I'm not sure when it started.
Probably on that first night after you arrived in the desert. I'd set up the bed in the living room for you, but in the middle of the night, I came downstairs because I couldn't be alone. I watched you there, lying in the pool of white sheets, glowing in the dim moonlight that was slipping in between the slats of the wooden blinds.
Eventually you'd stirred and saw me standing there. Without a word, you'd lifted the blankets, and I'd climbed in. I remembered you wrapping me up in your arms while we slept. I'd woken in the morning with the damp evidence of arousal heavy between my legs. The friction of your body against mine had made me quiver with excitement as I lay there, waiting for you to wake. I was so confused and unsure, soon the strangeness of the sensations made me rise.
Each night after that, I hadn't even tried to sleep upstairs. When we were ready for bed, I had just slid into your arms and let you hold me.
Now, back in Washington, I watched you from the passenger side of your car, wondering if what I'd felt those nights was just an expression of grief. You're stood with Booth while he loaded his bags into the trunk. I heard you say, "Booth, I'll see you later. I think I need to get Angela home. She looks pretty beat."
"Right. I'll be by the lab tomorrow to finish up the case," Booth replied. He put his arm around your shoulders and gave you a little kiss on top of your head. "Go take 'er home."
I watched you smile up at him, "Thanks for coming out to help."
"No problem, Bones."
You exchanged one more smile before Booth got into his car. Then, you watched him drive away before walking back towards your car. I watched you approach, following the way your clothes floated around you as you moved. Your hair was loose and glistened slightly in the dim light. There was a slight smile on your face as you approached the driver's side of the car.
"You ready to go home?" You asked.
"I guess," I replied, opening the door once I heard the locks pop. You climbed into the car and strapped yourself in. Once you started up the car and pulled out of the airport lot, you reached over and took my hand.
"You all right, Ange?"
I squeezed your hand tight, "Did you mean it? When you said I would get another chance?"
"Of course I did, Angela. When have you known me to be anything but honest with you." You glanced at me for a moment to give me a smile. "Do you want me to stay over tonight?"
I thought about it for a moment, remembering how good it had felt to have you there in my bed throughout this whole mess. I would wake up and feel the warmth and weight of you, smell the familiar scent of your shampoo on my sheets. I needed you. "Yeah, if it's okay, Bren. I know you've got to be at the lab in the morning."
"Nonsense, Angela. You're more important than being on time." Once again, your hand squeezed mine, but this time you brought our clasped hands to your lips and placed a gentle kiss on the back of my hand.
I sighed and let myself lean against your shoulder as we drove the rest of the way to my place, drifting in and out of consciousness. At some point, I realized that you were stroking my hair. Eventually, your hand moved lower, rubbing my side gently, up and down along my ribs, past my stomach and over my hip. When the car stopped, I woke fully, feeling a warm tingling throughout my entire body.
I turned my head to look at you, still leaning against your shoulder. Your arm had settled around my waist and your hand gently toying with my belt loop. I was so close to your face and when you turned to return my gaze, we were nearly touching. "Sweetie, thank you so much. You have no idea what you mean to me," I told you, my eyes still droopy. I reached a hand up to stroke your hair back from your face. I continued at a whisper, "Let's go inside." Reaching around you, I pulled you in close for a hug, taking in your sweet scent.
I heard you let out a little sigh as I released you. We pulled back and climbed out of the car. "We'll get the bags in the morning, Ange. It's late."
"All right. That sounds really good."
Once we were inside, I went straight for my kitchen, pouring myself a glass of water. My throat was dry, and the cool liquid soothed the scratchy pain. I came back out in the living room to find you reclining on my couch. "Hey," you said when you saw me. "You all right?"
"Yeah, just needed some water." I sat down on the couch next to you. I bumped you with my knee gently and asked, "What was that with Booth, at the airport?"
"What are you talking about?"
"He kissed you, sweetie."
"On top of my head. He was just trying to be affectionate."
"I still maintain that he's got a thing for you. That's why he teases you so much."
"Angela!" You give me a little slap on the knee. "We're just colleagues. Friends, I think."
Wrapping an arm around my waist, you tugged me closer. I leaned into the embrace and closed my eyes. I must have drifted off, because the next thing I remembered was your lips pressing into my hair. A shiver ran through me and you tightened your grip on me. You were just trying to comfort me, but the increasing contact was sending waves of electricity through my body.
