Jo: Haha thank you so much ^^ well more of Tony and Olivia banter will be coming, it is unavoidable.
Allison: Aw thanks ^^ Your tears are what drives me*cackles evilly* Well I hope their cutness reaches overload here.
KristyBauer: I am glad you liked it ^^ hope you find this chapter equally loveable ;).
heroherondaletotheresuce: Yup yup, friends are very important, they see things you might not see. ^^I think more scenes into Olivia's past will come up, her time between Norah and Steve are very important ;)
ctgt2632: OH WOW thank you soooo much, you made an account just for little ole me? You are soo damn sweet. HUGS ALL AROUND. Well I hope you enjoy this chapter ^^.
This chapter is dedicated to debatable-cerealkiller.
Thank you so much for your help with my little plot related issue hehe. No but seriously, you are a God-send, I really needed to know that bits of info and you just came up out of no where xD.
Sorry for the delay guys. I caught a cold this weekend -_- and my entire schedule got fucked up. Really sorry you guys. I'll try my hardest to release the next chapter this week in order to finish this story on time ^^. Thank you for your patience and please review!
xx
SSC
Olivia took her job very seriously. She kept to her schedules, went to meetings on time and gave her one hundred percent. It was more than just a project to her. It was her distraction, the thing that saved her from depressing thoughts.
Unfortunately, it did not help her stop thinking about Steven Rogers.
She sighed for the tenth time that day and released her mouse and leaned back into her chair. She glanced at the time stamp on the bottom corner of her screen and frowned.
There was another three hours left till she had to get ready.
It was physically frustrating to have to wait so long to see him again. She had half the mind to run out the door and go see him at the former Stark Towers.
Come on Olivia, if you can't wait three hours to see him how are you going to wait a week when he leaves?
Her conscious made a good point. Olivia nodded firmly, cracked her knuckles and moved back into her work.
She was determined to not think about him for the next hour. Steve Rogers with his gorgeous head of hair, starry blue eyes, his sweet smile and-
She stopped her smitten mental rant and groaned out loud.
This was going to be harder than she thought.
Steve Rogers was excited for his first date with Olivia. Well, for his first date ever.
The fact did not escape his notice, for Tony Stark too. The famous industrialist took it upon himself to get the veteran prepared for his first date, even got Pepper excited for it.
She had insisted that Steve ask Olivia to meet him at the restaurant instead of picking her up. When Steve had questioned this, Pepper had said 'the anticipation will build a better mood'.
Steve did not understand what that meant but Tony was nodding favorably behind the woman, so Steve agreed and messaged Olivia.
Luckily Olivia was happy with the idea, apparently she had to drop of something at Claire's on the way to the date.
Steve was sweating and the white shirt and tie he wore (The ones that Tony insisted that he wear) did not help the situation. He sat awkwardly at the table for two in the aristocratic, well lit, indoor, French restaurant he chose for them. He shifted on his chair on occasion while tugging at his tie.
A million and one questions erupted in his mind as he fretted over the situation. Will she like it? Does it look like I am trying too hard? Maybe I should take off the tie...But I don't want to seem sloppy.
But the moment she emerged from the bend into the dining area and their eyes met. All of his little insecurities were a thing of the past.
She beamed brightly at him while looking adorably chic in a navy blue chiffon dress with tiny, white floral prints. The delicate, fluttering skirts, reached the tops of her knee caps.
Steve's heart thudded at how stunning she was, but Olivia seemed unaware and a little awkward . She shyly tucked back a thick strand of her hair and waved decorously at him.
Steve bolted to his feet, almost toppling the chair behind him. He was blushing heavily as he returned her smile and waited for her to reach him.
She carefully navigated between the other chairs and table, cautious to not disturb the other customers. The light tunes of the piano forte floated in the air around them as Olivia finally reached their space.
"Hi." She breathed out with that same sweet grin.
"Hey." He smiled.
