30 : SECOND HALF OF THE NIGHT**

10.03 PM

Natasha went to the bathroom. She came out and found the last person she ever wanted to see, Sharon Carter wearing a very revealing white gown.

"Just the person I wanted to see" The blonde sarcastically said

"Go away, Sharon" Natasha shooed "Or do I need to teach you that lesson one more time?"

"I see that you came here with Steve."

"Yes, I did."

"He said that you're his girlfriend so I bet that he already slept with you"

"No, Sharon, I'm not like you. I don't just sleep around with random guys" Natasha retorted and walked out of the restroom.

But Sharon followed her to cause more of a scene. Natasha crossed over the dance floor to Steve and grabbed his forearm.

"Hey, sweetheart" He said but she leaned up and whispered in his ear.

"It's not only you that needs to playact, Steve" and she pulled him down for a kiss.

He didn't argue with that because, well, he enjoyed kissing her. He never tasted lips as sweet as her. He loved their taste and he wanted more. He pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. Nat melted into his embrace and everyone could see how lovely and madly in love the couple was.

Sharon couldn't do anything but be angry at everything. After all, Steve chose Natasha over her once again.

10.36 PM

Steve and Natasha were dancing on the dance floor, enjoying their small conversation, mostly consisted of how she should act around these people.

"You can just relax and talk to them" He replied "Just talk about something pretentious that no normal human being would talks about, okay? Or maybe just make something up."

"It's easy for you to lie, Steve"

"Well, it's not that easy sometimes." He looked in her eyes "I can tell you that most of what I say tonight is the truth"

Nat raised her eyebrows in question. She wanted to question his statement but when she noticed how earnest his eyes were, she couldn't doubt his honesty.

"Most of the things, huh?" She teased.

"Yeah" He replied sincerely.

"And 'She's my girlfriend' falls under truth or lie?"

"You are my girlfriend, Nat" He repeated before dipping his head down to kiss her.

Nat melted in his arms, under his gentle touch. She loved kissing him. As much as she didn't want to admit it to herself, his kisses ignited something deep within her. And who was she to lie to herself? She really loved that feeling.

The kiss was interrupted by a hand on Steve's shoulder. The couple broke off and saw General Joseph Rogers standing behind them with a devilish smirk on his face; a smirk she had seen on Steve's face and realized that's where he had learned it from. The General signaled for the band to stop playing causing everyone turned to them.

Steve held Natasha handed tightly because he knew his dad had something diabolical planned for them.

"Son, everyone at this event has demanded to know how you two met" Joseph said into the microphone he was holding and the crowd nodded in agreement. "Everyone really wants to know how the self-proclaimed bachelor feel in love with this lovely young lady"

Steve frowned because he knew damn well what his father was trying to do. He grabbed the mic from his father.

"Well, we met at the university. It was the first week of the semester…" Steve began

"I was lost in the hallway and ran into Steve. It was a very unexpected meeting" Nat added when Steve trailed off

"I had just finished with showering and she actually ran me over when I was half naked wrapped only in a towel. I showed her the way back to her room and that's how our friendship started"

"No, sweetie, you forgot the part where you were trying to get in my pants" Nat said mirthfully

"Oh, right. That part" Steve smiled because his little red just proved that she spent too much time with the devil like him. "Well, I was being a real jerk before. I was trying to bag her. It was a sport for me. I know it was gross but she changed me"

Steve smiled at his little red and lifted her hand up and kissed it gently, causing everyone in attendance to react to the adorable couple with a chorus of 'awws'.

"Steve, tell us your first thoughts on falling in love with this beautiful girl" Colonel Hansen said.

Steve looked at her with a soft smile "To be honest, I think she is really sexy." Everyone laughed "I mean, come on, look at her. She's every man's fantasy. But that's superficial before I got to know her, before I got to know the real Natasha Romanoff. The more I get to know her, the more she amazes me with every moment we're together. She is kind, smart, strong, caring and understanding and she's the most awesome girl I've ever met. She literally kicks my ass and wipes the floor with me and she does so every time she has an opportunity" Everyone laughed at that and Nat smiled shyly but Steve continued with his speech, while holding her hand and looking into her eyes "She's gives me a reason to change, and be a better person for her." When he finished, Steve held her hand up and brought his lips to her hand.

"She accepted me for who I really am and that's the moment I knew, she's was the one I've been looking for" He paused and looked at her with earnest blue eyes. "And she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my entire life"

Natasha smiled and his head down for a kiss. Steve held her close and deepened the kiss. They felt like they didn't have to act anymore. The emotions felt right. It may have started off as a lie but now it really was something else entirely something they didn't have a name for yet.

Suddenly, it was something pure, something true, something right and the most beautiful thing either had ever known.

Joseph and Sarah were standing in a seclude corner to have a discussion about their only son.

"Do you still need proof, Joseph? Our son is deeply in love with her" Sarah asked

"I don't like this girl, Sarah! She came out of nowhere. We don't really know who she is. Unlike Peggy or Sharon who we've known them our entire life"

"One broke his heart and the other was nothing more than meaningless sex. Joseph, I don't want them near our son again" Sarah rolled her eyes at her husband.

