Negotiations (for buildsomething)

[shieldborne]

Steve is very calm and matter of fact about what's happened between them, when they wake the next morning. He disentangles himself from Tony gently, ruffles his hair one last time, and stretches, sliding out of bed. Neither of them ever finished their coffee.

Steve limits his chatter to Tony to the usual 'good morning' routine, carries the cups to the kitchen and washes them, and generally tries to be as low key as he possibly can about it. He doesn't want to embarrass him, and he really doesn't want to scare him away. He assumes, perhaps wrongly, that acting like cuddling with Tony for most of the night is just routine is the best way to approach the situation. At least Tony can rest assured Steve won't be sharing any private information with the others.

He gives it a day, going about his usual affairs, training and sparring, going over intel, trying to predict where they might be needed next...but while the others finish dinner, he goes looking for Tony specifically, trying to catch him alone.

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[shieldborne]

Steve huffs, because he knew it wasn't a good line, but he didn't think it was that funny. Still, he likes to hear Tony laugh. Anyway, Steve said he could be dominant; he never said he could be seductive.

He nips lightly, chuckling just because he's savoring the moment. "Mnnhm. You're welcome. Tell you what, I'll get someone to make you a cross-stitch of it for the wall in here."

The way he's being touched feels very right, and he can feel his own shoulders un-tensing under Tony's hands. It might be nice to just let go under that attention some time. It'd probably make Stark all smug, but that might be worth it.

"You forbid it, huh?" he murmurs against his pulse points, moving down and then around the front of this throat. "So now you're in charge? I don't remember us discussing that."

It's only a playful challenge. A little give and take from both of them is probably what's in order right now.

[buildsomething]

The pleased hum Tony gives in response is only partially to the bite. For all their talk about domination, it's nice to know that they can still just spend a while giving each other playful hell, even when wrapped up like this. It's comfortable, in a weird way.

"My space, my rules," he agrees, a slight smile playing over his mouth. Nevermind that the whole building is technically his space.

And like he's trying to prove it, he tugs gently at Steve's hair, just enough to coax him away from his throat. As Tony's head comes back down he just studies Steve for a moment, fingers absently rubbing against Steve's scalp. Satisfied with whatever he was looking for, the smile quirks up a bit higher and he leans in to kiss him again.

[shieldborne]

The whole building is his space, and he could easily hold that over them if he wanted to. He never does, though. Tony is ridiculously generous with what he has; Steve doesn't comment on it, but he's noticed. He's also noticed how people react to that generosity, some with gratitude, some with a cynicism that almost borders on contempt, wondering aloud if throwing his money around makes Tony's conscience let him sleep at night.

Even Steve wouldn't be surprised if it was at least partly pathological, the way Tony gives and gives and gives. Still, it's not fair to believe he's all flash and no substance. The flash, Steve thinks, is more or less the same thing as his own red, white and blue uniform. A symbol to inspire, or a diversion to draw attention from the man underneath it. He never apologized for the fight he and Tony had in SHIELD's helicarrier when they were first getting to know one another against the backdrop of potential alien apocalypse. He regrets it, though, what he said and why he said it.

Right now what he says, mildly, is: "Well, I guess that's fair. Any rules other than spontaneity?"

He just happens to really like having his hair pulled, too, so when he tugs back, Steve makes a strangled little growl of approval, letting him guide his head back. His pupils are a little wider than usual, eyes soft and hazy and bright with desire, and he looks back at Tony with serene interest. His hands move up his back and down again, and he returns the smile he gets with a grin of his own, a burst of warmth without reservation.

This time when he moves into the kiss, he does his best to insinuate his body in between Tony's knees, both arms wrapping around his back. Doesn't really matter where they're going with this, or at what speed, but for the moment, he does want to be as close as he can get.

[buildsomething]

And Tony had no problem with twining closer, if the way he wraps his legs around Steve's body to pull him in is any indication. He makes a sound low in his throat as they end up pressed chest to chest, the hand on Steve's back slipping lower to flirt with the hem of the shirt he's wearing, fingertips just barely brushing bare skin underneath.

"Nope," Tony says once he's pulled back enough to take a breath, and punctuates it with a gentle nip to Steve's lower lip. "That's the other rule. No rules."

Neither of them are particularly good at just letting things happen, Steve with his strategizing and Tony with his overthinking. It's probably one of the reasons why they clashed so hard at the beginning, one stubborn control-freak to another. There's something hilariously apt to the fact that they've almost skipped straight to the slightly more rigidly-defined lines of D/s.

But Tony's not thinking about control or the lack of it now. There's a pleasant looseness to the whole thing, the idea that there are no expectations or intrigues other than figuring out what feels good and doing it. It's not quite the absolute lassitude of the other night, but it is just. Comfortable.

