Chapter 60: Interrupted Desires

This debt of gratitude—Peter Parker felt he might never repay it in this lifetime.

But it was aimed at the bad guys, after all!

Time for Spider-Man to take the stage!

"Wahoo!" Peter Parker let out an exhilarated yell, shot a strand of web, and disappeared into the steel jungle of New York.

Back in the apartment, the sound of running water finally died down.

"Tony, can you bring me some clothes from the bedroom?" came Pepper's soft, teasing voice through the bathroom door.

"It would be my pleasure!"

Aetheris realized he had never actually stepped inside her room before. He gently pushed the door open.

The room wasn't large, but it was impeccably tidy. A faint, pleasant scent lingered in the air—distinctly Pepper. Not too strong, just right.

"It's in the third drawer from the bottom, on the left side of the wardrobe!"

Pepper was using a towel to dry her damp hair as she called out.

Aetheris opened the drawer and nearly had a nosebleed.

It was stuffed with all kinds of Pepper's underwear: white lace, black mesh, high-waisted cotton. Some pieces were no bigger than the palm of his hand.

He picked up a purple one, holding it up, genuinely doubting how such a tiny scrap of fabric could possibly fit her curvy figure.

Of course, the drawer also held plain, practical undergarments, which baffled him just as much.

"What fabric do you prefer, Pepper?" he was about to ask, but then a mischievous idea crossed his mind. He chose the most revealing pair, complete with dangling pearl ornaments at the front.

The bathroom door opened just a crack. Aetheris leaned in, curious, but was instantly met with a sharp glare.

Pepper caught sight of what he was holding and blushed furiously.

"That Tony—so shameless! Of all the choices, he picks the most embarrassing one!"

Wrapped in a towel, she stepped out, cheeks flushed a bright red.

Like a lotus blooming from a clear pond—pure and untouched by artifice.

Fresh from the shower, Pepper looked radiant. Aetheris couldn't look away.

"I'm going to bed. You should rest soon too."

Noticing his intense gaze, Pepper quickly retreated to her room as if in flight.

Once the door closed, her heart was still racing.

She sat down on her soft bed, feeling utterly drained. All she wanted now was sleep.

Click.

The door lock turned.

Startled, Pepper pulled her robe tighter and turned toward the door, on edge.

"I warmed up some milk for you. It'll help you relax," Aetheris said as he stepped inside, holding a cup.

"Thanks." She reached for it, and he caught a glimpse of the towel slipping slightly, revealing a long stretch of creamy skin.

She looked slender, but she was delightfully curvy.

"Um… are you not leaving?" she asked, avoiding his eyes. His gaze was just too intense.

She tried to walk him to the door, but Aetheris blocked her and pulled her into his arms.

"Tony, let me go."

"I wanted to talk to you about the Goldbach Conjecture," he said, relishing the softness of the moment.

"That can wait until tomorrow."

"That's not ideal. Science demands sacrifice and commitment. This isn't just a small step for us, it's a giant leap for mankind!"

At this point, Aetheris had no intention of backing off.

Pepper steadied herself. Perhaps it was time to take the initiative.

He eased her down onto the bed in the center of the room. Her robe fluttered. The air grew thick with intimacy.

Now that they were alone, undisturbed, and their feelings mutual, it was only natural for her to waver.

But Aetheris didn't lunge like a wild animal. He simply sat on the edge of the bed, gently stroking her waist.

Pepper had been incredibly nervous, but his tender approach calmed her.

"I think… we're moving too fast. I want to save my first time for the day we exchange wedding rings."

She blushed but didn't pull away. Instead, trembling slightly, she curled up in his arms.

"Too fast? One of my classmates' sons is already old enough to buy groceries," Aetheris joked.

"Aren't you going to shower?" Pepper asked softly. Maybe she'd already accepted this was going to happen and if so, she wanted it to be on her own terms.

Aetheris cheered, stripped down to his underwear, and dashed toward the bathroom.

Pepper pulled the blanket over herself and watched the bathroom dreamily as he sang inside:

"La-la-la, scrub up and scrub down, rub left and rub right, shake hands again if there's time"

"Tony's been acting so weird lately… always saying strange things," Pepper murmured, dazed by the cheerful sight of him dancing in the shower.

Suddenly, Aetheris's phone rang.

🎵 Lucky day today, Old Wolf's buying chickendon't call me, call himwhat's the point of calling him anyway 🎵

The quirky ringtone jolted Pepper back to reality. She got up, grabbed his pants, and pulled out his phone.

Incoming Call: Green Light — Betty Ross!

Who's that?

Curious, she answered.

"Darling, how could you leave me all alone? I just saw the news that I was so worried about you. My heart aches for you, sweetheart," came a sweet, flirtatious voice on the other end.

Pepper frowned. She'd never heard this voice before.

This scumbag! Just how many women is he hiding from me?!

Suppressing her rage, she replied in a calm, syrupy tone, "Sorry, I'm Tony's secretary. May I ask what this is regarding?"

But inside, her fury was boiling. Tonight was supposed to be her night and now this woman had to come crashing in and ruin it all.

"Oh! I'm so sorry! Could you pass the phone to Tony Stark?" Betty Ross, lazily lounging under a blanket, suddenly sat up in a panic. The blanket slipped, revealing a figure that could make any man's heart stop.

That was the final straw.

Pepper stormed to the bathroom and banged on the door.

Aetheris, confused but cheerful, opened the door with a grin. "Couldn't wait for me, huh? Come on, let's bathe like a pair of lovebirds."

"Mandarin ducks fly in pairs, butterflies flutter by springtime all around, drunk on beauty, quietly"

Before he could finish the tune, Pepper shoved the phone into his hand and walked away without a word.

"What just happened? Premature menopause?" Aetheris muttered, glancing at the caller ID.

Betty Ross.

His smile vanished.

Damn it, everything had fallen apart at the worst possible time!

This night was supposed to win her over. And just when things were perfect, one of his old flames had to crash the party.

(End of Chapter)

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