Harper had to suppress a giggle at the hasty pace James had adopted. They were walking up the street toward their apartment building, their hands clasped tightly in the small space between them. The night air was quite chilly against her flushed skin, but she hardly minded. Her mind was too busy turning over the possibilities of where their night was headed.

She glanced to the side, noticing the slight bulge in his jeans was still present. Her tongue eagerly flicked across her lower lip. Not only had the night been surprisingly fun, but she thought perhaps it was just getting started.

The couple had soon entered their building and stepped into the elevator. Harper watched James shift impatiently from foot to foot as they made their slow ascent. As soon as the doors slid open, he tugged at her hand again and led the way down the hallway. His metal hand groped in his back pocket for his key, hastily shoving it in the lock when they arrived at their unit.

Harper bent to scoop up Aslan as James closed and locked the door behind him. She carried the orange feline to the kitchen, cuddling him and peppering his face with kisses all the while. From behind her, she could hear the former soldier shedding his shoes and his jacket. Once the old cat had gobbled up several treats, Harper turned and went to the living room. She opened the curtains in the window and settled Aslan in his window seat. His big green eyes went wide, his pupils dilating as he gazed with rapt attention at all of the flickering lights below.

James was evidently satisfied that Aslan was distracted, because his arms slipped around her. His lips descended to her shoulder, placing kisses there before he nuzzled his nose in her hair.

"Please tell me you're sober," he practically begged.

"Completely," she confirmed. "I stopped drinking after those initial shots at the club and sweat it all out. By the way, my hair must be gross."

He tightened his arms around her when she tried to squirm away. Voice husky, he said, "I intend to make you sweat for a whole other reason."

A giggle burst from her lips when James hoisted her up in his arms, bee-lining for the bedroom. He kicked the door shut behind them before tossing her to the bed. His blue eyes roamed her form with a hunger in them which prompted a throbbing between her thighs. Then his gaze flicked downward and he hastily moved to remove her boots.

Unzipping the shoe, he said, "You are so sexy, doll."

She shooed him away with a wave of her hand, pulling her other boot and socks off for herself, saying, "Thanks, hun. You look so fuckin' good, too. Had to grind up on you to let all your oglers know you're taken."

"My oglers?" he asked, brows shooting upward as he sat beside her.

"Yeah, all the women who were shooting you flirty looks at the bar? Flipping their hair and batting their lashes at you on the dance floor?"

"You sure?"

"Positive!" Harper nodded emphatically.

"Huh."

"You're taken," she reminded.

"Happily," he agreed with a gentle smile. Voice dropping, he added, "I'd like to take you shortly."

"That's my hope, too."

Needing no further prompting, James connected their lips with a heat that stole her breath. Harper wrapped her arms around his shoulders, drawing him closer. His arm reached around her, hand flattening against the mattress and effectively caging her when he leaned further into her. Her lips turned upward against his, her fingers running across his shoulders and down to his equally broad chest. It still stunned her that such a gorgeous man was hers to touch.

And touch she did. She slid her palms beneath the hem of his t-shirt, running up over the ridges of his abdomen. His skin was soft and deliciously smooth. He shivered beneath her touch. A sharp nip at her lip prompted her to part them. Her mouth was soon awash with his taste and the sharp flavor of gin. Harper wondered fleetingly if he could taste the rum on her tongue.

Increasingly impatient fingers pushed his t-shirt upward, encouraging him to pull away and tug it off over his head. Her eyes roamed the skin she had been enjoying, taking in the sharp lines of defined muscles and the starburst of pink and white scars stretching from his shoulder across his pectoral. Harper leaned forward, dropping kisses to the damaged skin and across the seam of flesh and metal. A shuddering breath rattled in his chest.

In a beat, Harper found herself pressed into the duvet. Cool metal digits brushed the skin of her abdomen as they fingered the crisscrossing fabric there. James lowered his lips to her ear. Voice low, he said, "I wanna see all of your beautiful body, doll."

She grasped the bottom hem of the strappy top and wriggled it up and off. His eyes widened in surprise. "I didn't think you had a number like this."

"I didn't until recently," she admitted with a shy smile. "But you saw my green set, so…"

His lips slammed against hers, a clear approval of the white bra with intricate floral lace across the cups and matching scalloping at their edges. It wasn't a push-up, but the underwire and padding certainly deepened her natural cleavage. His hands found her breasts without delay as he moved to perch on top of her. She couldn't help but smile again as he began to squeeze, lift, and knead in the way she knew he liked. There was no denying his affinity for breasts; everything in the way he touched hers spoke of his wonder and attraction.

