The Fall - Book 2

200. Will you do something for me?

MARCH 9, 2020 — AVENGERS COMPOUND — BUCKY

I wake up at six, surprised I was able to sleep at all.

I watch Réa sleep, replaying some of the events of the past four weeks...specifically, Valentine's Day.

We sleep in, then Réa fixes breakfast: heart-shaped chocolate chip pancakes topped with whipped cream and strawberry fans, which I think is adorable. Of course, I think a lot of the things she does are adorable, so that's not really surprising.

After breakfast, we exchange gifts. Réa gives me a digital photo frame, loaded with photos of us with the team, digital copies of the ones in my 'BARNES' frame she made, and of the two of us...including more that Peter took during that first game night in the tower. I give her a letter I wrote: seven pages, which she promptly reads.

"Bucky," she looks up at me, her eyes shining with tears. "Thank you. This is...this is wonderful. Thank you so much." She pauses. "I'll treasure this forever."

"You're welcome, Réa."

"I love you," she says, then pulls me into a kiss.

"I love you, too," I lean my forehead against hers.

I pull her into my lap and we watch the slideshow in my frame, reminiscing about the moments. I tell her about how, for some of the Barnes family photos, I had to bribe Rebecca with the promise of reading her a book or letting her hang out with me and Steve to get her to cooperate; Réa laughs, saying she can picture that, and gives me a hug.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Réa asks if I'd like to go swimming.

"I bumped up the temperature in the pond a few degrees, just in case. And I mean actual swimming, not skinny-dipping." She grins playfully. "I bet I could totally kick your butt in laps."

"Oh, you think so?" I grin back at her. "Bring it on, sugar."

We head to the pond, and Réa does, in fact, kick my butt in laps. I hold my own with her in freestyle and butterfly, but she smokes me in breaststroke.

"I thought you'd be the best at that one," she winks and smirks saucily.

"Some of us have to actually come up for air, you little goober," I pull her to me, tickling her sides. "We can't all have, as you call them, 'Percy Jackson moments'." I stop tickling her and pause. "And I think you know I'm excellent at that...I'd be happy to demonstrate." I start to slide my hands up her sides, pleased when her pulse spikes.

"Later," she replies, her voice breathy.

I nod. "Later," I agree.

Eventually, we return to her suite and shower together, then have a light, late lunch and watch movies until it's time to fix dinner.

"Thank you for a wonderful day, Bucky," she says.

We've cleaned the kitchen and are cuddled on the couch in our usual position—her between my legs, leaning against my chest—watching Groundhog Day.

"Thank you for a wonderful day, Réa," I reply.

Halfway through the movie, Réa climbs off the couch.

"Do you want me to pause it?" I ask.

"No; I've seen it before, so I won't miss anything. And I'll be right back."

She disappears into her room, and I return my attention to the TV. Several minutes later, I hear her footsteps, and see movement in my peripheral vision. I turn my head, and a bolt of lust slams into me.