Olivia was torn between kissing him and hugging him, not like a full on make out in front of other people. Olivia wasn't much of a PDA type person, but he was just so darn cute.
She didn't get a chance to expression her affections. Steve had already stepped back behind the chair he had occupied and reversed it for her. She was surprised by his chivalrous actions. He waited for her to take her seat.
Steve stood behind the chair as Olivia slowly lowered herself on to it. He did not miss the bright, pink tinge that coloured the apples of her cheeks. He found relief in a way, she was just as nervous as he was.
"This is a real fancy place Steve." She commended shyly as he rounded the table to his chair
"You know you didn't have to go this formal for me." She noted modestly as he took his seat.
"I wanted to." He insisted meeting her sparkling stare.
"How did you even find this place?" She inquired, still blushing madly.
"Stark recommended it. I actually asked for a fancier place because, well why the hell not?"
"I'll toast to that." She laughed, reaching for the glass closest to her which was a champagne flute filled with the golden, bubbly concoction. Steve hastily mimicked her motions and grasped his own goblet by its stem and raised it up.
"To why the hell not?" She exclaimed, Steve chuckled and their glasses clinked.
Olivia took a swift gulp of her drink. Steve did too but he was too busy eyeing her to enjoy the dry taste.
Being at a closer range gave Steve the chance to notice the sublet things in her attire. Like the glimmering star shaped pendant connected to a silver necklace, that rested on her breast bone. He also noted the light hint of red on her lips that made them more voluptuous and kissable. He ached to kiss her again, but dispelled the thought and waited for her to meet his gaze again.
Olivia looked to him and smiled timidly.
"You look nice." He commented clumsily and then cursed himself, mentally wishing he had something more eloquent to say.
"I would have dressed fancier but then I didn't want to seem like I was trying too hard." She murmured while consciously rubbing at the back of her head.
" I think we both know that I am the one trying too hard." Steve confessed while playing with the end of his silk, ebony tie.
"Yeah but you make it look adorable." Her fond murmur grabbed his attention. She grinned and then toyed with the sterling fork beside her plate.
"I make it look awkward and creepy." She added jokingly. Steve's lips parted, ready to contradict and insist that it was the last thing he thought of her.
"Good evening Sir, Ma'am." The tall, lean, waiter's appearance rendered the Captain silent. He was a fair man with a clean shaven face, slick s back, brown hair and high cheekbones that made his thin face seem long. He had a pleasant, practiced smile on his face while standing beside their table. He had his hand posed with a pencil on a short note book, ready to take their orders.
"Hi." Steve acknowledged, looking to the man.
"Are you ready to order?" The waiter inquired, Steve was quick to hear the slight purr in his voice. The man was French, the realization made his features link to his culture.
Steve looked to Olivia for confirmation, she shrugged while looking helplessly down at her newly opened menu.
"I honestly don't know what to get, I've never had French food." She confessed her voice barely above whisper. The waiter heard and suppressed a smile. Steve was a little shocked.
"Never ever?" He asked feeling a trifle unsure of picking a French restaurant.
"Does a croissant count?" She responded playfully.
"No." The waiter chimed in curtly, surprising them.
"Oh, well then do you mind ordering for me?" She asked embarrassed and slowly averting her attention back to Steve.
"Sure." The captain smiled and quickly skimmed through the list of cuisines and then began to order in French. He was unaware of Olivia's rapt staring while he recited the orders easily to the waiter. The attendant was stunned momentarily by the Captain's effortless vernacular, but the man quickly recovered and responded ardently, listing out all the specials for the couple.
After Steve was done ordering, the waiter merrily collected the menus and looked to him again.
"Est-ce tout monsieur?" He inquired sweetly.
"Oui, Merci." Steve responded with a shy smile.
"Mon plaisir." The waiter nodded and hurried off to notify the chef. Steve waited for the man to leave before looking to Olivia again. He was startled to find her gaping at him.
"You speak French?" She demanded both disbelieving and in shock.
