Chapter Four

Please Review

I stretched my arms out and my legs, my body trembling as my muscles groaned. The Californian coast and the golden sun was a gorgeous sight as I rolled onto my side, but not as beautiful as the sight I'd hoped to have seen.

Leo was missing from my side. I had woken up in the night, just as the light outside was becoming a paler blue, greeting the morning. She had been there, her slender body tangled amongst the bed sheets and our limbs. I had lain there for a moment, taking in that image. It would be pressed into my mind, scratched into my brain like a tattoo. As would watching her other worldly body writhe from under me…Her mouth opening but nothing coming out as we kissed and loved each other…Her eyes attached to my own, neither of us needing words, only actions to show what we were feeling.

I stretched a final time before I removed myself from my bed. I wore only my black boxers as I padded downstairs and into the kitchen. Perhaps she went home before I woke up? I walked over to the coffee maker to wake myself up, and then I heard someone pull open the fridge. I turned round and felt my mouth drop.

Leo was standing there, drinking milk from a bottle, wearing her lacy black panties and a matching strapless bra. Her hair was dishevelled and messy but her make-up was still intact. She was the definition of sexy and I could feel my heart ache, my fingers wanting to run through her hair and all over her skin.

She only just noticed me standing there, quickly shoving the milk back into the fridge and wiping a drop from her lips. My chest strangled and my heart thumped. "Oh crap, you're up."

"As are you…" I made her smile and blush as I began to walk closer to her. "I thought you'd left…"

"What?" she looked shocked. "No! Last night was, well…"

"I know," I agreed, my forehead resting against hers, my heart buzzing when her breathe tingled and touched my face. "Wow."

"You look amazing, by the way," I said as she walked away.

"Yeah, well," she said as she returned to the fridge, "I was going to do you breakfast in bread, wasn't I? Then get dressed."

"No to the dressing part, please."

She smiled and pulled out the eggs. "Get the fire going, baby, I want a fry-up in bed."

"Oh God," I groaned, dramatically collapsing under my own weight. "You are my kind of woman."

She pulled out a spatula from the draw and pointed it at me, accusing and giggling at the same time. "I better be your only woman, Mr Renner."

I felt my body tense for a moment. I'd forgotten to tell her. I was so wrapped up in my own happiness that I forgot to tell Leo everything. We had had such a laugh and an amazing, unforgettable night I hadn't had time to confess.

"Um, Leo…I need to tell you something-"

"Good morning!" An overly-cheery voice interrupted me. Pepper Potts arrived from around the corner but she audibly gasped very loudly when she saw Leo and I standing there in nothing but my underwear.

Quickly, I grabbed Leo's hand and pulled her behind me to cover up her body. It wouldn't have been the first time Potts had caught me in just my boxers, but I knew Leo wouldn't be comfortable being seen like this, other than by me.

"Morning Virginia," I used her real name around Leo most of the time, just to keep her off the scent.

"Um," she had been caught off guard and I could see her trying to pull herself together, "Mark, I'm afraid you have a meeting to attend to today." She sneered this part ever so slightly, knowing exactly what it translated to, "Your boss specifically required you to be there."

A.K.A no getting out of this meeting, or else.

"Thank you, Virginia, anything else?" I said tightly, trying to subtly nod towards a half-naked Leo behind me. She didn't take the hint.

"Yes, sir." I saw a small smirk appear on her lips as she glanced down at her P.D.A. "We need to RSVP to your invitation to Adler's Ball on the 21st. And perhaps Miss Hendricks would like to pick something out before the day actually arrives?"

Adler's Ball was the annual get together, an excuse for a bunch of rich, famous aristocrats to argue who had bagged the most celebrities or invented the greatest must-have yet. Potts always made me attend because my father co-founded the celebration with Sir Ian Adler and everyone expected me to attend.

"No, we're not going," I replied.

"What? Why?"

"Because," I clenched my teeth; Pepper should have guessed the real reason. "I have more important things to deal with and have priorities that I have not yet sorted." My eyes flickered to the side, indicating that I hadn't yet told Leo the truth.

"Well, might I suggest you sort your 'priorities' out before the ball, sir." Potts practically rolled her eyes at me. "Adler's ball is the perfect excuse for Miss Hendricks to take a look around LA and extend her wardrobe before she moves in here."

"I don't like to impose…" Leo mumbled shyly from behind me. I could picture her biting her lip from being the centre of attention.

