*A teensy, tiny itty bitty smut warning!*
So. You know. Be of legal age or be gone!
I love it when bits of writing get to be pulled out of the vault! I've had this whole sequence written for YEARS! I say "sequence" because, well…You'll see! (It doesn't end HERE, I ASSURE you! ;D ) And I'm so excited to FINALLY get to share it with you, in it's entirety! (You got a taste of Tony's side of things in "A Very Pepperony Christmas...", chapter 19. SO I'm happy to be able to present the "Collective" version between he and Pepper to you now!)
Stay tuned!
MUCH more to come!
And happy Reading!
XxXxXxXx
Venice, Italy. Several years before...
Tony untied his tie and laid it on the dresser. He unbuttoned his suit jacket and untucked his shirt as he walked to the french doors of the veranda of the Hotel Cipriani penthouse and opened them to step outside. Once he reached the stone-carved guard railing, he stopped, and took a deep breath, shoving his hands in his pockets, his eyes casting down to the water. The hotel was located in the city where you could see the harbor opening up to the ocean, so there were always various watercraft going in or coming out of the canals below. He smiled to himself as he looked out across to the opposite shore, the lights in each of the buildings' windows twinkling as the moon shown brightly above him, and illuminated the water in between the dark lines made by the wakes of each passing boat. A gentle breeze lazily blew through his hair, and he sighed, taking in the cool Venetian night, and letting his mind wander.
The day had been filled with all kinds of things that would supply his happy memory banks for a long time to come. He'd been to Venice plenty of times before, but it had never struck him so much as it had on this trip. And he knew the reason why- one such Virginia Potts, to be exact.
"Pepper," he murmured to himself, and an instant fond smile spread over his lips. He'd found her to be completely charming and wonderful to have along as a travelling companion. Having her by his side in a city like Venice made it sparkle. He smiled as he thought of how in awe she'd been as they'd toured around, looking at the many sights, and riding in the gondolas. It warmed his heart to know how much she was enjoying herself. But it wasn't just that. She was the kind of person with whom he'd want to share all of these kinds of experiences. Just in the short time they'd known each other, he'd gathered that she liked life to be simple, yet she had an appreciation for the sophisticated. And in his mind, he'd come to think of her as the pinnacle of class, while her presence had breathed new air into his perspective and livened up his daily life. He suddenly noticed the beauty of the world around him with her near, and it made him feel- what was the word? Happy. Yeah, that's it. Happy, he thought to himself. Jesus, Stark. You're going soft. His cheeks warmed, and he shook his head in disbelief that he was the one feeling this way. And that it felt so damned good.
Just then, Tony heard Pepper's french-style doors in her bedroom open, and he turned to see her come out. Her room had its own private entrance out to the veranda as well, and when she saw him standing out there, she was startled.
"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't know..." she stammered, as she turned to walk back inside.
"No, stay! Stay!" Tony urged. He smiled and motioned for her to join him.
Pepper blushed. "I just wanted to get a look at the city at night from up here before I, um...I...went to bed," she awkwardly explained.
"Well, there's plenty to see, so...come on, Potts. Stick around and enjoy it with me?" he encouraged.
Pepper hesitated, then nodded in agreement, and made her way over to stand next to him. He watched as a very contented smile spread over her lips at the view. "Wow," she gasped. "It's amazing."
Tony smiled in reply, but kept his eyes on her. "It is," he murmured in agreement.
Then he watched as she closed her eyes, feeling the breeze gently blowing in her hair, now, too.
It was only a moment before Pepper could feel his eyes on her. So she slowly opened them, and glanced at him, smiling sheepishly. Tony smiled warmly back, his eyes sparkling. "I take it you're enjoying your time here, Ms. Potts?" he asked.
Pepper nodded. "Yes, Mr. Stark," she admitted. "Today was a lot of fun, I have to say."
Tony smiled in approval and patted her shoulder. "Glad to hear it," he said. Pepper shivered slightly, and Tony noticed the cool temperature of her skin.
"You're cold," he said, instantly taking off his suit jacket. "Here. Let me just..." he mumbled, as he slipped it around her shoulders.
Pepper smiled, bashfully. "Oh, um. Th-thank you," she said, pulling it around her arms, feeling his warmth inside it.
"No problem," Tony said, suddenly closer to her than he'd been, and unable to stop looking into her eyes. They were frozen like that for a moment, before they noticed there was music drifting up from below them.
It allowed Tony an excuse to break his gaze and look over the edge of the stone guardrailing. Pepper did the same, and they both spotted a violinist serenading a couple at the restaurant below.
"Oh, how romantic," Pepper gushed.
Tony smiled to himself, and then looked back at Pepper, and extended his hand. "Care to dance?" he asked.
