Mickimoo

Curtis watched your pouting face as you climbed into the back of the town car, only relaxing when it pulled away. Even then, he kept his eyes on its tail lights until it rounded a corner. Almost as soon as it had done so, Edgar appeared at his elbow, a small tablet in his hand that he immediately handed over. Your face — from your DMV records — looked back at him.

He read your name out under his breath, eyes scanning all of the information that had been presented to him.

“She’s a school teacher,” Edgar proffered, even though it was already on the screen. “Moved here a few years ago to take up the position. Well liked and respected. No skeletons in her closet as far as I can see. Like I thought - pure as the driven snow.”

Curtis scrolled, reading it all for himself, before handing the device back. Then he rolled his neck, pulled a battered cigarette packet from his pocket and lit one up. God, he needed to give this shit up.

“So what are you gonna do? About ‘Teach’?”

“Nothin’” he grunted before taking a heavy drag.

“Nothin? You mean you’re actually listening to me? You didn’t let her out of your sight all evening. Carried her out of the club, for fuck’s sake. Then the car. And you… nothin’?” Edgar was incredulous.

Flicking the butt to the ground and grinding it out, Curtis nodded his head and turned back to the side door.

“You said it yourself - she’s innocent. Doesn’t fit in our world.”

“But you like her?” Edgar’s brows drew together in confusion.

“It’s just the price I pay,” Curtis replied, shrugging. “Plenty of other pretty women who do fit. Gloria, for example.

“True,” his brother agreed. “But Gloria will never make you happy.”

You were sat on the edge of the bed, shoving a sleep shirt over your naked body, while you watched Bucky hastily shove his clothes on. Your eyes were clouded and your heart was hammering in your chest as you brain tried to process what he'd just said to you.

"What do you mean it's over?" You whimpered in shock.

"I mean, that I'm leaving and I won't be coming back." Bucky muttered back, as he shucked his jeans up his legs and fumbled with the zipper.

"What? Why?" You began to cry, holding yourself tightly, "What did I do?"

"This is the fucking problem Bunny." He sighed, brushing his hand through his hair as he looked around the floor for his shoes.

"What is?" You continued to whimper.

"You're too clingy, you keep acting like we're a couple, like I belong to you." He shrugged in annoyance as he dipped down to grasp his shoes.

"So because I'm hurt that you're ending this I'm clingy?" You argued as the tears rolled down your cheeks.

He was right, you had almost slipped up, caught in the waves of passion, though you had been falling for him more and more the entire year you were fooling around together.

"Yeah I guess, but you have been for a while. You think I didn't hear when you almost said the L word last night?" Bucky yelled angrily as he turned back to you with a tense jaw and furrowed brows.

"Oh so you heard it but still fucked me anyway." You scoffed.

"We were half way through!" He shouted bitterly, "What, you would have been happy with me just stopping?"

"Yes. No. I don't know." You cried, placing your face in your hands as you sobbed, "I don't understand what's happening."

"This was supposed to be fun!" He yelled, "Casual, but you've made it serious and now I don't want it, how hard is that to understand?"

"You're a real asshole, you know that?" You mumbled into your palms.

"Yep, that's me. I'm the asshole! Even though I'm the one who told you what this would be. You agreed, but broke the rules anyway, but now I'm the one who's the asshole?" Bucky yelled as he hopped on one foot, angrily pulling his shoes on.

"You think I planned to fall for you." You cried, clasping your hair in your palms as you watched him try to leave, "Fuck!"

"You must have known you were catching feelings long before you thought you loved me and you never said a damn word." Bucky scoffed back angrily, shaking his head.

"Because I knew you'd do this! You'd freak out on me and stop this!" You sobbed, throwing your arms up in exasperation.

"And that's the problem! We agreed!" He yelled in response, shoving his hands on his hips, "No feelings, no attachment. If I'd known when those feelings started, I would have ended things before you got hurt."

"You think it wouldn't have hurt if I wasn't in love yet?" You scoffed, "You're actually an idiot."

"It would have hurt less." Bucky sighed, shaking his head.

He looked back at you as you continued to sob, shoulders heaving with each staggered breath, before blowing out a breath through his lips.

"Look I'm sorry Bunny, I really am." He said sadly before walking to the door.

"Am I not good enough?" You suddenly whimpered, stilling his movements.

"What? Good enough for what?" He asked, peering back over his shoulder at you.

"For you to fall in love with back." You cried.

Then he was gone and your heart shattered into a million pieces.

"I'm not capable of love Bunny, you knew this when we met." He sighed, "I'll see you around."

"To my beautiful fiance. Cheers." Your fiance, John Walker, announced proudly, raising his glass and bringing you out of your flashed memory.

"Cheers!" Everyone responded with smiles and you quickly muttered along with them, before taking a small sip of the expensive champagne.

Your home was barely recognisable, with John's friends, colleagues and acquaintances milling around, along with the servers handing out champagne and canapes. It was all about the optics with John, always the optics.

"You okay? You looked a little spaced out during my speech." John asked with a raised brow, taking the half empty champagne from your hand and placing it on a nearby tray.

"Oh no. I'm sorry I was just... overwhelmed." You mumbled quickly.

"Hmmm if you say so." He replied with an underbite of disappointment that you were all too familiar with.

He slipped his arm around your waist, fingers brushing over the ridiculously expensive material of the gold dress he'd forced you into and pressed a kiss to your temple.

"Hey John!" Lemar said with a wide friendly smile, as he approached the two of you, "The new guy from work is here."

"Oh, thanks man." John grinned back before squeezing your hip, "I'll be right back babe."

"Okay." You sighed, glad for a moment alone during the hectic evening.

You internally scolded yourself that you'd allowed your mind to wander back to that day. Back to that dark place, to the one time you truly fell in love with everything that you were, only for it to explode in your face and break your heart and soul in so many ways. Ever since that day you'd been a little less you and a little less able to open your heart so fully.

You loved John, the relationship was good, simple, but it wasn't that all consuming kind of love you had felt for Bucky. That kind of love that you find once in a lifetime. He was your soulmate, your best friend, he was everything.

Being with John was convenient, easy and you knew John loved you more than anything and that's all you wanted, for someone to love you.

You heard John's voice as he re-approached and you straightened your spine, plastering back on the fake smile your face had held all evening.

"...don't take anything Valentina says to heart. She acts tough but she's a softie really." John told his guest who chuckled in response.

"And here she is, my beautiful fiance." John announced proudly, "Sweetheart this is.."

Your whole body shivered, your eyes widened and your heart rate quickened as they fell on the blue eyes that had haunted you for the last eight years.

"Bucky..." You gasped, watching as the recognition hit him and his face spread into a wide smile.

"Uhh yeah...you two know each other?" John asked sternly, raising a brow at you.

"Shit, is that really you Bunny?" Bucky smiled, raking his gaze over your body while you bounced on your heels nervously.

"Yeah we uhh...knew each other in college." You offered to John, lowering your eyes away from Bucky.

"Not too well I hope." John teased, but you heard the clear warning in his statement.

Bucky smirked and bit down on his lip, unable to believe that you were there, that he'd found you again.

"No nothing like that." You exhaled quickly, "Just friends."

"Yeah, just friends." Bucky smirked.

"Good. Well Bucky here just got started at thunderbolts a few weeks ago." John continued, placing his arm around your waist and his palm on your hip.

"Right. Cool." You muttered, playing with your fingers in front of you nervously.

"Sorry, she's usually more welcoming than this." John joked at Bucky.

"Babe. Come on." He coaxed, pinching your hip sharply and making you jump.

You quickly steeled your nerves and finally gazed back up at Bucky with a flat-lipped smile.

"Sorry Bucky, it's been an emotional evening." You offered shyly.

"It's okay you don't have to apologize." Bucky reassured you.

"I'm gonna go get some water." You mumbled before looking up at John, "Is that okay?"

"Yeah sure just don't be too long." John replied sternly before releasing his grasp on you.

Bucky furrowed his brows at the interaction, watching your every step curiously as you scampered off away from them.

You made your way through your large house, throwing yourself into one of the ground floor bathrooms and locking the door behind you, before dropping to the floor and crying into your hands.

For the remainder of the evening you stayed glued to John's side, though you had been completely shaken, unable to concentrate on conversations and small talk and aware that Bucky's eyes would find you across the room at every opportunity.

When it was finally over and everyone had gone, you made your way upstairs to your bedroom with sweaty palms and heavy chest, dreading what was to come.

A few minutes later, John stormed into the room, stomping across the space with the carefully curated mask gone from his face.

"So you gonna explain what the hell was going on down there?" He spat at you from across the room.

"What do you mean?" You mumbled in fear, clutching your arms across your body and casting your gaze to the ground.

"What do I mean? Are you fucking joking?" He yelled, "You being all spacey, unfriendly, it was embarrassing!"

"I'm sorry. I was..." You began, trying to appease him.

"Overwhelmed, yeah, so you kept saying but it's not good enough." He scolded as he began loosening his shirt collar, "You know what behavior I fucking expect when we have company."

"I'm sorry." You whispered.

"Yeah yeah, I've heard it all before." He scoffed in disgust and your body shook.

Tears filled your eyes and a sob wrenched from your throat as the panic and fear took over your body.

"Please John, I'm sorry." You whimpered, "Please don't hurt me."

He scoffed loudly as he unbuttoned and slipped himself from his shirt.

"You know I have to do this." He said sternly, "Because I love you so much and I know you can do better."

"I can and I will!" You pleaded, "You don't need to..."

"Shut the hell up!" John yelled and your body flinched and stiffened, "Are you in fucking charge here? No. So pipe down and get ready for your punishment."

You sucked in a breath, tasting the saltiness of your tears while you trembled. You brought your shakey hands up to your dress and struggled with the zipper, while John watched with a tense jaw.

You slipped the dress down and then rid yourself of your underwear and made your way over to the bed with quiet whimpers.

You lay on your stomach and stretched your arms above your head, holding the bed frame tightly in your palms to anchor yourself in preparation, as you continued to cry to yourself.

"That's better." John said harshly and your body froze as you heard the clink of his belt being slipped from his pants, "Now if we are at a function, do I expect you to space out while I'm talking, huh?"

"No." You sniffed.

"No, what do I expect?" He spat as he closed the distance between you, bringing himself to the side of the bed, next to your vunerable form.

"My attention on you at all times." You whispered.

"That's right and how do you act towards other people?" He continued.

"Smile, be polite and welcoming." You whimpered.

"Good, so tell me this." He scolded, "If you know the fucking rules, why did you act that way?"

"I don't know." You sobbed, "I'm sorry."

"You don't know?" John scoffed angrily, "Well, maybe after this you won't forget again."

When the first lash of his belt hit your back, you let out a silent scream into the pillow, biting down on the plush material as the sting spread over your skin and your hands tightened on the bed frame.

The first was always the worst, that first bite of skin before your body remembered the overwhelming pain with each hit.

He struck your back, ass and thighs in succession, each body part receiving 5 hard, painful lashes. It was your fault, you knew the rules, you knew what he expected, you had to take this, you had to make him love you.

When he was finally done, John tossed the belt on the bed and sat down, pulling you into his lap and allowing you to sob onto his chest as he held you lovingly.

"There we go babe, all done." He purred softly, stroking your hair gently as you cried.

"You know I love you right?" He asked against your temple.

You nodded against him, bringing your palms up to place them on his skin, feeling the warmth radiate from him.

"That's right, I love you more than anyone in the whole world." He said softly, placing a soft kiss to your head, "You're my everything and that's what you've been looking for you're whole life. You told me that when we met. You remember?"

"I remember." You whispered.

"Good. Cause no one will ever love you like me Sweetheart." He promised, "No one."

A few weeks past with no further incidents. You'd been on your best behaviour and John had been happy and so you had been happy.

You found yourself thinking about Bucky often and you couldn't help but compare the two. They were so different in so many ways.

You and Bucky were like two halves of the same shape. You laughed at the same jokes, you'd watch the same shows, your bodies were on the same wavelengths, that was probably why you'd hit it off so easily in your first year of college.

It wasn't until your final year that you'd agreed to hook up, neither of you wanting to find a commitment during your final year at college but wanting your needs met by someone you connected with, but that didn't exactly work out well.

You missed him though, so much. You missed the way he would laugh at your crappy impressions, how he would protect you when you were all out with friends, being your unofficial bodyguard. You just missed him. Eight years hadn't brought much comfort to the fact that you'd lost the love of your life and your best friend.

You had sworn off men for such a long time after, until you met John two years ago. He was charming and sweet, good looking and filled some of the void that Bucky left behind. You craved his love, you needed his love and you had it.

On one morning you had gone about your daily chores, before noticing that the paper bag you'd packed for John for lunch was still sat on the counter. You shook your head with a chuckle before swiping the bag up and heading to his office, knowing how cranky he could be when he was hungry.

When you arrived at Thunderbolts HQ you made your way to the correct floor before approaching the reception desk.

"Hi Ava, is John free?" You breathed out quickly.

Ava turned towards you, eyes lighting up when she realised who it was standing before her.

"Hey, how are you?" Ava beamed back at you, spinning in her chair to face you.

"Yeah I'm good." You smiled.

"We missed you on Saturday night." She pouted and your eyes widened in surprise.

"Uhh...saturday?" You squeaked, bouncing nervously on the balls of your feet.

"Yeah us girls all got together, we told John to ask you to come." She said with a frown, "He did ask didn't he?"

"Oh yeah....of course he did." You quickly recovered with a chuckle, "Sorry I was just really busy."

He hadn't told you, but you knew how he was about events that didn't involve him, he liked to be with you and you understood that.

"Okay well, I'm having a party for my birthday on Friday, so I better see you at that at least." She pouted with a smirk.

"Okay, I'll try to be there." You returned with a smile.

"You better." Ava grinned.

"So...John?" You prompted with a nervous smile.

"Oh yeah sorry." She laughed, turning to her computer and tapping a few keys, "Uhhh....yep he's free, but he has a meeting in 10 so you might wanna be quick."

"Okay thank you." You responded sincerely, before making your way to John's office.

You knocked on the large oak door, hearing a muffled response before pushing on the handle and stepping into the space.

"Babe, what are you doing here?" John asked, peering up at you from behind his computer with a raised brow.

"You forgot your lunch." You smiled, swinging the paper bag in front of him before placing it on his desk.

"Ahh crap. Sorry babe." He chuckled, "I was a bit of a scatter brain this morning."

"It's okay." You shrugged with a smile, "I didn't have anything on anyway."

"Don't do that again." John suddenly huffed and your body stiffened.

"What? I'm not..I didn't...." You began to panic worriedly, clasping your hands together in front of your body.

"I look after you don't I?" He asked, jaw ticking and eyes narrowed.

"Yeah of course." You breathed.

"So you don't need to work." He scolded.

"I know, I didn't mean it like that." You began to plead, "I promise."

"Okay sure." He scoffed back, but his features showed he didn't believe you in the slightest.

"John, I didn't, I promise." You begged as your eyes welled.

"We're not arguing about this here, this is my work." He spat through gritted teeth, "You don't get to come here and start acting this way."

"I didn't...I was just..." You whimpered.

"Go home." He ordered you harshly, "I'll deal with you later."

You ran from the room as tears began to fall and your cheeks heated up in embarassment. You hadn't meant to anger him, hadn't meant anything by what you'd said, but you'd still messed up anyway and you knew what that meant for you.

You stumbled out of the building, only to stumble into a hard body, feeling palms immediately clasp onto your biceps to steady you.

"Hey Bunny." Bucky said with a grin as you took a step back from his warmth.

"Hi Bucky...I was just..." You mumbled, pointing into the distance with your head hung low.

"Are you crying?" He suddenly asked softly, placing his palm on your cheek and raising your face while he searched your eyes.

"No. I'm fine. I just need too...." You gasped out, trying to ignore how much comfort the simple touch was bringing you and hurting you all at once.

"Come here." He sighed, opening his arms to you.

"No I can't." You said shaking your head. You couldn't even imagine how mad John would be if he caught you.

"It's a hug Bunny, you can hug me, I won't bite." Bucky chuckled in an attempt to calm you, as more tears slipped down your sodden cheeks.

"I..." You stuttered, only to be stopped when Bucky stepped forwards and pulled you into his chest.

His large arms wrapped around your shoulders, palms splayed across your clothed back. You immediately sighed into him, body responding for you and you pulled your arms around his waist, clutching onto the back of his shirt.

"So what's got you all upset?" He asked softly, gently rubbing a palm up and down the expanse of your back.

"Nothing. I'll be fine." You mumbled into his chest, accidently taking a breath and inhaling his woodsy scent, exactly how you remembered it.

"Was it John?" Bucky asked and you froze.

"No. Of course not." You said quickly.

"You sure?" He coaxed once more and you willed yourself to push away from him, taking a few steps back and clutching your arms around yourself protectively.

"Of course I'm sure." You huffed in annoyance.

"Cause I couldn't help but notice how he spoke to you the other night." He admitted, sheepishly pushing his hands into his slack pockets, "It didn't seem right, got me worried."

"John loves me. I love him." You scoffed, "Our relationship is none of your business."

"I'm just worried about you Bunny." Bucky pleaded softly.

"No. You don't get to do that." You whisper yelled, shaking your head as your body trembled.

"Do what?" Bucky argued.

"Come back into my life and pretend you care." You replied angrily, "You didn't care then. You didn't care when you broke my heart. So don't act like you do now."

"You're right. I'm sorry." Bucky resigned with a sad look on his face.

"Good." You spat, "Stay out of my relationship."

You stormed back home in a rage. You couldn't believe the audacity of Bucky. To come back after all this time and question your relationship, after what he did to you. John loved you, you loved John and that was that.

It was easy to forget about your small fight with Bucky when John came home that evening, seething. That night he gave you ten fresh lashes on your back, to punish you for what happened in his office, despite your pleas of innocence.

You vowed to do better, you had to do better.

A few days later and it was the night of Ava's party. Originally you and John had planned to go together, until an unexpected work trip came up that day and John was no longer able to attend, but had reluctantly agreed to let you go, knowing he'd have no excuse for your sudden absence if he was questioned by his colleagues.

"That's what you're wearing to Ava's party?" John sneered at you as you approached him in your living room, wearing a short red velvet dress.

"Yeah, what's wrong with it?" You asked shyly, rubbing your hands over the fabric in confusion.

"You look like a slut." He spat, wrinkling his nose at you.

"I thought you loved this dress." You replied with deflated shoulders.

"When I'm with you yeah, but now I can't come so go change." He ordered harshly.

"Right of course." You exhaled, "I'll be right back."

You ran up the stairs, quickly stripping from your dress and changing into a pair of black jeans and a green sweater, before hurrying back down the stairs.

"This okay?" You asked hesitantly, slapping your hands on your thighs.

"Better." He said sternly, "Come here."

You approached him in his arm chair, taking a seat on his thick thigh. John wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you against him before addressing you again.

"You better behave or you'll make me regret letting you go out when I'm not here."

"Of course I will, I love you." You smiled softly at him.

"And I love you." He smirked back.

He pressed his lips against yours and you sighed happily against him, opening your mouth to allow entry to his tongue as you enjoyed the soft affection he was offering you.

"How long will you be gone?" You sighed when your lips finally parted.

"About 3 days." He groaned, holding you impossibly tighter, "Lemar and I have to work on the pitch for the merger for a couple of days, before we give it to the board of the partner company, so it's gonna be hectic."

"I'm gonna miss you." You pouted playfully.

"I'll miss you too babe." He grinned, "Make sure you have your phone on at all times."

"I will." You promised.

"I'm serious, you know how upset I get if I can't get hold of you." He continued sternly.

"I know, I will." You reassured him once more, "I'll have it on and with me at all times."

"Good. You're such a good girl you know that?" He praised you with playful kisses to your cheeks, "Gonna be such a good wife."

"Thank you." You giggled.

"Now give me another kiss before you leave." He ordered, "I'll be gone before you get back."

You placed another drawn out kiss to his lips before hopping from his lap and heading towards the door.

"Bye." You called out with a smile.

"Home by 11 okay?" He ordered back and you rolled your eyes playfully.

"Yeah I will." You replied.

You slipped on your shoes and reached for the handle.

"And don't drink, you know how I feel about it." He shouted through the house.

"I won't." You replied back before slipping out into the night.

Ava's party was in full swing in her spacious apartment. She'd managed to convince you to let loose and have a couple of drinks, after a lot of hesitation on your part, but eventually you figured that John wouldn't be home for 3 whole days so he wouldn't find out. You blamed the peer pressure but really you wanted to feel free for once.

People were littered around Ava's home, some you knew, some you recognised as John's colleagues and some you didn't. You were sat with Yelena and Ava in her living area, laughing loudly and gossiping with them.

"Oh my god you are so much more fun when John isn't around?" Ava laughed from next to you on her large couch.

"I am?" You asked in surprise.

"Yeah. When John's here you're always so upright and nervous." Yelena added from the couch opposite.

"This side of you is awesome." Ava beamed with a dramatic squeal.

"I don't know why I..." You began to mutter worriedly at their comments.

"You don't have to explain to us." Yelena reassured you, seeing your internal struggle, "It happens to quite a few people in relationships."

"It does?" You breathed, "So it's normal then to feel like that?"

"I wouldn't worry about it." Ava offered with a soft smile.

"You didn't say yes." You sighed, biting down on your lip.

