Transit umbra, lux permanet
Shadow passes, light remains.
Another night, this time with a waxing gibbous moon, Tony was once again climbing up the hydrangea plant, working his way to Pepper's balcony.
He reached the balcony and gently opened the door. Pepper had mischievously told him she kept her balcony door unlocked, ever since their first kiss.
Tony stood in the room and tried to make out where she was in the dark.
"Pepper..." he whispered, wondering if she was asleep. "Pepper..."
A very soft sleepy voice said here, "Tony. I'm here."
"Pep, are you sleeping? I'm sorry I did not realize... I will go back to my room..."
He was going to place his foot back on the balcony, when she said softly, "No, Tony... don't go. Please, please come here."
"Here is..."
"Towards the bed. Please Tony."
The Dragon whispered, Ohhhh so romantic. Tony and Pepper sitting in bed... I...
Shut up Dragon.
Ever since he had told Pepper he loved her, the Dragon was contentedly blissful as it was very fond of her. But it had also decided to needle Tony from time to time, about his romantic behavior.
Alright, alright, I know when I'm not wanted. The Dragon huffed and grew silent.
Tony walked forward slowly. The room was pitch dark and the drapes were closed, so he couldn't see much. He kept walking straight until his knees collided with something solid and he bent and placed his hands on something soft and springy.
Great... I'm at the bed, where is...
His searching right hand touched a warm foot and he quickly snatched it away. Somewhere in the darkness, Pepper giggled.
"Pep... where are you?"
Suddenly the bed was bathed in soft dim yellow light, surrounded by shadowy darkness.
"Tony..." murmured Pepper and Tony hissed slowly at the sight of her.
His lady was lying on the right side of the bed, wearing a short white sleeveless nightgown. She was lying on her side and had propped herself up on one arm. With the other, Pepper patted the mattress tenderly.
Even in the dim light Tony could see her sky blue, slightly puffy eyes blink at him sleepily. Her hair was tied back and she looked so seductive, lying there languorously. She laughed throatily at him and he felt his blood start to pool in his stomach.
"Tony, what is the matter with you? Lie down please ..." she looked at him from under her lashes. "I won't bite you, my lord."
But I can't promise you the same.
Tony put one knee and then the other on the mattress and lay down straight, on his back. He folded his hands and placed them on his stomach.
Pepper giggled once again and he turned slightly, very slightly, trying to avoid looking at her. And down her gown. He tried.
Look, she's got teeny tiny little freckles along her chest, just above the curve of her... Good Lord, eyes front!
He sat there, breathing out of his mouth, trying to control his body's reaction. He took a deep breath and her fascinating smell filled his lungs. But it was different somehow. More intoxicating, more aromatic.
"What is that... vanilla?"
"Huh?"
He turned to look at her, keeping his eyes on her face. She shifted closer to him and suddenly she was so close, if he leaned a little bit, he could kiss her.
"Your scent?" he blurted out... "your perfume? Did you change it? It seems different."
She raised one corner of her mouth and now he was busy studying her lips, their pink pillowy appearance, alluring with a light sheen.
Pepper said very sleepily, "Queen Rania allowed me to use her apothecary and he gave me a new blend... Lilies and vanilla bean." Then she looked at him, widening her eyes. "Why does it smell funny? Do you like it?"
Tony said quickly, "It smells wonderful... you smell wonderful, Pepper."
Pepper smiled sweetly at him and then yawned loudly, showing all her little white teeth as she opened her mouth. She stretched one of her hands behind her head and her gown tightened alluringly around her breasts, showing every dip, every rise.
Tony straightened his face and looked up at the ceiling into the darkness. 1... 2... 3...4... imagine Happy in Pepper's nightgown...
That calmed him down immensely, only for Pepper to scoot closer to him and place her head on his shoulder, sighing. She nuzzled the side of his face, muttering incoherently into his ear, her warm breath on his face.
And I'm back to square one.
She was breathing softly and he thought she was sleeping until she softly murmured, "I have been running around today and yesterday, trying to get my deeded land secured and assessed. It is a beautiful piece of land. Perfect for a medium sized house."
