The party finally ended, and the last of the guests left. Tony takes off his jacket as he enters his bedroom suite. He throws it on a nearby chair and starts to loosen his tie as he walks over to the small wet bar in his room. He instantly notices an open bottle of whiskey and a glass beside it.

He pours himself a drink as he looks out through the open terrace doors. He can see the silhouette of a figure through the billowing sheer drapes.

He stands in the doorway. He sees you looking out over the grounds, lost in your thoughts.

"You know this isn't your room, and that's my whiskey, right?" He says nonchalantly.

Without turning around, you responded, "I know, but your balcony has the best view of the lake."

Tony takes a couple of steps out onto the balcony. "That's one of the reasons why it's my room."

"I love to watch the lake at night. The moon's reflection on the smooth water has always had a soothing effect on my thoughts. I didn't think you'd mind; I apologize for intruding." You say as you turn around and finish your drink. "I honestly thought you would still be at the party."

He notices that you are no longer in your dress but have switched out to a very thin tank with small shorts and a chunky cardigan sweater. He watches as the sweater slides off your shoulder when you turn. The moonlight highlights your shoulder and dances off the curls in your hair. You turn to look back out over the lake, and as you do, Tony sees the scars on your back and thigh again. You've removed the cover-up for the night.

You can feel his stare and gently pull the sweater back up over your shoulder. Tony walks up to you. "That was quite the show you and Barton put on earlier. I can say that none of us saw that coming."

"I'm well versed in every form of seduction, including those on the dance floor." You take another sip from your glass. You tilt your head back a little, letting it slide down your throat.

"I must admit you do have excellent taste in whiskey. This is my private stock that I rarely share."

"I really can't get drunk but the flavor is still comforting." You say as you turn and look at Tony.

"Hmm, so you can't use the excuse that you had too much to drink and don't remember the night before." He says as he takes a sip, watching you over the rim of his glass as you step closer.

"I never make excuses for my sexual choices." You purr back.

Tony practically chokes on his drink. As you shift the sweater falls off your shoulder again. Your hand reaches to tug it back up.

"You don't have to cover them on my account." Tony says as he looks at your skin and how it looks like velvet in the moonlight.

"I don't like to look at them, so why would anyone else?" You say softly as you look out over the landscape. "Thanks for the drink and the view. I'll let you have your room back."

You put your glass on the table as you approach the door. A soft breeze knocks the sweater off your shoulder again. You tug back at the sweater, annoyed.

" They're beautiful, you know. " he says, quickly stopping you in your tracks. He slowly walks up behind you, gently pulling the sweater back down.

"They're hideous and make people uncomfortable. They are far from beautiful, Stark." You say quietly. There is a slight sense of shame in your voice.

"That's where you're wrong. I think they're beautiful; they are a testimony to your strength and will to live. " he says with quiet admiration. You can feel his warm breath across your skin and the lingering scent of whiskey on the breeze.

"Yeah, I'm so strong that I asked to have my emotions torn from my mind. There was a long time I lost my will to live. I tried to end it all more than once, but they kept finding a way to bring me back. I'm not who everyone thinks I am, Stark. Not really."

His fingers ever so softly touch your shoulder and trail down your arm. "Then show me who you really are?"

He slowly reaches up and slides the sweater off your shoulders, resting it at your waist. He gently runs his thumb over a scar. You flinch a little. His warm lips press against the base of your neck.

He whispers into your skin. "Do you trust me?"

You take in a deep breath and nod your head. "Yes." You say as you let out your breath.

Tony pushes the sweater all the way down your arms, letting it fall softly to the floor at your feet. He runs his lips across your shoulder as his hands glide up your thighs. His touch sends a shiver through your body, and you feel warmth building in your chest.

You turn around to face him. His hands cup your face warmly. "Let me give you something good to think about when you look at your scars?"

A tear wells in your eyes as he brings his lips to yours. The kiss is slow and tender as he pulls you against him. His body is warm, and his cologne envelopes you. He pulls away from your lips to allow you both to catch your breath. Your hands reach up, undoing the collar of his shirt. You look into his eyes as you slowly unbutton his shirt the rest of the way down. Your hands touch his chest, letting them outline the ARC reactor.

