Bucky swipes a hand over his face and turns his gaze outside the aircraft’s window. The dark and angry sky works in sync with the fog that has settled in his mind.
“Hey,” Sam calls and throws him a chocolate bar from the other side, “Why the long face? We missed him this time, but we’re close…”
Him… Ripping the candy’s package with his teeth, Bucky holds back the will to scoff at the assumption. They had gotten a lead that the Power Broker had been operating in the States for a while now, mostly messing with U.S. government operations. But when they got to the location, they found nothing there. It didn’t seem to be unoccupied for too long, though.
“Yeah… at least you got to keep the shield this time,” Bucky adds, nodding at said shield resting next to Sam. He chews his chocolate, ignoring the pointed look that Sam throws at him.
Putting down the backpack that holds the wings beside him, Torres chuckles at Bucky’s remark on that one time when they got close enough to the masked figure that they assumed to be the Power Broker, only for Sam to have his shield stolen.
The look on his face had made Bucky laugh for days. It had only been topped by the line of curses that flew out Cap’s mouth when they found the shield waiting for them as soon as they arrived at the new Avengers compound’s door. No footage of the delivery guy was ever found.
“At least it has a tracker now,” Torres adds, tapping on a mildly annoyed Sam’s shoulder and taking a seat beside him, “It was long overdue.”
“Yeah… That lead seemed legit, though… I don’t understand what’s happening here. It’s the third time this month.”
“Do you think we’re being played, Cap?” Torres asks.
Bucky shifts on his seat, keeping his gaze away from Sam.
“I don't know… but, hey, at least for today, the mission is over. You two wanna hang out at the compound? Katy and Shang-Chi are in town. There'll be burgers and karaoke. Don’t look at me like that.” Sam throws the whole bag of chocolate at Bucky, making him dodge it. “Everyone knows you turn into the Karaoke’s Sorcerers Supreme as soon as you get that bottle Thor has left in the cellar for you. God knows what that is.”
“Fine, fine.” Bucky laughs, “I’ll be there,” he answers at the same time he grabs his phone to check the notification that has just popped up. He clears his throat, quickly erasing the text. “Gotta drop by somewhere else first, though.”
“Hmmm,” Sam teases, nudging Torres, who just holds back a laugh. “He’s been like that lately; All sneaky and blushy. It’s that cute waitress at Izzy, isn’t it? What’s her name again?”
“Miss None of your goddamn business,” Bucky shoots back with a mouthful of chocolate.
“Alright, man,” Sam laughs, lifting his arms in a peace sign, “As long as it’s not my sister, we’re good.”
~~~
The elevator sends him straight to the presidential suite. He was already expected at the hotel. No questions were asked, and he was sent up right away, as usual, even though he’s never been there, in that specific hotel. It’s always a different place, after all.
But he’s always expected.
His heart races in anticipation as the ding of the opening doors rings. He takes in a deep breath before stepping into the suite. The doors close behind him. The lights are dim, but he can see how ridiculously luxurious the room is as his eyes roam around quickly, not detaining his look on anything in particular. He doesn’t care about any of that, and he knows she doesn’t either, even though she’s the one who’s always in charge of choosing the place. Sometimes they end up in fancy hotel rooms like that. Other times it’s a shitty one-room in the worst parts of the city. He never questions why she chooses the places she chooses, and frankly, he doesn’t care. All he cares about is where and when.
“You look like shit…” Her voice meets his senses before he sees her. He then spots her silhouette by the bar across the room, which he bets is loaded with the Irish whiskey she likes so much. She’s pouring some in one glass and then another when he starts stepping towards her. “Tough mission?” She asks in a taunting tone. In a tone that is all her when she wants to tease, especially him.
A tone that is all Sharon Carter.
He continues stepping closer, taking a better look at Sharon through the shades of the low lights.
His breath catches in his throat.
As she sips from her glass, she offers the other in her hand to him. She looks like a vision wearing an unbuttoned white oversized shirt over her black lingerie. Barefoot on the carpet, the blond waves over her shoulders with a smirk on her lips.
“Huh…” His eyes rise to hers. His voice comes out raspy, breathless almost, “Yeah, I guess you can say that… tough mission.”
