So let me apologize profusely for how long it has taken me to post this Chapter. I have been super busy at work and have been neglecting you, my fans. I promise it will not happen again. With that being said, the story will be progressing hopefully a lot quicker after this one. There is still much to cover before I end this story...but be warned, the end is near. Let me know what you guys think! Reviews are very appreciated! I have created an email address strictly dedicated to answering any and all questions you have about the story...anything you ever wondered about or suggestions of your own. The yahoo email address ID is ecorleyfanfic

Ecorley

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Eden POV

The sun rose completely in the sky as I lay on Bucky's chest listening to his heart beating rapidly. I kept my eyes closed, concentrating only on the moment he and I were having...wrapped up in safety of each other's arms. I concentrated only on his touch as he rubbed his hands up and down my bare back. I couldn't resist letting my own fingers wander across his bare chest, tracing the contours of each muscle.

I laid there feeling like a huge burden had been lifted from my shoulders. The emptiness I had felt last night had subsided. I was filled now but it was not with anger...not with rage. I was filled with love, Bucky's love. It was a more satisfying feeling and I basked in it as I lie against him, listening to the quiet of the morning.

As the time passed, I grew more and more relaxed against him and my mind began to wander to the events of the previous night. Everything that had happened last night was still engrained in my head...every detail so clear. I flinched at the memory of looking down at my blood soaked hands on Sam's stomach...the shouting...the screams. My heart started beating faster and I let out shaky breath, willing myself to calm down once more for Bucky's sake. I didn't want him worrying about me any more than he already had been.

When I felt his lips brush across my forehead, I opened my eyes and peered up at him. I was still feeling slightly vulnerable after my episode earlier and I hoped that Bucky would be able to see past it. The last thing I wanted was for him to treat me like I was going to break at any moment. What had happened was necessary...my way of letting it all go so that I could gather my courage, move on, and become stronger.

"Hey" I said softly, biting my lower lip nervously. I could see the concern in his eyes and it made me sick to my stomach. Bucky had more than enough in his life to worry about and I knew craziness with me would only add to that. I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile.

He let out a deep breath, "You okay?"

Am I? Yes, I will be as long as he's with me.

I swallowed hard before nodding my head, "I'm okay Bucky...really...I just...I just needed to let it all out. You know what I mean?" I felt like an idiot as I thought about how I had acted. I felt the blood rush to my face and I knew he would be able to see my embarrassment. I lowered my head solemnly, hoping to hide the blush now sweeping across my cheeks.

He brushed some stray hairs from my face before answering, "I understand" he said softly before using his hand to tilt my face back up, "Hey...look at me...you have nothing to be ashamed of Eden"

I felt him tensing up beneath me as he continued, "I don't... I don't know if I'm doing this right. This..." he said, waving his hands around, "...is all new to me. I just want to make this better and I don't know how to do that"

I pulled myself out of his grasp, sitting up so I could stare down at him. He leaned up on his elbows and waited for me to speak.

"Bucky...you're doing exactly what I need you to do" I said, placing my hands on his chest, "You will always be exactly what I need"

I let my hands fall to my sides as he sat up completely beside me. His hand found my neck and he pulled me close to him, touching his forehead to my own. Even after months of being together...of sharing intimate moments together...I still felt my heart flutter in my chest at the closeness between the two of us. I would never get tired of feeling this way. Bucky would always elicit this reaction from me.

His lips hovered over mine as he spoke, "I'm right here beside you. Me and you Eden...always"

I felt a shiver run down my spine as he let his lips finally touch my own. I pulled away, exhaling lightly and placing my hand on his cheek. I could have stayed there on that cold floor all morning but I knew Bucky needed to get ready for work. I actually a few things of my own to do today before I headed to SHIELD for my training with Clint. After last night, I was even more determined to learn all that I could. From now on, I would take my training much more seriously.

Shit! Clint!

I figured Bucky or Steve had already told him what happened last night. I only hoped Clint could understand that I needed to continue working with him. I wanted some sense of normalcy after last night and I knew jumping back into training like nothing had happened was the easiest way to do that. I thought about my relationship with Clint and wondered how he was going to react. His actions this weekend had already shown me that he could be nearly as overprotective of me as Bucky.

"In my line of work, you don't exactly run into many opportunities to make friends Eden..."

