Chapter 3

″This is awkward.″ Pepper said while Tony took her onto the dance stage.

″What?″ Tony asked smilling.

″I, you. Dancing. Again.″

″It isn't awkward.″

″Yes it is.″

″No.″

″You're impossible.″

″Well, if I may...″

He took her by the waist. His fingers finding their target, her bare back. Tony asked her to wear this beautiful, backless dress. It was perfect. Pepper was way too perfect for him. She shivered without intention when his fingers touched the last inch of her bare back. But she let him touch her that way because sometimes she needed to feel loved. Maybe not really loved but cared. Or something else but she won't go that far.

″There are paparazzi and I don't want to be spotted dancing with my multi-billionaire ex-weapons manufacturer.″ She half joked.

″You hate dancing with me? Am I such a bad dancer?″

″No.″ She said squeezing his hand gently.

Oh God how he loved her when she wasn't stubborn.

″Ummmmm... what do you say of a little walk?″

She raised an eyebrow searching an aswer for his demand.

″Sure.″

Outside was snowing. What a sight. Not to mention she didn't dared to look back at him because he looked like prince charming in his tux.

″You sure you're not cold?″ Tony asked.

″Well, maybe... a little.″

Without asking more Tony took his coat and gently helped Pepper to put on her beautiful body.

″It wasn't necessarily.″ She said smiling at the warmth which surrounded her.

Tony didn't wait anymore and he took her hand, his fingers caught hers hoping she won't pull off.

″Let's go back to the hotel. It's kinda freezing.″ He added.

″Yes.″

Pepper never thought at this sight. Her holding hands with her boss. Odd. She looked at their hands so beautiful holding each other but this isn't what it seems.

″I hope you won't get a Christmas cold. Because I don't know how to demand medicines in french.″ She joked.

″No, course not.″

She noticed him smiling when his finger gently touched the back of her hand.

Without knowing they were already in the hotel's garden. It was so beautiful. And it was snowing. Pepper never saw snow. But it was the perfect time to.

His hand gripped her and he turned to face her.

″Thank you.″

Pepper looked confused.

″For what?″

″For the walk.″

With that said she found her lips in his. His lips were so soft even in that cold and it was so beautiful. The snow was falling over them but Pepper knew this couldn't happen. So she pushed him slightly. Leaving a safe distance between their lips she opened her mouth to speak but when she noticed him so hurt she stopped.

″I'm...I'm sorry... I... can't. I'm not sure.″

She didn't dare to look him into his big brown eyes. But she forced herself to.

″Fine.″ He muttered under his breath as he turned to leave. He could feel hot tears forming at his eyes but he ignored them. Why? Why did she reject him? When all of this was so beautiful. Hot tears rolled down his cheeks as he pulled his scarf around his neck more tightly and gropped his face under it.

He could hear her calling his name but he didn't turned back.

″Tony.″

No. The snow was so damn cold. And he was freezing. Damn it! He felt more alone and misserable than ever so he went straight to his five star room. When he was safely in his room he started to sob loudly and cursing loudly all the way to his bathroom.

When he finally got out from his 4000 Armani tuxedo he went straight to his bed ravishing all the sheets and gropping his head under the pillows. It wasn't a better option than to start drinking. Pepper won't like that one he admited.

With still hot tears on his cheeks he drifted off. He would not suppose what would happen tomorrow morning in the press.