Alexis Markos sat on a chaise lounge facing the Pacific Ocean. A breeze played over her skin, ruffling through the ends of her damp hair. In her hand was a large glass full of a fruity, alcoholic beverage. She sipped the blended mixture through a straw as she gazed over the rim of her sunglasses, eyeing her boyfriend as he emerged from the rising and falling blanket of turquoise blue. Water streaked down his large frame, pulling at his swim trunks that now hung low on his hips. It gave Alex a view of the curve of his backside as it peeked out from above the band; two muscled rises she'd gripped so hard the night before, she left nail marks.

She took another long sip, smiling around the straw.

Her gaze never left the bulky frame of Bucky as he waded the rest of the way through the water and stepped onto the sand, his hands smoothing back his wet hair. The simple motion caused a domino effect of muscles to move in a way that hypnotized Alex, her eyes dragging from the bulge of bicep from his flesh arm to the dark silver plates of his bionic arm. His distinct gate - slightly lumbered and favored on one side - was something Alex had come to appreciate in the 6 months they'd been an official couple. It spoke of his strength, of his power, and of a horrible past that he was slowly but surely overcoming; a strength in and of itself.

Alex took another healthy sip of her drink as Bucky approached. "How was it?"

"Amazing." With a content sigh, Bucky lowered onto his lounge chair and stretched out his long legs, arms folding behind his head. "This might be the greatest idea we ever came up with."

Alex smiled. "I agree. I feel like I'm in heaven."

Bucky's head lolled to the side, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "Same, love."

And he meant it. Ever since Tony gave the two of them permission to spend their vacation on his private island, Bucky tried to count the moments he felt grateful for in his life. They'd been on the island for only one full day, but his count was somewhere in the 200s at this point. The fact that Tony had trusted them to come here, for him to come here, meant a great deal. He and Tony had come a long way since Siberia.

Across from him, Alex leaned her head back against the chair. Judging by the lazy, happy smile that adorned her face, he imagined she just closed her eyes.

"Just think" she said, her voice distant and dreamy, "we have six more days of this ahead of us."

It was hard for Bucky to even imagine. He hadn't had six days off to do anything since Wakanda, and certainly nothing like he was doing right now. A tiny twinge of guilt tried its best to surface somewhere in his gut, but he ignored it. It was Annual Leave; granted to all the Avengers, and they were allowed to use it however they saw fit. No missions. No obligations. No on-call waiting. There was nothing that could tear them away from their getaway.

To both Bucky and Alex, this getaway wasn't just a week off work. It was their first real trip together, and was the first time they were making private memories of their own completely detached from anything related to their jobs. The moment he and Alex touched down, they promised one another they would turn their phones off and keep them off, unless they were using them for to take pictures. This trip was about them. Together as a couple, not as Avengers.

In that moment, Bucky regretted not having his phone with him for that reason. The way Alexis looked in the lounge chair was something he didn't want to forget, though he doubted his memory would allow it. The casual way she laid there, one leg bent at the knee and a coating of sand on her feet, her skin kissed by the sun. The swell of her breasts was accented by her white bikini; something Bucky didn't even know she owned.

Not that he'd have any reason to know she owned a bikini. It wasn't like they were taking exotic missions that allowed him the chance.

But knowing Alex like he did, Bucky imagined she chose this particular suit for the very reasons he'd seen all day: the small panel of fabric that barely covered her ample bottom, the tiny strings that hugged at the flesh of her hips and behind her neck, the way the fabric left very little to the imagination when completely wet. Alex didn't need anything to look sexy, but damn...the bikini was a good choice.

Bucky licked his lips, tasting salt as his gaze lowered to her hips, eyeing the two little strings begging to be set free by his hands.

He'd take care of that later.

As if reading his mind, Alex lifted her sunglasses onto her head. One of her dark brows rose in curiosity. "I can almost hear your thoughts, James."

Bucky often wondered if she could. Between all the emotional transfers they'd made together, he couldn't help but wonder if a part of her remained with him at all times.

"What am I thinking about then?" He folded his hands on his lap and waited, smirk growing.

Alex lifted the glass to her mouth. "I think you're thinking of tossing me in the ocean." She took a sip, ignoring the challenging way Bucky was chewing his cheek.

"Is that what you want me to do?"

Her eyes drifted his direction. "Maybe."

There was a pregnant pause, and then Bucky leapt from the chair. Alex barely set her glass down before he lifted her into his arms, locking them around her. She squealed with delight, wrapping her legs around Bucky's torso to hold onto him tightly, his laugh tickling her neck. "If I'm going down, you're coming with me!"

"You'll get no objection from me." He kissed her cheek while he had her that close, his hands gripping her ass as he brought them both towards the ocean. "Question is: who's going under first?"

