CRAVE - Bucky Barnes x Marvel AU

Part 9

I shot a couple emails out to everyone at work, to clear my schedule for the whole week.

Yes, the winter collection needed a collaborator. Yes, we're broke for six months. Yes, I need to design a bucket load of stuff.

Yes, I can't help but drop all that for Mr James Barnes.

It was ridiculous, why did I utterly crave him so much? And NOT in anyway that would make me question myself!

Brushing my wild thoughts aside, I sat on my suitcase as I tried to zip a week's worth of clothing into a carry on.

I didn't want to be rude by bringing more than one, and I've no idea what his plane's capacity is.

You're going on a freaking stranger's private jet? To a place three and a half thousand miles away? Without Howard?

Putting it that was it made me second guess my choices.

The doorbell rang- to late.

I checked myself in the mirror before I answered it, knowing it would be him.

"You ready?" He asked as I flung the door open, gripping my suitcase in the other hand.

"Yes," that was all I could manage to say as my conscience battled with where my legs were taking me.

The driver told me to sit in the back as he took my one and only suitcase, I figured he'd get a taxi. So why would he leave his new car in another country?

James sat besides me.

"Just one suitcase?" He asked

"Yes, I didn't want to overpack." I shrugged "it won't take up much room." I reassured him.

"Sweetheart, you take your own goddamn chopper and there'd be room left," he said as he sat comfortably towards me.

"How big is it?" I asked, resisting the urge again to question his pet name for me.

"The one we're taking is you're average commercial sized one," he told me "it should have fuel to spare."

"Glad we'll be able to make it," I laughed, he smiled at me, keeping his eyes locked onto me from the moment he sat down.

"May I ask," I bucked up the courage "sweetheart?"

"I was wondering when you were gonna bring that up," he rolled his eyes jokingly "what do you prefer? Lizzie? Darling? Doll? Babydoll? Baby?"

I rolled my eyes and pretended to gag at the last option.

-

I gasped when I saw the jet.

There in the tarmac stood a gleaming, BBJ 747-8, in shiny white.

James led me up the steps, hopefully he didn't see how in awe I was. I don't know much about jets, planes, even the two choppers I own.

Sure, I was rich. But I strutted my wealth down the catwalk, all of it. The over extended house I own was inherited. My overly flashy cars were a mix of mortgages and Crave's small profits.

I was a cheat, in a way. I only decided to be one and except it because it was only myself I was cheating.

The interior was the definition of luxury, cream and plush sofas sat around the windows, while behind a curtain I could see a rounded glass bar.

"Lovely to have you on board, Miss," the pilot shook my hand

"Thank you for having me here," I shook it, admiring his cream uniform which matched the rest of the plane and it's staff.

He put my suitcase in a luggage area, while an air hostess offered me champagne. I saw James take one while he spoke to the pilot about the weather hazards, so it would be rude if I didn't. Right?

A television kept me occupied whilst they began to take off, James in the cockpit for some reason. The air hostess's name was Maggie, she told me the bar would only be ready in two hours unfortunately.

Not wanting to cause too much of a problem for herself or the other staff, I kicked off my Jimmy Choos and led across the sofa, drifting into sleep.

Good idea, Lizzie. Go on and FALL ASLEEP on a stranger's private jet as soon as you step on.

I brushed my thoughts aside, the champagne made my conscious more furious anyway.

-

"Glad you haven't passed out on me again, doll," I woke to hear James's voice, making me smile "peaceful dreams?"

"Sorry," I sat up, knowing I probably look a right mess at the moment "what time is it?"

"You were out for three and a bit hours," he told me, he was sitting on the opposite side, typing on a laptop. "Don't apologise."

"I hope I wasn't being rude, that's all," I answered back to him.

Buck up.

"Join me in the bar?" He asked me, snapping his laptop shut and standing up in front of me. I cursed myself for looking at his full view.

His tie was undone, three buttons uncovering his toned chest, blazer jacked hooked over the armchair, and overall, his shirt was a little tight.

"I'd love to," I took his hand to stand up as he placed one hand low on my back to walk me into the other room.

Not that he needed to control me like that, or there was anybody around to protect me from.

We ate tapas and he opened a bottle of Screaming Eagle Cabernet, talking about completely random topics.

"What's the occasion?" I asked as he poured my glass, I know this wine is pretty expensive.

"Nothing," he clinked his glass to mine "just letting you enjoy the ride,"

I tried to interpret what he meant by that, but the only thing I could tell was that he'd positioned himself around me more, knowing I was tipsy.

Idiot.

"Have you heard that song by Sia?" I asked, he smiled and raised an eyebrow at me, liking it when I asked him questions "it's called Cheap Thrills,"

"Shall I play it, darling?" He asked, totally taking advantage of my state and calling a member of staff over to play in on a speaker.

The song began to play, he watched me as I laughed at his reaction.

I stood up and danced around him a little, glad I'd already kicked my shoes off. It was just me, living in the dance floor, being watched by a few members of staff and James's crystal eyes.

I sang along at the chorus "I love cheese grills!"

"Jump off this plane then with me." He stood up and came close to me "have a cheaply thrilling night." He asked darkly, whispering into my ear, so staff wouldn't hear over the music.

I stopped dead on my little sing along, craving to know what he was on about.

Seeing my state he stopped dead on his tracks, seeing me falling and basically drooling drunk all over him made him rethink his choice.

Would you PLEASE pull yourself together?

"I'll wake you when we land."He whispered, I didn't recall being carried back into my sofa, but he let me slip back into sleep.