Archive of Our Own ^beta

And if young love is just a game

Then I must have missed the kickoff

Don’t depend on me to ever follow through on anything, but

I’d go through hell for you and

I haven’t been this scared in a long time

And I’m so unprepared

So here’s your Valentine

Bouquet of clumsy words

A simple melody

This world’s an ugly place

But you’re so beautiful to me…

-“Going Away to College” by Blink 182

“Happy Galentine’s Day, cutie pie!”

“Get the hell away from my desk, you gap-toothed bitch,” I growled without even glancing up at the giant teddy bear clutching a red heart pillow that Captain America aka Sam Wilson thrust in front of my downturned face. He then cackled, as he’d only done it just to get on my nerves, and the insult wasn’t meant with vitriol; it was well-known he loved Mean Girls and so did I, which is part of why we got along so well. “I’m working.”

“Already in a sour mood, I see,” Sam said as he plopped the literal two-foot-tall plush behind me in my cubicle. He wore a burgundy polo shirt and charcoal slacks with a nice sport coat over the ensemble. “And I have something for that too.”

Sam then dragged his partner in crime into view and said partner offered me a woven basket full to burst with sour Starbursts. He’d even taken the time to pick out all the nasty watermelon-flavored ones. I almost snorted then, as that was a little bit funny. But unlike his partner, Sergeant James “Bucky” Barnes was not grinning ear to ear, though he did like me just fine. He didn’t smile in public often on account of that grouchy personality, after all. Not that I blamed him; he’d earned the right to be a grumpy cyborg superhero. Today, Bucky wore a grey shirt, black leather jacket, jeans, and boots, and the apologetic look on his face told me the bear and candy had of course been Sam’s idea. He’d have done something more subtle, if at all.

“Thank you, gents,” I sniffed, plucking the basket out of Bucky’s Vibranium hand. I peeled one sour raspberry Starburst open, and then tossed it in my mouth. I then glared at them as I chewed and swallowed the delicious candy they’d brought to bribe me into compliance. “Now beat it. You know how much I hate this stupid fucking holiday and it’s not even today; it’s tomorrow.”

“Why do you think we’re here, other than spreading cheer?” Sam said, leaning an arm against the edge of my cubicle. “We’re just here to fill you in on tomorrow’s activities. You’re being kidnapped again.”

I groaned, slumping back in my dumb ergonomic rolling chair. “Come on, Sam! Are you really gonna drag me outta the house on this wretched, shallow, stupid holiday?”

“That’s precisely what I’m doing,” he said as he dug into an inner pocket. “Besides, quit belly-aching! You’re gonna like it anyway, you little meanie.”

He offered three tickets. I took them. They were black and embossed with gold. I read the script aloud. “Gold package tickets to Premiere Spa of Rochester?”

“There is no way that you’ll still be cranky while you’re on a spa date with your two best Avenger buddies,” Sam said, arching an eyebrow. “All expenses paid. You don’t have to do a damn thing but show up and be your best self.”

I narrowed your eyes at him. “Uh-huh. So let me guess: this ticket cost like five grand and backing out would guilt me for the rest of my life?”

Sam batted his lashes. “You know me so well, baby. We should make it official and get married.”

I shook my head, glancing at Bucky. “You’re actually letting him drag you into this too?”

Bucky shrugged. “Eh, overdue for a massage. It’s good for circulation and sleep. And he’s paying.”

I grinned then. “Ah. That’s your motivation, as I know you’d like to be left the hell alone on this stupid date about as much as I do. Fair enough.”

I offered the tickets to Sam. “No thanks, Mr. Wilson. Transfer my ticket to Sarah; I’m sure she’d love to join you and she deserves it more than I do.”

“I already sent my sweet baby sis to the spa tomorrow in New Orleans,” Sam said tartly. “And you’re going if I have to drag your pretty little self in there by your ankles.”

“There is really no need for you to try and sell me on Galentine’s Day,” I whined. “Seeing as I am going to die alone. What’s the point in throwing a bunch of money down the hole when all three of us know I’m going to die alone?”

“Impossible,” Sam deadpanned, jabbing a thumb at Bucky. “He ain’t gonna let you.”

“He’s right,” Bucky grunted. “You’re never getting rid of me, even if you do wind up the wine aunt friend in our group.”

He punctuated the statement with a cheeky grin and then dodged when I aimed a light kick at his shin. Most people thought Bucky had no sense of humor. They were wrong. He just conserved the snark for appropriate moments like this one. It also tickled me pink that he’d picked up on more recent slang. The wonders never ceased when it came to the sergeant. “Be that as it may, there’s nothing that will cheer me up with the threat of semi-isolation in my very near future. I’m sure you two will have an epic bromance without me.”

“Oh, so you thought this shit was optional?” Sam asked facetiously. “Aight, bet. Um, it’s not and you’re going ‘cause I said so. How ‘bout dem apples?”

I glared harder. “Samuel, don’t get got.”

“You and what army?” he challenged, lifting his brows. “Fine. I’ll properly bribe you by explaining what comes with said gold package. A one-hour long full-body massage, a one-hour cooking class with open bar, a glass-making class, a half-hour sauna session, and a four-course dinner that includes dessert and wine. Tell me again you don’t wanna go with us.”

I nibbled my bottom lip before I could help myself. “…did you say open bar?”

Sam grinned. “I sure did, baby cakes.”

My willpower crumbled. I slumped in the chair with a haggard sigh. “Oh, fine. I’ll tag along. But do not expect me to be some cheerful, charming Becky when we get there.”

“Perfect. I just want you to show up and be yourself anyway. You don’t have to dress nice, but just know there will be pictures. We’ll come pick you up at nine since the reservation is for ten o’clock.”

I shook my head. “You really didn’t have to do this for me.”

“Lies,” Sam said. “You’re great and you deserve to be spoiled for a day. Why not let us spoil you?”

“Uh, because you’re both superheroes and I’m a SHIELD accountant?”

“Doesn’t change the fact that you’re great. Right, Buck?”

His partner kept a mild look, but shrugged again. “Eh. Might be fun.”

Sam rolled his eyes. “Aight, Mr. Cool Hand Luke, let’s get going. See you bright and early tomorrow, girlie girl! Happy Galentine’s Day Eve!”

I smiled widely and flipped him off, which made him cackle and Bucky chuckle a last time before they disappeared and I returned to my spreadsheets. I gave them both a hard time, but I loved them dearly. We’d bumped into each other through a random expense report I’d done for one of their missions that had missing information and once I’d caught up with them to fix the documentation issue, it turned out the three of us hit it off. They were both great in completely different ways; Sam was always friendly, loyal, and inclusive while Bucky was quiet but supportive, sweet, and slyly funny. I worked at SHIELD HQ as an accountant and had been here for eight years. We’d been friends for just under a year and I counted my lucky stars nightly to be able to occasionally grab lunch or hangout with them. I could tell that Sam wanted to introduce Bucky to new friends, but Bucky was still a bit cagey and hesitant, so he’d started with me since it was very low stakes. We were coworkers first, then friends, and by now, Bucky had almost all the way relaxed around me. He was still a bit nervous here and there, but I could tell he enjoyed the company even if his handsome face often looked remote. He’d told me that Sam was good at getting him out of his own head and I agreed and was glad he was his literal wingman.

