I rubbed my eyes as I pulled myself up into a seated position, tugging my warm bedsheets around my shoulders to fend off the cold. My brain was still slightly fuzzy from waking up, therefore struggling to process the situation and discern the source of the irritatingly rhythmic tapping that had torn me from my peaceful slumber. It hadn't been the earliest hour when Peggy and I had finally managed to quit our gossiping and go to sleep, therefore I wasn't best pleased about being woken up at this hour. I glanced around, my mind slowly catching up to me as another tap sounded from the window, followed by another as tiny pebbles sailed through the air towards the glass. I groaned, expecting to be greeted by a young soldier, probably thick off cheap alcohol and feeling giddy from the dare his buddies and no doubt put him up to.
I reluctantly threw the sheets from my body, grabbing my night robe from where it had been slung haphazardly on the chair before draping it over my shoulders. I quickly tied it at the waist, yanking the knot closed a little harsher than was probably necessary before I headed for the door, taking care not to wake my sleeping roommate. Peggy had been under added stress lately with the recruits and project rebirth, and as much as she had tried to not let it show, I knew her better than she knew herself and she needed all the rest she could get right now.
I opened the door and stepped out onto into the cold, the rough wooden porch hard under my bare feet. I wasn't greeted by the sight of an intoxicated soldier as I'd expected, instead I narrowed my eyes as they fell upon an intoxicated Howard Stark, leaning up against yet another flashy car, a devious glint in his eye and a proud smirk on his lips.
"Eve…" he began, dropping the remaining stones to the floor and shoving his hands into his pockets with a pleased sigh.
"Howard." I retorted, not nearly as pleased as him, which I strongly hinted at by folding my arms over my chest and arching my eyebrows at the slight slur that graced my name.
"Did I wake you?"
"No, Howard, not at all. In fact, I often do my best thinking at 2:30 in the morning." Howard laughed as he threw his head back, clearly highly amused by my blatant sarcasm. I winced slightly at the noise, worried he might have woken Peggy. Thankfully, for both of us, she barely stirred from where she slept. I reached behind me, pulling the door closed with a click, just to be on the safe side. Glad that we hadn't disturbed her, I turned my attention back to the man before me, hardly even trying to hide the smile that was fighting for a place on my lips.
"You have a one of a kind sense of humour, Moore." He pushed himself from the side of the car and slowly made his way over to me, stumbling slightly as he reached out to the porch fence to steady himself. I gripped the inside of my own arms tightly, reminding myself that this man was a womaniser, and this was the worst possible situation I could get myself into right now. I knew it, and he knew I knew it. So why did I feel my traitorous heart hammering frantically in my chest as he moved close enough for me to smell his cologne?
"What do you want Howard?" I asked, feigning irritation at his dramatic pouting, like a puppy pining for my attention. I ignored the way the warm musky scent of his cologne mingled perfectly with the sweet smell of the whiskey on his breath, sending a pleasant buzzing throughout my body.
"I'm bored. I can't sleep, and I have an idea." He wrapped his arm around the wooden porch pillar, swaying slightly as he rested his cheek against it and glanced up at me through heavy eyelashes and glazed eyes.
"I am almost one hundred percent sure that I don't want to hear your idea, Howard. You've been drinking. Go home, and go to bed." He pouted again before his lips quickly morphed into a smirk.
"What?" I questioned, my eyebrows furrowing.
"Do you ever have fun?"
"I have fun!" I protested.
"When? When was the last time you had fun?" I opened my mouth to fire a sarcastic response before realising I didn't actually remember the last time I hadn't been completely absorbed by work or study. Howard's grin began to spread as my silence hung in the air, answering his question as I sighed in defeat.
"I'm a busy woman, Howard. You don't earn respect by going off gallivanting in the middle of the night."
"I respect you." His words caught me off guard and I felt a glowing heat spread across my cheeks, thanking the darkness of the night for masking my little show of emotion.
"Well, thank you." I stuttered out, chewing on my lip, not knowing what else there was to say. I had been furious and exhausted when he'd disturbed my sleep, yet now I felt as though I could happily converse with this annoying and intoxicated man until the sun came up.
