"Kissing is like drinking salted water. You drink, and your thirst increases." - Chinese Proverb

~X~

That evening, after work, Natasha and Steve went out to grab some Chinese food. He and Natasha were in the same situation when it came to food, they had none in their apartments. So, she figured he called her more as a retribution to the favor he had asked her, the one she had accepted without even considering the risks first. Still, what had she to fear? Kissing... It was nothing she hadn't done before.

The restaurant was one near Steve's place, just around the corner. It was easier for them to go right back after they finished eating. They sat at an isolated table. Because it was still early, the restaurant was almost empty. Natasha was okay with their situation, but Steve didn't seem like he was. In fac, he'd spent the entire day without saying a single word towards her, avoiding Natasha. She had a clue on why he was doing that but didn't dare asking. She was afraid that, if she did, he would stop talking to her forever.

"Steve." She said his name, she made him look up from the menu, but his eyes lingered on hers for a few seconds before he looked back to the table, avoiding her gaze.

"Natasha." It was his reply, he didn't exactly know what to say to her.

"So, Steve... Is everything okay? You haven't spoken to me since yesterday."

"Yeah, everything's just fine." His voice was weak and shy and his face turned of a bright red color.

Natasha smiled at him and placed her hand on top of his. He tensed under her touch, but didn't move his hand away. "Can I ask you something, Steve?"

"Sure." He nodded, his gaze meeting hers once more.

"Are you a virgin?"

"Me?!" He gasped.

"Yeah, you." She said, her tone was still serious though she was laughing inside. Natasha already knew the answer to that question. Of course he was a virgin.

"Of course not!" He blurted and turned as red as her hair. He started playing with his hands nervously. "'Mkay, I might be... Yeah, I'm a virgin."

Natasha busted out in laughter. "You? Captain America. You are a great specimen of man, gentle, kind, everything a woman could ever wish for and still you are a virgin?" There was a look of disbelief on her face and her tone matched it. She didn't know where those words came from, but Natasha knew she was being honest. Steve, he wasn't a man to go around sleeping with every girl he met like Stark, but still she expected him to have gotten laid at least once.

"Thanks, Nat." He muttered, but kept his eyes low. His hands were placed on the table in front of him. "I just haven't found the right woman yet."

Natasha placed her hand softly on top of his in a reassuring gesture. He made no attempts to move his hand away and she noticed how he relaxed visibly. Natasha had lost her virginity when she was very young. She didn't quite remember her first time, she was probably twelve when it happened. Of course she couldn't tell Steve that, it would be weird and he would pity her. Natasha hated to be pitied. "Sorry for laughing, I didn't quite know how to react." She told him.

"Don't worry." He nodded and took a deep breath before changing the subject, "Have you chosen what you're going to eat?"

"Yup." She nodded and took a second look at the menu on her hand. Since she didn't want something heavy on her stomach because of the activities she had planned on doing with him, she chose a salad, "I'm having a salad, I'm not very hungry." They called the waiter and ordered the food.

While they waited, there was an awkward silence between them, only broken by the sound of the bottom of a glass hitting the wooden surface of the table. Silence... That was something new between them, Steve and Natasha always seemed to have something to talk about, whether they were discussing about a mission or talking about the news or a movie one of them watched. They were never out of words as they were now.

"Well, this is awkward." Natasha muttered more to herself than to Steve.

"Yes, it is." He smiled at her.

"Well, since you can't seem to find any subject for us to talk about, I'm going to continue with the lessons." She stated and shifted on her chair searching for a more comfortable position on the chair. "Nothing physical, of course. Just something I was thinking about yesterday."

"Oh okay." He nodded and doubled his attention to her.

"Well, there isn't a right way to kiss someone. There are dozens of different types of kisses, but A kiss... A kiss is the very portrait of the soul of a person. Each kiss is unique. Just like the person who is kissing." She told him after a short while in silence. The she added a bit unsure if she should say that. "You know, ancient lovers believed a kiss would literally unite their souls, because the spirit was said to be carried in one's breath."

"That's... Beautiful, Natasha." He muttered thoughtfully, his eyes met hers once more and Natasha swore there was a spark in them somewhere, something that told her he wanted to be more than just friends with her, but, before she was able to give it much thought, the food arrived.

