Chapter 3

Lemony at end of chapter, only small.

Plot coming along nicely, will be developed in the next few chapters.

"Cannonball!" I yelled over the top of Maggie's screams as she ran across the floor to jump into the swimming pool. The sun was shining and Leo's family were round, celebrating the news of our moving in together. Although Leo and I were completely and utterly serious, we hadn't slept together or made any promises for the future. But on both accounts, I was sure we both wanted to. But right now I was fine with enjoying every minute of hers and her adorable little sister's company.

Maggie squealed once she came up for breath, splashing around and kicking the water to hit me from where I sat by the pool side. I was still wearing a suit because Pepper had made me attend a boring meeting where all I had to do was nod and say yes. She could have done that for me.

Leo and her father were busy finishing up on lunch when Drew, Leo's eighteen year old brother came outside and slapped me on the back. He was a good kid and I certainly preferred him to some of Leo's close friends.

"Hey, Mark, can I take the Audi for a spin?"

I looked up, "Aren't you eating?"

"Na, I'm going to meet some mates, if that's cool?"

I nodded. "Sure," I pulled out the keys from my pocket and threw them for him to catch. The Audi was out on the drive, where I kept it rather than in the garage in case of times like this when it wanted to be used and I didn't want to risk anyone seeing anything suspicious in the garage. Drew thanked me and jogged away while I shouted, "Don't scratch it."

Maggie splashed again so I chucked my phone onto the table, out of range.

"Mark, come in!" The little girl had warmed to me after I'd flattered her that night. I thought she was the cutest thing on this earth, quite frankly. Leo certainly loved watching us bond, being so close to Maggie seeing as her mother died months after she was born.

"Swim, Mark! Come play with me," her pout was huge as she continued to splash me.

"Maggie, lunch will be ready soon," I moaned, trying to get out of it. I wasn't worried about the arc reactor, it wouldn't be harmed.

Maggie splashed so hard with her small feet that a wave hit my face. She giggled like crazy when I stood, joking that I was mad.

"That's it, young lady!" I ripped of my jacket and dramatically chucked it down onto the floor. She cried in excitement and did her best to swim away quickly in her arm bands. I unbuttoned my shirt so that I remained in my wife beater, stepped on my shoes to peel them off and slipped out of my socks. I ran to the edge and pulled my legs into my chest, making the water fly over her tiny body when I jumped in.

I pulled myself to the top of the water and swam up to Maggie who was laughing and gurgling like she was on nitrous oxide! I caught her small body in my hands and she screamed. I raised her above myself and her red curls glistened brightly before I let her drop back into the water. She attacked me as I let her swim around me, and then jump on my back, attempting to duck me under the water. With a massive grin, I played along, ducking under the water and gasping as if she was really strong enough. I wondered if this as what it would be like if Leo and I had kids. When Leo and I had kids.

"Hey!" Patrick's rough voice came from the glass door as he called to his youngest daughter and me. "Lunch is ready, kids, get your butts indoors!" Patrick Hendricks was a brilliant man. He was laid back, respectable, funny and wasn't afraid to act the same age as Maggie. But he was also responsible and protective of his children, which I admired greatly. But he liked me as I liked him, so I had yet received the full wrath of his protectiveness.

"Come on, misses, dad says lunch is up." I pulled her weightless body up from the water and onto the side where she ran straight indoors, after her dad.

I was still in the water when Leo appeared outside, grinning at me. She had shades on top of her wild hair and was wearing white shorts and one of my pale blue smart shirts – which was incredibly sexy by the way – that she wore over her white and black polka dot bikini.

"Damn it, did I miss you strip?"

I laughed, and rested my hands on the side, ready to pull myself out. I saw her gaze travel to my muscled arms. A smirk appeared on my lips.

I heaved my body out of the swimming pool. "Don't worry, baby, you can see that later if you'd like." I walked on over to her and went to kiss her lips, but she pulled away. She was frowning, worried and angry eyes on my chest.

Not my chest, but the glowing shape caused by the arc reactor. Oh crap.

