My kisses, myself or my money?

Maria didn't know what was happening. Her mind was being clouded and she could feel herself being drawn into the kiss despite wanting to fight it because she didn't want to let him win so easily. The kiss was feeling even more encaptivating than the first actual kiss she had shared with Steve. Since shortly after that he left and after that he had to be hospitalized because of the explosion, she hadn't been able to have many intimate moments with Steve and she certainly hadn't gotten the opportunity to get used to it. So, she was still quite weak to his kisses and touches. It just made her melt into his hands, and she felt like she couldn't refuse. Maybe it was more accurate to say that she didn't want to refuse it.

Now that they were finally alone and they could grow closer, she was surprised that Steve hadn't tried anything before. To her surprise, he was more of a gentleman than she had thought he would be regarding these matters. He had stopped before things could progress last time, and it seemed like he was holding himself back this time as well. Because if he had wanted to, Maria knew she wouldn't have stopped it. But odds were that she would regret it. So, despite being angry at him for using his prowess against her, she did appreciate this side of him and felt like she needed to give it proper credit. Plenty of men would have seen her lack of refusal as consent and wouldn't have considered her feelings on the matter, not to a level that Steve had and still seemed to do.

When Steve finally released Maria's lips, and she glared at him slightly with a panted breath, he chuckled before he said, "What? I warned you that I would do it and you always say that it is important to be a man of your word. So, there you have it. A man of his word." As her face maintained its angry expression, Maria said, "You are lucky you are wounded right now, otherwise I wouldn't have let you off this easily. Your cheekiness knows no bounds." Steve smirked and said, "Did you like it?"

Maria cleared her throat and said, "That is beside the point right now, isn't it?" Steve shrugged before he leaned his head on his arm against the back of the couch as he said, "Well since you won't give me an honest answer, I need to find other ways to make speak the truth. The best way to keep you from lying to me, is by sealing those lying lips of yours. That way your real feelings can come out."

Maria scoffed angrily before she said, "Oh yeah? What did my reaction tell you about what we were discussing?" But Maria's question didn't give her the reaction she had expected from Steve. Instead of him having to think of an answer, and hopefully being at a loss for words for a minute, he seemed to have one ready and waiting for her. As if he saw this question coming before they even started their discussion.

"Very easy. You pushing me away the first time, shows me that you are embarrassed from taking my money. Your pride is holding you back, just like it was with accepting my kiss. Your reaction the second time, shows me that although you try to fight it, you actually want to accept me and what I want to give you. Be it my kisses, myself or my money. Besides, if you had accepted my initial proposal, we could have been husband and wife today and my money would be our money anyways. What is the problem with bringing some of that reality forward to today? What is the problem with acting the part now? Consider it a dry run. We are already getting a glimpse at what it will be like once we start living together. Might as well let you see what life would be like once we decide to share our lives with each other. I for one plan to never let my wife live a hard day in her life, at least as long as I can do anything to help it or prevent it. Regardless of how much my wife insists on having a tough life with all the struggles that come along with it. I worked hard all my life so I could one day give the woman I love a carefree live. So that I would be able to give her all that she wanted and deserved. So, now that I finally can make that wish a reality, I'll fight your stubbornness to the very end."

Hearing Steve say this, Maria felt touched by his words. Something which was much to her own surprise. She looked at him for a minute, not knowing what to say and having become the one at a loss for words. She had no way to argue back and hearing his reasoning, she didn't really want to anymore. If she really wanted to make it work with Steve, and if she really hoped to one day marry him, she should allow him to protect her and help her from time to time. After staring at him for a moment, she let out a soft sigh and said, "Very well. Where is your laptop? Let's look at those prices."

Steve seemed to be in disbelief of winning this argument and asked, "Really?!", in an excited tone. Before he let out a "Yes!" with the matching victory arm-gesture.