#captivated

whether it was on the ride back to the station or during meals around the table, his name was always on someone’s lips.

“remember when buck–” “oh my god, and then buck said–” “i still can’t believe buck actually–”

from the stories, he sounded like their long lost annoying younger brother, ruthlessly teased but fiercely loved. he was the kind of person who could drive them up the wall one minute and have them laughing until they cried the next.

with each story, you found yourself forming a mental image of him. this larger-than-life, chaotic force of nature who somehow managed to be their glue. without even meeting him, you felt like you already knew him.

and then, one day, you did.

you were cleaning and restocking one of the ambulances, focused on the methodical rhythm of your work. the sound of cheers outside pulled your attention, distant at first but growing louder, accompanied by bursts of laughter.

curiosity got the better of you. you closed the ambulance doors with a firm slam and started toward the commotion, your steps quickening with each cheer.

as you rounded the corner, you stopped in your tracks. the entire team had gathered in a loose circle, their voices raised in excitement, their faces lit up with the kind of joy reserved for reunions.

in the middle of it all stood a mountain of a man.

chim was the first to spot you lingering at the back of the group. “hey!” he called out, his grin widening as he reached for you, tugging you forward. “c’mon, don’t be shy! you’ve got to meet him!”

you stumbled slightly as you were pulled to the front, your breath hitching the moment your eyes landed on him.

he was everything the stories hadn’t prepared you for.

tall and broad shouldered, his uniform stretched taut over muscles that seemed almost unfairly large. his hair was slightly tousled, the golden strands catching the sunlight, but it was his smile that truly knocked the air out of your lungs. warm and open, it softened his chiselled features and sent a rush of heat straight up your neck.

then his eyes met yours.

blue. so blue they seemed to pull you in, almost as if the world had narrowed to just the two of you in that moment.

chim’s voice broke through your daze. “and this,” he said with a teasing grin, gesturing toward you, “is your new replacement!”

you rolled your eyes playfully, trying to ignore the way your heart raced as buck’s gaze lingered on you.

“replacement, huh?” buck chuckled, “i’ve heard i left them in good hands.”

he extended a hand toward you, and for a split second, you just stared at it, your brain short circuiting. then, as if on autopilot, you took it.

the moment his hand closed around yours, you felt it. a warmth spread through you, starting at your palm and radiating outward. his hand was large and strong, but his grip was gentle, as though he didn’t wanna hurt you.

“yeah…” you managed, your voice softer than you intended. “you could say that.”

You give him your name, his lips curve into a gentle smile. He nods, his eyes never leaving yours. "pretty."

your hand stayed in his for a beat too long, neither of you seeming eager to let go. his thumb brushed against your skin, an unconscious movement that sent shivers down your spine.

the world around you blurred. all you could see was him. the way his uniform hugged his frame, the way the corners of his mouth quirked up as he smiled at you, the way his eyes softened.

then, as if realising himself, buck gave your hand one final squeeze before letting go, his own hesitation mirrored in the slight reluctance of your fingers.

the moment broke before you could process what had just happened, someone called his name from across the station, and he was ushered away, leaving with the crowd and disappearing through one of the doors. his laughter echoed faintly as he went, but not before his eyes flicked back to you, lingering for a moment longer than they should have.

you turned quickly, your face burning. you took a step back and mouthed silently to yourself, “oh. my. god.”

“catch your breath yet?” bobby’s voice startled you, low and amused.

your head snapped toward him, but the knowing look in his eyes said it all. he’d seen the whole thing.

you tried to play it cool, clearing your throat and turning back to the ambulance as if you had work to do. but your heart was still racing, your hand tingling from where his touch had lingered.

little did you know, buck was feeling the same thing, standing in the middle of his family with his thoughts entirely consumed by you.

