"How are you doing, kid?" Tony caught Marley off guard at the cafeteria.

Marley turned and smiled while she waited for her order. The team had been gone for just over a week and it had been quiet since her incident with Loki. She'd been able to come work out each day with no problems, then head back to her newly refurbished apartment to watch Netflix and worry endlessly.

"I'm okay," she told him. "Just trying not to get too caught up in worrying."

Tony stepped up to the counter to place his order.

"Try not worry," he told her. It was a rare serious moment. "Tin Man will come back. If I can't kill the bastard, who can?"

Marley laughed as he intended, grateful that things were better between the two men.

"How is… How is Loki?" Marley had to ask. While he'd kept at her until she'd attacked him, she still felt responsible for his very serious injuries. It wasn't lost on her that if he'd been human, he would now be dead.

Tony nonchalantly shrugged a shoulder. "He'll live. Don't waste your time and energy on him."

"How are you, Tony?" From Natasha she knew he was lonely, missing one Pepper Potts who, by all accounts, was the only woman to ever really capture the heart of Tony Stark. She'd seen a gorgeous, tall woman with strawberry blonde hair visit twice in the last few days. A Google search revealed that it was indeed Pepper.

"I'm okay. It's not been a bad week really."

"Yeah?" Marley grinned.

"Shit. Has Nat told everyone about me, well, Pepper and me?"

Marley nodded.

"Things are getting… better." It wasn't a confident better but there was such hope in his voice. "She stops by and we talk… Hey, you're a girl, let me ask you something."

Marley snorted. "Thank you for noticing."

"We make plans. She wants to do stuff. We go to the opera, the museum, fly to Paris," he explained. "Then she says that's not what she wants. She just wants to be with me. What does that mean in girl language?"

"I don't have a lot of experience in relationships, Tony," Marley was honest, "but… how about a night in?"

"Then she'll think it's just sex."

"Not necessarily." Marley thanked the lady who handed her the bag with her dinner. "How about inviting her over to Netflix? You have to let her pick what you watch."

He dramatically rolled his eyes making her laugh.

"Make her dinner. You can't cheat and order out. I'm sure a genius like you can cook something. Throw out the offer of a sleepover. It would give you an excuse for a nice bath with bubbles. You could wash her hair, take care of her. I know I'm getting kind of personal here, but you did ask. Then follow her lead."

Tony's expression had grown serious. He was actually considering what she said.

"That's what she means about just being together?"

"Well, yeah," Marley explained. "She's asking you for intimacy. Don't overthink it. Just do it."

"Is booze allowed?" Tony was serious.

Marley chuckled. "Only with dinner. Oh, and a glass of her favorite wine with the bubble bath? Yeah, that's good. Otherwise, it will appear you're trying to ply her with alcohol."

"Any other rules?"

"No work," Marley said with emphasis. "No phone, no floating screens of technology. Your attention needs to be solely on her."

His expression was a study in concentration. "Business that comes in?"

"No. You have to tell F.R.I.D.A.Y. that unless I've set the building on fire, no interruptions."

Tony snorted at that.

"Any other things I can work in? You know romancy things you guys like?"

Marley thought about that. "Well, you could go out and gaze at the stars. Go out on a romantic, midnight walk. Make something together in the kitchen like cookies or a dessert she likes."

Tony nodded. "Okay. Marley, hey, thanks. I mean it. Apparently, I suck at relationships and I just… I want her back, you know?"

"Make it about her," she told him. "I hope you get her back."

Marley had been about to head up to her apartment when Tony's hand on her arm stopped her.

"Hey, have you been doing anything with your powers the last few days?"

Marley shook her head. The break had been nice.

"Just had a thought. When everyone gets back, before you resume training with your powers, let's get all your stats. We can do a comparison, you know, from your active and inactive states."

"Okay." Marley thought it was probably a good idea. "I'll remember. Just go to medical?"

"Yep."

Waving bye, she headed back to her apartment. She'd left her phone there and on checking in when she got back, she saw messages and her heart quickened. The area they were in for the mission was out of range, so she hadn't heard from Bucky for four days.

[B] Guess who will be home in a little while?

[B] Everyone's pretty beat up, so the plan is to take off tomorrow. Have any plans?

Marley smiled.

[Marley] I believe you said we could pick up where we left off.

She didn't have to wait long for an answer.

[B] Looking forward to it, doll. Hope you're well rested.

[Marley] Should I head to your apartment?

While she laid out the dinner she just bought, she waited for an answer. She couldn't help but laugh when it was delivered.

[B] When did you move out?

[Marley] I didn't realize I'd moved in lol My place is all fixed now.

