"Cut it out." I snapped at Natasha and Pepper. Tasha and I were seated, make -up artists applying their magic to our faces for a photoshoot in half an hour. Pepper stood to the side, watching with eagle eyes to make sure we looked appropriate.

"How has nothing happened yet?" Pepper shook her head disbelievingly, "I'm sorry but the two of you at the beach yesterday, there's no way that was not a couple's squabble."

Steve and I had been arguing over my choice of swim wear. A black very revealing pair of tops and bottoms, mostly held together by strategically placed strings. I'd worn a sheer black shawl over it so it wasn't that bad, but he'd insisted I go to one of the stalls and buy a more appropriate one. When I told him he was acting crazy and no, I would not, he'd shoved his zipper jacket my way and I took it with a raised brow.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" I tried to hide a laugh.

"Stick it on." He scowled, "Every guy here is staring at your ass."

"Let them look, I say." I teased with a wink. Steve didn't look amused in the least. "It's a freaking bikini Steve. The whole point is to show off my body."

"I don't like it." He growled, but he wasn't looking at me. I followed his gaze and saw him glaring at a group of teenage boys huddled together staring our way. They had grins on their face as their eyes trailed up and down my body. I gave them a flirtatious wave, but their wave in response stopped mid-air, their eyes went wide and their faces paled. They'd caught sight of Steve and I didn't blame them their look of panic. He looked seriously ticked.

"Steve, they're kids, stop being a bully." When he stayed glaring at them, I shoved his arm forcing him to break contact. He turned to me, his jaw clenched, but when he opened his mouth to speak again I cut in, "Fine old man. I'll put on the damn jacket." I shoved my arms through the ridiculously big sleeves and pulled the jacket around me to hide my body from view. "You happy?"

Steve looked at me, then looked away with another scowl.

"You aren't happy?" I asked perplexed now. "Why the hell not?"

"Of course I'm not." He bit out. I looked at him strangely and hoped for more information when he continued, "I don't like it when you're mad… and you look mad"

When I didn't respond, he let out a sigh, "Give the jacket back. Wear your ridiculous outfit." When he looked away I knew he was trying to hide his frown.

I bit my lip fighting a smile at his attempt. Poor Steve, so conflicted. I looped my arm around his, leaning my head against him to speak, "I'll wear your jacket Steve… but don't expect it back."

I let out a laugh and he shook his head at me, "Keep it, I have plenty."

I hadn't realized Pepper, who walked behind us with Bruce, had overheard the argument until now. But she obviously had and latched onto it as well, since she was bringing it up again a week later.

"That wasn't a couple's argument." I denied, "That was a man out of time argument." Situations involving Steve were always hard for me to read. What was probably considered flirting to me, was just normal chivalry to him.

"You better not be lying to us." Tash hit my arm, and I elbowed her back trying not to move too much. The make-up artists were professional and didn't complain as our hits became more violent.

"Enough!" Pepper scolded and I knew both Tash and I had rolled our eyes simultaneously when Peppers features contorted to a glower.

"I'm not lying." I responded, going back to the conversation once we'd resettled.

"Oh I'll just trust your word then." Tash's words were full of sarcasm I fought the urge to elbow her again.

"Why would I need to lie about this anyway?" I cried indignantly, "If something was going on, believe it or not, I'd have no problem admitting it." I glared at Tash through the mirror, "Unlike you."

Tash let out an uncomfortable laugh and Peppers face perked at the news.

"What's this?"

"Yes Pepper," I agreed ignoring Tash's threatening look. "What a great question, care to explain Tash?" It had been 2 weeks since the motel incident and she hadn't brought it up at all.

"Nope." Tash cut in. "Just no. We're not talking about it. Next subject."

"Not talking about what?" Peppers eyes sparkled with amusement.

"Yeah Tasha." I grinned, "What aren't we talking about?"

When Tash didn't laugh off the friendly probing like she normally would, I caught Peppers eyes in the mirror. Apparently Tash wasn't in the mood to joke.

"Well someone needs to tell me about their life. Keep a girl going please?" Pepper looked at me and I sighed.

"There's nothing to say on my part." I explained, "We're just friends."

"Friends." Pepper repeated, emphasizing the words with quotation marks.

"Yes, and I'll explain my reasoning."

"This should be good." Tash muttered under her breath and I narrowed my eyes her way as Charlotte, one of the make-up artists giggled.

"a) Guys and girls can be friends believe it or not, and b) if Steve liked me, he would have made a move by now. Like you two have pointed out on numerous occasions, we've shared moments. Moments where he could have brought it up. The fact that he hasn't is evidence enough for me that he's just not that interested."