One of the few things he can remember with absolute clarity is thinking that relaxation is a good look on Steve. It's true, but this -- handsome faced flushed and dark eyed -- Tony thinks he could be willing to do a lot of things to get Steve looking like this more often.

[shieldborne]

Oh. Steve gives a faint gasp as he's pulled in closer. Something about the feeling of having someone's legs wrapped around his waist is arousing on a very primal level. He squirms a little, unable to help himself, but stills at the feeling of Tony playing with the hem of his t-shirt. It almost tickles, that touch is so light. Almost.

"Mnn!" He shivers a little at the bite and moves his right hand back up to the back of Tony's neck. Aware now that he gets a good response from a scalp massage, he rakes his fingers through his hair.

"But I like rules," he protests when they pause the kiss again. He's breathless. "You can't bend or break rules if there aren't any around."

[buildsomething]

Tony might have let that go, too busy practically purring at the hand in his hair. But even as his eyes slide closed to appreciate it, he can't help a low laugh.

"You rebel, you," he says as his hand slips under Steve's shirt properly, even if only to rest against his bare back. "But if it makes you feel better, go with a technicality. All of this is breaking a rule." And Tony is just making things up as he goes, but details. He can invent plenty of rules if Steve needs one to subvert so badly.

It really shouldn't be such an oddly attractive idea. "Do you just get off on being stubborn or what?" Said the pot to the kettle.

[shieldborne]

Steve draws in a breath at the touch of skin against skin, a slow, deep inhale that he releases just as slowly. Maybe it's a way to get a hold of himself, or maybe he just wants to take a moment to focus on the feel of Tony's hand on his back, warm and callused. It makes him itch for more.

"Yeah? What rule is that?" Steve is excellent at memorizing rules and standards and best practices. He's also excellent at ignoring them when it suits him. People look at him and see a military man, and they forget he lied on his enlistment forms five times to get there.

"Thought you wanted to find out for yourself what I get off on," he snorts, and nudges Tony's shirt collar out of the way to get at his clavicle. "But if you really wanna know, it's a survival mechanism. You spend your life getting doors slammed in your face, you gotta either stop knocking on them, or learn to be prepared to wedge your foot in the door before it can get closed on you. And then push."

He kisses the curve of skin angling over bone, lets his teeth scrape lightly, and then nuzzles the pit of Tony's throat. "So what's your excuse, then?"

[buildsomething]

"Me?" Tony laughs, the sound going a little breathless at the feeling of teeth on his throat. Trust Steve to be open and genuine while they're busy necking. Tony is...less so. But that's nothing new. "I'm just an asshole."

And the fact that Steve is still this conversational probably means that Tony isn't doing a good enough job of distracting him. A bit of teasing is all well and good, but Tony can't shake the urge to see if he can coax more of those pretty sounds out of him instead.

He slowly drags the hand on his back up the line of Steve's spine, fingers pressing just a little into the muscle on either side. There's a sudden flash of an incredibly vivid visual, Steve spread out on Tony's sheets upstairs with all that bare skin under Tony's hands. Tony doesn't even bother to fight the low groan that rumbles out of his throat. They are definitely doing that later.

For the moment, he just continues the path up Steve's back, then tugs on the hem of the shirt that's come along for the ride. "Think we can lose this?"

[shieldborne]

Honesty is Steve's default. He's not incapable of deception, but the more distracted he is, the more likely he is to be open and genuine. And Tony definitely has him...distracted. The blood flow is deserting his brain and going elsewhere. He hasn't lost all of his verbal skills yet, but the fact that there's a delay before he catches up with Tony's reply and laughs definitely says something.

"You said it, not me," he jokes, and nips again.

Every nerve in Steve's back seems to be responding to the feeling of fingers moving up his back. He makes a breathless noise and lifts his head at around the same moment Tony groans.

"Mnhh...your workshop. I guess if you want it gone..." He grins at him, just a little sheepish, and moves back just enough to shrug out of the shirt. He actually starts to fold it to set it aside, then realizes there's no point and tosses it under the table.

"I like your hands," he blurts, a mild non-sequitur. But then he reaches to take Tony's wrists and press his palms against his upper chest.

[buildsomething]

"You do, huh?" Tony says with a grin as he fans his fingers out over his collarbones like he's trying to touch as much as possible all at once. It's nothing he hasn't seen before, Steve's bare chest, given they all live together and Steve's tendencies towards skin-tight shirts. But it's not a sight he thinks he might get tired of. And being able to put his hands all over it is a very different thing altogether. That, he definitely appreciates.

He's also getting the sense that Steve has a serious thing for skin contact. Tony's known that Steve is a physical guy, but the responses he's made to even the slight touches so far have been fascinating. And hot, obviously, but that's pretty much a given for everything at the moment. It makes the scientist in Tony want to see just how far he can get with nothing but his fingertips.