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     “oh!” she exclaimed, “you speedy little devil...”

     most of the day had gone by without much to show for it. her search for native species was futile, nothing but a sample of the water going home with her. she tried not to get discouraged, reminding herself it was only day one of the highly anticipated ‘mini-vacation.’ also reminding herself that she wasn’t even supposed to be out on the water today.

     she’d claimed she was going hunting for knickknacks in the nifty little shops downtown, but the instantaneous smell of ocean air pulled her in the second she stepped outside their small rental. and what harm would one day on the sea cause?

     checking her watch, she sighed and began peeling herself off the deck of the boat. it was a smaller one used for diving, but it came with their rental home and would have to do. she pulled the strap from her neck, crouching beside her duffle bag to secure her camera and jar of salt water in place within it. at first, she didn’t notice the set of eyes peeking through the railing at her. they were in her peripheral vision, blending in with their surroundings until she happened to glance up right as she went to stand.

     a helpless shriek fell from her lips as she stumbled backwards, bottom hitting the deck with a loud thud.

     “g-get back!” she warned, scrambling further away from the figure, blindly reaching behind her for a weapon. “the coast guard knows i’m out here, so you’re better off being on your way!”

     “where are you taking that?”

     the voice was surprisingly friendly. bright and almost… curious. like a child.

     her brows furrowed. “who are you? come out from there!”

     part of her prayed he wouldn’t, scared that he was armed with something worse than the rusty old fire extinguisher she’d pulled from under a seat. it might have been expired and certainly not up to code, but it would still leave a nasty mark if he got close enough for her to use it.

     the pair of eyes moved steadily along the railing, never once leaving her. the heaving of her chest came to an abrupt stop when the stranger finally came into view at the back of the boat.

     at first, the shock was from seeing that he was shirtless, swimming in the frigid mid-october water. but then her eyes drifted over to the shiny, scaly flesh of his left arm. she stared at it for a moment, oblivious to the way he was studying her with equal intrigue.

     still clutching her makeshift weapon, she crawled toward the ledge where he was, stopping short when she saw below his waist. there wasn’t time for her to feel anything but pure amazement, immediately closing the gap between them so she could fully see the massive tail that swished back and forth beneath him.

     “you’re…” her throat tightened before she could say the word, not even sure if she’d be able to speak it. the man remained silent, just gazing up at her with a similar fascination. “i-i don’t believe this! incredible! this- oh, my, this could change everything!” as she lost herself in the excitement, his left hand came up to poke at her thigh innocently, bringing her attention back to the limb. “and your arm!” she gushed, reaching for it but stopping herself at the last second.

     “oh… yeah…” he seemed to become shy under her attention, pulling his arm back so most of it was hidden under the water.

     she all but whimpered, desperately wanting to examine it more closely. “please don’t be embarrassed,” she tried, offering the kindest smile she could muster as her body practically vibrated with joy. “would you let me see it? please?” looking up at her through his lashes, he produced his arm again, placing it flat on the boat. “is it alright if i touch you?”

     “yes.”

     with a shaky breath, she lifted it slowly by his wrist, feeling the weight of it in her hand. the scales were familiar, but she couldn’t quite place where she’d seen them before. “what is it fashioned from?”

     as she continued inspecting its surface, he continued inspecting her, captivated by the wonder in her eyes. they met his own when she received no answer.

     “kelp mostly,” he finally offered, trying not to frown when she looked back to his arm. “skin from some fish i can’t remember…”

     “arapaima gigas!” she squealed, fingers stroking over the tough flesh. the smile on her face lasted only a moment before her eyebrows set to another furrow. “extraordinary, truly… but how do you keep it so well preserved in the salt water?”

     “that part i’ll keep a mystery,” he grinned. the smile faltered when she simply pressed her thumb into his forearm, still staring at his limb in bewilderment.

     “the entire prosthetic is a mystery…” as she turned his hand over, he wiggled his fingers just slightly, causing her to let out a quiet gasp. “fascinating! can you feel this?” her nails traced lightly along the ridges of each scale, eyes once again seeking his out for an answer. she got it in the form of a jerky nod, slate blue staring back at her heatedly.

     “you’re cold,” he observed, confused at his own observation.

     eyelids fluttering, she swallowed thickly before looking away, feeling her face grow hot. “y-yes, well… i seem to have forgotten my gloves today.” she placed his arm back on the boat gently, catching sight of her watch again. “it’s… it’s rather late, i’m afraid. i really should be getting home.”