He hummed his agreement and turned slightly, to sniff the top of her head.
Oh sweet, sweet lord.. hmmmm...what a scent... what a scent...
He felt as if his bones had become water. Then Pepper asked, "Tony, why are you so quiet? Are you tired too?"
"Yes, yes, I am." He quickly said. "Too many meetings."
She said sleepily, nuzzling even closer to him, speaking against his flesh. "You should have done what I did. Milene arranged for me to use the royal bath and masseur... It was so luxurious, Tony..." she drawled out his name. "I bathed in a luxurious, private pool and then the masseur massaged me so thoroughly. Ooh lord... I feel so boneless... so... soft..."
Tony was feeling the exact opposite. He was busy imagining Pepper bathing and splashing around in the pool and then her body being pressed and massaged until her flesh was all rosy pink and soft.
Stop it, you idiot, say something.
He cleared his throat and said "Unfortunately we go back tomorrow."
She sighed and he felt her breath on his neck. "Yes, I've enjoyed my time here but I want to go home too."
Then she placed her hand, right on his arc and he tensed at the sensation. Pepper raised her head slightly, to look down at him. "I'm sorry Tony, is it alright?"
Her eyes were sleepily worried and to reassure her, he tilted his head and kissed her chin. She smiled at him and he chuckled softly. "Of course it is, sweetheart."
She began to stoke the arc gently and Tony, desperate to distract himself, said, "I've got a surprise for you tomorrow."
She raised her head again, smiling slowly at him, eyes sparkling. "Really? What is it? Where is it?"
He smiled at her mischievously. "Now, now Pep... That's for me to know and you to be surprised. Now..." he said gently. "I think you should sleep... we need to leave by noon."
"But Tony..." she yawned again, so innocently, "Tony, our boat leaves in the evening right? Then why are we leaving so early?"
"Well, the surprise is on the way." He couldn't resist kissing the top of her head softly. "Go to sleep, Pep..."
She snuggled closer to him, digging her face into his neck, pressing herself to his side. She raised her hand from his arc and looped it lightly around his neck, fingers on his cheek.
"Pep," he tried gently.
"Tony, you are so warm...Five minutes please... please Tony...please..." she whispered against his throat.
Tony felt himself harden but just lay there as Pepper's breathing slowed and she drifted off to sleep. He waited for five minutes and then gently edged himself out from under Pepper, taking care not to wake her.
She was sleeping soundly as he sat up on the bed. He pulled the blanket, from the base of the bed, over her body and stroked her soft hair.
He got to his feet slowly, taking care not to jerk the bed. Then he knelt right near the bed's edge, ignoring the painful clench in his pants and leaned close to Pepper. He tenderly pressed his lips to hers as she slept.
"Good night, my queen. Sleep tight." he whispered against their softness.
She smiled in her sleep and he stood up and then winced as his pants were painfully tight.
Well, what did you expect was going to happen, when she asked you to lie on her bed? whispered the Dragon so softly.
Dragon, why on earth are you whispering?
Ssshh, do not wake Pepper!
Tony shook his head in disbelief and looked down. Now how can I climb out with this in my pants. I have to use the door.
He blew out the candle by the bed, opened the bedroom door quietly and crept back to his room.
Pepper shrieked with joy as they thundered along the sandy road, leaving Patait behind.
Today their boat to Lorinthia would leave at 6 pm. They had breakfast and bid farewell to the Duke and Milene at the Palace. Tony had had their luggage sent ahead the previous day. He did this, so they could go racing to Loros in the Duke's fancy grey phaeton with matching high stepping grey thoroughbreds.
The powerful horses raced along in controlled speed but she was enjoying the wind in her hair and on her face as they drove along green hilly dips and valleys of land.
Tony was sitting next to her, face furrowed in concentration with the reins in his hands and his thigh against hers. Being a racing vehicle, the driving seat wasn't really meant for two but she and Tony were narrow enough to fit on the seat together.
She yelled at him, "Tony this is wonderful! Look at the hills fly past!"
He turned and grinned at her widely. "Pepper, this is like controlling two gusts of wind! So much energy, so much strength!"
