Welcome Back [Heart in a Knot] - for Starknaked

[specification]

It had been two months since Arthur had seen Tony. Two months of text messages, phone calls and stolen moments over web cam while Arthur worked a job in Moscow. It was supposed to have been done weeks ago - simple extraction but of course, it never goes the way it should go despite his every precaution. Sometimes, the mark just doesn't want to do what you mentally will them and expect them to do.

He was finally in Malibu again without a tail on his trail and at least a week before he was off to the next job. It was 5:30 in the morning (5:34 a.m. to be exact) and he knew that when he walked into Tony's house, Tony would be asleep. Instead of entertaining himself for the next several hours, he knew he would rather be at Tony's Malibu mansion and in the man's arms than anywhere else. And he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, Tony would prefer the same.

It was 5:50 when he pulled up to the house in the rental car and it took hardly any time to get inside with what he needed (PASIV, messenger bag and suitcase), using the key Tony had given him so many months ago on that first job. He left everything resting inside of the doorway (he wouldn't be needing them right away) and locked the door before heading up the steps to Tony's room - keeping silent as he did so as to not wake anyone else.

Arthur felt a smile tug on his lips when he stepped into the older man's bedroom and shut the door gently behind him. Not completely silent so as to completely startle Tony but still keeping it quiet.

Fuck, but he had missed him.

He toed of his shoes and socks, removed his suit jacket and rested it over a chair before undoing the buttons on his waist coat. The entire time, he kept his gaze on Tony's form underneath the blankets. Knowing him, he had probably only been asleep for only an hour or two at most. They were very much alike in that regard.

Before long, Arthur slid underneath the blanket next to Tony with only a pair of boxers on.

Comments

[specification]

It was much easier than it was in Arthur's case where his alias changed dependent on the job he was working and where he was. His eyebrow quirked up as he smirked. To be quite honest, he couldn't remember the last time he slept with anyone who wasn't Tony. It had been quite awhile. While they never exactly said out loud that they were monogamous, Arthur hadn't even looked at another man or woman since they started this. Course - Tony was Tony but he knew, somehow, that Tony hadn't been with anyone lately either. "Mm, is that right? I'll just have to keep that in mind," he mused with a teasing little smirk.

"Always. It's one of the things you like most about me."

[starknaked]

He said it, not thinking about how it sounded. Yet then, as he lay there, silent and comfortable, he worried he'd said the wrong thing. Where did they stand? What was it? They hadn't talked about it. It just happened and they had something. What it was though, he wasn't sure what to think about that.

That Arthur didn't seem upset by it made him feel better than he suspected it should have.

"One of them. Shows that sharp, wonderful mind you have," he noted, realizing the compliment he was giving him.

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Arthur felt the smirk slide into a genuine smile when Tony complimented him on his mind. Coming from the billionaire genius, it was a compliment that Arthur didn't take lightly. He was pleased that Tony thought so and felt that way. "Coming from you, I will take that as a high compliment," he said, pressing a kiss to his chest softly.

[starknaked]

"Not many minds that can keep up with mine," he said in a low voice. "So definitely a compliment."

Despite his ego, and that inflating so much of what he said and did but he knew he had a sharp mind and he wasn't he least bit bothered by the fact that Arthur not only kept up with him, he was smart enough to get Tony on the intellectual ropes from time to time. It was titillating and exciting, if he was honest.

[specification]

He would be lying if he said he wasn't inwardly proud that he could mentally (and not to mention physically) keep up with Tony Stark. "Definitely a compliment," he agreed softly and lifted his head so he could kiss Tony with a grin.

[starknaked]

Kissing him back, slow and deep,enjoying even just that simple touch that they shared. "I suppose you're going to tell me soon I should do things to get ready," he said with a sigh. "I know how you are."

And that was a truth as well. He was really starting to learn how he was.

[specification]

Arthur pulled back from his lips and watched Tony with amusement. "Well, yes -- soon I think you should start to get ready for this party," he said. "But we do have a little bit of time that we can lay here and not move before that happens." He paused. "So long as Pepper doesn't come looking for you in the meantime."

Truth was, they were both starting to know and learn their quirks.

[starknaked]

"Ready for the party. You know, I keep making this case to Pepper. The party literally doesn't officially start until I'm there. There is no party without me. So when I show up, there will be a party. Then, when I hide to have sex with you, the party will go on because they all know I'm there somewhere."

It was obvious Tony had put too much thought into this.

[specification]

He could tell that Tony had put quite a bit of thought into that and couldn't help his chuckle. "That is definitely one way of seeing it," Arthur mused with a grin. Though, when it came to Tony and the parties that he was known to have and attend, it was more or less true. Especially ones held at Stark Industries. "Regardless, we get there on time and the sooner you can have me in that office," Arthur teased him with a grin. He knew it would take a little while for Tony to make the rounds enough to please Pepper but that was why Arthur would bring something to entertain himself with until they could indulge in each other.

[starknaked]

"Oh now that's just cheating. Really? You're using sex logic to get me to do what I'm supposed to," he asked with a snort. "Now that it just cheating. Mostly because it's going to work," he admitted, a low rumble of a chuckle in his voice.

"What will you be doing while you wait for me?"

[specification]

Arthur laughed. "I don't call it cheating," he said with a smirk, watching his reactions. "How can it be cheating when we will be getting exactly what we want?"

"Mm, haven't decided yet. Maybe bring a book with me."

[starknaked]

"Manipulation, Arthur. You're manipulating me to get me to do what I should," he said, as if doing what he should do was such a horrible thing, or he didn't know he needed to do it.

"You're going to wait for me and read a book." He paused and then grinned. "Naked."

