They obeyed, a hush so quiet falling over it that we could hear someone’s stomach growling a few seats over.
He paced the stage a couple times, his heavy boots clunking against the floor with each pass. Then, he stopped only a few feet from the long table that sat before us and brought the mic to his mask covered face.
“Apologies for not being the real Iron Man, folks,” the man said, his voice muffled from the mask. “But there is an urgent matter that only a hero can attend to.”
The crowd went wild again, and even I couldn’t stop the small grin that shaped my lips. This was intriguing and fun and…my heart sank. I wished Eric was here.
“But,” he continued when it fell quiet again. “I spoke with the real Iron Man, and he was completely on board for this. So, not only is RDJ a legend. He’s a real hero.”
Another round of applause.
“There is someone in this audience,” he continued. “Someone here that is unbelievably special to me.”
An aww ran through the crowd and even though it stung I glanced over my shoulder, scanning the audience for the lucky girl that was about to be beautifully mortified.
“She’s funny and smart and strong and…” his voice trailed for a moment as if he needed the seconds to breathe. “She’s my world. The Pepper to my Iron Man.”
That got him another round of awws and squeals from nearly every girl.
All except for me.
Because while that was super cute and awesome for whoever this girl was…it cut through me with memories I was having a hard time surviving.
“And we were recently met with a challenge,” he said, something in that voice nagging the back of my mind. Like I’d heard it. Maybe it was a different actor? Someone from another movie?
“A villain even we couldn’t withstand.” He dropped his head for a moment before looking back at the crowd. His masked gaze swept in our direction. “Timing. On occasion, timing can be the biggest villain of all.”
I glanced at Ivy, who had tears…actual tears rolling down her cheeks. I leaned to her ear. “Are you okay?”
She rolled her eyes and waved me off.
I mean, I know this guy was going above and beyond swoon-worthy, but holy hell, she was crying.
“But that is the thing about challenges and villains,” he continued, dropping to one knee on the edge of the stage, earning a sweet gasp from nearly half the room. “Heroes don’t run from them. Or cower from them. They face them. And they always get the girl.” He turned his other hand over, revealing a small black box.
Great, now a fairytale proposal is happening right in front of my shredded soul.
I tried so damn hard not to be jealous.
Jealous of the woman whose life was about to change.
Jealous of the woman who clearly snagged the perfect man because only perfection could pull this off.
Jealous of their happily ever after.
“And I’m really hoping I get the girl,” he said. “Because I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”
He set the mic down.
And took off his mask.
And the world shifted beneath my feet like the sudden swell of the sea.
“Eric?” I whispered in the stunning quiet, suddenly gripping Ivy’s arm so hard she yelped.
His green eyes focused on mine like he’d known exactly where I was this entire time. Love and hope and a little bit of fear coated those eyes.
I couldn’t breathe.
The whole time…he was talking about…me?
That was my Iron Man on stage.
Eric scooped up the mic again. “Pepper,” he said, his voice clear and filling my soul so much it ached. “I know it’s only been six months, but I knew from the first moment I saw you…you were it. I knew it before I knew your name. I knew it when you sat next to me during my first Marvel movie—” the crowd went nuts. “—and I knew it after our first kiss.” He took a deep breath, the massive suit moving with his chest. “And I know we’ve hit a roadblock, but…” he shrugged. “I’m ready to gamble my forever if you are. Because I can’t live without you.” He held up the ring, a nervous smile on his lips. “Marry me?”
I gaped at him and then at Ivy, who was knowingly smiling and crying.
Well, that explained a lot.
The hole in my chest burned and ached with the possibility in front of me. With the stark realization that he was with me.
My hero, on the same page, on the same wavelength.
And despite all the odds stacked against us…he’d shown up…and defied them.
I bolted off my chair, leaping onto the stage, the bouncer allowing me through like he’d known who I was the whole time too.
Eric was on his feet in seconds, staring down at me, his eyes wide and hopeful.
