Here's a new one. Not too sure about it, but let me know what you think. It'll probs be about 4 or 5 chaps. Hope you enjoy it!

Tempe stretched, slowly moving closer to the warmth of her lover. He wrapped his strong arms around her and drew her closer.

'Morning, baby,' he whispered into her ear and she giggled uncharacteristically. She began to softly trace the muscles of his torso with her nails, resting her head on his chest and unable to hold back her smile.

'You're quiet this morning,' he said into her hair. She turned her head to face his chest and began to gently nibble and kiss his collar bone. He took in a deep breath, running his hand through her auburn curls.

'What're you thinking about?' he asked.

'Mmmm,' she whispered. 'Just thinking about how happy I am.'

'You're not going to say "good morning"?' he asked with a grin as she propped herself up on her elbow to face him.

'Good morning, Christopher Lockwood,' she said, reaching out to gently stroke his cheek. Chris gave her a lingering kiss on the lips.

'I've got to get ready for work,' he stood, completely comfortable with his nudity as he walked to the bathroom.

Tempe rolled onto her back, an overwhelming sense of contentment coming over her. She had been with Chris for six months now and had never had a relationship in which she had been so happy and respected. Chris worked as a teacher at the local high school, teaching English and International Studies. He was English, had written four books which were yet to be published. He was unbelievably handsome, with untrainable brown hair that grew at all angles and rich green eyes. As well as his 6 foot 3 tall structure he trained at the gym three times a week and ran six times a week, keeping him lean and built.

Tempe smiled to herself, just thinking of his body got her excited. His nonchalant nature and carefree attitude had changed Tempe's view on life, allowing Chris to bring the best out of her and making her a more exciting person to be around. She slowly got to her feet and began to make her way to the bathroom before she heard knocking on the door.

She picked up one of Chris' work shirts and slipped it over her shoulders, remembering ripping it off him the night before. She made her way to the door, buttoning up the shirt which came down to mid-thigh.

'Coming,' she said, opening the door to find her partner Seeley Booth leaning against the doorframe, a cup of coffee in each hand. His eyes widened at her attire as he handed her a coffee.

'Morning, Bones,' he said with a flirtatious grin. 'You didn't have to get dressed up for me.' Tempe tried to ignore him. Ever since she had gotten close with Chris, Booth had begun to try to outman him, at every opportunity challenging him. Chris' high vocabulary always managed to make Booth feel inferior and Tempe had noticed this.

'What're you here for Booth?' she asked.

'We've got a case. Can I come in?' Booth asked and Tempe shrugged, stepping aside.

They made their way into the living room and Booth leant against the couch.

'Good morning Agent Booth,' Chris said, walking into the room wearing only his suit pants.

'Morning, Mr Lockwood,' Booth teased, a cruel grin coming across his face. 'School today?' Chris just grinned back, walking up behind Tempe and wrapping his arms around her waist, kissing her neck.

'I need my shirt, baby,' he said, loud enough for Booth to hear. Booth's posture visibly stiffened and his face turned to stone as he kept his eyes on Chris.

Tempe chuckled, gently pushing him away before walking back to her bedroom, leaving Booth and Chris.

'So, how's the FBI treating you, Seeley?' Chris asked.

'It's good,' Booth replied stiffly. 'How's teaching going?'

'Well I'm teaching year 11 and 12's this year so it's interesting. Some students are struggling, but as a teacher, you've just got to…' Chris looked to Booth who was staring out of the window. 'Look, Agent Booth, the only reason I'm even making an effort here is because of Tempe, so if you care about her at all, you'll accept me into her life. Sure, I'm a teacher and you think of my profession as lesser than yours, but Tempe loves me and that's how it's going to stay.'

'She doesn't love you,' Booth scoffed. 'She doesn't believe in love.'

'She does now, mate,' Chris said, face set.

Tempe walked into the room wearing her usual work outfit, pants and a dark green singlet. She was holding Chris' shirt as she walked to stand beside him.

