Tony may be an idiot but he is trying to make up for his idiocy.
Pure smut for a while. To see the story advance, skip right to the end of the chapter.
I want to hold the hand inside you
I want to take a breath that's true
I look to you and I see nothing
I look to you to see the truth
- "Fade Into You" - Mazzy Star
Tony moved so quickly, one minute she was standing, the next he had scooped her up into his arms.
"Tony!' Pepper gasped, smiling widely at him.
He said firmly, "I am trying to sweep you off your feet here, my lady."
Pepper looped her arms around his neck and sighed happily as he carried her out of the Workshop and back to the main house. He entered the main door and walked with her in his arms to the stairs.
Pepper raised herself slightly to look behind him. To her utter mortification, she saw Magdalene peeking at them from the kitchen. Then she flushed deeply as Magdalene gleefully winked at her.
Tony was climbing the stairs and said drolly, "I take it, my curious as ever cook noticed us."
She nodded, embarrassed and he chuckled as he walked to her bedroom. "Pepper... you have nothing to feel shyabout. Maggie knows that I love you."
He kissed her forehead as he entered the room. "And she also knows I am an idiot and that I am making amends."
Pepper was confused. "Tony, why are we in my room? You have a larger bed."
"Exactly," he whispered, "For what I intend to do, I need a smaller bed."
He laid her down on the bed tenderly and went to the mantelpiece.
She settled herself against the pillows and watched him as he tended to the fire. Then Tony stood near the bed and kicked off his shoes.
"Tonight Pepper," he said as he unbuckled the dagger from his waist. "Tonight, my lady, is your night."
Even with the faint light of the fire, she felt herself grow warm at the way he was looking at her.
"Tony..."
"Now my lady... you just relax." And he knelt down by the side of the bed.
Tony leaned over her and kissed her forehead softly, while he opened her hair. She was beguiled by the way his mouth explored her face, first her eyelids, then her nose and then her cheeks. He left feather soft kisses on her, all the while running his hands gently through her hair, arranging it on the pillow. Then he cupped her face tenderly and kissed her mouth softly.
She sighed into his kiss as he moved his lips tenderly over hers. Pepper pulled his head down for a hard kiss.
He broke it off, whispering to her, "Tonight, sweetheart, we are going to go slow... nice and slow..."
She pouted at him and was going to object but he moved his wicked lips to her ear and began to nibble at it. She turned her head to one side, to give him better access.
Pepper was so distracted by his mouth on her ear, that she didn't notice Tony unbuttoning her shirt to her waist. She did notice however, when he moved his warm hand to her breast and began to stroke her bare nipple.
She lay back, panting, as his mouth moved over her throat and his hand moved over her breast.
"God Pepper... I love it when you wear my clothes...so easy to take off..." he muttered hotly, nipping at her collarbone and she arched into his touch as his thumb flicked over her nipple.
"Tonnnnny..."
He moved back and completely pushed her shirt off her body. She helped him pull the sleeves off her arms.
"Tony!" Pepper moaned as his one hand kept teasing her nipple, while Tony looked around absently.
"Pep, where should I put this?"
"Anywhere, just... focus on me, please!" she pleaded desperately, realizing she was being very demanding.
Tony smiled down at her. "As my lady commands..."
Then he lowered his head to her right breast, his hand still teasing the other with his fingers.
Pepper was lost in a sea of sensual abandon as Tony laved her nipple and then flicked it with his tongue. He took it between his lips and sucked on her gently. She raised one hand to tug at his head and gently move it to her other breast.
He moved away from her then and she moaned in protest.
"Hush Pepper, I am right here, I just need to ..."
Tony climbed onto the bed and sat himself between her legs. He looked at her, his brown eyes sparkling.
"You know, Pepper," he whispered in awe, "I have dreamed about seeing you like this."
He trailed his finger slowly over her face, lingering at her mouth. "You, your glorious beauty bared to me," his finger moved down her throat as she met his eyes, "your hair spread out like a fiery halo," then Pepper gasped his name as his finger reached her stomach and slowly traced its curve, "and my name on your sweet lips..."
She opened her mouth to ask a question but quickly forgot what she was going to ask as Tony once again, lowered his head to her breast and bit it gently.
She moved her hands urgently through his soft hair as the man used his clever tongue to tease her flesh wildly.
"Tony... oh God... more more.. please!"
She felt him smile against her skin and he moved his head to her other breast. She nodded in approval, sighing at the feel of his tongue on her nipple, rubbing it up and down roughly.
