Chapter Eleven

Steve had come back from meeting with Maria, bringing them sandwiches for lunch. Just before he had gotten home, Rainedrop had taken a call from Maria Hill, heading up to the roof for a bit of privacy. Bucky figured that it was probably just girl talk, but he noticed that for some reason Rainedrop seemed to be a lot more nervous and excited for the rest of the day.

It was just about six o'clock in the evening and an hour ago Rainedrop had taken an early shower before locking herself away in the bathroom for much longer afterwards than she normally would. Before he had a chance to question her once the door finally opened, she'd headed into the bedroom to be alone for a while. So for the past hour, Bucky had sat on the couch staring at two different walls wondering what Rainedrop was doing behind them.

Hearing the bedroom door's lock finally click open, he was about to ask her if she wanted to get the Punk and head down the street to the restaurant Steve had first taken her to since it was so close to dinnertime. But seeing her as she was now attired, that question froze in his throat to be replaced with another.

"Raine, why are you dressed that way?" Bucky asked Rainedrop as she emerged from the bedroom in a very short yellow slip of a dress.

There was no mistaking the lovely curves of her body under it. Her hair had been styled slightly curled to frame her face perfectly. She had also put on a hint of make-up, mostly eye shadow and lip stick. In his opinion, she didn't need even that. To him, Rainedrop was beautiful all the time.

"I have a date tonight," the words she spoke made no sense to him.

Sitting up a bit straighter on the couch, Bucky muted whatever show he had been watching, now very focused on their talk.

"What do you mean you have a date? With who?" he asked as she clasped a silver chain around her delicate neck.

"A Shield agent named Ryan Traxler. That's what I was talking with Maria about earlier. I called her this morning to see if she would help me find a husband. She suggested that since I'm not used to modern dating, that by setting us up together it would be like a test run, to help me give me some practice...unless we really end up liking each other. Maria said that Ryan's been approved with security clearance so we can get to know each other without me having to lie about who I am," she informed him as the sound of footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs.

Steve was already in his apartment so that meant only one person could be making them.

"You cannot go on a date," he tried to inform her as felt that same aching tightness start in his chest at this sudden change of events. His words might have told her to start over but he never expected her...especially not so soon. He wasn't ready to loose her.

But all Rainedrop was doing was what he had been telling her to do...and how he hated to think about it.

Seeing her eyes narrow at his statement told Bucky that he was in for a fight.

"Why not? You are the one that pointed out to me that I could start over...that I needed to start over, and that is exactly what I intend to do, starting tonight," there was an angry firmness in her voice and her shoulders were straight and rigid, ready for him to rebuke her statement.

That was when there was a knock at the door.

While Rainedrop stepped over to the hooks where her coat hung, Bucky was up and off the couch in a flash. Before she could even step close to the door, he put himself between her and it, startling her into halting by his hasty action. Swing the door open way to hard, he glared into the hallway at the boy standing there, obviously not expecting him to answer the door.

"Hi, I'm Ryan," his weak voice sounding unsure of his own name as his eyes then grew wide to freeze on Bucky. He understood that Agent Ryan knew exactly who he was looking at. Somehow he managed to squeak out, "I'm supposed to meet…"

Sticking his silver finger in his face, Bucky coldly instructed, "Turn around, walk down those stairs, and never come back or nobody will ever find your body!"

One second later the loud sounds of pounding footsteps began echoing throughout the stairwell, and Bucky was pretty damn sure that he heard muffled laughter coming from Steve's.

"Why did you do that!?" Rainedrop angrily yelled at him as her tiny fist struck his arm as he slammed the door shut behind him.

"There is no way you are going on a date with anyone!" he firmly informed her as his chest pain intensified tenfold.

There was only one way he was going to make it go away.

"Why not? You have made it perfectly clear to me numerous times that you never…" was as far as she got before their lips connected and he had Raindrop trapped in his arms so she couldn't leave here with anyone else.