[specification]

"Manipulation is such a dirty word. I prefer...enticing you to do what is needing to be done," Arthur said with a teasing tone.

His eyebrows rose. "Naked, hm? I don't think I agreed to that one," he smirked.

[starknaked]

“Dirty or not, it’s honest,” he teased, not minding this. Not in the least. The laughter, the jokes, the fact they were this at ease with one another. It was so new, and so welcome.

“I think you did. Time saving,” he added, as if that was the right answer.

[specification]

Arthur chuckled. "Honest but still dirty." He didn't mind this either - the teasing each other and the joking. It was one of the things that he enjoyed most, if he were honest.

He hummed. "Mm, don't think I did," he grinned, sliding his hand over Tony's chest before slowly starting to sit up. "Just have to see when you walk in," he teased. Besides, who knew who else would be wanting to hide out during the party. It was possible that someone else would come barging into the office looking for an empty room.

[starknaked]

"I think that describes me," he said with a bright smile. "Don't you think so? Honest but still dirty? I think that says a lot about me." At least with Arthur he could admit to that. He might not with others, even if the others thought that was a truth about him. Screw what they thought. He wasn't worried about them.

He sighed as he sat up, moving away. "Oh I see how it is. Make me deal with them, wondering if you're naked and alone. Though I warn, don't sit in a leather chair naked," he teased.

[specification]

"I think it discribes you perfectly," Arthur admitted with a grin. It of course didn't escape Arthur's notice that was it anyone else, Tony probably wouldn't have said it or admitted to as much with just anyone else. He wasn't that kind of man.

He watched Tony sit up and move away. "No plans to sit in a leather chair naked," he smirked. "Hopefully no one else will want to hide out and walk in unexpectedly." He stood from the bed and stretched his arms out slowly. That extra sleep had been needed and much appreciated. The fact that he had gotten to sleep in Tony's arms made it even better and even more restful if he was honest.

[starknaked]

Heading for the closet, he stopped there and looked back at Arthur. Standing there, watching that beautiful man in his head bed. So elegant and sexy and damn but he wanted to keep him there as long as he could.

"So you do plan to be naked because you worry about people coming in unexpectedly. Good to know," he teased, grinning. "So I know you'll be ready. Good."

[specification]

Arthur took a long moment to look Tony over slowly before walking over. "No, no plans to be naked," he smirked. "But, this time I will be prepared with lube. Since, it has been a month since we've been together last."

He rested a hand on Tony's chest before looking up at him. "Still have my suit from the last time I was here?" He had one downstairs too in his suitcase that he never brought up but if he had one already hung up, he'd wear that first.

[starknaked]

"Are you enjoying my nudity," he asked with a grin. He knew the answer, but he did like making Arthur admit it. Especially because of the look he got so often.

He nodded, tugging open the closet door. "Yep. Right in here," he said with a nod. "Would you like it now or later? I vote for later."

[specification]

Arthur looked at him with a fake considering look and hummed. "I think the bigger question is, when haven't I enjoyed your nudity, you hedonist," he asked with a smirk.

He nodded, least it was still in there. It felt...almost domestic like - having kept some of his clothes here. It hadn't been completely intentional but afterward, he was glad that he had left it behind and a few other articles of clothing if he remembered right. Arthur chuckled. "Let's go ahead and bring it out but I'll change into it a little later after I eat something."

[starknaked]

Standing there, one hand on the door of the closet and looking utterly comfortable with himself and what they had between them. He was utterly comfortable with himself, especially with Arthur. The man had been in his head, seen more than literally anyone. He found that made him more at ease with Arthur rather than less. He hadn't been sure about that in the beginning.

He nodded, glancing back at the closet. "You know... There's a lot of space in here. I mean, not that you have to but if you wanted to, you could always leave a few things here. Make traveling easier."

[specification]

A slow smile grew on Arthur's lips when Tony offered to let him keep some of his stuff there. Apart from the places he owned and went back to, Arthur didn't keep his stuff just anywhere else. He watched Tony as he said it and knew it meant a lot if he was offering it.

In a moment of indulgence, Arthur wrapped his arms around him. "It would make traveling easier," he admitted and looked at him. "I'd like that," he said, softly.

Tony was the first in a long time that Arthur had allowed himself to grow close to - close enough where he felt this sense of okay with leaving some of his stuff here. Where he was more than okay with having a committed relationship with the older man.

[starknaked]

It was new for Tony. He was, after all, Tony Stark. Playboy Millionaire. He had a dozen women in and out of his place. Hell, he knew he was going to have to either start faking a few things, come up to admitting the truth, or find a way to talk with Arthur about where they stood. The tabloids were starting to notice that he wasn't playing around as much as he had before. They were talking someone finding a permanent place in his heart and home. They weren't wrong, that much he could admit, but he couldn't tell them either. Not yet. Maybe not ever with Arthur's job.

"Good. I'll make you a tiny spot. Maybe a shelf," he teased, pulling him that bit closer, kissing him softly. "Seriously though... I would really like it if you left things here. If only so you're more comfortable during your time here."

He realized then how much he wanted this, how comfortable he himself was with the idea.

"If you want, that is."

[specification]

"Oh? A shelf," Arthur teased him in return, moving in closer and returning his kiss with a chuckle. "I don't know, if it's just a shelf," he said slowly, giving him a faux considering look before dropping the act and tightening his arms around him.

It was only after Tony said it and after he gave it a moment of thought that he knew what he wanted. "I'd like that,' he said, sliding a hand up to rest on the side of Tony's neck. "I'd like to keep my things here." Things he wouldn't always need but would want if he were staying with Tony for a little bit.