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He calls me the devil, I make him wanna sin

Summary:

“Come here,” Steve grunts.

Bucky gets up off the bed, but he’s only taken one step when Steve clicks his tongue. When he looks at him, confused, Steve’s lips curl up into a smirk.

“On your knees, sweetheart,” he rumbles.

Steve’s voice, low and rough, gets to him, and Bucky feels like his strings have been cut as he immediately falls down to his knees, hitting the mercifully soft carpet.

“Good boy,” Steve murmurs, “god, you’re gonna be a treat, huh?”
---

Steve thinks Bucky is a sex worker. He sees no reason to correct Steve if it means he gets ruined by someone who looks and acts like Bucky's filthiest dreams.

Notes:

See end notes for (spoilery) warning about undernegotiated kink.

For Tej, who practically begged me for this 😂. Thank you for giving me such an inspiring idea 💗

With thanks to Cath for being a wonderful beta 💗

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Bucky isn’t sure whether to be offended or not, as he counts the bills Steve - if that’s even his real name - doled out, asking in a rough voice if that’s enough. Bucky hasn’t responded yet, biding his time until he can figure out a way to reply. 

It’s a pretty serious stack of money. It’s not like Bucky is hurting for cash, but why in the world would he say no? 

He did meet Steve in a pretty seedy bar, in a pretty seedy neighborhood, pretty late at night. That probably all played a role in the misunderstanding, although Bucky doesn’t think he looks like a sex worker. Not that he thinks sex workers would look a certain way, but come on. He’s wearing sweatpants and a shirt that doesn’t match at all. There’s nothing about him that says he’s a working boy. 

But since Steve thinks that he is, why not go along with it? Steve is hot , that’s for sure. Bucky is kinda eager to know what that beard would feel like rubbing against his sensitive skin, feel those huge hands all over him, inside of him…

Maybe Bucky is easy - he is - since he’d definitely fuck him for free, but if Steve insists…Bucky would be an idiot to turn down the money, and at least he’ll have a funny story to tell his friends. He can already hear Sam’s groan, followed by an amused “ god Bucky, you’re such a hot mess. ”  

“Okay,” he says, done counting the money and looking up at Steve again. Steve doesn’t say anything, but his tongue darts out to lick his lips.

He’s slouched in a chair across from the motel room bed, his - frankly ridiculous - snakeskin leather jacket unbuttoned, his green shirt below it scrunched up a little. It’s a crappy motel room, but even the bad lighting and discolored walls don’t take away from the enticing picture Steve makes. The way he just sits there, long legs spread and stretching the fabric of his black slacks, looking Bucky up and down with a visible hunger, makes Bucky shiver.  

Nothing happens. Steve just sits there, his gaze piercing as he takes his time studying Bucky in silence. It makes him squirm a little, even if he tries to sit still, at least pretend like he’s done this before, but probably tragically failing. Should he just get naked? Is that what Steve is waiting for? Should he ask? 

He decides to ask.

“What-” he starts, but Steve shushes him. 

“Come here,” Steve grunts. 

Bucky gets up off the bed, but he’s only taken one step when Steve clicks his tongue. When he looks at him, confused, Steve’s lips curl up into a smirk. 

“On your knees, sweetheart,” he rumbles.

Steve’s voice, low and rough, gets to him, and Bucky feels like his strings have been cut as he immediately falls down to his knees, hitting the mercifully soft carpet. 

“Good boy,” Steve murmurs, “god, you’re gonna be a treat, huh?” 

Bucky shivers again, chancing a look up at Steve and seeing his darkened eyes. 

As he crawls the rest of the way, he feels much more like prey, willingly crawling into the claws of a predator.  He comes to a stop right between Steve’s thick, spread legs, sitting up on his knees almost like an offering. 

Steve reaches out for him, one of his hands coming down to brush its fingers through Bucky’s short hair, before trailing them down his temple, until they rest below his chin, tilting his face up towards Steve. 

“Look at you,” he drawls, smirking. “Such a pretty slut.” His thumb brushes upwards, towards his mouth, before pushing down on Bucky’s lower lip. He lets his jaw go slack, automatically opening his mouth for Steve, who takes advantage of it by pushing his thumb inside, pressing down on his tongue. Bucky just lets him, moaning around the thick digit in his mouth. 