"Well I mean, personally I'd rather be in a relationship where I could be myself with someone", She began, pressing her lips together, "But that doesn't mean the way other people do it is wrong."

"I guess." You sighed.

"Plus John loves you." Yelena grinned enthusiastically, "He's always talking about you."

"He is?" You said shyly with a raised brow.

"Oh all the time." Ava agreed, "Does not shut up. Ever."

The smile returned to your face and you relaxed again, happy to know he spoke about you like that at work, that you knew he loved you so much.

"Oh also, did...." Ava began before getting distracted, "Oh hey, Bucky's here!"

She jumped from the couch, throwing her arms around Bucky, as you looked up and met his eyes over Ava's shoulder.

She pulled away and he beamed down at you with that large boyish grin that made your stomach flutter.

"Bunny! Hey!" He greeted you cheerfully.

"Hey Bucky." You smiled softly, as he flopped down next to Yelena on the other couch.

"You call her Bunny?" Yelena queried playfully.

"Yeah cause she's so cute ya know?" Bucky shrugged, winking over at you.

You felt the blood rush to your cheeks and swallowed harshly, while Bucky watched your reaction with amusement.

"Don't let John hear you say shit like that." Ava scolded him playfully, "He gets real angry when he hears guys talk about her."

"He does?" You asked.

"Oh yeah like super macho, gonna kill people angry." She said, imitating a deep voice, "It's hilarious."

"Yeah..." You trailed off.

"Well, I knew her first, so he can deal with it." Bucky teased with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Your funeral." Ava chuckled.

"I can take him." Bucky laughed.

"I bet you could." Yelena purred, grabbing onto his bicep and squeezing, "Can tell you've been working out, look at this muscle man."

You were beginning to feel overwhelmed. needing a reprieve from the conversation and Bucky's unrelenting presence.

"I'm gonna grab another drink." You announced, quickly scampering from your seat and making your way further into the apartment as your heart pounded.

A couple of hours passed and you had spent the time mingling and enjoying a few more drinks, just enough that you felt hazy but not enough that you would lose control of yourself. You were proud of yourself for knowing your limits, if only you could prove that to John, maybe he would let you have a drink every now and again.

"You're avoiding me Bunny." Bucky pouted as he cornered you in the kitchen.

"I prefer the term strategic socialising." You smirked playfully into your cup before setting it down on the counter.

"And that strategy involves you staying far away from me at all times?" He asked more seriously than before, as he leant against the counter opposite you, crossing his arms.

"Pretty much." You shrugged.

"You don't have to do that." He said softly, "We can be friends can't we?"

"You wanna be friends?" You chuckled with a raised brow.

"There's no reason we can't be, unless.." He said letting out a loud breath before continuing, "You still have feelings for me?"

"It's been 8 years." You scoffed, wrinkling up your nose and furrowing your brows.

"That didn't answer my question." Bucky coaxed softly.

"I'd be a fool to still have feelings for you after how badly you broke my heart." You replied sadly as the alcohol lowered your resolve.

"I was an idiot." Bucky sighed and your gaze snapped to his in shock.

"That's putting it lightly." You replied with a soft smirk.

"You're right." He continued, running a palm over his stubbled jaw, "I was the biggest asshole and I deserve your hatred."

"I don't hate you Bucky, I've never hated you." You replied honestly and when his gaze met yours once more you could see a hazed cloud covering his usually deep blue eyes.

"But do you love me still?" He repeated.

"Bucky why are you asking me that?" You sighed in exasperation, "It wouldn't matter."

"It would matter." He replied.

"So you can run away again?" You scoffed, feeling your palms begin to sweat under his questioning and rage building within you from the fear, the need to run from the truth.

"So I can tell you that leaving you has haunted me for eight years." He admitted honestly, "That being without you was the worst mistake of my life."

"Bucky don't." You said sternly.

"That losing you broke me so badly, that I spent years chasing something that could only exist with you." He continued, stepping forward to bridge the gap between you, "That when I saw you again, I knew I had a second chance at love, a chance to make things right."

"I'm with John." You gulped as he closed the gap, towering over you.

"Are you happy?" He asked as he looked down at you, licking his lower lip.

"We're getting married, he loves me." You breathed shakily.

"But are you happy?" He prodded once more.

"Bucky...I can't do this..." You mumbled, placing a palm on his chest to stop him getting any closer, hating how good his body felt under your hand.

"I'm just asking for a chance, even if all you want is friendship. I need to be near you again, I need you in my life." He pleaded with wide eyes that begged you to let him in.

"Okay, we can be friends." You sighed.

"Yeah?" Bucky breathed with a smile pulling at the corner of his lips.

"Yeah." You nodded.

He placed one palm on your hip and the other on your cheek, gently stroking the skin beneath his thumb.

"But if there's even the smallest chance that you still love me", He said softly, "I need you to tell me, cause I'm not gonna waste my change again."

"Friends Bucky. That's it." You trembled.

"Right. Okay." He sighed, dropping his hands back to his sides, before letting a smile spread across his lips, "Friends. Hug it out?"

"God." You laughed shaking your head at him.

"Come on, you know you want too." He coaxed teasingly.

"You're still a goofball." You laughed.

"You always liked that about me." He smirked and you rolled your eyes in response, slipping your arms around his waist and burying your face in his chest, inhaling deeply.

Bucky's arms wrapped around you softly before he squeezed playfully and you squealed in pain.

"Shit you okay?" Bucky asked worriedly, immediately pulling back from you and casting a curious look over your face.

"Yeah I'm fine." You replied with a hiss as the previous pressure caused your wounds to throb.

"You didn't seem fine." He said sternly, "Is something wrong with your back?"

"It's nothing." You assured him with a flat-lipped smile.

"It's not nothing, you almost screamed." He argued, looking over your body with a stern expression.

"Bucky it's fine." You continued but he quickly rounded your body and grabbed your top, pulling it up behind you.

"What the fuck is this?" He yelled suddenly.

"It's nothing, get off!" You spat, slapping his hands away and shoving your sweater back down over your skin.

"Did John do this? Is he hurting you?" Bucky asked with a tense jaw and furrowed brows.

"I said it's nothing! Just leave it!" You yelled, quickly stepping around him and making your escape. He wasn't supposed to see, no one was supposed to see, they wouldn't understand.

You quickly scampered through the hall of Ava's building, pulling your phone from your pocket and checking the time, seeing that it was 12.22am and you had 6 missed calls from John.

"Shit." You hissed, practically running through the building's entry way onto the street.

"Hey, Bunny wait!" Bucky yelled from behind you as he chased after you.

"Bucky I've got to go." You shouted back, continuing to walk along the pavement.

"Please stop!" He yelled after you, "Just tell me you're safe. Look me in the eye and tell me those aren't from him."

You turned over your shoulder and met his gaze, as the bitter cold of the evening rattled your bones.

"They aren't." You said with as much confidence as you could muster, "I'm leaving."

You ran home as quickly as you could, sniffling away the tears that had fallen. You hated that he was asking you these questions, asking you things that were making you question your life with John. You were happy, you were safe, weren't you?

Just over a week passed after Ava's party, but the pain didn't, between the mental turmoil from Bucky's concern and the physical pain that laced your back.

John had been furious at you for getting home late and missing his calls. When he'd got home from his trip, he'd belted you harder than ever before, leaving your back and ass bloody and raw as the leather cut into your skin.

You'd hidden at home all week, as every movement of fabric against your skin caused you to hiss and whimper. In the last two days the scabs had finally offered a reprieve from that unrelenting sting and you were able to move more freely, though still bruised and swollen.

You were in the kitchen, preparing dinner at the stove, when you heard the front door open and you quickly put on the mask, ready to be the perfect fiance John expected.

"Hey babe, where are you?" John called out into the house.

"Kitchen." You called back, stirring the pasta sauce you'd made slowly in the pot.

"Hey." John smiled as he rounded the corner into the room, immediately coming to place a kiss to your cheek.

"Hey, good day?" You smiled back.

"Yeah it was great." John replied as he looked over your shoulder at the food.

"Hey." Came another voice and you looked up to see Bucky enter the kitchen, body immediately stiffening in panic.

"Oh..Bucky...hi..." You said, quickly recovering in front of John.

"Bucky's gonna join us for dinner, it'll stretch right?" John asked as he slapped your ass and stepped away and you had to clench your teeth to stop the hiss that threatened to spill from your lips.

"Oh yeah, no problem." You responded softly.

"Good. See what'd I tell ya?" John grinned, slapping Bucky on the shoulder.

"Awesome thank you." Bucky chuckled.

"We'll be in the lounge babe." John announced as he turned to leave, "Bring us some drinks."

"Of course I'll be right there." You replied, trying not to look at Bucky as he carefully assessed you before following John from the room.

Dinner went as well as it could. You sat silently and ate while John and Bucky talked about work. You laughed in the right places, responded politely when spoken too, kept your eyes on John as he spoke, you didn't want to give him any reason to punish you while you were still sore from the previous one.

You were overly aware of Bucky throughout dinner and the way he kept flicking his gaze over to you every few minutes, quietly assessing you, assessing John and that made you nervous.

When dinner was finished you quickly gathered the plates and made your way into the kitchen, busying yourself with the cleaning up.

You were placing the plates in the dishwasher when Bucky walked in behind you.

You didn't need to look to know it was him. His footsteps were softer than John's, more contained, cautious and the scent of his woodsy cologne seemed to invade the room the moment he stepped into it.

"You're hiding again." Bucky said sternly and you straightened up, placing your palms flat on the counter with a loud exhale that flared your nostrils.

"What the hell are you even doing here?" You whisper yelled, quickly glancing towards the door to make sure John wasn't on his way in.

"John invited me for dinner." Bucky shrugged and you rolled your eyes in annoyance.

"You could have said no." You spat back.

"And why the hell would I do that when I needed to make sure you were okay?" Bucky argued as he stepped towards you.

"I'm fine." You hissed through gritted teeth.

"Yeah fine." He scoffed, "You had purple bruises all over your back like someone had hit you with a belt or something."

You winced at the word, body tensing up on auto pilot, causing Bucky to shake his head angrily.

"And you expect me to believe that you're fine." He scolded.

"It doesn't matter what you believe", You argued, "I'm not yours to worry about."

"Just because you aren't mine doesn't mean I'm not gonna worry." Bucky continued with his hands on his hips.

"Well don't. Don't worry about me, don't think about me, stop getting involved in things that don't concern you." You spat with glazed eyes, "John's great, everything's great, okay!"

"Everything okay in here?" John suddenly asked as he rounded the corner, seeing your red, teary face and Bucky's tense stature.

"Fine." You replied, pressing your lips together and quickly flicking away the stray tears with your palms.

"Yeah fine." Bucky said, turning to john with a tense smile, "I think it's time I leave though, early morning ya know."

"Oh yeah sure. I'll see you tomorrow Bucky." John replied back.

"See ya. Bye Bunny." Bucky sighed.

The air in the room thickened as John glared at you with his arms folded and a tick in his jaw. You shifted on your feet as your heart began beating against your chest.

As soon as you heard the sounds of the front door closing, John stormed towards you furiously.

"What the fuck did you say to him?" He yelled, face red with anger.

"What? Nothing?" You gasped in panic, holding your hands in front of you to placate him as he neared.

"Don't fucking lie to me." John spat, grabbing hold of your bicep in a bruising grip and yanking you closer to his face.

"I'm not!" You pleaded.

"You expect me to believe that?" He spat in your face, "When I walk in here to see you crying and all of a sudden he leaves."

"I didn't do anything." You whimpered.

"I'm fed up of hearing that!" He yelled, clutching you so tightly your skin burned under the pressure, "Fed up of your fucking excuses! When are you gonna fucking learn!"

His other arm raised before you could process what was happening and his fist connected with your cheek with a hard thump that sent your head flinching backwards.

You stepped back, looking up at him with your mouth agape as you clutched your cheek in your palm and began to cry.

"Shit babe. I'm sorry." John said with a remorseful look as he attempted to step towards you, but you dodged him and ran through the house.

You made it to your bedroom and got into bed, still wearing your clothes and pulled the covers up over you as you faced away from the door.

A few minutes later you heard John's footsteps cross the threshold and stop.

"Babe I said I'm sorry." He pleaded from behind you.

You sobbed silently, clutching the blankets tighter around you, willing him to leave you alone.

"Babe, you're being over dramatic, come on." He continued as he dropped onto the bed behind you and placed his hand on your arm, but you didn't relent, keeping your back to him.

"Fine, go to fucking sleep." He scoffed in annoyance when you didn't move, "We'll talk in the morning when you've calmed down."

You didn't sleep, you couldn't sleep. You couldn't believe that he'd done it. Why did he hurt you like that? He was supposed to love you, but you were beginning to realise that John's way of doing things didn't feel like love to you.

When John joined you in bed, he did so with a huff, rolling onto his side and sliding up behind you. You tried not to flinch when he placed his arm around your waist, tried not to alert him to the fact you were awake.

When morning broke you busied yourself with your morning routine, making breakfast in tense silence, trying not to throw up when John placed a kiss to your head before he finally left for work.

As soon as he left you ran upstairs and hastily shoved a few things into a backpack. You didn't know what to do or where to go, you just knew you had to leave, you needed space to breathe, to think.

You walked aimlessly down the streets as you tried to come up with a plan. You couldn't go to a hotel as all the cards were in John's name and he'd be able to find you easily.

You had no family and all your friends you'd met through John and you couldn't risk them telling him where you were. So you walked and walked, until your feet ached and your tears dried on your cheeks.

You didn't know how long it had been, how long youd been in a haze, feeling the relentless vibrations of your phone in your backpack as you continued on your pointless journey to nowhere.

A car rolled past, coming to a sudden stop a few feet in front of you as the day turned to dusk. You paid the driver no mind as the window rolled down, continuing past with a blank expression on your face.

"Bunny?" Bucky called out of the window, confused when he'd spotted you walking the streets.

When you didn't stop, he only grew more concerned, idling the car slowly behind you as you continued on.

"Bunny what are you doing?" He called out once more and you finally registered his voice through the drowning noise in your brain, causing you to still.

Your face filled with fresh tears and you slowly turned back to him, watching his face drop in shock when yours came into view.

"Fuck." Bucky gasped, before throwing on the parking brake and leaping out of the car.

He pulled you into his arms, holding you as you finally broke down on him. You sobbed into his chest with a rasped scream, clutching his shirt like a lifeline as everything consumed you.

"Oh god Bunny. It's gonna be okay." He whispered against your hair, "You're gonna be okay. I got you."

"I can't go back there Bucky." You finally whimpered, nuzzling your face against his chest, "I can't do it anymore."

"You're not going back." He reassured you, "You're gonna come stay with me."

"I can't ask you to do that." You cried, "I've been so horrible to you."

"Hey, it's okay." He said softly, cradling your face in his palms and pulling your face up so you could finally see the tear tracks on his cheeks and the concern in his eyes, "We're friends right, let me help you."

"Okay." You sniffled with a nod, "Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me Bunny." He said, gently swiping your cheeks with his thumbs, being mindful of the dark bruise that laced one of them, "I'm here for you, always."

He pressed a soft kiss to your forehead before pulling away, only to place a comforting arm around your waist as he guided you towards his car.

"Come on let's get you in the car and warmed up, here." He offered as he led you to the passenger side of the vehicle.

He opened the door and quickly whipped off his jacket, placing it on your shivering shoulders before helping you into the car.

As he shut the door you blew out a breath of relief, relief that you weren't alone, that you didn't have to go back, that you were going to be safe.

When you got back to Bucky's place, he was quick to run you a bath, worrying about how long you'd been wandering around outside.

As it ran you took in his apartment. It was modern and clean with a large open kitchen/dining space and you could see a few doors down the corridor where Bucky had gone.

The couch was leather and black with a  distinctive discoloration where he clearly sat most and the shelves and units were dotted with various paraphernalia from the second world war. History had always been his passion and you were glad to see he still loved it as much as he used too.

Bucky returned to you quickly and showed you to the bathroom, leaving you to strip off in peace.

You had freed yourself from your clothes and were about to step into the tub when Bucky walked in, making you jump in surprise, clutching your arm over your breasts and your hand over your mound as you turned your back to him.

"Oh hey I forgot the towe...oh shit.." Bucky mumbled at you, freezing for a moment at the sight of you.

What caught his eye however, was not your naked body, but the raised scabbed welts along your back and ass, surrounded by purple bruising.

He crossed the space, placing his palms on your shoulders as he inspected the length of your back.

"Bunny, this is, fuck." He whispered in shock, unable to comprehend what he was seeing, "How long has this been going on?"

"A while." You replied honestly with a rasp in your throat.

"Bunny." Bucky sighed and you quickly turned to him, dropping your hands and forgetting about your complete nakedness, as you wished for him to understand.

"But it's not what you think okay?" You pleaded, "He's never hit me before last night, he just uses his belt sometimes when I misbehave."

"He uses a belt on you?" Bucky asked with furrowed brows.

"Yeah, when I'm bad.." You whispered.

"Bunny." He said sternly, rubbing his palm along your jaw, "This is hitting you, this is abuse, you know that right?"

"He loves me." You whimpered, "I just wanna be loved Bucky."

He pulled you back into his body, surrounding you with his warmth as he embraced you.

"Did I do this to you?" He asked with a hitch to his voice, "Is this my fault?"

"No Bucky, no." You reassured him, "It's me, I just..."

"I'm so fucking sorry Bunny." Bucky whimpered, interrupting you.

He brought his palms back up to cradle your face and placed his forehead against yours, as tears slid down his own cheeks.

"I'm never gonna let anyone hurt you again." He whispered, "I promise, that includes me."

"Okay." You sniffed, looking up at him through your soaked eyelashes.

His gaze slipped to your pouty sad lips for just a second and that second was all it took for you both to bridge the gap between you, pushing your lips to each others with a sigh.

It was over all too quickly, as Bucky hastily pulled back.

"Sorry, sorry." He muttered.

"It's okay." You replied.

"No, you're vulnerable." He said softly, rubbing your cheeks with his thumbs, "I shouldn't have done that, not now, not yet."

You nodded silently and Bucky stepped back to give you some space.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up." He offered with a soft smile.

"Will you stay while I bath?" You asked shyly, not wanting to be alone.

"Of course Bunny, whatever you need." He sighed.

He stayed next to you, the stoic protective bodyguard you remembered whilst your body warmed up. When you were finished he wrapped you in a towel before helping dress you in one of his tshirts and his joggers, insisting they would be warmer than the clothes you stuffed into your backpack haphazardly.

After convincing you to eat a few mouthfuls of food, he tucked you into bed in his guest room and placed a soft kiss to your head before leaving you to finally get some sleep.

You hadn't looked at your phone, you daren't, leaving your backpack on Bucky's sofa in an attempt to forget it's existence, to forget the man you'd spent two years dedicating your life too, that was going to be absolutely furious.

You'd always been scared of upsetting him, but you'd finally begun to realise that maybe it wasn't your fault after all, maybe it was just him.

You came around the next morning, blinking your eyes frantically as your hazy brain struggled to comprehend where you were. You heard a grunt from the hallway and tried to will your ears to work in your half asleep state, zeroing in on the conversation.

"...from her or you'll be dealing with me." You heard Bucky whisper yell.

You slid from the bed, rubbing your eyes with the back of your hands and you slowly padded through the hall, following Bucky's voice.

"Really? After what I've seen on her body you think you have any right to threaten me?" Bucky grunted harshly.

You rounded the corner, seeing him leaning against the kitchen counter with your phone in one hand, while the other was gripping the counter ledge tightly.

"Don't call, don't text, don't bother her or I'll tell the police everything." Bucky finished before slamming the phone on the counter and rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.

"Bucky?" You squeaked as you approached, watching his shoulders relax at the sound of your voice.

He turned to face you, taking an audible breath as you closed the distance towards him.

"Hey bunny." He sighed, "Sorry...He just...kept calling..."

"Thank you." You replied softly.

"You're thanking me?" He queried with a raised brow.

"Yeah. I guess, I don't have to talk to him now so..." You shrugged.

"Come here." He coaxed with his arms outstretched and you smiled in response, happily walking into his embrace. You both sighed as you held each other and rocked gently.

Bucky placed a soft kiss to your temple, igniting butterflies in your stomach that you tried to ignore.

"We're gonna have to go get your stuff today." He murmured against your hair, "You can't live out of a backpack."

"But...John..." You panicked into his chest, feeling his hold on you tighten in response.

"I'll be there the whole time." He reassured you, "He won't touch you. Okay?"

"Okay." You nodded, knowing without a doubt in your mind, that Bucky would follow through with his promise and you'd be safe, for today at least.

******

You arrived at the place you'd called home a few hours later, dressed back in your own wrinkled clothes from your bag, shaking as you slowly stepped up to the front door.

You turned back, eyeing Bucky over your shoulder as he stood a few steps behind you. He offered you an encouraging nod and so you took a deep breath and stepped across the threshold.

As you rounded the hall into the living space, aiming for the staircase, you spotted John sitting on the couch with a whiskey glass in his hand. You couldn't help but feel bad as you looked over him, he looked rough, exhausted from a whole night of worrying.

"Oh well look who finally came home." He sneered at you and those feelings of sympathy quickly disappeared, "You realise how ridiculous you were being and come to your senses?"

