Hello Sergeant (Bucky Barnes)

Come home

Bucky's POV

I'd mentally anticipated her retreat, so I wasn't prepared for her to press herself closer and wind her slim arms around my neck, my tenuous control wavering as her soft lips parted willingly when I swiped my tongue over them.

I wanted her. Badly. I just wasn't prepared for the effect she had on me; my mind was getting jumbled as feelings and memories fought for my attention so I forced myself to pull back from her, ending the kiss. I placed one finger under her chin so she'd look up at me.

"Sarah," I whispered, testing the name on my lips; it didn't feel right. "You shouldn't be here with me."

"Bucky-"

I cut her denial off. "It's not safe for you." No, that wasn't quite right; it would be safe enough here for her if I wasn't here. "I'm not safe for you."

She shook her head, bringing one hand up to slowly stroke my face. It felt so good; I couldn't remember the last time I'd been touched in a way that wasn't meant to inflict pain.

"I don't believe that," she scoffed, leaning towards me.

I held still despite my desire to kiss her again, afraid I'd lose control otherwise. "You should. I don't trust myself right now; I could hurt you."

"I have a hard time believing that you would intentionally hurt me, Bucky."

"Not intentionally," I growled, clenching my jaw at the thought of hurting her. "But I can be...made...to do things. Even if I don't want to."

She set one hand on my chest, her golden brown eyes searching mine. "Who would make you? And why?"

In answer, I took the glove off my left hand and showed it to her. "Hydra; they're the people who did this. They can make me comply - all they have to do is say the right words."

She cautiously slid her hand down my arm to touch the cool metal until she realized it was more than just a prosthetic hand and pushed my sleeve up, curious to see how far up it went. I don't know what reaction I'd expected, but curiosity wasn't it; this woman was nothing like any other I'd known.

"Can you feel me touching you?" she asked as she caressed the exposed metal of my hand, her eyes meeting mine. I nodded. "Can I see all of it?"

I huffed but allowed her to pull my shirt off. She then slid off my lap and tugged at me, wanting me to stand. I watched her expressions with newfound fascination, holding completely still as she lightly ran her fingers over the whole length of my arm, from wrist to shoulder.

I sucked in a quick breath as she traced the red star there before slowly trailing her fingers over the ridge of scar tissue where skin met metal. I closed my eyes, ashamed of the amount of scars I'd accumulated on my body and not wanting to see pity on her beautiful face.

Each brush of her fingertips made trying to ignore my body's response to her touch a challenge. I breathed shallowly and locked my muscles to keep from reaching for her as she continued her slow, thorough exploration of my body.

"Bucky, you can look at me," she said quietly, stroking the side of my face. I opened my eyes to see her looking at me sadly. "I'm sorry if I hurt you; I tried to be gentle."

I reached out and pulled her tight to my chest, resting my head on hers. I breathed in her light scent, not quite what I remembered but still intoxicating. "You didn't hurt me, Peggy. It's just...I never expected to see you again...to have you touch me like that again," I explained, my voice was rough with need. "I can't believe you're really here. I missed you so much, Peggy. So damn much."