"Yes?" He uttered uncertainly.
She continued to gape unblinkingly.
"Why did I not know about this before?" She murmured mainly to herself and then leaned forward on to the table.
"When did you learn to speak French?" She asked, it was most possibly the hottest thing she discovered about him.
"Germany." Steve smiled "Jones taught me the basics and conversing with Jacques helped... refine it."
"My accent still needs work though." He added modestly.
"I think your accent is just fine." Olivia praised, Steve did not miss the sultry tone in her voice.
"Any other languages I should know about?" She asked.
"Klingon."
"NO." She gaped in scandalized astonishment her body stiffened in an excited alertness.
" I am kidding." Steve laughed earning a defeated pout from her.
"Oh haha." She grumbled narrowing her eyes at him as he continued to chuckle.
The banter had eased the panicky air that they were both hyper aware of.
"That would have been so cool though." She added after a moment "I swear it's like I think I know you then all of a sudden you hit me with a bomb shell like French. Seriously."
"It's not such a bomb shell." He protested diffidently. She shot him a flat look.
"Oh believe me it is. I had travelled a lot and I did not once pick up a language."
"Where have you travelled to?" He asked, intrigued and folded his arms over the table before leaning onto them.
"Thailand, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, transit at Malaysia once. I really want to visit Europe sometime."
Steve's brows raised in amazement. He wasn't expecting Olivia to be a globetrotter. He wondered if she would ever seize to astound him.
"You should, it's nice." He recommended pleasantly "Probably better without the war. How come you travelled a lot?"
"Pa is quite the itinerant." She said with a fond smile playing at her lips "He had a bank account just to save up for money to travel. It was fun to head somewhere new every summer."
"That sounds exciting. I never found out what your parents did for a living."
"We never talked about them?"
"Nope."
"Weird, what did we talk about?"
"I don't think there is enough time in the world to go through that list." Steve admitted with a shaky exhalation similar to a laugh. Olivia grinned, equally amused by the realization.
"Well my dad is a engineer and my mom is a librarian. Before that she was an accountant." She informed casually.
"What?" His eyes gleamed in adoration "But you hate math."
"I know." She groaned out in despair "My mom did not appreciate the irony."
Steve chuckled very much enjoying himself. Olivia smiled, thinking that his laugh alone could bring world peace.
"What about you? What did your parents do?" She asked, shifting in seat to get closer to the table. She was eager to learn about his upbringing.
"I don't remember much of my dad, he died when I was young. After he passed away actually before that even, we struggled a little." The smile he carried fell a little at the memory of their troubles during the Great Depression.
"Mom had to do a few odd jobs here and there to help us get by, she always brought bread to the table though." He said soberly meeting her gaze.
Olivia smiled kindly "She sounds wonderful. I am guessing you picked up most of your morals from her."
"She is the one I spent most time with, so yeah." Steve grinned, pleased by her comparison.
"What about you?" He asked in turn.
"Oh you should be the judge of that." She stated in a carefree manner, unaware of the chord she had struck inside of him. She had implied that he would be meeting them which meant that she wanted him to. Steve felt that same warmth bubble up from inside him.
"But I think I am more like my mom." She continued on, unaware of the heart eyes he directed her way "Which is a weird thing to admit because I spent most of my life trying not to be her."
"Is she particularly unlike able?" Suddenly a little cautious of the woman he wants to meet.
"No nothing like that." Olivia laughed shaking her head dismissively. Steve was instantly reassured by her loving smile "She had very high expectations of me, mainly because I was quite the wayward kid back in the day. My mom was all about getting good grades. My brother met these standards of course."
"You didn't?" His voice was soft but inquisitive, in a way that made Olivia want to open up.
"I get easily bored with studies, of course this reflected in my scores and my mom didn't like it. Those days I had made my mom seem like the villain in my head but now I understand that she constantly worried about our lives without them. She just wanted me to be comfortable in the future."
