This Is Stella's Reality

Warmth spread through me as lips pressed softly across my skin. Kisses adorned my shoulders, fingertips, the valleys of my waist, and the hills of my hips. Goosebumps spread over every inch of me, and my lungs filled with air.

"Merry Christmas, angel," Bucky's voice rumbled deep with sleep. He leaned over me, pressing more kisses in my hairline.

I smiled and rubbed the exhaustion from my eyes. He captured my lips and pulled me off the bed. My legs wrapped around his torso as he brought us to the floor.

We had a small plastic christmas tree on the coffee table, haphazardly decorated with miniature baubles and lights. I sat, straddling his lap as he handed me a mug of hot cider.

He had apparently been awake for a while. The drinks were warm, the string lights were turned on, and there were boxes of gifts surrounding our mini tree. There were pancakes with bowls of whipped cream and strawberries. Syrup sat in a small pouring pitcher nearby.

I smiled at him, "You did all of this?"

"Of course, my love," there was a gentleness in his eyes that plucked at the strings of my heart. I nearly cried from the look in his face alone.

He reached behind me and placed a box in my lap. His eyes searched my face, "Open it." His voice sounded elated, a stark contrast to the roughness that had woken me up.

My fingers delicately undid the well-folded paper and revealed a baby pink box. I looked up at him through my eyelashes, and a smirk tugged at his lips. I lifted the flaps of the box. Inside was a beautiful set of bright red lingerie. It was lacey, soft and delicate between the pads of my fingers.

I pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips, "Thank you, ducky. I love it." I knew my cheeks were flushed pink by the way he smiled and looked at them.

He reached behind me again, but I stopped him. "No," I warned him, "I have to give you a present now too." There was an amused smile tugging at his lips.

I stood from his lap and opened our closet door. I pulled down two boxes and placed the smaller one in his hands. He grinned, "You didn't have to get me anything, doll." His eyes inspected the box, "Waking up next to you was the only gift I needed."

Bucky pulled me back down to his lap. I laughed and rolled my eyes, "You're so cheesy."

"You like it," he mumbled into my ear as his finger pulled apart the glittering red ribbon. He smirked, "Cologne?"

I nodded, "If you don't like it, you can exchange it."

He took the bottle out of the box. Jazz Club by Replica. It smelled like whiskey, deeply masculine and boozy. He sprayed a bit on his wrist, smiling when it hit his nose. "I like it," there was a gleam in his eyes.

The scent flooded into my senses, and I felt intoxicated by it. My head spun with memories of sitting at bars with him, laughing and drinking late into the night.

His hand wrapped around my waist and pulled me a bit closer. He slid another box into my hands. It was small, and a pretty gold ribbon secured the wrapping paper around it.

My hands trembled a bit as I opened it. The paper drifted to the floor and revealed a small jewelry box. It was black, velvet, and soft to the touch. My breath hitched in my throat.

Inside was a beautiful gold ring dotted with sapphires. Bucky gently took the box from my palm, "I know I said my tags were a promise, but" he paused to slide the band over my ring finger on my right hand. "Stella, I swear nothing will ever happen to us. I will always protect you."