Pepper Potts surged to her feet and, in a sudden movement that she hadn't realized she'd even made until after she had done it, slapped a hand firmly across the side of his cheek. Not enough to cause any real pain...but enough to silence his words and at least give him just a tiny sting that would mirror the one she felt in her heart.
"Don't you dare call me stupid, Tony Stark," she growled at him harshly, shoving a single finger towards his face in an angry gesture. "Not me or my reasons! Ever."
She was silent for a moment as she simply stared at him, fighting to keep the anger in her eyes from bleeding over into the sorrow that she felt for having let her emotions get out of control like that. She balled her hand up into a tiny fist and pushed her way past him, needing to get away from him. Away from those dark, intense eyes. Away from that scowling, judgmental scowl.
Away from his scent that would always mean "safe" and "home" within her memories...
She was pacing now. A habit of hers when she was upset. He'd seen in plenty of times before, though so very rarely had he been on the receiving end of her tirades.
"No, Mr. Stark, I'm not upset with you because you 'got horny'...I'm upset with you because you just used that girl for your own momentary one-night-stand pleasures. Something just to relieve a little itch that you had. Do you have any intentions of calling her up again? I'm shocked that you even remember her name! You use women and then throw them aside as soon as you're done with them. And it's sick. And it's wrong."
She turned on him now and there was almost something desperate in her eyes as she threw her arms out wide.
"And I know you say that some women want that - but why is it that that's what you want? Why is that all that matters to you? Just a quick shag in the bed and you're done? Is there something wrong with having a woman that actually wants to love you? In waiting and saving yourself for her besides just chasing after every piece of ass that passes your gaze?"
Too much, Pepper! Dangerous territory there. Watch it. You're going to give yourself away.
She bit down sharply on her lower lip and drew her arms back in around her chest once again as she looked away with a shake of her head.
"I just think you deserve so much better than a passing screw," she muttered, almost too softly to hear before she raked her fingers back through her hair and gave a little shrug of her bare shoulders. "I've always thought that."