Chapter 14

Down Time

Spring had come to Headquarters, and the weather was slowly starting to warm up. Taryn and Steve had gone for a run in the morning and then she went on to teach an undercover operative class to new recruits.

There were a few students that had more questions about Captain America than the actual topic, but she fielded them well and continued on with the day's lesson. She was discussing the Cover. How to create one, how to manage one and how to maintain it under pressure. She used her experience with going under cover with the company that was a HYDRA front as a good teaching tool. Especially the part about the co-worker who thought he was entitled to some extracurricular activities.

"Always remember to maintain your cool and take care of the situation before it blows your cover." She looked at the clock. "So that's all for today. Remember your paper is due next Tuesday, so use the weekend to work on it." Taryn was in her office putting some files away, when her phone buzzed.

"Almost finished?"

She smiled at the text from Steve. "Yes, I am. What's up?"

"Swing by my quarters when you're done."

Hmm…. She wondered what he was up to. She packed up her laptop, shut down the other computer and made her way to Steve's quarters. She knocked and he opened the door, grinning.

She chuckled at him, knowing he had a hard time keeping things from her. "What are you up to?"

"Who, me? Nothing…"

"Uh huh… what's going on? Why is my bag on your couch?"

"Well…. I thought maybe we'd go away for the weekend. We haven't had much time together lately. I thought we could go into the city, maybe do some wedding stuff… just spend the weekend together?"

Taryn stepped closer to him. "That is very sweet of you. I'd love a weekend away."

"Good." He kissed her quickly and grabbed their bags. "We have reservations."

Steve drove into the city and pulled up in front of a posh boutique hotel and they checked in. Steve had reserved a suite at the top and had champagne waiting.

"My goodness, Captain. You thought of everything."

"Anything for my girl," he pulled her close and kissed her. "I have reservations for dinner tonight. Nice quiet place down on 5th."

"Sounds great. What time are our reservations?"

"Seven."

"Hmm… I wonder what we could do until then…"

"Hmm… I wonder…" he replied with a wink.

An hour and a half later they were out of the shower, dressed and in a cab headed downtown to the restaurant. They were seated at a nice table toward the back, and ordered some wine with their dinner. They chatted and drank and ate, enjoying each other's company.

Taryn was talking about her class that day and Steve was listening intently until someone walking by the restaurant's window caught his attention. He stared at the figure standing there staring back at him.

"Steve… Steve?"

"Hmm? What, sorry?"

"You were a million miles away. Are you okay?"

"Yes… yes I'm fine. I thought a saw…. something…"

Taryn raised a brow and turned around but no one was there but the other restaurant patrons. They continued their meal, chatted for a while longer and then went to get a cab. Taryn slid into the cab and Steve followed. As they drove back to the hotel, he glanced down an alley way that they passed and the figure from the window was staring back at him again.

Steve stood on the balcony looking out over the city. He knew what he saw, who he saw. He couldn't be wrong. He heard Taryn behind him. Turning he found her in the ivory silk chemise he bought her.

"It's lovely," she said with a smile.

He smiled in return, "Yes, you are." He could still make her blush. Steve took her in his arms. "Is there anything special you'd like to do while we're in the city?"

"Nothing in particular. Maybe the museum. Doesn't really matter as long as we're together."

He took her face in his hands. "I like that answer." He bent his head to kiss her lips softly at first.

Taryn wrapped her arms around him and held him close. She moaned faintly as his hands moved down her body to grip her backside. He slipped his hands beneath the silk and reveled in the feel of her bare skin. She pressed closer to him and pulled his shirt from the waistband of his pants. Picking her up, he carried her to the bedroom.

Taryn held him close, running kisses along his cheek and neck. She was set down gently and began to unbutton his shirt. She smiled up at him as she pushed the shirt from his shoulders and Steve kissed her slowly and purposefully. Taryn stepped back from him, slipping the straps off her shoulders and letting the chemise drop to the floor. She took his hands, leading him over to the bed, and sat. She watched his eyes as she slowly unbuckled his belt and slid it out of the loops. Taryn tossed it on the chair next to the bed.

She smiled up at him as she unbuttoned the waistband and gradually unzipped the front. Agonizingly slow from his point of view, he could feel himself straining against the fabric of his khakis. Steve closed his eyes as he could feel her hands drifting from his abdomen, to his hips and she slid his pants down his strong legs to the floor. He stepped out of them and kicked them aside. Taryn ran her palm along the front of his boxers, teasing his member until he couldn't take it any longer. "Please…" escaped his lips and she smirked.

Taryn slipped his boxers from his hips and wrapped her hand around his hardened length and he groaned loudly. She stroked him firmly but gently. Leaning in, she ran her tongue along the underside and swirled it around the tip. His fingers entwined her in her hair as she took him fully into her mouth.

"Oh, god, Taryn… I'm the one who is supposed to be spoiling you this weekend…"

She looked up at him and continued to move her hands and mouth around him. Taryn gripped his back side and pulled her closer to him and he moaned. She slowed her efforts, then moved to lay back on the bed. Steve lay down beside her and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her passionately. His hands roamed her body, teasing her breasts, finding the curly tuft of hair below her waist. Steve's fingers slipped into the wetness and she sighed, her legs parting. He continued to kiss her fiercely, sliding his fingers in and out of her, making her cry out his name.