Trying to eat dinner and getting excited about the evening now that he was coming home, Marley watched her phone like a love-sick teenager.

[B] We're arriving in the next hour and then it will be another hour or so for debriefing.

[Marley] Ok

[B] I want you in my bed, naked, before I get there. Will you do that for me?

Just the thought of what he might have planned had excitement humming through her.

[Marley] Yes, I will.

[B] Have some cold water ready and some of your favorite lotion.

Lotion? What did he have planned exactly? Marley grinned and typed out her answer.

[Marley] On it.

[B] No, you'll be on me. Maybe under me. Probably both.

She had to laugh at that as she ate her dinner way too fast and then scrambled around to get ready. She showered, shaved up, and dressed quickly. He didn't want her dressed so it didn't matter what she wore. Grabbing a bottle of her favorite scented body lotion, and a bag of other items including what she needed to make her chocolate, she went to his apartment, not surprised when F.R.I.D.A.Y. just let her in.

Going to his kitchen, she found a pitcher which she filled with water and ice cubes, storing it in his fridge for the moment. She set out glasses, put her chocolate-making items on the counter, got down mugs.

So far, so good.

Heading for his bedroom, all tidy since she'd requested housekeeping services, she stripped off and pulled back the sheets, climbing into bed as he wanted. With no idea how long he'd be now, and not wanting to fall asleep on him, she stretched out on her side and read her phone.

Marley never heard him enter, didn't know he was there until he was on her.

Her phone slid out of her hands as he pounced on her back, a gloved hand that smelled like smoke covering her mouth when a scream ripped from her throat. She felt locks of his hair on her shoulder when he leaned down to whisper in her ear, his weight pinning her to the bed.

"Look at you trying to be so good for me," his voice was harsh, made her entire body shiver. "It's a shame I have to punish you."

Marley sucked in her breath, both afraid and crazy excited all at once. "W-what did I do?"

"No speaking unless spoken to," he told her in a very military way. "Understand?"

Marley nodded, not knowing what else to do.

"Did you move your things back to your apartment?"

Bucky was serious about that. Okay, if he wanted to play with her, she'd play along. She knew from what she'd seen in his mind what he was into and while it was new to her, she trusted him. Wanted to make him happy.

She nodded her answer.

"See doll? That's a problem. Did I give you permission to do that?"

Marley gazed in his direction as much as she could in her position, doing her best to pout. Slowly, she shook her head.

"I'll try to take it easy on you this time," Bucky explained. "I'm going to have to spank you. Has anyone ever spanked you before?"

She could feel him grin as she again, shook her head again.

Bucky hummed, not moving. "Then I'm going to tie you to this bed and have my way with you. Do you want that, doll?"

Marley nodded enthusiastically. When he lifted his weight off her, the happiness in his eyes made her heart race. His flesh hand gently stroked her back, covered in a glove. There was a slight tremor in his hand.

She trusts me. She honestly fucking trusts me.

Since she couldn't talk to ask what she needed to do, she climbed out from under the covers and stood next to the bed. She kept her head lowering, hoping that was okay.

Bucky situated himself, turning on the lamp on the bedside table. The warm light filled the room, and Marley lifted her arms to cover her breasts.

"No," he said firmly. "Don't ever hide yourself from me."

He held out his gloved hand, pulling her gently across his lap so that she was balanced to his liking with her ass in the air. His combat gear was rough beneath her, reminding her that he was fully clothed. Reminding her of her vulnerability.

"I want you to count out each one, doll, nice and loud."

The cool metal of his left hand pressed down firmly on her back. The gloved had smoothed over her ass in a way that felt way too nice. He thought of it at the same time, pulling the glove off and tossing it to the floor.

The first smack startled her, stinging and heating her ass up fast.

"O-one," Marley managed.

His hand smoothed over the sting before gliding down towards her center that had grown embarrassingly wet.

"Relax," he whispered.

Maybe this isn't a good idea considering what happened to her before.

Taking a deep, calming breath, Marley waited, hoping she wasn't disappointing him.

She was almost surprised when he landed the second strike. It was much lighter than the first one.

"Two," she said with more confidence.

The next four swats she made it through, noticing that her core had begun to ache right along with her ass. The fabric covering his thigh was sporting a wet spot now, she could feel it. On the seventh blow, a moan tore from her throat before she could mutter the number.

Marley could feel the tension in his body, knew from his thoughts he was barely holding on to his control because he was so turned on, so pleased by the scene. She wondered if he'd get to step two of his plan or just throw her back on the bed and fuck her as he was considering.

The instant she managed the word ten, he was hauling her back on to the bed, leaving her curled up in its center as he jumped up to rummage through the bottom drawer of his dresser. The silver arm flashed in the faint light as he pulled out several items and came back to the bed.

