 

That chuckle vibrated across his nerve ends like nothing he'd ever felt before. "Sometimes Izzy... you make me feel just like your dragon with the big silly grin!" he told her softly.

"So the only other problem that I've got... is Jess!" Izzy said still not looking at him.

"What's your sister got to do with this?" Daniel asked puzzled.

"My BIG sister you mean?" she lifted an eyebrow at him. "Nothing much, only the fact that she'll have to leave me behind, with no friends, or family to keep an eye on me, or no one for company..." Her lip quivered on the last bit, as she realised that she would indeed be all alone.

"Nonsense!" Daniel hurried to reassure her, as she wavered. "You'll have Mrs Coats, and Rosie... and every one of those little businesses, has family just wanting to welcome you into their homes..." he hesitated. "And then there would be me Izzy..." he told her softly.

"You Daniel?" she asked; her eyes very bright now. 

"Well as my tenant... I'd have to make very sure that you are safe, and warm and comfortable... why you'll have a job getting away from me I think..." he'd tried to joke about it, but somehow it just sounded like some sort of pledge or vow.

"And you'll be able to convince Jess of that?" she asked with that little lift of her brow again.

Daniel frowned. "I'd think so..." he said slowly. "Why?"

"Cos I think that sister dear has just got back!" Izzy said lightly as she heard the car pull up outside.

Seconds later they could hear Jessie's; "Izzy? Izzy? Where are you?" 

The library door was thrust open and Jessie came striding in. "Izzy! why didn't you answer me?" she complained.

"Sorry Jess; Daniel and I were just discussing something, and he would like to talk to you about it." She shot him a quick look as she stood up; and sailed from the room like the chicken that she was.

*

Fifteen minutes later Jessie found her in her room. "Izzy are you sure about this?" she went straight for the throat did Jess, no hedging, no prevaricating, nope not Jess, straight for jugular. 

"Yes Jess... I am." Izzy looked her sister in the eye. 

Jessie sighed as she recognised that look in her little sister's eye. "What on earth am I going to tell mum?" she whinged.

Izzy grinned at her big sister. "I'm sure you'll think of something," she murmured complacently.

Over lunch, Jessie continued to grill Daniel, on what he would take responsibility for as far as Izzy was concerned. Much to Izzy's surprise he took it all in his stride and only once did he show any sign of annoyance. 

"Poor little Izzy," Jessie fretted, "what an earth will she do out here -- all by herself?"

Izzy felt the colour come to her cheeks, as Jessie reduced her to a child with one sentence. She looked across in mortification at Daniel, whose eyes glittered ominously.

"I think that you are being very demeaning to Izzy!" Daniel almost snapped. "She is after all an adult, quite able to make decisions for herself, and to take care of herself."

Jessie looked at him with her wide anxious eyes. "She is still awfully young, and well... inexperienced!" Jessie finished, trampling all over Izzy's dignity.

"She's a woman, and should be treated as such!" Daniel did snap this time.

Izzy threw her spoon onto the table and stood up; her eyes blazing at the two of them. "She's a woman who is absolutely cheesed off at being talked about as if she wasn't even there!" she fumed and turned and stormed out of the room.

Jessie shot him an accusing look -- before rushing after Izzy. 

Daniel just sat staring after Izzy.

He grinned briefly. 

Izzy in a temper was really something! Medusa had nothing on Izzy and her turn you to stone look!

Richard in turn, sat watching his brother, "you will be careful -- won't you Daniel?" he asked quietly.

Daniel scowled at him. "Don't you start as well Richard," he snarled. 

"Izzy is not Claudia," he continued relentlessly. "She's not tough underneath like Claudia was... and she will hurt -- if you inflict pain on her."

"Shut up Richard. I know better than anyone that Izzy is nothing like Claudia. I never thought that she was..." as he said that last bit, he realised that it was true. Izzy had stirred things in Daniel right from the start. He'd never ever felt like that for Claudia. He suddenly beamed across at his younger brother making that man blink in confusion. "She really is nothing like Claudia!"

*

Izzy threw herself down on her bed and lay grumbling to herself. 

Jessie knocked once and then came sailing in. 

"Go away Jess!" Izzy told her grumpily, "I really don't want to talk to you right now."

"Now Izz, don't be like that," Jessie begged, as she sat down on the edge of the bed. "I mean look at it from my point of view..." she went on, "When I left the other day... you couldn't even look Daniel in the eye. And now he's offering to... well... keep you!" Jessie finished uncertainly.

Izzy looked at her with narrowed eyes. "What are you implying Jess?" she asked quietly.




How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 06



"Well this job! It all sounds a bit vague to me!" Jessie said worriedly. "Who would you be working for actually?" 

"I'd be working for myself... doing admin and accounts... for whoever wanted it." She looked at Jessie with real offence now. "Believe it or not Jess, I am actually quite good at what I do." 

Jessie leaned across to kiss her cheek. "Of course you are Izz..." She smiled in a patronising way; that set Izzy's teeth on edge. "But what does Daniel get from keeping you here?"

Izzy's cheeks blushed bright red, and her eyes sparkled with temper. "I don't know who you just insulted more! Me or Daniel," she said through gritted teeth.

Jessie sat back, realising that she had perhaps overstepped the mark.

The atmosphere at the dinner table that evening was colder than the last few days had been. Finally it was Richard who decided to break it. He left the room briefly to return with a bottle of champagne. He popped the cork and poured the liquid into several glasses before handing them around to the silent people. "I want to propose a toast!" he declared. "To Izzy... and her return to health... and to her new career, as an independent business woman!"

Izzy sat back, her eyes were bright and her cheeks flushed with pleasure. "Thank you Richard, I really appreciate your support," she told him sincerely.

Jessie looked at her with moist eyes. "I never meant..." she whispered, "I never meant to imply that you weren't... good enough..." 

Izzy rushed around the table to hug her sister affectionately. "I know Jess... you just can't stop worrying about me. I know that that's what it's all about." She grinned at her sibling. "I do have one slight problem though..."

Jessie looked at her, full of the big sister to the rescue bit. "What is it?"

"My things," she said, "My clothes, laptop... My books!" she finished with a little laugh.

"That's no problem," Jessie was all cool practicality. "I can pack your things up when we go back tomorrow. And Richard can bring them down with him the day after."

Izzy looked questioningly at Richard who nodded and smiled reassuringly. "That's no problem at all Izzy I've got to come back to finish up with Daniel."

"So now that that's all settled..." Daniel drawled, "There's only one more thing to do..."

"Oh what's that?" Izzy looked at him questioningly.

"Why to show you around your new home of course!" he grinned at her lazily.

**

As it turned out it wasn't until after Jessie and Richard left the next morning; that she got a chance to look around the little cottage.

Daniel stood next to her on the driveway, waving goodbye to the other two. As they heard the engine fade into the distance he looked down at her.

"So are you ready Izzy?" he asked softly. "Ready to look at your home?" 

She looked up at him with huge eyes and nodded mutely.

"Lead on," she whispered. 

The little cottage was tucked away, just to one side of the driveway, and hidden slightly behind some trees. He handed her the key, and stood back while she entered. 

It was a bit dark and poky inside with a narrow passage leading to a small living room on the right and a door to the kitchen on the left. Straight ahead was the stairs, which lead up to a double bedroom, a tiny box room, and a small bathroom. The furniture was very much country cottage type furniture with light colours and dark woods.

Izzy spun around in delight; her very first home! She sighed with pleasure in the main bedroom and turned to see Daniel standing in the doorway a half smile on his face.

"Oh Daniel!" she jumped startled; she'd thought that he'd stayed downstairs.

Daniel's eyes darkened and he moved forward slightly, and only then did she realise what she had said.

"Lady you really like to live dangerously!" he growled softly.

"I didn't mean it!" she exclaimed. "You surprised me!" She backed nervously away from him, her hands up defensively.

Daniel moved further into the room, and closed in on Izzy who continued to back up. Just as his hands caught a hold of her arms, her legs came into contact with the bed, toppling her over onto it. Unfortunately she took Daniel with her and he ended up lying on top of her crushing her into the mattress. "Now isn't this interesting," Daniel murmured as his mouth came down on hers. His lips forced hers apart and his tongue went straight in to invade and plunder.

His mouth and hands were everywhere and she could feel the hardness of him digging into her hip. She pushed against him in panic, but he was like a man possessed. He pulled her sweater up to reveal her bra and then pushed that out of the way as well. His head came down and his mouth nuzzled on her breast sending sensation after sensation shooting through Izzy. 

"Izzy!" he groaned at her. "What you do to me! You have no idea what you do to me!"

"Please Daniel!" she whimpered "Please don't!"

That little broken plea brought him back to sanity like nothing else would have done.

He stilled on her and slowly pulled away. He turned away from her and the sight of her clothing all askew. "God Izzy... I am so sorry!" He ran his hand through his hair, clearly agitated. "Your sister's not been gone five minutes; and I'm jumping on you like some randy teenager with his first erection." He spun to face her catching her as she was just covering herself. Big mistake! That little flash of the dark pink nipple he'd just had in his mouth and he felt the blood course through him again. "It won't happen again Izzy... I promise you it will not happen again!" he said through clenched teeth. 

He turned and strode from the room to charge down the stairs and slam the front door as he left the house.

As he stormed across to his own abode he kept repeating. "It won't happen again..." he only wished that he could believe it though!



How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 07



Copyright2012©totallyatease

She only agreed to do it as a favour to her sister -- but He more than made up for the inconvenience... 

*

Izzy lay on the bed feeling shell shocked.

She had never had a man react to her in that way! Her hand went to her mouth, as she remembered his kiss; it had been savage and had frightened her. He'd lost it for a moment on this bed, but he'd managed to regain control -- when he realised it was not what she wanted...

She blushed softly, had he been even a little more gentle ... then the story may have been very different...

"Oh Daniel!" she whispered shakily, "what on earth am I going to do now?"

She stood up and straightened her clothing, and then after walking dreamily around her first home, she left the little house -- to go and pack her things.

She was just lugging her suitcase down the stairs, when Daniel walked through the front door. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he growled at her.

She smiled softly, "I'm moving into my new home."

He looked at her through narrowed eyes for a moment, before striding forward to take her suitcase off her.

"After you," he said opening the front door for her.

At her little cottage he let her open the front door and then pulled her back.

"You wait here," he told her abruptly. "I'll be right back."

He took her suitcase up to the main bedroom and then came striding back down. He walked past her, and only when he was back on to the little path; did he turn to look down at her. "You can have an hour to unpack, and then I want you back at the main house for lunch," his tone was firm and decisive, and without even waiting for her reply, he turned and marched away.

Izzy stood watching him, her eyes bright with anger. "Yes oh lord and master!" she murmured resentfully, but then a secretive little grin crept onto her face, just before she entered her home and closed the front door.

**

She took her time putting her clothes away, but even so she still had half an hour to kill. She made up the bed with the clean soft bedding, which she had found in a huge airing cupboard; she fluffed up the pillows, and pulled everything just so.

It was still a little too early, and so she wandered around her little home, dusting and polishing and twitching and straightening.

Finally she looked at her watch to see that she was fifteen minutes late now; so she locked her front door and strolled leisurely down to the main house. Daniel flung open the front door and met her on the drive way.

"You're late," he growled softly. "I said an hour."

She smiled up at him. "I know."

She walked straight past him and into his house leaving him muttering to himself. She was sorely tempted to kick the door shut with her foot as she walked past ... but she managed to restrain herself.

Daniel sat opposite her, his eyes glittering like two chunks of coal, and Izzy kept her gaze on her plate, except for when she smiled her thanks at Mrs Coats or Rosie. She knew that what she was doing was infuriating Daniel, but she just couldn't seem to stop herself.

After lunch she stood up to leave, just as Mrs Coats came bustling in with a hamper, she was only little and the hamper was quite sizeable so the scene would have been comic -- if Izzy hadn't been so moved.

"You've had no time to buy anything in yet Miss Izzy, so I just thought that these bits would keep you going for a few days..."

"Izzy will still be having her meals over here -- for the most part Mrs Coats," Daniel interrupted.

"That's maybe sir, but she'll still want to make herself a sandwich or a cup of coffee or something," Mrs Coats protested.

"Thank you Mrs Coats ... that was really thoughtful of you and I really appreciate it..." she turned to look at Daniel. "And no I won't be having all my meals over here," she told him as she rose and went to pick up the hamper.

She would have loved to have lifted it from the table, and swept from the room, but alas that was just not going to happen...

Daniel watched her in silence for a moment as she struggled to even pick the thing up, and then with a sigh, he nudged her out of the way; and picked it up with an ease that made her sick with envy.

"Big strong macho men think they know everything!" she muttered as she marched ahead of him to her little home.

Daniel went straight into the kitchen and left the hamper on the table in there; whilst Izzy remained just inside, near the open front door.

Daniel walked back down the hall and gently pushed the front door closed. "Since you now have the facilities to make coffee; then I would be delighted to join you for one," he told her dangerously.

Izzy peeped up at him to see those glittering eyes. "Yes Daniel, of course..." she murmured before fleeing to the kitchen.

She pottered around nervously making the coffee, all the time aware that Daniel was standing in the door way watching her.

She finally turned to him with two steaming mugs in her hands.

"In here or on the sofa?" she asked not quite meeting his eye.

"Hmm now let me think..." Daniel murmured in a deep and seductive tone that sent a little tremor through her, and a drop of hot coffee splashed onto the back of her hand. "In the kitchen could be quite fun ... but on the sofa would be little more comfortable for you -- I think." He looked down at her red face with twinkling eyes. "Do you still want to play little girl?" he asked.

Her face flamed, and she could not meet his eye, not for nothing. "Now Izzy, say sorry for winding me up."

Her eyes flew to his face and she swallowed. "I'm sorry Daniel ... I won't do it again," she whispered timidly.

He leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose before taking the mugs off her.

"The living room I think," he said as he turned and moved into that room. He sat down and put the mugs on the coffee table, and then he held his hand out to her. "Come and sit down Izzy," he ordered.

Izzy looked at him for a moment, with wide wary eyes and then with a little sigh of resignation, she curled up next to him. He put his arm around her and pulled her tight against him as he sat sipping his coffee.

All the time his hand was brushing restlessly against her, down her arm to the back of her hand and then lightly back up again. Mostly it was over her clothing but any time it was skin on skin it sent a static charge right through her.

By the time he'd finished his drink, and put the mug back down; Izzy felt like a mass of jelly, all boneless and liquefied.

"I have to go now," Daniel sighed regretfully.

"Oh but why?" she couldn't hide her disappointment, and he felt a surge of satisfaction.

"I've things I need to do," he told her rising from the sofa. Izzy followed him to the door. "Dinner is at six," he said looking down at her. "Don't make me come after you."

"No Daniel," she said meekly.

"It's a dangerous game that you are playing Izzy..." Daniel warned softly.

