Feels Like Home
Pairing: Tony/OC
Prompts: #20. “It’s raining and I’m in front of your house.”
#40. “No, you look good with my shirt on.”
#90. “I’m in love with you.”
Warnings: None, just some fluff and some making out. The usual way I like to start out a Monday. Smut is implied at the end.
“You’re doing it again.”
I snapped my gaze away from the wandering billionaire philanthropist to see a smirking Natasha watching me. My cheeks flushed and I pretended to suddenly be engrossed in stirring the drink in front of me. Using a cocktail straw, I managed to create an alcohol whirlpool inside the pint glass.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I responded, feigning confusion. And doing a horrible job of it. We both knew i knew exactly what she was talking about. I just refused to spend any more time discussing it.
“My ass you don’t. He walks into a room and you can’t take your eyes off him.” Natasha shot back, leaning against the bar with a drink in hand. “I think it’s sweet. I don’t get it, but it’s still sweet.” She offered me a teasing smile.
I sighed, setting my glass on the smooth wooden surface of the bar. She was eyeing me with amusement, waiting for me to admit to the embarrassing feelings I was harboring for the man who was also my boss. I kept my mouth shut, though. It was a conversation that always ended the same way: me in sullen silence, refusing to take her advice.
It was her turn to let out an exasperated sigh. She flicked a wadded up cocktail napkin at me. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
Brushing past me, Natasha let herself behind the bar. I turned my back on the crowded room behind us, propping my chin in my hands. I hated that she was right. I could argue with her until I was blue in the face, but it didn’t change the simple fact that I was entirely and completely head over heels for Tony Stark and there wasn’t a damn thing anyone could do to save me. I was in too deep and I knew it.
I hadn’t meant for it to happen, honestly. When he’d given me the job of head techie, almost two years ago, falling for an egotistical man-child had been the exact opposite of my intentions. He was a genius, but also infuriating. His attention span was the size of a jelly bean and sometimes I’d catch him mentally wandering off in the middle of a conversation. But somewhere along the way, between late night brainstorming sessions and early morning coffee while we tinkered with his latest creations, I got to know the man behind the billionaire. And I had fallen…hard. I’d spent the last year and a half secretly pining after him like a sad little puppy, watching as he schmoozed and flirted with every woman within a ten foot radius. Tonight was no different.
It was one of his usual, over the top parties. I couldn’t even remember what we were even supposed to be celebrating. Maybe nothing. For Tony, it didn’t seem a celebration really needed a reason anyways. I’d almost bypassed the entire thing, wanting to save myself the pity party, but the man himself had insisted I come. Not to mention Natasha had begged me to have at least a few drinks with her to make the night bearable. So now here I was, sadly drooling over the gorgeous man in the dark suit.
“Why does he always ask me to come if he spends half the night ignoring me?” I wondered out loud.
“He’s not ignoring you.” Natasha said, setting down two shot glasses. “He’s working. Think about it this way…remember that guy in high school, that would invite girls to watch his football practice?”
I raised my eyebrows at her, wondering where this was going, but she wasn’t paying attention to me. Instead, she was pouring tequila into the two glasses.
“It’s just like that. This is Tony’s football practice, and you’re the girl he’s invited to impress. Only he won’t tell you how he feels because, like you, he either doesn’t know how or he’s just an idiot.”
“Wow, that’s an impressive metaphor. But I don’t think you’re right…I think he just likes to flirt. A lot.” I said, shaking my head. My time with Tony was divided into many, many different sectors. Sometimes it was all business. Other times it was arguing. Other times it was flirty and suggestive conversation that went absolutely nowhere but always left me painfully confused.
“Trust me, I’ve seen the way he looks at you.” Natasha pushed a shot glass toward me and I wrinkled my nose at the smell of tequila.
I snorted. “And the way he looks at about a hundred other different girls. I’m no different, Nat.”
She was already shaking her head, the red curls framing her face bouncing slightly. “No, you are. That’s what I keep trying to tell you. He doesn’t watch other women the way he watches you. Like you’re the most fascinating thing he’s ever laid eyes on. Trust me. It’s a look I’m envious of.” Her voice grew slightly sad.
