"Omega," Steve's voice was a low growl from my left and I turned towards it. My eyes picked up the shifting of the shadows as he was suddenly there, looming above me. His scent nearly overwhelmed me, my body already responding to the rut pheromones pumping off him.

Swallowing thickly, I backed up as he crowded into my space. Steve reached up to collar my throat, thumb pressing against my pulse. His other arm braced on the door next to my head as he stared down at me with eyes blown wide. His voice was gravel when he said, "You disobeyed me."

I blinked in surprise. "I—no. I didn't."

Steve growled in response to my denial. My knees buckled. I would have ended up on the ground if it wasn't for the fact that Steve had me pinned against the door. The need to submit fully washed through me with an intensity that left me a little breathless.

"I told you to take care of the others. And instead, you came here." Steve eyes bore into me, his body brushing mine. My brain felt like it was short-circuiting as I tried to focus on speaking.

"I did. They are sleeping and I was going to—"

He yanked suddenly on my hair, cutting off my explanation. Pulling my head back, he ran his nose along my neck, his thumb pressing harder over my pulse as it thundered. A rumbling growl rolled out of him, lacing every word he said. "What you're going to do is take my knot over and over again until you're round with my pups."

Slick soaked my underwear as the idea dragged a low whine from me. Using the hand still in my hair, Steve dragged my mouth to his. If the kiss earlier had been all heat and dominance this kiss was feral and all consuming. The only thing I could do was cling to him as he nearly took me apart with just his mouth.

There was the sound of tearing fabric, and the worn shirt I had slipped on fluttered to the ground as Steve's hand stroked over my heated skin. Then his fingers hooked and twisted in my underwear and with a sharp yank he tore them off and let the scraps fall. Keeping his hand around my throat, Steve's other hand dipped between my legs.

His thumb rubbed through the slick dripping down my thighs and the growl that was rumbling in his chest deepened. My knees buckled and Steve's mouth left mine as he dragged my head to the side. His teeth scraped roughly over the column of my neck as his fingers dipped inside of me.

Steve suddenly pulled his hand away and I whined at the loss, and his teeth bit harder against my neck. He held there, the domination in the act causing more slick to drip down my thighs. He stepped back from me, pulling me off the door and shoving me lightly towards his bed.

"Get over there and present for me, Omega."

I obeyed the command without a moment's hesitation. Steve's bed was rather sparsely covered and the second I climbed down into it, I started shifting things around into a more satisfying position. Steve growled and I dropped to my hands and knees. I felt as Steve's body heat seeped into me as he shifted up behind me.

Steve's thighs pressed mine apart as his hand glided up my spine. When he reached my shoulder blades, he pushed until I dropped down first to my elbows and then all the way down as he kept my hips up. The moment my chest hit the mattress, he thrust hard and deep in a single stroke, until he bottomed out. I whined a little at the stretch, my eyes fluttering shut as he dragged himself nearly all the way out before thrusting back in without waiting.

His fingers dug into my hips, pulling me back to meet every one of his forward thrusts. It was rough and hard and should have caused me pain, but instead slick continued to pool and drip as he rutted hard into me. Suddenly, he curled over my body, his arm wrapping under my chest and pulling me against him as his other hand braced on the bed.

A growl rumbled deep in his chest, the vibrations rattling through my bones and making them feel like jelly as he continued to pound relentlessly into me. I felt the beginning of his knot starting to catch with every backwards pull and his growl deepened before he spoke, his voice ragged with restraint. "Gonna fill you so full, little omega. Is that what you want? Do you want my knot? Want to carry my pups?"

His words were doing things to me, then his teeth scraped over my neck and then an alpha command rolled out of him. "Answer me, Omega. Do you want my knot?"

"Yes, Alpha. I do. I do." I was babbling, barely even aware of what was coming out of my mouth as Steve's growl came once more.

"You have to come for me." Steve said as he buried himself so deep inside of me with each thrust that he bottomed out. The command rolled out once more, "Now, little omega. Come for me now."

A keening whine came out of me as I fought to obey the command. Then his teeth sunk into my shoulder and that sudden bright spark of pain triggered it for me and I shuddered. Steve kept his teeth fixed to my shoulder as his knot finally caught and he spilled hot and deep inside of me.

