Disclaimer: Nope.

AN: Wow, it seems like forever that I updated! I apologize for the hiatus. It was a very much needed one. Anyways, here is the next chapter. I promised some fluff to some of you, and here it is. Enjoy!

AN2: I am trying to catch up on your guys' reviews, please bare with me, and KNOW that I completely appreciate you guys taking the time to let me know what you guys think.

Warning: This chapter is intended for mature audiences only. If you are under age or sensitive to sexual situations, turn back and come back for the next chapter.

She needed to be as close to him as possible.

Excited and full of anticipation, Pepper wrapped her legs tightly around his waist. Her only goal was to entice him, so she moved to rest where she could feel him the most. Never parting from his lips, she caressed from his chest down to his beltline.

With a small whimper Tony jumped at the contact. The sudden movement sent them off balance, and he struggled for control against the waves. He pulled away reluctantly from her lips and swung his arms out underwater to balance them.

He groaned. "Not here." He managed to stop shuffling his feet.

"Oh?" Pepper questioned through half-closed lids and a full grin in place.

Tony nodded before he smiled lovingly at her. "I'd like to take my time, if you don't mind."

After a small chuckle escaped her, Pepper hugged him. Carefully she unwound her legs to stand before him in the water. Without saying a word, she laced her fingers with his under the salty waves and headed up the path that led them towards the mansion.

Unfortunately, the walk back to the mansion had seemed much longer than they remembered. Fortunately, they didn't mind it much since they took their time pulling on each other to land sloppy kisses on lips and necks.

When they finally walked into their bedroom, wet, sandy, and aroused, they could no longer stand the space between them. Kisses were broken only long enough to remove articles of clothing, and to look down with caution at the various obstacles that lay between them and the shower.

"Jarvis, secure the mansion, please." He spoke against her lips.

"Yes, sir. Should I turn on the water to the normal settings, sir?"

Tony nodded. "Yup. And lower the lights, please."

"Done, sir."

"Alright. Now go away, J." Pepper laughed at his command.

He held on to her hand as he walked back towards the shower. His eyes never parted from hers.

A slight shiver shook her body as she felt the spray of the warm water on her cold skin. Noticing her reaction, Tony turned them so he could shield her with his body. Quickly he enveloped her in his arms, holding tightly onto her, and allowing himself the time to sigh against her body.

Pepper sighed as well. She held on to him as her long slender fingers hid in the smooth strands of his damp hair. The sound of his breathing soothed her, and she closed her eyes to engrave the moment in the deepest part of her mind. Times like these were rare between them, especially with the way their current schedules were mapped out in life. So she made sure to savor the feelings, the sounds, and the scents that surrounded them.

Tony loosened his hold on her, but only enough to allow him a full view of her glorious body. He smiled as he witnessed the blush that crept up on her face. His fingers traveled down her back, sliding fluidly with the ease of the water. He caressed her hips before he pulled her closer.

She had little control left, but Pepper breathed in slowly to steady herself. Once again, her eyes drifted shut. A sudden fear of falling overcame her, and she used him as her support. Her hands cupped his shoulders before they moved to knead the back of his neck.

Immediately Tony reacted. His heart beat faster as he too allowed his hands to move into her hair, suddenly stopping at the nape of her neck.

A cloud of steam floated around them as their eyes locked. For a few moments they simply stared. His eyes darkened with wanton need. The desire to be a part of her seeped from his head down to his toes.

Pepper smiled as she bit her lip. She knew what he felt. She knew what he wanted. She knew what he needed. Because they were no different. Their love, and their physical cravings for each other had not gone away, nor had they changed. The electricity between them was as strong now, as it had been the first time they had been intimate.

They smiled simultaneously in complete understanding.

Tony stepped back and let the water cascade down on him. He exhaled as he cleared the water from his eyes with one hand. Never letting go of Pepper with the other.

She gracefully moved to kiss him when she could hold back no longer.

A low moan escaped him as his mouth eagerly sought her mouth. He quickly enveloped her in his arms as his lips danced over hers.

The water trickled down their faces as they continued to explore hungrily with their mouths.

The taste of salt and fresh water mingled between them. Their fingers tangled in each other's hair, and their bodies burned with passion.

Pepper's delicate fingers abandoned the haven of his dark hair, and instead slid over his chest. She stopped to massage the tense muscles before she continued down to his abdominals. Immediately she grinned when she traced his defined stomach.

Tony whimpered into their kiss at her touch. His body responding in every way possible to her ministrations. He continued to kiss her senseless, but he felt his knees were on the verge of buckling beneath him.