He turned his face back to the road and clicked his tongue at the horses.
Pepper rolled her eyes at him. Typical man, I'm talking about the scenery, he's talking about the horses.
"Pep, would you like a turn at the reins?"
She nearly fell off her seat with shock. "Tony! They are high steppers ... I mean I do not know if I can control them!"
Tony quirked up an eyebrow in challenge, eyes twinkling at her. "Of course you can, Pep! Here I will guide you. We will control them together."
She scooted closer and he slowed the horses slightly and then moved the loop of reins to her. As she wound her hands around them, he leaned around her and encircled her, so his hands were also on the reins, covering hers. Tony's heavy but soft chin rested on her shoulder.
"Wow! It feels as if they will pull my arms off! Tony!"
"Easy, Pepper, easy." He tightened his fingers on hers and the reins tightened as well.
"Steady hand, sweetheart, steady hand... do not shake, it's okay, you got this." He said against her ear, his low firm tone making her already beating heart, start to hammer in her chest.
She concentrated on the reins and watched the horses carefully. She spent five minutes like that. They were on path and at a decent speed, so she glanced sideways at Tony, only to see him beaming at her with pride.
"What? What did I do?" she said.
He raised his hands at her and she realized with a jolt, that Tony was not leaning on her or guiding the reins anymore, it was completely her in control.
She turned back to watch the horses and the road, smiling quietly at herself.
He leaned closer and said smugly, "I knew you could do it, Pep. You are a smart girl, do not sell yourself short." He whispered this against her cheek, so she impulsively turned her face quickly to brush her lips softly against his parted lips. Taking advantage of his shock, she gently touched her tongue to his. Just a touch.
He exhaled heavily then and she turned back to the road, a smug grin on her face now. Tony chuckled and Pepper happily continued driving the phaeton.
Pepper huffed with impatience as Tony tsked at her.
"Now, now, Pepper, just a little bit further. Be patient."
Tony had blindfolded her for the surprise. She could feel the phaeton slowing down gradually and they were on a rough, dirt road. Somewhere off track from the road to Loros.
The sun was shining down on them. Tony clicked his tongue at the horses and said soothingly, "Woooaah wooah boys ... that's it ... calm down now... easy, easy..."
They stopped completely, phaeton gently swaying and horses snorting. Pepper tried to remove her blindfold but Tony caught her fingers.
"No, no, my impatient friend..." he whispered in her ear, tickling her with his beard. "Pep, please wait here for me ... don't move, don't remove your blindfold. Will you do that for me?"
She nodded grudgingly. If he is being so insistent... I will wait...
She felt the phaeton move and the sound of Tony's feet touching the ground with a thump. He walked away, perhaps to the back of the carriage and pulled something out of the back. She could feel the phaeton sway and move.
Then he came back to the front, she could hear his footsteps near. He clicked his tongue and the horses snorted and neighed.
"Tony, what are you doing?"
"Just taking care of the horses, my sweet. Don't worry."
Pepper tapped her foot and waited for ten minutes. Finally she heard heavy footfalls on grass and felt Tony standing next to the carriage, next to her side of the seat.
"Okay Pepper, take my hand and step down."
She gingerly stepped down and then shrieked as Tony bent her knees and lifted her in his arms.
"Tony!" She exclaimed in shock, tightening her arms around his neck.
She felt his one warm arm under her knees and the other around her back, holding her to him securely. He chuckled deeply.
"Come on, my queen, we are at your palace."
"Ooh Tony, can I..."
"No... wait, let me walk a little closer."
They moved forward and Pepper could feel warm sunshine on her face and hear birds singing and chirping. Then the sound of gurgling water came to her ears. Pepper exclaimed, "Tony, where are we!?"
He set her down and she quickly tore the blindfold off. Pepper gasped with joy. They were back in the meadow with the stream. The one they had visited when they first docked at Loros.
She turned to Tony who was staring at her thoughtfully. She whispered "Tony, how... why?"
He said slowly, "The night the Celestial Being came to the Lacus, when the priests brought you to the lake, you were very upset due to the relaxant... you asked to come here. So I thought..." he shrugged, "I thought you would like to come here again. We have the time and..."