My explanation was something I'd actually thought about a lot but never voiced. Mainly because I felt the irrational sting of rejection just from the idea. Originally I had wondered if maybe there could be something between us, but the opportunity to make a move presented itself multiple times, and Steve hadn't acted on it. At one point, I'd been sitting on his freaking lap talking about the art of kissing, and though he'd blushed, he seemed so uncomfortable with the situation I realized I was probably reading waaaay too much into our relationship. Especially with the girls whispering in my ear.

"You're right on the first point. Guys and girls can be friends." Pepper nodded, "But the way Steve looks at you when he thinks no one is watching, is not the way you look at someone you 'consider a friend' if you know what I mean."

"No I don't know what you mean." I refused to acknowledge whatever she way saying. "And nix this conversation until later." Not that I was worried the girls doing our make-up would say anything. We knew them well enough and they'd signed NDA's before starting with us… still, it was a discussion I felt other's didn't need to be a part of. Tash obviously felt different when she cut in with,

"She's saying Steve looks at you like he's starving and you're the only thing he wants to sink his teeth into." I jerked forward at the bluntness in which Tash spoke, shocked she hadn't dropped the subject. The girls broke off into laughter, more from my discomfort than what was said. I knew she was rubbing it in when she continued, "And just saying, lust is a good look on him. Makes me hot and bothered just thinking about it." She fanned herself dramatically and the girls were all in hysterics now, wiping tears of laughter from their eyes.

"Thanks Tash." I smiled excessively, my eyes promising payback at a later date for her attempt to embarrass me, "For that highly specific and detailed description."

"Hey, you were being deliberately obtuse. I felt like it was warranted."

"I hate you."

"I love you."

Though the photoshoot went well, I'd felt uncomfortable in my skin throughout, and it was completely the girls fault. They'd gotten me all flustered before we'd even started so by the time we'd met up with the rest of the Avengers, I was already sensitive to Steve's presence.

The boys were already modelling, by the time we walked in, Steve wearing a shirt tight enough to see the outlines of the hard muscle hidden underneath. When we arrived, he waved me over, wrapping his arms around me in his usual greeting and I tried to act my usual self even though my heart was beating loudly in my ears.

I watched as the boys continued with their shoot, trying not to frown when I overheard a bunch of girls swooning over Steve. When Tash nudged my side I knew I hadn't succeeded. "What are they even doing here?" I asked when one of the girls adjusted her bra none to discreetly. "I thought this was a closed shoot." I knew my tone was stroppy but I couldn't help it.

"It is closed, they're working."

"Not very hard." I observed, finding myself glaring when another bent over to pick up a pencil on the ground. My head whipped Steve's way ready to snap if I caught him watching them. Instead my breath caught, his eyes glued to mine. His eyes crinkled in the corners as he smiled and I rolled my eyes but waved back anyway.

Tash and myself were next with the shoots, while the guys took a break. Tash in tight leather, showing her tall lean figure, high boots that made the outfit go from hot to hawt. I was in leather shorts, black thigh high boots and a racy biker singlet. Though we'd done many shoots together with the team, I'd never felt Steve's eyes burn on me the way it felt today. I'd tried my best to ignore those who observed but my eyes kept drifting to Steve, whose eyes were always glued to me, even when he was in conversation with others. Normally we'd be pulling faces at each other, but Pepper and Tash's words kept ringing in my ears, making me feel like the air was so much more charged.

Get a grip Toni! You're getting worked up over nothing! I scolded myself.

"Awesome work guys, we'll do the group shots, then the pay to view shots."

This was normal procedure, the paid ones making more money because the shots were more 'sexualised.' This was something I'd always noticed in a distant way, but had such comfortability with the group, I never really thought about. Now I was concerned.

20 minutes later, the serious part of the group shoot was over and they were capturing candid shots of our play.

"Don't you dare!" I warned through a laugh as Banner clasped my hands tightly behind my back. Clint approached with a cream pie in his hands and I wriggled in Bruce's grasp the closer he got."Nooooooo!" I threw myself forward, but Bruce barely moved an inch.

When I felt the cream squish all into my face and Bruce finally let me go, I wiped it off with a grimace. "That's it, you're all fired." I informed everyone present. I knew they didn't take me seriously when they broke into laughter. Pepper walked over handing me a hand towel to wipe off the excess cream and I gave her a dirty look. "And where were you Miss Potts? If you didn't notice, I was ruthlessly ganged up on. Betrayed by my own comrades."

"Aw Toni. Don't be like that" Bruce laughed coming over to me and taking the towel from my hands, "Here, I'll help clean you up."