Steve sat back up, settling back on his knees as he dragged me with him. His arm kept me pinned in place as he shifted until he was sitting, his back against the edge of his bed. He arranged me carefully in his lap, settling my legs on either side of his thighs. Then he tugged lightly on my hair until I rested back against his chest, my head lolling against his shoulder.

I sighed deeply, feeling like this position should have been uncomfortable but it really wasn't.

"Are you okay?"

The question surprised me, and I tipped my head back further so I could look up to see Steve looking into my face. "Yes, Alpha. I'm okay."

"Good." His voice was a purr, as his hand tipped my head back further as he leaned down to kiss me. It was a gentle kiss, his fingers brushing over my throat as it spun out.

His other hand pressed against my lower stomach and his lips curled against mine before he pulled back just far enough to speak. "How does it feel Omega?"

"What?" The fingers that had been stroking against my neck, skimmed down the center of my body, goosebumps rising in their wake. The lower they slid the quicker my pulse jumped.

His hand splayed across my stomach, pressing firmly as his other fingers hover just above that sensitive bundle of nerves.

"Do you feel full with me knotted inside you?" He asked, his voice dropping and sending shivers down my spine. My breath caught when he started to strum his fingers lazily over my clit.

I wiggled in his lap, whining as my head dropped back against his shoulder.

Fingers stroked harder over me, and his voice was suddenly gritty and demanding, "Are you going to be a good omega for me? Or are you going to need to be punished first?"

I gasped and then moaned as his hand suddenly slapped over my clit. "Is that what you want?"

"Yes—I mean, no. I'll be good for you Alpha."

"Then answer me." Steve's hands cupped my breasts then, thumbs circling over my nipples. Teasing them into hard peaks before he started to pinch them. Dropping one of his hands again, he pressed his fingers against my clit and had my body arching in response.

Panting a little as heat coiled in a tight ball in my core, I nodded faintly. "Feel so full."

He purred in response to my answer, his arm wrapping around my chest to pin me in place as he rolled his fingers hard and fast over me until I was trembling and crying out as I came. "Sound so pretty. I bet you look even prettier when you come."

There was a feeling of dizzying movement as Steve pulled me off his lap and manhandled me until I was flat on my back and his body was hovering above mine. His nose ran along my neck, rubbing gently as he nudged my legs apart and slipped back inside with a low rumbling groan. The first long thrust hit so deep that my eyes nearly rolled backwards.

Biting at my neck, firm but not breaking the skin. His strokes stayed slow and long at first, the sounds of his purr growing rougher and deeper with each one.

"Wrap your legs around my waist, Omega." He commanded, growling deep and loud when I obeyed. His arm wrapped under my back, pulling me firm against his chest as his mouth and teeth returned to my skin. Sucking and biting as his thrusts increased in strength. When I started to keen as I tumbled closer and closer to the edge it spurred him on. Until I was coming so hard that lights exploded behind my eyes.

His breath panted in my ear. "So pretty. Want me knot don't you? Want me buried deep doncha pretty omega."

The only thing I could get out was a rolling whine and his destination as his hips snapped. He bit down on my shoulder, making me come all over again as achieved his release with a deep growl. I clung to him, aftershocks rolling through me as he continued to hold me against his chest.

Steve rolled to his back, my body splaying over his chest as he settled, his hands stroking down my back until he cupped my ass. Burying my nose in his neck, I inhaled his scent; the heady smokey scent intoxicating and soothing all at once. Sleepy, I purred as Steve moved one of his arms to wrap around me waist and his chest expanded with a deep breath,

"Such a perfect omega for me," his voice was slurry as his face rubbed against the top of my head.

"Alpha."

Steve's eyes blinked open as Ellie's scent pulled him to the surface. He was already rock hard and aching, the need to mate having built up as they slept. She was still splayed over his chest, her breath warm against his neck.

He cursed when he realized her slick was dripping on to his skin. She whined in response, not fully awake yet. Frantic, he rolled her to her back, watching her eyes blink open as he pushed one of her legs up and rubbed his length through the slick pooling between her legs. "Omega."

