The muffled sound of heels clacking against the wooden boards of the front porch was enough to tear Steve's attention away from the newspaper. He had been relaxing for a short while now, dressed casually in khaki shorts and a blue polo shirt, having spent most of the day making sure Peggy wouldn't have to do much else. The conference in Washington had already gone on longer than expected, and she had also called him from Union Station to inform about a quite sizable delay with regards to the train she was taking back to New York. She'd come home most likely only wanting to throw herself on the couch and either lay there doing nothing or vent to him about the idiots in charge she had to butt heads with. Either way he'd be there for her, simply happy for her being finally back home. The last few months had been hectic, between him coming back, establishing a new identity and slowly settling into a life he had always dreamed about but thought lost through so many years. He cherished every moment between him and the love of his life, forever grateful for the second chance he thought he had lost the day he woke up in the future.
The door swung open as Peggy came in, dressed in a blue blouse, pencil skirt, and red hat. Her expression managing to convey much more than words ever could. He could notice the slightly squinted eyes and the slight wobble to her step, shoulders sagged slightly, clear indicators of both exhaustion and the feeling of just wanting to get home and be done with it. At the same time her signature red lips were curved up into a wide smile, head cocking slightly to the side as she spotted him sitting in the armchair.
"Hello, darling," she spoke in a happy tone, with a clear note of tiredness behind it. She placed the suitcase on the floor as she took a few steps forward, toeing off her heels before reaching him. "Hope you didn't miss me too much." She added before pecking his cheek and moving to practically throw herself on the couch with a satisfied moan.
"Could have been worse," he replied with a grin, putting the newspaper away onto the table. "Long day?"
"Mhm" She replied, her face now hidden in the armrest. "Of course the last meeting had to take ages and then the train was late and then..." She spoke before not finishing the thought, opting for a frustrated sigh to make her point. Steve nodded, a smile still not disappearing from his lips.
"You can look at the bright side at least - you're home, I'm here and it's not even dark outside."
"Always looking for the positives, aren't you, Captain." She replied, turning to lay on her side facing him, biting her lip.
"I'm a glass-half-full guy, you know that too well, Agent-soon-to-be-Director". He replied in jest, his smile turning into more of a smirk now as she chuckled.
"Well, someone has to be... otherwise we'd be quite the miserable couple..." She replied with a small yawn as she stretched on the couch, a gasp leaving her lips. "Oof, I really am quite knackered."
Steve nodded in sympathy as he thought about what would make her feel better. A cup of her favorite tea, prepared just like she liked it? A warm bubble bath? Or maybe...
"Wait here, Peggy." He spoke as he stood up, a plan immediately forming in his mind. He was sure he knew just a thing that would make her forget about all the annoyances and tiredness, but he would have to do some preparations. She raised her eyebrow at him but stayed on the couch, watching him closely as he walked up the stairs to their shared bedroom. Inside, he quickly pulled a spare sheet from the wardrobe, draping it over the comforter. Then he walked over to the bathroom, quickly finding what he wanted - a small glass bottle of massage oil he bought a few days ago on a whim. It would be very useful now as he placed it on the nightstand and walked back down, smiling wide.
"I know just a thing that will make you feel better." He spoke as he approached her, his eyes meeting with hers.
"And what would that be, Steve Rogers?" She replied, lips also slowly curving up into a smile, even though her tone remained inquisitive.
"Just wait and see..." He spoke as he then swooped her into his arms with ease, a little giggle leaving her lips as he then slowly carried her up the stairs. Just like that evening he came back to her. She nuzzled into his neck, breath tickling his skin as he walked into the bedroom and laid her on the bed, a small sight leaving her lips as she sank down onto the soft mattress. He reached onto the nightstand, popping the bottle open and letting some oil onto his hands, rubbing them together after he set the bottle back on the surface.
"I thought you might appreciate a bit of relaxation after a day like this..." He spoke in a quiet tone as she chuckled in response, looking up at him as he stretched his arms and cracked his knuckles.
"I was relaxing well enough on the couch, thank you very much." She quipped in response as he then sat down on the bad as well, taking a good look at her.
"That's all well and good... but if I let you down there then you wouldn't be able to feel this..." He replied with a smirk as he then started with her right foot, closing his hands over it as he started to very slowly and very gently rub it. A quiet hum left her lips as he started to repeat the movements, letting his palms slide against the skin while his fingers worked to relax the taut muscles. His gaze moved from her feet up to her face and back, studying her reactions very carefully as his fingers slid to rub the oil into her toes. He breathed in slowly, smiling back at her as she smiled at him in return.
"This is nice..." She remarked in a slightly higher tone as he didn't linger there for too low, now sliding his hands up to her calves. He bit the inside of his cheek as his fingers started to dig into the muscles and rub along the skin. He wasn't a professional at it, far from it, so he just went in by feel, focused fully and practically only on Peggy's reactions to his actions. And it seemed like he was doing something right as a gasp now left her mouth, quite similar to ones she would make when there were usually far less clothes involved.
"How does it feel, Peggy? Everything alright?" He asked, wanting to make sure what he was doing was exactly what she wanted, his undivided attention only on her.
"Yes, darling..." She spoke, Steve noting a blush spreading on her cheeks. "...feels very nice."
"Good..." He replied, punctuating with another gentle move against her right calf before switching to repeat it on her left leg. "... I can go on if you want to..."
"Please." She purred as he focused on her left foot, repeating the slow, measured motions from before, another satisfied gasp leaving her red lips. Steve himself felt his cheeks heat up, the whole room seeming to feel hotter by the minute, and not just from the sun shining through the window...