32

                                    

                                          
Natasha's POV
                          
I moaned lightly when Steve sucked on my bottom lip, and arched my back when he squeezed my waist lightly. He sucked on my neck and I fingered the bottom of his shirt, pulling it off. 
                          
"Wait," Steve got up, yanking the curtains of the cabana shut. 
                          
I smiled when he rejoined me on the bed, and we wrestled for control until he finally had me pinned down on the bed, holding my hands above my head. I giggled and he kissed me passionately, sliding his tongue into my mouth. I gasped slightly and he moved his hands to my hips, hooking his fingers on my shorts to slide them off, and as I could feel them sliding down, I became very aware of my body. 
                          
"No!"
                          
I could feel Steve's body on top of me, but it wasn't his body anymore. 
                          
"Stop!"
                          
This was all way too familiar. 
                          
"Please!"
                          
I could feel my breathing get heavier. And not in a good way.

                          
"Help."
                          
"Steve, stop!" The words left my mouth before I could stop myself. 
                          
"Natasha, what's wrong?" He asked confusedly as I pushed him off me and stumbled off the bed. 
                          
"I..." I tried to clear my head, breathing rapidly. "Give me a minute," I choked out, rushing out to the beach. I collapsed onto the sand and let my breathing slow down carefully. 
                          
Steve sat down next to me. "I'm sorry." 
                          
"No, I just need a minute, it's not your fault," I said, closing my eyes to try to stop the tears from leaking out. 
                          
"I shouldn't have pushed you to go that far," Steve said, knowing exactly what I was thinking about. I whimpered softly as the memories replayed in my mind. My screams echoing throughout the room and dying on the walls. The marks on my wrists that had been left there from the binds. Bruce's father drunkenly attacking me. "Hey, hey, hey," Steve pulled me into his arms as I shook uncontrollably. I hugged his arms and collapsed into his chest, letting my tears leak onto his arm. He kissed my hair and rubbed my back, cradling me in his arms. 
                          
I let myself relax in his embrace and he rocked me back and forth gently. "You know it wasn't your fault, right? I wanted it, too."
                          
"But it was me who made the first move. I wasn't thinking straight," He chastised himself. 
                          
I looked up at Steve and stroked his hair. "I'll get there someday, Steve."
                          
"I know you will. But it's okay if you don't."
                          
"Is it okay if I stay with you tonight? You're the only one who knows how to wake me up when I dream about--"
                          
"Yeah, of course. I'll text everyone to make some sleeping rearrangements."
                          
I nodded and Steve got up, wiping his hands off and helping me up. I got up and hugged him tightly, letting his warm breath fall onto my neck. "Thank you. For everything." 
                          
"Hey, is everything okay?" I heard a concerned voice behind me. 
                          
"Yeah," I said, turning to find Bucky standing there. Steve held my waist protectively and I smiled slightly. 
                          
"Is it okay if you find somewhere else to hang out for the night?" Steve said, his forehead wrinkled.
                          
"Yeah," Bucky said. "Yeah, of course. Just... take it easy, alright?" I nodded and Bucky squinted as he thought. "Alright, I, uh, I'll bunk with Sam or Tony for the night, just don't go through my stuff," He warned me jokingly. 
                          
"What, afraid I'm gonna find your romance novels?" I teased, hugging him thankfully. "See you in the morning?" 
                          
"Sure thing."
                          
"I'm gonna go grab my stuff for the night, but I'll see you soon," I told Steve, brushing the last of the sand off my rear. He nodded and started talking to Bucky while I jogged off to Carol's cabana. I knocked on the wooden pillar supporting the tent. "Hey, Carol, you here?"
                          
"Yeah, give me a second!" She said, sounding a little panicked. I frowned confusedly and peered through the sheer curtains. 
                          
"You know I can see you right?" I laughed lightly, looking at Carol scrambling to get her shirt back on. I didn't bother waiting and just stepped inside, smirking at the sight in front of me. "Isn't this sweet?" Carol, who was sitting on the bed, had pushed Pietro onto the ground, and he sat there, staring at me with a grim smile on his face. "Uh, don't worry, I just came to grab a few things. I'm going to stay with Steve for tonight, so you guys can... resume," I smirked, grabbing some clothes. "As you were," I smiled, backing out of the room. 
                          
I could hear Carol audibly slap Pietro and I had to stifle laughter as I jogged back to Steve's cabana. "Hey," He said as I jumped onto the bed. 
                          
"Hi," I replied, looking around at the interior, since I didn't really notice it before. "You and Bucky's place is significantly larger than Carol and I's."
                          
"Second largest after Tony's," He said smugly. "My family came here with him once, so I knew which one to grab. Granted, I was six at the time, but still old enough to remember."
                          
"Yeah, well lucky you," I muttered, hopping off the bed and peeking into the bathroom. I turned around and saw Steve stuffing some of his clothes into the drawers. "Hey, so I just need to talk to you about something really quickly."
                          
"Yeah, what's on your mind?" He said, sitting down. 
                          
"I know you've probably never had to deal with something like this. But this doesn't change anything. I'm not going to like... freeze up if you come near me."
                          
"That's good," He smiled. I sat on his lap and he looked into my eyes. "So if I was to kiss you, you'd be okay?"
                          
"Mmm," I mumbled. "Only one way to find out."
                          
Steve kissed me gently and I wrapped my arms around the base of his neck, deepening the kiss ever so slightly before pulling away. "I think we'll be fine," Steve smirked, making me smile. 
                          
"Well, we should probably go to bed early," I said, grabbing my pajamas.
                          
"Why?" Steve frowned.
                          
"Are you kidding me? Game night tomorrow and campfire the next night. If I lose to Carol, or Sam, for that matter, I am never, and I mean never going to hear the end of it."
                          
"Carol never loses. You've got your work cut out for you," He said skeptically. 
                          
"Yeah? She's never played against me. But speaking of Carol, I'm thinking she and Pietro are ready to make things official. So, we move onto our next project... Hilson... or Pepperony?" I pondered out loud as I grabbed my toothbrush.
                          
"I think... Maria would kill us if we tried to interfere in her love life. So definitely her first."
                          
"Alright, I already have some ideas," I said, spreading some toothpaste onto my brush. "What do you think about the victory parade coming up soon? Or, better yet... Prom."