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Tony Stark sighed as he threw another dull punch.
Sometimes, the amount of self-control it took not to say what he had in mind was so immense he needed a nap afterwards.
He wished he was a nicer person but then, he laughed and ducked. “Commitment and silly feelings…Because your crappy day doesn’t have to end at work…Come on Rhodey, you couldn’t have done worse.”
“You’re going to eat your words one day, Tonty,” Rhodey flashed him a feral smile and shifted his weight to tighten his stance; knees bent, elbows tucked and prepared to strike.
Tony rolled his shoulders twice and took a deep breath.
Many people thought of MMA as a bunch of caveman crap, but it had been long since he recognized it for the art it was.
Moreover, what happened over a year ago made him want to be able to defend himself in any circumstance. At least, until he found a way to activate the Iron Man suit without the need to carry a case with him to all places....or survive.
Well….What didn’t kill you gave you a set of unhealthy coping mechanics. It was the reason why he was at a private gym at this unholy hour, sparring with his best friend and discussing his least favourite topic: relationships and commitment.
Unfortunately, Rhodey had gone crazy and considered losing his heart to a woman a good idea.
If Tony was asked what he looked for in a relationship, his immediate answer would always be the same: A Way Out.
Tact was for people who weren’t witty enough to embrace their singularity and he never regretted the life he decided to lead since he lost his parents.
He’d been stupid and careless at times. He gave the tabloids reason to plaster his face over the first page more than was advisable for someone of his high standing and wealth. There was one thing he never did though; he never lost his heart to a girl.
His answer remained the same: ‘independently owned and operated’ whenever he was asked about his marital status.
He loved being his awesome self. It pissed off all the right people.
The organ that pumped blood into his veins and supplied his brain with enough nutrients and oxygen to function brilliantly was solely his.
Well…except for that night….
Something like unfiltered excitement kindled in his veins when he remembered that night... remembered that kiss.
Ethereal, otherworldly eyes flashed before him and he exhaled. She had eyes of the oddest colour he’d ever seen—neon green, really, a shimmering steely shade of pure emerald that stole his breath away.
For a crazy moment, a voice whispered in his head that a solid relationship could be built on the foundation of what they shared at that moment: sizzling attraction, inappropriateness and that mischievous spark in their eyes.
More than once, he wanted to go back in time and punch himself in the face for running away like a coward. But then, being him was like looking both ways before crossing the street only to get hit by an airplane.
His life was utterly crazy.
Nevertheless, he could handle anything unless it was feelings-related.
He learned the hard way that love was fire but whether it was going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you could never tell until it was too late.
Tony hated unpredictability as much as he despised stupidity. He was a man of science. He did not deal with anything that couldn’t be solved by an equation.
“You are underestimating your luck, Tony,” Rhodey shot him a sceptical look along with an amused twitch of his lips. He shook his head and bounced around him lightly. “This will be fun and believe me, I’m going to enjoy every second of your downfall because I know you will fall deep and hard.”
Tony snorted and threw another jab. His gloves grazed Rhodey’s jaw but he didn’t wince. “Opps, did I just roll my eyes out loud? I told you from the start that Carol was a bad idea. Men like us are not made for Thanksgiving turkeys, changing diapers and believing in bullshit like happily ever after. Love is death’s ugly twin.”
Sick of the back and forth, Tony walked up straight to his best friend and slugged him hard and fast with a right hook before bouncing back on his feet.
Rhodey breathed raggedly, but the glint in his eyes didn’t vanish. "They say ignorance is a bliss but I find yours rather disturbing. You should let go of the past and start living. Life can surprise you, you know.”
Tony frowned and there was an exasperated clench of his jaw.
He hated surprises almost as much as he hated being handed things. “We are here to spar not to chat.”
He also wished that more people were fluent in silence. It seemed like the most wonderful language at the moment.
Rhodey seemed to consider his options for a while as he looked at him, almost as if deciding whether to tell him something. “Thanks for helping me think this through, Tones.” Rhodey took a step back and started taking off his gloves. “I need to get back to Carol now.”
When Tony’s eyebrows shot up, his friend’s lips twitched. “Don’t worry, I called for someone who could give you the sparring session you need. If you are smart, try to be nicer than you were the last time.”