Her golden-brown eyes blew wide as she arched up with a purr. "Alpha."

Steve's control snapped and he growled as he buried himself to the hilt in a single thrust. He wanted to claim her, the need for it a dull ache settled in his gut. The urge had hit him, hard and fast, when he had been speaking to her in his office. He knew he was nearing his rut as they had returned but he figured he had enough time to deal with her.

Then she was there, her scent in his nose and he wanted her so badly he had acted rather roughly with her. He sent her away and closed himself in his room, knowing he wouldn't go to the clinic. He knew he wouldn't be able to stand the scent of any other omega. So, he was going to just suffer through it alone.

And then his door opened, and she was there. She had come to him. His omega.

Rutting hard into her, Steve pressed her into the mattress leaning down to suck her bottom lip into his mouth and bite gently at it. She clenched around him and let out one of those omega whines that had him rutting harder. Tangling his fingers in her hair he tugged her head back to expose her neck, licking over the delicate skin where her pulse was thundering before he sucked hard at it.

She came apart keening and slick gushing out of her. Steve grunted as his cock jumped inside of her and his knot started to swell and catch on her ridge. She was still fluttering around him, her walls pulsing as she rode out her climax when his rushed down his spine and hit. Locking in place, he throbbed over and over as he spilled inside her.

An aftershock shuddered through him as he held himself up from collapsing bodily against her. When he felt steady enough, he rolled them to their side, pulling her leg into a comfortable position on his hip as she snuggled against his chest. Steve stroked his hand up and down her spine, purring now that the need to mate had tamped down for the moment.

Her own purr started up, sneaking deep into him and setting the ache to claim her throbbing. To distract himself he said sleepily, "You're so soft and warm, Omega."

Ellie's arm wrapped around his back as she pressed herself closer to him. "You need to eat when your knot goes down, Alpha."

Steve hummed in response. Smiling a little at her comment. She really was such a sweet little thing. Perfect for him, and perfect for the others too. "I will Omega."

She let out a contented hum at his answer, her fingers tracing small patterns against his back. Even though he was still locked inside of her, he could already feel need building inside him again. It was one of the reasons he knew she was his omega. This rut was stronger and the need to mate and get her with pups a nearly all-consuming feeling. He'd never had that with any other omega he mated with when it was necessary for him to.

Ellie's breathing had fallen into an even pattern as she fell asleep. Steve waited to follow her into it until he was able to slip out of her. Leaving her just long enough to move over to his kitchen area, he wolfed down some of the food he had brought in with him and guzzled a bottle of water.

Returning to her, he wrapped around her back. Need was snapping in him, but he wanted to let her sleep for a little before he mated her again. Steve willed himself to relax, settling with pressing her body against his and brushing his fingers gently over her skin. Then he became aware of the fact that he was slowly grinding himself against her ass and his need grew teeth.

Growling, Steve nibbled on Ellie's neck. "Omega. Wake up."

She let out a soft snuffling huffing sound. Her voice was thick with sleep, "Alpha?"

Licking over the shell of her ear, Steve dipped his fingers between her legs. They came away coated in her slick and he smeared it over her stomach as he said, "Need to mate."

"Oh?" She shifted, but Steve pinned her to his chest. Then his hand slid down to pull her leg up just far enough for him to slot himself at her entrance. For a moment he held there, savoring the way her scent sharpened and her pulse tripped.

Unable to wait any longer, he plunged inside of her heat. Her gasp was music to his ear as his fingers gripped her hip and he set a steady pace. Mating like this was one of his favorite ways to mate. The friction it provided the way it left his hands free to roam over his partner's body? It was glorious.

"Alpha, feels so good." Her voice was breathy. "Feel so full."

"Is that so? You like feeling me buried in your warmth? Want my knot that bad?" He growled the words in her ear, having picked up how the sound excited her.

Sure enough, she started panting and fluttering around him. He brought his fingers to her mouth, commanding her to open her mouth and slipping the digits inside when she obeyed. Without needing to be told her lips sealed around them and she sucked on them. When they were drenched, he pulled them away from her mouth and then pressed them against her clit.

