Chapter Sixty-One
Bucky looked down at the envelope in his hands, feeling both elation and fear at what might be contained inside. Runa and Steve were both looking at him anxiously, hoping for his sake that the contents of the letter would be a blessing and not a curse.
“Whatever that says, you have us.” Steve said quietly. Bucky nodded his head. Runa had been the one to drive the wagon into town for supplies, Happy Sam and Pietro unloading the wagon when she returned. She had passed out the mail after supper as usual, but had kept the letters to Bucky back; giving them to him once she joined him and Steve in the sitting room.
“I know. And I’m glad of that.” He looked up at the two of them and smiled, before he looked back down at the letter from his Ma. He took a deep breath and tore the envelope open. Steve and Runa remained standing near to him, anxious to know what was enclosed in the letter, but both of them relaxed when they saw the apprehension melt away from Bucky’s features to be replaced by a soft smile.
“Ma says that neither of them claims to understand it, but she should have expected us marrying the same woman, since we always did everything else together.” He said, looking up at Steve and Runa. “I don’t think they understood the you and me marrying each other part, but I’m fine with that. If she wants to think it’s just two fools marrying the same woman, that’s close enough for me.”
“Neither of you are fools.” Runa said with a smile, so relieved for Bucky.
“Some days it feels like it.” Bucky confessed, his eyes going back to the letter written in his Ma’s bold handwriting. He stood, “I’m going to finish this upstairs, start writing to them, invite them to come out here.”
Runa smiled. “I hope they say yes. You two are so anxious to get them here, and I want to meet your family.”
Bucky grinned at her. “And from what I’ve read so far, they’re looking forward to meeting you.”
~*~
Bucky sent off his letter, and waited eagerly for a response, but he didn’t expect one before Christmas.
Christmas.
Christmas day, Bucky was the one to wake up early with an enormous grin on his face. Christmas was a day Bucky looked forward to all year. There was something about it that called to him, always had. Maybe it was how hard his parents tried to make it a good day. His parents never worked on Christmas, and they always managed to scrape together the funds for a good Christmas dinner and presents for Bucky and his sisters, and later Steve as well.
Bucky reached over Runa, who was curled up against Steve, who was tangled up with her. Runa always moved to cling to one of them during the night, and Steve had always been a cuddler. Bucky trailed his fingers down Steve’s arm. “Wake up.” Bucky murmured. “It’s Christmas, Stevie.”
Steve didn’t respond, and Bucky frowned, shaking his shoulder. “Steve. Wake up.”
Steve cracked open a bleary eye. “Buck?”
“It’s Christmas.”
Steve groaned, closing his eyes. “Bucky. No.”
“Stevie, yes.”
“It’s not time to wake up yet.”
“There is no sleeping in on Christmas.”
“It’s morning?” Runa asked groggily, not opening her eyes.
“It’s Christmas morning.” Bucky grinned, moving to place kisses on her neck.
“Steve warned me about this last night.” She reached back, shoving Bucky away. “Christmas is for sleeping in.”
“Christmas is for waking up early and exchanging presents.” He reasoned.
“That is when you have children.” She said. “We do not have children yet.”
“Well, if you don’t want to exchange gifts, there’s something else we can do.” Bucky grinned.
“Bucky.” Runa and Steve groaned in unison, their usual insatiable appetites dulled by desire for sleep.
“I’m not going to stop. You can ask Steve.” Bucky tugged lightly on Runa’s braid.
“He’s not going to stop.” Steve agreed, “He’s like this every year. We might as well get up and humor him.”
“I thought we weren’t handing out presents until after dinner.” Runa sighed, sitting up, reluctance in every gesture.
“That’s for everyone else. Not us.” Bucky leaned over and kissed Runa’s cheek. “Come on. Presents and then pancakes.” He slipped from bed and shivered at the slap of cold air against his skin, before lighting the lamp and hurrying to dress. Runa was grumbling as she slipped from the bed and got dressed, as was Steve.
“Come on. It’s Christmas. This only comes once a year.” Bucky pointed out.
“Bucky. We’re awake. We’re getting dressed. What more do you want?” Steve asked.
“For you two to be happy about it?”
Runa stepped over to him, half dressed, and reached up to pull him into a long and lingering kiss. As he ran his hands down her bare arms he could feel the goose bumps she had from the cold air, and he promptly began rubbing her arms, trying to warm her up.
“We’re happy. We’re happy because we’re all together.” She finally said, snuggling close to him a moment, before pulling away. “But we are also cold and tired.”
“It’ll be worth it. I promise.” Bucky said as he released her.
