Tension In The Kitchen

(Steve POV)

Steve normally wouldn't have left Scarlet alone but he knows she feels quite smothered and thought maybe for a few days he could give her some freedom, cut her a break and for some reason he believed her when she said she wouldn't go anywhere but after spending the night in his shitty apartment all alone he couldn't shake the feeling that she had to be lonely too. He knows more then anyone how rough it is being alone on Christmas, he was still trying to figure her out but she couldn't be happy being alone...he doesn't. So the next day he decided he would go back, expecting her to be furious and just complain again, telling him how she doesn't need him and just wanted to be alone. What he hadn't expected was overhearing her conversation with her father...if that's what you want to call him. The prick was awful and he couldn't help but feel so bad for her, it really made him realize why she acts the way she does, why she closes herself off...he can't even imagine what he made her do while he was her manager. Maybe she's not the spoiled brat like he thought she was...she's just protecting herself...and it looks like now he has to protect her more then just from Hydra...he wants to protect her from him too.

That night he had more fun then he has since...he can't even remember the last time he had that much fun. He almost forgot what it felt like, it was the best Christmas he's had since before his mom died. Quite frankly he didn't really want it to end, he was going to say something when she said goodnight but he didn't know how or even what. Maybe she's warming up to him too now, I mean she did call him Steve after all...he liked the way she said his name, he's not really expecting her to keep saying his name but it was nice to hear it at least once...or twice.

It's a week later and they haven't talked about their Christmas at all, he just doesn't know how to bring it up or what to say or even if he should at all. She asked Rachel to send Steve to her room, he has no idea why. He slowly knocks on the door.

"Hey Bodyguard." She smirks as she opens it.

"You wanted to see me." He replies.

"Yeah, we're going out tonight, a club called the Dollhouse I have to make a appearance at."

"Okay, what time?"

"We leave at 6." She tells him.

"Sounds good." He's about to turn around.

"Oh dude...(Steve hears and Corey comes to the door) there is no need for you to come...I'll be there and I'll take good care of her." He smirks and wraps an arm around Scarlet's waist from behind just like he did the last time he was in her room and again Steve knows exactly what Corey is doing and it's pissing him off!

"He does have a point Bodyguard." Scarlet giggles as Corey is nibbling on her neck. It just makes Steve want to gag!

"Thanks for the day off but I have to go." Steve says with a bit of sour in his voice. He can't stand this guy...the way he's holding onto Scarlet makes him want to rip his arms off. Corey has no idea that if Steve really wanted to he could literally kill him in two seconds.

"I promise there is no need." Corey is still trying to protest.

"How many people is there going to be at this club?" Steve asked Scarlet.

"I don't know." She responded.

"Exactly...I have to go, it's my job...see you at 6." Steve just leaves.

He went into his room and just paced back and forth, he's trying to calm himself down, doing everything in his power to not hit and break something. This girl is driving him crazy! Again it feels like she is intentionally throwing their relationship in his face, to get a reaction out of him and it's pissing him off that it's working!

(Scarlet POV)

We just arrived at the club, Steve rode behind us on his motorcycle while Corey and I came in the limo and I found that to be a little strange since Steve usually comes in the limo with me. I gotta say though I'm pretty satisfied from earlier, he looked so mad and the look in his eye was dark and angry...God it made my whole body heat up.

There is a lot of people here, so many photographers flashing their lights at me. This is all part of the job, it's a new club that's opening and if I want them to play my songs I have to kiss up and make a appearance for their opening night. Everyone is dancing, music is blasting and even though I'm here with Corey I'm closer to Steve and it's making me uncomfortable being this close to him...I need some air and room to breathe.

"Bodyguard why don't you go over there." I suggest.

"I have to stay with you."

"You don't need to breathe down my neck...Corey is with me...I'll be fine." I confidently insist. "Just go over there."
He exhales, "fine." He goes over to the bar, it's close enough he can see me but far enough away to give me and Corey space.

"Finally we're alone." Corey smiles at me, I smile back at him.

"I swear that guy likes you...he hangs on you all the time." Corey says.

"Well, he is my bodyguard...he's just doing his job." I'm actually defending Steve?

"No, it's the way he looks at you...I don't like it."

"Trust me he doesn't look at me in any way, we can't even stand each other...he's just really good at his job."

"I hope not because your mine." He holds me a bit tighter, I don't exactly like the way he said that. It felt a bit possessive, I belong to no one!

"...Yeah." I just shrug it off, don't want to cause an argument or a scene.

We've been here for a few hours, I sang a couple of songs and made sure to promote the new club. We've been dancing to fast, bouncy songs and just having a good time. Steve has stayed at the bar the whole time, I'll glance at him every once in a while and he's always looking over at us. I noticed some girls talk to him but he turns them away...he really is committed to his job, some of those girls were gorgeous.

"I'll be right back." Corey tells me.

"Okay." I smile.

As I'm waiting two guys walk up to me, "Oh my God your actually Scarlet Monroe! You were great up there!" One of them shouts through the music.

"Hi. Thanks." I say as we shake hands.

"We are huge fans. I'm Mark and this is Craig." The other guy spoke, I also shake his hand.

"Thanks...I always like to meet my fans." I smile.

"You looked so hot up there..." Mark drooled.

"Oh yeah...we saw you in your last music video...you looked so good." Craig looks me up and down, he still is shaking my hand slowly. I'm getting very uncomfortable.

"...Thanks."

"Yeah...your body was amazing." Mark does the exact same thing, they are making me very uncomfortable but I don't want to be rude.

"What's your favorite song?" I ask trying to lighten up the mood. I try to pull my hand away but he just continues to shake it.