Once she was over her shock of them finally kissing, Bucky felt his pain slowly changing in a very good way. The ache in his chest turned to a warm calm that spread through him now that she was finally in his grasp. For weeks every time that he had moved away from her if she got too close or withdrawn his hand from her delicate one when she touched him, that pain in his chest would start. Each day it had been a bit harder to keep his resolve of staying apart to the point of physically hurting him.

And now he wanted to kick himself for not doing this sooner.

Holding onto each other as her arms firmly wrapped around him, Bucky felt her body begin to melt to form against his. Gone was the tension that he always had with her slightest touch, trying to tell his body that it couldn't have her the way his mind did. Replacing it was a relaxing of his muscles at finally giving in to his wanting Rainedrop all for his own.

Luckily it seemed that with all of his pigheadedness towards her for these past weeks, that she didn't seem to be angry at him. The last thing the couldn't handle right now would be for Rainedrop to withdraw her affection towards him that he had been craving. If anything, with the strength of her kisses matching his it seemed like she was determined to make the two of them happen. And he was certain that he would not stop until he proved his love for her.

Bucky was enjoying the touch of her hands running through his hair, holding his head so they were together. They both barely came up for air as they continued to kiss. His hands ran down the sides of her thin dress touching the body he had been wanting to claim. His hands descended until they cupped her round bottom, bringing out a moan of pleasure from her. When he lifted her body upwards, Rainedrop's legs easily wrapped around his waist to press her body firmly against his needy groin.

Carefully he began to guide them as one through the small apartment. He was not even sure if Rainedrop noticed that he was able to maneuver them into the dark bedroom without the two of them ever separating.

With little effort he threw the covers off the made bed out of their way, along with the decorative pillows that had appeared a few weeks back. Only then did he finally have Rainedrop lying on the bed under him as her hands held tightly to his head as they continued to kiss, exploring each other's mouths. Pulling the annoying shirt over his head which was preventing her hands from truly touching him, they finally began to travel over his chest, rubbing his flesh and metal skin without a care for the difference in them.

His own hands traveled up the length of her smooth legs taking the hem of her dress easily with them. Evey inch they continued to move higher so there was no doubt as to what was going to happen.

As his hand reach the peak between her legs, Bucky felt the moan she gave in his own mouth. There was no mistaking the arousal coming from her hips wantonly grinding into his own. Breaking their kiss for a moment to see her face, her eyes sparkled with a lust that he had never seen there before. Rainedrop wanted this just as much as he did.

Neither one of them seemed to care about anything beyond the walls of the bedroom as they both became naked over the next few minutes. With each new exposed area of skin, they continued to explore, touch, and kiss each other, making that spot a familiar, comforting place. He found three spots on his Rainedrop that always made her back arch out towards him if he caressed them just right. There were two that made her gasp for air. And there was one spot on her neck that made her give a lovely giggle.

Neither of them spoke, probably worried that it would brake this wonderful spell.

Rainedrop's bare hips were now pushing upwards harder into his own exposed ones, grinding him with a need that he eagerly understood. Slipping himself inside of her, even with the heavy petting they had been doing, he did not miss the tension suddenly increase over her entire body at the new sensation of penetration.

"Rainedrop, are you alright?" he asked stopping all movement. He hadn't meant to use the nickname, but the blushing smile on her face told him that she didn't mind.

"Yes, Bucky Bear," she answered him with keenness in her voice.

But it was hearing his nickname from her lips after so many days of Rainedrop denying him of it that brought out even more pleasure. He needed to make her happy so that he could keep hearing that name from her.

Slowly he began to thrust, causing blissful moans to escape her lips which were soon encased with his. Their bodies fit together perfectly, her soft lips moving to find a sensitive spot on his neck for them. He loved the way her fingers drug across his scalp when she would pull him in needing more of his lips after catching her breath. Her cheeks were flush a bashful pink as she began to cry out with each thrust.