She looked up at him with wide innocent eyes and he swore softly. His hand was shaking slightly as he cupped it around her face. "You'll get burned if you're not careful..." he said hoarsely as his lips came down on hers.

This was one of those dangerous kisses, all soft and manipulating. Izzy groaned deep in her throat as she reached up for more; and Daniel pulled her hard against him to show her again how she affected him.

"Oh..."

"Don't say it," he growled at her. "Don't you dare say it!"

She swallowed it down and moved away her cheeks red from the passion he had stirred in her.

Daniel opened the front door and stepped onto the path. "I'll see you for dinner at six Izzy. Don't be late." He spun on his heel and marched away, without looking back.

"No Daniel" she whispered softly.

**

She showered and dressed in Jessie's blue dress, and she did her hair and her face with a little more emphasis on the eyes than she usually wore. She sprayed herself lightly with a body mist, and she hooked in the pretty earrings and fiddled with the necklace. She was ready for ten to six and she swept up her long woollen coat and locked up the little cottage.

As she neared the house, the front door was pulled open and Daniel stood waiting for her.

"Good evening Daniel..." she smiled hesitantly.

He bent and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Good evening Izzy," his fingers touched the drop on her earring. "These really are very pretty..." he murmured as his knuckles brushed her throat. Izzy closed her eyes as a shudder ran through her; she opened them to see Daniel looking down at her with dark glittering eyes.

"Shall we?" he asked putting his arm lightly around her waist to lead her inside.

**

That evening they ate their meal ... and talked. Izzy had never been confident enough to sit and really talk to a man -- who wasn't family before; and she loved it. Daniel was an intelligent man, but Izzy was an intelligent woman. The conversation was stimulating to Daniel and exciting for Izzy, her eyes were alive with interest and she had an opinion on most things. When Daniel mentioned the factory it was as if he'd opened a flood gate. She suddenly felt able to ask all those questions she'd bitten down on before ... and Daniel answered her questions, sometimes with humour for her naivety; but mostly with respect for her logical assumptions.

Some of the problems he and Richard had been facing, she offered solutions to in a clear confident manner. Her ideas were mostly unworkable, but she looked at things in such a different way to him, that it led him to other ideas, and very soon he was leaning forward in his chair telling her his thoughts, before he'd even had a chance to clarify them in his own mind.

She fired questions and opinions and it helped him to iron out some of the wrinkles in it. By the time they left the table the whole thing was burning in his mind. He needed to write some of this down before he lost it again.

"I'll walk you back..." he told her absently.

Izzy looked up at him with amusement. "I won't get lost Daniel," she told him quietly. "You go and do what you need to do, and I'll see you tomorrow ... maybe?"

He smiled a bit sheepishly and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Tomorrow," he agreed with her huskily.

She let herself into her little home and went straight for the kettle; and shortly afterwards she carried her mug into the living room, where she curled up on the sofa. She sighed as she remembered how they had sat here together earlier, Daniel with his arm around her. He'd stroked her skin until it had felt like it was on fire. 'You'll get burned if you're not careful' he warned her and when Daniel touched her that was exactly how she felt ... well, at the very least singed a little bit!

**

When Richard got back the next day it was to find Daniel sitting in Izzy's living room drinking coffee.

"There you two are!" Richard exclaimed.

"Richard!" Izzy reached up to kiss his cheek and Daniel moved over to make room for him on the sofa. "I've just boiled the kettle can I get you a coffee?"

"Yes please ... and while you're doing that, Daniel can help me with your stuff."

The two men went out to Richard's car and Daniel raised his eyebrows in surprise at the amount of things loaded inside. Richard laughed when he saw Daniels face. "You have absolutely no idea, brother!"

"So try telling me."

"Jessie went home and told her mum about Izzy yesterday morning. Her mum made a few phone calls and we spent all afternoon with people visiting. 'Oh Izzy's got a new house, she'll need a few bits so I bought this for her.' 'Izzy's got a new job; I thought she might like that.' 'I've just heard that Izzy's starting her own business, so I bought her this for luck!'" he grinned at Daniel his eyes twinkling mischievously. "That girl is so well loved brother dear -- that I pity you, if you hurt her."

Daniel frowned. "I have no intention of hurting Izzy! Like everyone else I think that she is wonderful."

Richard laughed with delight and a little bit of sympathy. "Oh but Izzy doesn't want you to be like everyone else. I've seen the way she looks at you, and it's nothing like the way she looks at anyone else ... and the way she talks to you, well..."

"Speaking of Izzy Richard, I've had some thoughts about the factory and I want to talk to you about it."

"And how did we get to the factory -- from Izzy exactly?" Richard puzzled.

"I was talking to Izzy about it at dinner last night; and she had some ideas..." Daniel ignored Richard's surprise. "She has a very strange way of looking at things sometimes, but she gave me some great ideas about how to move forward."

"Well, whatever gets you there -- I suppose," Richard murmured.

They started carting in Izzy's belongings.

"Oh my!" Izzy said as the things just kept coming. Several of the bags and boxes Richard put in the living room, most other things they took upstairs and dumped in the box room until Izzy had a chance to sort through it.

"Now then Izzy..." Richard told her. "You need to come into the living room and go through your house warming presents."

Her eyes were shining brightly, as she sat down on the floor; while the two men sat sipping coffee and watched her with amusement.

"Now isn't that nice!" she murmured holding up a little vase, and, "oh now I do like that!" she smiled looking at a plate.

There were lots of cards and notes all wishing her well on her new venture, and Richard kept looking at him as if to say; 'see I told you!'

Izzy seemed pleased and genuinely moved by all the good wishes; but he realised not shocked by the quantity. He began to realise just how extended her family was -- and how close knit they all were.

Finally Izzy seemed to reach the bottom of the final gift bag and all good wishes and gifts had been properly read, studied and admired.

She looked up at the two men, Richard grinning widely; and Daniel with a closed expression -- which she could not make out at all. "More coffee?" she offered hesitantly.

Daniel stood, "thank you Izzy, but no ... There are things that Richard and I need to discuss, before he heads back to London tomorrow." He smiled a little smile at her. "So if you would excuse us ... we'll leave you in peace to sort out your things."

Richard rose and left the cottage to move his car closer to Daniel's house, but Daniel's departure seemed to be a little more leisurely, as he continued to look at her thoughtfully.

"We'll see you for dinner at six?" It wasn't exactly a request or even an invitation, more like a very polite order.

She nodded with her own little smile. "Yes, of course."

He leaned down to kiss her lightly on her cheek. "Don't wear those earrings," he murmured just as he turned and exited the house.

Just thinking of the way Daniel always played with those earrings sent a shudder right through Izzy, and she couldn't help the; "oh Daniel" which slipped out. Fortunately Daniel had already left so she was quite safe, but she would really have to get control of herself, otherwise he might begin to think that she was doing it deliberately.

**

Dinner that night was fun as Richard was in high spirits, and it seemed to rub off on Daniel. There was lots of light conversation, and even more laughter. By the time they moved to the living room, Izzy was flushed and her eyes were sparkling; and she looked almost beautiful sitting on the sofa. Richard sat next to her and monopolised her attention for the next hour or more; as he filled her in on events back home, all the little bits of gossip which Jessie had made him memorise so that he could pass it on to Izzy.

It meant nothing to Daniel and very little to Richard since neither of them knew the people Richard was referring to; but to Izzy it was a delight; and some of it she found absolutely hysterical.

Daniel found himself smiling at her and sharing her amusement over something which should have been boring him to tears.

People who he'd never met, and their lives had no meaning for him, but the meaning they had for Izzy brought these strangers a little closer to him too.

Finally it was Richard who brought the evening to an end. "I'm for bed," he yawned, he looked across at Izzy. "I'll pop over for a coffee in the morning before I leave," he promised.

She smiled fondly at him. "Goodnight Richard, sleep well."

"I'll just walk Izzy back," Daniel said quietly, "See you in the morning Richard."

Richard didn't seem to find it strange that Daniel felt the need to walk her two minutes down a driveway which was locked up for the night with two heavy iron gates, and so Izzy didn't think anything of it either.

She unlocked her front door and turned to him. "Goodnight Daniel," she whispered softly.

Daniel cupped her face the way he had done before, and his lips brushed softly against hers. She reached up to put her hands on his shoulders, which brought her flat against his chest. She groaned a little as she arched up for more; and Daniel obliged by pulling her even tighter against him, his tongue dipping lightly into her mouth. He started to move against her and she could feel him.

"Izzy..." he grumbled softly, just before he pushed her gently away. "Go inside and lock your door Izzy," he ordered, his chest heaving slightly and his fist clenching and unclenching.

Izzy climbed out of bed early the following morning, full of purpose. She dressed smartly and left her little house to walk into the nearby village. It was a pleasant morning, bright and clear and just a little bit chilly.

There was a printer's just outside the village and that was her first stop, where she met with the owner, and over coffee told him a little bit about herself.

"Ah yes, Daniel Harker told me about you. You're the one who's going to be taking over from old Mr. Reynolds..." he looked at her over his spectacles. "You look a bit young to be doing such a dull job ... how old are you?"

Izzy smiled her sweet little smile. "I'm twenty four Mr. Potter. I'm fully trained and I've six years of experience behind me ... I can produce certificates and references on request, and I also have the support and backing of Mr Harker..." She leaned forward. "I came to see you first for two reasons; one to offer my services ... and secondly to place an order with you..."

Mr Potter's eyes brightened at this last bit. "Yes? What is it I can do for you?" he asked enthusiastically.

"I'd like to order some business cards off you; if you would be willing to take on such a small commission?" she asked a little bit uncertainly.

He grinned at her. "Corse I would my dear. How about say two hundred to start you off? And I think I could set up a nice little leaflet for you with a bit more detail on the kind of services you'll be offering..."

"Oh that would be wonderful!" Her voice warmed considerably, and her eyes sparkled.

"Excellent!" Mr Potter cleared his throat. "Now then ... I'll just get a paper and pen and we can sort it out..."

They spent the next hour working out a design and layout for the card and leaflet, and Mr Potter made a note of what services she would be offering out.

"Yes, I can see that people will really take to you," he murmured thoughtfully, "you're much more flexible than old Mr. Reynolds ever was." He looked across at her, 'such a nice little thing, ' he thought to himself, his Mary would be mothering her within the week given half a chance.

Izzy stood and shook hands with him. "So they'll be ready for next Wednesday?"

"Yes I can guarantee you, that they'll be all finished by then."

"Thank you for your time Mr Potter;" she smiled at him as he led her outside.

She walked back to her cottage feeling very pleased with herself; and so was more than a little dismayed, when Daniel came storming down the driveway towards her.

"Why weren't you at breakfast?"

Her smile faded, and the light left her eyes. "Stop bullying me Daniel!" she told him quietly, she walked past him, and unlocked her front door. She would have entered and closed her door on him, had he not held his hand up to stop her. "Go away Daniel..." she looked him in the eye. "Come back when you can be civil to me."




How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 07



He pulled his hand back and she closed the door in his face. Two seconds later there was a light tap at the door, and so Izzy opened it.

"Good morning Izzy, how are you today?" Daniel asked brightly, with a forced smile on his face. "We missed you at breakfast this morning ... where were you?"

She smiled sweetly at him, which made his eyes glitter ominously, and his lips thinned into a scowl. "Good morning Daniel, isn't it a beautiful day? I ate breakfast here in my home this morning ... and then I went out for a bit." She stood in her doorway, refusing to invite him in.

"Coffee?" he suggested hopefully.

"I've just had some thanks!" she informed him cheerfully.

Daniel sighed in exasperation and put his hand up to the door. "Let me in Izzy!" he ordered quietly.

"No."

"Izzy!"

"This is my home Daniel; and you can't come in."

"I could make you change your mind!" he threatened softly.

"You're bigger than me ... and stronger than me ... yes I know..." She acknowledged scathingly.

Daniel frowned. "That's not what I meant."

"Oh? So what did you mean then Daniel? How else could you overcome little old me?" her eyes were glittering furiously at him, and her soft lips were tight with her emotions.

Daniel stepped back as if she had just hit him. "I can see that you are in no mood to talk right now, so I'll come back later."

"Only if you are prepared to talk to me and treat me; like a woman ... and not a child."

"Be careful what you wish for Izzy," he paused as he looked her up and down, deliberately taking his time, so that when he reached her face again she was blushing furiously. "Because you just might get it!" he warned her softly.

He walked away, and she slammed the door shut with a good deal of satisfied violence.

________________________________________

An hour later there was another light tap on her door; and Izzy opened it cautiously. "Richard!" she exclaimed in delight, as she dismissed the little knot of disappointment which settled in her gut.

Richard grinned down at her, his eyes twinkling merrily. "I said that I'd pop in for a coffee -- before I left for London."

"Well come on in then!" She opened the door wider to allow him to enter, and he followed her down to the kitchen.

"So how are you handling being on your own?" Richard asked as he sat down at the kitchen table.

"Oh, I suppose that I should be feeling lonely, but to tell you the truth, I'm loving every minute of it right now!" she smiled across at him.

Richard gave a little laugh. "Well it's certainly a change from your life back home, but do you think it's just a novelty thing? And as time goes by you'll start to get home sick?"

Izzy looked at him sharply. "Is this you asking ... or Jess?"

Richard held his hands up, and laughed again. "Alright I admit it ... Jess made me promise to talk to you on your own; away from Daniel and to make sure that you were happy and well."

Izzy frowned. "Why away from Daniel?" she asked starting to get annoyed. "I don't know about you Richard; but I am starting to feel like Daniel is getting a raw deal out of every one when it comes to me ... And to be quite honest with you; I don't like the idea of being cast in the role of Daniel's 'little victim'." she hooked her fingers as she said it, as if to emphasise the cliché.

"It's because you look so tiny and defenceless; it brings out every one's protective streak!"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean that everyone gets to slander Daniel in the process!" she argued hotly.

"It's not me!" Richard exclaimed holding his hands up defensively again.

"I know, I know," Izzy sighed, "you're just the messenger!"

"Yes ... and what's that old saying about not shooting the messenger?"

"So let's agree then that you can tell Jess, that you've talked to me on my own, and that I'm fine and happy."

"Agreed."

Richard sipped at the coffee she had placed in front of him. "We missed you at breakfast this morning..." he observed, not quite looking her in the eye.

Izzy gave a sigh of exasperation. "You really are playing everyone's errand boy today -- aren't you Richard?"

He gave a little twist to his lips. "He was very upset when you didn't show up. He came down to your cottage -- to make sure that you were alright ... and there was no sign of you anywhere ... I think that he was starting to get a little bit worried about you."

"Well as you can see, I'm fine!" she told him, stubbornly refusing to explain herself to Daniel or Daniel's proxy.

Richard had not been gone half an hour, when there was a light rapping on her front door. She opened it cautiously expecting to see Daniel looming.

"Parcel for you love!" the post man said cheerfully, holding out a small box well taped up. "Just sign here for me ducks."

