Lessons in Rule Breaking and Other Reader-Inserts*Steve Rogers*Reader*

If You Stumble... Pt.1/3

You blinked, shocked, gripped his shoulders to maintain your balance, but soon let yourself melt into him, relaxing into the kiss that set you on fire despite not expecting the lunge. His fingers curled around your nape, his tongue dancing with yours, stealing the air from your lungs and effectively making your bones turn into goo.

Your head was spinning by the time his forehead rested against yours, your lips parted, unable to form words. Steve tenderly caressed your nose with his.

"Let me take you out," he breathed out, making your eyes, fallen shut at some point of his ministration, snap open. Baffled chuckle escape you at the request.

"What?"

Both of his palms framed your face as he stole another kiss, this time softer, soothing. He was smiling, his eyes twinkling with something that brought the butterflies in your stomach to life.

What was he talking about though? Did you miss something? You thought you were dating. Wasn't going out, spending time together, kinda the point? You'd admit your brain was floating a bit thanks to his unexpected display of affection, but you weren't that out of loop, right? Why would he ask that?

"Let me take you out," he repeated, voice firmer. When you inspected his face for any hint of what he meant, still confused, he finally clarified. "You said I had a taste of 21st century dating. Well, I'd like to show you a bit of the old Brooklyn charm."

Your heart pondered in your chest, threatening to burst at the sweet suggestion. You observed his expression for a long time, seeking any trace of the idea bringing back painful memories, regret of unfulfilled wishes of the past, but you saw none. He radiated nothing but hope and eagerness.

Your lips unwittingly spread in a smile wide enough to tear your mouth.

"Really?" you checked carefully, his barely audible 'yeah' brushing your lips. "Then yes."

You didn't think his expression could light up more, but clearly you were wrong. He rewarded you with another breath-taking kiss, lifting you few inches above the ground, which made you giggle.

Was it possible to burst from happiness? You were feeling pretty close to that, the L word threatening to roll off your tongue. You barely held it back, but still did, worried it might ruin the moment shining with delight.

"Okay. Thank you."

He pressed one more firm kiss to your forehead, himself grinning like a fool, and set you back on the ground. You didn't want to say goodbye, but you knew it was inevitable. He had told you he was heading out for a mission in the morning; simple one, he had claimed, but he still needed to get some shuteye.

Looking up to him seriously, you pleaded him to be careful and stay safe. He promised to do so, the giddiness not quite leaving his aura.

You found yourself falling asleep light-hearted, leaving worries for tomorrow.

---

Steve finished the mission the very same day he left for it. The relief washing over you was way bigger than you were willing to admit; to be fair, Steve may have been slightly more hurt than he was willing to admit, so you called it even. He also insisted on 'taking you out' on Saturday, knowing too well that kind of talk would distract you from your fretting. Lovable bastard.

He said he would let you know the details during the week.

And he did. Those were seemingly random bits of information slipped into your conversations; wear a dress.

Don't do any exercise on Saturday.

I have a meeting before that I sadly cannot escape, but I'll pick you up at half past seven.