Alex felt her competitive side roar, but she knew she would lose. It was unfair how Bucky could literally lift her with ease; her body weight to him was no more than that of a doll. She could talk the talk, but when it came to strength, Bucky would always win.

They bounded into the water, nearly falling over as the waves crashed around them. Bucky cupped the back of Alex's neck, his eyes meeting hers. "Last chance to wave the white flag, darling."

"Never!"

He shrugged, inhaled a deep breath, and jumped into the deep. Just as he suspected, Alex tried to push him under just as she slipped beneath the surface, her laughter only paused by the water itself. Bucky let her win, dipping below the surface as he felt her hands on his head. He felt more like a kid now than he had in his 100-some years.

Alex was still laughing when she reemerged, treading water and shaking back the hair that stuck to her face. Bucky exhaled a spray of water as he broke through the surface. Together, they bobbed along with the waves, treading water as they closed the distance between them. Alex reached out for Bucky, and he answered by drawing her into his arms. In the weightlessness of the water, Alex was able to wrap her legs around his waist once more as her arms clung to his neck.

With a wet finger, Bucky reached up and peeled back a piece of Alex's long hair that was stuck to her cheek. "There. That's better." He smiled humbly. "I don't want anything blocking my view right now."

It was little comments like these that made Alex melt. She wasn't entirely sure Bucky realized how sweet he was in innocent moments like this. He communicated so much with just his eyes, but it was the simple comments, the little unassuming gestures that always got her. Somewhere inside the soldier still lived a polite, dorky boy from the 40s, and she loved that boy with all her heart.

"You are everything I could ever hope for, you know that?" she told him.

Bucky lowered his eyes for only a second; blinking as the moment of bashfulness passed. "I hope I can always be that for you."

Alex answered him with a kiss, tasting the salt on his lips as their fullness enveloped hers. It was slow and deep, and beneath the water she felt Bucky's arms tighten around her. When they broke, Alex lowered her gaze to the droplets that clung to the cleft of his chin. She wiped the drops away with her thumb, then ran her hand along the line of his jaw. She smiled subconsciously, which Bucky picked up on.

"You're doing that thing you do." He studied her with those eyes, so round and full and a perfect match to the color of the water around them.

Alex cocked her head. "Hmm?"

"Where you imprint." The corner of Bucky's mouth curved upward. "That's what I call it, anyway."

Alex was a little surprised by this. Not because he suggested it, but because it was spot on. "I guess that iswhat I'm doing," she admitted. The waves heaved around them, inching them ever closer to shore. She didn't want to leave. Not yet. She had six more days of this kind of bliss, but the first moments were always the sweetest. "I suppose I'm trying to soak up every single second of this trip."

"I know exactly what you mean," Bucky told her.

His lips found hers and Alex tightened her arms around his neck, their mouths melding in a slow and steady embrace. They let the waves take them the rest of the way to shore, never breaking their embrace until they felt the sand beneath their feet once more.


Tony Stark's private island wasn't huge, but it didn't need to be. It was a private island, after all, and it was all his. Every structure on the island was his, built to his specifications, employed by natives of the island region and paid handsomely. They worked year-round, living in homes dotting the island while Tony remained in New York with the rest of the Avengers. One of the structures Tony had built was a private beach bungalow, which is where Bucky and Alex now stayed. It was one of several guest bungalows, but was spacious enough to be an entire home if someone wanted it to be. It was built on stilts above the shallow coastal waters, with a thatched roof and airy windows and doors that lead either out to the ocean itself, or down a boardwalk that brought them to the main cluster of buildings on the vacation grounds.

The bungalow's master bedroom was also open and airy, with one entire wall able to open to a private deck and the ocean beyond. Sheer white curtains fluttered in the breeze that entered the bedroom, coaxing Alexis awake later that night. The air was humid and warm, so she and Bucky slept naked, but the breeze brought a chill to her skin after hours of being in the sun that day. She stirred; reaching an arm out to where Bucky lay beside her. Instead of his warm body, she felt nothing but bare sheets. Her eyes opened, checking around the room for his large figure. She spotted him beyond the open bedroom wall, sitting on the deck with his back facing the bed.

Feeling a twinge of concern, Alex slipped off the bed, pulled on a camisole and panties, then padded barefoot out to the deck. Bucky acknowledged her with a tight smile, even as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders from behind. "Everything okay?"

"Nightmare" was all he answered. His eyes stayed focused beyond, on the water and the night sky dotted with stars.

Alex ran a hand through his hair and pressed a kiss to the back of his head. He leaned into her touch as she cradled him, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Bucky shrugged. "You know how they go."

She did, but that didn't make it any easier for either of them. Even with the work they put in together, with Alex using her powers to help Bucky through the emotional turmoil of his past, he still had nightmares from time to time. They both hoped he might be able to get a solid night's rest while on their trip, but it seemed now that would not be the case.