After a few moments, Howard pushed himself away from the pillar and stepped closer to me, forcing me to tilt my head back slightly to meet his eyes. He peered into the window and nodded at Peggy who still slept soundly before turning back to me.
"You need to have some fun, who knows, maybe tonight will result in a life changing epiphany." I rolled my eyes at his dramatic comment, looking back to see he was smiling that wicked smile and holding out his hand.
"Come on, Evelyn Moore. Let's cause some trouble."
I hesitated for a moment before my resistance dissolved and I rested my hand in his warm palm.
"You're going to be the death of me, Howard Stark." I muttered.
"Maybe," He replied, with a passionate twinkle in his eye that offered both amusement and sincerity. "But wouldn't it be the most exquisite form of self-destruction?"
His earnest words and soft tone left me, once again, stunned into silence. We observed each other carefully as he held my gaze with an intense interest, waiting patiently for me to agree to run away with him into the night. I allowed myself a small smirk, taking a step towards him and closing the space between us. He released a barely audible gasp as I removed my hand from his, brushing my fingertips gently up his arm, no more than a few inches between us where we stood.
"Come on then Stark, show me how to have some fun." My voice was barely above a whisper as I smirked, an expression he quickly matched with wide eyes as he registered my words. It took me a few seconds to realise how suggestive my comment had actually sounded, my smile slipping from my face as I bowed my head and took a step back, excusing myself quickly to hurry back inside and change. I donned a far more respectable outfit, consisting of a beige wool skirt with a mustard cropped sleeve jumper tucked in, paired with my comfortable daily wear brogue heels. I considered pinning my hair back a bit tidier, but the concerning muffled bangs and scuffles coming from Howard outside meant I didn't have time. I decided to simply pull a brush through it and leave it as it was. I slipped back out and closed the door quietly behind me, rushing past him towards his car.
I ignored his amused chuckle as I pulled open the passenger door before pausing, a thought crossing my mind as I glanced back to Howard.
"Hang on… did you drive here?" I asked with a puzzled look.
"No, I walked and pulled the car along behind me…" he commented with a frown and a sarcastic eye roll. I released an exasperated sigh, slamming the door shut and rounding the car, placing myself between him and the driver's door.
"How in the hell did you make it here alive in this state?!" I exclaimed, batting away his hand as he ignored me and reached out for the handle. "Oh, no no, I am not giving you control of a vehicle in which I am seated."
"It was an emergency Eve! I didn't crash, did I?!" He flailed his arms dramatically over his head, stepping back with a frown and resting his hands on his hips.
"Waking me up in the middle of the night to go on an adventure is an emergency…? And no, the fact that you didn't crash is a miracle in itself." I arched my brow in disbelief at the smirk that tugged on his lips.
"Yes. If we don't hurry up and do something, your life is going to pass you by in an incredibly boring haze." He explained in complete seriousness before reaching forward and brushing my hair behind my ear. "I'm here to save your life Eve."
My breath hitched in my throat, his fingers leaving a burning trail over my ear as they grazed the skin. I fought to steady my breathing as I pressed my back against the car, noticing his eyes flick from mine, down to my lips and back again. I quickly composed myself, dismissing the way my legs shook beneath me.
"I think you should have more concern for your own life right now Howard Stark." He raised his brow in question, his hand dropping from my face and brushing down my arm before coming to a stop intertwined with my fingers. "Driving here in your state might not have killed you. But I just might."
I quickly untangled my fingers from his, clenching and straightening my hand to alleviate the warm tingling that spread to the tips of my fingers. He frowned slightly, but couldn't hide the grin at my weak threat.
"You. Passenger seat. Now." I instructed, jabbing a finger towards the door and ignoring his protests.
"Oh no, absolutely not. You are not driving my car. Can you even drive?" He argued with a pout, brandishing a finger at me.
"Of course I can. Probably a darn sight better than you're capable of at the moment. Now get in and shut up." He eventually relented, climbing into the passenger seat with a huff as I grinned at my success.
I quickly started the ignition, pulling away smoothly and hurrying out of camp, keen to escape any prying eyes that may happen to be awake at this hour. We fell into silence as I followed the long and winding path away from Camp Lehigh and into the countryside, my attention fixed on the road. Despite my attempts to ignore him, I couldn't miss the way Howard watched me as I drove, his attention fixed on my face.
