The Dove & The Strongman

When his urge to laugh had finally passed, he spoke with a husky voice. "Where is that bathroom again?"

She shook her head, "Right across the hall actually."

"I'll be right back, okay?"

"Wait! You're still...umm...still bare." Her skin flushed pink again.

"Stark said he and Jarvis were going to the bar. We have the whole house to ourselves for a little while at least."

"Oh."

He still looked down either side of the hall, just in case before ducking into the bathroom. He quickly grabbed a washcloth and turned the water on. While he waited for it to heat up, he eyed the medicine cabinet with interest.

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

Lyla's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She hadn't expected this turn of events at all but a part of her, deep down yearned for his touch again.

She moved her legs and winced, he had been correct, it had hurt, but he had been so gentle with her, it brought a soft smile to her face. Then a thought came to her that wiped the smile from her face. He still had to leave tomorrow morning and she didn't know how long it would be before he came back or if he was going to come back at all. She pressed a hand to her stomach and one to her mouth and her breath hitched as tears filled her eyes.

This could be the first and last time they ever touch, the only time they ever love.

The tears fell as she took a gasping breath and broke down into sobs.

Dugan paused in the doorway at her sobs. He was confused. What had happened while he was across the hall?

"Dove?"

It only made her sob harder, so he moved to the side of the bed she had turned to. He set the washcloth and a glass on the nightstand and knelt down next to her.

He reached for her, wiping the tears from her cheek. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

"I don't want you to go."

'Oh.'

He leaned over and kissed her forehead, his fingers continued to caress her cheek as he talked.

"Lyla, I have to go. God knows I want to stay here with you, but I have a job, a duty to do. Plus who's going to keep an eye on your brother?"

She hiccupped, "I don't want to lose you."

"You won't. I'll do everything in my power to come back to you, I promise."

His knees were starting to hurt kneeling on hardwood floors.

"Dove, this floor is killing my knees."

She giggled and scooted away with a wince.

"Well, then, get over here."

"First things first, we need to get you cleaned up, okay? I...uh....also raided the medicine cabinet and found some aspirin for ya."

He handed her one of the aspirin tabs and the glass of water he set on the nightstand. Once she drank half the glass he set it back down on the stand and took the wet washcloth to her center, being careful not to hurt her further.

She sighed and ran her hands through his hair until he finished and laid beside her, his hands tracing circles on the skin of her back.

Lyla snuggled her nose into his chest and threw a arm over his waist.

"How did I find such a good man like you?"

"Easy enough, dove," He kissed her hair. "You wrote back."

When he heard no reply, he pulled back to look down at her, his mouth open to respond when he noticed that she had fallen asleep. He chuckled, covering their bodies with the quilt at their feet to protect them from the chill of the night air.

"I love you, dove."

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

The main door slammed open and two very drunk men tumbled through it.

"Shh...shh, be quiet Jarv, they could still be, you know?"

"I know, but I don't want to be reminded of it." Jarvis replied with a hiccup.

Howard chuckled, "What, you didn't do the same with Ana?"

Another hiccup came from the man before he replied, "A gentleman...hic...never tells, sir."

"So basically yes."

"Yes...hic..sir."

Howard doubled over in laughter. Jarvis was well and truly drunk off his ass.

"I should not have told you that. Ana will no dou-dub...be upset."

"Don't worry. I won't tell if you won't."

"That's a deal, sir. Now if you don't mind, I need to sleep."

Stark waved him off.

Jarvis came back after a few minutes wide eyed and red faced.

"What's the matter, Jarvis? Can't find your bed?"

If anything, his face got redder. "I found it sir, but...but..."

"But what?"

"Its occupied."

Stark was confused for a second, 'Occupied?'

Then his brain caught up and he threw his head back and laughed so hard he nearly fell over.

He clapped a hand on Jarvis's shoulder. "Come on, you can have one of the beds upstairs, okay?"

Jarvis hung his head, "Very well sir."

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

She slowly awoke, finding herself surrounded by warmth. She could hear a soft snore and feel the breath against her hair and the memories of last night came flooding back. She felt her cheeks heat up but she didn't move away from the arms wrapped around her holding her to a broad chest and the feel of him against her thigh had her taking a deep breath.

He snorted in his sleep before turning onto his back and releasing her from his hold. She giggled.

She had been shy to really explore him past his chest and abdomen the other night. Maybe now she could finish that exploration while he slept.

Lyla sat up and reached her hands to his side, the skin twitching at her touch, but still he didn't wake up.

'Hmm...'

She traced her hands over the scars and pockmarks she felt on his chest and stilled when he let a groan slip from his mouth.

He still slept.

Her face felt like it was on fire as she moved her hands down to his thighs, the only thought on her mind was the promise she made to him.

'It's midnight now, Tim, and I want to learn all of you by the time that sun comes up.'

When she finally touched him, he moaned in his sleep.

"Dove...." He mumbled.

She rubbed the length of him and lightly squeezed it, noticing that it hardened in her hands.

The sensations down there finally caused the sleeping man to wake. Dugan was groggy when he woke up but the sensations coming from her hands on him cleared his head quickly.

He moaned again.

"What are you doing down there dove?"

She jumped back. "I..uhh..umm...nothing."

"It was a hell of a wake-up call that's for sure, dove, but you don't have to do that if you-"

She squeezed him again making his words turn into a low groan.

"I told you last night that I was going to explore all of you and I meant it."

She lifted up her hands. "These are the only eyes I have, Tim. Let me use them."

He chuckled, "I love you, you know that?"

Her fingers danced across the skin of his thighs but before she could touch him again, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her up on top of his body.

She laughed breathlessly. "I know," pressing a kiss to his chest, "I love you too."

Lyla sat up on his chest brushing her core against him, causing him to grab her hips.

"Dove," he groaned, "I'm on the edge here, sweetheart."

"Good, let's fall off together."

Just as Dugan pressed up into her a knock sounded on the door followed by a voice.

"Mr. Dugan? Ms. Rogers?"

Dugan let his head hit the pillow with an exasperated growl. He could see the pout on Lyla's face and gave a death glare to the door

She giggled before leaning over and whispering, "You're glaring at the door, strongman."

He looked at her in shock.

'She just called me....'

Another knock sounded at the door and he all but growled at the door.

"What?"

"I...I was sent to inform you that it is six o'clock in the morning."

"Yeah? Anything else?"

"I..uhh...left a robe for Ms. Lyla next to the door."

"Thank you, Jarvis."

"Oh, um...breakfast is in 20 minutes."

They could hear the footsteps of the man quickly retreat down the hall.

Dugan laughed, "He couldn't get away from that door fast enough, could he?"

Lyla joined in the laughter, but moaned when the motion caused him to enter her in one stroke.

His hands ran up her sides, his thumbs brushing the undersides of her breasts, before they slid down her back and gripped her rear, rocking her against him harder.

They both groaned at the contact.

"He did say twenty minutes, dove."

She smiled, "Then stop talking."

Notes