"Kids?" Pepper questioned with an arch brow, giving enough of a tug on his hair that he had to turn and look up at her. "Kid. Singular. One. We don't need for this place to become a petting zoo. I think one animal around here is enough for now."
She smirked down at him and leaned her head back against her arm once again, eyes sliding shut. Her fingers returned to their lazy movements through his hair...and it was so very strange how absolutely natural this position felt. Back in their world, the closest Pepper had ever come to anything like this was on the night that they'd dance...or the day she'd put her hand inside of his chest. That'd had been roughly the extent of their physical contact. Sure, there were little pats on the back or soft touches of hands or brushing of the fingertips...but that was all filed under the category of either "professionalism" or "accidental". Never would she have dreamed of curling up on the couch alongside of him as she was now, sharing a lazy moment together out of what would have usually been a stressful day.
But somehow..it just felt right. Casual. Peaceful.
Safe.
Pepper smiled to herself as she felt his fingertips begin to move across the smooth skin of her leg. Normally when he teased her in such manners, grinning at her roguishly and pulling at the hem of her skirt, she'd slap his hand away and scold him. But this touch was so very different from that lascivious touch. This was a gentle, tender kind of feeling...almost loving. Nothing overtly sexual about it. It was the kind of relaxed caress that a man would give to the woman that he treasured higher than any others.
Pepper felt herself blushing at that thought and she turned her head slightly away to hide it...a for a moment her lips quivered as she fought back a silly, girlish smile.
"Mm, wake me up if I fall asleep," she murmured quietly, trailing the edge of her thumb lightly along his ear.