Going outside to clear their heads sounds like a great idea and Bucky snags two more glasses of champagne before wrapping his arm around Natalie's waist to do just that. The city's beautiful tonight, as always, and he slips out of his jacket and drapes it over her shoulders.
"Gets cold up here on the upper levels," he points out. "The wind gets concentrated between the buildings and so it ends up being a lot gustier the higher you go. It's all science, you see. You can even design buildings around it, if you wanted to. I've done some designs that take it into account."
She burrowed thankfully into the soft warmth of James's suit jacket, covertly inhaling the scent of his cologne as she sipped her champagne. Natalia listened to the engineering lesson with a gentle smile, saying after he trailed off, "I know, I've watched you work on a few of them, remember?"
He had a sometimes-habit of calling her into his office to watch him sketch, as if he actually needed her input, considering his own genius when it came to any sort of design.
But she loved being up so high, able to see all the way to the Atlantic, despite the notable temperature difference from here to the ground. "It's beautiful out tonight," she mused, holding her empty glass in both hands and leaning lightly against the balustrade. "Such a lovely view."
"I always loved the city. Way over there is where we live," he says, pointing out toward Brooklyn. "Better view from here, probably, but you know I'm a hometown boy. Always will be." Bucky thickens up his accent a little and slings an arm around Natalie's waist.
"What's a good girl like you doin' with a bad boy like me, huh? Your Ma's gonna be mad when she catches us out here. Probably never let me see you again or anything. You wanna make it worth it, doll?"
It's something he'd have said in high school, maybe, or college, and he grins so, so bright.
Natalia stiffened only slightly when James slung an arm around her waist and involuntarily hauled her close, but she relaxed into his side and laughed at his cheesy Brooklyn drawl. "'Bad boy'?" she replied, a little sardonic. "You're not even close, Barnes." Really, he was such a good guy that he positively gleamed under the right light.
But she twirled lightly on her toes, spinning them both around to put herself right in front of him, both of her slender arms winding around his neck as they settled. She gave him a coy little smile, falling into his goofy teasing mode. "I think my ma'd be pretty mad if I let a catch like you get away."
"I think your Ma probably has good taste," Bucky agrees. She's so small in his arms and so much shorter than he is that he has to stoop down to kiss her but it's worth it. A crick in the neck is worth kissing a woman he's wanted for weeks and weeks and he makes the kiss brief before pulling away to look in her eyes.
"I...don't know if that was okay," Bucky says, frowning a little. "Was that okay? I hope it was okay."
There's lines getting blurred between Natalie and himself and he doesn't know which are good and which are bad.
She started to say something else pert, but before she could, James had lowered his head and just pecked her lips lightly, leaving her blinking up at him and more than a little surprised. Then she heard the worry in his voice and everything else just melted away.
"James," she said, rolling her eyes slightly, "it's fine. This is our date, remember?" Natalia threaded her hands through his shaggy hair, combing it back at his collar. "You're allowed to kiss your date, handsome." She quirked an eyebrow suggestively. "One might even say you're encouraged to, if you really want."
This was getting dangerous, but she couldn't help but be curious as to just how far they'd let things go.
"Gonna have to go to the chiropractor after kissing you, doll," Bucky murmurs, dipping his head to give her a proper kiss now. He's got permission, after all, so he parts his lips in an invitation for her to do the same and works a big hand through her curls.
"Always loved redheads," he murmurs, voice soft. "Always did it for me. Something about all that gorgeous red hair makes me want to do this all day." He thinks he could lay in bed and kiss Natalie Rushman until obscene hours of the night and, honestly, he can tonight if she's open to it. He has the bed to do it in.
This time, she rose up on her toes to meet him halfway, tilting her head and parting her mouth to kiss him properly, thrilled down to the core to finally have his taste on her tongue. But it ended far too soon, and James was then murmuring against her lips, soft, warm words that made her shiver, way down deep.
The hand in her hair was probably dislodging the pins holding her curls in place, but that didn't really matter, not just now. He could pull all of them out, if he really wanted. "...I don't have my usual heels on tonight," she whispered into his mouth. "Can't really dance in five-inch stilettos..."
The railing had a raised platform, so Natalia maneuvered them about so she could step up onto it, giving her a few more inches. The wind buffeted her curls around their faces, and she giggled softly, cupping Bucky's cheek in one small hand. "Better?"
The railing makes Bucky nervous and he wraps his arms around her tightly, making sure that there's no way Natalie can fall off. Maybe he's pressing her a little too tightly against him but he's not taking any chances - not with anyone, but especially not her.