The Pepper tightened her grip on his hair as she felt his fingers move over her hips. Her pant's buttons were undone, he moved the flap away and Tony moved his heavy hand down over her, his lips never leaving her breast.
She felt him touch her curls and Pepper writhed against him feverishly as he began to stroke her lazily with one finger.
"Tony... Tony!", she pushed at his shoulders.
"Yes?", he raised his head, mouth moist he was doing to her chest.
"Take off your vest please..." she whispered tightly. He pushed himself away from her breast, pulled his vest off and flung it somewhere. Then Tony placed his hands under her hips, cupping her lightly. He pulled her pants off her completely.
Pepper was now completely naked to him, yet she didn't feel in the last bit shy. In fact, she preened slightly at the appreciative way his dark gaze was roaming over her body.
"Consarn it, Pepper..." Tony whispered in awe, What did I do to deserve you? You truly are an houri..."
Pepper thought hard for a moment, trying to recall what the meaning of that word was but she stopped thinking when he simultaneously licked her erect nipple and moved two fingers within her.
Then she groaned hard and moved her hands wildly through his hair as Tony's mouth kept nibbling at her and his fingers were thrusting within her. She gasped at the double assault, not knowing where to focus as he kept licking and biting her, all the while her womanhood was tightening itself in time for his thrusts.
Pepper was dimly aware that Tony's mouth had left her breast and was kissing her abdomen.
"You smell like heaven, woman... and you feel like a cloud, lush and soft..." He muttered against her stomach, then he licked her belly button and she arched her back.
"Tony... where are you going..."
"Shush... today, my Goddess, I am going to worship you with my tongue."
He slowly trailed the tip of his tongue along the long vee of flesh between her stomach and her curls and she pushed her head back hard against the pillow, groaning loudly.
He kissed his way down to her core, moving his mouth over her curls. Pepper raised her head to see what exactly he was doing. Tony was lying flat on his stomach, half off the bed, half on it.
He said slowly, "Fold your knees, that's it." and then he spread her legs apart. Pepper whispered, "Tony, what are you doing?"
He just smiled widely at her and spread her legs even more. "Now you need to keep these two apart, sweetheart."
She nodded absently, feeling her heart race as he lowered his head. Then Tony kissed her right above her womanhood and she gasped. "Tony, you! Don't!"
"Why not?" He said, his voice muffled as his mouth kissed her intimately, moving over her nether lips.
"Because..." she couldn't think straight as he lightly nibbled on her inner thigh. "Because, it is not right! That is... ooooo... it is not right, I mean!"
She heard him chuckle. "Pepper, just relax and keep your hands on your knees, keeping them apart."
Somehow she obeyed him and Pepper began to mewl as Tony kept kissing and nibbling at her womanhood. At one particularly firm intimate bite, she closed her legs over him and he tsked loudly at her.
"I am sorry! I ... I can't help it!" She said desperately.
He raised himself slightly and said softly, "Pepper, why are you so tense? Don't you like what I am doing? Do you want me to stop?"
"No! I like it! Don't stop but..." she bit her lip, hesitant. "The feelings are too strong, I instinctively want to close my legs!"
Tony said soothingly, "It is alright, don't fret love, I know what to do."
He lay back down and looped his hands over her thighs and moved them apart. Then she felt his lips on her and this time, when she tried to close her legs, Tony held them apart firmly.
"Tony! Tony! More please!"
She heard him chuckle and then Pepper gasped and saw stars because in one smooth motion, Tony licked her. She started to pant as he kept licking her, first, hard long swipes, then soft slow ones, all up and down the length of her womanhood. His beard tickled the sensitive skin on her thighs, a delicious abrasion that contrasted with his soft tongue.
He raised one hand to tease her nipple with his fingers and she closed her eyes and let out a long moan at the double sensations wrecking her body.
"Pepper," she heard him say through the sensual fog in her brain, "you taste so good, my sweet. I just can't get enough of you... what about here, what do you taste like, here?"
He suited action to word and slowly began to lick something at the top of her core.
She opened her eyes on a gasp because this new sensation was intense. Something deep within her, began to coil and tighten.
Tony kept moving his tongue around the area. Then he licked at it, over it and pushed at it and all Pepper could do was moan.
She had raised her hands over her hand and was holding on to the bed frame because Tony's wet and warm tongue was feeling her most intimately. Again, his rough beard grazed her and she raised herself slightly, craving more of the sensation.
