Chapter 39: Temptations
Things were turning out better than Bucky could have ever anticipated.
He wanted to laugh at his past self, and how he thought it was so difficult to be friends with Mika. He could still vaguely remember how nervous he was, how he was constantly on edge and expecting the worst. That part of his life felt like it was eons ago. Now, over a month later, he still had a bit of the nerves, but it was because he felt so goddamn strongly for her. Being with her was easy, scarily easy, and while he still concerned himself with his perimeter and still woke from nightmares more often than not, he now had someone to look out for, and someone who was looking out for him.
Today, he found himself lounging on her couch, idly working on the puzzle book she bought him last week ("it's called sudoku, it's supposed to help with your memory") while she worked in the kitchen. She had her music going, and was humming along to it as she pulled out all her different ingredients and organized them carefully on the kitchen island. She paused, resting her hands on the countertop.
"Have you given any thought to your birthday?" she asked, completely distracted from her task by the question. He furrowed his brows, looking up from the puzzle book to meet her curious eyes. He hadn't given any thought to his birthday, actually. It wasn't a priority to him.
"I haven't." he said lightly, hoping that the conversation would end there. He knew better, of course, but it couldn't hurt to hope.
"But it's coming up in a few weeks." Mika pointed out, leaning her elbows onto the island and fixing him with a serious look. Birthdays were serious business to her, and she wanted to make sure that they actually celebrated his this year. She knew he would never let her spoil him rotten the way she wanted to, but she still wanted to try as much as she could. "We could do whatever you want. We could go out, or have people come here…" she left the sentence hanging, trying to give him ideas and options. He had to keep himself from grimacing; neither one of those options were his ideal.
"Don't need anything special." he said with a shrug. If he had his choice, he knew what he wanted. But for some reason, he was hesitant to ask. Mika perked an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to elaborate, and with a sigh he finally admitted, "Just a quiet night with you is all I want."
"You need something a little more special than that." she said, standing back up and getting her kitchen scale from the drawer. He shook his head. He spent a part of every day with people, whether it was Hans or the pub's patrons or Mika's friends. He didn't need any extra time with them.
"Nothing is more special than that." he said seriously, grinning as a blush painted her cheeks. He meant every word he said to her, and it filled him with great satisfaction to see the effect they had on her. It was moments like these that made him think perhaps he had at least some impact on her in the same way she did on him. "What are you making?" he asked, trying to change the topic of conversation. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, seeing exactly what he was trying to do and deciding to go along with it.
"Just some bread for the week." she said, finally pulling out a bowl and her measuring cups and slipping her apron over her head. He knew they would revisit this conversation, but he could at least avoid it for another day.
"What kind?" he continued, keeping her focused on her task. She paused the shuffling of her ingredients, looking to him once again.
"Depends, what kind is your favorite?" she countered, her fingers tapping on the top of the flour container. She had one corner of her lips lifted in a smile as he considered his answer.
"Probably the herb one." he said, thinking all the way back to the time she'd invited him over for wine and cheese almost a year ago. She rose her eyebrows at that response; she hadn't expected that answer.
"Unfortunately I haven't got the herbs, can you settle for multigrain?" she asked, giving him an apologetic look. He almost wanted to laugh; nothing about her was "settling." He would take whatever she was willing to give him. But she didn't need to know that. He let out a dramatic sigh, shaking his head as he turned back to his puzzle.
"I suppose I'll have to." he said, looking at her from under the bill of his baseball cap and not bothering to hide the grin on his face. She stuck her tongue out at him, making him laugh.
"Damn right you will." she said, finally turning her attention away from him and to the task at hand. He meant to go back to his puzzle, he really did, but he found himself enraptured by the sight of her. She measured out each element of the bread by memory, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She didn't even seem to be trying, mixing everything together with her fingers and humming along to the song playing through the speakers. The song changed as she dropped the dough onto the countertop, her smile wide as she began kneading it. It was her new favorite song, so she still got some of the words wrong, but her performance was passionate nonetheless. He smiled at the dance she was doing, flipping her ponytail and shaking her shoulders. She was kneading the dough in time with the beat of the song, thoroughly enjoying being in her own little world filled with music and baking.