     “home?”

     his question stopped her. it was more so his tone than anything since he seemed… upset. maybe even a little angered at her choice of words.

     “well, we’ve rented it, so i suppose it’s not really my home…” nervously, she began fiddling with the ring wrapped around her fourth finger. it caught the light as she looked back to the man before her, his eyes fixed to the gem. “if… if i return tomorrow, will you come find me?”

     he swam back from the boat slightly, playful grin on his lips. “if you’d like.”

     “i would!” she exclaimed, immediately feeling embarrassed at her eagerness. “i just- yes, i would like to see you again. very much.” in silence, they stared at each other for a moment until she kicked herself into gear and began reeling in the anchor. just as she went to get behind the wheel, she called out, “oh! your name!” spinning back to where he was before, she was met with nothing but rippling water.

     “james.”

     “good heavens!” whipping around, she saw the man, james, floating on the other side of the boat, hair thoroughly soaked. with a bitten smile, she gave him her own name, hands settling atop the wheel. “james,” she began, speaking up over the whirring of the motor. “i will see you tomorrow, then.”

~

     “danny!” she cried out, carefully but quickly unraveling the jar of water from her bag. she received no answer other than the repetitive clicking of keys from the sunroom. “daniel!” she tried again.

     sighing out into the silence, she placed the jar down beside the small station she’d set up for her microscope on the bar between the living room and kitchen. stepping up to the doorway of the sunroom, she watched the man before her for a moment.

     “it’s not polite to stare,” he smirked, not bothering to look away from the typewriter beneath his fingertips.

     “have you been at that desk all day?”

     finally, the clicking came to a stop, and he spun his chair around to face her. “the next great american novel waits for no one, dear.” she bit at her cheek to keep her grin from showing, accepting his kiss when he stood and embraced her. his hands found hers, a crease forming between his brows as he brought them up to his nose. “and i see you were nowhere near the boutiques downtown.”

     “chide me if you must,” she pouted, grateful for the way heat seeped out of his palms and into her own. “but you’ll never believe the day i’ve just had! what i saw!”

     he watched her intently as she ranted on about the mystical half-man half-fish that had startled her out on the sea. a smile played at his lips, finding the way her eyes glazed over endearing. even if what she was saying was completely implausible.

     “... and his arm!” she gushed, “daniel, it was molded from kelp and armored in the skin of an arapaima gigas!”

     “a freshwater fish?” he questioned, eyebrow cocked as he brought her knuckles to his mouth, lips skimming over her ring.

     “yes! yes, but it was in perfect condition! and he moved it as if it were his own! he could feel things with it like a natural limb!”

     chuckling, daniel dropped her hands to cup his own around her face. “darling,” he started, drawing her attention. “sweetheart...” he placed a kiss to her forehead, pulling back to see the scowl that was forming along her features. “my love...” the grimace had entirely overtaken her face, nose scrunched in displeasure with his tone. “i think perhaps all that sea air is finally getting to your head.”

     staring up at him in annoyance, she deadpanned, “i saw him, daniel. i spoke with him.”

     “well it’s quite the incredible tale, dear. you said yourself i’d never believe it...” once her glare turned into a pout, he smoothed a finger along her cheek. “would you not quirk a brow at me if i started talking of little fairies buzzing around my head as i wrote?”

     slumping against his chest, she sighed defeatedly. “engaged for less than a week and already i’m being accused of hysteria.”

     “oh, no, no,” he hummed, “i’d never say such a thing. although... there are certain instances where i find you to be... hysterical. in one way or another.”

     his hands grabbing at her waist elicited a small giggle from her. “certain instances, hm?”

     “yes,” he grinned, walking them back toward the living room.

     “and what might those be?”

     before he could push her back onto the sofa, she grasped his collar, both of them crashing down onto the cushions. “i’ll show you right now.”

     between kisses and through stunted gasps, she managed to find her voice long enough to pant out, “tomorrow... you’ll join me... s-see for yourself.”

     “yes, yes, whatever you’d like.”