I looked at her face cautiously, ready for her to react. She'd hate me for lying to her, not telling her sooner who I really was, for making up a false name and false life. For not telling her she was really dating Iron Man, in all honesty.

"Leo-"

"Mark, what the hell is that?"

"Baby, I can explain-"

Before I could stop her, she grabbed the edge of my wife beater and yanked it up to reveal my chiselled body. I stayed silent as her fragile fingertips touched the arc reactor, scared.

"What happened to you, Mark?"

I couldn't help but frown. How could she not know? This practically was the symbol of Tony Stark and Iron Man, how could she not recognise who I was now?

"I-I had an accident a while back." What else could I say? "At work. We were trying to develop something; it was just an experiment gone wrong. I got injured and this keeps me healthy." The last part was nothing but the truth. The arc reactor was keeping me alive after all.

Her eyes were glistening, so worried that my chest crumpled up into a tight ball, filled with guilt for lying to her like this. I wasn't making this easier on either of us.

"But-" Her voice broke. "But you're alright now? You're all better? Because you didn't tell me about it, you should have told me…"

I couldn't help but smile at her worried expression and hurried words. I took her hands that were following the piece's shape and placed them to my lips, kissing and speaking against them, "I'm ok, Leo. I promise. If anything was wrong, you know I'd tell you, right?"

Leo nodded, furious with herself for getting upset like this. I kissed her hands again, my eyes closing at the touch of her skin against my mouth.

"No more lies, right? It's just this." My eyes opened at her question.

Opposed to her anxious ones, my own eyes were perfectly serious. "No more lies."

She sighed and nodded again. I pulled her close to my drenched body and let me chin lie on top of her head. I breathed in her scent – her perfume calmed me somehow, it was as if it was the smell of Leo herself keeping my temper at bay. I had no choice now. I had to tell her. Tonight, when all her family had left, after we were back from dinner at the La Marge Restaurant, I would tell her everything.

After I was dressed, the arc reactor fully covered and downstairs, I joined Leo in helping bringing everything to the table. I rarely ate at the table before I'd met Leanne. Not even Pepper could force me to eat there, I was a busy man, and take out in the shop was my daily occurrence.

Leo's sister Sophia and her husband Bradley were canoodling on my sofa so I whistled to get their attention, and only then did they see us struggling to set the table. Sophia helped and laughed with her sister, while Maggie was already waiting at the head of the table like queen bee. She was impatiently tapping her fork against her glass and I smiled at her, placing a plate of pasta down in front of her. She was already tucking in before we all had the chance to sit down.

Patrick sat on one corner next to Maggie, who didn't stop asking for more juice, so he was too occupied to say too much to the rest of us. I sat on the other corner between Maggie and my Leo. Sophia sat opposite her sister and Bradley held her hand as he ate, at the other end of the table.

"So Mark," Bradley began around a mouth full of pasta, "how come you ended up living in such an amazing home?" His voice was so polite with his English accent, but I couldn't deny I found him slightly irritating. Only slightly.

Leo finished eating a potato when she answered, "Mark is a research scientist for a big organisation."

Before Bradley could ask what organisation, I added, "And my grandparents were well off, so I inherited quite a bit from them too." I looked at Leo who was smiling at me. "I just didn't have anyone to share it all with until now."

She grinned proudly at me and kissed my cheek, resting on hand on my leg as she took a sip of water.

Maggie piped up, "It looks funny!"

I couldn't help but stick my tongue out at my little friend, and she gladly retaliated with a rasp of her tongue. My playfulness with her sister earned a squeeze from Leo on my leg.

"It's fancy," Sophia mused, staring around the white room, the wall to one of the kitchens completely made of glass connecting to us to one of the smaller dining rooms.

"I have this thing for architecture. It's modern and loud, I guess, but warm and friendly in another way."

"It's home," Leo cut in, not even realising what she said. She quickly looked at me, nervous for my reaction though I felt my eyes warm and a smile spread across my face. She was beginning to think of it as home. I nodded at her and continued to eat.