"Oh I don't know, who cares." Mike said, I could tell he meant it, I bet he hasn't listened to one of my songs.

"Let's dance." Without letting me respond Craig stops shaking my hand, let's go and immediately grabs my forearm.

"No...I'm waiting for my boyfriend." I tell them as I yank my arm away from him.

"Well we want to dance." The Mike ordered and he grabs my arm, they both start to practically drag me away.

"Hey, let go of me...I said no." I shout at them.

They both are getting quite aggressive and forceful as I'm yanking myself away, it makes them both hold onto my arms tighter...it wouldn't shock me if I'm bruised tomorrow! As they are dragging me my high heel breaks and it causes me to twist my ankle and I fall hard on the floor.

"Ow!" I cry out.

"Oh come on, that didn't hurt...we are going to dance with you." Craig forces me to stand up, what are these guy's problem!

"And I told you no asshole." I can't control myself and I slap him.

"You little..." He starts to say.

He raises his hand to hit me but it's caught by Steve and he headbutts him hard in the nose as I hunch down to the floor since my ankle and knees are killing me, I couldn't stand on it. "You broke my nose!" He shouts as his nose fills with blood. Mark attempts to cowardly attack Steve from behind but without even looking he elbows him in the face and flips him over his shoulder, he hit the floor hard and for good measure kicks Craig in the face one last time. Immediately after he lifts me up off the floor by taking my forearm and effortless picks me up bride style, I hold onto his neck as he carries me away quickly. He doesn't take me to the entrance, he goes to a back exit where there's no people.

His bike is parked over here, it's like he knew he might have to make a quick exit. He sits me on the seat and goes in front of me. "Hold on tight," He says loudly through the running motorcycle.

I do as I'm instructed, I hold on to him probably tighter then I need to but I was a bit nervous, I have never been on a motorcycle before but I gotta say I kind of love it...it gives me such a rush and I like wrapping my arms around him. He takes me home and as I step off my ankle gives out.

"Ow." I cry out.

"Here." He quietly spoke.

He picks me up and again carries me bride style, my arms once again goes around his neck. I'm looking at him the whole time as he walks in the house...I'm burning up and am SO turned on right now! From him fighting off those two assholes, the way he just picked me up like I was as light as a feather and carried me in his big strong arms and then going on his motorcycle...and not to mention it was the first time I had ever seen him in action...he's a really good fighter, those guys had no idea who they were dealing with...any quite frankly neither did I...it's making my loins completely boil!

He brings me right into the kitchen and gently sits me on the counter, "how's your ankle?" He quietly asks.

"It hurts...right here." I softly answer as I lift up my leg a little to show him, it causes my skirt to ride up which was purely internally.

He thinks he's being subtle but I notice his wandering eye, it's turning me on even more! He goes to the freezer and pulls out a bag of peas, he kneels down onto his knees and slowly takes my shoes off and presses the peas against my ankle, I flinch from the cold.

"Is that better?" He looks up at me as he gently massages my ankle. God he's getting me so wet!

"...Yeah." I quietly spoke, doing everything I can to not moan or make any sexual noise.

"Does that hurt?"

"...No...it feels good." I have to fight to not bite my lip, I raise my leg a little more to give him more room.

After a few minutes he removes the bag, stands up and walks out of the kitchen, I'm really confused...maybe I was to obvious! I'm about to get off the counter but he comes back with something in his hand. He kneels back down again and all of a sudden I feel this painfully sting.

"Ow shit!" I say loudly.

"Sorry." He gives me a apologetic face. "It's just so ointment."

He goes closer to my knee and gently blows on it, I can just barely feel his lips on my skin...oh God how does he manage to turn me on like this? I didn't even realize before that my knee was bleeding.

"Better?" He asks and looks up at me with just his eyes.

"...Uh huh..." I can only say.

He puts a bandaid on both knees and stands up, he does it so gently. "Are you okay?"

"...Yeah..." I'm still speechless. "Thank you...for tonight."

"...Your welcome." We're just looking into each other's eyes.

He's practically in between my legs, his hands on each side of me against the counter...almost caging me in. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have sent you over there...why haven't you said I told you so already?"

"What's the point? I think you learned your lesson." He smirks.

"...It was quite a shock...you attacking them like that."

He licks his lips, "well it's my job...I'm here to protect you Scarlet."

I very lightly pull his shirt to me and open my legs wider and it causes him to come closer between my legs, "I think I'm starting to realize that..."

"Just starting to?" He smirks, "that's always been the case."

We both lean in and our lips begin to lightly brushing over each other's, his breath is tickling my lips. I feel his hands touch my hips/thighs, his fingers just lightly grazing my bare skin and I pull his shirt a bit more forcefully and feel his body press against mine, he's also pulling me closer by my hips. As his lips latch onto my bottom lip my cell phone rings, causing both of us to pull our mouths away but we don't disconnect your bodies.

"Hello" I answer my phone. "Corey...I'm sorry I deserted you...yeah everything's fine...just something happened at the club and I had to quickly leave." Steve and I haven't taken our eyes off each other, I'm still gripping his shirt with one of my hands. "No...of course not I'm not mad at you...it wasn't your fault." I can't believe I'm talking to my boyfriend on the phone while making fuck eyes with my bodyguard! "Yeah...I'll see you tomorrow." And the second I said that he moved his body away.

After I hang up it is quiet, he stepped closer to me again and I thought he was coming back to finish what we started but instead he helps me off the counter and I'm holding onto his forearms, I'm about to reach up on my tip toes to complete that kiss, "I'll see you tomorrow." He spoke and leaves me in the kitchen alone...leaving me irritatingly horny for the rest of the damn night!

Author Notes: That was close! How long do you think they can go without kissing?