She looked up and caught him staring, and while before he might have turned away, today he held her gaze. She pointed at him as the chorus hit again, leaving her dough to rest on the counter as she sashayed around it. He lifted one eyebrow as she danced over to him, dropping onto his lap and singing the love song to him with grand gestures. He laughed, and this time it was his turn to feel the heat rising in the back of his neck at her affection. She stood up, taking his pencil and book from his hands and laying them on the couch before trying to pull him into a standing position to dance with her. He shook his head, letting his hands slip from her grasp. But she wouldn't take no for an answer, grabbing him again and giving him the most seductive look she could muster. He stood this time, allowing her to pull him into her silly dance. He didn't know how to dance to this song, but was content to hold her hand as she spun and moved around him. She tried to get him to shake his hips, putting her hands on his waist and trying to move him, but that definitely wasn't happening. He laughed, taking her hands in his and pulling her to his chest, holding her close and leading her in an odd swing dance that didn't quite match the music. She leaned her cheek against his, and their steps became slower and slower until they were just swaying to the music. She moved away just a fraction, just enough to take off his baseball cap and look at him with a smile. The dancing stopped, as she rested her forehead against his for just a breath before closing the space between them with a kiss.
He was getting more used to kissing her. He could now kiss her longer, and deeper, and God what a thrill it was. He remembered kissing women before, remembered enjoying it, but there was no way that it was as wonderful then as it was now. He felt a warmth and a pleasure bubble up behind his sternum that he never thought was possible, his heart damn near overflowing with affection for her. His arm circled around her waist, pulling her flush against him as her arms circled his neck. The tie in her apron fell away as his hand brushed it; he hadn't intended to loosen it, but it had let go of its own accord. She pulled it off, letting it drop onto the floor as she returned her lips to his.
Something shifted between them then, and Bucky didn't know if Mika felt it, but he certainly did. This was usually the moment when he pulled away with apologies, but he felt a confidence he hadn't encountered before. He gently walked her backwards until she bumped into the kitchen island, his hands steadily grasping her hips and lifting her to sit on the edge of it. She immediately hooked her heels around his legs, and he took the hint to stand close to her, his hips between her knees. Their kisses were a little more feverish now, and he could feel her pulse rising along with his own. He should stop, it would be better to stop, but her fingers were in his hair and his hands were on her legs and dammit he didn't want to stop.
A memory came to him then, and trailed his lips down to her neck, pausing with just his breath touching her. "Can I kiss you here?" he asked, and she nodded. That was all the encouragement he needed, pressing his lips to her and taking in the taste of her skin there. She tilted her head, encouraging him with a little noise and a squeeze of her thighs around his hips. He rested his metal hand on the edge of the island, his right hand skating up her leg and waist, going around to her back to pull her close again. Her shirt rose as he did so, and she pulled it off and discarded it...somewhere. It didn't matter. God she was stunning. She shifted against him and made another noise as he continued his ministrations, the combination giving him a visceral response that made him feel like he might burst.
Crack!
Bucky jumped back so fast that Mika tumbled from her perch on the island, barely getting her legs underneath her in time to stay upright. His eyes scanned her quickly for any sign of injury and found none; in fact, she was looking at him with concern. The island, where his metal hand had been grasping, had a crack in the laminate from the grip. His heart plummeted into his shoes, and he quickly retrieved his baseball cap from the floor and turned to the door.
"No, Bucky - wait." Mika was trying to catch her breath and organize her thoughts, her body still a little confused as to what was going on. She grabbed her shirt and put it back on, not noticing in her haste that it was still inside out. He paused with his hand on the doorknob, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment. He shouldn't be here; he was a danger to her, and he was an idiot to ever think that he wouldn't be.
"I should go." he said. He needed to retreat, reevaluate. He knew it was better for her if he left completely, but he also knew that he was too weak and selfish now for that. He wanted to stay with her, but if was to do that, he needed to figure out a way to keep her safe.
"Bucky, talk to me." she said, touching his back, trying to get him to turn around and stay with her. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to steel his resolve, trying to talk himself out of looking at her again. If he looked at her, it would be game over. Her mouth was dry, her heart hammering as she tried to make sense of what was going on. She was no longer concerned with her sexual frustration, she was more concerned that she had royally screwed up. "Look, if there's something...something that I'm doing wrong, or something that you need me to do, you can tell me. I'm a big girl, you won't hurt my feelings."
"What? No, no it isn't you." he said, turning around before he could stop himself. She never made him feel like he couldn't be honest with her. He eyed the crack in the laminate again, and forced himself to instead look at her. "I could have hurt you."
