There was something he couldn't really grasp in Natasha's tone, in the way she kissed him. This wasn't just the arousal that came from getting the partner off. They both enjoyed that. This went deeper than power and satisfaction. There was something in her smile and the calm, soft way she kissed him, something he loved. And maybe he didn't need to try so hard to make everything right for her, to see her in this beautiful state of serenity more often. Maybe there was something else missing. If only that hadn't been the hardest part.

He sighed a little and kept her face close with his hand on her cheek when she pulled back, struggling with what was going on in his head.

"You know that I trust you, right? With my life and with everything else. I want to let go with you more often, really, I just..."

He squirmed a little, once again cursing his problems to form the right words.

"I guess I just don't know how."