Where the spirit meets the bone. (Book 1 of the Illicit Affairs Series)

Chapter XIX

"There's no way in hell I'm getting into that room." you heard Becca's voice from the other side of the door.

"Just get your things and move to our room. I don't think she'll sleep there anymore." Vanessa chuckled.

"I don't want to see my brother naked!" Becca whined, and a chorus of laughter followed.

"We're not naked!" you called, voice groggy from sleep.

After you and Bucky had finally gotten some strength back, he had blown out the candles, picked you up and placed you on the toilet while running you a hot bath. You had whined you could have walked, but as soon as you tried to stand up to get in the tub your knees had given out. Bucky chuckled and got in, then he held you up by the waist and guided you to settle in between his legs, your back to his chest. He had washed your hair for you, too, while you kept your eyes closed and hummed. After the bath, he had helped you into one of his shirts and a pair of underwear and placed you on the bed while he put on a pair of sweatpants. As soon as he had joined you in bed, you had both fallen asleep while cuddling.

"Fuck off." Bucky mumbled, nuzzling his face in the space between your shoulder and your neck. You chuckled and, after a bit of struggling, you managed to free yourself from his hold and got up to open the door.

"There she is!" Sam hollered, "How's the first walk of shame going?"

"Nothing to be ashamed of." you shrugged, with a self satisfied grin. Everyone laughed, while Rebecca made disgusted noises. You couldn't blame her.

"We changed the sheets and stuff, but-" you started, but you felt a pair of strong arms snaking around your waist.

"But she's sleeping here, so get your stuff." Bucky finished for you, nodding to his sister, who sighed and complied.

"So, are you two..." Steve asked, gesturing with his hands for you to continue.

"We're together." you and Bucky said at the same time, smiling at each other and causing a few cheers and a groan, probably from Becca.

"Finally!" a voice said from the stairs. Sharon climbed up two steps at a time, squeaking with joy. She threw her arms around you in an awkward position, since James was still holding you from behind, but she didn't seem to care.

"Don't mind her, she's exited." Natasha said, emerging from the staircase with a lovesick smile. You frowned and tilted your head, confused.

"Look!" Sharon squeaked again, pulling away to shove her left hand in your face. On her finger, a delicate diamond ring caught the light, "She proposed!".

The room erupted in cheers of congratulations, while everyone hugged the two girls.

"You know, it's a really nice ring." you mused to Bucky, grinning.

"Real smooth, baby." he chuckled, but he nodded.

"This calls for a toast!" Sam said, waving everyone over to follow him downstairs to the kitchen.

The toast ended up becoming dinner, since the sun had already set. Everyone focused on the newly engaged couple, so you and Bucky had the change to snuggle up together without eliciting any teasing.

"She picked me up early from work, and I was confused, but Connor told me he had moved my shift, so she took me on a ride to Coney Island and I was even more confused, 'cause I thought we would join you all, you know?" Sharon recounted with a dreamy look in her eyes, "Anyway, she started talking about our first date there and- Nat, you tell them what you said!".

"I said I knew I wanted to marry you since you forced me to ride with you on the Cyclone, 'cause you weren't afraid of messing up your hair and I was afraid of messing up mine. You make me wild." Natasha chuckled, kissing her fiancée's flushed cheek.

"Are you crying, Sammy?" Steve asked, pinching his friend's cheek.

"Of course I am! That's so sweet!" Sam explained with a cute pout. You knew Vanessa would only like him more, after that. She said there was something about men being in touch with their emotions that turned her on.

Later that night, while you and James were cuddling in bed, your phone rang.

"Let it be." he mumbled, pecking your cheek while he hovered over you. You checked the caller ID.

"It's my dad." you sighed, dropping the phone back beside you and pecking his lips for a moment.

"You should pick up." he pulled away from you, causing you to whine, "I know we're having a good time, but we can wait a moment. You've gotta talk to him."

You huffed. The bastard was always right. Well, except for the "let's be friends" thing, but that had been reasonable, too.

"Stop being wise." you shot him a glare, picking up the phone and accepting the call while he chuckled and rested his chin on your chest.

"Hey, dad." you said, trying to sound cheerful. Bucky sent you a reassuring smile.

"Hey, honey. How are you?" Tony said from the other end of the call, with the tone he used when he felt uncomfortable.

"I'm great. How about you?" you responded, truthfully. Had he called a few hours earlier, you answer would've been a lot different.

"I'm... hanging in there." he trailed off, "Can we talk about what happened at Thanksgiving, bean? I miss you."

"I miss you, too." you exhaled, feeling tears prickling your eyes, "I'm not in town right now, but we'll be back on Monday."

"We? As in you and your friend?" Tony asked, but his tone wasn't accusatory, just curious and a little amused.

"As in me and my boyfriend, actually." you admitted, smiling down softly at Bucky, who widened his eyes. You chuckled.

"I wanna hear all about that. Not now, though. On Monday. I'll leave you kids alone." he said, and you could just picture his fond smile.

"See you on Monday, dad. I love you." you smiled, petting James' hair.

"See you then, bean. I love you, too." he echoed, and while you ended the call and dropped the phone on the nightstand, you could hear his muffled voice, "Be safe! I'm too young to be a grandpa!"

As soon as you turned your head around, James gripped your cheeks and gave you a long, chaste kiss.

"What was that for?" you chuckled as he pulled away. He looked at you with wide eyes.

"You didn't have to tell him now, but you did." he smiled, placing another peck on your lips.

"Of course I did. He loves you, Bucky. Says you tell the best jokes and you're the best mechanic he's ever heard of. He wanted to ask hire you before I told him you own your shop." you explained.

"He likes me, but he didn't really like your friend a few weeks ago." he sighed, rolling on his side and laying on his back beside you. You followed him, straddling his hips.

"That's too bad, 'cause I won't choose between the love of my life and my family, so he'd better get over it." you said, pocking his chest with the tip of your pointer finger.

"The love of your life, uh?" he smirked.

"Yeah, I think so." you murmured, suddenly shy about it.

"I think so, too." he smiled softly, sitting up to kiss you again and easing your worries.

A few hours later, neither of you could fall asleep, so you silently laid with your head on his chest and your legs entangled together.

"I could do it, you know." he whispered, breaking the silence, "Leave the shop to Steve and go work for your dad. We could both work for him."

"No, Bucky." you said, raising your head and looking at him with a determined expression, "You built the shop from the ground up, you love it. I don't even like working for my dad."

"I know, baby, but-" he tried to explain, but you interrupt him.

"No, there's no but. It would make things easier, maybe, but we would both be miserable. Relationships don't work like that." you shook you head.

"Who's the wise one, now?" he chuckled, pulling you in for a kiss.