✵ 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

[letmetakeaselfie]

He leans back into her hand as their eyes meet, moving his lips against her fingertips. He knows he doesn't deserve her; hasn't for the last twenty years. Won't for the next fifty. He doesn't care, he loves her with every fibre of his being. She's his other half; his better half in every sense of the term.

Taking the lace in hand before it can get trapped between her shoe and his leg, Tony brings it to his face and inhales deeply of her scent. Musky, but sweet. Pepper in her purest essence. Reverently, he sets them aside before giving this foot the same treatment. He undoes the buckles, kisses the top and drags his tongue across the arch, before gently taking her big toe past his lips and giving light suction. He looks up at her again, expecting her to laugh maybe, he's not sure; but he's ready to pull away should she make a sudden movement.

[efficacy]

Pepper's heart thuds heavily in her chest, swallowing and wetting her dry lips as she watches his every move in silence, completely taken in by the sheer sexiness of Tony inhaling her scent from the piece of fabric and the strange sensuality of Tony removing her shoes with such reverence.

She does laugh, but only barely; a heavy exhalation with an amused tint to it rather than anything else, mild incredulity mixing with surprise and near confusion as she works out her feelings on this new development, her expression reflecting all of it. Having her feet played with isn't one of her kinks or anything (that she knows of), but Tony's lips and tongue on her skin is never an unpleasant sensation. It's a slightly odd feeling, having her toe sucked. But she doesn't pull her foot away either, a soft noise escaping her on a swallow breath and her fingers gripping his shoulder tighter as she watches on, waiting where this is going.

[letmetakeaselfie]

Dragging his tongue back across the surface of her toe as he pulls away, he's left staring up at her in awe. "You're so..." There aren't any adequate words to describe what he sees, and so he tapers off, kissing her foot in farewell as he slowly gets to his feet so he doesn't push her off-balance. "You're a goddess. I'm so lucky." Tony pushes his mouth against hers, eyes shutting immediately as their lips collide, his fingers digging into her arm slightly as he attempts to put everything he feels into the kiss.

[efficacy]

Pepper's hands glide lightly over his skin as he straightens up, her smile of endearment smothered by his kiss. Her eyes slip closed too even as her lips part for him easily, a soft noise lost between them as she strokes his tongue with hers, endeavoring to return everything he gives her in equal measure.

"I love you so much," she breathes raggedly against his mouth when they finally part to pull in air, giving him only enough time to fill his lungs before initiating another deep kiss, blindly tugging and turning them until her backside bumps against the vanity. Reluctantly winding the kiss down, she disengages gently and turns her back to him, giving Tony a look over her shoulder before facing forward, catching his gaze now through the mirror instead in a wordless invitation as she braces her hands on top of the vanity, back arching just slightly as her teeth worry her bottom lip in anticipation; there's no ambiguity to her actions, what she wants from him plainly obvious.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"I love you more," he insists automatically, chasing the kiss until it's gone and he's left breathless and panting. When Pepper turns aroundm, his hand immediately finds one side of her waist, gripping onto her hip as he takes in their image reflected back at him. Tony bites his lip against a needy outburst, instead making himself useful in finding her opening and slowly pushing one finger inside. She's so wet it makes his knees weak, knowing he did that; knowing she's that wet from watching herself, and from watching them. "Damn we're pretty," he's commenting, his other hand wasting no time lining himself up. While it seems animalistic and not at all romantic, he feels a different string being tugged in his chest every time their eyes catch in the mirror. No one else has to approve this; this is all them. Without further stalling, Tony moves his hand aside and grips her thigh stretching the skin slightly to keep her open to him. And then he's pushing in from behind, doing his best to get as flush with her body as he can before moving.

[efficacy]

A quiet mewl escapes Pepper as he slips a finger inside her, eyelids fluttering at the sensation. The corner of her lips curl into a brief smile at his observation but she says nothing in return, a tremor of anticipation rolling through her as she feels him preparing to enter her. Breath quickening a little, she widens her stance slightly and tips her hips up to assist him, eager to have him inside.

She's so slick he slides in easily, her eyes closing to fully appreciate the feel of him filling her up as her lips part on a moan of absolute enjoyment. "Oh, Tony..." Maybe it's because it's been so long since they've been together or just this particular position, but he's hitting all of her sweet spots just right and stretching her so perfectly she already feels like she could pass out from the sheer pleasure of it, her lithe frame shuddering from head to toe. Another soft noise spills from her parted lips when he's buried in all the way, pressed snugly against her back, the reactor nestling between her shoulderblades in a way that feels less foreign than she thought it would.

"God, you feel so good," she breathes, hips twitching and bucking back against him lightly, opening heavy-lidded eyes to catch his gaze in the mirror, struck breathless by the unbearably sexy sight they make like this.