His expression was so serious, he looked every inch the soldier. Yet he trembled slightly as he first firmly grabbed her left wrist and bound it to the bed using a silk tie. Not as much as she was but the tremor was there. He avoided looking into her eyes as he secured her other arm, her legs. Marley was spread wide across the bed before him and he surveyed his work from between her legs on the bed.

"You look so beautiful, Marley, all spread out and waiting for me." When he looked into her eyes, he smiled. "Remember those safe words we talked about?"

She nodded.

"Traffic lights, okay? If I ask for a color, green is good, yellow is slow down. Red means stop. If you don't answer, I'll stop. Do you understand?"

Marley put enthusiasm in her nod. At the moment, she'd agree to anything if he would just end the terrible ache he'd caused deep inside her.

Bucky chuckled. I love her so much.

"Color?"

"Green."

He crawled up her body gracefully. His hips pressed down on her needy core and he planted his elbows on either side of her ribs. Hovering above her, he made her feel surrounded. And something about her being naked beneath him was really driving her insane.

His beautiful face was framed by the length of his dark hair, his pupils were blown wide. When she rolled her hips up against him to relieve some of the pressure, he smiled that evil smile he had.

"Someone is impatient," he whispered against her lips.

Then he claimed her mouth in a searing kiss as his hands smoothed over her breasts, her shoulders. Those lips scorched a path down over her jaw, down to one of her breasts. When he shifted down the bed and his flesh hand found its way to the soaked flesh between her legs, he moaned.

Those magical fingers worked her, teased her. Marley began to fight against her bonds as first one then two fingers slid easily into her. Bucky worked those fingers into her, making the craving so much worse. By the time he dropped his mouth to close around her clit, a sharp cry ripped from her throat.

She was so close. But could she…?

"Nuh-uh." It was as if he knew she was close. "You can't come yet."

When a third finger pushed in and his sinful tongue began really dancing over her clit, Marley was seriously wondering if she could burn her way out of her bonds. She was that desperate.

When she glanced up at the tie binding her left wrist, a gentle hand that had her intimate scent on it, gently grabbed her chin, directing him to look at him. And he was now a lot closer than she thought.

"Don't even think about it," he warned her playfully.

Marley laughed breathlessly, she couldn't help it. Instead of taking her to task for it, he was working at the fastenings of his pants, roughly shoving them down and pushing inside of her with one rough push. Marley blew out an exhale, her walls clamping down on him hard in relief.

"Do that again," he whispered.

Marley did and just like that his control snapped. Bucky began thrusting into her wildly, stretching her in a way that was ecstasy tinged with the slightest pain. His hands under her back, hooked around her shoulders to pull her down when he thrust up. Marley fought hard not to come, distracting herself with watching how he lost control over her. She did that to him. His expression was pure bliss as he let go of everything but her, his movements strong and more random by the second.

"Come," he ordered her.

And she did, holding onto her bonds for dear life as she screamed her way through the powerful tremors that devastated her body. Bucky watched her, waiting until she was blissed out before he tightened around her, pulsed inside her, and growled out his own release, his final thrusts strong enough to hurt a little but honestly not enough to pierce the veil of her euphoria.

Bucky kept his weight off her as he fought to catch his breath. Less than a minute had passed when he pulled himself up, gently going down the bed to untie her ankles. Marley melted a little when he picked up each one in gentle hands, looking for injuries. He did the same thing with her wrists, dropping kisses like gentle rain on her face and breasts as he did. Her right wrist had him frowning.

"I'm sorry, doll." He kissed that one. "That might mark up."

"Are you okay?" he whispered.

Out of habit, she nodded.

"You can talk now, baby," Bucky pulled her up into his arms. "I missed you so much. I love you."

"I love you," she whispered into his chest.

Bucky tipped her chin up to look at him. "You sure you're okay?" His expression was serious, guilt for his selfish desires floated around his mind.

"I'm very happy right now," Marley was honest. "It drove me completely crazy, but I get it now. By the time you let me come, I thought I'd pass out."

"Don't do or say anything just to make me happy," he told her.

Marley shook her head. "I won't."

"Have you been training much since we've been gone?"

"A little. Not with my powers though. Tony asked me the same thing earlier. He said he wanted me to go to medical before I do next to get my stats checked. You know, to do an inactive and active comparison."

He nodded. "That's good."

If something were wrong, Stark would know it. Stark would tell me.

Before she could think about pursuing that, Bucky gently picked her up in his arms. "Let me get us cleaned up," Bucky whispered, pressing a kiss into her hair.

Marley sighed happily, deciding, yeah, she'd keep playing along.