I give, here's more. This might turn out to just a lot of awkward moments between our favourite couple until they come to their senses. I didn't want to do my usual soppy story where they get together straight away again... Pepper may be pushier than usual in this one. Let me know! (:

Pepper was dreading the day. She'd kissed her boss! And if Dexter hadn't have walked in on them, who knows what would have happened. She desperately wanted him to be on a mission so that she didn't have to face him today. But she knew it was all pointless because she had to face him at some point.

It was another burning day in Malibu. Pepper could feel the heat bouncing back off the concrete as she walked up to the mansion's door. She'd opted for a light dress today to help her cool down. She still wore a blazer but had undone it in the sweltering heat. She took a deep breath and walked into the house, thankful for the cool air it brought to her skin. Pepper carried on through the mansion and dropped her things on the kitchen counter and for a moment just enjoyed the air conditioning. After a few minutes she noticed something odd.

Silence.

Tony was usually pestering her now, making suggestive comments or being flirtatious. And what made it even odder was the fact that they'd kissed! Yet he wasn't here. Pepper felt a bit suspicious and so asked Jarvis where Tony was.

"He is out on the pool deck Miss. Potts" the AI answered.

Pepper stood there for a moment, her hands on her hips and contemplated whether she really wanted to go out there. She bit down on her bottom lip and decided she was just going ignore yesterday's events and carry on. She was a professional, independent woman and could overcome her feelings for her boss because... well because she had to.

Pepper was feeling slightly defeated and unconvinced by her head telling her the right thing to do. She picked up her Blackberry, put on a professional face and marched towards the pool deck. Before she pulled the door handle to walk out she spotted Tony. He was standing at the water's edge with his back to her. He was wearing his aviator sunglasses and a pair of navy blue swim shorts. And only a pair of navy blue swim shorts. She took a deep breath again and walked out, plastering a fake smile on her face.

"Morning Tony"

"Good morning Potts" Tony smiled at her and turned to face her with his hands in his shorts pockets. He was looking good; thanks to the Malibu sun Tony had gained a pleasant tan over the past few days. He stayed by the water's edge and seemed to coax Pepper into coming closer to him. And he was only standing there smiling at her. After Pepper looked him up and down and came to the decision Tony was officially gorgeous, she busied herself with her Blackberry again.

"Right, you have a meeting with Chris Isaac today about the new designs for the arc reactor, and before you ask no you can't cancel. This meeting has been cancelled God knows how many times and it needs to get done" Pepper quickly said and looked up at a smirking Tony. She thought he was looking good today, really good. Especially being shirtless and tanned and being just Tony. And the way he had his head cocked and was looking at her, Pepper was finding it hard to suppress the ever-growing feelings she had for her boss.

"Also Vanity Fair have been constantly ringing and asking for a special piece on your new hobby-"

"Meaning Iron Man?" Tony cut in.

"Yeah what else would I mean?" Pepper raised her eyebrows.

"Well" Tony said as he started to make his way towards her. To Pepper it looked like he was walking in slow motion, like in one of those pivotal moments in a film, where the guy sweeps the girl of her feet. Stop it Pepper! Tony took his time and was eventually right in front of her, towering over her. And Tony Stark started attacking all her senses again, she could still taste him from yesterday's kiss.

"Well...?" Pepper asked, trying to keep her cool.

"I've developed a liking to try and get me someone to sit at home and worry about me when i'm out. You know someone who'll look after me. Especially when I get back from another gruelling mission, I'd love someone to patch me up and snuggle up to me in bed" Tony said edging closer again.

"Ah, obviously. And what is this 'someone' like?" Pepper couldn't help her playful side come out.

"Hmm, want to know if you qualify Potts?" Tony asked with a sparkle in his eye. Pepper just gave him a look and he took it as his que to carry on.

"Well she'd be beautiful" Tony said, leaning up and brushing some hair back from Pepper's face "You know great body and everything" he added whilst running his hand down the side of her body. "I need someone to control me so she'd have to be a strong wielded woman and very, very patient" Tony took the Blackberry from her hand and put it on the table beside them. "She has to be funny; I need someone to help lighten things up round here" Tony looked back at her and saw her twinkling eyes. "And I have to love her" Tony looked her dead in the eyes "know where I could find her?"

Pepper was buggered. Tony has one hand resting on her waist and the other was digging its way in her hair encouraging her head, or should I say her lips towards him. He was leaning close so that they're bodies were once again brushed up against one another's and they're lips were centimetres apart. He was shirtless and she could feel his skin on the exposed area of her chest, thanks to her dress. It was supposed to be helping her keep cool, but with what Tony was doing heat was rushing through her body. He had Hugo Boss aftershave on which was just so Tony and the smell was wrapping around her.

After a few minutes of silence and wandering eyes, Pepper snapped back into the reality of it all. She was so close to going that extra mile and closing the small space that was still hanging between her and her boss. She didn't dare move an inch in case it encouraged Tony all too much.

"She sounds perfect-" Pepper said hoarsely.

"Oh she is" Tony cut in. Pepper ignored it and continued.

"But she sounds a little too out of reach" Pepper gently pushed his chest and picked up her Blackberry "Even for you Mr. Stark" she smiled at him.

"How'd you get a girl like that then Miss. Potts?" Tony asked her, his hands now hanging limply at his sides.

"A girl like that isn't easy" Pepper said advancing on him "She's not like your usual woman and won't go weak at the knees for Tony Stark" she kept walking, forcing him to walk further back. "Simple answer" she stopped and splayed her hand on his chest. Pepper went on her toes so she was the same height as Tony and leaned in so her lips were almost touching his "Try harder". With that Pepper gently pushed Tony so he fell backwards into pool with a loud splash. He jumped up almost immediately his aviator's hanging on the end of his nose and his hair mopped down on his head. He saw Pepper strut back to the door to the house and turn round to him.

"No fair" Tony called after her, swimming to the edge of the pool to catch his breath, from the fall and from Pepper being that close to him.

"Life never is" Pepper answered with a smirk and a wink, with that she walked back into the house for a day of work. She felt much more confident about the situation with Tony now, and surprisingly wasn't dreading the day anymore.

What do you all think? I know at the top of this thing I said Pepper may be pushier, but I didn't mean she would literally be pushy. Ah well, it's all fun. HAPPY WRITING ALL! AnnaTW x