She's at a good height to kiss though and he does that, thoroughly kissing her and tugging at her lower lip a little to be playful. God, it feels so good to even just hold her and it's been way too long since he's been with a woman. He especially wants to be with this woman.
She didn't mind being held so close; it gave her an even greater appreciation for the male aesthetic. That grey suit really did fit like a second skin, and she took enough license to verify that by letting her hands wander where they could reach as she exchanged soft, sweet kisses with the father of her one and only child.
But alas, they weren't the only two on this particular floor; there was still a very expensive party going on inside, and it wasn't too long before their little cocoon of intimacy was broken when one of the underexecs stuck his head out, cleared his throat a little nervously, and hazarded, "...Mister Barnes? Um, Mister Stark's looking for you. Something about those Japanese accounts? Those investors are here, and are wanting to talk to you...sir..."
Bucky sighs and puts his hands gently on Natalie's waist to help her down from the step on the railing. He doesn't want her to fall and she's wearing heels. He'd never forgive himself if something bad happened to her on his watch.
"I have to go talk to these investors," he murmurs. "But we have the room if you want to go back and order something to eat or drink. Or you can stay at the party, whatever you're most comfortable with. I'll come find you when I'm done, okay?"
Hopefully talking business won't take that long and he can get back to what he wants to be doing.
"I'll stay," she replied quietly as they headed back into the gala. "I don't mind waiting." Once inside, Natalia slipped out of James's jacket and handed it back, giving him a soft smile as she melted into the crowd, in search of her own alcoholic anesthetic. She needed it, after that little interlude on the veranda.
Pepper approached her a few minutes later, smiling benignly. "Glad to see you're having a good time, Natalie," she said, picking up her own glass of champagne. Natalia smiled back, grateful to have a chance to just talk to someone without having to navigate the conversation three sentences beforehand. "Likewise," she replied to the taller redhead, and the two women gently clinked their glasses together before taking soft sips.
"I'm glad you came with Bucky tonight," Pepper mused then, adding, "He's such a good man. And deserves a little happiness."
Natalia heard all of the sirens in her head begin to klaxon, but she forced her expression to remain pleasantly neutral and keep the panic off of her face. "He is," she agreed. "And he does." She spied their subject across the ballroom, standing with Tony Stark and a gaggle of smaller Asian men, gesturing animatedly as he spoke. And felt her heart give a silly little flipflop when she saw him glance up, catch her eye, and grin before going back to their conversation.
It takes him longer than he wants (and a few more glasses of champagne) to finish up with the Japanese investors but once he has, Bucky winds his way back through the crowd and finds Natalie again. He wraps his arm around her waist in a familiar way, as if this is how they always touch, and presses his lips against her ear.
"Are you ready to leave, Natalie? Or did you want to stay a little longer?" The party is still in full swing and Tony shows no signs of stopping but Bucky isn't nearly the partier that his boss is. This is something he only wants occasionally.
She'd been in the middle of a casual conversation with a few of the other ladies on the executive floors; legal assistants and paralegals all assigned to Finance and Accounting. And yet Natalia could pinpoint the exact moment that her boss appeared behind her; all three of the other women's eyes widened and she swore two of them fluttered their eyelashes in synchrony. Then a strong male arm appeared around her waist, and then it was her turn to hide her swift intake of breath as she felt exhaled warmth against her ear.
She gave the others a smile, and a polite "Excuse me, ladies," and let James bear her out of the crowd again, saying as they meandered to a somewhat empty corner, "I'm fine, James. We can go whenever you're ready." Her empty champagne glass she set on a nearby table, and smiled up at her boss. "Did you get everything squared away with our Hong Kong investors, then?"
"I did," Bucky says, unable to keep from smiling when she's looking at him like that. Even though he tries to tell himself deep down that he cannot get attached like this to someone who works for him, he cannot help himself. He can't help it. Natalie is everything he's ever wanted in a woman and he's let himself get too attached.
"I was ready to go - at least to go change, anyway." His head is clouded with champagne and the feel of her skin beneath his fingers sends shivers down his spine.
She'd known that he would; even at a party like this one James Barnes would always put business first. No doubt Stark could handle the rest. Because the Development Department definitely deserved the rest of the weekend off. Especially after the successes of the last week.
"Of course." She put her hand on his arm and tucked her clutch under her other arm. "I'll let Pepper know we're leaving as we're walking out." And she did just that; waving at the elegant redhead across the room as James led her towards the nearest exit.
In the elevator heading down to the floor, however, Natalia couldn't help but adjust the lapels of Bucky's suit jacket. "At least you didn't lose a button or pop a seam," she lightly teased, giving the satin a gentle tug. "That's something, anyway."