Pepper turned her gaze back to him, and looked at him with a little surprise. Then a bashful smile slowly broke across her lips. "I...couldn't," she said, shaking her head.
"Come on. Let's cut a little rug, huh? The night's young, and nobody's up here but you and me," Tony urged.
Pepper still hesitated, but Tony persisted. "Seems like a shame to let a good violinist go to waste," he pressed, his hand still held out for her to accept.
She chuckled bashfully, and then nodded, slowly grasping his hand. "I suppose you're right," she quietly conceded. "If ever there was an occasion that called for it, I guess it would be this one," she said.
Tony nodded and smiled, and wrapped his other arm around her waist as he pulled her close. Pepper put her other hand on his shoulder, and they slowly began to sway, settling easily into rhythm.
After a moment, she pursed her lips and looked off in the distance over his shoulder. Tony watched her cautiously for a few seconds before he spoke. "Is this okay?" he finally asked her. "If you're uncomfortable, we can..."
"Oh no," Pepper interrupted, shaking her head. "No, it's...fine. Perfectly fine," she assured him. She smiled bashfully. "It's just been a while," she admitted.
"What has?" Tony asked, his typically dirty mind trying to fill in the blanks of what she was talking about.
"A while since I've danced...with a man?" she clarified sheepishly. "I'm sorry if I'm a little awkward."
"You're not awkward," Tony assured. "In fact, you're perfectly graceful, Pepper. As always."
Pepper scoffed. "Not always," she said.
"Yes, always," he argued. "Please. Some of those heels you wear? My God, woman. You couldn't pull off wearing those without having at least a teensy bit of grace."
Pepper chuckled. "Well, I suppose that is a skill that requires...some talent," she admitted.
"Of course, it does," Tony agreed, nodding. They both smiled at each other, and then fell silent, staring into each others eyes for a few moments before Pepper looked away bashfully. Tony averted his eyes as well, and cleared his throat.
Soon, he sensed she was smiling to herself, and he gave her a curious look. "We...still good?" he asked hopefully.
Pepper smiled even wider, and nodded. "Yes," she replied. "I was just thinking that...this is nice."
Tony nodded in the affirmative. "It is," he said. He brought the hand he was holding to his chest and wrapped his around it protectively. Pepper watched as he did this, and chewed her lip in thought over the gesture. But then, after a moment, she leaned further into his embrace. And then, Tony felt her ever-so-slightly rest the side of her head on the side of his. He smiled softly to himself, and relaxed, reciprocating the movement, and closing his eyes to revel in it.
Meanwhile, Pepper inhaled slowly, taking the opportunity to secretly breathe in his scent. It was a spicy, expensive musk that (she would admit to no one) made her insides go to mush whenever he was near. And the fact that she was so close him, and allowing it to permeate her senses made her head spin with delight. So she closed her eyes and decided just to live in the moment, feeling completely intoxicated by the romance it. This certainly wasn't helping the crush she'd developed since she'd starting working for him. But she realized that, tonight, she was powerless to fight it. Being in his arms felt spectacular, and she chased away any self-admonition for her feelings for him that usually popped up in her mind when he was around. She reminded herself this was his idea. She hadn't pushed herself on him. He had invited her into his arms to dance. And it was wonderful. Like a fairy tale, she mused.
Tony slowly tightened his arm around her waist, wanting to have her as close to him as possible. It felt like she was a perfect fit, right there, in his arms, against his body. He wanted to retain as much detail about this moment as he could. A few wisps of her hair had brushed across his face in the breeze, and he'd caught the light scent of her perfume. It was a classic scent, very floral and feminine. He thought it might be something high-end, along the lines of Chanel No. 5, but he knew it wasn't that. His mother had worn that, and he'd know it anywhere. But it was similar, yet unique to Pepper, as he couldn't recall smelling it on any other girl he'd been in close proximity to in the past. In a word, it was intoxicating.
He took a moment to feel her hand in his. It seemed so delicate compared to his, and he hoped the callouses on his fingers weren't too rough to the touch for her. Lightly, he stroked the backs of her fingers with his thumb, and he noticed that she'd turned her head slightly inward to watch him do this out of the corner of her eye. He turned his head slightly in the direction of her gaze. He could feel her warm breath on his face, and he smiled softly as their eyes drifted upward to meet each others gaze. He let go of her hand at his chest, leaving it securely there as he reached up and gently brushed back her a stray lock of hair from her cheek. Then, he ran his fingers down around her shoulder and down her back towards her waist, where he interlocked the fingers of that hand with the other.