“And fuck, you’re so eager for it, huh?” Steve groans, “probably don’t even need to pay you for it. Just be a little sweet on you, and you’d let anyone use that dirty little mouth, wouldn’t you?”

Humiliation washes over Bucky. He’s right, he’s right . Steve can probably read his mind, because wasn’t he thinking that earlier? That he’d fuck him for free? Bucky is so fucking turned on right now, he forgets for a moment that he isn’t actually a sex worker. His mind is swimming , Steve is completely turning him inside out with a couple of words, and he’s so eager for it. Desperate. 

He startles when Steve’s fingers lightly tap his cheek. “Asked you a question, slut . Or are you already so out of it you can’t speak?”  

Bucky whines, feeling his cheeks heat up. “Mno,” he eventually mumbles around Steve’s finger, drool dripping down his chin. “Jus- jus you.” 

Steve chuckles meanly, pulling his thumb back and wiping the drool off on Bucky’s cheek. It’s filthy, barely a balm on his hot skin. “”S that right?” Steve murmurs, sounding so condescending, and Bucky is weak for it. “Am I special , sweetheart?”

He’s not sure he can get any words out, his tongue too heavy for his mouth, so Bucky just nods.

“But I paid you already. So I guess you’re gonna have to be a good little whore for me huh? Pay me back what you owe?”

How the fuck Steve turned this around on him, he doesn’t know. “Y-yes,” he stammers, “I-I’ll be good, I’ll p-pay you b-back.”

“You’ll be…” Steve repeats, eyebrow raised expectantly.

“I-I’ll be a good little whore,” he whines, closing his eyes as his cheeks burn.  

“Good, that’s good baby,” Steve coos, fingers in Bucky’s hair again. He instinctively leans into the touch, eyes still closed. “What else?” he asks.

Bucky’s brain stutters. What else ? He’s not sure what Steve is asking him, so he opens his eyes, staring up at the man with what’s probably a dumb look in his eyes, given the way Steve laughs at him. He feels dumb.

“God, you’re so out of it. You said you were gonna pay me back, so I’m asking you what you’ll do for me, to settle that debt,” he sighs, like he’s annoyed at having to explain.

This man is gonna be the death of him. “I-I, an-anything, I’ll do anything,” he promises desperately, trying to show his eagerness by feverishly rubbing his hands up Steve’s thighs, making their way up to his zipper. 

Steve chuckles, slapping his hands away, and it’s a rough sound. “Oh, oh sweetheart,” he rumbles, “that’s a dangerous thing to promise, you know that don’t you?” He shakes his head. “Maybe you don’t, though. I’m pretty sure there’s not a single thought in that dumb little head right now.”

“P-please,” Bucky begs, “please, lemme, please.” His eyes are starting to burn with unshed tears. He so badly wants to get his mouth on Steve, wants to show him how good he’ll be, make up for everything like he promised. 

“Patience, baby, patience,” Steve murmurs, leaning back in his chair again, hands leaving Bucky completely. Bucky only just holds back a sob at the loss. 

“Why don’t you take off that shirt for me, let me see you.” 

Bucky scrambles to follow his order, shrugging off his already unbuttoned short-sleeved shirt, then lifts his undershirt over his head. Bucky almost gets up off the carpet to take off his sweats, but then he remembers Steve’s instructions, and he didn’t say to take those off, so he doesn’t. Instead, he leans back down, looking up at Steve in anticipation.  He looks imposing, in control, but like he’s a hair's breadth away from snapping and devouring Bucky whole.  

The look in Steve’s eyes is even hungrier now, his eyes flitting over Bucky’s skin leaving a hot trail in their wake. He hums appreciatively, and it lights something up inside of Bucky, like he’s finally done something good.  Steve leans in again, his hands coming up to Bucky’s chest and cupping his pecs. 

“Such a pretty slut,” Steve repeats, the words leaving him in a sigh, his thumbs rubbing over Bucky’s sensitive nipples. He squirms a little, even if he’s trying his best to sit still and let Steve get his fill. 

He does, squeezing the flesh harshly, then pushing his pecs together. “With such pretty tits, too,” he says, “Could easily just slide my cock between those, fuck your tits like that, and you’d make it good for me, huh? Squeeze them together so I have something tight to fuck?” 