"But you didn't." she replied quickly, her hands going to his arms. He stiffened under her touch, but relaxed as she rubbed lightly. "Please stay."
Her voice was so soft that he could feel his resolve crumbling. But he needed to be steadfast. She thought him good enough, and he needed to become that. He meant to tell her goodbye for the day, but instead he found himself asking, "How can you want me? How are you not afraid of me?" It was the most blatant he'd ever been with her, and he felt more vulnerable than even the time he confessed about his past.
"I'm not afraid of you because I trust you." she said, as if it were obvious. She had absolutely no trepidations being with him; she just knew that he had a lot of demons he was overcoming, and wanted to make sure she helped him, rather than hindered him. He was her rock, and she wanted to be his as well. "As for how I can want you, you realize you are incredibly sexy, right?"
"What?" he asked again, this time more shocked. He knew in his previous life he'd been considered handsome, but he didn't know how much of that translated to today. He'd been described as many things over the past few years - unstoppable, ruthless, calculating - but never in his life would he see himself as sexy. She laughed then, more at the dumbfounded look on his face than anything.
"Yes. I find you incredibly attractive, both outside and in." she said. Did he really not realize the effect he had on her? "I was completely prepared for you to take me in a most manly fashion right there on that kitchen island."
"I-I'm sorry. I can't...I'm not ready for that." he stuttered, his heart twisting at the idea. He so wished he was ready, but the crack in the kitchen was evidence that he was not. Mika grimaced, wondering if her comment had offended him instead of bolstering his confidence.
"And that's okay." she said in a mollifying manner, her hands going to hold his. She wouldn't deny that she desperately wanted him to hold her until the morning light, but she wasn't about to pressure him. Didn't mean she wasn't going to be honest with him, though. "I've been on the side that wasn't ready, and I don't want to do anything you're not comfortable with. But just know, that when you reach that point, that I'm there waiting for you." she said, giving him a pointed look.
His heart swelled at her understanding. He knew it must be frustrating for her, especially given how much she enjoyed physical touch and affection, but the fact that she was willing to put that aside for his comfort? It made it hard for him to breathe for a second. For seventy years he was given neither choices nor sympathy, and here she was offering both. He rested his head against her forehead again, letting out a long sigh.
"Thank you." he whispered, not trusting his voice to go any louder than that. She put her hands on his cheeks, gently rubbing the scruff with her thumbs.
"I care a lot about you, you know that, right?" she asked, giving him a half smile and stopping herself from admitting anything that would make him really uncomfortable. He nodded, still unable to voice his appreciation. But he could give her a bit of physical response, his arms sliding around her middle until he was hugging her to his chest. She nuzzled into his neck, holding him just as tightly and hoping to convey what she was feeling without saying it.
"I'll see you tomorrow." he murmured, finally pulling away. She nodded, giving him the briefest kiss before letting him go.
"Have a good day at work, okay?" she said with a smile, and he grinned back at her before nodding and letting himself out of her apartment. She stood there for a moment in the silence, trying to calm her racing heart. She eyed the clock and the bread dough on the countertop; it still needed another half hour of proving. Just enough time for her to take a nice, cold shower.
Turns out, a cold shower was not what she needed. Well, perhaps the shower was fine, but going out in the February air with wet hair was definitely a mistake. As the days passed she thought she could fight off the cold that was threatening to settle in, taking in as much tea and medicine as she could stomach, but she still woke up Friday morning feeling like her head was stuffed with cotton balls and her chest was filled with cement. She opened her eyes just enough to email her boss and call in sick before promptly passing out again, curled up in her heavy blankets and unable to breathe through her nose.
She was awoken by a knocking at her door, though it sounded very far away. She reached a clumsy hand out and picked up her phone to find it was past noon, and she had two unread messages from Bucky. She heard the key in the latch, and she was immediately so glad that she had given it to him. The idea of getting out of bed right now seemed nearly impossible. He called her name as he stepped through the door, and she took as deep a breath as she could to try and call out to him. She wasn't actually able to voice anything, instead being reduced to a coughing mess. He strode across the apartment, a worried expression on his face as he knelt by her bedside.
"Hi." she said lamely, her voice thick and gravelly. He carefully brushed back her hair, laying his palm against her forehead. The crease in his brow became deeper as he took note of her temperature; he himself ran at a higher body heat than normal, but she felt warm even to him.
