Disclaimer - Bones and all its lovely characters belong to someone else.
A/N - Thank you so much to everyone who read the first chapter of this story. I was so pleased to get so many reviews (and to learn that I'm not the only one with a hankering for some pointless fluffiness!) Amazingly this chapter is even more pointless than the first one (but I still quite like it)!
Booth's method of manoeuvring Temperance through the crowds differed from that employed by Angela. Rather than tugging Temperance along; he walked close behind her, his hands still resting lightly on the tops of her arms.
They eased their way through the hordes of people, both of them unaware of the way that the other bristled at each pouty smile or leering look which the other received from the crowds around them.
As they walked, Booth resisted the temptation for run his hands down the bare skin of Temperanc's arms, but he couldn't help but inhale the intoxicating flowery scent of her hair as it tickled his nose.
Temperance was acutely aware of Booth's muscular bulk behind her whenever they stopped or were bumped closer together and she couldn't ignore the tingling sensation radiating out from where his hands were touching her arms.
As Booth was once again jostled by someone trying to carry three brimming pints of beer through the press of people, he stumbled into Temperance's back. His hands slid down to rest on her hips as he recovered his balance and he found his fingers were brushing the strip of skin revealed by her low waisted jeans and her top. He enjoyed the intimate touch for a second before he realised what he was doing and quickly shifted his hands to rest next to her jeans pockets.
Temperance shivered slightly at the momentary contact and her breath caught as Booth leant down to whisper an apology, one hand coming up to lift her hair away from her ear.
Booth had to fight to stop himself from pressing a kiss into the pale hollow behind her ear; and Temperance had to force herself not to lean into his touch with a sigh.
The crush around them hadn't lessened, but their awareness of anything aside from each other was slipping away.
Every little touch was magnifying the effect.
The press of people seemed to increase for a moment before suddenly reducing.
They had made it to the dance floor.
The bar was known for its eclectic playlist, and in keeping with the party atmosphere they were playing cheesy classics. There were a few couples swaying together, but most people were in big, boisterous groups of friends. Three women is tiny dresses were doing their best impression of podium dancers, but without the figures or the talent to carry it off. In another corner a group of middle aged office workers still wearing their suits looked in danger of collective collapse as they enthusiastically waved their limbs around just out of synch with the music.
They hesitated for a moment, before Booth nudged Temperance forward and moved to stand next to her. He looped an arm around her waist and they stepped out, side by side, amongst the other dancers.
When they had found a space and stopped, she turned to face him.
They smiled at one another shyly for a moment before stepping closer.
Booth's hands settled comfortably at Temperance's waist and she locked her hands behind his neck and they started to dance.
Booth remembered the first time that they had danced like this, at some backwater bar back in the early days of their partnership. His grip tightened possessively as he recalled the way that every man in the town had insisted on twirling Temperance around the floor. He had watched silently from a seat at the bar until he'd finally cracked and marched across to cut in and gather her in his arms. At the time he'd tried to ignore how good it had felt to hold her close and how unerringly they had moved together. Now he revelled in the rediscovery of how perfect it felt to have her in his arms.
As Temperance settled in his embrace and tuned into the heavy base of the song, she remembered the last time she and Booth had danced. She smiled slightly at the memory of their ridiculous mock-rock dance routine and the incongruity of it taking place in her perfectly ordered home. She had pretended to be reluctant to join in and had laughed at Booth's dreadful air guitar miming. In truth, she had been captivated by this glimpse of new aspect of Seeley Booth's personality and had found it impossible not to relax and respond to him. Now, with his brown eyes smiling down at her, she realised that there was something profoundly right about being in his arms.
They started their dance a respectable distance apart and a casual onlooker might have assumed that two friends were taking a spin around the floor.
That distance didn't last. Within moments, Booth was urging Temperance closer, unconciously wanting to feel her body pressing against his. For her part, Temperance went willingly, resting her head against his chest and exploring the back of his neck and shoulders with stroking fingers.
For a time they moved like that, content to enjoy the sensation of holding the other close and to feel the warmth of the other's body against their own.
As the song changed, they slowed to a halt.
Temperance looked up to find Booth gazing down at her. His brown eyes darkened by some unspoken emotion which caused a surging feeling to tighten across her chest.
With infinite slowness, she moved her hand to touch his cheek, before laying her palm flat against his chest where she could feel the thudding of his heart.
Her other hand was still stroking his neck and, after a moment's hesitation, she applied gentle pressure to pull his mouth towards hers.
Booth was unable to process what was happening until their lips were mere millimetres apart and their quickening breath was mingling hotly. But in that instant he shifted his grip to use one arm to crush their bodies closer yet and he buried his free hand in her hair bringing their lips crashing together.