Her hips bucked against his hand. "Like that do you Omega?"

" Yes ."

Steve growled and she rushed to say, "Yes, Alpha. Like it. Wanna come for you. Want your knot."

God, she couldn't be more perfect. He circled his wet fingers over her, thrusting harder as he pushed them both into bliss. She fell apart for him. Her sounds really were pretty as she came. Even though she squirmed in his grip, her legs clamping around his hand he kept his finger going, driving her harder as he worked himself into a climax. So, he could knot her once more.

"Alpha. Please ."

"Please what Omega?"

"Too much, can't take it." Her chest was heaving, and he could hear the wrecked way she spoke. It was glorious and it pulled him right to the edge.

"Yes, you can Omega. You can take it because you are so perfect. The perfect omega for me, Ellie." That tingling feeling at the base of his spine started and he growled as he thrust harder into her, his fingers circling brutally over her clit.

"Tell me you want it, Omega." He commanded, low in her ear.

"Want your knot, Alpha, want your pups." She whined, and Steve felt her erupt seconds before he did. Somehow, he kept his fingers going over her as she tensed in his arms as she cried out.

When he had emptied completely into her, and she went limp in his arms he finally stilled all movements. Not for the first time he thanked Erskine in his mind as he nuzzled against her sweaty neck. He had been born sickly, which made the fact that he was also born an alpha complicated. Before the serum, his ruts had been difficult. His health problems causing issue not to mention that there weren't things like clinics so trying to find an omega who wanted to mate with an alpha who had looked like he would collapse with the slightest breeze?

"Alpha." Ellie's voice pulled him out of his thoughts, and he pressed his hand against her lower stomach. If he pressed hard enough, he could feel the firmness inside of her that was him. She purred, and he felt his body relax. He hadn't even realized that he had tumbled back into those dark insecurities that he still was plagued with.

He nuzzled her again, pulling in a deep breath full of her calming scent. Soothed, he kissed her neck and rumbled, "Thank you, Omega."

Her hand rubbed over his arm as she said sleepily, "You didn't eat."

"I did while you were sleeping. You need to eat soon." His eyes were heavy, and sleep pulled at him. "Sleep first."

He cupped one of her soft breasts thumb stroking over the swell as he fell asleep.

I woke ravenous. At some point when we slept, Steve had rolled to his back, and I had curled into his side. Sitting up carefully, I studied the sleeping alpha. His long lashes rested against his cheeks as his chest rose and fell with a steady rhythm. For a moment the sheer beauty of him distracted me. Every single member of this pack—my pack, which was a dizzying thought alone—were so beautiful that sometime the very thought of it made me ache.

My stomach sent out a very loud complaint and I shook myself out of my thoughts and carefully climbed out of the bed and moved over to see what he had stocked.

My nose wrinkled to see it was mostly R&H bars. Though he did have two dozen of my muffins. Eating one and drinking what felt like a gallon of water. I started towards his door, intending to go and get real food.

"You can't leave." Steve's voice was rough and I paused at the door and turned back towards the bed. He was sitting up, his arm resting on the edge as he looked at me.

"I just wanted to get food."

"I know, but Friday won't let you out until my rut is over."

I felt my forehead wrinkle. She had said as much but I guess I hadn't realized that meant I was literally locked in. "I won't be gone long…"

"Come here," the command was gentle, but I still obeyed it without hesitation even though I had a fleeting thought not to. I sat on the edge of the bed next to him and his arm draped over my knees.

"It's not that I think you won't come back. You literally can't get out. The lockdown protocol for me is extreme because I get aggressive when I'm in rut."

"I don't think you've been that aggressive." He chuckled, pressing his lips to my knee.

"Not with you, Omega. With the others. Especially other alphas."

"Oh."

Steve shifted to his knees, his hands pulling mine apart so he could wedge himself between them, he was tall, even while kneeling and I was sitting on the edge of the bed that his face was nearly level with mine. He leaned forward to kiss me, his fingers tangling in my hair. It was another one of those brain melting, possessive, dominating kisses and I felt slick pooling and dripping out of me almost immediately.

