✵ the conversation stopped and i looked down at the ring ✵

[letmetakeaselfie]

This has the makings of every Tony Stark party to date, plus a few. It's loud, dark; and so totally nineties. It's his era, he can't help himself. Big yellow sunglasses accompany his light-colored suit, hair slicked back and a smile glued on his face. He's ready to make this an affair no one will ever forget.

Before making his way out, he stops to see her, hanging in the doorway as she pulls on her dress. "Did I get you that?" he asks, slowly slipping into the room to help her zip. It's been a few days since he's seen her -- they've barely spoken. Sometimes he gets up long before her and is in the lab long after she gets home. Though they sleep in the same bed, it's as if they lead entirely separate lives at times. He owes her so much more, this week especially, and this is his grand occasion to make up all his misgivings.

He smiles softly, thinking of their night under the stars. Eating diner burgers and garlic fries and looking over their life together. It was impossible to look forward so they had looked back, enjoyed the past for what it was. Though he had never accepted there wouldn't be a future for them, he had had to entertain the possibility that his father would let him down one last time. Fortunately for everyone, Howard had come through, and just in the nick of time.

Tony's forty today and it feels ancient. He's known Pepper for well over half his life and here they are. Once her dress is secure, he pulls her into his arms from behind, hands winding possessively around her waist. "I can tell everyone to go home." Maybe he really should have listened -- made this an intimate affair. But the wedding would be small -- quaint and New England in every way. The engagement had to be big. West Coast big. He sighs against the side of her face, unable to keep from grinning.

--

He is very, very drunk when he gets up on stage, but no one here expects anything less. He has a glass of champagne and he calls Pepper out of the crowd. This is it; their moment. The one his family's been pushing him for since the moment they'd met. "Damn," he says into the mic as she stands, whistling lowly and shaking his head. "What took me so long?"

It gets laughter, of course, but then it's quiet like a library. The New Haven library where they first met, even. No music, no nothing. When Pepper joins him , a walk that seems to take forever, he doesn't hesitate to get down on one knee, his glass left on the podium as he pulls a box out of his pocket.

"I know you wanted to keep this small, so naturally I did the exact opposite." He drops the microphone so he can pry open the box, a giant but tasteful vintage stone shining up at her. Tony swallows back his nerves, playing up the cheese for the crowd, tipping his head with a lopsided smile. "Now that I'm not dying, what do you say?"

Comments

[efficacy]

She breathes a soft sigh of pleasure at the nudge, fingers tugging gently and lightly at his hair, a quiver of excitement fluttering across her belly at the words.

"I'm watching," she says softly, and though she notes the rosy hue of her cheeks and the soft, lambent look in her eyes, her attention is still grabbed by the way they look together rather than her individual perfection. She thinks Tony is biased in that regard, anyway.

A cooing little moan leaves her lips as his brush a kiss over her lace-covered clit, a frisson of heat blooming inside her; her fingers tighten in his hair again, but do not hinder him from pulling back. Slow, shallow breaths pass through her parted lips as she watches Tony grapple with his shirt buttons, her free hand lifting up to carefully start pulling the pins from her hair. The little bits of metal tinkle uselessly on the floor somewhere as she slowly lets her wavy tresses down from the elegant coiffure.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He almost rips the oxford in his haste, but manages to shrug it off along with his sports jacket without damage to himself or his clothing. The arc reactor's pale light encompasses them both and catches his breath, looking up at her with his bare chest heaving from the effort. He can settle for her appreciating them both, together, even if he'd rather she understood. Tony can't be that much of a hypocrite, he's never understood what she saw in him, since day one. Even when he was an arrogant asshole kid.

One of the pins glances off his bicep, but he doesn't notice, too consumed in looking up at her, lost in her beauty. "Good," he breathes out dryly, swallowing as he moves back to his task, one palm smoothing down over her thigh and calf before resting on the heel of her pump, gripping it with a little inhale through his nose. "Keep watching."

Still holding her shoe, he rubs his nose over her through the panties, but strays to the creamy inside of her thigh, flicking his tongue out to taste and gently drag his teeth across. He intends to show his gratitude to every inch of her while the mirror is here to cement it in her memory.

[efficacy]

"Uh-huh," she acknowledges quietly, shivering a little as his hand skates down her leg and to her shoe, breath quickening minutely in response as she wonders where he's going with this.

Her fingers ghost along the back of his neck, smothering another tiny noise when he nudges her with his nose, sucking in a lungful of air at the sensation. But then he licks at her inner thigh and she can't help the soft oh! that escapes her at the drag of teeth, the muscles of her thigh twitching as her gaze flickers between the view in the mirror and that which she can see looking down her body, trembling fingers delving softly in his hair as she awaits his next move with bated breath.

[letmetakeaselfie]

Worship is a good term for what he's doing, reverently moving his lips down to her knee, hand smoothing over her ankle before tracing the straps of her shoe. Tony looks up at her, smiling as he catches her eyes. She's supposed to be looking in the mirror, but he can't help the way she makes him feel, chest full to bursting with how much he loves her.

