Oh, this is the night, it's a beautiful night
And we call it bella notte
Look at the skies, they have stars in their eyes
On this lovely bella note
- Bella Notte, Disney's Lady and The Tramp
It was a brisk and cold winter's night of the full moon. The Lake was lightly frozen over with ice and the moonlight shone off its surface, bathing the area in an ethereal light. The ground was covered in snow, deceptively deep in some areas and thin in others.
At the edge of the Lake, away from the Village, the two contestants faced each other. They were none other than Lord Stark and Lady Virginia.
The air was chilly, the night silent and the hour late, so there were no nosy villagers to intrude upon the cozy scene of the contestants debating.
The Knight and the Lady had had many a contest between them, so the debate concluded by agreeing on a new challenge: racing on foot.
Then another debate started, this time regarding a wager and its terms. After much deliberation, especially by the Knight, they finally agreed upon the terms and exchanged a firm handshake.
The contestants climbed up the hill, overlooking the Lake. The Knight jogged lightly on the spot and stretched his every muscular limb out impressively, while the Lady daintily stretched her legs once and was done.
The course of the race: down the hill, around the lake in a lap and up the hill again, back to the starting position.
They knelt and counting loudly together, "1", "2", "3", they were off.
The Lady nimbly descended the hill, while the Knight tumbled down, nearly falling over in his haste. The Lady took an early lead as they started to run across flat land but the Knight caught up mid way, panting lightly.
Then the Lady mistakenly stepped into a deep bank of snow and stumbled. The Knight completely forgot that they were supposed to be competing and helped her out, anxious to make sure she was okay. When he saw she was, while she was recovering, he quickly raced ahead to take the lead.
He was very confident he would win as he neared the hill. But surprisingly, with an amazing burst of speed, the Lady managed to catch up with him and they both ascended the hill together.
Here gravity took its toll on the Knight, who was the heavier of the two. He staggered up, staring in astonishment as the Lady literally flew up the hill, leaving him behind.
He tried his best but it was too late as she crossed the finish line, just as he reached the top of the hill.
There she was victorious, hopping with glee on the spot, the moonlight shining down on her, as the Knight tried to catch his breath.
Then the Lady launched herself at him, kissing him with a loud smack and he couldn't help but smile at her joy. But the Knight sighed loudly because he dreaded what was to come next.
Pepper practically skipped up the staircase, on her way to Tony's room. It was late, around half past ten and all were asleep. All except her and Lord Stark. She smirked as she approached Tony's room.
And if things go as I intend, then we won't be sleeping... for a long time.
She knocked on the door and heard Tony say, "Enter". She pushed open the door and smiled at her handsome knight, standing there in his breeches and night shirt. Tony just scowled at her and she laughed. Pepper walked quickly to him and took his hand, gently tugging him out of the room.
"Come my lord, times a wasting, the night is young!"
He grumbled under his breath as they left the house and entered the stables. Tony walked over to Balthazar's stall but
Pepper hurried to him with his coat.
She helped him into it, murmuring smugly, "You need to keep warm, Tony, I do not want you to feel cold."
He just scowled at her and Pepper looked deep into his eyes, one hand reaching up to stroke his hair.
"Tony Stark," she said firmly, trying not to laugh at his chagrin, "whose idea was it to have a foot race?"
"Mine..." he muttered.
"And whose idea was it, to lay bets on the outcome?"
"Also mine."
Then Pepper kissed him deeply. As they parted, she noticed with satisfaction that he was slightly breathless and looking at her dazedly.
"Come on, Anthony...", she murmured "Let's go."
Tony nodded and led Balthazar out of his stall. "I will take off his bit and bridle, once we are in the East Wing garden."
She held one lantern and he held the other. They walked together to the back of the Keep and then around the main West Wing, to enter the huge East Wing garden.
Tony walked ahead with Balthazar but Pepper lingered near the entrance, entranced by the wild beauty of the lush garden.