"You've got a fever." he said quietly, as if he knew her head was pounding from simply being awake. She made a noise of disagreement - if she had a fever, then why was she freezing? She pulled the covers closer around her, trying to get the warmth to stay in.
"I'm cold." she said, barely able to get the words out through her fatigue. God she was tired. "I'm sorry, I can't do lunch."
"You need to go to the doctor. You could have influenza." he said, ignoring her unnecessary apology. He stroked her hair in a comforting manner, trying not to panic. It took Mika a moment to remember why he would be so concerned about the flu - last he heard, it could be a death sentence. She wanted to explain that she was fine, that she just needed to sleep it off and maybe take some Motrin and DayQuil, but that sounded like way more words than her lungs were willing to supply at that moment.
"Nah, it's just a cold. I just gotta sleep it off." she mumbled. His hand was warm, and it felt nice against her cold skin. Well, cold to her. She would still debate how serious this so-called fever was, but that was for another time.
"At least drink some tea. And take some medicine. Do you have either of those?" he asked, choosing not to comment on the fact that she was shivering. He decided if she didn't perk up after this, he was going to make the executive motion and just take her to the doctor. What was she going to do, fight back?
"Bathroom." she said, giving a weak nod to his question. He stood up, going where she directed and finding the box of cold medicine open on her counter. It was already mostly empty; he eyed the front of the box, trying to memorize the name of it so he could purchase more for her later. He broke off one of the packets, tucking it into his pocket before going to the kitchen and putting the kettle on before seeing what she had in way of tea. The peppermint box was empty, and the chai would not be any good to her right now. Luckily, in the back, he found a box of ginger tea that she likely bought the last time she was ill. That would do nicely. She didn't have any lemon to go in it, but he would just have to remedy that later. She did have honey, and he carefully mixed that in, adding a bit more than he usually would to help soothe her throat.
When he returned to her bedroom, she'd managed to prop herself up on her pillows and turn on her television, her favorite baking show playing on the screen. She still looked at him through half-lidded eyes, sniffling heavily and giving him a smile. He helped her adjust so she could hold the hot tea, warming her fingers and steaming her face. He handed her the medicine, and she choked it down with the tea. The plan was to get her set up to rest and then leave, but she grabbed his hand before he could move away.
"You're a saint. Thank you." she said, pulling him back to her. "Will you get sick if I kiss you?"
He laughed, shaking his head and allowing her to tug him close for a chaste kiss. She gave him a tired smile, settling further into her pillows and holding her warm tea against her chest, the steam rising to her face. He smoothed her hair away from her face, still concerned about her but feeling slightly better now that there was a little color in her skin. "I have to go to work, but if you're not a little more lively when I get back, we're going to the doctor, okay?"
"I'll be fine, thank you." she said, still giving him the biggest grin she could muster. Her whole body felt tired, and she really couldn't wait until she was done drinking her tea so that she could go back to sleep. He laid his lips against her hot forehead, letting them linger a moment before letting himself out of her apartment. Truth be told, he didn't have to be at work for another hour, but he had a couple errands to run before he went in to the pub. His first stop was the drug store. There were an infinite amount of options now compared to when he was last ill (which was, by his estimation, 1938), and he must have looked very confused, because the young woman behind the pharmacy counter came out to the aisle, getting his attention with a greeting.
"Can I help you find something?" she asked politely, her voice sharp. Perhaps it was the white lab coat, but he thought she looked very much like she knew what she was talking about. He gave her a cordial grin, gesturing vaguely at the piles of medication in front of him.
"My girl's sick. She says it's just a cold, but I'm concerned about influenza." he explained quietly, his heart constricting at the casual reference to Mika. Of course, the woman barely seemed to notice. This sort of thing was commonplace to her, but to Bucky it was a huge deal. Oh well. He was grateful for the woman's help, but he was hoping this interaction would be short, and that he wouldn't have to divulge any more information than he absolutely had to. The pharmacist nodded.
"Fever?" she asked, again sounding clinical instead of interrogative. He nodded again.
"No higher than thirty-eight degrees centigrade." he replied, roughly estimating her temperature in relation to his own. He knew she was feverish, but not to the point that would cause encephalitis or protein denaturation. He didn't need to panic - yet. The pharmacist picked up two boxes, handing them to him.