"Barely. Gotta stop growing," Bucky teases. He's always been one of the taller boys and it hadn't stopped through high school. Steve hit his growth spurt late and hadn't filled out to the man he is now until his twenties; they'd had very different experiences in their younger lives and he suspects that's why Steve is so...Steve.
He leads them back to the suite and once he lets them in, he slips an arm around her waist. "I didn't know if you wanted to stay or not. It's up to you but I would really like it if you did."
Bucky doesn't know if it's the best proposition but it's the best he has right now.
The first thing she did once back in their suite was to slip out of her shoes with a sigh of relief. Standing up on her toes all day was nothing new, but she'd rather not have to do it if she didn't have to. Granted, she lost another inch of height when standing next to her boss, his arm covertly sliding around her waist, but Natalia didn't mind. She rested her own arm over his and tipped her head aside, smiling softly at his warmth behind her.
"Need me to help you with your hangover?" she teased lightly, giving his arm a gentle pat. "You don't I don't mind, James. I'll do whatever you need me to do, of course." He'd had a lot of champagne tonight, and his head was probably feeling fuzzy. No doubt he just wanted to sleep it off, and she didn't mind staying until he woke up, to help him get sorted out and put back together again.
"You're not here to work," Bucky says lowly, looking at her with eyes that are probably too soft and too revealing for looking at his secretary. He tips her chin up with his fingers and leans down to kiss her, not minding the height difference for right now.
Right now, Natalie is someone he's looking at romantically, not in business, and letting these feelings out is so much easier in the haze of champagne. He's harbored them for a while now and being able to express them is more than he could have ever dreamed of having.
When he kissed her this time, it was entirely different then the light caresses they'd shared before on the balcony. There was a weight behind it, a seriousness that belied their former teasing, their easy camaraderie with each other. Natalia unconsciously tilted her head and parted her lips, moaning when Bucky's tongue slid into her mouth, eager and hungry.
Dimly she realized that this had nothing to do with business, and her arms slid around his neck, the better to press her entire body against the hard length of his, the rustle of fabric when it met her ears a whispered irritation. But he was everything advertised; thick, solid, and perfect, hard planes against her softer curves.
Clutching at him, she had to come up for a quick breath, panting softly against his mouth. "...James..." It was a low, husky plea, and she stroked his cheek gently. "...are you sure?"
"I'm sure," he promises. The champagne has made everything soft and hazy and his inhibitions are lowered. He reaches behind her and tugs at the zipper of her gown, lowering it while he kisses her even deeper than before. Is it reckless? Yes. But he's following his feelings for once and not his logic.
"I want you." The words are harsh in the soft space between their kisses and he drops his mouth from hers to her neck, kissing along the sweep of a bare shoulder. "And I want out of these clothes, Natalie. Please? Please?"
It's a terrible idea but right now it feels like a perfect one.
Well, if he was sure... Then who was she to argue? Although Natalia did have to admit to a silent little thrill when she heard that I want you rumbled against her lips before James fastened his mouth to her throat, placing a line of burning kisses down to the slope of her shoulder. She tipped back her head, the better to enjoy the rough scrape of his jaw on her tender skin, but the heated plea overrode all of her usual inhibitions.
Rather than answer with words, Natalia simply shoved the suit jacket over James's big shoulders, uncaring of the fine fabric as it slithered to the carpeted floor. Even with his kisses burning her skin, she amazingly managed to get his cufflinks unfastened so she could work on his shirt next, dragging her fingernails over the skin revealed in parting that crisp material.
The more clothing removed between them, the more frantic she became, until Natalia was all but tugging at him, pulling him along with her towards the bedroom and leaving a trail of clothing behind.
It’s a clear signal, the way she’s pulling at his clothes, and he follows her lead to the bedroom before getting his hands on the zipper of her dress. He turns her around and eases it down, pushing at the fabric a little more carefully than she’d gone at his clothes. Women’s dresses cost way more. Besides...he’s still a romantic.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he says, cupping her face in his hands. They’re close to the bed now and there’s only a little left to deal with. He guides her hands down to his waistband to encourage her to deal with the last of his clothes.
“Please? I’ve wanted you so much. You have no idea how much. I want you every day I see you and every day I don’t.”
The bra had been included in the dress itself, so Natalia was left only in a pair of barely-there panties once the silky fabric slithered down her body, and by now all of the pins were gone from her curls; they cascaded down her bare back in artful disarray. She shivered when he bared her to his gaze, but her own eyes were no less hungry, no less eager.
Natalia let him pull her hands down to his trousers, and her nimble fingers made quick work of his belt and buttons, but the zipper she lowered exquisitely slowly, rising up on her toes to kiss him just as she slipped one small hand beneath it to cup him, boldly.