Bucky doesn’t want that. Okay, that’s a lie, the idea of it makes him chub up more in his sweats, but right now, he wants something else much, much more. But he wants to be good, so he nods again. He’d make it so good for Steve, if that’s what he wants. 

Steve must really be able to read his mind, because he shakes his head a second later. “Hmmm, no, maybe next time. You know what I really want?” He pinches a nipple between two fingers, twisting it meanly, making Bucky mewl. 

He doesn’t wait for an answer, which is a good thing, because Bucky doesn’t think he’s capable of it. Steve leans in further, his breath hot on Bucky’s skin. “I really, really want to use that mouth of yours,” he murmurs, like he’s telling him a secret. “You want that, baby? You gonna let me fuck that pretty pink mouth?”

“Y-yes, yessss, wan’ it, please ,” he begs, the words leaving his mouth instantly, “please, please use my mouth, wanna-wanna, taste you, wan’ your cock.”

Steve grins at him. “I can see that,” he teases, “you’re drooling for it baby, gagging for it huh?”

Bucky nods as quickly as he can, staring up at Steve with big, pleading eyes. He wants it so badly. He’s not even ashamed of it - any embarrassment he felt earlier about his eagerness has made way for pure, desperate impatience to get his mouth on Steve’s dick. 

“Alright,” Steve says, “you can have it,” like he’s doing Bucky a favor. “Go on, take it out, sweetheart.” 

“T-thank you,” he replies, getting a loud laugh in return. 

“Oh god, you can’t be real,” Steve says, amusement lacing his voice, “You’re welcome baby.”

With heated cheeks, Bucky gets to work as instructed, zipping open Steve’s slacks and when Steve lifts his hips up a little, pushes the slacks and his underwear down his thighs. Steve’s dick is already hard, slapping up against his stomach as it slips its confines. It’s hard, red, thick. Bucky’s mouth waters, and he doesn’t wait a second before taking the tip into his mouth. 

Bucky moans as drops of precome leak into his mouth, using his tongue to push at the slit for more, he’s so hungry for it. He takes a little more into his mouth, sucking softly and running his tongue down the vein at the bottom, while his hand works the base of Steve’s cock. Bucky had wanted to take it slow, make it as good for Steve as he could, but his brain is currently a little off-line, and it quickly turns a little sloppy. He desperately hopes his eagerness makes up for his lack of technique. 

Steve doesn’t seem bothered by it, at least, his hand gripping more tightly at Bucky’s short hair and letting out low groaning sounds. “ Fuck ,” he groans, “you were starving for it.” He says as he cups the back of Bucky’s skull and pushes in further, the head of his cock brushing the back of Bucky’s mouth. “Come on, come on pretty slut, let me in, let me fuck your throat,” he groans, as he pushes in further, making Bucky gag.  Steve doesn’t pay it any mind, just sets a rhythm as he fucks Bucky’s mouth up and down his dick, until his nose is brushing Steve’s stomach. “You can take it, fuck, take it,” he growls as he speeds up, ignoring Bucky’s choking noises.

Spit drips down his chin, and his jaw aches trying to accommodate the size of Steve, but he lets him. He relaxes his jaw as much as he can, closes his eyes, lets Steve move his head up and down his cock, lets him do whatever he wants. When Bucky swallows, Steve groans louder, so he does it again, happy to just be a hole to fuck, make it as tight and as wet for Steve as he can. 

Steve lets out a stream of filth, telling him how good his mouth feels, what a good fucking little whore he is for him, only letting him come up for air a couple of times, and Bucky feels like he’s on cloud nine, his own leaking dick an afterthought. When Steve comes, his cock lodged deep down Bucky’s throat, the only thought he has is that he’s sad that he didn’t get to taste it. 

Bucky is floating, barely aware of his surroundings, when Steve pulls out his softening dick. Still, he whines when the weight leaves his tongue, automatically chasing it with his mouth to get it back. Steve chuckles, but doesn’t let him have it, holds him back with the grip he still has on Bucky’s head. “ Fuck ,” he curses, “you wanted it bad .”

It’s not phrased as a question. It doesn’t need to be. They both know.

He’s slightly surprised when Steve gets up from his chair, and almost falls back because he doesn’t move in time, but Steve’s got him. He holds Bucky up with hands wrapped around Bucky’s biceps, lifts him up back onto his feet. Bucky’s glad he doesn’t let go, keeps his hands there, because he’s not sure he’d stay upright without the support.