"My beautiful goddess... fiancee. That whole thing was real in there, right? Not a dream." His smile turns a little hazy, kissing the side of her knee before trailing down over her calf, his free hand running a ghostly parallel against her other leg.

[efficacy]

Pepper shifts her weight on one hip, swallowing and trembling faintly under his gentle touches and reverent press of lips. It's hard for her to remain so passive, usually preferring a bit more active role in their lovemaking; but it seems important to Tony, that she lets him do this.

"Not a dream," she confirms gently, smiling lovingly down at him and brushing her fingers against his cheek before he ducks out of her reach. "Is it really that hard to believe?"

[letmetakeaselfie]

"That it took me this long?" he asks, looking up at her, pillowing his cheek against her thigh as his hands continue their track, fingers rolling over her ankles like they're the best ankles he's ever seen. Mostly because they are. "Yeah. That part's hard to believe, even for how thick-headed I am."

A brief frown creases his face but then it's gone, stooping at her feet to kiss each toe -- her shoe for the ones hidden by the leather.

[efficacy]

"Well, you know, there's a saying. If something's well planned, it's already halfway done." And they'd certainly taken their time thinking about it.

"...Are you seriously kissing my feet?" she says on a small giggle, perhaps breaking the sexy mood a little, but she's unable to help her endeared amusement.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He smiles up at her, pushing his nose over the top of her foot. "Problem?" Tony drags his lips along her sole, enjoying the imagery he must be creating for her in the mirror. She can laugh if she wants, it won't deter him in the least.

[efficacy]

"It's not a problem, just..." her words cut off on another light laugh, leg twitching. It's not that her feet are ticklish, per se, but that does admittedly tickle a little.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He bites the inside of his lip to keep from laughing too, remaining focused on his singular task. Tony gives her foot a break, running his tongue along the strap of her shoe. And then he's moving back up before she can react, gently pressing his fingers into her hip while his face goes between her legs. He doesn't pause, mouthing the lace gently with a deep moan meant to reverberate.

[efficacy]

Her lingering chuckle turns into an inarticulate shout as he suddenly rears up and buries his face between her thighs, her stomach hollowing as it contracts sharply -- one hand flies out to clutch Tony's shoulder tightly and the other at his hair, trembling and moaning at his hot breath against her sensitive flesh, the press of his mouth and the lace, the vibrations of his voice. It's a miracle she stays standing up instead of tipping right over. "Oh, Tony," she sighs as she cracks her eyes open enough to see the picture they make in the mirror, blatantly sexy and sensual.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He rumbles in response, raking his nails lightly over her hip bone, moving the lace aside and replacing it with each little movement. Tony begins to add his tongue, tasting her through the fabric and humming his approval. He enjoys the way she clings to him, pressing his other hand into the back of her thigh to encourage it even more blatantly, shaking his head gently to wind her up even further. He likes the tease of it, and that these items were purchased with him in mind. Why would he want them off so soon? His other hand squeezes the back of her thigh firmly in farewell before creeping higher, arching up a little so he can reach her breast, dragging his palm along the lace and kneading her through it.

He knows too that she's still watching and that makes his cock jump against the closure of his pants. He's enjoying that too, being trapped and shut away while he enjoys her and makes her feel good. His fiancee. Wow.

[efficacy]

Pepper cries out softly when his tongue enters the play, hips twitching in reaction and bumping her against his mouth. "Oh god, oh!" A trembling moan escapes her lips as Tony shakes his head, her entire body quaking a little as more wetness pools between her thighs and dampens the fine lace even further, fingers tightening their grip on him. When she'd gotten this set with tonight in mind, she'd never pictured it prompting anything like this, the sheer eroticism of what they're doing heating her blood.

She loves everything about the slow tease of Tony caressing her through the lace to the feel of his warm, calloused hands on her bare skin, she really does -- but she's also starting to feel the frustration of not being able to do much to reciprocate other than rake her fingers through his hair; at the fact that as exquisite as his mouth feels, the lace runs just enough interference for it to not be quite enough.

"Tony, please..." she pleads on a little whine just as his palm finds her breast, gasping as her pebbled nipple rubs against the garment and his hand, her stomach clenching in response.

[letmetakeaselfie]

At her words, his face leans up, catching her eyes against his -- dark with arousal and the need to please her; to give her exactly what she wants. His tongue runs against his bottom lip, fingers still rubbing against her nipple through the bralet while he waits.

"Yeah? What is it, honey? What do you want?" He rubs his cheek against her hip, his other hand gently easing her panties down at a snail's pace. "Tell me, let me make it happen for you."

[efficacy]

She groans a little when he pulls his mouth away, her breathing coming a little faster and shallower now. Her head spins a bit at the combination of his words and rubbing fingers, having trouble finding words for a moment.

"I-- yes, take them off," she sighs in agreement as he begins inching the panties down, fingers curling tightly into his hair. "I need more, please, I need you."

[letmetakeaselfie]

His hand runs down over her ribs before settling at her stomach, pressing gently to give her something to lean against. "You have me, Pepper. Keep talking to me." Tony pulls the garment down and away, though he doesn't let them fall yet, holding them at her knees as he leans in to repeat the kiss from earlier, flicking out his tongue at the last moment.

