Hello! I hope you guys are still into reading this one, with it being now past the holidays and all. And I hope you're not finding it TOO fluffy, despite the forced starvation of all things Pepperony that has been put upon us. I guess I just can't help myself! So blame Marvel if any of my fluff goes overboard! LOL! :D Anyway, more to come! I love the support and the feedback! It keeps the plot bunnies hopping! :D

Happy Reading!

Pepper frowned and shook her head, stepping back. "Stop saying that," she murmured.

Tony frowned and looked at her curiously. "But...I do, Pep. I love you," he repeated. He chuckled bemusedly. "Is that such a bad thing?" he asked.

Pepper gave him a sympathetic smile. "But you're not in love, Tony," she argued.

"I'm not?" he asked, with an amused smirk.

"No," Pepper assured, shaking her head. "I'm flattered. Really. But this," she said, motioning between them. "This isn't love. It's...infatuation," she explained.

"Infatuation," he repeated flatly.

"Yes," Pepper agreed. "Puppy love. At best."

Tony pulled back, and scoffed. Pepper went on. "It's okay, Tony. I understand how you could confuse..."

"I'm not some love-sick school boy, Pepper. I've never felt like this before. Not about anyone. Admittedly, there have been times when I thought that I..."

Pepper laid her hand on his chest, and he stopped talking to look down at it.

"Tony," she murmured. She shook her head. "We can't. It would be...a mistake." She raised her gaze to look at him and they stared into each others eyes silently for a moment.

"A mistake, huh," Tony murmured back, dejectedly. He worked his jaw and nodded. "Alright,Pep. I get it. If it's not what you want, then it's not what you want. Just forget I ever..." he trailed off, moving to slide away from her. Pepper watched in silence, as he fidgeted and cleared his throat awkwardly. "I'll, uh, just go grab some more wood for the, uh... fire, and..."

"Sure, yeah, that...sounds good," she offered, just as awkwardly.

Tony turned around and began to walk away. He took a couple of steps, but halted and slowly turned back around to face her. "No," he said, putting his hands on his hips, and shaking his head. "No. You know what? If you're gonna kiss me off," he said, stepping back in front of her. Pepper looked into his eyes silently. "Then I want one...last...kiss," he finished. And with one motion, he lowered his head, and kissed her hard. Pepper squeaked in surprise, but couldn't deny the amount of passion he emanated, which automatically ignited her desire, proven by the breathy moan that involuntarily escaped her lips. She suddenly cleaved to him, pulling him hungrily to her. Tony smiled to himself as he wrapped his arms around her body, and held her tightly.

Several moments later, their cheeks collectively flushed and their chests collectively heaving, they slowly broke off and gazed at each other. Pepper slowly closed and then opened her eyes, and swallowed hard, trying to steady herself yet again. "How'd you do that?" she asked breathlessly, her glassy eyes trying to focus on him.

Tony smirked and chuckled, running his hands affectionately over her body. "Uh..do what?" he asked with playful innocence. "Not take no for an answer? Refuse to let you blow me off? Is...is that what you're talking about?"

Pepper didn't answer. She just gave him a sheepish grin, and chuckled.

Tony inhaled sharply through his teeth, and pretended to look out into the middle distance, squinting. "It's...a gift, Pep," he said hoarsely, before slowly bringing his eyes back to her. "And how does one explain something they are born with, exactly?"

"Oh-kay, sorry I asked," Pepper said, rolling her eyes and trying to stifle a giggle. She fiddled with the buttons on his shirt, and Tony smiled at her adoringly, loving holding her in his arms.

"But now do you believe me?" he asked softly, his voice hopeful.

Pepper smirked and looked at him with mock curiosity. "After one kiss? Please, Stark. You're going to have to work harder than that," she teased.

Tony made like he was mulling over the proposition, and then nodded in agreement. "Okay, Potts. Fair enough," he replied. "But are you abject to me saying it to you in the meantime?" he asked.

Pepper blushed. She bit her lips together, and looked at him bashfully. She still wasn't sure what he was feeling was love, but she just couldn't bring herself to tell him no.

"Maybe if you let me practice a little? You know, to get used to how it sounds," he urged, smirking.

