Real Love is Hard to Find

Window Shopping

"Natasha...why did you ask me to come here with you? I already bought clothes this week." Steve had that serious chastising look on his face. It was so cute. Natasha nudged him playfully with her elbow.

"Silly. We're not actually buying anything. We're window shopping."

"Window shopping?"

"Yes." She gasped and went over to a department store window, smiling at a pretty green dress she saw on display. "Isn't that beautiful?"

Steve followed her, expression still the same.

"Yes, it's nice, but Natasha..."

"Mmhm?"

"What's the point of window shopping when you aren't even going to buy anything?"

The redhead turned back to her boyfriend and shook her head at him. He always had to know the reasons for everything. It was exasperating at times, but it was one of the reasons Natasha loved him so much. He was impossible to lie to and he could see through a smoke screen better than anyone she knew.

In Natasha's old life, she had become accustomed to casual lying when it suited her or the occasion called for it. Being with Steve, though, it made her feel like she could be honest around him, and she was. It was difficult at first, but it got easier as time went by.

"Because window shopping makes it so much more exciting when you come back the second time and the store still has the items you want. I know that for such an old nonagenarian as yourself, we young people have many frivolous habits, but-"

Natasha's words were cut off by Steve's lips crashing to her own. She moaned and returned the kiss, grasping his waist and savouring the feel of his body pressed to hers. He lapped at her bottom lip, running his tongue along the seam and she sighed, enjoying the ministrations. There were some disapproving looks they got from people, strangers who laughed at their display of affection, but Natasha and Steve didn't heed them.

Natasha had her fair share of kisses, moments when a mission needed her to entice the person. A kiss was certainly disarming enough and it was one of the key weapons that Natasha used in her arsenal. Still, after all of the jobs she had done, not one of those men could hold a candle to Steve when it came to kissing. The man didn't just kiss for one thing. He devoured.

Steve Rogers had always been an all or nothing kind of man and that was one of the things that drew Natasha to him. His confidence, steadfast loyalty to his teammates, his unflinching morals and honour code, those were all the things that attracted her to him and made her want to know him better. It wasn't long before they became a couple.

Hell, Steve was so good and pure that sometimes, she struggled with the knowledge that he actually picked her. She was far from perfect, and even though she knew Steve wasn't, it was still hard to believe that she deserved him. Her past had been hard and difficult to talk about, but he had stayed there for her, through thick and thin, listening intently, never judging, always inspiring her. He constantly told her that she had redeemed herself and that she needed to stop blaming herself for her past wrongs. Steve had been such a comfort to her these past few months. He was her rock, her anchor. She was tethered to him and she would never let go.

Minutes passed before Steve pulled back and kissed her on the nose. Natasha giggled in spite of how silly she sounded. It was remarkable how sexy and passionate Steve could be when it came to his relationship with Natasha, but still be very gentle with her. She revelled in it.

"Now, what were you saying about me being an old man?"

Natasha licked her lips and shook her head. She removed her hands from Steve's waist, but took his hand in hers, squeezing it affectionately. "Not a thing."