"I don't like that girl" The General groaned "She has nothing to offer our boy"

"She loves him and he loves her. That's enough for me."

"Love? You use the word 'love' when talking about our son who has spent most of his adult life sleeping around more than either one of us would like to know about"

"Look at them." She said and pointed to her son and his girlfriend on the dance floor. "I've never seen him that happy before, not even when he was with Peggy. Just look at the way he looks at her."

They looked at them. Steve's blue eyes locked with Natasha's lovingly. He never took his eyes off her.

"I still don't approve it..."

"And she's a Romanov" Sarah cut in

"What?" Joseph frowned "The lost royal family of Russia?"

"I ran some background check on her."

"There is no one who will voluntarily bear that name publicly in Russia without signing their death warrant" Joseph said "I don't buy it. She may be just another gold digger pretending to fall in love with our son just for the sake of our money"

"I spent some time with her already, Joseph, and I can say that she likes our son for who he is, not our money" Sarah replied to ease her husband "And about her background, Romanov is her birth name, Joseph, it's certified on her proof of birth which means she's a direct descendant and she's one of the very last too."

"It's probably a forgery"

"I already found someone who can authenticate that" Sarah said "And they are on their way here"

The lovely couple was still swamped by people who were so intrigued about their relationship. Natasha was tired and in needed of some time alone. She hated being the center of attention like this and she could feel that Steve felt the same way.

She pulled one of the oldest tricks in the book and Steve could read the signal perfectly. She lurched before grabbing his arm.

"Are you alright, sweetie?" He asked, worried.

"I think I need some fresh air" She said

"Let's go to the balcony" He replied "Excuse us, Colonel"

Steve led her out to the dimly lit balcony facing the garden. She let out a sigh of relief as she got some private time for her and Steve.

"This is by far the most stressful night in my entire life" Natasha said

"I thought you were enjoying it"

"Your dad and those people just keep asking us the same question"

Steve smiled gently and put his hand on her hips "Hey, we're doing okay. You're doing great, darling"

"Your dad wants to strangle me for being your girlfriend!"

"Don't worry. My mom likes you a lot and that means my dad can't touch you" He assured her "Oh! I forget to tell you. My mom said her Harry Winston looks good on you"

Nat let out a chuckle and completely relaxed in his arms. They enjoyed the beautiful view from the balcony with Steve holding Nat from behind. Steve loved the feeling of having her this close to him, probably too close, since he could smell her perfume which was intoxicating him.

And he couldn't resist her anymore. He pressed his lips to the pulse point at her neck gently at which Natasha took a sharp intake of breath but didn't stop him. Natasha melted into his touch and leaned back until her entire body pressed up against him.

He didn't hold back as she turned to kiss him deeply, passionately and pulled his neck down to her. It was torture for Steve to have her this close to his own body. He was lost to lust.

His hands traveled down her side and legs. He didn't care that anyone might see them doing it, he needed her. He needed to touch her, to feel her.

Nat let out a soft moan against his ear and Steve pressed his lips harder to the soft skin of her neck.

A loud cough interrupted their heated moment. Steve ceased ministrations but continued holding Natasha in his arms. He saw his dad and his mom standing behind them so he pivoted to hide Natasha behind him. The moment had gotten so intense that he hadn't noticed they had an audience.

They both blushed but Steve allowed a smirk on his face. His dad pulled out a hundred dollar bill and handed it to his mom.

"A hundred dollars? Mom, that's a little insulting don't you think?"

"Everyone was looking for both of you. Why don't you go inside and dance?"

Steve nodded and grabbed Nat's hand. They both needed to freshen up. Natasha needed to readjust her dress and apply some more makeup so she headed toward the ladies room. But Steve followed her, and unceremoniously pushed her into the woman's restroom sliding the deadbolt so they can have some privacy.

Steve wiped the red lipstick off his lips and his neck. Natasha reapplied her red lipstick. Steve watched her through the reflection in the mirror. She could see the lust burning in his eyes sending a shiver down her spine.

It burned her too.

She knew he was fighting the urge to lunge forward and take her right here and now.

But he stayed where he was and waited until she finished before they went back to the party.

Natasha and Steve were talking with Sarah while Steve kept his hand possessively around Nat's hip. He had very rapidly become a very clingy boyfriend, always sneaking a kiss on her lips or cheek.

It was almost midnight when Steve told Natasha that they should head back to his penthouse. But then his dad stepped into the middle of the dance floor to make announcement.

"Well, we have a surprise auction for this charity. Every dollar will go directly to the veteran's fund." Joseph announced "And with cooperation of my close friends. The highest bidder will get a chance to go on a date with the person who who they place their bid on."

Steve frowned. He could smell trouble that his dad was bringing. His mom sensed it too and pushed the two toward the exit when the security guard stopped them.

