Leave things open

Once again, Matt found himself torn between his desire and common sense. His every instinct screamed to go for the kill, to stick his tongue down Natasha's throat and claim her for his own.

Only the knowledge that doing so would be to play into her hands and give Natasha complete power dictate the parameters of their relationship, let him resist that terrible temptation. He softened his lips, letting them part a little just in case Natasha decided to go for some tongue action herself, but restrained his own tongue from doing the lizard thing and shooting out.

Natasha seemed nonplussed and he felt the tension in her arms... she was poised to shove him away, to claim gross-out over his kiss and he'd what, disappointed? maybe that was the wrong word, certainly frustrated her.

Good, Matt wanted Natasha frustrated, wanted her craving more rather than getting pushed into what she wasn't ready for.

He made sure he was the one who broke off the clench. "That was fun," he said. Well, that was the understatement of the year but it had been fun.

"Uh, yeah." Natasha didn't look quite the ice princess any more. There was definite color in her cheeks and he didn't think that came from the cold. "Yeah," she repeated as he skated, backward, away from her.

"Wow," Cindi reclaimed his arm. "That was great. I've got the coolest date ever."

"I haven't forgotten our deal," Matt said.

"Oh. Is that all this is. Our deal?" Cindi scowled at him.

Oh, crap. He'd been doing so well. But Matt thought fast. He could salvage this and turn it around. "Hell yeah," he said. "Why else would I be wasting time with other girls when we're out on our date."

"Oh, that's what you meant. I thought you meant... never mind."

"How about a little tandem skating," Matt suggested. "Just the two of us before we do any more lifts."

She smiled. "Yeah, I'd like that."