"...and you're my friend. I don't make them very easily so yes, I get a little overprotective of the few I have..."

I shook my head and let out a sigh. I honestly felt better now that I had broken down and finally cried but I knew today was going to hold a rollercoaster of emotions.

Bucky...Steve...Clint

The lover...the brother...the friend

The three men in my life who cared about me each in their own different ways...men who had proven that they would do anything for me. I closed in my eyes and swallowed hard as I tried to figure out what I had ever done to deserve such devotion...such love.

With a sigh, I reached to the side and picked up my sleep shirt and slipped it on over my head, chuckling lightly when I saw Bucky lift his eyebrow at me.

"What?" I said, snatching my panties off the floor before standing up and stretching.

"I'm just wondering why you are even bothering to put your clothes on. I'm planning on ripping them off of you again" he said smiling devilishly. I couldn't help staring at his body as he got to his own feet and reached down for his boxers.

Damn Eden! Lucky girl! Very lucky girl!

He looked over his shoulder to catch me staring at his backside. I saw that damn sexy smirk appear on his face before he looked down to slip his on his boxers.

I glanced at the clock on the wall and then back to him, "You barely have enough time to shower before you have to be at work. I'm not even going to have much time to work on my clients before I need to leave to meet Clint" I said with a small smile.

Bucky jerked his head back in my direction, "Excuse me?" he said, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Oh shit! Play it cool Eden. You know he's just worried about you...don't get mad!

I took a deep breath and rolled my eyes, "I said..."

Bucky let out a huff before throwing up his hand to stop me, "No, I heard what you said..."

I placed my hand on my hip defiantly and pursed my lips at him, daring him to argue with me about it.

He noticed the look I was giving him and stopped talking, choosing to simply stand there and stare at me. I knew he was having an internal debate in his head on how to handle this...the constant struggle between the Winter Soldier and Bucky Barnes. I let my body relax a little and I tilted my head as I watched him curiously...his face was going back and forth between being a look of sympathy and annoyance. It made me wonder which of the two was expressing what feeling. Did the Winter Soldier understand my need to continue learning to fight? Was it he who was expressing the sympathy etched on the handsome man's face standing in front of me? Or was it my Bucky who was trying to understand? I was just about to ask when he finally spoke up again...apparently the sympathetic side had won.

He sighed, "Eden, I think you need a break from training. You've already learned so much from Clint and Natasha. It may be time to take a step back and focus on something else. I was planning on staying home today so I could be with you. We could..."

It was my turn to hold my own hand up, "No Bucky"

He stopped talking and stared at me with shocked blue eyes. Before he could say anything I spoke up, "I'm fine. I want to go train...I need to go train. I can't just sit here all day doing nothing"

Bucky stared at me with worried eyes. I knew he was thinking I was going to fall apart at any second and that he would need to be there to catch me. Bucky sighed, "Eden..."

"No. I don't want you to have to constantly worry about me Bucky. I'm not made of glass...I won't break, not again. I can promise you that. I really need this Bucky" I said with pleading eyes.

He still didn't look convinced but I stood there, continuing to stand up for myself, willing him to let me win this one. I wanted to keep my mind off everything and focus on doing something productive. Training with Clint was productive. Working on my clients was productive. Staying home while Bucky coddled me was anything but productive.

He finally gave me a slight nod of his head and I couldn't help the triumphant smile that spread across my face. Bucky returned my smile with one of his own and reached out for me. I took his hand and let him pull me back into his arms, relishing the warmth that enveloped me.

I finally broke the hug and stepped back, "You better get in the shower. You're going to be late" I said, glancing again to see the time. It was nearly 8:00am and Bucky had to be at SHIELD for his appointment with Dr. Peters at 9:00am.

If I had been looking at Bucky and not the clock, I would have seen the mischievous glint in his eyes and the sexy smirk appear across his lips. I was still eyeing the time and figuring out how much work I could get done when I felt his strong arms lift me up and throw me over his shoulders.

"Bucky!" I yelled, giggling when I felt his hand slap my ass and then rub it suggestively. I heard him chuckle as he began walking down the hallway towards our bedroom.

"You don't have time for this...your appointment is..."