Unwrapping her arms, Alex took a seat next to Bucky on the deck and let her feet dangle over the edge. Ocean water sloshed beneath them, and she felt the coolness of it tickle her skin. They sat listening to the sound of nearby waves pounding on the beach, comfortable in each other's presence. Alex knew if Bucky wanted to talk, he would. Sometimes he just wanted to be with his thoughts and she was okay with that, but she wanted to be there for him...even if it meant sitting quietly beside him.

Eventually, Bucky's metal hand slid over and rested on Alex's thigh. In response, she moved her own hand to cover it, letting him know she was ready to listen.

"I keep seeing the lab in Russia" he said, his voice still gravelly with sleep. "I don't know why, but I always wake up thinking I'm there again."

Alex felt the plated joints of his hand stiffen around her thigh. "From what you've told me, I don't think that will be an easy part of your past to let go of."

"Even with all the help you've given?" There was a silent plead for assurance in the blue-gray of his eyes. "When will it ever get better?"

A pained smile crossed Alex's face. She moved her hand to the base of his neck, feeling how tight the muscles were there. "Be kind to yourself, James. Remember it won't happen overnight, and we've only been practicing for six months. Even in that small amount of time, you've conquered so much. You're far stronger than you realize."

To Bucky, it felt like weakness. The words by nowrepeated over and over in his mind: by now he should be getting a hold of the nightmares. By nowhe should be getting better at leaving the past in the past. By now he shouldn't be waking his girlfriend on their getaway in the middle of the night. By now he should be better.

He knew he expected too much of himself, and he tried to cut himself a break. Without Alexis, her strength, and her support, he knew he wouldn't be where he was today. But in these moments of weakness, he felt that nagging, repressed anger boiling inside him and it was always directed at the people who made him this way. They took his power away from him, and having these kinds of nightmares always reawakened that feeling.

Next to him, Alex could see the struggle in the lines of Bucky's face. "Can I ease a little of it for you?" she asked, rubbing the base of his neck.

Bucky closed his eyes and nodded. Stilling her hand, Alex allowed her powers to flow outward through her fingers and into Bucky's psyche. Soon, her soothing white light enveloped them both on the deck. The reflection of her light danced on the ocean's surface brighter than the moon above. Bucky felt his tension subside as soon as Alex's powers filled his mind and body. She wrapped her gift around his pain with a familiar, comforting warmth, shutting out the pain and replacing it with love.

When she finished, Bucky felt immediately lighter. Freer. The couple looked at one another and shared a smile. Nothing needed to be said. They'd been here enough times that any kind of thank you was automatically implied. Their lips met in a tender embrace, with Bucky's hand melting into Alex's long hair.

When Alex pulled back, she could see a little of the torment still lingering in Bucky's eyes. "What's wrong? Didn't it work?"

"It did." He cupped her cheek, hoping the appreciation he felt was at least evident in his touch. "There's just a lot of anger still inside me." His eyes lowered to the satiny straps of her cami, and a tiny hint of amusement crossed his face. "Why'd you put this on?"

"I caught a chill" she answered, knowing it was only half-true. She wasn't used to walking about naked in what she considered a public place, even if it wasn't totally public.

"We're free here." His eyes met hers with a seriousness Alex recognized as his trust me look. "It's just us. Nothing to hide."

"Nothing to hide" Alex murmured as Bucky's lips found hers once more. This was the kiss she was waiting for; the one that let her know just what Bucky was feeling. She could feel through the strength of his embrace, the slow movement of his lips, the quickening of his breathing...he needed her. He needed more.

When their mouths parted, Bucky saw a flicker of wickedness flare in Alex's dark eyes. "Darling?"

"I think I know what you need to make your anger subside." She leaned in closer, her gaze lowering to his mouth. "You need to feel the control they took away from you."

Bucky felt the heat of his blood pulsing below his waist. "You mean..." He barely got the words out before Alex confirmed with a nod.

"Control me instead, James."

In the past few weeks, he and Alex had reached a level in their relationship where they had become freer sexually. Bucky found out that Alex had a dark side to her; wicked and sexy and more than he could have ever hoped for. A couple weeks before their trip, after a mission that was particularly challenging for them, Bucky had unleashed a side of him where his darker desires had taken over. That night, he needed release, and he needed it badly. He needed to fuck. There was a time for making love, but it wasn't that night. That night, he needed to take Alex as his own. To claim her in a way he'd been hesitant to prior to that night. Dominance came easily to him, and whether he tried to resist it or not, it was always there, simmering beneath the surface. There was a part of him that would always be the polite boy from the 40s, but there was a more powerful side of him that dominated his mind and body and craved release when he was with Alex.

As a result of giving in to this desire, it revealed that Alexis had a darker level of desire all her own. That night, they let those desires take over, and it became clear yet again that they were connected far more than they ever realized. Their level of trust was such that they could give in to one another's darker desires without fear.

