Chapter Sixteen

As soon as the door closed behind them, Steve leaned against it. He'd kissed Harry; it might have only been on the cheek, but he'd kissed him. Steve let his head fall back against the door.

"Did we really do that?" Steve asked, voice rough.

Bucky's body pressed against his, and warm lips brushed over his. "Yeah, we did." Bucky grinned and rested his hands on Steve's hips. "What was his reaction?"

"You didn't look?" Steve asked as he wrapped one arm around Bucky's waist.

With a huff and a kiss to Steve's jaw, Bucky shrugged. "Didn't have the nerve."

Steve shook his head at the contradiction; Bucky had enough nerve to kiss Harry, but not enough to see his reaction. Bucky tugged Steve's shirt loose from his jeans, slid his hands underneath and held Steve just above his hips, thumbs rubbing in absent circles.

"Dazed," Steve said. "But he touched his cheek and watched us walk away."

Only when he exhaled did Steve realize Bucky had held his breath.

"That's good," Bucky murmured. "I think."

"You think?" Steve arched a brow.

Pushing Steve harder against the door, Bucky nipped Steve's earlobe. "Harry's not as open as you are, Stevie," Bucky whispered huskily. "Still learning his tells."

The whisper sent a shiver up Steve's spine. He let his hand drift down to Bucky's ass, pulling him in closer. Bucky's hands slid restlessly up Steve's sides as Bucky arched into him and nipped at his neck. Steve used the hand not occupied with feeling up Bucky's ass to get a handful of hair and pull Bucky away from his neck.

When he looked up, Steve again saw that intriguing wildness in Bucky's eyes. Using his grip on Bucky's hair, Steve angled his head and kissed him. Bucky opened to him immediately and Steve tasted the lingering sweetness from dessert. He slid his leg between Bucky's and groaned at the feel of Bucky's cock hardening against his thigh. His own cock swelled and throbbed as he pressed it against Bucky's hip.

"Quick study." Bucky moaned against Steve's lips as his hips rocked forward.

Steve experimentally nipped Bucky's bottom lip, pleased to get a low growl in response. "Is that bad?" Steve asked.

"Only for my self-control," Bucky muttered.

Desperate to hide the smug grin he couldn't stop, Steve ducked his head to kiss Bucky's neck.

"I saw that, Stevie," Bucky growled. The hands on his hips firmed, and Bucky pulled him away from the door. "Pretty pleased with yourself, aren't you?"

Surprised at the sudden movement, Steve let go of Bucky's hair. Bucky slid his hands out of Steve's shirt and long fingers circled Steve's wrist, tugging him forward.

"Buck?"

Bucky flashed a wicked grin as he glanced over his shoulder. "I have plans for you. Gonna show you more things to use against me later."

%%%

Sometime later, Steve felt the bed move as Bucky got up, heard water running, and a few moments later a warm damp cloth cleaned his stomach. When the bed moved again, Steve cracked his eyes open enough to pull Bucky into his arms. Satisfied, Steve brushed a kiss over Bucky's shoulder.

The last thing Steve heard before sleep claimed him was an amused, "Goodnight, Stevie."

%%%

Something prickly rubbed repeatedly against his chest. Steve frowned sleepily and tried to turn away, but found himself pinned. As his brain slowly woke up, Steve recognized the familiar weight of Bucky sprawled across his chest. Bucky, who kept rubbing his stubble against Steve.

"Stop," Steve muttered irritably.

Bucky huffed as he drug his rough cheek across Steve's chest again. "It itches."

"Then shave," Steve groused as he tried to roll an uncooperative Bucky off his chest.

Bucky deliberately scraped his cheek against Steve's chest as he tilted his head up to look into Steve's eyes. The mischief in Bucky's eyes had Steve tensing.

Whatever trouble Bucky planned was interrupted by a loud, panicked shout from the direction of Harry's room.

They were both on their feet in an instant. Steve dove for the dresser and tossed the first pair of pants he grabbed to Bucky and quickly pulled on the second. Bucky slapped a holstered pistol in Steve's hand and rushed out the door with his own pistol.

A quick dash across the hallway, Bucky plastered himself against the wall and cautiously peered around the open door into Harry's room. Bucky's shoulders shook as he straightened and tucked the holster and pistol in the back waistband of the jeans. With a smile, Bucky crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe.