[letmetakeaselfie]

All of her noises fill his confidence back up, cupping her waist gently in support even though the way she's trembling is driving him wild. The urge to take a slow, gentle approach is there, but it'll be almost impossible with how slick she is, the thought making him take in a sharp breath. He meets her eyes in the reflection while nuzzling into her throat, effectively forgetting about the reactor altogether. It was never a physical obstacle between them, though it's taken him this long to realize it. It was only his own insecurities that kept them apart for this long.

"Yeah? You like that? The feeling of my big, hard cock deep inside you?" He nips at her ear, one leg locking in against hers to prepare for what comes next. "You want me to fuck you hard, don't you? You want to watch as I split you open." His words are deep, almost growled, tone dark and gravelly as his free hand grabs a breast roughly. When his hips move, it isn't gentle at all, but a sharp snap, drawing out of her as much as possible before slamming back in.

[efficacy]

Her belly tightens convulsively, her muscles fluttering around his throbbing girth already; Tony's earlier ministrations have left her primed and yearning for the final push over the edge, which wouldn't take all too long judging by all the signs. He feels so maddeningly wonderful buried inside her, but it's his incendiary words that truly rob Pepper of breath, a choked noise escaping her at the nip to her earlobe.

"Hunhh...! Uh-huh, yes..." Panting, she rolls her hips back into his wantonly, his rough tone and even rougher touches arousing her further even as they make her want to give as good as she gets. Jumping and squeaking a little at the way he grabs her breast, she gives a hoarse little laugh even as she trembles in anticipation. "Oh, no, anything but that," she snarks, knowing -- hoping -- that he'll make her pay for her cheekiness in most delicious ways. Second later he's slamming back inside her with no gentleness, tearing a sharp yowl from Pepper, her fingers attempting to dig uselessly into the surface of the vanity as the force of his thrust jostles her slightly.

[letmetakeaselfie]

He deals her another bite, just under her ear at the juncture of her throat and jaw. It's meant as a comment to her cheekiness for sure, working his fingers against her scalp and tugging at a clump of her hair sharply. "I want to watch myself come inside you, Jesus, Pepper, you're so..." It trails into a moan, pumping into her with less pronounced but easier to sustain force, consistently pounding her into the vanity, the image they make burning itself into his eyelids. His hand lets up a little, still in her hair but gentler now as his other roams down to her hip and grabs on. "You know I worship you-- you're..." The sound of their bodies fills the room, the vulgar slap of his balls against her thigh and the way her breasts bounce with every movement is too distracting to find the words, already trying desperately to hang on to the moment so he doesn't spoil it too soon. He wants the reward of watching her come in their mirror while he makes her want. His hand slips further still, finding and stroking the mound of nerves in time with his punishing thrusts.

"Come for me, baby. Come all over my cock." It's a stage whisper against her ear, fingers scratching against her scalp before another tug on her hair. God, he's close, and he's not making things any easier on himself. But the result will make it all worth it, he knows from experience. He still hates that he was keeping them from this, but he can hardly fault what's proving to be a flawless reentry.

[efficacy]

She groans at the bite, the sound turning into a little gasp at the tug at her hair, her head tipping back at the pull and exposing her pale throat. His words wind her up tighter inside, a needy little whine escaping her; she's so wet she can feel her arousal staining the inside of her thighs as Tony pounds her hard, hot and heavy and bumping against all the right spots inside her, the obscene sounds of fucking only heightening her enjoyment and how utterly arousing every single thing about this moment is. She has trouble keeping her eyes open now, watching them under heavy lids, lips parted as she pants under the force he's putting to her, little noises of pleasure resounding from her throat with every snap of his hips. "God, yes, oh Tony--! You feel so good, so good inside me..."

She twitches and cries out sharply when Tony's hand delves between her thighs to stroke her slick core, bucking her hips back as if trying to get away from the maddening sensation, edging on over-sensitive and close to the edge already, but she only ends up driving herself harder on his cock. There's nowhere she can lean toward to escape the stimulation, if only to prolong the moment a bit further, but it's too late. Her cheeks already have color to them but now the hot flush spreads across her chest too, Tony's provocative whisper ringing in her ears. There's little ceremony to it, everything happening so very fast now; she grabs the wrist of his relentlessly stroking hand as her belly hollows on a whimper, every muscle going taut for a beat before she cries out again, eyes slamming shut and head tipping back against Tony's shoulder as she seizes hard around his erection, quaking from head to toe as she comes in wet, fluttering pulses around him.

[letmetakeaselfie]

When she grabs his hand, a sly smile snakes across his face, knowing he has her. His fingers slow, but keep working her, wanting to feel her orgasm from all angles even as he watches her lose control in their reflection. "Fuck yes, Pepper. So hot, tell me how good it feels..." She doesn't have to say anything really, it's already all over her face. She's on another planet, lost in ecstasy. It's exactly what he'd wanted to see.

"Beautiful," he makes a point of telling her again, smoothing out her hair over the opposite shoulder and kissing her throat over the bite from earlier. His own release is slow-building, catches him under the ribs in a sharp gasp. He has to grab her thigh again, nails digging in as the last of his thrusts bring him over, shallowing until his balls draw up, spilling his seed deep inside her.