I’d of course just been belly-aching just to belly-ache; a full spa day of activities would at least take my mind off my painful single status. They’d both glommed onto me when they found out I’d recently gotten dumped and had no self-confidence left, so they did cute things like take me to the movies every so often and they’d even gone in together on a present for my birthday. I knew it would be a struggle to get through this shallow holiday since there would be lovey dovey couples in attendance, but I hoped Sam and Bucky would help keep my mind off my single misery.

That evening when I’d collapsed into bed, I texted Bucky. You sure we’ll survive a Galentine’s Day with Sam Wilson?

Not even close to sure, but there’ll be free booze, so I’m on board. 😉

I chuckled to myself at Bucky using an emoji properly. It was so cute seeing him acclimate to the current American culture. You have your priorities in order, sir. See you in the morning. 😘

Night, girlie, he texted in return. I smiled to myself, then settled down for the night.

The next morning, I showered and tossed on an outfit that would at least be fairly easy to remove in a spa: a dark red metallic dress with black lace rose patterns, paired with low heels and beaded jewelry. I did light makeup since the spa day might mean they undo the makeup anyway and heard someone knock at nine o’clock exactly, meaning Bucky since Sam and I both operated on adult ADHD time.

Bucky stood on my mat looking scrumptious as always in all black. He had a small bouquet with the most gorgeous pink and purple chrysanthemums; my favorite flower. My heart quivered stupidly at the sight, my lips pulling into a hopeless smile before I could help it. “Damn you, Barnes.”

He chuckled, kissing my cheek. “S’worth it just for that cute face you made. Morning, girlie. Happy—”

I covered his mouth with my hand. “Don’t make me shoot you.”

He chuckled, muffled and all. “Had to do it just to mess with you. Sam sent me ‘cause my place is closer, so pop those flowers in some water and let’s get going.”

I saluted him, then beckoned him inside since I knew he’d want to say hi to the other tenant of my tiny apartment. My calico Leeloo came trotting up to him with her bushy tail raised, mewling happily at her favorite person other than me. Bucky grinned and squatted, petting her while I hunted for a vase. She rubbed against his hand, knees, and thigh, purring up a storm as always. I could hear him cooing to her softly like he did to his own cat, Alpine, at home. It was unbearably cute.

“You look good,” he mused after I’d made sure the apartment was tidy and had placed my flowers in a vase. “Didn’t think you’d dress up for the holiday.”

“I live for disappointing you,” I deadpanned as I kissed Leeloo goodbye, then locked the apartment door.

“Not disappointed,” he said with an obvious leer, sliding his arm around my waist. “You sure you’re not tryin’ to seduce me?”

I batted my lashes. “Who says I’m trying to seduce you?”

He laughed then, offering his arm while we walked down the hall for the elevator. “Ah, right. I mean, what guy can compete with Captain America after all.”

I giggled as I pushed the Down button. “I keed, I keed. I’ve made a concerted effort to not fall in love with you these past ten months, if that makes any difference.”

Bucky jumped slightly in surprise at my words, blinking at me. I shook my head. “That was a joke, sarge. Calm down.”

He blushed then. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” I reminded him. “I’m teasing you. This is normal, Buck.”

“I know. I just…when Sam’s not around, I…you know me.”

“He talks for you. And everyone ‘cause he’s him. I get it. Nothing to worry about. You’re doing just fine.”

He sent me an askance glance. “You sure?”

I squeezed his bicep affectionately. “Absolutely sure. I feel safe as a kitten around you, sarge. True story.”

“Good,” he murmured as the doors to the elevator parted. We rode down to the lobby and then climbed into his black GTO, headed for Rochester, New York’s premiere spa and massage parlor. We caught up about the week on the drive there to the tune of soft 40’s jazz. I always did a social media blackout to avoid the irritating Valentine’s Day posts of obnoxious couples, so I was glad for the conversation. We arrived and parked in the garage, heading to the front of the high rise building to wait for Sam.

“Weird that he hasn’t texted back yet,” Bucky said as he frowned at his watch. “It’s five ‘til ten.”

“Did he catch a case last minute?” I offered, but Bucky shook his head.

“Nah. It’d have pinged on my SHIELD radar if someone sent him a mission last minute.” His phone then rang and he held it up. “There he is.”

Bucky hit the Speaker button. “Hey, you’re about to be late.”

“Hey, kids,” Sam said, sounding busy or maybe just winded. “I’m not gonna be able to make it.”

“What?!” Bucky and I demanded in unison.

“This was your idea,” Bucky pointed out. “What do you mean you’re not gonna be able to make it?”

“Something came up, Buck. What can I say? Just go on without me; it’ll be fine. I’ll call the front desk and transfer my ticket to another day so you guys can have fun.”

“Sam, seriously,” I growled. “Are you really pulling this right now?”

“I’m sorry! I swear, something came up.”

Bucky shook his head. “You’re dead meat, Wilson.”

“You’ll have fun without me; don’t worry! I’ll text you tonight, okay? Bye.”

And with that, Captain America hung up on us.

“Gap-toothed bitch!” I grumbled, shaking my head. “Drags not one by two introverts out of the safety of their own homes on this miserable holiday and then ditches us. Classic Sam.”

Bucky shook his head again as he stuffed the phone into his pocket, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Classic Sam. Alright, call it, girlie. You wanna go it alone with me or call the whole thing off?”

I sighed. “Well…we are already here. It would be a bitch to turn around and make you take me home. But it shouldn’t be my call. It’s your Saturday too, Buck. Do you want to hang out with me or go home? It won’t hurt my feelings if this…changes anything for you.”

He frowned. “Why would it?”

I blushed then. “W-Well, it’s just…without Sam here…it might…seem like a…d-date to other people.”

Bucky’s brows shot up. “Oh. You’re right. I don’t—”

He seemed to quickly try to rephrase his words. “If it’s gonna bother you, then—”

“No, it won’t bother me. I just wanted to be sure you knew about the…optics, I guess?”

He nodded. “It won’t bother me, no. Will it bother you?”

I let out an incredulous chuckle. “I have no problem with other people thinking I’m fucking an Avenger.”

Bucky snorted back laughter.  “Good to see your priorities are in order, girlie.”

I winked at him. “You bet your sweet Super Soldier ass, sarge.”

He chuckled and offered his arm. “Then we go?”

I looped my arm through his. “Yeah, we go.”

“Works for me.” He tugged the glass door to the spa open and in we went.

“Welcome in!” a perky Asian girl at the jade counter said. “I’m Gina. How can we help you today?”

“We have a ten o’clock appointment,” I told her, and Bucky passed her the two tickets with our names on them. “Unfortunately, our third can’t make it.”

“No worries,” Gina said, filing the tickets and then checking us in on her computer. “We’re so excited to have you. Follow me, please.”

She took us down a long hallway with a lot of doors. “Is this your first time with us?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“You’ll have a blast, I promise!” she chirped, stopping when we reached the open door at the end of the hall on the right. “Please head inside and get undressed under your sheets. Your masseuses will be in shortly and they’ll give you a quick run through of how we do things here. I am at the front desk, so if you have any questions or need further accommodations, please come right back up there and I’ll take care of you.”

“Thanks, Gina.” She nodded and closed the door for us.

The couples massage parlor had a few different stations, but the main part were two massage tables in the center with scattered tables around them. There was a small locker along the right wall for our belongings and the signs mentioned no cell phone use, for good reason. We didn’t have any other guests that we had to share our suite with either. There was a prepping station across the room where there were cupboards for all the supplies.