"This one is for her symptoms and her fever, and this one is a different medication that will help with the congestion. If the fever persists for more than forty-eight hours, she should see a physician." she explained, pointing to the boxes in turn. The bigger one boasted both a daytime and nighttime formula, and he assumed the nighttime one had a sleep aid. Mika certainly didn't need help there, she'd been sleeping more and more over the past few days as the illness set in.
"Thank you for your help." he said in a courteous manner, and the woman smiled and said he could ask her any other questions if they came up before returning to her station behind the counter. Bucky went across the store, paying for the cold medicine before going to his next stop, the grocery store. This trip was much quicker, considering he knew exactly what he needed and exactly where those items were located. With his purchases bagged up, he finally made his way to work.
"Bringing your own ingredients now?" Hans remarked as Bucky ducked into the pub. He was wiping down glasses behind the bar, and carefully organizing them underneath. Bucky hesitated for a moment, trying to decide how best to present his request.
"I actually have a bit of a favor to ask." he said quietly, making Hans' hands go still for a moment before he remembered what he was doing and starting up again.
"You need to make something on the side?" he asked, and perhaps if this was the first time Bucky had spoken with Hans, he might have been alarmed by the accuracy of his question. While his intuition was certainly startling, Bucky had just come to accept it at face value. If Hans could read minds, he was using his powers for good, not evil.
"Mika's sick. Was hoping to make her some soup." he explained, holding up the bag with the food. Hans made an expression that Bucky didn't quite understand before snapping himself out of it, as if remembering that he was still waiting for an answer.
"That's so sweet." he whispered, so quiet that Bucky wasn't quite sure he was meant to hear it. Hans cleared his throat, his voice returning to a normal volume. "Uh, yea, that's totally fine. As long as everything else still gets done."
"Of course. Thank you." he said, going into the kitchen and starting his shift. The chicken noodle soup wasn't his priority, of course; he still had a job to do tonight. But he had just enough down time to chop up some extra vegetables and set them simmering with chicken breasts and spicy seasonings. He waited to the end of his shift to add the noodles, not wanting them to be mush when he got back to the apartment. He let those cook as he cleaned up the kitchen, packing the soup into a plastic container and cleaning the last pot. It was still hot as he said goodnight to Hans and made his way back home.
Mika was actually awake when he returned to her apartment, though she didn't look like she'd moved from her bed in the hours since he left. She was completely curled up underneath her covers, her empty teacup on the nightstand and her television playing some period drama. She smiled as he appeared in her doorway, her voice still low and hoarse as she said, "Hey there, handsome."
"I brought you something." he replied, pretending that his heart didn't jump at the easy compliment. She raised her eyebrows, making a curious noise.
"It is the sweet release of death?" she asked, her laughter at her own joke dissolving into aggressive coughing. Bucky shook his head; had humor not changed much since the World War II days, or had he just managed to be alive and awake when it was popular to be fatalistic?
"Not unless you don't like spicy food." he said, suddenly realizing that he wasn't sure if she liked spicy food or not. He might be eating soup for the next few days. She pushed herself into a seated position, looking rather intrigued.
"I think I can handle some spicy food." she said, trying to sniffle and failing miserably due to how stuffed her sinuses were. Hopefully he could help with that soon. He excused himself, warming up two bowls of the soup and spoons. That was just going to have to be good enough. He handed her the medicine to take before handing her the bowl of soup, and was content to stand next to her bed while they ate. Mika, however, was not content with that, and gave him a serious look before patting the space on the bed next to her. He hesitated for a moment before slipping off his shoes and carefully sitting next to her. She snuggled up to him, holding her soup as if it were her last source of warmth. He took a bite to find it spicier than he'd intended, though still pleasant. He watched as she ate, her face puzzled.
"Good?" he asked, concerned that she didn't like it. It wouldn't hurt his feelings, of course, he just didn't want her to feel like she had to eat it. She swallowed her bite and smiled sheepishly.
"Honestly, I can't taste. I can just feel the heat from the spices." she admitted, making him laugh lowly. He should have known she would be too congested for any flavors to make their way through. He could feel his own body temperature rising, and could see her perking up a bit as she ate.
"Just wait." he said cryptically, continuing to eat. Sure enough, a few minutes later she let out an oh as her sinuses cleared slightly, allowing her to breathe easier. It also might have been the medicine kicking in, but Bucky would always say it was his soup. A few minutes after that her chills were gone, and she was pushing off her covers and pulling up the sleeves of her flannel, letting loose one or two of the top buttons to try and cool off.