Izzy signed where he had indicated, and took the parcel with a smile.

She closed the door and took it through to her living room, where she tore it open excitedly.

Inside were half a dozen books, in the latest modern romance series. "Oh wow!" she exclaimed.

There was a sealed envelope on top which she opened and took out a hand written piece of paper.

Izzy,

A small gift to say thank you

for all your help and assistance over 

the last few days.

and also to say sorry for being a bully.

Yours,

Daniel.

P.S

I'm waiting outside for you -- if you forgive me?

"Oh Daniel!" she whispered with a sigh.



How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 08



Copyright2012©totallyatease

She only agreed to do it as a favour to her sister – but He more than made up for the inconvenience...

Chapter Eight

The next couple of weeks were wonderful for Izzy, she found that there was indeed plenty of work for her and the whole community seemed to welcome her, almost with open arms. Her days were nicely filled as she went round the small companies, doing filing and accounting and even some typing for them. 

The business men and women, who had secured her services, were quite able to do this work for themselves; which was what they had actually been doing, ever since Mr. Reynolds had retired. However they were very busy people, and so were more than happy to pay her to take over.

She would return to her home late in the afternoon and cook herself some dinner... something that Daniel had not been happy about; when she had declared her independence, and intention to feed herself – in her own home. 

She returned home on this Thursday afternoon, feeling tired but happy that she was finished for the weekend. She had passed Mrs. Coats in the village who had voiced her concern over how pale Izzy looked.

"I'm fine Mrs. Coats!" Izzy laughed. "It's just been a long week and I'm a bit tired, that's all."

"Are you eating enough?" that lady asked worriedly. "You look like you're starting to waste away again..."

"Yes Mrs. Coats, I'm eating plenty," Izzy responded dryly.  

Mrs Coats had not looked convinced, but there was nothing more that she could do or say, and so the two ladies had parted company.

She entered her little cottage, and opted for a nice soak in a hot bath, before deciding on what she would eat for dinner.

An hour later she walked into her kitchen wearing a deep blue soft woollen dress, which hung down around her legs. 

She looked in her cupboard and for lack of inspiration, or energy; elected on the uninspiring but filling enough – beans on toast.

She took out the tin of beans just as there was a knock on the door; and so still holding the can – she went to open it.

Daniel stood outside with a large basket over his arm. 

He looked with disgust at the tin in her hand. "If that is what you've been living on, no wonder you're wasting away." 

"Good evening Daniel," she smiled politely.

Daniel sighed. "Mrs Coates thought that you were looking a bit under the weather, and since you are refusing to eat at my house; I persuaded her to pack up enough for the two of us, and I've brought it to you."

Izzy gave a delicate little sniff as the aroma from the basket hit her nostrils. She gave him a huge grin which caused his heartbeat to do weird things. "Please do come in!" she gushed enthusiastically. "You are most welcome here tonight."

Daniel blinked at her a couple of times, and then taking a deep breath he stepped inside the cottage for the first time in nearly two weeks.

"If you bring it into the kitchen, I'll get some plates and things..." Izzy murmured as he followed her down the hallway.

Daniel heaved the basket onto the table, and started to remove the containers of hot food. He found himself wanting to hum as he moved around Izzy in the little kitchen. He'd missed her, these last couple of weeks, as she had been left to find her feet.

When Daniel had made his proposition to her, and offered her the use of this cottage it had been with the vague idea of being able to see her every day. But following their argument Izzy had decided that she wanted some space to settle down without being reliant on anyone else.

"Give me a couple of weeks to see if I can make it on my own," she had demanded. "You overwhelm me Daniel, and I find it hard to think straight with you constantly breathing down my neck..."

The images and urges which had shot through Daniel at such a harmless, little comment, had convinced him to stay away until he could control himself better around Izzy...

They sat down at the table together and they both thoroughly enjoyed the meal that Mrs. Coats had prepared for them.

"Hmm that really was delicious," Izzy sighed contentedly.

"Probably one of her finest meals," Daniel agreed.

They gathered the pots together, and washed and dried them in a compatible silence. 

"Coffee?" she asked casually.

"That would be nice... Thank you," he nodded.

"You go and sit in the living room, and I'll bring it in." She ordered.

When Izzy curled up next to him on the sofa, it was all he could do not to reach out and take her into his arms.

"So how have you been?" he finally dared to ask.

"Great!" she lied enthusiastically. "I've managed to get twelve clients, all needing a couple of hours a week or so. People have been so kind and helpful towards me..." she grinned, refusing to admit how much she had missed Daniel.

"Good, I'm glad," he told her sincerely.

They drank their coffee, and Daniel got up to go.

"Be sure and thank Mrs. Coats for such a wonderful meal," Izzy told him, as he stepped out onto her path – holding the large basket.

"Goodnight Izzy," Daniel said quietly as he stared down at her.

"Goodnight Daniel," she responded softly.

She stared up at him, with a quiet yearning she was unaware of, and with a little defeated sigh; Daniel placed the basket on the ground and took her in his arms. He kissed her gently on the lips, but knew better than to linger there too long. 

The kiss had barely begun when he was pushing her away and picking up the basket once again.

"Be sure and lock your door Izzy," he instructed as he backed away

Izzy did just as he had instructed, and pulled the bolt across the door.

It was only when he heard that final barrier between them, that he turned and went home to his large empty house.

**

When Izzy went down stairs the next morning, it was to find a plain white envelope on her front door mat. She opened it immediately to find an invitation from Daniel to dine with him that evening. "Oh my Daniel, how formal we have become!" she giggled softly to herself. "But how am I supposed to respond? Should I pop a note under his front door I wonder? Or do I just turn up?"

She opened the front door to find Daniel leaning against the wall.

"Good morning Izzy, did you sleep well?" he didn't move just stayed where he was, and smiling just a little.

"Good morning Daniel, I slept wonderfully thank you," she grinned at him. "Would you like to come in for some coffee?" 

"You look like you've just got out of bed?" he observed still not moving.

Izzy put her hand up to her tousled locks; she'd not pulled her comb through it yet.

"Yes," she laughed self consciously. "That's probably because I have – just got out of bed." Something in Daniel's eyes flickered, and he muttered softly to himself.

"I won't come in thank you Izzy... I was just wondering if you would have dinner with me this evening – at my house."

She held up his letter. "Yes I got your letter... and thank you, I would love to have dinner with you tonight."

"Excellent... I'll see you at six then," he moved then, to walk away from her.

Izzy stood on her door step watching him. 'Don't go.' She wanted to shout at him. 'Don't leave me again... I miss you so much!' she stayed silent and so he left her alone, to enjoy her solitude and loneliness.

* 

She pottered restlessly through her day, trying to keep busy, but not being able to settle on anything. She was impatient to be with Daniel again, and he was all she could think about. She dug through her wardrobe looking for something special to wear; but she didn't have much luck. 

Finally she settled on a little tight fitting black skirt, which she topped with an ivory coloured satin blouse. She was so tempted to hook in those earrings, but she thought better of it in the end, and instead went for gold hoops. She brushed her hair out so that it framed her face in soft shiny curls.

At five forty five there was a knock on her door, and Izzy went to open it.

"I'm early I know, but I thought that I would come down to fetch you...." Daniel began cheerfully. His voice trailed off as he looked her up and down. 

"Good evening Daniel," Izzy murmured uncertainly.

Daniel stepped over her threshold, and leaned back on her front door as it locked behind him. His eyes blazed down at Izzy, as she stepped back nervously.

"Is everything alright Daniel?" she asked worriedly.

"Beautiful," he murmured softly. "You are so beautiful Izzy."

Izzy felt the colour flame her cheeks, and she lowered her head shyly.

Daniel stepped forwards as if in a trance, to where she stood waiting for him, her heart beating like a drum. 

He brushed her hair away from her face, and his hand went to the back of her head to support her, while his lips crushed hers.

He pulled her against him, and held her tight as his lips devoured hers. 

All Izzy could do was to hang on for dear life, and not let go.

"That is for making me wait for so long," Daniel finally told her huskily.

Izzy looked up, her eyes glazed over. "If that is some form of punishment, then I'll have to try life as a criminal," she whispered with a shaky sort of smile. 

"The penalty would become more severe, if you were to continue down that dark route." he warned her solemnly. He opened the front door and stepped outside. "Shall we go and see what Mrs Coats has cooked for us tonight?"

They walked hand in hand over to the main house, and had a very special and romantic dinner, prepared with a loving hand by Mrs Coats.

"I'll walk you back," Daniel told her soon after Mrs Coats had left.

She looked at him in surprise, and he smiled a little ruefully. "I'm hoping that you'll invite me in for coffee," he told her quietly.

She laughed softly, as she walked with him over to her home. "Of course Daniel the house has felt a little empty this week; especially in the evenings, so you are most welcome." 

She unlocked her front door and left him to follow her inside at his leisure. Daniel strolled into the living room and sat down on the sofa, whilst Izzy went into the kitchen to make the coffee. 

Izzy put the steaming mugs onto the coffee table and curled up next to Daniel, the length of her bare leg pressed against him. 

It was the final straw for Daniel, as he turned and took her into his arms once more. He held her tight to him, as his mouth met hers in a soft kiss; and as he felt the tentative tip of Izzy's tongue on the edge of his mouth, his control began to crumble slowly away, he wanted her so very badly!

"Easy," Daniel murmured as he drew back slightly. He looked into her eyes as he concentrated on his breathing for a moment. "Izzy if you don't ease up a little bit, this will get out of hand very quickly."

"I'm sorry Daniel," she sighed. "I know that you're right; it's just that I've never felt like this for anyone before... and I... I don't know what to do!" 

Daniel relaxed back against the sofa taking Izzy with him, so that she was resting against his heart.

"There's plenty of time Izz, let's just take it nice and slow for a bit..." Daniel thought it was one of the hardest things he'd ever had to say, but she was worth it – of that he was certain.

Izzy lay listening to the steady beat of Daniel's heart; he seemed totally relaxed, but she wasn't fooled for a moment. 

She felt a little shot of mischief go through her, and squirmed slightly rubbing herself against Daniel. 

Daniel's heartbeat picked up a notch. 

She sighed gently and moved again, just a little, nothing dramatic...

Daniel gave a soft growl as his arms tightened around her.

"You are a little tease Izzy; and you are not ready for this yet!" he told her softly.

He pushed her away gently and stood up. "I think it's time I went," he said regretfully.

Izzy followed him to the front door. 

"Goodnight Daniel," she said quietly as she looked down at the ground.

Daniel cupped her chin gently, so that he could look into her eyes. He stared down as if searching for something, but in the end he shook his head slightly. "No," he murmured, "not yet Izzy." 

He stepped out onto the path. "Be sure and lock your door," he ordered firmly.

She gave him one last lingering look, before closing the door on him and sliding the bolt across. "Goodnight Daniel," she sighed through the door.

**

Izzy was awoken the following morning, to hammering on her front door. She crawled out of bed and peered out of the bed room window. 

Richard's car was parked outside and Jessie was banging on her door. She opened the window and stuck her head out.

"Jess... What are you doing here? And why so early?" she looked at her watch to see that it was only just after eight o'clock. 

Jessie grinned up at her; totally uncaring that she had obviously just dragged her from her bed. "I've come to spend the weekend with you!" she declared happily.

"Oh lord!" Izzy sighed as she pulled the window too, and dragged on her dressing gown. She scurried down the stairs to open the front door. "Come on in then," she said shortly, and Jessie stepped through the door – followed by a grinning Richard, and then followed by Daniel.

Izzy pulled her dressing gown tight, and flattened herself against the wall as Jessie walked down the poky little hall, and disappeared into her living room, with Richard hot on her heels. Daniel closed the door slowly and also made to walk past Izzy. 

He didn't even attempt to keep some space between them. 

Looking down into her eyes, he deliberately pressed himself fully against her. 

"Good morning Izzy..." he murmured softly into her hair, as his fingers gently stroked her jaw line. Izzy felt the now familiar shudder run down her spine whenever he touched her and Daniel smirked at her briefly. "That is for last night; you little minx!" he told her with a touch of satisfaction as he walked away from her.

"Jess... why don't you put the kettle on – while I go and get dressed," Izzy called as she headed for her stairs. 

There was absolutely no way that she was going to sit in front of Daniel, in just her night clothes!

*

By the time she had showered and dressed; and got back down the stairs, the other three were sitting sipping coffee and chatting happily together. 

Jessie looked up at her as she entered the room.

"Your coffee is just here on the table Izz."

Izzy curled up on the floor in front of the fire, since all the seats were taken in her tiny living room.

"Daniel had this brilliant idea about going to the beach for the day," Jessie gushed enthusiastically.

Izzy looked out of the window at the gloomy April sky. "I hope he wasn't thinking about bikinis and swimming in the sea," she said without thinking. She caught Daniel's eye and just knew that he was picturing her in a little skimpy bikini, and she blushed furiously as he smirked at her – again. 

Izzy lowered her head and sipped demurely at her coffee. 

"Come on Izz... it'll be great fun!" Jessie encouraged.

"Oh... alright!" she finally agreed. "Just let me grab a slice of toast or something and then I'll be ready to go."

"Excellent!" Jessie exclaimed. "Izzy you can travel in Daniel's Aston martin, rather than all of trying to cram into just one of the cars.

"Wonderful idea Jessie," Daniel jumped in before Izzy could respond. "It'll be good to give it a run, since I don't seem to have much opportunity these days."

Izzy just gave a little snort, as she left the living room to go and get some breakfast. She popped some bread into the toaster and stood waiting for it to jump out again.

"See you a bit later Izzy!" Jessie called and then there was the sound of the front door opening, and a second later it slammed too.

"Oh brilliant!" Izzy moaned to herself. "Deserted and abandoned."

"Oh... I wouldn't say that exactly," Daniel said behind her.

Izzy jumped, and threw the toast she was holding up in the air. It came back down and fell buttery side down onto the floor.

"Now look what you made me do!" she snapped at him.

"Hey! I didn't ask you to go about throwing your breakfast around, so don't blame me!" he grinned at her, looking so much like a cheeky little boy that Izzy just couldn't stay angry at him.

She laughed softly as she felt her ill humour melt away. "I'm sorry for being such a grump Daniel," she sighed.

"No worries babe," he told her easily. "Why don't you go and sort yourself out ready for our day trip and I'll make us both some more toast, and fresh coffee."

Izzy reached up and kissed him on the cheek. "You are such a love Daniel!" she grinned whimsically, as she walked away.

An hour later, Izzy was climbing into Daniel's little sports car. 

He turned the engine on with another of those boyish grins, and Izzy could feel the power straining to be released.

The beach that they travelled to; wasn't a huge distance away, and the car ate up the miles with a great appetite. It was a cool, blustery, wet kind of day; and the beach was deserted. 

"Come on you," Daniel said holding his hand out to her. "Let's go for a walk." 

They walked hand in hand up the beach; to where Richard had parked his car; and he and Jessie were sitting in the little restaurant close by. 