That said, Gina didn’t know we weren’t a couple, so she probably assumed we’d change in front of each other.

“I can slip out to the bathroom if that’s easier,” I offered as I placed my purse in one of the lockers.

“Nah, I’ll go,” Bucky said as he started to empty his pockets. “Nudity doesn’t bother me any.”

I debated with myself, then went for it. “If it’s not a bother, then do you mind if I change here with you?”

He glanced at me, surprised, but not disgusted or anything. “Uh, no. That’s…okay with me as long as it’s okay with you.”

“Mmkay.” I slipped out of my dress and folded it, putting it inside. I put my heels in the locker with my phone and purse along with all my jewelry. I found one of the white sheets and made it into a toga so I could remove my bra and panties without scandalizing my friend.

Speaking of which…

I did my very best not to stare, but my peripheral vision was treated to the sight of Bucky’s bare chest and my God, was it magnificent. His biceps curled as he pulled off the black t-shirt and his dog tags landed between his collarbones when he lowered those powerful arms. The firm skin had very few scars along his abs; most of them instead up near his left shoulder. The Vibranium arm gleamed prettily under the fluorescent lights as he unlaced his leather belt and pushed off the black jeans and boots. He folded the clothes and put them in the locker, hesitating before turning as he wanted to be sure I wasn’t naked.

“Are you decent?”

I beamed at him, then flipped my hair back dramatically. “Me?”

Bucky laughed then. “Didn’t figure you for a Rita Hayworth fan.”

“That was an epic hair flip,” I deadpanned, then piled my hair into a messy bun at the top of my skull. “I would do anything to be even a tenth of as hot as Ms. Hayworth was in Gilda.”

Bucky smirked. “Then you can relax, girlie. You’re already there. That was some hair flip.”

I giggled then, blushing once more. “Why, thank you. Coming from a guy that was actually from her era, it’s a pretty big compliment.”

“You’re welcome.” I set about getting rid of my panties, then the bra, and noticed with a surprised laugh that Bucky couldn’t help glancing over to watch me take the bra off without flashing him. He blushed for his trouble, of course, and it was immensely cute. “Sorry, I just—every time I see girls do that, it boggles my mind.”

I laughed as I put the bra inside the locker with my panties, the white sheet trailing like a wedding dress where it was wrapped around me as a toga. “Yeah, we do some serious gymnastics with these damn things. Half the time, it’s like that scene in Zoolander where the male model takes his boxers off without ever undoing his pants.”

Bucky stared at me blankly, hands on his boxer briefs. “Where he what?”

I cackled as I sat on my massage table. “It’s a parody, don’t worry.”

Bucky shook his head as he wrapped the sheet around his waist, then took off his boxer briefs. “Thank God for that. This world’s weird enough as it is.”

I tried very hard not to sneak a peek at his back muscles and taut ass as he padded over to the locker, but failed miserably. I couldn’t help it. The man was a walking buffet for the eyes. I forced myself to flatten onto my belly so I’d have less of a vantage point, but I couldn’t deny he made me want to breathe heavily without a shirt on. God forbid Sam had been with us; that’s too much heat for one gal to take. I also didn’t fix my face fast enough; he turned around and strolled for the table, sat, and then smirked at me with his lashes low. “My eyes are up here, y’know.”

He pointed to his mug. I glared. “Fuck off. I haven’t gotten laid in months, Barnes. Forgive my wandering gaze.”

Bucky frowned as he straightened out on his massage table. “Wait, seriously? You don’t date?”

“Fuck no,” I grumbled as I shoved my face into the comfy rest spot on the table. “Not after the last bastard did so much damage to my fucking self-esteem.”

“That’s…I’m sorry, girlie. I mean it. That’s lousy. He’s a piece of shit and I’m still offering to kick his ass to make you feel better.”

I snorted. “Don’t tempt me. I’ve thought about it entirely too much lately.”

“You date when you’re ready, but…that still sucks. I’m sorry you don’t feel pretty right now, but I think the spa day might help.”

“Tch. Fat chance.”

“For what it’s worth,” he murmured. “I think you’re beautiful.”

My breath caught then at the utter shy sincerity in his tone. I didn’t know what to say to that tone. It was so…soft and fond. It validated me, as pathetic as it might sound. I didn’t know he found me beautiful. Whether he truly meant it or was just being nice, it still landed in my ears like heaven-speak.

Before I could reply, the door behind us opened and our two masseuses appeared. “Hey there, you two! Thanks for joining us this morning.”

The Indian guy on the left waved to me. “I’m Kinsuk and I’ll be taking care of you this afternoon. This is my partner, Priya, and she’ll be taking care of the sergeant.”

She was a petite but athletic Indian woman, her thick hair back in a bun. She smiled beautifully and waved to him. “We’ll walk you through each of the treatments and you’re welcome to say no to any you find uncomfortable. If you have specific areas you’d like us to target, please let us know where we can best provide your relief. We like to have some calming music, but if you prefer silence or conversation, let us know.”

“We’re both introverts,” I admitted sheepishly. “Sam was going to be the extrovert cream in our introvert Oreo, if that makes any sense.”

They both chuckled. “Makes perfect sense, ma’am. We’ll stick with the music and we won’t press you for conversation since you’re both introverts. Feel free to ask us any questions during the process.”

They went over each station and what part of the body it targeted as well as what should be feeling better by the time they were done. It took me a few minutes to get used to being touched by a stranger, but Kinsuk’s hands were very soft and his touch was expert. Each area almost immediately became pliant and my body felt weightless by the time he was done.

And to my delight, it seemed that Bucky had a good time too.

I could hear him rumbling pleasantly during part of Priya’s back massage and it was endearing as fuck, to be perfectly honest. It had probably been a while since he’d been able to relax, so I enjoyed seeing him cut loose for once.

But we did have a hiccup related to that halfway through.

Priya had been massaging Bucky’s left shoulder, and he’d nodded off a while into the massage. I had been about to advise her, but she reached for the spot before I could say anything. She touched the spot where his Vibranium arm attached to the shoulder and Bucky jerked away with an angry growl on reflex. She jumped back with a yelp as he stumbled to his feet, the table shifting behind him as his weight suddenly left it. He panted frantically as he came back to consciousness and I quickly moved towards him, touching both sides of his face so he’d look down at me.

“Hey, hey, easy,” I whispered to him as the sheet rolled off my bare form. His skin was very warm, nearly too warm, and his pupils were dilated. I realized he wasn’t all the way awake yet and held his face a little bit tighter. “It’s okay, James, wake up, you’re okay, you’re safe.”

Bucky shook his head a bit and focused on me, licking his lips nervously. “You okay? Did I…did I hurt you or her?”

“No, no, you just got startled awake, that’s all,” I said gently. “Relax. Breathe. Nothing’s wrong. You just woke up too fast, that’s it.”

He swallowed hard, clearly trying not to freak out that he’d almost had an episode, and I moved my hands to his chest. His heart hammered against my palm. Poor guy. “It’s okay, easy, breathe in and out with me, that’s it.”

He closed his eyes and focused on my calming tone, his big hands finding my waist to ground himself to the present moment. He’d been on the verge of a panic attack, but I could tell we’d managed to avert it in time. Good. I’d hate for him to feel guilty about having one on a day meant for fun.

When his breathing steadied, I patted his chest lightly and smiled up at him. “Okay, that’s good. Feel better?”

