Devotion [Book 1]

Something In The Air

Chapter 2

***

"What?"

"Nothing." Steve shifted on top of his covers to lie on his back and stare at the ceiling. He had spent the afternoon and evening hiding in his quarters at the Tower with Natasha, watching movies and talking. Now they were lying in his bed relaxing after a fancy steak dinner delivered by two very tall, very masculine chefs. Tony and Bruce had yet to come through with a solution to his problem, but he wasn't bothered by it at the moment, barring the one problem she was bringing his attention to. He covered his eyes with one hand and rubbed, hard. "I don't want to sound like a jerk."

"Like you could even if you tried."

He had to chuckle at her incredulous tone. "No, it's just that every woman I've met today has found me irresistible. Every one but you."

"Don't take it personal. Besides, we don't even know why it's happening yet. Maybe they've all be compromised by alien brain-warping technology and I've only escaped by chance." She turned his head with a fingertip on his chin. "Unless you want me to call Hill and see if she still wants to..."

"Please don't!" He had heard enough of Natasha's filthy yet alluring suggestions over the course of the past few hours to imagine – or prefer not to imagine – whatever she was about to say. "Haven't I suffered enough?"

"Only you would consider being the object of every woman's affections as 'suffering.'"

"Well, like I said..."

"Yeah, I know. You're disappointed that I'm not falling all over you. Trust me, this has been my most exciting night in weeks. Too much time with Clint and Netflix and you get a toxic combination."

"Uh..."

"You can't even imagine the tedium."

His imagination had actually been going in a different direction and his ego was relieved by the idea that she equated watching movies and Barton with boredom. "Well, we've been watching movies all day and I haven't found it, um, tedious."

"Me neither, but you did lose your Dirty Dancing virginity today. Now nobody can put Stevie in the corner."

"I can't compete with Johnny Castle."

"Don't sell yourself short. I mean, don't go thinking your Patrick Swayze, but you're pretty good."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"You absolutely should." She rolled away from him and stood from the bed in a smooth movement. "I don't suppose you're ready to try lifts, though."

He had the feeling she was getting ready to leave. The thought filled him with disappointment, even though he had no particular plans for how the rest of the night may have gone. Still, it seemed a little early to call it a night. "You think I'll be okay? I mean, there could still be women in the Tower ready to break in and have their way with me."

"Yeah, you seem really distressed about the possibility," she deadpanned. "Just enact security protocols. JARVIS will be happy to protect your virtue, I'm sure."

"I would be happy to do so, Agent Romanoff," the AI immediately replied.

"Please don't do that," Steve muttered, rising to his feet.

"I apologize, Captain Rogers, but Mr. Stark has programmed me to respond automatically when I am summoned."

"We were just talking and your name came up." Steve didn't mean to be rude, if you could be rude to a computer program, but he wasn't in the mood to be politely interrupted. "Can you just turn yourself off for a few minutes?"