"Howard, will you please stop that." I snapped, not sparing him a glance as I spoke.
"Stop what?" He chuckled, not even trying to hide the fact he'd been staring.
"Stop staring at me, it's very off putting." I frowned, glancing towards him and shooting him a glare.
"I've told you before Eve, you're beautiful, I honestly can't help but stare." A warm blush flooded my skin at his unrestrained comment, chewing my cheek in an effort to bite back my smile. "Plus, something about you driving my car is strangely attractive." I breathed out a laugh as he chuckled beside me, reaching over and brushing a stray curl off my shoulder. I almost gasped at the contact between his fingers and my neck, quickly batting away his hand.
"Howard, I swear to god, you are going to make me crash this car." I scolded as he raised his hands in defeat with a smile.
"I didn't realise my touch had such a profound effect on you." He joked with a wink as I pouted in disagreement. As much as I hated to admit it, his touch did have an effect on me, often leaving me fighting back a blush and struggling to control my racing heart. I bit my lip, chancing a glance over at him and briefly meeting his eye. I chastised myself for the way my eyes flickered to his lips, a brief sense of longing tugging at my heart. I quickly blinked away my thoughts, turning back to the road with a quiet cough.
"So, where are we actually going?" I queried, successfully turning the conversation to something a little less distracting. He grinned, picking up on my eagerness to detour from the route that our conversation was heading down.
"Just keep going straight, I'll tell you when we need to turn." I nodded silently, accepting his directions as we continued on our way. The car sunk into a comfortable silence as we drove, my attention focused on the unfamiliar road as Howard intermittently sipped from the small metal hip flask he clutched protectively in his hand.
"Go left here!" He suddenly yelled, about two seconds before we reached the turning, causing me to slam on the brakes and skid around the corner at the last minute.
"A bit of advanced warning would be great next time Howard!" I complained as he laughed, taking another swig from his flask before offering it to me. I politely declined with a frown, batting the drink away as he shrugged. I glanced around me, attempting to discern our location as I continued to drive, a small row of houses growing into view along with a large stone building with towering windows. I leaned forward in my seat to get a better view of the approaching buildings, the fast-moving river below us rippling and rushing over the rocks.
"Pull in over here." Howard commented quietly, pointing towards a small dirt layby at the side of the road. I pulled in slowly, grinding to a halt and killing the engine.
"Where are we?" I asked curiously, receiving only the ghost of a smile in response before he hopped out of the car gestured for me to follow. I frowned, pushing open my door and climbing out before slamming it shut behind me. "Howard what are we doing here?"
He ignored my questions, simply raising a finger to his lips and hushing me before offering his hand out with a smile. My brows furrowed into a frown, a pout on my lips as I considered him for a second before reluctantly taking his hand. I was quickly tugged forward, Howard positioning me in front of him and bringing his hands up to my face to cover my eyes.
"Howard, what on earth..." I protested before he cut me off.
"Eve stop talking," I reached up to grab his wrists with the intent of removing them from my eyes before my actions were halted as I froze. "Just trust me." His voice was barely above a whisper, his breath ghosting over my cheek as he spoke, his lips only inches from my ear. My breath hitched in my throat, my body unwilling to breathe lest it broke the spell that had been cast over us in that moment.
"Okay." I muttered, my hands slipping from his wrists and falling to my sides as a quiet but pleased chuckle echoed through the space between us. He nudged me slightly, pushing me forward as I blindly allowed him to direct me to an unknown location. Any normal human being in this situation might start to worry, anxious about where they'd end up. However, in this moment I didn't have a care in the world as I placed all my trust in his hands. We walked for a minute or two, taking slow and careful steps, pausing once or twice as I stumbled on a rock or tripped on a fallen branch. Finally, we stopped and I assumed we had reached our destination.
"Okay, keep your eyes closed," Howard instructed as he slowly peeled his hands away from my eyes. I released a breath as the contact between us broke, finding myself sorely missing his hands once they had left me. "Are they still closed?"