[efficacy]

Pepper sucks in a sharp breath at the contact, unhindered by the lace, body bowing forward slightly and leaning against his hand, her own grasping onto his shoulders tightly on an exhaled cry of pleasure, a shudder working its way up her spine. Her eyes squeeze shut as heat spreads through her, belatedly remembering Tony's request to keep talking.

"God, ah, yes-- oh Tony, that feels so good... god, I love you," she whimpers, panting breaths escaping between parted lips. "Don't stop, please don't stop."

[letmetakeaselfie]

He wouldn't stop now even if he wanted to for some reason, effectively egged on by her voice -- he loves her voice. Already ragged from his attentions, which only serves as further motivation for him. Though he's nervous; afraid he's somehow forgotten how to do this. He'll remember, he convinces himself, though all his movements are edged in uncertainty and uncharacteristic insecurity.

Slowly; and most carefully he licks inside, hand continuing its track down until his thumb can serve the duel purpose of holding her open for his mouth and provided added stimulation to her clit. The panties finally drop from his grip, pooling around her ankles as his other hand braces gently against her knee. Despite his nerves, it's obvious he's fully committed to this; as in it as the ring on her finger would suggest.

[efficacy]

A low moan leaves her lips as his thumb pushes downward, the pressure combined with the slide of his tongue exquisite; the lace brushes lightly against her legs as they slip down to her ankles. She's not so lost in the pleasure as to not notice how careful he's being, having a hard time mistaking it as anything but hesitancy after their dry spell. One hand lifts from his shoulder to delve into his hair, stroking through the strands in effort to reassure further.

"Oh, yess, just like that..." she breathes on a tail-end of another moan. "God, that's so good. I've missed this, the way you touch me-- how amazing you always make me feel."

[letmetakeaselfie]

The muscles low in his abdomen contract, affected by her words in a way that drives him towards urgency. He still wants to take his time, but his body wants more; needs her just as much. While his tongue moves in lazy strokes designed to wind her up, his hand smooths down over her calf again, lingering over her foot and tracing the straps of her shoes before moving to the closure of his pants to try and haphazardly free himself. His head moves back into her hand, silently begging for more while he not-so-silently groans at her taste coating his tongue. It's like riding a bike, he thinks, feeling foolish for the comparison even while he gains confidence in his movements, though he hesitates short of touching himself, hand parking in the waistband of his boxer briefs as the buttons on his slacks come open.

"How do we look?" he pulls back enough to ask, voice husky and desperate even as he delves back in.

[efficacy]

She bites down on her lip, a short whine tearing from her at the way he groans against her flesh, feeling the vibrations of it more clearly then hearing his voice in her ears. The pleasure coils slowly and hotly, tighter and tighter, somewhere low in her abdomen. She can't keep her hips from rolling slightly, nudging herself gently against his mouth in accordance with his caresses, obligingly fisting his hair more firmly. His touch is electrifying, warm fingers skating along her skin and the stubble of his cheeks brushing against her inner thighs.

"Lovely," she breathes in response after a beat, watching the picture they make in the mirror. "I've never seen anything so beautiful than us, like this; your face between my thighs, my fingers in your hair." With a quivering sigh, she warns him softly as the muscles in her tummy tighten as if in agreement, "You're going to make me come..."

[letmetakeaselfie]

His eyes roll back at her assessment, lightening up just a little to draw out her orgasm, fingers slipping into his underwear and stroking the damp head of his insistent erection. Another grunt leaves him at the combined sensation, her nails scratching against his scalp as she rocks her hips against his mouth.

"Do you want to?" he asks stiltedly, mouthing much slower now, his hand sliding up and brushing wetness over her stomach to keep from overstimulating her. His hand pumps a few times as he waits for her answer, nudging his nose against her clit since his thumb had just abandoned the post. "Tell me."

[efficacy]

She watches him under heavy lids through the mirror, unable to keep a small moan from rising when his hand slips under the waistband of his boxers to stroke himself, aroused twice as much at seeing him affected so by what he's doing to her. Though she's tempted to have Tony bring her to an orgasm using his mouth, there's something she's missed more.

"I want..." she trails off with a whimper at the nudge, pausing to catch her breath. "I want to come with you inside me."

[letmetakeaselfie]

He can't stifle another groan at the askance, lapping at her greedily even as he processes the words. He's missed it too, so much, being connected to her this way. Reluctantly, he pulls himself away, shimmying out of his pants as he rises up along the length of her body, stepping out of them once he reaches his full height.

"I was hoping you'd say that," he admits, grabbing at her hip roughly as he forces his lips over hers in a crash of their mouths, tongue sliding in the second he's able to allow her to taste herself.

[efficacy]

Pepper struggles for breath, watching him closely, anticipation thrumming in her veins. She wastes little time grabbing him as she straightens up, pulling even as he pushes closer, their mouths smashing together hungrily. Her tongue strokes his, issuing her own groan at the taste of herself in his mouth, her head spinning at the sexiness of it all. Her hands roam eagerly over his warm skin, touching wherever she can and moaning into his mouth as her hips slot snugly against his, his hard erection trapped between them.