"--I know," she breathed against his wet mouth. A few deft movements, and the dark grey slacks crumpled to the floor at his feet, shortly followed by his boxer-briefs. Then her hands closed over their prize, and she moaned against his lips to feel him already hard, wanton. "...James..."
It’s been too long since a woman has touched him and when he feels Natalie’s hand cup him, he cries out in both longing and shock. It’s one of the most vivid dreams he’s ever had, being here like this, and he works a hand into her hair before tipping her chin up so he can kiss her.
“Don’t stop touching me,” he murmurs, hand dropping down to stroke along her shoulder and then cup her breast. She’s as soft as he’s imagined and he sighs a little against her mouth. “Don’t leave me, Natalie. Don’t leave me.”
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"Gets cold up here on the upper levels," he points out. "The wind gets concentrated between the buildings and so it ends up being a lot gustier the higher you go. It's all science, you see. You can even design buildings around it, if you wanted to. I've done some designs that take it into account."
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He had a sometimes-habit of calling her into his office to watch him sketch, as if he actually needed her input, considering his own genius when it came to any sort of design.
But she loved being up so high, able to see all the way to the Atlantic, despite the notable temperature difference from here to the ground. "It's beautiful out tonight," she mused, holding her empty glass in both hands and leaning lightly against the balustrade. "Such a lovely view."
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"What's a good girl like you doin' with a bad boy like me, huh? Your Ma's gonna be mad when she catches us out here. Probably never let me see you again or anything. You wanna make it worth it, doll?"
It's something he'd have said in high school, maybe, or college, and he grins so, so bright.
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But she twirled lightly on her toes, spinning them both around to put herself right in front of him, both of her slender arms winding around his neck as they settled. She gave him a coy little smile, falling into his goofy teasing mode. "I think my ma'd be pretty mad if I let a catch like you get away."
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"I...don't know if that was okay," Bucky says, frowning a little. "Was that okay? I hope it was okay."
There's lines getting blurred between Natalie and himself and he doesn't know which are good and which are bad.
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"James," she said, rolling her eyes slightly, "it's fine. This is our date, remember?" Natalia threaded her hands through his shaggy hair, combing it back at his collar. "You're allowed to kiss your date, handsome." She quirked an eyebrow suggestively. "One might even say you're encouraged to, if you really want."
This was getting dangerous, but she couldn't help but be curious as to just how far they'd let things go.
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"Always loved redheads," he murmurs, voice soft. "Always did it for me. Something about all that gorgeous red hair makes me want to do this all day." He thinks he could lay in bed and kiss Natalie Rushman until obscene hours of the night and, honestly, he can tonight if she's open to it. He has the bed to do it in.
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The hand in her hair was probably dislodging the pins holding her curls in place, but that didn't really matter, not just now. He could pull all of them out, if he really wanted. "...I don't have my usual heels on tonight," she whispered into his mouth. "Can't really dance in five-inch stilettos..."
The railing had a raised platform, so Natalia maneuvered them about so she could step up onto it, giving her a few more inches. The wind buffeted her curls around their faces, and she giggled softly, cupping Bucky's cheek in one small hand. "Better?"
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She's at a good height to kiss though and he does that, thoroughly kissing her and tugging at her lower lip a little to be playful. God, it feels so good to even just hold her and it's been way too long since he's been with a woman. He especially wants to be with this woman.
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But alas, they weren't the only two on this particular floor; there was still a very expensive party going on inside, and it wasn't too long before their little cocoon of intimacy was broken when one of the underexecs stuck his head out, cleared his throat a little nervously, and hazarded, "...Mister Barnes? Um, Mister Stark's looking for you. Something about those Japanese accounts? Those investors are here, and are wanting to talk to you...sir..."
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"I have to go talk to these investors," he murmurs. "But we have the room if you want to go back and order something to eat or drink. Or you can stay at the party, whatever you're most comfortable with. I'll come find you when I'm done, okay?"
Hopefully talking business won't take that long and he can get back to what he wants to be doing.
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Pepper approached her a few minutes later, smiling benignly. "Glad to see you're having a good time, Natalie," she said, picking up her own glass of champagne. Natalia smiled back, grateful to have a chance to just talk to someone without having to navigate the conversation three sentences beforehand. "Likewise," she replied to the taller redhead, and the two women gently clinked their glasses together before taking soft sips.
"I'm glad you came with Bucky tonight," Pepper mused then, adding, "He's such a good man. And deserves a little happiness."