The arm that was holding me, released me momentarily as you dragged your fingertips up my spine and around my neck to cup my chin. "Ange, come on. Let's go to bed." Still drowsy, I smiled lazily at you and let you lift me to my feet.
Together, we made it to my bedroom. Without thinking, I began stripping off my clothes, feeling the cool air on my skin. I was down to just my underwear, when I heard your voice. "Angela?"
I blushed hard, my body on fire where I could feel your eyes touching me with their gaze. "Oh—Sorry, sweetie. I'm just kinda out of it tonight." I quickly stepped over to my dresser, opening a drawer to pull out pajamas.
Then I felt you. You were right behind me, your hands on my bare shoulders, so hot and gentle, I could feel my insides turning to mush.
"Don't be silly, Ange. I was just surprised. There's nothing wrong with nudity. Human beings only wear clothes to protect themselves from the elements, to maintain modesty, and for vanity. You certainly don't need to them for warmth in here, and I hope you don't need to feel modest or worry about your appearance around me."
I turned around, grinning sheepishly. "Is it really okay? I don't want to—"
"Really, it's okay Angela. You're a beautiful woman. It's not like you're unpleasant to look at." Your hand came out to guide my chin up to make me look into your eyes. "Now come on, lets go to bed."
"Aren't you going to change? You can wear some of my pajamas if you want…" I told you. You face was still so close I could feel your breath on my lips as your other hand went from my shoulder and around the small of my back.
"I think I'll sleep in my underwear too. Unless you object…" I shook my head no. My breath caught in my throat as you stepped back. I went over to the bed, climbing under my blankets, trying to watch you from the corner of my eye so you wouldn't know how interested I was.
You started with the loose fitting collared shirt, shucking it off and hanging it over my chair. Then you bent down, your hair falling like a coppery curtain over her face, to untie your boots, then slid them off, carefully placing them under the chair. You stood again, your hair falling gently back in place while you toed off your socks.
I tried to stop myself, but I had to lick my lips. My mouth was so dry as I watched you. Everything seemed like it was in slow motion as you took hold of the hem of your tight fitting tank top and drew it up and over your head. With each moment, more and more of your skin was exposed and my heart was racing. Eventually, the only part of your skin I couldn't see above your waist was your breasts, still encased in the silky bronze fabric of the bra.
I was so grateful that your head was still hanging down, as your eyes were covered by a curtain of hair. You didn't see the goose-bumps that were sliding up and down my arms when your fingers went for the button your slacks. Excitement thrummed through my body when the fly parted and I got my first glimpse of the matching satin underwear you had on. When you finally let your pants slide to the ground, I couldn't stop the tiny groan that escaped my lips.
I saw your eyes flash over to me immediately. After a long pause, you stepped out of your pants and scooted them back over by your boots before crawling onto the bed. There was a concerned frown on your face as you settled in next to me. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." I turned my face to look out the window so you wouldn't see the flush that was rising there. "Brennan… we're best friends right?"
"Of course, Ange! I love you," you replied, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
"If I tell you something, do you promise that won't change?"
"How can I promise anything if I don't know what you're going to say?"
"Please? It's nothing horrible. At least I don't think so."
You leaned in closer, hugging me tight. "Angela, you are my best friend. It would take something incredibly bad to make me change my mind. Now, just tell me."
"Okay." I took a deep breath, trying to summon my courage. "I think… I'm—You're a very beautiful person, Brennan. That first night, in the desert, when I came downstairs, you let me sleep in the bed with you… Why?"
"Because I knew you were hurting and feeling lonely. Isn't that what a best friend does, Ange? Comforts you even when you don't know how to ask for it? You always taught me that."
I nodded, licking my lips. "I want to thank you for that though. Especially in light of what I'm going to say… You see, I felt something… when I was in your arms. For me, it was more than comfort. I was aroused." I paused. I waited to see if you were going to stop me. "I… I've been aroused nearly every time you've touched me since. It's like something inside of me just suddenly awoke. Every time I went to sleep, I was consumed by these dreams…"
Beside me, you were stock still. Maybe even stiff. And I was trembling. It felt like ages before you finally spoke, "Angela, I still love you."
"Really?" I asked tentatively.
"Of course," You brought your hand to my face and stroked my cheek until I turned to look at you. I was nearly lost when I realized that there were tears in your eyes. My teeth bit into my lip as I studied your face, basking in the little smile that was tugging at one corner of your mouth.
"Why do I hear a 'but' coming?" I said softly.