“What—“ Tony asked, starting to get worried. “What the hell are you talking about? I didn’t ask for another sparring partner.”
Rhodey grinned. “Oh, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the partner I picked up for you. Let’s say they have some pent-up anger to lose and you are the perfect candidate to help them. You’ve been acting recklessly for months, maybe you’ll come to your senses after this session.”
With that, Rhodey ducked under the ropes, hopped onto the floor and jogged toward the changing rooms.
“Hey!” Tony called after him.” Come back here, I’m not done with you.”
Rhodey looked over his shoulder. “You will thank me later. Have fun.”
What. The. Hell.
He bit into the Velcro wrap of the glove around his wrist and was about to pull it off with his other wrist when he heard a loud crack.
He turned around and froze.
His eyes roved over her, hungry and taking in every detail. Dark, unruly hair was split into two braids over her shoulders. Her eyes were guarded and drawn together and most definitely the most fascinating feature about her otherwise gorgeous face.
Even the scar on her forehead didn’t take away from the perfection that she was.
She wore a black sports bra and yoga pants that fit her like a second skin and displayed a wealth of sleek, tight muscles.
Her frame was athletic like he remembered; lean, strong and deadly.
He cleared his throat and his eyes shot up and locked on hers.
Energy crackled to life between them as he gazed into those angry eyes. They swirled with an intoxicating and vivid array of greens he couldn’t drag himself away from.
Fury. Confliction. Pain. He saw and felt it all as if it was his own.
Tony drew in a breath and tried to convince himself that the beat of his heart was from exertion alone. He didn’t dare approach her.
“Hollis, I—“
In a flash, she charged straight at him and threw out a left hook that grazed him on the shoulder as he barely managed to dodge to the side. She hit him with a quick jab-cross combo then an elbow uppercut straight to the jaw.
“Hollis, what the—“ He gasped, barely able to counter her punches.
The woman could throw a few and hit the bull’s eye when she wanted to. Not that he had ever doubted how amazing she was from the moment he'd laid eyes on her in that bar a month ago.
He laughed; a joyous laugh that surprised the hell out of him and flexed his bare, muscular arms.
He hadn’t smiled in a month. Not since the day he found out that the palladium powering the arc reactor was broken down by neutron damage and releasing deadly toxins into his bloodstream.
Since he knew he was a dying man. A man not allowed to consider a future with the gorgeous, amazing, intelligent woman he shared the most special moment of his life with.
There was a low hum in his body as she eyed him cryptically. “So, you do remember my name.” Her voice was low and cold but he heard the hurt.
“How could I ever forget you, angel?” He shook his head ruefully.
“Don’t call me that!” She hissed and scowled at him.
It was what he called her that night as they took their sweet time chatting and exchanging the softest touches. For once, he didn’t rush a woman to the bedroom so he could be done with it.
Something told him that he would lose the special thing he sensed between them if he acted callously and lost himself to temptation.
He appreciated her company more than the pleasure her body could provide for him.
He was so desperate to prolong the moment and share other bits of himself with her that he was just totally barring himself to her without Hollis even asking.
She did the same. She told him about her painful past, how she had been subjugated to betrayal, manipulation and greed by the people she trusted most.
Tony shook his head with playful stubbornness. “But you look like an angel; an angry, gorgeous angel right now, sweetheart.”
Before he could lift his arm, she pushed her hip into his abdomen, stealing his breath and in a flash, she got his arm locked down and her legs positioned perfectly.
He could barely believe what was going on when she executed a triangle chock. Her thighs choked around his neck while he tried to move his other arm.
“Angel….” He wheezed. “I didn’t know you missed me this much or that you were into kink. If you wanted my hug, you could’ve asked nicely.”
He lifted to the left side of his torso and tried to slam her down, but despite her lean frame, she was unbelievably strong.
A wonderfully trained fighter.
He knew his strength was waning from the pressure on his neck.
“Surrender," she ordered, her hot breath teasing his jaw.
“I’m sorry, angel, I don’t take orders. I barely tolerate suggestions.” He was bluffing and they both knew it.
“I thought so,” she murmured. “Is that why you ignored my calls after that night?”
Tony sagged. “Angel…People think I go out of my way to piss them off. Believe me, it was never intentional. I’m a hot mess. A handsome, spicy disaster but a mess nevertheless.”
