Chapter 7 - Not sharing my Whiskey with her, But love could involve a hand job.

"Hey baby..." I coo, my lips curled up into a grin as I gaze at my PA's back as she works, curled up with her legs tucked under herself on her chair. Pepper glances around at me grumpily, I can sense her mood already but I'm not going anywhere.

"Another pet name for me?' She scolds; obviously her mood hasn't improved in the slightest after yesterday's session of handing my ass to me in a plate with a period stick on top. She turns back around again, yanking her laptop closer to her again, obviously trying to bury herself in her work: "Can you still not remember my name?"

"I can." Pulling the door closed behind me, I keep my gaze on her back. This probably like entering the lion's den, she might eat me: "Virginia Patricia Stark?" I tease, grinning a little and attempting one of the many flirting techniques I've heard.

"Potts." She reprimands me grumpily, carrying on with her work. I bet she's blushing secretly though, her name sounds cute when you put my surname on it. Wasn't such a good idea after all it seems. Obviously its riling her a little, I can tell from the way she's shifted her legs under the table.

"Stark sounds better."

"We're not married."

"We could be." I offer, grinning at the back of her head even though she can't see me.

"No."

"I'd even let you be Potts-Stark if you asked nicely." Our discussion seems to have covered the time it's taken me to cross the room, stepping in close behind her and gazing down at the work in her hands. Pepper knows I'm standing here. I think that woman has Stark sensors built into her body just to stop me making her jump too many times.

"The answer is still no, Mr Stark." She mutters, starting to work through the tax form in her hands, pretending she's completely ignoring the fact I'm there.

"You wouldn't want to marry the man of your dreams, Pep?" I complain, resting a hand on her shoulder and feeling her tense a little under it.

"I believe you fell off a cliff the last time you were in my dreams." She points out in the same monotone as she was using earlier, turning a page of the report in her hands, starting to write something about our tax bracket. If I wanted to, I could easily fill in the form she's got. I've just never felt an overwhelming desire to do it.

"I'm still a man in your dreams." I point out with a smug smile, looking down at the top of her head again. Her parting isn't quite perfect, and there are little threads of silver mixed into it. I don't think I've ever seen the top of her head before; she's that much taller than I am.

Pepper sighs, I can feel it through my touch on her shoulder: "What exactly do you want, Tony? I'm sure you didn't actually come here to ask for my hand in marriage."

"Maybe one day I should." I mutter, leaning down a little so she can hear me. The blush that breaks out across her cheeks hits her ears as I rest my other hand on her shoulder, gripping them slightly the same way my masseuse does. Pepper physically seems to relax at that, leaning back into my hands slightly. I should actually think of a reason for being her that doesn't want to apologise for yesterday: "Anyway Potts, what's on the agenda for today."

That was brilliant Tony. Why didn't you just tell her you don't know why you're here? I don't think I've ever even used the word agenda before.

My strawberry blonde glances back to look at me, tipping her head up to gaze up into my eyes: "You doing your paperwork and we have a video conference with the board of directors about your inability to fill in your finances and the fact we seem to have misplaced almost a million dollars..." That look and the tone of voice are things I know too well. They're the warning signs that I'm going to get a lecture until the meeting that I'm supposed to be attending starts.

Kissing her is really not a good idea as a way to shut her up, Tony. It's much more likely to earn you a punch in the face. Curiously, I tighten my grip on her shoulders, running my thumbs gently over her shoulder blades the way my masseuse does.

She shuts up.

Wow.

Her rant seems to have vanished the moment that I start to massage her, gently rubbing into her shoulders. I don't actually know what I'm doing in the slightest, but I'm not going to stop, gently rubbing the palms of my hands into her shoulder blades and shifting my hands a little further down so they're resting against her back. I push my hands a little harder and carry on my attempted massage.

Pepper whimpers, her eyes closing as she tips her head back down. This could be so awkward if someone walked in. I think the noise means I've hit the right spot. I can't help but watch her, smiling a little.

Okay so I know I should probably have gotten bored and let go. But Pepper's still is making those cute little noises when I push against the right places.

That sounds almost sexual.

It's not! I promise!

"Feeling any more relaxed, Miss Potts?" I ask the wall, not daring to look down at her as I gently take my hands off her.

"Yes..." Her voice is a lot softer than usual as she turns around to face me, glancing down at her watch: "You're going to be late for your meeting, Mr Stark."

I would have already left but she's smiling, I've never seen Virginia looking that content. Running a hand though my hair I smile at her in return, just drinking in the sight of my PA being relaxed for five seconds longer than normal.

"Didn't you hear me?" She asks with a glare, the relaxation disappearing and of course it's my fault.

"Yep, die of board meeting. I heard you." Doesn't mean I'm planning on moving quite yet, I'm still gazing at her pretty face. I can tell the weather must be getting warmer; she's got more faint freckles on her nose than she had yesterday during my lecture.

"Shoo?" Pepper waves a hand at me, turning back around to her work: "You're going to be late."

"Only going to be?" I tease, folding my arms over my chest and watching her hair. I really am waiting for her to end up with a bird living in her messy 'up' do or whatever she calls it.

"Sir..." I can hear her scowling at me; she doesn't even need to turn around: "Could you not be on time for once?"

"Nope." Might as well be honest with her, I don't want to be on time. The more on time I am, the more likely they'll start asking me for my latest ideas for weapons, and today I don't have any to give.

Could tell them exactly how to give my PA a very good massage though.

Pepper is glaring at me as she gets up, crossing the room to loom over me. Stupid woman heels making her taller than I am.

Craning my neck a little, I look up at her: "Mr Stark." Miss strawberry blonde is giving me the same sort of look she probably gives the toilet after she's used it.

"Yes Pepper?" I ask, giving her my best completely innocent look even though I know what's coming next.

"Would you like me to escort you to your meeting?'

"Walk me to the door and wave goodbye?" I ask, keeping my gaze on hers.

Pepper gives me a very long look at that point, a very, very long look: "Do you really need me to treat you like you're in kindergarten?"

"Do I get a bed time story?" I ask with a grin, looking up still.

"Will you please stop behaving like a ten year old?" Pepper complains, huffing a little and crossing her arms over her chest.

"Actually. I think I'd need to be about four to be in kindergarten." I point out, giving her my best cocky grin.

We both just stand there looking at each other for a while. Well, more me grinning and her looking at me like I'm a bad smell. Pepper finally goes to speak but I cut her off before she can, looking down at my watch: "I'm late! Thanks Pepper, I've even got an excuse."

Her expression is a mix between horror and irritation as I scarper, I know I'll pay for it later but it was worth it. And I've got a brilliant excuse for being late, not that Obie is going to believe I got one up on Pepper.

Why on earth am I so smug about it?!