"No, Leanne, really," Potts responded, using Leo's given name, "it's no trouble. Happy will take you out into town when Mr Renner leaves, and he'll escort you while you pick out some new outfits. I'm sure you'll need quite a few dresses with the amount of celebrations Mark's boss organises. And usually Mark has to attend. To every. Single. One."

I saw Leo peak over my shoulder. "If it's ok with you?"

My voice was hard, "I don't know if I would have sorted my 'priorities' before the 21st, Virginia. I may need more time."

"Am I correct in thinking your family moves back to London before then, Miss Hendricks?"

"Yes, their plane flies back on the 19th."

"Well then, that's less than two weeks," Pepper smiled at both Leo and I. "I'm sure you'll have plenty of time." Virginia began to walk away and called back, "The meeting is in an hour, Mark, don't be late."

I sighed heavily. Two weeks. I had two weeks before Leo's family left. I had two weeks to tell Leo the truth, try to make her understand, and to hope that she wouldn't change her mind about moving in with me. I had to hope she wouldn't fly back with her family. I had to hope she'd forgive me. I had to hope she'd be my date in time for Adler's ball, where for the first time I could be myself and introduce Leo as my girlfriend to the public.

I had a lot of work to do.

"So," I huffed in irritation, "looks like that fry up's out of the question now."

She giggled at my sour face. "Maybe tomorrow?"

"Definitely tomorrow," I grinned back at her, kissing her nose. Quickly, I ran to the other room and grabbed a card of mine from my wallet that was lying in the living room, and ran back to Leo. I handed it to her, avoiding her mouth drop. "Here, take this and spend as much as you can. Whether we go to the ball or not, I want you to spoil yourself."

"Mark, that's ridiculous-"

"Leo, it means nothing to me." I chuckled, shrugging my shoulders. "I have money to throw away because of my grandparents, but I don't want it unless I can spend it on you. So please, just take it." I couldn't even remember my grandparents, let alone whether they were rich or not. But I did have money to throw away and I wanted to spoil Leo rotten as much as I could without revealing who I was just yet.

"Baby, this is too much…" she mumbled, trying to hand back my card.

"Leo, if you don't take it then it'll upset me." Trying to lighten the mood, I pouted and let my body slump. She shook her head at me.

"You're such a child," she grumbled, shoving me playfully so I grinned.

"You know you love it," I winked back and picked her up, making her squeal. But she wrapped her legs around my waist and held my neck, placing her nose against mine. "Fancy taking a shower before we have to go?"

Her eyes widened but in answer she kissed my lips heavily, and I took us upstairs and into my en suite.

I had dressed into a dark suit ready for work. I was not going to be happy in the meeting, having to leave a naked, wet Leo in the shower to get dressed, just so I could nod along to dreary presentations and give my opinion on stupid ideas that would never proceed as long as I was the CEO of Stark Industries. I watched as Leo got dressed into white ballet flats and a short angel-like sleeveless dress. She looked too lovely and beautiful in her outfit to kiss her all over and make love quickly before the car arrived.

Timing wasn't always my strong point, but just then, Happy beeped the car horn for us to hurry up. Happy also knew my current situation and knew fully well what not to say. I groaned as an irresistible Leo kissed my cheek knowingly and skipped down the stairs, with me following behind her.

"You really shouldn't have given me the pin to your card, Mark," she smirked while she grabbed her purse, both of us hovering by the door. "What's stopping me from taking the card now and running off with some celebrity billionaire? This is LA, y'know?"

I laughed, knowing she had no clue that she already had one. "I have faith in you."

She grinned and pulled me in by my tie. I growled against her lips and kissed her lightly, but she took the kiss even deeper, grabbing at my neck to pull us impossibly close. She licked my bottom lip and my head fell back in frustration. "Baby, you keep kissing me like that and I won't be able to leave here for at least another hour."

"Oh," she said cockily, "well, we can't have that now, can we?"

To answer she kissed my cheek which made me groan. "I'll be back before six."

I opened the door for her and took her hand, walking us to Happy's waiting car. "I'll be waiting."

I kissed her small hand and watched her step into the car, driving off into town. I slid into the front seat of the Audi and paused for a moment, my head falling back onto the seat. I couldn't help but smile to myself as I began to make my way to Stark Industries office.

"Don't worry, Miss. Mr Renner has told me exactly where to take you, lots of nice places to visit, you'll see." Happy seemed like a lovely man as he chatted away, taking us along the city streets. Mark had left me his credit card, and I couldn't feel guiltier. But if it made him happy, then I thought I might as well.

