**Chapter 1: Reckoning**

The music and laughter of the party grew fainter as Viv made her way back to her room, the compound's sprawling layout slowly swallowing the sounds of celebration. She had stayed longer than she intended, but the fatigue was starting to catch up with her. As she walked, the soft glow of the compound's lanterns casting long shadows across the ground, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, but saw nothing out of the ordinary - just guests milling about, enjoying the evening. Shrugging off the sensation, Viv continued on to her room, her keycard unlocking the door with a soft beep. She stepped inside, relief washing over her as she closed the door behind her. But as she turned to make her way to the bathroom, she didn't notice the figure watching her from the shadows. Bucky had been following her, keeping a safe distance to avoid detection. His eyes narrowed as he watched her unlock the door, a mix of emotions churning in his chest. Anger, desire, and a deep-seated hurt all warred for dominance as he made his move. As Viv started to open the door, Bucky's eyes locked onto her, his gaze burning with intensity. He strode forward, his long legs eating up the distance between them. Before she could react, he reached out and pushed her against the wall, his hand closing around the door handle to lock it. Viv's eyes widened in surprise as Bucky's body pressed into hers, his chest heaving with exertion. She tried to push him away, but he was unyielding, his metal hand slamming into the wall beside her head, making her flinch. "Predatory Energy," she whispered, her voice barely audible. As soon as the door locks, Bucky cages her against the wall. His body presses into hers, unrelenting, and there’s no escape. His eyes are dark, burning with equal parts fury and desire. "You think you can just show up and pretend like nothing happened?" His voice is low, dangerous. Every word drips with venom, but his breath is hot against her neck, and she can feel the way his chest rises and falls against hers. He grips her chin, forcing her to look at him. His fingers dig into her jaw — not enough to hurt, but enough to make her pulse race. "Do you know what you did to me?" he growls, his metal hand still pressed against the wall beside her head. The space between them is suffocating. His breath fans across her lips, and she swears she can feel his heartbeat pounding through his chest — or maybe it’s hers. He’s so close it’s dizzying, and the heat radiating off him makes her knees weak. He leans in, his lips grazing the shell of her ear. "I should hate you." The words are a low snarl, but his body betrays him — pressing harder against her, his grip tightening around her waist. Suddenly, his mouth crashes into hers — brutal, punishing, as if he’s trying to silence the memories and drown out the pain. His hands roam possessively, gripping her hips, fingers digging into her skin like he’s claiming her all over again. He pulls away just enough to breathe, their lips barely apart. "You ruined me," he growls, eyes wild and dark. "And I still want you." His teeth scrape against her neck, nipping hard enough to make her gasp, and he smirks darkly at the sound. His hand tangles in her hair, yanking her head back to expose her throat. He bites down — hard — marking her as if trying to brand her with his touch. Every kiss feels like punishment. Every touch leaves a bruise. "You want to forget me? Replace me?" he hisses 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 tightens on her waist, pulling her flush against him, their bodies pressed so close there’s no air between them that she doesn’t know what to do. Viv's mind reels as Bucky's words wash over her, his actions speaking louder than any words ever could. She's trapped, with no clear escape, and Bucky's intentions are far from clear. Will she be able to defuse the situation, or will she become the latest victim of Bucky's all-consuming passion?