I knew she meant Bruce. That situation baffled me more than my own, even when I tried to understand his reasoning for staying away from her. He thought he was being protective, but really, he was just hurting her more.
A shot glass was pushed toward me. “Cheers.” She raised a glass and waited for me to do the same.
We clinked glasses and I tipped my head back, letting the clear liquid burn its way down the back of my throat. I instantly felt a warmth in my belly that quickly spread through the rest of me. I wrinkled my nose. “I hate tequila.”
“You needed that shot.” Natasha shrugged. She leaned toward me, crossing her arms over the bar. Her eyes flickered over my shoulder and mischievous smile appeared on her face. “You’ve got company coming.”
And just like that, she walked away. I turned to see none other than Tony Stark sauntering toward me. He was a picture of perfection, so handsome it almost wasn’t fair. He was dressed in a gray suit, a pale blue shirt underneath, with a navy blue tie.
“Was wondering where you were hiding.” He grinned, leaning up against the bar next to me. His dark hair was tousled just the way I liked it, brown eyes playful.
I was almost ashamed of how fast my pulse was beating just at the sight of him, grinning at me like that. I played it cool and shrugged my shoulders. “When have you not known me to take advantage of an open bar, Stark?”
“Touche.” He answered before snatching the shot glass and lifting it to his nose and sniffing. “Tequila. You hate tequila.”
I couldn’t help but smile at this. He knew me so well. Better than anyone maybe, besides Natasha. “It wasn’t my idea.”
“Ah,” He said knowingly. “And where did our little assassin disappear to anyways?”
I shook my head. “Not a clue, but can I interest you in a refill?” I nodded toward the empty whiskey glass in his hand. Before he could answer, I was leaning over the bar to swipe the whiskey bottle that was chilling in an ice bin just within reach.
“Well this is certainly a view I could get used to.”
I rolled my eyes but laughed despite myself, straightening up with the bottle in hand. “You better watch yourself, Stark. I am an employee after all.” I teased. “People might start think you’re playing favorites or something.”
“So what if I am?” He smirked, propping his chin in one hand.
“Banner might get jealous.”
He chuckled at this, and I let my eyes flicker away from his glass where I was pouring whiskey just so I could see the way his eyes crinkled at the corners. I loved that.
“No offense to Bruce, but he’s not exactly my type.”
I finished pouring his drink and pushed the glass toward him. “What? Big, mean and green?”
“Exactly, never been a big fan of the color green.” He wrinkled his nose in mock disgust, making a smile appear on my face. “Besides, have you seen you? You’re beautiful.”
I ducked my head, letting my hair create a curtain over my face as my cheeks tinged pink. “Shut up, Stark. You’re buttering me up for something, aren’t you?”
I glanced up in time to see him shrug his shoulders. “Not a damn thing. Just making an observation.” His mouth quirked into an adorable half smile and his hand suddenly reached toward me, fingers skimming my warm cheek. “You look cute when you blush.”
I raised an eyebrow uncertainly. “Thank you?”
“Don’t mention it, gorgeous.” He took a sip from his drink, his dark eyes never leaving mine.
“You ever wonder what it would be like?” He asked suddenly.
“What?” I asked.
“You and me.” He answered.
It felt like we were inside a bubble, everyone else disappearing. My heart had sped up and was attempting to break its way out of my chest. Had I heard him correctly? No, I was positive I had. And yet I continued to gape at him stupidly, unsure of how to answer. Unsure of how to do anything. Surely he was joking, or had had too much to drink or something.
His expression shifted, becoming something part curious and something else dark and smoldering that made my stomach flip. Our eyes lingered for entirely too long, like we were having a silent conversation. I wanted to squirm underneath his gaze, and yet I also didn’t want to look away.
“Excuse me, Mr. Stark?”
And just like that, the bubble burst as a tall, gray-haired man in an expensive suit interrupted us. Tony continued to look at me for a beat longer, though I saw the annoyance flicker across his face.
“Hold that thought. I’ll be right back.” He instructed softly.
I nodded mutely as he finally tore his eyes away from me and freed me from whatever the hell spell he had put me under. I sagged back against the bar, gaping after him.
You and me.