Alex found out that she craved this side of Bucky. She wanted to be claimed. She wanted Bucky to take her, to mark her and make her his and to use her to his fulfillment. She wanted to feel the full extent of the power he kept in check during their everyday life, particularly their work life. Once she finally had a taste of that, she wanted more. And now, in the privacy of the near-secluded island and their ocean bungalow, they could do it with hardly any of the confines of their Avenger lifestyle. They had nothing to hide, and no one to hide from.

Bucky felt Alexis' soft lips working down the length of his neck and he realized he needed no further encouragement. He felt the fire inside him ignite at her words, and her encouraging kisses were fueling the flames.

Without his usual level of restraint, Bucky seized Alex's throat in his metal hand. Her eyes came alive in response, and her smile grew even more devilish. It was all the signal Bucky needed.

He stood, pulling Alex with him as his hand remained clasped about her throat. She heard the plates of his arm locking, but wasn't afraid. While it was a sound most found intimidating, she knew Bucky would never hurt her. This was a game they liked to play, and she knew he had her best interest in mind. The sound of those arm plates locking told her she was about to have an amazing night.

Bucky lead her back to the bedroom, and Alex followed willingly. With his hand still tightly locked on to her throat, he guided Alex to her knees with her back against the foot of the bed. She gazed up at him, wetting her lips eagerly.

"You want to play, doll?" The depth of his voice was heavy with lust.

Alex nodded. "You know what I want."

A flash of intensity in those blue eyes told her he did. He drew his thumb along her bottom lip, staring at the mouth he was about to enter. He bent for just a moment to kiss her, his hand returning to cup her neck just below her jaw. "Tell me how bad you want me to fuck that pretty mouth."

"I want you to fuck more than my mouth." Alex gave a wicked smile, and Bucky returned the favor.

"That's my good girl."

He stood to his full height and adjusted the waistband of his mesh shorts. They were the pair he usually slept in, so Alex was more than familiar with the view she currently had. She'd been on her knees before him before, staring at the same mesh fabric as it stretched to accommodate his swelling hard-on. Bucky's steeled gaze never faltered, the muscles in his jaw and neck flexing as the anticipation grew between them. He tugged the waistband down just enough until his length sprung free, lining up with Alex's nose. He gripped the base and Alex opened her mouth.

Bucky swore under his breath. Even after all the months they were together, he still could not get over how beautiful Alex looked on her knees. He would never, ever tire of seeing her open her mouth willingly to him, and would thank her later in the best way he knew how. It turned him on to know that the woman before him, the woman who was stronger than any woman he'd ever met, wanted to lower to her knees just to please him. It made him feel invincible.

Alex kept her eyes on Bucky as he guided his dick into her mouth, one hand palming the top of her head. She felt the weight of it press against her tongue, tasted the salty essence, and wanted more. She closed her lips around him as he began to thrust slowly in and back out.

"Fuck, you're beautiful" he growled, moving his hips painfully slow as he watched himself disappear into the warmth of Alex's mouth.

Alex blinked a thank you, while barely able to make out a smile with her lips wrapped around him. She took more of his length until she felt the tip press against the back of her throat. She breathed hard through her nose to avoid gagging, readjusting her lips to make sure she took every last centimeter. She felt Bucky's fingers sink into her hair as he held her still, her nose pressed against the flat pane of muscle beneath his belly button.

"That's it..." Bucky tightened his hold on her. "A little more...take it all..."

Alex felt her eyes watering. Just when she thought she would gag, he withdrew. Spit ran from her chin, which Bucky gently wiped away with his hand.

"Such a good girl."

"Again" Alex pleaded.

Bucky shook his head with a chuckle. A sinful grin spread across his face as he gripped the base. "Open wide."

She did. Gladly. She knew how much he loved this and how much she loved doing it for him. She could feel her own arousal growing slick between her thighs as Bucky slid his length back in to the hilt, her nose bumping against him again and again as he fucked her mouth. Alex grabbed on to the meat of his thighs for support, trying her best to let him keep the pace as she treated his dick to the best she had to offer. It was no secret between them that this was something Bucky had grown to love, especially since it wasn't something he did much of back in the 40s. Now, however, Alex had shown him the light. She'd treated him to a good blow job as often as she could; working the stress from him after missions, or waking him from sleep with her tongue lapping at his swelling length. She loved giving as much as Bucky loved receiving, especially when her view was her super soldier unraveling before her. Because of her.

Finally, Bucky had reached the very brink of his self-control. Alex's mouth felt too good. Too wet. Too warm. He could stay inside her like this forever, but he could feel his balls begin to tighten and he knew he had to back off or risk releasing too soon. He withdrew from her mouth with a pop, allowing himself to cool down a little. He knelt before Alex, kissing her swollen mouth and tasting himself on her. It turned him on in ways he never expected, and in no time he felt his dick craving her body once more.