“I believe you.” She said, before hastily dressing in a new dress she had made at Steve and Bucky’s insistence; a soft cornflower blue with a scooped neck that was trimmed with a thin bit of lace and a tiny blue satin ruffle at the neckline. It was nicer than her other day dresses, but not quite as nice as her two challis dresses. A good compromise between a work dress and her Sunday best, perfect for a holiday party with the family. She left her hair in the simple braid she slept in, planning to come back upstairs later to pin it up. Steve and Bucky were also dressing in new shirts and trousers she had made for the both of them to wear; comfortable nankeen trousers for both, a pine green shirt for Bucky, and a shirt the color of the blue field on the flag for Steve, both with black waistcoats, though they didn’t bother with the ties or jackets since they were remaining home that day.
Once they were all dressed, Bucky bounded down the stairs to the sitting room, throwing a log on the fire and stoking it up from banked embers, grinning like a fool to see the stockings that he had insisted they leave out. He knew Runa had filled his and Steve’s before coming to bed, having lingered behind the two men, but what she didn’t know was that when Bucky had slipped from the bed to head to the outhouse in the dark of the night, he had pulled a few things from hiding and added them to her stocking.
“Give me a few minutes.” Runa told Bucky, before slipping from the house to use the outhouse herself. Steve and Bucky took the time to get the gifts they intended to give out of hiding, Runa doing the same while Bucky and Steve took care of their own needs.
When at last they were all settled in the sitting room, Bucky passed out the stockings, and the three dug through them, Runa laughing in delight when she found that hers was not as sparsely filled as she thought it had been. All three stockings held an orange, and five cent bags of mixed candy. Bucky also got a five-cent bag of peppermints while Steve got a five-cent bag of toffee, Runa receiving a twenty-five-cent bag of lemon drops. Runa also found two pairs of kid gloves and half a dozen fine handkerchiefs in her stocking, along with a pair of gold drop earrings and matching locket that made her gasp in surprise. Steve and Bucky had a half dozen each good handkerchiefs and the red, every day sort, gold vest chains, and then a wooden box each that containing a fine pen of jet and gold. There were exclamations of appreciation all around, as well as thanks.
Then it came time to give out proper presents. Steve and Bucky were startled to find they each had two from Runa.
“One is store bought, one is handmade.” She said a little nervously, but eager to watch the two open their gifts. They opened the larger parcels first, pulling back the plain brown paper and twine to reveal scarves and socks knitted in soft red woolen yarn.
“These are perfect, darlin’.” Bucky praised as he fingered the scarf, “It gets pretty cold out there, and we’ll be spending a lot of time with the herds before it warms up.”
Runa’s brow furrowed in confusion.
“Calving season. We breed early, so it starts in February. We keep a close eye on the cattle during that time; make certain everyone comes through it all right.” Steve explained, and Runa smiled to understand.
Then they were opening their smaller packages, each one flipping open cases to reveal gold watches. She was biting her lip nervously as she watched them take out the watches in surprise.
“Sweetheart, this…” Steve was speechless, and then he frowned, seeing the engraving on the back. “To my beloved husband Steve, yours faithfully, Runa.” He read aloud, a soft smile crossing his features.
“Mine had better not say James.” Bucky managed as he flipped his over to check, but Runa could see that he was a little choked up. “To my beloved husband Bucky, yours faithfully, Runa.” He smiled to read it.
“I almost had them write James. It was a difficult choice.” She confessed.
“This is why you got us vest chains. They’re watch chains.” Steve looked to Runa, “These are… This is too much.”
“I could say the same about the jewelry.” She countered, before smiling, “I think we had a conversation about spoiling one another. Christmas is a good time for it.” Neither of them said anything about the choice of words on the engraving, and she felt a little disappointed in that, but told herself that the words would come in time.
“It’s a good thing we didn’t listen to you when you said you didn’t want anything.” Bucky said as he picked up a parcel and handed it to Runa. “That one is from the both of us.”
Runa smiled as she took it, feeling the heft of the package and wondering what on earth was inside. She unwrapped the brown paper and looked at the brown case curiously, opening it slowly and gasping at the silver backed hairbrush and toiletry set. “It’s beautiful.” She told them honestly, looking up at them with a smile, seeing the worry fade from Steve’s face to be replaced with relief. Apparently, he had been just as uncertain as how she would receive the gift as she had been about how they received theirs.
“Here. Open this one next.” Steve said as he passed a flat parcel to Bucky. Bucky opened it eagerly, then let out a low whistle. It was one of Steve’s drawings, charcoal, of Bucky on horseback, framed and set behind glass.