“Aww… poor thing.” She pouts, tilting her head, “C’mere, let me give you a hug.” She then places the glasses in her hands on the bar and opens her arms, waving him in.
Bucky ignores the mock behind her words as well as her smirk and steps closer, letting her circle her arms around his neck while he places his hand on each side of her bare waist under her open shirt. His eyes only leave hers when they flutter close at the feeling of the brush of her fingers on his neck, travelling to his jaw, cheeks, nose and then mouth.
His lips open at their own will, and then the feel of her fingers is replaced by the light brush of her mouth on his. Just hovering… barely there…teasing… she’s always teasing...
That’s why Bucky relishes the way she gasps in surprise when his hands travel to her ass. Breathing heavily, she leans in and her tongue darts out to lick his neck as he grabs and strokes her flesh, feeling her firm buttocks under his hands and the warmth of her mouth on his skin. The space between her neck and shoulder is exposed to him… her adorable freckles there, the ones he’s been silently counting when she has her back to him, sleeping after a night like the one they’re about to have. He can’t help but graze his teeth over her shoulder.
“Bucky…”
The whisper of his name makes him turn and swiftly grab her lips in a demanding kiss. Keeping his flesh hand on her ass, he pulls her to him with his metal one on her waist. She yelps and chuckles through the kiss but moans when he does that thing with his tongue that drives her wild.
In moments like this, when he has her warm and soft skin on his, when the taste of her lips dominates his senses and when she sounds so pretty because he’s touching her just the way she likes, nothing else matters. Not his or her past, not what she had to do and become to survive in a world that has treated her as an enemy while she watched others who’s done worse becoming heroes. Not that he’s been lying to his best friend, or that she used to be his other best friend’s girl. The old bastard.
Nothing else matters.
He knows who she is. Or at least what people call her without knowing who’s behind the name. The Powerbroker. He doesn’t have proof and doesn’t know her reasons nor the truth behind it all. It’s just a feeling in his gut and a twist in his chest. They don’t talk about it. Not anymore. The one time he tried to confront her, he ended up with his head between her legs. The first time. Their first time. They haven’t stopped since.
He allows his hand to leave her ass to explore all of her body, her familiar curves, tiny little hairs rising under his touch. He wonders if he’ll ever get tired of feeling her that way. He doesn’t know when they did that, but they’re now both kneeling on the fluffy carpet, never breaking the touches on one another.
She’s the one who breaks the kiss, just when he had started pushing her shirt away from her shoulder to remove it. Her eyelids are heavy, just like her breathing, and she smiles almost innocently, lying down on the carpet before him. She has her hands over her bare stomach and her knees up, legs opening for him, and Bucky is sure she’s the most ethereal thing he’s ever laid eyes on.
In a daze, he runs the tip of his fingers up her calf and then up her thigh, noticing the whimper slipping from her lips. Following the path of his finger with his eyes, he brushes her covered pussy and reaches for the hem of her black underwear.
“Huh huh.” Her foot presses against his chest, stopping him, and he looks down at her, “Gentlemen first… be the good boy I know you are,” she whispers, breathing deeply after releasing her lower lip from her teeth and pulling the fabric of his t-shirt with her toes to show him what she wants.
And Bucky has still to deny her anything, so, like the good boy she likes him to be, he stands up. He starts by removing his jacket, movements deliberately slow and stare trained on her enticing figure, laying down before him, legs wide open and hands dancing around her bare stomach, staring back at him with sheer desire. His pants are tight against him.
When he throws the jacket on the floor and pulls his t-shirt up, exposing his upper body, she sighs, and her hands dance a little further down her belly. His gaze follows when she dips it below her underwear, and he starts unfastening his belt and zipper. His mouth is dry as she lets out a moan. He can see the movements of her fingers under the black fabric, and he can’t help but lick the palm of his flesh hand and wrap it around himself while, using his one free hand, he awkwardly resumes removing his clothes, desperately needing some kind of touch to ease his aching. Entranced by her, he kneels again after stepping out of his trousers.
“Bucky,” Her fingers speed up while her eyelids are heavy. “C’mere…” She sighs as she pulls her hand from underneath her panties.
