After falling asleep on the beach the night before, the rising sun was Bucky and Alex's natural alarm clock. Sherbet hues washed over them as they awoke, their eyes opening to a brightening sky. They remained in one another's arms all night, with Bucky spooning Alexis and keeping her warm when the temperature dropped. It was some of the best sleep Bucky ever had, and he hadn't even been in a bed.
They folded up their blanket, walked back to the bungalow hand-in-hand, and then took a shower together. Over a light breakfast, they both agreed that one more visit to their waterfall was exactly how they wanted to spend their last day on the island. If they were returning to "the real world" tomorrow, they wanted the lasting image of their favorite place from the trip to be fresh in their minds.
They got ready and dressed as they had almost every other day: Bucky in a t-shirt and mesh shorts with his navy blue hat on (brim pointed backwards today), and Alex in a tank top and cutoff denim shorts. She wore her white bikini underneath, the knot of the halter top sticking out above the tank top behind her neck and the two tiny little strings peeking out above the waist of her shorts. They teased Bucky as much then as they did that first day, and it brought a smile to his face.
They took their Jurassic Park styled Jeep back down the winding island highway. Bucky sat in the driver's seat with Alexis beside him, her bare feet hanging out the window and her hair blowing in the wind from the open roof. The sky was cloudless and seemed to stretch on forever ahead of them. The ocean on their left, the lush tropical forests on the right, and nothing but an open road ahead of them. It wasn't any different from the first trip they made down the highway, but it felt just as good.
When they passed the dirt road that used to lead to Boroshka's hut, Bucky took Alex's hand in his, kissed the back of it, and gave her a reassuring smile. Alex returned the gesture with a firm squeeze and a smile all her own. They conquered yet another chapter together. Because of it, Bucky was just a little bit freer, and Alex learned a little more about herself and the man who sat in the driver's seat currently sporting a backwards hat and a mile-wide grin.
They arrived at the nondescript pullout spot along the highway where the waterfall's trailhead was located. Bucky parked the Jeep in a shadowy spot beneath a cluster of palms and killed the engine. He looked sidelong at Alex, excitement written all over his face. "You ready for this?"
Despite the dark sunglasses that shielded his eyes from her, Alex could still tell from the way Bucky was grinning that his eyes were shimmering. Everything about him in that moment, from the sunglasses to the backwards hat to the sporty attire, was giving Alex major boyfriend-mode vibes. Of all the looks Bucky had, this was probably her favorite. She loved how painfully handsome he looked whenever he cleaned up and wore more formal attire, and she also loved how utterly intimidating he was in his uniform of kevlar and leather. There was nothing like witnessing the sheer intensity and ferocity he displayed on any given mission, which was swoon-worthy to the point Alex wasn't sure how she even managed to focus when she was on a mission with him.
But next to her in the Jeep, looking like he stepped out of a locker room and donning the smile of a supermodel, Bucky was just as beautiful as ever...if not more so.
She reached across the middle console and let her fingers play along his short beard. "Am I ever ready" she answered. Her powers were already thrumming in response to the thrill of the day that awaited them. But more than anything, she couldn't wait to leave the bullshit behind.
Following her kiss, Bucky's broad grin somehow grew even wider. "Let's go have some fun."
Feeling as free as they had when they first happened upon the path, Bucky and Alex disappeared into the tropical forest with the anticipation of one final day ahead of them to enjoy with no holds barred. It took no time to reach the falls this time, and Alex was already stripped out of her normal attire by the time she reached the bank that overlooked the lagoon. When she felt the billowing mist rising from the waters below, it was like visiting a friend. It moistened her hot skin, cooling her off before she even dove into the water. When the feathery trail of the falls came into full view, Alex let out a sigh that released every bit of leftover stress that was inside her. She drank it in, dumped her clothes in a pile on the bank, and dove over the edge.
Bucky was right behind her. He took off at a sprint; shirt discarded behind him in his wake, and took a running leap off the rocky ledge. He tucked his knees to his chest and gave a bellowing yell as he plunged into the water with a massive splash.
