His Soulmate | Bucky Barnes ✔

Chapter Twenty Three

"Let me go James."

"No."

I stifled a grin as his arms wrapped tighter around my waist. "I have work, you need to let me go."

"I feel like you're always at work."  His head was nuzzled into the crook of my shoulder, his lips leaving feathery kisses along the line of my neck.

"Blame that on Eve, she's still in Scotland." I tried to take a step forward but Bucky turned into a deadweight, and I couldn't wiggle more than half a metre away before he pulled me back.

"When's Eve back? And it's midday." He grumbled, his thumb tracing tiny patterns through my shirt.

"A few more weeks." I twisted in his grasp and cupped his cheeks, knowing what to say to convince him in letting me leave. "Come with me, it's only for a few hours."

He finally released his arms and let me press a kiss to his cheek. "Let's go then."

"Finally," I rolled my eyes and grabbed his hand, dragging us to the lift.

We walked slowly to the bar, the midmorning sunshine doing little to warm us up as we entered December. The air was beginning to feel frosty, and though it was a short walk I regretted not bringing a thicker coat. Bucky kept his hand in mine the entire way, and I couldn't help but notice his change in behaviour.

He'd always been close to me, holding my hand and hugging me at every available opportunity, but something was different. Over the past few weeks, particularly since the day me and Peter had to go over mums death in detail, the day after we'd slept in the same bed together for the first time, Bucky had grown more... touchy. We spent a lot of our time together, and as he was growing happier and more confident around the others at the tower, he was becoming more open in showing affection towards me.

I wasn't complaining. I loved the fact that he showered me in hugs and kisses, and took the time to make sure I was okay and in a good mood. And the days when I wasn't, I was glad that he was able to pick me up, or just hold me and let me be sad.

But I was curious in why he was changing. He hadn't hinted at any particular reason, but it was making me anxious, wanting to know why.

"Did I tell you you look beautiful today?" He squeezed my hand as we approached the door, and I rolled my eyes, letting him bend down and kiss my cheek.

"You tell me every day."

"Because it's true." His eyes sparkled as he grinned at me, pausing in the middle of the pavement to stop and look at me.

Someone nudged into my shoulder and I stumbled forward, breaking Bucky from whatever trance he'd slipped into. But he just smiled at me, grabbed my hand and walked me to the door of the bar, pushing it open for me to enter.

My boss waved at me as he entered his office, leaving me to man the bar alone. I wasn't worried, I liked doing the day shifts. It was normally really quiet, and the few customers we had were regulars, who's stories brightened my day.

For example, as I slid behind the bar, an elderly man jumped from his seat by the window and wobbled over to us. "Two whiskeys please dear." His friend was left by the window, but waved at me as he saw me.

The two men came in at least once a week, with one of their relatives dropping them off and picking them up. From their stories I gathered they fought in the war together, and moved closer to one another once their partners died. "I'm under strict instructions to give you two one drink only. And I can see your glasses of whiskey are half full."

I caught him giving Bucky a quick wink, "well it was worth a try, eh?"

I shook my head at him, but poured them a glass of lemonade each and walked him back to his table. "How is your son?"