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

Ground Rules (for Love and War) - Pt.2/2

You in fact did last few rounds. You even managed to step up and buy some of the tiny red houses. And you... you might even have been having fun.

Until you got the worst luck ever, stepping on the most fearful square owned by no other than Steve Rogers and you had to start counting all of your money... only to find out that it, if fact, wasn't enough. Not after you had already payed him once that round and to Bucky.

"Ahh, dammit."

"You can always just... sell something," Bucky noted and you shot him a glare. That move always signalled the beginning of an end.

You were frowning at the board, chewing on your lower lip while you considered your options. Not that there were many of them. Your poor boat-shaped figure was about to sink.

"Or you could pay me later," Steve's voice broke your mussing and your head snapped to him. "I'll give you five tosses – someone might step on something of yours by then."

You examined his inviting expression, his sharp features softened by the candlelight. For a moment, your brain switched off. For some reason, you hadn't truly looked at him since the game started, your gaze rather on the board and dice, but now, when you raised your gaze, you were amazed by the ethereal aura around him, by the startling beauty. His already warm eyes reflected the tiny flames, the shadows accenting the curve of his lips, defined cheekbones, strong jaw.

One of his eyebrows rose in slow motion, only for you to realize with shock that you had been staring at him for way too long. You hoped he believed you only got lost in thought; which you did, but about him, not about the game.

"I... don't that's possible according to the rules," you whispered, voice hoarser than expected. You cleared your throat, your heart racing at both being caught and captivated by the vision of Steve in the sweet light.

"Sometimes it's alright to bend the rules a bit for a good cause. Where the fun would be if I condemned you to bankrupting in about two tosses?" he shrugged, apparently oblivious to your inner turmoil and you released the breath you were holding.

"One toss, knowing my luck... are you sure?"

"Positive," he assured you with a small smile and you could melt at spot. And it had nothing to do with that stupid capitalistic board game.

"Thank you. I guess I'll just have to pay you with interest too when I finally do."

You honestly had no intention for it to come out like that... it had just... happened to sound this flirty. His eyes locked on yours, the warm candlelight still casting shadows over his cheeks bones, sharp jaw, plush lips... all of him was calling out for you, luring your heart in, your breath catching in your throat and his gaze flickered to the lower part on your face just for a split second, but it was enough to cause you a little heart attack, a firework exploding in your abdomen. Christ.

"I guess it's my turn then," Bucky cleared his throat meaningfully and you nearly jumped out of your skin at the sound of his voice.

How the hell did you forget he was still here with you?

Also, you were playing Monopoly and when you had said you'd pay with interest, you had originally thought paying with some fake money on top. It was an accident that somehow, your brain had switched to its more primitive form, thinking about very different things and you needed to get it back in check. Right now.

Bucky helped with that significantly; while you were able to pay Steve after one single toss, without interest, because he strictly refused that (you would swear that even in the lack of light, you could see the tips of his ears burning), Sergeant Barnes was not one to be mollified. He mercilessly slayed you and you lost everything in next two rounds, because that was just your luck.