"Mother's always worry about their kids." He coincided tenderly.
"Don't I know it." Olivia joked "Anyway I was always in mental competition with my brother. He was just naturally good at everything he did, this didn't sit well with me of course. I eventually did get my grades up and I got into uni but I was so focused on being the best and showing up my brother that I froze out everyone else. I felt like my parents idolized him a lot and left no room for me."
Steve was very observant of her restrained emotions. Her pretty face was a little tense from some past, unpleasant memories. He liked that despite the mess of feelings she had beneath her skin, she always tried to dismiss them with a smile. He understood it was her way of coping, internalizing them. He hoped that one day, she wouldn't have to be on guard with him.
"Maybe you weren't imagining it." He implied gently.
"I am sure they weren't being intentional. I think parents always put the eldest first subconsciously." She insisted diplomatically.
The soft glimmer returned to her honey brown eyes "I love my parents I do. But I was always on guard around them."
"You are not anymore?" He asked noticing the past tense in her words.
"Norah softened me up, I hardly remember the girl that I was. She sounds like a completely different person you know?"
"I get it." He agreed, all too familiar with the feeling of being disassociated with his past self. Despite having the same morals he used to, he was sure he wouldn't react to situations the same way. Steve knew he was a little less naive and cautious with the world.
"Maybe Norah didn't soften you up, maybe she just helped bring out the person that you always were." Steve mused thoughtfully. Olivia's lips curved down in amazement, she was both impressed and considerate of his insightful words.
"Yeah but that's the opposite for you huh?" She pondered out loud.
"What do you mean?" He responded dubiously.
"I mean you always had the strength, heart and the mind of a protector. You were just given the body to match it."
He grinned shyly, that familiar heat rose to his cheeks under the appreciate glow of her gaze.
"That's a nice way of wording it." He commended.
"It's the truth." She murmured her eyes a gleam.
Steve was once again caught in the situation where she made him feel breathless and a little over heated. The air was charged around them again, not with anxiety but something far more intimate and hedonistic.
Olivia had meant it as a sincere and honest compliment. After all the man was the living breathing epitome of righteousness. But somehow her words had come out flirtatious, it was unconsciously done but she did not regret it. She found herself thinking that the table kept them too far apart, like he was on the other side of town, miles away and from the keen look in his eyes, she knew he felt the same.
The waiter arrived, abruptly interrupting their moment.
"Your meal monsieur." He announced, presenting them with their dishes. As the man occupied the desk by laying out their dishware . Olivia took deep, silent breaths to regain her senses. She had to remind herself hastily that it was their first date, yet she found herself fantasying things she wanted to do to him on their seventh date.
Steve nervously wetted his lips and flexed his fingers. He found himself hungry for something more than just the eloquently laid out food before them.
The waiter was speedily done with his task and stood, waiting for dismissal.
"Merci." Steve uttered gratefully.
"Thank you." Olivia chimed in with a beaming smile that made him ache in adoration.
"You are welcome mademoiselle. Enjoy." The waiter declared and rushed off, carefully winding his way between other tables.
"This looks delicious." Olivia mused appreciatively while rubbing her hands in anticipation. She stared down at the plate of food, admiring the fleshy, well done lamb chops in her white plate. There were three of them, angled and positioned neatly and decorated with flecks of thyme. She was provided a side plate for fries and fresh, hot bread.
"L'agneau grille au thym. For your lamb chop cravings." Steve explicated. Olivia smiled secretly, feeling cherished at the fact that he recalled her love of mutton. She would have commended on it too, if his delectable French words hadn't sent a shiver of delight through her.
"Cool." She mused casually even though she was trembling within.
"What did you get?" She asked, glancing over at his plate.
"Bifteck Hache" He explained pointing the business end of his fork to his dish. His plate consisted of six, flat, burger like lumps of beef. The cooked flesh was covered in a rich, brown gravy and garnished with herbs. The fragrant scent of hot bread and meat marinated in mild spices, made her mouth water.