Slowly, with his lips glued to hers, he reached above them to tap the shower head. The water no longer fell where they stood, but instead began to drop down over a large sitting area on an opposite wall. Carefully Tony maneuvered them across, never breaking their kiss.

He moved to sit her, but quickly Pepper broke their kiss and spun them around.

Their breathing was labored, and their eyes were clouded over, but Pepper showed resolve when she determinedly pushed on his shoulders to sit him down instead. Smiles appeared on both of their faces.

As the warm water rained over them, Pepper leaned down to kiss her man firmly. His hands held onto her at her waist. Her palms framed his face. Their lips moved in sync.

Tony allowed himself to get lost in her kiss, closing himself off to anything but the feeling of her lips on his. Consequently he never saw it coming when he felt her fingers on him.

He inhaled sharply through their kiss, and a low guttural moan resounded around them. Pepper smiled victoriously before she pulled back to look at his expression. His eyes were tightly closed, and on his face was a look of pure ecstasy.

She continued to watch him as she moved her hand in a steady rhythm. Her own breathing matched his in a matter of minutes. A slow heat surfaced on her cheeks despite the water that still fell over both of them. Pepper slowly exhaled when she felt her desire for him.

Tony groaned before he shifted uncomfortably in his place. The threat of an ending then and there loomed over him, and he attempted to stall it as long as he could. He found that with every passing second, that task became increasingly difficult. After a few breaths he finally managed to open his eyes.

He looked up and was met with a flushed Pepper. Slowly he moved his hands from where he griped the edge of where he sat, and gently kneaded her hips. He gathered enough strength, and in a deep voice he spoke to her, "Pepper, baby, if you don't stop, I don't know how much longer my plan will hold up." He smiled his best smile up at her. When he saw her eyebrows furrow, he chuckled through the pleasure. "I want to take my time…remember?"

Pepper stood before him with the smallest of grins in place. With a casual nod she removed her hands from him and instead cupped his face to kiss him deeply. Happy that Tony was currently busy kissing her, she moved swiftly to straddle him.

Anthony Stark was never known to be a man who possessed insane amounts of will power, but much to his own surprise, he managed not to damn his plan to hell when he felt her on his lap.

He thanked his lucky stars for her. Prayed to the heavens that this could last forever.

Quickly he moved his hands to hold her face to his. He kissed her passionately while he felt her move to steady herself against him.

Pepper used her palms against his shoulders to assist her with the only thing she had in mind now. The aching within turned into a fire that could be felt radiating all over her body. She changed the intensity of their kiss. Kissing him softly and gently, as she slowly accepted him.

Immediately, their kiss broke as they both sighed at their connection. Tony bit his bottom lip as he hid in the nook of her neck. Pepper hugged him tightly against her body while she dropped her head onto his shoulder. Water ran down their faces, and they both closed their eyes to fully grasp the moment.

It took all of forty-seven seconds for Tony to show her any sign of life. A low moan passed through his lips and onto her neck, sending shivers down her entire body. He laughed at her reaction, but neither uttered a word.

Tony needed her to move, and he was about to initiate the first thrust when Pepper assertively took control of their position. It was not long before she brought his lips to hers and began to move over him. With her hands solidly glued to the marble wall behind him, she moved with him, closer to the paradise she knew they were both capable of creating.

Pepper moved rhythmically along with Tony. He matched her every move, but he never once attempted to overpower her to take control. He moaned against her breast when he felt her muscles around him. Not letting his hands sit idle, he caressed every inch of her he could reach.

Tony kissed every inch of her that he could get his lips on while she continued to move. She wanted to be as connected to him as possible. Pepper moved her hands from the wall, and moved his lips away from her so she could look at him. Slowly he opened his eyes to focus on her. She smiled down at him as she continued to move. She wanted nothing more than to kiss him. So she wiped at the water that ran down his face, and immediately ducked her face to meet his lips in a fierce dueling of mouths.

"I love you." He struggled to whisper through their kiss, and the overwhelming pleasure she was giving him with the way she was currently rocking her hips.

"I love you." She spoke in between kisses.

Finally, when he couldn't take it much longer, Tony wrapped her in his arms. And with his head over her heart, and her head thrown back in bliss, he moved deeper as she kept their rhythm.

The steam continued to swirl around them as they built up energy within each other.

"Pepper…" Tony grunted through gritted teeth as he held onto her.