~

     out in the distance, the couple could hear the horns of ships, fog dancing across the waves as she gazed into them for a head of brown hair. they had been out there for hours, binoculars and all, searching for the man she’d seen the day before.

     finally releasing a sigh of defeat, she looked out into the sea one last time. “perhaps he... migrated.”

     “perhaps,” daniel cooed, smoothing his hand down her back and kissing her forehead.

     a rogue wave rushed over the boat, rocking it from side to side and sending them tumbling toward the edge. she clung to her fiancé, wincing as the wave splashed over the side of the boat and soaked them both down to their undergarments.

     “let’s get back to shore before we both catch pneumonia.”

     daniel nodded, securing her to his side while he moved toward the wheel. “i know just how i plan on warming you up,” he grinned.

~

     determined to encounter james again, she set sail the following morning. alone and focused, immune to the complaints of her fiancé.

     it was about an hour after she dropped her anchor when a voice came from over her shoulder.

     “you’re alone?”

     jumping, she turned to face the voice, finding james floating at the back of the boat.

     “james!” she cheered, rushing toward him. “i’d started to think i really did imagine you.”

     he watched her for a moment, scanning over the boat with furrowed brows before looking to her again. “you had a man with you.”

     “oh. well, yes. my fiancé, daniel.” when james gave no response, she tried to explain further. “we’re to be wed in the spring.”

     looking away almost petulantly, james bit out, “you love him?”

     “i do.”

     the waves sloshed onto the side of the boat as he dived down into them. she leaned closer to the edge, peering over it to try and spot him beneath the surface of deep blue. and when she couldn’t, she began to worry he would disappear again.

     again, from behind her, she heard him ask, “is it because he’s human like you?”

     she spun, letting out a laugh as he began drifting back toward her. “i suppose that has something to do with it, yes.”

     “and you kiss him?”

     “of course.”

     james remained silent, something akin to a pout on his lips. she watched him for a moment before coming to her senses.

     “james, i’d like to take some pictures of you...” carefully, she lifted her camera from around her neck, stilling when she saw how it made him cower in fear. “it won’t hurt you, i promise! it’ll help me study you. i can bring proof back to my colleagues-”

     “no!”

     “but i-”

     “i know what you humans do to things you don’t understand,” he spat, voice going softer and more fearful as he glanced to his left arm. “you’ll hurt me.”

     she shook her head desperately, “no, no, i would never! and i’d never allow anyone else to. and perhaps if we could study you, then we would understand.”

     james shook his head.

     “i’ll... keep the photographs to myself.”

     james shook his head.

     taking a moment to think, she looked over the tendrils of his hair wrapping around his chin and neck. “drawings!” she exclaimed, “may i draw you? i’ll keep those for my own use as well. you have my word.”

     his head dipped down, lower and lower until he was back beneath the water, causing her to chase after him again. two hands planted on the deck before her, ocean breaking as he hauled himself up right in front of her. the boat rocked under his weight, the weight of his tail. it was huge and thick, gleaming almost silver in the dreary weather, a contrast to the scales of his left arm. she wouldn’t be surprised if it was twice her own size.

     slowly, her eyes moved up him, tracing over his softly chiseled torso. his flesh was just as firm as his tail, but covered in a layer of fat to insulate him.

     she swallowed stiffly, suddenly aware of their proximity. “goodness...”

     “you think i’m ugly,” he stated dejectedly, turning as if he were going to slide back into the ocean.

     “no!” she cried, ready to stop him if he actually tried. “no, you’re...” her eyes scanned him again, hand going to reach for him before she caught it. “you’re beautiful.”

     james seemed to go shy under her compliment, turning his head out toward the sea in an attempt to keep his smile hidden from her.

     she drew him carefully, studying each dip and curve of of his muscles, the shape of his scales. the slit that sat just below where his hips would be. it made her face grow hot, forced her to divert her attention upwards where she found his eyes already locked onto her.

     “s-sorry,” she sputtered.

     “for what?”

     instead of answering, she shook her head and focused back on her sketchbook.

     as he looked up to the sky, following a seagull with his gaze, she noticed a gathering of skin that she hadn’t before. moving closer, she observed the gills running parallel to his jaw, sat just beneath the bone.