Later, maybe. For the moment, he strokes his thumbs along the lines of Steve's clavicle, watching his face with a soft kind of amusement.

[shieldborne]

"Uh-huh," his eyes flutter closed for a moment. He runs his fingers up Tony's arms and around his shoulders until he's half embracing him again, an expression of soft concentration settling on his face. "They're strong. Little bit rough, in a good way. Because you do so much stuff in here. I like that. Sure you're a genius, but you work with your hands."

Competence is pretty attractive. An ability to labor and create something concrete...well, Steve is still a bit of an artist at heart. Skill is sexy.

His lips curl up into a faint smile, half parted, and he sighs, just passively enjoying the stroking for a moment. His bare skin is sensitive, evidently. And surprisingly soft for someone who's ostensibly a tough guy. Maybe that's the serum's work. He tends not to scar, and aging comes slow. After a moment, he gives a little shiver under the touch. It's not from cold.

[buildsomething]

Well that might be a first. Tony's gotten plenty of of compliments on the things he makes, not not necessarily on the fact that he makes them. It is a very Steve thing, though, and Tony can't help but laugh.

"I'll keep that in mind." It's dry, but there's a heat still in his voice that he makes no attempt to hide. He's pretty sure they're both on the same page by now. "So you've got a thing for me working, huh? I can roll with that." Actually, it makes their current location pretty perfect. And here he was going to suggest they move this.

His hands slowly slide lower, fingers tracing over his chest and down his stomach like they're mapping the lines of muscle. He keeps the touch light, teasing, watching Steve's face the whole time.

[shieldborne]

"You can do too many things to be real," he tells him half playful, half plaintive. "It's not fair to the rest of us. Maybe I'm a little jealous."

His hands move up to run through Tony's hair, but he's sinking into slightly more passive behavior than he has thus far, focusing on the feel of what's happening to him instead of trying to do. "But yeah. I do. Like that."

His breathing is picking up to the point where the rise and fall of his chest is visible beneath Tony's hands. This is a good way to figure out the sensitive spots on his torso, for certain. His lashes flutter as fingertips brush his upper flanks as if it's just a bit ticklish, and then his jaw drops a bit further as Tony moves down his abdomen, and he runs his tongue over his lower lip.

[buildsomething]

As much as Tony enjoys having his hair played with, he can't help but tip his head back a little to arch an eyebrow at him. "Seriously? This from the actual peak of human perfection?" It doesn't stop him from continuing to run his hands down Steve's stomach, but really.

Though it's a little hard to keep track of the conversation if Steve is going to keep looking that gorgeous. Tony's eyes track down to his mouth as he licks his lip and he feels himself start to lean in to taste himself when his fingers suddenly hit the waistband of Steve's pants.

He pauses, then makes himself take a breath and lean back. His brain is going a little fuzzy with all the touching, and he shakes his head slightly to clear it. He needs to get this out first. "If you want to stop things for the moment, let me know now?"

[shieldborne]

"Hah," Steve doesn't open his eyes, but the curl of his lips says something more self-deprecating than playful. "You can address those compliments to Dr. Erskine's estate. I'm just maintaining what I was given custody of."

That could sound downright bitter if his tone wasn't so soft and matter-of-fact. He is, of course, assuming Tony is only referring to his physical appearance and stamina. He makes a soft grunt of restless pleasure when Tony's fingers reach his waistband, eyes opening again. They're focused again, bright and determined and hungry.

"Don't wanna stop," he says, breathy and soft, and leaning into him. "But tell me you got a way to lock the doors?"

[buildsomething]

Tony gives him a look for that, but since Steve's eyes are closed it's a fairly mood point. The rest of what he says makes for a much better distraction anyway, and by the time Steve's eyes open again, Tony is all but smirking at him.

"Remember who you're talking to?" One hand curves around Steve's side while the other deftly flicks open the button on his pants without Tony breaking eye contact. "The better question is who I'm willing to unlock it for."

[shieldborne]

Steve's pupils are blown, black crowding out blue. He puts his hands on the table on either side of Tony's hips, just holding on for the moment, watching his face. His breath hitches when Tony flicks open the button, hips giving just the slightest twitch, beyond his conscious control.

"So, are you saying I should be grateful you let me in?" He lets his forehead rest on Tony's shoulder for a moment, nuzzling the crook of his neck. "Or that I have to sweet-talk you into letting me back out, if I ever want to leave?"

Shiver. Is this still idle banter, or the start of a more serious game? Either way, Steve is interested.

[buildsomething]

"Oh yes," Tony says with great solemnity. "Welcome to my parlor." He hums a little as Steve leans in against him, the hand on his side slipping around to press against the small of Steve's back.