Pepper moaned at the sound of her name coming from his lips. She let her fingers once again travel to his hair. "Tony…"

They continued to move each other closer to the edge. Completely entangled, and connected in every way two human beings could possibly be connected. Finally, with the sound of simultaneous sighs of pleasure, they both fell over that edge together.

Tony threw his head back against the marble wall and allowed the water to wash over his face as he steadied his breathing.

Pepper struggled to even her breathing as she let her head fall on his shoulder.

Moments passed without a single word to break their blissful afterglow. If they could stay that way forever, they would, and Tony was prepared to do so until he felt Pepper stir.

"Don't…" Tony breathed. Almost pleading for her to stay with him.

She laughed softly as she lifted her head to look at him. "I'd love to stay, but I'm getting a cramp in my leg."

Tony laughed with her. "Oh." He opened his eyes to gaze up at her. "I can help with that."

"You can help with a lot of things lately." She jabbed a playful finger at his chest.

He nodded. "Jarvis…" He looked deeply at her.

"Am I allowed to break silence, sir?" The AI teased.

"Shut the water off, please. And no, you are not allowed to interrupt any silence, or lack thereof, for at least the next five hours." Tony moved to grip Pepper's legs.

"Tony…" Pepper began in protest. "Did you forget the steps to having a successful shower?" She squealed as he stood, his hands securely holding onto her. She quickly wrapped her legs around his waist. "Rinse, lather, repeat." She continued when he didn't answer her.

"That's right." He grinned as he nuzzled her neck. "I knew we forgot something." He spoke against her skin.

A low moan escaped her before she spoke. "So why are we walking away from the shower?"

"We'll be back." Tony answered before he moved from the left spot on her neck to the right.

The evening had fallen upon them. Their room was darkened with the absent light from the sun.

When he looked up from where he nipped on her neck, he smiled. In his arms, he had the most amazing woman he had ever had the fortune of meeting. Her skin glistened with the undisturbed drops of water from their "shower". In his path, lay no one or anything that could impede him from getting them to their foreseeable happiness. And from outside he heard nothing but the waves and the waking sounds of the night.

He was content, and not even looming threats could change that at that exact moment in time.

Pepper sighed as she took her turn at kissing his neck. Paying special attention to the spot where his jaw and ear met. She smiled when she heard a low groan escape Tony.

When his shins met the softness of their covers, he stopped moving and pulled back to force Pepper's eyes to him. "You know you're mine forever, right?" Tony asked with a soft smile.

Pepper nodded. "Like I'd go anywhere." She smiled back.

"Just wanted to make sure we were on the same page." He kissed her softly while he carefully perched his knee on the mattress behind her. "Because I'm in too deep to ever let go of you." He finished as he moved forward to place her in the center of their bed.

His words warmed her completely. Never in her wildest dreams, would Pepper Potts have pegged Anthony Stark for a romantic, attentive, and attached lover…boyfriend…but he was. And he had proven it every day since the Stark Expo, but it never seized to amaze her when he spoke to her in such tone, and with those words.

"I don't want you to let go. Never." Pepper whispered as he moved to cover her body with his.

Tony nodded before he began to worship her body like the goddess he saw she was. His lips began the journey his hands soon followed. He kissed the sensitive spots in her neck first. Making sure to suck harder on her pulse points. With his weight secure on one elbow, he used his free hand to smooth her damp hair away from her face. He moved to cup her face while he softly let his lips trail her cheek, her forehead, and the corners of her mouth.

Pepper sighed as she arched her back in an attempt to get closer to him. Her fingers traced down his sides. Moving to caress his obliques while he continued to light a fire path on her skin.

Fighting the urge to groan loudly from her touches, he moved to nip lightly at her shoulder to muffle any sound that could escape him. Once he recovered enough, he moved towards one of his favorite Pepper attributes: her chest. She was natural. She was beautiful. And she was perfect. Slowly he moved his body to get better access. He kissed her skin softly before he gently nipped at it, eliciting a small moan from her lips.

Slowly he adorned her entire body with his mouth. Placing small kisses over the curves of her hips. Running his closed lips over the flat expanse of her stomach. Lightly tracing the spot under her belly button with his tongue. Tony left no trace of skin untouched.

She could stand it no longer. The way he touched her sent chills down her spine, and ignited a fire inside her that only he could control.

"Tony…" Pepper half-whispered as she dropped her head back on the pillow and closed her eyes.

He knew what she was trying to convey, so he ended his journeying with a final kiss to the inside of her thigh before he moved up over her.

Time could stand still, or move forward an eternity, but neither cared to keep track as they stared at each other. It wasn't until Tony, perched on one elbow, cupped her face and traced her cheek with his thumb that they were fully aware of how long they had been staring at each other.