Bucky locked his metal fingers in Alex's hair and lifted her to her feet. He cupped her face and their mouths met hungrily. It was sloppy, nothing but teeth and tongue, and Bucky couldn't get enough. He pulled back just to admire Alex's delicate face, those dark eyes full of desire for him and only him, her hair sticky with spit, and her glorious mouth...All of her. She was all his.

Alex kissed Bucky again, taking it slower this time. "Did you bring any ties?" she breathed.

Bucky's mouth curved into a smirk. "You know I did."

One eyebrow shot upward. "Is that so?"

Bucky tipping his chin towards the bed. "Get in position and wait."

Excitement rolled through Alex's body. She was already turned on to the point she was dripping down the inside of her own thighs, but now? Now that she knew Bucky brought some of their accessories on this trip? Without telling her? She nearly shuddered in anticipation. This was the dark side of Bucky she craved after she first got a taste.

With her heart racing inside her chest, she climbed on top of the bed and lay on her stomach, arms and legs spread knowingly. She heard the clink of the clasps as Bucky brought out the wrist and ankle restraints. He looped the ties around the edges of the four corners of the bed, clasping the cuffs loosely around Alex's wrists and ankles. He never tightened them to hurt her, only to keep her in place long enough so they could play.

When he had her where he wanted, Bucky kissed his way up the backside of Alex's creamy thighs, seeing and feeling how wet she already was for him. He knew she was loving it when she began to already tug a little on the restraints that held her in place. The pride he felt only made his dick throb harder. He pressed two metal fingers to her pink folds as he kissed his away along the curve of her spine.

Alex whimpered a little as she felt the hard metal of his fingers spread her. They slid inside effortlessly, and she felt Bucky's hot breath against her shoulder as he chuckled.

"So wet already. Such a good girl."

Bucky's voice alone could have drawn an orgasm from her. There was a darkness to it that spoke directly to your core, massaging the wetness from you with just his breath. Alex bit her lip as Bucky curved his fingers inside her, hitting the tender spot that made her arch her back in response. "Baby..."

"Hmm?"

"More..."

Bucky nipped at the skin at the base of her neck. "You want more? Tell me what you want."

"I want your dick inside me." The words left Alex's mouth in a breathless pant as Bucky pressed against her g-spot again with his fingers. The metal felt so good. He knew exactly where to press, where she liked it, how much she liked. Her body was on fire. She needed that thickness only his dick could give her. Her walls craved it.

Bucky reached up and turned Alex's face so her mouth met his. He kissed her as he withdrew his fingers and lined his dick up to her wetness. Alex wiggled her hips as much as the restraints would allow, slicking up his tip with her own arousal.

"Does my girl want it slow this time?" he asked, his breath hot against her cheek as he placed tender kisses over her skin. "Or all at once?"

"All at once" she purred. "Just give it to me."

His voice deepened. "Such a greedy girl."

He pulled away, and Alex immediately missed the weight of his body pressing down against her. And while she couldn't see him, she knew Bucky was taking some time to admire her before he gave her exactly what she wanted. He always liked to admire. He connected with her that way. Even now, she knew that he was having one good look at her before he began. In response, Alex arched her back, presenting herself to him as much as she could against the restraints. She shifted her gaze back at him and caught the grin that was plastered on his face. He pressed the tip to her folds, and in one smooth thrust he was inside her.

A moan escaped Alex as his fullness stretched her. He withdrew at a painfully slow rate, which made Alex whimper weakly. There was an calculated pause, and then Bucky dove inside her again. He pressed himself flush against her back, the weight of him stealing the air from Alex's lungs. She heard the shifting of metal plates, and then felt his hand against her throat.

"You like it when I'm deep inside you, don't you?"

His words made her body hotter; her mind fuzzier. She mewled something pathetic in response, trying her best to focus as his hips drove his length inside her with increasing force. He sucked at the back of her neck, using his teeth to leave a mark she'd still be wearing days from now.

One particularly deep thrust caused Alex's arms to jerk hard on the restraints, a long moan drawing forth in between her heavy breathing. Bucky left himself buried deep inside her, loving the way Alex squirmed on his dick. The view he had was mind-boggling. He felt drunk off the pleasure, his mind teetering on the edge of reality and fantasy in a way that left him breathless. Alexis was his soul mate. He swore it in those moments, whether it was the lust talking or not. He didn't care. He had proof everyday and if this wasn't confirmation, he didn't know what was.

The thought alone made him withdraw with a heavy exhale, feeling himself edging dangerously close to orgasm. Her body would kill him. Not the Chitauri. Not Hydra. Not some foe he'd never met yet. Her body and what it did to his - that would be his demise.

"Fuck, Alexis." He sat back on his heels and wiped his forehead with the back of his fist. "I need a second."