The words echoed in my head. It had been such an honest, blunt statement. I really shouldn’t have been surprised considering it was Tony. But never once had feelings toward one another ever come up in conversation. Jokingly or not. I made sure of it. The idea of Tony knowing how I felt scared the daylights out of me, and it scared me even more that someone could have so much control over me without even knowing it. I felt suddenly panicked, like the room was too small. I could see Tony, his back to me, in conversation with two other gentlemen. He had asked me to wait, but I couldn’t. I didn’t want to finish that conversation if it meant feeling the same way I did now, but worse…like I was walking up hill in a snowstorm, chasing after a man who I wasn’t sure even really knew I was there. If this was a game we were playing, I didn’t want to play anymore.
I grabbed my purse and slung it over my shoulder, casting one last glance toward the oblivious billionaire, and leaving.
***
By the time I’d gotten home, I’d managed to convince myself that the conversation had meant nothing. That it was just Tony being Tony and my imagination had carried me away. I blamed Natasha and tequila equally. it had started to rain at some point, and I’d gotten soaked making my mad dash from the cab to the yellow painted front door of my house. I’d chosen the color myself. It reminded me of Florida, where I was from. Tony had teased me about it relentlessly, telling me I was the only New Yorker in the city brave enough for a sunshine yellow door.
I felt more calm once I had shed my emerald green cocktail dress and jumped into a warm shower. Wet haired and make-up less, I padded down the hall toward the living room in my sweats and t-shirt. My cell phone was blinking at me from the counter top. Binxy, my cat, meowed loudly at it.
“Who is it, Binx?” I murmured absentmindedly, scratching the cat behind the ears.
I picked up the phone just as it started ringing again. My heart leapt into my throat as the name Tony Stark flashed across the screen. My finger hovered over the end button, debating on just ignoring him. I knew Tony, though, which meant he would persistently keep calling until I finally answered.
I cleared my throat and pressed the call button. “Stark?”
“Did I not say I’d be right back?” He asked with a sigh and I could almost picture him shaking his head.
I shifted from one foot to the other as Binxy purred and rubbed his ears against my hand. “I…I was tired. So I left. Sorry, I should’ve had Natasha tell you.” It was lame, even to my own ears.
“Gimme a break, kid.” Tony scoffed. “You ran away. Plain and simple. Was it because of what I said?”
I was silent for a beat too long because he continued after a few moments had passed.
“I take that as a yes. Listen, let me come over. Give me a chance to finish. I mean, it is sort of my fault…I did just blurt it out at you, but only because you’ve been on my damn mind all day everyday—“ He stopped himself just as my nerves had once again started to sing. “So can I?”
I sighed and traced a finger across a crack in the counter. The thought of him inside my house, after everything he had just said was almost too much. My head was spinning. “I don’t know, Tony. It’s late.”
“Alright, let me rephrase that.” He began. “It’s raining and I’m standing outside your house. Can I come in?”
I straightened up, eyes widened. “What?” I hurried toward the front window and pulled back the lilac curtains. My stomach dropped. Sure enough, there he was. Tony, standing in the pouring rain in one of his nice suits. I stared at him in disbelief and he gave me a wave. “Oh my god, Tony.”
“What? Can’t a guy show up at a girl’s house in the middle of the night in the pouring rain?” He asked playfully. “I’m being spontaneous.”
I grumbled into the phone, scrambling toward the front door and pulling it open. “No, you’re being an idiot. Get in here, dummy.” I said into the phone before ending the call and placing it on the end table near the front door.
Tony slid his own phone into his pocket and hurried toward me, taking the steps two at a time and bypassing me into the house. I closed the door after him, my heart once again beating franticly. I turned around and leaned back agains the door, the wood cold against my skin. I had been poised to say something, but the words vanished as I caught the look on his face. It was almost the same as the one he’d been wearing at the bar, a smoldering, hungry sort of look. And something else…I remembered Natasha’s words. Fascinated.
“Is that…” He gestured toward my shirt and I glanced down. My face instantly became hot. I recognized the emblazoned logo of one of his favorite bands and tugged self consciously at the hem. It was slightly worn and too big, but comfy. I hadn’t even realized I’d pulled it on…it’d been the first clean shirt in my drawer.