His metal hand slipped beneath her back, flicking the clasp open before tugging the garment off and tossing it over the edge of the bed. Blue eyes shining with lusty intentions, James said, "Sorry for not appreciating it more. But fuck I need to see you."

Heat rushed to her cheeks, so Harper used a hand at the back of his neck to tug his lips back to hers. He made no complaint, kissing back while his hands groped and teased the newly revealed flesh. Harper waited patiently for him to get his fill and begin to touch her in the particular way that she enjoyed. She wasn't big on breast stimulation, but he had figured out how to flick her nipples in a way that did send pleasant jolts to her center. She would never voice her disinterest in having her chest touched; he enjoyed it far too much to risk him stopping for her sake. Besides, he eventually always gave her what she liked.

Harper hummed when his thumb teased the very tip of one hard nub, arching her back to push herself closer to him.

"You like that, darlin'?" he practically purred against her lips.

The brunette nodded and maneuvered one arm between them, mischievous fingers finding the hardness in his jeans. James let out a groan at her soft touch, the glances of the pads of her fingers across the denim.

"Harper," he beathed, face falling to the curve of her shoulder.

"Hmm?"

"It's… it's been a while. If you tease me, I won't last."

"Then I suggest you take your pants off."

The dark haired soldier leaned back on his haunches, quickly undoing the button and tugging down the fly of his jeans. With his ever remarkable speed, he shed the remainder of his clothes, casting them away before hastily tugging at her jeans, which she had thus far only managed to unfasten.

The white lacey fabric hidden beneath the denim seemed to also be to his liking, judging by the gleam in his eyes and the light flush of his cheeks. "Is that…?"

Feeling emboldened by the way his cock was already dripping with his arousal, Harper flipped herself over on her knees, elbows placed to help her arch her back in a way she hoped was sexy. The position answered his unfinished question, her bottom bare but for a dangerously thin strip of fabric. His hands found her flesh again, squeezing.

Harper gasped in surprise when she felt his metal fingers pull her thong to the side so his flesh ones could skim up and down her slit.

"Fuck, always so wet for me," he muttered reverently, fingers dipping between her lips. Her core throbbed with anticipation and need.

His fingers drifted to her clit, pressing deftly. The new position elicited a different sensation. As he circled, she realized it was almost a duller, slower building pleasure. Her frustration mounted as the ache went unsoothed, and she found herself wiggling her hips in a desperate bid for more.

"Holy shit, Harper," James moaned. His hands left her to take perch on her hips. "Is this okay?"

It took her irritated mind a moment to understand his question. With a nod, she breathed, "Yeah. Yeah, it's fine. Fuck, James, I need more."

"Are you wet enough?"

"I think so…?"

"Hang on."

She watched him reach across the bed to her nightstand. As he rooted around her drawer for the bottle of lube, she quickly pulled the last remaining article of clothing from her body. With a flick of her ankle, it was gone and the dark haired man was behind her again. His fingers returned to her womanhood, adding to the slick that was already present. Even his quick touch set the flame in her belly roaring with need.

Then his tip was at her entrance and her breath was caught in her throat. James placed both hands on her hips, holding her still as he slowly pushed forward. She clenched her teeth against the uncomfortable stretch that came with accommodating him. It hadn't been painful for a long time, but it was always a lot. More so since it had been so long. And when she felt certain he had to be fully sheathed, he kept pushing even deeper. Overwhelmed with the fullness, she gasped and her shoulders drooped, dropping her face to the duvet.

A sculpted chest and rippling abdomen pressed against her back as James leaned down over her. A moment later, a gentle hand was tugging at her shoulder, prompting her to push herself back up. James's metal hand had pulled one of his pillows toward them and carefully situated it beneath her.

Unable to quite keep the fear from his voice, he asked, "Did I hurt you?"

Harper shook her head in the negative, burying her face in the pillow. His flesh hand stroked her back, travelling up and down the length of her spine. He remained hard inside her, but didn't move. After several moments, the deluge of sensation had fizzled out enough that she could once again form words. "I'm okay, James."