"Yes Howard, they're closed," I laughed, still managing to roll my eyes at his comment despite the fact my lids were squeezed tightly shut. Contact between us was quickly re-established as he slipped his hand into mine, moving to stand beside me as he gently adjusted the direction I was facing.
"Okay," He finally spoke, squeezing my fingers in his as his thumb rubbed small circles over the back of my hand. "Open your eyes."
I blinked as my eyes flicked open, slowly adjusting to the view before me as I released a tiny gasp, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. I struggled to find words as I observed the view before us, the world falling into silence apart from the low rumble of rushing water. A towering waterfall stood just ahead, its white-water cascading down a series of rocky outcrops, giving the effect of many waterfalls rather than just one. It wasn't the gentle sort of waterfall you might find trickling slowly through a forest, or decorating a stately garden. It was the kind where torrents of water poured over rocks with a purpose, rushing to the ground and exploding into a blinding mist. It was beautiful and awe inspiring, but not in the conventional sense of the word, more in the way that exuded power and demanded respect. I turned to Howard, offering him a small and curious smile, his eyes locked on mine.
"Passaic River Great Falls." He announced as he observed the rushing waters.
"It's amazing," I muttered, before cocking my head inquisitively. "Why did you bring me here Howard?" I enquired as he took another small sip of his drink, staring ahead of him wistfully as he responded.
"The waterfall reminds me of you," I frowned in confusion at the sentiment, arching my brow as I urged him to explain in more detail. He grinned, turning his attention to me before continuing, "mesmerizingly beautiful, but if you don't treat it with the respect it deserves, it's likely to kill you painfully."
I barked out a laugh at his comment, blushing at the compliment yet thoroughly amused by the grimace that accompanied the second part of his sentence. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear with my free hand, sub-consciously squeezing his fingers in my other one.
"You're damn right," I chuckled, eyeing the flask in his hand before snatching it from his grasp and taking a swig. I winced as the sweet liquid burnt my throat, warming my body as it descended. He shot me a frown before he grinned, taking the flask back with a nod as I offered it.
"Come on." He tugged at my hand, nodding his head towards the crest of the waterfall, pulling me along behind him. I followed cautiously, glancing anxiously over the steep edge only a few feet away from us. With my attention focused on the deadly drop beside us, it took me a moment to notice that Howard's hand had slipped from mine as he rushed forward, hopping up onto a precariously balanced rock that teetered dangerously close to the edge. My eyes widened as I observed him, swigging happily from his flask as he peered over the edge.
"You should see the view from up here Eve." He announced, grinning widely at me as he pointed to the drop below him.
"I think I'd rather stay over here actually," My tone was cautious as I tracked his every wobble and step with a hawk-like gaze. "Perhaps you should come down..." I suggested, holding out my hand towards him and beckoning for him to abandon his balancing act in lieu of slightly safer territory.
"Don't be such a bore Eve," He groaned, taking another step forwards, causing the rock to emit a low groan and crack as a few loose pebbles escaped over the edge, disappearing into the mist below. "Didn't peg you as the type to be afraid of heights."
"It isn't so much the height as it is the painful death if you fall... Howard please get down from there." I practically demanded at this point, flinching as the boulder wobbled slightly under his weight.
"I didn't realise my safety was of such paramount concern to you Evelyn," I frowned, placing a hand on my hip with a huff at his cheeky smirk, "It's nice to know you care."
"Actually, if you tumbled to your death it would just pose a lot of questions as to why we were here together in the middle of the night," I explained nonchalantly, "and quite frankly the newspapers would have a field day." He threw his head back with a laugh, stumbling over his own feet as he unintentionally approached the very edge. My heart leapt in my chest as I rushed forwards, wrapping my hand around his arm and tugging him off his feet just as the boulder teetered and tumbled over the crest, crashing into the stormy waters below. He tumbled ungracefully towards me, toppling us both over as we landed in a heap on the damp grass. I breathed a sigh of relief as he rolled away from me with a low whistle, before flopping back onto the grass with a grin. I pulled myself into a seated position, turning and shooting Howard a stern glare as he watched me sheepishly. A grin slowly stretched across his face as he pulled himself up to sit beside me.
