A lighthearted chapter meant to warm your heart. :) I'm going to try to get back into the swing of updating every few days again, so thank you to all who are reading this story and hanging with me!
Please drop a comment and let me know what you think. Enjoy! :)
Two nights later they were gathered in the common room looking over the whiteboard with James' list.
"Well, I think we can check the bottom row off just about completely based on what we've heard," Bruce drawled pointedly, nudging Nat with a grin when Ella blushed pink.
"Woah woah woah, isn't part of the fun knowing what Mr. Super Soldier has decided is his favorite? What d'ya say? Reverse cowgirl? Doggy style?" Tony lowered his voice conspiratorially to a loud whisper with a wink, "something kinkier?"
Ella was nearly crimson by now, and she pressed her hands to her cheeks as the others roared with laughter.
"Actually, now that you mention it-"
"James!" She squealed, smacking his arm playfully as she grinned widely.
"-I think I'd have to go with-"
"NOTHING if you want to 'go' ever again!" Ella was giggling and danced away from his playful swipe towards her as she made her way over to the whiteboard.
"Now! What do you want to tackle off the list today?"
James' grin would damn near make the devil blush, and her eyes widened as he started once again. "Tackling, now that's an interesting thought," he mused teasingly, bringing his metal hand up to stroke his chin in thought.
"No no no, Super Soldier. We've seen what tackling leads to and we've had about enough of that lately," Nat teased, raising her eyebrows primly as she fought back a smirk.
James scanned the list before his eyes lit up and he snapped his fingers, leaping up out of his chair to stand. His eyes were twinkling and he was fully grinning as he started to head towards the door.
"Care to share with the rest of us, Barnes?" Tony drawled lazily, kicking off the floor to spin his office chair in a circle.
Throwing a glance over his shoulder as he pushed open the door, he turned fully and held it wide, gesturing with his arm for them to join him. "Cars," he said simply, all the excitement of a teenage boy vibrant in his deep voice.
"Cars!" Tony was out of his seat in a flash, heading towards the door with a little dance in his step. "We've got sports cars, motorcycles, hotrods."
He continued his list as Steve and Bruce bolted up and headed towards the door. Nat and Ella exchanged amused glances, eyebrows raised as the gentlemen left them without a backwards glance. Ella huffed in pretend annoyance, rolling her eyes as she turned a smile on Nat. "It appears they are having a boys day. What, oh what, will we do with ourselves?"
A voice called back from the door, rumbling with amusement while his eyes twinkled with affection. "Spa day, my treat, ladies. I'll pick you up for dinner in my new 'whip' as Tony calls it, at 7:00 sharp, doll." And with a delicious wink, he was gone.
Ella was smiling warmly at the door when Nat twined her arm through hers and started to yank her towards it. "Um, hello! He said spa day his treat! What are we waiting for?!"
Wrapped in fluffy robes and reclining as they got pedicures, Nat twirled her glass of wine in Ella's direction, not bothering to even open her eyes. "Okay, spill."
Ella snorted, sighing as she felt the training pains in her foot start to ease from the massage. "Spill?"
Nat sat up and leaned over, peering at Ella with narrowed eyes and a playful frown while she gestured towards her with her nearly empty glass of wine. "You know, Ella. Come on! Sex details with Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome. Dish!"
Ella felt the blush that was becoming her permanent accessory once again slip up over her neck to stain her cheeks pink. "A lady doesn't kiss and tell," she replied primly, holding back a giggle as she took another sip of wine.
"Well then it's a good thing I'm not asking you about his kisses," Nat teased, smirking as she rolled her eyes. "Come on, give me something juicy! Size, stamina, something!"
Ella huffed out a laugh, giggling as she thought about how insatiable her desire for James Buchanan Barnes had become. "Honestly? All I can say is, we've been… Intimate… Twice now, and I feel like I just can't get enough. I feel like when you encouraged me to get it over with all you did was open the flood gates."
Nat smiled broadly, sighing as she settled back in her chair. "True love. Must be nice," she teased, giggling as she felt Ella swat her arm.