“Come on baby,” Steve murmurs, “Lemme get you on the bed. If you’re good for me, maybe you get to come.”

Bucky blinks, then looks down at his own erection that’s left a wet spot in his grey sweats, looking almost surprised at the sight of it. Steve laughs again. “Yeah, you’re all wet baby, should get those pants off, huh?” 

He nods dumbly. It only makes sense. Bucky is grateful when Steve sits him down on the mattress and helps him out of his pants. He’d probably have stumbled if they’d done that standing up, and he’s so out of it, he’s not sure he’d have managed by himself. 

“God, you’re so sweet for me, so easy for it. I was right, huh?  Just need someone to fuck that mouth good , and you’re up for anything, let them take you anyway they wanted.” 

The words wash over Bucky, the sting of humiliation a little less now. He can’t find a way to disagree with Steve. “A-anything,” he mumbles, nodding. 

“I know, pretty little slut,” Steve coos. “My sweet , pretty little slut.” He guides Bucky further up the bed, putting him on his stomach, then gets a pillow from somewhere and props up Bucky’s hips.  

Bucky can feel the heat of his hands on him, running down his back, squeezing his ass, spreading his legs. He lets Steve move him around how he wants, just patiently awaiting whatever’s next. 

Steve settles between his legs, his hands running up and down the back of his thighs. “God, look at that hole, it’s tiny baby.” His dry fingers brush over Bucky’s rim, and he squirms. “I figured, whore like you, must be gaping open, with the amount of men you let fuck you.” 

Bucky shakes his head. “N-no, jus-jus you,” he whines, “jus you.”

The laugh Steve lets out is mean . “ Just me? Don’t lie to me baby,” he barks, slapping his cheek. “Next you’re gonna tell me you’re not a whore. Why would I believe you? Have you looked at yourself?”

Bucky whines, but doesn’t correct him. Steve has a point - who would believe him? He doesn’t even believe himself

A moment later he hears a sound, and when Steve’s fingers return to his hole, they’re wet - just not with lube. The realization dawns that Steve just spit on his hole, and he squirms on the mattress at the idea of just being fucked with spit. He’s had Steve’s cock in his mouth, and there’s no way he’d fit without lube.

“Pl-please,” he begs, “S-s too big, I-I can’t…” he sobs.

Steve tuts, one spit-slicked finger rubbing over his hole. “Come on baby, you gotta be good a little longer for me,” he says. “Gonna let me get at that sweet little hole of yours, use you the way you want it, the way I know you need it?” 

“Uh-nghh,” Bucky groans, face smashed into a pillow, “y-yes.” It’s probably gonna burn , but he promised to be good, wants Steve to have him, wants to feel Steve.. “U-use me,” he whimpers. 

“Good little slut,” Steve rumbles, dipping a finger in. Bucky tenses a little more than is probably advised, but the finger is wet with more than spit. Steve must’ve gotten the lube out before, and it’s an easy slide in. He chokes a little in surprise, and Steve laughs. 

God , you thought I was gonna fuck you dry? I wouldn’t treat your little hole like that, ‘s too damn tight,” he says as he pushes in further, opening him up. 

Steve’s fingers are so thick, but it feels so good, and Bucky just lets himself melt back into the mattress.  A second finger pushes in not long after, and it’s easy enough for Bucky to take it now he’s more relaxed. “Fuck, you open up so prettily, just sucking me in, fuck,” Steve curses, pressing in a little harder.

As his fingers brush Bucky’s prostate, a stroke of lightning shoots up his spine, and he squirms, moans, almost sobs . He’s wound so tight, more than he thought - even if he should’ve known better, with everything that Steve’s done and said tonight, he should’ve figured he’d be on a hairpin trigger. “P-please, oh fuck, I’m- please,” he whines.

Steve lets up a little, his fingers avoiding Bucky’s sweet spot on the next few strokes. “Aww baby, you’re close already?” He coos, “‘s that all it takes? So fucking easy ,” he repeats, amused. 

Bucky thinks he mumbles something back, but he’s not sure. The only things he can pay attention to right now are the pressure at his hole and the way his achingly hard dick is pressed against the pillow, steadily dripping a puddle of precome. He needs to come so badly, but he wants Steve more. He wants Steve to fuck him so much.