Eventually he moved his mouth down her body to show her what it felt like as he began to suck on her breasts. A lovely cry of ecstasy was pulled from her own kiss-swollen lips. As their body heat increased with his plunging movements, he could tell by the moans coming from her that he had wound Rainedrop up to the tipping point moments before she cried out as she threw her head back.

Bucky decided at that moment to use the entire rest of the night to discover all of the sounds he could cause to escape from Rainedrop.

Finally admitting to himself that holding back these feelings he had for his Rainedrop had been so wrong, they both were able to find a satisfying comfort with each other over the next few hours. He knew now that he would never let her go. She had always meant to be with him and he would make damn sure that he was always there to protect her.

A Short Time Earlier

Still laughing as he watched from his window at the Shield agent running from the building for his life and then down the street, Steve sent out a group text to everyone who had been briefed on tonight's main event.

Steve: Another successful mission

He already knew that all of them probably already laughing since Maria had sent him home with a small video camera to capture the actual event.

Since she had originally omitted weeks ago the reason for Traxler and Johnson to be on cleanup duty, she had told him earlier today what had transpired with the horrible dirty limerick. Steve agreed that Ryan had brought this joke upon himself. He'd heard Maria tell much funnier jokes.

Waking up early the next morning, Raine knew that there was a large smile on her face that she could never hide. There was no mistaking the firm, warm chest that her head was lying on. Bucky Bear's steady breaths told her that he might still be asleep. She remembered being happily exhausted last night but not actually falling asleep. The covers of the bed were over them and she was pretty sure that they were still completely naked.

Knowing that she might not get another chance for a while, she carefully began to lift the sheet covering Bucky Bear, allowing her to look at what lay underneath. Even with the teachings from Mlle. Jacqueline, she had never seen a real man naked before, only drawings so she knew what to expect. Last night the bedroom had been too dark and she had been distracted by many other erotic things.

"What are you doing?"

The sound of his voice startled her into dropping the sheet back down.

"Nothing," but even she could hear the lie in her voice.

Bucky Bear's arm around her began to lift and push her upward and she found herself resting atop of him, and he had a smile as large as her own. Crossing her arms to lay her chin on his chest, they just enjoyed being there together for a bit looking at each other.

"How are you doing this morning? Do you feel alright?" he asked her as he pushed strands of hair from her face.

"Yes, I'm fine," she knew he could see the blush in her cheeks. "Is it always like that?"

His hand paused as his expression changed, but she knew he was not mad at her.

"Rainedrop, was that your first time having sex?"

Biting her lower lip, she nodded her head, and his eyes went wide. Reaching over he moved the cover off of the bed and the was the tell-tale sign of a small bloodstain. Releasing the linen, his arms came around her to hold her tightly to him as he kissed her forehead.

"I had no idea. If I knew, I wouldn't have been so eager," he told her.

"I liked it. It was just like the books that I read said it would be, only better," she admitted as her cheeks burned even more.

"Books?"

"My uncle had a woman, Mlle. Jacqueline come to talk with me when I became a woman. She explained everything to me, including sex. She gave me different books to read where people…did that, so I would know what to expect," she shyly explained. "Both her and my uncle told me that by keeping myself to be a good girl that it would mean a lot to you."

"A good girl? A virgin?" She nodded in agreement. "So I didn't hurt you?"

"No, it felt strange at first, but you can't ever hurt me, Bucky Bear," she told him reaching over to run a finger over the longer morning stubble on his face.

"Can't ever hurt you? Why would you say it that way?" he asked her as his brow furrowed.

"Uncle Arnim made it so that you could never hurt me, even if you tried," she told him and his expression changed again to seriousness.

"Explain what you mean," he softly demanded, making her a bit worried.

"Right after you went to sleep the first time Uncle Arnim told me that you would never be able to hurt me. He explained that he somehow told your mind to always recognize me to prevent you from ever hurting me," she explained growing a bit worried at how Bucky Bear seemed to be getting upset.

Had she done something wrong?

Bucky Bear then sat up a bit, forcing her to move off of him and back onto the bed.