You stiffened at his tone, instantly relaxing when you felt Bucky walk in behind you. John's gaze turned furious when he spotted the man behind you, fist clutching around his glass so tightly you feared it would smash in his palm.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" He yelled at Bucky.

"Here to make sure you don't lay another finger on her." Bucky grunted in response and John jumped from his spot on the couch, slamming his glass on the coffee table.

"You don't know anything about our relationship!" He yelled furiously.

"I know enough..I've seen.." Bucky began, but you placed a palm on his hand and shook your head urging him to stop. You knew you needed to do this, you needed to be strong, to stop being his victim.

"John." You breathed shakily, "I'm taking my things and I'm not coming back, it's over."

"It's over?" He scoffed, taking a step towards you, "Babe, it was an accident, I didn't mean to hit you."

"What about all the other times?" You asked with doe eyes as he crossed the space and took your hands in his, gentler than he'd ever held you before.

"Babe, you know that's not abusive." He sighed, "We've talked about this, it's correction. You wanted me to love you, this is what I need to do that."

"I shouldn't have to change who I am to be loved." You whispered back, seeing his forehead crease with confusion.

"Has he got into your head, is that what this is?" He asked in annoyance, releasing your hands and taking a step back.

"No." You breathed, "I just realized how blind sided I've been."

"Blind sided." He scoffed angrily, gesturing with his hands as he ranted, "I'm the one who's been blindsided babe, I thought you were a good woman, my woman, turns out you're just another slut."

"Don't fucking talk about her like that!" Bucky yelled from behind you.

"I'll talk about her however I fucking want!" John yelled back before turning his attention back to you, "You wanna act this way, fine, good luck finding someone else to love you."

"I love her and I don't need her to change to do it." Bucky grunted and your eyes widened in surprise and your heart hammered in your rib cage.

"Wow. You work fast babe." John sneered aggressively, "Congratulations, you're a slut and a cheat."

"I didn't." You argued back.

"Just get your fucking stuff and get out of my sight." John scoffed before dropping back onto the couch, pulling a bottle of whiskey from beneath the table to refill his glass.

You scampered off upstairs with Bucky in tow, making quick work of packing your clothes and sentimental items into a suitcase, not that you had many. You were happy to leave the majority of your things behind, glad to just be free from under John's thumb.

When you returned downstairs, John was gulping down another glass of whiskey and you cringed at the sight. Though you were glad to be free, you still felt sad, you had still loved John and now this was the end, two years gone.

You slipped your engagement ring from your finger and placed it gently on the table in front of him.

"Bye John." You whispered sadly.

"Whatever, fucking bitch." He scoffed and you allowed a tear to slip down your cheek before nodding at Bucky, who collected your suitcase and led the way out of the house.

*****

When you got back into Bucky's car, you felt lighter in a way you hadn't felt in years, like the world was yours to own again.

"Thank you." You smiled softly as Bucky started the engine.

"It's no problem Bunny." He smiled back adoringly, "I'm proud of you."

"Thank you. I'll find somewhere to live as soon as I can." You offered, clutching your hands tightly in your lap.

"Don't worry about it." He smirked, "You can stay in my guest room. Be nice to have a roommate again."

It sounded like an amazing offer and one you didn't want to pass up, but there was something he'd said you needed to ask first, before it played on your mind and ate you from the inside.

"Did you mean what you said?" You asked with furrowed brows, looking down at your lap.

"What about?" He asked with a raised brow, as he glanced between you and the road.

"That you love me?" You forced out nervously.

Bucky shifted his hand from the wheel and took one of yours in his, lacing your fingers together.

"Bunny, I love you more than anyone in this shitty world." He admitted softly, "I made a huge mistake all those years ago but it's you, it's always been you."

"So why did you leave?" You asked, finally looking up at him as he drove.

"I was scared." He admitted with a rasp, "Scared that you saw every part of me, the good and the bad and loved me anyway. I was scared you'd run or change your mind. That I wouldn't be good enough, that I'd end up hurting you and so I hurt you anyway."

"I don't know what to say." You sighed.

"You don't have to say anything and you don't owe me anything." He continued, "I just want to be here for you, to help you if you let me, be your friend again. Anything else is a bonus."

"I don't know how long it'll be before I'm ready." You admitted honestly.

"Take as long as you need Bunny." He smiled softly, "I'll always be yours, even if you never want me like that again, I'll never love anyone else."

*****

A month passed by and things were looking up. You got yourself a job, just a part time gig at a local cafe while you got used to working again and you were loving every minute of getting your independence back.

You and Bucky had fallen into a routine together and you found that your friendship bloomed just like it had all those years ago. You often spent your nights together on the couch, laughing at some show together or crying at a movie.

You looked at him often, when he wouldn't notice, thinking about how easy things were with him, how free you had always felt around him.

He truly was the one that got away, except he was right here, offering you the world and you were just too afraid to take it.

You were afraid of being hurt again, but then you scolded yourself. You'd known Bucky for a long time, you knew he'd never hurt you physically and you believed every word when he told you he'd never hurt you emotionally again, so what was holding you back except your own brain? It was time to let your heart do the talking.

"Hey, how was work?" Bucky asked from the kitchen as you walked through the front door.

"It was good. Busy." You replied as you toed off your shoes and discarded your bag on the rack.

As you approached you took him in, every glorious inch, from the way he bit his lip as he poured his juice, like he had to concentrate really hard not to spill any, to the way his veins pulsed in his hands and arms.

He looked as good as he ever did, if not better, jaw dusted with stubble and muscles defined beneath his tight clothing. You felt a pulse in your core, something you hadn't felt for a long time, even with John.

"Yeah, you okay?" Bucky asked with a concerned brow, "You look a little lost in your head."

"Yeah just been thinking." You sighed as you neared, placing your hip against the counter as he drank his juice.

"About what?" He asked, smacking his lips together before placing the glass back down.

"You. Me. Us." You shrugged, seeing his eyes widened and his adams apple bob nervously.

"What about us?" He squeaked.

"About how scared I've been to let you in again, but all I want is for you to take me in your arms and kiss me." You admitted with a smile.

"I understand you're scared." He swallowed, "It's my fault."

"You just going to ignore the other half of the sentence?" You teased with a smirk.

"You...I..." He stuttered with his mouth agape as he looked at you.

"For God's sake Bucky just kiss me." You laughed.

His face contorted into a wide smile and he threw himself towards you, clasping your face in his palms and pulling your lips to his.

Your mouths opened and your tongues danced together like they'd never been apart. The bitter orange mingled against your tongue as he lapped every part of your mouth greedily, groaning deep in his throat.

You slipped your hands around his neck, holding him tightly, smiling into the kiss.

"Does this mean what I think it means?" Bucky panted as he pulled back.

"Mhmm." You hummed, placing another peck to his lips.

"You're giving me a second chance?" He asked with an excited glint in his eyes.

"I am." You grinned.

"Oh fuck bunny." He groaned, "I love you so fucking much.

He pushed his lips back to yours, throwing you back into a passionate kiss as your skin prickled and heat bloomed in your core.

You giggled as he slipped his palms over your ass, gripping you tightly and pulling you off of the ground to place you on the counters edge.

You groaned into each other's mouths happily as you continued to savour the flavour of each other's breath, before Bucky pulled back to press kisses to your cheek and jaw.

"I love you too Bucky." You sighed and his head snapped back up, eyes locking on yours.

"Yeah, you do?" He asked with a smile.

"I never stopped." You whispered, biting down on your lip as Bucky grinned boyishly.

"Well then Bunny", He smirked, picking you back up from the counter and carrying you towards the bedrooms, "We need to make up for lost time."

"Oh yeah?" You flirted.

"Mmmm." He hummed, pressing kisses to your lips and cheeks, "I've been practicing in all those years we've been apart."

"You were always good anyway." You breathed as he nipped your jaw.

"Oh I'm better now, trust me." He smirked as he crossed the threshold to his room.

"So prove it." You flirted before letting out a loud gasp as he tossed you onto his bed and crawled over you, thrusting his tongue back into your mouth.

You stripped each other of your clothes with a slow appreciation of each other's bodies, ravishing every inch of each other to make up for the lost time.

When Bucky finally settled over the top of you and pushed his thick cock into your pussy, it was like no time had passed.

You were still those broke college students, getting wrapped up in the lust and heat between you, except you were different, it was different. Because this time when he began slowly thrusting his length in and out of your wet cunt, he was looking down at you with adoration and love, like you were the only thing in this world that existed, like you were his.

"You gonna come again Bunny?" Bucky mumbled into your flesh as he bit and sucked at your neck and shoulders, thrusting his thick tip against your cervix.

"I don't think I can." You whimpered, having already given into the bliss twice already from Bucky working his cock in you expertly.

"You can do it Bunny, because you're my girl, all mine, ain't that right?" He continued, dragging is length along your walls, being sure to hit the spot he remembered made you weak.

"Yes, I'm all yours Bucky." You whined, clutching onto his muscular back as he worked you towards another orgasm.

"Yeah you are." He panted against your skin, "My girl, all mine and I'm yours Bunny, forever."

You cried out his name as you tipped over the edge once more, feeling the heat flush over every inch of your body as your mind hazed and your toes curled.

"That's it baby. just like that." Bucky groaned, wrapping his arms beneath your back to hold you close as he pounded into you with determination as his own orgasm neared.

"Oh fuck that's it." He panted with a whine, "That's it."

You held him close, breathing heavily as his warm cum began to paint your insides and his thrusts slowed.

He didn't pull out right away, instead he pressed his forehead against yours as his caught his breath, gazing into your eyes.

You brushed your hands through his hair, smiling up at him with that fucked out smile on your face he always loved.

"I love you Bucky." You grinned.

"I love you too Bunny." He smiled, "I'm not running away this time, never again. You got me, I'm yours, always yours."

You went to sleep that night in the arms of the man you loved, with a smile on your face and hope for the future. Though you couldn't be sure what it would bring, you had faith that Bucky would be alongside you the whole way, always yours, forever.

You and Pete were in the office on a Saturday. Why? Because quarterly reports were due.

At least now it was lunchtime. You were perched on the counter beside the sink in the break room when Pete strolled in carrying a carton of strawberries. He wandered over to the sink and began washing them, somehow managing to make even that look like a presentation.

"You know," he said thoughtfully, "these are criminally underrated."

A laugh escaped you. "They're strawberries."

He smirked. "Exactly."

He shook the excess water from one before holding it up between his fingers. "No one's excited until they actually have one."

Maintaining eye contact with you the entire time, he bit into it and gave an exaggerated hum of approval.

You rolled your eyes. "You're unbelievable."

Pete tossed the stem into the sink before selecting another berry and holding it up like a product demonstration. "Now, I'm not saying strawberries improve quality of life…" He turned it slowly between his fingers. "…but preliminary research is encouraging."

You could not help smiling. "Research?"

Pete smirked back. "I've eaten three today."

"And?"

His grin widened. "They're delicious." 

You snorted. "I don't think that's science."

"It's persuasive data."

Chuckling, you reached toward the carton.

Pete immediately slapped your hand away. "Absolutely not."

Your mouth fell open. "Oh, come on, Pete. Can't I have just one?"

"You can." He gave you another suspicious look. "But no cross-contamination."

You folded your arms. "Seriously?"

He shrugged innocently. "I'm CDC-compliant."

Giving him a flat look, you huffed. "You sell pharmaceuticals."

"I care deeply about food safety."

Rolling your eyes, you leaned back on your hands. "So how exactly am I supposed to eat one?"

Pete studied you for a moment. After a moment, he simply said, "Open."

You blinked. "Excuse me?"

Still holding the strawberry, Pete stepped between your knees. "Trust the professional."

After only a moment's hesitation, you parted your lips. He placed the strawberry between them, watching as you bit down. The sweet juice burst across your tongue.

Pete's eyes lingered on your mouth before lifting to meet yours. "I should probably verify the product."

You licked your lips. "You already had one."

He shook his head. "No." His voice dropped just enough to make your heart skip. "I need to make sure yours met quality standards."

Your lips parted ever so slightly. "…Pete." 

He smiled. "I'm committed to quality assurance."

Then he leaned in and kissed you. Your eyes fluttered shut as his lips found yours.

His tongue brushed lightly against your lips, tasting the lingering sweetness of the strawberry before slipping inside. Tentatively, you answered the kiss, your tongue brushing against his. That seemed to be all the encouragement Pete needed. His hands settled on your hips, drawing you effortlessly to the edge of the counter until you were flush against him. Your own hands disappeared into his impossibly soft hair.

When he finally pulled away, you were both breathing a little harder. Your foreheads nearly touched. 

You smiled. "So…" You bit your lip. "Was that your professional opinion?"

Pete rested his nose against yours while reaching for another strawberry. He smirked again. "Further testing required."

He gently traced the berry along your bottom lip, leaving behind a cool trail of water. You opened your mouth and bit into it. A bead of juice escaped the corner of your lips.

Without hesitating, he caught it with a quick kiss before claiming your mouth again. Blindly, he tossed the stem into the sink, one hand returning to your waist as he deepened the kiss. Without thinking, your legs wrapped around his waist.

Pete lifted you effortlessly from the counter and carried you the few steps to one of the plastic break room chairs without ever fully breaking the kiss. 

The two of you traded slow, lingering kisses for several minutes, separating only long enough to steal a breath before finding each other again. His hands wandered across your back and along your sides, never pushing for more. Your fingers made a thorough mess of his hair.

Eventually Pete rested his forehead against yours, smiling to himself. "I think we've completed the clinical trials."

You giggled and stole one more quick kiss. "What if I need another appointment, Doctor?"

Pete's grin turned positively incorrigible. "I'll write you a prescription."

Please comment or message me if you would like to be added to my tags list.

It had been a week since the events that happened in Bucky's office at his warehouse and you hadn't stopped thinking about it.

You had made no further attempts to kiss him or touch him in anyway, except for when your hands sunk into his hair when he'd work you to release with his tongue.

Bucky was still being respectful, well, he was constantly getting you on your back to bury his fingers or tongue in you, but other than that he still wasn't forcing you to be intimate with him, wasn't asking for you to return the favour and weirdly it was annoying you.

A part of you was begging for him to just claim you already. You'd accepted your fate, accepted that despite him taking you, your life was better now and you hated yourself for admitting that.

Bucky was catastrophically gorgeous, well built and despite having not seen his dick, you just knew it would be big.

You had seen every side of him, the scary mobster who could command a room and wasn't to be messed with, but you'd also seen the softer side. You saw how sweet he was to you, how playful he could be, even when he was angry he never turned that onto you, immediately softening at the sight of your face. It made you feel things you hadn't felt in years, like you were important, you were worth something.

This morning when you woke in your own bed, because of course he had given you your own room until you were ready to share with him, you were filled with dread because today was the very day that you knew he'd have his weekly visit from Trinity.

Your heart clenched at the thought, filled with something that felt a lot like jealousy, possession and anger.

It only got worse when you were told by his right hand Sam, that you wouldn't be accompanying Bucky to the office today. It spurred on some strange thoughts. Did he not want you there? did he want Trinity to himself?

All you knew was that your body was filled with a need, a need to prove your worth, to claim what was yours but to also announce your displeasure and a plan formed in your mind.

You made your way to Bucky's bedroom, not bothering to knock as you pushed open his door and found him standing in front of his bed, tucking his white shirt into his black slacks.

His eyes widened in surprise when he saw you cross the threshold.

"Hey, you okay?" He asked with concern, stilling his hands on his pants.

"I'm just perfect." You smiled sarcastically as you stepped towards him, peering up into his deep blue eyes as they swirled with confusion.

"Okay...." He drawled with a raised brow, "Did you want something?"

"Mmhmmm." You mumbled, taking your bottom lip between your teeth.

Bucky watched as you bit down on the soft flesh, eyes widening further when you dropped to your knees before him.

You brought your hands to his crotch and worked his button open with quick determination.

"What are you doing?" He gasped.

"Just giving you something to think about at work today." You purred, sliding the zip down as Bucky's eyes turned dark and his jaw clenched.

You dipped your fingers into his pants and boxers together and slid them down to his thighs, watching as his cock bounced towards you, already half hard, making you smirk proudly.

You took his cock in hand and began stroking it as Bucky's hands flew up in surprise.

"Oh Jesus baby." He hissed through gritted teeth.

His length quickly hardened to its full form and you licked your lips at the sight, pleased you were right about him being large.

You glanced back up at Bucky, fluttering your eye lids as you slowly circled your tongue over his tip, hearing his harsh intake of breath.

You slid your tongue from his tip to his balls, placing a kiss on each before licking your way back to the head and you were pleased to see Bucky's chest rising and falling at speed.

"Oh fuck." He breathed, sliding his fingers into your hair as you widened your mouth and took in his mushroom tip, humming happily as you did.

You placed your palms on his thighs to steady yourself, before slowly working your way down his impressive cock, bobbing against him before taking him further.

"Look at you baby, look so pretty on your knees." Bucky groaned from above you and you preened internally at his praise.

Your mouth began to fill with saliva the more you worked your mouth on and off his length, filling the room with the sloppy sounds of you devouring his cock as you moaned around him.

"Fuck you're perfect. Holy shit." Bucky hissed, fingers tightening against your skull as you skillfully worked your mouth over him.

You forced your head down, shaking your mouth as you did and taking as much as you could before gagging and pulling off for a breath and going back to try again.

"That's it, take it all baby, I know you can do it." Bucky praised and his encouragement was all you needed to suck him into your throat and bury your nose into his pubic hair.

"That's a good girl. Fuck." Bucky moaned as you gargled around the base.

You gasped when you pulled off, before doubling down, bobbing your head at speed and dribbling down your chin as you worked him towards orgasm.

"Oh shit baby, I'm gonna come." He groaned loudly and you took your moment, quickly pulling back from his cock and wiping your mouth with your fingers before smirking up at him.

Bucky was looking down at you, eyes widening in confusion and mouth hung agape, cock still prone, begging your mouth to take it back.

"Well maybe you can ask Trinity to help you finish later, since you love her sucking your cock so much." You said sarcastically with a smirk, before standing and turning to leave.

"What? Baby wait.." Bucky begged from behind you.

You glanced at him over your shoulder with a sly giggle.

"Have a good day." You teased before leaving his room with a satisfied smirk on your face, you closed his door behind you, grinning widely when you hear the muffled sound of the word fuck shouted beyond the wood.

Throughout the day your mood kept flipping between pride and nervousness.

You were proud that you'd followed through with your plan, proud that you'd brought Bucky to the brink only to take his pleasure away, to show him that he couldn't do whatever he wanted and get away with it.

You were nervous because you weren't sure if you had achieved anything. Would he go to Trinity to finish off? If so then you hadn't really done anything except pushing him to her more. Would he hate the possessive side of you? Would he send you back to your old life? That should have been something you wanted, but the thought of giving Bucky and the life he was giving you up, to go back to that poor attempt at life you were living, was not something you wanted to entertain.

Later on that day, you were sat in a simple dress on the edge of your bed, aimlessly scrolling through the iPad Bucky had given you, when the door to your room swung open, slamming the adjoining wall causing the hinges to rattle under the strain.

Bucky stormed over the threshold, fists clenched by his sides and face red and frustrated.

You smirked up at him before looking down at the iPad.

"Oh hey bucky, you okay?" You asked unbothered, internally squealing that he seemed so on edge, that maybe your plan had worked.

*Am I okay?" He grunted sarcastically.

You looked up once more with an overdramatic sigh, throwing your iPad onto the bedside table, before placing your palms on the mattress behind you and leaning back on your arms.

"You look stressed." You teased with a pout, "Did Trinity not do her job properly?"

"I didn't find out, I sent her home." He ranted unamused.

"Oh, how come?" You smirked with an eyebrow raised.

"You know why." He snapped, hands twitching at his sides.

"Enlighten me." You smiled.

"Because baby", he grunted, taking another step towards you until he was towering over you, "All I've thought about since I left, is how perfect your lips felt wrapped around my cock. About how easily you brought me to the edge."

"I'm glad you liked my work." You teased.

"Liked it?" He scoffed, "Baby I spent an hour jacking my cock raw trying to finish, but nothing fucking worked because all I wanted was you. Do you know how frustrating that is?"

"Sounds tough." You smirked.

"Ha. Tough. That's one word for it." He grunted, shaking his head with his tongue poked out between his teeth.

"Should have asked Trinity to help then, instead of sending her home." You teased and his eyes snapped back to yours, face painted with fury.

"You think I want her?" He snapped, "T

You think she could even compare now that I've had a glimpse of what it could be like with you. No one will ever be enough, you are all I want."

"That's not what you said last week." You pouted sassily, "I think your words were 'I have needs'."

"Baby, you trying to prove something here?" He grunted, pushing a shaky palm through his hair, "Are you trying to torture me, is that it?"

"Maybe I just didn't like someone else having their hands on you, when you keep telling me that you're mine and I'm yours." You snorted.

"Jesus. I'm sorry. Okay?" He yelled with his hands flying in the air, "I'm a fucking idiot is that what you wanna hear?"

"Yes actually." You smirked and his face softened, his hands dropped to his hips and his voice lowered in desperation.

"Then you got it baby." He said seriously, "I'm the worst, I'm a fool."

"Keep going." You smirked back in amusement.

You saw the corner of his lips twitch up playfully before he dropped to his knees and placed himself between your legs.