He pulled away from my mouth just when I thought I might pass out from the lack of air. His lips started to trail down my neck and body as he spoke. "I imagine, now that I have an omega as sweet and perfect as you, that the aggression will be even worse. It's for their protection really."

His words, and the wet press of his mouth on my skin had more slick pooling. Steve's hands pushed on me until I laid back. His mouth was pressing against the side of my knee as he pulled me right to the edge of the bed.

Steve's tongue ran up my thigh and he both hummed and growled when met the wetness there. He licked his way the rest of the way up my inner thigh. Breath ghosted over my center moments before his tongue dipped inside. I tried to shut my legs, an instinctive response but his broad shoulders prevented the move. His growl vibrated through me as he licked and sucked at me.

The orgasm took me completely by surprise as his mouth fastened over my clit. Knocking the wind out of me as my fingers buried in Steve's soft and short hair. He slipped his fingers inside me, stroking over that sweet spot inside me, as his tongue flicked against the bud he had his mouth sealed over. It prolonged it, wave after wave crashing over me as my vision went white and my back arched.

" Fuckingfuckme ." The words were a barely perceptible mutter, and any regular person wouldn't have likely been able to understand them.

However, Steve was not a regular person and I let out a yelp when his teeth sunk into my thigh. "Hey!"

Before I knew what was happening, he had pulled me down to my knees in the bed, his body looming over mine as his nose ran along my neck. When he reached my ear, he nipped at the lobe and said, "Language."

I opened my mouth to shoot off a retort but all that came out was a strangled moan as he chose that moment to bury himself into me once more. He caught my arms behind my back and dragged me upright. "That's what I thought you were going to say."

As he nearly knocked the breath out of me with every one of his hard thrusts, I managed to get out a strangled word. "Mean."

His chest rumbled with his laughter. "I think you'd like it if I was mean."

Keeping my arms trapped between my back and his chest, he banded an arm tight around me, rutting up fast and hard until I was keening out. Just when I thought he was about to knot again, he suddenly slowed to an almost languid pace. Gasping at the sudden shift my head fell back against his shoulder as his hand stroked slowly down the center of my body.

He teased his fingers over my clit as he continued with his slow and lazy thrusts. Trapped as I was, with my hands behind my back, I couldn't do anything but squirm and shudder as he brought me right up to that keen edge of near release but didn't let me come. By the time I was a whimpering whining mess, his voice was a low growl in my ear as he said, "This is me being mean Omega."

" Please ."

Steve's breath dusted across my face as he rumbled, "Please what?"

I was nearly incoherent and only managed to get out strangled words. " Please. Alpha. Knot."

" Sound so good when you beg, Omega." Then his hand shoved me roughly forward to my hands as he gripped my hips and hit a nearly brutal pace. My arms gave out as I hurtled over the edge, my whole body spasming with it. Steve's fingers were digging into my hips as he let out a steady, low growl. I was starting to come back to myself just as his thrusts got sloppy and then his knot caught, and he spilled hot inside of me. Which just set me off all over again.

My face was squashed into the mattress as my chest heaved and my heart thundered in my ears. Vaguely, I was aware of hands stroking over my heated skin, but I was so boneless I couldn't even muster enough energy to make noise.

Steve's hands slid under my front, gathering me against his chest before he settled us on our sides, his body curled around mine as he brushed my hair off my sweaty face. He nuzzled against my neck, his teeth scraping lightly over me before he asked, "Are you okay?"

I wasn't sure if I made a noise or not, but he started purring and his arm wrapped gently around my body, his hand resting against my chest over where my heart was still racing. Eventually, my pulse calmed and my breathing returned to normal. By that time, Steve's knot had gone down and he was rolling me towards him, his eyes intense on mine.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes." My voice came out as a hoarse croak, which had me wondering if I had screamed or what. His nose brushed against mine and he rolled away. I mustered up just enough energy to whine at the loss of his body. But before I had a chance to do more than that he was back with food and water. Pulling me to sitting, he handed me the water first and watched as I drank deeply, sipping at his own bottle. When it was finished, he handed me one of the R&H bars.

My nose wrinkled automatically; I really hated those things. His eyes narrowed and he pulled me into his lap. "Eat it, Omega. I know you don't like it, but you need it."