"That's the thing," Ella continued shyly. "It's so much more than this bond thing, or the sex, or any of that. I am hopelessly, Danny and Sandy in love with him." Ella groaned as she took another sip of wine, shaking her head in defeat. "And I just keep wondering, where is this going? Like, obviously we are basically stuck with each other forever because of the bond, but what does he really want that to look like? What do I want that to look like?"
"Well," Nat prompted, a bemused expression settling over her face, "how would you feel if you saw him with someone else?"
A murderous expression crossed over Ella's face, and she felt her phone start to ring a few seconds more as she answered, "beyond furious."
Nat smiled a knowing smile as she heard Ella pick up and reassure James that everything was fine and the anger was directed at a hypothetical question, nothing more. "I think you have your answer," she teased as Ella hung up the phone and settled back into her chair, smiling ruefully.
"Alright, alright, enough about me. Tell me what's going on with you and Bruce? Is that a thing?"
Nat's smile was a little pained as she polished off her glass of wine and gestured to the attendant for another. "Trust me, if I knew, you'd be the first to know."
Ella slipped out into the cool night in a short flowing dark blue dress and a pair of strappy silver heels, scanning the street for her escort for the evening. She sighed and rolled her eyes as she saw all the cars lining the street and wondered which one, if any, was James' knew "whip" as he called it. God, she chuckled to herself, he sounded hilarious whenever he tried to pick up the new slang.
The revving of a motorcycle engine down the street had her glancing in annoyance before she turned back, and she heard the doors open behind her and her friends stumble out onto the sidewalk.
"Cute dress," Tony noted, an odd look in his eyes. Ella glanced at Nat who only shrugged.
"Thanks?" She said tentatively, noting the broad grins on the other boys' faces.
The motorcycle revved again, rolling out into the street and pulling up to stop on the curb in front of their group.
"You'll have to sit just right if you don't want to give everyone a show, you know," Tony said casually, smirking as Bruce and Steve smothered snickers.
Ella turned around fully, narrowing her eyes as she looked at each one in turn. They boyish grins as they kept glancing over her shoulder told her all she needed to know, and with wide eyes she turned back around to see the man on the motorcycle pull off his helmet.
James' dark hair flowed out behind him, catching on the breeze as he smiled sexily to her and nodded towards the bike. "What do you think, doll?"
Ella's jaw dropped and she started to back away slowly as she looked over the bike. It was all black with chrome accents, and the gears were actually visible and sparkling, the engine of the bike molding into the frame. In his black jeans and black leather jacket, eyes twinkling as he straddled the bike, he looked positively sinful, and Ella tried to keep the sharp tug of desire at bay as she backed away further, bumping into Steve behind her.
James held out his hand, the leather glove flexing as he wiggled his fingers. "So how about it, doll? Care to go for a ride?"
She shook her head frantically, smiling nervously as she felt Steve start to steer her forwards. "I don't know about this, James. A motorcycle? I've never ridden in my life. I mean, aren't they dangerous? You could get hurt! Did you have to get a motorcycle? Why not a nice SUV. Or maybe a Volvo?"
Ella's eyes widened with alarm as she realized that during her babbling Steve had led her straight into James' waiting arms. He took hold of her hand, tugging her close until she was leaning over the bike and her eyes were inches from his. "It's a little late to worry about danger, don't you think, pretty lady?" He teased wryly, smirking knowingly at her as she bit her lip and smiled. "Do you trust me, beautiful girl?"
She nodded without hesitation, sighing resignedly as he pulled her in for a quick kiss. "I trust you, James."
"Then get on the bike, Ella. Let me take you for a ride," the sultry tone in his voice had her cheeks flushing furiously as he handed her a helmet and held her hand while she settled onto the back of the bike behind him, pressing her legs in tight and tucking the skirts of her dress in between them. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled up closer as he kicked the bike and revved the engine, turning slightly to yell over the noise. "Hang on," he yelled, and just as she tightened her grip, he sped off from the curb and into the night.
Date night goodness coming your way next chapter. ;)
We will get back to the real plot, but I just couldn't resist another playful chapter first.