Richard must have noticed them, because Jessie who had her back to them suddenly turned and waved at them.

"Now isn't that just typical of her, to find the cosiest spot to curl up in!" Izzy said as she stamped her cold feet to keep the circulation going.

"Oh I don't know..." Daniel murmured with a little smile. "I seem to remember finding you curled up in some of the oddest places, in my house when you first came to stay." 

"Yes... well..." she blushed. "I was convalescing at the time!" she defended.

"That's as may be," Daniel grinned. "But I felt like I was on a treasure hunt, searching every nook and cranny for Izzy."

Izzy blushed a little deeper, but didn't respond to his teasing. "I suppose we should join them," she said instead.

"That would be the polite thing to do," he laughed. "They are after all our siblings and they might be a little offended if we were to just ignore them!"

"So you don't think that we can pretend, not to have seen them then?" she half begged.

Daniel laughed. "They know that we've seen them... and right now – Jessie is on her way to find out what is holding us up."

"Izzy what are you doing standing out there in this weather?" Jessie all but shrieked to be heard above the wind.

"Nothing Jess... just talking," Izzy sighed, feeling a little impatient with her sister.

She allowed Jessie to lead her to the table that she had been sharing with Richard, while Daniel went and fetched them both a coffee.

"Did you have a good drive down here then Izzy?" Richard asked cheerfully as she sat down opposite him.

"Yes... it was super. Daniel's car is really comfortable," she told him lightly.

"Yes, and really fast, I'm surprised that it took you so long to get here," his eyes twinkled knowingly at her as she looked away in embarrassment. 

Daniel sat down beside Izzy, and slid a mug in front of her; and she cupped her cold hands around it thankfully, and stared down into the steaming coffee – allowing the other three to take charge of the conversation.

"So now that we're here – what are we going to do?" Jessie's voice broke into Izzy's introspection. 

"Well... we could take a walk along the beach..." Richard suggested. "Or there's that new shopping arena, just across town, we could go and take a look around there."

"Ooh shops," Jessie grinned. "I vote we take a look round there."

"If you all don't mind, I think I'd like to walk along the beach," Izzy said quietly.

"I'll keep you company Izzy," Daniel told her. "I've seen the shopping centre and would much prefer a walk on the beach."

"Excellent!" Richard chimed in, before either of the girls could protest. "We'll meet you for lunch... back here... in say – an hour?" he looked at Daniel who nodded in agreement.




How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 08



"See you in a bit Jess!" Izzy called over her shoulder as Daniel led her away.

Daniel held her hand as they walked in silence. At one point they stopped to watch the waves, and as he put his arm across her shoulders, Izzy felt that this was probably the most romantic thing to have ever happened to her. 

She gave a happy little sigh, and looked up at him with a big grin on her face. "Isn't this just marvellous?" she laughed.

He grinned down at her, thinking that anything would be marvellous with Izzy by his side. He leaned down to capture her lips with his, and she melted into him, her hands coming up to rest on his shoulders. 

Their kiss began slow and languid, but turned into a heated passion very quickly. 

The water lapping at their feet brought them back to reality. 

"It's always something!" Daniel grumbled softly. He looked at Izzy with a wry smile. "I never thought that the day would come, when kissing a girl would be constantly interrupted by weather events!"

Izzy giggled and reached up to kiss him once on the mouth. "One day we'll get it right!" she promised him.

"Yes indeed Izzy... we will. And then you need to watch out." 

The look he gave her set her heart beating erratically, and the blood rushing through her veins at a terrific rate. She prudently kept her mouth closed and didn't let the, 'oh Daniel' slip out.

He took her hand, and they walked the length of the beach at a great pace. By the time that they turned around to head back to the restaurant, Izzy felt like she had just run a marathon.

"Heavens – I'm out of condition!" she panted, as they arrived back.

Daniel looked down at her flushed damp face, and heaving chest. "Was I walking too fast for you?" he frowned in concern. "Why didn't you tell me to slow down?"

"I needed to push myself, and you weren't walking that fast." She smiled her reassurance. "If I could do something like this once or twice a week, I'd get fit really quick."

"Now that the evenings are starting to draw out, maybe you could take a walk around my gardens. They are fairly extensive and if you were to do a brisk walk for half an hour every day, that would build up you stamina very effectively."

The rest of the day went in a blur for Izzy, as they sat around chatting before and after they were joined by Jessie and Richard; and all too soon it was time for them to make their way home.

Daniel easily kept ahead of Richard, and they arrived back quite a bit before them. He pulled up outside of her little house, and walked her to her front door. "This is probably the last chance I'll get to do this for a couple of days..." he told her as he pulled her into his arms to kiss her passionately, and his hands moved down her body in an almost frenzied exploration. 

"Daniel!" Izzy gasped her head going back as he nuzzled at her throat. 

He pulled back his eyes flaring. "I want you Izzy," he growled at her. "I want you so much – that it's killing me."

The intensity of his look silenced her completely; she was totally inexperienced at dealing with a man filled with that kind of passion. She didn't know what to say or do...

"Richard and Jess will be back at any minute, so I am going to get the hell out of here, before I do something really stupid!" he ground out savagely as he spun on his heel and walked back up the drive.

Izzy stood watching as he climbed back into his car and moved it to behind the big house, where his garages were. She let herself into her little home then, and locked the door with a little shiver. She knew that it was only a matter of time before she and Daniel became lovers... 

She just hoped that he would realise that she had never been with a man before, because she didn't know how to tell him.

The next day she spent with Jess. They pottered around her little house and took a walk around Daniel's gardens. 

Richard and Daniel stayed away from them for the entire morning, and Izzy wondered if Jess had told Richard to keep his distance. As the day wore on and Jessie enthused about absolutely everything, Izzy became convinced that Jess was just biding her time before leaping on Izzy, to persuade her about something.

She was also certain that it would be something that she wouldn't like.

They sat down at her kitchen table to eat sandwiches, and share a pot of tea between them. 

"Okay then Jess, spit it out," Izzy challenged suddenly.

Jessie gave her a slightly guilty look. "Have I been that obvious?" she asked not meeting Izzy's eye. "You need to come home." Jessie finally said in a rush.

"I beg your pardon?" Izzy tensed

"There's this job come up at Briskell's you know the biscuit factory?" Jessie looked questioningly at her.

"I know of it... yes," Izzy acknowledged noncommittally.

"Well they've got this vacancy come up in administration. It would be absolutely perfect for you." 

"I'm not an administrator," Izzy said flatly.

"And you remember Cousin Andrew's friend Robert?"

Izzy just nodded.

"Well he's come to stay with Andrew for a couple of weeks, maybe longer. I remember that you used to have a real thing about him..." Jessie grinned encouragingly at her. "Any way he was asking about you the other day... Really wanted to know where you were and what you were doing, and..." she paused dramatically. "He asked if you were still single!" 

Izzy sat waiting for the rush of excitement that she should have felt... nothing.

"Come on Izz!" Jessie prompted, "I know that you really liked him a lot."

"I was just a child Jess," Izzy said quietly, she narrowed her eyes slightly. "And he always enjoyed the ego trip; that my blind adoration sent him on."

"Yes, but like you said you were just a child; and you're not any more... Why don't you come and see him, spend some time with him? See if it can develop into something... more."

"I am not going to turn my back on everything that I've managed to build up here; just on the off chance!" Izzy protested.

"Okay okay!" Jessie tried to pacify. "But that's not the only reason that I came up this weekend..." again she paused for dramatic effect.

"Oh?"

"Richard and I just got engaged," she said demurely before looking up with a huge grin.

"Jess! That's wonderful!" Izzy exclaimed joyfully, she rushed around the table to hug her sister.

Jessie laughed. "Yes it is... rather," she said with a watery little laugh. "Any way..." she carried on a little bit more firmly. "We're having a bit of an engagement bash next Saturday, and you of course simply have to come."

Izzy tensed. "Where?" she asked suspiciously. 

"Why, back home of course," Jessie said innocently. "It's got to be local enough for all the family to be able to attend."

"Sorry Jess," Izzy said apologetically. "I'm not sure how I'm going to get down there for the evening."

"It's all arranged!" Jessie said a little smugly. "While you were getting dressed yesterday morning, we told Daniel... and he said that he would drive you down; with him and bring you back afterwards."

"I'd love to come!" Izzy said her whole body trembling slightly in anticipation of an evening with Daniel as her escort.

"Excellent!" Jessie exclaimed. "Now then what shall we do this afternoon?" Jessie asked having gotten the important bits out of the way.

Izzy shrugged. "I've absolutely no idea," she admitted. 

Jessie didn't answer her directly; instead she took out her mobile and called Richard.

"Hi, I've told her about the party; and she's agreed to come, she's really excited about it!" Jessie paused to listen for a moment. "Yep, I told her all about him..." again a pause. "Any way we're at a loose end now, and so we thought that we would come and invade Daniel's..." another pause. "See you in a bit!"

She closed her phone and put it away and then turned to look at Izzy.

"Shall we go then?" she asked.

Izzy tried to play it cool, but it was all she could do not to snatch up her jacket and run over to Daniel.

They walked together up to the main house, and Richard stood waiting at the door. 

"Congratulations Richard!" Izzy smiled up at him. 

She walked into the hall to find Daniel standing there with a face like thunder...

And that furious glare seemed to be aimed directly at her!



How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 09



Copyright2012©totallyatease

She only agreed to do it as a favour to her sister -- but He more than made up for the inconvenience...

*

Izzy stumbled to a halt at that look on Daniel's face. He looked like he was absolutely furious, and by the way he was looking at her, it was her that he was so angry with!

"Is everything alright Daniel?" she stammered uncertainly.

Richard and Jessie came in before he could reply, but Izzy wasn't sure if he would have said anything any way.

As the afternoon wore on Daniel made sure, that he was never alone with Izzy; and he never spoke directly to her either. Jessie did most of the talking anyway, going on about how it would be good for Izzy to get home for a couple of -- or even a few hours... how much she must be looking forward to being with the family again. 

She went on and on about all the things that Izzy must surely be missing by now, and in the end Izzy was heartily sick of the whole thing; and Daniel's look of thunder had finally mellowed into something akin to thoughtfulness. 

True he still refused to talk to Izzy directly, and anytime she met his eye she would see nothing but a guarded expression.

There was well and truly a wall between them now, and Izzy had no idea what had caused it. Not knowing what had caused it also meant that she had no idea how to resolve it.

"I hope that you and Izzy are planning on staying to dinner tonight Jessie?" Daniel invited politely.

Before Jessie could accept, Izzy jumped in; "Oh no thank you Daniel," she said hurriedly. "I really wanted to spend this last evening with just Jess..." she shrugged her shoulders and gave a little laugh. "You know -- a girlie evening."

Jessie's look of surprise turned to one of nostalgia. "Gosh its ages since we've done anything like that..." 

Izzy took that as an agreement to her suggestion, and leaped up to leave.

Daniel escorted Izzy to the door, presumably to give Jessie and Richard a moment of privacy.

"Goodnight Daniel," she said softly.

"Goodnight Izzy," Daniel said evenly, making no move to detain her when she stepped outside. 

Izzy squared her shoulders and forced herself to walk calmly down the drive, she resisted the almost overwhelming urge to look back and see if Daniel was stood there watching her. She could almost feel his eyes boring into her back as she neared her little home. 

She unlocked her door and, since the need to see became too strong to fight, she turned around... 

He stood at his door -- she could see him silhouetted against the inside light. Her eyes filled with tears as she stepped inside leaving the door open for Jess.

"Pull yourself together!" she muttered savagely to herself. She knew that the first sign of weakness and Jessie would be all over her. 

"Izzy? Izz I'm back where are you?" Jessie called as she slammed the front door minutes later.

Izzy squared her shoulders and forced her grin as she turned from the kitchen sink to face her sister.

"So what do you fancy for dinner?"

Together they cooked a curry with rice and a few finely chopped mixed veg. Just as the rice was boiling nicely Jessie suddenly asked; "Have you got any wine here?"

"No, I haven't," Izzy apologised. "I don't drink during the week, and I never did like drinking alone..."

"No worries," Jessie grinned taking out her phone. "Richard!" she exclaimed cheerfully, "we've a slight emergency over here... We don't have any wine to drink with our dinner, and a girlie night absolutely must have wine!" She waited for a moment. "Excellent! Tell Daniel, that he's my hero... White of course... See you in a minute." She closed her phone again and sighed. "I have such a wonderful fiancé," she said dreamily.

"Richard is wonderful... and Daniel is your hero?" Izzy asked dryly. "Can I take it that between them, that we may get a bottle of wine?"

A moment later there was a knock at the front door and Izzy went to open it.

"I'd say ho ho ho, but it's a bit early in the year for that just yet!" Richard grinned as he held out two bottles of wine.

"I'd forgive you just this once!" Izzy laughed as she took the bottles from him. 

From the living room there was suddenly the sound of loud music playing, and both Richard and Izzy rolled their eyes.

"It looks like you two are going to be having a party here tonight," Richard laughed.

"Yes, whether I want one or not," she sighed.

*

Their evening went from strength to strength after that. Jessie was on a real high, even before the wine; and Jessie in that kind of mood was impossible to resist.

They ate their dinner and washed their dishes. Then they retired to the living room where the first bottle of wine disappeared very quickly. 

The girls were more than a little drunk and just starting on the second bottle when there was a loud thumping on the front door.

"I'll get it Izz!" Jessie called over the music as she went to answer the door.

A moment later she returned with a grinning Richard... and Daniel.

"The fella's were feeling a bit lonesome over there," Jessie said, "So they decided to come and visit with us!"

"And look, we've come bearing gifts," Richard said holding out a couple more bottles and some party snacks. 

"Oh do come in the both of you... You are most welcome," Izzy slurred slightly, and Daniel bit back a grin. Izzy drunk could well be the redemption of a rotten day for him!

**

Izzy woke the next morning with a really thick head, and a terribly churning stomach.

She looked with bleary eyes around her bedroom, trying to remember how she had gotten there. She was undressed right down to her underwear... and she couldn't remember how that had happened either. 

She lay back and turned to see a tall glass of water by her bed side, and sat up to drink thirstily from it. As she sat there, her memories of the night before started to resurface...

Her face flamed as she remembered Daniel leading her up to her bedroom. 

She had flirted with him terribly... and some of the suggestions that she had made to him! 

Her face went from red, to white, to a slightly greenish colour. She threw the covers back and scrambled for the bathroom. 

After being horribly sick, she washed her face with cold water, and brushed her teeth using plenty of toothpaste. She opened the bathroom door and stepped onto her landing to find Daniel at the top of her stairs holding a glass of what looked like orange juice.

"Good morning Izzy," Daniel said, not looking at her -- after his first all seeing glance.

"Good morning Daniel... What are you still doing here? Is that for me?" she croaked. 

"Why don't you go and get back into bed, and I'll bring it in to you?" Daniel asked still not looking at her.

