Heart Beat

Part 2

The softness of the moonlight steamed from the windows panes of guest bedroom shone over her in the darkness.

Vexation shrouded across her fragile beauty and pale features, body was overheating with an increasing fever that would keep her motionless throughout the hours of the night as she fell into a deep, tranquil slumber.

Within the next hour Natasha fought against the anxiety that enclosed over her lithe body, her skin trembled and eyes twitched, the breath that pierced out of her pale rose colored lips was shallow and forceful, and then lines of watery blood started to pour down her chin as the pressure became to her right side as she searched for an escape from the throbbing pain igniting inside her.

Her distressed cries awoke Steve from a dreamless sleep as he shot upright from the bedside chair, the shafts of dawn began to outline her slender frame as he stood against the mattress, his tender blue eyes surveying over her injuries as his shaky hand gently stroked through her dark strands of hair draped over her shapely shoulders.

She was releasing piercing cries as he saw tears roll down her cheeks. He took a few steps back and dripped his hand in water into a bowl of cold water, wringing it out as he softly dabbed the coldness over her feverish brow.

Sam Wilson warned him not to wake her when she was in this state; rather to allow the morphine coursing through her veins to ease the jabs of tightening muscles and to let her body naturally heal itself. Meaning, even during her hours of recessing against the high fevers rest was the only option at this state. But he stood by her side, his protective deep blue eyes watching every breath she took, every glimmer of movement her stirring body produced under the drenched cotton of his bed. He watched her toss from side to side, her delicate facial features glazed with sickening sweat as she quivered from the icy chills and cried from the unbearable pain, each time he saw her tears his heart sank deeper.

He cautiously sat on the edge of his bed, focusing on her curves of her lips and the stillness of her face. He leaned over toward her and carefully grasped her cold shoulders with his warm hands, applying feathery pressure with hope infused inside his eyes that she would opened those grayish teal-colored eyes and give him a teasing smirk. Those were some of the qualities about her that he desired to see as he sheltered her with his strength.

His soothing touch seemed to comfort her momentarily, she jolted against him, and the shudders were jostling her out of full force. Without any hesitation, Natasha carefully rolled her off one side, avoiding her bruised ribs and made her back turn to him.

He lowered himself close to her, aligning his broad chest with the planes of her back, enclosing his all-embracing arms around her waist from behind, inhaling her scent as he rested his head over her shoulder, feeling the mass of her hair brush over his chiseled features, as he softly whispered gentle words to her as his body heated her shaking form.

He kept her locked in his embrace, feeling her hand envelope over his, giving him reassurance that she was alert in some state of consciousness. She felt her heart reach a steady pace against his smooth pectoral muscles. He held on to her, not desiring to release her from his warmth. A glow of sunrise cloaked over their bodies. Her watery eyes slipped opened, she blinked trying to adjust to the shivers of gold casting over the walls of the bedroom, her senses were highly aware that he was right beside her.

Gingerly she attempted to move to her back but the ache of her ribs kept her frozen as she slightly winded. Natasha clenched her eyes shut, cursing inwardly at the overwhelming weakness she was enduring.

Steve sensed her discomfort, and gently pulled one arm out from underneath her and reached for the nightstand, dipped his fingers into the benumbing water and carefully run his fingertips along the curvatures of her jaw. His cold touch seemed to cool her burning flesh.

He dabbed his finger once again into the water and dabbed the cool liquid over his lips. He brushed her strands of hair off her cheek and bent his down and applied kisses her skin with his cool lips as she questionably looked at him with her blood-shot eyes.

His lips a trail of warm, soothing trails of fire along her sweaty throat; his moist lips were cooling the fever down as he felt her swallow a harsh breath against his neck.

He rubbed his finger over her bottom lip and whispered a low tone to her. "Go back to sleep, Natasha." She closed her eyes again, feeling his kiss of assurance caress over the corner of her mouth as he delicately brushed her scarlet locks back and off her gleaming forehead.

The soft touch of his chilled lips danced along the top of her eyebrows, nourishing wet heat soothed her in a way that allowed her restless mind to drift into a sheltered world of comfort and stillness.

"You're goin' to be okay," he whispered against her ear, but to her the rich tone of his voice sounded distant. "I'm not letting anything happen to you, Nat. You're safe."

He stayed with her the rest of the morning, his gaze of softening enriched cerulean eyes studied every detail of her face as an artist would when staring at a masterpiece has rays of sunlight became captured on her drenched skin. He knew everything small freckle underneath her closed eyes, every line of betrayal etched into her skin. He was a captive of her beauty and dangerous allure as he felt a sword pierce through his heart as he narrowed his gaze at the white gauze covering her wounds.

"You're safe." he whispered with a kiss against the curve of her jaw.

In those small moments of the stillness of the time where he was just himself with her, allowed himself to watch her heal under his presence with some hope and sense of trust, he felt the tore fabric of his soul slowly being mended by the invisible thread she had given to him. He kept her close to his bare chest and drifted into a sleep as both of their bodies became shielded by comforting warmth.

Steve didn't say anything. He just listened to her heart beat.

I will protect you.

His powerful heart pounded the promise against her chest.