His heart hammers against his chest in a mysterious way when she says his name like that. He removes his hand from his aching cock to support himself, hovering on top of her with both hands on the floor, caging her body between his arms. When she brings her fingers to his mouth, he gladly accepts the offer, sucking them clean, his eyes fluttering close at the heaven of her taste.
He moves his lips to her neck when she pulls her hand and brings it between the two of them. A moan slips from his mouth to her skin, and she wraps her soft fingers around his cock. Panting, he nuzzles his forehead on her shoulder as she starts stroking him, ever so slowly. A sweet torture.
“Hmm… So damn hard for me. What a good… good boy,” she whispers against his ear and Bucky whimpers, concentrating all his efforts not to come right there and then in her hand at her words and touch. “So damn pretty and hard for me.” She continues her chant of praises while Bucky pants and thrusts his hips against her hand, darting out his tongue to lick her neck before looking down to see her delicate hand around his cock. “I’ve been thinking about this all day.” She removes her hand from him and pulls the fabric of her underwear, covering her core, to the side.
Not wasting another minute, Bucky reaches down and aligns himself to her entrance. She’s so wet…completely soaked. And in a swift and rushed move, he’s completely inside her. They both gasp, and their open mouths barely touch. Her hand now tightly fisted in his hair. He loves that part. When they’re both getting reacquainted with the sensation of one another. Her silky walls clenching around him, getting used to his size. Her body molding to his, the water gathering in the corner of her glazed eyes, the little droplets of sweat threatening to run down her forehead, the deep movement of her chest. Fuck… He loves this part, and of their own will, his hips start moving slow and gentle thrusts, savoring the warm and wet sensation of her.
But she’s having none of that.
The grasp on his hair tightens, pulling a hiss out of him while a fire runs down his skin. She grabs a handful of his ass with her other hand. “Fuck me hard, Barnes, like only you can.” She demands through gritted teeth.
And if that’s what she wants, that's what she gets.
She cries out a curse, wrapping her legs and arms around him as his thrusts become deep, rough and fast. Just the way she likes it. He pulls the front of her bra down and ravishes her breasts, grabbing, sucking, licking, pinching, and biting the soft and hot flesh. She shows her appreciation through the incoherent noises coming out of her mouth, and he doesn’t hold back. The thought of leaving his mark on her skin makes him twitch and become even harder inside her. He speeds up his pace making her body jerk on the floor. He loves that she tightens her hold on his body, seeking a way to hold herself up.
With a particularly deep thrust and his teeth on her shoulder, her legs start trembling, and with a loud chant of fucks, she comes all around him. She always finishes fast when he fucks her like that, but Bucky never gets tired of how her body responds to the pleasure he provides her. He leans back to watch her while he keeps the thrust of his hips through her orgasm. Her walls gripping him, hair sticking to her forehead, limbs shaking, face flushed, and the corner of her lips lifting into a blissful smile.
He's so fucked.
Bucky leans down, wanting nothing more than to kiss her, but she’s not done with him. Smirking and pushing his chest, she nudges him with her hips. He follows her lead, allowing her to change position, so he lays with his back on the floor while she straddles his hips. His cock had slipped out of her from the movement, but she doesn’t waste time putting him inside her again and starts riding him.
Bucky’s hand goes to her hips, but stays still; she’s the one controlling the rhythm and taking his breath away. In this position, he gets a better look at her, still with her shirt around her shoulders and her bra gathered underneath her bouncing tits. Wanting to see as much of her as he can, he rips her panties and shoves the tiny piece of fabric away, making her giggle like an angel while doing unspeakable and devilish things with her hips on him.
She looks stunning, riding his cock with fervor, shutting her eyes as she rolls her hips, adjusting herself on him, “Such a great dick… feels so good,” she whispers, eyes squeezed shut, it looks like she’s talking more to herself than to him, but even so, his cock twitches and her chest swells with pride at her praise and her sight.
A tiny gasp from her tells him she’s found her favorite position, the one that allows him to reach that spot of hers, and he thrusts up harder and faster, matching the sway of her hips. All he wants is to give it to her. In these stolen moments between them, she can use his body, his whole self, in every way she wants and needs.