"I'm sorry, ma'am but she has her name on the auction list"

"What the hell?" Steve snarled at the security guard

"It's alright, Steve. We will find another way" His mom said

But Steve was really angry at his father's stunt "I kill any man who even touches her!" Steve vowed

The auction manager came in to collect Natasha and to prepare her for the auction. Steve glared at the man with angry murderous eyes. Nat leaned up and kissed him on the lips to calm him down.

"It's okay, Steve" She reassured him. "I will be back soon"

But Steve didn't let her out of his embrace until his mother gently touched his shoulder since the auction would move forward with or without Steve's agreement.

"I won't let any one touch you, Nat" He promised before releasing her.

Steve and Sarah got back to the party and the auction had already began.

"Dad really doesn't like her" Steve stated

"But I like her and that's why I will give you this" Sarah said and whipped out a checkbook, pulled out a blank check "Just go easy with it, okay?"

"Thank you, mom"

"Go get her, son"

Steve was waiting patiently for Natasha. When her name was announced, he could feel that every man, young or old, was so eager to bid on her. The giant green monster was lurking within him, waiting patiently to reveal itself. He would without a doubt beat the living hell out of any man who even breathed on her let alone touched her.

"Bid starts at 1,000"

Every single man made their bid and it easily climbed up to 20,000. Steve not yet making a bid on his girl.

"25,000"

"40,000"

"45,000"

"Damn dude these guys really want a date with your lady" One man said to Steve.

Steve clenched his hand tightly into a fist and then his eyes met Natasha's.

"100,000" Steve shouted over the crowd

Everyone was silenced and looked at the young man whose eyebrow quirked up in a very challenging way.

"Going once, twice, and sold to the highest bid of tonight, ladies and gentlemen!"

Steve entered the monetary number on the check before handing it to the auctioneer. He then grabbed Natasha's hand and dragged her out of the dance floor, all eyes on the departing couple.

Steve called his limo and gently guided Natasha in.

"To the penthouse, Josh" Steve said

"Yes, Mr. Rogers"

The driver raised the partition up to give them privacy.

"Steve"

"Hmm?"

"My hand"

Steve immediately released her hand realizing that he had unconsciously squeezed it too tight and hurt her.

"I'm sorry" He said and raised her hand to kiss at her knuckles. "I'm sorry about my father too"

"It's okay"

When his eyes locked with hers, he felt himself losing control again. Steve lunged forward to capture her lips with his. He broke the kiss to assault her neck with his lips, teeth and tongue and slid his hand up her thigh, resuming what they started at the party before his parents intruded.

The sexual tension between them reached its boiling point and finally exploded. There was no turning back now. Natasha grabbed his arms, moaning and breathing heavily against his ear.

But before they could go any further than that, the car stopped at his penthouse. Steve practically dragged her into the private elevator. When they were inside his house, Steve pinned her against the wall and kissed her again. His strong arms lifted her small figure up and headed for his bedroom. Once they were inside, his hands quickly peeled off her dress, revealing her curvaceous body left bare save for black lacy bra and panties. Steve actually groaned at the sight. He was so caught up in his lust, nibbling and sucking the soft skin of her neck.

Natasha's nimble fingers undid the buttons of Steve's shirt and he shed it away, revealing his sculptured muscles that she couldn't help but run her hands over. Steve pinned her down on his bed, right hand cupping her breast, lips trailing down to her ample cleavage.

Steve kissed her again. He couldn't get enough of the sweetness of her lips. He could kiss her like this forever. And from her moans, she felt the same as him.

Natasha knew it would be a lie to say she wasn't enjoying this. Steve was so eager to please her in every way and when she was kissing him she felt as if her skin was on fire; but a memory crept up in the back of her mind, a mere second of the night she left Alexei. It made her push Steve gently to stop him.

"Steve…stop" Her voice was weak and shaken.

Steve immediately stopped, and pushed off of her. He could see a myriad of emotion in her eyes, the clearest one was confusion.

"I'm sorry" She said "I'm sorry…I shouldn't"

"Shh…It's okay" Steve gently replied and kissed her forehead "We don't have to do anything you don't want to."

"Thank you" She whispered

"I should let you take a shower and get some rest" He said "It's been a very long night. You sleep in this room. I will crash in the guest room"

Steve got up from his bed but Natasha grabbed his hand, "Stevie, don't go" She pleaded "Stay with me"

And Steve Rogers could deny her nothing, "I will take a shower and will be back"

She nodded and let Steve carry her to the bathroom where he prepared everything for her before stepping out of the room. They took a shower separately before Steve came back to find Natasha waiting for him on his bed.

Steve slid under the blanket with her and she immediately snuggled into his chest and curled herself in his embrace.

"Good night, little red" He said and kissed her forehead

"Good night, Stevie"

AN:

- I didn't drag the story. They almost officially a couple so just hang in there with me, alright?

- Special thanks to my dearest friends, sleeplessinbudapest & internetangie!

- Thank you to my proofreaders, chrwrigh and kgbucky.

- Please kindly leave a review!