Laughter rumbled from Alex as she lay her head on the pillow. "Awww...who's the sensitive one now, huh?"

He took her challenge eagerly, and with a growing smirk. Standing up from the bed, he went around to each restraint and undid the clasps, giving Alex a minute to stretch while she rolled onto her stomach. He didn't reclaspe them, so she was free to move - and now they could see one another. This is how he would bring them both to fulfillment, and he got right to work.

With Bucky towering over her, Alex had the view she craved. His handsome face was tight and focused, his sharp jaw clenched in determination, his body a machine of taut muscle. The vein in his flesh arm bulged over the rise of his bicep, and Alex found herself transfixed by the movement of it. So much raw power coming from his body, the pressure between her legs sending heat to every inch of hers. When Bucky lifted both of her legs to his shoulders and leaned his full weight into her, Alex knew it was only a matter of time.

With her ankles damn near pressed to her ears, Bucky gave Alex the full pounding he knew would bring her over the edge. She moaned his name wildly between incoherent noises, her whimpers getting higher pitched with every thrust. When she closed her eyes, Bucky gripped her jaw and forced them back open.

"Look at me, princess" he grunted. "Look at me when you cum."

Alex felt her body shutter at his command. Suddenly, the feeling of his dick diving in and out of her body became overwhelming. His pelvis slapped against her, rubbing her clit with each thrust. Their eyes never left one another, even as their breathing became ragged as they neared their own climaxes. It took everything in Alex to focus on the blue eyes before her as she dove headfirst over the cliff and let her body shatter beneath him. The waves came and her body clenched around Bucky's, drawing the last of his resolve out of him. He plunged one final time into Alex and felt himself release, shooting inside her as her walls milked him. He drained himself within her, uttering her name like a reverent prayer. He drug his mouth lazily over her forehead, then her lips, and then let her legs go from his shoulders. Rolling off to the side, Bucky caught his breath and waited for Alex to come back to him.

When her breathing finally returned to a normal level, Alex opened her eyes and licked her lips. She could tell they were puffy from all that had just occurred, but it was a familiar and welcomed sensation. Her entire body was slowly coming down from the high; her skin sensitive to every one of Bucky's lingering, tender kisses. He dotted her breasts with them, then her chest and neck, until finally reaching her mouth. His movements were slow; deliberate. He let her return to earth after such a intense orgasm, and when Alex finally met his gaze, it was full of pride and accomplishment.

"So beautiful." His mouth melded slowly with hers, drawing out one last breath from her exhausted body. "You're so good to me" he uttered.

Alex leaned into Bucky's mouth as he continued peppering her neck with slow, open-mouthed kisses and nuzzles. He licked at the spot he'd bitten earlier, kissing it gently. Alex cradled his head in her hands, her fingers finding a home deep within his hair. "That was amazing. You areamazing." She felt him smile against her neck.

"Let me take care of you now."

As gently as he could, Bucky slid out from beneath Alex. He removed the cuffs from her, then went to the washroom. Alex used those few moments alone to collect herself and try and come back to reality. The euphoria she felt in moments like these were hard to come back from, but Bucky always helped. He returned with a warm, wet cloth and a glass of ice water. He offered Alex the water first. She took a long drink, wetting her throat and feeling relief where his body had once occupied. Her eyes never left his as she drank, and she could see the appreciation he had for her and the work she'd put in.

When she was satisfied, Bucky placed the glass on the end table and then gently nudged open her legs. He moved the cloth in slow, gentle strokes over her core, cleaning her and comforting her tired body. Alex lay back and felt the soothing warmth as he pressed it over her swollen clit, then further down to her inner thighs, pressing just hard enough to clean her up without unnecessary force.

Nothing brought more joy to Bucky than seeing the familiar happy, drowsy look of bliss on Alex's face. He slipped in beside her on the bed and kissed her forehead, nuzzling her as he assessed her breathing. "How do you feel, doll?" His voice coaxed her eyes back open.

"So good." Alex cuddled into his arms, burying her head in the crook of his neck. "You?"

He kissed her cheek. "Like the luckiest man on the planet."

Alex looked up, catching the light that danced in his eyes. They shared a smile, and Alex made sure to give him a kiss to thank him. She could taste a hint of herself still on his mouth, their scent still mixing together in the bedroom. She slid in closer, their legs entwining as they found a comfortable position in which they could see one another as they cuddled.

Reaching up, Alex lazily traced the outline of Bucky's mouth, her fingertip barely brushing along the corners of his mouth to his cupid's bow. Her touch was feather light as she traced upward to his nose, watching Bucky scrunch up his face in response. She let out a soft giggle, completely smitten by the change that always took place after such intensely intimate nights together. Gone was the man who oozed power and dominance, replaced by a soft and ticklish man who just wanted to be kissed to sleep.

