Pepper stirred in her sleep, disturbed by something. She tossed and turned before finally fully waking up. Through groggy eyes she looked around at the unfamiliar room until her memories from the night before returned to her. Before she could even turn to glance at Tony, she realized what woke her up; Tony was moaning loudly, occasionally thrashing around beside her while tangled in the mess of sheets. His breathing was labored and urgent as if he wasn't getting enough air.
"Tony..." Pepper called to him, sitting up and shaking him lightly. His breathing quickened and he started making terrible choking noises.
"Pep..." he mumbled through his desperate gasps. Fear gripped at Pepper's chest as she tried to wake him, more frantically this time.
"Tony... Tony, Please..." she begged him to wake up. Granting her wish thankfully, tony jerked up into a sitting position with wide eyes. He continued his strained breathing and Pepper realized this wasn't just an anxiety attack as well.
"Shhh... breathe Tony." Pepper said as calmly as she could choke out. He tried to utter her name but couldn't. He was only able to clutch at his chest and made an effort to slow his breathing.
"I'm here..." she said wrapping a arm around his shoulders, not knowing what else to do. It seemed to be working anyway as Tony decreased his choking gasps. Pepper kissed the temple of his forehead and nuzzled his neck until he finally calmed down. It took a while, but Tony finally slipped into a normal breathing pattern.
"I love you..." Pepper whispered into his ear, making him shiver. Tony turned to face her with big glossy apologetic eyes.
"I love you too Pep," he said, nestling his fan in her shoulder. She held tony as he slumped against her mumbling inaudible words. He layed tired kisses on her collarbone and down her arms until his head was lying in her lap, his face towards Pepper. he nestled himself further into her lap, his face burying into her stomach.
"I'm glad you aren't dead, Pepper Potts." Tony whispered into her thin shirt.
"As I'm glad you're not either, Mr. Stark." she replied while running her fingers through his dark ruffled hair. He hummed happily and nuzzled her a bit further down then her stomach. Pepper's breath picked up as Tony deliberately tried to do.
"Tony," she whined. tony sat up and pushed Pepper down on the bed so she was on her back. he climbed on top of her and let his weight be lied down onto her body. He leaned down to meet his lips with hers and she wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him in closer. Their kiss instantly started out hungry, both of them enjoying being alive and together. tony eventually broke away and moved down to kiss Pepper's neck. He grinned at the moan he got from her.
"Tony..." she moaned, he just continued to pay attention to her neck, moving further and further down.
"Tony." she said more sternly now. She was still breathing heavily when Tony stopped and whined.
"Whatttttt..."
"As much as I want this, we have to get to the tower. people are probably wondering where the hell we are, and..."
"Pepper." Tony cut her off. "We both nearly died and lost each other. All I want is you right now, we deserve a break." Pepper sighed and stared into his needing eyes. She knew he was probably right. there was just so much to get done in effect from the whole mandarin issue.
Pepper ran her hands along his bare chest, over the arc reactor, over the rigidness of his abs and eventually around his waist while Tony watched her intently the entire time.
"Come on Potts, you know you want to." tony said mischievously smiling at her. To prove his point he leaned in so their foreheads were touching and moved his body against hers lightly at first, but then picking up the past. Pepper closed her eyes and breathed hard. He had won... again.
"Ok, ok I get it." she said. He smiled and resumed while kissing her neck. Pepper realized with a glance at the clock that it was 2:30 in the afternoon and people like Rhodey were probably especially worried, but she didn't care. She knew Tony was right and for once, she was glad that he was.