Six weeks later

Emery was back, finally, so I had moved back into my room with her. Things had been strange, to say the least, practically living with Steve in his room. I hated to admit how much I loved spending that time with him, which made getting over our break-up even harder. We'd grown closer over these last six weeks—so much so, that I was riddled with pleasure when I saw there was a box on my bed on Saturday.

"You got flowers last week, and a present tonight? What's the deal?" Emery asked.

I shrugged and opened the box. Inside was a beautiful black, long-sleeved dress with a gold chain along the waist.

"Wow. Whoever bought that must really like you," Emery said.

I waved her off. "This is the dress Pepper wanted me to buy when we went shopping a few weeks ago. I told her I didn't need it, but it looks like someone must've bought it."

"So Pepper bought it?

I shook my head. "I don't think so." I spotted a piece of paper in the box and smiled. "I think Steve did."

"Why? I thought you two were broken up," Emery said.

"We were—are. Right after I got home from the hospital, things got a little weird. So, we decided that we would take a few steps back and reevaluate our relationship in a few weeks."

"Let me guess, six weeks?"

"He didn't say. All he said was that he'd take me out to dinner and we would talk."

Emery snorted. "Wow. That is extremely cheesy."

I scoffed. "It's cute. And I get a dress out of it."

Emery peered over my shoulder. "What does the card say?"

I opened it:

Nat,

I hope you like the dress. Meet me downstairs at 6 for dinner.

-Steve

"Subtle. You picked a good one, Nat," Emery said.

"I know." I checked my watch, smiling. I had an hour to get ready.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Pepper came to see me a few minutes before I went downstairs to meet Steve. "Hey, you."

"You told him about the dress, huh?" I asked. I fluffed my hair at the vanity.

"He'd already seen you in it, remember?" Pepper asked.

"No, I remember you taking a picture of me in it..." Realization hit me. "Did you send him the picture you took of me in the dress that day?!"

Pepper bit her lip. "I may or may not have sent it to him."

"It was on my phone!" I scrolled through the photos. "Oh my god. Did you send him the photo of the sexy pose?!"

"No, of course not! I knew you two were broken up, do you really think I'd lead him on for you like that?"

I sighed. "No, you're right. So you went back to the store with him so he could buy it?"

Pepper nodded. "He wanted to pick something you'd love. So the plan was to take you shopping without leading you on to the rest of our plan."

I breathed a sigh of relief. "That was really sweet. Of both of you."

"You know I'm rooting for the two of you to get back together," Pepper said. "And I know it has to happen naturally. But I thought I could help."

I smiled. "I really appreciate that, Pep. I'm hoping things go in our favor tonight, but we'll have to wait and see."

I walked downstairs a few minutes later. I had paired my dress with a pair of black and gold pumps. Luckily, Sam had cleared me to stop wearing the boot all the time. I prayed I would last in these heels tonight without any pain.

Steve was standing in the kitchen wearing a grey suit and a tie that brought out the blue in his eyes. I forced myself to remain calm.

"Natasha, you look breathtaking," Steve said. He hugged me.

"You don't look too bad yourself, Rogers," I replied, smiling.

He held out his hand. "Ready for dinner?"

I nodded. "Let's go."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Dinner was amazing. We talked, we laughed. Everything felt like it was getting back to normal. Still, part of me wondered if I was truly ready.

"This was a lot of fun," I said as we walked back into the compound.

"I'm glad we were able to talk things over," Steve replied.

We made our way over to the sofas. I carefully sat down and tucked my legs—well, my good leg—underneath me and propped the other up on a pillow. Steve had gone to the kitchen to get me some ice.

"So, about us," Steve said cautiously. He sat next to me and laid the ice pack carefully on my foot. I winced at the cold.

"I've been thinking a lot about where to go from here," I said. "And I think we can make things work."

Steve brightened. "Nat—"

I held up my hand to stop him. "Before you say anything, we need to set some ground rules."

