Working relationships

[agent_coulson]

Phil Coulson was used to being woken up from a dead sleep. In fact, he'd basically stopped having "dead sleeps" anymore, after so many years of being on call and needing to be instantly alert at a moment's notice. He dozed more than he actually slept now.

So it wasn't a shock to hear his mobile ringing at 3am, but that didn't mean it was pleasant. His hand shot out automatically, pushing the button to answer the call even before he was fully awake. By the time it reached his ear, he'd opened his eyes and the beginning of a silent hope was already forming in his head: that maybe this would be something needing his authorization, or a question from a junior agent, or--hell, even a question from Fury himself, anything to let him go back to sleep after the call ended.

Of course that was a pipe dream. He listened carefully as the threat was described to him: two speedsters, shooting some kind of unidentified beam, in Newark. Destruction to property. Civilian lives at risk. General chaos.

It made sense, really. Of all the places he least desired to be, New Jersey at 3 in the morning on a Saturday was pretty close to the top of the list.

He sighed, and sat up, swinging off the bed to head for the closet. "I'll be there in twenty minutes. Call whoever's up on the roster, at least a Level 2. I don't want to be there all morning." With that, he snapped the phone shut, grabbed a suit off the rack, and made a beeline for the kitchen--if he was going to deal with this, he wasn't going to do it without coffee.

Comments

[agent_coulson]

He breathed in sharply when her hand touched his neck, eyes closing for a moment. Then they opened again, meeting hers. The coffee pot in the kitchen beeped, twice, to indicate that it was finished with half a pot (enough for two cups, at least), but he didn't move.

"I'm glad it's endearing," he said quietly. A few seconds later, he added, "...do you want any coffee? Or would you rather...?" His eyes flicked toward the couch, the bedroom, then back to the couch. He wasn't sure what they were doing here, what to suggest.

[ladyofmarvel]

That was certainly a positive response. As was the fact that he ignored the beeping of the coffee maker. Thumb tracing lightly over the line of his neck, she watched his eyes flick around, saw a moment of hesitancy as he tried to put it in a way he was likely trying to think of as inoffensive.

"Phillip... are you feeling a bit of an itch?" She took the burden of opening the topic from him. He could either deny it, and they could have a cup of coffee and head in to work, or he could admit it, and... well... she was curious what he looked like out of that suit.

[agent_coulson]

He sighed and inclined his head a little toward her thumb. "I feel like we should talk about this more first," he said, but even to his own ears, he didn't sound especially convincing. He frowned, trying to pull himself together. "We both just responded to a 3am call, you must be exhausted. I... I want you to want to, not just... doing me a favor."

He reached up and brushed a bit of her hair back. "You're tired, aren't you?"

[ladyofmarvel]

The hand at his neck moved to settle more firmly there, thumb moving up to trace over the edge of his jaw. "Heightened stamina and durability, Phil. They go a long way."

She moved to lean into him slightly, her other hand coming up to rest on his chest. "We can talk about it all you like, but I wouldn't be doing it out of obligation or anything similar. I'd definitely be doing it because I want to. Very much."

[agent_coulson]

He turned his head, pressing a small kiss against the pad of her thumb. "Okay. Then... I also want to." He smiled, and pulled her closer, a flutter of anxiety and uncertainty mixed with arousal stirring in his stomach. "The, ah, bed is more comfortable. If that's not too formal for this." He chuckled at himself and shook his head. "I don't even know what I'm saying."

He met her eyes. "Can I kiss you?"

[ladyofmarvel]

"Considering you likely got the same amount of sleep I did, if not less, I think comfort might go a long way." She felt the press of his hand as he pulled her in, the hand on his chest sliding up to press a finger to his lips while the fingers of her other hand toyed with the hair at the back of his head.

"You don't have to say anything, Phil. And I think you know the answer to that, but just in case you're still unsure..." She let her quieting finger fall, replacing it with her lips. Gently, she pressed her lips to his, letting him take the lead - if he wanted.

[agent_coulson]

He shivered a little when she played with his hair, then closed his eyes, kissing the lips she'd presented him, his hand tightening around her. He kissed her tentatively at first, then deeper when she let him open her mouth.