Pepper just stared at him. He remembered...that I asked to come here...wait... he comforted me with the memory of this place... he knew I was happy here...
She was so taken up with his thoughtfulness, that she suddenly realized there was a tiny canopy set up on the grass, two sticks held up a thick blanket. She walked a little ahead, to peer into the canopy.
Some cushions, a sheet on the ground, glasses... glasses! A basket ...
"Tony, did you do this?"
He nodded, "Yup, I thought we could have a little picnic in the sun. So I got us some food and a drink and..."
Pepper couldn't resist him anymore. She ran back to him and kissed him hard on the lips, holding his cheeks between her palms. Then she stood on her toes and kissed him tenderly on the forehead and whispered, "Thank you, Tony. This is lovely."
He nodded, slightly dazed and she smiled at him. She said, "Should we eat first or wade first?", grabbing his hand and tugging him gently to the canopy.
Tony laughed at her. "Sweetheart, I think you can barely control your impatience. Let us go wading."
She slipped off her shoes, while Tony pulled off his boots and began to pull his breeches up to his knees. Pepper didn't wait for him, she went to the water's edge.
Then she slipped one bare foot into the water and stepped onto the soft muddy bottom of the stream. The water was cold to her skin and she quickly placed her other foot in as well. Pepper took one step forward, watching the water swirl around her feet as she disturbed it with her steps. She had pulled up her dress up till her calves, just below her knees.
"Oh god, it is so cool and wonderful! Tony are you..."
Pepper glanced back at the stream's bank and snorted with laughter as Tony was standing at the edge, one foot poised in mid air, looking down at the stream suspiciously.
"How cold is it?" He asked her sternly. "Seriously, how cold is it, Pep?"
She came towards him. "Come on, you big baby."
He stepped in with one foot and then gasped loudly. "It is cold!"
"Isn't it wonderful?"
Pepper splashed about lightly in the water and pulled her dress up even higher, right to her knees. She was looking at some white flowers, growing on the opposite side of the riverbank, when she suddenly felt water droplets falling on her dress.
She turned to see Tony dunk his head into the stream and then energetically shake his head, like a dog, to clear the water from his face and hair.
Pepper let go of her dress and cupped her hands in the water and splashed him liberally. She covered her mouth in shock when she saw just how much she had drenched him. But Tony just smirked at her and said slowly, "So milady wants to fight with water eh... no problem..."
He bent to splash her when Pepper laughingly pleaded, "Tony, please don't splash me... I don't have anything else to wear and I can't wear wet clothes. Please..."
She smiled sweetly at him and Tony widened his eyes in mock shock.
"What about me? My shirt is all wet!"
Pepper looked at his shirt, really looked at him and felt a tingling warmth spread through her. Tony was wearing his customary plain white shirt and black breeches. The water had drenched his torso, so the shirt now clung to his chest and stomach in a very revealing manner.
Revealing and sexy... look at all that moist skin and sinew and bone... he has to take it off.
With sudden clarity, Pepper crisply said, "Tony, you have got to take it off."
He looked at her askance. "Take what off?"
She cleared her throat. "Your shirt. Take it off and you can dry it in the sun. It will dry quickly."
He made a moue. "What about the arc? It is broad daylight. Someone may see!"
She asked him sarcastically, "Who, Tony? There is no one around for miles!"
He nodded and then added comically, "But I will feel cold!"
Pepper rolled her eyes at him. "I will give you my scarf, you delicate being."
He huffed at her. "Oh alright. I suppose it will have to do."
Tony watched silently as Pepper cutely waded further upstream, giggling with delight as a fish swam across her feet.
She looked at him, eyes so bright and happy, that he felt a lump in his throat. "Tony!" she exclaimed happily, "It is a huge fish! Look it is coming towards you!"
He glanced down warily and noticed a large shadow move in the water, slowly approaching him. Tony instinctively stood still and waited.
Just a little closer ... now!
He caught the fish in the river and pulled it out of the water. The fish thrashed and bucked in his hand, spraying him with water. It was a large pike. Tony caught it in one hand as Pepper came closer to get a look.