"I'm a fucked up man for ever using someone else when I have you. I'll never pull a stunt like that again. I've told Trinity to never come back, it's you baby, you're all I want." He said softly with adoration in his eyes.

You smiled softly, straightening your back and pushing your fingers into his hair, hearing him sigh in relief at your touch.

He placed his hands together, holding them by your stomach in a prayer-like motion.

"Now baby I'm begging you with everything I am and everything I have", He pleaded, "Please, please, finish me off before I die with swollen balls."

"I don't wanna suck you off right now Bucky." You smirked back, knowing how evil you were being but enjoying every second.

"Baby..." Bucky groaned, placing his head on your stomach, "This is it, I'm gonna die."

"I want you to fuck me." You demanded suddenly and he sat back on his haunches, eyes scanning your face in confusion.

"What?" He asked, checking he'd heard you correctly, that he wasn't dreaming.

"I want you to fuck me like you own me." You purred.

"You..fuck..." He gasped, jumping to his feet.

He lunged forward, slipping his hand around your throat and pulling you towards him as he bent over you and pushed his lips against yours with an animalistic groan.

You were pushed back onto the mattress, meeting his rushed kisses with your lips and opening your mouth when his tongue began pushing its way inside.

Bucky grunted and groaned into your mouth, pressing his knee on the edge of the mattress between your legs, causing it to brush your pussy as you felt wetness begin to pool.

He pulled his hands to your chest, fisting the feeble fabric in his palms before ripping your dress straight down the middle, exposing your bare breasts and lace panties to him as he parted from your lips and looked down your body with his mouth agape.

"You realize what you're asking for?" He asked when his eyes met yours once more.

"Yes." You whispered.

"Good." He said in a low voice, bringing his palm back up to hold your throat tightly as you gasped, "Cause once I've had you, you'll be ruined for anyone else. You'll never leave. I'll hunt you down to the ends of the earth if you try. You sure you're ready for that? To be mine, forever?"

Your eyes widened in surprise, pussy fluttering and heart pounding.

"Claim me Bucky." You gasped and a soft roar rumbled from his chest before he pushed himself away from you, standing beside the bed and quickly stripping himself from his clothes.

You took the opportunity to clamber back on the bed, placing yourself in the centre with your head resting on the plush pillows.

As soon as Bucky was naked, your eyes roamed over his perfect body, over the scars on his shoulder you wanted to kiss, to his hard throbbing cock you wanted buried in your cunt.

Bucky reciprocated, raking his gaze over every inch of you before pouncing onto the bed and reconnecting your mouths as he hovered over you.

Tongue met tongue as the heat in the room rose and your breaths became ragged and needy.

Bucky's mouth slipped to your cheek, placing messy kisses along your face and jaw and down to your neck as you moaned beneath him. He worked his way down your chest, giving your breasts attention before continuing to your core.

You let out a whimper when he slipped your panties off, but it quickly turned into a moan when he dropped his head to your mound and started licking over your folds and clit.

"Bucky please, no foreplay, not now." You begged, grabbing at his shoulders, "I need you."

"God you're a fucking angel." He groaned up at you before quickly crawling back over the top of you.

He caged you in, placing his elbows beside your head and settling himself between your spread legs.

He gazed down at you lustfully, as his tip nudged against your waiting heat, smirking when you let out a needy gasp.

He pushed his head through your folds, forcing it into your channel.

"Oh fuck." You groaned at the stretch.

"I know baby, I know." He whispered reassuringly, placing a kiss to your cheek, "You can take it."

He continued pushing in slowly as your walls frantically fluttered trying to accommodate him.

"God.." You groaned.

"You're doing so good." Bucky praised you softly, "Almost there. Fuck."

He finally bottomed out as his tip pushed against your cervix. You were filled to the brim, panting heavily as Bucky buried his face in your neck with a satisfied groan.

He pulled back and gave you a soft kiss, coaxing you to relax around him until he could feel your pussy begin to clench impatiently.

"You ready baby?" He whispered between kisses.

"I'm ready Bucky." You replied and he finally began to move.

You let out a whimper when he pulled his cock almost all the way out of your now weeping cunt, before he pushed back in torturously slowly and you both groaned.

"God your pussy is heaven." He moaned, repeating his slow movements over and over again.

You wrapped your hands around his waist, clutching his back when he finally started to pick up the pace, rocking into you faster. You felt your stomach tighten and the spark ignited in your pussy that you longed for.

"Fit around me like a fucking glove baby." Bucky grunted, placing his face back into your neck to bite and suck at your soft skin.

He kept building the pace, hitting your cervix harder and faster while you moaned loudly, fingertips digging into his muscular back as you felt your orgasm building

"You feel that?" Bucky groaned, "Feel how good your pussy sucks my cock back in?"

He sat back suddenly, grabbing your calves in his hands and dragging them over his shoulders, pressing his body back over yours and you felt his cock get impossibly deeper.

"Oh godddd." You whined, eyes rolling in pleasure.

"That's it baby fucking take it." Bucky grunted as he began fucking you with no remorse, "Take every inch, cause it's all yours from now on."

You moaned loudly at his statement, dropping your hands to the sheets and fisting the material between your palms.

"Gonna fuck you in every room of the house", He continued, "Gonna keep my hands, tongue and cock on you at all times."

You felt another zing of pleasure shoot up your spine as your orgasm closed in.

"Make sure you know who you belong too." Bucky grunted possessively, "You'll never escape, you'll never leave. You're mine."

"I'm yours bucky. Please." You whimpered as you felt yourself reach the edge.

"You gonna cum baby, gonna come around the bad mobsters cock?" He teased with a grunt around the cock of the man who abducted you.

"Yes, please!" You begged as he slammed his hips against your ass hard.

"Then cum baby, show me I'm yours." He groaned and that was all the encouragement you needed for your coil to snap.

Your peak raged hot and white, overtaking your body and engulfing it in the bliss of being owned, being claimed.

"Fuck!" You whined as Bucky continued to pound into you, prolonging your orgasm as he chased his own release.

"Oh god that's it." He groaned, "Gripping me so tight baby, fuck."

His hips stuttered and slowed, allowing you to start coming down from the high as you felt the warm evidence of Bucky's orgasm flush inside you.

He released your legs and collapsed on top of you, burying his face in your neck once more.

"You can't leave me, not now not ever." He whispered, voice hitching as he spoke

"I don't want too." You breathed honestly.

"Good cause you're mine." He replied, pulling back to look into your eyes adoringly.

"And you're mine." You smiled.

He leaned down and pressed his lips to yours, an all consuming kiss, an understanding between the two of you that you belonged to each other and no one else.

Everything Tag - @late-to-the-party-81

@the-wandering-wonder @rnurse-kole @chemtrails-club

SS Tag - @buckysdecaflove

The time was finally here. Years of hard work and dedication, caffeine fueled nights and sore fingers and you had one assignment left. The big one. Your final dissertation and you were done, free to leave college and enter the real world.

Your topic choice had been easy, fuelled by not only a love for the subject but a lifetime of stories told by your aunt. 'How friendship changed the course of world war 2 and Hydra's threat to the world we know.'

Weeks of research were done, reading and learning everything you could about the infamous Steve Rogers and his best friend James 'Bucky' Barnes. You wrote down every story and anecdote you were told growing up, cross referencing everything as you poured your life and soul into the document.

You were so close to this finish line, yet so far, wanting to do your project justice, wanting to do them justice. Those incredible men who you'd wished you could have known, who died to protect your country and took Hydra down with them.

After another tiring day of ruthlessly flicking through history books and scrolling through old newspaper clippings, you final succumbed to sleep.

You were in the haze, that space between sleep and awake where everything felt a little too real, yet so far from real life you knew you were dreaming.

Voices slowly filled your ears, so close to you that your eyes fluttered rapidly as you willed your brain to open them, only to fail.

"The things I'm gonna do to her." Bucky groaned softly as he watched your sleeping form.

"Me too bud, but we have to be patient, she's not ready." Steve agreed, arms folded across his chest with his head tilted as he appraised you.

"I don't know how long I'll be able to do that Steve." Bucky whined, grabbing at his crotch.

"Just have patience Bucky, we've waited 70 years, what's a few more weeks?" Steve scolded him with a raised brow.

"She's listening." Bucky whispered suddenly, nodding in your direction.

"Oh is that right? Can you hear us sweet girl?" Steve purred.

"Don't worry, youll be able to see us soon enough." Bucky added with a smile.

"Not long now, we can't wait to meet you properly." Steve continued.

Your eyes continued to flutter as a chill zipped up your spine. You finally forced your eyes open and bolted upright, gasping as you gazed around your empty room.

It had felt so real and their voices so close. You rubbed your forehead before letting out a low curse. You'd been working too hard and now you were dreaming about the men you were writing about. Not long now, you reminded yourself as you flopped back on the bed.

You spent days shaking off that strange dream and the strange feelings you had along with it, which was difficult when your life was revolving around the two men.

You had scheduled a trip to see your aunt in her care home and tried to focus on that and the things you wanted to ask her, collecting your note pad and pen from your glove box before leaving your car and heading into the large building.

When you'd skipped past the receptionist and made it to your aunt's room, exchanging the usual pleasantries, you took a seat on the chair next to her bed and flipped open your pad, ready to continue with your research.

"I'm so happy you've chosen to write about this." Peggy smiled as she tilted her head towards you from where she lay in her bed.

"Me too Aunt Peg." You smiled back, "Maybe it was listening to you talk about them so much growing up."

"I'm glad you enjoyed my stories." She chuckled, "You were always the most interested."

She wasn't wrong, your cousins always seemed to get bored or fed up with her constant reminiscing of the glory days. You however ate every story up, every moment of her life spoke to you in unfathomable ways, maybe that's what led you to become a history major when you grew up.

"So tell me about them Aunt Peggy." You grinned, placing your pen against the paper.

"Gosh, what can I possibly say about them?" She chuckled once more, "They were both incredible people, brave, loyal to the cause and each other, charming and handsome, especially my Steve."

You smirked as she looked up with a dreamy expression on her face. She never made a secret of her love for Steve, even your uncle had accepted that she was infatuated with him.

"You had a soft spot didn't you?" You teased with a smirk, as you scribbled notes on your page.

"Darling I was positively in love with that man for a time." She sighed and you smiled softly back at her, you'd never experienced that kind of love for someone before.

"Did you ever...ya know uhh..get intimate?" You grimaced with a squint, unsure if you should have asked but he was a super soldier for goodness sake. If your aunt had slept with him it would be interesting to know if that strength continued in the bedroom, for historical purposes obviously.

"We only ever shared a kiss, but it was a kiss I could never forget." She smiled back.

You almost felt disappointed that they hadn't had sex, before remembering that you were basically advocating your own aunt getting boned and you let out a sudden shudder.

"You know, they made Steve perform for a while." Peggy continued, "They sent him touring around the country, performing in theatres. I always knew he was meant for more than that."

"So when did he decide enough was enough?" You asked gently.

"You know the story darling." She teased, "I've told you a hundred times."

"I know." You whined with a pout, "Just tell me once more, please?"

"Okay. Well, one day Steve found out that most of James' division, the 107th, were captured and Bucky hadn't returned back with the others." She spoke proudly as she retold her story, while you frantically scribbled notes on your page, "That's the catalyst Steve needed. He decided then and there that he wouldn't stand by and let the others fight alone any longer, he had to save his best friend and he did. He stormed that Hydra base alone, freed the 107th, freed Bucky and brought them all back home. After that, well, everything changed for the better. Without Steve, Hydra would have been unstoppable."

"That's incredible." You sighed as you finished your sentence.

"He was, they both were." She sighed.

"Is there anything else you remember about them?" You asked with a raised brow, crossing your leg over your other.

"I remember Steve was always doodling in this little pad he had." She smiled.

"Doodling?" You queried.

"Drawing pictures." She confirmed, "Some beautiful, some quirky. There was one that always stood out. He drew himself as a performing monkey because..."

"That's how he saw himself." You finished for her with a sad sigh. You couldn't imagine how awful he must have felt, being experimented on, made into this super human only to be carted around and shoved in front of audiences.

"Yes exactly." Peggy sighed, "That was before he found James."

"I wish I could have seen it." You said dreamily.

"Hmmm yes. Actually you could." Peggy suddenly said with widened eyes.

"Really, how?" You exclaimed.

"Well, Steve had no family, so after he passed all his belongings were transferred to Shield and stored." She told you.

"And they're still there now?" You asked, tapping your pen against your lip.

"I don't see why they wouldn't be." She replied, "I still have some old contacts, I could try to get you in for a visit."

"Aunt Peggy, I can't ask you to do that." You grimaced, though you desperately wanted to be able to see it. To be amongst Steve's things would be an amazing addition to your dissertation. You'd be able to have your hands on things that most historians could only dream about.

"You didn't ask, I'm offering." Peggy said sternly with a smile, "It would be my pleasure darling."

"Thank you, it means the world to me." You smiled back, trying not to squeal in excitement.

"And you mean the world to me." She replied and you rolled your eyes playfully.

The rest of your visit flew by quickly and before you knew it you were back in your car with a wide smile. Visits with Peggy always put a smile on your face, you dreaded the day you would no longer be able to have them, but that day wasn't now and that's what you focused on.

Another night of restless sleep came, as you tossed and turned in your bed uncomfortably. Your mind wouldn't quiet enough for you to drop into the deep sleep you so craved, leaving you back in that inbetween haze.

You threw yourself onto your side, curling your legs up as your mouth hung agape with soft breaths.

The voices returned and your brows furrowed. Your body twitched as your eyes fluttered frantically and you heard soft moans and a wet sound coming from somewhere nearby.

This time when you willed your eyes to open, they finally did and you let out a gasp when your eyes fell on the two men you'd be relentlessly researching.

Steve Rogers and James Barnes both stood beside your bed, dressed in their army slacks and matching shirt, as they looked down at you with wide lustful eyes. Bucky's slacks were dipped down slightly and his large cock was in his hand, bottom lip sucked back into his mouth.

You tried to speak, tried to get anything to come out of your lips but you couldn't. You were stuck, speechless and unable to make any part of your body move.

"Oh god Steve, she's opened her eyes." Bucky groaned and your eyes widened in shock, literally unable to look away as he slipped his hand up and down his length as he watched you.

"Well hey there princess." Steve purred with a smirk.

You tried to squeak once more, tried to scream, yell, anything, but nothing came out as your tongue uselessly rolled around your mouth.

"Don't try to speak." Steve said softly, "Just relax, it's too soon."

Your eyes flicked back to Bucky, watching his palm move up and down the veiny skin of his cock.

"Sorry Angel, I couldn't help myself." Bucky moaned, "You just looked so fuckin' cute."

"He's not wrong." Steve agreed with his hands on his hips, "Got me busting out my pants over here too."

"Just get it out Steve," Bucky rasped breathlessly, "She won't think any less of you."

"She might." Steve sighed, looking back at you with sad doe eyes.

"You wouldn't would you Angel?" Bucky continued, "You love us, you belong to us."

Your eyes widened once more, completely taken back by the statement as you felt your heart pounding in your chest from fear.

"Okay okay, shit." Steve muttered as he fumbled with his pants button, quickly shoving them down enough to free his equally hard, thicker cock and he took it in his grasp.

"Oh fuck that's it." Steve breathed as he began stroking himself, "Feels so good princess."

You watched as they both continued working themselves towards the edge, moaning and panting as they were over taken with pure unadulterated lust.

"I'm gonna cum Steve." Bucky groaned lewdly.

"Go for it Buck," Steve rasped, "Show our girl how much she means to us."

"Fuck." Bucky panted and you watched as he began to shoot ropes of cum onto your bedroom floor, squeezing himself all the way to the tip until he had rid himself of every drop.

"Oh shit, I'm cumming." Steve moaned suddenly, landing rope upon rope onto the carpet alongside Bucky's.

When he was completely spent, he tucked himself away and Bucky did the same.

You could only watch as Bucky stepped towards you, leaning down over your head, so close you could feel a cool gust of breath against your ear.

"Get some sleep Angel." He said sweetly, before placing a kiss to your head that felt like ice.

Your eyes rolled back in your head as the two men faded out, leaving you to finally slip into a deep sleep.

You woke the next morning groggy and confused, running your palms along your face as you tried to comprehemd the tricks your mind was playing on you.

You'd never experienced anything like it, never had night terrors, never slept walk and now you were dreaming that you were being visited by sleep paralysis demons. Except they weren't just demons, they were Steve and Bucky, war heros, historical legends, your aunts friends.

You let out a low groan when you finally stepped from the bed and into a wet patch on the floor, grimacing at your soggy foot and promising yourself you wouldn't keep drinks near your bed anymore as you'd clearly spilled one without realizing.

You were walking to your class on campus later that day, when your phone rang and you wiped it from your bag to find a withheld number calling you.

"Hello." You answered shyly.

"Hi this is Phil Coulson." The person on the other end announced.

"Uhh hi... Phil." You stuttered in confusion, quickly plopping yourself on a nearby bench.

"I'm calling on behalf of Shield." He continued and your eyes widened in surprise.

"Oh god, hi..uhh thank you for calling." You said excitedly.

"No problem, your aunt asked for a favour and well, who am I to say no to Peggy Carter." He chuckled.

"She has that affect on people." You laughed back.

"Yes well, she is part of the reason I even have a job so.." He continued and you could almost hear the friendly smile on his face.

"Yeah I guess." You agreed.

"Well I've managed to approve your request to view Steve Rogers personal effects." He announced and your breath caught in your chest as you fought not to jump up and down in excitement.

"That's incredible, thank you." You breathed happily.

"No problem." He replied, "When are you wanting to come in?"

"As soon as possible." You exhaled shakily.

"I can fit you in, in two days time, does that work?" He asked and your fist jumped into the air.

"Oh my god." You squeaked, unable to stop yourself, "Yes, thank you, that's amazing."

"No problem at all." He replied, "I'll send over the details."

"Amazing, thank you Phil." You returned with a grin.

"Speak soon, bye."

"Bye." You replied before placing your phone down and squealing loudly, kicking your feet onto the ground.

You couldn't believe your luck, it was actually happening.

The days flew by and you suddenly found yourself standing in an almost bare room, that you'd been led into by someone at Shield.

In the centre of the room was a large crate, besides that they hadn't even offered you a chair which made you snort in amusement, but you didn't complain, thankful to even have this opportunity.

You carefully flicked the latches and lifted the lid off of the crate and the musky smell hit you immediately from the old artifacts within.

On first glance you could see a few things, an old record player, a few records, a stack of clothes. You wondered what else would be hiding in its depths.

You quickly glanced around the room and noticed a power outlet to one side and so you carefully lifted the record player out and placed it on the floor, connecting the cable to the outlet. A smile spread to your face when the small light blinked on and you quickly stepped back to the crate to select a record, settling on one called "It's been a long, long time."

The air thickened and cooled as the smooth 40's music filled the space and you hummed happily before dropping to your knees in front of the crate and placing your palms on your thighs as you assessed the contents.

You reached within, pulling out a bundle of fabric and shaking it out to reveal Steve's army blazer. You didn't know why, but you felt the urge to pull it to your nose and so you did, surprised when you could smell something other than musk, something earthy and masculin.

As you placed the blazer to the side you felt a gust of cool air tickle your neck, almost like someone was leaning over your shoulder but when you turned around, you were still alone.

You shrugged it off and continued your exploration, reaching in and picking up a metal compass. It had seen better days, now lightly coated in rust and so you very carefully pushed the release clasp and cradled the lid as it opened.

You found a picture of your aunt plastered on the inside and your eyes widened in glee, mouth spreading into a wide smile. Clearly Steve was just as infatuated with your aunt as she was with him. It was a shame he passed during the war, you wondered what her life would have been like if he had lived.

After placing it down you leant back over the crate, when something caught your eye. Buried just under a few pieces of clothing was a large notepad. You plucked it out excitedly and settled on your bum, crossing your legs in front of you and placing the book in your lap.

You flicked the pad open feeling that strange sensation come back, like someone was there with you, watching you and you furrowed your brows as you tried to shake it off but couldn't.

You tried to focus on the page, flicking through the first few pictures of various landscapes, you assumed from Steve's home. The pictures were beautiful and detailed, like he just couldn't leave the page until he captured all the small parts that made it so incredible.

After a few pages you stumbled on a drawing of your Aunt Peggy and the grin returned to your face. It was a full sketch of her standing in her army uniform with a clipboard in hand and you could just imagine her storming around with that no nonsense energy she always radiated.

You gasped when you flipped the page to the very image you'd wanted to see. The monkey in its captain america suit, riding a unicycle while people watched on in glee.

You felt for him, you really did, it was hard not too when you knew more about the man than most people did abut themselves. You just hoped that he managed to find some peace in the end.

When you flipped the page again you practically screamed, throwing the book to the floor and jumping to your feet as tears pooled in your eyes. It couldn't be, it was impossible.

Because there, on the paper, drawn with such meticulous attention to detail it couldn't possibly be anybody else, was a picture of your face staring back at you.

Your breathing turned ragged and you clasped your hand over your heart in fear as the sounds of breathing echoed around you. When you thought you felt a hand touch your shoulder, you couldn't take it anymore and you ran from the room at speed, not stopping until you were free from Shield.