After moment, he broke off for air, but went right back to kissing her once he'd taken a breath. God, her lips were perfect, soft and yielding, but there was a playfulness to the way she kissed, to everything about her, and it stirred something in him. It made him want to leave Agent Coulson at the door for a while and slip back into being Phil with her. He hardly ever did that anymore, even alone.

He slid his hands down to cup her ass, gently, then lifted, encouraging her to wrap her legs around him. He knew she could just float to the bedroom on her own if she wanted to, but the idea of carrying her in there was appealing. And he didn't want to stop kissing her if he didn't have to.

[ladyofmarvel]

Her intrigue and attraction had prompted her to persist in this, and she was finding it was paying off in spades. There was something that ran underneath the calm, collected veneer he presented in his work, and to most of the world. Something very un-calm. Very un-collected. And very enticing.

That small gasp for air, followed by his lips finding and claiming hers again had her making a small, pleased sound against his mouth, tongue tracing over his lips before dipping in to taste him.

And then his hands slid down, cupping and lifting her, and she complied with that unspoken request. Arms winding around his neck, she lifted her legs to slide around him, another louder sound leaving him as she shifted and rocked against him. One hand was playing in his hair, the other clutching a handful of his jacket while she gave his lower lip a playful nip, then went back to the intricate dance of tongues she was enjoying.

[agent_coulson]

Phil walked them both slowly down the hall, the rhythm of his gait sending their bodies gently rubbing against each other, which kept distracting him from making faster progress. By the time they reached the bedroom, he was already half-hard, and it was with a little pang of regret that he lay her back onto the bed.

The pang disappeared quickly, though, as he toed off his shoes and climbed on over her, kissing her as he worked at his jacket. He got it off of one arm and most of the way off the other before he had to touch here again, and he ran his fingers through her hair. "God, you're so beautiful," he murmured, a note of reverence in his voice.

[ladyofmarvel]

She could feel his body respond to hers, a fact that sent a jolt of need through her. Feeling him lower her, she reached up and pulled her mask all the way off, tossing it off the edge of the bed before reaching for him as he climbed on with her, almost hovering over her as he worked his jacket off.

As he touched her, she slid it the rest of the way off, looking up at him as he spoke, smiling at both the words and the gentle sweep of his fingers through her hair. "I'm glad you approve. I'd hate to think this was a chore." Teasing, she moved up to kiss along his jaw, the barest edge of teeth running over his neck as she flicked her tongue out over his pulse.

"You're a marvel in your own right, you know." She hummed softly, whispering as she let her teeth close over the lobe of his ear.

[agent_coulson]

"Not even close to you, Ms Marvel." He smiled and then shuddered at the feel of her teeth, first on his neck and then his ear. His fingers moved to his shirt now, fumbling at the buttons, popping a few of them in his haste. "Damn, I take it off every night in a few seconds, but when it counts..." He laughed quietly at himself and sat up, taking it the rest of the way off. That left just an undershirt on now. God, he wore so many layers of clothing, this was insane. When he had to undress more than the woman he was in bed with...

Thinking about her undressing snapped him back into focus, and he threw the undershirt off the bed quickly, leaning back over her. He kissed her mouth again, then her chin, her cheekbone, the spot on her throat just under her ear. One hand held him up, so he wasn't crushing her, and the other began to move tentatively down her body. He traced her collarbone, then slowly brushed his hand over her breast. He knew she wasn't going to tell him to stop, that she wanted him to touch her, but he felt that he wanted to discover her slowly. Already this was feeling like a dream, and he didn't want it to end.

[ladyofmarvel]

She chuckled lightly with him, her hands moving up to spread over his exposed chest, nails tracing oh-so-lightly over him before they moved around to his back. "There's no rush, Phil. I'm not intending to go anywhere." Certainly not when he was doing distracting, tantalizing things with his mouth. She knew there was a reason her eyes were always drawn to his lips.

Her head tipped up as that amazing mouth moved over her, biting her lip as she shivered at that hot press. Her body arched up into his hand, however, that ghost of a touch making her eyes snap open, nipples peaking in response. One leg slid up his side, hooking around his waist as she lifted up against him, her hands skimming down as she took her turn to get a good handful of his ass.