Bucky nodded, then noticed his hand placement and blushed, quickly averting his eyes from my naked body. “S-Sorry, I—didn’t mean to—”

“It’s okay,” I reminded him, stooping to collect his sheet and mine. I passed it to him, then kissed his cheek. I pulled my sheet on as well and addressed the staff. “We’re so sorry. He’s a combat veteran and so sometimes he just has hypervigilance, that’s all.”

“I’m sorry,” Bucky started to say to Priya, but she shook her head.

“No, please, it’s alright,” she assured him as he helped her move the table back into place. “We’ve treated veterans here before, so no harm done, I promise. I didn’t mean to startle you and I’ll stay away from that area with the rest of the massage just to be safe.”

“Thank you. I can’t apologize enough for—”

“It’s not something to be sorry for,” she told him warmly as he lay down again. “Just a human reaction. I’m glad you have her. She’s an angel, isn’t she?”

Bucky huffed, blushing. “I should be so lucky. She’s, uh, she’s just my friend, but you’re still right.”

I blushed like an idiot, burying my face in my hands. “Buckyyyy…”

The rest of the massage hour finished without incident, and then it was time for our cooking class, so we got dressed and I reapplied my makeup. Before we left, though, Bucky paused and tugged me aside to hug me. “Thank you for…calming me down. I’m sorry if I—”

“Like she said,” I told him with his arms around me, my smile fond. “Nothing to be sorry for. Just a human moment. It’s all good, I promise. I’m having a nice time; how about you?”

He relaxed then. “Yeah, me too. Come on.”

Bucky took my hand and led me out, which surprised me in a good way. They’d instructed us to walk around the corner to another hallway and there, we found a sort of classroom that had eight cooking stations lined up in a grid and a kitchenette at the head of the room where two chefs stood preparing for the class. There was a little mobile bartender’s cart and a bartender waiting patiently for drink orders. There were two other couples attending that were sitting at their stations chatting quietly as they waited for everyone to arrive. Bucky chose a station where he could most clearly see all the exits—force of habit for a soldier, so I was used to it—and we sat together. Bucky looked much more relaxed now, an arm trailing protectively over the back of my chair, leaning into my side while I showed him silly cat videos on Instagram.

After one more couple entered, the two chefs—a husband and wife team, introduced themselves as Brock and Tina. They explained that we could choose from one of four options: steak, chicken, fish, or tofu, along with a mixed salad of our choice. The bartender was at our complete disposal and there was a wine menu to sip while we cooked. Bucky and I chose the steak option—after all, Super Soldiers devoured a bajillion calories a day—and I had a glass of red wine as they instructed us on our butter-basted tomahawk ribeye that they’d teach us to reverse sear.

“Can’t believe Sam sent us here to clog up our arteries,” Bucky chuckled as we lifted our hefty tomahawk steak from the pot of melted butter.

I chuckled as I passed him the salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then flattened my palm over the hot cast iron skillet that had some butter skating across it. “Bah! Calories don’t count on major holidays.”

“Oh, is that how it works? Perfect. I’ll remind Sam next Thanksgiving.”

“Well, he is a bother. I don’t blame you for getting revenge by eating him out of house and home during the holiday season.” Bucky got started on searing the steak while you chopped up the tomatoes and cucumbers for the mixed green salad. You tossed it, then started working on the bleu cheese dressing that Tina was instructing on how to mix. “Hmm…you do have a point, though.”

“What?” Bucky asked.

I sent him a sly askance look. “Do you think Sam flaked on purpose?”

Bucky scowled. “He’d better not have flaked on purpose. I’ll skin him alive.”

I laughed then. “I don’t think it’s quite that serious, but I wouldn’t put it past him. He meddles. It might as well be his middle name instead of Thomas.”

Bucky huffed as he shook the cast iron pan a bit. “He does meddle, but why? Isn’t he the extroverted glue that holds this thing together in the first place?”

I shrugged. “Yeah, but maybe he thought we should bond or something. He is sneaky like that.”

“Mm. I wouldn’t put it past him, but I don’t see why that’s necessary. I like you as much as I’m gonna like you already.”

I smiled then. “Really? I’m not a pest to you?”

“Not after earlier,” he said a bit softly, and that touched me deeply. He then brightened up and added, “Not counting whenever you come over and boggart my cat.”

I rolled my eyes. “Not my fault she’s so adorable. And you should talk. You make a beeline for Leeloo every single time you visit my place too.”

He winked. “Isn’t that my prerogative as a Cat Dad?”

I groaned. “Don’t you dare do that, you cheeky fuck. Don’t remind me you’re a Cat Dad. You’re irresistible enough as it is, sarge.”

He laughed, blushing slightly as he flipped the steak. It had a great crust going, but that was no surprise; the chefs were on point and Bucky could burn in a kitchen pretty damn good, I’d learned. “Not gonna lie; I kinda wanna hear more about that whole ‘concerted effort not to fall in love with me’ thing you mentioned earlier.”

“You would,” I drawled sarcastically. “You have no idea how distracting you are to be around, sir.”

Bucky widened his blue eyes to look innocent. “Who? Me?”

Without breaking eye contact, he then quickly lifted up part of his t-shirt to flash his cobblestone abs at me and I burst out laughing. “Bastard. That’s just not fair.”

He smirked as he shook the pan again, then tilted it and started to baste the steak in the butter with a spoon. “To be fair, you’re not much better in that dress, baby doll. Awful hard to look at the steak when you’re just as appetizing.”

I laughed again. “Oh no, not pickup lines! You can’t do that or I’ll be a goner for sure.”

I dipped the spoon in the now mixed bleu cheese and then offered it to him. “Here, taste test.”

Bucky gave me the biggest shit-eating grin, then parted his lips to taste it, making sure to tower over me with his extremely attractive height. I glared at him, for he’d made sure to do that in the sexiest possible way. “You think you’re so funny, don’t you?”

“Just a little bit,” he chuckled. “Tastes great. Nice work.”

I licked the back of the spoon and nodded to confirm before setting it aside. Bucky openly leered at me. “Do that again, but slower this time.”

I cackled. “I’m sorry, sarge, but you’ll just have to do things the proper way and court me to see more of me licking white substances off of things.”

Bucky then sputtered. “Licking what off of what?”

I smiled sweetly, batting my lashes as I got up on my tiptoes to tease him. “You know, like…ice cream?”

He then glared, blushing up a storm. “You think you’re so funny, don’t you?”

I kissed his cheek. “Hilarious, in fact. I’m going to grab a refill on the wine. Would you like another glass, sarge?”

“Sure, thanks, baby doll.” I headed over to the bartender’s counter with a flourish, taking the two empty glasses with me.

Behind you, Bucky made sure you’d skipped away before taking out his phone and quickly shooting Sam a text while you weren’t nearby.

Sam, I swear to God, if you set this whole thing up so she and I would be on a date, I’m gonna slash all your tires tonight.

…I mean, I’m prepared to buy new tires. 😜

SAM. FOR FUCK’S SAKE. 😡

Buck, I’ve told you about a thousand times to ask that girl out and you ain’t done it. You forced my hand, bruh. 🙄

Bucky growled deep in his cavernous chest. You’re dead fucking meat, soldier boy. Just you wait.

I’ll be waiting. Ask. Her. Out. Doofus. She adores you and she’ll be over the damn moon when you ask, trust me.