"What do you call this in French?" She inquired coyly pointing to the mini basket of French fries on the table, between them.
"Frite-" Steve stopped and looked to her. She stared expectantly and his eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Are you just asking to hear me speak French?" He accused good-naturedly.
"Obviously." She uttered with a wide roll of her eyes and then slanted him a coy grin.
"It's very fascinating." She flirted.
Steve laughed as his face took on a bright shade of pink.
The night continued on merrily. Olivia rarely found herself in situations where she was at a complete ease with a date, but knew that she was expecting something different. After all Steve wasn't just any other date to her, he was her friend first and they knew how to be comfortable with each other long before the attraction. She was a little grateful that the French cuisines weren't so large, she was too busy talking to actually pay attention to her food.
Steve was having a great time. He couldn't even remember what he was so nervous about when every word that left her lips left him in stitches. He loved that she shared about her family and in turn he felt more comfortable to talk about his upbringing. He did notice she steered clear of talking about her brother and he understood, after all, his father wasn't his topic of choice either.
The waiter returned to collect their dishes and left behind the desserts menu. Olivia and Steve glanced around at the other guests. They couldn't help but notice the dishearteningly miniature portions of the confectioneries.
"So their desserts seem interesting." Steve mused unconfidently while rubbing at the side of his face. His facial muscles ached from all the excessive smiling.
"The words you're looking for are small and pretentious." She stated dryly. Steve bit his lower lip to prevent himself from sniggering openly. Olivia saw this and sent him a private smile.
"Cookie dough?" She suggested hopefully.
He nodded "Cookie dough."
"Yas." She cheered with a very discreet fist pump. Steve smiled at her antics before looking over her head to summon the waiter.
Steve liked how it was routine for them to always end their evenings with ice cream while strolling down the lone, paved road of Central Park.
They found a empty, wooden bench between the shade of two towering trees. They sat down and chatted about whatever topic that came to mind. A few couples would pass by on occasion and the numbers dimmed as they carried on talking late into the night.
"I've missed this!" Olivia cried out passionately, grabbing his bicep with her free hand and shaking him. Steve swayed a slightly and gripped his cone of ice cream firmly so it wouldn't fall.
"Cookie dough is just not the same without you." She declared woefully.
Steve's attention immediately shot to her, scandalized by the confession.
"You had cookie dough without me?" He pouted "I feel so betrayed."
A bark of laughter escaped her lips as she shook her head furiously.
"I was faithful, Cap. Honest." She vowed turning to face him and pressing her palm to her chest, with the wafer cone in her other hand. Steve grinned.
"I am just saying it wouldn't be the same if you weren't there." She added and then took a lick of her ice cream.
"Same here." He murmured, a little mesmerized by the movements of her mouth "I couldn't even finish off that tub we bought when you came over."
"Please tell me you didn't throw it out." She pleaded fretfully.
"Didn't get a chance to. Kevin ate it." Steve said, feigning annoyance, he quickly gobble up the end of the ice cream funnel before continuing the story.
"Ate is the wrong word to describe the horror that I witnessed, it was more like inhaled."
He glanced at Olivia to find her listening intently with a fond smile playing at her lips. He cracked a grin.
" It was almost as terrifying as that time you ate Satan's Guacamole." He joked dryly.
Olivia was in the middle of biting into the jagged edges of her wafer cone when Steve's words made her choke mid chew. She began laughing hysterically, neglecting her ice cream altogether and grabbing his arm for balance.
"Oh my gosh, I am so stealing that." She announced while her body trembled in mirth. Steve couldn't help but chuckle lightly along with her.
"Satan's Guacamole." She repeated biting her lower lip and watching him from beneath the frame of her glasses.
"You are too funny." She affirmed affectionately.
Steve felt smug at the compliment. He would rarely be called the funny one. His musing thoughts were cut short when Olivia abruptly yanked at the sleeve of his shirt, grabbing his attention.