Bucky reached behind him and offered Alex another drink, and she gladly took it. She wanted to drink it all, but she gave the rest to him, knowing he was just as spent as she was. She watched with silent pride as Bucky guzzled the remainder of the water with a heavy exhale, feeling rather accomplished at how thoroughly she owned her man's pleasure as much as he owned hers.

When the glass was back on the end table, Bucky spent time holding Alex. He stroked her cheek with his thumb, watching as her eyelids became heavy. "Sleep, babygirl." He ran his fingers lightly up and down her arm to her waist, giving tender caresses until he felt her body soften against his.

"Love you" Alex murmured, feeling warm and comforted in his arms.

Bucky stroked her head and pressed a kiss to her temple. "Love you too."


The next morning, Alex awoke feeling whole and satisfied...and practically stuck to Bucky. She was encased in arms that wound about her chest, with hardly a gap between their bare bodies as his large frame enveloped hers. The humidity in the room, quite literally, made Alex sticky; the heat of Bucky's chest against her back was slick with a sheen of sweat that developed overnight. She supposed it wasn't much of a surprise; they'd hardly let go of one another the whole night as they slept.

Now it caused a bit of a problem, because she had to pee. Badly. Given Bucky's hold on her, Alex could see no successful way of leaving the protective cocoon of his arms without waking him.

Sighing, Alex repositioned her head so she could see Bucky. His face was utterly calm; his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm that told her he was likely in a deeper sleep. The crude metal edge of his bionic arm where it attached to the flesh of his shoulder moved with each breath, but the metal remained motionless. It occurred to her that he'd never taken his arm off in the night. It was something he had been doing it more recently before bed, though it hadn't happened easily at first.

One night about a month or so ago, Bucky admitted to her that he felt awkward being seen without his arm on. He confessed he'd been afraid to take it off around her for fear of how it would look and if she'd think it was weird. Alex took it upon herself from that moment forward to make Bucky feel as comfortable as she could, whether he had the arm on or not. It didn't matter how he looked. He wasn't a freak to her, and he never would be.

And yet, as she lay there next to him staring at the metal, she wished for selfish reasons he'd taken the arm off...because it would have helped her get to the washroom easier. Her bladder was literally screaming at her.

As gently as she could, Alex pushed out from beneath the heavy arms wrapped about her and inched her way to the edge of the bed. It took more skill than some of her martial art maneuvers not to wake Bucky. She almost made it before she felt him shift behind her. Freezing, Alex glanced over her shoulder to find he was still very much asleep but was now on his back, one arm lazily slumped over his stomach. He ground his jaw - something he also did often while he slept - and then went still.

Exhaling the air she'd been holding in her lungs, Alex crossed the remainder of the space to the end of the bed. She hurriedly tiptoed into the washroom and closed the door, relieved she hadn't woken him. He deserved his sleep while he could get it, especially since it was nightmare free.

When Alex finished and went to the sink to wash her hands, she almost jumped back. The reflection in the mirror was a hot mess. Some of her hair was stuck against her neck and face on one side. The other side had clearly been ruffled and now stood upright in a sort of tangled-up poof. Alex supposed a night of rough sex and sweaty cuddling would do that.

As such, she wore her tangled-up poofy hair as a badge of honor and decided to step out onto the deck for some air. A door connected one end of the deck to the washroom, so Alex didn't have to worry about waking Bucky up. She stepped out onto the deck and drank in the salty air. The sun was just rising, casting angled pillars of pale yellow over the undulating ocean water. Sea birds of some kind cawed, their cries lifting into the breeze that cooled Alex's skin. She rolled her neck and slowly stretched her shoulders, feeling how tight they were after her and Bucky's night. She'd be sore for a while, but it was worth it.

As the day's light grew brighter on the horizon, Alex remained on the deck. It was a peaceful moment to watch the sun as it rose fully, and she found herself lost in her thoughts. Seven months ago, she lived a lonesome life in New England; lost and angry and out of place in the world. Now she was watching the sunrise in the middle of the Pacific with a boyfriend who loved her more than anyone ever had in her life. Her powers were under control. Her life had purpose. It was a strange and wonderful feeling.

Once the sun's golden presence was fully exposed, Alex headed back inside to take a shower and get ready for whatever the new day had in store.


When Bucky opened his eyes later that morning, he awoke to the sound of music drifting from the washroom. He blinked drowsily, letting his eyes adjust to the daylight streaming in from the room's open wall. Beyond, the vast blue stretch of ocean glittered in the sun beneath a cloudless sky. It seemed it would be another beautiful day on the island.

And still, music continued to flow into the room between the sound of shower water and a faint voice singing along to the lyrics.