     “incredible,” she whispered, earning his attention again. “so do they remain closed while you’re out of water?” james watched as she motioned to his gills before nodding. she started scribbling frantically. “then, do you have lungs?”

     “lungs?”

     she smiled at his naivety. “would you-” she set her book and pencil down carefully and began to mime her point to him, hovering her hands over his torso. “would you mind?”

     without hesitating, james shook his head and reclined onto his back.

     her fingers found his skin gently, smoothing along his ribcage and working down to press and prod in search of familiar organs. everything was well in its place as far as she knew. although, she had become more acquainted with sea mammals than... whatever he could be considered.

     “you’re truly magnificent, james.”

     she was too busy jotting down more notes to catch the light that filled his eyes and the smile that pulled at his lips.

     sun beginning to dip lower behind the haze of clouds, she closed her sketchbook and tucked it back into her pouch. james sat up at her movements, watching her for a minute before reaching out and grasping her wrist.

     “will you swim with me?”

     forcing her eyes off of his hand around her, she offered him an apologetic look. “it’s quite late again, i’m afraid. and the weather is much too cold for humans.”

     his look of disappointment was earnest and almost innocent, much like everything else about his demeanor.

     “well,” she drawled, “let me see...” he released her to let her reach over the boat and dip her hand into the water. which was ice cold and had her using every ounce of strength not to wince and further disappoint him.

     he seemed to catch it anyway, proposing to her, “there’s a spot i know. it’s a little warmer.”

     “really? how is that possible?”

     “i don’t know... it just is.”

     looking over his face, she was struck again with the desire not to scare him off. as she wiped her hand off on her coat, she sighed out into the salty air. “alright,” she relented, “tomorrow you can take me there, and i’ll... i’ll swim with you.”

     that got him to light up through the gray atmosphere. “i can’t wait.”

~

     when she had woken up that morning, daniel had left her a note saying he would be focusing on his novel for most of the day. it excited her and frustrated her in equal parts. she could slip away to see james without fear of judgement, but what would this mean for the future of their married life if they were both so preoccupied with other affairs? not that she was having an affair! no, james was... he was... well, they lived in two different worlds, for starters.

     as she’d promised, she allowed james to guide her further from shore, out deeper past the coastline to a small island with an alcove that she peered into after dropping anchor. it was much too late in the year to have been packing a swimsuit herself, or to find one at the shops in town. so she was left to peel away her clothing until she was down to her undergarments and the simple shift she’d slipped on that morning in some attempt at modesty.

     james watched her, just his eyes above water as she sat at the edge of the boat and dangled her feet over. the moment her toes grazed the water, she yipped like a scolded hound.

     “james, it’s freezing!”

     he raised from the waves to shake his head. “no! no, it’s not! you just have to get in, and it won’t feel so bad.” when she hesitated, he cast his eyes downward. “i’m sorry, i’ll- i’ll leave you alone.”

     “no!” she hollered over the wind, “no, you won’t! not while i’m way out here without a clue how to get back.” another moment passed of her staring down into the sea of black. “i’ll get in.”

     the boat rocked softly under her as she stood again, fists tight at her sides before she took a deep breath and walked off the end of the deck. she’d gone all at once in hopes it wouldn’t be so bad, quickly realizing she would have never escaped the frigid water.

     she gasped as she surfaced, wiping the remnants of salt from her face. just as she was about to complain, she felt the water around her move before warmth and firmness was pressed to her back, two arms wrapping around her waist. once more, she gasped, softer than her first, shivering at the contrast between his palms.

     “is... is this better?” james asked, breath right at her ear.

     she nodded. he was warm, even if the thrash of his tail had her feet slipping against it as she tried to pedal herself to stay afloat.

     grinning at her graceless movements, he hummed, “i’ve got you.” his cheek slid to press against hers as he wrapped himself further around her, pulling at her in a way that had her lips quivering. “you’re so small and... and... dry.”

     laughing lightly, she tried her best not to panic at the feel of his hands wandering over her. they were curious, she told herself, the same as hers had been over him. he seemed to have some knowledge of decency, palms avoiding her breasts despite the way her shift had floated up in the water, pooled out around her arms and leaving her undergarments exposed.

     when she felt his hands begin to descend down her torso, she tensed, jerking as they grabbed for her legs.

