Proof that Tony Stark has a Heart

Chapter

I had him back in the room without further interruptions from Lucian or Adrianna. A wise move from them because I was stretched taut. I wasn't generous to let anyone walk away from me unscathed if either of them appeared in front of my sight.

Tony was oddly quiet beside me; his face was deep in thought. I wouldn't say I liked this at all. No doubt that the effects of the bite have vanished by now. I see traces of himself returning—the bold and reckless Tony was emerging again, inch by inch. And while I adore his strength and tenacity, I didn't want those traits to be used against me. Not while he was stubborn against me, Awakening him.

I held him on the bed. Tony pulled his body closer to mine, and I caught his mouth with a hard kiss. I wanted him to be mine forever; didn't he feel the same way? How do I tell him that I needed this? When Tony was in my arms, he responded with as much enthusiasm as he had shown me that week in Malibu. His fingers deftly unbuttoned my shirt and opened it for his hands to explore my chest and abdomen. I left his mouth so my tongue could run the length of his neck, the curve of his shoulders—I pulled his dress shirt off to reach further. The warmth was addicting to the coldness I always felt. He lit me like spilled oil.

He wanted this—his whole body was practically screaming for me to take him. And how I wanted him. I wanted us to burn together. My other hand trailed his flat and smooth stomach, his delicate navel, and still downwards—

No. Not until he is Awakened.

I pulled away from him so abruptly that Tony was disoriented for a few moments. He stared at me dazedly... and then realized I was stopping this.

"No. Not yet. Not until you're Awakened." I said, echoing my thoughts, and I could feel the hard frustration in my voice.

It matched the frustration in his eyes. "Why? Why does it matter? Is there..." he tried to even out her pounding breaths. "...is there a reason we can't?"

I almost smiled at him. He had just seduced me like the sexy man I knew he was moments ago, and now he spoke to me like a shy, hesitant boy.

Before answering, I bent my head near his ear and kissed the skin beneath it. 

"No...but it'll be much better if you're Awakened. So let me do it..." I struggled to maintain my composure, but the truth was that I was so close to taking him—even if he hadn't wanted me to. "Let me do it... and we can do anything we want..."

"No..." Tony's voice broke. "I'm... I'm too scared."

I knew he was—I could understand that if that were the only reason. I propped myself up, so our faces met. "Tony, do you think I'd do anything that would hurt you?"

My mind instantly replayed my conversation with Markus earlier. Awaken him or destroy him. Make a choice soon. Our eyes held up each other. I wondered if Tony thought about that now.

He instead said a different thing. "The bite... the turning would hurt."

I shook my head slightly. "I told you: It'll be just like what we've already done. You'll enjoy it. It won't hurt, I swear it. Of course, there was pain, but nothing Tony couldn't endure. He would forget the pain once he was with me.

He looked away, breaking our gaze. It told me that he didn't believe me. Slow anger was building up inside me—one I had ignored every moment he would reject me.

"I don't know," he finally said.

Damn it.

I sat up. My hands were flexing involuntarily. I learned I had this habit whenever I wanted to hit something badly. Tony was the only one in the room, and I couldn't let that happen.