You lost count of how many hours you spent thinking about that picture and about the weird feeling in that room. There was no way it could have been real you figured. You were sleep deprived and running on empty while you finished this assignment and your mind was playing tricks on you. At least that's what you tried to tell yourself for the week that passed since that strange day.

Between the studying, classes and all the work you had been doing, it had been hard to find time for yourself, for anything fun and so that's why you had decided one evening to invite one of your friends over, specifically for the benefits it came with.

Peter Parker was always reliable when you needed a stress relieving fuck, but this time, while he was balls deep inside of you, rutting his hips against your own, you weren't even close to the bliss you so desperately seeked.

Peter seemed to be having the time of his life as you lay beneath him, eyes clenched tight as you tried desperately to get that spark to ignite in your core.

The more you focused on your desperate need to cum, the more frustrated you became until an image suddenly flashed through your mind and you finally felt your pussy tighten around Peter's cock.

He groaned lewdly as your pussy fluttered, while your mind was locked onto a scene from a recent dream, of Bucky and Steve, jacking off as they watched over you.

"Oh fuck." You groaned when you were finally getting somewhere close to an orgasm, clutching onto Peter's shoulders as he panted above you.

"Oh god, I can't, oh shit." He suddenly gasped and you looked up at him in surprise.

"What?" You breathed back in panic.

"Oh fuckkkk." Peter groaned with one last deep thrust before rolling off the bed to remove the filled condom.

Your body sagged back against the bed and you let out an annoyed huffed, quickly recovering when Peter got back into the bed next to you, his softening dick now resting against his thigh.

"That was great right?" He beamed at you, "Did you cum?"

"Yeah." You nodded with a flat-lipped smile, the last thing you wanted to do was hurt his feelings, he was usually good at getting you there.

"Good. Good." Peter panted with a dopey smile.

A short while later he was on his side, back to you as he snored lightly.

You were splayed on your back, head shaking from side to side as shadows invaded your dreams and your eyes snapped open.

It was happening again, your body was locked in position and you had no control over your limbs except you found that you were able to tip your head to the side, only when you did you were met with the stern gazes of Steve and Bucky looking down at you.

Bucky's arms were folded over his chest and Steve's palms were on his hips as they glanced over your naked form, blankets apparently pooled by your feet and you couldn't do anything about it.

"Well what do you think Buck? Steve said sternly.

"I think I'm pissed Steve." Bucky grunted moodily.

"Me too buddy, me too." Steve sighed shaking his head.

"Thought we'd made it clear you belong to us angel." Bucky scolded you and your eyes widened.

You opened your mouth trying to respond but your voice still wouldn't work.

"And the asshole didn't even make her cum Buck." Steve said unimpressed, head tilting to assess your exposed cunt.

"Oh yeah, we saw everything angel and this asshole doesn't know how to take care of a woman like you." Bucky sneered before turning his lips into a smirk, "But we do, ain't that right Steve?"

"Sure is." Steve nodded, "But we gotta check how far along everything is first."

You followed Steve's movements with your head, as he moved towards the lower half of the bed and placed his palm on your leg. Your mouth dropped back open in surprise when you could feel the touch of his palm against your skin.

Steve licked his lip before sliding his hand along your flesh, resting at the apex of your thighs, leaving a trail of goosebumps in his wake.

"Well we're progressing nicely.". Steve praised happily, "Soon you'll be able to touch us too princess."

"Can I do it Steve?" Bucky began to beg, dropping his arms to his side, "Please, I've waited so long."

Steve looked down at your body once more with a pleased glint in his eyes before nodding and freeing you of his touch.

"Go ahead Buck." He replied.

You watched in fear and surprise as Bucky made his way to the base of the bed by your feet and carefully pushed your legs further apart against your will. He licked his lips as he crawled closer to your core until you could feel his lips brush against your pussy lips teasingly.

You tried to gasp as a warm wet tongue licked up your folds before tickling your clit and you couldn't deny the spark it sent to your core. The very spark you'd been looking for.

Bucky placed his palms on your thighs, holding your legs spread for him as he began eating you out like he'd been starved of your pussy for 70 years, like you were the only thing keeping him anchored to earth and it felt fucking good.

You tried to moan, dropping your head back against your pillow and letting out a small rasp that seemed to surprise Steve.

"Now now princess, wouldn't wanna wake up your little boy toy." Steve teased before grabbing at his crotch and pushing his slacks down to his thighs, "So how about I give you something to stop the noise huh?"

You couldn't say no even if you wanted too, unable to even squeak as you opened your mouth, desperately trying to say something, anything.

Steve took the opportunity and knelt on the bed, shoving his cock down your throat.

Tears began to stream down your face as Steve worked his cock in and out of your mouth, while Bucky continued to suck and lick at your cunt.

You hated that you were enjoying it, hated that you were careening towards the edge faster than you ever had but loving it all the same.

When Bucky groaned into your cunt, the vibrations zapped through your spine and you knew it wouldn't be long until your body gave in.

"Oh that's it, fuck." Steve groaned as the lewd sounds of spit and gagging filled the air.

A few seconds later Steve grunted loudly and you felt the warm evidence of his spend coat your tongue. Bucky latched onto your clit and sucked harshly while you gulped down Steve's load and your coil snapped.

Your eyes rolled into your head as you felt your orgasm crash over you, unable to do anything to stop it.

You didn't remember what happened next, when Bucky stopped or when Steve pulled out, only that it faded into nothing and you woke up with a groan, unable to believe you'd had a wet dream and clutching your suddenly sore throat that wasn't present the night before.

Things seemed to calm down over the next few weeks. You had no more strange dreams, no more weird feelings and you worked your ass off to churn out your final draft of your dissertation.

You skipped from your class after handing it in with a grin on you face. You had done it. You were finished. All you had to do now was wait for it to be assessed. You couldn't believe your college life was finally over and what lay ahead was exciting and the possibilities endless.

You laughed at yourself more with each passing day, finding amusement in the fact that you'd been so immersed in the world you were researching that it bled over into your day to day life, infecting your sleep and causing that crazy hallucination at Shield that obviously made it no where near your paper.

Things were great, things were good and although you could now but Steve and Bucky behind you, you knew you'd always carry them with you in some way, if not for you then for Peggy and for their legacy.

"You there princess?" Steve coaxed as he gently shook your shoulder, attempting to rouse you from sleep.

"Come on Angel, it's time to play." Bucky whined impatiently.

Your eyes blinked open slowly, immediately seeing the two grinning faces peering back down at you.

"There she is." Steve grinned.

"Hey there angel." Bucky smiled happily.

You moved your head side to side in confusion and wiggled your fingers as your brows furrowed in confusion, it didn't feel like you were asleep, but you obviously were.

"What?" You rasped in shock as you slowly gained movement through your body.

"Slowly princess." Steve said with concern, holding his hand out to you, "Your body is finally ready but it's still gonna take some effort."

You sat up slowly, rolling your shoulders and rubbing your dry throat. Steve and Bucky were both looking at you expectantly, like they were waiting for you to scream or run, they weren't expecting what actually happened.

"I don't understand." You whispered as you rubbed your palm over your chest and both their eyes widened in response at your calmness.

At this point nothing surprised you anymore, but Steve and Bucky were dead and had been for a long time, there would be no point screaming or running..this was just a dream, right?

"All you need to understand, is that we've waited a long time for this." Steve replied softly.

"Made a lot of deals with a lot of bad entities." Bucky added with a nod.

"And now the process is complete, we can have you and you can have us." Steve grinned.

"We're anchored to you." Bucky smirked.

"For eternity." Steve finished and your eyes suddenly widened.

You took a deep breath and looked around, concentrating on the feelings in your body and the way you could feel the soft breeze through the open window and smell the same scent you'd smelled on Steve's blazer.

"I.. I'm not asleep...am I?" You asked nervously.

"No you're not." Bucky replied.

"Why?...Why me?..." You whispered shyly, peering up at the two towering men through your lashes.

"Because you wanted us too." Steve announced adamantly.

"I didn't.. I haven't..." You mumbled.

"You've been calling to us for years," Steve continued, "Since you were old enough to understand your body."

"Every time Peggy spoke about us, your heart called out to us." Bucky added softly.

"And we listened." Steve sighed, "We've been watching over you since you were 18, tryin' to figure out a way for us to be together."

"Took us a while, but we're here now angel." Bucky smiled.

"And we're not going anywhere." Steve said sternly, sensing your unexpected hesitation.

"What do you want from me?" You whimpered lightly as the reality set in.

"Everything." Steve smirked.

"You're ours angel." Bucky smiled.

They both closed in, crawling onto the bed on either side of you with determined looks on their faces. As they got closer you lowered your body back down in a pitiful attempt to escape, now trapped on your back with two large dominant men leaning over you.

Steve placed his hand on your cheek, pulling your gaze to his and offering you a soft smile as Bucky settled on his side, on the other side of you.

"Tell us you don't feel it, tell us to stop." Steve whispered as his face closed in.

You gasped loudly, unable to form any words as Steve's plush lips lowered to yours. He groaned in satisfation when they finally connected and you felt a tingle in your pussy from the small contact alone.

Had you wanted this, had you been calling out to them all these years? You couldn't deny that now they were here and Steve's lips were on yours, you couldn't think of anything else except letting them have you.

You whimpered against Steve's mouth as you felt Bucky begin to press kisses to your collarbone and neck.

The arousal, the heat, was like nothing you'd ever felt before, even though you knew everything about this was wrong and you had a sinking feeling in your bones that you'd never be free of them.

When Steve thrust his tongue into your mouth and Bucky began biting and sucking your skin, you lost all coherent thought, getting swept up in the undeniable pull they had spoken about before.

It didn't take them long to strip you and themselves off between rushed touches and kisses.

When one moved from your lips, the next would take his place, not giving your brain time to catch up as they ravished you.

When you finally had a moment to breathe, you looked up to find them both naked and hard, cocks bobbing against their abdomens.

"Waited so long for this." Steve groaned as he ran his palm along your stomach and breasts.

"So fucking long Stevie." Bucky murmured against your breast as he took your nipple in his mouth.

"You're so beautiful. You were made for us, destined for this, our reward for giving our lives." Steve panted, placing his free hand around his cock and stroking himself with soft grunts.

You gasped loudly, throwing your head back and arching your back as Bucky bit down on your nipple with a low chuckle.

"You take her first buck, I can wait." Steve rasped.

"You sure Steve?" Bucky asked with a raised brow when he'd popped off your breast.

"Yeah go ahead, warm her up for me." Steve continued.

Bucky looked back at you with a smirk before crawling over your body as your eyes widened in lust and fear.

He settled between your legs, nudging his tip against your folds and gently stroking your cheek before his eyes darkened. He slipped his fingers over your mouth, pressing on your lip until your mouth dropped agape and he quickly slid two fingers over your tongue.

"Suck 'em angel." He grunted, groaning loudly when you complied.

He braced himself using his other palm, placing it next to your head as he grinned menacingly down at you and with one forceful thrust he pushed past your walls and buried himself in your cunt.

You screamed around his digits at the intrusion as your walls desperately fluttered around him.

"There we go." He grunted as he began to move. "Such a good girl."

You gargled around his fingers, eyes rolling and back arching as he began hammering his cock into you at speed.

"God you feel amazing." He groaned as he slipped his fingers from your mouth, smearing your spit along your face before he placed his now free hand against the wall, using it as leverage to pound you harder and faster.

"Worth the wait?" Steve breathed from beside you both, where he was watching with his mouth agape and his palm working over his own cock at speed.

"Definitely." Bucky panted. "She's perfect."

Your abdomen began to tighten with each slam of Bucky's hips against yours and you couldn't stop the lewd moans that began spilling from your lips.

"You like that angel?" Bucky rasped, "You gonna cum?"

You nodded with a whine as you felt the coil wind impossibly tight and within seconds it snapped. You pushed your head against the pillow with a scream as your skin flushed white hot and your body quivered.

"That's it Angel. Makin' me feel so good." Bucky stuttered as he fucked you through your orgasm, desperately chasing his own release.

He came with a groan, dropping his body weight on top of you as he panted heavily and his cock pulsed inside you, filling you with his load.

"70 fuckin' years." Bucky mumbled into your shoulder as you both came down from the high.

When he'd recovered he slipped off the bed and Steve immediately took his place.

"My turn." He grinned widely and you began to panic as you glanced down at his cock, considerably thicker than Bucky's, you assumed because of the serum.

"It's okay, you can take it." He reassured you as he settled his ass on his ankles.

He took your boneless body in his arms and lifted you into his lap, quickly lining himself up with your cunt before he used you like a puppet, pulling you down onto his length.

You whimpered against his chest as the stretch burned.

"You can do it princess. You're made for this remember." He whispered, pressing a kiss to you temple as he continued to press you down on his cock.

When he finally hit the hilt, tears were rolling down your cheeks and your breathing was ragged.

Steve leant down, licking your cheeks clean before thrusting his tongue in your mouth, allowing you to taste the saltiness as he worked his mouth against your own.

Your pussy began to relax around him slowly, as he coaxed you through it and when he was sure you were ready he repositioned his hands against your ass.

"Hold on baby." He ordered softly.

You slipped your hands up around his neck, clutching him tightly as he began to use your body to his will, moving you up and down over his length as you moaned and whined in pain and pleasure.

"You're doin' so good angel." Bucky whispered as he climbed on the bed behind you. Placing his palms on your waist to help Steve move your exhausted body.

"You reckon I could knock her up?" Steve panted and you were too tired and fucked out to even react to the statement.

"I don't know. He did say that as long as we're with her, we're essentially human again so..." Bucky replied hopefully.

"You hear that princess?" Steve murmured against your cheek as he pushed you on his cock, hearing the squelch from your wet pussy as he did. "Gonna try to knock you up, keep you full of cum til it takes."

You screamed against him as another orgasm exploded without warning and your mind began to haze over.

"Oh yes baby, keep squeezin' me, just like that." Steve grunted, pushing you down onto his cock one last time before he spilled inside you.

Bucky caught you as you collapsed backwards, quickly wrapping you in his arms as Steve stood with a pant and an elated grin.

"We did it Buck." He smirked. "She's ours now."

"Forever." Bucky added with a grin.

Everything Tag - @late-to-the-party-81

@the-wandering-wonder @rnurse-kole @chemtrails-club

SS Tag - @buckysdecaflove

Bucky Tag - @wickedfun9

“God, baby,” Jake muttered against your lips, his hands holding onto your bare waist above the top of your skirt. “Want you so much. Love you so much.”

You hummed into his mouth with a smile, your hand moving up and down his length, enjoying not only how it felt in your grip, but also the sweet tortured sounds coming from your boyfriend’s lips.

“You love me, huh? And that’s got nothing to do with the way I’m touching you?” You knew you were teasing him, but it was fun. 

“No,” he whined. “I mean yes. Sorta.”

You snorted at his ramblings and the way he was twitching under you. “So eloquent.”

“I don’t believe anybody feels the way I do about you now,” he responded, earnestly between more kisses. “But please, don’t stop.”

“Don’t stop?” you queried. “But if I don’t stop using my hand on you, then I can’t use my mouth or my pussy instead.”

Jake went stock still at your words. “You can stop,” he whispered before trying for some nonchalance. “If you want.”

You let go in an instant. “Yeah?” you asked with a raised brow and Jake gulped. You discarded your clothes swiftly before kneeing between his legs. Jake watched you with wide, lust filled eyes as he kept himself propped on his elbows. “Want me to taste you before I ride you?”

“Uh-huh.” 

God he was cute when he was lust-drunk.

You leant forward slowly, keeping your eyes on his face, as you opened your mouth, stuck out your tongue and then licked a stripe up the entire length of him.

“Oh Christ,” he called out, head tipping back, eyes closing and hands fisting in the sheet. A second cry followed it up as you took him in your mouth with a smile.

His hands came together in a slow, sarcastic applause with a smile of pure venom on his face. His suit was wrinkled from a long night in the club. His eyes raked across your naked body with a newfound sense of ownership that made your skin crawl and bile rise in your throat. You instinctively went to cover yourself, hands coming up to cover your breasts, dropping the glass Ari had handed to you. The liquid splashed against your feet as you drew your legs up.

"Well, well, well," Pete drawled, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Didn't actually think I'd catch you red-handed, Sugar. But here we are."

Your heart slammed against your ribs as you tried to scramble off of Ari’s lap, but his hands tightened around you, holding you in place. You twisted to look at him, searching his face for a shared confusion, for anger, anything, something— but all you found was a cold, detached calm.

"Ari?" Your voice cracked. "What—"

"Relax," Ari said quietly, his tone flat. He didn’t spare you so much as a glance. His eyes were locked on Pete’s with a knowing glint.

Relax.

Relax?

You stared at his face, slowly mapping out his features before you looked at Pete and let out a shocked sigh when your stomach dropped as you put together the similarities and wondered how you could’ve been so blind as not to have seen it sooner.

"Oh, don't look so shocked, sweetheart," Pete said, a mocking sweetness laced in his tone as he stepped closer. The firelight flickered across his face, highlighting his face in a way that made him look grotesque. "You didn't really notice the family resemblance?”

“Family.” You said bluntly. “Brothers?”

“My uncle,” Ari explained simply.

“Did you think you were getting away with it? All those private dances, all that cash you've been pocketing without telling me? You thought I wouldn't find out?" Pete asked as he stalked closer.

Your mouth opened, but the sound failed to make an appearance. Your brain was scrambling as it tried to piece together what was happening, as if you were trying to hold water in your hands—everything was slipping through as you tried to make sense of how Pete had found out.

"I—" you started to explain, but Pete cut you off with a sharp laugh.

"Save it,” He sneered. “I know everything. Every client you propositioned. Every dollar you didn't report. Every lie you told." He stopped a few feet away from the couch, arms crossed over his chest as he bent at the middle, towering over you with a triumphant grin, "And you know what the best part is? You walked right into it."

Your eyes darted back to Ari. He was still holding you, still calm, and then realization hit you like a freight train.

He knew.

He was part of this.

"No," you whispered, shaking your head. "No, you—"

"I what?" Ari's voice was cold, detached. He finally looked at you, not as a woman he’d just spent the last hour methodically taking apart, but as a piece of evidence, or a chore he’d finally completed. There was nothing in his eyes. No warmth. No affection. Just... nothing. Not a single ounce of semblance of the man you had grown an affection for over the past few weeks. "Thought I liked you? Thought this was real?"

His words were like a knife to the gut. You couldn’t stop the tears welling in your eyes.

“He was the bait, Sugar,” Pete said coolly, almost cheerfully. “And you took it, hook, line, and sinker. He did his job, got you here, and now…” He trailed off as he gestured around the room, at the manor, at the trap you had fallen into. “You’re all mine… Well, ours.”

Your hands shook, sending a tremble that took over your entire body. You once again attempted to free yourself from Ari, and this time he did let you go. You slip off the couch, your legs shaking, and head past Pete to grab your clothes, the warmth of the fireplace flickering across your skin. As you bend down, Pete’s voice stops you.

“I wouldn’t bother with those.”

You freeze, halfway bent to gather the sorry excuse of a dress.

“You’re not going anywhere, and we’ve both already seen what you’ve got to offer, Sugar. Why hide it now?”

The fear wracking your bones crystallized into something else; something hotter. It floods through your veins like gasoline meeting a lit match. You look at the dress, then back at Ari, who is putting his jeans back on. You waited for him to turn and look at you, but instead, he opted to look out the window as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

You snatch the dress from the floor, turning your attention back to Pete.

“Fuck you,” You spat, wringing out the dress and stepping into it. You heard Ari laugh shortly followed by the click of his lighter as you pulled up the dress and let the straps snap sharply on your shoulders before grabbing your bag. “I’m leaving. Right fucking now.”

Pete’s smile widens, and your stomach turns.

He’s on you within seconds, knocking your bag, the contents flying all over the floor. He grabs your wrist with one hand when they fly up to push him away, and hooks fingers of the other hand under the straps of your dress and snaps them with ease.  He grabbed you roughly, forcing you to lock your eyes with his fiery gaze; his fingers digging into the meat of your upper arms, making you wince and pull away from his grip.

‘’Do you have any idea how much you owe me, Rory? It adds up to a very pretty, very large sum of money that you simply do not have.’’ Pete snarled, venomous and rattling.  

‘’I have it,’’ You pleaded, ‘’It’s at the hotel. You can have it. Just let me go.’’

Pete didn’t answer you. His expression snapped in an instant, switching from a delighted amusement to a cold, hard stare.

He simply whirled you around, pulling your back flush against his chest and bruisingly working his hands against the fabric of your dress to work it down your body until it pooled around your bare ankles. Shakes wracked through your body as a sea formed in your eyes, a devastating storm of hopelessness as an anchor hit the bottom of your gut, rooting you to the mansion floor. Pete turned and shoved you towards where Ari was now on his feet, snapping the band of his boxers against his hips before leaning down to gather his jeans, shaking them out.

Your gaze darted between them as your footsteps faltered, your ankles wanting to give way as Pete began to stalk closer to you again. Your blood turned to ice as he backed you towards the couch. Your eyes darted around the room, seeking an exit; any exit. Instead, you wound up back on the couch, pulling your legs up as Pete loomed over you; his eyes black and vacant.

Ari gave you a passive glance as he lit up a cigarette, taking a long drag as he decided the darkness outside the manor windows was a better view than the debt perched on cold leather.