As soon as Maggie was finished eating, she ran back outside to dive in the pool. She tried to get me to join her but her father scorned her as I wasn't done eating. Once the little lady was out of the way, Patrick's attention turned to me and Leo.

"So where are you two kids off to tonight?"

"Mark's taking me to this fancy restaurant in town. What was it called again?" Leo looked to me for an answer.

"The La Marge," I answered while munching down on my food.

"Oh my God," Sophia squealed, her cutlery crashing onto her plate as she dropped them in her excitement. "You're so lucky, Leo, that's like the most expensive restaurant in LA!"

"Fourth," I corrected but could feel Leo's stare on me. I quickly came up with an easy excuse, "I wanted to spoil us for our anniversary."

I saw a smile form on her lips. "Right, five months today." It felt like when our eyes met, no one else in the world existed, let alone three other people at the table.

"Right," I echoed silently. Her expression matched mine. I was thinking how lucky I was to have found Leanne, how amazing things would be as soon as I told her who I really was, and how I would do anything to spend the rest of my life with her. I wonder what she was thinking.

"Ahem," Sophia coughed, gaining our attention, "So sis, you're not scared about moving to the city of angels?"

I tensed slightly and I was sure Leo had felt it as her hand slid into mine.

"It's a pretty big move?" Bradley added.

"I'm sure I can cope," Leo laughed. Her gaze travelled over to Patrick. "Dad's assured me he'll be fine, and we'll be flying you guys over all the time."

Bradley shoved the last piece of pasta on his plate into his mouth before saying, "Yeah, but it's a pretty big city, Leo. It could be dangerous."

"I'll keep her safe." I let the words slip out of my fat gob before I could stop them. I had sounded overly protective and so sure of myself.

"Yeah, how?" Sophia teased, winding me up.

I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant, "I don't plan on leaving her for a large amount of time. I'll be in and out of work now and again but I can work from home."

Leo frowned, "You can?"

Damn, forgot that I hadn't told Leo about the workshop down stairs. I nodded, "Sure, so long as it's alright with my boss."

"I know she'll be fine with you, Mark." Patrick smiled warmly at me. "To me, she's still my little girl. But I know you'll look after her, treat her right."

I gave her father a curt nod and he winked, picking up the empty plates from the table and bringing them into the kitchen. We followed soon after, cleaning up then sitting down on the sofas and chatting away until it was time for Leo's family to leave. Maggie had clung onto my leg, refusing to leave, although I was a little hurt that she only wanted to stay because of the swimming pool. With a promise that she could come again soon and the temptation of chocolate cake back home, she went with her father and sister.

We shut the door behind them and I let go of a heavy breathe.

"Well that went well," I smiled at Leo who stepped close to me, pushing her body against mine. "How about we skip dinner and go straight to dessert?"

Leo nuzzled her face in the crook of my neck and mumbled, "And skip the fourth most expensive restaurant in town?"

I chuckled, "Well, it is only the fourth. I didn't want to be too flashy."

Leo replied with a giggle and a kiss to my neck, sending shivers all over my body. She slapped my chest gentle with her small hands. "Come on, let's go get ready or we'll be late." I groaned, wanting to stay in this cosy position for the rest of the night.

Dinner went well, without any hiccups about me being Tony Stark. I'd given the owner $10,000 just to keep quiet and to keep any more customers from entering the restaurant, as I couldn't pay them off too without interrupting my meal with Leo. She had looked absolutely breath-taking, wearing a dark purple blue frock with a green satin belt, purple heels with her hair up neatly, her eyes smoulderingly dark and tempting. She was a vision, a dark beauty and I could barely keep my hands off of her.

Happy had gotten us to and from La Marge without and paparazzi on our tail, the brilliant man! We got home and the first words that came out of Leo's mouth surprised me.

"I fancy ice cream."

I chuckled and she hit me with her purse while I undid my tie and threw it onto the sofa. She dropped her purse on the side and walked towards the fridge. I saw her literally lick her lips when she pulled out a tub of Ben and Jerry's chocolate fudge brownie. She kicked off her heels in the middle of the floor, jumped onto the sofa and curled up her knees under herself. I groaned as she picked a movie from Sky but I sat next to her nonetheless.