“Stevie, this is amazing.” Bucky praised, inspecting the picture, done with Steve’s usual economy of line, but so very detailed.
“I hoped you’d like it. It isn’t much, but…”
“Steve, it’s perfect.” Bucky assured him. “It’s perfect. And… Well, you’ll see.” Bucky grinned as he passed Steve a bulky package. Steve raised a brow and opened the package, grinning at what he saw. “It’s supposed to be you.” Bucky explained as Steve lifted up a carving of a cowboy on a horse.
“It’s perfect.” Steve grinned over at Bucky. “I don’t see the likeness,” He teased, “But it’s still perfect.”
“They’re both wonderful.” Runa said as Bucky passed his picture to her for her to inspect. “You’re both so talented.”
“Glad you think so, darlin’.” Bucky grinned as he passed her one of the two remaining parcels. She raised her brows, passing him his picture once again as she took the parcel he offered, opening it to reveal a carefully carved decorative hair comb, with a butterfly the centerpiece, the wood sanded and polished to a dull sheen.
“Bucky, its lovely.” Runa breathed as she took the comb and inspected it.
“It’ll look better in your hair.” He pointed out, and she laughed.
“When I go upstairs to pin up my hair, I’ll put it in.” She promised as Steve passed her a flat package, the same size and shape as the one he had given to Bucky. She set aside her comb and opened the package, smiling to find a picture of her with Allegro, the colt pressing his nose into her hand as she lavished him with attention. A scene Steve had seen many times before, and it pleased her to have it captured on paper.
“Steve, it’s perfect.” She grinned up at him. She got up, sweeping through the paper that had fallen to the floor, going to place a kiss on his cheek but he turned his head, stealing a kiss instead. She smiled down at him, then went to do the same to Bucky, who was all too happy to get a kiss.
“You go finish getting ready for the day. We’ll clean up in here.” Steve suggested.
“Thank you.” Runa said, gathering up her toiletry case to carry it upstairs.
~*~
When Runa came back down she had her hair in a new style, using the comb that Bucky had carved to hold her hair in place. She set to work on pancakes, Iris coming in and helping her as she was getting the first batch off the griddle. She set to scrambling eggs and cutting thick slices of bacon to fry up with the pancakes, and soon they had a feast for everyone.
After the breakfast dishes were cleared, away, they went back to work immediately, Pietro and Wanda leaving to spend the holiday with their parents. Bruce arrived shortly before noon, and was called into the sitting room by Titus, who wanted to go up against Bruce in a game of cribbage.
The feast that followed was similar to the one that they had on Thanksgiving, though blackberry wine was on offer as well. After dinner was finished and all the dishes were scrubbed and put away it was time to hand out gifts to the rest of the family, as Runa liked to call them. Everyone got a scarf knitted by either Runa or Iris, and a gold piece and sack of candy as was usual, in addition to the toiletry sets Runa had ordered. A few other gifts were handed out, such as Runa’s gift of a checkerboard to Titus.
Then Bruce moved to Iris and placed something in her hand. “It isn’t much, but… I have come to admire you greatly during our time together, Iris. Your gift comes with a heartfelt question.”
When Iris saw the pearl and garnet ring, she didn’t even wait for Bruce to ask, simply jumped up and wrapped her arms around him, almost knocking him over as everyone around them cheered and whistled their approval of the union, while Runa clapped her hands in delight.
It was a good day.
Yet as they went upstairs to change for the night, there was a worry gnawing at Steve’s mind. A regret.
“I’m sorry.” Steve finally murmured to Runa as she stepped out of her skirt and petticoats. She looked up at him, smiling.
“Sorry for what?”
Bucky was looking at Steve curiously too. “I’m sorry we didn’t do things the way Bruce and Iris did.”
Runa giggled. “Steve, if we did things the way Bruce and Iris did, I wouldn’t even be here right now.” She reminded him. “And to be perfectly honest, I wouldn’t trade what we have together for all of the pretty proposals in the world.” She moved to Steve and hugged him, but reached back for Bucky, grabbing Bucky’s arm and pulling him closer to them, wrapping it around her. Bucky laughed softly and went willingly. She decided that it was time to be blunt about things, and if it was too soon, if they didn’t feel the same, well… She would survive. As long as they didn’t push her away. “I love you both too much to wish for anything else.”
Bucky and Steve both tightened their arms around Runa at her confession.
“I love you too, General.” Steve murmured, moving to kiss her tenderly. “Don’t you ever doubt that.” He breathed against her lips.