His palm made a few more circuits over her skin before returning to her hip. Harper's brows scrunched. The need was once again throbbing behind her clit, detracting slightly from the intense fullness. Slowly, he shifted back. Her fingers fisted in the pillow as her walls clenched around his withdrawing member, holding tight to him. With a forward snap of his hips, he impaled her on his cock again. He moaned above her, fingers digging into her skin. The slight pinch of pain distracted her from the warring feelings between her legs.

The rigid heat repeatedly parting her folds fanned the burn in her belly. The feeling of thick thighs banded in tight muscle hitting the backs of hers only added fuel to the fire. Tears stung her eyes and desperate fingers reached for her clit. She circled the bud quickly, sighing in relief.

Drifting along in a fog of pleasure, she was dimly aware when James began to pump his hips faster. The pressure between her legs was no longer too intense; it was a perfect accompaniment to her fingers on her sensitive button. The spring inside her was slowly winding ever tighter.

Harper moaned when James's hands left her hips and dropped to the bed on either side of the pillow, caging her beneath him and hitting a new angle inside her. His sweat slicked skin slid across hers as he continued to move. She could feel his muscles flexing and contracting against her back and through the fog she wondered again what she had done to attract such a beautiful man.

And a giving one, too. As his hips turned more urgent, his fingers swatted hers away, replacing them on her clit. Both her fists clenched in the pillow now, a panting breath parting her lips and getting muffled in it. She loved the way his thicker fingers could work the center of her pleasure, stoking the already raging flames. His breath, labored and intermingled with soft moans, fanned across her nape. A shudder ran down her spine and her teeth tightly clenched around her lower lip.

James slammed home one more time, a strangled cry rising up from his chest. His cock pulsed, hard and hot. For a moment, he felt impossibly thicker until she felt the first spurt of his release. A primal part of her thrilled at the feeling of satisfying him and of taking his cum. The continued flicking of her clit with the new twitching of his cock as he flooded her with his warmth sent her over the edge. Waves of pleasure pulsed in her core, her body tightening with the intensity. As she sailed over the peak, immense relief washed through her form, and she gasped as her body went limp and fuzzy.

Harper was vaguely aware of James collapsing to his side, wrapping his arms around her and shifting her along with him in the process. Somehow, he managed to remain buried inside her. The sound of their panting breaths filled the room, mingling pleasantly with the sounds of the city that were a constant backdrop.

Ever quick to bounce back, James recovered first. He peppered kisses along her shoulder and in her hair. Harper felt her lips turn upward in a tired smile. Not once had she felt hesitant or thought any troubling thoughts, and she was happy. She didn't want anything to mess up one of the ways they felt closest.

"I love you, Harper," he muttered into her dark waves.

"I love you, too, James."


Sam: You enjoy the rest of your night?

Bucky: Don't be annoying.

Sam: Man, we all know you got laid. Don't act all uptight.

Bucky: Or respectful of my partner?

Sam: Uptight. Unlike her. Was I surprised when I saw the way she could move! Never would have thought underneath the conservative therapist was a hot party girl.

Bucky: I'm choosing to ignore that. And are you going to tell me about how things went with Tawny, or just make demands of me?

Sam: Absolutely. Things got hot and heavy on the dance floor, I walked her home, we made out outside her apartment 'til her neighbors caught us, and I got her number before heading back to my hotel. I dunno if it'll go anywhere given the distance, but damn she was sexy and fun.

Sam: I showed you mine, now you show me yours.

Bucky: I didn't think we had that kind of friendship.

Sam: You know what I mean, man.

Bucky: I had a really good night.

Sam: I bet you did.


Kat: Checking in! We all still alive?

Tawny: Alive, but barely if this hangover is any indication.

Harper: Also alive!

Kat: Well, we knew you were. You dragged your hot super soldier outta there early to go bang his brains out. ;P

Tawny: About time, too. You're too young for that kinda dry spell.

Harper: Shut up. You guys know why I was stuck in a dry spell. And it's over now, anyway.

Kat: Woo!

Tawny: How was it?!

Harper: Aren't we too old for this?

Tawny: Sam was gettin' handsy at the club so I let him walk me home. He had me pressed up against my apartment door, kissing me senseless and winning me over with some of the best nipple play I've ever had 'til the sorority girls next door came home and interrupted us.

Kat: And… then you invited him inside to continue?