"Quiet woman!" he said gruffly, walking into our bedroom and continuing on to the bathroom. "I will make the time"

He kicked the bathroom door opened the rest of the way and stepped inside before he finally released me. My feet had barely touched the ground before he was making his way over to the shower to turn on the water. I was still trying to regain my balance when he peeked over his shoulder and motioned me over seductively. I crossed my arms and raised my eyebrows at him, ignoring his hand beckoning me closer. When I still didn't move towards him, he rolled his eyes and stalked towards me once again. I shuffled away from him quickly, letting a giggle escape from my mouth as he pursued me. Once he backed me up against the counter, both hands shot out on either side of me, pinning me in place as he nudged my legs apart and pressed his body against mine.

He leaned over me, letting his lips graze over the sensitive skin of my neck. I felt my pulse speed up and I took a shaky breath, trying not to whimper when I felt him push himself against me roughly again. His excitement was evident not only in his eyes but also in the hardening length he was now pressing into me.

"Get in the shower Eden" he said, his voice low and raspy.

I looked into his blue eyes, now darkened with lust. My eyes flickered between them and his lips which were hovering only inches from my own. My hands found his chest and I felt a rush of pleasure when I felt him shiver under my touch. My fingers inched up to run along the scars where the skin met the metal of his arm. As I let my hands continue to move across his body, the rough texture was soon replaced by the smooth, cold metal of his arm. I felt Bucky watching me intently as my fingers explored his left arm and the scars surrounding it. His body was tense against mine...almost as if he was expecting me to jerk away in disgust at any moment. He never seemed to understand that I loved everything about him...all of Bucky was beautiful to me, even that metal arm.

He could be so confident, so sure of himself sometimes, but occasionally my sweet Bucky was just as insecure as everyone else in the world.

"...Eden..." he finally choked out.

I looked up at him but kept my right hand on his shoulder, still enjoying the feel of metal and rough skin under my palms. The sensation was so different and for some reason the combination of the two textures always fascinated me. He was peering down at me in amazement and ran his tongue along his lips before leaning down to close the distance between us.

I closed my eyes as his lips moved softly against mine, gentle and sweet all at once. I felt him shift his arm slightly but I was too caught up in the kiss to wonder why he was moving. It wasn't until I felt my panties pushed aside and cold metal fingers come into contact with my most intimate parts that my eyes popped open in surprise. I let out a small gasp at the temperature change and jumped slightly.

Blue eyes met my own and I saw him swallow nervously, "...I'm sorry...is this okay?"

It was not an unpleasant sensation at all but I could already see the doubt and regret sweeping across his face. In the past, Bucky had always only touched me there with his right arm. I don't know whether it was because he thought it would bother me or because he was self-conscious about it.

Before I could answer him, I felt him begin to pull his hand away, lowering his head in embarrassment. I let my hand slide down from his shoulder to his wrist to stop him and drew his hand back down between my legs.

"It feels good baby" I said breathlessly as I pressed his metal hand against the front of my panties.

He looked at me in shock and I nodded my head at him, encouraging him to continue, "Please"

I rose onto tip toes and scooted up to sit on top of the counter to give him better access, never breaking contact with his body. This time I was expecting the coldness and didn't jump when I felt his fingers move the cotton fabric out of the way and run across my slit. I let out a whimper as he twisted his wrist and let one finger dip in and find the heated nub, already swollen with need. He began to rub over it slowly, taking his time as he watched my reactions anxiously. I knew he was being very careful so that he could stop at the first sign of any discomfort from me. What he didn't realize was that what he was doing felt positively amazing.

My hands, which were currently grasping the countertop on either side of me, moved to his chest so I could rake my nails down his stomach. I situated my legs around his waist and drew him even closer to me. I felt his hand hesitate for a moment but I locked my eyes on his and shook my head.

"Don't stop"

He let out an animalistic growl and bent down to kiss me harder and more frantic then before. His right hand found the top of my panties and the fingers of his left hand only stopped their ministrations long enough for him to drag them down my legs. As soon as they hit the floor, his right hand went for my shirt and it too joined my discarded panties.

His lovely metal fingers found my clit and began rubbing me again, just as slowly as before. I dug my heels into his back of his legs and reached forward with my hands to find his boxers. I was frantically trying to draw them down his hips but they weren't budging. Bucky realized what I was trying to do and his right hand moved to help me pull them down. As soon as they were gone, my hand shot forward and took his hardened length in my hand, drawing it up and down slowly as I felt it pulse in my hand.