"Wow. Okay yes, now I feel it." she said, letting out a breath and fanning herself. Her voice sounded better, stronger. He laughed at her theatrics, and despite the marked raise in her temperature, she continued eating the soup until the bowl was empty, having it join the empty mug on the nightstand. "Oh my God, Bucky, that was delicious but I'm sweating."
"What can I say, I like to make you sweat." he replied, thinking about their times at the gym but realizing a second too late that his statement could be taken as a slight innuendo. She gave him an unamused look, smacking him on the leg.
"No teasing. I really feel like I just got done working out." she said, wiping a legitimate bead of sweat from her forehead. She held her hand against her chest and pushed the edges of her shirt a little wider, her breaths coming in short gasps due to the illness and the heat from their meal. His gaze traveled over the curve of her neck and the sharp line of her collarbone, following a bead of sweat as slowly moved down her soft skin. He dropped his eyes as it dropped below her shirt, hoping he didn't get caught ogling her. She heaved a sigh, definitely not wheezing as much as she was earlier. "I'm going to go take a shower."
"I'll make us some tea." he replied, needing something to do with his hands to prevent him from thinking of her in the shower. She nodded, pulling herself from her bed and unbuttoning her shirt further as she ambled to the bathroom. He let out a long breath, trying to settle his racing heart. He couldn't stop thinking about their conversation the other day, with Mika's bold and blatant exclamation. These feelings were stronger every day, and he needed to get himself under control, because he really, really wanted to express them.
His vitals were back at baseline by the time she was finished with her shower and their tea was ready. Now he had lemon to add to the ginger tea and honey, sure to help with whatever infection she was fighting. She was dressed in a new set of pajamas and had her wet hair twisted into a bun, and looked much more alive than earlier today. She collapsed back onto the bed with a sigh, adjusting her position as he sat next to her again.
"Feeling better?" he asked, handing her the tea. She hummed gratefully, taking it and leaning her head against his shoulder. She curled into his side, his hand resting on her thigh.
"Much. Do I still have to go to the doctor?" she asked, and while she still didn't sound as strong as she normally did, she certainly sounded healthier. He remembered what the pharmacist recommended with her fever, pressing his lips against his forehead to check it since his only hand that could feel temperature was currently sandwiched between her knees. She was still slightly warm, but the fever had mostly broken.
"No, I think you'll live." he replied, making her chuckle. She still ended up coughing, but it wasn't near as rough as earlier. She drank half of her tea in one go before encouraging him to recline a bit further, really settling into the bed with her. It had been a long time since he'd shared a bed with a woman, but he didn't feel overwhelmed with the same feelings he had earlier. Instead he just felt calm, comfortable. It was intimate in a different way, a way he could handle. Mika finished her tea, and he took the mug from her and put it beside the bed so they could continue watching the show. He knew he should probably go home, but he found he didn't want to. And it seemed Mika didn't want him to either.
"You can stay here tonight, if you want." she murmured, her voice quiet and tired. The cold medicine was really working now. "No funny business, I promise."
"Is it that you want me to stay, or that you don't want to move off of me?" he asked. Her head was on his chest now, his arm around her shoulders in a protective manner. He was very still as he waited for her answer, though he was already losing the battle with himself to leave.
"Both." she said lightly, making him laugh. He should have known better.
"I'll at least stay until you fall asleep." he replied. The only reason he didn't say yes was because he was terrified of having a nightmare and hurting her. He didn't know what he acted out in his sleep, only that he'd woken up multiple times with torn sheets. He didn't want to hurt her...but he didn't want to leave her either.
"That's fair." she agreed, secretly hoping that he would stay. Sure, there were other bed-related activities that she wanted to participate in with him, but right now she just wanted to fall asleep in his arms, and wake up next to him. His warmth surrounded her as the medicine made her drowsy, his steady heartbeat lulling her to sleep. She felt safe, safer than perhaps she'd felt in her entire life.
And the next morning, she was happy when the first thing she saw was Bucky's smile.
Saucy nuggets! What song do you think Mika was dancing to? I have an idea in my head, but I'm curious what y'all pictured!
Thank y'all so so so SOOO much for all the wonderful reviews last chapter! Y'all are seriously so sweet and amazing, I couldn't ask for better readers. I hope you enjoyed this chapter - please please please let me know what you thought!
-XM