Love at First Bite
Bucky A/U - Vampire Bucky x female reader
Summary: You find an injured bat and bring it inside not knowing exactly what you're in for.
Content warning: Language, vampire Bucky (my favourite), mentions of blood drinking.
A/N - I always love a good vampire Bucky so I hope you enjoy this one. Happy Halloween everyone!
Images found here, here, here, and here.
"So, you're going to stay there while the renos are happening?" Your friend Nat asks.
You saw her looking closely at her laptop of the images you sent her of the house you were standing in.
"Yeah. Because of where this estate is, I'd like to be on-site when the renos start so I can avoid the three-hour drive there and back."
"And you're sure you don't need my help? I mean, the house is massive." She turned her attention to the phone and squinted at the screen trying to see past you.
"Yeah, it's large, but I know it's going to be good. I have a call with the contactor tomorrow and they could potentially start the following week."
"Is there even furniture? A fridge and stove or are you having to order takeout or cook on a hot plate?"
"There's some couches and the appliances are old and dated, but all are working for now and should do me just fine."
"That's good. Just make sure they don't catch on fire like at the last house." Nat snorted.
"Don't remind me."
"Although you said the firefighters were all hot when they arrived."
"Yeah, they were, but this estate is far from town, so I am not even sure how long it would take for them to get to me."
"True. Where are you sleeping then?"
"I have an air mattress I'll put in one of the rooms. When I explored earlier, there were five bedrooms on the second level with one of them the master I think..."
"You think?"
"Yeah, it's bigger, has an ensuite, and the only room that's fully furnished since the others are empty. It has an antique bedframe, oriental rugs, brass lamps and a large matching dresser in the room. I'll explore it more in-depth after."
"Why don't you sleep in that room then?" You shivered.
"Nat, it's like a time capsule in there and I don't feel right sleeping in someone else's bed even though the realtor assured me no one has been here in years. I mean there's linens on it and everything, but I just feel weird staying in someone else's bed. It's weird. Plus, the bed is all hand-carved with fruit, a nature scene, and cherubs Nat...Cherubs...little angel babies watching my every move." You curled your lip in disgust making Nat chuckle.
"Yeah, that would be creepy with their dead eyes watching you sleep." She agreed with you.
"I'll get someone in here to assess the value of the furniture then sell it all since I don't need any more antiques in my storage unit so I'll be fine in one of the other rooms until I can buy a bed."
You hadn't yet poked around the closet of the master bedroom, but you were curious to see if anything interesting was left in there.
"Ok, fine, but if you need me, let me know and I'll be there."
"I will."
"Call me and let me know how things are."
"Ok, bye Nat."
"Bye."
You ended the call and placed your phone on the counter.
You looked around and smiled thinking of the potential look to the renovation and profit, which was most important to you. You came across this foreclosure listing a few towns away from yours and when you pulled up the info on it, you knew you had to have it.
The realtor told you no one had been at the estate for years and was deserted. The last known owner passed a long time ago and the money keeping the taxes paid stopped so thanks to that, you're now the new owner. You have only flipped smaller houses in the past and this would be your biggest flip yet due to the sheer size of it.
After meeting with the realtor and home inspector who deemed it to be a good investment, you knew you had to have it.
🦇🎃
Halloween was the following night, and you were glad the house was away from the town and out in the middle of nowhere since you didn't feel like handing candy out. Not that you were a curmudgeon and hated Halloween, you just had a lot going on.
The house was situated on a few acres surrounded by a thick forest and small creek so you were glad no one would be coming and going since the pathways were overgrown and not well-marked. You added 'contact a landscaping company' to your endless list of things to do and sighed.
🦇🎃
It was late, but you wandered the house with your phone, measuring tape, and notepad, eager to get things started for the renovation. You stood in the large foyer and were measuring the doorways when you heard a loud thud on the front door.
"What was that?" You walked over and opened the door, peeking out, but no one was there.
You took another step out to see further, but the only thing you spotted was your car parked on the long uneven driveway.
"Weird."
You mumbled and before you turned to head back inside, a small furry object on the stone steps caught your eye.
"Oh!" You jumped back slightly.
What looked to be a small dark ball of something was flopping around and squeaking. When you bent to look closely, you saw it looked like a mouse. Small mice and animals like that didn't bother you since doing renovations to houses, you always saw some sort of rodent whether alive or dead whenever you started demo, so this didn't scare you.
"Wait a minute..."
You looked closer and bent down and saw wings on it. It was a bat.
"Hey little fella."