Bucky's behavior told Steve more clearly than words there was no threat. Steve put away his pistol and joined Bucky in the doorway. He soon smiled as well. About three steps in the door, Ron dangled by one foot unsupported. Harry knelt on the bed with a dagger in one hand, the other trying to hold a laughing Hermione behind him.

As he blinked, the haze of sleep disappeared from Harry's eyes as he stared at Ron. "Bloody hell," Harry said with a groan. "I should stab you anyway," he muttered as he gestured towards Ron.

Luckily, Ron only hung a foot off the floor because Harry made no effort to let him down gently. Ron scrambled to get right-side-up, his face flushed as he struggled not to laugh. Once on his feet, Ron stomped to the foot of the bed.

"I get home to find a cold bed and my wife missing," Ron growled playfully. "And when I come here, I find her warming the bed of my best mate."

Harry collapsed beside Hermione and tucked the knife away somewhere Steve couldn't quite see. Grabbing one of the numerous pillows on the well beyond king-sized bed, Harry rolled over and buried his head under it with a groan. Ron crawled across the bed and insinuated himself between Harry and Hermione. He wrapped his arms around Hermione and gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek.

Still laughing, Hermione tried to push him away. "I need the loo."

"Need it, do you?" Ron said with a mock-growl. "Well, I needed my morning cuddles and didn't get them."

Hermione swatted his chest. "If you make me wet myself, Ronald, you'll find a lot more than your bed cold."

Ron let her go with a sigh. "You're heartless, you are," he said with a groan.

After scrambling from the bed, Hermione dashed into the en suite. Ron rolled towards Harry and repeatedly poked him in the ribs, easily dodging Harry's half-hearted attempts to slap his hand. Bucky leaned on Steve as he laughed, and Steve grinned at their antics.

"You stole my cuddles," Ron accused.

Voice muffled by both the pillow and the bed, Harry moaned piteously. "Piss off."

Ron yanked the pillow away from Harry and wrapped around his back like an octopus. "You owe me cuddles," Ron said with a laugh in his voice.

Harry twisted and tried to either elbow Ron or roll him off, but Ron hung on tenaciously. Next Harry tried swatting Ron, but the other man laughed at the attempt. Once more, Harry tried to dump Ron on the floor.

Still laughing, Ron clung tighter. "I grew up with five older brothers, mate, you're going nowhere."

Steve could see Ron had decent wrestling skills. Good enough to keep a half-asleep Harry in his hold.

Harry sighed and stopped fighting. "I hate you," he muttered petulantly.

"Hate me all you want," Ron said as he shifted to a more natural hold. "As long as I get my cuddles."

Bucky pushed off the doorframe and crossed to kneel beside Harry. "Hey, Green-Eyes," Bucky said softly.

Harry's eyes opened reluctantly.

"Was that a F-S fighting knife?" Bucky asked.

With a groan, Harry closed his eyes again. But he rooted around the headboard, pulled a sheathed knife out, and shoved it at Bucky.

Bucky unsheathed the knife and looked it over. "Come here, Steve. I haven't seen one of these since the war."

Between Harry, Ron, and Bucky's antics, Steve couldn't stop laughing. As he crossed to join Bucky, Hermione came out of the bathroom and climbed back onto the bed.

"I can't believe you keep a knife in bed, Harry," she said with a reproachful sniff.

Harry lifted his hand and held up two fingers. Hermione snatched a pillow and whacked Harry with it.

"There's no call to be vulgar," she hissed.

Despite catching part of the impact from the pillow, Ron laughed so hard his face turned as red as his hair. Too busy checking out the knife, Bucky missed the gesture and looked at Steve with a raised brow.

Careful to keep Hermione from seeing him, Steve flashed the gesture for Bucky. The two-finger salute had been a very common sight in camp during the war, at least until Colonel Phillips learned what it meant. Bucky leaned against the bed as he laughed.

Harry grabbed the pillow when it came down a second time and buried his head under it. "Somebody, please, put me out of my misery," Harry grumbled.

"I think he meant two knives," Ron said between snickers. He quickly abandoned Harry to cuddle up to Hermione.

"Oh," Hermione said contritely as she settled into Ron's embrace. "In that case, I'm sorry for whacking you with a pillow."

Blatantly ignoring everyone, Harry lifted the pillow long enough to call for Kreacher before covering his head again. When the elf popped in, Harry lifted the pillow and cracked one eye open to see Kreacher. "For the love of all that's holy, coffee, please," he said with a whine.

