Most nights, Collins ended up in Cooper's bed, too tired to make her way home or even one door over to her room (and it was her room now, the closet half-filled with her clothes and her books scattered among the furniture).
Despite the looks she got from Natasha and Steve every morning when she emerged from Cooper's bedroom, Collins couldn't find it in herself to be ashamed. There was nothing more going on between her and Cooper than indulgent cuddling and some poetry on his part when he had a book of sonnets on hand.
Spending their nights shacked up in his room was about all the time they had to spend together.
Collins barely had time to stop by her apartment to feed Oliver anymore and was seriously contemplating just bringing him up to the Avengers' floor to make sure he was being cared for. He could stay in her room. Cooper might be kind enough to feed him for her.
He was sweet enough to get up early with Collins every morning and have a cup of tea while she had a quick breakfast. He'd even share a meal with her if Collins wasn't strapped for time or trying to get into her office early.
With the new Stark Party coming up at the end of the week, Collins was going mad making sure all the details were taken care of. And that Pepper wasn't going to kill Mister Stark over any last minute additions he wanted to make.
They did not need to invite the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.
At least, not with Pepper being so high strung lately.
Collins was seriously beginning to worry about her.
Perhaps she could consider worrying about herself instead, seeing as she was practically staggering her way off the elevator.
Collins mumbled a passing greeting to Steve and Thor as she passed through the living area, but didn't stop on her way down the hall.
Cooper quirked a brow at her as he leant against the doorframe, hands in his pockets. Evidently he'd heard Thor shout her name in greeting.
"Hello, darling." he murmured as he leaned forward to buss a kiss against her cheek. "You seem exhausted."
Collins sighed with relief as she sagged against his chest, burying her face into the fluff of his blue sweater, and nodded.
"Pep and Mister Stark started arguing over the party again." she whined. "And that deal with the Sheffield Entertainment Company is close to closing so we've been running around to deal with that. I love the wife, but her CEO of a husband is so high-strung! And to top it all off, I've still got to fit dress shopping into my schedule somehow."
Cooper's chest shook with a repressed chuckle. "Is that all? Perhaps you could fit a lesson on making souffle in there as well."
"I don't suppose you'd go try on dresses for me so I don't have to deal with that headache?" Collins looked up at Cooper with an exaggerated pout.
"I'm still confined to the penthouse, I'm afraid." he grinned. "And I'm sure our dress sizes wouldn't match up - your bum is more impressive than mine."
Collins giggled through her blush. "I could make a convincing argument against that."
"Could you now?" Cooper's eyes glinted with mischief. "I'd like to hear that."
"Let's put you in a dress first." Collins winked and gave him a gentle shove towards the bedroom. "I do have a couple of dresses bookmarked on my phone if you wanna help me narrow them down."
"I'm certain you'll be stunning in anything you choose."
"Thanks." Collins lowered her eyes bashfully. "But I've gotta pick something that'll help me blend into the background. I don't want those handsy businessmen getting any ideas."
"Handsy?" Cooper pursed his lips. "Perhaps you'd be better off skipping the entire affair?"
Collins heaved a great sigh as she fell back onto his bed.
"I wish I could." she lamented. "But this party is my baby. I can't stand to see it flop - if I stay home I'd go stir crazy worrying about any and everything that could go wrong."
"Fair reason." Cooper sat by her hip and leaned over to rest a hand on either side of her head. "If that's the case, then perhaps you could leave early? I'll miss you terribly if you're gone the whole night."
Collins tried to ignore the implication with him looming over her on his bed.
"Hmm, skip out early and come home to you or spend my night avoiding people who want to dance?" Collins pretended to think over the choice. "Considering I can't dance… you may have to suffer another night in with me."
Cooper smiled fondly at her before attempting to repress it in favor of a look of deep interest.
"You can't dance? I can hardly believe that."
Collins raised a brow. "Have you seen me do much more than walk from one side of the room to the other?"
"I've seen you on the training mat." Cooper countered easily. "You are graceful enough with a blade in hand. Come, let us put some practice in - it will help your confidence."
He rose to his feet and held a hand out to her.
Collins remained in her place and made a face as she stared at him.
"Coop, can't dance isn't the same as doesn't dance. I've never learned how."
The man smirked. "Then it's fortunate that I can teach you to dance with a partner, much as I taught you to dance with a blade. JARVIS, something appropriate, if you will."
"Of course, sir."
Collins gaped at Cooper in disbelief as he pulled her to her feet.
His eyes crinkled at the corners as he pulled her close, sinking a hand into her hair to pull the pins from her carefully coiffed hair. Cooper sighed with admiration as Collins' hair fell around her shoulders in thick waves. He pushed a stray curl from her face with tenderness, his hand lingering against her cheek, and ducked to press their foreheads together.
"Surely you wouldn't deny me the pleasure of a dance, my dear?" he pleaded.