Tawny: No, I sorta realized I was too drunk for that. Got his digits thoughhhhh ;D

Harper: Sam is a really nice guy, Tawn. Happy you hit it off 3

Tawny: How'd you get home, Kat?

Kat: Well, after Jordan abandoned me to take her own cab home, I luckily had a gentleman who offered to share one with me. Back to his apartment. For some amazing sex.

Tawny: Was this the gentleman you were grinding your ass on or shoving your boobs into all night.

Kat: My ass guy ;)

Harper: Am I reading into that winking face too much?

Kat: Nope. ;) ;) ;)

Kat: You guys should really try it sometime. Shocked Tawny hasn't yet.

Tawny: Dare I ask why it's a shock that I, in particular, haven't taken a dick in the ass?

Kat: You're pretty adventurous, Miss I-Love-A-Good-Threesome! Versus Harper, our simple Missionary Queen with a modest sex toy collection.

Harper: As it turns out, there are good things about doggy, too.

Kat: Our precious Missionary Queen is really branching out! XD

Tawny: All hail our budding sexual adventurer!

Harper: I'm never telling you guys anything ever again.


"You okay, Harper?" Bucky asked, twirling a healthy amount of spaghetti around his fork.

"Yeah, fine. Why?" she responded with a forced smile.

"You seem troubled. Was last night… not okay?" he worried.

"No!" Harper shook her head emphatically. "No, last night was great!"

"You sure?"

"The club was more fun than I expected and after was… really good," she answered. Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink.

Feeling a bit more reassured, he nodded and placed the forkful of pasta in his mouth.

"But are you bored? Sexually?"

The former soldier spluttered in surprise, immediately choking on his food.

Harper twisted, reaching out a hand to rub his back. "Oh, shit, James! I'm so sorry! Are you alright?!"

"Y-yeah," he rasped, clearing his throat uncomfortably. "Um… where is this coming from, doll?"

Her face darkened to a brilliant red. Not meeting his gaze, she admitted, "Tawny and Kat made me feel a bit paranoid. I realized that we've been together for years and just tried a new position, so…"

He reached over to place a hand on her knee. It was rather convenient that they often ate dinner in the living room, just as they had in Bucharest. "Harper, I'm definitely not bored. We've tried different things!"

"I guess," she sighed gloomily.

"We have," he insisted, squeezing her knee. "And I'm not bored. Promise."

"Okay," she nodded, turning back to the bowl in her hands. "I'm sorry that last night was the first time we've been together in so long."

Bucky's chest throbbed uncomfortably. He hated that sex was still such a point of worry for her, and that there was an even darker layer to her worries now. He leaned over, pressing a kiss to her cheek. Tucking her dark hair behind her ear, he said, "Please don't apologize for anything to do with what happened to you anymore, Harper. You have nothing to be sorry for."

"I know, but…"

"No 'buts'," he said firmly. "Just talk to me when you need to. Ask me for any reassurance you need. Take time and space if you need it. My love for you isn't conditional, hinging on our sex life. Which is decidedly not boring."

Harper offered him a small smile. "Thank you, James."

"What did Tawny and Kat say, anyway?"

Harper answered shyly, "That I'm the Missionary Queen."

Bucky frowned, unable to help but feel slightly offended. "Well, don't get me wrong, I loved last night. But missionary is my favorite."

"Really?"

"Yes! I can see your tits and your pretty face. And… I like being in control," he admitted, cheeks flushing at the vulnerability hidden within his confession.

Her bright eyes missed nothing, flickering back and forth between his for a moment. Finally, she nodded and he had no doubt that she fully understood what he was trying to convey. Control was precious to a man who had none for so long, and he loved when she gave it to him. He loved that he could use that gift to make her feel good, to show her just how much he loved her.

Bucky cleared his throat gruffly. "Anyway, I'm happy with the content of our sex life the way it is. And I truly understand the infrequency, Harper."

"I don't foresee that being as much of a problem anymore," she revealed.

Brows lifting, he asked, "Are you sure?"

"Pretty sure, yes," the brunette nodded. "Last night went much better on my end. I didn't have any issues."

"I'm glad," Bucky responded earnestly. He paused for a moment before asking, "Do you wish we were more adventurous?"

"No," she answered with a quick shake of her head. "It's always really good; I'm happy with the way things are."

A smile pulled at his lips. "I'm happy, too."


A/N: Apologies for still not sticking to a schedule for updates. I hope the spicy citrus makes up for it at least a little!