It seemed to be a little disoriented and stunned from hitting the door. You didn't have the heart to leave it outside for a larger animal to get it, so you scooped it up and brought it in.
"Here we go."
It seemed a little scared as it shook in your hands while you held it close to your body. You looked around the house and walked to the kitchen.
"I hope there's something I can use to put you in so you're safe."
You started opening cupboards and drawers, coming across a small box. You found a scrap of a towel and placed it in the box so the stunned bat would be comfy, then put him inside.
"There we go, all safe." You watched as it seemed to relax a little.
You kept an eye on it as it clung to the fabric and saw its beady dark eyes take in its new environment.
"Hello." You smiled at it.
You could have sworn it nodded at you, but you shook that thought off. You were tired and had a long day of travel and taking photos and notes.
"What am I going to do with you?" You thought while looking around.
You didn't plan on having a small animal to take care of let alone a possible injured one.
"I wonder if you're hurt?"
You peeked at it, and it seemed to be ok, but it hadn't really moved since you brought it in. There were no blood spots on the towel or visible scrapes on it, which is good, but you should look a little closer.
"Let me see your wings little guy." You quietly said.
You were a little shaky when you reached into the box, but the injured bat seemed to allow you access to it.
"I just want to check your wings; I won't hurt you." You whispered and placed your hand on it's left wing.
You know bats carry rabies and disease, but you took a chance and gently expanded the wing to see if it had any injuries. It's wing looked ok, and it didn't fuss when you moved it around. It was soft and smooth to the touch, almost like silk.
The creature seemed to be watching your every move closely. You moved to the other wing and did the same, expanding it and moving it slightly, but you didn't see any injuries and it seemed to let you, so you smiled at it.
"You seem to be ok. Just stunned from hitting the door then."
You patted its tiny fluffy head with your index finger before leaving it. You looked around the house, but you froze.
"Where am I going to put you tonight?"
Do I leave it on the counter? Take it with me to bed? Leave it outside?
You left the box in the kitchen but looked down at the bat and its eyes seemed to plead with you to not leave it alone.
"Fine, you're coming with me." You took the box and walked up the expansive staircase to your temporary bedroom.
You placed the box on the floor by the head of your air mattress and left it while you went to the bathroom to change and get ready for bed.
"There we are."
You got into your bed and looked over at the bat. It was watching you intently and had barely moved.
"You rest here tonight and maybe tomorrow; you'll be good enough to be set free."
It let out a squeak at your words and seemed to be upset but burrowed itself in the corner of the box and squatted down.
"Hey, you're a wild animal and not my pet. You can't stay here because you belong outside with your other little bat friends and family."
You shut the lamp off and sighed in the dark. You know bats are nocturnal and would probably be up all-night squeaking, but this one seemed a little sleepy, probably from the splat it took into the front door.
"Night batty." You eventually drifted off, but you didn't see the bat shift to the man who stood before you.
"Batty?" James smirked at the name you gave him.
If you only knew who he truly was... His amusement died down when he looked you over in your sleep.
You were breathtaking. He had never thought a human would stop him in his tracks, but you did. A weird warming sensation quickly washed over him then faded while he watched you and he froze. He had never felt like this, but he had a feeling he knew what this was about.
"No...could you be?" He whispered into the darkened room.
He had never thought he would find his mate, his queen, but here you were...at his estate sleeping on some sort of air bubble in an oversized t-shirt and cheap bedding.
That would have to change, he thought with a smirk. Your hair was splayed out on your pillow and the weird air cushion you were resting on made a groan when you shifted to get more comfortable. He looked at the blue plastic you were laying on and wondered why you chose to sleep on this plastic bubble in his spare room instead of the warm bed he had in his personal room.
Were you a squatter? Was his mate poor? Did you not like his room? His bed was hand crafted from a village in England over 150 years ago.
It was one of the only pieces he brought with him when he came to the new country. He bent close to you and inhaled your scent. You smelled exquisite, like a sweet breeze mixed with a hint of honey nectar and his throat suddenly went dry.
He looked you over and had to fight the urge to release his fangs and take a drink from your sweet plump veins even though he had eaten before he arrived. He quietly composed himself and watched you for a few minutes before he left, investigating the rest of his estate.
He hadn't been to this estate in years and when he looked out the front window, he saw a sold sign hanging in the wind in front of the overgrown vines and hedges of the driveway.
"Fucking Steve." James muttered to himself.
He walked to the kitchen and looked over the paperwork sitting on the counter. His friend obviously missed making payments on this property, so it was in foreclosure, and the bank took ownership of it, then sold it to you.