You’re crazy. It’s not like that between us.

Only ‘cause you won’t let it be. I know her. She’s crushing just as bad as you are. She’s just shy. Do it, Bucky. I promise you’ll be surprised by her reaction. In the meantime, quit being grumpy and have some fun today, alright? Just be yourself, only more…forward. 😏

Forward?

You know exactly what I mean, Buck. Put the moves on her. You’ll see.

Bucky scowled again, but tucked the phone away as you came back to his side, passing him the glass of wine. You noticed the guarded, worried look he’d just wiped off his face and poked him. “Trouble in paradise?”

“Nah,” he lied, kissing your cheek to thank you for the wine and then taking another sip. “All quiet on the western front. Let’s eat.”

“Believe it or not, I’ve always wanted to try glass-making.”

I grinned as Bucky held open the door to the glass-blowing studio attached to the rear half of the massage parlor. “Actually, I do believe that. You’re a very crafty, handy guy. You built that whole dining room table by hand and it’s still standing to this very day, remember?”

He chuckled as we wrote our names into the little check-in book on the podium. “Hasn’t wobbled yet, so maybe you have a point.”

The studio had a few kilns and different work benches and stations scattered throughout the space. It was the kind that could do demonstrations for groups of probably about ten people as it was an open room with high ceilings. One of the other couples from the cooking class had joined you, so you greeted them and made small talk as you waited for your instructor to be ready to start.

“Welcome in,” the friendly sandy-haired glass maker said, rubbing his calloused hands together as we quieted. “So excited to get started with you guys, and happy Valentine’s Day to you as well. My name is Connor and I’ll be glad to give you the basics on glass making, then we’ll teach you how to make a heart-shaped paperweight of your color choice to remember this time and to cherish at home. Everything is going to be perfectly safe as we will walk you through each step and please feel free to ask as many questions as you like. My helpers Ellie and Mark will assist as well.”

 The next few minutes were just the background of the glass-blowing studio and the basics about the art of creating handmade glass sculptures and figures. They demonstrated different methods for how they created all kinds of things from drinking cups and plates to custom-made glass roses. We would be making a swirl patterned keepsake heart paperweight, so they let us go over to choose the colors we’d be incorporating.

“I say we take a leaf out of your book, lady in red,” he teased as he leaned into my left shoulder. “How ‘bout red and black?”

I considered that. “Hmm…yeah, I like that. Why don’t we throw reflective silver in too?”

“Sounds good to me.” Once we’d chosen the glass colors for the interior of the glass heart, they let us take turns rolling the rod in the molten glass to cover it in layers, then shaping it into a disc. While still molten and hot, we pulled up on one end to create the heart’s point and then Bucky made the divot at the top of the heart. It was then smoothed over and would cool for the rest of our time at our spa day and be put together in a cute little take-home basket with other goodies.

And I could admit that I loved making that heart paperweight with Bucky.

He always got a very cute look of concentration whenever he worked with his hands. He’d had to be a fighter his entire life, but I saw how he could handle something as delicate as glass with finesse. He listened and followed instructions to the letter, and I felt more confident myself watching him. Maybe in another life, he hadn’t been a soldier, but a glass craftsman instead.

“Well, now I’m convinced Sam sent us on this spa day to fall in love,” I teased as Bucky held the door to let me out of the studio and we walked back towards the parlor where we’d undress for our sauna visit. “We just made a whole literal heart together on Valentine’s Day. Cue the sweeping romance music.”

He arched an eyebrow. “What, you’re only now noticing that I’m trying to get you to fall in love with me?”

I giggled. “Yes. I’m afraid I’m slow on the uptake.”

“We are about to get naked again,” he said, waggling his eyebrows playfully. “Not that slow.”

“Not unless you count how long we’ve known each other,” I sniffed as I reached my locker. Kinsuk and Priya had told us the sauna room was through the rear door, so we knew to change into the fluffy towels they’d left on the benches and head there next. “In that case, I am a demure lady worthy of the forties.”

Bucky snorted as he pulled off his t-shirt. “You’d be surprised at how lewd the girlies were back then. Modern society hides it or dresses it up a lot. I mean, there is a song called Rocket 69, for God’s sake.”

I slid the straps to the dress down my shoulders. “And how do you know that, sergeant?”

“You know my rank, not my story,” he teased, spoofing that common meme, to my utmost amusement.

“Mm-hmm,” I hummed in my throat as I folded the dress and put it in the locker. “Now how am I supposed to believe you know your way around a woman, then?”

He didn’t answer. Well, not with words, anyway.

He snuck up behind me and unlatched my bra somehow, perfectly, with one hand.

I yelped and caught it as it flopped forward on my shoulders, blushing up a storm while he chuckled softly and retreated, not trying to sneak a peek since he’d already pranked me pretty good. I whirled with my arms over my chest, my jaw to the floor. “How the entire fuck—”

“Trade secret,” he teased as he stepped out of his jeans.

“No shit, Joey Tribbiani, wow.” I wrapped the towel around me and even examined the bra. “I mean, shit! You didn’t break the clasp or anything. You really are a superhero, dude.”

“No,” he said smoothly. “I’m just a hundred years old and I’ve seen my share of bras.”

I smirked as I wiggled out of my panties. “I half-expect you to snap your fingers and my panties just automatically evaporate.”

Bucky stared me down for a second. He licked his lips, then shook his head and chuckled. “I’m not gonna say the first twelve things that came to mind when you said that. It’s bait.”

I pouted as I closed the locker and walked with him towards the door to the sauna room. “Aww, come on! I was such a good girl all spa day long. Can’t you let me have this one thing?”

I stuck out my bottom lip to be extra cute. He rolled his eyes, smirking. “Not sure you could handle it.”

“Never know unless you try,” I lilted.

Bucky sighed and shook his head. “Fine. You get one ‘cause you have behaved yourself all day long.”

“Yay! Lay it on me, daddy.”

He snorted. “If I could snap my fingers and your panties evaporated, we’d still be needing the spa day…”

Bucky then stooped to my height, his drawl effortlessly sexy and devious, his thick lashes low over those wintry eyes. “…so they can work on your back after I blow it out.”

I gulped, then quietly squeaked. “…okay, you were right to not tell me that. I am sorry.”

The Super Soldier just kept chuckling as I scampered past him into the sauna room.

The sauna rooms were private and attached to the massage room, so no pressure. It was about the size of a small bedroom and had the typical wooden benches all around with the spring in the middle to ladle in water and add extra steam. When we entered, an automatic timer on the wall started up to keep track of our half hour of sweating it out, then we’d go into a cool bath and shower before getting dressed again for dinner. I took the bench on the right and Bucky relaxed beside me with his usual splayed thick legs. He noticed me noticing them and nudged my knee with a curious smile. “Penny for your thoughts?”

“Sorry,” I giggled as I tucked a wet strand of hair up into my bun. “You man-spread when you sit. I have no idea why, but it tickles me pink.”

“Man-spread?” he challenged, arching an eyebrow. “I’m tall and I have long legs, don’t I?”

“I know. It’s not an accusation, just an observation. It’s probably a good thing. Means you don’t have to have annoying people sit beside you. And I’m sure your girlfriend appreciates a well-spread throne to sit upon during filthy times.”

He smirked and reached over, tickling my nape. “Thought about my filthy times a lot, have we?”

I snorted. “Hell yeah, especially after that bra strap thing.”