"That day when you first met Steve, while you were in the field, I was on a nearby rooftop. When you shot at him, I aimed my gun at your arm, not knowing who you were but trying to stop you from killing Steve. But I was not able to physically pull the trigger of the gun no matter how hard I tried. And from what you just said, now I know why," he told her sounding a bit angry. "If your uncle managed to plant that suggestion into my head, how do I know that he didn't also plant this idea of wanting to be with you, of loving you, too?"

Hearing him say that he loved her while questioning the idea behind it caused a horrible pain in her chest. But was it possible for Uncle Arnim to have done that? If he could stop Bucky Bear from hurting her, then it was possible he had implanted more suggestions. Raine began to try recalling any other conversations with her uncle where he might even have told her about doing that. None of them did...but there was something that she did recall.

"I don't think that he needed to do that," she told him looking over at where Bucky Bear seemed troubled. "I remember him telling me numerous times that you were loyal, honorable, and caring, and as long as I kept myself pure for you that your natural instincts would take over and you would always be there for me…so I did."

He looked down and away from her for a few moments, considering her explanation.

"You don't know whether to love or hate me now, do you?" she asked as her body began to get cold as her shoulders slumped.

Bucky Bear finally looked over and seeing the change in her softened his expression. His arm reached out and pulled her back next to his sitting up form, nestling her against him. Feeling his arms around her made Raine feel much better after realizing the fear that he had. Raine had not even considered her uncle making him want to be with her was an option.

But she was learning that there was many things she didn't know about her uncle.

"Rainedrop, no, I will never hate you. I was just worried that these feelings may not have been my own. But if what you say is true, then I know that what I feel is really mine, and that makes me even happier," he told her, kissing the top of her head. "I'm sorry if what I said sounded mean. But I've known for weeks that I love you. And for some reason, especially with being a jackass towards you, I know that you love me too."

Raine couldn't help but smile at hearing that. Then she wondered…

"Bucky Bear?"

"Yeah?"

"Could we do that again?" she knew her cheeks were red with the request.

Suddenly she was pulled back atop of him with a squeal escaping her lips.

"Absolutely, Rainedrop."

"You helped set me up!"

Steve's body flailed as he was awoken from his deep sleep by the loud accusation from the intruder into this home. Opening his eyes, he spotted Bucky looming over him with his arms crossed and glaring down at him.

Sighing with relief at the verbal attack he had been expecting, just not at this early hour, "I admit to nothing," he stated with a grin before rolling over and pulling the comforter up to his chin.

"I heard you laughing."

"At least we know you don't need your hearing checked."

"Why?"

Steve opened his eyes and turned his heard to see if Bucky was seriously asking that question. It seemed that he was.

"Why?" he repeated as he pushed himself into a sitting position. "Because the two of you were miserable all because of your thickheadedness. Everyone was in agreement that if you would just admit your feelings for Lorraine to yourself and do something about it, then maybe we'd all be a bit happier."

"Who's everyone?"

Steve narrowed his eyes at Bucky.

"Look. From the sounds that I had to listen to last night, I'd guess that you finally admitted your feelings to Lorraine. Is that right?"

Bucky seemed hesitant to answer at first but he finally said, "Yes."

"And are the two of you happy this morning?"

A very knowing smile then appeared and Steve could guess the reason for it.

"I'll take that smirk as another yes. So what if you were set up? I was hoping you would have taken the initiative and done something while we were out of town. And since you didn't, I just took matters into my own hands...with a little help of course."

"What if I had let Rainedrop go on that date? What then?"

Steve gave Bucky his own smirk, answering, "Then you would have deserved to be miserable since it was your own fault that you were, Jerk. Now go away and let me sleep."

Steve closed his eyes and let his head fall back onto his pillow and he actually heard footsteps as Bucky walked away.

"Fine. Then you don't get any of Rainedrop's stuffed French toast."

Steve was up and out the door in less than a minute.

Author's Note: I've been able to edit a bit quicker than anticipated so I will now be posting on Mondays and Fridays. We are getting close to the action.