"It's real," he replied, leaning his forehead against Billy's temple when he turned. "I promise it's real." So real and so much an actual reality right now that he could hardly believe it. So real that he needed Billy to know it.

He raised a hand to Billy's cheek, holding him right there so Bucky could kiss him. Slow and unhurried, but with a little nip right at the end — like the kiss of the knife, a threat of something dangerous. The adrenalin of their escape still ran through him and being this close to Billy, literally cutting him out of his clothes, made Bucky's blood sing for more. "You tell me: does that feel real?"