Bucky laughed, flushing darker, and not from the sauna’s heat. “You’re never gonna drop that, are you?”

“Hell no! Does Sam know you can do that?”

Bucky scowled. “Please. You think he’d ever leave me alone if he knew?”

“Point taken. Well, either way, kudos. I’ve never seen a man undo a bra that easily before, despite the fact that they spend half their lives chasing them.”

He shook his head as he scratched his scalp. “I don’t get it either. It’s not that hard. You listen, you care, you pay attention, you show up, and you don’t do the shit she says not to do. Dunno why guys gotta complicate it.”

“Preaching to the choir, sir. I feel like a relationship should feel this easy.”

His head tilted. “Yeah?”

“Mm-hmm. We know what each other likes and doesn’t like and our temperaments are similar enough. We both want nice things for each other. I say it should be like this, only with romance. Something…comfortable and familiar.”

I then realized I’d said more than I’d intended; I’d had more than one glass of wine, after all. I started to worry I’d embarrassed him, but he smiled and closed his eyes. “I think it should be this easy too.”

He reached down and held my hand. I blushed like an idiot the entire time, but didn’t let go. His hand was warm and strong. It felt nice.

We sweated it out, then went into the tiny stalls on the other side to rinse off the sweat and briefly shower. We walked back into the massage room together and I sent him a playful look after I opened my locker. “Dare I ask you for your help or does it only have to do with taking clothes off, not putting them on?”

Bucky offered that dangerous smirk that always made my knees weak. “Guess.”

I gave him a long, slow look, then just picked up the bra and let it unfurl in one hand. Bucky decided to play along and stepped forward, collecting it from me. I turned around, my heart hammering away in my rib cage with idiotic excitement that I was overtly flirting with him. I knew better than to play with fire, but I couldn’t help it. I’d gone months with only getting to steal moments of his time hanging out with him and Sam. Now, I had his full attention.

And I liked it.

I let the towel slip to waist-height, then carefully crossed my arms over my chest. Bucky came up behind me with the bra and I moved my hands briefly enough to let the cups line up with each breast. My pulse wouldn’t slow for anything and it beat so hard he could probably hear it. His hands brushed under my arms as he pulled the bra flush to my chest and shoulder blades, easily hooking it with that same playful air between us. I felt the urge to press my back to his front, but resisted it. I couldn’t get too greedy; it was already a miracle he’d let me flirt with him this much anyway.

“Thank you, kind sir.”

“Anytime,” he whispered back, and then he brushed a kiss against my nape.

I almost fainted dead away.

Oh dear God. How demure. How subtle.

How…utterly hot.

He’d be the death of me at the rate he was going and we still had a whole four-course dinner to get through together. I tried not to stumble on my weak knees as I grabbed the dress and slid into it along with my jewelry.

And apparently, the sergeant wasn’t done messing with me yet.

When I turned, he was already dressed and had my heels dangling from two fingers, determined to mess with me until I just outright fell in love with him, I suppose. He knelt in front of me with that same subtle yet teasing smirk. “May I?”

I tried not to gulp. “You may, good sir.”

I lifted my right leg and placed a hand on his shoulder for balance. He raised the heel to on top of his knee and I stepped into it. His fingers wrapped around my ankle, then lowered my foot to the floor. Then the left shoe next, same thing, and goosebumps flooded up my legs at the light touches. Argh. I’d kill that Sam Wilson the next time I saw him for setting me up to fall for Bucky on this stupid Galentine’s Day spa trip.

Bucky stood, then reached up and undid the bun, spilling my hair around my face. He smoothed it to lay the way it usually did, then offered his arm. “Ready?”

“I’m gettin’ there,” I admitted sheepishly as we left for the dining room for our last activity of the day.

They had private dining booths as the last section of their building on the left wing. They had nice candles on the table and the booths were shiny black leather, nice and comfy. Our waiter brought over the menu and it was once again four choices for the entree. This time, we went with fried shrimp with hot peppers and homemade ranch for the appetizer, a Caesar salad, crab-stuffed salmon served with mushroom black truffle risotto, and two pieces of chocolate mousse cake along with a dessert wine. My mouth watered at just the description alone; by the time the wonderful smell hit me, I was almost bouncing with anticipation. The food came out and it was delectable. I damn near wanted to lick the bowl and plates. It had been ages since I’d enjoyed a good meal, let alone with such wonderful company.

We tortured Sam by taking pictures of our food and texting it to him so he’d whine at us in the reply. Served him right for being a flaky meddler. I lived for the rare times when I could troll him right back.

We thoroughly thanked and tipped the staff when they had us sign out and I promised to do a review online just to help them out since it truly had been a wonderful spa day. I knew that I’d return to my usual grouchy demeanor, but I sure as hell wouldn’t mind making this place a V-Day tradition if Bucky and Sam wanted to go in together on it. The gift basket we got was also enormous and chockful of luxury candy, wine, and of course, the heart paperweight we’d made.

“I am a big enough woman to admit when I’m wrong,” I said, my arm looped through Bucky’s as we walked across the street to the parking garage. It was late evening now, so busy street noise, but the sidewalks were mostly quiet. Everyone was indoors enjoying the benefits of being in love. Lucky fucking bastards. Then again, my present company was nothing to be bitter about. “That was actually a whole lot of fun.”

“Yeah,” Bucky said, slowing as we reached his GTO. “Not that we’re ever gonna admit it to Sam.”

“Oh, hell no,” I confirmed with a vigorous nod. “We’re never telling that man he was right about anything. Who needs that kind of torture?”

Bucky gently brushed a stray lock of hair away from my cheek. “He was right about two things, though.”

“Yeah? What’s the second thing?”

He smiled. “That being alone with you made me realize how bad I wanna ask you out.”

I stared at him, dumbfounded. “…huh?”

Bucky chuckled. “Ah. That’s why Sam said I’d be surprised by your reaction. Cute as a button as usual.”

“You…want to…g-go out with me?” I squeaked, blushing up a storm for the millionth time today. “Really? You’re not just…being nice? Because you are nice. You’re actually really nice, like way too nice to me and that’s sort of why I’ve had a secret crush on you, but I don’t want you to feel like you have to take care of me just because of Sam and this dumb holiday—”

Bucky simply bypassed my babbling and kissed me silent.

Oh, what a kiss.

Those plush lips sent a wave of hot pleasure rushing down my spine like the shower I’d stood under barely an hour ago beside him. My eyes fell shut and I couldn’t help but sigh into the kiss, warm and liquid as his strong arms encircled me to press me into that mighty chest. He held the kiss for a long moment, then smirked at the vacant lustful look on my face. “So that’s how I shut you up.”

I glared. “Watch the sass, Sergeant Sassypants, or no more kissy face.”

He chuckled softly. “Just teasing ya, girlie. Yeah, I want to go out with you. I’ve…wanted to go out with you for months. I’m just stupid and I thought you didn’t like me That Way. Sam definitely did this to needle me into asking you out, so you didn’t imagine anything.”

I couldn’t help a dopey smile. “Oh. You didn’t imagine anything either. I’ve been trying to squash the crush on you since we met.”

He shook his head. “Good to know we’re both clueless.”

“Introverted minds think alike.” I bit my bottom lip as a thought occurred to me. Naturally, he noticed.

“What?”

I cleared my throat. “Well, it’s just…I was considering our…timing.”