     “wh-whoa there,” she laughed nervously.

     “sorry, i just... you got to touch me.”

     he was exactly right.

     so she let him carry on, bottom lip pulling between her teeth before falling out in yet another gasp when he suddenly let go of her.

     for a moment, she flailed in the water, struggling to find her rhythm again after he’d taken over it for her. she could see him beneath the soft waves, circling her a handful of times, her heart pounding under his scrutiny. in another blink of her eyes, a hand wrapped around her foot, then the other. and then she was bobbing under the water for just long enough to cause her heartbeat to go from a pound to a race.

     she was let go, the kick of her legs enough to force the hold from them so she could surface.

     “james!” she shouted.

     his head poked out of the water before her, gaze innocent and playful.

     “i can’t- i’m not as... hydrodynamically inclined as you. you cannot be so rough.”

     with a look of guilt just convincing enough, he submerged himself again, diving down deep enough to disappear into the darkness. she spun herself, twisting this way and that to try and catch sight of him. it was useless, his presence elusive until hands were wrapping around her ankles.

     only this time, he pushed her up, allowing her to stay above water as he studied her feet. she couldn’t see him, could only feel as he tugged at each of her toes curiously, fingers tracing the veins running along the tops of her feet to her shins. her arms flapped at the waves still, a sense of independence from his hold.

     as his hands ran up her legs, he followed them, flashes of his shoulders appearing through the ripples of water and the ring of her shift floating around her. his palms reached her thighs, sliding around to the backs of them as he pressed himself to her. she swore she felt something grazing against her mound before he broke through the surface.

     james held her to him again, nowhere to look but at each other. she went shy under the attention, the affection. this wasn’t right.

     “james, i-”

     “can you call me bucky?”

     stunned for a moment, she gaped at him like a fish swimming beneath them. “bucky?” he nodded. “o-kay... well, bucky, i- we really shouldn’t be doing this.” like an untrained dog, he cocked his head in question. “i have a husband, remember?”

     “that’s not what you called him.”

     “no, well... he’s my fiancé, yes, but-”

     “so?” he huffed as if it was the most ridiculous thing in the world, furrowing his brows to make his point.

     she scoffed, wiggling in his hold to make her own point. “this isn’t exactly... appropriate. by human standards, anyway.”

     “but i let you study me,” he pouted, nudging her chin with his forehead. “you touched me... and let me touch you.”

     guilt crept into her, the shame of the truth. “i know, but...” maybe she had crossed the line first in her pursuit of discovery.

     “don’t you like me?”

     his voice came small, broken, boyish in his fear of rejection.

     “of course i do!” she fretted, ready to clarify as friends, stopped in her tracks when she saw a wetness not from the sea forming in the rims of his eyes. “oh, please don’t be upset, bucky...” foolishly, almost against her own will, she cupped his cheek.

     it got his eyes to find hers, tears seeming to disappear in a single blink before he was drawing nearer.

     his lips pressed to hers forcefully, almost from inexperience. she was frozen, stunned in place, eyes fluttering before she caught herself and pulled away from his kiss.

     her hands found his shoulders as she scolded, “james!”

     “you kissed me,” he stated, “now that means i can be your husband.”

     “what?” she shrieked, trying and failing to escape his hold. “no, that’s- it doesn’t work that way. let me go!”

     “no.”

     the hardness of his voice caused her to stop thrashing and look at him. his eyes had gone dark, cold and stern where they bore into her. another attempt to push at his shoulders failed, the feel of his flesh hand sliding up and wrapping around the back of her neck stilling her once more. it tightened before what felt like a million tiny knives sinking into her skin burst out along her spine.

     “aht-” her voice cut off, body going limp in his hold.

     his hold on her fell away, letting her begin to sink down into the water slowly. panic set in, doubling and then tripling as she realized she couldn’t move, couldn’t kick her legs to keep from going down further and further and further. just as her vision began going fuzzy, she felt arms wrap around her again and then a gust of water rushing around her before it all went black.