Pushing himself upright, Bucky listened to Alex sing along to whatever song was playing and it brought a smile to his face. He still had so much to learn about popular music these days, but he was getting more and more into some of the bands Alexis really liked. She liked a lot of rock music (much of which sounded like noise to him), but plenty more of it was to his liking. Whatever she was listening to currently had a decent beat, though he could hardly make out what the male singer was saying.

When Alex's voice rose to hit a high note, Bucky winced a little. He pressed his lips together to prevent the laugh that wanted to be released. Even though she wasn't in the same room, he didn't feel right laughing. Her carefree nature made him feel happy, and for a moment he considered joining her. Instead, he let her have her moment alone, listening to her voice rise and fall in between the music and the slosh of running water.

He sat there for a while, propped up in bed and staring out at the water. He ran a hand through his hair, feeling the tightness in the muscles of his arm and back. A welcomed sensation, given the reasons that lead to it.

Out of habit, he reached for his phone on the nightstand. His cellular data remained off, as was his and Alex's promise to one another, so it felt weird checking the screen. He never would have guessed himself to be the type to 'check his phone', but here he was. He half expected to see a text from Steve about some meeting or mission report that morning, but the screen remained blank.

Instead, Bucky opened the photo album app and swiped through a few of the pictures he took so far on the trip. Not nearly enough, in his opinion. It was only the second full day they'd been there, but he would try to remember to take more as the trip went on.

He opened a picture of him and Alexis on the beach from the day before and paused. In the picture he was facing the camera, a love-drunk smile on his face while Alex kissed his cheek. He swiped to the next photo; one that he took without Alexis even knowing. She was walking barefoot along the beach in front of him, dressed in her bikini with some kind of sheer wrap tied about her waist. She gazed off into the distance at some point beyond the water, the sun reflecting off her sunglasses and the ends of her hair fluttering in the breeze.

Bucky smiled to himself as he stared at it. It was a good photo, and he was glad he captured the moment. He might make it his phone wallpaper, if he could figure out how.

Eventually, the sounds coming from the washroom died down and the shower shut off. Bucky's curious side got the best of him, so he climbed out of bed and went over and stood against the open washroom doorframe. He watched with a growing smile as Alex shimmied to the music. She ran a towel through her long hair, then wrapped it around her naked body and secured it above her breasts. Because the mirror was steamed up, she didn't know he was standing there. As such, Bucky enjoyed a private moment of pure delight as he watched his girlfriend dance along with the music coming from her phone. She bopped her head, swinging her damp hair from one side to the other as she massaged some kind of product through its length.

When Alex finally turned around and saw him, she leapt back so hard she ran into the sink. "James!"

Bucky started laughing. He walked towards her, gathering her into his arms. "I love you so much."

"How long were you there!?"

"Long enough" he said, his chuckle turning very closely into a giggle. He hugged her close and gave her ass a little pat. "You dance really well, darling."

Alex pushed back from him, her dark eyes sparkling with a mixture of humor and embarrassment. "You're a jerk."

"Oh come on. Nothing to hide, remember?" He nudged her in the side.

"Nothing to hide" she repeated in agreement, hardly able to look away from the smile he was wearing. She was quickly realizing this was going to be the theme of their getaway. And, when she thought about it, it wasn't a half-bad theme to have. This week was about them. Together but alone, away from every one of their usual distractions.

Right now, however, a giant assassin and his puppy-dog face were her only distractions.

His hands found their way to her waist, where they settled comfortably. "How do you feel this morning?"

"A little sore, but the good kind of sore." She ran her hands the length of his forearms, admiring the hint of sun that colored his chest from yesterday. "But I feel amazing. Refreshed. Ready for another day with you."

Bucky's smile turned boyish. "That's the best thing I could hear, really."

Alex stood on her toes and kissed him. When she left his arms and went back to paying attention to her hair, Bucky leaned against the doorframe. He watched her for a moment, silently admiring the primping process she did in the mornings. "So...What is on the agenda today?"

"I was actually just thinking of a plan."

"Oh?"

"Did Tony say if he left us any vehicles here, by chance?"

"I'm pretty sure his exact words were: whatever you two want or need, it'll be there." Bucky shrugged. "I'm guessing that's a yes."

"My guess as well." Alex ran a brush through her hair, considering their options. "We should mosey over to the main building and see what we've got to work with, then hit the road and explore the rest of this island." She met Bucky's gaze and could tell he was already on board. "Whaddya say?"

"I say we do it." He closed the distance between them and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "I'll get us some breakfast going in the meantime."

He went to step away, but Alex grabbed his arm. She drew him back into her, her mouth locking on to his in a deeper embrace. She swept her tongue over his briefly before letting him go.

A confused smile tugged at Bucky's mouth. "And that was for...?"

"For last night. For today. For everything." She patted his cheek. "Just letting you know I love you."

Bucky would never get enough of the ways she always let him know. He smiled, feeling his heart flutter. "Love you too, babygirl."