“Oh, yeah. Sorry. I borrowed it a few weeks ago after I spilled some chemicals on one of mine. I meant to give it back.” I rambled, averting my eyes toward the floor before the look on his face made me melt into a puddle.
“No, you look good in my shirt.” He answered in a husky voice.
“Let me get you a towel.” I stammered and moved to leave the room but he stopped me.
“No, you leave now and I might lose my nerve. Let me get this off my chest before it kills me.” I heard him take a step closer and the next thing I knew, his fingers were resting beneath my chin as he gently tilted my face.
He took in a deep breath, looking almost slightly nervous himself. Which was impossible. Tony Stark was never nervous. He was confident, self-assured, at times arrogant and pompous. This was a side I had never seen and it made me adore him even more.
“First of all, Natasha colorfully informed me after you left that I’ve unintentionally been acting like an ass.” He said, eyes boring into mine. I made a quick mental note to either kill or kiss her later depending on how this went. “I wasn’t leading you on…the truth is I’m not good at this. I know how to talk the talk and walk the walk, but when it comes to you, I’m at a loss. It’s like walking into a room I’ve never been in before, but feeling like I’m home,” He said softly. “You amaze me. You irritate me. God, you make me want to pull my hair out and kiss you at the same time. You’re the first thing I think about in the morning and you’re on my mind the entire damn day. It’s annoying. And you know how you sometimes get angry with me when you’re talking and it looks like I’m not listening? It’s only because I’m thinking about how you are the most intelligent, amazing person I’ve ever known. And it’s distracting. So thank yourself for that. But bottom line is…I’m in love with you.”
I was waiting for my knees to give out. For my entire body to just collapse because his words were enough to make anyone in their right mind feel a little woozy. A part of me was almost convinced this was a dream, or that I was imagining it. Yet his warm palm cupping my face, his thumb brushing my skin just across my cheek bone, made it real. He was soaking wet, water dripping onto the floor into a puddle, but he didn’t seem to notice.
“You gonna say something? Now would be a good time.” He said, a joking tone to his voice.
“I-I don’t know what to say, Tony.” I finally answered. “You don’t know…I’ve been crazy about you…” I trailed off suddenly finding it impossible to complete a sentence and he flashed a perfect smile at me in response.
“Say you love me back, dummy.” He hinted.
“I love you too.” I whispered, the words coming out in a breathy laugh of amazement.
“Knew it.” He grinned broadly at me before wasting no time and swooping in to press a kiss against my lips.
My body went rigid for a moment, completely shocked, before melting into him. My hands pressed against his chest, feeling both the warmth of his skin and the arc reactor beneath his wet shirt. His mouth moved against mine slowly and purposefully, so much different than the way I had imagined Tony Stark to kiss. There was no rush or urgency…he kissed me like we had all the time in the world.
I felt the front door behind me as Tony pressed his hips into mine. His hands felt like they were everywhere, in my hair, on my waist, brushing against the bare skin beneath my shirt. The front of my clothing was now also damp with rain water, but I was eons away from giving a damn. I was kissing Tony. He loved me. Holy crap.
My fingers dug into his shoulders as his mouth left mine, gliding over my jaw and down to my neck. A whimper escaped me as he nipped at the sensitive skin beneath my earlobe. I could feel that irritating smirk forming on his lips. One of his hands pushed its way up my shirt and the thought was forgotten.
“Tony,” I breathed.
“Yeah, baby?” He mumbled against my skin, the tip of his nose brushing against my cheekbone before he captured my lips again.
“Your dripping water all over my floor.”
He pulled away, the want in his eyes making me feel a little faint. Damn him. “I just declared my love to you, and your worried about your floor?” He asked, perking an eyebrow.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and grinned mischievously at him before pecking his nose. “No, I’m worried about getting you out of those wet clothes.” It was my turn to smirk as I unwrapped his arms from my waist and pushed past him to head down the long hallway.
“You are naughty, you know that?” I heard him say behind me.
I rolled my eyes and glanced behind me, my stomach dipping a little when I saw the predatory way he was watching me. “Are you gonna stand there and talk, or help me get undressed?” I challenged.
I didn’t have to ask twice.
firemedicdiaz