"Mean Girls. Classic," she laughed, diving her spoon into the tub and pulling it out, shoving it into her small mouth.

"Really?" I asked astounded, "On our five months anniversary you're going to make me watch Mean Girls?"

"What do you suggest," she smirked, her eyes never leaving the screen, "Die Hard?"

"Yes!"

"No."

I grumbled and sat there for what felt like an hour, watching Lindsey Lohan make a fool of herself, wearing small skirts and god knows what else. Leo laughed her adorable cute laugh for what seemed like the fiftieth time when I pulled the tub of ice cream from her hands and shoved the spoon in my mouth.

"Wha- Hey!"

"Thank you," I smirked and continued to eat her ice cream, moving out of her reach so she couldn't grab it from me. She fell onto me and squirmed.

"Give me my ice cream back, Mark. It's mine!"

"Well," I snickered, "you can't have it."

"Mark!"

I stopped and looked at her with mock seriousness. "Ice cream or Mean Girls, Leo, you're choice?"

She grumbled after one more attempt of reaching for her food, and then plunked back down with her arms crossed. "Taking away my two lovers, how dare you…" she mumbled.

My head whipped over to face her. "What?"

"Ben. And Jerry," she smirked. I grunted, seeing what game she was playing.

"Well," I said quietly, adjusting my position on the couch, "I have to say, Lindsey isn't looking too bad in that tight little outfit."

From the corner of my eye I noticed Leo's eyes widen as she watched the actress saunter about, dancing along to Jingle Bell Rock.

"That's right; you dance like that, Lohan-"

Leo's fists went flying, slapping me playfully as she climbed over my body. I grabbed her wrists and held them tight as she tried slapping me again.

"Prefer Lindsey to me then, eh?" She took to a different tactic, and dived down on my neck. She nibbled below my ear and I suddenly stiffened, holding back a groan. "Well then you won't want me to do this then." Her lips travelled down from my neck to my unbuttoned shirt, kissing the very top of my chest. "Or this…" She must have felt my hands loosen around her wrists as she pulled away and undid another button. Then another. Her lips followed her hands and she kissed every inch of my chest. I moved my hands to rest on her bare legs, my fingers unable to help themselves as they caressed her thighs. I couldn't help but smirk as she moaned against my body. I felt myself grow hard as he hands moved down to my trousers.

Our eyes fixed onto each other and I went to pull her in for another kiss, but a smirk appeared on her lips and she jumped off my lap and stared at the TV, as if nothing had happened. I was dumbstruck. I saw her smile widen when the tub of ice cream fell onto the floor and I gruffed, my hard on twitching when I looked at her. Leo's hair was messy and she was panting heavily.

I couldn't handle it. I stood up and placed myself in front of her, blocking her view from the film. She tried looking around me but didn't expect me to take her body and pick her up, throwing her over my shoulder. She screamed and giggled in protest as I ran her up the stairs and into the bedroom, throwing her onto the king size bed.

I was about to join her and kiss her until she could no longer breathe but I saw her, lying there. Her hands were resting above her head and her short dress had ridden up her thighs. She was stunning. Not even the arc reactor could have stopped my heart from stopping at that moment. My breathing hitched and I choked on any words that could have come close to expressing how beautiful she looked, how beautiful she was.

She leaned up onto her elbows and looked at me with worried eyes. "Mark, what's the matter?"

"Nothing…Nothing's wrong, it's just," I shook my head in wonder, "how did I get so lucky?"

She blushed; her hands trembling as she shyly pulled my shirt to bring me to rest on top of her fragile body. I circled my arms around her and pressed us even closer. My breathing was slow and heavy. I kissed her neck, down her throat and back to take her lips, long and lovingly. With her permission, I unzipped the frock while she shrugged off my shirt for me. My lips caressed her chest, trailing down her cleavage while I watched her eyes roll back into her head, her legs pulling up to attached themselves around my waist. I took her. I made love to her and I never thought I could feel like this.