It was the moment after Tony's speech and everyone was crowded around Kerry, smiling and patting her on the back. As Kerry graciously accepted the accolades, she caught Tony's eye and gave him a look that set the blood in his veins on fire. A look that only she could give.
He immediately turned away to save face and drifted over to start up a conversation with a producer nearby.
Before he knew it, the laughter and clinking glasses began to fade as the cast party wound down. His eyes wandering to the dance floor where Kerry Washington moved with an effortless grace. Her laughter was a melody that tugged at something deep inside him, a bittersweet symphony of longing.
"Tony, are you okay?" asked Bellamy, breaking his reverie. Her eyes searched his face, concern etched in her features.
"Yeah, just...tired," he lied, offering a half-hearted smile. In truth, he felt anything but tired. Every moment near Kerry sent his heart racing, a reminder of the these feelings between them.
Kerry caught his gaze from across the room, her smile faltering as their eyes locked. There it was again, that electric connection. She excused herself from the group she was with and made her way toward him, each step amplifying the tension.
"Tony," she greeted softly, her voice a soothing balm to his frayed nerves. "Kerry," he replied, forcing a smile. "Great end of a party, huh?"
"Yeah, it is," she said, her tone betraying the same undercurrent of sorrow he felt. "But it's getting late. I should probably head home."
"I can give you a ride," he offered before he could stop himself. She hesitated, the weight of the offer settling between them. "Okay, thank you."
The drive to her place was filled with a heavy silence, the kind that spoke volumes. The city lights blurred past, but all Tony could focus on was Kerry, sitting just inches away yet feeling miles apart.
Finally, he pulled up to her apartment. The car idled, the moment stretching into an eternity.
"Tony, I..." Kerry started, her voice trembling. He turned to face her, his eyes searching hers for answers. "What is it, Kerry?"
"I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this," she confessed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Pretending that this...thing between us doesn't exist." His heart clenched painfully. "Kerry..."
"What?" she interrupted, her voice rising. "Admit that we feel something? That every time we look at each other, it's like the world fades away?"
Kerry reached out, her hand hovering near his but not quite touching. "You know how complicated this is. Our careers, our families..."
"Complicated doesn't mean impossible," He whispered, her hand closing the gap to rest on his.
The touch was electric, a spark that ignited the air around them. He closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of her skin against his, the reality of her presence.
"I just...I can't risk losing you," he murmured, his voice breaking.
"You won't," she assured him, squeezing his hand gently. "But I can't keep pretending either. It's tearing me apart."
Tony opened his eyes, meeting her gaze head-on. The truth was there, raw and undeniable. He leaned in slowly, giving her every chance to pull away. But she didn't. Their lips met in yet another soft, tender kiss.
When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless, the weight of their unspoken emotions hanging in the air.
Tonys phone rang and he looked at it, annoyed. "It's my agent, let me just take this real quick." He clicked on the phone and started listening to his agent talk. The more he talked the more frustrated Tony got. He just wanted to stare at Kerry all night long and look into those amazingly beautiful brown eyes.
"I'm so sorry about that" he apologized to Kerry, clicking off his phone as soon as his agent said goodbye.
"Come inside?" she asked, looking up at him, her voice barely more than a whisper. He nodded and they headed up together to her apartment.
The moonlight streamed through the large windows of Kerry's apartment, casting a soft glow over the living room as they walked in.
As soon as the door closed, Tony could no longer control himself. He picked her up and gently slammed her against the nearest wall, kissing her with such a pure raw hunger that neither of them had experienced before.
They pulled apart slightly, breathless and flushed. "Are you sure about this?" Tony asked, his forehead resting against hers.
"Absolutely," Kerry replied, her eyes shining with certainty. "Take off your clothes" Tony said huskily. Kerry started slowly removing her clothes and Tony's breath caught in his throat. The white lace set. The one that she had worn in episode six of that first season. Fitz and Olivia's first time. She was wearing it.
Unable to even speak at this point, Tony scooped her up and went to her bedroom. The room was bathed in the same soft moonlight, the shadows dancing on the walls. Tony laid her down gently, his hands resting on her waist. "You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
Kerry smiled, a shy but radiant smile that made his heart ache. "So are you," she replied, her fingers tracing the lines of his face. They continued to undress each other slowly, reverently, savoring every touch, every kiss.
Tony's hands roamed her body, learning every curve, every sensitive spot. Kerry responded with equal passion, her fingers tangling in his hair, her lips exploring his skin. They moved together, their rhythms syncing, the connection between them growing stronger with each passing moment. It was the most spiritual thing they had ever experienced.
When they finally reached the peak, it was as if time stood still. The world outside ceased to exist, leaving only the two of them in that perfect, transcendent moment. Their cries of pleasure mingled, leaving them both very overwhelmed and emotional about it all.
Afterwards, they lay entwined in each other's arms, Tony brushed a strand of hair from Kerry's face, his eyes filled with wonder. "You wore the white lace", he whispered, the words spilling out before he could stop them.
Kerry smiled up at him. "Ever since we filmed that scene I couldn't get it out of my mind. Sometimes at night I used to replay the scene in my head..the raw passion of it all."
Kerry's eyes filled with tears, but they were tears of joy. They began to fall asleep, wrapped in each other, blissfully unaware that their lives were about to change..again.