Pepper smiled lovingly up at him, using both hands expertly, she ran her fingers up his back to hide them in his hair.

"You like my hair, Potts." It was not a question, but rather a statement that came from his grinning mouth.

She nodded. "Among other things of yours." Pepper replied with her own grin as she caressed his scalp.

Tony shook his head slowly and smiled down at her. "You're amazing."

With a light blush on her cheeks she laughed softly before she reached up to kiss him.

He didn't wait long after that to position himself. He moved his head down to kiss her neck, and slowly he made them one once again.

His hands alternated between caressing her and pulling her closer as he moved over her.

Pepper matched him while she used her hands to roam his back. Her quick breathing, and low moans signaled she was close.

"Pep…Pepper..." Tony uttered in between breaths. He kissed her earlobe lightly before he moved one arm under to wrap around her back. He breathed hard as he continued to move, and with his free arm he pushed against the mattress to lift them both up.

Pepper instinctively draped her legs on either side of his hips. And as he rocked back to rest on the back of his heels, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

He shut his eyes, and bit his lip as he struggled for oxygen, but he continued to move within her. They wished it could go on forever, but they were both very close. He held her close with his arm around her back. And when he knew they were both there, his head fell forward onto her shoulder.

Their moans echoed in the darkened room.

They collapsed together in bed in a heap of tangled limbs and sheets. Their bodies so close to each other, breathing together as they recovered.

Tony opened his eyes and looked at his redhead. They shared a long soft kiss before they dozed off.

It was nearly three in the morning as they laid showered, close together, in a deep sleep.

The room was still, and nothing could be heard except Tony's soft snoring, and Pepper's even breathing. At least that was true until suddenly Tony's sleeping sounds were replaced with labored breathing and panting.

His arms tightened unconsciously around her in his sleep.

"Ms. Potts…" Jarvis' voice cut through the silence.

Pepper jolted in bed as she heard his voice and felt constricted. "Jarvis?" She attempted to turn and look at Tony, but his grip was too strong. "Tony?" She called to him.

A soft groan accompanied his erratic breathing, and he again tightened his hold on Pepper.

"Ms. Potts, his pulse has jumped drastically, I'm afraid if he does not wake up soon he will either hyperventilate or go into cardiac arrest." Jarvis spoke.

Her eyes widened at his words. "Tony!" Pepper squirmed in his arms. "Wake up. You're hurting me, honey." She managed to move enough to face him, but he still had her locked in his arms.

"Pep!" He yelled in his sleep. "Not her. Not her!" He cried.

"Tony!" She wriggled until she freed an arm. "Wake up!"

"Pepper!"

She closed her eyes remorsefully and reached back.

Her fist connected squarely with his jaw with a loud crack.

Immediately, Tony came to and jumped out of bed, letting go of his vice grip on Pepper.

"What the…" he looked around for the assailant as he stood in a fighting stance.

"I'm sorry. Honey, I'm sorry." Pepper kneeled on the bed as she switched the lights on.

"Pepper?" Tony looked around perplexed as he rubbed his jaw. "Baby…" he looked around again. "Did you just?"

She nodded apologetically. "I did. You were having a nightmare." She moved her hair out of her face.

That's when he saw the marks on one of her arms. "Did I do that?" He moved closer to her to inspect the hand-shaped bruise. Pepper nodded.

"Don't worry about it." She rubbed it haphazardly. "You didn't mean to."

"I'm so sorry, baby." He shook his head while he rubbed a palm over his face. "I'll go sleep downstairs."

With a dejected look on his face he turned to walk away. But before he could get very far, Pepper reached out and pulled his wrist towards her.

"Tony." She looked up from their hands. "Stay. Tell me what you were dreaming."

He sighed deeply before he looked out their full-view window with a blank stare. "Maybe later, Pep."

They sat together at the edge of the bed as they both recovered from what had just happened.

Pepper- worried about the man that sat beside her. She wondered if maybe Tony had been through too much too soon to handle another major battle in his life. Tony- upset that he could hurt the one person he was meant to save. And afraid that his nightmare might have been nothing short of a premonition.

To be continued…

I apologize for starting you guys off on a high and then just totally killing your buzz. I heard once from a very talented man, Chris Carter, that your audience should never get too comfortable. That the only way to make sure they enjoyed the twists and turns is to have them think everything was fine and then pull the carpet out from under their feet. I hope you enjoyed it. ;-) I am working on the next chapter right now. Toodles!