Kreacher looked around the room, frowned, and pulled on one of his ears. "Kreacher will bring coffee, but Kreacher will not serve breakfast here," the elf said emphatically. "It be uncivilized."

Not giving anyone a chance to protest, Kreacher popped out again. A few moments later, three cups of coffee appeared on the bedside table nearest Harry and two teacups on the other side. Bucky took one cup and nudged Harry. The pillow lifted again and when Harry opened his eyes, he abandoned the pillow in favor of snatching the coffee.

Steve laughed when Harry stood up on the bed, neatly stepped over Ron and Hermione, jumped to the floor, and disappeared into the bathroom with his coffee, slamming the door behind him. Bucky grinned as he put the knife on the bedside table and passed a cup of coffee to Steve before taking the last one for himself.

"Sorry if we woke you," Ron said with a chuckle. "Harry's not usually that out of it in the morning. I reckoned he'd hear me before I opened the door."

"We were already awake," Steve assured him.

Hermione frowned into her tea. "He didn't sleep well," she said, with a glance at the bathroom door. "I don't think he's been sleeping well for a while now."

Ron sighed as he pulled Hermione closer. "Charlie should be in by dinner. He can stay with George if we need to be here," Ron said with a quiet, steady assurance.

Bucky flashed him a look, and Steve didn't need words to understand it. Harry slept through the night when he'd slept with them. Steve wasn't willing to talk about that in the present company, so he mouthed, "Later," to Bucky.

"I already offered," Hermione said with a peevish frown. "Harry said he's fine. When I pushed, he flatly refused."

Ron slumped against the headboard. "Hermione, we can't come over all mother-hen with Harry. I think we need to let him try to work through it on his own."

Hermione huffed and leaned into Ron. "When did you get so smart?"

"The day I married the brightest witch of her generation," Ron said with a cheeky smile.

"Sappy," Bucky groaned.

There was no ambivalence in Ron's meaning when he held up two fingers. Successfully dodging Hermione's swat, Ron kissed her cheek. "Get your togs on, woman. Maybe a little privacy will soothe the beastly Harry."

Steve took the cue to get Bucky on his feet. Bucky glanced wistfully at the bathroom door before following Steve out of the room.

When they returned to their suite, they set their pistols on the table beside the door. Bucky sat on the couch and sipped his coffee with a pensive expression. Steve sat beside him and waited. Any attempt at forcing Bucky to talk before he got things straight in his head was an exercise in futility.

Bucky drained his cup and set it on the table. Steve raised a brow when Bucky took his still half-full cup and set it aside as well. The reason became apparent when Bucky straddled Steve's lap, wrapped his arms around Steve's neck, and leaned down to kiss him, soft and sweet, with no teasing this time. Wrapping his arms around Bucky, Steve returned the kiss, happy to linger here with Bucky.

"Good morning, Stevie," Bucky murmured a few minutes later.

Steve smiled and tucked a loose strand of Bucky's hair behind his ear. "Any morning that starts with kissing you is a good morning," Steve said. He let the satisfied grin creep across Bucky's face before pointing out. "Better than waking up to someone trying to scrape my chest raw."

The grin on Bucky's face never wavered. "Sounds like a bad habit," Bucky said. "Kinda like passing out as soon as you get off."

With a groan, Steve slumped back on the couch, pinched the bridge of his nose, and blushed. "Damn it, I did."

"Didn't even say goodnight." He could hear the grin in Bucky's voice.

"I'm sorry," Steve said sheepishly.

Bucky pulled Steve's hand away and kissed him again. "It's pretty flattering," Bucky said with a smug smile.

Steve groaned. "I'm never going to hear the end of this, am I?"

As he settled more fully on Steve's lap, Bucky's smile softened. "I don't care if you pass out after," Bucky said. "But maybe stay awake long enough to put on sleep pants; I nearly ran in there with nothing but my pistol."

The thought of Bucky stalking the halls naked, holding only his pistol, made Steve laugh. Still smiling, Bucky leaned down and pressed their lips together. Since he'd rather kiss Bucky than laugh, Steve nipped Bucky's lip before sinking into the kiss.

Several minutes later, as the kiss turned from languid to something more heated, Bucky lifted his head and shifted on Steve's knees. "Don't have time to get all worked up," Bucky said, his voice rough.