"Boy, you are really trying to make the sale here, aren't you?" she remarked, smirking back at him.

"Well, try this on for size- Uh, Pepper?" he said, looking at her expectantly.

She just stared at him in silence.

"Okay, if I'm gonna show you the demo, you need to help me out here, Pep," Tony joked.

Pepper spluttered. "Oh! Okay, sorry. Go ahead," she said, tossing her hair over her shoulders before squaring them, and looking him in the eye with a playful smirk.

"Ready?" he asked, amused at her playing along.

"Ready," she replied.

Tony cleared his throat formally. "Pepper?" he said again in a low, soft rumble, with an eyebrow cocked.

Pepper blushed and rolled her eyes. "You are such a flirt," she muttered under her breath. But then she straightened up. "Yes, Tony?" she answered playfully back.

"I..." he said, leaning in to softly kiss her lips. She giggled and returned the kiss. "Love," he said, repeating the same motion. And again, Pepper returned it. But this time, Tony rested his forehead on hers, and brushed her cheek with the tips of his fingers, which sent a spark down her spine. She tried to hide the shivery thrill it caused by biting her bottom lip. Tony noticed this, and grinned. "You," he whispered, before cupping her cheek to tilt her lips up to his once more. This time, the kiss was tender, and very sensual, and it broke so slowly, that Pepper hardly knew it was over save for the affectionate brush of the tips of their noses, and Tony breathing out an approving sigh. A soft smile spread across her lips, and she slowly opened her eyes to gaze into his. "How was that?" he murmured. "Could you get used to that?"

Pepper smiled. "Well, it's certainly..." she said. She giggled at him rendering her ability to form a coherent sentence completely useless. Then they both chuckled.

"Amazing?" he offered, with a boastful smirk.

"Yes, you could say that. But the word I was looking for is permissible. It is permissible to tell me in...that way," she informed him, trying to keep her composure as she slowly regained her faculties.

Tony giggled at her. "Permissible. Got it," he teased. "Well, that method is good for those times when I am unoccupied by," Tony said, clearing his throat and making air-quotes. "'Other pursuits,' But what about when I'm busy? And I want to give you an 'on the fly' kind of I love you?" he asked.

Pepper chuckled and shook her head. "I think something a bit more conventional would do just fine in that instance," she informed him.

Tony gasped and nodded, as if this was a new concept. "Oh-kay, that's good to know. Something like an "I love you, baby!" or "I love you, honey," or...Ooo! I know!" he said, snapping his fingers in realization. " 'I love you, Pepper!' Yeah! That's a good one right there. That's a winner," he teased.

Pepper laughed, and he giggled back at her, his eyes sparkling with delight. "Well, however I get to say it, I'm just glad you're letting me," he said.

Pepper nodded. "Good," she said. "But just know, it's going to take me a bit longer to be able to say it back."

Tony took a minute to consider the idea, and then nodded in agreement. "I think I can work with that," he said with a smile.

Pepper looked at him curiously. "Really?" she asked. "You don't mind my being...cautious?"

Tony shook his head. "Nope," he assured her. "Pep, I know you need some time with this. I figured as much. But when you do decide the time is right, it'll be the best day of my life. That, and the day we...consummate the relationship," he said, waggling his eyebrows flirtatiously.

"And there it is," Pepper teased. She shook her head.

"Am I that predictable? You saw it coming, huh?" he teased back.

"Yep. Not a hard one to figure out," Pepper replied, and they both giggled.

Tony took both of her hands at his chest in one of his, while keeping the other arm around her waist. He squeezed her to him affectionately, and she smiled.

"Well, you're worth the wait, Pep," he murmured, looking deeply into her eyes. "On all counts."

His words made Pepper's knees go weak, and her stomach flutter. Another shivery thrill coursed over her, and her cheeks reddened. She bit her bottom lip, averting her eyes from his, which made him smile at her in adoration, knowing full well the effect her was having on her again. He lowered his head, and captured her lips once more, kissing her gently. Pepper melted into it, and when the kiss broke, Tony grinned at her.

"I love you, baby," he whispered to her.

Pepper bit her lip again. Despite her earlier resolve, she found herself fighting the overwhelming urge to say it back. But she managed to hold firm, and smiled at him, silently, instead.