What he'd done the night before on the beach to help change the tone of the trip definitely worked.
Their minds were clear and their bodies felt rejuvenated. They spent most of the day at the waterfall either swimming, climbing the rocky ledge around it, or exploring nearby locations. Whatever they did, they took as many pictures and videos that they could. Bucky snapped so many pics of Alexis that day, he could almost hear Sam or Steve's voice ringing in his ear making fun of him for it. Best of all, he didn't care. He couldn't wait to show them...at least, he couldn't wait to show Steve. He wasn't entirely sure Sam would appreciate it as much as he knew Stevie would.
At one point in the day, as the two of them lay together on the same rock they laid on several days prior, Bucky lifted his phone up and told Alex to lean in closer. They put their heads together, removed their sunglasses, and smiled. Bucky snapped the picture, and it became one of his very favorites. Before he put his phone away, Alex told him to take one more photo. She pulled his face to hers and locked her lips onto his. Bucky closed his eyes and hoped whatever photo he just took of them kissing was at least centered and not blurry.
When they looked at the pic, it actually turned out perfect.
"I'm never leaving my apartment without this pic on my phone" Alex told him. "Seriously, you're such a hunk. How did I get so lucky?!"
Bucky put his phone away, feeling both humbled and honored.
They left the waterfall area later that afternoon, but only after all the sun and all the swimming and climbing had taken the very last bit of their energy. Bucky wrapped an arm around Alex's shoulders as they exited down their path, feeling satisfied with the day's events.
After returning the Jeep one final time, they made the long walk back to the bungalow. Their bodies had begun to feel that characteristic heaviness after a lengthy day in the sun, their footsteps lazy and unhurried as they wandered down the boardwalk.
A strong urge to take a nap hit both of them the minute they reached the bungalow, but because their flight the next morning was an early one, they kept themselves busy in order to avoid napping. They decided to begin the depressing task of packing, starting with sorting through their pile of dirty laundry. Both of them were silent during this process, each thinking about the week as they sifted through the clothes they'd worn and the moments they wore them.
Alex studied the silk sleep cami that she'd worn to Boroshka's, wondering if she even wanted to keep it. It was stained with sweat to a degree that even dry-cleaning wouldn't save it, but more so she wanted to get rid of it because it would probably always remind her of that day...and that man.
She looked across the bedroom at Bucky, the cami balled up in her hand. "Should I just get rid of it?"
Bucky nodded, the corner of his mouth lifting sympathetically. "I'll buy you something just as soft and pretty when we get back."
"Deal." Alex tossed the cami into the nearby trashcan, happy to let go of another piece of her past she didn't need.
Once they were sufficiently packed, the couple changed into their comfy clothes for the night and left a few items out for their return trip the next day. Feeling weary, Bucky slumped down onto the bed and rested his elbows on his knees. It was the first time that day that he looked glum, so Alex couldn't help but go over to him.
She stood in front of his hunched body, fingers sinking into his hair. "Tired?"
"Mmm hmm."
"Would food help?"
Bucky wrapped his hands around the back of her knees and pulled her closer, resting his face against her thighs. "Maybe."
"Let's go make something." She patted him on the head. "We have a few things left from the week we can throw together. I think there's even some wine left."
"But your thighs are so comfortable."
Alex smiled. "But my tummy is hungry."
Bucky moved his head away just enough to face her stomach. He pushed the fabric of her cami upward and placed a kiss just below her belly button. Alex closed her eyes just for a moment as she enjoyed the tender gesture. When she glanced down again, ocean eyes were staring up at her.
"Hungry tummy trumps comfortable thighs" Bucky uttered, giving her stomach one more kiss. "But only this once."
She laughed. "Come on, soldier. You'll think differently once you get some food in your own tummy."
It turned out that making dinner together was a fantastic idea. In the end, they were able to make two grilled pieces of fish with a fruit salsa to put on top, along with a vegetable salad of sorts to go on the side. It would be their final taste of the island and what it had to offer, and it turned out to be pretty fun to make. It took both Bucky and Alex's limited recipe know-how to construct it, which in and of itself was enough to make the both of them laugh.