~

     there was a heavy ache in her stomach. that was the first thing she noticed when she began to gain consciousness. the sound of waves crashing gently against the shore was the next thing, fuzzy at first, as if she were still submerged. a ringing followed it, drowning out the waves before her hearing fully recovered.

     “wh-why won’t you wake up? it was only a second, i only let you go for a second.”

     she felt her brows tick at the voice, lashes beginning to flutter. the ache dulled, warmth around her waist taken over by cold water as a hand found her face. it caused her eyes to open lazily, rolling in their sockets while she tried to make out the shapes before her.

     “there you are... come on, wake up...”

     gentle taps landed on her cheek, a thumb coming to cup her chin to shake her head.

     like two slides lining up, the scene in front of her came into focus, a familiar face smiling down at her.

     “i was so scared i’d done it wrong,” bucky beamed through his worry. he watched as her mouth opened to try and speak, tongue still too heavy to form any words. “it won’t last forever. i just... you were being so difficult. i had to stop you from leaving.”

     the ache burned to life again, deep withing her core. it was unmistakable, sharper than she’d ever known before, but impossible not to recognize.

     “i’ve only been trying to open you up,” bucky explained, “you’re so small, and i... i wanted to wait for you before we truly mated.”

     a weak whine managed to escape her throat, cooed away as bucky embraced her above the surf.

     “we have to be in the water, too, but you’re so clumsy when you swim...” he laughed around his words, breathy and fond, nearing on condescension. “i’ll hold you, don’t worry.”

     letting her eyes search over the area, she realized they were inside the alcove, splayed out on the hard sand as waves pushed and pulled at them with the tide. the water grew higher and higher, nothing keeping her head above but bucky’s hand coming to cradle the back of it as he dragged them over the cliff of sand and rock and into a deep pool within the cave.

     his tail thrashed beneath her, fins flicking up toward the damp ceiling as he thrusted into her. she yelped, wishing to clamp her thighs to alleviate some of the pressure, but finding her body still limp and motionless.

     “you feel... so good.” bucky kissed at her cheek, keeping her hips planted to his tail as his cock recoiled and sunk back into her with precision. his lips found their way to her ear, whispering over the waves, “my wife...”

     the first tear finally fell over her cheek, turned invisible amongst the drops of sea water splashing onto her face. she could feel him digging through her insides, the point of his cock zeroing in on the ring deep inside her, forcing its way through the opening just enough to have her body cramping with confusion. something else was tucked against her ass, sliding along her tight skin before it caught on her other entrance.

     “bucky,” she managed to croak, slurred and faint, barely audible over the crash of waves at the rocks around them and his labored grunts.

     “i-i just want to know what it feels like,” he babbled, pushing his second cock into the tight ring of her.

     she began to whimper, lungs too weak to sob, still helpless but to take his assault. to make matters worse, the ridges of his slit had begun to grind against her own, rubbing at her clit with the rhythm of the ocean surrounding them.

     “please don’t cry,” he pleaded, “please.”

     sinking both lengths completely inside her, he planted his lips over hers to trap her cry of discomfort. the primal urge inside him was too strong, compelling him to pull them under the water as he began to fuck into each of her channels. he felt her lips quiver against his own, eyes blinking rapidly through the salt water. sealing their mouths together, he expelled the contents of his lungs into hers, fighting his smile when he felt her walls beginning to seize around him.

     the cacophony of the alcove erupted back to life when bucky lifted them to the surface again, grunting into her mouth.

     “you’re the perfect bride. my perfect bride.”

     the moan that forced out of her twisted into a sob of pain as his cock pushed deeper, almost impossibly, tip of it flicking through her walls as it curled in anticipation. the pressure on her clit and within her ass ripped her orgasm from her, the force of it bearing down around his cock and causing bucky to groan gutturally into her neck.

     warmth flooded her, his chest trembling against hers with his own release. little pants landed along her skin, matching her short, quick ones. she could feel herself still continuing to squeeze around his cocks, the steady stimulation keeping her suspended between climax and relief as he refused to break their joining. and she suddenly knew why when he began to thrust into her again with renewed vigor, battering her insides.