Natasha too was panting softly when they broke apart again. And rather than insist on more kisses, more eager, hungry caresses, she let him pull away, let him hold her still and rest his forehead against hers, blue eyes gazing directly into green. She held still, seeing him struggling with...everything. Composure, memories, balance.
Score for her; she knew how hard it was to discombobulate the Winter Soldier.
Unlike James, Natasha hadn't forgotten anything. She still remembered their missions together - etched in a bittersweet shell of pleasure and pain. She still remembered the weight of his fist, crashing down on her in the training room; she still remembered the warm gutturals that purred beneath her ear later that same night. She still remembered every assignment, every cover, every kill. And, for just a moment, she was quietly glad that he couldn't.
She'd take the pain of him not knowing them over him not knowing what they'd been forced to do together. How many lives had been lost at their talented, dangerous hands.
So she forced a small smile, a reassuring smile, and shook her head lightly, lowering her lashes even though she still rested her forehead against his. "It's okay, James," she soothed him, gently stroking his cheek even as he cupped hers. "--I don't expect us to just...pick up where we left off."
A small warmth curled through her at his spoken recollections, though. Because she remembered them, too. "It was really cold that day," she added to the memory. "And we were supposed to be running the obstacle course that ran around the compound." A light shrug. "...but." Then, "...you were mad at me after the Rovaniemi mission." A light smirk curved her lips. "You didn't approve of me getting all familiar and handsy with the CEO's son."
But she'd needed a way into the man's executive office that didn't involve bloodshed. So, seducing his playboy, over-confident son had been the next best idea.
Natasha chuckled lightly. "You barely spoke to me for the rest of that day and all night, too. Only when I marched over to your bed and shoved you over did you even look at me, all glowering and pouting." She gently stroked his face, fingertips gentle against his skin. "That didn't last too long, though..."
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Score for her; she knew how hard it was to discombobulate the Winter Soldier.
Unlike James, Natasha hadn't forgotten anything. She still remembered their missions together - etched in a bittersweet shell of pleasure and pain. She still remembered the weight of his fist, crashing down on her in the training room; she still remembered the warm gutturals that purred beneath her ear later that same night. She still remembered every assignment, every cover, every kill. And, for just a moment, she was quietly glad that he couldn't.
She'd take the pain of him not knowing them over him not knowing what they'd been forced to do together. How many lives had been lost at their talented, dangerous hands.
So she forced a small smile, a reassuring smile, and shook her head lightly, lowering her lashes even though she still rested her forehead against his. "It's okay, James," she soothed him, gently stroking his cheek even as he cupped hers. "--I don't expect us to just...pick up where we left off."
A small warmth curled through her at his spoken recollections, though. Because she remembered them, too. "It was really cold that day," she added to the memory. "And we were supposed to be running the obstacle course that ran around the compound." A light shrug. "...but." Then, "...you were mad at me after the Rovaniemi mission." A light smirk curved her lips. "You didn't approve of me getting all familiar and handsy with the CEO's son."
But she'd needed a way into the man's executive office that didn't involve bloodshed. So, seducing his playboy, over-confident son had been the next best idea.
Natasha chuckled lightly. "You barely spoke to me for the rest of that day and all night, too. Only when I marched over to your bed and shoved you over did you even look at me, all glowering and pouting." She gently stroked his face, fingertips gentle against his skin. "That didn't last too long, though..."