[agent_coulson]

He grunted in surprise and pleasure when she grabbed his ass, his hips dropping to roll against her. His hand pressed more firmly against her breast, and then he was massaging it, the soft, full feel of it going straight between his legs. On an impulse--instinct was starting to kick back in, he might be rusty but he'd been good in bed at one point in his past--he kissed his way down her neck to her chest, then rubbed his lips against the outline of her nipple, breathing on it through her fabric. Then--once, carefully--he caught it between his teeth, worrying it through the cloth of her costume.

[ladyofmarvel]

A breathy moan left her as he rolled his hips against her, her legs gripping him to let her grind back. And then that mouth was torturing her again, teeth and the heat of his breath making a blaze of lust wash through her, from where he was resting between her thighs, to where his mouth was fused to her breast. Her hands moved up to the fastening on her costume, hastily trying to undo it, to let him have much more access, all the goddamn access he wanted.

"Off. I want this off. And the rest of your clothes." Her voice was husky, low and needy, her body tingling in response to his touches.

[agent_coulson]

Phil grinned, reaching down to help her out of it. As she pulled it off, though, his powers of helpfulness failed, and he found himself staring. The sight of her naked body really would have been enough for him, it would probably be enough for any man, so for a minute all he could do was take her in.

Then he realized that he still had pants on, and they were becoming more uncomfortable every second, so he stood quickly and took them off with more speed than he'd managed for his shirt. Socks went next, then the boxer briefs he'd had on.

He was almost afraid to get back on the bed, to touch his body against hers, that programmed SHIELD caution kicking in--anything he wanted to do this badly couldn't be good, had to be a trick. But it wasn't a trick, she was right there waiting for him, and he didn't give a fuck about SHIELD training right now. He got back on the bed, lowering himself onto her, his tongue finding its way back to her nipple again, his fingers off forging other paths over the soft curves of her hips and her thighs.

[ladyofmarvel]

She'd be lying if she said a thrill of pleasure didn't go through her at his eagerness to be disrobed. At how quickly his clothes were shed, adding to the growing pile of discarded and unwanted material littering the floor. And that look... That look on his face as he stared at her. How could anyone feel unwanted in the face of that look?

As he climbed back on the bed, her hands slid over him, one sliding through his hair as that wicked mouth found its way back to her breast, the other tracing a light path over his back with barely-there nails, her legs cradling him, keeping him close. Deliciously close. He felt hot, skin heated and tempting as she rand her hands over him. And god, where had he learned to do that with his mouth?

[agent_coulson]

Phil couldn't remember a time in near history when he'd been this hard. He rarely ever took much time with himself anymore, just jerking off perfunctorily in the shower after work, and he knew his own response pattern well enough now that he could get there with the bare minimum of effort, exhausted from a long day and just needing to relieve the tension before he went to bed.

This, though, was a totally different kind of erection, the kind that he hardly ever got anymore. He was so turned-on--not just aroused, but literally warm all over and feeling little thrills of lust on a constant loop in his stomach. The feel of her nipple in his mouth was just the cherry on the sundae right now.

He wanted to taste more of her, though, to make her do more of that thing with her nails--he shivered in pleasure at the feel of them--so he kissed his way down the slope of her breast until he was at her breastbone, moving slowly southward. When he reached her abdomen, he looked up at her with a questioning expression before going further. "Is it okay? Do you like that?" His voice was soft but hoarse, his calm veneer peeling away.

[ladyofmarvel]

Carol - well, Carol had been next to abstinent since waking up from her coma. Work had come first, once she'd been told what she was capable of, then building up slow friendships again, learning to trust people who said she already did. Sex was so low on her list of things that she needed to take care of, it just never got any attention. Not that she didn't take care of herself when needed, but... it wasn't the same.

Not like this. Her own hand couldn't bring shivers to wrack her body. Her own touches didn't have trails of flame skimming over her. Being touched by him, needed by him, it made something low and pleasurable in her stomach clench. A breathy sigh left her, and she reached for one of his hands, fingers tickling over the back of it.

Hearing that tone, however, had a flush blazing over the top of her cheeks, making her lift her head to look down at him. "Phil, there isn't one thing you've done I haven't liked. I think you're going to drive me close to crazy with that."