Izzy frowned. "I don't need to go back to bed Daniel." 

He gave an exasperated sigh, before looking at her defiantly.

"After some of the propositions you made to me last night Izzy... it really is not a good idea for you to be standing there -- half naked."

Izzy looked down in panic, as she remembered that her scramble for the bathroom had not involved grabbing any clothes. She was stood in front of Daniel in some lacy briefs and a matching lacy bra... and nothing else!

She shot him a look of pure horror and humiliation, before fleeing to her bedroom.

"I'll leave your orange out here on the landing then -- shall I?" Daniel called through the door.

"Yes please," she mumbled.

He gave a wicked little grin before going down the stairs whistling.

When Izzy went down to the kitchen half an hour later, she was feeling a little more composed.

She could hear Daniel whistling in her kitchen, and scowled. What did he have to be so cheerful about? She wondered irritably.

"What happened to Richard and Jess?" she asked as she marched defiantly into the kitchen.

"Richard needed to get back to London -- for work, and so he managed to drag Jessie off at some ungodly hour this morning." He gave a little smirk.

Izzy couldn't help but smile at the thought of Jessie with a hangover, and being dragged out of bed in the early hours. She would not have been impressed!

"Poor Richard!" she murmured softly.

Daniel laughed but cut it short as Izzy winced at the sudden noise.

"Sorry," he lowered his voice dramatically.

He handed her a plate with a fried breakfast on it.

"Try and eat this," he advised. "It'll line your stomach, and hopefully it'll make you feel a little bit better."

Izzy pulled a little face but obediently started to eat. "You're a very good cook," she observed in surprise.

Daniel gave a little quiet laugh. "Not really. That's why I have Mrs. Coats... but I can manage to knock out a fry up, when one is required."

"Lucky me," Izzy murmured as she tucked in.

He placed a mug of coffee next to her and sat opposite, to sip at his own.

Izzy cleaned her plate and sat back with a contented sigh.

"Feeling better?" he asked softly.

"Much... thanks to you," she smiled briefly as she put her plate in the sink and rejoined him at the table. She sipped at the hot coffee before cupping her hands around the mug.

Daniel sat nursing his own mug. "So Izzy..." he said looking down at his coffee. "Some of those things that you said to me last night..." he glanced up at her burning face. "Ah, so you do remember then," he said softly.

"I'd had too much to drink!" she began defensively. "I only remember little bits, and then I'm not sure how accurate they are..." She frowned slightly as memories popped back into her head. Surely she would never have said those things to Daniel? She looked at him in confusion. "Please tell me that I didn't proposition you last night!" she begged.

He gave her a mocking little smile and she felt the colour heating her cheeks again.

"I could tell you that..." he began filling her with relief. "But I'd be lying." He grinned again.

Izzy could feel the embarrassment rising in her.

"It's all confused!" she almost wailed. "Please tell me what happened last night."

Daniel gave a little sigh and looked her in the eye. "Like you said you made a couple of propositions, when I helped you up stairs, you got a bit enthusiastic at times... but nothing too bad..."

"And did you take me up on any of them?" she knew she shouldn't need to ask but she needed to know for sure.

Daniel's eyes narrowed in offence. "No I did not," he said quietly.

"Then how did I end up without any clothes on?" she cried.

"You passed out on your bed and I made you a little more comfortable."

"You undressed me?" she clarified.

"A little... yes," he admitted calmly.

"And you weren't even tempted to take me up on my little offer?" She was awful she knew, but she couldn't help herself.

"Tempted... yes," he admitted with a single nod of his head. "But I didn't Izzy."

"Why?" she cried in offence.

He gave another little sigh at her lack of understanding. "Like you said Izzy, you'd had too much to drink." He rose from the table and leaned across to her so that they were almost nose to nose. "But don't ever make the mistake of thinking that I wasn't tempted. Because I was Izzy, I was very tempted."

He walked over to the kitchen door. "By the way I'm going away for a few days, so please come up to the main house whenever you want. Borrow any books you might want to read, and I'm sure that Rosie and Mrs. Coats would love to see you. And I've some more paperwork needs sorting in my office... when you have the time." He glanced at his watch. "I'll pick you up at five thirty on Saturday, Izzy," he said quietly.

She sat in shock as he turned and left her house. She'd not even said goodbye! He'd not even said goodbye!

The tears trickled down her cheeks

She didn't know what had happened between her and Daniel, but despite his care of her, and even his teasing, there was some sort of barrier between them that she didn't understand. And now he was leaving, going away without even talking to her about it. 

She stood up and giving a huge sniff she squared her shoulders and prepared herself for her Monday morning visits.

**

She plodded despondently through the beginning of her week. Each day was a day to be got through, with no hope of even a glance of Daniel. The huge house seemed empty and forlorn without its master. Once Mrs. Coats and Rosie left in the evening it was left locked and deserted. Brooding over her tiny home... ironically a bit like how Daniel seemed to brood over her!

She saved her visit to Mrs. Coats and Rosie until last on Thursday morning. "I'm all done for this week." She told Mrs Coats with a grin. "So once I've finished Daniel's paperwork, I can stop for a natter... if you've got the time to spare?" 

"Indeed we have Miss Izzy," Mrs. Coats smiled. "With Mr Daniel away all week, there's been very little to do."

The two of them walked through to Daniel's office and Izzy could see the small pile of paperwork to be sorted. "Oh this isn't too bad!" she said with satisfaction. "I think an hour at the most." 

"That will be just in time for lunch," Mrs. Coats smiled. "You come back to the kitchen when you're finished and we'll all eat together."

Mrs. Coats left her in peace and Izzy rolled up her sleeves and settled down to work.

**

Lunch with Mrs. Coats and Rosie was the most socialising that she'd done this week, and she thoroughly enjoyed their company, and of course the excellent food which Mrs. Coats produced for them.

She left them feeling in higher spirits than she had felt all week, and went back to her little home; where she started to do her weekly clean up. 

She knew that she was being foolish doing it too soon and that she would be feeling thoroughly bored come tomorrow, but she was just so restless. She decided the she would go into the nearest city in the morning; there was a local train station, within walking distance and she would hop on one of the trains... and see where it took her.

*

She ended up in York of all places, and the minute she left the train station she went hunting for something pretty to wear for Jessie's party. She would have loved to have gone for something stunning so that she could surprise Daniel, but unfortunately Izzy just couldn't pull off stunning.

She did manage to find something a little daring though. She opted for a long black skirt that flared out and sparkled delightfully, with its silver threads running through it. And she went for a deep blue bask style top that, left her shoulders bare, and gave her a wonderful cleavage... and cried out for a pretty necklace -- and some dangling earrings. 

She dug out her one and only pair of stilettos and by the time she was ready on the Saturday night, she felt quite sexy.

Daniel knocked on her door at five thirty on the dot and she had to force herself to slow down, and not run to the door.

"Good evening Daniel," she managed calmly, although her eyes were sparkling with excitement, and her cheeks flushed.

"Ready Izzy?" Daniel's eyes ran over her quickly, and a wing of colour ran briefly across his cheeks.

That was the only reaction she got, and her excitement died a death.

"Of course... I'll just get my bag, and jacket and then I'll be right with you," she told him quietly.

By the time she had locked up, Daniel was sitting in his Aston Martin, waiting impatiently for her. She scrambled into the passenger seat, and clipped her seat belt into place, and without a word they were off.

They managed to complete almost all, of the two hour long journey, without saying a single word to each other. The final bit of the trip was the only time that she was encouraged to speak, and then only to give him directions.

They pulled up outside a hotel come restaurant and Izzy climbed out of the little car with a sigh of relief.

She hesitated at the entrance to look up uncertainly into Daniel's solemn face. 

"Do I look alright?" she whispered doubtfully.

Daniel's eyes flickered over her and darkened. "You look beautiful Izzy, stunning even... I'm sure that Robert will love the outfit."

"Robert?" Izzy's mouth fell open in shock. 

"Cousin Andrew's friend -- Robert," he prompted dryly.

"Robert!" Izzy demanded incredulously.

Daniel scowled down at her in confusion. "The love of your life -- according to some people," he told her.

"When I was ten maybe..." She laughed ruefully. "By the time I reached fourteen, I recognised him for the thoughtless, egotistical fool that he was."

"Maybe he's changed?" Daniel offered helpfully.

Izzy frowned. "I doubt that."

He held out his arm for her to take. "So shall we go inside then Izzy?" he invited softly.

Her eyes shone and she positively glowed as she smiled up at him. "Yes please Daniel."

*

As they entered the hotel reception, Daniel led her over to a small group of people. "Izzy... I'd like to introduce you to my parents -- Melanie and Stephen Harker." He grinned down at her briefly, before turning to the couple now smiling at her curiously. "Mum and dad meet Izzy, Jessie's younger sister."

The couple greeted her in a friendly manner, as they shook her hand and said hello. She could see that they were still wondering about the connection between Daniel and herself.

Before they could start any meaningful conversation however, Jessie and Richard joined them, and Izzy was able to retreat a little into the back ground.

"Why little Izzy! How you have grown up!" Izzy would have known that slimy voice anywhere, as she turned to greet Robert.

"How are you Robert?" she asked him calmly.

"I knew that you would remember me!" he crowed.

"You can only learn from mistakes, if you do remember them," she murmured softly.

Daniel standing just behind her; was the only one to hear her quiet voice, and he gave a little grin of approval. One glance at Robert; and all threats from that department had died a quick death. If Jessie truly believed that Izzy could ever be interested in a man like that, then she really had no idea at all about her little sister.

There were several tables arranged for groups of people to sit down and dine. Daniel hoped to sit next to Izzy at the main table but he found himself next to Jessie on one side and Jessie's mum on the other. Izzy was down the other end next to Daniel's father -- and much to her annoyance -- Robert.

As the first course was handed out Daniel found himself talking to Izzy's mum. She was a gentle little soul who was very chatty. Daniel couldn't decide who was more like her... one moment she would be chatting, ten to the dozen like Jessie; and the next she would look at him with Izzy's candid blue eyes.

"I think that you've stolen my daughter away from me," she suddenly told him accusingly.

Daniel wasn't sure what response to give to that remark, and so remained silent.

"You know that she was very sick last year, don't you?" she asked instead.

"Something about flu?" he nodded in remembrance.

"Followed by pneumonia," Mrs. Parkinson told him a little mistily. "The doctor warned us..." she broke off to wipe at her eyes discreetly. "Well, we were advised to gather the family and say our goodbyes," she finished softly. "He didn't think she would make it to the morning."

Daniel looked down at Izzy, who was doing her best to ignore the annoying Robert by talking earnestly to Daniel's father. She was so lovely! No wonder her family loved her so much. And now he realised that he may never even have known her at all!

"So please don't hurt her!" he heard the soft plea from Izzy's mother. 

He desperately wanted to reassure the little lady, but he knew that it would be a lie at this moment. 

Izzy belonged here with her family and friends. In persuading her to remain at his home he had not given any thought to what she would be giving up. He was amazed that she had even considered his cold impersonal proposal to her... and yet she had, and she had remained close to him, and he had thought that she was happy with him... 




How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 09



Maybe for a little while she had been. 

But now she was back and he could tell that she was enjoying being in the heart of her family again.

He finished the meal which tasted like ashes on his tongue. When the meal was finished the announcement was made to congratulate the happy couple, and that there was a disco on the lower floor if people would like to make their way there.

Daniel was going to have a quick word with Jessie and Richard, and slip away unnoticed. That was his intention. 

Izzy thwarted him.

He felt her tiny hand grab his wrist in a vice like grip and look down in surprise.

"He won't leave me alone!" she told him in frustration. "Please stay with me for a little while. If he thinks that I'm with you, he won't dare bother me then."

Daniel put a possessive arm around her waist, and glared at the slime ball as he came over to Izzy.

Robert looked at Daniel, then the arm, and then at Izzy in some confusion. "They said that you were single," he complained.

"They were wrong," Daniel responded coldly. 

"Obviously!" Robert sneered, before glaring reproachfully at them both and then scurrying off.

"I don't think he'll bother you anymore," Daniel told her quietly taking his arm from her waist.

"Stay with me for just a little longer," she begged, "just to be sure!" 

Daniel knew Robert's type, and he knew that he wouldn't be back, but for a little while he had the perfect excuse... 

He decided to indulge himself, just this one time.

He pulled her close, and they walked down to the dimly lit dance room.

The first few tracks were loud energetic pieces, but then there was a slower one and the dance floor was invaded by couples.

"Dance with me Daniel?" Izzy asked softly. "Please?"

They moved to the dance floor and she wound her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him. 

They swayed gently to the music. Daniel held her tight and bent slightly to breath in the scent of her. 

There were no words needed between them, and for a little while it was just the two of them.

It didn't last.

The music came to a halt and the light's came up. 

"Izzy? Izzy! There you are!" First one girl, then another, and before he knew it she was surrounded.

He moved away to be engulfed by his own small family circle. "Daniel I've not had a chance to talk to you at all tonight!" Mrs. Harker told him reproachfully. "I didn't realise that you knew Jessie's little sister so well..."

Izzy lost sight of Daniel, as her cousins closed in around her. They led her off to a small table -- all talking at once. 

Had it been any one but these four, she would have made her excuses and left to find Daniel, but she just couldn't do that to Maggie, Laura, Kitty and Jenny. These four had had a rotten couple of years, and had only got through it by sticking together, and she loved them dearly. 

"Where have you been staying?" Laura was asking her.

She sat talking to them for a little bit, telling them of her life, but she was constantly searching the sea of faces. 

"He's still here." Again it was Laura who spoke quietly to her. "He's over in the corner talking to that older couple..." she frowned in thought. "I think that someone said that they are his parents..." she said a little wistfully.

"So what are you all doing?" Izzy asked brightly.

This time it was the youngest Kitty who answered. "Well... me and Jen are still in school you know..." she said with a little pull to her mouth. "And Laura is still working at the doctor's surgery..." she said narrowing her bright blue eyes at Laura. She grinned then at Maggie. "And that traitor over there; is just about to abandon us all, to get married."

Izzy turned to her eldest cousin Maggie. "Maggie is that true? When?" She asked in delight.

"I am getting married in the autumn; yes..." she nodded. "But I shall still be keeping an eye on that pair over there." She grinned at the two younger girls and Laura gave a little chuckle. "They thought that once Maggie got married, that they would be able to wrap me around their little fingers, and party all night long."

"Yes and they thought wrong!" Kitty and Jenny both moaned in unison. 

The music started up again, and the two girls shot off to dance energetically. 

"You all seem so happy now... but how will you manage with the girls on your own?" Izzy shouted over to Laura.

Maggie also seemed to have disappeared, leaving the two of them to talk.

"It was so rotten last year after mum and dad were killed like that. We never would have got through it if Maggie hadn't been so strong for all of us," Laura gave a little sigh. "Jenny and Kitty are almost grown now, and don't need taking care of any more... just a nudge here, and a reminder there every once in a while." Laura shrugged her shoulders and smiled gently. "I can handle that I think..." She grinned, her blue eyes twinkling and the little threat of a dimple that never quite made it to the surface.