The garden had numerous bushes and small shrubs, now overgrown because no one had tended to it for long. But even in the dead of winter, pockets of it were in bloom.
Moonflowers dotted the landscape, shining white sparkles in the darkness. Tiny, light red winterberry bushes blossomed in the middle of the once neat garden. There was an large statue of a lady holding a water jug, the porcelain figure glimmering in the moonlight.
She was busy looking around in fascination and walked straight into Tony, who had stopped to let her catch up. He looked at her, grinning widely and whispered, "Why are you so fascinated by this run down old garden, Pepper?"
Pepper looked around her and whispered back, "It may be run down but it has so much promise, Tony... I mean," she pointed at a spot far way, "you could build a small ornamental pond there. The garden has such picturesque benches, though some of them need repairing! Most of the plants still bloom."
She leaned against him and smiled. "It just needs a little attention, Tony."
His molasses brown eyes flickered with emotion and he hugged her to his side. "It needs the loving touch of the Lady of the house. Just like everything else in Stark Manor. And I'm sure, once you give it your attention, it will surpass its previous grandeur."
She hugged him back and then Balthazar nickered lightly as if to remind them to move.
They walked through the silent garden and came to the deserted smokery. Tony said musingly, "I wonder if Balthazar can fit through the door."
Now it was Pepper's turn to glare at Tony because he seemed gladdened by the possibility that his war horse wouldn't make it through the door.
Tony grinned naughtily at her and said softly, "And if he cannot fit, what then, sweet lady? The bet gets called off?"
She smiled sweetly, "Then we do this outside, my lord, in the freezing cold."
He dropped his jaw in shock and said quickly to Balthazar, "Come on my large friend, please fit in the smokery, else death by frozen balls awaits us."
Pepper giggled and Tony slowly moved the horse towards the door. But Balthazar neighed nervously, tossed his great head and snorted loudly.
Tony exclaimed, "Balthazar, you big scaredy cat, you are still scared of the dark! Pepper, would you please-"
She didn't wait for him to finish, she went in before them and used the light from her lantern to look around. The smokery was rarely used nowadays because of Tony and hers culinary preferences. So its rafters were empty and the fire pit in the center, bare and dry.
It was the perfect place for what she was planning to do.
For a long time, Pepper had wanted to sketch Tony. But while Lord Stark was definitely not ashamed of his appearance, he was charmingly shy of being the subject of a portrait.
So he had artfully dodged all her attempts to draw him. Pepper had managed to make a few sketches of him while he was sleeping but she wanted a proper portrait, one that captured all of Tony Stark's splendor.
So when Tony had smugly suggested placing a bet on who would win the race, she had the idea of getting him to sit for a portrait. And she had won.
So according to the terms of the wager, Tony had to sit patiently as she made enough sketches to construct a proper portrait later. It was going to be a long night for him, because Pepper had a lot of sketches in mind.
She walked over to the pit and using her lantern, started a small fire. Now the room was bathed in firelight and Balthazar lowered his large head and walked in. Tony led him to the center of the room, near the fire pit and took off his bridle and bit.
"Pepper, are you warm enough? Is the light enough for you to see?" Tony asked with concern.
She smiled and answered, "Yes Tony, I am perfectly fine, what about you and Balthazar?"
Tony rubbed his arms and raised them before the fire. "I think we are warm enough. If we do get cold, I can put my coat back on. Will that do, maam?" He smiled at her.
She replied serenely, "Anthony, you are the subject here, you must be comfortable in your surroundings."
He glared at her darkly and said, "I am not at all comfortable being the subject in the first place."
Pepper gave him a cool look. "Well, Anthony, keep that in mind, the next time you want to a place a bet with the running champion of Cumbria Castle."
Tony grinned boyishly at her. "I am curious, Pepper, were you a model student in neat braids or a tomboy, with a wooden toy sword, clashing with all the schoolboys?"