“Sshhhh, ‘s alright baby, I will, just a little more,” Steve says then, a third finger pressing at his hole. He realizes that either he was saying something out loud, or his noises have become so fucking desperate that Steve could just tell. Or option c, really. That Steve is actually a mindreader. He hasn’t fully excluded that yet.

When Steve’s fingers leave his hole, he barely has a moment to mourn the feeling of being full, almost breathing a sigh of relief when he feels Steve’s cock press at his hole. 

Bucky feels more pressure against his hole until the muscle relaxes, lets Steve ease himself inside. “O-ohhh, nghhhh” he moans, the bulbous head stretching his rim wide.  

He hears Steve growl, one of his hands spreading Bucky’s cheeks wide, watching the slow slide in. “F-fuck, so tight,” he groans, slipping inside Bucky inch by inch. 

Steve’s so big, and when he’s pushed into the hilt, it’s like Bucky can feel him in his throat. He’s so full, like Steve’s carving out space for his cock inside of him. “Uh-hh,” he stammers, “p-please.” Bucky so desperately wants him to move, even if he knows he should give it a minute. He’s so eager for it, wants nothing more than for Steve to fuck him into the matress until he’s nothing but mush.  

“Nghh, you beg so sweetly baby,” Steve groans, hands running up and down his ass and lower back. He gives Bucky what he wants, slowly pulling back, almost all the way out, before thrusting back inside in one long slide, pushing the breath out of Bucky’s lungs with a dragged out moan.

He keeps up the slow but steady rhythm, and it drives Bucky crazy, especially once he changes the angle a little and Steve’s cock brushes over his prostate on every thrust, lighting him up from the inside on every turn.  Bucky begs and begs for him to fuck him harder, to go faster , but Steve doesn’t pay him any mind, just uses him the way he wants to, the way he said he would. 

All Bucky can do is just hold on for the ride, his face pressed into a pillow to hide his desperate pleas. His body goes slack at the endless torment, Steve wearing him out. 

It’s then that Steve gives in, speeds up his rhythm. “There we go,” he breathes out, “let me use you baby, just let it happen, be a good little slut for me.”

Steve’s breathing a little louder now, that and the roughness of his voice the only things showing he’s not completely unaffected by how Bucky just lets Steve have his way with him.  As he thrusts in harder and faster, he lets out a steady stream of praise, at how good Bucky’s taking his cock, how pretty he looks, how good he feels. Bucky lets it wash over him, basks as much in it as he can when he’s getting the life fucked out of him. 

Steve presses him further down into the mattress, his heavy weight pushing down on Bucky’s back, hands bracketing Bucky’s head on both sides. He’s surrounded by Steve on all sides, caged in, and it feels fitting. He’s just grinding inside of Bucky now, barely pulling out, and the friction is too much, Bucky feels lit on fire , and he needs to come, can’t hold it off much longer.

“D-daddy,” he gasps, turning his face on its side so he’s not speaking into the pillow, “pl-please, need t’a come, please ,” the words leaving his mouth without thought. He holds his breath when he realizes what he just called Steve, wanting to disappear into the mattress. 

But Steve just pauses for a second, then chuckles. “ Daddy , huh? Daddy hasn’t been very nice to you, has he?” He rumbles, his face so close to Bucky’s ear he can feel his warm breath on his skin.

Steve calling himself daddy with a rumble is almost enough for him to come, but he’s not been told that he can. Bucky lets out a sob. “ No,” he whines, “d-daddy’s mean.”

He hears Steve laugh again, his weight lifting from Bucky’s back as he gets back on his knees, grabbing Bucky tightly. “Oh but sweetheart, I think you like daddy being mean,” punctuating his words with a couple of deep thrusts. “But you’ve been so good for me, let daddy use your pretty hole how he wants.”

“Y-yeah, ‘m g-good,” Bucky whines. “B-been good,”

“Yeah, you have, sweet thing. Gonna be good a little longer for me?” Steve asks, his fingers brushing the side of Bucky’s sweaty face.  “Gonna let daddy come inside of you, until it’s dripping out of you?”