When everything was finished and assembled, they took their plates and their wine out to the deck. They perched on the ledge, bare feet dangling in the ocean water, and ate their dinner with a view they would both miss dearly. They'd gotten pretty accustomed to going to sleep and waking up every day to this view. It would definitely be weird to return to New York in the middle of winter with no ocean breeze, no sound of crashing waves, and no stellar view like their current one.
Bucky did the honors of taking the dirty dishes back inside, leaving Alex on the deck to enjoy her glass of wine and the setting sun. She took a long drink and let the rich flavor coat her tongue before swallowing, doing her best to drink slowly. At the rate she was going, if she drank more than one glass, she'd be toast. She was so worn out from the sun and the activities of the day that the alcohol was already starting to make her feel a bit loose. She was also trying to savor every last moment of the evening. Her inhales were a little deeper, her eyes a little wider, and her heart a little fuller. It was moments like these that would follow her back to New York and remind her that there was beauty in the world.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Bucky came back outside, carrying the rest of the wine with him. He offered her some as he retook his spot beside her, but Alex waved it off with a guilty smile. "I've only finished half of this glass and I'm already feeling it."
Bucky smirked. "Lightweight."
"Whatever."
He poured the last of the bottle into his glass and flashed her a smirk. "Care if I finish it?"
"Please do." Alex took another swig and began kicking her feet back and forth in the water. She watched as Bucky downed half the glass in one gulp. "Damn."
He quirked an eyebrow and shrugged. "Last night of vacation, right?"
Alex raised her glass. "Last night of vacation indeed."
They clinked rims and drank in honor of it.
"So..." Alex swirled the red liquid around, staring into the mini whirlpool she created. "How shall we spend the last night of said vacation?"
Bucky lifted the glass to his mouth, his signature smirk spreading across his face. "I don't know. Have any ideas?" He didn't look at her as he took a drink, but he knew damn well she was staring at him with those hungry eyes of hers.
"I have a few ideas, yeah."
"So do I."
"Ohh hoh!" Alex giggled, and it came out a little louder than she expected thanks to the buzz from the wine. "Can I get a hint?"
"You'll see." His eyes met hers, confidence oozing from him. "Patience."
The dominant tone to his voice sent a current of heat through Alex's body. Without a single hesitation, she swallowed the rest of her wine and set the glass aside, happy to let it run its course while she practiced all the patience she could summon. But when Bucky's hand slid beneath her hair to grip the back of her neck and pull her close, her body quickly became greedy. Their mouths met with matched desire, their hunger for one another felt in the heat rising between them. Bucky's mouth feverishly devoured hers, teeth and noses bumping.
"Do you remember the first night we sat out here?" he murmured between kisses. "After my nightmare?"
"Hmm...I think so?" Alex was clearly teasing, and it earned her a laugh. "Of course I remember. I still felt you between my legs well into the next day..."
Bucky groaned into their kiss in response. There was something powerful knowing he could leave Alex with the lasting feel of him; that he was enough to fill her to the point that the pressure of him lingered long after his body left hers. It made him feel incredibly good, and it made his dick grow harder by the second.
He moved his mouth slowly down her neck, tonguing the sensitive spot near the hollow of her throat. It was one of the few places he knew he could kiss and get an immediate response, and this time was no exception. He smiled when he felt Alex's moan vibrate against his mouth. He knew she loved any time he paid attention around her neck, so he gently nibbled along the side, biting hard enough to hear her exhale another moan.
"Your mouth feels so good..." she breathed, her hands tightening in his hair.
Her words of encouragement fueled Bucky. He inched his lips downward and nosed the strap of her cami over her shoulder, pressing soft, lingering kisses along her collarbone. Goosebumps erupted over Alex's body, especially when he drug the rough edge of his beard along her neck. He slipped her other strap down the curve of her shoulder, letting the top fall in a puddle about her waist. Her nipples sat at attention and he tongued one hungrily, locking his mouth around the soft flesh of her breast. Alex arched her back in response, giving him more of her to savor. Her body was soft and warm beneath his touch, her skin taking on a golden hue from the late day sun. She was beautiful, and she was his, and he needed her.