“Mm-hmm,” he rumbled, lightly running his hand up and down the small of my back. I almost hit the ground in a senseless heap, it felt so damn good. “What about it?”

“W-Well, we have known each other for almost a year,” I said haltingly, hoping he’d pick up on my tone. “So we could…skip certain…steps tonight, if we wanted.”

Bucky relaxed into a smirk as he finally caught on. “Right. Ten months is a long time. We know each other pretty well, don’t you think?”

“Mm-hmm,” I squeaked, having lost the battle with another blush. Bucky kissed me slowly.

“My place or yours?” he whispered at the end of said kiss.

Another shiver rolled down my back.

“My place is closer,” I whispered. “And I damn sure don’t want to make you wait any longer than you already have.”

“Awful nice of you.” He led me over to the passenger’s side and opened the door for me like a gentleman. Then he climbed in and fired up the engine to take me home. He also held my hand on the drive home and I could have done a Happy Dance at how sweet he’d been to do so.

I’d just barely gotten the front door open when Bucky pressed me up against it and kissed the living daylights out of me. I let my purse drop on the foyer table and wrapped my arms around his neck as he lifted me, my thighs encircling his hips as his lips found mine in the dark. He leaned that bulky frame into my soft curves and I couldn’t help moaning as his pelvis lined up with mine, adding sweet pressure where I badly needed it. He licked my mouth open and drove in, sliding his hands down to grope my ass.

“Mrrow!”

We both stopped, glancing down to see Leeloo rubbing herself against Bucky’s shin.

We both collapsed into laughter then, realizing how overeager we’d gotten. Bucky put me down and petted the cat while I went and put food in her bowl so she’d wander off without seeing her mother get her guts rearranged by a Super Soldier. She trotted off to eat while I took Bucky’s hand and led him to my bedroom, pushing the door shut.

Bucky scooped me up again since he knew I got a kick out of the fact that I weighed nothing to someone with his strength and carried me to the bed, seating me in his man-spreading lap so he could properly kiss me. I kicked my heels off and wriggled out of the top half of the dress, pushing it to bunch at my waist. I yanked Bucky’s t-shirt off and kissed his Adam’s apple, his throat, my fingers trailing down his sculpted pecs the way I’d been dying to do for ages. He squeezed my hips, then raised his hands to unclip the bra with the same ease as earlier today, catching my lips as his big hands cupped my breasts.

He flipped around to lay me on the bedspread and slid his knees up to part my thighs, hovering over me. His hot mouth landed on my left breast first, caressing the other with his hand as he lowered his weight to flatten me underneath him. I busied myself undoing his belt and tossing it aside, flutters of pleasure dancing over my skin as he teased my breasts one at a time. He kicked off his boots and then the jeans, his dog tags dangling between us as he stooped over me. He pulled the dress off my entirely, leaving me in a plain black panties. He let his gaze roll down my bare skin and curves for a long moment, savoring the sight of me panting and impatient for him.

“You’re goddamn beautiful, y’know that?” he murmured, rubbing his thumb against my hip bone as he stared at me with open appreciation. “God, I’m so fuckin’ into you, baby.”

I smiled as I drew him down to me. “Lot of that going around, sarge.”

He kissed me, his voice dropping a few octaves as his arousal took over. “How do you want me?”

“Any way you’ll let me have you,” I mumbled back in between kisses. “But for the record, I’m not opposed to feral sex nor tender lovemaking. Pretty sure I’m gonna like whatever you want to do to me tonight, sir.”

He shuddered on top of me. “Gonna get a lot of mileage outta you using my title, baby.”

I smirked. “Does someone have an authority kink?”

He smirked back. “Does someone have a praise kink?”

I blushed then. Oops. I’d tipped my hand a bit. He chuckled softly. “Thought so. Great. Can’t wait to exploit it. I love making you squirm with compliments. It’s cute as fuck.”

I keened as he passed his mouth over each nipple again, then kissed down the center of my body. He pushed my thighs further apart and then pulled the panties free. He tossed my legs over his shoulders and dove between them like a man on a mission, licking a wide stripe over my wet sex that made me shout his first name at the ceiling. A wave of tingling shocks flooded over me. Heat stoked at my tight core. Bucky licked those soft lips with a needy groan and slid his arms beneath my ass to bring me even closer to his mouth. He buried his tongue inside me like it belonged there and fondled my ass and thighs in between each stroke, driving whimpering cries of ecstasy out of me one at a time. I could scarcely breathe in between hoarse moans as he chased after my orgasm like a man possessed.

“Close,” I gasped out, pushing his thick hair off his forehead to get his attention. “P-Please, Buck, I’m so close, please…”

“Good girl,” he praised in his most wicked voice, his sinful lips upturned in a smirk. “Come for me, baby.”

He slipped two fingers inside me and covered my clit in the heat of his mouth. I cried out and careened over the edge into the climax, twisting and writhing in the sheets as the pleasure surged up my body. Bucky didn’t relent, pumping his fingers in fast and hard. He gradually slowed them as I claimed my prize, withdrawing to keep from overstimulating me. By the time my heavy eyelids lifted again, he’d just licked each finger clean like he’d tasted ambrosia and lowered the hem of his boxer briefs to expose the most deliciously long, thick cock I’d ever seen.

“Hello, sergeant,” I slurred, unable to help sounding impressed as he leisurely stroked his cock. “Christ, Bucky. You’re an animal.”

The Super Soldier dropped a kiss to my lips. “Can ya blame me? This is just how I get around great pussy. Had to make myself stop; I could eat you out for another four hours and not get tired of it.”

I shivered. “God, you and your mouth, sarge. Jesus Christ.”

He chuckled in my ear, nibbling under my jaw. “Yeah, sorry. The girls all say I have a filthy mouth. Can’t help it. I have a kinky streak.”

“No shit.” I pushed on his shoulders until he rolled over and straddled his impressive lap. I lowered my hand enough to stroke him and he relaxed into the pillows, settling his hands on my hips. I drank in the sight of him there in my sheets, all handsome and vulnerable and aroused. I memorized the way the lamplight played over his firm skin and caught on the periwinkle of his eyes. God, was I lucky.

Bucky hissed when I lowered my mouth to his cock, circling the head at first. I knew it had been a while for him—he’d mentioned a handful of one-night-stands some months ago—so I went slow to let him get used to it. I let another inch slide over my tongue one stroke at a time and allowed my fingers to stroke him first on the way down. He ground out my name and gripped the sheets, flushed and hungry and all mine. I kept going steadily until he hit the back of my throat and cradled his sack as I moved, slurping him down to enhance his enjoyment.

“God, baby,” he murmured, reaching down to grip my nape. “Mm, fuck, getting close…”

“Relax,” I reminded him in my gentlest voice. “You can come if you want, Buck. I want you to feel good, It’s okay.”

He licked his lips as he pried his eyes open enough to check in with me. “You sure?”

I smiled. “Yeah, Buck, I’m sure.”

Bucky seemed to weigh that in his mind, then nodded his consent. I went faster and sucked harder, hollowing out my cheeks. His hips jutted up from the bed to help shove his cock as far into my throat as he could reach and then he groaned my name as he came. I drank it down until he finished, but he didn’t soften even slightly after I withdrew. He gripped my upper arms and dragged me up to meet him with a lazy, indulgent growl of approval.

He kissed me after he rolled me onto my back and I let my legs fall open, entranced by the sight of that brawny body crawling above me. I wrapped my arms around his neck to hold on for dear life as he pinned my hips to the mattress and slid that big cock inside me at last.

