Broken

Broken: Chapter 10

"So," Shuri began as she lounged on the settee of the guestroom we'd been given. "Did you and the super-soldier give in to your unbridled passions after we spoke?"

I rolled my eyes but laughed anyway. "You've been reading cheap sleazy romance novels again, haven't you?"

"I take that as a yes." She sat up attentively. "And did you enjoy waking up next to him?"

"No." I paused for dramatic effect. "He was up before I was. Even made us breakfast."

She smiled. "T'Challa owes me a trip to Disneyland."

"You bet in my love life?" I stepped into the black thigh-high cocktail dress, another gift from the royal family. "Geez. Thanks for the vote of confidence."

She shrugged. "Mother was the one who mentioned it when you arrived."

"You corrupted your sainted mother too?" I shook my head. "Shame on you."

"Stop changing the subject. What happened?"

I smiled. "I wish you'd warned me when your brother invited us to dinner it was actually a state function. I hate wearing heels."

She groaned and flopped across the settee like a child. "You're not going to tell me what happened?"

I turned to her and winked. "No, but I will tell you the earth moved last night."

She laughed as she ran to hug me. "I'm so happy for you."

I continued to smile when she released me until I turned looked at myself in the mirror. "Shuri, do you think I'm good enough? To be with him, I mean. Am I really his type?"

"You Americans confuse me. All the bravado and swagger yet you constantly question your own worth." She turned to leave, adding, "Your value is more than your waist and cup sizes, my friend, and he sees that. That makes you his type."

"You're the best, Shuri," I called after her as she left.

She huffed. "Tell me something I don't know."

After she was gone, I put the finishing touches on my look: a light coat of makeup, a deep red lipstick that made my lips look fuller, and a pair of old fashion pantyhose to give my fair legs some color and smooth out my lumps. When I put on the red pair of peep-toe heels to complete my outfit, I heard a wolf whistle from the doorway and looked up.

Bucky was dressed in a jet-black suit and matching tie over a blue shirt that perfectly complimented his eyes. His face, which I'd been accustom to carrying a light beard, was neatly trimmed into a goatee. Finishing off his look, his hair was pulled back from his face in a half ponytail that left the length touching his collar.

"Baby, you're a knockout." He said as he came toward me.

I twirled around. "What? This old thing?"

"I better keep a close eye on you tonight. Every man's gonna be trying to steal you away." He grinned as he hauled me into his embrace. "Just missing one thing."

I gasped as he placed a single red rose bud behind my ear. The black and chrome prosthetic arm caught the light as he adjusted the flower then stepped back to admire his handiwork.

I fought to keep the tears out of my eyes as I stared at the arm. "Oh, honey. Your arm."

"Shuri thought it'd be a good idea to test it out and make sure there are no issues," he explained as he used it to stroke my cheek. "What do you think?"

I smiled and pressed my face into the palm. "It's perfect. Just like you."

"No, doll. You're perfect." He offered me his arm. "Shall we?"