He wastes no time pulling both arms around her, supporting her and tipping them both forward to catch their breath against the vanity so they don't fall -- though it also serves to keeping his increasingly flacid cock inside her, whimpering softly at the sensation. "I love you," Tony huffs out, squeezing her gently and placing another gentle kiss against her cheek.

[efficacy]

All she can manage are inarticulate whimpers of pleasure as she rides out the bliss of her orgasm, trembling against his warm, solid frame. She gasps at the bite of his nails into her thigh, feeling the tension in Tony's body as he thrusts his last, unable to hold in her moan at the feel of him coming inside her; few things are sexier to her than the tangible warmth of his seed coating her from within, something about the primal nature of it thrilling her deeply.

She offers no resistance, going easily where he guides them, her hips still rocking infinitesimally back into his in the wake of her release, pulsing weakly around his softening length as the aftershocks work their way through her. Attempting to catch her breath, she exhales a faint, happy laugh, turning her head to nuzzle him. "That was amazing. I love you," she croons, catching his lips in a soft, loving kiss.

[letmetakeaselfie]

His eyes flutter as he kisses her back, just as soft and just as loving in reply. With a throaty sound of loss, he lets himself slip out without breaking the contact of their lips, stroking the side of her face and angling himself so she won't have to crane her neck. "I love you more though," he protests again, giving her a vaguely challenging (albeit sleepy) look when he opens his eyes.

[efficacy]

Pepper echoes his loss with a soft noise of her own, shivering a little at the sensation even as she kisses him, leaning into his gentle touches.

"Nu-uh. That's impossible," she retorts with a warm smile, rubbing her face against his and closing her eyes for a beat. Drowsiness is creeping in the wake of the satisfying orgasm, the partying prior to it taking its toll as well. She can tell Tony is doing no better. "Bed?"

[letmetakeaselfie]

He nods eagerly, spinning her away from the mirror and looking over the bedspread. "Please," he 's agreeing, nuzzling her back.

[efficacy]

She leans in to peck his lips lightly, needing to take care of something first before snuggling up with him. "I'm gonna go clean up a bit first," she murmurs, feeling the thick evidence of his release slowly inching down her thigh. "I'll only be a minute. Warm up my spot for me?"

[letmetakeaselfie]

His nods is a little reluctant this time around, but he manages to unwind himself from her after leaning into the chaste kiss in a telltale way. He had always been needy, especially with her, but post-coital Tony is perhaps the neediest of all. Still, he forces himself to move away and get under the sheets to wait for her. It feels nice even without her there, groaning as the bed cradles his aching 40yo muscles.

[efficacy]

She's no more keen to be apart than he is, hence why she doesn't dawdle once in the bathroom. She does, however, take a moment to properly admire the engagement ring in private, the weight of it on her finger still unfamiliar. Feeling the chill on her bare skin drives her back to the bedroom soon after though, eagerly slipping under the covers where he lies and snuggling against his side with a content sigh, her palm finding a place on his chest, over his heart.

"Hi there," she murmurs with a gentle smile, leaning in for a soft kiss.

[letmetakeaselfie]

"Hi yourself," he hums into the kiss, eyes fluttering but eventually coming back open. His arm settles around her, idly playing through her hair as he feels sleep already begin to tug at the corners of his vision. "The ring really... isn't too much? You like it?" He turns her hand in his to study it as he awaits her answer.

[efficacy]

She lays her head on his shoulder with a contented sigh, closing her eyes for a moment in enjoyment at the feel of his fingers running through her hair. "Really, really," she smiles affectionately at this question, curling her fingers around his and squeezing gently. "You know I don't say things just to please you."

[letmetakeaselfie]

He issues a small noise of contentment at their closeness, hitching the quilt up around them and snuggling in further. "I do know that. Just like you know I'm a neurotic nutbag. Is it not enough? You're positive?" The questions come right on the heel of the assurances, kissing the side of her face soundly. "You know I have to ask, and not because I don't believe you." He just has to make sure everything's to her standard.

[efficacy]

"Yeah, I know. Crazy, crazy man," she responds with a fond little breath of laughter, tipping her head up to kiss his jaw. She's the one who chose to marry him, though, so it's not like she can complain too much about it. "The ring is perfect, Tony. It's not too much and it's not too little. I love it."

[letmetakeaselfie]

He lets out a long breath of relief, unable to inhibit the dumb smile that encapsulates his face completely. "Good. I mean. I love that you love it." Since the moment they've met, he's wanted to give her the world, a feeling that's only intensified over time.

[efficacy]

"You're cute," she dimples at his goofy smile, rubbing her nose against his oh so affectionately. "I love you."

[letmetakeaselfie]

"I know you are, but what am I?" he asks cheekily, kissing the tip of her nose as it comes near. "I know. I love you, too." Since he feels like he's already exhausted the whole 'love you more' option.