Izzy and Laura sat chatting and occasionally someone would wonder over and say hello. Izzy enjoyed talking with Laura; the two of them had always been close in age and interests. She also enjoyed the brief hellos from other members of her friends and family, but she felt like a visitor. 

Oh it was nice to see the familiar faces again. But she talked to her mum and Jess on the phone almost all the time, and this place that had once been her home... well, it just wasn't home anymore.

Home really was where the heart was, and for her that was with Daniel...

She loved Daniel!

She opened her eyes wide in surprise and Laura stopped talking mid sentence.

"Oh my!" Izzy gasped.

"What is it?" Laura asked in alarm.

"I love him Laura!" she couldn't hide the shock that flooded through her.

Laura grinned and that dimple threatened to break out again. "You didn't know?"

"No!"

"Maybe someone should have taken a photo of you every time you look at him," she giggled. "You look like you want to dip him in chocolate and eat him alive!"

"Now there's a thought," Izzy said half seriously.

"Izzy," Daniel said from behind them, making both of them jump guiltily.

"We should think about heading back soon," Daniel told her eying Laura curiously.

"Daniel this is my cousin Laura, Laura this is Daniel. Why don't the two of you say hello -- while I go and say bye to mum and dad."

Izzy left the two of them, her face still a little pink.

She found her parents fairly quickly and a few minutes conversation, with a promise to call in the morning and her farewells were finished with there.

Daniel joined her at the exit as she was chatting with Jessie and Richard.

"Call me!" Jessie ordered her brightly.

"I just need to nip to the ladies Daniel, I'll be right back," Izzy told him quietly.

She had spotted the machine in there earlier, and hoped that there would be no one else in there. 

She was lucky the lady's was empty, and she shoved in several coins, withdrew the foil packets, and after tucking them into her hand bag she left again.

Her mission this evening was a simple one. She was going to seduce Daniel. 



How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 10



Copyright2012©totallyatease

She only agreed to do it as a favour to her sister -- but He more than made up for the inconvenience... 

*

Their drive home began with just as much silence as their drive down had been.

Izzy let it go on for a little while, but not all the way home. 

"It was nice seeing Laura and co again," she sighed after about half an hour.

"I'm surprised that you didn't want to spend more time with them," he murmured, "at least over night... or something?"

"I was thinking of inviting Laura down for the weekend..." she told him. "I think a change of scenery would be good for her, and it would be nice to have some female company for a change."

"It's your house," he shrugged. "You rent it legally, and have every right to invite whoever you want, to stay."

She turned to look at him. "You wouldn't mind?" she asked quietly.

"No not at all," Daniel shook his head slightly. "You invite whatever friends or family you choose to."

"Female friends," Izzy paused licking her lip as she savoured the last bit. "Or male friends?" she asked huskily.

His nostrils flared, the only sign of anything. "You're thinking of inviting a male friend to stay?"

"I'm thinking about it... yes," she nodded

"Your choice... your decision," he shrugged again as he kept his attention firmly on the road.

"You wouldn't care?"

"It would be none of my business Izzy... but we live in a very small community and I would hate for people to get the wrong impression about you."

"You think that they would mind?" 

"People will talk, and it isn't always nice what they might say."

"I'll be careful," she told him quietly.

She sank back into silence, as she brooded over her new predicament... how do you seduce a man, whose major thought is to protect you from the gossips?

*

When Daniel pulled up outside her little home, Izzy thought for a moment that she would chicken out. 

"Would you like to come inside... for a coffee Daniel?" she asked nervously.

He looked at her for a moment trying to guess her thoughts. "That would be very nice, thank you," he finally nodded.

Izzy let out a little shaky sigh, as she climbed out of the car.

She unlocked her home and moved straight to the kitchen to boil the kettle.

Daniel had gone to sit in the living room, and she followed him in there a moment later, to drop her bag down onto the sofa.

"Coffee won't be long," she murmured heading back to the kitchen.

She carried the steaming mugs into the living room and put them on the table; and glancing at Daniel, she caught him regarding her with a bright speculative eye.

She blushed guiltily before curling up into the corner of the sofa, trying to keep some distance between them. 

Daniel sat back with a little sigh. "So, Izzy... when were you thinking of inviting your -- male friend over?" his voice was light, but Izzy still looked at him quickly.

"It was just a thought; I'd no firm plans of inviting anyone over!" she said defensively.

"Oh? So you always make a habit of carrying... half a ton of -- contraception -- around with you?"

"What?" She leaned forward to see that the contents of her bag, had spilled out across the seat next to Daniel. He had been happily sitting there looking through the items just lying there! "Oh!" her face flamed in humiliation. "I only bought those tonight!" she murmured defensively.

"You were planning on meeting with somebody?"

This was just awful! Izzy had never felt so embarrassed in her entire life!

"As a matter of fact... I was going to try and seduce you!" she exclaimed heatedly. "I'm just no good at that sort of thing -- obviously!"

"Me?" he grinned mockingly. "So many little packets... I don't know whether I should feel flattered by your good opinion, or nervous of your obviously high expectations."

"I've always thought that it was better to have too much than not enough!" she snapped defiantly.

"Ah," he said softly, "on that I think we can safely agree."

Daniel sat in silence looking totally relaxed; and Izzy had no idea what to do next.

"So now what?" she finally whispered nervously.

He looked across at her calmly, trying not to give any of his feelings away; his hand she noticed though shook ever so slightly. "I'm in your hands Izzy," he told her huskily.

It was that little tiny tremor that gave her a tiny little boost of confidence. 

She reached out to gently stroke his hand, she tried to keep the contact casually -- tried not to let her nerves kill the mood, before the mood even got going... "You once told me..." she said, not quite brave enough to be able to meet his eye. "That every time I said a certain thing... that it made you feel a certain way..." She glanced up at him then, to see his eyes burning; she licked her lips nervously, but forced herself to continue. "Is that still true?" she finally asked huskily.

Daniel took a little while to answer, and when he did his voice sounded raw. "I suspect Izzy, that if you were to say that something right now, then I would not be able to stop from following through on what I told you might happen."

Izzy had once more been looking down at where her fingers idly stroked his hand.

She looked up into his face again, his wonderful, much loved face; she had given her heart to him, and now she wanted to give him her body, and her soul as well. "Oh Daniel!" she sighed as she leaned closer to him.

She had thought that his eyes were burning before, but now they were incandescent. He groaned roughly, before pulling her on to his lap, and crushing her mouth with his.

Izzy was happy to just hold on for a little while, until the storm had passed. He lightened the kiss suddenly, and began to tenderly move his lips across hers. His tongue dipped delicately into her mouth, and his hand ran gently down her throat, and across the top of her cleavage. 

As he felt the softness of her breast he gave another husky groan. "Not here!" he rasped slightly. "I want... I need more space!" 

He grabbed several of the little packets, and shoved them into his pocket and stood up, with her still cradled in his arms. 

Izzy put her arm across his shoulder, to hang on as he turned for the door. He stopped suddenly, and then just stood there waiting for a while. 

"What is it?" Izzy whispered.

He looked down at her with a slightly rueful smile. "I'm just waiting for the roof to fall in, or lightening to strike... Perhaps a tornado or even an earthquake..." he gave a little laugh at the absolute silence.

She felt a little wave of mischief as all her dreams seemed about to become true. "Oh I expect the earth to move Daniel, but not until a bit later -- I hope," Izzy said impishly.

Daniels eyes darkened as he carried her up to her bed room. He kicked her bedroom door shut and laid her gently on the bed. With trembling hands he slowly undressed her, and when she was down to her underwear he hesitated again. "Are you sure this is what you want Izzy?" Daniel asked shortly. 'Please say yes,' his eyes pleaded with her.

"I want you Daniel," she told him as she lifted her hand to his cheek. "Make love to me, please Daniel," she whispered.

The speed with which he tore his own clothes off -- caused her a little apprehension, he was so intense! So... on wound up! He would hurt her! She looked away feeling flustered.

At the last moment though, he stopped again to look down at her. "Look at me Izzy," he commanded gruffly.

Izzy looked at him standing naked and proud beside her and -- so very big!!

"Oh Daniel," she sighed, "so beautiful, you are so beautiful!" 

Daniel laughed self consciously, and she could see that she had embarrassed him a little. 

He joined her on the bed and began to kiss her gently, on the mouth and the cheek; he nuzzled her neck making her shiver delightfully. 

His hands were also lightly exploring her body as he stroked her skin, and teased her flesh. He gradually let his lips trail down her body as he nibbled and tasted her, he suckled briefly at her breast, leaving Izzy gasping and arching against him helplessly; but then he moved restlessly on down, he gently parted her legs and let his hands and fingers explore where his mouth slowly followed. 

Izzy could only writhe and moan at his touch, she was burning for him. "Please Daniel!" she begged, needing him to finish what she had started downstairs. 

He came back up the bed to gently kiss her mouth. "Please Izzy? Please what?" he groaned hoarsely. "Please don't stop? Please kiss me? Please make love to me?" 

"Yes Daniel!" she gasped. "Oh yes! Please, make love to me!"

Daniel didn't need any more pleading. 

He raised himself up over her, taking his weight on his arms so as not to crush her.

She felt him gently nudging at her, seeking entry. Izzy parted her legs a little more and tilted her hips, and Daniel pushed slowly inside her; he hesitated as he felt the slight resistance to him, before suddenly breaking through that final barrier.

Izzy tensed as she felt the brief pain of her inexperience; a single sharp pain and then Daniel was inside her, and she just could not help the little cry of pain. 

"Are you alright?" he asked her worriedly. 

She looked up at him, and a single tear trickled down her cheek, before she gave him a glorious smile. "I feel... wonderful!" she sighed as she drew her knees up slightly.

Daniel groaned as she drew him deeper still into her. He pulled back a little, paused and then pushed back in again, watching her face intently for any other sign of pain. When she gave a little gasp of pleasure, and her expressive eyes darkened with arousal, he grew more confident. Back and forth he went in a methodical, pleasure inducing manner.

Izzy could feel the tension building inside her, as Daniel quickened the pace and power. He leaned down to nuzzle at her breast, and unprepared for such feelings, she spiralled out of control. 

As her body convulsed, she wrapped her arms and legs tight around Daniel, and exhaled softly into his neck. It was enough for Daniel to find his own release, and he felt the tears come into his own eyes at how utterly perfect the moment was... to be inside Izzy -- to be a part of her... to have been her first lover! What a precious gift she had given him tonight; and he knew that he would cherish it always. 

He groaned deeply as he slumped down beside her.

"See I told you that the earth would move!" she told him drowsily as she snuggled up to him.

*

They dozed for a little while, but something disturbed her slumber, and Izzy stirred to find Daniel lying beside her -- watching her, almost with worry.

"Hello there!" she murmured drowsily as she stretched out beside him.

"Hello yourself," she caught the undertone in his voice, the slight stress around his eyes.

"What is it?" she asked, "What's wrong?" 'Please don't say that you regret what happened!' she begged silently.

"I... I was your first, wasn't I Izzy?" the colour flooded her cheeks and she looked away awkwardly.

"I'm sorry if that spoiled it for you... I am new to this... and not very good... but I'll learn... I promise it'll be better next time!" she finished anxiously.

Daniel smiled and she was relieved to see that some of the tension left his eyes.

"You were wonderful Izzy... perfect in every way..." he still looked worried though and her feelings of anxiety refused to diminish.

"Then... what?" she demanded hesitantly.

Daniel gave a little sigh and pulled himself up so that he was sitting back against the headboard of the bed.

"I just never really realised... assumed that a young woman of your age... the way that you were, sometimes with me..." he sighed as he scooped her up to rest against his chest. "I guess that I'm a little thrown... that on some level I knew that you'd not had much experience... but I..." he trailed off as he found himself unable to explain his thoughts and feelings.

Izzy turned to look up at him a little anxiously. "It's no big deal... honestly Daniel... I am by nature very shy and... reserved. Boys don't tend to find that attractive in a girl... I think they thought it was too much hassle to just -- try and get to know me..." she gave a bitter little laugh. "And it's not like I'm some raving beauty -- which the males of the species just could not resist!"

Daniels arms tightened around her. "You are beautiful, Izzy... and it's been a battle all the way for me, just to keep my hands off you."

He knew that she was blushing, even though he couldn't see her face. He felt the heat from her blush, as it warmed his chest.

She began a little circling motion with her finger, twirling and stroking his flesh.

"I never felt anything with anyone... the way that you make me feel Daniel... I wanted my first time to be something special -- and I'm so glad that it was with you..."

Her tentative fingers were doing some strange things to Daniel's concentration.

"Did you enjoy it then?" he asked huskily.

"Oh... yes Daniel... I enjoyed it very much!"

He pulled her down the bed again and leaned over her.

"Would you like to have another go at some point?" he demanded with a dangerous twinkle in his eyes, "maybe like... now?"

Izzy could feel her heartbeat escalating, and realised that it was excitement that was driving it, rather than apprehension or fear.

"Yes please Daniel!" she whispered as she wound her arms around his neck, to pull him down for her kiss.

*

Daniel managed to use up a few of those little packets as the night wore on. His lovemaking was gentle, and he encouraged Izzy to be a little more assertive. It didn't take her very long to find how to touch Daniel; to make him groan with pleasure. He'd explored her with his hands and mouth, and she found the halting, sometimes lightly awkward, confidence to do the same to him. 

He loved every moment of it!

*

In the early hours of the morning he climbed from her bed. "I should go," he told her regretfully. 

"If you think that you should," she sighed with a sleepy little smile.

"I'll see you later?" he asked quietly.

"Come over for coffee." 

"I'll be round at about eleven, give you a chance to get some sleep."

"Sounds good..." Her eyelids had drifted down and her voice was soft and dreamy.

Daniel gave a little sigh as he dressed quickly, and left her house to go over to his. He crawled into his own bed, and drifted to sleep -- with memories of his night with Izzy to plague his dreams.

**

It was well after nine, before Izzy managed to surface, and she headed straight for the shower, before dressing and going downstairs to get some breakfast. She was absolutely starving, she realised with a little smile. 

She put the kettle on to boil and stuck some bread in the toaster; she stretched her arms above her head to relieve some of her aching muscles. 'Making love with Daniel was certainly great exercise!' she thought ruefully.

*

When Daniel came round just before eleven, he refused to come inside.

"It's a beautiful day, and I've brought a couple of garden chairs so that we can sit outside," he told her with a smile.

She looked at him for a moment, seeing the return of those slight stress lines around his eyes again. 

"I'll bring the coffee out," she told him brightly.

They sat on the front lawn, in full view of the large house and anyone who might glance out of a window.

"So do you think that we can fool them?" Izzy asked dryly

Daniel gave a little sigh. "I don't want people to gossip about us."