It’s the first time Bucky realizes Steve’s been taking him bare . He’s not sure why it hadn’t occurred to him to ask Steve to use a condom, why Steve’s not put one on, but at this point, he doesn’t even care . It sounds so good to Bucky, the thought so filthy, but he’s hungry for it. “Y-yes,” he moans, “w-wanna feel you, wan’ your come,” he begs. 

He can almost hear Steve smirk. “Such a good little slut,” he rumbles, and then he’s fucking Bucky harder again, cursing up a storm. It’s so much, too much, and right when Bucky thinks he can’t stop himself from coming anymore, tears burning in his eyes at the thought of disappointing Steve, Steve’s rhythm starts to falter. 

“Come on baby, come for me, come for daddy,” Steve groans roughly, his breath coming out in harsh bursts. “Come for me,” he demands, and Bucky does, coming harder than he thinks he ever has, his whole body trembling, shaking in the aftermath, squeezing around Steve’s cock and feeling warmth flood him when Steve follows him over the edge right after. 

He loses a little time, his brain going completely blank as he collapses into a heap on the mattress. Bucky lets out a mournful sound when Steve pulls out, hears him shush him, but not much else.

When he feels back in the land of the living - mostly, at least - he’s under a blanket, Steve’s body wrapped around him from the back. “Nghuh?” he lets out a questioning little noise. 

Steve laughs softly. “Back with me sweetheart?” He whispers. 

“I-I don’t know,” Bucky admits after swallowing and finally getting his tongue to work. His voice sounds rough, well-fucked. He’s more pleased about it than he should be, probably.

“You feeling alright?” Steve asks, voice laced with concern.  “I wasn’t too…?” Steve’s question trails off.

Bucky laughs softly. Leave it to Steve to worry when he’s basically just made Bucky’s filthiest dreams come true. “Too what? Mean?” He mumbles back, feeling slightly more awake.

Steve huffs in return. “Or nice, whatever,”

The idea that this was Steve being nice, in any way , makes Bucky snort. “Too nice? You’re such a doofus.”

“Hey!” Steve retorts, smiling audibly “that’s daddy doofus to you.”

Bucky elbows tries to elbow him, but Steve’s grip on him is too tight. “Dork.”

“That’s-“

No , no, don’t,” Bucky groans, managing to turn around and slapping his palm over Steve’s mouth. “Don’t” he repeats, staring into Steve’s eyes which are sparkling with amusement. He can’t hold back his own laugh, before he sinks back into the embrace, pushing his face into Steve’s chest.

“No, it was perfect,” he whispers.

“Yeah?” Steve whispers back, his hand rubbing up and down Bucky’s spine. “Nothing you wanted different?”

“Maybe your clothes. Hard to take you serious when you’re wearing an outfit that’s so fucking rid-“

Steve pinches his side meanly, and Bucky yelps. “Hey!”

“I wanted to play the part, okay? At least I dressed up for the occasion."

Bucky giggles. Of course he did. “You’re so fucking ridiculous,” he says, but his voice is filled with fondness.

He can feel Steve smile against his temple. They’re both quiet for a moment, and Bucky can feel himself start to doze a little, until Steve speaks up again. “Can’t believe we did this,” he murmurs. 

Bucky chuckles. “I can’t believe you did this. It was so-” Bucky sighs, looking for the right words. His brain still feels scrambled. “It was so fucking hot, you were so-so…” Bucky groans. 

“Yeah?” Steve asks, but he sounds pleased.

“Yeah. Made me forget I wasn’t actually a sex worker, made me just…It was so good, so fucking good. Thank you for doing this for me, it-t was everything I wanted.”

Steve squeezes Bucky against him more tightly. “Anything,” he murmurs, pressing a soft kiss to his head. “Anything for you, baby.”

They’re gonna have to discuss some things, but that’s for later. For one, how soon they can do this again. But also what Bucky called Steve in the middle of things. It’s new, but Bucky knows it’s been on the tip of his tongue for a while now. Steve didn’t seem to mind, thankfully, actually seemed like he fully embraced being called daddy , actually, but still, they’ll have to talk about it properly. 

But for now, Bucky just closes his eyes, and falls asleep with a smile on his face. It really was everything he wanted it to be. After all this time, Steve can still find new ways to drive him completely crazy. He’s the luckiest little slut alive. 

Notes:

Steve and Bucky are in an established relationship & have discussed this scene beforehand, but that won't be clear until the very end.