"I can just have one of the muffins." I grumbled.

"No, eat the bar. Don't make me use a command on something like this. You won't like the consequences."

Grumbling still, I took the bar and unwrapped it. Steve's eyes remained narrowed on me, but he didn't say anything as he watched me finish the bar. Taking the trash from me, he handed me another water bottle and told me to drink.

"I thought I was the one who was supposed to be taking care of you." I groused at him.

His fingers pinched my hip and when I gasped in surprise his mouth covered mine. My brain and body melted into a puddle of goo as the heat from the kiss speared through me. Suddenly, we were laying down and Steve was curled around my back, tucking me against his body and securing his arm around me.

"Sleep."

Steve's deep-throated growl shot me into immediate awareness and arousal from where I had been sleeping sprawled on my stomach. We were nearing the end of day three of his rut, and any thoughts I might have had that I couldn't handle an alpha's full rut had shattered into a million pieces sometime during the second day. Or maybe it was the beginning of the third.

"Come here." Steve barked out. He was sitting on the opposite curve of his bed, propped up on pillows. Pushing up, I crawled over to him, letting out a short yelp when he hauled me into his lap the moment, I was near enough for him to grab me.

His fingers gripped tight in my tangled hair, and he dragged my head back to expose my throat to him as pulled me down on him even as he thrust up at the same time. I wrapped my arms around his neck as I couldn't do much more than cling to him. He was in a feral spike of his rut; all rough hands, hard thrusts, and unable to keep his mouth and teeth off my body.

A shiver ran through me when his teeth scraped over the spots that claiming marks go. I tilted my head to give him better access, my eyes fluttering shut as I did. I wanted him to claim me, even though I knew he wouldn't. At least not right now. I had brought it up during the last resting period we had before I had passed out hard.

"Alpha, will you claim me?"

I don't know why I asked it. Why I was suddenly wanting to be claimed. Not just by Steve, but by the others too. I wanted to bear the claiming marks like a proper omega. Which was just silly. I wasn't a normal omega.

Steve let out a low hum. "Not now."

"You don't want to?" I hated how small my voice sounded as I tried to pretend like I didn't feel like a part of me I didn't even know was there was dying inside.

He suddenly shifted, sitting up from where he had been leaning back and pushing me off his chest so he could look at me. I couldn't make myself meet his eyes. So, he gripped my chin and gave me no choice but to look at him.

"Of course, I want to claim you. But now is not the time."

"It's not?"

"No, my sweet Omega, it's not."

My mouth opened, the want to ask when right there on the tip of my tongue. Steve's mouth cut me off before I could get a word out.

Steve's growl vibrated through my chest before my world tipped and I landed on my back with him hovering over me as his tongue tangled with mine and his hips rocked into me. Before I had a chance to fully adjust to the switch in position he was suddenly pulling out.

I whined at the loss of contact, but his hands were rolling me over to my stomach. Lifting my hips just enough so that he could slip back inside me, then his hands linked with mine and he trapped them to the mattress next to my head. Steve's weight pressed me gently but firmly to the mattress as he settled bodily against me.

His nose brushed across my cheek and then he rolled his hips. Steve's breath huffed against my neck as his fingers gripped mine tightly, as my eyes really did roll back into my head. Rutting into me like this, Steve was hitting what felt like every perfect spot all at once. His thrusts were deliberate and hard, the mattress underneath me adding delicious external friction.

I felt more than heard his deep, drawn out growl as he rutted harder into me. Every nerve ending in my body felt like it was on fire as pleasure swamped through me in a rush. I was already coming apart at the seams, coming with a keen. But when Steve's teeth bit down on my shoulder, it felt like the orgasm exploded through me like the grand finale at a Fourth of July celebration.

Steve groaned as his fingers squeezed my hands as he bottomed out and his knot locked into place. Heat bloomed as I felt every single throb and twitch as he spilled as deep as he possible could inside me. I rode the climax out, stars exploding behind my eyes as my body shuddered with rolling aftershocks.

My brain fuzzed and I felt like I was floating in the high. It felt almost like an omega drop, this floating feeling my mind was on. It felt like I was both deep inside my mind and outside my body at the same time. Steve's body was pressing against me still; grounding and tethering me to him. Instead of fear like I experienced when I dropped, all I could feel now was comfort and safety.