Now both his hands were on her breasts, one cupping a breast, the other teasing the other breast's nipple as he kept his mobile mouth on her. Tony was now thrusting his tongue at that sensitive spot and Pepper began to push herself against each thrust.
She felt very moist and slick and so damn warm. Then he pinched her nipple hard between his fingers and she had to exclaim,
"Tony! Good Lord!"
"Relax Pepper," he murmured against her, "just relax."
"How can you expect me to, when you are...! Oh!" she arched off the bed as one hard lick of his sent a wave of feeling through her.
Then Tony moved his hands away from her breasts and she felt them against her, probing her gently. Pepper wound her fingers in his hair, pulling it rather hard as she held his head against her, basking in the ecstasy of his lips now kissing that very sensitive area.
She felt his fingers hook and curve into her and Pepper just let go, closing her eyes tightly, seeing rainbows of light beneath her lids. She shuddered and gasped as tremors started from her abdomen and moved through in a ripple of feeling, her legs shaking with the sensation.
Tony's mouth was still on her and he moved his tongue and send a second ripple from that area and she heard herself scream out his name from far away.
Her heart was racing and she kept mewling as the waves of sensation slowly ebbed and faded. Tony was still holding her legs apart, one hand at her breast, the other caressing her stomach.
He was looking at her wide-eyed, with wonder in his beautiful brown eyes. "Pepper, wow, that was... I actually felt you shiver."
She was very awed herself by what had happened and rubbed her moist forehead with the back of her hand. "Tony..." Pepper whispered, suddenly feeling very thirsty, "Is there any..."
He didn't wait for her to finish. Tony moved off the bed, quickly and quietly. Pepper was too exhausted to get up. Her bones seemed to have turned to jelly and her body just wanted to drift endlessly on the after effects of what Tony just did to her.
She propped herself up on her elbows as Tony came back and handed her a glass of water. She drank deeply and then called out, "Tony, where have you disappeared to? Come back please..."
He said something from the washing chamber and then Tony returned to the bed and sat on its edge. He gently pushed her legs apart and Pepper realized he had a moist cloth in his hands. Then she went a bright red as he wiped her womanhood tenderly with the cloth, cleaning her.
"Tony", she squeaked out, clamping her legs shut on his hand. "Tony, you don't need to do that! It is not proper!"
Tony grinned so sexily at her that Pepper bit her lip hard. "Pepper," he drawled out, "Sweetheart, I used my tongue on you and you came hard in my mouth... I think we are past the stage of being shy around each other. Besides," he gently but firmly pushed her legs apart, "let me take care of you, lie back and close your eyes."
He raised his eyebrows at her and she obeyed him, feeling very cherished as Tony wiped her gently. When he finished, he went back to the washing chamber and Pepper waited for him to return. She sat up and patted the side of the bed, hoping he wouldn't leave.
Tony smiled at her and sat down right next to her. He moved his arm around her and hugged her to him sideways. She looped her arm around his back and leaned her head on his shoulders.
Tony sighed contentedly and Pepper whispered slowly, "Tony... thank you... for what you-"
He placed his finger on her lips and said tenderly, "Pepper, you don't ever need to thank me for what we do together in bed. I love you, sweetheart and it is my pleasure to give you pleasure, in any way I can... after all," he smirked mischievously at her, "I am renowned for my skills in the bedroom as well as the battlefield. I need to keep them honed."
She couldn't help but punch him lightly and Tony laughed loudly. Then he became serious and looked at her, whiskey eyes soft. "Pepper, I can't believe I came so close to losing you... I mean... because of my insecurities and doubts, I lashed out at you and..." she felt him exhale long and hard.
Pepper hugged him tightly. "Tony, it is okay, I shouldn't have threatened to go either, I just felt so... so hurt by your shutting me out... next time Lord Stark" she looked up at him earnestly, "next time, tell me what you are going through... I am your partner, right?"
He took her hand in his and kissed her fingers. Tony said solemnly, "You are... in every way. And you are right, I can't keep my fears within me..."
"And if you get another nightmare... come to me, Tony, tell me, we will sort it out together... I am always here for you." She cupped his jaw and kissed his chin. "I am always going to be here, irrespective of what the dreams show or say."
He nodded and stood. She smiled up at him and Tony asked hesitantly, "Do you mind if I stay... if I stay with you... tonight? I just..." he swallowed hard and she realized he was scared of getting another dream. She felt a rush of anger towards Stane and his Master for the evil torture they had imposed on her knight but Pepper schooled her features and stood up.