Steve nodded.

"Rule number 1: we don't announce to the team that we're back together. Yet. Rule number 2: we need to take things slow. That means no crazy make-outs or tequila body shots." Steve smirked as I made that last comment. 

"And rule #3: no planned nights where we fall asleep together. For now."

"I can agree to those terms," Steve said, grinning.

"Good." I got up from the sofa. "Walk with me upstairs?"

Steve helped me to the elevator, and we headed up to my floor. We stopped outside the door to my room.

"I had a lot of fun tonight," I said.

"Me too. I always have fun with you, Nat."

I leaned up to kiss his cheek, but he sneakily turned his face so that our lips met. In that instant, all I wanted was for him to scoop me up and take me to bed. Our eyes met as our lips parted.

"Rules start tomorrow?" I asked even though I knew what would happen if he agreed.

"Rules start tomorrow." Steve brushed his fingers over my forehead.

I jumped up and wrapped my legs around his waist, and we stumbled into the darkness of my room together.

In a matter of moments, his shirt and tie were across the room, and my dress was tossed carelessly to the side.

Steve kissed me and kissed me and oh boy did he kiss me.

We tangled ourselves together, breathing heavily.

"Are you sure about this?" Steve asked.

I nodded. "I've never been so sure about anything in my life."

Steve moved his lips over mine to kiss me again, his fingers fumbling for the clasp of my bra...just as the door to my room flung open.

"Nat, have I got a story for—oh my god!" Emery said. She turned to face the door and put her hands over her eyes as Steve shielded me with his body.

"I'm assuming dinner went well?" she asked.

Steve and I looked at each other and smiled. "Yeah."

"Are you two gonna be much longer with all of that?" She gestured to the bed.

"I'll call you when it's safe to come back," I said. With that, Emery left, and Steve and I laid beside each other.

"Well, I think it's safe to say the mood is officially ruined," I said.

Steve sighed. "Yeah." He sat up and started getting dressed.

"You could stay," I said, sitting up in the bed. I rubbed my ankle. I wasn't sure roughing it up with Steve was doing that much good for the injury. Still, six weeks past the initial attack and it was still painful...that didn't bode well.

Steve paused, his shirt halfway on. "Do you want me to stay?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

Steve leaned over the bed and kissed me. I didn't think I'd ever get tired of that. "Then I'll stay."

I grinned. "I'm gonna go put on something more comfortable." I got up from the bed to put on my robe before grabbing a silk nightgown from my closet and slipping into the bathroom to change. When I came out, Steve was sitting up in bed waiting for me. Still shirtless.

"Gosh, you look beautiful," he said.

I carefully crawled in next to him. My foot was throbbing a little from the excitement of earlier, so I tried to keep it propped the best I could.

"You're not so bad yourself," I said. I looked around the room. "Where did you put our clothes?"

"In the closet. I thought if Emery was gonna come back, it would be nice for her not to have to see the evidence of our rendezvous.

I laughed. "True." I reached for my phone and sent Emery a text to let her know it was safe for her to return to our room.

Steve kissed my forehead as I leaned on his shoulder to get comfortable. "You know, I could get used to this."

"Mmm, don't get too used to it, Steve. Rule number 3, remember? Tonight is a one-time thing," I said.

"You're right. But if we don't plan it..." his hands snaked around my waist, pulling me closer.

I smiled. "If we happen to run into each other, then maybe. Although, you might have to convince me."

Emery came back at that moment. "I see you two have...gotten comfortable." She chose her words carefully, but I sensed a twinge of teasing in her voice.

"Yeah, sorry about that," I said. "We didn't expect anyone to be home for a while."

Emery sat on her bed. "I should've texted. Anyway, do you guys want me to relocate for the night?"

I shook my head. "No, you have nothing to worry about. Steve is gonna stay, but nothing else is gonna happen, I promise."