She smiled at his description and told him gently, "I will answer all your questions, Anthony, but we must start. It is late and I want us to go back to your room on time."
Tony raised his eye brows in confusion and asked curiously, "Why Pep, we have lots of time, I mean, do not rush with your work... wait!"
She smirked as he took the hint and gasped with delight. "Oh! Yes, let us go back to my room on time, we must! So what do you need Pep?"
He helped her move a small bench, to use for holding her sketch book and pencils. Then they arranged the lanterns, such that Pepper got enough light to see and draw.
Now Pepper was ready with her tools and her bench. She ooked at Tony, who was standing by Balthazar, patiently waiting for her instruction.
She stood up, critically assessing the light and the subjects. "Tony, move a little to the left, take Balthazar with you, little more... that's perfect! Stop moving!"
Pepper sat down on her small stool and looked down at her blank page. "First, I am going to make a few sketches of you and Balthazar casually. With no actual poses."
She started her sketching as Tony stood stiff and straight, hand on Balthazar's neck, the horse's head nearly touching his, eyes staring straight ahead.
"Tony," she said gently, "I am not going to shoot you. Relax, my lord and look at me please."
He scowled darkly and she giggled.
"Pepper," he whined, "this is a very strange activity, can't you just sketch something that looks like me and be done with it? Why do I need to pose?"
"Because, my lord," she said absently, drawing his broad frame in rough strokes, "I am trying to capture you.. not just paint on a canvas. Now stand still..."
Pepper draw Tony quickly and roughly, just as practice for the later sketches. Then she bit her lip, trying to hide her smile. Because now came the fun part of the wager.
"Anthony, disrobe please."
Tony widened his eyes and squeaked out, "So soon! I thought you would need more sketches of me in clothes!"
"Nope. I have enough, now I need to start some formal sketches and you need to be naked for that. So!" she clapped her hands authoritatively, "Take off your clothes, handsome man."
A portrait was one thing but Pepper wanted to capture all of Tony Stark's splendor. And that meant painting him in the nude. Something Lord Stark had initially refused to accept as a term but she had fooled him by challenging his vanity, by suggesting that he could not actually lose a foot race to her. So this condition was included as part of her terms for the bet.
She covered her mouth to hide her smirk as Tony swallowed hard and started to unbutton his shirt. He took it off, hung it neatly on a rafter and then did the same for his pants. He silently looked at her and she firmed her lips.
"Everything, Anthony, even your braies."
He swallowed again and she watched avidly as he pushed them down his legs and hung them up.
"How do you want me, ma'am?" Tony straightened and asked stolidly.
Pepper drank in the arousing male vision in front of her, the firelight bathing his broad shoulders, blue Arc shining in his strong torso and his flat abdomen. She admired his narrow hips, his virile manhood and his muscular lean legs.
Then she moistened her lips and said sultrily, "Every which way, I can have you, you beautiful devil."
She saw him flush even in the firelight and lower his gaze. Then Pepper said quietly, "Stand absolutely straight, hold your shoulders back, feet slightly apart and hands behind your back."
Tony obeyed her beautifully and she sighed with pleasure because the pose just accentuated his masculine warrior frame. Then Pepper quickly sketched Tony in this pose, trying to capture as many details as she could.
The broad shoulders, the narrowing waist... perfectly triangular... that's it! Now for the legs...
Tony was standing stiffly, eyes not meeting hers, so to ease his sense of embarrassment, Pepper decided to distract him by talking about her school days.
"Hey," she said softly and he looked at her. "You asked me about my days in school, right?"
He nodded eagerly and she smiled as her pencil moved over the sketch book. "Well, Tony... I did not have a private tutor, I went to an actual school with other girls and boys of the kingdom. So in the actual schoolroom, I was a model student, hand always up, asking questions, answering questions, very eager to learn."
"I knew it." He said smugly, "Did you have ribbons in your hair?"
"Yes, Tony, blue and pink ones."