"That was a close call." He muttered to himself as I shot daggers in his direction. "Evelyn Moore, my hero." He gushed, placing his hand over mine with a dramatic sigh. I ripped my hand out from beneath his, climbing angrily to my feet and marching away from him. I heard a quite scuffle from behind as he undoubtedly stumbled ungracefully to his feet in pursuit. I'd only made it a few metres when he caught up, grasping my hand and tugging me back towards him to halt my departure.
"Eve, wait I'm sorry!" He pleaded with me as I maintained my position facing away from him. He pulled on my hand, urging me to face him which, reluctantly, I finally did. As I turned he slid his other hand into my free one, using his thumbs to smooth soothing patterns over their backs and watching me carefully. I glared at his attempts to distract me from his reckless behaviour, offering no response to his apology. "I'm an idiot and I'd have fallen to my death without you."
"Yes, that's correct." I replied simply, my expression conveying how utterly furious I was at that moment, a hint of the concern I attempted to bury fighting for place. "If you ever do something like that again..." I started, pausing as I struggled to finish my sentence.
"Is my wellbeing really such a concern to you? I didn't realise you cared." He smirked, before my warning glare told him it was not the time for jokes.
"Of course it is Howard, and of course I care." I snapped, my anger taking even me by surprise as I quickly checked myself, reining in my temper as I took a breath. "You may be an insufferable idiot, but I'd rather you weren't dead." He smiled softly at this, my outburst not fazing him in the slightest as he wrapped an arm over my shoulder, leading me closer towards the waterfall before guiding me to the floor and taking a seat beside me. We sat in silence for a while, listening to the low rumble of the water below us, both in our own minds.
"I'm sorry," The quiet comment from beside me took me by surprise, my head turning to meet his apologetic eyes. I watched him carefully, noting the sincerity in his tone and the concern in his eyes as he spoke.
"It's okay." I replied simply, resting my hand over his with a sigh. My words seemed to sate his worries as he breathed a sigh of relief. I arched a brow at him before continuing. "But if you ever do something like that again, I will kill you myself."
"Oh, I don't doubt that." He grinned, his attention on our hands as he entwined his fingers in mine, running his touch over every surface as though mapping them out in his mind in case he never touched me again. I watched him for a moment, enjoying his gentle touch before a glint on my wrist caught my attention, prompting me to check my watch.
"Howard, it's almost 5am," I laughed, realising that we must have spent more time here than we'd anticipated. Clearly time flies when you're babysitting a drunken Howard Stark. He glanced at his own watch curiously before examining the sky above us, a terrifyingly devious smirk stretching across his lips, an idea that I would most likely hate forming in his mind. I narrowed my eyes, leaning back and crossing my arms over my chest.
"Whatever you're thinking, I am not interested." I warned as he climbed to his feet, offering his hand to me.
"C'mon Eve, I wanna show you one more thing, I promise you'll love it." I watched him warily, pausing for a moment in consideration before taking his hand and allowing him to pull me to my feet. I followed him back to the car, heading for the driver's seat before a hand fell onto my shoulder halting me.
"I'll drive this time," He insisted, rolling his eyes at my pointed look towards his hip flask, quickly passing it to me in an attempt at reassurance. "I'm fine Eve, I can drive." He made a dramatic show out of walking in a straight line, not stumbling once as he shot me a proud smirk. I finally relented, climbing into the passenger seat and stowing the flask safely in my jacket pocket.
We spent the second half of our drive in silence, quiet contemplation distracting both our minds as Howard delivered us to our next destination and I took advantage of the flask I still had in my possession. I found myself enjoying the sweet liquid far more than I probably should have. I slouched back in my seat, my head lolling to the side as I watched him carefully, a million thoughts fighting for place at the forefront of my mind. I recalled his hand in mine, the pleasant buzz I felt in my bones at our contact, as much as I tried to fight it. I wanted to deny that I felt anything, ignoring the fact that my stomach fluttered excitedly every time he looked at me. But it wasn't a frantic flutter like when you're stepping into the unknown. It was the calm flutter of a butterflies' wings as it rose with absolute certainty, carrying itself high into the sky with ease and surety. As much as I hated to admit it, the only time I felt at home here in America was when I was with him, and that thought alone was enough to terrify me. I tried to remind myself of who he was, what he was. His dalliances were notorious, more often than not gracing the pages of the morning papers, accompanied by a photo of him with a woman on his arm. Never the same woman, I noted. The thought of Howard committing to anything in his life seemed hard to believe, and tied a nervous knot in my stomach as I realised how close we had gotten in such a short time. Yet sitting here right now, watching the quiet contemplation on his face as he studied the road, the way the corner of his lips quirked every now and then, it was hard to believe he could do any wrong. I occupied myself with studying his face, learning every tick and movement. He knew I was watching him, I could tell by the way his eyes flicked in my direction every now and then, yet I continued to stare.