‘’Here’s how this is going to work, Sugar,’’ Pete says pointedly. ‘’My nephews are going to come through those doors any moment… They’re gonna drop that bag of money you’ve been hiding in that piss-poor hovel of yours at my feet. We’re gonna count it, and we’re gonna calculate the interest–’’

‘’What interest? You have it! You’ll have it–’’

Pete’s hand swung out, and you instinctively curled into yourself, but the blow never came. You peered up to find Ari’s large hand wrapped around Pete’s wrist; not hard enough to cause any damage, but enough to send a message. Your chest heaved as you watched them; it looked like Pete wanted to fight it, but something passed between them– maybe Ari’s size, maybe a respect… You weren't sure. Pete yanked his hand away and let out a defeated huff.

‘’I’ll handle it,’’ Ari claimed, holding up a finger; a warning.

‘’Then handle it,’’ Pete dismissed with a wave of his hand and sulked towards the bar.

Ari took in a deep sigh, finished the last couple of drags of his cigarette, and then planted himself back beside you. He stared into the open space of the living room before dragging a hand down his face, scrubbing at his beard, and taking in a sharp breath before finally looking at you.

‘’Ari, I can’t pay–’’

‘’I know you can’t,’’ Ari cut in. ‘’Which is why you’re going to work it off. Here. With us.’’

Your stomach lurched. ‘’What?’’

‘’There are two options on the table, Sugar,’’ Ari began to explain, monotone and blunt. Option one: You stay here and work on a schedule. Me on Mondays, Curt has Tuesdays, Steve on Wednesdays, Jake on Thursdays, Pete on Fridays, Lloyd on Saturdays.’’ He pauses, letting the words sink into your bones. ‘’Sunday’s… You get to rest.’’

Your vision blurred, ringing overtook your ears, and your chest constricted.  

‘’Option two,’’ Ari continues. ‘’We sell you.’’

‘’Sell me?’’ You whisper, eyes wide.

Ari nods. To one of Pete’s clients. The kind of men who don’t ask for permission, the ones who won’t give you a rest day.’’

A sudden rage blooms, courses through your blood, and explodes.

"No." Your voice is sharp, loud, cutting through the room like a whip. "Absolutely fucking not. You're both insane if you think I'm going to—"

"You don't have a choice!" Pete snaps sharply from across the room, glass thudding against the bar, the liquid sloshing violently. ‘’Unless you want me to make a call and have you shipped off and kept in a fucking cage for the rest of your life. Either fucking way, you are paying me back every fucking cent!’’

‘’I earned it!’’ You fired back. ‘’It’s mine, and you can have it! I don’t fucking need to stay here!’’

“Yours? Yours?!” He sneered, his voice a lethal weapon pointed at you from across the vast living room. “Everything in that club is mine. The floor you walk on, the pole you stumble around on, the laps you keep warm— the fucking air you breathe, the drinks you swallow, and most fucking certainly the clients you’ve been stealing from under my fucking nose, Sugar. I fucking own you. You didn’t earn a fucking dime. It was theft. Plain and fucking simple. You used my establishment to run your own little business and thought you could get away with it…” He trailed off to let out a long sigh after his rant, his expression softening a little. “But, lucky for you… I’ve always had a soft spot for a pretty face.”

Pete stalked towards you once again, but this time Ari made no effort to shield you from him. Pete leaned over you, and the leather creaked as he placed his hand on the couch behind your head. The smell of whisky on his breath made your stomach turn, and his voice dropped to a low, intimate whisper that made your skin crawl.

“My family is a very close-knit group, Sugar. We share everything… And since you've spent so long taking from me— from us, it's only fair that you start giving back. So, I think the choice has been made for you.”

‘’No,’’ You said firmly, sucking in a sharp breath as Ari let out a slow breath.

He stared down at you with a look of cold, almost clinical evaluation. He leaned in closer, his presence oppressive and dangerous, the air between you both feeling thick with a threat that had no need to be voiced. He didn’t seem offended by your outburst; if anything, he once again looked thoroughly amused, as if your defiance was nothing more than a puppy daring to bark at a wolf.

“See, that’s the thing about the word “no”, Sugar. In your situation, it has no place in this house. It’s a word you get to use when you don’t have a debt to pay. It’s for guests. You’re not a guest. You’re a piece of property with a very high interest rate.” Pete leaned in closer, his voice dipping to a soft, terrifying purr beside your ear. “I’m a businessman, Sugar. I’m not gonna drag you kicking and screaming by your hair to a bed. No one’s gonna hold you down and make you do a single thing. It’s boring. It’s predictable. It’s what you expect to happen. I prefer incentives.”

Pete stepped back abruptly, arms flaring out to gesture to the opulent surroundings of the manor.  

“You can fight it. You can scream, you can refuse, and cry and beg. You can be the brave little pup trapped in a wolf’s den, but every day that you refuse to give us what we want, every moment you make us wait… The higher the interest climbs and the longer you stay.”

You opened your mouth to fight back, plead your case, attempt to find any string of words that could wake you from the grim nightmare you had found yourself in– or rather, been lured into; however, the tension in the room was snapped by the sound of the front doors being opened once again. Dread washed over you as Ari stood and stepped towards the windows and stared down the dim hallway. A second later, Ari let out a small bark of a laugh, and a grin broke out on his face.

“Damn, her leaving you hit you hard,” Ari mocked, playful and light with what seemed like a genuine grin towards the footsteps in the hall. ‘’Look at that fuckin’ bush on your face, man.’’

“Yeah? Look who’s talking, “ The voice responded. It wasn’t as deep as Ari’s, and the man who emerged almost took your breath.

He wasn’t as tall as Ari, although not far off. Dirty blonde hair and a thick beard that put Ari’s to shame a little. He looked as if he’d taken a mental beating or two, eyes wary and shoulders tense. The brown leather jacket clung to his large shoulders, the white tee stretched over his chest, and his large hands clutched car keys; the bend in his arms showing off the power in his arms. Under any other circumstances, just like Ari, you could happily find yourself staring at a man like him all day long. The half-smile on his face fell fast and far once he laid eyes on you, before his face scrunched up in a disgust that made you find the floor more interesting.

“Oh, Jesus Christ,” he spat.

“Steve—“ Pete spoke before being abruptly cut off.

“What the fuck is the matter with you?” Steve chastised as his feet thundered across the floor.

You instinctively peered up, finding him coming towards you as he stripped off his light brown jacket and quickly laid it around your shoulders, offering a small, tight smile before both of your gazes turned to Ari, who offered nothing but a roll of his eyes.

“Don’t do that,” Ari chuckled shortly, pointing a finger. “You still showed up.”

“You said she’d have a choice,” Steve shot at him, eyes hardening and fist clenching at his side. “Shaking and crying on the couch— naked!” Steve punctuated with a sharp point towards you. “Isn’t a fucking choice!”

“She was given a choice,” Pete dismissed, as if he were referring to you simply picking what to have for dinner. “I’m still waiting to hear what she’s decided.”

“What choice did you give her? Here or there? Us or some sick fuck that’ll turn her out?”

“Better the ones she knows, hmm?” Ari tried to reason.

“Out of your minds,” Steve laughed, hollow and ludicrous, a hand smoothing over his hair as he let out a rough, angered sigh.

“You still showed,” Ari pointed out, parroting his words from before. “Let’s step off the high horse.”

Steve opened his mouth to fire back at Ari, but the sound of the oak doors opening once again drew everyone into a silence until it was broken by two disembodied voices, lazily sharing a conversation as they stepped closer to the living room. One had an impossibly deep gravel to his tone; the other light, almost boyish— like the world hasn’t hit him hard enough just yet.

“When does Lloyd get here?” One asked.

“Saturday,” the other answered bluntly, closing the door and coughing softly. “Hate how this fucking house smells.”

“It is Saturday,” The first one pointed out.

“Next Saturday, numbnuts.”

“You can’t let him near her,” Steve agonized towards Ari, like he almost feared the voice himself.

“I told you telling him was a bad idea,” Ari groaned, letting out an exasperated laugh. “Always gotta act as the sun shines out of your ass. Why the fuck are you here?”

“That’s why I’m here,” Steve fired, eyes blazing and body tense as he pointed out to the hallway where the footsteps drew closer. “To stop him, because you fucking idiots don’t see how fucking unstable—“

“Don’t let who near who?”

It was like another version of Ari had stepped into the room. Instead of the full beard, thick locks, and tanned skin, it was replaced by harsh stubble, a buzz cut, and ink covering every inch. Behind him was a smaller version of Steve, grinning from ear to ear  with an almost childish charm as he nodded at his brothers.

“Hi,” The tattooed version of Ari drawled, mouth ticked up in a predatory smirk as his eyes wandered your body, not taking them off you, had he held out the black duffle bag in his hand— the very same that had been hidden under your hotel room— and passed it off to Pete. “I’m Curtis.”

“Great, she can go,” Steve said directly, moving back towards you with a hand held out.

“Go?” Ari scoffed, stepping closer as well.

You looked between them, unsure of your next move. You desperately wanted to take the hand of the only man who saw sense and wanted to take you out of there, while fearing the repercussions of the man who wanted you to stay; the one who you were still trying to piece together in your head.

“You have it, she can go,” Steve replied, looking down at you with a nod towards his outstretched hand.

“Interest, Steve,” Ari pointed out sharply, knocking his hand away from you before you could even lift your own to take Steve’s. “Please tell me that losing her made you lose all your brain cells as well.”

“Are you all done squabbling?” Pete asked them both, only turning back to Curtis when they both stood down and averted their gazes from one another. “How much is in here?” Pete followed up, tugging the straps, letting the bag bounce.

“Take a look for yourself,” Curtis replied, his eyes glued on you.

You held your breath, refusing to be the first one to break as you heard Pete sigh, followed by the sound of the bag thudding against the leather chair and the agonizingly slow sound of the zipper being pulled. Curtis’ eyes lit up when Pete let out an appalled gasp.

“You scheming little brat,” Pete said, dangerous and slow.

“What?” You asked breathlessly, finally losing the battle, as you looked over to where Pete was standing over the open bag, with a horrified expression.

“How much? I want you to tell me how much is in this fucking bag,” Pete said lowly, fists balling up by his side.

“Around thirty thousand, just a little under. I don’t keep—“

“Do not fucking lie to me!” Pete seethed, and within a flash, he was thundering towards you.

You instinctively curled yourself back against the couch; however, Pete didn’t get far because both Steve and Ari shielded you against the couch, making Pete stop dead.

“Sugar. How much is in there?” Ari asked calmly.

“I just told you!” You cried out, hands thumping heavily in your lap as you squeezed your eyes shut to stop a fresh wave of tears from falling. Your fists found the fabric of Steve’s jacket, clutching it tight to your bare skin and sinking back into the leather of the couch.

Ari let out a breath before walking over and peering into the bag himself. He paused for a moment, shook his head, and then hauled the bag up and brought it over to you, opening it wide to show the stacks of bills— more than what you’d ever placed inside them. Your eyes widened as your pulse kicked up speed and your lungs refused to expand the way they should.

“No— This… This isn’t all mine. There’s no way,” You whispered frantically, shaking your head before swallowing the lump that formed in your throat. Your eyes darted between the men occupying the space in front of you. “Please, this isn’t mine,” You whined desperately. “Yes, I was working on the side. Yes, I was doing it with club clients. Yes, I shouldn’t have done it, but I have not made the amount that’s in here. This isn’t all mine.”

“Oh, so the money fairy came and put it in there while you were being screwed by my nephew,” Pete scoffed.

“It’s not mine!” You cried.

“How much do you think?” Pete asked, his attention back on Curtis as if you’d simply ceased to exist.

“Hundred thousand, easy. Want me to count it?” Curtis pointed towards the bag in Ari’s hands.

“Go.” Pete nodded towards another room.

“Ari, please, you have to believe me,” You begged, trying to find some semblance of the man you knew just a few hours before.

“I don’t have to believe anything.” Ari zipped up the bag and passed it off to Curtis, who threw it back over to Pete. “It’s above my pay grade.”

Curtis left the room for a moment, disappearing into a side door and returning with a money counter. You kept your gaze on Ari as the clunk of the machine hitting the table was followed by the whirring of money being funneled through the machine. The room was suffocating, and everyone stood in silence as Curtis loaded stack after stack onto the machine. Your stomach turned as the amount rose higher and higher. Your mind switched channel upon channel, trying to figure out just how a half-empty bag was suddenly bursting at the seams.

Had Pete set it up? Had Ari? Did one of the girls know? Was it a client? Who knew where you stayed? How did this happen?

“One hundred thousand…” Curtis began to read out, and a wave of cold nausea washed over you with every word. “Four hundred and thirty-two dollars.”

Pete whistled, followed it up with a short bark of a laugh, and downed the rest of the liquid in his glass, grimacing and shaking his head.

“Well, hasn’t someone been a busy little lamb, hmm?” Curtis taunted.

“And you said you didn’t fuck ‘em,” Ari scoffed bitterly, turning his nose up at you.  “Who’s the liar now?”

“I didn’t—“ You insisted.

“Don’t fucking bullshit me,” Ari shot back.

“Some of them were generous! I didn’t do anything like that!”

“Yeah, bet you were too,” Ari huffed, shaking his head with a tense smile.

“Stop!” Steve barked.

“She good?” Curtis prodded towards Ari with a sick smirk as he began to load the remainder of the cash back into the bag.

“Not bad,” Ari shrugged.

“Talking about me like I’m a toy. I’m right here!” You cracked, fire bubbling out of your throat.

“That’s what you are now,” Curtis scoffed, glancing at his brothers like what you had said was ridiculous. “S’all you are, baby. A shiny new toy for me to break and you’re here for a while, Sugar, a lot of time to find all the ways you can break.”

“I’ll find a way—“ You attempted to plead with Pete. “You have the money, please. I can figure it—“

“Nope! You won’t— You can’t!” Pete cut off dramatically, leaning against the bar and giving you that sick, sly grin. “So, once again, the choice: I can either line up a buyer, hand you over and you can pray to see next month, or you can stay here and work it off by keeping us all company, however we see fit.”

“Be trafficked or be a communal fleshlight— Wow, incredible options she has—“ Steve mocked, shaking his head.

“Why the fuck would you put it like that?” The youngest one laughed, face scrunching up as they paced in front of the fireplace. “That sounds—“

“Wrong?!” Steve thundered, earning dismissive smirks and choked back laughs from his brothers. “Disgusting? Because that’s what this is, Jake!”

“She doesn’t have to do anything,” Ari attempted to sway, laughing it off like Steve was overreacting. “But the longer she doesn’t, the longer she stays and the higher the debt climbs.”

“That isn’t a choice—“ Steve let out a vexed growl, throwing his hands up before he headed towards the hallway, your eyes following his every move with a voice in the back of your head begging him to stay.  “Fuck it! I’m done! I’m leaving, I can’t be a part of this—“

“Go ahead,” Pete dismissed. “Oh,” He said sharply, holding up a finger. “But, who’s gonna clean up Curtis’ mess?” Pete pointed out, stopping Steve in his tracks. “That’s why you’re here and everything.”

“See you Tuesday, Sugar,” Curtis drawled provocatively, making your face scrunch up and turn away from the shitshow before you. “Aw, the shy little baby,” Curtis mocked, honeyed and low, making your hands fist up and tremble. “Fucking adorable.”

“He won’t give her a choice,” Steve pleaded to Ari.

“That’s why you’re needed,” Ari stressed, standing and making his way over to Steve, hands on his shoulders, keeping him steady in place. “Your day counts no matter what she does. Fuck her, sing her a lullaby— who fucking cares? That’s the point. It’s up to us how it’s paid, and if she refuses then… Guess she’s got another day of the week to make it up—“

“What day is mine?” Jake piped up.

“Thursday,” Pete replied.

“Cool. I’ll leave you all to argue,” Jake said coolly, as if he’d simply asked when dinner was going to be ready and didn’t spare you a second glance as he made his way around the back of the couch and his footsteps faded with each step on the stairs.

“What’s the total with interest?” Ari asked, turning his attention to Pete.

Pete pondered for a moment, lips twitching from side to side as he calculated the sum in his head.

“Half a mil,” Pete said simply, turning to you with a cold glint in his eyes and a mocking smile. “Maybe just a little under.”

“And per shift?” Ari quizzed.

“Waiting for Lloyd to get back to me,” Pete answered. “But, I think it’s based on what you think she’s earned. He’s just gonna put a cap on it. She hasn’t actually decided yet what she’s doing.”

“What’s it gonna be, Sugar?” Curtis piped up. “Sold or stay?”

“You have the money,” You protested with a whine, letting out a huff and twisting your face up as you planted your feet against the floor and leaped up off the couch. Steve’s jacket grazed your mid-thigh as you clutched it closed against your chest. “I’m not staying here,” You bit out, eyes blazing and staring Pete dead in the eye. “I’m not being sold. I’m not being passed around. I’m not doing any of this. You can all go fuck yourselves.”

Pete’s expression doesn’t change, but something flickers in his eyes— amusement, maybe; perhaps interest, you weren’t sure, but you were sure of the fact you weren't staying with him for any longer than you needed to. You needed to find a way out– quickly.

“Brave,” Pete mused softly as he stepped closer to you. “Stupid, but brave. It’s a shame brave won’t serve you well here, Sugar. Submission? That’ll get you really far.”

"And just so we're clear," Pete adds, leaning in close enough that you can smell the whiskey on his breath, "the longer you fight this, the longer you stay. Every time you refuse, every time you make this difficult, you add time to your debt. It could be weeks. It could be months. It could be years. Up to you."

"Then I'll fight for years," you snarl. "I'm not doing this."

‘’She’s a fiery one,’’ Curtis laughed, a low, ugly sound. ‘’I like that. You’ll be more fun to break, Sugar.’’

‘’Take her upstairs,’’ Pete ordered Ari. ‘’Get her settled. You’ll like your room, Sugar. A helluva’ lot better than that hole you slept in.’’

‘’I’m not fucking staying here!’’ You cried out.

‘’You can get up, or I can get you up,’’ Ari said darkly, towering over you from the side of the couch, hands at the ready.

“You heard your man, Sugar. The choice is yours. You can walk out of here on your own two feet, or he can carry you out kicking and screaming.”

Pete stood aside and let Ari take his place, looming over you, his large shoulders blocking the view of the vast living room. He didn’t say a word, just stared down at you, with an expression that made your heart sink. He was actually enjoying this. He liked you trembling, cold, and scared. Ari’s hands flexed at his side, head tilted as he waited, just waited… as if he was waiting for the moment the reality of the situation burned out the fire inside of you and you were left with nothing but a crushed spirit— or, for the sick thrill he’d get hauling you, wailing, up the manor stairs and into the dark.

“Ari, please,” You whispered. “Just tell me this is a joke.”

“Why would we joke about this?” Ari’s voice was flat, devoid of empathy or regret.

He didn’t even blink; he just looked at you as if you weren’t a woman, but as an object that had been successfully delivered to its rightful owners. The silence that followed his words was a desolate suffocation, punctuated by the distant, rhythmic ticking of a grandfather clock somewhere in the manor. The betrayal was absolute. The man who you thought had seen you as you saw him was now looking at you as nothing more than a dollar sign.

‘’I thought…’’ Your voice wavered as you spoke. ‘’Oh, fuck.’’

“Oh, look at that,” Pete drawled, his voice dropping to a mocking cop. “You’ve broken her heart, Ari.” He let out a soft, sharp titter. “It’s a shame, really. Maybe we’re on the way to losing that spark that would’ve been so fun to snuff out of you.”

“I’d get all those pretty tears out now, Sugar… Before Lloyd gets home,” Curtis spoke, an ominous ring to his comment.

“Plus, tears don’t pay off the debt. Neither does disappointment,” Pete added.

“Well, there’ll be a good payment for Lloyd. He loves it when they cry,” Ari shrugged, his voice devoid of any warmth.

The comment was delivered with such a casual indifference that it felt more like a physical blow. Ari wasn’t just betraying you; he was willing to hand you over to someone who sounded far worse than himself, Pete— even Curtis. You prayed silently to never meet the man behind the name, but you knew it was feeble, inevitable. Ari gestured to stand with a crook of his neck, acting as the gatekeeper to a grim future you couldn’t even begin to imagine.

Ari stepped back just an inch as you hesitantly braced yourself to stand, his gaze remained fixed on you; expectant and patience waning. The luxury of the manor—the fire, the velvet of the curtains, the ornate rugs, and the expensive leather — felt more like a gilded cage. Every extra second you spent hesitating felt like a gamble with a debt that was already spiraling out of your control.

“How could you do this?” You whispered as you looked up at him.

“I’m a professional,” Ari offered, his gaze cold and his voice flat.

“You’re an asshole,” You corrected.

Ari didn’t flinch, didn’t show any offense; no malice, no amusement. The man who had just been whispering filth in your ear and pulling you into his chest was gone, replaced by a cruel stranger who looked at you as if you were nothing more than a piece of furniture he was getting ready to move. He shifted his weight with a heavy sigh, crossed his massive arms over his chest, biceps flexing as he created a wall of muscle that felt absolute, impenetrable. “You were a job,” Ari informed. “A way to bring you in without causing a scene, to stop you running. Please don’t mistake a few weeks of scattered pleasure for a friendship, a relationship. We don’t do that here. It doesn’t work. I’m getting tired, and you need to move.”