"It will make a nice lunch." He said thoughtfully.
Pepper gave him such a look of horror, that he nearly laughed at her expression.
"No! Tony! We shouldn't! It must have mistakenly come so upstream. Please..." she looked at him with her blue, blue eyes pleadingly, "Can we please let it go?"
Tony sighed knowing that he could not refuse Pepper when she looked at him like that.
"Alright... where should we let it go then?"
She smiled at him gratefully and said, "Follow me."
Pepper walked carefully upstream and Tony followed her gingerly because the river bed was now filled with tiny round slippery rocks. His feet could not get a good grip to walk on, so he had to tread carefully. They walked a little more upstream where the stream started to widen. There was a tiny fall of water over some large rocks.
He asked Pepper teasingly, "What has Milady decided? Where should I let the pardoned prisoner go?"
Pepper rolled her eyes at him and pointed at the fall of rocks. "That separates the main river from the stream. It must have come from the main river. Can you set it down there, Tony? Above the fall."
He waded carefully to the fall of rocks and gently let the pike go on the main river bed. He and Pepper watched it swim away. She was leaning into him slightly and then she caught his hand and pulled him back towards their stream.
"Tony, let's eat. I'm hungry."
As they waded back slowly, Tony wondered whether he should ask Pepper, the question he had holding back, ever since that night at the Lacus.
"Pepper, we never spoke about your powers." The hand holding his tensed abruptly. He gulped. Her head was turned forward and she was walking slower now.
He stammered out, inexplicably nervous, "Well... it is just that I was pretty much useless against the Celestial Being but you... wow... with the flaming orbs and the stream of orange flame... have you always been able to control fire?"
Pepper had let go of his hand now and had stopped walking. She was staring down at the river bed. Tony stepped close to her. "Pepper..." he said gently.
She turned to him then, eyes full of unshed tears, mouth tense and drawn. Pepper said in a low tone, "Tony, I know you have questions but... but... can we please not talk about it today? Please... I do not want to ruin today... please Tony."
He patted her head softly, trying to comfort her, feeling very guilty for bringing up an upsetting topic.
"Sure, sure, we won't talk about it today."
Trying to give her some privacy, he said "I'm going to go change my shirt and my pants as well. I have a spare pair. You start unpacking the picnic basket. I will come soon."
He stepped out of the river and gave her his hand to help her onto the bank. Then he walked to the phaeton and rummaged in the back for his spare set of pants.
Tony had been gone for ten minutes. Pepper unpacked the picnic basket, her smile growing with each item she unpacked.
Cold slices of meat, round little buns, a big loaf of grain bread, a bowl of butter, lots of fruits and a savory pie of raisins and mince. A whole roasted chicken! Oh and little jam tarts and mince pies...
She looked around and said, "Tony!" loudly.
I wonder how long I can keep avoiding Tony's questions. And he has every right to ask me such questions. About my ability. I never spoke about it or revealed it and suddenly one day I just start throwing fire.
She sighed deeply. I have to tell Tony the truth. He has a right to know... why I ran away from Cumbria. And why I cannot return there. And if he still wants to court me after learning... what I really am... maybe that is why I want to avoid discussing it with him. I'm scared of his reaction. I'm scared he might ... leave me... he might stop loving me.
She heard Tony whistle loudly as he came from the trees. She shook her head to clear her dark thoughts.
Then she stood up to see where he was. And sat back down quickly because Tony was striding back to the canopy, shirtless. The sight of his bare broad chest in the sunshine, had made her knees weak.
Get a grip, Pepper! You have seen him shirtless before. It is nothing, just skin and bone, nothing else.
She took a deep breath.
Just skin and bone...
Tony stood near the canopy, holding his feet to take his boots off, so Pepper surreptitiously leaned forward, trying to get a better look. He was just as broad as she last remembered but somehow, he was leaner and more muscular, his stomach absolutely flat and firm and his rounded pectorals, beautifully contoured and very lightly furred. The arc was shining brightly in the sun and seemed to emphasize his masculine beauty.
She was busy admiring his prominent, firm hip bones and the tantalizing triangle of dark brown hair that seemed to arrow downwards into his pants, when he turned his back to her. Pepper nearly huffed out loud with irritation.