Digging her hands on his pecks, she leans down, rubbing herself on his pelvis, his stomach, wherever she can reach, frantically seeking another release. When he brings his metal fingers to her clit, longing to help her in her mission, she places her hand on top of his, using her fingers to guide his movements and pressure, moaning deeply, when they find the right pace together.
If Bucky has learned anything in those times they spend together, it’s that Sharon Carter is not one to shy away from taking control of her own pleasure, and he’s more than happy to help her in that task in any way she needs him to. In all honesty, he’s never met anyone like her in bed, and he’s not sure if it has something to do with women’s attitude towards sex nowadays or if it’s something inherently hers. He wouldn’t know.
All he knows right now is that his body is on flames for her and she’s close. He feels it coming in the way her pace falters and how her pussy clenches fast against him. She guides his finger to flick her clit in a certain way, and that’s it. Her whole body trembles with her second orgasm, her lips take the form of a silent cry, and then that delicious smile of hers curls up.
Still rolling her hips against his, but in a much more languid way, she looks down at him while locks of her hair fall down her face. Her smile widens, and then she speeds up her pace again. Bucky could spend his life watching and feeling her like this, but she has had her way already. Twice.
Now she’s gonna give him his way.
With both hands on the sides of her waist, he forces her to slow down right before he sits up, curling his metal arm around her to keep the connection of their bodies. She doesn’t protest the change of positions, wrapping her arms around his neck and lifting her knees. He has her so close to him. He keeps the sway of his hips slow, feeling her around him while their panting mouths brush against each other until she closes the little distance between them and kisses him. Slowly, sweetly, savoring him, clouding his mind and filling up his chest with that now familiar feeling that pours inside him every time he’s with her.
The atmosphere in the room shifts from pure lust to something more. He has had her in many ways up till that time, and he loves every one of them, but there’s something about having her like this, so close, her whole body around his, that makes his heart clench in a painful and wonderful way. He hasn’t been guiding her hips anymore, she’s moving and rocking herself against him in the way he likes, slowly and softly. She parts from his lips to pepper sweet little kisses on his cheeks, eyes, nose, his whole face...
Breathless, speechless, lost in her, his hand goes to the back of her neck, and he guides their foreheads to rest together, eyes focused on each other. She moans, and he can feel her fluttering around his cock.
“Bucky…” a low whisper comes out of her lips as her eyes shut. She wraps her feet behind his back, “Baby…”
That’s what does it for him. Her soft voice calling him baby in such a sweet manner for the first time with his cock buried deep inside her. His hips stutter and then freeze while the intense pleasure and warmth runs up his body, head to toe, and he holds her tight against him, spilling his climax inside her, a series of strangle moans coming out of him.
She doesn’t make any move to leave his embrace right away, and they stay there, holding each other, cheek to cheek, panting lungs and fervent skin. When their breaths ease down, Bucky moves to lie back on the floor, taking her with him.
After a few more minutes of laying on top of him, she props her hand on the floor for support and leans back, peeling herself off of him and dropping her body on the carpet beside him. He looks at her, and she looks at him. At her sight, completely spent and in a daze, but with a smile forming on her lips, Bucky’s heart seems it’s going to flee of his chest, and his smile mirrors hers.
In silence, his gaze follows her when she then stands up, heading to the bathroom, coming back just for a second to throw him a warm and wet hand towel so he can clean himself up. He does that, and his eyes follow her back to the bathroom again until they flutter close. At some point, he’ll have to do something about these feelings creating turmoil inside him… for her… just for her. But for now, he allows his mind and whole body to relax, savoring the sensation of just having had her.
He doesn’t know how much time passes until his eyes open again. She’s back, laying beside him on the floor, refreshed and dressed in a gray nightshirt he’s already seen in her, the one written “Let’s taco about it” with an image of a taco instead of the word in the phrase. He holds back a smile and extends his arm so she can get cozy. That she does, wrapping her arm around his waist, resting her head on his chest and folding a leg on top of his.
Damn him for feeling so safe when she cuddles him like that. It’s not something she does all the time, and Bucky can’t help but feel there’s something different about her tonight. She’s not easy to figure out, not at all. But little by little, he’s been starting to get her. A little thought pops into his mind: the more he understands Sharon, the less he understands him…
Steve.