"Hey!" She cried, suddenly cross with him "That was homemade and delicious if I do say so myself."
"It felt like my face was melting." He teased leaning towards her.
"We can't have that, your face is your best physical feature." She paused to gobble up the final bit of her ice cream and then slanted him a teasing look.
"Other than your eyes of course." She murmured flirtatiously, flashing him a reckless smile.
Steve felt that same rush of blood to his face, but he didn't shy away this time and bravely held her gleaming stare.
"I like your eyes." He whispered, playful but tentative, like entering cold waters.
"Pfft yeah right." She snorted leaning her side on to the back rest of the bench "They are just brown."
"Not to me."
Surprise flickered in the depths of her honey brown eyes at his slow, amorous words. Her wide eyed stare moved to him and she was caught under his worshipful gaze.
Her heart thudding, she couldn't look away. Under the dim orange street lamps, his sky blue orbs had darkened to a haunting sapphire hue. Beautiful and evocative. He watched her with a look of deep absorption. Olivia could no longer resist temptation and began to lean in.
Steve willingly gave into the magnetic attraction. Her warm hand cupped the side of his face. The touch alone made his pulse quicken more than the anticipation of tasting her once again.
His eyes fluttered shut when she kissed him. It was chaste at first, their lips brushed in a light, timid caress. Her lips were cold, warm and sweet all at the same time, it was the curious meeting of senses and he wanted to feel it again.
He pressed on, demanding more. Her lips curled up in a smile against his skin and she acquiesced, pressing her lips on his a little more firmly.
Steve soon discovered he enjoyed kissing, very much so. He didn't know how long they sat on that wooden bench, reveling in the new wonderful sensation, but he couldn't get enough. He learned that Olivia wasn't just playful with her words and actions, but in intimate ways too. Her fingers would flirt with his ear lobes as they kissed, he would chuckle breathlessly from the ticklish sensation and that made her hungrier for him. She would nibble on his lower lip as he palmed the corded length of her neck. She in turn would drag her fingers through his hair in a soothingly, slow pace.
In that moment, time was a foreign concept to them.
They walked hand in hand down the sidewalk to her building. Both were equally flustered and bee kissed from their make out session from earlier. Steve's smile faltered at the sight of her apartment building just a few feet away. Even at their slow lazy pace, it was still too soon.
Olivia dragged her woeful gaze from her entrance to him.
"So you are leaving tomorrow?" She asked sadly, already knowing the answer.
"In six hours actually." Steve confessed, stealing a glance at his wrist watch that read thirty minutes past twelve.
"I guess the second date will have to wait till you get back." She murmured despairingly while shifting her fingers through his. She managed a smile, deciding to look on the brighter side of things.
"It will be my turn to organize it then." She announced eagerly.
"Swell." Steve breathed smiling lovingly down at her.
"That would be Sunday right?" He suddenly asked, his fair brows knotted in thought.
"Well I was thinking Saturday but I am guessing you have something else in mind."
"Well Stark invited us for this Halloween Ball he is having." He informed heedlessly.
"Oh cool." She breathed, her eyes alight with excitement.
"Wait is it like a costume party or like a fancy one? Ball means fancy, right?" She quickly asked.
"We have to dress snazzy. Suit and tie with the works." He explained.
"Oh. I don't have anything fancy to wear, guess I'll have to go shopping." She mused with a pensive shrug "That should be fun, there was this really cute black dress at the mall. Now I have an excuse to buy it. My impulse shopping is strictly reserved for inanimate objects and candy."
Steve chuckled, charmed by her rambling "Well I am glad you are excited about it."
"You aren't?" She questioned uncertainly, her gaze wide in absorption.
"A little edgy, I've never been to a ball." He acknowledged.
"Oh, well it's not fancy like Cinderella fancy. The last Stark party I went to was very... chaotic?" She wondered for a lack of a better word, but the moment the adjective left her lips she couldn't help but think it was the perfect way to describe what she had seen.