He could get used to this, the weight of someone bigger against him. It could feel like he's being crowded, but it's Steve. Like the other night when he just knew that Steve was safe. He's in as close to his right mind as he ever gets now, and all of it feels perfectly comfortable.

Not that it stops him from slipping his fingers into the open vee of Steve's pants to find more heat instead.

[shieldborne]

Both, then! Steve breaks into a grin that's part amusement and part pleasure. "Oh," is all he says at first, because Tony's hand on the small of his back sends a funny little thrill up his spine.

Then, of course, there's those clever fingers creeping down the front of his jeans. That actually makes him freeze in place for a second, afraid he'll discourage the touch if he squirms too much. It's too much and not enough, and his nerve endings are already clamoring for more, from his belly all the way down to his toes.

"Tony," he scolds breathily, "You're just gonna start feeling me up without letting me take any of your clothes off first?"

[buildsomething]

"Hey. You didn't ask," Tony says, as reasonably as he can for having his hand down Steve's pants. Also it means he'd have to let go, which seems like a shame. But, well. Fair's fair.

With a deeply overdramatic sigh, he pulls both his hands away and nudges Steve back just far enough to give him room to tug his shirt off and toss it somewhere. He's well past the point of feeling self conscious about the scars decorating his chest, but at the moment Tony's a lot more interested in getting his hands back on Steve than in showing off.

"Better?" He asks with a flash of a grin as he reaches for him, tugging Steve back in against him. And oh, hey. Skin-on-skin. That is better. "Now where were we?"

[shieldborne]

"I'm still adjusting to your lack of rules," Steve tells him, choking back a little moan as he pulls his hands away. No one has the dexterity to feel a guy up and undress at the same time, but he can't help but regret the break in the fondling.

He gives him room obligingly, though, and watches. He's seen some of those scars before, and of course the blue glow of the reactor is visible through Tony's clothes more often than not. Steve can't help but feel much the same about Tony's body as he does about his hands. This is a man who doesn't have to put his life on the line, and even the suit he wears can't protect him from all the danger he throws himself into.

"Better," he says softly, warmly. And when Tony pulls him in closer he goes eagerly, curling around him with a whimper.

Yes. Skin-on-skin. It's a little intoxicating.

[buildsomething]

Tony can't help but laugh as he wraps an arm back around him. He hasn't missed the fact that Steve's back is apparently sensitive, and it's not like he's going to complain about getting as much contact as possible. His fingers trace absent patterns low on his spine, and Tony smiles.

"You're good for the ego," he murmurs, voice warm, "you know that?" And like a reward, he slides his free hand back into Steve's open pants to cup over the length of him.

[shieldborne]

His back and his chest are his major weak points, the former slightly more than the latter. It might be psychological; his spine and his heart were very real frail points in his body before Project Rebirth shaped him into what he is now. Something in him remembers.

His breathing is deep, picking up gradually, and he gives a little twitch when Tony hits a ticklish spot on his spine, grinning against his neck. His own hands sweep up and down Tony's back and sides, smoothing and exploring. "What's that s'posed to mean? Good for the ego."

He could tell Tony his ego doesn't need stroking, but he definitely doesn't want to discourage him from what he seems to be up to. He gasps at the much-needed pressure against his groin, nods against his neck, and curls his hands against Tony's hips. "...fuck, Tony. Yeah. That's good. More?"

He nips his neck and shoulder again, having been given greater access, and he's a little more forceful this time, sucking small bruises into his skin.

[buildsomething]

He wants to laugh again, but it comes out more as a moan as Steve starts in on his neck. Tony gives a little shiver of his own at every bite and tips his head back, eyes sliding closed. Trust Steve to be able to zero in on his sensitive spots just as easily.

Not that it stops Tony's hand from moving, tracing almost too lightly over the warm, hard line of Steve's cock. He gives him as much contact as he can, moulding his hand around him as it slides gently up and down.

"What else do you want, hm?" It's low and teasing and all heat.

[shieldborne]

Oh, there we go. It's not the same vulnerability that Steve was enjoying the night before, but it's still a show of softness, of a kind. Between that and the almost-tease of Tony's hand on Steve's erection, he's getting quite eager, quite quickly.

He also seems interested in exploring as much of Tony's exposed skin as possible, with his mouth. His attention is getting more determined, leaving a few little bite marks here and there, moving up his throat, nuzzling and nibbling at his ears, and then back down to his chest. His breath is hot and light and shallow.

"Too many things," he answers, softly, breathily, on the edge of hearing. "Want to suck you and then bend you over the table; but I want you to keep stroking me like that, too. Or maybe have you sit in my lap...what about you, hm? You want more, too? Want me?"