And there was no other moment like it.

The thrust was smooth and confident. He didn’t stop until he was in to the hilt and then let out a low, ragged moan of my name against my lips. He let his weight rest over me with a content sigh, most of him held over me on his left palm, his right hand on my hip. That first thrust had sent a lightning bolt of pleasure up my spine and bursting through my veins like fireworks. I’d never felt such electricity.

“Mm, good girl,” Bucky drawled against my lips. “Gonna be so good to you tonight, baby.”

He withdrew most of the way and massaged one breast with his free hand, taking his sweet time before returning to me. The next thrust made me set my nails into his shoulder blades as the heat at my core became an inferno. He settled into steady, heavy, intimate thrusts that had me clutching him and moaning on every breath I could barely draw into my lungs. When I relaxed beneath him completely, he sped up one thrust at a time until I was mewling and writhing in the messy sheets, clinging to some sense of self-control so I wouldn’t come in under five minutes.

Not that Bucky would cut me any slack.

“You don’t have to last,” he whispered in my ear as he slid his hand down from my breast to my clit, circling it in between strokes to make me even wetter around his cock. “I’ll give it to you all night if you want it, baby. Relax. Stop fighting it. Let me take care of you tonight.”

I shivered hard at the gentle encouragement, unable to help it. “Mm, not yet, feels so good, don’t want to stop yet, please, Buck…”

“Not stopping for anything short of an earthquake,” he teased, nipping my bottom lip. “You feel too good for me to stop for anything less.”

My toes curled. “F-Fuck, baby, please don’t…”

“Mm,” he hummed as he trailed those soft lips down the left side of my throat. “Whole damn building could fall down around us and I wouldn’t even notice as long as I got to stay right here between these pretty thighs, all safe and sound…”

He bit down on the side of my neck and I flew apart, unable to help it. “James!”

The Super Soldier purred as he felt my inner walls collapse all at once around his cock, rolling his hips without pulling out so he’d drag against every sensitive nook and cranny inside me. I clung to him as I came on his cock with an abrupt cry, and he held me down and let me work through it slowly, unable to escape since he’d pinned me to the spot. He slowed his hand to feather-light touches against my clit as I floated down from the heavens, kissing me senseless all the while.

“Good girl,” he whispered. “Mm, you’re sexy as hell when you come, honey.”

“Bucky,” I whined, which just made him grin wolfishly. “Do you have to torture me?”

“Yep,” he mused, flipping me onto my belly. “Gotta torture my best girl. Part of the fun.”

I huffed as he pulled me back to be flush to his chest. “Sadist.”

“Masochist,” he teased in return, tweaking each nipple as he folded me in his arms. “You don’t wanna admit it, but you love that I mess with you.”

I whimpered as he lowered his right hand to the mess between my inner thighs. “Mm, just look how wet you’ve already gotten. You’re already so wrecked, aren’t you, baby?”

“Mm-hmm,” I hummed, my eyes falling shut as he stroked over me lightly. “Please, Buck…”

“Relax,” he murmured as he pushed onto his knees behind me. “Bucky’s best girl always gets what she wants.”

He slipped inside me again. I crumpled up the pillow in both hands and shoved my face down to muffle the scream that ripped out of me from that big cock sliding in a second time. My spine arched as the pleasure speared me through and left me trembling in its wake. I tensed as I tried not to come from just that one perfectly hard stroke and heard him chuckling softly as he noticed the strain.

“Silly girl.” He slapped my ass lightly on one side. “Told you that you didn’t need to last, didn’t I?”

“It’s a…point of pride…” I panted out as I regained self-control and emerged from the pillow, my hair wild and all over my face, my body raw and sensitive. “Can’t have you…thinking you have me wrapped around your pinky finger and all.”

“Other way around, baby doll,” he purred as he pulled out. “You’ve successfully collared the White Wolf, believe me.”

He kissed the shell of my ear, his voice velvet in the dimly lit bedroom. “And wolves mate for life, you know.”

I bit my bottom lip to stop another heady moan as he sank into rhythm, pulling me back to him by my hips each stroke to slide that thick cock as deeply as he could reach. My body bounced and swayed with the shifting mattress and I tried to weather the storm, but it was impossible. He always angled his hips just the right way to unravel me. He sped up a minute at a time, low groans of lust and exertion falling from his lips every so often, his grip on my hips firm and guiding. I couldn’t last much longer and hated how touch starved I’d gotten, though I knew it didn’t bother him one bit.

“You’re close, baby.” He buried his Vibranium hand between my legs to stroke my spot and I cried out again sharply as the pleasure spiked to impossible heights. “Mm, that’s it, just go, come, come on my cock, good girl, that’s right…”

“Oh God, Buck, please come with me,” I begged with the last bit of air I could get in my lungs. “F-Fuck, please, baby, please come inside me, need you so bad, please!”

“Mm, good girl, that’s it, I’ll come for you, baby, feels so goddamn good—” He bit off a curse in Romanian as he sent me spinning off the edge into the heavenly abyss again, but he joined me this time. I pressed myself back into him as much as possible as the orgasm wrung my pussy out around his cock, unleashing hot jets of come. He buried his face in my hair with a wolf’s growl as he came inside me over and over, stimulating my clit the entire time to make the sweetness last. I’d never felt anything so incredible, so fulfilling, so satisfying.

I came around lying on my side with a thigh tossed over his hip. He stroked my cheekbone with his thumb, smiling when he saw my heavy eyelids lift. I smiled back and kissed his palm. “So we agree: no way in hell we’re telling Sam this happened.”

Bucky laughed as he leaned over to steal a kiss. “Uh, I think he’ll eventually notice after I marry you and we have a shitload of kids.”

I laughed too. “Fine. We tell him at the rehearsal dinner; how ‘bout that?”

Bucky cracked up then. “Sounds good to me.”

I touched his wrist, dropping the humor from my tone. “Thank you for making this the only good Valentine’s Day I’ve ever had, Bucky.”

“The only good Valentine’s Day you’ve had so far,” he said warmly. “I’m gonna make sure every single one after is the best one ever. You deserve it.”

“So do you,” I whispered back, kissing him. I then heard my phone chime and rolled over to grab it from the nightstand.

So…how’s your night going, cutie pie? Sam asked facetiously via text. Any new developments? 😏

I worked my jaw. “You little shit.”

I then flopped back against Bucky’s chest facing the camera and flipped it off, as did he. I snapped the double middle finger half-naked selfie and texted it to him, then turned the phone off entirely since I knew it would drive him crazy to know we’d hooked up, but not know a single solitary detail until morning. Bucky dragged me into the shelter of his arms and showered my nape and neck with kisses. “We’d better let your furry daughter in so she knows I wasn’t actually in here abusing you.”

I laughed as I slipped out of bed and popped the bedroom door open. Leeloo came running in with a curious meow, hopping onto the bed for Bucky to pet her spoiled little self. “Yeah, and she won’t be the only one. I’m sure my neighbors are going to have words for me tomorrow morning.”

I climbed in bed again after I flipped off the light. Bucky spooned me as Leeloo curled up against my chest, dropping a last kiss to my left shoulder blade. “Too bad. They can just blame this lame ass holiday like everyone else.”

I grinned wolfishly as I snuggled in with him for the night. “I know I sure will.”

FIN