He asks you again as he runs his fingers through your hair. "Do you trust me?"

All you can do is shake your head, yes. He kisses you again. His tongue glides across your lips. You part them as he deepens the kiss. He softly trails his mouth down your neck to your shoulders as he circles behind you. Your heart starts to quicken as you close your eyes. He stands behind you, kissing the base of your neck. Tony's hands slide the thin straps on your tank so they fall down your arms, letting the loose fabric glide down to your feet.

He stops and looks at your scars, admiring the stunning contrast of your skin. Tony runs a finger slowly over a scar on your shoulder blade. You let out an audible hiss at the feeling. You suddenly feel his warm lips against the scar he just touched. You softly gasp at the sensation.
He glides his thumb over another scar on your upper back. As he does, you let out another hiss, but quieter this time. His lips press against your skin once more, sending a wave of pleasure through you. All the while, his other hand gently caresses your hip and thigh. He trails his lips back up to your neck. You turn your head and catch his lips with yours. There is nothing rushed or fevered about his motions. It's the exact opposite. Every touch is slow and gentle. Your head starts to reel from the sensations Tony is sending across your body.  You place your knee on the chair cushion next to you, your hands on the back of the chair to steady yourself.

Tony takes the opportunity to run his hands down your sides to the waistband of your shorts. He pushes them down. He watches as they gather around your legs. He resumes touching and then kissing almost every scar on your body. Your heart is pounding in your chest, and your breathing is quickened. The sensations are overwhelming you; your need to touch him is unbearable. You turn around and run your hands down his chest. He cups your face in his hands, pulling you in for another kiss. Your hands reach his waistband; you start to pull him towards the bedroom while he continues the kiss.
The back of your legs hit the edge of the bed as you undo his pants, pushing them down his legs. He grabs you by the back of the neck as he steps out of them. You sense him trying to lean you back on the bed. You look at him with soft eyes and gently shake your head. "No."

Tony doesn't question it and simply turns with you so he can sit on the edge of the bed. He looks up at you with such tenderness; you would never have guessed Tony Stark could make you feel like this. He reaches up, takes your arms, and pulls you down into his lap onto him.
His eyes close, and he lets out a soft groan as you take him in completely. You both still for a second as you take in the sensation. You wrap your legs around him as you start rocking against him.

He kisses your neck down across your collarbone with his hands in your hair. You feel that knot in your lower stomach quickly tightening. His hands are now gripping your hips, helping you keep pace. You can tell he is close because he grabs your face, pulling you into a frantic but deep kiss. You can't hold it back any longer.

"Tony, oh god, Tony." You say as you bury your face into his shoulder. He feels you fall over that cliff, and he wraps his arms around you, holding you to him tightly.

"My God, Jo." Comes spilling off his tongue as he explodes inside of you.

You both tense up, holding on to each other, riding out the waves of pleasure. As you both come down, you fall back onto the bed. You are lying on your side as he brushes your hair from your face.

He kisses your forehead gently. "Lieutenant, thank you for trusting me."

You run your hand over his stubble, enjoying the roughness on our hand. "It's Jo. I think you've earned it."

"Jo...this is not how I thought my evening would end, but I'm glad it did." Tony says as he runs his fingers down your arms.

"It wasn't mine either. I just came to steal the view for a while, " you say before you lower your eyes. "About earlier..."

"You don't have to explain anything, not to me." He lifts your chin up and kisses you lightly.

"No, I need to. I want to." You let out a soft sigh. "With everything that the guards did to me for so long, when someone is on top of me, I get flashbacks. I get claustrophobic and panic. It's why I always have to be on top. I need to feel in control. I'm sorry."

"I'm so sorry, Jo. You don't ever have to apologize to me, ever. You will always be safe and in control with me." He pulls you against him as he grabs a blanket and covers you both up.

You've never told anyone that before. It's always felt like a dirty secret you had to hide, to be ashamed of. It made you feel weak, broken. Finally, it feels like a weight has been lifted off your chest. You melt into his hold, drifting off to sleep.