My breath suddenly got caught in my throat when Bucky's fingers, which had been working me slowly, began to increase their pace. I moaned loudly as my eyes rolled into the back of my head...I felt my chest heaving up and down rapidly. Bucky leaned forward and bit the lobe of my ear gently before whispering, "Do you like that?"

When I didn't answer immediately, he slid one cold, metal finger inside of me and began pumping in and out slowly, all the while letting his other continue to rub my clit in fast paced circles.

"Answer me Eden" he demanded huskily.

I couldn't focus on anything but the feeling of his hand between my legs and the warmth slowly building up in my belly. At this point I could barely breathe, must less answer his question. I nodded at him, biting my lip hard as he curled his finger inside of me and sent shocks of pleasure radiating through me.

"Say it" he said, kissing down my neck slowly before biting me lightly on the shoulder and then letting his tongue slide over it sensually.

"Yes" I spit out, finally managing to get enough air in my lungs to say the words.

His hands ceased the activity between my legs but before I could groan out my displeasure, he wrapped one arm around my hip and dragged me from the counter top. The other arm found the bottom of my thighs and I felt myself being carried to the shower. The hot water had steamed up the bathroom and I could see the glass door had already fogged over. I watched Bucky's eyes as he pulled open the door and stepped inside the shower with me. I could feel him hard and ready against my belly and I couldn't help but shiver in anticipation. The shower door slammed closed behind us and the hot water began cascading down over our bodies.

Every bad memory...every fear...every worry...they all disappeared the moment he butted me up against the shower wall and slid inside of me. I shuddered against his chest as I felt the hardness slip into my warm folds. I felt him pulsating inside of me as my muscles clamped down on him involuntarily. He groaned at the sensation and stilled himself inside of me...he didn't move at all, just stared into my eyes as he took ragged breaths. His metal arm was under my thighs, holding me up against him. The other hand, which was resting on my hip, now moved up and over to find my breast. His thumb found my nipple and began to rub, coaxing it to harden before he ran his palm up and over it. He repeated his attentions on the other until both nipples had hardened and were throbbing with the need to feel his hands on them. He then pressed his chest against me and I moaned loudly at the skin on skin contact.

It was then that he drew himself out of me slowly before thrusting wildly back into me. I let out a yelp of surprise that quickly turned into a loud, guttural moan. He stilled his body once more and I felt him trembling against me. He stood there, eyes closed, breath ragged and all I could do was stare at the tiny water droplets running down his chest.

"Bucky..." I said softly.

He finally opened his eyes and shook his head, "I'm not going to last long. You always feel so good"

He roughly pumped into me twice more, bringing a gasp from my lips. I was stunned at how fast the heat was building inside of me...at this rate I wouldn't last very long either.

"Why do you always feel so perfect?" He said, not bothering to hear my answer. I wouldn't have been able to speak one anyway because he chose that moment to plunge into me again quickly.

No real words were spoken after that...just grunts of pleasure...the moaning of each other's name...ragged panting from the two of us as Bucky drove his hips forward, one thrust after another. I held onto him, running my fingers over his shoulders. Feeling his slick chest against my own made the heat only build quicker between my legs. I couldn't help but watch his face as he made love to me. The pleasure of knowing it was me making him feel so good was only outweighed by just how damn amazing it felt having him inside of me.

I was biting my lip hard, trying to hold back the orgasm that was threatening to explode from me at any moment. I wanted to experience my end at the same time as Bucky but it was getting harder and harder to not just let go. I wrapped my legs tighter around his waist and pulled myself even closer against him. This made a groan escape from his lips and his thrusting became wilder and less controlled. I knew his end was near and I gladly let go finally...my muscles clamped down on him as he plunged into me. I closed my eyes as I bucked against him uncontrollably, whimpering loudly at the intense orgasm now burning through me. Bucky's next thrust was his undoing and I felt his release as he spilled inside of me. He continued his pumping, my muscles relentlessly clinching down on him, draining him and causing Bucky to moan out his desire loudly.

His head dropped to the crook of my neck and I could feel him breathing heavily against me. I wrapped my arms around him and let my fingers slide up and down his back.

I kissed his forehead gently, and whispered in his ear, "I love you baby"

I felt him nodding his head and then his lips touched my neck before he too whispered, "I love you"