They ate in silence, just enjoying the flavor of the food and each other's company. It wasn't the best Chinese food she ever ate – well, she was finding it hard to like the flavor of any Chinese food she ate in the U.S after she had gotten back from a mission in China. When they were done eating, they got their Fortune cookies. Natasha never gave much thought on the messages that came inside the the cookie, but she liked reading them.

She cracked the cookie open and ate it before reading the words printed on the small piece of paper: 'Kissing is like drinking salted water. You drink, and your thirst increases.' Natasha blinked and read it again to make sure her eyes were not fooling her. She felt the faintest of blushes creep to her cheeks.

"What did you get?" Steve asked with a smile, "Mine is : 'A diamond with imperfections is worthy more than a pebble without imperfections.'

"I got: 'Keep your broken arm inside your sleeve.'" She lied and smiled at him.

Steve insisted on paying the bill and, once more she found it hard to believe that he was a virgin. Then they left to his apartment.

~X~

Natasha was able to feel Sharon's hostile gaze on her as she and Steve made their way towards his apartment. Sharon didn't actually know, but now she had a real reason not to like Natasha. Still, it wasn't like she was stealing her boyfriend. She was just training him. Steve opened the door for her and she entered the apartment.

"I just need to use the bathroom before we start." She told him and went to the bathroom, she didn't even need an invitation to go inside and start messing with his stuff. Natasha brushed her teeth and, when she got back to the living room, Steve was sitting on his couch staring out of the window.

"So, are you ready?" She asked running a hand through her hair to put a few loose strands back in place as she made her way towards him.

"Yup." He nodded. "Are we doing this the same way as we did yesterday?"

"Nope. Since you've learned the basics, today you're going to learn how to kiss while standing."

"Okay." He stood.

"Since it's hard to find someone who's taller than you are – only Bruce when he's hulked out – You're going to learn how to kiss while you're standing." Natasha stood on her tiptoes measuring the distance from her mouth to his. She wore her high heel boots and was on her tiptoes and still, he was taller than her. That was sorta frustrating. "You'll have to lean in."

Steve did as he was told and they kissed. If she didn't know him better, Natasha would actually believe that he had been practicing in her absence. He was kissing slightly better than the day before, now, his tongue moved in synchrony with hers, but there was something missing. Natasha was still in control of the kiss, she didn't mind it, but Sharon... She didn't know if that woman was more submissive. She allowed herself to kiss him for a little longer, an act of pure selfishness, before she broke the kiss.

"Wow." She muttered breathlessly to herself and then, noticing the awkward silence between them, added, "Have you been practicing?"

"Nope. Why?" Steve asked confused.

"Nothing. I was just wondering."

"Oh." He said. She could see his cheeks burning and he ran a hand through his hair nervous. He had been doing that a lot lately.

"Well, you are a good kisser, Steve. There's nothing else can do about that. Your french kiss is perfect. Now, let's try something new." Natasha suggested, "Kiss me again. This time, pull me closer by my waist."

He did as he was told and their lips were locked again. The feeling of his strong arms around her waist as he pulled her closer was extremely erotic. While his kiss was instinctual, hers was extremely manic and performed with perfection. She kissed him with all her will, she gave herself completely to him, kissing him with all the experience she had acquired throughout the years. She threaded her fingers through his hair softly and realized she needed breath. Slowly and not really wanting to do so, she broke the kiss, biting his lower lip softly.

Just like the other day, his eyes were of a darker color and his pupils were dilated. The desire he felt was almost palpable. His breathing was heavy and his hair was messy. He looked even better like that, as if all his innocence was gone. He was thirsty for more. 'Kissing is like drinking salted water. You drink, and your thirst increases.' Those words swam through her head as she stared into his eyes, her breathing was still uneven, just like his and, for a second, she actually thought he was going to make a bolder move towards her, but she discarded the idea.

"I think we're done for the night." Natasha told him and walked away from Steve towards the door, "Tomorrow, at the same time, meet me at my apartment."

Steve even offered her a ride, but she refused and she noticed how he looked almost sad to see her go, but she didn't really care – or did she? - He was just a friend after all. As she expected, Sharon was out in the corridor when she left the apartment and was looking at her as if she was from outer space, someone insane and Natasha figured that she had overheard something between them... Oh yes! Her red lipstick! When she was downstairs, making her way outside, she was reminded of that detail. She touched her face and saw light stains of red on her hand. She chuckled and continued making her way down the street. That was almost too good to be real.

Before going home, she stopped by the supermarket and bought food. She wanted to have something to offer him when he went to her place the next day.