I squealed when his tongue ran the side of my face. "That's not what I had in mind." I was in hysterics barely catching my breath when I met Steve's eyes. He was grinning my way, no doubt amused by my face.

When we'd officially ended the group shoots and began the paid shots, I sat with Steve observing the others. We were already changed into our new outfits. I was wearing black cargos that hung low on my hips, a black crop that showed off my toned mid drift, and a black cap that I'd put on backwards. Steve wore jeans and an unzipped leather jacket, no top underneath so is abs were on display.

"You okay?" Steve asked nudging my side.

"Yeah of course." I lied trying to keep any irritation off my face. The girls from before were once again vying for Steve's attention and I didn't like it one bit.

"Umm excuse me…Captain America." Came a feminine voice from beside us,

Steve turned to respond with a friendly, "Hi there, how can I help?" He always had a way with civilians, something honest and genuine about his manner made him easy to get along with. Me on the other hand…don't get me wrong, I was popular - and that was based on the polls, not my own conceited opinion – But I had a love hate relationship with them, more hate than love, so it was obvious why they preferred approaching him.

"Can we get your autograph?" The girl asking seemed timid and sweet and though I thought it was unprofessional, I didn't mind her. It was when the other girls approached wanting his signature on their shoulder blade, there stomach, their freaking cleavage, I snapped, "That's hardly appropriate."

The girl, whose breasts were currently pushed up in offer didn't seem embarrassed, instead shrugging and offering her neck instead. Ugh.

Steve and I were finally called up. It started fine, with us in the expected poses, me on his back, cheeky grins, him carrying me in a fireman hold, us standing together, my hands in his hair. It wasn't until the spray bottles came out, watering us down, that the intimacy of the modeling started getting to me. It was one thing to pose with Steve, it was another to have his wet, hard body pressed against mine. With him being shirtless, and my crop, it mean every time he pressed up against me, I could feel his slick hard muscle directly on my skin. Depending on our positions, my stomach, my waist, my back. The photographer asking for more closeness, more aggression, more sensuality amped up the sexual energy to extremes.

Steve had his hand fisted at the bottom of my crop, pulling it upwards towards my chest. His other hand held my waist possessively. I had mine holding the one at my chest, the other gripped in his hair, pulling his head down towards me, the photography went crazy for it asking for more, more, more! I could feel my body heating, knew my cheeks were flushed and wondered whether the photographer could see the desire in my eyes. I felt Steve's lips brush my neck and didn't know if it was deliberate on his part, but I let out a gasp, my hand in his hair clenched involuntarily. I felt his hard body tense, getting impossibly harder, as he pulled me tighter against him, my breathing coming out in silent pants. Those in the room seemed to disappear, and all I could focus on was the heat of Steve's body surrounding me, his scent a blend of sandalwood and mint intoxicating.

When the photography called once again for 'More!' Steve grabbed my arm, spinning me roughly to face him. I felt his hands drop to my thighs and barely had the time to wrap my hands round his neck before he'd lifted me off the ground. I had my legs wrapped around his waist before the thought properly registered, and found myself locked in his stare. His forehead pressed against mine.

"I need to see your faces!" The photographer called but I could barely hear him over the beating of my heart. Steve's hand found its way behind my head, turning my neck so I was parallel to the camera, his neck moving with mine so the contact wasn't lost. At this point all I could think about were the places Steve and I were connected. His face to mine, his chest to mine, his core to mine.

The pad of his thumb ran the outline of my cheekbone before resting at my mouth, his thumb parting my lips to press inside. I saw his eyes ignite with lust, heat and want when my tongue flicked out to taste him, my hips rolling. I needed Steve in a way that was not platonic.

It was at this point Clint's voice broke in, "Would the two of you get a room already?"

His voice broke through the haze like a bucket of cold water. I felt myself jerking out of Steve's grip before I'd properly thought it through, him steadying me when I stumbled.

I was preoccupied with getting my legs under control, so missed the lethal stare Steve shot Clint.

"Clint I am this close to gutting you with a spoon." Came Tasha's deadly voice, I turned my gaze to see her glaring daggers Clint's way

"What?" He asked confusion on his face.

"I cannot believe you." Pepper scolded. "Why would you do that?"

I felt my face heat knowing everyone watched as I practically drooled over Steve, Steve who barely looked phased at anything that transpired, already walking to the buffet spread to catch up with Thor.

"Do what?" Clint looked around the room imploring anyone for an answer.

"You really are clueless mate." Bruce patted Clint's shoulder with a shake of his head.

Thank you Himeno, WherewasLokiinEndgame, and Mar lor for the reviews! xx