"They probably already have been. It's just that we knew that it wasn't true before, and now that it is, we feel... guilty?"

"Is that how you feel Izzy? Guilty?" he looked at her sharply wanting to see her expression.

Izzy smiled stiffly. "No, not guilty but... well... you know what I mean!" she accused in frustration. 

"Doing the deed, and thinking about doing the deed, is pretty much the same thing; and I've been lusting after you almost from the first day that I met you Izzy."

She blushed and looked away shyly. "You really shouldn't talk to me like that, you know," she told him firmly.

"And after some of the things that we did last night, you really shouldn't be able to blush like that still," he retorted with delight.

"You've obviously not managed to totally corrupt me then." 

"Ah... something to aim for tonight?" he murmured wickedly.

Izzy chuckled nervously and the colour came to her cheeks again.

Daniel's eyes darkened. "I'm suddenly reminded of your dragon again Izzy... I wonder why that is?" Daniel asked her huskily.

"You could certainly match him for the big silly grin."

"Oh lady! You shall definitely pay for that later!" Daniel threatened softly.

Izzy felt a little shiver of excitement run right the way down her spine, at Daniel's husky promise.

Her face coloured again, but her eyes were bright with her anticipation.

Daniel took one look at her and stood up to leave. "If I don't go now, I'm likely to do something stupid... like throw you over my shoulder, and carry you off cave man style!" he told her with a wry twist to his lips.

"No self control," she sighed sadly with a shake of her head.

"Tonight," he told her dangerously, "think about that for the rest of the day!"

And he left her sitting there... all hot and bothered and more than a little bit excited.

*

Izzy did spend the rest of the day thinking about it. She thought and she wondered and she worried a little bit too. By the time the hour struck seven in the evening she was a knot of mixed emotions, the biggest one being pure excitement. 

He wouldn't be long now. Rosie and Mrs. Coats finished early on a Sunday, and she knew that he would not stay away from her for long, not once the big house was empty.

His knock at her door caused her heart to go into orbit; she licked her lips and ran her sweaty palms down her skirt. He knocked again impatiently, and so, with one final look in the mirror, which told her that she looked fine, she went to open the door.

"I was beginning to think, that you had changed your mind," he told her gruffly, his smile slightly forced.

"Never!" was the best she could achieve.

He stepped inside and leaned back against the door as it clicked too. 

She eyed him a little apprehensively and backed away slightly.

"Are you afraid of me Izzy?" he suddenly asked uncertainly.

"No!" she exclaimed truly shocked. "No, I'm not afraid of you... but I do feel nervous about how you can make me feel..." she gave an anxious little smile. "And I've got to admit that I'm a bit worried about some of the things you said this morning..."

His smile was more relaxed this time, and just a little bit wicked. "I think I can make you forget your worries for a little while..." He stepped closer to her, his eyes darkening as he reached out his hand to touch her.

"Yes?" she asked as she felt her heart beat faster with excitement.

"Yess." he breathed as he lowered his mouth to hers.

"Oh Daniel!" she finally murmured much later.

*

Hours later they resurfaced as Daniel dressed to go home again.

"I hate this!" he muttered at one point. "I'm too old to be sneaking around like this!"

Izzy reached up to kiss him lightly on the cheek. "A little sneaking around is good for the soul once in a while," she told him loftily.

His arm came around her waist as his mouth found hers. The kiss was a deep searching kiss that left Izzy feeling more than a little bit dizzy.

"When you kiss me like that, you make my head spin Daniel!" she laughed as she hung on to him for balance.

"Good," he told her with satisfaction. "My whole world has been off kilter since I met you." He looked down at her with dark serious eyes. "Will you come over to the house and have dinner with me tomorrow night?"

"I'd love to."




How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 10



"Excellent!" he paused for a moment. "Wear those earrings," he requested huskily.

Izzy felt the shaking start in her toes and work its way slowly up her legs; and Daniel watched her with a knowing look and a little smirk.

"See you tomorrow Izzy," he told her as he turned to leave her little house.

*

The next day Izzy decided to give Laura a call, and to invite her down for the weekend. She knew that it would mean she couldn't be with Daniel, but she was sure he would understand. She enjoyed her life here, especially now that her evenings were spent with him. But occasionally it was nice to have some girly company.

Laura was thrilled at the prospect and promised to drive down early Friday evening.

*

Izzy worked through her Monday as normal, visiting her clients, and doing their books and filling for them. Her life was good, she enjoyed the freedom that being self employed gave her, and her little house... her very first home; and she had Daniel to thank for all of it. She made a mental note to herself to tell him that.

*

The evening turned a little chilly, so she opted to wear a long skirt and a lightweight sweater, she hooked in the ear rings and scooped her hair up to just leave a couple of strands curling down her neck.

She was really starting get rather good at making the best of her appearance, and now she didn't look away from her reflection after the first quick check to make sure she looked okay.

She found herself studying her reflection, trying to see what Daniel might be seeing.

Dinner would have been wonderful if it hadn't been for the slightly disapproving looks of Mrs. Coats. Izzy refused to meet her eye during the meal and after one glance at Daniel and the way he was looking at her... well!! 

She kept her head down, and fought hard to keep her colour neutral, it was a major batter with a minor achievement.

When Mrs. Coats said goodnight, just before she left for the evening even that was accomplished with a slightly accusing tone, and Izzy was surprised that Daniel didn't comment on it. Mrs. Coats was after all his employee, and he deserved a little more respect than that!

They were sat at the dinner table sipping hot coffee as the front door slammed, and at last they were alone.

"Look at me Izzy," Daniel said huskily across from her. She lifted her head and met his eye and he gave a little sigh. "I hate it when I can't see your eyes, I can't tell how you are feeling." 

"It felt awkward here tonight," she murmured, "as if we are doing something wrong." She frowned at him uncertainly. "We're not hurting anyone, so why can't they leave us alone?" 

"She's worried that I might hurt you. She doesn't disapprove of you Izzy, she's concerned for you," he told her softly.

"You could never hurt me Daniel," she told him firmly. "And I am an adult who is able to make her own decisions!" She sounded like a little girl stamping her foot, and Daniel couldn't help but grin at her.

"And what are you smirking at?" she asked him sharply.

"Nothing!" he decided on diplomacy and the chance of getting Izzy into his bed, rather than honesty and her getting annoyed with him. "I must say though Izzy," his voice dropped seductively. "You are looking very lovely this evening, I love the way you've done your hair tonight, it's... very sexy."

Izzy blushed with pleasure, but eyed him suspiciously. As she turned her head slightly the drop on her earring swung against her neck. 

Daniel's eyes darkened noticeably. "God I love those earrings on you! It gives me all sorts of thoughts and ideas. Do you know how many times I fantasised about you in those earrings, and what might have happened, when I helped you with the necklace?"

He rose from the table and walked round to where she was sitting. "And my library, what might have happened in there... My office and the time we spent together." He knelt down beside her. "Come to bed with me Izzy...." he whispered hoarsely. "Make some of my fantasies come true."

Well what girl could resist an invitation like that? 

Izzy certainly couldn't.

Taking her hand in his, Daniel led her upstairs. They stood in the centre of his bedroom and he slowly undressed her. Each item of clothing that he removed was followed by long drugging kisses, and gentle caresses. As she felt him unhook her bra, Izzy suddenly felt terribly shy, and her hands went up to hold it in place.

Daniel was standing behind her and his large hands came around to cover hers, his lips were doing heavenly things to her neck and shoulder and she closed her eyes with a groan of pleasure. 

Daniels hands tightened over hers as he took them away from her breast. He lowered her hands so that the bra straps would slide down her arms before tugging at it and throwing it to the floor.

He was still behind her, doing those things to her neck, as his hands cupped her breasts. Izzy felt her legs buckle and would have fallen had it not been for Daniel's strong arms binding her against him.

"Tell me you want me Izzy," Daniel growled into her ear.

She gave a tiny little shudder, as she felt his breath on her. "I want you so much Daniel!" she whispered shakily.

He continued to kiss her neck, as his hand drifted down from her breast to stroke over the top of her briefs.

"Daniel!" Izzy gasped as she felt her stomach muscles contract sharply. She turned around to face him, and her eyes suddenly narrowed accusingly.

"You seem to be wearing too many clothes!" she told him.

"Would you care to help me?" he asked her with a twisted sort of smile. 

She reached up to pull his jacket off his shoulders. She helped the sleeves to run down his arms, until it was hanging free in her hands.

She dropped it to the floor.

She unfastened his cuffs and reached up to undo the buttons running down the front of his shirt. Again she leaned into him to pull it off his shoulders, and run it down his arms. Her breasts were flattened against his chest and he sucked in his breath as he felt the contact of her hard nipples against his bare flesh.

"Kiss me Izzy," he ordered huskily.

She reached up again, but was just not tall enough. Her arm went around his neck to pull his head down to hers. It was still a bit of a stretch for her, but she managed to put her mouth to his. She flicked her tongue out to touch his lips and Daniel groaned deeply, as a shudder ran down his spine.

"Well you did ask," she whispered with a naughty little smile. 

His eyes flashed, that was the only warning she got before he swept her off her feet, and all but threw her onto the bed. He joined her there and began to kiss her fiercely; his hands and mouth were all over her. 

Once before, he had been like this with her, when he had first shown her around the little cottage. 

He'd frightened her that time, but not this time. Now she was as excited by him, as he was by her. When he put his head to her nipple to suckle, she wrapped her legs around his waist locking him there. 

He was still wearing his trousers and she was still wearing her panties. She could feel him as he rubbed against her.

"Is this how you want it Izzy?" he asked her gruffly.

She relaxed her legs allowing him to move, and he stood and pulled her upright so that he was now standing between her parted legs and her face was level with his groin.

"Did you want to finish this or shall I take care of it?"

She looked at him, her face was bright red, and he laughed softly. "Not quite that brave yet -- are you Izzy?"

He finished undressing her, and then himself, with a confidence she could never imagine feeling; but when he lay down next to her, he pulled her on top.

She straddled him, and as he slowly entered her again, she looked down into his eyes. As she slowly and hesitantly began to move they darkened, she could tell he struggled to keep them open and focused, struggled not to surrender to the feelings she stirred in him... well not just yet any way. 

She flexed her muscles, as she moved her body. When she made him groan it was like a shot of adrenalin through her, and her confidence grew. As her rocking gained in strength, and picked up the pace; Daniel suddenly sat up drawing his knees up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face into her neck and hair his hand cupping her breast. His movement meant that he was deeper inside her than he'd ever been before, and it was all too much for Izzy, as she cried out her orgasm, and her muscles contracted tightly around him. 

Daniel was never far behind once she had climaxed... it always seemed to be the catalyst that he needed -- her fulfilment to give him fulfilment.

As they both lay back on the bed Izzy suddenly had a thought. "We must surely have run out of those little packets by now?" she asked worriedly.

Daniel grinned lazily at her, and reached over to open a bedside drawer; he pulled out a box and laid it on the bed between them. "See... we've plenty, should keep us going for a bit." 

"Excellent," she told him drowsily.

Daniel held her close as she slept. 

They couldn't stay here for long or he would fall asleep as well. With a regretful sigh he gently nudged her awake.

"I'll go and make us some coffee," he told her as he pulled his clothes on. "It's still quite early and it would be nice to sit and just talk for a while."

"Lovely." She smiled sleepily, as she glanced at her watch. Nine thirty, and she felt like it was past midnight!

She sat across from him in Mrs. Coats's kitchen, her hands cupped around the mug of coffee.

"Laura will be coming down on Friday," she told him softly, "and going back Sunday morning."

His mouth turned down slightly. "I guess I should keep my distance, for those couple of days then?" 

"Well, my house is only tiny, and I wouldn't want Laura to feel uncomfortable with the three of us knocking about, round it."

"Well then, I'll just have to make the most of the evenings we've still got then, won't I?" he asked her.

She smiled softly at him as she thought of the next three nights, but then her smile faded. "But not here," she told him seriously. "I don't want another meal like tonights, and I can't bear the way that Mrs. Coats is looking at you at the moment."

"I told you about that," he argued

"Yes, but that just makes it worse! She thinks badly of you, because of me!"

"I can handle it!"

"Well I can't," she told him sadly. 

"Fine..." he finally conceded. "I'll come to you tomorrow night." 

He wasn't happy about it. She knew that this situation could not go on for long, but they weren't ready to take their relationship to another level, to make a commitment, and then tell the world.

"By the way..." she told him huskily. "I just wanted to say thank you."

He looked at her sharply. "For what?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I was thinking today... how lucky I am, to have the work that I have, and the home that I've got. And it's all because of you... So thank you Daniel, I'm happier now than I think I've ever been in my whole life." She gave a little sigh, "I just wanted you to know."

Daniel sat watching her. She was so lovely! So good, and so... naive. She never even suspected him of having ulterior motives for keeping her here. 

He began to feel like a prize heel. What they were doing felt wrong. Oh not the sleeping together, that was just so wonderful, it could never be wrong. But the sneaking around, he knew that it was wrong, he also knew that he would be around there at the first opportunity tomorrow, and any other time she opened her door to him!

He'd spent so long -- lusting after her -- that now she was his lover -- he could not contemplate it ending... but he also knew that treating her like this -- in such a careless casual manner, would begin to do damage -- to her, to their burgeoning relationship. 

They couldn't carry on this way, but he couldn't find the strength to put a stop to things.

The last thing that he wanted to do was to hurt Izzy -- but he had a bad feeling that in the end that was exactly what he'd end up doing... 

He ran his hand through his hair God what a mess!



How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 11



Copyright2012©totallyatease

She only agreed to do it as a favour to her sister -- but HE more than made up for the inconvenience...

*

Hearing the car pull up outside, Izzy flung the front door open and rushed out.

"Laura! I'm so glad that you could make it!" she cried, grinning wide.

Laura's grin matched hers width for width. "I wouldn't have missed this for the world," she told her as climbed out of her car.

They hugged each other tightly, and then Laura turned to look up at the big house behind them.

"Oh yes! I can certainly see what you saw in him," she said dryly.

"You have no idea!" Izzy responded with a roll of her eyes, and a shake of her head. "Come on inside and I'll put the kettle on."

"Let me just grab my bag." She walked around her Fiat and pulled her holdall off the back seat, and then arm in arm they entered Izzy's little home, and closed out the rest of the world for a few hours.

Up at the main house, Daniel stared down at the little car resentfully. Two days! He thought with frustration. For two days and nights he wouldn't be able to see Izzy alone... or hold her. He shook his head; he was getting fed up of all the sneaking around any way. 

This only being able to see her, and be with her, after everyone else had left... they weren't fooling anyone anyway, not judging by all those reproachful looks from Mrs. Coats and Rosie; and the general air of disapproval hung heavy in his home. 

Izzy had seen all that coming, and refused to come up to the house again.

No! He'd had enough he decided. It was time that they arranged something a little more permanent, a little more -- formal.