Steve let his head fall back onto the couch and took a deep breath. He kept his arms around Bucky, not wanting him to move away. Bucky leaned into him, resting his head on Steve's shoulder. Steve stroked Bucky's back, not trying to stir anything up, simply wanting to touch.

"Last night, Harry said he didn't feel safe with that girl, couldn't sleep well then. He didn't sleep well last night either. But he slept through the night with us." Bucky said, the words coming slowly. "Is that why he's not sleeping? Because of us?"

"How do you mean?" Steve asked with a frown.

"Stevie," Bucky said with a sigh. "We're practically indestructible. Look at what we've survived." Bucky sat up enough to meet Steve's eyes. "And Harry knew he couldn't take me head on, knew his only chance was to be fast and sneaky."

His brows furrowed as Steve followed Bucky's train of thought. "You think Harry feels safer with us than Hermione?" The thought intrigued him, but Steve wasn't sure how it fit in.

Bucky nodded. "Twice in the gym, he let us hold him with barely any hesitation and accepted comfort almost as easily."

"With no hesitation the last time," Steve said. "Isn't that a good thing?"

"Yeah," Bucky said. "But I think we need to be more direct. Not sure he has the experience to make a move in return."

Not sure what Bucky meant, Steve raised a questioning brow.

"I've been thinking about it." Bucky tucked his hair behind his ear. "Between all his adventures at school, hiding out for a year, and being abducted at eighteen. I can't see how he'd have time to learn much about romancing someone."

It made sense, and explained some of Harry's hesitancy, but Steve still wondered. "Buck, you kissed him. I kissed him," Steve said. "How much more direct can we get?"

Bucky snorted. "Stevie, if I'd only kissed you on the dock, what would you have thought I wanted?"

Steve sighed. The kiss had been important, but without the words, it would have been nothing but another come on.

"We need to find time without distractions and talk to him," Bucky said with a resolute frown. "But that's easier said than done." Still frowning, Bucky shifted on Steve's lap. "You have boney knees," he muttered before asking, "Is Harry really monosyllabic when he's working?"

He couldn't do anything about his knee bones, but Steve propped his feet on the coffee table, and lifted Bucky enough to slump lower on the couch. He set Bucky back down so he rested on Steve's thighs. When Steve looked up to check if Bucky was more comfortable, a faint flush bloomed high on Bucky's cheeks.

"Don't," Bucky said roughly.

Bucky removed his arms from around Steve's neck and sat up fully. Jaw tight, Bucky closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Confused, Steve watched Bucky's hands flutter a moment before he scrubbed his palms against his jeans.

"Buck?" Steve asked, voice low and concerned.

Steve saw Bucky's throat work as he swallowed hard and when Bucky opened his eyes, Steve's breath caught in his throat. Only a thin ring of blue remained around Bucky's pupils. Bucky licked his lips and Steve fought to keep from pulling him down and taking his mouth.

"No manhandling," Bucky said, his voice little more than a rasp. "Not unless we have lots of time."

"You like it?" Steve asked, both brows raised. He didn't know why he felt so comfortable moving Bucky around. It wasn't something he'd ever done with a previous partner.

"Apparently." Bucky huffed and roughly pushed his hair back off his face. "Back to Harry, Stevie."

It took Steve a moment to switch gears. Part of him wanted to explore exactly how much Bucky enjoyed being manhandled. That part urgently pushed against the fly of his jeans. Steve tried to subtly shift. Given the amused grin on Bucky's face, it hadn't been subtle at all.

"When Harry set up the monitoring spells, I doubt he said a dozen words. He focused almost completely on his task," Steve said, trying to get back on track. "That evening, while we waited for you to trip one of the spells, he stayed vigilant, but could hold a conversation easily."

"We'll have to play it by ear then," Bucky said with a frown. "Though I'd rather have a plan."

Steve smiled. "It's not a military operation, Buck."

Bucky dipped his head and gave Steve a quick kiss before climbing off his lap. He picked up a coffee cup and smiled. "No, it's not. It's so much more important than that."

As Bucky walked into his room, Steve sighed. Winning Harry's heart was the most important mission they'd ever faced. He stared at the coffee cup still sitting on the table and huffed.

"Did you just steal my coffee?" Steve asked loudly.

Bucky's pleased laughter was as good as a yes.