Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Rating: R

Chapter 6

Angela stared vacantly at the mirror, trying to calm the nervous energy flowing through her system. It seemed so odd and yet so comforting that one person could make her feel so powerful in one moment and so vulnerable in the next. She returned her focus to Angela-in-the-looking-glass and tried to picture herself as Tony saw her. As she ran through a mental checklist of all her good and bad qualities, she couldn't help but hear his voice in her mind, contradicting her whenever her thoughts drifted to the negative. He was her cheerleader, her friend, and her love. She was his and he was most definitely hers. She had nothing to fear. Angela-in-the- glass flashed a brilliant smile as she realised that to Tony she was nothing less than beautiful.

Tony stood at the dresser, examining the picture in his hand. It was an old photo, probably taken sometime during that first year after he and Sam had moved in. For the life of him, he couldn't remember ever seeing it before. The kids looked so fresh-faced and innocent, laughing uncontrollably at the edges of the picture. And Mona, she looked as timeless as always, sitting there front and centre, staring up at him from the photograph. He vaguely recalled her forcing them to gather for a 'family' portrait, a project for her photography class during her college days. But what really got him about the picture was him and Angela, squeezed happily in the midst of the chaos, sharing that secret, longing gaze they always shared. "We had it even then," he said unconsciously, lightly brushing his fingertip over Angela's image.

"We had what even then?" Angela stepped out of the bathroom and pulled the door closed behind her.

Tony glanced up at her voice and felt his pulse quicken at the sight of her standing there in a pink nightgown and robe, soft hair curling around her shoulders. He gestured at the picture, unable to form a coherent sentence.

A knowing smile played across her face as she crossed the space between them. She stood close to him, letting him feel the rise and fall of her breathing. Her voice was husky as she spoke, "That's some family we've got there." She placed her hand lightly over his and tilted the picture to see it better. "Where did you ever find this?"

Tony swallowed with difficulty and managed, "It was just sitting here. Must be another of Mona's gifts."

"She gave us this nightgown too." Their eyes locked.

He reached a hand up and carefully trailed a finger along the strap. "Oh, I like it."

Angela wrapped her arms around Tony, drawing him in for a kiss. His hand found the dresser and gently set the picture face down before returning to explore her body. It wasn't long before Angela's hands made their way under his shirt, tracing the contours of his upper body. She couldn't count the number of times she'd seen him shirtless, but to actually touch him and feel the strength of his muscles...She bit her lip, trying to fight the urge to ask him to flex his pecks. It had always seemed like such an egotistical gesture, but right at this moment... She brought her face back up to his and encased his lower lip in her mouth, letting her tongue slide slowly over the small sensitive hollow just beneath it. When he responded by pressing even closer to her she began to wonder how much more of this either one of them could take.

Tony felt like he was drowning in everything Angela. The intoxicating scent, the warm moisture of her mouth, the way her body felt beneath the smoothness of the nightgown, the intensity of her kisses... He'd wanted this for so long and now to finally have her in his arms with no doubts as to whether this was right or if she loved him, it was almost too much. As her hands brushed through his hair then lingered to massage his shoulders he reconsidered, it was overwhelming, but he thought he'd survive. Laughing, he swiftly picked her up and swung them around to the bed, attempting to gently lay her down.

She wouldn't let go, only relenting after he kissed her hungrily and thoroughly, his body leaning into hers. He stood up and began to remove his clothes, still locked deeply in her gaze. Her eyes were deep pools of brown, darkened with desire and those wonderful, delicious lips of hers curled into the smallest of smiles, begging to be kissed away. She reached up and took his hand, drawing him back down towards her. He lightly brushed his hand against her cheek, trailing a finger along her jaw line before lifting her chin to meet his own slightly tilted head. Their lips met and Angela felt the bubbling of emotion rise through her system once again.

Together they slid off the last remaining article of clothing between them and were rewarded with sensation of flesh meeting in a heated embrace. His lips wandered slowly away from hers, tasting her throat and then her neck before venturing further down her body. She gasped and arched her body towards him as he grazed over her breast. He lingered there, enjoying the small noises she emitted as he teased her. Finally, deciding that turnaround was fair play; she pushed him up and sat beside him. She ran her hands up across his torso then down along his arms before resting again on his chest, thumbs rubbing his nipples. She pressed down on his shoulders, straddling his legs, forcing him to lie still as she began her slow torture, nibbling gently along his sensitive areas. He groaned and tried to move her but she only smiled and captured his lips again. Finally reaching the limits of his endurance, he spun her over and caressed the curve of her hip, dipping his head down to taste her. Her body shivered and pulsed at his touch, completely awash with the need to be near him. She closed her eyes and absorbed the sensation of him entering her as her heart raced in response. They moved together until they were finally carried over the edge in a rush of release. Even as they came down to earth, they began again, lost in this new dance of passion and love and discovery.