Brennan sat at the bar, toying with her drink. Her mind wouldn't stop worrying at their current case. She had hoped a drink or two in a crowded bar would distract her, but the girl's face kept popping up in her mind's eye, only to be replaced by the mental picture of the condition she was found in. She was constantly amazed at the sick things that human beings could do to each other.
"Bones," Booth said beside her. "Bones!" he said again, passing a hand in front of her face. She blinked and turned her head to look at him.
"What?" she asked, dazed. She blinked, frowning. She had deliberately picked this bar because it wasn't one of their usual haunts. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"
Booth slid onto the stool next to hers, signaling the bartender for a beer. He smiled guilelessly. "Hey, I'm a crack investigator, there's nowhere to hide when I'm after you—"
"Angela told you, didn't she?" Brennan cut in. She picked up her drink and took a sip she didn't want so she wouldn't have to look at him. Maybe he'd give up and go away.
Booth sighed. "Yeah, but I had to track her down first," he said, watching her profile. He could tell something was bothering her and he guessed it was their latest case.
"Great," she said dully. She swirled the ice in her glass and the bartender put another drink in front of her. She smiled her thanks. "So, what do you want?" she asked without much interest.
"Want?" he asked innocently. "Nothin', Bones. I just thought we could—" he began, racking his brains for something to distract her with. Suddenly the band at the front of the room started playing 'Tequila Sunrise' and he had an idea. "Dance?" he asked with a coaxing smile.
Brennan rolled her eyes. "You want to dance?"
The smile grew more charming and he leaned in. "C'mon, Bones. It'll help get your mind off—things," he finished lamely, unwilling to bring up the thing that had brought her here.
Brennan took another sip of her drink. "I don't think so, Booth, thanks. I'm just not in the mood."
He laid his arm along the back of her barstool and leaned even closer. "That's the point. The dancing will put you in the mood." She didn't respond. "Hey, I hate to see you like this," he said softly. "Let me cheer you up," he urged.
She turned her head, surprised to find his face so close. Her heart melted at the look of warm concern in his face. "Okay," she said, smiling for the first time since coming into this place. "One dance."
They had only been dancing for a minute when the song ended. Brennan tried to leave the dance floor, but Booth grabbed her as the next song, 'Desperado', started. "Ah-ah-ah, that wasn't even a whole song," he said with a smile. It wasn't worth arguing about, so she let him pull her close and sighed as she slid her arms up around his neck. She was intensely aware of every brush of his body against hers.
Booth started humming to the music as they slowly turned in place. Brennan leaned back to look up into his face. His eyes were shining down at her and a smile was lurking around his lips. "You better let somebody love you, let somebody love you…you better let somebody love you, before it's too…late," he sang huskily, staring into her eyes.
A lump formed in her throat as she realized what he was telling her. They stopped dancing as the song came to an end, lost in each other's eyes. The spell was broken as a fast song started.
"I've—gotta go," she stammered, pulling away and bolting for the door.
Booth caught up to her right outside the door. He grabbed her arm and pulled her into the shadows. "Wait, what's your hurry?" he asked as she rounded on him.
"Look, I know you have some misguided notion that it's your job to cheer me up, but you don't have to, Booth. Really, I'm fine," she insisted, unable to meet his eyes.
"You're far from fine, Bones," he insisted in a low voice. Her eyes snapped to meet his, her lips in a tight line. He was too perceptive for her peace of mind. Her chin tilted stubbornly. Booth wanted to shake her until her barriers fell and she finally admitted she needed him. An alternative occurred to him and he had a brief heated debate with himself. His desires won.
Brennan gasped as his lips suddenly slanted over hers, demanding a response she'd wanted to give for a long time. With a groan her lips parted and he pulled her flush against his body as his tongue took the invitation. Her arms went up around his neck, her fingers threading into his hair, clutching at the back of his head as she pressed closer. Her head spun at the sensations that were rushing through her and her knees went weak. He pushed her up against the wall, sliding his hand up her neck to cradle her jaw. His lips moved along her cheek and over to her ear to nibble her earlobe.
She tried desperately to gather her wits but he was making it hard. His thigh was pressing up between hers, sending desire screaming through her body. Her heart started slamming when his hands pushed up under her top, skimming her ribs to cup her breasts. His mouth was moving up her neck, nipping and kissing until at last finding her mouth again. She moaned softly as his lips teased at hers and his tongue slipped in to explore.
The front doors to the bar were suddenly slammed open, startling them so that they jumped apart. They stood staring wide eyed at each other, breathing heavily. Brennan was thankful for the wall against her back as her legs threatened to buckle. Booth leaned an arm on the wall next to her head, leaning his forehead on his arm. His breath soughed in her ear. He finally straightened and looked down at her again.
"Let's get out of here," he muttered.
Brennan's mouth went dry as she wondered where he wanted to go. He pulled away, grabbing her hand and dragging her along. Her mind finally started to work as they approached his vehicle and she stopped in her tracks.
He looked back at her. "C'mon, Bones," he said, tugging at her hand.
She shook her head. "This is a bad idea. This whole thing is a bad idea," she said unsteadily. She tugged back at his hand, but he wouldn't let go.
Booth stepped close to her, deliberately invading her personal space. "Really? I'm thinking it's the best idea we've had in a long time," he said in a low, husky voice that sent thrills racing along her nerve endings. "I'm thinking it's an idea that is long overdue, and if your response is any indication, you think so too." He kissed her briefly and she fought the urge to melt into him right then and there. He straightened to look down at her again.
"You're not playing fair, Booth," she accused huskily. By main force of will, she was standing on her own two feet, even though she wanted him more than she'd ever wanted anyone before.
"The hell with fair. Don't you think we've ignored this thing between us long enough?" he asked.
Sighing, she shook her head. "We're going to regret this," she predicted, and he tried not to smile as hope lifted his heart. Grabbing her hand, he dragged her to the passenger door, unlocked it and motioned her in. He dashed around to the driver's side, hopping in and starting the car in one smooth move. She was watching him, amused at his obvious haste.
"I haven't said yes," she reminded him stubbornly.
He cocked a grin at her. "Technically, no. But you will," he said smugly.
She rolled her eyes at his cockiness. "What about my car?" she asked, grasping at a reason to call it off.
"We'll come back for it tomorrow," he said dismissively. "Come here," he commanded, and she leaned as far from him as she could. At the next red light, he leaned over to put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her up to his side. "I said, come here. I don't want you logic-ing yourself out of this."
"That's not a word," she pointed out just to irritate him, but he wasn't going to let her get to him. Not that way, anyway. He smiled and kissed her.
"I don't care," he replied.
Too soon they arrived at his place. Her stomach was doing nervous flip-flops as he parked and opened his door, dragging her out on his side. "Booth, I really don't think—"
"Good, then don't. You do too much thinking anyway," he murmured, leaning down to kiss her deeply. All the reasons she had lined up to talk him out of this flew out the window as her libido sat up and howled for more. Groaning, she clutched him tightly, sucking lightly at his tongue, hooking a leg around his, straining to get closer.
Booth moaned as he sensed that she was done arguing with him. There'd be hell to pay come morning, but for tonight, she was his and he was going to do all the things he'd always dreamed of doing. They'd deal with all the rest tomorrow.