Turn around you idiot, I am not done looking... oh wait... why... I have never seen his bare back before.
His back muscles rippled and flexed sensually as he wrung his wet shirt dry with force. Tony had a perfect V-tapered form. There were powerful muscles at the top of his back, below his thick shoulders and then his back took a deep curve till the small of his back, a lovely hollow of firm flesh. Pepper felt her stomach flutter.
He walked to the edge of the stream and laid the shirt down on a large stone, to dry it. As he strode back, Pepper busied herself with laying out the food.
Tony ducked under the canopy and sat down heavily next to her. "Pep," he asked worriedly, "Maybe it is too hot to eat here... you seem to be flushed." She nodded in the negative and handed him a chicken drumstick. He took it from her and she peeked at him, from under her lashes. Then Pepper had to ask because the question was stuck in her brain and wouldn't let her eat in peace.
Her tongue suddenly felt very heavy in her mouth as she asked, "Tony, what... what has happened to your skin tone, you seem to have turned..."
"Light brown?" he completed wryly, "Yeah, you can blame the hot Patait sun and the fact that the Duke and I would spar on the top of Palace's roof every morning, after the Engagement Ball."
He looked down at his own chest. "The sun seems to have colored me dark with its light. I kind of like it."
I like it too...
Pepper ate but she paid no attention to the delicious food as her libido was too busy humming with delight at the sight of Tony's brown bare flesh.
He shivered and she looked at him. "Tony, are you feeling cold?"
He rubbed his hands over his arms and huffed. "Yes, I am, I think goosebumps have risen on my flesh."
She stopped herself from leaning in for a closer look. Then she remembered her scarf. "Wait, take my red scarf. It is long and wide enough to cover your chest."
Pepper rummaged in her bag, pulled out the scarf and handed it to Tony. Who proceeded to drape it around himself in the most maddeningly sensuous manner ever.
He draped it around his neck and then let its ends fall over his bare torso. Then Tony leaned back against his cushion and began to eat some grapes, one by one.
Good Lord, is he doing this on purpose?! Any other man would look like a ponce but... he just seems even more virile!
Hair tousled, red scarf accentuating his coppery firm chest and the arc in the center, glowing bright blue at her. His beloved dagger of Aramiah was strapped to his long leg, making him seem like a dangerous, pagan lord of the woodlands. Pepper had lost her appetite for food and had gained an appetite for something else entirely.
Then Tony looked at her with his twinkling chocolaty eyes and asked suddenly, "Pep, if you were not a lady, if you could be anything you want to be... irrespective of the consequences, what would you be?"
She blinked for a minute, trying to catch up with his train of thought. "Hmmm, me? If I could be anything I wanted to be..."
"A general?"
"No way... too much decision making and I do not want to be responsible for others lives. Let me think..."
"A cook?"
"Tony! Have you tasted my cooking?"
He shrugged and the way his shoulders moved, made Pepper growl with need under her breath. "You improved Magdalene's cooking, so I thought you know..."
She said decisively, "I would like to be a witch."
Tony sat up suddenly and guffawed with laughter. "That is hilarious! You, sweet, proper Pepper, an evil witch!"
Pepper raised her chin at him and said, "I would not be evil, I would help others with my magic. I would make potions and healing salves and help people."
Tony grinned lazily at her. "So you would be a healer then, not a witch."
"No, I would be able to do dark magic as well. If someone deserved it."
"Like what?"
"Like hexes and curses. If you cross my path, well, I would not back down, remember?" She used the very words he said to the training monks about her.
Tony grinned at her, lying back down on the cushion and yawned widely.
"Tony, what about you? If you weren't a knight, what would you be?"
"Me? Well... do not laugh but... I would be a blacksmith."
Pepper pondered over his words for a minute as he yawned again. "Tony, I can see you as a blacksmith, you are good with your hands... You love working with metal. You are so inventive with your armor."
"I built it with Yin Sen, from scratch, when I was captured." he said sleepily. "I have so many ideas for it. I would love to make my own weapons also..." His voice trailed off as Pepper realized Tony was falling asleep.