“Yes,” I said, breathless. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Tears coated my eyes as he reached for me, capturing my mouth with his. The kiss healing the pain inside, mending what I’d broken.
I laughed against his mouth as the rubber and plastic from the suit pinched my soft curves when he’d pressed me against it.
“Sorry,” he said and slipped the ring on my finger. It was a solid gold band and instead of a diamond, a ruby sat in its center. “Too much?” he asked.
“It’s perfect,” I said, truly meaning it. He knew me better than anyone had ever known me. I kissed him again, wild and hungry, damning the suit and the crowd.
The crowd.
I waited for the mortification at being on display in front of so many people, but it didn’t come. Nothing could touch the bliss running through my veins.
Well, almost nothing.
“What about Dad,” I said, my shoulders falling.
A smirk shaped his lips. “I asked him first,” he said.
I gasped.
“Ivy helped.” He motioned to where she sat, her hands clamped on top of her chest, that same tear-stained grin on her face.
“Ohmygod,” I said, more tears coating my eyes. “This is really happening, then? You’re mine?”
A shudder ran through him and he tucked me into his side. “Yes,” he said. “And you’re mine.” He lifted the mic, our conversation private before. “She said yes!”
The audience cheered and clapped, and I smiled shyly out at them, half hiding my face behind Eric’s suit.
Then the crowd went really nuts.
Like, fangirls takeover the world nuts.
I turned my gaze to see who they were screaming for…
And about fainted.
“Actually,” the man said, eyeing Eric then the crowd. “Doesn’t Pepper technically belong to me?”
Every single person laughed at that, including Eric and me, even as we nodded and slowly descended from the stage. Bowing and smiling at his congratulations.
Eric tugged us through a set of doors near the front of the room, just off the stage, and then through another, until we were in a closet-sized room.
He didn’t waste time, this time claiming my mouth with all the love and hunger and none of the restraint.
“I love you,” he said between my lips.
“I love you,” I gasped back. Every nerve in my body stood at attention, burning for him, his touch, the taste of him in my mouth. “I’m sorry,” I said between kisses. “I’m so freaking sorry.”
“Don’t,” he said, stopping me. “Wait, let me get out of this suit,” he said, practically growling when he had to break contact.
“What…how did you pull this off?” I asked as he took off so many pieces to the elaborate costume.
“I may have promised a few autographs,” he said, smirking as he shed the last pieces, leaving him in Under Armour tights and top. “And a few season passes.”
My mouth went dry at the sight of him. The tight fabric hugged every inch of his body—his toned legs, his carved abs, the broad chest, and…every considerable inch of him.
Slowly, he stepped toward me, until my back was against the door and
his tall frame towered over me. He caged me in with his arms, his forehead against mine.
“I couldn’t stand another second away from you,” he whispered.
“I’m so sorry—”
He covered my mouth with his, shaking his head.
“Don’t,” he said again. “I know everything. Why you did it.” He kissed me again, too fast, before pulling away. “I’ve never had anyone love me that much, Pepper. And I’m prepared to show you every day for the rest of your life just how damn much I love you.”
I flung my arms around his neck, locking my ankles around his hips as he hefted me to his eye level.
“My hero,” I said with all the muster and cheese I could possess.
He laughed against my mouth. “At your service.”
I rocked my hips against what I could easily feel through his tights.
A low growl rumbled in his chest. “Pepper,” he said, sighing as he clutched my hips. “Don’t you want to go see the panel?” He asked the question through clenched teeth as I continued my slow rock. “Iron Man,” he continued. “He’s your favorite.”
True.
I was a fangirl.
And on any other day, I would’ve sat in that front-row-seat and watched RDJ do his thing with my mouth gaping open.
But not today.
Not after what I’d done to us.
“You’re my favorite,” I said, rolling my hips against his.
He kissed up my neck until he claimed my mouth again. His tongue sweeping in, flicking and teasing all the right spots. Stealing my breath.
“Besides,” I said, arching my head back so he could kiss my chest. “There is always next year.”