How could she say no?
"Y'know, people aren't exactly waltzin' at these parties." Collins chuckled as Cooper guided her hold on him: one hand to his shoulder while he kept the other in his own. His free hand slid up her back to splay across the stiff fabric of her blazer as the sounds of a string chorus drifted through the bedroom.
"Then I'll just have to continue until we find something appropriate." Cooper quirked a brow and smiled charmingly.
Dancing a waltz in a pencil skirt wasn't exactly easy, but somehow Collins managed.
It was like their night in the gym all over again, Cooper teaching Collins with slow steps and unending patience. The dance was a dizzying sensation as they spun round and round Cooper's bedroom, close enough to kiss but keeping just enough space between them to tease.
"You are an excellent partner, Miss Collins." Cooper complimented. "You learn very quickly."
Collins grinned.
"Well, with such a great teacher I have a lot of incentive to learn." she batted her lashes coyly. "I recall something about continuing, Mister Cooper."
Cooper grinned and continued on.
Collins had a decent understanding of a waltz – not a very complicated dance, really – and only took a little longer on the other dances Cooper showed her. They seemed very elegant in style, though Collins failed to recognize any, and left her feeling like a princess at a ball.
All in all, it was quite the romantic affair.
Collins could have danced all night like that, hair loose and wild and still in her work attire, but she could feel her sanity and self-control slipping every moment she spent encased in Cooper's arms.
As another dance lesson came to an end, Collins called JARVIS off and grinned mischievously at Cooper.
"Well, I believe I've got a good understandin' for the party. Now, how 'bout I teach you a thing or two that I learned back home?"
Cooper raised his eyebrows. "I thought you couldn't dance, darling?"
"Wait until we're done and you can decide if you call it dancin' or not." Collins glanced at the ceiling. "Jarv, hit us with some Travis Tritt, will you?"
"I have just the song, miss."
Collins grinned as a familiar guitar rift blasted in.
"Well I play an old guitar from nine till half past one…"
The quiet elegance that had settled over the room fled in favor of the more upbeat fare Collins was familiar with. A waltz was all good for a classic romance, but it just couldn't replace the backwoods beats and electric guitars she'd been raised on.
Cooper, at least, seemed charmed by the wild song and allowed Collins to teach him a fast-paced two-step – the only dance she'd learned as a child. He cackled with glee as she tried to turn the tables and spin him, nearly dislocating his arm in the process. The pair of them nearly knocked over one of his pretty statues in their mirth.
"Well, I think you would liven the party up quite a bit with such a song!" Cooper grinned as the song came to an end.
He caught Collins in his arms and drew her close again.
The song changed over to something quiet and slow as Collins struggled to catch her breath, laughing quietly as she sagged against Cooper's chest.
"I don't know you, but I want you all the more for that…"
Collins tipped her head to the side.
"I feel like I've heard this somewhere before." she murmured and raised her hands to link around Cooper's neck. "I like it."
"It is rather pleasant." Cooper agreed, twirling them around in a slow, languid circle. It felt a lot like the awkward school dances Collins ditched back in high school.
Collins would rather slow dance with Cooper in his bedroom then attend all the parties in the world.
"Falling slowly, eyes that know me and I can't go back…"
Eventually, their dance came to an end, the slow song seeming to last an eternity but still not long enough.
Collins felt boneless in Cooper's arms, one step away from clinging to him like a koala if he would allow it.
Cooper sighed against her hair. "You're tired, darling. You should change into your nightclothes before you fall asleep."
"Don't wanna." Collins mumbled. "Too comfy."
His chest shook with his chuckle.
"Then by all means, return when you have changed. But a blazer and a little skirt can hardly be comfortable to sleep in."
"You're not tired of me hogging your bed all the time?"
"I welcome it." Cooper smoothed down the flyaway hairs by her face when Collins looked up at him. "I find my nights grow warmer and the darkness that plagues them less harsh when you are at my side."
Collins smiled shyly, her cheeks warming. "Well, when you put it that way…"
She allowed him to escort her to her bedroom without protest.
"I'll be waiting. Shall I order dinner?"
"Greek?" Collins asked hopefully, her eyes wide.
"As you wish." Cooper inclined his head towards her before pausing.
His eyes glittered like jade in the dim light of the hallway.
"Coop?" Collins raised her eyebrows in confusion.
He smiled slightly. "It is nothing. Hurry back, darling."
Cooper leaned in further, his lips meeting the corner of her mouth with a firm, cool press. The heady scent of citrus flooded her lungs and made her head spin. Her eyelids fluttered shut and she pushed closer to him without thinking.
Cooper pulled away, a pleased look in his eye, and pressed another quick kiss to her palm before heading back to his room.
Collins swooned and caught herself against the doorframe.
Oh, there was no denying it now.
She was halfway in love with him already.