"Don't know what the new and improved Stark would be like." She added to not throw Steve off. After all, the Stark she remembered was a lot different to the supposed man he was now.
"Should be a interesting learning experience." He considered out loud then directed a fond glance down at her.
"Plus with you there it will be the cat's meow." He stated confidently.
Olivia laughed again, flashing her row of white teeth as he amber eyes lit up in hilarity. Steve loved seeing her express amusement, it brought him a strange, warm satisfaction.
"You are such an old flirt." She chuckled, bumping against his arm in a teasing manner.
"Guess this is good night." She added after a moment of catching her breath. She sighed and then raised her gaze to meet his. Steve wasn't happy about the night ending either but he tried to seem unaffected and continued to smile.
"Call me when you get there." She insisted softly.
"I'll do that." He nodded obediently. She grinned amused by his solemn ways. He was just too darn adorable, more than any other man she had met.
Damningly handsome too. Her longing stare dragged down to his full lips once more, as if bewitched by them. Steve took that as the invitation he needed and slanted down to grant her silent request.
Their lips met once more and the heat knocked the breath from her lungs for a moment. She clutched on to the lapels of his leather jacket as if she would fall if she hadn't.
Steve cradled her face tenderly in his hands as she pressed up against his warm, hard body.
They kissed for a brief few minutes beneath the glow of the street lamp. Sometime during their heated moment, his arms had positioned themselves around her waist, embracing her tightly. Olivia still grasped on to the lapels of his jacket, holding on fiercely between her finger tips.
With thundering hearts and breathless lungs, they eased back just a little. Steve felt the brush of the thin strands of her hair as she pressed her forehead tenderly against his.
"Can't your boss ease up and transfer you back here?" Olivia whispered out of longing and frustration. Steve chuckled, low and breathlessly, colour rising to his face.
"I doubt I'd get any work done with you around." He murmured as the tip of his nose skimmed her cheek.
Olivia grinned, pleased with the suggestive answer. She strained her eyes open and looked to find him watching her. His blue eyes were a darker, stormier shade. The colour of a lightning lit sky during a tempest. Her stomach flipped with want but she held back her desire and gently lowered herself back onto the heels of her feet.
"Yeah blame me." She grumbled with a roll of her eyes as she released him.
"I can't help that I am so distracting." She uttered and tossed her hair pompously before slanting him a smile to show that she was jesting.
Steve beamed down at her thinking it was a little unfair how enticing she was. He reluctantly unwrapped his arms from around her and trailed his hands up her elbows and to her hands. Olivia giggled, amused by his playful ways and laced their fingers together.
She admired their locked hands. His skin felt softer and warmer than she ever thought possibly. His slender fingers were long and beautiful and the large size of his hands compared to hers, made her feel safe.
She looked to him once again and smiled lovingly. Steve returned it in his own shy, adorable way.
"I'll see you next week then huh?" She mused a little disheartened. She had spent the entire morning wishing for the night to begin only to have it end so soon. Steve was silently wondering the same and not at all looking forward to leaving.
"Yeah." He responded equally dismayed.
Olivia was filled with a sudden determination to rid of the pout on his lips. She stepped forward and kissed him soundly. He was a little startled at first but slowly sunk into the warmth of her mouth.
When she moved back Steve found himself stumbling forward, seeking her lips once again. She laughed, delighted by the reactions she had caused. Her mirth alone made his heart flutter.
"Good night, Steve." She murmured lovingly, gazing into his eyes.
"Sweet dreams, Olli."
Olivia graced him with one last mischievous grin and lazily turned to ascend the steps to the entrance.
Steve watched her leave longingly. She cast one last glance in his direction before disappearing behind the door and out of his sight.
Steve sighed and ran his fingers through his tousled hair, already missing her terribly.
How on earth am I going to make it through a week?
He suddenly found himself wishing he could sleep off the time in a block of ice.
