Out of My Head

Just listen to the rhythm of my heart

There’s a chance we could make it now

We'll be rocking ‘til the sun goes down

“Why am I still sitting here?” Bucky muttered, the sound pulsing through the walls.

The common room had cleared out an hour ago, but Alexei decided to play his limo playlist at full volume from the other room. At least “Pony” stopped playing. It seemed like every third song it popped up again.

“You’re sitting here because I’m sitting here,” you pointed out.

Bucky smiled a little, not bothering to argue since it was true. 

“You know, I’m a little disappointed,” you said, casually turning the page of your book.

He lifted his head from the couch cushion and narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

“You didn’t once attempt to give me a lap dance when ‘Pony’ played and you had many chances to do so,” you teased, trying not to smile. 

His eye twitched. “I’m not giving you one to that song.”

You gasped. “Why not?”

“Because it was bad enough that Alexei played it when we fooled around in his limo,” he said, shaking his head as he remembered how excited was when the Red Guardian caught the two of you. “But then that fucking movie Ava made us watch.”

You did laugh this time. “You mean ‘Magic Mike’?”

He growled. “Yeah. That,” he said. He was proud he hadn’t punched the television. “You want a lap dance? Pick another song.”

“What about ‘Earned It’?” you suggested.

Both of his eyes twitched. “From the fucking ‘Fifty Shades of Shit’ or whatever it’s called?”

You laughed again, harder. “Fine. You pick a song.”

“I will,” he grumbled.

And he’d find a song for you to give him a dance, too.

What song will he choose? Love and thanks for reading. ❤️

Curtis had learned the truth about the train. How Wilbur needed children to keep it running. The leader of the tail section tried to stop him. Destroy the train. The attempt failed. 

And he was being punished for it.

“Stay back,” he snapped, his breathing ragged. “I can’t control myself.”

You weren’t sure what they injected him with, but it didn’t take him long to claw at his clothes. He managed to maintain an impressive physique despite the conditions of the back of the train. And he was looking at you like a man starved.

A predator about to devour his prey.

“Curtis,” you whispered, backing up as much as you could.

He always looked out for you. Made sure none of the men ever touched you. He didn’t touch you either. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he feared what would happen if he slept with you. What if he got you pregantn? Bringing a child into this life of hell wouldn’t be fair to either of you.

Which is exactly why Wilbur put you in there with him.

He wiped a bit of sweat and grime from his forehead. “I didn’t…” He took a step toward you. “I didn’t want it to be like this.”

“I know,” you said sadly, a tear rolling down your cheek. “I know.”

“Please, don’t hate me,” he begged.

“I could never hate you, Curtis,” you promised, looking at the camera in the corner before your protector grabbed you.

Wilbur would pay for making Curtis force himself on you. He’d pay for the lives he ruined. The children he took.

And if Curtis did get you pregnant, Wilbur would not take your baby.

The pain! Love and thanks for reading. ❤️

When you got a flat tire and had your car taken into the shop, the mechanic said there was no charge and even threw in an oil change. When your rude coworker wouldn’t stop making passive-aggressive comments about your work, they were suddenly transferred to a different department and shift. And when your bank account looked a bit low after some bills, you got an unexpected and sizable bonus from your boss.

“Okay, seriously,” your friend asked over a drink, which you somehow got for free. “How have you been so lucky lately?”

You shrugged a little. “I don’t know, but it feels too good to be true.”

You tried to have an optimistic outlook, but life let you down before. Your parents were taken away from you too soon. Your last boyfriend didn’t keep his promises. Having too much hope could lead to disappointment.

Maybe your streak of “luck” was a coincidence.

Who do you thank when you have such luck?

“Well, don’t look now,” she smirked and wiggled your eyebrows. “But a smoking hot man at the bar keeps looking your way.”

Naturally, you looked.

Smoking hot was an understatement. The blonde Adonis looked like he was carved from the gods and put on this planet just to drive people insane with his looks. His smile was gentle enough, but his striking blue eyes filled with heat that nearly had you squirming in your seat.

“Oh, he looks like he wants to eat you whole,” your friend sighed. “Lucky you.”

Yes, lucky you.

Because you caught his eye weeks ago and he decided you were his.

Bills? No problem. Rude coworkers? Gone. And you’d be in his bed by the end of the night. 

He’d make sure of that.

Lucky you.

Very lucky. Love and thanks for reading. ❤️

Of course, your father sent his best enforcers to track you down. He probably thought it would soften the blow since it was Bucky. You trusted him most of all out of his men. 

Bucky looked almost bored leaning against his car, his hair blowing in the light breeze. You liked the leather jacket on him. You half expected him to show up on his bike, but that wouldn’t be practical if you tried to fight. 

He’d win anyway. 

“I’m not going back,” you told him, your eyes as defiant as your tone.  

He sighed, but he made no move to grab you yet. “You shouldn’t have run.”

“And my dad shouldn’t try to force a marriage on me, but here we are,” you snapped.

You stupidly thought Bucky would speak up for you when your dad said the alliance with a total stranger would strengthen the families. It was a foolish thought. You weren’t together. 

But you hoped…

And I am feeling so small

It was over my head

I know nothing at all

You backed up when Bucky suddenly moved toward you in purposeful strides. There was violence in his eyes. But he would never hurt you. 

“And you should’ve trusted me to handle it,” he said through his teeth. 

Your heart pounded. Bucky hardly ever let his emotions show. That was a reason why your dad liked him. He was lethal. Efficient. 

Cold.

Not like this. 

“I-”

He gripped your chin tenderly. “Do you really think I’ll sit back while you marry someone else?”

Your eyes widened. 

Did… Bucky want you?

“Get in the car,” he ordered gently. “And trust me.”

You didn’t want to go back. 

But you had to trust that Bucky had a plan. 

He has to have a plan, right? Love and thanks for reading. ❤️

Your recent prick of a boyfriend cheated on you with his neighbor. The asshole before that ghosted you after a couple of months of dating. And the bastard before that dumped you for his on-again, off-again toxic girlfriend. 

They were off again, from what you heard. 

“Men suck,” you muttered, digging your toes in the warm sand while your friends enjoyed the ocean. 

“We’re not all bad.”

You glanced up when a large shadow fell over you, your breath catching. 

Holy. Fucking. Shit. 

You thought you had seen men before until you took a good look at the gorgeous, shirtless specimen in front of you. The beast, because he was fucking huge, stood with his hands on his hips. His sculpted arms and abs reminded you of a statue. And you now understood the appeal of a beard because of him, which matched his dark hair perfectly. 

“I’m sorry. Were you created in a sexy lab somewhere?” you blurted out. 

The man’s ocean eyes crinkled when he laughed, which sounded sexy as hell. “Not that I’m aware of,” he replied, holding out a large hand. “But I was wondering if I can buy you a drink.”

Were you dreaming?

Should you drink with a stranger?

You took his hand anyway and let him help you up, which he made look effortless. “I shouldn’t ditch my friends.”

“We won’t be far.” He nodded to the beach bar just feet away. “So? Wanna join me?”

“Why not? I got nothin’ left to lose, or use, or do.” Your face scrunched up. “Forget I said that, um…”

“Ari,” he offered with a smile. 

It was possible that he was too good to be true. 

But it was also possible that he’d blow your back out tonight. 

Unlucky streak is over now, right? Love and thanks for reading. ❤️