𝙲𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚝 𝙾𝚋𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 - 𝓑𝓾𝓬𝓴𝔂 𝓑𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓼 [2]

18. {Not My Choice}

"What time did I leave the rehearsal dinner last night?"

Y/N's voice rang out as she emerged from the master bedroom, looking a bit worse for wear. Her hand pressed against her head, as if to soothe a pounding headache, she stood in the main area of the villa, still dressed in nothing but his shirt.

Bucky's eyes flickered toward her, taking in her dishevelled appearance and the question that hung in the air. He stood at the threshold of the back patio that led directly to the surrounding beaches, his expression a blend of confusion, amusement, and apprehension as he observed his work partner emerge from the master bedroom.

After last night's events, he retreated to the guest room on the opposite side of the villa, never intending for them to share a room during their stay Bucky and Y/N had never shared a bed in such a manner; the only time they had ended up in a bedroom amid their passionate encounters was that one hurried moment of lust at her place. He managed to sleep through the night after their tense moment when he rebuffed her advances, not deeply, but sufficiently. However, as he glanced over at his work partner now, eyebrows raised at her dishevelled state, he wondered if she remembered any of it at all.

"I helped you back here just after ten," he responded nonchalantly, his gaze still watchful as he re-entered the cool, air-conditioned room, feeling the morning sun's warmth on his back from the open doors.

Y/N blinked in response to his answer, her weary eyes surveying the room. Upon spotting the minibar nestled near the kitchen area, she headed over, evidently aiming to fetch a bottle of water.

Bucky's eyes followed Y/N as she moved across the room, his attention momentarily diverted from her question to observe her movements. She navigated with a slight sway, one hand still pressed against her forehead in an attempt to alleviate the headache that had settled in. He couldn't help but notice the way his oversized shirt draped loosely over her frame, her legs bare beneath the hem.

"Just after ten, huh?" Y/N muttered under her breath as she opened the minibar, the light from inside casting a soft glow on her tired features. She reached for a bottle of water with a sigh of relief, uncapping it swiftly and taking a long sip.

Bucky leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms over his chest, his expression guarded yet curious. "Yeah," he confirmed, his tone neutral. "You seemed determined to test your limits with those cocktails last night."

She shot him a sidelong glance over her shoulder, her brow furrowing slightly as she closed the minibar door with more force than necessary. "Well, I'm paying for it now," she admitted ruefully, taking another sip of water.

Bucky's lips twitched in a half-smile, the tension from the previous night's events easing slightly at her candid admission. "You definitely made an impression," he remarked dryly, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer before he pushed off the doorframe and stepped further into the room.

Y/N rolled her eyes, turning to face him fully now, water bottle in hand. "Oh, please," she scoffed, a hint of amusement in her voice despite the throbbing in her head. "I'm sure you've seen worse."

Bucky chuckled softly, a genuine note of amusement in his voice. "Maybe," he conceded, his expression softening as he regarded her. "Just don't expect me to be carrying you around every time you take it too far with those cocktails."

She smirked wryly, raising the water bottle in a mock salute. "Well, thanks for being my knight in shining armour," she quipped, her tone teasing with a touch of her trademark sarcasm, yet Bucky sensed a hint of genuine appreciation in her words as well.

His smile widened fractionally, a rare warmth settling in his eyes as he regarded her. "Anytime," he replied with a hint of sincerity, surprising himself with the ease of the admission. "So, what's the last thing you remember exactly?" he inquired cautiously after a moment, taking a seat on a breakfast stool near the table, his unwavering gaze fixed on her.