Taryn peaked and clung to him, urgently pulling him to her. He rose up on his knees and she rested her legs on his strong chest. He entered her slowly and she gripped the sheets. "Mmmmmyes that feels so good…."

Steve thrust into her several times then spread her legs to pull her to him. She straddled his hips and crushed herself to his chest, holding him close and kissing him hungrily. They rocked together on the bed, Steve ravaged her throat with kisses and she dug her nails into his shoulders. His hands gripped her backside, pulling her as close as possible. She arched her back, feeling him deeper inside her and she climaxed. "Ahh! God Steve… yes!"

He followed suit moments later, throwing his head back with a low rumble in his throat. They collapsed on the bed together after that, limbs entwined, and satiated momentarily. Taryn continued to run her hands along his bare skin, feeling the muscles ripple beneath the flushed surface. It took him mere minutes to become fully aroused again, and he made love to her slowly this time. Taryn held him close as moved between her legs and pressed her to the sheets. The feel of his weight on her was like a comfort to her. He was solid and real and did not mask his feelings for her. She looked forward to spending the rest of her life with him feeling safe and contented.

The two fell asleep a little while later, in each other's arms. Steve woke about an hour and a half later and lay staring at the ceiling. He couldn't get the image of the man at the window out of his head. So, he was in the city… was he following them? How else could he have been there at the restaurant… He had to find him. But at what cost? Taryn stirred beside him and he turned to her as she slept peacefully. He couldn't leave now, not in the middle of the night…. Perhaps he would take her out tomorrow to the museum. If they were being followed, he should turn up again… He forced himself to rest and did not wake until sunrise.

Taryn stretched as she woke alone in the bed. She rose and pulled on a robe and wandered out into the living room.

"Ahh, good timing. Room service was just delivered."

Steve had set up breakfast on the table wearing only jeans. Taryn smiled; he looked so sexy and didn't even realize it. "It smells wonderful."

He held out the chair for her and she sat. "We have bacon, scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, cinnamon buns, coffee, tea…"

"Who else have you invited to breakfast?" she joked.

"Hey, I'm hungry."

They ate quietly until Steve broke the silence. "So shall we head to the museum today?"

"Well, I suppose we could… or we could just stay in?" she batted her lashes at him.

Steve chuckled. He knew he needed to see if they would be followed again. "Well, we could, but I know how much you enjoy the museum too."

Taryn munched on a bagel. "Yes, you're right. I never get tired of the Met. Okay, you sold me. I'm going to shower, care to join me?"

He nodded. "Be right there."

Since parking could be such a nightmare in the city, they took another cab to the Met and spent the morning wandering around its many exhibits. As they walked through the Arms and Armor section Steve caught a glimpse of a dark figure out of the corner of his eye.

"Er… Taryn, why don't you go on to the Egyptian Art and I'll meet you there after I get out of the rest room?

Taryn, engrossed in the beauty of the engraving on a suit of armor, nodded. "Sure, that sounds good. Then we can get some lunch after that."

"Ah, yeah, okay. See you in a few…"

Steve walked quickly in the direction of the rest rooms, but turned swiftly to the left as he spotted the figure walking away toward the American Art section. Steve followed, trying to look calm and nonchalant as he ducked his head, passing people who could recognize him. He did not want that, not now. He wove his way through a group of school children on a class trip and slipped into the American Wing. He stuck to the outside wall acting like he was looking at the paintings, but in reality he was scanning the area for the person following them. He rounded the wall and suddenly someone was behind him.

"Do not turn around." The man stepped to Steve's side, looking like he was admiring the large painting on the wall.

"What are you doing here?" Steve whispered harshly.

"Looking for you. Where is the woman?"

"She's looking at the Egyptian art by now. You shouldn't be out in public. The government is still looking for you."

"Don't you think I know that?" the man spat in a low voice. "I'm tired of hiding. I'm tired of being a pawn."

"What are you saying?" Steve fought the urge to grab the man by the collar and shake him.

"I'm saying that you know me and you know that 'persona' is not me. I want to work with you again."

"They won't like it… especially because of what happened a few years ago…"

"Meet me tonight." The man slipped him a card. "We need to talk."

"I can't just… I'm here with…."

"Your woman is coming. Come alone to that address."

Steve looked at the card. Scrawled on the back of a Met card was an address in a very seedy part of the city. "I can't just…" He turned but the man was gone, and standing in his place was Taryn.

"Steve? I thought you were going to meet me in the Egyptian…"

"Oh, yes, sorry. I thought I saw someone I knew… but I didn't." Before she could ask any more questions, he whisked her out. "How about some lunch? Shall we head up to the Petrie Court, or should we go back to the hotel?"

"Ah… the Court is fine…"

"Okay good. I'm starving."

Taryn looked at him, knowing something had either startled him, or had something unexpected happen… Did he find someone he knew?