“And Steve isn’t the only one.” Bucky agreed, placing a kiss on the back of Runa’s neck. “We both love you to distraction, darlin’. This ranch would be an awful place without you. Days would be dark and cold, and even though we’d have each other, nothing would be bright for a long damn time.”
“Well, then I guess I just have to stick around.” Runa smiled, feeling the joy bubble up inside her. Those confessions meant more to her than anything else ever could.
“I think you have to.” Steve agreed, placing a soft kiss against Runa’s temple. “I also think we shouldn’t bother with our nightclothes tonight and should just get into bed.”
“But I don’t think we’ll be sleeping any time soon.” Bucky agreed, bowing his head so he could nip at Runa’s ear. She let out a soft little laugh.
“I think I have to agree with both of those suggestions for our night.” She purred.
“You heard the lady, Steve.” Bucky grinned, releasing Runa so he could reach up and pull the comb carefully from her hair and set it aside on top of the bureau while Steve moved to loosen the lacings of her corset. Runa finished getting Bucky undressed while Steve undressed her, and then she and Bucky both got Steve out of his clothing, the three of them making it to the bed, sharing kisses and caresses.
Then there they were, Runa sandwiched between her two loves, Steve facing her, Bucky pressed against her back. Steve reached over her and took Bucky’s cock in his hand, stroking it slowly while Bucky moved to suck hard on his throat, drawing a moan from Steve. Runa giggled, pressing kisses on Steve’s collar bones as Bucky reached around and palmed her breasts, his large hands engulfing them. Then Bucky’s lips were on Runa’s neck and she let out a moan of her own.
“I want to try something tonight.” Bucky rumbled in Runa’s ear, sliding one hand down her body and ghosting a finger over her clit, making her let out a needy whine.
“Okay.” Runa breathed out, and Bucky chuckled.
“Not even going to ask what it is first, darlin’? That could be dangerous.” He sucked lightly on the skin just behind and below her ear, drawing another moan from her.
“I know that you’ll never hurt me. Neither of you would ever hurt me. Not on purpose.” She breathed out.
“Never.” Steve agreed, giving her a kiss that was deep and tender and made Runa feel as if the world had stopped and it was just the three of them.
“I don’t think it would hurt, but we’d need to go slow and careful.” Bucky murmured. “You think you can take Steve and me at the same time? We’ll get you nice and ready, use plenty of oil to make it easier.” Bucky suggested. Runa had tensed slightly, frozen against Steve’s lips. Both of her men were well endowed, and she was small. It was a worrisome prospect.
“Sweetheart?” Steve asked, drawing back when he realized she had stopped returning his kiss. “We don’t have to.” He murmured, seeing her reticence. “We can-”
“I’ll agree to try it.” She said softly. “Try. I don’t promise anything more than that.”
“That’s all we can ask, darlin’.” Bucky murmured, moving so he could trail openmouthed kisses down her spine, causing her to arch against Steve and moan softly. “And we’ll make sure you’re good and ready for us. Won’t we, Steve?”
“I think getting her ready is going to take a little work. The best kind of work.” Steve smiled down at Runa, and she gave him a slightly worried smile in return. He placed a kiss on her forehead, releasing Bucky’s cock and moving his hand between her legs, his fingers slipping between her folds.
Both of them were focused on her now, focusing their attentions on her body, pleasuring her until she was relaxed and boneless, well pleasured and ready to attempt to take the both of them. Bucky reached down, hiking one of Runa’s legs up, so that her knee rested in the crook of his elbow, pinning her other leg beneath his so he could spread her wide for Steve. He pulled her leg up higher, using that hand to palm at one of her breasts, before rolling her nipples between his fingers, making her keen softly in pleasure as Steve dipped two fingers between her folds and slipped them into her wet heat.
“That’s good, darlin’.” Bucky murmured, peppering her neck with kisses as Steve spread his fingers inside her, causing her to moan at the stretch. He curled his fingers inside her and she cried out. Both men murmured praise and soft endearments as Steve worked his fingers an and out of Runa, eventually adding a third, spreading them inside her after a time, until she cried out again, a pleased, needy sound. He pressed his lips to her forehead and hooked his fingers inside her, searching for the spot Bucky had told him about had shown him how to find, and she let out a sound that barely sounded human as she clenched down around his fingers.
“Think that was a good sound?” Bucky asked Steve with a smirk. Steve let out a hoarse little laugh.