My life seemed perfect with Mark. He was absolutely gorgeous, fit and charming. He made me laugh and made me swoon, and he was good to me. I was falling fast and I wasn't scared at all.

"Thank you, Happy. And please, there's no need with the miss." I smiled at him in the mirror. "It's Leo."

He nodded, but did not smile. Mark had told me Happy wasn't one to smile. But he was kind and thoughtful and I wanted us to be friends, rather than think of him as staff. I didn't know how Mark could afford it. As a research scientist, I knew he must earn a lot, but this was on another scale. Perhaps his family were millionaires or something, I didn't know. I didn't care about the money. In fact I felt guilty for spending it. But if Mark and I were to raise a family, I knew that they'd have the best we could possibly give them.

I shook my head. What was I like, thinking about having children? Mark probably wasn't even thinking that far ahead…

Happy pulled up outside a boutique, with gorgeous gowns lining the windows. The chauffer open my door and took my hand to let me out.

"This one wasn't on Mr Renner's list, but Virginia insisted we buy some gowns, perhaps one for Adler's ball?" he gestured towards the door. I attempted a smile before going into the boutique with Happy. A woman in a dress suit welcomed us.

"How may I help you?" Her teeth were so white and they started to hurt my eyes.

I was about to open my mouth when Happy butted in. "Miss Hendricks would like to see your finest dresses, please."

"Very well," the woman bared her chops again, only too pleased to offer her most expensive dresses. "Right this way, Miss Hendricks."

The sales lady handed me various dresses. Some really didn't suit me, others I weren't sure about but Happy insisted they would look great. She handed me four hangers and I tried on every one. The first was a knee-long, pink dress with a rose pattern layering it. The next was long and fairly see-through everywhere but my delicate parts, grey, threaded delicately that came to the floor. The third dress was short, more for the summer. It was covered in petals, pink and purple. And lastly, the gown Happy insisted I wore to Adler's ball; it flowed all the way down to the floor, the crimson dress studded with tiny diamantes, a large slit down the middle and the fabric coming up to my chest, long layers over my shoulders to hold the revealing gown together. It was stunning, and very, very expensive.

Happy had the dresses packed in the bags and placed them in the boot of the car, as well as four boxes for the shoes the saleswoman insisted I should buy too. I couldn't have felt guiltier for spending so much, but Mark's chauffer guaranteed me that he'd be angrier if I didn't spend as much as I was.

We drove to a lot more shops and we ended up having to stuff some of the bags in the back with me. Happy assured me that this would be the last shop, and if anything, he sounded quite awkward as he told me, coughing and grunting.

I could see why when we pulled up by the curb. Ann Summers awaited me. I cursed Mark silently, knowing that he would be laughing to himself as he thought of me shopping for lingerie. Well, I guess this would have to be my way of thanking him.

I swallowed, "I think you can wait outside for this one, Happy."

He let out a heavy breathe and replied thankfully, "Yes, miss."

I walked into the shop and picked out the most tasteful underwear sets I could see. It took me a long time to dress and undress in all my chosen lingerie. I bought a nude and black netted corset set, complete with stockings, a red lacy set, a dark blue and black butterfly patterned set, and just as an extra thank you to Mark, I grabbed a sexy nurse outfit on the way out. I had also bought a couple sets of pyjamas just for me, so I could be comfy too.

I felt myself blush as I put the bags into the car. It had been a long, exhausting day and I'd need several wardrobes to fit all these clothes in. 6 o'clock had come quicker than we'd first expected and the light sun was gone, outside turning a deep blue. I had thanked Happy and apologised on behalf of Mark too for making him drag me all over town.

"To be honest, miss, I much prefer your company to Mark's." I laughed at his response and thanked him once again when he helped me out of the car. I stopped him when he tried to take the many bags from my hands but I did let him carry in the other hundred from the boot. After unpacking all this, was there any need to move my stuff in?

I placed the bags inside and called out his name.

"Mark?" I walked into the front room. Everything was dark and the only light was coming from the larger dining room. "Mark, are you home?"

I paused when I saw that the light was off, but a dozen or so candles were alight and spread around the room. Mark stood there in a blue smart shirt and jeans, his arms behind his back and a smirk on his lips. Two mouth-watering meals were set on the table waiting for us to tuck in.

"You look beautiful," he stated quietly.

I looked around in question, gesturing, "What's all this?"

"Well," he stood forward and pulled out a chair for me, "after a very long meeting and spending the rest of my day being separated from you, I thought we'd have a night in tonight."

I smiled as he took his place opposite me and said, "And maybe, you can model some of those outfits tonight."