She quietly put away the picnic basket and cleared the mat. He was fast asleep, head on cushion and she arranged the scarf over his chest, so that it gave him some warmth.
Then she stood up quietly and went to the stream, as she wanted to explore some more before he woke up.
Tony was in the land of fairies. And they were whispering to him as he lay there, languorous and spent. He sleepily opened his eyes as the fairies danced around him in the afternoon sun. The light shone on them, their glorious, delicate wings glimmering gold and silver. The fairies giggled and tittered at him.
"What is so darned funny?"
You, human, you look so funny...
Look at his long, long legs!
Look at the blue light shining from his chest, man with a hole!
Their endless snickering bothered him and he picked up the other pillow and covered his head with it, trying to drown them out.
Then the fairies quietened and Tony slowly lifted the pillow. He was blinded by a ray of light and he raised his hand to cover it, so he could see where it was coming from. The fairies began to whisper reverently and Tony squinted at the light, trying to make out who it was.
Suddenly, a beautiful fairy appeared before him. Eyes, wide and blue, reddish gold hair and porcelain face, she smiled beautifully down at him. There was a wreath of daisies on her head and she was dressed entirely in white fairy dust. The Fairy Queen knelt next to him.
She said in a commanding tone, "Leave us alone!" And the fairies disappeared.
She bent her head and brought her face close to Tony's, the smell of lilies and vanilla overpowering his senses. He blinked at her stupidly and she stroked his jaw. He leaned into her caress but then he stopped himself.
"I am sorry, Madam, but do I know you?"
She giggled at him in a very familiar manner and said "Yes, you do... It is me, Pepper."
He shook his head firmly. "No, no, you seem to be the Fairy Queen."
Her blue eyes looked into his, brimming with laughter in their deep cerulean blue depths and she kissed his cheek.
She brought her lips close to his, murmuring softly, "Yes, Tony, I am the Fairy Queen, I am also your Pepper."
He sighed as the Fairy Queen kissed him slowly, gentle warm lips softly touching his and firming slightly. Then she pulled away and then leaned forward again, leaving another feather soft kiss on his lips. She placed one hand of light, firmly on his chest and pushed him to lie back down.
Tony lay back on the pillow as the Fairy Queen once again dipped her head and grazed his lips in that aggravating but highly arousing manner. With each light caress of her lips, she teased him but he did not want to pull her to him, because he was captivated by her sensual touches and did not want to frighten her.
She sat back on her heels and stroked his hair, then trailed her hand slowly down his chest and placed it on his stomach. He was breathing deeply now. She stared into his eyes and stroked his stomach. Then she leaned down and slowly swept her tongue along his bottom lip.
When he gasped, she pulled back and cupped his jaw firmly, one hand still stroking his stomach. Again she leaned down and lightly nipped his ear, holding him in place as she kissed a warm, wet path down his neck. She bit a tendon in his neck gently and he trembled under her hand. Finally she returned to his lips, slowly smiling against them. She murmured, "Wake up soon, my Knight. I have need of you."
He closed his eyes, smiling as he felt her soft hand on his forehead, petting him.
Tony woke up slowly. He sat up, very dazed and confused. The sun was setting and Pepper was sitting next to him, staring quietly at the lowering sun. She turned and looked at him, smiling warmly. "So sleeping beauty is finally awake?"
He was going to retort, when he stared at her suspiciously. I distinctly remember being kissed and petted. My lips feel soft and swollen... but did Pepper kiss me? She seems to be busy staring at the sun and is sitting at a distance from me.
He shook his head with wonder. Then it was all a dream. A wonderful dream.
He sat on his heels and stood up. Pepper was looking at him curiously as he grinned slowly, remembering the soft kisses of the Fairy Queen.
"What is the matter, Tony? Why are you smiling?"
He glanced back at her. "Oh Pep, how can I explain it? I had the most wonderful dream. A dream about a Fairy... anyways, time for us to leave. We need to reach Loros in one hour."
Tony was so busy checking if his shirt was dry, he did not see Pepper smile secretly behind him and hide her handmade wreath of daisies under her dress.