Scooping Alex's body into his, Bucky positioned himself above her and then helped her shimmy out of both her cami and her shorts. When she was naked down to just her panties, he gently rolled her over onto her stomach.
It was a move that surprised Alex. She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a look of intrigue. "What are you—"
Bucky shook his head, pressed a finger to his lips, and grinned. "Just enjoy."
"But James..."
"But James what!?" His smirk had that boyish look to it, but the heat in his eyes burned with matured desire. He hooked his thumbs beneath the sides of her panties and began to peel them backward, tugging at the fabric to get them over the rise of her ass.
When he pressed a leisurely kiss near her tailbone, Alex found it difficult to form sentences. "You've been too focused on me" she mumbled, feeling Bucky kiss his way further down one side of her ass. She felt the slightest nip of his teeth and held back a moan. "What if I want to treat you?"
Bucky kissed another spot on the soft mound of her ass but kept his eyes locked on hers. "My treat first." His hands gripped her hard, spreading her so he could get a better look at her center. Even though the fabric of her panties still covered most of her most precious area, he could see enough. The scent her of her arousal was intoxicating. Whatever he was doing must have been working; the evidence was glistening all over the fabric. He tugged them the rest of the way down to her knees and left them there.
With her pale pink folds now fully exposed, Bucky's dick ached to feel the warmth he knew waited beyond. He leaned into Alex more, hands spreading her ass, and kissed her glistening center. She inhaled sharply, her ass squirming a little. Bucky increased his grip to spread her further and decided to kiss her other hole; the tighter, smaller one he hadn't had the honor of experiencing yet. He ached to feel her in that way. He craved the tightness of it. It wasn't the right moment for it, but someday...sometime...he wanted to take Alex anally. He kissed her there, tonguing her entrance lightly, and was pleased to hear her release a guttural moan.
"Feel good, doll?" He tongued her ass again, then lowered a little and lapped at her pussy.
"Fuck yes" Alex moaned, trying her best not to squirm more. The velvety feel of Bucky's tongue between her legs left her a whimpering mess. Words became pitifully weak mewls. He drew his tongue along her slit achingly slow; a contrast to the trail of fire his coarse beard left on her inner thighs. Alex cursed again, followed by smaller gasps as she clung to the incredible feeling. The man was gifted, and being on her stomach seemed to amplify everything. Maybe because she couldn't touch him or see him. All she could do was feel.
And then Alex felt Bucky push one of his goddamn metal fingers inside her, and she gave up trying to think altogether. An embarrassingly strong moan came from her and she had to close her eyes.
Behind her, Bucky was having fun. Pleasuring his girl and getting her to utter those little moans and whimpers she always made was one of his favorite things. With every moan, every shudder, every shift of Alex's hips, it gave him the encouragement that he craved. Normally he could read the expressions on her face, but her body was just as good at giving him cues.
And his view was everything.
With Alex on her stomach and his mouth buried between her legs, Bucky wasn't sure he'd ever witnessed anything so sexy. In the fading light of the evening, lying on their deck with water all around them, he proceeded to make Alex squirm right there out in the open.
He could tell she was trying to keep her moans quiet (as if anyone could actually hear them or see them), so he accepted the challenge of trying to change that. He added another one of his metal fingers, pushing deep enough until he saw Alex's hands try to grip the wood of the deck. He tongued her sensitive nub while he fucked her with his fingers, watching the way her beautiful body trembled against his hand and tongue. As she grew closer to release, he anchored her hips with his free arm to keep her in place and brought her to her first orgasm of the night. Alex ground her hips back into his face as his tongue delivered those final few strokes to seal her pleasure. Her cries of passion and release mixed with the waves and the lapping ocean around them was the only song Bucky ever wanted to listen to. He even caught himself smiling, and he didn't stop until her cried dwindled to softer moans and eventually heavy breathing.
When Alex's body became still again, Bucky tried to sit back on his knees but his dick was so hard that this simple movement proved to be difficult. It was hard to ignore the giant tent in his shorts, but he looked past it to admire Alex's body before him, looking both spent and satisfied. He smiled and wiped his mouth of her arousal, her taste acting like a drug to his body and brain.