~magic handwave of sex~

[agent_coulson]

Phil was relieved to see his skills hadn't gone downhill from nonuse, or at least he would have been relieved, if his brain didn't feel like it had been painted on the inside of his skull. He lay back, trying to catch his breath, and blinked at the ceiling. As soon as he felt able to move again, he slid an arm around Carol and pulled her close, maybe a bit fiercer than he needed to. Sex tended to make him feel... strangely protective.

He tried to speak, choked on his dry throat, then swallowed and tried again. "How do you feel? I didn't hurt you or anything, did I?" He knew it had gotten a bit rough there at one point, although he didn't feel like he'd ever really lost control. It was probably impossible for him to hurt Carol anyway, but still, it was nice to ask.

*paints flowers all around everything*

[ladyofmarvel]

She was currently floating on a cloud of satisfaction that she hadn't experienced in... well, she hadn't had at all that she could remember. She had to touch the bed under her to double check she wasn't actually floating. His arm snaking out and tugging her close had a smile curving her lips, and she may have taken the opportunity to curl up against his side, her own arm moving to slide over his chest. She could feel the rapid beating of his heart, gradually slowing as he rode out the bliss. She quite liked knowing she'd done that.

His question, however, had her chuckling, moving her head over to kiss at a small red mark on his shoulder, one that was precisely the shape of her teeth. "Hurt me? No, not in the slightest. You did, however, ensure that I'd like to do that again. And again."

It was nice, lying here for the moment, sweat cooling on their skin as they slowly spiraled back down from that high. He was surprisingly enthusiastic, as well as flexible, facts belied by his usual demeanor and attire. She liked this side of him.

[agent_coulson]

Phil smiled. "Good." He sighed, glancing at the bedside clock. "We're probably going to end up being late." He nuzzled absently at her throat, kissing it. He couldn't really bring himself to be concerned--his junior agents would probably wonder, but none of them would dare ask, and he wasn't planning on volunteering any information. If it had been urgent for him to come in by a certain time, somebody would have called him.

"If I was younger, we could do it again right now." He nipped at the spot he'd just kissed. He was a strange combination of utterly relaxed and still turned on, just by virtue of her presence. Her naked body next to him in bed was still provoking responses in him, his brain writing checks that his body wasn't up to cashing again so soon.

[ladyofmarvel]

"Traffic can be a bitch," she grinned, hand smoothing over him. This had probably been one of the better decisions she'd made recently, and she intended to enjoy it.

It was a wonderful thing, being wanted. A small noise left her at the nip, making her tip her head up and find his mouth with hers. "There's always later. Gives me something to look forward to at the end of the day." And you could be quite sure that her mind would be revisiting this little scenario frequently during the day.

[agent_coulson]

"Oh, really?" Phil pressed his lips against her mouth when she lifted it, kissing her with some of that lingering passion. "That would make all my paperwork easier." He slid his thigh in between her legs gently, curling a little tighter against her. There was a hot patch of wetness between her legs, and he liked the feel of it on his skin, liked knowing that he'd made that happen.

"What do you think about Thai food? I could pick some up on my way back home, so we'd have dinner ready when we're finished." He gave her a little grin. "I've always wanted to eat takeout in bed with a naked woman."

[ladyofmarvel]

"Mmhmm," she purred, suckling at his lip. When he lifted his thigh, she couldn't help the response to grind down against it, a small tremor of lingering pleasure slipping through her. God, he was full of surprises, and she wanted to find them all, like some erotic little scavenger hunt.

She quelled the rising need to roll him over and start all over again; they would need to go in to work soon, but that didn't mean she couldn't think about it. And that she wouldn't go through a mental tally of all the positions they should try. "I think that sounds just fine and dandy, Phil."

A little smile at that, drawing back to look at him properly. "Eat with a naked woman, or off of a naked woman? Because I'm fine with either."

[agent_coulson]

Phil laughed. "Might be a little messy to eat Thai food off of you." He rubbed his thigh against her a couple times, watching her face. "Anyway, I'd rather not add any other flavors. You taste good all on your own." He raised an eyebrow. That taste was still in his mouth, and he was fairly certain--barring any disasters or invasions or incidents with the Hulk--that he'd be thinking about it all day: the way she'd tasted, and smelled, that musky scent that still clung to him.