You let out a shaky sob, fingers flexing against the leather seat, and before you could even attempt to move yourself, Ari’s patience snapped. Hands grab you, rough and bruising, and you explode into motion. With a cry, you twisted and kicked in his grip as he spun you and hauled you up against his chest. You kicked into the open space as Ari began to walk you towards the stairs. You clawed at his forearms, nails raking across the skin, pebbles of red blooming in their wake, causing him to swear viciously.

“Fucking bitch—“

You screamed; a raw, primal sound, a sound torn from somewhere deep in your chest, pulled from the depths of your soul. You thrashed against his grip, bare feet kicking at his shins, hands slapping the meat of his arms. You fought with everything you had, but it’s no use. His grip tightened as he took the first step. You crane your head back, and your eyes lock with Steve’s. His face was pale, a hopeless worry creased into his forehead, his hands clenched tightly at his side; it looked like he could be sick, but he made no attempt to help you.

No one came to help you.

“Let me go! Let me fucking go!” You screamed.

Ari’s fingers dug into your side with enough pressure to leave bruises. You planted your feet against a higher step, attempting to anchor yourself to the cold marble slabs as you twisted your head, teeth gunning for his arms, but he jerked you sharply with a snarl.

“Fuck you!” You wailed, thrashing harder. “Fuck all of you!”

“Stop fucking fighting.” His voice was an eerie calm. “You’re only gonna make it worse.”

With a grunt of effort, Ari lifted you higher, your feet dangled in the air as you were manhandled up the rest of the stairs. You didn’t stop fighting. With each agonizing step, you screamed until your throat was raw, kicked until your legs ached, twisted your body until your muscles burned; screamed, cried, and wailed out every curse your tongue had memorized, but it’s no use. By the time you reached the second floor, you were gasping for breath, your body trembled with exhaustion and fury.

You were carried through the dark of the hallway, portraits watched you with judgmental eyes, and a row of doors taunted you as you passed each one. Ari didn’t say another word through your continued struggle, each moment making your bones scream, and your lungs beg for mercy. The silence from him was a wall, unclimbable; inescapable.

He stopped at the end of the hall, double doors towering above you both. He managed to keep a tight grip on you as he reached for the handles and pushed them open, revealing a bedroom that was staggeringly opulent. A luxurious space with a massive canopy bed with silk sheets, detailed dressers, ornate chairs, and gold accents peppered around the room. Any other time, the sight would’ve been welcomed, but the sight made you sick. He kicked the doors closed behind you with a loud thud and dropped you to the floor.

“Jacket,” He ordered with a snap of his finger and a held-out hand.

You clutched it tight around you as you scrambled to your feet and put as much distance between you both as you could; Ari was left standing at the door while you shrank yourself into the shadows of the towering windows.

“Steve gave it to me,” You sniffled. “How could you do this to me? You can’t do this to me!”

“I can, and I am,” He replied, an exasperated huff expelling from his chest, as if dealing with you was a chore he’d rather forget.

“You liked me, you did… I know you did.”

“No, I didn’t,” He said with a grim smile. “I like obedience. Give me the jacket, Sugar.”

“No!” You cried. “Fuck you! We had something, we were going to have something, you know it!”

A flicker of boredom flashes across Ari’s eyes. He made no attempt to move; he simply watched you with a detached curiosity, as if you were attempting to explain a concept that sounded deranged and tedious. The massive scale of his frame seemed to shrink the room around you as you waited for him to break his slice, like he was the only thing your mind could focus on. He didn’t look at you with hatred, that would’ve required an emotion he wasn’t willing to spare, but you had a clawing need to drag it out of him anyway.

He shifted his weight, the fabric of his shirt straining against the same shoulders you had clung to hours before. The silence, however, was broken, but not by Ari, but by the boisterous laughter of the family in the den below; a muffled reminder that your life had been meticulously, and maliciously partitioned into days of the week.

“Why are you all like this?” You whispered.

“Like what?” Ari challenged, his expression remaining flat.

It seemed like, to Ari, that the question seemed entirely illogical, as if you were asking why the rain was wet or why a predator hunted its prey. There was no guilt, no empathy, nothing in his eyes; no flicker of regret for the way he had used your body to bridge the gap between your trust and your capture.

“Twisted,” You spat. “Wrong.”

He took slow, calculated steps forward, his feet padding against the thick, piled carpet, the distance between you closing at an agonizing pace. His shadow swallowed you whole as you backed into the wall between the windows, trapped in the darkness. He didn’t touch you, but the heat radiating from him was palpable, a warning of the strength he could use to crush you if he ever decided to stop being patient.

‘’The world is twisted, Sugar. It’s how it works. We just know how to navigate the curves. You take what you can, and when you can’t take anymore… You pay the price. You thought you were playing a game with the house, and the house always wins, baby. That’s not twisted, it’s not wrong… It’s just math.’’ Ari paused for a moment, his eyes landed on your trembling lips as his words twisted around your throat, something flickered in his expression– not pity, but perhaps the ghost of a memory, something human– before the stone mask slammed back down. ‘’Now, give me the jacket.’’

‘’No, you said firmly.

‘’Sugar–’’

‘’If it's okay for you to take, why can't I?’’

Ari’s eyes narrowed slightly, a genuine amusement finding its way into them as he let out a short, dry huff of a laugh, though his face remained devoid of any real humor.

‘’Because you’re weak,’’ Ari answered. ‘’You thought you were playing the game. You thought you were clever, stealing pennies from a mountain. You thought you could get away with it. We know we can.’’

Your bottom lip trembled as Ari brought up a hand to cup your cheek.

“Now, stop trying to argue. I don’t know what gave you the idea that you’re even in a position to object, because the only position you’re in right now…” Ari trailed off, sliding a hand to the nape of your neck and then suddenly sliding it up to seize a sharp handful of your hair by your crown. “Is to obey.”

He gave a quick tug, forcing you closer to him; the sounds of your cries fell on deaf ears.

‘’You think I get to say ‘no’? ‘Sorry, Pete. Sorry, Lloyd, I don’t feel like doing that shit today, I’d rather go and… Bask in the sunshine, or whatever the fuck normal people do? We’re all stuck, Sugar, just some more than others. Get used to it.” His eyes shifted from yours to the leather that encased your frame. “Jacket. Off. I’m not asking again, and I’m really starting to lose my patience.”

The sounds of the ruffling leather were loud in the grim silence of the room. The clink of the zipper and the shaky breaths mixed together in a symphony of misery. Your fingers shook violently as you pulled the jacket sleeves and slipped it off your shoulders, exposing the pale, wavering skin that Ari had fraudulently worshipped.

It was only when you stood bare, completely exposed, your vulnerability stark against the backdrop of the room's calculated luxury, and held out the jacket in the space between you both that Ari released the harsh grip on your hair and snatched the jacket from your hands.

His gaze scanned your body with a cold, professional detachment; almost as if he was inspecting a new piece of inventory. He made no move to touch you, nor did his eyes show any sign of the hunger that had once pooled there. He wasn’t looking at you for pleasure; he was ensuring the total erasure of your old life. You tried to cover yourself under his intense stare, boredom settling in the deep blues, as if modesty to him wasn’t a virtue or a boundary; it was inefficiency. A delay in the process that the men of the manor had set forth.

Ari reached out, large fingers gripping your wrist and pulling it from your body; firm and capable, his voice dropping to a low rumble.

“You don’t have a right to privacy anymore, Sugar. Everything you are, every inch of this skin, belongs to the house now.”

Ari shoved your arm back at you before turning, jacket clutched in his hand along with the rest of your dignity, and walked towards the doors. He pressed the pad of his thumb against the handle, and with a beep, the lock clicked. You stared after him, unable to move as he opened the door. He paused for a moment, his silhouette blotting out the light from the corridor, and then looked back at you— naked, shivering, and wide-eyed.

The dynamic between you both had shifted completely; no longer potential lovers, but a stripped-down object at the mercy of its master.

“Get in the bed. Stay there. Someone will bring you breakfast in the morning.”

“As long as it’s not you,” You threw at him, swallowing the lump in your throat. “I won’t ever sleep with you again. I hope you know that. I’ll go to each one of them, but never, ever you.”

Ari’s hand freezes on the handle of the door. You can see the slight tension pull tight across his back and pinch at his jaw. The silence that enveloped you afterward was heavy, stretching out until the only sound was your own frantic heartbeat. The air thickened, and for the first time since you’d learned your fate, Ari’s composure cracked. He doesn’t turn, but his hand grips the handle of the door tightly, and a rumble, almost a growl, settles deep in his chest.

“Fine by me,” Ari spat back at you.

Then he stepped over the threshold, and without a second glance, he slammed the door shut, and the lock clicked.

For a moment, you just stood there; chest heaving, hands shaking, quick shuddering breaths before a white-hot fire ran through your veins, which made you lunge at the doors, slamming your fists against the wood.

“Ari! Let me out! You can’t do this! Let me the fuck out.”

You pounded until your hands ached, until your knuckles were raw and droplets of blood mocked your feeble attempt. You screamed until your voice cracked, until your throat felt like you had swallowed glass. You kicked, threw your weight, and pried at the seam, but it didn’t budge. You moved to the window next; the grounds were lit by scattered lampposts, intricate and dim. The round driveway beckoned you, the gates in the distance called your name, and the trees in the small woodland waved you over.

Freedom was right there, so close that you could almost taste it.

You didn’t bother trying the handles; instead, you grabbed the edge of the window frame and pulled, trying to pull it open from the hinges, but the nails didn't budge. You let out a growl as your hands slapped your bare sides before your eyes darted around the room searching for something— anything— to use as a lever. You moved quickly, pulling open drawers, looking under furniture, and finding bolts to keep them secured to the floor.

You grabbed a small wooden chair by the vanity, ignoring the panicked woman in the reflection, and moved to swing it at the window. The impact sent a jolt up your arms, but the glass remained intact; the reinforced glass wobbling as a middle finger to your efforts. You swung again, and again, and again. Until your arms were shaking and the chair legs cut into your hands.

You drop the chair, depleted, and sink to the floor, hiding in the shadows once again. You backed against the wall, the cool brick sending a shiver through you as you pulled your knees to your chest. Your whole body was trembling— rage, fear, exhaustion crashing over you in a series of waves that threatened to pull you under.

But you’re not done. Just resting. You’ll figure it out… You have to figure it out.

You let your forehead rest on your knees, taking a few deep breaths and exhaling slowly. When you bring your head back up to find your next plan, you spot two divots in the light that shines through under the door. You stared for a moment until you saw the shadows shuffle, and you sprang into action, practically flying across the room and slamming your hand against the wood of the double doors.

“Ari?!” You called out, pausing to press your ear against the door. “Ari, is that you?! Please, I’m sorry, please open the door!”

You waited for a response, but got nothing.

“Ari, please, please listen—“ You hesitated, pressing your ear against the door again, and listening closely. The shoes shuffle against the carpet, but not like Ari’s would. Ari’s heavy boots, his feet, crushed the piles under the sheer weight he carried; this was lighter, more careful…

It had to be Steve.

“Steve?” You asked softly, “Is that you? Please let me out. You know this is wrong, please, please, Steve, please.”

You hear him beyond the wood, a deep breath and a long exhale. You wait, and you hope, but nothing comes.

No words.

No movement from the handle.

No click.

No light.

Nothing.

“Steve!” You shout, slamming your hand against the door. “Open the door!”

But he doesn’t. He just stands there for a few more seconds, and then the shadows from his footsteps retreat from the light and leave you alone in the dark.

The morning came slowly.

Light filtered through the tall windows, casting amber and pink along the cream carpet. You hadn’t moved from the space between, back against the wall, arms hugged around your bare legs. Each time you closed your eyes, you saw Pete’s face, heard Curtis’s voice, and felt the vacant stare of Ari. Sleep wasn’t an option, and not something you wanted anyway.

The door’s lock clicking open rang out like someone pulling a pin from a grenade, and when it opened, Jake appeared. He was carrying a tray—eggs, toast, orange juice—and set it down on the dresser with a smile that made your skin crawl. His eyes were downcast on the tray as he ensured he settled it correctly before dusting his hands.

He was dressed in grey sweats and a black shirt that stretched across his frame. He wasn’t as big as the others, sure, but nothing to scoff at. His blond hair was tussled from sleep, and mismatched socks padded towards you.

“Morning,” Jake chirped brightly, like the morning routine was perfectly normal to him. “Thought you might be hungry…” He trailed off, and his face fell slightly as he finally laid eyes on you. “You know there’s clothes in here, right?”

You make no attempt to reply, no muscle twitches to move, your face set in stone, and your eyes boring into his.

“Come on,” He attempted to coax, waving a hand to get you to stand. “Let’s find something for you to wear, and then you need to eat.”

“Get. Out,” You bite out, voice hoarse from the screaming.

Jake’s smile fell slightly, but his tone didn’t “You should really—“

“I said get out.”

He stared at you for a long moment, his eyes didn’t harden the way Ari’s would’ve, he didn’t make a move to pull you off the floor; he simply shrugged and turned to walk back towards the door.

“Suit yourself,” He said calmly and left.

You sat there, eyes glued to the wood grain, and let out a long breath. You made no move to grab the tray. Not out of fear— out of defiance. The only power you had left was to refuse whatever they brought through that door, and you were going to use it until you couldn’t anymore.

The morning dragged on.

Muffled footsteps came and went, voices drifted from the rooms surrounding, you’d hear the occasional slamming of the door, and piece by piece you were gathering together the rhythms of the house— who’s where, when, and how often. Pete was downstairs most of the time, choosing to waste his day in the living room. Curtis and Ari came and went, taking it in turns to call out to each other to hurry up  and Steve… Steve was harder to track, quieter, almost as if he was hiding.

Sleep was pulling at your eyelids, settling heavy in your bones. Your eyes fell on the silk sheets, and you let out a groan as you pushed yourself up from the floor. You walked to the dresser and found neat stacks of soft shirts and shorts, and picked the first set, slipping them on before trudging over to the bed. You pulled back the sheets and climbed in before lying down, facing the door.

You told yourself that you’d just have a rest, ten minutes, but a few hours later, the sun was setting heavy in the sky, and you awoke to the sound of the lock disengaging and the door swinging open. Your eyes slowly peeled open, and you found Jake, once again, standing in the doorway, with that wide, beaming smile and another tray of food in his hands.

“Oh! “Shit,” he cursed apologetically, “Were you sleeping?” I’m so sorry.”

He stepped further into the room, letting the door swing shut, and brought over the tray, pausing at the edge of the bed. His expression was open and friendly, which only made the whole situation feel more surreal and terrifying. He set the tray on the nightstand and looked down at you, and a grin of surprise set on his lips.

“And you’re dressed! Do you feel better? Is the bed comfy?”

Jake didn’t seem to possess the malice of the other men, or he was just more inclined to keep it well hidden. You shuffled yourself up, leaning back against the headboard as you simply stared at him, only giving a quick glance at the cup of steaming coffee on the tray. He grabbed the cup as he sat himself down on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. He held out the mug and gave you a small smile as you cautiously took it from him.

As you took a sip, he reached out, and you flinched back, earning a tut and a shake of his head as he ignored the action and flicked away a stray hair from your tear-stained cheek, catching the scent of citrus and expensive soap stuck to his skin as he tucked it behind your ear gently.

“You really need to eat, or Pete’s gonna come in here, and neither of us wants that, right?” Jake attempted to appeal as he leaned to pluck up the plate of pastries and place them on your lap. “I made sure they got the almond croissants; they’re stupidly good. I’d eat the whole box if Lloyd let me.”

Jake’s demeanor was an unsettling contrast to the horrors of the previous night. His eyes didn’t possess the predatory hunger of Pete’s, the manic intensity of Curtis’, or the coldness of Ari’s, but as he watched you, his gaze didn’t stop at your face. It drifted down slowly, lingering on the band in your shorts and the way the shirt clung to your frame. The kindness was there, but it was wrapped in the same possessive entitlement as the rest of the family.

“Can you stop staring before I lose my appetite, before I even get the chance to have one in the first place?”

Jake blinked, paused, and then let out a loud, delighted laugh, leaning back slightly with his hands raised.

“There she is!” He grinned. “I was wondering when some of that fire would come back. Welcome home, Sugar!”

Jake didn’t look offended, far from it. The snap of your tone acted like a spark, bringing a glimmer of genuine amusement to his expression. He didn’t rush to calm his gaze or apologize, though; instead, he looked at you with a renewed curiosity, as if you’d just performed a clever trick. It seemed as though, at least to Jake, that the more stubborn aspects of your personality, your defiance, weren’t just a boundary— it was entertainment.

“Sorry, Sugar,” he apologized sweetly, light and playful, as you reached for a pastry and inspected it. “It’s just… You’re really something. Most girls are just shaking and crying by the time they wake up here. You’ve still got a little bite to you. I really like that.”

Your head snapped up.

“Most girls?” You questioned. “As in… You’ve done this before?”

Jake’s smile didn’t waver, not even for a second, as he shrugged with a casual ease.

“Well, yeah?” He laughed. “You don’t pick up a new hobby like this overnight, right? Now, come on, you really need to eat.”

“I will— I just can’t right now.” You dropped the pastry back onto the plate and stared at his smile. “So, I’m not the first to stay here?”

“To stay?” He confirmed your questioning. “Yeah, like to actually stay, and be with us, but the girls who pissed Pete off tend to spend a night or two before whoever picks them up. Curt or Ari would give them a taste of what they’re in for, though—“

“Oh my God,” You groaned as your stomach lurched.

Jake’s admissions were delivered with a lightness that was bone-chilling. He revealed family secrets, their sordid activities, as if he were talking about nothing more than a mundane family tradition, like Sunday dinners or holiday gatherings. There wasn’t an ounce of shame in the voice, no hesitation. It seemed like, at least to him, that the cycle of bringing in women to the manor, stripping them of their lives and using them to pay off fabricated— or real— debts was simply the way the world functioned and you couldn’t help but hear Ari’s words from the night before, providing his notion about how this is how the world is was a shared delusion to all of them.

“Hey, Ari’s only following orders,” Jake attempted to fix. “He hasn’t done that in a long time, " he said. He was supposed to bring you in straight away and didn’t— Do you need me to grab the trash can?”

You shook your head and swallowed the lump in your throat before chasing it with the hot coffee.

“Why didn’t he?” You asked. “Bring me in right away?”

“Guess he liked you,” Jake replied, and you got the sense that Jake’s honesty got him in trouble a lot. “Said you were different. I just thought his head was like, all messed up from the divorce, but nope. Here you are, and he was right.”

You opened your mouth to speak, but Jake got there quicker.

“Hey, what did you say to Ari last night? He’s been in a mood all morning—“

“I want Steve,” You cut in.

“Is that what you said to him?”

“No, Jake,” You sighed as you pitched the bridge of your nose. “I want you to go and get Steve.”

“Oh,” Jake replied, sounding slightly wounded. His face fell slightly, and he nodded slowly as he got to his feet. “Yeah, sure, okay, I’ll… I’ll go do that.”

Without another word, he left. He closed the door firmly behind him, and the lock immediately engaged with a definitive click. The room fell silent again, save for the faint sounds of Jake’s retreating footsteps in the hall. You placed the plate and mug back onto the tray and smoothed down the sheets whilst staring at the door. You sat there for a while, waiting for the lock to click open again, but nothing— no one— came.

You sighed, threw back the covers, and crossed the room quickly. Your hand closed around the cold metal of the door handle. You twisted and pulled, but it still doesn’t budge. The lock held a firm, silent, unyielding reminder of your captivity.

You were well and truly sealed in. No matter how much you tried to be anything else.

You pressed your ear against the cool wood, straining to hear, but there was nothing but the heavy silence of the manor. Not footsteps, no voices, no slamming of the doors. You turned and placed your back against the wood and stared out the window, watching as the afternoon light set in. You stayed there, watching the trees and passing cars in the distance, until the sound of footsteps traveled up the hall.

The footsteps, cautious and familiar, paused just outside your door, and for a moment, you thought they’d disappear again; instead, a soft, hesitant knock followed. The sound was so surreal in a house of men that had shown in the short time you’d spent there that they’d found no need to knock. You edged away from the door, stepping back slightly as the lock clicked and the door cracked open gently.

Steve stepped into the room, eyes widening at the sight of you standing there, before what seemed like guilt settled heavily in the sea-blues of his eyes. He was dressed in simple, dark trousers and a soft grey sweater, his face etched with genuine concern, and he had shaved, which made him look years younger. His posture was slightly slumped as he closed the door and shoved his hands into his pockets, looking less like the usual predators that lurked in the doorway and more like a man who had been sent to clean up a mess he felt guilty about.

“Jake said you asked for me,” Steve said, voice soft and gentle. “I know apologies must mean nothing to you right now, but I am… I am so sorry. I tried to talk them out of it, but when Pete and Lloyd make a decision, they follow. No questions, no push back. I’m so sorry.”

Steve looked around the room, his eyes falling on the full trays.

“Have you eaten?” He asked. You shook your head, and he sighed. “You’ve had a really long night. You should try to eat something.”

He took another steady step forward, his eyes searching yours. He looked genuinely pained by your obvious fear, his brow furrowed with concern. He was a stark contrast to the brutal honesty of Ari, the upbeat chipper of Jake, and the cold calculation of Pete. He stood there, watching, waiting, his shoulders relaxing slightly as you nodded and moved towards the bed, and relief washed over his face as you took a small bite of the pastry.