How could he have done what he did? How could he have left her like that? He knows there was something between them. She never says anything. She doesn’t even say his name out loud, at least not to him, Bucky. But he remembers Steve talking about her the times they saw each other in Wakanda. He knows that Steve and Sharon used to meet whenever they could while on the run. Steve talked about her with enthusiasm and a gleam in his eyes that he had never seen him talking about anyone before. She was important to Steven, he knew that much. That’s why he doesn’t understand why his friend never asked her to follow him after Vienna and why he did what he did when he put the stones back. He has to hold back from asking the few times he gets to see him, but he won’t talk about her with him. He wouldn’t dare.
He looks down at Sharon, snuggled into him, and his fingers navigate on their own to play with her hair, bringing out a satisfied sigh from her. Sometimes he wants her to open up to him, maybe they could find a way…
But something has broken inside her. He knows because he’s broken too. If only she would let him in the same way he craves and is ready to let her in…
“How’s Sam?” Her sweet voice takes him out of his reverie.
He scoffs, “You didn’t have to do that with his shield that time, you know that, right?” It slips out of his lips before his mind gets a chance to stop him. He doesn’t stop playing with her hair but holds his breath.
To his absolute surprise, she giggles, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Her tone is playful.
Bucky lets out his breath. Yes, there’s definitely something different about her tonight. Something that brings a touch of bravery inside him, just enough for him to keep going further, testing the waters.
“Sharon…” he whispers, while his fingers slide from her hair to caress her arm, the one she’s keeping wrapped around him.
“Hmm…”
He takes in a breath, “One of these days, we… or someone else… will end up catching you.”
He feels it. The way her body tenses up… and he holds her tight, his thumb drawing circles on her forearm. It seems to do the trick as she relaxes against him again.
Silence settles in the hotel room, and Bucky has already given up getting a comeback from her, when barely a whisper comes out of her lips. “One of these days, I might just let you.”
His chest tightens. He had no idea what to expect from his attempt to make her talk about that. It’s the first time she’s come close to acknowledging it, and as much as he’s afraid of what may come next, he doesn’t wanna screw up that opportunity.
“Talk to me…”
He feels the shift in her demeanor right away, as her body stiffens again and her breathing halts for a second.
She swiftly slips away from his arms and sits up, her back to him as she speaks, “You should go.”
He immediately sits up behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder, “Sharon, come on… it’s not too late. We can still-”
“You should go.” Her tone is harder as she flinches away from his touch, unaware of the pain she inflicts on his chest. “Sam’s waiting for you with hamburgers and karaoke at the compound.”
He sighs, letting his head fall. Of course, she knows about that.
“Sharon…”
“Just fucking go, Barnes.” She looks back at him, a harsh look on her face. One that he has never seen directed at him before. Not even when they first saw each other again in Madripoor after so long.
He takes one last glance at her back before standing up and gathering his clothes from the floor to go change in the bathroom. He knows this battle is lost.
When he comes back to the room, fully dressed, she’s gotten up from the floor and is now laying on the California king-size bed. A blanket covering her body. Her back still to him.
He walks to the side of the bed and stands there for a moment facing her back, waiting for something, anything, some kind of sign, maybe….
She doesn’t turn or talk to him. He lets out a sigh, “Ok, then. Bye, Sharon,” he says, almost a whisper, before starting to walk towards the door.
“Bucky?”
He halts and turns immediately to the sound of her voice.
She’s sitting on the bed now, looking at him. The expression on her face just as vulnerable as the sound of her voice calling his name. Her eyes, red-rimmed. Bucky knows he’s the one at fault for making her feel that way, and he hates that. But also, it’s the most of her she has ever shown to him. Her truth. There’s a plea on her face, a question that doesn’t reach her parted lips.
But she doesn’t have to say anything. Not to him.
In two long strides, he’s close to her again. He pulls out his shoes and climbs on the bed beside her. As he does so, she lays back on the mattress again, putting her hand on top of his when he pulls her to him with an arm around her waist, molding her back to his chest.
He holds her tight, nuzzling his nose in her hair before placing a kiss on the back of her neck, hoping that somehow that gives her an answer to her silent question, praying that she believes him.
Yes, he will stay.
No matter what.