Steve was leaning back comfortably against a lone wall within the Triskellion. He was dressed in his Stealth Star Suit with his shield angled against the wall, beside his long legs. He had his cell phone pressed to his ear, waiting patiently for the ringing to seize and for her to answer the call.
"Hey Cap."
His heart raced just at the sound of her smooth, pleasant voice.
"Hi." He greeted smiling to himself "You busy? "
"Not for you. What's up?" She asked, making him blush.
"So Tony just called me to let me know that he is sending a limo for us." He explained nonchalantly, eyeing the agents that passed by him to get to the next corridor.
"A limo? Fancy, fancy." Olivia noted earning a smile from him.
"I've never made out in a limo before." She added her voice low and extremely flirtatious. Steve gulped at the mental image as his pulse galloped.
"We are going to have to cool-down on that, Thor will be joining us, with Jane and Darcy." He warned softly.
"Oh yay, that should be a fun ride." She expressed joyfully "Did you find a suit yet?"
"Well its in the process of getting made. Tony surprised me on Monday by getting his tailor to take my measurements."
"That's really cute." She giggled.
"It wasn't so cute at five in the morning." He grumbled irately coaxing another peal of laughter from her.
"But this is good, you will get a nice fitting suit, you are going to look real sharp. So sharp that a make out session might be unavoidable."
Steve sighed unable to suppress his smile.
"You are having a real kick out of making passes at me aren't you?" He accused playfully.
"Yes I am." She announced quite proudly. He pictured her lifting her chin in that haughty adorable way.
"You should try it sometime." She insisted coyly.
"I am at work." He noted trying to hold on to the straying professionalism in his tone.
"That makes it so much more fun." She informed him, but the silky enticing tenor of her voice made it obvious to what sort of 'fun' she was referring to.
Steve fell into a deep, breathless silence. He was a little scandalized but that was outweighed by how flustered and aroused he was. A momentary silence took over their conversation, charged with desire. He struggled to come up with a reply and from the patient waiting on her end, he knew she was aware of the tongue tied mess she had made of him.
"Cap we are heading out!" Steve was startled out of his reverie at Widow's announcement.
She was lingering at the end of the corridor, strapping on her gauntlets.
"Copy!" He hollered back a little frazzled. She smirked and then disappeared at the bend of the hallway. Steve averted his attention back to the phone.
"I have to go." He uttered reluctantly.
"Yup, go save the day, I'll see you tomorrow yes?" She asked.
"Yup." He grinned, his blue eyes softening in adoration.
"Bye Olli."
"See you Steve."
Steve smiled and slowly ended the connection and then stepped away from the wall. He was immersed in his thoughts when he turned the bend towards the loading bay. He wasn't watching where he was walking and almost bumped into the mischievous Natasha Romanoff.
"Such blushes Cap." She teased observing his pinked face.
"Don't you have anything better to do besides tease me?" Steve demanded sternly while locking his shield onto the magnets on the back of his suit.
"But it's so fun and I am sure I am not the only one who thinks this." She noted and then smirked.
"How's the cutie?" She wondered genuinely curious.
"She is good." He said coolly while keeping his true feelings at bay.
"She coming for the ball?" She asked, her green eyes a gleam.
"Yeah. Stark arranged the limo for us. Are you going to be tagging along?" He inquired.
"Nah Barton and I will make our way there." She insisted with a dismissive wave of her gloved hands. Steve nodded and lowered his gaze and Natasha immediately took notice of his restrained anxiety.
"Don't stress too much about it Cap, it will be more fun than you think. By the way, I swiped these of Stark's desk." She produced two black envelopes between her slender fingers.
"Invites?" He observed them.
"Yeah, Kevin traded me his turkey club for one. You have anyone else in mind that I can exploit?" She asked grinning impishly.
Steve paused considering her question for a moment instead of preparing a lecture on stealing from friends. One person in particular came into mind and he grinned at the thought of him and the present opportunity.
"I got just the fella."