This wasn't the first time that someone had taken the approach of wanting to teach him how to kiss, but no one had ever been this bold about it. Most people remained in awe of him even when they were up close and personal like this, and so it was nice to have someone he felt more or less on equal footing with pressing his lips against his mouth instead.

That part of it -- that it was a man and not a woman sprawled out on top of him -- really didn't seem to make much of a difference. Steve wouldn't have been able to reconcile something like this if it had happened back during the war, but he'd pretty much only had eyes for Peggy then anyway. Here in the modern age, there had been so much progress made when it came to sexuality and what was acceptable. Liking men and women wasn't outside the realm of possibility.

This was Steve's business and his alone. Something he could keep to himself, away from the watchful eye of the media. That alone spurred him on.

When Rumlow worked on his lower lip, even getting slightly rough with it, Steve made a small surprised noise, but didn't pull away. He closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation of sharp teeth pressing against the softness of his lip, that slight spark of pain that really only made the whole thing better. His hands reached out for Rumlow's shoulders and then slid around to the back of his neck, nudging him closer as he opened his mouth for him.