Izzy was a sensible girl, she would realise that it was time and see the wisdom of it, he was sure of that.

Smiling to himself in relief, he went down to his cellar, to pick out a couple of bottles of wine...

The girls were sat at the kitchen table chatting, when there was a loud thump at the door.

"I'll just get that," Izzy smiled as she headed for the front door. Laura followed her into the hallway curiously though.

Daniel stood just outside, holding out two bottles. "Jessie once said, 'that you simply can't have a girly night without some wine!'" he grinned at Izzy. "So I brought these for you." 

"Thank you Daniel!" Izzy exclaimed, wide eyed with pleasure.

"You are welcome Izzy," his voice was deep and husky. "You two have a great weekend."

Izzy said goodnight to Daniel, as he handed over the wine, and she closed the door with her foot.

She turned to grin at Laura as she held out the bottles. "Party time?" she asked -- her eyebrow rose questioningly.

"That sounds like a plan," Laura replied with another matching grin.

They retired to the living room and over the first bottle of wine they caught up. By the time they were starting on the second, Izzy thought that Jessie had always had the right idea, and put on some music.

*

Later that evening, Daniel stared over at the little house with the loud music. He gave a sigh full of resignation; yes it was definitely time to make some changes. He was sure that Izzy would see the sense of this when he discussed it with her.

**

The weekend flew by, and all too soon the girls were hugging each other goodbye. 

"You must come over again soon," Izzy told her cousin. "Before Maggie gets married."

Laura laughed. "I'll try and visit you again, before Jenny and Kitty breakup for the summer," she promised.

She climbed into her car, and with a beep of her horn and a final wave; she left Izzy standing alone on Daniel's driveway. She glanced up at the large silent house before returning to her little home. 

Daniel wouldn't come round until later.

Wandering around her little home, she remembered her last few nights with Daniel. Their lovemaking was amazing. It was everything she could have dreamt of -- and then some! He was a wonderful, passionate lover, soft and gentle and kind and considerate. 

He could be wicked and daring as well, and always imaginative! Being Daniel's lover would never be boring -- of that she was sure.

She glanced at her clock, twelve fifteen; she went into her kitchen to fix herself some lunch. As she left the soup bubbling on the stove she thought dreamily of their last night together. It would only be for a couple of days, they both knew that but somehow it had felt... almost like it was their last time, and there had been, an urgency to it, that she'd never experienced before. 

The thumping on her front door startled her out of her reverie. She switched off her stove, and walked through to open the door, knowing full well who would be standing there.

"Good morning Daniel." 

"Izzy." 

She stepped back and he entered her little home. He leaned back against the door so that it clicked too. All the time he kept his eyes fixed on hers.

"I've missed you Daniel," she told him softly. 

She never got any further; before she knew it she was pressed flat against the wall and Daniel was kissing her feverishly. 

His hands were all over her, as he pulled at buttons and straps, and anything else that got in his way. When he entered her right there in her hallway she stilled in shock, and he seemed to freeze too. 

He looked in horror at her, and started to pull away. 

Izzy held him fast. "Can I take it that you missed me too?" she whispered softly as she leaned up to kiss his neck. She felt the shudder run right through him, and then it carried on to her, and she gave him a little smile. "Well that was certainly different!" she told him cheekily. 

He swore softly as he started to move inside her, she was tiny and he took her weight easily, as he held her against that wall. And she... she encouraged him every step of the way, he'd thought at first she had been as appalled as him at his initial invasion of her, but she seemed to be as turned on about it all as he was!

It was a quick passion, intense and short lived. Their climax came jointly and left both of them reeling...

Especially when they realised that he'd not used any birth-control.

"Stupid... irresponsible... thoughtless!" Daniel ground out as he ran his fingers through his hair, and paced her living room. 

It was only small -- her living room, and three steps and a turn was the best that he could manage. 

He was giving Izzy a frightful headache, with his attempt at pacing and his self recriminations.

"Stop it Daniel!" Izzy finally snapped. She rubbed her hand down her face tiredly. "I'm sorry Daniel but I can't do this anymore."

He looked at her, the colour slowly draining from his face. "You're ending things we me?"

"What? No!" she sighed "I mean all this cursing and swearing you're doing, and I'm not even going to mention the abortive efforts as pacing in this tiny little room."

The colour slowly returned to his face as he sat down on the sofa next to her.

"I'm sorry Izzy," he told her quietly.

"Don't be. I was there too. When you tried to stop, it was me who wouldn't let you." She leaned over to kiss his cheek. "This was my fault not yours."

He sat brooding for quite a long time, and in the end Izzy had had enough of the tense silence. "I'm going to go and make some coffee," she told him quietly. 

When she walked back into the living room he was stood facing the sofa, and his face was determined. She stifled a groan as she put the cups on the table and sat down. 

Something was coming! And she had a feeling she wasn't going to like it.

"I love you... and I think that we should get married." And that was it. No heat, no passion, no roses or violins, no down on one knee, just a simple statement followed by an opinion. 

She stared up at him, her eyes moist but refusing to cry.

"I love you too... and I think that we should move in together," she countered.

He frowned down at her. "What? No! Absolutely not! I refuse to disrespect you like that!" 

"Do you think that the whole neighbourhood isn't aware of the fact that we're sleeping together?" she asked, her eyes narrowed. 

"All the more reason for us to get married," he argued.

"I disagree. I've not had a scarlet 'S' painted on my door, and no one has yet shunned me in any way... I think that the people around here, are a lot more liberal than you give them credit for."

"You might be pregnant."

"I'm probably not."

He sighed in exasperation. "Why do you have to make everything so difficult Izzy?"

"Why do you have to try and make everything so black and white?"

He moved away, his temper finally going out of the window.

"Fine you don't want to marry me!" he snarled. "That's fine... But, as of now I withdraw my services from your bedroom!" he turned and left the cottage, slamming the door as he went. He banged it so hard that Izzy felt the whole house shake.

*

He knew that he was behaving badly towards her, but damn it he had missed being able to visit her! for those two days when her friend had stayed, he had felt like a wall had sprung up, that he could not breach.

He had hung around his own home -- in the most pathetic way, staring out of the windows with the hope of catching a glimpse of her -- of hoping to catch her looking up at his house -- and showing that she missed him too.

But nothing -- no sign of her at all, and as time went on he began to feel resentful, that he was missing her abominably, but she had cast him out of her mind.

When he saw that car driving away -- it was all he could do not to rush over there, to make her remember him, to make her burn for him the way that he did for her.

When she had opened her front door and those first words had been "I've missed you," well thought went out his head and basic instinct stepped in.

He would never get over the feelings of guilt of how he had treated her in that hallway.

And as usual -- beautiful and tender, soft and understanding -- Izzy had forgiven him, and even taken on some of the blame.

He really needed to get control of himself, he would not visit Izzy again until he could trust himself not to... 'jump' on her.

* 

He avoided her for the next week, and by the Thursday she was missing him terribly.

She walked back to her little cottage feeling fatigued, but glad to be finished for the weekend; she needed to rest for a while. She tried not to dwell too much on how lonely it was going to feel; knowing that Daniel wouldn't be coming to visit her at all...

Just as she was unlocking her front door Daniel pulled up in his car.

"Good afternoon Izzy," he smiled at her through the open window.

Izzy looked at his handsome face, and felt a tremor run down her spine.

"How are you Daniel?" she asked coolly.

"I'm going away for the weekend... and I wondered if you would like to join me."

"Oh? Where are you going?" she asked cautiously.

"I've a cottage in the lake district. I thought we could spend a couple of days there together and... talk."

She looked at him sharply, he was saying one thing but his tone was telling her something different. 

Daniel returned her look innocently.

"Just talk?"

"Just talk," he confirmed with a nod 

"Okay... give me five minutes to pack a bag," she nodded with a little grin.

"Excellent!" 

Izzy paused to give him another searching glance; his tone was alluding to something she was just missing...

*

Their journey took them a couple of hours, and it was starting to get dark by the time they reached their destination.

Daniel had a small bag, and he carried his and Izzy's bag inside, leaving Izzy to follow close behind. 

The cottage was small, clean and warm, and with a lamp glowing softly. 

Izzy gave a little sniff as she caught the aroma of food cooking in the kitchen. She gave Daniel a questioning look as he pushed the door too behind them.

"There's a lady in the nearby village, name of Mrs. Hampton, she comes in once or twice a week to keep it clean and aired for me. I told her I was coming, and asked her if she could put a large pot of stew on the simmer for me..." 

He dropped the bags gently to the floor, and took a step towards her. 

His dark eyes were glittering in a most disconcerting way, and Izzy stepped back nervously. "Oh?" she asked cautiously. "Were you expecting to get that hungry?"

He smiled blandly at her, making her heart skip a beat. "No Izzy... I knew that we would need to eat this weekend, and I didn't want to waste time cooking food..." he took another step towards her. 

Izzy stepped back. "Oh?" she licked her lips nervously. 

"I have a plan you see Izzy..." he continued calmly taking another step forward.

She stepped back, "Oh?"

"I intend to spend this weekend asking you to marry me, and every time that you say no, I shall sweep you up, carrying you off, and make passionate love to you... and I shan't stop... and we won't leave here -- until you see reason," he told her coolly. 

He waited for this to sink in before giving her the most fiendish grin that she'd ever seen him give.

At any moment now she expected him to start rubbing his hands together gleefully or twirling some villainous moustache! 

"Oh!"

"Exactly! So shall we begin?" he stepped forward. "Isobel Parkinson... Izzy, will you marry me?" 

Izzy backed up to a door her face full of anguish, and more than a little excitement.

"Oh Daniel, I....I just can't!" she stammered.

Daniel's eyes darkened to black. "Two in one sentence...." he groaned as he swept her into his arms and carried her up the stairs.

"But Daniel you promised!" Izzy protested as he climbed the stairs effortlessly with her in his arms. "You promised that we would just talk!"

He paused at the top to look down into her face.

"I lied," he whispered softly. "I promise you, that it will be the one and only time that I ever lie to you, but I had to get you down here... by whatever means necessary."

He placed her gently on the bed and in less than a minute they were both naked. Izzy was still trying to catch her breath, as he joined her on the bed. He took her in his arms and kissed her long and slow, as though he was savouring her. His hands and mouth moved over her body, re-familiarising himself with her.

"God Izzy, I've missed you so much!" he groaned in despair. He leaned over to kiss her deeply and in one powerful thrust they were joined.

A week had been too long for both of them, and their first union was quickly brought to a mutual climax for them.

Daniel lay back panting for breath, and Izzy lay beside him in shock. That he had treated her like that -- and that she had enjoyed every moment of it! 

As his breathing gradually normalised, he stretched out his arm to pull her close. Izzy snuggled down next to him. "I do love you Daniel," she sighed softly as she drifted off into a light doze.

Daniel was happy to just hold her for a little while, but not for too long.

"Izzy," he murmured. "Izzy we need to eat." He gently shook her awake again.

There were two heavy bathrobes hanging behind the door, and Daniel wrapped one around him, and handed the other one to Izzy.

Together they went down to the kitchen, and Izzy sat at the table while Daniel poured out some of the thick stew for them both. He sat opposite her and they ate in silence. Afterwards he told her to stay put while he washed the dishes and covered the cooling stew ready for the next day. 

Izzy sat watching him as he moved around the kitchen. He didn't mean what he'd said, he couldn't... he just... he wouldn't! 

He folded the tea towel neatly and turned to her.

"So Izzy?" he murmured quietly.

Her eyes widened in alarm. "Please Daniel... don't!" she pleaded; she stood up and moved away from the table.

"This house is too small for you to run away from me Izzy, that's why I brought you here." 

He moved towards her. "Izzy, I love you, will you marry me?"

She licked her lips. "Let me think about it!" she hedged.

"Don't think, answer. No answer is just another way of saying no. I want a yes... and only a yes will do."

"No Daniel," she whispered in defeat. "I... I just... can't!" 

His eyes blazed, and he swept her into his arms for the second time. 

Izzy gave a little squeal. as he carried her back up to the large double bed. Their robes were lost on route, and once again they were naked on the bed. 

He took his time this time, making sure that he pleased her first, before thinking of himself. When he finally collapsed down next to her, they both fell into an exhausted sleep.

*

Izzy woke the following morning to Daniel kissing her gently awake. "My love..." his gentle crooning intruded into her dreams. "My darling... it's time to wake... Wake up Izzy." 

*

Izzy spent that day doing exactly what Daniel had said; he would ask the question and force her to answer, before carrying her off to bed. 

"Really Daniel I can walk you know!" Izzy had retaliated at one point as yet again she was swept up.

Daniel simply laughed down at her "This is part of my plan Izzy... so live with it!" he joked with her, but Izzy could see the intensity burning in his eyes; he was not going to give up, she realised.

Finally she could cope with no more of this sort of attention. 

"Enough Daniel!" she stared up at him, her hand flat against his chest. "It's all been fun you know, but I can't handle anymore... Why are you obsessing over this?" she demanded in exasperation.

He looked down at her. "You are my life," he told her quietly "I could live without you, I have lived without you... but it's a soulless existence... I've been rattling around that big empty house all week, and it's never felt quite as hollow as it does now, now that I know what it can be like -- when I'm with you."

His eyes burned into her very soul, and she felt the emotion being pulled up from deep within her.

"Oh Daniel!" she looked up at him her lips trembling, and he couldn't hold back any more. He held her tight to him and his mouth crushed hers, as his told her with his lips and his body how he felt about her... as he owned her, and branded her his woman.

"Marry me!" he begged. "Have my children... and grow old with me.... I'll change their nappies, and get up to feed them in the middle of the night.... We'll babysit the grandkids together..."

"I do love you Daniel..." she gave him a look of exasperation. "You know that I love you! We have a great time when we are together... Why can't that be enough for you?"

"I want you with me, wherever I go. I want you by my side always. My ring on your finger is a chain around your heart. It will bind you to me through this life and maybe even the next!"

It all sounded very melodramatic -- even to his own ears, but it was the only way that he could begin to describe how he felt about her... 

She looked up unblinking and unafraid by his intensity, as though he had finally managed to communicate to her the depth of his feelings...

"If that is your promise... then I accept," she told him huskily. "I will hold you to that, more than any piece of paper ever would! I am yours... but you are also mine." Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "And don't you ever forget that!" 

He looked down at her in shock at her passion.

Suddenly she grinned at him, and he felt all of that negative energy, just drain from him. 

With one little smile she could do that to him. 

"We'll have a good life together Izzy," he promised her solemnly.

"I know that we will Daniel... how could it be anything else?" she grinned mischievously. "With all those kids, and grandkids... it's going to be hectic!"

Daniel felt another of those big silly grins twitching around his mouth, and his thoughts went to that picture that Jessie had bought for Izzy. That picture of the man and his dragon...

Understanding came soon after and he chuckled with delight.

Izzy really had tamed her dragon!




How to Tame a Dragon Ch. 11



THE END