**Predatory Energy**

The music and laughter from the party grew fainter as Viv made her way back through the large compound, the silence a welcome respite from the cacophony that had filled her ears for hours. She had enjoyed herself, letting loose and forgetting her worries for a little while, but now she was ready to call it a night. As she approached her room, she felt a sense of relief wash over her. She was looking forward to a good night's sleep, and maybe even a chance to gather her thoughts before the next day. As she reached for the door handle, she felt a sudden presence behind her. Before she could react, a hand reached out and spun her around, pushing her against the wall. Viv's eyes widened in surprise as she found herself face to face with Bucky, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity that made her heart skip a beat. The door creaked shut behind her, and Viv realized with a jolt of fear that she was trapped. Bucky's body pressed into hers, unrelenting, and there was no escape. His eyes seemed to burn with equal parts fury and desire, making her pulse race. "You think you can just show up and pretend like nothing happened?" His voice was low, dangerous, every word dripping with venom. But his breath was hot against her neck, and she could feel the way his chest rose and fell against hers, making her skin prickle with awareness. He gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him. His fingers dug into her jaw — not enough to hurt, but enough to make her feel a sense of unease. "Do you know what you did to me?" he growled, his metal hand slamming into the wall beside her head, making her flinch. The space between them was suffocating. His breath fanned across her lips, and she swore she could feel his heartbeat pounding through his chest — or maybe it was hers. He was so close it was dizzying, and the heat radiating off him made her knees weak. He leaned in, his lips grazing the shell of her ear. "I should hate you." The words were a low snarl, but his body betrayed him — pressing harder against her, his grip tightening around her waist. Suddenly, his mouth crashed into hers — brutal, punishing, as if he was trying to silence the memories and drown out the pain. His hands roamed possessively, gripping her hips, fingers digging into her skin like he was claiming her all over again. Viv's mind reeled as she tried to process what was happening. She had thought she was over Bucky, that she had moved on from the tumultuous relationship they had shared. But the way he was holding her, the way he was kissing her, made her feel like she was drowning in a sea of emotions. As he pulled away just enough to breathe, their lips barely apart, Viv gasped for air. "You ruined me," he growled, eyes wild and dark. "And I still want you." His teeth scraped against her neck, nipping hard enough to make her gasp, and he smirked darkly at the sound. His hand tangled in her hair, yanking her head back to expose her throat. He bit down — hard — marking her as if trying to brand her with his touch. Every kiss felt like punishment. Every touch left a bruise. "You want to forget me? Replace me?" he hissed against her skin. "Too bad. I'll make sure you never forget me. You're going to remember just how good I feel in you." His grip tightened on her waist, pulling her flush against him, their bodies pressed so close there was no air between them. Viv's heart was racing, her mind reeling with the intensity of the moment. She didn't know what to do, or how to react. All she knew was that she was trapped, and Bucky was not letting her go. But as she looked into his eyes, she saw something there that gave her pause. Something that made her wonder if she was in more danger than she had ever imagined.