Despite his jacket being around her shoulders, goosebumps erupted on Pepper's skin from his gentle touch. Her breath hitched in her chest and she started to blink repeatedly, trying to keep her composure. She could feel the heat between them, and her body was suddenly tingling with sexual energy. She wanted so badly to kiss him, to melt into his arms, for him to take her back to his room and for his hands, his lips, his body to be all over hers. For him to be inside of her. Her heart fluttered at the thought of her fantasy coming true. But this wouldn't be right, she thought. One night's pleasure in trade for the best job I've ever had, a boss that trusts and respects me, and the probable loss of him in my life. In short, he was the reason why she still enjoyed her job. Had he been some demanding, old stuffed-shirt, rich codger, she would have quit a long time ago. Being an EA wasn't what she'd call her life's work. But being Tony's EA was practically destiny. She knew that. She didn't know how she knew it, but she just did. And as much as he stressed her out, Tony also made life fun. He was vibrant and dynamic and she was always wondering what he was thinking up and where they'd jet off to next. He'd breathed life into her previously boring existence, and it would be too hard to leave that after one passionate night alone with him. She was also sure she wouldn't be able to hold herself together much longer unless she broke the strong sexual connection forming between them now. So, as much as she hated to do it, she racked her mind for something to say that would break the moment.
And then it came to her.
"Mr. Andolli was nice," she said suddenly, trying to sound matter of fact. "He seemed to enjoy talking with you."
Tony blinked, a slight look of shock coming across his face. He cleared his throat, and raised a finger to self-consciously scratch the tip of this nose. Then he slowly stepped back from her, and smiled awkwardly, cupping the back of his neck with his hand. "Uh, yeah. Yes. He is...nice. Um, my dad knew him for years. They worked together, so..." he stammered, shrugging. He shoved his hands back in his pockets, surrendering the moment with Pepper to memory only. "He always tells me to stop by when I'm in town, so I thought I'd better..."
"Mmmm," Pepper replied, pursing her lips and nodding. "Well, he certainly seemed to appreciate the visit." She tried to smile convincingly, though she was secretly fighting the urge to run back into his arms and kiss him. Hard. But instead, she sighed. "Well, Mr. Stark. Thank you for a lovely day, and, um... a lovely dance," she said, hastily slipping his jacket off her shoulders. She held it by two fingers out for him to grab. He slowly reached for it and tucked it over his arm, shoving his hand back in his pocket with an air of disappointment.
"Anytime, Ms. Potts," he said, smiling politely. "And thank you."
Pepper smiled and nodded. "Well. Good night," she said, giving him a half-hearted wave goodbye.
Tony waved weakly back as he watched her turn to leave. His eyes followed her as she stepped through the french doors. Then he saw her turn around to close them, waving to him one last time before closing the curtains and disappearing.
Left alone, he sighed and slowly turned back around. There was silence now. The violinist had stopped playing, and Tony wondered if that was the universe's way of ending the moment between them, too. He frowned, bracing his arms against the stone railing. He closed his eyes and felt the breeze in his hair again. He could still smell Pepper's scent on him, and he took a moment to relish it. "Ah, man. What were you thinking?" he muttered in admonishment to himself. "Not Pepper, Stark. This is one you'd have to treat right." Tony knocked his fist on the railing in affirmation. He was realizing more and more how different Pepper was from his other assistants. Hell, she was different than all of the other women he'd been with before. And he hadn't even been with her yet. "Probably never will," he admitted, a little sadly. He knew that if he and Pepper ever did hook up, it would have to be for keeps. That's just how she was, and he knew it. She was the most trust-worthy, genuine, and capable person he knew. He'd really tried to put her through her paces since she'd started working for him, and she hadn't batted an eye. That was admirable in his book. And even in his typically over-sexed mind, he thought he'd done a good job of holding out on himself with fantasizing about her. Well, as much as he could. He was still the infamous, always revved up, Tony Stark. And he, admittedly, had had plenty of thoughts of what he and Pepper could do to each other given a late work night, or some kind of natural disaster forcing them to spend days locked away in his bedroom. Or his workshop. Or his living room, on the floor, in front of the fire place, naked...
The point was that all of the other assistants he'd hired had succumbed to his charms almost immediately, and then had immediately resigned after being left alone the next morning and realizing that he wasn't in it for more than a one-night stand. But with Pepper, he had a certain...respect for her. Mainly because she expertly parried any of his advances with her quick wit and sharp tongue. It had become a game between them, him lobbing one in her direction and she swatting it away like a harmless house fly. He'd met his match with her, he knew. And he didn't want to give that up, if he was being honest. Not now. Not until, maybe, possibly, somewhere in the distant future, she'd agree to let him show her what being made love to really meant. Until then, the game would keep going.
Tony turned back around and walked back through the french doors of his own suite. He closed them behind him, and tossed his suit jacket on the chair next to the dresser. Then he stripped down to his boxers and undershirt and climbed into bed, turning the light out next to him. But he didn't close his eyes. He just laid there, staring at the ceiling, imagining Pepper in his arms again.