“I think it was. I hope it was.” He murmured. Runa tried to let out an affirmative, but all that escaped her was a whimper, drowning in sensation, pressing back against Bucky’s hard body, feeling his cock, hard and heavy, pressed against the cleft of her ass. Her mind felt hazy, almost the way it felt when she had been succumbing to ether or when floating on laudanum, but this time the hazy feeling didn’t frighten her. “Come on, sweetheart.” Steve murmured, working a fourth finger into her as he crooked them again. The stretch now was almost painful, almost but not quite, just hovering on the edge of pain and pleasure. Then she was crying out again, sounds she couldn’t recognize as coming from her own throat escaping her as she came around his fingers, her entire body shuddering with it. Bucky held her tightly as she came, breathing praise into her ear as Steve kissed her hungrily. It was some time before she came back to herself, only to find she was being held securely by two pairs of arms, large work-callused hands roaming over her body, stroking and soothing.
“There she is.” Bucky murmured. Runa turned her head towards him and he kissed her oh so tenderly. “Think you can take us both now, darlin’?”
She managed to nod, and he pulled away from her just long enough to get the jar of oil from the nightstand. He and Steve sat up, the two of them taking turns to liberally coat their cocks with the oil before lying back down, joining her again, though she squirmed around so that now she was facing Bucky, with Steve pressed against her back.
“Tell us if you need us to stop, sweetheart.” Steve urged as Bucky slid into Runa first, letting out a moan as he did.
“I will.” She breathed out, pressing her forehead against Bucky’s shoulder as Steve pressed the head of his cock against her entrance. He pushed into her slowly, very slowly, both men moaning as he did, and the stretch burned a bit, was still pleasure pain, but almost more pain than pleasure. Runa let out a whimper, choking back another sound of discomfort.
“Steve,” Bucky ground out, his voice raspy, “Steve, I don’t think she can-”
“-It’s fine.” Runa interrupted. Steve had paused, but now he pressed a kiss against the back of Runa’s neck.
“Are you certain, sweetheart? It’s all right if you can’t. We don’t want to hurt you.”
“I can.” She breathed, “I just need to adjust. It’s… You’re both…” She let out a little mewl as he resumed his movement, sinking into her slowly. Then he was in her fully, and they all paused, waited for Runa to adjust, to tell them when she was ready. It was an amazing feeling; she had never felt so full, as if they were going to split her in half, but she also felt so complete, intimate in a way that they had never before experienced. This was the three of them pressed as closely together as possible, joined in such a manner that they were practically one with one another.
Finally, Runa initiated movement, trying to roll her hips and choking out a gasp at that. She could feel every vein, every ridge and perfect imperfection, fell them pressing against that spot inside her that made her cry out whenever they hit it.
Bucky and Steve begin to move together, each with an arm hooked around Runa’s waist; Bucky sliding his arm under her and around her waist, fingertips digging into her hip as he held her in place, Steve’s arm under her pressed against her ribcage, touch gentler than Bucky’s but still firm. Steve reached down with his other hand, began to stroke at her clit while Bucky returned his attention and his touch to her breasts, drawing impassioned cries from Runa, who could not have quieted herself if her life had depended on it.
Everything was a haze again, the world fading away until it was nothing but sensation coursing through her veins, molten pleasure swirling through her as they built her up; and the buildup didn’t take long at all. She choked out a sobbing sound as she came a second time. Both Steve and Bucky let out sounds of pleasure—a shout for Bucky, a moan for Steve—as they felt her clench down around them, but they were not ready to let go themselves, not just yet. Steve continued rubbing her clit in firm circles as he and Bucky moved together, and Runa let out a low keening sound, all of it becoming far too much.
It was her next orgasm that sent them over the edge, Steve panting out her name and then Bucky’s, one and then the other over and over as he came, Bucky simply shouting out his pleasure, the sound almost pained. Runa could feel their cocks pulsing inside her as they emptied themselves, and it was a few minutes before they were able to collect themselves enough to pull out of her.
Steve was the one to reach down and pull the blankets up over them, while Bucky ran his hand up and down Runa’s back.
“You all right, darlin’?” He asked as Steve wrapped his arms around Runa again and pressed a kiss against the back of her neck.
“Mmm.” Runa murmured, not quite trusting words yet.
“Is that a good sound or a bad sound?” Bucky asked with a chuckle.
“I think it was a good sound, but we need confirmation.” Steve agreed.
“Good.” Runa croaked. “I don’t think I can move.”
Steve laughed. “Then get some rest, sweetheart.” He snuggled close to her and she smiled.
“Love you.” She looked to Bucky. “Love you.”
Bucky placed a light kiss on the tip of her nose. “And we love you.”
She smiled, eyes fluttering closed. Knowing that, feeling it, was perfection.