He grinned happily to himself and she murmured, "However the moment, school was out..."
Tony widened his eyes and said, "Do tell, Pepper!"
She noticed he was now quite at ease, the stiffness gone, his molasses eyes twinkling with glee, at her reminiscing.
"First, Anthony, let's move on to the next pose. Raise one hand, turn slightly towards Balthazar and place your hand on his muzzle as if you are leading him. But keep looking at me."
She didn't take her eyes off Tony as he struck the pose.
This was one of the poses that I have prioritized the final portrait and I need to get it right.
This pose showcased his noble side profile, so she spent time in getting those details. She also drew Balthazar's regal head but did not draw his body because she could capture that later.
He gently said, "Please, Pepper, continue with your story."
"Oh yes, the minute the bell rang and we could leave class, I would run out like a bat flying from a cave, anxious to be free. I would race down the stairs, opening my hair as I did so and reach the yard first, shucking off my shoes and joyous, just to run barefoot in the green grass."
She sighed at the memory and he said softly, "You loved to run?"
Pepper looked at him, a soft smile on her face. "I did. I love the wind in my hair, on my face, the feeling of weightlessness, I felt...", she shook her head, looking at the fire, "I felt as if I could fly. But you... you, my lord, have actually flown... I am sure it is an experience you must have enjoyed."
Tony snorted and she giggled at his look of derision. "Pep, I have flown on two occasions only, once when I first escaped Stane and then in Patait, when I flew after you. Believe you me, both times, I had no idea what I was doing. I just..." he shrugged, "I just had to and luckily, I could."
She nodded and carried on sketching.
Tony asked softly, "Aside from running, what else did you like to do as a child?"
Pepper smiled, still sketching. "Well, we used to play battles all the time."
"Battles?"
"Yes. Wait. Now I need you in the second pose. Both you and Balthazar should face me, but not completely."
Tony gently moved Balthazar, the mighty horse tossing his head and whinnying.
She smirked as Tony whispered loudly into Balthazar's pricked up ears, "I know old chap, I know, but the pretty lady won the bet and we have to do as she says. Next time," he placed his hand on the horse's nose. "The next time I race on you". Balthazar snorted in agreement.
Pepper badly wanted to tease Tony. So she said smugly, "Actually my lord, I have defeated you in a race, when you were riding Balthazar, so I do not see how that would make a difference in your ability to win."
He growled at her and she giggled. "Now, Tony, look at me. Face neutral, one arm natural by your side. One arm on Balthazar's mane, in the shadow.
Tony did as she said and Pepper took a fresh sheet, quickly drawing an outline.
She was busy drawing but she smiled to herself as she remembered another schoolyard memory. Tony asked her curiously, "Pepper, why are you smiling? Am I looking funny?"
She looked up at him and raised one eyebrow. "Tony, why are you so conscious? Surely I am not the first woman you have stood before, completely naked."
Tony muttered darkly, "I have been naked in front of other women. But... none of them asked me to stand naked in a smokehouse with a horse."
"Well, Tony," she said, smiling slowly at him, "I must say that out of all my previous models, you are so far, one of the most good-looking. And you do strike an attractive pose. And... you have the best body." her eyes roved over him appreciatively.
Tony preened smugly, looking at her and then widened his eyes in horror. Pepper struggled to keep a straight face as he sputtered, "Out of all your previous models! Pepper! You! What!"
She gave him a cool look and asked mock-sternly, "Anthony Stark, I am an artist. Are you telling me what I should or should not have painted?"
He swallowed hard and then murmured, "No, I mean, you are... you are an artist. I can't really tell you what to paint but... but Pep, one question."
"Yes..."
"Were ..." he whispered slowly, "Were they also naked? Like naked, naked? Oh, please tell me they kept their braies on!"
She couldn't help but laugh loudly at that, making Balthazar whinny as if he was laughing too.
"You know two of my former models, my lord." Pepper said with a smirk.