He was going to have a chat with Steve when he returns home and see if any of his other properties were like this or close to being like this. James usually stays further north but was in the area for business and needed a place to rest for a few days before he continued. He hadn't travelled in his bat form for a while and when he came into land, he over-calculated the distance and wind gust and flew into his front door knocking him out.
He vowed never to tell anyone that little mishap since he is well over 300 years old and should know better. He was grateful you had scooped him up and brought him inside or he would have been hunted by a hawk or owl from the nearby forest.
He read your notes and smiled to himself.
So, you think you're going to remodel his estate? Cute.
Your plans were impressive, but he was going to put a stop to that and soon since the matter of mates was his number one priority. He wandered the rooms and was pleased the estate was in good condition, but he was eager to get back to your side in case you stirred awake, to find him missing.
He smiled at remembering how gentle and careful you were when he was his bat and relished in the feel of your warm hands on him. He was pleased you weren't scared of him as most would have ran away or swatted at him with a broom. He hated brooms. He did not want to alarm you if you couldn't find him, so he decided to think of a plan to reveal himself to you while he made his way to your side.
🦇🎃
When the morning came, you opened your eyes and stretched, cursing your slightly deflated air mattress.
"Why do these things always seem to deflate overnight?" You grumbled.
You sighed but then remembered your bat friend and looked over to the floor. It was still sitting in the box.
"Good morning batty." You smiled at it.
It seemed to be content with its temporary bed, but you thought it scowled at the name you gave it.
"Did you just scowl at me?"
You rubbed your eyes and looked at him again. He sat there watching you.
"Anyways, let's get you some water and..." You had no idea what bats ate. "...Food...of some kind."
You quickly searched what bats eat and were relieved you had some fruit it could snack on.
"Let's go little fella."
You took the box and walked to your kitchen. You cut up a kiwi and a few strawberries, but you didn't have anything else to feed it.
"I don't know where I am going to get a bunch of bugs for you seeing as how it says here you like bugs and maybe blood? Eww." You shuddered.
"There might be some spiders around here...maybe some beetles..."
You looked around but didn't see anything crawling.
"You should be back to normal in a bit, so I'll just leave you outside..."
It let out a screech and flapped its wings startling you.
"Oh...ok...sorry." You chuckled.
"I'll just keep you here as the official house mascot then." You joked.
It seemed to settle at that, then it eyed up the fruit you gave it, but it didn't eat.
"You'll eat when you're hungry."
You grabbed a bowl and ate some cereal when your phone rang.
"Hello? Yes, thanks for calling me back."
You chatted with the contractor and right before you both agreed to a time to meet, the bat shot up from the box and fluttered around your kitchen.
"Holy shit! Hang on..."
You put the phone down and started waving your arms at it while it dive-bombed you.
"Ow...stop it batty!" You shrieked as it was caught in your hair and pulling it with its wings and claws.
"Ahh!"
You heard the contractor on your phone ask if you were ok and you yelled, "All good, hang on a minute!"
You managed to duck and cover from the dive-bombing mammal.
"God damn bat...give me a minute will ya!"
It seemed to settle on the light fixture and hang upside down. You were breathing heavy when you grabbed the phone back.
"Sorry about that." You scowled at the critter.
The contractor asked if you were ok, but when you told him you had a bat in the house, he suddenly had something come up and said he doesn't do bats, then he hung up on you.
"God damn it." You sighed.
Now you were back to square one seeing as how this was the only contractor within 100 miles.
"Look at what you did." You scowled at the bat who clung to the fixture.
You could have sworn it stuck it's little bat tongue out at you, but it must have been a shadow.
"Now what?" You started searching contractors and emailing them, but none were available any time soon.
You were on a time crunch to start the renovation as soon as possible because every day there was no work getting done, it was costing you in taxes, heat, water, and other expenses.
🦇🎃
"Ugh!" You groaned and flopped on your squishy air mattress.
You were tired and sore after you cleaned a few rooms on the main floor of the house to keep busy.
"Want me to send someone from the city?" Nat offered.
"No, it's ok. I'll find someone local. There has to be someone else."
"You should get rid of that flying mouse. Seems a nuisance." Nat shook her head at you.
"I'm trying to Nat, but he won't leave me alone."
After it dive-bombed you, it flew back to its box, so you put it outside for a few hours for it to fly away on its own, but it sat in the box and didn't move.
After cleaning, you checked on it and felt bad for it when it started raining, so you took it back inside and it's now watching you from the air mattress.
It also hasn't left your side.
You made yourself lunch; it watched you. You went to the bathroom; it waited for you outside the door. You wiped the windows in the living room and flung the heavy dusty curtains aside to let some light in; it was perched on the hall fixture watching.
"He won't leave."
"Maybe you know, if you..." Nat moved her hand in a splat motion on the screen making you chuckle, but the bat must have taken offense and screeched at her.
"Does it understand me?" She asked in shock.
"Who knows."
You scowled at the little guy but smiled at it when it innocently blinked its eyes at you. He was cute for a bat and seemed sassy, but you feared you were now the owner of a bat.
"Anyways, I'll figure out a new reno plan and let you know."
"Sounds good. Gotta go but call me later."
"Ok."
You sighed and looked over at the bat whose beady dark eyes were watching you close.
"You know, you're more trouble than you're worth but you are kind of cute so I can't be too mad at you."
You scowled at it and got up, heading into the bathroom to shower with the bat waiting for you outside the door.
🦇🎃
"What is in this room."
After your shower, you ventured to the master bedroom on your floor seeing as how the stores were closed early in the small town due to it being Halloween night. You wandered the lavish looking room and took it all in. The deep red curtains were especially oversized and heavy, but they felt luxurious as you ran your hand over the fabric. You leaned down and looked at the ornately carved bed.
"I guess it's pretty...even if it is a little creepy." You appreciated the hard work that went into the carvings, but this would have to go.
You ducked when you saw the bat fly into the room and land on the bed.
"Hey, get off of there." You swatted at it, but it shrieked at you and avoided your hand.
"Why are you here anyways? You should be in your box where I left you."
The bat hunkered down on the bed and stared at you.
"Fine, stay there then."
You were done arguing with the tiny flying mammal. You turned away from it and decided on going through the closet. You opened the door and there were a few black suits hanging up with crisp white shirts, and a large shoe rack.
"Oh."
The clothes all looked somewhat newer and were neatly hanging in their respective spots. The shoes were all shiny black dress shoes, neatly lined up and looked like they were freshly polished.
"So weird..."
All the suits were designer and seemed to be all the same size. You closed your eyes and imagined the man who wore them.
What did he look like? What was his job? Was he still alive?
You closed the closet door and decided on looking through the large dresser. You looked over at the bed and saw batty was still watching you from the middle of the bed then went back to the dresser. The large wooden drawers were a little sticky, but you opened the first one and leaned back.
"Woah..." The dresser was full of neatly folded clothes.
You pulled out a dark pair of black pants.
"These are kind of newer..."
You put them back and opened another drawer.
"Black shirts."
A few button up shirts were neatly folded with other shirts that looked like undershirts and casual t-shirts.
The next drawer you opened had neatly folded socks and were those boxer briefs?
"I'd appreciate it if you kept your hands off my unmentionables...for now at least..." A deep voice spoke behind you.
"WHAT THE?" You dropped the underwear in the opened drawer and spun around, finding a man lying on the cherub bed.
"How...who???" You froze in place, heart racing.
"It's rude you know..." He said, voice sounding like liquid honey.
Your mouth was open in shock, your body trembling. There was now a man in the bedroom with you. His dark hair was cut short and neatly trimmed, but he had a little bit of stubble on his face. He laid back with his long legs crossed and arms over his stomach like he was relaxing on a beach lounger.
You could tell he would be tall if he stood.
"Who..."
You took a step back towards the door. You weren't the greatest runners, but you had a clear shot down the hall and out the door if you pushed yourself hard enough. You weren't even close enough to fling yourself safely out of the window since you were well above the height of breaking your legs or ankles.
The man smirked at you and got up from the bed.
Yup, tall.
He wore a black shirt and black pants with shiny black shoes like the ones in the closet, and he moved with elegance and power.
"I can feel your pulse throbbing and blood rushing in your veins."
Your delicious scent he had come to be addicted to had heightened with your increased heartrate at being startled, but a hint of bitterness crept in from your fear.
"Err..."
Who says that?
He watched you close, taking you in as his eyes raked up and down your body. You felt uneasy at his stare seeing as how you were in a pair of dirty sweatpants and sweater, and he seemed to be dressed to do business or drive a limo.
How is there a man here?
His eyes were darkened, but there was a small hint of blue around them.
"I-I...How did you get in here?"
You didn't hear footsteps on the stairs, and you were alone all day with the doors and windows locked up tight.
"You." He simply shrugged and put his hands in his pockets of his pants.
"Me?" You squeaked.
The man was watching you close.
"H-How? I never opened the door to you..."
You'd remember this man for sure. He seemed powerful, dark, and, in all honesty, freakishly attractive. Men like THIS did not live in small towns or in dated estates.
"You brought me in last night."
Your thoughts were running wild. The only thing you brought in was the injured bat. Where was that little fucker anyways? Now would be a good time to dive bomb this intruder so you could escape. You looked to the bed, then the ground, but he was nowhere, then you looked at the man who was waiting for you to reply.
"Batty?"
The man's face lit up at your connection.
"James actually...although Batty is growing on me..."
"James?"
The man nodded and took a step towards you.
You stiffened.
"Stay back."
You held your phone in your hands as a weapon like a loser, but it was either that or the boxer briefs which he already told you to drop.
"I'm not going to hurt you, Y/n, not ever."
You froze.
"How do you know my name?"
He grinned at your question.
"It's all over your paperwork."
"You can read?" You blurted out making the man chuckle; the sound of his laugh was like smooth velvet.
"I can. I also know you bought my estate and have plans for it." His eyes seemed to darken.
"Wait, your estate? This is YOUR estate? The realtor said no one had been here forever and the old owner had passed a long time ago."
"This is my estate, I can assure you, but my business partner Steve seemed to stop making payments on it, so that's why you find yourself here now."
"I-well...I."
"It is yours from my understanding."
"Uh, yeah. It is." You stood straighter.
You weren't letting this magic weirdo man take this place from you.
"I guess you can remodel it however you wish." He shrugged.
"Oh, can I?" You mocked then slammed a hand over your smart mouth. His eyes narrowed on you.
"Smart mouth." He shook his head then smiled, revealing a set of white fangs.
The only stories you know that involve bats and fangs were of vampires.
You mouthed the word 'vampire' and the man nodded.
"My smart mate." James praised you.
He knew his mate would be smart and strong.
You stepped back and went to take another, but he was quick and stood in front of you in a blink of an eye.
"Wh-wh..." You stuttered.
"You're mine Y/n."
"I-I..." You were lost in his eyes as he smiled, fangs in full view and they looked sharp and deadly.
He kept saying those words, mate. What did that mean?
"Yours? Mate?"
"I've waited forever to find you." His voice melted you in place.
"Me?"
"You. And I also plan on thanking you for rescuing me when I had my unfortunate landing last night."
He reached his arms out to you and brought you close to him. He was strong and sturdy, yet his touch was gentle and soft. You went rigid in his arms but softened when he started rubbing circles on your back.
Every part of your mind was screaming to run away, but your heart told you to stay, and James was safe. You brought your hands to lay flat on his chest, his very firm and solid chest. He was cool to the touch, but your body was on fire from how close you were. You got lost in his eyes that seemed to pull you in.
"I-I..." You had no idea what you were trying to say when he leaned down and gently kissed your neck, seeming to be under his spell.
His cool lips on your warm skin ignited you making you melt into him, eyes rolling back at his soft lips. Your brain screamed at you saying this was wrong, but you didn't listen.
"Don't fight it." He whispered, sensing your mind was struggling with wanting to run from him.
His lips danced you're your neck, tickling and sucking your skin sending tingles and shivers all over your body.
"James..." Your voice sounded breathless.
There was no way James could let you go now. He was so close to your neck, all he had to do was let his fangs out and sink them into your soft skin. The liquid heaven you offered was so close, he couldn't refuse, so he held you firmly and his fangs lowered in place, piercing your sensitive skin. You felt him smile against your skin, but then he held you tight to his body and his lips descended on the rest of your neck where you fell a pricking sensation.
"Relax..." He whispered as he drank from your neck.
A rush of your sweet blood filled his dry mouth as he drank from you, carefully sucking while you moaned out his name. You felt a flurry of shivers descend upon you, heat throbbing in your skin down to your core while breathless and moaning this strangers name.
It was addicting.
Your heart raced increased as you felt him sucking and squeezing you close; waves of pleasure replaced the pinching feeling causing you to moan and bite your bottom lip while he eagerly lapped at your neck.
You felt euphoric as James latched himself onto your neck, it was hard for you to stand. James held you close and kept you upright. James had never tasted anything as sweet or satisfying as his mate's blood as it flowed into his veins, linking you two together for eternity.
The satisfied feeling he got from your blood filled him completely while he completed the bond between you. You moaned as he dragged his lips free from our neck and sealed the marks his fangs made on your delicate neck.
"You're mine, forever." He said again.
"Yours. Forever."
🦇🎃🦇🎃🦇🎃🦇🎃🦇🎃
A/N - This concludes my fall/Halloween stories for another year! Thank you for joining me!!! Appreciate all of your comments, reblogs, and likes. Stay tuned for my Christmas/holiday stories to start in December!!