It took Alex a solid two minutes before her brain began functioning again. She groaned as she tried to gather her wits, then pushed herself up a little to get a look back at Bucky. Despite it being darker now that the sun had fully dipped below the horizon, she could still see the proud expression he wore. His mouth was a glistening mess, but it didn't stop his killer smile.
She tried to roll over to at least face him, but collapsed back onto her stomach tiredly. "I don't think I can move" she teased.
Bucky reached down and tugged the elastic waistband of his shorts over his dick, letting it spring free. "Then stay right there."
Soon after, his imposing weight was pressing down on her back. Alex felt the heat of Bucky's length crowding between her legs as he settled on top of her, and then his breath was on her ear.
"You don't mind getting fucked out in the open, do you?"
Alex turned her head enough to nip at his chin playfully. "Nothing to hide, right?"
His low rumble of a laugh vibrated against her ear. "You know it, darling." He forced her legs apart with his knees, spreading her to accommodate him more. Clasping her jaw in his hand, he enveloped Alex's mouth with his, his tongue diving inside at the same time he entered her body.
Their mouths stayed locked together in a passionate embrace as he drove himself deeper inside her with each thrust. Bucky buried himself to the hilt every time; each thrust marked by heavy grunts as he lost himself to the feeling of Alex's body. If anyone had seen them, they would have only caught a glimpse of the muscles of his back, rippling and flexing as he drilled into her, the growing moonlight glinting off the metal of his arm as he braced himself on top of her. The ocean was loud enough to muffle Bucky's feral moans, but Alex's pleasure reached a point that even the slosh of the ocean wasn't able to mask.
In no time, Alex rode the eruption of her second release of the night while Bucky emptied the last of himself inside her. He collapsed on top of her as they both tried to catch their breath, and for a few moments neither spoke. The only movement Bucky could make was with his mouth, suckling gently against the back of Alex's neck as his lust-drunk brain cleared and returned to normal. When he could finally move again, he rolled onto his back next to Alex and immediately drew her into the safety of his arms. They cuddled together, enjoying the afterglow of their release while the ocean breeze cooled their sweat-glistened skin. When their energy returned, they went for a swim in the waters lapping around the bungalow. It was their final feel of the ocean, and what a wonderful feeling it was.
There were no nightmares to be had that night for either Bucky or Alex, and that was the best feeling of all.
Bucky awoke the next morning to find the spot next to him on the bed empty. A flicker of worry rippled through him, but he quelled it almost instantly. Though he'd grown to appreciate the reassurance of Alex's body next to his, it was still important to get better at learning not to panic whenever she wasn't. He'd gone from waking up alone his entire existence to waking up next to Alexis almost every night. The change had been hard. He was uncomfortable at first sharing a bed, but like all things with Alex, she made the uncomfortable parts of his life change into something amazing.
Once he realized the comfort of waking up next to someone, it became something even more difficult to let go of. Although his first reaction was always panic, either to find her or to make sure she was safe, he'd been working on overcoming this. He'd have to tell her about the tiny victory later, if he remembered.
Extending his arms over his head, Bucky stretched and yawned, feeling a knot of tight muscle surface near the back of his metal shoulder. Aside from that, he felt well rested. Considering everything that happened over the course of the past week, both amazing and terrifying, he counted himself one very lucky man. It wasn't something he was used to thinking when it came to himself, but he was getting better at that as well.
Once he realized Alex might not be returning to the bed, Bucky slid out from under the covers and scrounged around the floor to find his shorts. He slipped those on, ran a hand through his messy hair, then headed out into the kitchen. When he saw Alex wasn't there either, he frowned. Again, that flicker of nervousness tried to wind its way through his mind, but he silenced it. He went to the window and lifted one of the sheer curtains with his finger. Standing at the edge of the deck was Alexis; motionless, arms folded comfortably in front of her, and her eyes focused on the rising sun.
Bucky's frown slowly turned into a smile.