Tony dropped his jaw and then tightened his fists. "Who! Who!"
"One of them is your feline companion and the other one is standing next to you, naked as you are!" she giggled out.
Balthazar stuck his tongue out as Tony looked at him, straight faced. Then he relaxed, huffing loudly.
Pepper said, shaking her head, "Tony, all I have painted so far, are fruits and landscapes. The first living things I attempted to paint are Balthazar and Tigliath. And now you."
She smiled at him as he raised his chin at her and said firmly, "Good to know."
"Now Anthony, last pose, turn towards Balthazar and touch your head to his lightly."
She watched as he obeyed her perfectly.
Tony looked at Balthazar and muttered, "You better not kiss me, you silly horse." The horse snorted and affectionately nudged him hard, nearly pushing him to the floor. Pepper giggled as Tony quickly moved back into position.
Then she quickly sketched them together, happy to see her sketches of Tony were improving with each pose.
When she was satisfied, Pepper looked up and saw that instead of looking at Balthazar, Tony was studying her intently. She lowered her gaze and realized that Tony was semi-aroused.
He sighed loudly and said softly, "Pepper, I can't help it, you look so beautiful in the light, when you draw. I am sorry." Then he looked back at Balthazar.
She stood up, smiling as she saw Tony give her a secretive sideways glance. Pepper picked up her sketch book and a pencil and walked close to him.
He let go of Balthazar and turned towards her. She stood right in front of him and caught his prickly jaw in her hand. Then she slowly rubbed her thumb over his bottom lip, while moving the rest of her fingers over his chin. Tony closed his eyes lightly and nuzzled her hand.
Pepper leaned into him lightly as she continued to stroke him with her hand. "There is one more pose of you, my lord, that I wish to capture." She whispered softly.
He opened his eyes and straightened his head, looking at her. Pepper placed her free hand on his shoulder and gently touched her lips to his, moving them slowly over his. Tony stayed absolutely still, only his lips moving as slowly as hers, his tongue touching hers gently as she kissed him open-mouthed.
Pepper trailed her hand over his bare chest and down to his stomach, feeling his muscles flex under her fingers. She kept kissing him, languorously slow, feather-soft and delicate, as if she was tracing the shape of his lips with hers.
She stroked his abdomen gently and felt him tremble against her. Then Pepper let his lips go and stepped back.
She smiled softly as Tony was looking at her with passion-drunk eyes, smoldering whiskey brown with arousal, body taut and tense.
"This is the look I wanted," Pepper whispered, afraid of ruining the moment. "The way you look at me, my lord, as if I am the most beautiful woman on this Earth."
"You are, Pepper, you are the most beautiful woman on Earth and in the Heavens." he whispered raggedly and she flushed at the tone of reverence in his voice.
Tony did not blink, he just stood still, staring into her eyes as she sketched his noble face, his straight nose, his firm lips and neat beard, his deep-set eyes and his wavy, silky hair. She tried to capture the intense look on his face but she feared she wasn't talented enough to do the look true justice.
When she was done, Pepper lowered her pencil and book and turned back to place them on the stool. Then she came back to Tony, staring deep into his eyes and looped both her hands around his neck, pressing herself completely against his bare body.
He caught her to him and she kissed him hard, moving her hands to his hair, to pull his lips firmly against hers, using her tongue to make him shake with passion. Tony moved his hands all over her back and she rubbed her stomach against his cock, making him moan loudly.
Then Pepper leaned back and said, slightly dazedly, "I think I have enough sketches. Let us get back to Stark Keep and start the second part of the wager."
He smiled widely and she nipped his jaw lightly. "Anthony, my love, the things I am going to do to you..." she whispered against his cheek, smiling as Tony tightened his grip on her.
In case you were wondering why there is nearly always a full moon in my writing, it is not because I am a werewolf, it is because I am fascinated by the moon.
Yes, this is the "Titantic sexy nude sketching" trope and no, I am not ashamed of using it.