“So the rumours I heard about you were true?” She tightened her grip. “You are way worse.”
Most of the time, Tony made sure not to give people the wrong impression that he gave a damn about them. But with Hollis it was different. He hated himself for making her believe he didn’t care; that the moment they shared meant nothing at all.
“Hollis, please….” His body went limp as she arched her back and used one arm to block him as best she could while she held tight.
His movements grew weak and sluggish as his blood supply was cut off.
This was it: the real test of his endurance.
Every muscle in his body burned from the energy required to suppress the need to fight; to not yield to this woman.
Every part of him rebelled against the position but with her, he knew instinctively that he was safe.
At last.
“Now that you have me at your mercy, are you sure you can handle me, angel? You couldn’t do that even if I came with instructions,” he grinned even knowing that his face was growing a disturbing shade of red.
Hollis loosened her grip and straddled him.
For the briefest of seconds, something flashed in her eyes. Something that looked like hunger, but whatever it was the shutters came back down and her eyes went dim when they went to his chest.
With a scorching hot movement, she took off her gloves and looked down at him.
Her thumb skated over his pulse and he blinked up at her surprised by the gentle touch.
“We still have time,’’ she sighed. When he looked at her questioningly, she glared at him. ‘’Your fervent, misguided sense of self-preservation leaves nothing to be desired. Did you think I wouldn’t know why you ran away like a coward?”
“Angel…” He tried to look away but she took his chin between her fingers.
He knew that Hollis Potter wasn’t the average woman from the moment she met her.
She exuded power; she wore it like a cloak around her shoulders. He suspected she was somehow related to that bastard Fury or had some ‘gifts’ like some of the candidates for the Avengers Team he found about in S.H.I.E.L.D’s top secret files.
Either way, Hollis knew things she wasn’t supposed to know.
Was that so bad? Would it be wrong to seek help and accept it for once? To trust another human being with his weakness and take the leap of faith?
It was common knowledge that he was crazy, couldn’t he go sane for once?
She reached down and tipped his chin up so he had to meet her piercing gaze. Her mouth was just inches away from his, so close her breath was mingling with his.
The minx. Was she trying to tempt him beyond what his poor heart could handle?
“At first, I thought that night meant nothing to you. After all, I knew of your reputation even before I decided to join you.” Her eyes wandered over his face almost…lovingly.
She grabbed a fistful of his hair and her body pressed closer against him. “But you know what? I’m known for following my instincts. I’m also known for the Potter Luck. I decided to look into why you left abruptly; why you didn’t take my calls or answer my messages and guess what? I found your secret. The one you’ve been hiding from everyone for months.”
Tony didn’t reply. Her eyes forced him to look at her, to listen carefully.
His angel could be bossy at times. Hmmm….
He didn’t think it was possible, but she pressed even closer making thinking a lost cause.
So close, he felt her body heat burning him. Wild energy crackled around them and he swore for a second that he glimpsed a dark Aura around her.
Hollis Potter got him pinned and completely at her mercy and he didn’t mind.
“I’m not going to let you die, Tony Stark. You will live because I said so.”
Her eyes blazed and she didn’t look like she could be swayed or accept his protests, not that he minded her fierceness.
It was good to feel loved, to feel needed, to feel wanted.
He took a deep breath and lifted his hand, caressing her cheek softly. “Lead me to temptation, Angel, I trust you.”
“Oh Tony,” she smirked against his mouth. “I will lead you to madness and chaos. But you will enjoy every moment of it. I know you will.”
He chuckled against her lips then his eyes darkened when she leaned lower.
“You couldn’t resist my charm, right, angel? I’m irreplaceable even half-dead,” his voice was thick with want.
Hollis rolled her eyes. “And you’re the craziest, most infuriating man I’ve ever met.”
They took their time dragging the moment out. Her mouth brushed over his and he captured her bottom lip between his teeth. A tug, and a slight bite. Just like their last kiss a month ago.
The sound of her pleasure exploded into his bloodstream.
He had never felt anything like this before. Surprisingly, he didn’t mind.
Whatever it was, he needed this in his life.
His hands drew her closer and he hugged her almost painfully to his wrecked chest.
Whatever life had in store for them, he knew they would fight it. Together.