"And you say I'm distracting." He muttered with the ghost of a smile, his tongue darting out to lick his lips. While I wasn't drunk, I couldn't deny the slight buzz that was casting a light haze over my mind.
"I don't think you're as transparent as people think," I mumbled thoughtfully, my face remaining placid as he arched an eyebrow in my direction with a hum of questioning, "They all think they know you, but they don't."
"And what about you Eve, do you know me?" He asked quietly, no hint of a joke in his tone. I considered his question for a moment before replying.
"I think I'm starting to." He turned his head to me, scanning my face for any sign of sarcasm or teasing, though there was none. He turned back to the road, saying no more on the subject as we both fell back into our routine of silent reverie.
I perked up as the car began to slow, pulling myself up in my seat as we passed through large iron gates, approaching the towering mansion ahead of us. I scanned our surroundings, attempting to process where we were as we rolled to a stop. Howard was out of his seat in a flash, opening my door before I had a chance to get my bearings. I took the offered hand and climbed out of the vehicle, marvelling at the stone walls that climbed high above us. A sudden moment of clarity brought realisation as we climbed the wide stone steps to the front door.
"Is this..." I started before I was cut off.
"Welcome to Stark Mansion." Howard announced with a proud grin as he reached out and unlocked the doors before swinging them open with a light push.
"Howard Stark what did I tell you..." I warned with a glare, to which he only smiled.
"Evelyn Moore, will you stop complaining for once in your life and just trust me." He ordered, forcing me into silence as I clenched my teeth together, biting back any comments I'd been ready to make. I stopped at the door, offering a reproachful glare before breathing a sigh and following him cautiously into the house.
My lips parted, releasing a stunned breath as I scanned my surroundings. I don't think I'd ever been in such a beautiful building in my life, the walls adorned with expensive paintings and lavish decorations. I paused in what I assumed was the entrance foyer, despite the fact it was larger than my entire living room back home. I noticed how he watched me curiously, amused by how stunned I had been upon entering.
"Eve," He called, tearing me from my thoughts as I turned to him, "Come on." I strolled towards him, taking his outstretched hand and letting him lead me through the double doors ahead of us. We were met with the most beautiful and grand staircase I'd ever laid eyes on, forcing an impressed smile onto my lips.
"Mr Stark I didn't expect..." A new voice startled me slightly as a man entered the room behind us, quickly pausing as he noticed my presence.
"Jarvis," Howard spoke with a smile, "This is Agent Evelyn Moore with the SSR." He introduced me with a hint of pride in his eyes, brandishing a hand in my direction as he spoke, before turning to me. "Evelyn this is Edwin Jarvis, my butler."
I smiled politely as he took a few steps towards us, offering his hand with a nod of his head. I reached out to him, shaking his hand firmly before taking a step back.
"It's lovely to meet you Mr Jarvis." I forced down my nerves as I greeted him, highly aware of how this situation must seem to him. My confidence faltered for a moment as I noted his unusually calm expression, remembering that this kind of situation probably wasn't all too uncommon for him to encounter.
"And you Agent Moore, I've heard a lot about you." He explained and I laughed nervously.
"Please, call me Evelyn, and I didn't realise Howard had so much to say about me." I shot an inquisitive look at Howard as he coughed nervously. I didn't miss the stern look he sent Jarvis before speaking.
"Oh, yes he has a lot to say..." He started before reining in his comments under Howard's glare. "Only good things of course."