When I woke up, I heard running water and realized Steve was gone. I got up and moved towards the bathroom, hearing the water shut off. Steve walked out with a towel wrapped around his waist and dripping water everywhere.

"You're awake." Steve said as he stopped by me, his hands cupping my face. His lips brushed over mine briefly before he pulled back and studied my face. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good." I said. "Your rut is over?"

He nodded, his hands brushing absently down my arm as he moved around me and asked, "Do you want to take a shower in here?"

"What? Oh, no. I'll grab one in my room. What are you rushing off to?" He had already pulled on a pair of boxers and jeans and was pulling out a shirt.

"Any time Tony gets left in charge he makes an absolute mess of the paperwork."

Steve came back over to me, holding out one of his shirts. As I slipped it over my head he said, "Can I ask you a question."

"Uh, yes…"

His eyes crinkled with humor at the hesitation in my tone and asked, "Did you know I was likely in rut when you came into my room?"

"Um. No." My face felt hot and I stared up at the ceiling.

"Then why did you come?"

Blowing out a breath that fluttered some of the hair that had fallen into my face, I shifted from foot-to-foot. "I was upset and…was coming to yell at you for it."

Steve laughed and pushed a hand through his hair. "You're a bit of a spitfire aren't you?"

"I guess."

"Come on sweetheart, why don't you go get your shower and I'll go and straighten out whatever disaster Tony's left behind for me this time."

He took my hand and led me out of the room. I eyed the scraps of fabric that had been shoved to the side by the door. "You know, that was one of Tony's shirts."

"Oh, I had no idea." I could tell from his tone that he absolutely did know and I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. At my door, he pulled me into his arms and kissed me. Once more I registered the fact that Steve seemed to kiss in a way that was intense and nearly all-consuming.

It turned my brain to mush and left me dizzy with lust. When he pulled away, I saw the glitter in his eyes I knew he absolutely knew what he had done to me. Tugging lightly on a strand of hair he said, "I'll see you later."

Showered, dressed, and in the kitchen I was taking stock to see what had been eaten while I was shut up with Steve. I kept up a running dialouge to Friday as I made lists and plans. Nat and Clint came in, from a workout judging by how sweaty they both were when I looked over at them.

"Who won?"

"I did," Nat said smugly as she grabbed a water bottle from the fridge.

"Cuz you cheated," Clint shot back.

Nat snorted in response. "Oh, please, you wish Barton. But no, just admit I'm better at the hand to hand than you are."

I smiled to myself as the pair of them descended into a playful argument. This wasn't the first time I'd been privy to one of their debates about who was a better fighter. I was pulling out things to start making dinner when Nat suddenly said, "Speaking of fighting. When are you going to start doing some self defense lessons, Ellie?"

"What?" I looked over at her in surprise. "Why? I'm not a fighter."

She walked over to me and leaned against the counter and crossed her arms. "Didn't say you had to fight, I said self defense. And everyone should know self defense."

"Oh, but I don't want to. I don't like violence."

Nat patted my arm. "Sweetie, it's not about violence it's about protection."

I opened my mouth to decline again when Tony breezed in. "What's about protection?"

"Self defense. I'm asking when Ellie is gonna start training in it." Nat responded.

"Oh, good idea Red. You should definitely get on that right away."

Clint's eyebrows lifted. "Wait, are you actually agreeing with her?"

Tony paused in the act of pouring himself a drink and shrugged. "What I can't agree with you guys?"

The two former spies eyed the man suspiciously. "No, it's not that. It's that you usually don't. At least not this easily."

He scoffed and waved his hand at them. "Whatever. I'll be in the shop."

I called out to him when he started to walk away, "Tony, I'm starting dinner. Maybe you should stay out of the lab until after?"

"Just call me when it's ready, I have a thing I gotta do."

Sighing, I watched him stroll out know that I would have to go down and drag him away to get him to actually eat. When I focused back on Nat and Clint, they were both staring at me. My shoulders hunched a little. "What."

"So, about self-defense training…"