'Bones, is this true?' Booth asked.

'Is what true, Booth?' she asked with a smile.

'Are you in love with Lockwood?' Booth asked. Tempe opened her mouth and closed it again, pausing for a second before slipping her arm around Chris' waist as he put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer.

'Yes, I think I am,' she said, smiling up at him. 'I love you, Chris.'

'I love you too, baby,' he said, his face widening with his grin. He dipped his head slightly to kiss her gently on the lips before pulling back.

'We've got to go,' Booth hissed. Tempe stepped back, handing Chris his shirt. She pecked him on the lips before walking towards the door.

'Tempe, wait!' he said, getting to her in two strides and taking her into his arms, latching his mouth securely onto hers and kissing her passionately before stepping back, lightly touching her cheek. Tempe's eyes remained closed as she realised her hands were still resting on his bare chest.

'Have a good day, Chris,' she said quietly. She couldn't control the way he made her feel, the fact that he almost always rendered her speechless by just being him. Spontaneous.

Booth exhaled loudly, ushering her out of the door. They walked in silence to the car. Once in the car Tempe noticed Booth's death grip on the steering wheel.

'You don't have to be so cold to Chris,' she said quietly. 'He's not there to annoy you, to split our partnership up.'

'I wasn't being cold,' Booth replied, his tone showing anything but his statement. 'He's not good for you.'

'What do you mean, "he's not good for me"?' Tempe shot back.

'I…' Booth's frown grew, his eyebrows drawing together as he huffed. 'He's not like the men you usually date.'

'Exactly,' she said with a smile. 'He's intelligent, but in a different way. He's charismatic, understanding, incredibly well-structured.'

'Yeah, I get that,' Booth mumbled.

'You're jealous,' she stated simply.

'I don't trust him,' he said, completely ignoring her statement.

'Booth, please,' she sighed heavily. 'Chris is just a normal guy. He's not out to get you, to challenge your manhood, or your…alpha male position or whatever the hell you think about him.'

'We're the centre,' Booth mumbled quietly. Tempe scoffed.

'What's that supposed to mean?' she asked.

'It means that we should hold,' Booth replied. 'The centre can't break.'

'He's not out to get you!' Tempe nearly yelled, a bemused look of her face. 'You're being ridiculous!'

'What about this morning?' Booth shot back.

'What about this morning?' Tempe replied, crossing her arms.

'He was being all…affectionate,' Booth said awkwardly and she smiled, thinking about the feel of his lips on her neck.

'That's generally what boyfriends do,' she chuckled.

'He did it to enforce his possessiveness over you!' Booth nearly yelled out. 'I thought you hated that behaviour!' Tempe frowned, turning to look out for the window.

'He was trying to make me jealous,' Booth muttered.

'Are you jealous?' Tempe asked, turning to face him. Booth pulled the car into the parking lot Jeffersonian, but didn't turn to face her, his hands remaining on the steering wheel of the stationary car.

'Are you jealous, Booth?' She insisted and he let out what could only be explained as a growl.

'Of course I'm not jealous, Bones,' he said gruffly. 'I just don't want you to get hurt.'

'Then why are you acting this way, Booth? Why are you being so defensive of me?'

'Why?' Booth laughing hollowly. 'This is why.' He reached out with one hand, cupping her cheek in his hand before leaning towards her and capturing her lips with his. Tempe struggled, immediately pushing him away. Before either of them knew what they were doing, her hand had collided with his cheek, the sound of her slapping him echoing in the silence of the car.

'Don't you dare,' she hissed. She opened the door and slammed it behind her, leaving Booth with his head on the steering wheel, sighing with the exhaustion of seeing the woman he loved slowly slipping away from him.

Thanks for reading! Review if you desire to do so (I love reviews) or don't if you don't feel like it today. Maybe tomorrow, or the next you will feel like it. For those shy, silent readers I thank you too!