Natalia heard all of the sirens in her head begin to klaxon, but she forced her expression to remain pleasantly neutral and keep the panic off of her face. "He is," she agreed. "And he does." She spied their subject across the ballroom, standing with Tony Stark and a gaggle of smaller Asian men, gesturing animatedly as he spoke. And felt her heart give a silly little flipflop when she saw him glance up, catch her eye, and grin before going back to their conversation.
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"Are you ready to leave, Natalie? Or did you want to stay a little longer?" The party is still in full swing and Tony shows no signs of stopping but Bucky isn't nearly the partier that his boss is. This is something he only wants occasionally.
"It's up to you."
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She gave the others a smile, and a polite "Excuse me, ladies," and let James bear her out of the crowd again, saying as they meandered to a somewhat empty corner, "I'm fine, James. We can go whenever you're ready." Her empty champagne glass she set on a nearby table, and smiled up at her boss. "Did you get everything squared away with our Hong Kong investors, then?"
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"I was ready to go - at least to go change, anyway." His head is clouded with champagne and the feel of her skin beneath his fingers sends shivers down his spine.
"Come with me?"
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"Of course." She put her hand on his arm and tucked her clutch under her other arm. "I'll let Pepper know we're leaving as we're walking out." And she did just that; waving at the elegant redhead across the room as James led her towards the nearest exit.
In the elevator heading down to the floor, however, Natalia couldn't help but adjust the lapels of Bucky's suit jacket. "At least you didn't lose a button or pop a seam," she lightly teased, giving the satin a gentle tug. "That's something, anyway."
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He leads them back to the suite and once he lets them in, he slips an arm around her waist. "I didn't know if you wanted to stay or not. It's up to you but I would really like it if you did."
Bucky doesn't know if it's the best proposition but it's the best he has right now.
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"Need me to help you with your hangover?" she teased lightly, giving his arm a gentle pat. "You don't I don't mind, James. I'll do whatever you need me to do, of course." He'd had a lot of champagne tonight, and his head was probably feeling fuzzy. No doubt he just wanted to sleep it off, and she didn't mind staying until he woke up, to help him get sorted out and put back together again.
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Right now, Natalie is someone he's looking at romantically, not in business, and letting these feelings out is so much easier in the haze of champagne. He's harbored them for a while now and being able to express them is more than he could have ever dreamed of having.
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Dimly she realized that this had nothing to do with business, and her arms slid around his neck, the better to press her entire body against the hard length of his, the rustle of fabric when it met her ears a whispered irritation. But he was everything advertised; thick, solid, and perfect, hard planes against her softer curves.
Clutching at him, she had to come up for a quick breath, panting softly against his mouth. "...James..." It was a low, husky plea, and she stroked his cheek gently. "...are you sure?"
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"I want you." The words are harsh in the soft space between their kisses and he drops his mouth from hers to her neck, kissing along the sweep of a bare shoulder. "And I want out of these clothes, Natalie. Please? Please?"
It's a terrible idea but right now it feels like a perfect one.
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Rather than answer with words, Natalia simply shoved the suit jacket over James's big shoulders, uncaring of the fine fabric as it slithered to the carpeted floor. Even with his kisses burning her skin, she amazingly managed to get his cufflinks unfastened so she could work on his shirt next, dragging her fingernails over the skin revealed in parting that crisp material.
The more clothing removed between them, the more frantic she became, until Natalia was all but tugging at him, pulling him along with her towards the bedroom and leaving a trail of clothing behind.
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“God, you’re beautiful,” he says, cupping her face in his hands. They’re close to the bed now and there’s only a little left to deal with. He guides her hands down to his waistband to encourage her to deal with the last of his clothes.
“Please? I’ve wanted you so much. You have no idea how much. I want you every day I see you and every day I don’t.”
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Natalia let him pull her hands down to his trousers, and her nimble fingers made quick work of his belt and buttons, but the zipper she lowered exquisitely slowly, rising up on her toes to kiss him just as she slipped one small hand beneath it to cup him, boldly.
"--I know," she breathed against his wet mouth. A few deft movements, and the dark grey slacks crumpled to the floor at his feet, shortly followed by his boxer-briefs. Then her hands closed over their prize, and she moaned against his lips to feel him already hard, wanton. "...James..."
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It’s been too long since a woman has touched him and when he feels Natalie’s hand cup him, he cries out in both longing and shock. It’s one of the most vivid dreams he’s ever had, being here like this, and he works a hand into her hair before tipping her chin up so he can kiss her.
“Don’t stop touching me,” he murmurs, hand dropping down to stroke along her shoulder and then cup her breast. She’s as soft as he’s imagined and he sighs a little against her mouth. “Don’t leave me, Natalie. Don’t leave me.”
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