AN: I know you all hate me so much for making you wait :( I'm so sorry. This stupid thing called real life caught up with me. I also really struggled with this chapter. I didn't want to make it too sappy, but I failed. It's very sappy! It's also shorter than usual. And this chapter is mostly PWP. Next chapter will be my first attempt at le sexy times, so I'm terrified. Thank you all for your kind reviews! I hope you all enjoy this chapter ~Heather
Tony's brain malfunctioned.
His mind surrendered control to his heart and his body. A mere second had passed since Bruce's lips touched his when he began to react. Tony softly pressed his lips back to the doctor's. The instant Bruce's mouth was upon his, Tony closed his eyes, reveling in the warmth of the other's full lips, which were softer than he had imagined. Abruptly dropping the wrench he was holding onto the workbench, his hand found Bruce's waist. Their lips met briefly several times, sweetly and chaste, perfectly delineating to themselves how much more this meant than simple attraction. Bruce broke the kiss, his hand sliding slowly out of Tony's hair and down his neck to his shoulder. He couldn't look away from Tony, but also couldn't look him in the eyes, afraid of Tony's reaction.
"Bruce," Tony murmured, low voice full of passion and wonder. This was the last thing he expected the extremely shy doctor to do, but now that Bruce had kissed him, he realized it first on his list of what he wanted. More than anything, he wanted Bruce. Tony needed Bruce's friendship, had to see him smiling and hear him laughing, craved him working by his side with that intelligent brain of his, wanted to share everything with Bruce, yearned for Bruce to rely on him with anything, and wished for Bruce to stay with him always. He was not falling in love with Dr. Bruce Banner. He had already fallen, far too deeply to climb out.
"I -" Bruce began to unwillingly explain away the kiss as nothing, when it actually meant so much to Bruce that his heart ached. Tony cut him off by caressing Bruce's cheek with his fingertips and leaning down to passionately kiss him. The hand that was located on Bruce's waist pulled tightly and drew him closer so his body was pressed fully against Tony. The motion caused a surge of desire to flow through Bruce and he felt like his body growled internally in response.
There were reasons why Bruce couldn't be in a relationship, many reasons that Bruce had rationalized prior to kissing Tony. But as the inventor continued to kiss him breathless, all of his reasons flew away. His indecision and barriers gone, Bruce opened his mouth to deepen the kiss. Tony could feel the exact moment when Bruce made his decision to not turn back. When Bruce opened his mouth with such vulnerability, Tony had to suppress the shiver that threatened to run down his spine. He quickly obliged by sweeping his tongue along Bruce's bottom lip, then entering his mouth to tangle with Bruce's tongue.
Lips pressed against each other again and again, tongues dancing, hands tangling in hair and brushing against skin, lungs gasping for breath in between kisses. Tony bit down on Bruce's bottom lip, causing Bruce to gasp, "Tony". At the sound of the doctor's voice saying his name so sensuously, Tony claimed Bruce's mouth with even more passion. The evidence of their desire could be easily felt by both parties since their bodies were pressed so firmly together. Bruce began to feel weak with need and nibbled at Tony's lips, this time resulting in a shiver from Tony. Uncharacteristically, Tony was the first to pull away, breathing heavily, his eyes slightly dazed. Bruce was mortified when he released a soft whimper, his whole being begging for a return to their former activity.
"Hi," Tony said happily, before softly kissing Bruce again.
"Um…hello," Bruce replied, his face flushed from embarrassment and kissing.
"Is this what you were thinking about earlier?" Tony asked, searching Bruce's eyes for answers and for one emotion he desired more than anything. Tony knew too well what it was like to have one's love feel unreturned, and he feared that would happen with Bruce.
But when Bruce looked up at him and nodded, Tony realized regardless of whether Bruce felt the same love, he wanted Bruce to know that he cared for him. Bruce could never be loved enough, had never been loved enough by the people in this world, and Tony would not hold back what Bruce so deserved to hear.
"I love you," Tony confessed.
Bruce's eyes widened in shock, but then he smiled, his expression eclipsing the pure joy that was present in the smile from the video feed. However happy he felt when he discovered that he loved Tony was nothing compared to the sensation of being loved by the person you love. Bruce kissed Tony then, pouring all of his bliss and love into the frenzy of lips, tongues, and teeth.
When Bruce pulled away, he gazed at Tony, now looking disheveled with swollen lips and tousled hair. "I love you, Tony."
Nothing on Earth could compare to that moment for Tony Stark. In all of his life, it was probably only the second time that someone had told him they loved him and meant it. The only other person had been his mother. His father may have loved him, but never told Tony in so many words. And here Bruce was, in Tony's opinion a far better person than himself, telling him that he loved him. Tony had no idea how he managed to make Bruce fall in love with him, but there was no way he would stand there thinking when he had much better things to do.