"Of course you can stay! I insist!" She kissed him lightly, feeling him relax against her.
"We can spoon and sleep. I know you like that." He said softly as she stroked his hair.
She was confused. "Spoon? Do you want a spoon in bed?"
Tony chuckled. "I don't need a spoon but I shall show you."
She pulled on her night shift and Tony took off his trousers and stood there in his braies. He was still hesitant, so Pepper gently pushed him onto her bed.
He lay on his side and guided her to lay down on her side as well and back into him. Pepper pushed backwards against his warm chest and legs and sighed with pleasure as he looped one arm around her, holding her to him.
"We have done this before. You are right, I like sleeping like this." She murmured sleepily as she felt his breath waft over her shoulders and hair. Pepper felt Tony was semi-hard and she looked back at him and asked, "Tony, what about you... I mean..."
He kissed the back of her head and said, "Sleep, Goddess, sleep. Tonight is all about you."
Then he whispered slowly in her ear, "But later, if you wake up and want to ravish me in my sleep, please feel free to do so..."
She giggled and then moved her hand backwards, to cup his butt. Tony sighed and said, "Just like that..."
Then they both finally fell asleep, exhausted from the day's events.
For the first time, in nearly two weeks, Tony had a peaceful and dreamless night, lying in Pepper's bed, holding his lady love tightly to him.
He awoke in the wee hours of the morning because he heard a familiar serpentine voice softly calling his name in his mind. Anthony... Anthony... wake up... wake up my friend.
He opened his eyes quickly and sat up halfway.
Virginia is sleeping... hissed the Dragon, Take care not to awaken her...
Tony looked down at Pepper who was lying on her side, arm under her cheek, nestled comfortably in the curve of his body.
Okay, I need to get out the bed. How do I...
Then he began to shuffle forward on his butt, trying to reach the edge of the bed. He got off the bed and came to Pepper's side. She was murmuring something softly, so he gently stroked her hair and she stopped, curling into her pillow with a sigh.
Tony looked down at her and felt a surge of powerful feelings move within him, love and protectiveness. Then guilt hit him as he remembered their argument and how close he had come to losing her.
He turned and walked to the window, looking out at the darkness.
Dragon, where the hell have you been?! Do you know what has been going on for the past few weeks?
Anthony, let me explain...
You weren't there! You just disappear all the time! And I needed you! I... he pinched his nose. I nearly pushed Pepper out of my life today... all because of insecurities and doubt! You were supposed to help me!
You are right, Anthony, I let you down. I am truly sorry. Please... I ask for your forgiveness.
Tony gulped loudly with the shock of the Dragon admitting its fault.
The Dragon sighed tiredly and hissed slowly, I did not know that the Bloodstone would affect you so. I knew it was evil but to what extent... But that is no excuse for my behavior. And all I ask for... is your understanding. There are things at work... here it paused and said very slowly I cannot explain right now... I am going to ... but I ask for your patience and some time.
Tony listened carefully, confused at the note of deep sadness in the Dragon's voice. Is there any way I can help?
The fiery being exhaled loudly. I wish you could, Anthony, I wish you could... but these are my sins come to haunt me and I must face them alone. They are not in your mortal plane. But thank you for the offer.
Anthony, it rumbled, I may be gone at times but I will return to you always. I am here for you. And please do confide in Virginia as well. Do not shut her out. I must go now. Remember I will come back to you always.
He felt it drift away on a smoky huff and Tony sighed deeply himself, feeling more confused than ever.
He leaned his head against the glass of the window and closed his eyes.
"Well, at least today there weren't any dreams... I should be happy."
Then he heard someone say, "Tony... Tony..."
He turned and saw Pepper, lying on the bed with one eye open, looking at him.
He came to her side and bent to stroke her hair. "Pepper, I didn't mean to wake you. Go back to sleep."
She whispered, "Did you have another dream?"
"No, sweetheart, the Dragon wanted to talk."
She caught his hand and whispered, "Then get back in bed. It's late."
He chuckled and climbed back over the edge. Pepper turned towards him as he lay down and placed one arm firmly on his chest. She curled herself into his side and and whispered firmly, "Tony Stark, the next time I catch you leaving my bed in the middle of the night, I will tie you down, sir. Is that clear?"
He grinned and she stroked his chin tenderly, saying, "Go back to sleep, you. You can tell me what the Dragon said in the morning."
"I will, Pepper. I love you."
"I love you too, Tony."