He decided to join her; hoping his presence wouldn't ruin whatever moment she was having. As usual, her bright smile greeted him first, and then her arm wound about his waist in a way that let him know she wanted him there.
"Morning, Sergeant."
Bucky kissed her temple. "Morning, darling."
She rested her head against him, eyes staring out at the growing light on the horizon. "I'm going to miss this." There was a wistful tone to her voice; one that Bucky understood well.
"Me too" he said, eyes meeting hers.
They stood there for another ten minutes watching the sun as it rose over the ocean. Pale gray and blue shades turned to pink and yellow, and then gave way to the bright warmth that would mark another day on their little piece of paradise. It may have been Tony Stark's island, but for that week, it had been all theirs.
The couple had one final thing left to do before they left for New York, and that was to say goodbye to Heilani. They wanted to thank her for her help that week, and to secretly check in on her to see how she was holding up. They found her behind the desk on the main property as they always had; dressed in a brightly colored dress with her graying hair pinned atop her head. Her smile was a bit more subdued than they knew it could be, but given what happened in the past day or so, they didn't question it.
Heilani stood to greet them as they came through the door, her expression a mix of regret and happiness. "Is today the day?"
"It is" Alexis replied heavily. "Our luggage is being taken to the jet as we speak."
"We wanted to make sure we said goodbye before we took off, and to thank you for everything this week" Bucky told her, his eyes round with emotion. "And to also see how you're doing….after everything."
Heilani was clearly surprised and humbled by this gesture. Her expression faded, only to be replaced by a look of quiet gratitude. "You are kind to ask, Mr. Barnes. I think we're all just kind of in shock, but we'll be fine. You two have been a bright spot this past week. I hope all of Mr. Stark's team members are as lovely as you both have been."
Alex and Bucky looked at one another and smiled.
"And please give our regards to Mr. Stark" Heilani added. "Regarding yesterday's news, yes - but in general as well. Tell him to take more vacation days and not to be such a stranger." She gave them both a quick wink, and the smile Bucky and Alex were used to seeing returned.
They thanked one another, and Heilani gave Bucky one more giant hug. She bid them a gracious farewell in her native language, calling to them in her singsong voice as they exited the main property.
Given the close proximity of the private runway and the jet they'd be taking back to New York, they only had a short walk from the property. It took maybe a half-hour to arrive, though neither Bucky nor Alex was in much of a hurry. Tony's jet had gotten them from New York to the island in less than 8 hours, so the return trip would be even quicker. In no time, the week would be just a memory.
Once the couple boarded the jet and got settled in, Bucky brought out his phone. He flipped through the pictures he'd taken over the course of the week, smiling to himself as his mind replayed the better moments.
Alex leaned in closer. "Whatchya looking at?"
Bucky turned the phone towards her, his smiling eyes connecting with hers. "I think this one is my favorite."
It was a picture that Alex hadn't seen yet. In fact, she had no idea he'd even taken the photo. It was from the first day when they were taking a stroll down the beach near sunset. She was in her bikini with a sarong tied around her waist, her hair billowing in the breeze as she faced the ocean. Her focus was on the horizon, her eyes and body turned away from Bucky. The colors, the artsy feel of the picture, all of it made for a beautiful image.
"I didn't even know you snapped this" Alex told him. "Was this from the first day?"
Bucky nodded, a tiny smile playing over his mouth. "Can you show me how to make this my background image?"
Alex held back her giggle. "Of course." She took the phone and sat towards him. "Watch and learn, baby."
The jet took off as Alex showed Bucky how to make a picture into the wallpaper for his cell phone. Neither of them looked out the window as the island faded away. Neither wanted to. Everything they wanted was right there in front of him.
Author's Note: We are now about to enter "phase 2" of this story, which will be more focused back home at Avenger's Headquarters in the aftermath of meeting Boroshka and the knowledge gained on the island. We'll see other Avengers in the story, and perhaps another location change or two in the upcoming chapters. ;) I think you're going to like where this is all going (at least I hope so, anyway!) Thanks again for all the comments, favs, etc. It means more to me than you know!
