Hustled

Bones and Booth celebrate closing a case with a little too much chamgane and billiards at a ritzy DC private club.

"So, how about a friendly wager?" Bones leaned against the pool table, rolling a queue stick in her hand.

"A wager, huh?" Booth smirked, appreciating the view of her plunging neckline. "And tell me, what do I get when I win?"

"Don't get ahead of yourself. I may not posses the right aerodynamics for the game. But there are other aspects of the sport of which I am quite astute."

He licked his lips. "Do tell."

"Billiards is a fickle game. A curious blend of luck and skill. It also requires a certain finesse, a special touch." She ran her hands down the length of the sticks shaft. "A feel for the stick."

"You don't say."

"That's right. Carefully measured movements, coupled with raw instinct. Like most games worth playing." She picked up the chalk, rubbing it on the end of her stick. "And besides, I'm feeling lucky tonight."

"Shall I set us up?" He asked. "Maybe a little eightball?"

"Straight pool. Winner takes all." Bones placed the queball in front of him. "Ready when you are." She blew on the tip of her stick sending a faint blue cloud of access chalk in the air.

Bones watched as he set up his shot, working the queue in and out of his palm. She could tell she had gotten to him, the slightest tremble in his fingers the faintest glow of perspiration on his brow. She smiled. Leaning down to his ear she lost her voice to a husky whisper. "Remember Booth, its impact and angles. And on the break, the harder the better."

"Okay, that's it." He flipped his stick on to the table.

"What's it?"

"You're trying to psyche me out."

"I don't know what you mean." She perched herself on the opposite end of the table, letting the slit of her dress run further up her thigh. "I thought you wanted to play."

"Oh, I do. I definitely do." Slowly he walked toward her, running his fingers along the edge of the table. "But I wasn't planning on you playing dirty."

"You're not forfeiting are you? I'd be disappointed. I was looking for a little more action."

"Action huh?" He chuckled. "Are we still talking about pool?"

"When was I talking about pool?"

Finally he cornered her against the wall. Running his hands down her arms, he pressed his body against hers "I'm no genius but I damn sure know when I'm being hustled."

"Oh, is that what I was doing?"

Gently he held her, letting his lips fall into hers. "I certainly hope so."