Steve shifted his weight, his gaze dropping to the floor for a second before he looked back at you.

“You shaved,” You stated, really looking at him as you pulled a piece away from the pastry. “You look better without it.”

He gave a shy smile and a small nod.

“I know you hate all of us right now,” He shared quietly. “And you’ve every right in the world to, but… I want you to know that not everything here has to be a fight.”

“How can it not be?” You challenged.

Steve’s shoulders tense again, the weight of your question seeming to push down on him. He ran a hand through his blonde hair, a gesture that looked tired, almost defeated.

“What am I supposed to do? Just let you all use me?” You fired at him.

“Hey, I have no intention—“

“Would you do that? Would you just accept it? Well, I guess I have the answer to that, considering you're the ones whose finger works on that damn lock. And I'm the one stuck in the room.”

You threw the pastry back onto the plate and sat yourself down on the edge of the bed as Steve flinched, as if you’d struck him. His jaw tightened, and he looked away, unable to hold your gaze. The quiet of the manor felt louder now, pressing down on both of you. He swallowed hard, Adam's apple bobbing before he looked at you again. His voice was low and strained as he spoke.

“You think I like being the one who facilitates this? You think I enjoy this?” He gestured vaguely around the room, his hand trembling, eyes shadowed with a conflict you had seen the others possess. “I don’t like this, Sugar. I didn’t want this for you.”

“Then help me leave.”

Steve’s expression tightened, a war playing out behind his eyes. His gaze shifted between you and the locked door, his face a mask of conflicted agony, and you wondered if, and when, the kindness he showed was fragile. He shook his head, took a half step back as if physically recoiling from your plea.

“I... I owe them. Just like you. I can't just.. let you go. It's not my place to do so.” His voice was barely above a whisper, strained and heavy.

He looked down at his hands, his expression hardening further with a resolve that seemed to cost him something. “Look, Sugar,” He sighed heavily. “I know none of this is fair, but if you just… Cooperate, it’ll be easier. I'll make sure your time with me is easy; I’ll take care of you. If you wanna stay in here on Wednesdays and not see me at all, we can do that. I can offer you space, but that’s about it. At least, for right now.”

“I don't wanna be here. I didn't... Not all of that money was mine. You have to believe me,” You plead.

His face softened, giving a small nod, but it’s a sad, weary kind of softness.

“I believe you, Sugar, I do. But it doesn’t matter. If Pete believes it, then that’s the only truth that counts here. The numbers are whatever he says they are. Arguing about it will only make Pete and Lloyd dig their heels in deeper.” He stepped closer to you, forcing you to tilt your head back to meet his gaze, intense and pleading. “Please, just… let me... let me try to make your time with me as painless as I can. That's the only power I have right now.”

Steve held your gaze for a long moment, and you searched his eyes for a shred of trust to hold on to; a hopeful solace in a house of horrors.

“Just give me some time to figure the rest out, okay?”

He said the last part with a grimace, as if the advice left a sour taste in his mouth. He looked down at his hands and then back at you, his face twisted with a mixture of guilt and a desperate need for you to understand the precariousness of your situation.

“Ari and Jake... they won't force you into anything you don't wanna do. Not really. Curtis and Lloyd... you're best just playing along with them. I know it'll be hard, but it'll keep you safe. And with Pete... he sighs, rubbing his temples, just grit your teeth and bear it. It'll be over quicker. It's easier to do than the others. Just get through it, the best you can.”

He looked at you with a pleading in his eyes, begging you to absorb his words, to understand that it was the only lifeline he could offer. The weight of his own powerlessness seemed to settle on him, making him appear older than his years; the youth that you had found on his face when he first came in seemed to vanish.

“Someone…” You started, hesitating for a moment. “Someone was outside my door last night. After Ari left. Was it you?”

His expression became unreadable for a moment, flickers of emotions scattering across his features until he settled into a weary resignation. The silence stretches, thick with anticipation.

“Last night?” He asked, voice low and cautious, before he shook his head. “No, Sugar, it wasn’t me. Maybe Ari felt bad—“

“It wasn’t Ari.”

“Pete, maybe,” He offered, scuffing a hand through the back of his hair and rubbing at the back of his neck. “He probably did the rounds, made sure the door was locked.”

He said the last words with a clear distaste, his jaw tightening, the muscle jumping under the skin. The admission hung heavy in the air, confirming your fears that your privacy here was simply an illusion, that you were constantly being watched.

“Definitely wasn’t Pete. No one tried the handle. They just stood there.”

“I don’t know then.” His eyes scanned your face, seeming to be choosing his next words carefully, almost weighing them. “Why don’t you—“

“I’ve been through so much shit in not even twenty-four hours. Please don’t lie to me,” You attempted to appeal.

The causal weariness dropped from his posture, replaced by a sudden sharp tension. His eyes darted from the door and then back to you before landing on the floor. You caught a flicker of alarm in his deep blues. He took in a slow breath, as if steadying himself.

The air in the room seemed to grow colder. Steve lifted his head, and his gaze had intensified; the previous softness had hardened into something more guarded. He studied you, as if reassessing you entirely. The fact that you could distinguish the footfalls of the various predators of the manor marked you as more observant, more attuned to your environment than he had perhaps presumed.

“You heard me screaming... And did nothing. And you come in here, being nice and giving me advice, and you do nothing to help me. When you had the opportunity to do so, and then you lied to me after spewing bullshit about wanting this to be painless.”

The accusation hung heavy in the air, sharp and absolute. Steve didn’t flinch, but the color drained from his face. The carefully constructed mask seemed to shatter, leaving behind the raw truth. For the first time, there’s no apology in his eyes; only a bleak, chilling acknowledgment.

His voice was flat, stripped of all pretense.

“You’re right.”

He made no attempt to justify it. He didn’t look away. He stood there, accepting the weight of your words, and the silence that followed was heavier than any that had come before, filled with the unspoken horror of what his inaction meant. He took a slight step backward, rocking slightly on his feet.

“I heard you, and I did nothing,” He admitted sullenly. “Because helping you was the one thing that could’ve gotten you hurt more… Worse, even. They wouldn’t have taken that out on me… It would’ve been you, and I won’t be the reason, I won’t give them a reason, for you to be hurt. I will not do it. You need to trust me, as hard as that will be, and trust that I want to help.”

You ponder for a moment, unable to find any more lies in his eyes. The longer you look at him, the more you wonder how a man like Steve could end up in a family like this, how a seemingly gentle soul wound up in a den of wolves. You relent, giving a small nod, needing to find something— someone— to hold on to in order to keep yourself sane, and Steve seemed to be the safest option next to Jake.

“Alright,” You agreed.

“Is there anything I can do? Get for you?”

You shook your head despite your stomach growling, protesting the lack of food in your system. It must have been loud because Steve’s eyebrow ticked up and he offered a small, knowing smile.

“I’ll grab you something light. I’ll be right back.”

You nodded, looked around the room, eyes falling on a small table by the window, and opted to take a seat, leaning back in your chair as Steve left. The afternoon light was slowly beginning to fade, casting long shadows across the carpet, the breeze outside picking up, causing the trees to sway; birds danced in the sky, and you envied their wings, and you couldn’t help but wonder if Steve envied them too.

It wasn’t long before he returned, a bowl balanced in his palm on top of a cloth, steam rising and releasing a rich, savory scent of soup. He walked over and placed the bowl carefully in front of you, revealing a simple, clear broth with a few pieces of chicken and vegetables. It looks plain, simple— honest.  He reached into his back pocket to present and offer a spoon.

“Hopefully, this will be easier on your stomach. Eat what you can, and then I’ll find you something else later— Well, if you want,” Steve offered, tone light.

He stood back, hands hiding in his pockets again, and watched you with an expression that read as a mix of guilt and a grim sense of family duty.

“Thanks.” You smiled and took the spoon, sipping a little; the soup was surprisingly comforting.

Steve pulled out the chair across from you, the very same one you had attempted to break the window with, and sat down heavily, his gaze drifting out of the window to the manicured grounds below. For a long moment, neither of you spoke; the only sound was the mixture of your breaths and the clink of the spoon against the bowl.

“Jake said Ari was married.”

Steve’s gaze snapped back from the window and fell on you, his eyebrows lifted in surprise. He seemed thrown by the sudden breaking of the silence and the shift in conversation, especially by your chosen subject. He leaned back in his chair, a conflict pulling at his brows as if he was weighing how much he wanted, or could, share.

“Yeah,” He answered, letting out a slow breath. “He was. For a few years. His wife… She left, took the kid with her.” He looked down at his hands, folded on the table. His voice was low and tinged with something that didn’t seem like sympathy, more like a general weariness with the family’s dramas. “It’s part of why he’s… Well, why is he the way he is now? Closed off. He thinks he can’t trust anyone anymore. Thinks caring about someone just gives them a weapon to use against you later. Fails to see the part he played in it all.”

Steve nodded to himself, his eyes stuck on his hands. The admission hung heavy in the air, and you couldn’t quite find the words to reply as he shared a rare moment of candidness about the family’s grip on its members; the fading light cast long shadows across his face, emphasizing the lines of tension there.

“She wanted him out,” he continued to share. “To leave this all behind, but… I guess he was in too deep. I think we probably all are.”

He finally looked up at you, his blue eyes holding yours with a stark, unvarnished honesty, showing he was just a man who acknowledged he was trapped in the same cage you were.

“So, I take it that the club and trafficking girls is only the tip of the iceberg…” You attempted to pry.

Steve’s whole body seemed to tighten as he glanced around the room, as if checking for peering eyes and perked up ears. He rubbed at the back of his neck before his voice dropped quietly.

“The clubs the public face. Almost legitimate. Everything else happens elsewhere.”

“Everything else?” You probed, scooping up another spoonful of soup.

“If you can think of it, we’re in it,” Steve answered ambiguously. “If there’s a way to make a dirty dollar, we’ve got a hand in it. Pete’s Place is just… The prettiest part of the machine. Don’t ask me anything else, and don’t you even think about asking any of them, or you’ll really end up stuck here.”

Steve looked as if he had already shared too much; his shoulders tensed as he tried to lean back as far as the chair would allow, putting distance between you both. The brief moment of shared confidence was over.

“You don’t seem the type,” You said. “To do such things.”

Steve gave a small, wry smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He looked down at his hands, turning them over as if inspecting them for stains.

“I’m not,” He said quietly. “Not really. I— I have… I have a knack for finding things. I guess. Information, mostly. People, sometimes… but, my hands tend to stay… relatively clean.”

He let out a breath, his smile fading. His eyes drifted back to the window, the gold light of the fading daylight bled into the blue.

“Were you following me?” You asked bluntly, dropping the spoon into the bowl. “Is that how they knew?”

The question hung heavy in the air, sharp and direct. Steve’s posture seemed stiffened immediately, and for a moment, it didn’t look like he was going to acknowledge your questions, but he eventually met your gaze, the blue holding something complex, kind of like relief; as if he could finally give an honest, full answer. He shook his head, voice firm as he spoke.

“No, I wasn’t following you, Sugar. I’ve been… away for a while. Dealing with my own shit. I had no need to find you; Pete had already done that. He’d had his eyes on you from the start. He let you believe you were getting away with it, he let the debt build and waited for the right moment to call it in.”

He leaned forward slightly, expression earnest, as if willing you to believe this particular truth, which you did. The confession about his absence seemed to carry its own weight, a private burden he wasn’t ready to unpack.

“Do you promise that you’ll never ask me…” You paused, struggling to find the words. “That you’ll never want me like that? Like how they do?”

The question caught Steve off guard. He looked at you, really looked at you, and the weariness in his eyes seemed to deepen. He didn’t answer straight away, perhaps weighing the truth of his own desires against the promise you were desperately asking for— hoping for. His gaze softened, but it was a sad, resigned kind of softness, as you let out a breath of relief.

“Had this been any other situation,” He started, voice sounding sincere and soft. “In a bar, or a coffee shop— Hell, even the club…. I would’ve been trying every single shitty technique in the book to get you to come home with me. But this?” He gestured vaguely to the room around you. “This? I don’t want you like this. I won’t try a single thing. I swear to you.”

You pause for a moment, searching his face, his eyes, everything about him to try and find a shred of dishonesty; there isn’t any, or at least there doesn’t seem to be any. How you got lucky to find a bear in a wolf’s den you’d never know, but how grateful you were to have done so. You knew he couldn’t be there to keep them at bay, but he could be there to undo the damage and offer you rest in a house that was determined to keep you running.

“How do I deal with Curtis? With Lloyd? I know you already said to give in, but how? How do I give in to that? I can handle Pete; I’ve been doing that for months. Jake seems… Fine? I guess, if you can call it that. Ari’s an asshole, but again, easy to deal with. You were so upset about them, I—“

“Hey, hey,” Steve cut in, hand reaching out for yours hesitantly, and despite the pull for comfort, you slid your hand back. “Lloyd won’t force you. Not physically. But, he’ll make you feel like you wish he had. It’s a game to him. He wants to see you break, to give in because you want it all to stop. Just… Don’t cry. It spurs him on.” He ran a hand over his face, the weight of the advice clearly costing him parts of his sanity. “Curt… He’s a blunt instrument. That's the best way I can put it. He doesn’t play games the way Lloyd does. Don’t fight him; it’ll only excite him. The best thing to do is to give in and let him get bored. I’ll be there at his door wanting, and I’ll help you, I’ll care for you. It’s gonna be hard, and it’s gonna suck…” He trailed off, shaking his head as if he couldn’t find the words to finish explaining. “I don’t know what else I can do or say to prepare you.”

You nodded, unable to do anything else as you let the grim advice sink in. The soup sat unfinished between you both, growing cold along with your souls. Steve checked his watch as the sun dipped lower before he reached across the table and moved the bowl away from you. His movements were careful, like he was afraid that any sudden motion could shatter the fragile truce between you.

“Is there… Is there anything I can do for you?” Steve asked. “A bath, maybe? Let you clean up before… everything starts?”

“Ari’s fucking dreaming if he thinks I’m ever sleeping with him again.”

A short laugh escaped Steve, the corner of your own mouth ticking up slightly, a sound that surprised you both. It’s devoid of any real humor, more of a release of tension that you both desperately needed. He shook his head, an almost pitying smile tugging at his lips.

“Well, to relax then.”

He glanced towards the en-suite bathroom door, then back at you; a mixture of genuine concern and the grim understanding of what’s to come. “A hot bath might help? I mean, it’s better than just sitting here… waiting, and then you could try and get some more sleep.”

You nodded, knowing he was right, and drifting in hot water didn’t sound awful.

“A bath sounds good,” You agreed.

Steve nodded and got to his feet, the chair moving softly against the carpet. He crossed the room and disappeared into the bathroom, and soon after, you heard the faucet turn on, and the sound of running water filled the room. He returned a moment later, leaning against the doorframe and drying his hands on a small hand towel. He beckoned you over with a flick of his head and a small smile.

“It’s running, I’ll give you some privacy. I can leave—“

“Can you stay? Just for a bit longer?”

“Yeah,” he agreed. “I’ll be right here. Call me if you need anything.”

You got to your feet and made your way across the room. Steve stepped aside to let you pass. You paused for a moment, staring up at him, and a sudden need for comfort clawed at your gut, but you pushed it down.

“Thank you.”

“Of course,” Steve replied, and stepped further into the bedroom.

You closed the bathroom door behind you with a parting smile. It was spacious, done up in the same gold and cream tones as the bedroom, with marble countertops and a deep, freestanding tub that sent over a luring scent of lavender as the bubbles inside climbed higher. The air grew warm and humid as you began to undress, realizing the smell of Ari and the sticky sickliness of the club still clung to your skin— a sordid mix of cologne, sweat, and smoke. You catch your reflection in the mirror; hair tangled and eyes wide with a mixture of fear, desolation, and the smoldering flame of your waning defiance.

You averted your gaze and stepped into the water, the heat a shocking comfort against your tense muscles. The cuts on your hands stung as they hit the water, acting as a harsh reminder that you were still here, still stuck. The steam rose around you, and for a few precious moments, the water washed away the grime of the club, the touches from Ari, and let you forget your cage. You leaned your head back against the cool porcelain, let your eyes fall closed, and allowed yourself to enjoy these last few moments of peace before the storm closed in.

You stayed submerged until the warmth had seeped deep into your bones, offering a temporary numbness. The water had begun to cool, and you reluctantly pulled yourself out; the air felt cool against your skin, making you shiver.er. You stepped out and reached for a thick, plush power and quickly dried yourself before plucking a robe hanging from the door. It swallowed you, sitting heavy on your shoulders and smelling faintly of clean linen.

As you stepped back into the bedroom, you found the space transformed. The trays of food had gone, the room was tidy, the bed neatly made up; the corner of the covers pulled back slightly to welcome you inside. Steve was perched on the window ledge, one knee drawn up; fingers clapped over his knee as he stared out at the darkening grounds. He turned as you entered, a soft smile touched his lips as he studied you.

“Feeling better?” He sought out. He nodded towards the nightstand, drawing your attention to a tall glass of water that now sat next to a small, wrapped chocolate. It was a small, almost childish gesture of care, starkly out of place. “Figured you might be thirsty.”

You nodded and grabbed the glass before sitting down on the edge of the bed. You drank the water slowly, the cool liquid a sharp contrast to the bath’s warmth. You felt Steve’s eyes on you from across the room. The silence was heavy, but not uncomfortable; it was the quiet of two people, both trapped in the same terrible situation, who had hoped to find a temporary peace. You heard Steve get to his feet as you placed the glass down, and you turned your head to meet his eyes as he walked around the bed's frame and came before you.ou. He offered out a hand, which you cautiously took, finding it warm and surprisingly gentle. He guided you up and led you a few steps back from the bed, his movement careful, almost reverent. He pulled back the heavy duvet and crisp sheets further.

He doesn’t say a word as he helps you into the bed, pulling up the covers as you slip underneath. He tucked the duvet around your shoulders, his touch lingering for a brief second before he pulled away.

“So?” He asked softly.

You wondered for a moment before realizing you hadn’t answered his previous question.

“Oh, um…” Your nose scrunched up as you offered an apologetic smile. “No, not really. Maybe for a moment.”

“I’m sorry,” Steve said, voice a soft murmur. “Get some rest. I’ll come check on you before… well, you know.”

He gave you one last, long look— pity, guilt, and something else you couldn’t quite name— before he turned and walked to the door. He paused at the threshold, hand on the handle until it clicked open, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the wood. Without turning back, he opened the door, stepped through, and pulled it shut; the sound was softer this time, almost an apology in and of itself.  

You were left alone in the vast, silent room. The only light came from the moon outside the window and the short glare from under the door. The bed's comfort felt like a mockery. You closed your eyes despite sleep feeling like a distant country; the sounds of your own breathing and the creeping dread of what was to come were your only comfort, and as much as the logical side of you warned you to be careful, a deeper need begged for Steve to return quickly.

When your eyes next opened, the room was enveloped in darkness, and you found yourself lost in the time you fell asleep; however, where there should be silence, the sound of crisp burning filled your ears. You sat up, eyes darting to the corner of the room where you found Ari standing by the open window, smoke drifting around him.

“Get out,” You bit out.

Ari huffed out a laugh, almost coughing as he exhaled the smoke from his lungs.

“S’after midnight, Sugar,” Ari informed you smugly.

“I don’t care. I told you last night. I’m not giving you anything—“

“Yeah, that’s not gonna work,” He continued, as if you didn’t speak. “Fighting, screaming, attempting to starve yourself. All you’re doing is making it worse.”

"Then let me go."

"You know I can't do that."

"You mean you won't."

Ari’s jaw tightened as he took one last drag of his cigarette and threw the stub out of the window before pulling a small key from his pocket and shutting the window and locking it shut.

"You owe Pete. You broke the rules. This is the consequence,” He tried to embed, and you wondered if he was trying to convince you or himself.

"This is kidnapping," you spat. "This is—"

"This is survival," Ari interrupted,his voice hard. "Yours and mine. You think I want to be here? You think I want to do this?" He stepped closer to the bed, and you pressed yourself back against the headboard. "But I don't have a choice. And neither do you."

"There's always a choice."

"Not for you. Not anymore." He crouched down beside the bed so he was at eye level with you. His expression was cold. "You can keep fighting. Keep refusing. Keep making this difficult. And every time you do, Lloyd will add time to your debt. Every time you scream, every time you refuse to eat, every time you make Curtis or Pete or any of us work harder to keep you in line—you stay longer."

Your chest tightened.

"Or," Ari continued, rising up slowly to his feet, "you can accept it. Play along. Do what you're told. And maybe—maybe—you get out of here in a few months instead of a few years."

"I'm not going to—"

"Yes, you are." His voice is flat, harsh, and final. "Because the alternative is worse. Trust me. Today, you're mine— Whether you like it or not. And if you keep fighting me?" He leaned down towards the bed, fists pushing into the mattress as he glared over at you, something dark in his eyes. "You'll regret it."

And for the first time, the full weight of your situation crashed down on you like it hadn’t before. It sat deep in your chest and snaked around your throat. You weren't getting out; not by fighting, not by screaming, not by pleading. They had thought of everything. Every possible play you thought you had was already meticulously mapped out.

You found Ari was right about one thing: