Bucky didn’t really have an explanation for it. He couldn’t even begin to describe it. It was almost an urge. Nothing that would completely take over his mind and send him on a frenzy, just… Something that he always wanted to do when he was around you.

He was very familiar with the body. His own, others… He had good knowledge from his girlfriends back in the 40s. However, as the decades passed with no human contact besides pain and experimentation, he felt like he almost needed to remind himself.

He wasn’t too sure on touching you at first - he was worried that you’d be unwilling of accepting his attempts at doing so, or that maybe he’d go too far and possibly hurt you. He knew it was stupid, but he just couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad would happen.

Eventually, he grew more willing with you, holding your hand, caressing your cheek, the simple touches. But the moment he got comfortable, he got really comfortable.

He was nervous about it at first, unsure if you would be okay with it, but after getting the confirmation that you were fine with the contact, he was all over you.

Obviously he didn’t go far in public - sticking to hand-holding and wrapping an arm around your waist, maybe a few kisses, but in private? He was glued to you.

And that’s where you were now. As you both cuddled in bed, he slowly shuffled down as his head lined up with your torso. He moved his hand up to push up the front of your shirt, exposing your stomach and giving him access to run his palm across your skin like he’d done so many times before, such as your stomach (like now) or perhaps your back, your arms - anything he could get access to.

It was not an action that had any intent to go further, in that sense, he just wanted to touch you. He really enjoyed it, it was grounding, and the small goosebumps that would raise on your skin were also a plus.