"Okay, wonderful, Jarvis you don't need to worry about us you can just, go back to doing whatever you do at 5:30am." Howard spoke hurriedly, slipping his fingers into mine and tugging me along behind him as he ascended the stairs. I shot an amused look over my shoulder at the butler, offering a quick wave before we disappeared up the stairs and out of sight. I followed him closely through the never-ending maze of hallways, feeling certain that I wouldn't be able to find my way back on my own should I try. Eventually we reached what appeared to be our destination as the door swung open and he pulled me inside.
The bedroom before us was enormous, its size equivalent to three of the bedrooms in my family home. The large four poster bed occupied a large space in the centre of the room, luxurious curtains draped around it to offer more privacy. A plush sofa sat across the room, a cosy looking throw draped over the back. I'd only taken a few steps into the room when I froze, a sudden realisation washing over me. Howard noticed my hesitation, watching me with amusement as I crossed my arms over my chest, a defiant pout pressed onto my lips.
"If I remember rightly, Howard Stark, I told you that if I ever ended up in your bedroom I would not be responsible for my actions..." I warned with a frown, adding emphasis to his name, practically spitting out the words as I refused to move further into the space.
"Yes, I do believe that's what you said." Howard confirmed with a thoughtful nod, rolling his eyes as I continued to glare. "Eve, please just let go for one night, I wanna show you something that I know you'll love."
I remained firmly planted place as he watched me, waiting for a response. When I didn't relent, he moved forward, gently prying my arms from around my body, sliding his hands down their length and coming to a stop where they fit perfectly in mine. I sighed, still unsure but allowing his charming smile to force my feet to carry me forward, only coming to a stop when we were beside the large bay window that covered the far wall. His eyes scanned me for a moment before he reached out and pulled the curtains back, revealing the view behind them.
The sun had just begun to peek over the horizon, the dark night sky replaced by hues of red and orange, warming the earth and the land that spread into the distance.
"What did I tell ya? Beautiful." My mind flashed back to the first time Howard and I had spent a moment alone together, side by side watching the sun dip below the horizon. This moment mirrored that one, though I was much more appreciative of it this time, less irritated by my company than I was previously. A hand brushed past my ear, moving my hair behind my shoulder before trailing down my neck, catching my attention as I turned to my left. Time felt as though it had ground to a halt as I met Howard's eyes. I sucked in a thick breath, noting the way his lips parted slightly as he analysed me, stepping forward to close the space between us as his fingers entwined with mine and urged me closer. My breath had frozen in my lungs as the space between us decreased, only a few inches now left between our faces.
I swallowed thickly. What the hell was I doing. My brain leapt into panic mode, forcing me to take a step back, breaking our contact and shaking my head in an attempt to clear my thoughts. This wasn't me, this wasn't something I did, especially not with a man like Howard Stark. A sudden feeling of disappointment welled up in me, but not disappointment with Howard. I was disappointed in myself. The fact that I'd even allowed myself to end up here was shameful enough, and there was no way I would let this advance to the stage which I'm sure Howard was used to. Once I'd acknowledged my disappointment, a whole new emotion took over. Anger. I was angry, furious that he would think so low of me to believe that I would do something like this. Clearly, he didn't know me at all. I realised that I had to say something, the silence between us stretching on for too long as he observed me cautiously, not even flinching out of fear of provoking me. I wasn't sure what I was going to say, but thankfully my mouth decided for me.
"I won't let myself become another one of your disposable women," I hadn't meant for the words to come out as hostile as they had, but my mouth had started now and it would have been a miracle if I'd been able to stop it. "I'm not going to become another name on your list so that the papers have a scandalous story to write in the morning. I have far more respect for myself than that, and I know that a self-respecting woman isn't something you encounter frequently, but I have worked too hard to earn respect as a woman in a man's world and I'll be damned if I throw it away for a night of frivolities with someone who doesn't know the meaning of the word." My speech trailed off into silence as I worked to slow my breathing. We stood facing each other, both processing what I had just said as I watched his expression. I had expected anger, I'd expected some sort of comment about how annoyed and offended he was. I'd expected him to demand I leave his home and never speak to him again. What I hadn't expected was the defeated and pained look that flashed in his eyes, his brow furrowed as he watched me with a sadness that I'd never thought him capable of.
"Really Eve, is that what truly you think of me?" His voice ranged between disbelief and hurt, my gaze cast downward for a moment before reconnecting with his. I offered no more than a half-hearted shrug, unwilling to deny it yet feeling my guilt rise at the dismayed expression on his face. He reached out, taking my hands in his before I could move away, using my momentary lack of certainty to his advantage as he coaxed me closer. "You are a great many things Evelyn Moore, but you are NOT disposable, and you could never be just a name on a list because you are worth so much more than that. You don't think I see that? You don't think I understand how completely and utterly different you are to any woman I've ever laid eyes on? Remember the first day we met, in Colonel Phillips' office when you stood up there and delivered the most empowering speech I've ever heard." His words were soft, yet carried a stern edge that I couldn't ignore. I pulled my lower lip between my teeth, nodding slowly as the corner of his mouth tugged up in a small smile. "I'd never been more impressed and terrified of a woman in my life." I laughed at this, bowing my head with a sigh.
"You think I don't respect you? Evelyn all I have is respect for you. You've fought tooth and nail to be where you are today and you don't let anyone stand in your way of getting better. You're beautiful. My god, you are so beautiful, but you are also so much more than that, and that's why I can't stay away from you. You lured me in with that pretty face and dazzling smile and then hit me with this fiery, sarcastic personality which has, on many an occasion, proved to be more than a match for me. And trust me, that's somethin'." He'd released one of my hands at this point, moving it to brush my hair behind my ear whilst I stood, stunned into silence at his words. "You confuse me, you captivate me and you damn well terrify me, and that's what keeps me coming back. Don't let my actions tonight confuse you into thinking I'd ever be satisfied by one night with you Eve. I need every minute of every day, for the rest of my life."
The air was still between us, neither of us daring to breathe as we both processed what he'd said, the look on his face telling me that he was just as surprised by his words as I was. I wanted to argue, I wanted to disagree, listing off all the ways in which he would most probably break my heart. Yet I remained silent. Unable to accept any of those things as the truth after what he'd just said. I was uncharacteristically calm, considering the situation. The trembling in my hands had ceased, and the frantic thumping of my heart had slowed, giving way to that calm fluttering sensation I had become all too familiar with. He looked so innocent in this light, the rising sun casting a warm glow across his cheeks which seemed to wash away his past. My body had moved before my brain even processed what I was doing, quickly closing the space between us as my palms pressed against his chest. Our lips met gently, leaving Howard stunned frozen for a few seconds before he caught up, one of his arms snaking around my waist as his other hand tangled into my hair, smoothing gentle paths over my scalp. He quickly grew accustomed to the contact, moving his lips slowly over mine, savouring the moment as he succeeded in eliciting a quiet hum from my throat.
The moment was over faster than either of us wanted, breaking contact to suck in a much-needed breath. While we may have parted in one way, we remained in each other's arms, Howard holding me close as his heart hammered in his chest beneath my hands. Our faces had paused only inches from each other, my eyes still squeezed shut as I savoured the moment that I had convinced myself would never come. His hand slipped from my hair and pressed its warmth against my cheek causing me to sigh, my eyes fluttering open to meet his.
"Does this mean you finally trust me now?" He queried with a hopeful smirk.
"Not even a little bit." I grinned, sliding my hands up his chest to wrap my arms around his neck. I rested my head against his shoulder, my face pressed into his neck, breathing in the familiar cologne which clouded my mind. His right arm remained snaked around my waist as his left trailed up my back, coming to a stop tangled in my hair at the back of my head. He sighed as he held me tight against him.
"Your sudden changes in mood are starting to make me dizzy."
"Shut up Howard." My words were muffled into his neck, a low chuckle rumbling through his chest as he tightened his arms around me, leaning forward to place a kiss into my hair before resting his head on mine.
Yassssss. That is all I have to say. I hope you enjoyed this nice cute chapter of loveliness because, as with all good love stories, it ain't gonna last. Don't forget to review and whatnot, I'm really getting no feedback at all for this story and it's so demotivating! Pls guys, u gotta give me somethin. We're just getting started ;) - E.H.